Stranger in a strange land
[Do not try this at home unless you are trained in bodhicitta. I am not wise, and in this case I just got lucky]
I walked into the corridor leading to my neuromuscular therapist's office. Its all Feng Shue'd there so the front of the corridor is a little cramped, making you want to go into the building. I was about to go open the office door when out came a man from another office. He looked kind of polished. Almost like he didn't belong. I think it was the combination of the shine on his shoes, the crispness of his button down shirt and slacks, and the amount of gel (not too much) that he had in his hair. He was so close I couldn't open the other door. Cramped as I said, but not unpleasant.
He asked me where to find a Starbucks.
I asked him if he wanted the one with the drive-through or not.
I gave him directions. He thanked me.
Then he hesitated. And that was when I picked up on something else. That thing that lets you know there is something more to the conversation. The one that tells you its time to pay attention -- this human being has something more to say. Something that may never be said in words. So I turned my attention to him fully and listened more carefully.
He asked if they had tea at Starbucks.
I said yes.
He asked if there was a tea place in the building we were in.
I said no. Then I asked him what he was looking for.
He said he wasn't feeling well and that he was just looking for a cup of tea. He had a cold.
I realized that he didn't need Starbucks tea. He needed a particular kind of tea. And without thinking -- like a flash of lightening, I knew exactly where he could get this cup of tea. He could get this tea in my home -- across the street. So without thinking about it, I took him across the street, plugged in the little water heater, explained that the house I lived in was also a Dharma center. I took down one of the to-go cups we keep on hand for meditators travelling late at night and I offered him a choice of about 20 teas. He wanted something soothing. I made sure he knew to unplug the water boiler when he was done. Then I put out the sugar bowl and shook his hand and left.
Yes, I left him right there in my home! I left a stranger alone in my home
My parting words as I shook his hand, "Nice to meet you, take your time and shut the door behind you. I trust you with my home."
I walked back to my neuromuscular therapist's office and apologized for my tardiness. And then I explained to him that a man in the hall was in serious need of a very specific cup of tea. But maybe it wasn't about the tea. He asked what was the other request. I said I didn't know.
But then it dawned on me -- I think he asked for comfort. The comment about soothing tea might have been an indicator. But I think he just needed that tea to comfort him. What is more comforting than tea? Kindness. What is more comforting that kindness? Trust. You can't buy kindness at Starbucks. You can pay for polite, friendly etc. But kindness and compassion can not be bought.
And that is exactly the kind of tea he needed. Kind, trusting, comforting tea.
He wasn't a stranger. He was a sentient being -- a fellow human being. And he was in need of compassion. And somehow I knew it. Coincidentally (or not) it turns out he is interested in meditation and Buddhism.
To the man in the hall -- you taught me about kindness and trust today.
Thank you for taking care of my home.
No, the other one. The one inside my heart.
I walked into the corridor leading to my neuromuscular therapist's office. Its all Feng Shue'd there so the front of the corridor is a little cramped, making you want to go into the building. I was about to go open the office door when out came a man from another office. He looked kind of polished. Almost like he didn't belong. I think it was the combination of the shine on his shoes, the crispness of his button down shirt and slacks, and the amount of gel (not too much) that he had in his hair. He was so close I couldn't open the other door. Cramped as I said, but not unpleasant.
He asked me where to find a Starbucks.
I asked him if he wanted the one with the drive-through or not.
I gave him directions. He thanked me.
Then he hesitated. And that was when I picked up on something else. That thing that lets you know there is something more to the conversation. The one that tells you its time to pay attention -- this human being has something more to say. Something that may never be said in words. So I turned my attention to him fully and listened more carefully.
He asked if they had tea at Starbucks.
I said yes.
He asked if there was a tea place in the building we were in.
I said no. Then I asked him what he was looking for.
He said he wasn't feeling well and that he was just looking for a cup of tea. He had a cold.
I realized that he didn't need Starbucks tea. He needed a particular kind of tea. And without thinking -- like a flash of lightening, I knew exactly where he could get this cup of tea. He could get this tea in my home -- across the street. So without thinking about it, I took him across the street, plugged in the little water heater, explained that the house I lived in was also a Dharma center. I took down one of the to-go cups we keep on hand for meditators travelling late at night and I offered him a choice of about 20 teas. He wanted something soothing. I made sure he knew to unplug the water boiler when he was done. Then I put out the sugar bowl and shook his hand and left.
Yes, I left him right there in my home! I left a stranger alone in my home
My parting words as I shook his hand, "Nice to meet you, take your time and shut the door behind you. I trust you with my home."
I walked back to my neuromuscular therapist's office and apologized for my tardiness. And then I explained to him that a man in the hall was in serious need of a very specific cup of tea. But maybe it wasn't about the tea. He asked what was the other request. I said I didn't know.
But then it dawned on me -- I think he asked for comfort. The comment about soothing tea might have been an indicator. But I think he just needed that tea to comfort him. What is more comforting than tea? Kindness. What is more comforting that kindness? Trust. You can't buy kindness at Starbucks. You can pay for polite, friendly etc. But kindness and compassion can not be bought.
And that is exactly the kind of tea he needed. Kind, trusting, comforting tea.
He wasn't a stranger. He was a sentient being -- a fellow human being. And he was in need of compassion. And somehow I knew it. Coincidentally (or not) it turns out he is interested in meditation and Buddhism.
To the man in the hall -- you taught me about kindness and trust today.
Thank you for taking care of my home.
No, the other one. The one inside my heart.
Comments