Chapter 2.2
His silk robes moved gently as he walked the path towards the rock garden where he liked to sit and contemplate whenever his mind became so crowded that he began to loose his center. The warm breeze filtered through his robe and he smiled as the garden came into sight. A perfect balance of nature and man met his view. One ended and the other began and you never were quite sure where that happened. The rocks had been raked into the silver moon pattern and this pleased him greatly. He saw the bench he was going to sit on when he felt the presence of another.
“Ah Katashi,” he said bowing with respect. “Butterfly, how good it is to see you.” The greeting was both formal and intimate. Michi had used both the given name as well as the secret name known only to members of the order to which they belonged. Butterfly had been his own student. He had taken the boy from his parents home when he was only eight years old. The parents of course had seen it as a great honor to have their oldest son selected by a Master of the Temple to be trained as his pupil. He had given him the name Butterfly because when he first saw the boy two butterfly’s had lit on his head. It made him smile and he saw it as a sign of good luck. Butterfly had been an apt pupil, one of his best, and that was going far.
“Master,” Butterfly said bowing low and with great respect. “I hope I am not intruding on your solitude. Perhaps I could come another time if this is not convenient.”
Michi smiled within. This one had such respect, such perfect discipline, and it was coupled with grace and beauty in all that he did. It was not unlike the garden they were walking in. The moment was perfect, and Michi took this as a sign that what he had been contemplating was the right course of action.
“Butterfly, come walk with me and let us contemplate the beauty of the rock garden together.”
Butterfly smiled gently and bowed his head again, “As you wish master.”
There would be no talking until Michi was ready and that would not happen until they had taken the necessary time to meditate together first. They both understood this. Michi allowed himself this one thought before he turned with Butterfly towards the rock garden, “Perhaps my Butterfly is the one after all.”
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