Once upon a time ... really:
There is a Zen center I went to several times several years ago. It was very inexpensive and comprehensive when I went as a Student Practioner. For the weeks I was there I was a full member of the community, the Sanga, and arose early to meditate and to clean and to work. The weeks I chose to go were often when we arose "late" and meditated once before cleaning, breakfast, and then work. The choice I made of the time of year was because we arose "late" - about 6am, but was just when I was available. I thus missed arising at 5am and meditating twice in the morning and so one day I figured out when to go so as to get the more full experience.
I arrived for the week when all would be earliest and most complete. As it turned out I was housed in a satellite sleep area and that was ok. I use a cpap machine and the space I had was a single so it didn't bother a roomate (though the machine is quiet). The satellite area did not have a toilet and so in the middle of the night when I awoke and needed a facility I dressed a bit, put on some shoes, and went to the main building. As I walked over I passed an office building and saw a police car parked there. I thought -- ahhh... the police are into Zen and or have some friends in the community and that seemed good. I returned to my room and went to sleep and expected to be awaken at about 4:30am or 4;45am to begin the long full day.
When the sun rose I awoke and noticed the time to be about 6am and I was surprised. Weren't we going to begin meditating and all the rest of the day at 5am? Where was the monk who came around with a bell to awaken all of us in the community to get us going? Did I get the date wrong? Was this a time when things started later????
All was silent. All was still. At least from my satellite building and it seemed quiet everywhere.
I arose, got dressed and headed to the main buildings and then I learned -- there was a great crisis! A young man who had been residing and part of the community for several months was missing. He was nowhere to be found and his car was still parked and he was diabetic and may not have had with him his insulin. Everyone was very worried and so searches were being organized.
The searches being organized were very professional and comprehensive. Teams on horses were called in, helecopters were to be deployed, people on foot were out, and a radio and phone command center was setup. Things were very colorful. The several teams came from surrounding towns and counties and each had their own colors. There were uniforms that were bright orange and bright yello and bright red. Maybe more colors, too. Lots of people. Lots of resources. Lots of anxiety. Everyone was worried and hopeful. So many teams and so many emotions! Some of the professional search teams had been on a job the week before and the results may not have been good. How was this search and rescue going to end?
Trauma for the Zen residents of the community was building. There were members of the Sanga who were friends with the lost young men. People knew him and cared about him. Nobody knew where he went and the thought was he wandered off for some reason, got lost as darkness came on, and without his diabetes medication his life could be in danger. Time was of the essence as they say!
No meditation was done that morning. No work. Breakfast food was made available As I said I awoke at 6am and was down to the main buildings by 6:30am. Seven oclock came and went. Then 8am, then 9am, then 10am. The helecopters were in the air. Horses and people on foot were on the ground. The ocean was nearbye. Fields and rolling hills were needing to be searched. Soon it was 11am and then noon.
And then .... at noon a telephone call came into the Zen Center main switchboard. It was the young man calling in and asking - "how were things going?" Thus we heard his voice and knew he was ok and soon found out he had walked away to go visit some nearbye friends and he had slept well on the porch of the house of these friends and he was ok and had been ok all along.
The search teams were happy about this ending. It ended well! The person who had been presumed lost was safe and sound and would soon be back at the Zen Center. They packed up their gear and said their goodbyes...
The Sangha remained and had been and was traumatized. The feelings of loss and anxiety were intense - especially for those who had shared several months with the lost (and now found) young man. For the next several days special meetings and discussions were organzied for the community, the Sangha at which the emotions were processed and all came to understand something more about each person's responsibilities to each other. A lot of learning and healing.
And not a lot of early morning stuff at the Zen Cneter .. for me. Oh well...!
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(this may be a draft... written 6/22/23. It may be the final... It was about something that happened about 12-15 years ago. It is a true story as I remember it)
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