Fields of Vision

After wandering aimlessly around the atrium of the cancer center, admiring the art and architecture, Sid is inexorably drawn to the information desk, where a Bodhisattva in the guise of a volunteer helps guide him in more ways than one. Even the Buddha is impressed with her compassionate nature.

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After wandering aimlessly around the atrium of the cancer center admiring the art and architecture, Sid is inexorably drawn to the information desk, where a Bodhisattva in the guise of a volunteer helps guide him in more ways than one. Even the Buddha is impressed with her compassionate nature.

In this episode of The Man Who Woke up the Buddha, Sid learns more than anyone needs to know about golf balls, testicles, and tumors He's then joined by LJ, a "park person" who shares his theories of life and marketing and gives Sid news about the latest overdose in town. He, Sid, and the Buddha shake their collective heads philosophically and speculate on how the person will reincarnate.

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Sid, Di, and the oncologist discuss his rare cancer anaplastic ependymoma, as well as the technicalities of road biking including a ride in Vermont called L.A.M.B. which features more than 10,000 feet of climbing over 112 miles. The Buddha provides color commentary while musing on the cycles of life and death. 

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It turns out learn that the Buddha is part of a long lineage of dead poets, politicians, warriors, and holy men and women who, over the years, have temporarily set up shop in Sid’s boundless imagination—including Agamemnon, Torquemada, and Harriet Tubman. Which, at times, was embarrassing for his kids and could wreak havoc at the dinner table back when he tried to get them to help him guess who the hell was invading his porous imagination. Click here to read the episode.

Sid gives his first “Dharma talk." It's by invitation only...and the only people invited are his five grandchildren, except that Di insists on attending to make sure he doesn't go off the rails in his description of the night of his stroke. Zoey keeps interrupting with know-it-all facts about Buddhism until her big sister Courtney convinces her to be quiet before her brother Junior hits her. This is the first real introduction to all the grandchildren.

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Marcus returns home in time to have a nightcap with his wife Leila who, in some ways, knows Sid best of all. Together, they reflect on Sid's idiosyncrasies including the times he impersonated Teddy Roosevelt...and later, Al Capone.

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Marcus stops by to see Sid before leaving the next morning. Finally, after doing endless errands for Di, he escapes. He spends most of the ride thinking about his history with Sid which includes Sid’s rather complex relationship with Marcus’s sister Julia. He calls Julia to give her an update.

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Sid talks to Marcus’s more-or-less enlightened friend Kesey who runs a Zen monastery in New York State and is able to give Sid some pointers about being the Buddha.

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Background on Kesey and Marcus's relationship.

Marcus looks on helplessly as Sid and his nurse Ivan engage in some spiritual one-upmanship over Sid’s claims of Buddhahood during which Ivan the Terrible makes a brief appearance. Ultimately, nurse Ivan leaves shaking his head and Marcus suggests that Sid consult an expert on Buddhism...namely, his friend Kesey who's allegedly a Zen master.

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