Looking - Becoming Buddha

This is an extract from 'Becoming Buddha', a small meditation book by Vikram.

"Ba, my maternal grandma, had a Buddha. She must have noticed that I often looked at him. One day when we were visiting, she gathered all us - me, my mom and dad. We sat in a circle on a carpet on the living room floor. In the middle was Buddha. Ba carefully picked Buddha up and washed him. She did it attentively and lovingly, as if he were a baby - baby Buddha."

Transcript

Ba,

My maternal grandma,

Had a Buddha.

She must have noticed that I often looked at him.

One day when we were visiting,

She gathered all of us,

Me,

My mom and dad.

We sat in a circle on a carpet on the living room floor.

In the middle was Buddha.

Ba carefully picked Buddha up and washed him.

She did it attentively and lovingly,

As if he were a baby,

Baby Buddha.

She said or sang something,

Maybe mantras.

She dried him,

And then she handed him to me.

I carefully wrapped him in some of my clothes and put him in my suitcase.

Back home in Norway,

I unpacked and placed him in my bedroom.

Now,

Thirty years later,

He is here with me,

In the bedroom of my apartment in Oslo.

I lie in bed watching him as he sits on the windowsill.

His golden body is slender and smooth,

A simple robe covering his left shoulder and leaving the right shoulder and chest and arm bare.

He sits in a lotus position,

In contact with the ground,

Steady as a mountain.

He sits with his back straight.

He sits with dignity.

His arms and hands are soft and relaxed,

Resting on his lap and legs.

His eyes are half open.

He looks both inward and outward,

Attentively present here and now.

His lips form a slight smile.

He knows something.

He seems friendly.

The morning sun is shining through the window now,

Touching lips,

Cheek,

Nose,

Eyelids,

And forehead.

We're smiling.

We're shining.

See for yourself.

Choose an idol,

Someone or something that represents qualities you value.

Find or even create a visual representation of your idol,

Such as a picture or statue.

You can also just imagine your idol with your eyes closed.

Spend time looking at your idol.

What do you notice?

What do you discover?

Notice how it also affects you,

Your body and mind.

Reviews

Really wonderful. Thank you.🙏🌻