The Buddamom

JUNE NEWSLETTER

Nicole, her friend Candida and I were gifted with a healing vacation of one week on the big island of Hawaii and one week on Kauai. I do not have wander lust, preferring to wash my dishes and water my plants at home, but since this was a gift I said yes and packed my bags with the intention to drink up any lessons these far off islands may have to offer. On the big island we relaxed, wandered around, swam with the fish and turtles, bought trinkets and slept a lot. By the time we reached Kauai I was tenderized by the wind and sea and lava and ready to hear from the elders. Hawaii is green and lush, the land is in a dynamic state of becoming. Kauai is older, the land is still dynamic but more stable. The turquoise sea, the green lushness, the red soil and labial weather show off life’s constant abundance. There is an underlying sweetness of nature that is below the surface of this island full of tourists. It is the spirit of the islanders and it came to me in the form of music called slack key guitar in which the guitar is tuned to an open chord. The bass is played by the thumb while the melody is played by the fingers. The music is like the turquoise sea or a trade wind through the coconut trees. When I listen to it I feel gentler. Being a guitar player I decided that I wanted to learn this style. I was led to a demonstration of slack key guitar given by Doug and Sandy McMaster (check them out at www.hawaiianslackkeyguitar.com) They shared an enchanting afternoon of stories and music. One of the stories was from an account of Hawaii’s original spirit called "Tales from the Night Rainbow" by Koko Willis and Pali Jae Lee. It was in this book that I found the kernel of truth I had come to Hawaii for.

"Each child born has at birth, a Bowl of perfect Light. If he tends his Light it will grow in strength and he can do all things-swim with the shark, fly with the birds, know and understand all things. If, however, he becomes envious or jealous he drops a stone into his Bowl of Light and some of the Light goes out. Light and the stone cannot hold the same space. If he continues to put stones in the Bowl of Light, the Light will go out and he becomes a stone. A stone does not grow, nor does it move. If at any time he tires of being a stone, all he needs to do is turn the bowl upside down and the stones will fall away and the Light will grow once more."

This story now lives inside me. I watch as any disturbed or angry feelings become a stone in my Bowl of Light and my native joy diminishes in degree. I watch the glow return when I drop the resentment. It is that easy. Just dropping the need to be right, dropping the need for other people to behave how I think they should behave. Remembering that we are all here learning, all stepping on each other’s toes at times. Remembering that the feeling of love, of aloha, is so much more pleasant than revenge or gossip or self righteousness. There is so much to be angry about in our country or family or work. Each time I choose to run with what the Buddha called unwholesome feelings I feel the stone in my Bowl of Light constricting my heart. How wonderful that this bowl full of being right can be dropped, rejoining its brother and sister stones, and the Bowl of Light, my natural radiant self, can shine throughout all the corners of the universe. Mahalo, thank you, dear islanders for keeping this light of aloha alive through all the challenges to your dear loving culture.

Back in Sonoma where instead of hibiscus blossoms there are roses and instead of trade winds blowing through coconut trees there is the music of breezes rustling through the old sycamore tree in the front yard. The undercurrent of abundant life goes on. Beauty surrounds me. I continue to tend my Bowl of Light.Jacqueline