Well, I'll only be here in Taiwan about another week before my China Airlines flight #178 takes off from Kaohsiung Airport at 20:30 (that's 8:30pm for the uninitiated). I have a two-hour layover in Taipei before I fly back to my hometown, San Francisco (Can you hear Jeanette MacDonald singing?)I'm leaving with very mixed feelings. The people here at Fo Guang Shan have been absolutely wonderful! They're true to the Dharma in their attitudes and relationships with others. I admired them greatly.
I only have three ESL classes left to teach: two at the Men's College and one at the Women's. The women voted a week ago that they would like to learn more about the differences between the Chinese and American cultures, so we're focusing on that exclusively.
It is here in Taiwan where I have realized what might well have been clear to others for a long time: I am a full-on, cultural Westerner! I don't easily defer to others just because of their societal position: that would not have pleased Confucius (孔子) who was very much into hierarchy. My Western individualism, however, does not mean that I am a cynic. In fact, I am merely following what the Buddha himself is reported to have said in the Kalama Sutta:
My meditations lately have been nothing less than delicious - I can't think of a better word to describe them. I can comfortably sit in my cool room in the dark, sit like a bell, focus in on my breath and whoooosh...śamatha. :-)
I do look forward to going home.
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