This man is lucky in a weird way. A vipassana monk has shared some of his clothes, including shoes. A man with a practice of over 10 years stepped up to the plate to sponsor and provide living space in town. Someone else donated a computer so that he could develop the computer skills he learned in prison. Someone else has offered a job that will hold him over until he can get a computer job or decides to learn a new trade. Another couple has offered him a place to socialize and practice teaching computer skills. Someone donated the fee for him to sit a five day retreat. It is truly a wonderful thing to see that the Sangha is not parochial in the narrow sense but includes elements from most of the groups in Gainesville. However, this is not about Buddhism but about helping someone so that he can help himself. This is the situation today, don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Make no mistake, this man still needs some help. I am not talking about luxuries but the basics of survival. Enough so that he can get started. He will need such basics as a razor, soap, food, clothes that fit to go to work in, and a bike to get around town. Please contact me if you want to make a contribution. You can make it out to the Gateless Gate and it will not only be tax deductible but there will be a full accounting of all money spent and open to any inspection with receipts. Neither I nor the Gateless Gate has the resources to do anything more than has already been done.

So this man is lucky. He got this help because he was willing to just sit and breath. He is happy to have his breath. This Christmas is a good time to be thankful for what we have instead of what we don't have.

My sense is that for every man that gets out as our man does, there are a hundred that can only hope for a bed and meal in the salvation army shelter this Christmas or at any other time, that is if the shelter is not overflowing from the cold weather. So, let me ask you: what are you thankful for this Christmas?

Yours in the Dharma, KC