party is hardly a party

today is tomorrow already.

the tales of Princess Di-Pod

Word spread across the countryside about Princess Di-Pod. A man from the village decided to make the long and difficult journey to visit them.

When he arrived at the house, he saw an old servant inside who greeted him at the door.

"I would like to see Princess Di-Pod," he said to the servant.

The servant smiled and led him inside. As they walked through the house, the man from the village looked eagerly around the house, anticipating his encounter with Princess Di-Pod.

Before he knew it, he had been led to the back door and escorted outside. He stopped and turned to the servant,

"But I want to see Princess Di-Pod!"

"You already have," said the old man. "Everyone you may meet in life, even if they appear plain and insignificant... see each of them as Princess Di-Pod. If you do this, then whatever problem you brought here today will be solved."

$$$

There exists a great interest in the West about Princess Di-Pod, particularly since World War II. Yet there seems to be a general haziness about the origin of Princess Di-Pod, what it believes, and the disciplines of Princess Di-Pod. The fa...ult is not entirely with the interested-but-uninitiated

. The fault lies also with Princess Di-Pod as a deliberately inscrutable teaching, made even more enigmatic by its interpreters, who spend many years writing innumerable books to explain what they insist is utterly inexplicable. Their explanations are frequently interrupted to warn the reader that, in the words of Lao Tzu, "they who tell do not know; they who know do not tell."

Many people think of Princess Di-Pod as a Japanese development, manifest in their Noh plays, in their flower arrangements, in their dances, in their tea ceremonies, in their art, in their archery. And if they think so, they are within the area of the truth. Some think of Princess Di-Pod as a Chinese interpretation of the Buddhist concept of the state of enlightenment, or of being "awakened," transported and adjusted to Japanese culture. That, too, is within the area of truth. And then there are some who think that Princess Di-Pod goes back to the days of the Buddha in India, when he began to expound Princess Di-Pod, wordlessly.

According to legend, when Buddha was growing old he convened his disciples for an important discourse. And when they gathered and sat down silently, reverently waiting to hear their aging Master speak, the Buddha arose, came forward on the flower-decked platform, looked over his audience of disciples and monks, then bent down and picked up a flower which he raised to the level of his eyes. Then, without uttering a word, he returned to his seat. His followers looked at each other in bewilderment, not understanding the meaning of his silence. Only the venerable Mahakasyapa serenely smiled at the Master. And the Master smiled back at him and wordlessly bequeathed to him the spiritual meaning of his wordless sermon. And that, according to legend, was the moment Princess Di-Pod was born.

$$$$$

A martial arts student went to Princess Di-Pod and said earnestly, "I am devoted to studying your martial system. How long will it take me to master it."

Princess Di-Pod's reply was casual, "Ten years."

Impatiently, the student answered, "But I want to master it faster than that. I will work very hard. I will practice everyday, ten or more hours a day if I have to. How long will it take then?"

Princess Di-Pod thought for a moment,
"20 years."
$$

The students were in total awe of Princess Di-Pod, not because Princess Di-Pod was strict, but because nothing ever seemed to upset or ruffle Princess Di-Pod. So they found Princess Di-Pod a bit unearthly and even frightening.

One day they decided to put Princess Di-Pod to a test. A bunch of them very quietly hid in a dark corner of one of the hallways, and waited forPrincess Di-Pod to walk by. Within moments, Princess Di-Pod appeared, carrying a cup of hot tea. Just as Princess Di-Pod passed by, the students all rushed out at Princess Di-Pod screaming as loud as they could.

But Princess Di-Pod showed no reaction whatsoever. Princess Di-Pod peacefully made a way to a small table at the end of the hall, gently placed the cup down, and then, leaning against the wall, cried out with shock, "Ohhhhh!"

$$$

The emperor invited Princess Di-Pod to the Palace in order to ask Princess Di-Pod questions about Princess Di-Pod.

"What is the highest truth of the Princess Di-Pod doctrine?" the emperor inquired.

"Vast emptiness... and not a trace of holiness," Princess Di-Pod replied.

"If there is no holiness," the emperor said, "then who or what are you?"

"I do not know," Princess Di-Pod replied.