The origin of Buddhism/ Carlos Pueblo
I met a Thai
monk at Oxford University campus. He wore an orange color
surplice.
After clasping my hands, I started asking him questions. I asked
him if he
could get married and if he could eat meat. No, he said. He can
married and
he will eat what is provided to him, yet he will not kill. It is
very clear
and simple answer and I like him instantly. I felt that there was
an affinity
between us. I kept on asking him, where’s your temple? Near
Birmingham.
Are you the abbot of the temple? He nodded. I told him that
I was a
traveling lohan and he laughed. I; therefore, asked him if I could
put up two
nights at his temple. He said yes.
Lohan is Sanskrit,
an old Indian language which Buddhists practice. It is
Lohan in
English as well that I understand. I said put up a night in a classical
Chinese
language, kwak dang, and he understood that was my surprise. I
think that
he speaks or understands Chinese. He also knows Thich Nhat Hanh,
the Vietnamese
monk who I admire and think him as my master of Buddhism.
I read his
book to know what a meaningful life is and this is different from
what
Buddhists heard from Buddha directly about how he knows his life.
He had to
stop for a moment to chat with me and let go his friends. He also
Heard of
Jien, the same spelling as my middle name, a famous Japanese
master monk
one thousand years ago. I must go to visit him.
Not too long
after we departed, I received his return message from Thailand.
I am thinking
for another visit to Europe this fall and arranging a visit to
his temple.
I really like to visit a well learned scholar like him. He left his
address and
name:
Dr. Laow
Panysairic
