A Dirty Hippie

There was one point in time where I was lucky enough to be able to experience what, I understand, is considered a highly monumental occurance in the Buddhist culture.  One on the level of being a sign that something monumental has happened.  That one point in time for me was smack dab in the middle of a Vipassana Meditation course.  The course took place on beautiful grounds about 2.5 hours Northwest of San Francisco, only about an hour this side of Mendocino.  The grounds were situated in among beautiful trees and next to a gentle flowing creek.

On this particular day there had been rain in the morning, which had let up by the afternoon flowing in a more intense and less intense fashion.  Our afternoon sittings were broken up by a short span of time that allowed for a stretch, a restroom break, and not much more. During that break I had done just that and stood watching one of my co attendees (who had a bit of an emotional disorder) as he was pulling his towels and other things, that he had apparently washed in the sink, off the fence rails and tent strings.  While doing this he repeatedly glanced up at the sky.  And in seeing him do so once or twice, I looked up too.  And the sight I was greeted with was a full circular rainbow.  One that was barely broken by a portion of a tree standing between myself and the rainbow.

Now note that a Vipassana training is a 10 day silent meditation training.  Which meant I couldn’t TELL the others about what I saw.  And there actually wasn’t anyone close by TO tell.

So after the rainbow quickly disapated and the remaining days of the course passed by the end of the silence finally came.  And in asking all the other people I could, not a one of them were lucky enough to see the circular rainbow, other than the one man who was retrieving his laundry.

To me the event was a sign.  One that simply confirmed that I was doing the right thing in being in that training.  One that further confirmed an earlier sign, also delivered in the form of a rainbow, that I should GO to Vipassana training.

That earlier sign happened on the way home from a visit to a friend who at the time was a recent ex.  As a matter of fact the first visit together since breaking up while on a trip around India.  A trip that was a combination birthday (mine) visit, and attendance of a presentation she had put together of her India experience, complete with live music, traditional Indian dance, and slideshows of some of her photos.  The trip seemed to be a footnote to the fresh breakup in that it was continually raining throughout.  And this nasty weather simply served to finalize her not attending an earlier Vipassana training course that was beginning later that Sunday.

This meant a little bit of an extended visit with her, but it also meant fairly poor driving conditions for the trip home.  And it was on this trip home, as I was winding through the trees along the curvy road that I was watching a rainbow forming and growing.  This rainbow kept growing and growing until it was a full rainbow stretching from the horizon on the right to the horizon on the left.  Only difference from the other rainbows I’ve experience is that THIS one actually ended in FRONT of the trees along the hillside to my left.  And at the same time as this was happening I happened to noticed a sign that was placed along the side of the road to my right.  A sign welcoming the attendees of the Vipassana meditation course that my ex-girlfriend had just skipped out on.

It was with that sign in mind that I went online as soon as I got home and signed myself up for the next training.  The very training where, midway through, I experienced the circular rainbow.

That was some 3 1/2 years ago.  And I was reminded of that experience today as I was on a flight from Des Moines to Phoenix for Christmas.  Looking out the window as we had just finished passing over Albuerqueque I saw a circular rainbow amongst the clouse.  I had to laugh a bt though as being in the clouds makes this a common occurance rather than a rare one.  But I’ll take it as a sign.

A sign that I’m heading in the right direction.  A sign that I was lucky to be on this flight in the first place, being that I was flying on a standby ticket out of Des Moines on a 50 seat commuter jet only days before Christmas.  BUT I was heading to see my family and continue on to see my girlfriend from a heavily strained relationship.  And I hope that this sign means good things for both those relationships.

So I wish you all notice that signs revealing themselves around you and maybe, just maybe, take action based on what they speak to you.  And I wish you all much joy in these future days, beginning with the joy of being able to be with family and loved ones.

A sign repeated throughout the Vipassana training, and posted on the walls, is Be Happy.  I hope for you all to Be Happy.