Dream Inspiration

To Shifu,

A couple months ago I had a dream that had you in it. I was in the Buddha Hall and you walked past. Somehow I got the feeling that you wanted me to show you how I breathed. So I breathed in and out. While breathing out I had a hard time keeping my breath smooth. I could not breathe very well out and you smiled. I somehow understood that you were showing me my breathing was not very good and that I needed to practice it. Then, very clearly I remember you putting your finger in my mouth and pressing on my two bottom front teeth. I remember the feeling of the pressure. You then said, "Ahh, ya you gonna get sick, eh huh." I was not surprised or scared or anything, just aware. I guess this means a few different things. For one thing, I need to practice breathing or else I will get sick. The other thing, I need to be more mindful of the mouth, talking and eating. Because the teeth were a definite factor I think it must be something to do with food. Eating and greed for food maybe. I know that I am too particular about what I eat and I also know that I am greedy for food. I will try to be better.

I sleep next to my eighty-six year old grandma. My room is right next to hers. She makes me think a lot about old age and sickness. It is a little freaky having someone so old so close to me, but I think it is good for me. I try to be patient with her but it is difficult. It must be very painful to be old and not be able to hear or see well. I think one reason why we are so afraid of death is because somewhere inside ourselves, we know that we shall be reborn again. There is much suffering when we are born. I think we don't want to go around again.

I have learned one reason why we must be filial to our parents. Even if our parents are terrible, cruel, and abusing, we still owe a tremendous lot to them. They are what brought us into this realm. If we were not born in the human realm we may have been born again in a lower realm. Our parents have suffered greatly for us.

Respectfully,
Sarah Babcock Age 16
A student of the Girls' School

P.S. I hope you have a nice birthday.