They helped me to fix the roof of the cave. So, the water is running very less now, only a little bit. It’s very bearable. Before it was like a flood, like a swimming pool. But I did not care. It was them who had the idea. And they’d bought everything already before they told me. Then I said, “Oh, I have to think about it,” to let somebody keep climbing on the roof. I said, “I don’t really need it, I have a tent. Even if the floor is flooded, and the water’s dropping, it affects me not.”
I always have to run away so they don’t give the story of their life and all this appreciation, with a plaque maybe, for the privilege of repairing my floor, for example. I always run away whenever they work. I have to tell them what, what, what, what, and then I run. But because of that, sometimes they do things they’re not supposed to do. You want to hear, or not? No! You don’t want. Why so quiet? You want to hear, or not hear? (Yes.) Then why were you so quiet? Is that politeness? Is that politeness, or you want to hear? (We want to hear. Yes! Yes, Master!) Now I ask you and you don’t tell me. When I’m busy, then you want to tell me the whole thing. Your heart’s feeling, your privilege… I just needed quickly to be here on time. Thousands of people were waiting and the troupe came from far way, came here for the show. I could not just stay here and listen to you. Or can I? You think I could? (No.) No! I even forgot my breakfast.
OK, now, for example, because I’m not there, sometimes they don’t do things accordingly. If I was there, I would tell them, “No, no. Don’t do that.” For example, my cave – there is a platform, very high, like this. Before we came, they put the statue of the First Patriarch of Zen (Buddhism), Bodhidharma, there. After we bought it, because the statue belonged to them, they moved it away. And there was some cement, pointed and rough, that they’d glued. It was very rough and pointed, you couldn’t even put up a tent up there, apart from all the water running. So, afterward, they (the helpers) were very kind. They helped me to fix the roof of the cave. So, the water is running very less now, only a little bit. It’s very bearable. Before it was like a flood, like a swimming pool. But I did not care. It was them who had the idea. And they’d bought everything already before they told me. Then I said, “Oh, I have to think about it,” to let somebody keep climbing on the roof. I said, “I don’t really need it, I have a tent. Even if the floor is flooded, and the water’s dropping, it affects me not.”
But then later, because I needed to work here, they brought some more clothes in and then I had to buy some plastic cupboards to put them in. Then I said, “I’m fine, no need to fix the roof.” But they said they’d already prepared it and they’re going to work tomorrow. I said, “What?! Why didn’t you tell me long ago before you bought?” They said, already in the morning they will begin to work on it. They didn’t know they should tell me in advance, so they didn’t tell. So I said, “OK, never mind. How long will it take you?” They said, “Maybe two, three days.” Oh, my God. And then where do I live? I had to move, live with the dog-people. That is OK. “Fine! Since you’ve already prepared and have all the men ready to come, you do it then.” Not two days – four, five days. I can’t remember how long. It’s OK. That was no big deal.
And then they wanted also to flatten that platform where the cement was sticking up like a mountain, a small mountain. You couldn’t put up a tent there because the tent would be pierced at the bottom. I said, “What are you going to do because it’s a lot of cement sticking up there?” They said, “Just flatten it a little bit and then we put the wood on top, and then it’s OK.” I thought that’s what they’d do. No, they didn’t! But OK, I said, “Alright, then do that. How long it’ll take?” “Oh, half a day, no problem.” Alright. Because they did it somewhere else before, it took only half a day. And they put up a big tent so that I could stay there, better than the tent I had. They thought it was too small. I said, “Yeah, I am small. It’s good enough actually.” But fine, they did it, because by the way they were fixing something, so they did that.
And afterward, I realized that they were not just doing there. They fixed my floor as well; put all the wood, the fake wood, the imitation wood, on the floor because wood would be rotten so quick. So when I asked them, they said, “Three days, Master.” I said, “What?! Just a little two-square meters and put wood on top, how come it takes three, four days?” And then, I realized that they fixed all the floor as well. And the cement, they didn’t just level a little bit, they took everything off, and they put cement flat. That takes longer of course. Because I wasn’t there, it’s always the same. I can’t be there. I don’t like to be there because I would have to listen to the story, and I don’t have time. And if I tell them I don’t want to listen, I don’t have time, then I might offend them. People are sensitive for no reason. So it’s not easy. Later they told me, “Master, we’ve fixed the roof, but there are still some places that are leaking, that are dropping on the floor. We saw it when we were making the floor.” I said, “No, no. It’s OK. It’s a very small thing. They dry up quickly, not like before. They dry up quickly. Don’t worry about it.” I said, “Thank you. Thank you.” I don’t want them to… I said, “No. No. It’s good. It’s good. It’s very good right now. It’s excellent. Please don’t worry. It’s good,” because I didn’t want any more.
Actually, before it was OK, only needed that thing to fix to put the tent on. Easier! And then they did the whole floor. And if I asked them to fix these few drop, drop, drops, maybe they’d do something else. I don’t know. I don’t want to bother people to work so hard. Before, I did not even care about the floor, or putting a wood deck on top. I don’t need it. They said, “Master, but water’s everywhere.” Even, after they fixed the roof, the water didn’t come from the roof, but came from the wall leaking, and from underground sometimes, or from the rain from outside. And because of that, they wanted to fix the door as well. The door is not a real door. It’s just like a fence put-up, and then you put a plastic sheet on it, to stop the rain and the wind. In winter I cut it off so it’s cooler. But then the rain comes in. But it’s not much, better than before. Before, I didn’t care even if the rain wets all over the floor. It’d drop from the ceiling some and then, of course, it’s all over the floor. They said, “Master, we have to fix this. There’s water all over.” I said, “I don’t care.” I had a tent, and this floor, I treat it like a highway, like a road. I don’t live on the floor. There’s a higher platform in there, and I put the tent on it, that’s enough. And I wear shoes to walk in and out, and if it’s wet, I wear higher shoes. If it’s dry, I just wear slippers. Only when it rains. When it’s not raining, it doesn’t matter. I don’t treat it like something important.
But of course, it’s good of them. They worry about me and they fixed it. But I did not want it. I did not intend to. So, if I ask something, then something else will also be done and then it takes forever, and I don’t need that. Similarly, so many other things... If they fix something here… But that wasn’t the worst case. It’s good now. It also looks better and cleaner, and whatever rain or leaking, it goes under the wood and I don’t see much. It’s just a little bit now. It’s also not bad, not bad. If the dog-people come in, they don’t have to dirty or muddy their feet. It’s also not bad. And when I change clothes sometimes, I don’t have to worry so much because if you’re not careful, your trousers will drop, the under part, the lower part, will drop into the water. It gets wet and you have to change to another one, etc., etc. But that’s not the worst case. It’s good that they did that, it came out good.
But another thing, they fixed something to screen something for privacy, so people don’t see in. And then they walked on top of my temporary bathroom. It’s about this square, and then on top, they made it with very thin metal or plastic something, and they walked on it to fix that. They did not have to. Because the other place is nearby, they didn’t have to, and they can use a ladder. But they walked on top of my bathroom, like this building kind of temporary bathroom, and the roof bent downward. Before, the roof was like this. You see what I mean? Then the water would come down, no problem. And now, the roof became like this, and I can’t close the door, I can’t open the door, and if I do by force, the water that’s saved from the rain is all over me! I habitually close the door and open of course, and many times I got a free shower like that. It’s OK, normally, I can go change. But once I’m already like made-up and wear, and it’s all over, then sometimes I can’t come out. It’s not quick enough to dry my hair and to do make-up again. So it’s not like always free of charge. And they used the sink, the outdoor sink that I use outside to wash hands, they used it to drill things on, like a working table. And so, they put holes in my sink as well. The new sink, they just made it. For example, like that. So, it is scary to have people in your place; they fix one thing – they break another. And if you yell at them or scold them, then they get offended. So I just “zip” and then I continue whatever. Now you know. So if you come and help me, please be careful, be mindful of my property.
Talk a lot. Oh, my God. Time to go to eat now, yeah guys? It’s four o’clock. If you don’t have any more questions, I go. (No…) No? What do you mean “no”? What do I do here? Sit here? My calendar has run out. It took effort to come here to see you because I don’t like to put on a dress. It’s just I have to. It’s a rule. It’s a rule of my job. It belongs to the job. Did you ever watch some… A long time ago I watched some of the series “Monk.” You saw? American series. It’s about a detective. It’s OK. It’s not about him, it’s about a sheriff. He is a police sheriff, the captain of that office, of a police headquarters. He is the captain of that office and he wears a mustache. And one time, I don’t know, for some reason, he went somewhere else, or something, and then his assistant had to replace him. And that guy is not so clever. OK, fine. But then he also wore a mustache. So everybody came and looked, and he’s very young, a young guy, and he didn’t need a mustache. They asked him, “Oh, you have a mustache now?” He said, “It belongs to the job.”
“(f): What is that?
Captain(m): What?
(f): On your face, on your lip.
Monk(m): It looks a little bit like a mustache.
Captain(m): Well, I’m in charge, comes with the job.”
Maybe a captain has to wear a mustache, maybe like that. So, this also belongs to the job. So, if you become my successor, you wear what you want. Please! Or don’t wear, I don’t care. These don’t belong to your job. It’s a different karma, different job.
Good, good. Now I leave, so you can go enjoy your dinner, have a little sun while it’s still there. At this time the sun is comfortable. (Thank You.) You’re welcome. The sun now is very comfortable because it’s not too hot now. But you need some sun, especially when you came from a very snowy and wintery country. Take advantage, a little bit, of the sun. Eat in the sun. Sit in the sun. Alright. I’ll see you when I see you. (Thank You, Master.)
How long will they stay? How long will they stay, the nuns and the monks? (Master asked when you will leave. Till when do you stay? Till 19th?) (Tomorrow…) (Tomorrow.) Tomorrow, they leave already? (Tomorrow they are leaving, yes.) Why so hurry? Why? (Master asked why you are leaving so fast.) (I have some work to do back home.) They have jobs? (They have a lot of things to do.) Oh, of course, nuns, so busy! When you think by leaving your home you’ll have nothing to do, you’re wrong! The nuns are more punctual than you. Every time they come, they immediately go afterward. I mean if you say, “Two days retreat,” that’s all they stay. If they say, “Three days retreat,” that’s all they stay. You never see them again afterward. Not like some of you – forever, forever after, don’t go home at all.
