As I walked along the High Line park in the Chelsea
neighborhood of Manhattan, I was approached by a women dressed in a traditional
Buddhist monastic robe. She was a female monk, which is often called a nun (or,
more traditionally, a bikkhuni). She timidly approached me, and reached out to
hand me a small golden token that read, “Work smoothly. Lifetime Peace.” A
pink, green, and yellow image of a blooming flower sat underneath the message.
I began to reach for the token, hoping to get a better view of the words and
images on both sides of the card. The moment I touched the token, the nun immediately
snatched it back towards her, and encouraged me to sign a small notebook she
had been carrying in her pouch. I asked her about the significance of the book
and what it would mean if I agreed to sign my name. With no explanation, the
nun continued to shove the book towards me, leading me to respectfully decline.
She used one hand to put her notebook back into her pouch, while the other hand
simultaneously reached out asking for monetary donations. With a slight shake
of my head, the monk marched on to the next group of people on the High Line
trail.
The nun stood out in a city of business suits
and tourist tennis shoes, as she wore an orange monastic robe worn by monks of
the Buddhist religion. Her attire would stand out anywhere in the United
States, as Buddhists represent less than one percent of the nation’s
population. Although the United States of America is a melting pot of diverse religions, a
large majority of people identify as Protestant, Catholic, or remain
unaffiliated to any pronounced religion. While this may be intimidating to
some, I respect the courage and pride of the monks who are proud to represent
their beliefs through their clothing. Their attire endorses the Buddhist
religion, ultimately hoping to bring about and achieve nirvana and ultimate happiness
throughout the world. In this way,
clothing can serve as one of the most profound texts. Clothing is a moving message
that follows along with those who wear them, and can convey important ideas to
others in surrounding areas.
A
nun had never encountered me in such a public place before. I found it
strangely ironic that, as she passed out notes to encourage smooth harmony and
peaceful lifestyles, she made me feel violated. I am confident she had the best
intentions, and that her actions do not represent the Buddhist community as a
whole. There could have been a number of factors, including a language barrier,
that made our interaction complicated to carry out.
Despite the difficulty in communication, the
Buddhist nun taught me a lot about distinctive religions and cultures in a
matter of seconds. Our contact reminded me that, although she was preaching
in a way that greatly differed from what I am accustomed to, her actions were not
incorrect or insulting. She provided invaluable insight on religious customs
from various countries around the world that are seldom witnessed in the United
States.
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