By Anthony Probert | posted on December 8, 2017
LIKE a duck to water, Buddhist Monk Venerable Mudu took to the sweep’s oar early on Sunday morning during a visit to Albany’s glistening Middleton Beach.
He was there to bless the Albany Surf Life Saving Club’s surf boats and the early-rising crews ahead of the summer season.
While he might not have guided the surf boat through the small breakers when push came to shove, he was a full bottle on the connection required between sweep and crew.
“The crew has to listen to every command from the sweep,” he said as the water lapped at his feet and the real sweep took control.
“The crew have their back to the surf, so there has to be complete trust.”
He was also up to speed on the finer technical aspects of rowing in a surf boat, listening to the rowlocks click in unison as the stroke rate settled.
How enlightened can a monk be?
It turns out Mudu was talking from experience – he spent his fair share of summers at Secret Harbour Surf Life Saving Club, holding his own on one of the surf boat crews in his life before ordination into the Bodhinyana Monastery in Serpentine.
Mudu and his anagarika were in Albany with a busy schedule of guided meditations and visits as they continue to strengthen ties with the Albany Buddhist community.
With encouragement from his teacher, Ajahn Braham, Mudu said the community can look forward to regular visits next year as he contemplates the prospect of establishing a monastery on the South Coast.
