June 2, 2014

Day 1

There was no Uncle Fester today. But that doesn’t mean he’s not in some back corner of Interplanetary’s basement. I didn’t have to prick my finger or burn a saint, but it’s early days yet. The truth is today was more of a hassle than anything else. No one (including our managers) knew how to use the new fancy computerized time card. Interplanetary kept sending emails about ‘prizes’ they’d given away to welcome us to the Family, and…I don’t know. After all the theater and angst mind put on, today was honestly a letdown.

In November 2012, the bank I formerly worked for had a massive layoff. I mean huge. About every three in four cubicles was emptied. It felt like being in London in the plague years. After that there was so much fear about what would come next. And now…here it is.

A little less than two years later, and I’ve joined a new Family. I may not work for Don Corleone, and I didn’t have to prick my finger and swear an oath, but I signed enough Non-Disclosure Agreements and I don’t know what all to make War and Peace look like a short story.

So, after Day One, all I can really say is…I’m not unemployed yet.

Reflecting on this day has really made me wonder about the transition we call death. There’s all this angst and fear and theater and then…what? I think in the end it comes down to a simple “zero”, “one” kind of thing. After death, either we’ve purified our karma enough to free ourselves of samsara or…we haven’t.

Is there a third possibility I’m missing?

If I squander my time in secondary practices, death will find me unsettled.

Bless me to live with the mind of enlightenment and die with the Holy Name!