Monks Drink Beer

When I was in Kathmandu
I came across a buddhist monk
who drove a motorcycle and
wore a black leather jacket.
When I prodded him to tell me
about his leather-wearing ways,
he told me that he attempted
to look his best, out of respect
for those around him, this being
one of the central four tenets
which ruled his life (I can't
remember the other three, though
I'm quite sure "right speech"
was among them). I had
a visceral understanding of
this monk's aims: to be just
another spiffy-looking (albeit
leather-wearing) guy
on the street. Now I learn
a number of buddhist monks in
Japan regularly go to a smoky
bar to chant and talk to patrons,
drinking beer, smoking cigarettes.
Again it's clear to me what
they're saying, and they're all
saying the same thing: you don't
have to change who you are to
embark on a spiritual journey.
You want to be a buddhist but
you wear leather and you drink
beer? Don't let animal hides
and liquor stop you. Out of
respect for those around you.

(2008)