Every weekday a bunch of people (Sangha) meet via Zoom to sit, to share, and to learn about Thiên Buddhism.  When we check-in, we rotate who leads the check-in, and the leader can pick a “question of the day” to add to the usual sharing gratitude and metta.  (Loving kindness)  A few days ago, our seafaring Mary came up with a wonderful question for our morning check-in.  “What do you do with seashells that you find at the beach?”  Fun question!  Of course I had to play show-and-tell with the conch shell I picked up off the seabed floor in the British Virgin Islands years ago when I worked on a 47′ sailboat.  The next day, I received the following email from a fellow Sangha-member:

Rachel Christopherson
Mar 8, 2023, 8:44 PM (11 hours ago)
to Mount, scott

https://www.shellgrotto.co.uk/

Mary asked what do we do with shells we find….look what i stumbled upon in random non randomness

see u in the morning!

Raquel

This brought to mind one issue on which Thay Kozen, my teacher, and I diverge.  I tend towards believing that coincidences* are just that, coincidences.  Thay leans more towards believing that coincidences are more Dharma’s interconnectedness, fate, or Karma. This idea of no-coincidences used to make my head explode just a little bit.  I find it fascinating that the energy level I feel in reaction to this idea of no-coincidences has softened through the years, and occasionally I find myself wondering if some coincidence is indeed, not a coincidence.  I marvel at the change.  I’ve come to enjoy change, it makes the journey an adventure rather than a struggle.  I bow to you, Change.

 

* Dr. Persi Diaconis, cited in the article, is an old family friend.