The Conversation Emily: "Who are you?" I had never actually asked them that before, but wondering how to introduce them, I thought it was a valid question. 3 Laughing Buddhas: "Who are you?" Emily: "Are you Buddhas?" 3 Laughing Buddhas: "Are you Buddha?" Emily: I am used to their Socratic Dialogue technique and decide to take a different route. "What is enlightenment?" I ask. 3 Laughing Buddhas: "The Path to Who You Truly Are. It Ain't Easy Until It's a Snap!" Emily "This is what I've been working on a lot lately, in my own life and also on my last retreat. Well, not the snap part, but I have to admit, it's getting easier. I like myself a lot more lately." 3 Laughing Buddhas laugh. "Of course, of course!" They clap their hands. Emily, moving on. "Why have you come to me?" 3 Laughing Buddhas: "You came to us.?" Emily: "I don't remember that. Rather, I recall you suddenly appeared one day, laughing at me for some foolish, ego thought that was causing confusion in my brain." 3 Laughing Buddhas: "More like causing your heart to ache." Emily: "Do you remember what I was thinking?" 3 Laughing Buddhas, laughing heartily: "Such thoughts are not worth your having, much less our remembering. But tell us, Dear One, what happened next on this path of getting to know each another." Emily: "Well, I can't remember exactly either. What I do know is that you taught me how to laugh at my self." 3 Laughing Buddhas applaud. "Yes, finally we are making good progress in that! You amuse us, Dear One. Do you amuse yourself?" Emily: More and more, thanks to you. 3 Laughing Buddhas: "So, our tutelage is working. You are not so hard on yourself anymore." Emily, smiling. "Thanks to you." 3 Laughing Buddhas: "Yes, yes, you see, this is path we talk about. To Enlightenment. But don't think Buddha yet!" They laugh happily. "Baby steps, yes. Why do we say, baby steps? No insult." Emily: "None taken." 3 Laughing Buddhas: "What happens when baby falls, topples over?" Emily: "Cry?" 3 Laughing Buddhas: "Yes, yes, but what else?" Emily: "Push themselves up?" 3 Laughing Buddhas: "Yes, yes, pull themselves up. Good. What else?" Emily: "Laugh." 3 Laughing Buddhas applaud: "Baby falls kerplunk. Baby laugh! You, Dear One, are baby going kerplunk!" Emily: "Not yet Buddha, eh?" 3 Laughing Buddhas: Laugh and laugh. I laugh with them. Emily: "Tell me, why are you three?" 3 Laughing Buddhas: "Why are you one?" Emily, hoping to challenge them: "Why have you asked me to offer this TeleSeminar?" 3 Laughing Buddhas: "You asked us."Emily: "I don't recall asking you!" 3 Laughing Buddhas: "Door opens... Door shuts... Door opens again..." They laugh. Everything is funny to them. In a good way. In a life enhancing way. They laugh and laugh! I laugh with them. Finally, I ask: "What will you talk about?" 3 Laughing Buddhas: "Finding Self. This is always a good topic. We will talk, yes? Perhaps you were not aware how much we were with you during your retreat in England." Emily: "I knew I was being helped while I was leading the retreat. It was so smooth, so effortless and there was so much love and support in the group. It was amazing." 3 Laughing Buddhas: "You opened. We slipped in the door. Then we stood back and watched you, listened to you. Applauded you! " I smiled in acknowledgement. 3 Laughing Buddhas: "Every opening is a stillness of exploding light, an opportunity to Be." |
