Getting to Nirvana {editing}

Chapter 23

"Those who are free of resentful thoughts will surely find peace." - Buddha

Chapter 23

Nirvana

"So this it. The last thing on our list." Daniel observes as we make our way up the cobblestone steps of the Buddhist temple. For some strange reason my heart has started to pound erratically in my chest and my palms have begun to sweat profusely. I'm not nervous. Well I don't think I am. So why do I feel this way?

"So do we just walk in?" I ask Daniel as our eyes travel up the at least 14 foot large green wooden door that looks to be encrusted with intricate golden designs. Daniel scratches the back of his head with his hand and looks just as confused as I am. "I don't know I guess." Just when he reaches for the ringed door handles, it flies open and out steps a monk flanked by two other monks.

They all have tan brown skin, slanted almond eyes, and shiny bald heads. Their bright but simple orange robes drape over their wrinkled skin like a tablecloth black beaded necklaces encircle their necks. They look like the stereotypical monks you would seen in a movie or book.

They look at us questioningly.

I  look at Daniel who gazes back at me just as clueless as to what to say.

Then the one in the front bows his head and his comrades follow suit. Daniel and I bow back. "Swasdi." The old man greets us as his eyes meet my own. He then smiles at me kindly.

I smile back as I recognize the language he's speaking. It's Thai. The language my grandparents on my mothers side speak to me in. A wave of nostalgia hits me as I reminiscent about my estranged  grandparents back in Thailand, who I only see on occasion.

"Swasdi." I greet back.

"Swasdi." Daniel repeats after me and bows dramatically his head basically touching the floor. I have to stifle a laugh at how ridiculous he looks and  I swear I see one of the monks discreetly roll his eyes.

The monk in front sweeps his arm across the expansion of the doorway. "Se il vous plaît venir." He commands switching to French, motioning  for us to come in.

"Merci." I thank him.

We then  follow the monks inside.The door leads to a large wooden room with Buddha memorabilia against a wall and about fifty monks, sitting on elaborate mats of distinct red, orange, green and gold colors. They all wear the same simple orange robes with the same black beaded necklaces that the monks are wearing.

They're so deep in meditation they don't even look up when we walk in loudly. They're heads are all shaven bald and shine against the dark brown almost black wood. Some look as old as eighty but others  look barely out of their teens.

I spare a glance at Daniel who looks both baffled and awed. The three monks pause for a moment admiring the other monks before they motion for us to follow them again. They lead us out another door which leads to an outside garden.

"It's beautiful." I admire as my eyes sweep across the beautiful green well kept grass, tall elegant fountains spewing out crystal clear water; tall shrubs, and the huge Buddha statue in the center of it all. There's also a large pond a couple of yards away that glistens brilliantly in the setting sun.

We stand there for a while admiring the scenery before one of the three monks leaves and reappears with two robes and two elegant mats. He hands it to me, and then they all bow their heads one last time and leave going back into the doorway.

There's other monks and regular people like us meditating outside too, but not very many so it's still peaceful and quiet.

"That was weird." Daniel declares as he looks across the huge garden.