Week Five: “Fire & Ice”
ME: Master, how does one find the strength within himself to be the best that he is capable of becoming?
MY MASTER: By being one with the world that is without himself.
ME: How so?
MY MASTER: When fire meets ice, what prevails?
ME: Ice.
MY MASTER: Yet in dying, does not the ice in the fire also die?
ME: Could you attack it from a different angle? I’m a little confused.
MY MASTER: (very angry) Did you not read the handout from last week?
ME: I am ashamed and dishonored to tell you that I have not.
MY MASTER: Spent a lot of money Xeroxing those for you.
ME: I am ashamed. It’s just I had to pull that extra shift and then one of the kids …
MY MASTER: (exasperated) Is heaven not a reality that exists within all creatures?
ME: It is.
MY MASTER: And is happiness not a byproduct of heaven?
ME: This is correct.
MY MASTER: So does it not come to pass that this heaven that we speak of … this heaven that we … Jesus, what the hell was I thinking before? You’re messing with my head.
ME: That this heaven is ours for the taking—
MY MASTER: Right. That this heaven that we speak about is available to creatures both large and small?
ME: I think so—
MY MASTER: The answer is yes! Remember? The blackboard? The diorama? The giant wood pointer? The other teaching aids? Did you not take notes?
ME: Master—
MY MASTER: Yes or no?
ME: No.
MY MASTER: Thought so. Pathetic.
ME: But how can heaven and earth both reside within ourselves when—
MY MASTER: When they consist of two different realities?
ME: Yes.
MY MASTER: I knew you were going to ask me that goddamn question. Um … I do know that heaven lies within. Or is it without? Wait a second—see, you confused me again.
ME: And it is our earthly duties—
MY MASTER: I said, hang on a sec! Have you seen my book with all the answers?
ME: Master …
MY MASTER: It says “Master’s Edition” on the cover, “not for resale.” I swear to God if one of you …
ME: Master, may I again talk of fire?
MY MASTER: Make it quick. I have another class at the temple across town.
ME: If ice does indeed prevail from its meeting with fire, then why is ice not a more powerful element?
MY MASTER: I’m very hungry and dinner beckons, dinner that I shall eat in my car, so I’ll tell you what. Let’s try a little experiment, a homework assignment of sorts. Go home. Take some ice. Light it on fire. Write down what happens. We’ll discuss it next week. Sound good?
ME: But have we not already decided that—
MY MASTER: Am I a joke to you?
ME: Master?
MY MASTER: I didn’t go to Buddhist school and I don’t have a diploma. I never did attend a fancy Buddhist retreat on top of a big ol’ mountain. I wear a bald rubber cap to look smart and fake glasses to appear wise. This makes me a joke?
ME: No, master. As for this question of heaven—
MY MASTER: (laughing) Ahhhh, if I didn’t need the money so bad … (sadly, to self) You make one wrong turn in life, money troubles, women troubles, government troubles … twenty years down the road, you take a long look in the mirror and guess what you see? An enlightened Bodhisattva. How the hell did that happen, you think? Oh, man.
ME: And heaven?
MY MASTER: You … you ask me that flippin’ question one more time, so help me! I. Do. Not. Know. Don’t know. Got it?
ME: Maybe next week?
MY MASTER: Maybe. By the way, mustard stains on a robe. Laundering advice?