Share Your Illumination

PS -- mammogram all clear!!!

I took this photo on Sunday while walking around Jamaica Pond in Boston with Sasha. I have always loved this tree, standing by itself in the middle of the pond.

Last night I went to Narayan's meditation class. I told her that I was getting a mammogram today and asked for her prayers. She asked me what time and I told her at 2:30 this afternoon. It is comforting to know that she will be thinking of me at that time. Mark will go with me. I often bring her a little gift -- last night it was a perfect kiwi. I opened my email this morning and read the one from tricycle.com. Interestingly enough, it was from her late teacher. And it so aptly describes what it's like to be around Narayan.

"When a candle is lit in a dark room, it illuminates the room to some extent, but its power is limited. But if you use the same candle to light another candle, the total brightness increases. If you continue to do this, you can fill the room with brilliant illumination. The idea of transferring merit to others is like this. If we keep our own light selfishly hidden, it will only provide a limited amount of illumination. But when we share our light with others, we do not diminish our own light. Rather, we increase the amount of light available to all. Therefore, when
others light our candle, we issue forth light. When out of gratitude we use our candle to light other people’s candles, the whole room gets brighter. This is why we transfer merit to others. This kind of light is continuous and inexhaustible."

Master Sheng Yen, "Rich Generosity"