A Dream

[Guest guest]

Dream of April 24, 1994

 

In this dream, I was walking along a wide ridge in the Himalayas with

two other women. The landscape was very open, above treeline. It was

sunny and the air seemed thin and dry. Our mood was expansive and

anticipatory because after a trek of many days, we were approaching the

first gate.

 

We passed another traveler and he asked me “what is your destination?”

“Dharmadhatu” I replied in a strong, self-assured voice.

 

I knew, before I started out, that there were tollgates along the way.

I had been told to be sure to have the toll, but not to carry money

because robbers and brigands were many on the path and would surely

take my toll money. So, I wrote a check for the toll and placed it in

a carved wooden box that locked shut. I did not have a key for the

box, but had been assured that since it was a traditional Tibetan box

that the toll station would be equipped with keys.

 

When we got to the toll station, there was a big sign saying “Toll -

$3.17”. Inside the station I found a number of Tibetan monks working

behind a long, curved wooden counter. I put down my box on the counter

with a feeling of elation and confidence. The monk in front of me

asked “where is your key?” I answered “I don’t have one. It is a

standard box - don’t you have a key that will fit?” He shrugged,

looked a little annoyed and motioned to a monk at the far end of the

counter to come and take the box. He took it back to his work area

and proceeded to try about 20 keys. None of them worked. He brought

the box back to me. I was shocked. I told the monk “I was told that

these boxes only had 4 or 5 keys and were no problem to open.” He

replied “this is an old box. We change the locks from time to time.”

 

All at once I thought of the possibility of having to trek all the way

back the distance I had come, get more money, and then retrace my path

again. Did I have the stamina? The resolve?

 

Then I took the box in my hands, dug my fingernails under the edge of

the door and broke the box open. I felt badly because by forcing the

door, I had broken the box and it would never be usable again. I

reached in and pulled out my check. To my amazement, termites inside

the box had chewed a pattern around the edges of the check. In

another day or so, it would have disappeared.

 

As I held up the check, all the monks and I broke into great

laughter.....and, there I was, in Dharmadhatu (The Original State of

Harmonious Oneness).

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