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BY MIKE SACKS - - - - Week Five: "Fire & Ice" ME: Master, how does one find the strength within himself to be the best that he is capable of becoming? MY MASTER: By being one with the world that is without himself. ME: How so? MY MASTER: When fire meets ice, what prevails? ME: Ice. MY MASTER: Yet in dying, does not the ice in the fire also die? ME: Could you attack it from a different angle? I'm a little confused. MY MASTER: (very angry) Did you not read the handout from last week? ME: I am ashamed and dishonored to tell you that I have not. MY MASTER: Spent a lot of money Xeroxing those for you. ME: I am ashamed. It's just I had to pull that extra shift and then one of the kids ... MY MASTER: (exasperated) Is heaven not a reality that exists within all creatures? ME: It is. MY MASTER: And is happiness not a byproduct of heaven? ME: This is correct. MY MASTER: So does it not come to pass that this heaven that we speak of ... this heaven that we ... Jesus, what the hell was I thinking before? You're messing with my head. ME: That this heaven is ours for the taking— MY MASTER: Right. That this heaven that we speak about is available to creatures both large and small? ME: I think so— MY MASTER: The answer is yes! Remember? The blackboard? The diorama? The giant wood pointer? The other teaching aids? Did you not take notes? ME: Master— MY MASTER: Yes or no? ME: No. MY MASTER: Thought so. Pathetic. ME: But how can heaven and earth both reside within ourselves when— MY MASTER: When they consist of two different realities? ME: Yes. MY MASTER: I knew you were going to ask me that goddamn question. Um ... I do know that heaven lies within. Or is it without? Wait a second—see, you confused me again. ME: And it is our earthly duties— MY MASTER: I said, hang on a sec! Have you seen my book with all the answers? ME: Master ... MY MASTER: It says "Master's Edition" on the cover, "not for resale." I swear to God if one of you ... ME: Master, may I again talk of fire? MY MASTER: Make it quick. I have another class at the temple across town. ME: If ice does indeed prevail from its meeting with fire, then why is ice not a more powerful element? MY MASTER: I'm very hungry and dinner beckons, dinner that I shall eat in my car, so I'll tell you what. Let's try a little experiment, a homework assignment of sorts. Go home. Take some ice. Light it on fire. Write down what happens. We'll discuss it next week. Sound good? ME: But have we not already decided that— MY MASTER: Am I a joke to you? ME: Master? MY MASTER: I didn't go to Buddhist school and I don't have a diploma. I never did attend a fancy Buddhist retreat on top of a big ol' mountain. I wear a bald rubber cap to look smart and fake glasses to appear wise. This makes me a joke? ME: No, master. As for this question of heaven— MY MASTER: (laughing) Ahhhh, if I didn't need the money so bad ... (sadly, to self) You make one wrong turn in life, money troubles, women troubles, government troubles ... twenty years down the road, you take a long look in the mirror and guess what you see? An enlightened Bodhisattva. How the hell did that happen, you think? Oh, man. ME: And heaven? MY MASTER: You ... you ask me that flippin' question one more time, so help me! I. Do. Not. Know. Don't know. Got it? ME: Maybe next week? MY MASTER: Maybe. By the way, mustard stains on a robe. Laundering advice?
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