Unexpected lessons from unexpected places.

Zayl

People say you learn something new every day. But sometimes that tidbit of knowledge can come from way out of left field. I've recently started playing EVE online and, much to my surprise there is only one server for the entire globe. This means that the corporation (think of it like a guild) and my Alliance (a guild made up of guilds) has people from multiple different countries. When I get into our fleetcomm channel (a teamspeak server, lol) I hear many different accents and languages. But such a diverse and cosmopolitan group has taught me something I never thought about. We have these vast differences in personality, upbringing, and culture. By all rights, we should barely be able to communicate. And yet when we began working towards a common goal with solidarity, these vast differences did not hinder us at all. Instead they lent a depth to our thought processes. Differing views and ways of doing things, the most efficient and effective from the world's cultures being utilized, and it became nearly flawless.

Our species differences are not our weakness, they are our strength I came to find out. With them, we can adapt to any situation, at any given time, under any circumstances. Humanity, together, is capable of drastically so much more. Playing EVE has also reinforced my opinion that in the end, we're all one big family. There's no two ways about it.

So go ahead and share, your lessons from places where you did not seek them.

lamaramadingdong

About 4 years ago, I was looking for the USB cable for my camera. When I couldn't find it, I immediately became upset, angry and implicated my daughters in AGAIN taking something of mine and not putting it back (not uncommon for them to do). Instead of ranting and continuing my "poor me story" that I used to always revert to I decided to put my pratice into practice. I took a few deep breaths, let my anger and rightousness go, and said "I'll find it later". Within an hour I found it where I had put it after the last time I had used it. Small lesson, but it made a big impact on me and has stuck with me.

genkaku

Not sure if this qualifies, but here is a true story:

In the late 1970's, I supported my somewhat over-enthusiastic interest in Zen practice by painting apartments in New York City. One of my rules in painting was always to be on time and so, one sunny, pleasant morning, I found myself lounging against the building in which I would shortly be working. It was perhaps 7:45 and work began at 8.

I was enjoying watching New Yorkers as they hurried to catch the subway or bus when, to my left-rear, I became aware of a man coming out of an alleyway. He seemed to be in his late 40's or early 50's and he was dressed in a grubby tweed coat more suitable for winter use. In the instant-conclusion exercise that the mind is capable of, I guessed that he had slept in the coat the night before.

Suddenly I became aware that this man was advancing on me. As he came closer, I could see he needed both a bath and a shave. He stopped about two feet in front of me... or perhaps closer ... he was inside "my space," a telltale bit of evidence that suggested mental instability. I could not back up. He looked at me for a moment and then in a very strong and very clear and very earnest tone of voice, he began to speak. He was quite serious.

The problem was that I could not understand a single word he said. He was speaking a language I had never heard. He went on and on. As someone interested in language and conversant, if not fluent, in many, my mind raced around trying to get a handle on his language. It wasn't Latin-based; wasn't Arabic; seemed not to partake of African roots; didn't feel Greek ... I was really, really stymied. I really tried ... and failed.

When, at last, the man stopped talking, I said to him in English, "I'm sorry. I didn't understand what you said." At which point, he began all over again, speaking in the language I didn't know. It did not occur to me that since he seemed to have understood my English, he was either pulling my leg or a simple nut case. When he stopped again, I repeated that I didn't understand. And he began again ... only this time, when he was only a little into his earnest harangue, he stopped abruptly.

"Close your eyes," he said in perfectly clear, calm English. And before my lids had shut, I could see his grubby index finger ascending towards my face. I stood very still as, with an infinite gentleness, he removed a bit of sleepy mucous from the nose-side of my left eyelid.

When I felt his hand retreat, I opened my eyes again.

He smiled.

And walked away.

lobster

Wonderful, inspiring stories guys.
We have to be ready for such people and experiences. The quality we require is discernment. For example I was just staring at the letter 'J' on my keypad. It looks like half a parasol/umbrella
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/b8symbol.htm
or a hook for catching fish, another symbol. Does it contain, when reversed cover, or does it hold? What does it remind or reference to?
Is it just a letter? Reversed some J are like an anchor or question mark.
In Shingon Buddhism, they contemplate kanji, letters. In Kabbalah and the seven layers of the koran and in runes there are also meanings to be contemplated . . .

Atention, Attention, Attention
as the Bishop said to the actress :screwy: