Because Kate asked and after all.....maybe this will show you what I'm talking about. And Londo111 I'd like to hear your story. Lets figure out a way to communicate in a private manner that you would feel comfortable in.
This story came to me after my daughter died. My daughter told me the story from a friend of hers who told her this story after she told her about my experience. I went to this woman to get the story face to face.
Her friend is named Estrella and she is from Mexico. Educated there she obtained a job in San Diego working for an Attorney. I'm sure many of you have met a woman like Estrella. She's short and slim and not the kind of woman you want to get in an argument with. Feisty would be the one word definition that could be used. She is also the kind that does not believe anything unless she can see it...smell it...taste it and so forth.
But I am leaving out something about the Attorney as well. He was a Buddhist Attorney.
I know....I was amused at the oxymoron as well. The two worked together for many years and a tight bond formed. He was a very committed Buddhist and she a confirmed skeptic.
I'm sure you have skipped ahead in the story and know that he died. He was diagnosed with cancer. The dead kind. I mean the kind when the doctor tells you that you have only a few months left. I'll let you fill in the blanks of how the next few months went for him. Upon his passing Estrella was despondent as you might imagine. Within two weeks after the death, she was a large book store (like a Barns and Noble).
As she walked in there were the normal large tables filled with books. You know...there's the new books or the dogs they are trying to get rid of. Estrella passed these tables but as she did her hip grazed one corner. When this happened ONE book fell off and landed at her feet in front of her. And it landed in the open position.
She looked down at her feet and screamed.
The book fell open to a picture of him. It was the same guy alright. The book was a coffee table type book about Buddhism. When the picture was taken he was in Thailand at a ceremony for a kind of promotion within his faith. He was on a bridge symbolizing advancement from one level to the next. Complete with incense, candles and reverence.
After regaining her composure she made arrangements to visit the Attorney's Elder Monk. In this situation it happened to be a woman priest. Sitting down at the Monk's desk Estrella explained the story as it happened. Upon completion there was a brief pause. And then the Monk broke out in laughter. The monk explained....basically...
"He chose you....to tell us....that he is ok."
He chose the one that has to see it....taste it and smell it. The skeptic. After all, how many brand new books can you toss down and have them open to ANY page let alone a particular page! And stay there. In addition to that, think of the travel of the picture. From Thailand to publisher to book store to book store worker that placed the book on the table.
I began thinking on this story. If there was a story about a Buddhist that communicated to this side perhaps there were more. More of a diverse crowd so to speak. I found a book entitled "Simple Miracles from Beyond". An outstanding read which deals with (but not limited to) Jewish stories. Many of the same kind that I told you about here with the Buddhist.
I want to find other stories of the caliber of the Buddhist story I told here. I want them from different varied sources. I want to show, and I think I can, that we are all loved and accepted.