During my morning practice today I read this, written by Nichiren Daishonin: "A woman who takes this efficacious medicine will be surrounded and protected by these four great bodhisattvas at all times. When she rises to her feet, so too will the bodhisattvas, and when she walks along the road, they will also do the same. She and they will be as inseparable as a body and its shadow, as fish and water, as a voice and its echo, or as the moon and its light."
Later, driving to work, as I looked towards my Catalina mountains, I realized that due to the unusually cloudy conditions, I could not see the saguaro sentinels that stand guard. Though I could not see them, they are still there, silently keeping watch. Not sure why I think of them as my guardians, but I love thinking of them standing for hundreds of years, seemingly still, and somehow watchful.
As I drove and considered how/whether I am accompanied by forces of protection, I began to get really annoyed at the driver ahead of me, driving so very slowly and ignoring the fact that I was definitely swearing, gesturing, and driving too close behind.
Then, a new way of seeing. I have gotten in the habit of driving as fast as traffic will allow, which is sometimes very fast here in this land of straight roads, light traffic, and no speed cameras. Perhaps I could take this moment to remember to slow down, both so I can enjoy my drive, and for my own protection.
So -- I am back in my blog. I can't quite believe that there have been no posts from me since December 2017.
