Only a moment.

On the ninth of December nineteen, ninety one I arrived in India for the first time. I consider India to be one of the greatest gifts in my life and have only fond and affectionate memories of my many teaching visits there, but on the first ocassion the first few days were not so easy for me!

I had arrived on the instruction of my teacher to make a pilgrimage and visit the four holy places for Buddhists of Budh Gaya, Lumbini, Sarnarth and Kusinara.

However, I could not take a train for some days and so had to spend my time in New Delhi. This was not comfortable for me, and out of frustration, anxiety and apprehension, my mind began to resist the whole idea of even being in India. On the morning of the third day I found myself in a large shop in Connaught Place reflecting on how I could actually go home again and meet my teacher without loosing face, when one the shop assistants approached me, “Excuse me sir,” he said, “it is time for lunch and we will close our shop now.”

“Oh,” I replied, “sorry, I will leave.”

“No sir,” he continued, ‘”hat is not necessary. We would like to invite you to eat with us.”

This was a life changing moment. An opportunity to put down my fears and anxieties and surrender into the present. I took a breath and jumped at this gift in front of me.

“Thank you,” I said, “I will be very happy to join you.”

We sat together, perhaps ten men, in a large circle on the floor and ate using our hands, sharing not only a delicious meal, but a friendship based in a simple acceptance of the other.

The next day I arrived in Budh Gaya, the place of the enlightenment of the Buddha. It was my fortieth birthday, and my new life had begun.

Life is always about a moment.

Reflect on this and don’t allow the fear you have been given to prevent you from living. If you don’t put down what you carry in this very lifetime, when will you do it?

May all beings be happy.