COMPTON ZEN

It was one of those cool, breesy afternoons which blanketed the Crossway, a land-bridge connecting Plymouth to the West Cities such as Torbay and Cornwall.

On one of his Transcendental Journeys the Great Zen Sage Bodhidharma walked through its smooth and pebbly shore, taking in the Hoe's salted scent. Then he chanced upon a Silent Figure.

It was a COMPTON - an English counterpart for a bodhisattva - an Enlightened Being who works for the betterment of all living things.

The Compton was sitting quietly by the sea-shore, lotus-sat and seemingly in a deep meditiative state. He would had impressed the other tolerant passers-by, but not for the Great Zen Sage. Something tickled him to ask about his Status.

He approached the Compton with deep respect and quietly whispered to his ear. "What are you doing, my Good Man?"

The Compton broke his silence. "I am trying to reach Enlightenment."

SMACK! The Air around the Two suddenly caught the cracking sound which alarmed the nearby gulls to take flight for their safety, as if warned by an oncoming predator. But the Compton simply rubbed his nape as if a feather flew by and tickled him.

Then he resumed his Concentration. This amused the Great Zen Sage and inspired him to ask again. "What are you doing, my Good Man?" Again the Compton broke his silence.

"I am trying to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all Sentient Beings."

SMACK! And again the Air caught the surrounding crack. But just as before, the Compton rubbed his nape seemingly unaffected by sharp pain and focused once more.

By now the Great Zen Sage started to rub his own hand already red from the first two attempts. He had hoped that by the third this would wake him up.

"What are you doing, my Good Man?" He asked one more time.

The Compton, in a harrowed voice, replied from his silence.

"I am..."

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! By now the Air sang to an almost deafening drum. The gulls flew higher to avoid such crack from shedding their feathers and the Hoe itself withdrew its waves from offending the Great Zen Sage.

The Compton then stood up and finally faced Bodhidharma. He finally had enough.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?! ARE YOU MENTAL?!"

And all of a sudden The Great Zen Sage prostrated and bowed to his Buddha Nature.

"Well done. Well done." Was his final praise.

"I'm hungry." The Compton rubbed his tummy. "It's been an hour's score since I've had any. You want some?"

"I...?" The Great Zen Sage asked.

"No, I'm serious." The Compton insisted. "Dad gave me a pence for clot-bread. I could share some with you."

"I...?" The Great Zen Sage asked again.

"Sir!" The Compton now soured his face. "Make up your bloody mind. Do you want some or not?"

"I...?" The Great Zen Sage asked once more.

The Compton was done. He shrugged at the Great Zen Sage with a loud PFFT! And went on his way.

"I apologise." The Great Zen Sage shouted to the Compton. "That was supposed to be a Yes."

But the Compton failed to hear him. His Tummy was already crying to him for clot-bread.

"I guess he really needs to sup." The Great Zen Sage finally realised. Then he stood at the spot where the Compton once meditated and chanted:

"You Primal Figures of the Inner Seed
Place yourselves further with Voiceless Harmony
Know that in Light's Focus there sprouts a Need
But there is None; A Message of Fallacy
All lives for Life's intent; Which is impure
If Eyes simply define the Separate
Of THIS and THAT; THESE and THOSE; MINE and YOURS
Is a Donkey's bray to Commemorate
Yet this Boy passed the Exam; Which we Pride
Only if Moment's Vacuum does exist
But if we soak ourselves in such a Lie
These Tangent Partners will be hard to Resist.
Save yourself the Trouble. Now sit with me
And look how you matter within that Seed."

"...Or clot-bread, whichever comes first." The Great Zen Sage chuckled blankly.


- END? -