Living Buddha

Living Buddha—I'm not referring to someone who is living the monastic life, away from the distractions of the daily human grind. It's the man or woman who is exemplary in some way that embodies a Buddha nature in the secular world. Living Buddha or living Buddha, a double enterdre—either way it's worthy of a mention. There is a man I know—he is a husband, father, businessman, friend and a perfectly flawed human being like the rest of us, but there is something in his being that reminds me of the Buddha nature.

What of the Buddha? I recently heard a Buddhist monk deliver a dharma talk about the practice of 'no practice'—meaning, and this is my interpretation, 'being' without mind, without thought, in a pure and natural state—in complete alignment with spirit or source without effort. A profound authenticity. I have witnessed this in "the man I know" who possesses an unwaivering demeanor of joy, peace during turbulent times and above all, the public and consistent expression of love. This is the way of a living Buddha, and—living Buddha.