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My Kind of Town Don Chapman |
Lama phones home
» Kalakaua Avenue
"I like that story, Lama Jey!" Elizabeth Resurreccion said as they neared the upscale hotel where the second Lama Jey Tsong Khapa would discard his disguise and go back to being himself in public. They shared the backseat of the teal BMW coupe driven by Lily Ah Sun. Elizabeth's mother, Rosalita, was in the passenger seat.
"What did you learn from Dharma the Dolphin, little lama?"
"I learned more about compassion."
"Good. And I will teach you another word -- altruism."
"That's a funny word. It sounds like two words."
"Altruism means to put the interests of others before your own. Compassion without altruism is just sympathy."
"Like Dharma's mother when she jumped and was shot by the harpoon before it could hit Dharma."
"Exactly."
"And Dharma, when he saved the devil Mara who killed his mother and dragged his friend Tara to hell."
"Yes, very good. You are a fast learner. Because of their compassion and altruism, another devil was brought out of the self-destructive darkness of jealousy, hate and anger."
"I had another idea too, Lama Jey. Is Mara kind of like the people who want to hurt you, the Chinese?"
Kids. Why is it they remember everything they're not supposed to hear and almost nothing of what you want them to remember?
"Yes, unfortunately that's the way it is."
"Aren't you scared?"
"Not of death. Not of leaving this world, for if I die, I shall return to complete Tsong Khapa's work."
The newest little living Buddha, raised Catholic for all of her nine years, pursed her lips, tilted her head in thought. "If you die and come back, will you visit me?"
"I believe we shall always be friends, Elizabeth, in this realm and in others, but we never know how or where we will reincarnate. That's why Buddhists believe in not harming any sentient creature -- perhaps they were your mother in a past life, or will be in a future life."
"I have a lot to learn."
"As do we all, little lama. And speaking of mothers, Mrs. Ah Sun, may I borrow your phone?"
"Of course." Lily handed her cell back.
He dialed the number his brother Joe had given him.
In Liliha, his mother Mayadharma Kharma was sewing when the phone rang. The sound of her youngest son's voice, and his invitation to join him in Waikiki, brought tears of joy to her eyes. "We'll see you soon."
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Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek. His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin. He can be e-mailed at dchapman@midweek.com