Coffee Enlightenment

I just returned from the campus library. I checked out the Dhammapada of which they had three copies. I also looked at several books on Buddhist meditation but was disappointed at their selection.

Allow me to digress: On the way to the library I stopped off at the coffee bar at the food court twenty minutes before closing time. The coffee guy had his angst-ridden punk music turned up and seemed bothered at my presence. I said “Is the coffee still hot?” and he replied apathetically “What size” and I said medium. I paid the $1.69 and got my cup. There was only one dispenser on the counter, but it was Java City’s House Blend (medium roast) so I didn’t mind. As soon as I began dispensing, the coffee came to a trickling halt so I tilted the thing and got about half a cup. I huffed and turned around to get my money back. Of course the fucker had vanished along with his music. I realize people who actually have jobs want to get out of there as soon as possible. However, we still had 20 minutes to go. Customers or no, if a person is going to work at a place they should accept the responsibilities of the job and face the fact that they can’t leave until it is time to close. I lingered for a moment, but he never returned so I walked off a little angry with my half-a-cup of coffee. When I got to the library about three minutes later, it dawned on me that their coffee bar would still be open. I still had about fifteen minutes until nine o’clock. I figured I would just explain what had happened at the food court and they would be happy to donate half a cup of coffee. Of course, those fuckers were closed too. To calm myself, I took a drink of what little coffee I had and nearly spat it out all over the place. Yes, it was ice cold. Disgusted, I threw it away and found the book I had came for. I thumbed straight to “Anger” and read “He who curbs his rising anger like a chariot gone astray (over the plan), him I call a real charioteer, others but hold the reins (and do not deserve to be called charioteers).” I supposed then that I was glad the rude coffee guy had vanished and I was enlightened.