The Buddhist Vision

Linda forgot her troubles for the moment and backed away with disgust. She was afraid to venture any further. Her teeth began to chatter. It was indeed colder in this portion of the plain that in her own portion. It seemed to get even colder with every step she took away from where she woke up.

Even though frightened, Linda walked further down the plain, her teeth chattering so badly her jaw was beginning to ache. Within a few steps, in addition to the chattering of her teeth, she began to shiver uncontrollably. The snow was thicker here, and there was no one around. Linda shook so badly she fell to the ground. Her legs just could not support the weight of her body any longer. Linda began to cry painful, frozen tears.

The area was blanketed in thick snow, making her surroundings very white, and extremely bright. Linda refused to open her eyes. Every time she did, the light blinded her intensely, to the point of agony.

Without being able to see, Linda could not go back. It was also too far to crawl. So she sat and waited. Waited for death, or at least for something that eased her pain. No help came.

* * *

Ku Yong Fin dreamt about his teacher, Sister Helen, all through class. He had recently immigrated to the United States from China, and was not used to attending a parochial school. When he had the chance, after class had ended, he walked past her, pinching her backside as he slid past. "You're going to the seventh hell for that one, Mister!" She called after him as he and his friends laughed down the hall.