I Met My Zen Master On The Freeway

I was late for work, and as usual I raced out the door and jumped into my car and hit the freeway. It was busy as usual, as I entered the stream of traffic.

By nature I am an impatient driver with little tolerance for fools. For me, driving is like a race and I do not like to have anyone ahead of me. I need to lead. This poses a problem during rush hour. It bothers me a lot to see others in the lane next to me going faster and getting ahead of me. At every opportunity I zip into the next lane when I notice this happening. I even pay attention to particular drivers in particular cars and get a certain satisfaction when I pass them again and again. It really bothers me when they sometimes pass me when I get stuck in a slow lane.

This one day as I was busy with my race routine, I found myself behind a big older model gas guzzler car. The guy was driving kind of slow with lots of car lengths ahead of him. I began to plot strategy as to how I could get past him and race up this empty space. Finally, I found an opportunity to weave into the next lane and have a good glare at this idiot as I passed him. The old car was driven by an old man who appeared grey haired and kind of small. He seemed so little in the big car and had to stretch his neck to see over the dash. I even found myself thinking that they should take his license away if he cannot learn to drive responsibly on a freeway. He could cause an accident.. It felt so good to fly past and take full advantage of all the free space ahead. I was really on my way now and continued my race to work. About 15 minutes later and not far from work now, I was once again stuck in a lane where a driver was holding up traffic because he wanted to take a left at a light. So many cars were passing me again and I was stuck behind this moron who did not know how to drive. Surely he could have taken that left when there was enough time between those cars!

It was then that I noticed the big older model car cruise slowly past me in the next lane. The little old grey haired man still stretching his neck to see over the dash. He did not even seem to notice me. I certainly noticed him, but with a sense of wonder. I realized that my race was lost before it began. Driving to work has become an interesting experience and a challenge. I still speed, and often get disturbed by others. But I am becoming more conscious about the nature of my part in this journey to my destination. I more frequently find myself driving slower and use the experience to pay attention to my mental activity. I realize that I will get to work no faster if I worry and curse. I am a slow learner in the fast lane.


Les Moncrieff