Siddhartha's Intent - Gentle Voice #11

There have been some responses to the last edition of this column, one being for code name Gemini. However, Gemini was last seen perusing the personals in The Sydney Morning Herald! Code name Baa received a reply but, since Baa didn't recognise himself, the reply fell into the void. Unfortunately our globe-trotting cyber-nut is still travelling with pants in the same condition, no margaritas have been bought for our hopeful Bhutanese monk and Past the Best by Date is now well and truly past it! Where are all the single dharma students and why haven't we heard from you?

While it was fun writing the first column, this is intended to be a serious attempt to match-make among those who are often heard lamenting their partnerless state. So we do invite you to take advantage of the column and send your personals to the editor in time for the next issue. (The Editor, Gentle Voice, Siddhartha's Intent, P.O. Box 136, Suffolk Park, NSW, 2481, Australia.)

Looong-time student of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche who enjoys sewing velvet, caring for visiting dignitaries, weekend escapes to Byron and intrepid travel in India and Nepal, is seeking a mate who can add spice to life. Offers a devoted companion, mending taken care of, abandonment whenever a lama is in town and much more! Please contact the editor referring to code name: Enshrine.

Another loong-time student, ex-coffee addict, multi-talented, tree-house dweller with a penchant for woollen gowns and dancing a Scottish jig, requires a mechanically minded, male dharma student who will help service her taxi, follow her on her wanderings and keep her warm all year round. Please contact the editor referring to the code name: Eyrie. Devoted practitioner and lama carer offers her ability to make beautiful nests wherever she goes. Loves fluffy animals, laughter and quiet down time away from it all. Requires a loving male to share the nest. Must be a practitioner, love cats, have none of his own, enjoy good cooking and watching E.R. and be able to handle taking second place to visiting lamas. Please contact the editor referring to the code name: N.T.'s Mum.

Heard about following the surf? Well, this practitioner moved north some time ago and denies she was following spunky, young surfies. Requires a companion who loves shared solitude in blissful surroundings, has a strong spiritual practice, a sense of humour and can compete with the lamas for her attention. Offers a well-disguised Leonine nature and easy access to the beach. Please contact the editor referring to code name: Still Sleepless by the Sea.

Our first "Dateless and Desperate" column did inspire one practitioner to pen an amusing response:

With curiosity I read
The Dateless and Desperate column -
Such blatant "craving" for me, I fear,
Set up a... bit of a conundrum.

Hmmm... here's my response to you all,
With gentleness and humour -
No intention to enthral, appal
Or give anyone a tumour.

With untimely haste, no time to waste,
He said he wanted, "a good cook".
But isn't everything "one taste"
Depending on how you look?

Then, with a single voice, they cried,
"She must have good looks!"
So what have they been doing all day
With their little dharma books?

Don't they know you must perceive
All appearances as the same?
"Ugly", "pretty", it doesn't matter...
In the end it's just a game.

If they analyse it they'll see
What's "attractive" all comes from mind.
Place a value on a certain quality
And to that your mind will bind.

He says, "She must own a mobile phone!"
But surely that's no concern.
Since constant travel requires money -
Merely purchase what you yearn.

Out of kindness I could "hem his trousers"
So he could preen and primp.
But my sewing - it's not so even...
To preserve "appearances" he'd have to limp!

I could "grow my own beard", too,
Given the passage of time,
Lack of sufficient HRT
And a certain "hormonal propensity"!

So to all those D & Ds out there
For whom this has become "a mission"
And to the "rover with the roving eye" -
Have you considered it might just be "impure vision"?

If any noses are out of joint
By this badly written poem,
To read between the lines, you'll see,
It's on my own that I do ro-am.
(And I don't think I'm going anywhere.)

"Tongue in Cheek"