We were heading from Taipei, Taiwan, to Thailand. I was quite sick and had caught an illness in Taiwan, so one of the bhikkhunis had given me a bottle of cough syrup. I forgot that I couldn’t bring it with me in my carry-on and backpack.
We were waiting outside the check-in counter for Master’s and the people in her car’s check-in luggage to be weighed. I was about to give the cough syrup to our Dharma sisters that came to see us off. But one of them suggested, “Maybe they can just bring it for you.” I didn’t want to trouble Master. She was already checking in and dealing with her own luggage, and to me it didn’t seem like a big deal to not bring the cough syrup.
But when Master saw the cough syrup, she carefully wrapped it in a khata and placed it in her own checked luggage so I could have it later.
It was a small gesture, but it invoked an understanding and feeling. The care she showed made me realize that this is how I should and will care for living beings as well. Pay it forward.
