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(Continuation of Heng Ch’au’s record on May 17, 1977)
Be very careful of arrogance and feelings of superiority. Cultivate compassion and humility. The biggest outflow and downfall is self-glorification, the feeling that, “I, alone, am honored.” Don’t cash in the chips for the small self. Aim big and lose the “self.” Don’t wear a high hat. Don’t go back to the palace and be an emperor again. Your twelve incense scars remind you to keep the crown off.
An upasika keeps telling us happily that we are “through the worst part.” We keep telling her that there is no good or bad part. It’s all made from the mind.
Comments on Wilshire Blvd. (the good part)
“Hoo! Hoo! Hey! Honk! Honk!” from passing cards. A drunk in a well-tailored suit, “Could you tell me how to get to Broadway?”
Monk, “Let me see…”
Drunk, “What are those #$%&* gloves for?”
Monk walks away.
Drunk, “I’m talking to you #$%&*!”
Bankers, “Every three steps! Every three steps! You will never get anywhere that way!”
Lady, “Where do you think you are, Mecca? That’s disgusting in the U.S.”
Heng Sure: “That’s the point. Until it isn’t disgusting, we’ve got problems.” Lady proceeds to stir up some delivery men at a warehouse dock to clean up the sidewalk of us. Oh, oh; I see an image of Kuan Yin--visualize the large wooden statue. The men are getting an audience together to break the boredom. Just as we approach the truck pulls up for unloading and we are saved. By the time the unloading is finished we are gone and they are looking for us. “Which way did you go?”