After some thinking, I’ve realized I really enjoy reading kin memories that aren’t my own. So, I’ve decided to post one of my own, in case anyone else likes reading them.
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Genji, with enthusiasm, presented me with a bonsai tree. He told me it was a gift for me. I thanked him, only to gently say it wasn't the Shambali way to own possessions.
Owning material possessions represented a false attachment to things. This was especially so with plant life. All life deserved equal respect because we were all one and the same within the Iris.
In a very stilted way he apologized, saying he still had much to learn. I couldn't read his expression behind the mask, but I could sense some confusion. Perhaps he felt it was a rejection of his affections.
The bonsai was passed from monk to monk, and in that way everyone helped to see it prosper.
Genji, seeing this, asked me if we would ever cage a bird for our own amusement. Of course, I said we would not do so. But he asked me in such an accusatory tone that I knew his mind was elsewhere.
Much, much later, after Mondatta’s passing, he proved he understood the concept by showing me a talisman he'd crafted. Very cleverly he said that the talisman wanted to travel alongside me.
There was no talk of ownership, and I think there was a good chance he'd consulted with another monk on the subject beforehand. I brought my hands together in delight. He had grasped the idea so well! I agreed to honor its desire, for as long as it felt that way.