The Buddha first began teaching at Sarnath, near Varanasi. This image was in the temple there, one of the best Buddha images I have ever seen. His face. His joy. His knowing.
I wrote this in my journal:
What is religion about for me? Truth? Finding it-my truth-a way of making sense/meaning out of the world, or peace with it. No, better: a way of discerning the golden thread in life's fabric:
This and that
happening,
almost random.
Almost, but not.
Patterns, meaning,
purpose.
Joy that arises,
Love that permeates
becomes the whole.
That is religion.