February 17, 2003

just because

“What is that?” (I play dumb, like I don’t know what he’s referring to.)

“It’s a green thumb.” (I have this photocopied ‘good job’ thumb, on green paper up in my cube.)

“No, what is that?”

“It’s a monk.”

“Why?” (Possible answers running through my head at the time: ‘For inspiration.’ — too corny. ‘I’m a Buddhist, that’s my teacher.’ — too much explanation involved in the follow-up.)

“Because.”

“Because why?”

“Just because.” Just because he is the first American I feel worthy of putting on a wall and since I already have two up at home, I thought maybe putting one up where I spend most of my time would be a good idea. But also because I want people to ask why he’s there. Trouble is, I haven’t figured out a really good response back to that question. I don’t know if there is one. I just found out last night that Geshe Michael Roach (the monk in question) didn’t tell anyone at his job that he was a monk for five years. I’ve only been with my company for two and most people that know me know I’m a Buddhist — or at least that I seem to like Tibetan stuff and this funny looking language. I’m now wondering if I should take it all down. ‘The point is not to be some weird person, into weird things. The point is to be this normal American who is changing his reality.’ Paraphrasing Geshe-la.

As a side note, a few minutes ago I was wonder to myself if somewhere in India a Tibetan monk has a picture of the first Tibetan to get a Western degree on their wall. I think probably not, but you never know.

UPDATE: After much deliberation, I have taken down the picture of Geshe Michael in my cube. I have left up a postcard from the Tibetan Language Institute which contains verses on the practice of a Bodhisattva as well as the OM from the Om Yoga in a Box packaging, a page showing the Tibetan alphabet and the flyers for the monk’s tour. Oh, and if you want to count it, I left up a sticky note saying, “expiration date?” to remind myself that I don’t know when I’ll die and that I should not die angry or with any regrets.

posted @ 9:16 PM

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