Gifts

There has been a bit of a profusion of gifts coming in my direction recently. Since I want to adhere to realising "the emptiness of the three wheels, giver, receiver and gift", as we say before we open our oryoki bowls, I am not going to start coming over all Sally Fields; nevertheless, it feels comforting to have the sense that people feel helped by what I do.
I have been given four books by four different people, two of whom were the authors, Dennis and Camille; two kinds of marmalade; a statue, from two Dutch guys who showed up a little bit out of the blue for the recent sesshin, and whose efforts I really appreciated; a friendship bracelet; a gift voucher which is intended to be spent on bicycle-related stuff; and this beautiful package of coffee, which I am almost reluctant to unwrap...