Buddhist Judaism. Or is it Jewish Buddhism? I may never know.
Have I ever told you the story of the Jewish Buddhist? I swear I have written about this before, but I couldn't find it here. I have a post with that name (in a hidden reference to... myself?) but it isn't about my actual Jewish Buddhist, and it doesn't actually make sense unless I've told the story of my little Jewish Buddhist.
Many moons ago, back when I was a student teacher, I had a student who was very talented, but also very hyper. On my first day, she rushed up to me and introduced herself.
"Hi, my name is Golda, and I'm Jewish, but I don't do Jewish, y'know? I do Buddhism, so I'm a Jewish Buddhist."
I was a little taken aback (it was my first day of student teaching, remember?), but I just blinked, remembered to smile, and nodded.
Later that week, Golda was talking nonstop, annoying her neighbors (and, honestly, me). I finally approached her: "Golda." She looked me in the eyes and stopped her chattering and movement. "I think you're being a little distracting to those around you." Her eyes started to harden and her mouth opened to speak when I interrupted. "So do you think you could try to be a little more zen?" Her mouth snaped shut, she sat in the lotus position, she closed her eyes, and started to hum softly to herself.
Her classmates stared at her with open mouths, then one of them turned to me and asked, "How did you do that?"
I just shrugged and smiled enigmatically.
Many moons ago, back when I was a student teacher, I had a student who was very talented, but also very hyper. On my first day, she rushed up to me and introduced herself.
"Hi, my name is Golda, and I'm Jewish, but I don't do Jewish, y'know? I do Buddhism, so I'm a Jewish Buddhist."
I was a little taken aback (it was my first day of student teaching, remember?), but I just blinked, remembered to smile, and nodded.
Later that week, Golda was talking nonstop, annoying her neighbors (and, honestly, me). I finally approached her: "Golda." She looked me in the eyes and stopped her chattering and movement. "I think you're being a little distracting to those around you." Her eyes started to harden and her mouth opened to speak when I interrupted. "So do you think you could try to be a little more zen?" Her mouth snaped shut, she sat in the lotus position, she closed her eyes, and started to hum softly to herself.
Her classmates stared at her with open mouths, then one of them turned to me and asked, "How did you do that?"
I just shrugged and smiled enigmatically.