Week 1 - Surprise Guest - David

Sometimes the best things in life are unplanned. This was true with our first guest in the program, David.

David missed his calling in stand-up comedy. He was an engaging speaker throughout his talk. Unfortunately, this comedy is a way of dealing with his lifelong addiction to alcohol. Therefore, any humor that he had was mixed with the bitter lifetime wasted on drink which corroded his income, his health, and most importantly his relationship with his family.

However, he had the uncanny fortune of a family that would continue to love him despite the scares he put them through. The latest scare being his literal deathbed. He discussed his experiences in the hospital, and the revelation that he had to turn his life around. Supporting him in this endeavor were his family including his niece who had come to San Diego to visit from New York.

In fact it was his niece who suggested that he come into the Dharma Bums Temple for the first time ever. Previously, the closest he had come was the front door. However, he must have felt that there was spiritual support from the Temple as he had spent a lot of time in the previous months outside looking in.

After his speech, he was whole-heartedly welcomed to come sit with the Dharma Bums Lifers. He was invited to come every Friday and Sunday as well, when the Temple is open for public meditations.

We’d like to thank David for his story which contained much pain and sadness as well as a determination to give his family a better life by moving them out West outside the ghettos of New York City. We wish him and his family the best, and we thank him for the unexpected and invaluable contribution to the Dharma Bum Life Program.

Written by Dharma Bum Fred