Still
Playing Guitar
I
received a guitar from a retreatant, Linh,
who studied and practiced meditation under my guidance. She offered this
guitar to me on my birthday, January 1st, 2013. I like this guitar
much. This guitar is also one of just very few things I brought from Vietnam to
America. I often sing and compose songs with this guitar. Unfortunately, it is
broken. I am sad about it. I still try to keep playing music with this musical
instrument.
I
still remember that I use this guitar to compose the first song in America
“Arkansas, Four Seasons in spring.” After visiting Arkansas, spring 2013, I was
inspired by the beautiful scenes in that state. Coming back to Florida, I
played guitar and composed music in the garden. Music with guitar makes me
happy. Then, I sent this song in m.p.3 format to my disciple to upload to my
blog.
When
I am isolated, I rely on my guitar. American society is interesting, moving, crowded,
modern, rich, luxurious, yet stressful, and lonely. Sometimes, after a busy
semester, when friends enjoy the vacation, I experience the loneliness. Guitar
becomes my close friend. I like to bring him to the hill next to my monastery
in Sorrento. Playing, singing, and meditating help me alleviate this feeling
and restore happiness. I feel balanced again. Gradually, loneliness disappears
without effort.
Guitar
is the unique musical instrument I bring my religious work. In the retreats,
people come to meditate for one day or more than, I use guitar to play, sing
and teach them to sing. I experience it is the friendly way to make friend with
new people. Also, in the Meditation Club at Seminole State College, as the
president, I sometimes invite participants to lie down relaxingly to practice
total relaxation while I guide them. I also use guitar to play and sing for
them. By doing this, retreatants can release stress and let go anger, anxiety,
and despair better. It makes enhance their peace, happiness, and inner joy.
Many people like this method and I love my job also.
I
often bring my lovely guitar when I go out in some occasion. I sometimes go to
Thuy’s house. She is a Buddhist and a local singer. After dinner, she sings
while I play guitar for her. Then a few friends joyfully sing in harmony. We
have happy dinners. Also, other monks and I usually enjoy walking on the
trails. We bring hammocks, cookies, tea, and do not forget to bring guitar and
songbooks. Lying and tenderly swinging on a hammock between the two trees or
drinking a tea in mindfulness, we enjoy ourselves and nature. We may open the
meditative songbooks to sing. Only me know how to play guitar. We are nourished
by the good lyrics and melodies. It is a good way to cultivate our minds as
well as to solidify brotherhood.
One
day, I see a crack on my guitar. We go to enjoy the romantic fall in many
states: from Virginia to New York, from Washington D.C. to Vermont. The yellow
and red leaves of maple trees make the cities bloom: every leaf is a flower. Moreover,
the hills turn all yellow or red! I have never seen that. It is so marvelous! We
enjoy the fall joyfully and deeply. We also visit the White House, the Time
Square, and many other famous places. We take many pictures and post on facebooks.
I also use guitar to compose a song “Wishing You Were Here.” I miss my
disciples who cried when I left Vietnam. Then I wish they were here, with me,
to enjoy the wonders of the fall in Northeast America. It is a really nice
trip. Unfortunately, my guitar which is put on the back of the car cannot stand
for the long trip. It is broken.
I
am so sad. I try to fix, but I cannot. I ask a Buddhist to fix, and he cannot
also. Therefore, I have to bring this guitar to an office in Deland hoping that
they can help. They can help fix; nevertheless, the cost is expensive. With
$200, it it nearly the same of buying the new one. We have no choice but to come
back unhappily. I try to fix it as much as possible, anyway.
I still keep this guitar. With
effort, I receive the Green Card so that I can stay here for a long time. I now
have a plan to become an American citizen after six years. Also, I try to study
to go to Seminole State College, then to the best college in Florida: Rollins.
These two efforts waste my time to enjoy music. I rarely have a chance to play
guitar and I nearly forget it. Sometimes, I feel regret about it. I inform to
Linh about the situation of the guitar saying that I do not want to buy the new
one because I cherish her souvenir. This makes her happy. In my soul, the
guitar is the representation of Vietnamese people’s love. Next month, we will
have the Rose Ceremony. I will use this guitar to play for other people to
sing.
