Zen tourists
Four monks on a boat were nothing like Leo Tolstoy’s short story, “The Three Hermits.” These monks were fun, and more importantly, I connected with them as individuals on their grand adventure far from their home.
Last weekend, four Tibetan monks visiting from India for one year, stepped out of a white Sprinter van at the end of Village Street in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Their host arranged for a two-hour sailing charter on Satori, a twenty-three-foot sloop rig with an outboard motor.
Satori in Zen Buddhism is a spiritual awakening, and refers to a deep experience of “seeing into one’s true nature.” The thought appeared, “I am going to sail with real life monks, not just pretend monks.”
I gave them a brief overview of the boat and our sailing plan. I then pointed to a plastic Porta-Potty that each used before going to the boat. As we walked down the Village Street floating dock to Satori, we passed by the locals in their holy robes — Vineyard Vines, Sperry, Helly Hansen, Patagonia, etc.
I asked the four monks if they would like to wear a life vest, noting that it is not required. They declined, confirming they could all swim. The thought appeared, “can they swim with their robes?” I did not wear a life vest either. We each turned our lives over to a power greater than ours.
I started the engine and hoisted the main sail, and we were off. To where? Wherever the wind would carry us. We had no plan other than to return to the dock in two hours, God willing.
We discussed many things — lighthouses before they were automated, the miles lobsters travel, material wealth, million dollar homes, sound, vibrations, chanting and prayer. Dawa was the only monk fluent in English, but all seemed to understand the language. He would translate the deeper concepts to his fellows.
In the light breeze, we toured the harbor waving to other boats, while the monks snapped selfies on their phones and took videos. Dawa, who is now my friend on Facebook, agreed to take the helm. I asked if I could take a photo of him, as the Tiki Hut charter, a floating bar, motored by us.
Dawa shared that he and the monks do not drink alcohol or smoke tobacco. I joked that they would make poor sailors!
Our two-hour cruise was coming to an end (is there ever an end?), when one of the monks noticed a cormorant caught on a mooring ball. This class of seabirds are characterized as a pest and vilified by many. I circled Satori back to the cormorant and asked Dawa to hold the tiller steady, while I grabbed my knife and went forward with a boat hook. I could see the cormorant was wrapped in fishing line that snagged the mooring ball. I cut the line as close to the bird as possible.
The bird dove, disappearing for a minute, then surfacing nearby and swam away.
I asked my shipmates, “Do we receive free karma for this?” They all smiled and gave me the thumbs up. Our actions at that moment could contribute to a happier rebirth, possibly as cormorants next life.
We went to our mooring. I hailed the launch to give the four Zen tourists a ride back to the dock, and then to their next destination, demonstrating their spiritual practice to the people of the western world.
I said a prayer while bowing to each of them. We waved goodbye, uncertain if we would ever see each other again in this lifetime. Later that day, the launch driver, Anna, sent me a selfie with her and the four monks on her water taxi.
So it goes.
Camron Adibi is a sailor, horseman, equine relationship coach and a PATH Therapeutic Horse Riding Instructor who holds a master’s degree in education. He offers equine assisted therapy, sound therapy and Chi Equine Massage. He has a mission to improve horse and human interactions through education and storytelling.