(True story though some facts are slightly embellished for story-telling purposes.)
A Buddhist monk walks onto a plane, returning home from a gathering of monks from around the world. There are many participants from the gathering on this plane but they are seated throughout coach class with only a handful having seats next to one another.
This monk is pleased that he has his requested preference of an aisle seat. But he struggles with his Buddhist practice as he slightly cringes about the woman seated next to him, in the middle seat. She is overweight, sweating, and clearly uncomfortable with the impending flight and her middle seat.
The Buddhist monk tries to be patient, understanding and compassionate. He offers her his aisle seat, despite his personal preference. He doesn’t want to be attached to it (non-attachment is the foundation of Buddhism, after all) and suggests that perhaps she would be more comfortable seated on the aisle.
Though she’s grateful, she declines, explaining that she’s uncomfortable in most seats and that even an aisle wouldn’t help.
The monk is slightly relieved, yet his patience is tested as the woman’s arms spill over into his seat and she continues to shift uncomfortably as more passengers board and the plane is preparing to depart.
It’s then that the monk realizes he has a solution to both of their problems. He has friends scattered throughout the plane and immediately begins looking for one seated just behind the bulkhead.
He finds a colleague who is fine with swapping for a middle seat to be next to his friend.
He returns to the woman who is delighted to have the chance to sit in the bulkhead where she will have more room.
And the monk is equally delighted to be sitting next to his friend AND to have provided a solution to an uncomfortable situation.
*****
Traveling is generally not comfortable for any of us. And it’s easy to be judgmental in the confined quarters of an airplane, where people regularly carry more luggage than they can lift into the overhead bin, stand in the middle of the aisle while others are trying to board and are just generally slovenly when they aren’t responsible for cleaning up the mess they leave behind.
Since hearing this story, (told to me BY that Buddhist monk), I’ve learned to approach air travel with a bit more patience. I’m pretty certain that someone’s given me the eye for accidentally hitting their knee with my carry-on bag, or for waking them because I just had to get to the restroom from my window seat.
Though it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to provide such a perfect solution to a problem like my monk-friend could, we all have plenty of opportunities to practice patience and compassion while we’re on the road.
Travel Well!
Beth
Related links:
Papua New Guinea – Off the Charts
The Google Factor – Ethical Travel
Airport Safety = Security Theater?
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Photo Credit: Laughing Buddhas – Swami_Stream
Photo Credit: Airplane Seat – Robert S. Donovan
Geogypsy says
Good lesson. I’ll try to keep this in mind during my upcoming flight to South Africa.
Susan says
This message should be heard! A very and important point especially when travelling! Thanks for posting!