Lost Luggage, Gained Wisdom

A lost luggage, is all it took to show me the fragility of ordinary calmness.

At first, it was easy staying magnanimous. No suitcase showing up at Carrousel 30 at Charles de Gaulle airport was no reason to sweat it. I even joked with the baggage claim lady. My suitcase had not made it in the plane in San Francisco, but had been tracked by the Air France computer. It had been rerouted through Minneapolis, then Amsterdam, and was on its way to Paris. I was assured "It will be delivered later today or tomorrow morning at the latest. Just call this number to check."

Later that night, phone call to the Air France number was met with casual response. "It usually takes 24 hours." No problem, I told myself, it's only a suitcase, and I can wait an extra day. I washed my clothes in the sink, and was glad for the disposable toothbrush provided by Air France. 

The next morning, several phone calls, and the wait turned into 48 hours. My new hat and gloves, my two favorite pants, my precious pashmina shawl, I could not have, at least not until Air France got its act together. I made a quick run to H&M for an extra change of clothes. The suitcase was starting to take up a lot of place in my mind. I found myself getting restless and annoyed.

The day after, more phone calls, and still no luggage. From annoyed, I became frustrated and ranted at the Air France folks for not caring more. I had enough sense to realize the source. Attachment, attachment, attachment was the real cause of my upset. I could use this unpleasant occurrence to investigate the mind's trappings.  Wanting the comfort of being able to use my things as planned, and also mistakenly counting on the permanence of possessions. Both desires trampled by the reality of the lost suitcase.

By the third day it became clear, I better plan for the suitcase not showing up at all. I replaced my whole wardrobe. Some of the restlessness was still there, but not enough to spoil my time in Paris any longer. The mind was starting to relinquish its grasp on the idea of 'my suitcase'.

Six days later, the suitcase has not yet appeared. We are going back home tomorrow, and I have reconciled with the idea of my luggage lost maybe for good. Little time gets wasted thinking, agitating about the suitcase. A quick phone call to Air France this morning, that's all.

How much the mind adds to life's unavoidable unpleasantness!

Up Pali Highway

Three days in a row, we drove up Pali Highway,

Pali Highway

through the tunnel, and past the Pali Lookout sign,

Pali Lookout

with the Pali peak on our left.

Pali Mountain

Three days in a row, sitting in the passenger's seat, I felt grief the whole way, and also later as we took our usual long walk along Kailua Beach. Grief, looming big in the middle of tropical sweetness. I wanted to explain it away, but couldn't. Being with, was the only option left.

Kailua Beach

Walking back, pangs of morning hunger took over. All I could think of, were the bananas awaiting in the car.

Out the grief, in the small suffering of not yet satisfied craving for food.

PS - Clever mind got a real kick out of, Pali (cliff in Hawaiian) - Pali (the language of the Buddha's teachings) :)

6 Tips for the Buddhist Traveler

Feeling the toll from a week in Paris, with hardly any time to be still. Friends and family to visit, exhibits to see, events to attend, restaurants to go to . . . I could not say no. Until this morning, when I  found myself speaking and acting out of mindless, reactive place.  

This passage through the temporary hell of mindlessness has taught me a few things for the rest of the trip, and for future trips as well:

1. I need to recognize the challenge of practicing without the support of my usual Sangha. Not  benefiting from the support of weekly Dharma talks, group sittings, and conversations with other members in the community.
2. I need to not underestimate the power of typical vacation environment that fosters idle talk, sensory stimulation, greed, and an overall lack of awareness.
3. Formal daily meditation practice is a necessity, not an option. Without the ability to recharge from the deep well within, the mind becomes unsettled, and unable to function well.  
4. The fact that I am not in my usual, home environment is no excuse. Churches, other places of worship are great places to meditate, in the absence of a personal quiet place to retreat to. 
5. Reading a good Dharma book, staying connected to spiritual friends online, can compensate somewhat for lack of physical Sangha. 
6. Slow vacationing needs not be an oxymoron. While the temptation is great to want to pack in experiences, giving into too many activities makes it impossible to be mindful.

Today, I shall sit 30' in the Saint-Germain des Pres church before we head out to dinner. I shall take the time to walk slowly, mindfully in the neighborhood. And I will read some more of Ayya Khema's book.