At the start of the new millennium, I found myself a recent graduate from law school, who had no desire whatsoever to be a lawyer. I was lost, confused and I really wanted to be happy. I had discovered Eastern Philosophy while in law school and it provided comfort but I wanted more than comfort. I wanted tobe happy. Actually, I had been wanting that since I was a kid but back in 2000, my soul was crying for it.
For a reason which I do not remember, I decided to watch some of the old Star Wars movies. When I watched the one where Master Yoda appears, all I kept thinking was: “I want a Master Yoda to come into my life and help me.” You know the saying: “Be careful what you wish for”? Well, it’s true!
Be Careful What You Wish For
About two months later, a friend of mine invited me to a lecture that was being given by a high monk from one of the prestigious orders in India. I normally did not care for such things but I decided to go anyway. The event was being held at someone’s house so off I went. I sat in the back because I did not know anyonethere except for my friend. Soon the monk took center stage and started to give a talk as to why so many people are unhappy. It was fascinating to hear and everything he described made total sense.
After the monk finished his lecture, there was a small reception. I was not planning on staying but I did want to thank the monk for such an inspiring speech. However, there were so many people, I decided to get my things and go. I was trying to find my friend to tell her I was leaving but the next thing I knew the monk was walking towards me.
He introduced himself and asked for my name. He somehow knew what I was going through in my life and asked me why I was so lost and confused. I told him what my thoughts were on the issue and he explained how I was off the mark. It was one of the most interesting conversations because on some level he knew me better than I did.
Meeting My Master Yoda
He then asked for a pen and paper, wrote down his email and said the following; “You have a very good heart. Email me in two weeks and I will have some more information to share with you”. So here I was with an email address of a Buddhist Master with the precise request to email him. I could not wait until the two weeks passed.
I emailed him as he asked and received the names of two books to read. He wanted me to call him when I was finished. I went to the bookstore and proceed with my assignment. After I was done with the books, I contacted him and he gave me a series of questions which I had to answer.
The thing about talking to a Buddhist Master is that they know when you are not telling the truth. They just can tell and are probably more reliable than a polygraph test. So I answered my questions as honestly as I could.
When I gave my last answer, there was a silence which lasted for about ten seconds but felt like an hour. He then said; “How would you like to be initiated into our order?” I could not believe what I was hearing. I said yes. I later found out that not everyone gets initiated. Many are rejected and here I was being asked to be initiated. It was a huge honor.
I will not go into all that happened. It is a sacred ceremony and so much goes into it. I did learn many wonderful things from that Buddhist Master and when I learned what I needed, we parted ways. The whole experience changed my life around and helped to prepare me for what life brought next. However, there are two concepts I would like to share with you which we all can use regardless of religion.
Have an Open Mind
Sometimes in life we are so busy thinking and worrying, we are unable to see clearly, let alone be receptive to the environment around us. When your mind is so full, it is hard to be receptive to new ideas or ways that may be of help. You also may ignore people who could end up being of tremendous value to you. So as the Buddhist Master told me; keep your mind open like a tea cup. When the mind is open, it is amazing what you can learn and how peaceful you will feel.
Have an Open Heart
We have all had painful experiences in our lives. We have given love and not had it reciprocated back in the same manner. We have given trust, only to be lied to by the person whom we trusted. These are events in life that we all have endured. Such events cause us to protect our hearts and to act cautiously – being suspicious of others.
One lesson that the Buddhist Master taught me was the importance of having an open heart. Having an open heart means that with each person we meet, we should not reflect all our painful experiences onto that person because we have no idea what that person is like nor do we know their life story. We shouldn’t be so quick to judge and we should learn to just listen. We may be surprised what we will discover with that kind of an approach.
{ 33 comments }
Oh, Nadia! Thank you so much for this! This is just what I needed to hear. I’ve been in danger of closing my heart for the past few weeks, knowing that I shouldn’t, but wanting to nonetheless.
Thanks for helping me keep it open. You are a true friend.
Love,
Jay
PS -What were the two books?
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I went on a 6 month sojourn in India and stayed for some time at a Buddhist Monastery and ashrams. My favorite was Ramana Maharishi’s. Although I didn’t meet a guru, I did discover similar things to what you describe: the importance of meeting with life with that sense of newness, that childlike sense of exploration and viewing everything like you’re seeing it for the first time. Because you are.
In my channeling, one thing that came through recently was the concept that love is attention. We think of it as this good-feeling sentiment. But when you truly love something, you give it your full, rapt attention without any desire for it to change. That’s what Buddhist Masters bring. They give you their full attention, you feel their love – and you are both transformed through the interaction.
Written a good article, we have. — Sunny Jamiel
Named must your fear be, before banish it you can. — Yoda
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That was such a cool story! I want my own personal Yoda!! ; )
Besides the very cool story, I liked your two points. There are times when I’m so busy, busy, busy…and when I look back, the time was a blur. I wonder what I missed out on, because I was so wrapped up in “whatever.”
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Great story! I loved reading it and I love how you summed it up with the open mind and open heart sections. You make some great points here about openness. Thanks for sharing this!
http://positivelypresent.typepad.com
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@Nadia, I love Yoda – and Mr Miyage in the Karate Kid! But to be blessed enough to meet a real Buddhist Master at such a turning point – wow! I look forward to hearing more about this.
@Jay,
I sometimes feel it helps, too, if we think of ourselves as jugs, beautiful, unique hand-crafted jugs. Sometimes we’re empty and waiting, but it’s not an unhappy waiting if we’re open, curious and ready, available for wonderful things to fill us up so much they overflow into everything we write and refresh everyone we touch.
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@ Jay – Please don’t close your heart, you are full of love and it shows! As for being a true friend, it takes one to know one!
@ Matthew – Welcome to Happy Lotus! Cool on the travels through India. I lived in India for 6 months. We were in a little village (Puttaparthi) that had an ashram. However, the ashram there was not related to the order that I was initiated into. You are right about how the focus of Buddhist Masters is rooted in love and when they talk to you, they truly are focused only on you. Very true.
@ Sunny – So sweet, you are!
@ Kirwin – You never know what life will bring you! So your own version of Yoda may appear at the supermarket! It is so true about how sometime in life we are so busy, we forget what we just did. So keeping an open mind and heart helps.
@ P.P. – Glad you liked the post! Having an open heart and mind is really important regardless of what religion you practice. When you are open to what is around you, it is amazing what you will see!
@ Janice – I am not surprised that you love Yoda!
I am very fortuante to have met a a real Buddhist Master. I usually do not talk much about it but then I realized that it may be of help to others, so I decided to share the experience. All this positive feedback has encouraged me to maybe write more about what I learned. 
And I loved the advice you gave to my friend, Jay. Thank you for sharing your wisdom! 
Very cool story. I met a Buddhist monk in Bodh Gaya, India at the place of the Buddha’s enlightenment. We still keep in touch via e-mail. I always get a kick out of it: thinking that I just received an e-mail from a monk. Brilliant man with a grasp on living and happiness.
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Wow, what an incredible story.
Great advice, I hope I remember it.
Star Wars gets a lot of flak for being geeky and juvenile, but it really contains a deep spiritual allegory. I can’t think of many greater pieces of wisdom than Yoda’s “Try not. Do. There is no try.” Certainly George Lucas was inspired by eastern philosophy.
(in Yoda voice) A great post, you wrote.
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@ Gennaro – You got good karma, my friend!
That is one place I would love to see, the Bodh Gaya. I know…I lived in India and you would think I would have made my way there but it just was not meant to be. I know what you mean about emailing with a Buddhist monk. It is an interesting experience!
@ David – I am a big admirer of Joseph Campbell and apparently he was an advisor for the first three (last three in the series) Star Wars movies. Actually, alot of the philosophy in the movie is based on spiritual thought. The concept of the Force is really the Universe or God or whatever terms someone wants to use. So may the Force be with you, my friend!
As for keeping an open heart, me thinks you will!
Wow what a great story!
Openness of heart and mind is the secret, but for most of us it is not easy. We have to shed all the stuff we’ve built up let the openness shine.
Very inspiring post. Thanks.
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What a great story! I really love Buddhism and all it’s teachings. Like you, it just made total sense to me.
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@ Kaushik – Thank you for calling the post inspiring. I appreciate it.
I know that openness of mind and heart can be hard. However, if we project our past pains onto whatever is presently in front of us, then we are continuing the past. The only way to break free from the past is to have a different mind set. Easier said than done, I know, but life is too short to waste by holding on to past pain.
@ Roger – I am happy that you liked my story and that Buddhism has made such an impact on you.
Who knows…maybe you may meet your own Master Yoda! As they say, “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear”! 
So meant to be. You are truly blessed.
I’m curious to know the two books he asked you to read. Wondering whether they were from Thich Nhat Hanh.
And so a new journey begins for you. How very exciting.
Peace, love and chocolate
Carole
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Hi Carole,
Welcome to Happy Lotus! I love how you sign off…I am all for chocolate as well as peace and love!
Thank you for all your kind words. As for the books, they were not from Thich Nhat Hanh. I do not recall the titles but I do remember that one was by Ramakrishna. It was so long ago and I don’t even own them any more. What I do remember is that the books talked about the universality of religion and that there was no one religion that was superior to another. Of course, there was more information than what I just wrote but that was the primary focus.
Thanks for this post. I liked what you said about having an open mind — when I go into a conversation with someone without making a lot of assumptions about what they’ll be like based on the knowledge I have about them, I know it can be a fun exploration. Best, Chris
Hi Chris,
You are absolutely right about how when you have a discussion with someone and you keep an open mind, it makes the whole interaction more fun. You may learn something new, too!
Wow! What an amazing experience. Thank you for sharing it.
re: open mind and open heart — tough lessons to learn. Children are living examples though. Once when I was going through a heart-wrenching breakup, I sat next to my young niece and was amazed by her opennness. She seemed to understand my heartache and did silly things to cheer me up. Kinda like your monk.
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Hi Darla!
Welcome to Happy Lotus! Isn’t that amazing about how kids are so open and have no fear? I am not surprised by how your niece was kind of like my monk. Children have no worry and just see things in a different way…just like monks do!
that is an incredible experience, nadia. amazing.
and you offer a good reminder about openness. it happens to be something i’ve been thinking of more lately. i think i have lots of room to improve, especially the open heart part.
thanks.
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Hi Adam,
No worries, you are not the only one in the world who has to deal with trying to have more of an open heart. However, you should be thankful that you are aware of the issue because that truly is an important factor. Many people are so unaware about themselves and are in pain. Awareness is awesome and you are aware. So…yay for you!
I agree that we all should be open minded and more receptive to new ideas.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Giovanna,
I totally agree!
@Nadia – I was in Puttaparthi too, but only for a few days. I take it you’re talking about Sai Baba? It was certainly an experience, but I wasn’t too into the Bhakthi yoga path, especially of someone who didn’t talk.
Did make it to Bodh Gaya, as well as Ladakh up north and the Sera monastery transplant from Tibet near Mysore.
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Hi Nadia,
I love this, thanks so much for sharing part of your journey here. And how special to be initiated into this order. More than that, though, is what you’ve come out of from this, I’m sure. And what it all means in your life today. Where I’m at right now, and something I believe very much in – is what you touched upon near the end. The idea of not being quick to judge. I am finding this to be so true – the importance of this. It’s so easy to judge others, and yet we don’t know the whole story, nor can we fully know what another has been through to get to where they are at.
Thank you for this. I love what you’re writing here, it touches me deeply.
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@ Matthew – Thank you for sharing where you went in India. I really wanted to see the Bodhi tree (where Buddha attained enlightenment) but never got there when we lived in India.
No worries about Sai Baba and Puttaparthi. I did go through a phase of wanting to have a guru because I thought it would ease the pain. However, I came to see in the end that I am responsible for my life and actions. My life is a reflection of my actions, thoughts and feelings. That is why Buddhism resonated so much with me. We each are more powerful than we realize!
@ Lance – What a joy to wake up this morning and see your comment! Thank you so much for all that you wrote. You are such a kind person!
Having an open mind and heart is so important. I used to have a closed heart due to all the pain I have been through and realized that I was just repeating the pain because of that old baggage. However, when I learned to open my heart, it is amazing how love just appeared and expanded. No one is perfect. We each have suffered and we each can learn from each other if we just open up our minds and hearts!
Hey Nadia
That was a rivetting post. Makes one believe in synchronicity. Can you please share the names of the books you were asked to read . Would love to read them.
This is such a lovely story Nadia, and beautifully written. Thanks for the perfect reminders to have an open heart and an open mind. As for being careful what you wish for – I’ve been experiencing that truth the last 24 hours!! So glad I dropped by here : )
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@ Uzma – I am happy that you enjoyed the post! As for the name of the two books, I do not recall them for it was so long ago. The first book was by Ramakrishna and the second book I do not recall. I do not even own them anymore. If you want, I can suggest some other books that were of the same line of thought. Just let me know!
@ Hilda – Great to hear from you, as always!
Thank you so much for the kind words and I know…it is so true…be careful what you wish for! I hope all that is happening are happy things! 
Hello Nadia
It’s my first comment but i’ve been looking around…
As always, this post it’s great!
It really touch me and wish i can find my Yoda…
Wish you the best
i’ll be back…
Hi Cpitbull!
Here is your official Welcome to Happy Lotus!
I am so happy that you liked the post and I hope you can find your own Yoda too.
Who knows…he may be nearer than you think! 
I wish you the best too, my friend!
I know I’m late with this one but I have to say thank you for this post and bless you.
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Hi Paisley,
It is never too late to comment on a post. You are most welcome and bless you too, my friend.
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