Experience sharing
BOTANICAL GARDENS
By Angus Mccallum
Photo by Yin Ting & Miya Li
Photo by Yin Ting & Miya Li
It was early morning and the sun kissed dew gently caressed each blade of grass. The fresh smell of Autumn was in the air. Today was the day we adventured out to Staten Island to the Botanical Gardens. The days before I was a bit overwhelmed with the thought of attending the event. I am a middle aged white American male nor am I Buddhist. I was raised Catholic, although I have become agnostic while serving in the US Navy. My past experiences with religions and churches made me uncomfortable. We headed out to Staten Island.
As we arrived, we quickly found friendly people directing us where to park the car. Upon stepping out of the car, the soft smells of the gardens were fragrant and uplifting. As we walked to the meet up location, there was a lovely farmers market selling various items. I soon realized we arrived early. There were a few kids kicking a soccer ball back and forth and quickly without hesitation asked our son to join. Everyone was warm and friendly. A small group doing Tai Ji were very welcoming for all to join. Attendees introduced themselves and I could see the joy in their faces meeting their long-lost friends. Everybody was smiling, giving hugs, and the mood was uplifting. The gardens were beautiful, and the buildings were majestic with history and architecture. I was quickly surprised how I was welcome by all without any questions, concerns, prejudices, or salesmanship.
Once everyone had arrived, we headed into part of the garden that was rich with Chinese history. The garden was a recreation of typical Chinese construction, and the history was a sight to behold. The moment reminded me of a recent Chinese movie I had seen, and the architecture was so elegant and flowed with harmony. The curves of the buildings, the flow of the water and the calm of the pond filled my body with peace, serenity, and comfort. Several attendees assisted deciphering the signs. Everyone was helping each other with understanding and creating memorable moments through photography. The air was sweet and soft. The event was well orchestrated, and everyone was having fun.We returned to our meeting spot where they had prepared a lovely meal. The meal was delicious, and the flavor enhanced the moment with every bite. As I looked around the group, I could see various conversations filled with laughter, love, and compassion. These moments are the reasons we live and appreciate life, our friends, and our families.
It was time for the Venerable to gather everyone and speak. We all gathered, and she gave a lovely and elegant addressing to the attendees. She spoke in both Chinese and English to my surprise. Venerable is very inspiring and caring. I felt moved and calm. The group then meditated. During this time, I had never meditated before. The moment was very calming and reflective. I thought deeply about this adventure. The people and their welcoming kind manners, actions during the tour and experiences seeing everyone working together to make it more than just a get together. I reflected on the words the Venerable spoke and how they touched my heart and soul. She was kind, intelligent and wise. I was very touched by my experience. It was heartwarming and transcendent. It was wonderful to feel free of life, salespeople, social media, politics, and stress. I may have come to this meeting with slight apprehension, yet I left with gratitude, acceptance, serenity, love, and friendships. Now, reflecting days later, I found it unforgettable.