Koan of the Week

“I was so disappointed,” said Valerie Vacationer. “I went to the beach in Florida and froze my butt off.”
“What is the disappointing part?” asked Master Li Kim Grebnesi.

Master Li Kim’s Commentary: Some years ago I was in a hotel room in Venice when I overheard a couple arguing in the street. Venice is the world’s greatest city for getting lost because you cannot walk more than a few steps without coming to a canal and having to turn. This couple was very lost. The main geographic feature of the city is the Grand Canal and these two didn’t know which side of that waterway they were on. The man was trying his best to make an adventure out of the situation, but the woman wouldn’t play along. They would have enjoyed themselves much more if she had, but instead she just complained. “I’m tired. Where are we?”

When you travel, things go wrong. The weather is cold. You get lost. There are cancelled flights, shabby hotel rooms, and six dollar Cokes. In general, it is best to cultivate the serenity to accept the things you can not change.

The beach has many charms on a blustery day. It is uncrowded, the frigid wind makes you feel alive, and the colors of the setting sun on cloud streaked skies and choppy seas are more varied and spectacular. But you won’t notice any of this if you spend your time wishing the weather was different.

Valerie didn’t even notice that is was only cold for two days out of the week she was in the Sunshine State.

Master Li Kim’s Haiku:

The rhythm of surf
Can quiet a racing mind
Even when it’s cold.