Sunday, May 22, 2005

wedding message

To my longtime friend Steve,

As I type this, it's a little after 2AM on Sunday here in Seoul, and a little after 1PM on Saturday in Pennsylvania. You're probably busy getting married right now.

Congratulations on your wedding. I wish you and Erangee all the best. May your marriage be filled with love, mindfulness, compassion, and passion. May your sad and angry moments find calm, mature resolutions. May your hearts take refuge in each other.

In honor of Steve's Catholicism, here is the priestly blessing from the Old Testament:

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

In honor of Erangee's Buddhism, this prayer from Lama Thubten Yeshe (1979):

Today we promise to dedicate ourselves completely to each other, with body, speech, and mind.

In this life, in every situation, in wealth or poverty, in health or sickness, in happiness or difficulty, we will work to help each other perfectly.

The purpose of our relationship will be to attain enlightenment by perfecting our kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings.

I wish I could be there now.


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