June 22

Today is our final full day at the Bhavana Society. My preference would have been that Austin and I would have remained healthy and that we were still walking at this point, but our bodies and the mono didn’t ask for our feedback. Coming to the Bhavana Society was a blessing. Just as we are leaving I’m starting to feel much better, mono-wise. And getting to know Bhante G. was a real blessing.

Here is part of a note that I sent to Ajahn Pasanno yesterday:

Getting to know Bhante G was very special; I feel a love for him. Today Bhante G. organized a walk partly because he wanted to walk with me. I disappointed him by not going. I have not walked for more than five minutes at a stretch for over two weeks. Their walk turned out to be a four-hour trip. That would have destroyed me.

When I told Bhante that I would not be able to go, it was at the closing of the Patimokkha. So I said, "Well Bhante I may try to finish part of the pilgrimage next year, maybe you can walk with me then." Bhante said in total seriousness, "I could only join you for a month" (remember he is seventy-seven years old). The other monks all groaned as they are trying to find ways to keep him at home. I don't think I would be able to keep up with him.

Another amusing Bhante G story: He said they once had a group of students from a ministry college come visit him and he gave them a talk. Bhante G. said, "Even the name of their school sends a chill down my spine." After the talk several of the students came up to him and said that was one of the most insightful talks they had ever heard but it was too bad that he was going to go to hell. Bhante G said, "I told them, 'If I'm going to hell and you die before me, please come and welcome me when I arrive.' "

Yesterday I had a funny dream about Bhante G. In the dream Bhante G. took me up on the offer to walk on the pilgrimage next year. But in the dream Bhante is driving us in a big Cadillac, I’m sitting shotgun and Austin is in the back seat. Bhante had just told us an amusing story and we are all laughing. In the dream I say, “That reminds me of a story that Kurt, one of my ex-bosses, told me about a business trip he took to Alabama. Kurt pulled over at a farm stand to ask directions. The man said, "Ya, I know where that company is located. Drive down this road six C’s and take a right. Drive until you see the sign with the big chicken on it. When you get there you have passed the road you want so turn around and take the first right. You will go down four C’s and you’ll see it on the left." Kurt said, "I understand about the big chicken, but what is a C?" The man said, "You drive as far as you can see and that is one C.”

In the dream Bhante G. looks over at me with his eyes spinning and says, “That is crazy man!” Perhaps I’m feeling too close to Bhante G. and need to remember he is a very well-respected monk and worthy of respect.

I do love him though.