Like Water for Chocolate

a zen koan

Qian lived a long time ago and is the heroine of a famous Zen koan:

Wuzu asked a monk, the woman Qian and her spirit separated, which is the true Qian?

Recently Qian visited me at my studio; she said she was feeling lost and disconnected and so, on a whim, decided to call me. I was excited to hear from her and invited her to my studio for a visit. After pouring her a glass of wine, I passed her a new Art book. As Qian was flipping through the pages, her heart started beating wildly, like water for chocolate. On each page was a beautiful art image, an image that, to her surprise, was her own artwork. Maybe it was the wine, but Qian felt a warm excitement building inside her. 

I took Qian's hand and walked into the Art Gallery next door. It was full of people mingling; wine and hors d’oeuvres were served. Large beautiful paintings were hanging on the walls, and the room was full of excitement at their unveiling. Music, Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love," was playing in the background. Qian and I walked around the room, hand in hand, looking at the beautiful artwork; each piece was signed by Qian.

Qian set her glass of wine down on a nearby table, and with Leonard's music pouring all over us, she leaned into me and put her lips to mine. 

That's all I remember.

photo credit: Guy Gaudry, 2015