The Thinker orders some simple supplies:

• 1 Zafu Zabuton Set -----------$89.95


• 1 Gold Dragon altar cloth ------$12.95


• 1 Small 'singing bowl' ---------$59.95


• 1 Small Mokugyo --------------$29.95


• 1 Small altar -----------------$39.95


• 1 Seated Buddha statue --------$39.95


• 1 Incense bowl -----------------$11.95

and

• 1 Box of Incense ---------------$13.95

For a grand total of -----------------$298.60 plus shipping.

On the way to the post office with his catalogue to get a money order, The Thinker walks very purposefully, his mind set on enlightenment. "Once these things arrive I can clear out most of the junk from my apartment," he thinks, "and everything will be clear."

The cut on his forehead still throbs from his bout with the straight razor. The other day he picked up an electric razor at the downtown Rite Aid, and has put the straight razor away until his cut heals.

At the corner across from the post office the light turns green, and The Thinker crosses, addressing each step equally with his consciousness. At the door to the building he opens the door, steps back for someone exiting, then enters and approaches the counter.

"I can help the next in line," a woman says from the end of the desk where the previous customer has stepped back, stuffing her wallet into her bag.

A sudden wave of embarrassment comes over The Thinker. He sidesteps, and then looks around sheepishly, a little lost and befuddled. "You go ahead of me," he says to the person who has stepped up in line behind him.

The Thinker turns on his heel and rushes for the door.

The thinker buys a straight razor so he can give up possessions.

A monk owns a bowl, a razor, and a robe. Usually this means three bowls in a set, one razor, and three layers of robe - a summer robe, a robe that goes over this, and the outer robe, worn for ceremonies and in winter, or the rainy season, for warmth.

The thinker promptly cuts his scalp, swears, and runs into the other room to grab an old t-shirt to soak up the blood. Giving up all possessions takes time and effort.

Toadboy worries about justice

"I wish we all had unalienable rights," Toadboy says.

"Whaddya mean?" Empty Buddha Girl asks, spitting a too-hard seed onto the pavement outside the building where she cleans.

"I mean, like, there's the idea that everyone is equal and we should all be able to pursue happiness, but on the other hand, only the best people should rise to the top."

"In my English class," Empty Buddha Girl says, "this guy Tommy, he's the kind of guy who's gonna have an office in the top of this building, or something like it, maybe in a bigger city.... Well anyway, he can't even understand what a metaphor is, let alone understand subtext in a novel, or identify a literary device, but most of the people in class love him for some reason. It's like, he could go in the bathroom, come out and sell someone a poop they just dropped not ten minutes before. It's insane."

"They are in charge of our future," Toadboy says.