sesshin

Had our yearly sesshin at Tokei-in in Shizuoka this past weekend.
Small group this time, only 9 people. Was much quieter and a bit easier; fewer people to serve so the meals went quicker, and less cross-banter than we usually get with 20 people.
Saw some old faces and some new, and had a really zen moment:
Was drinking my tea out of my rice bowl at the end of dinner on Saturday, and I saw my reflection in the tea as I tilted the cup to take a drink.
"Aha!" I thought. "That is just a reflection of me...but I am just a reflection of it. We are both the real me. Dude, check me out I am ENLIGHTENED!"
And I was generally feeling quite full of myself for making such an intellectual connection with the universe and reality...and then I continued to tilt the bowl to sip the tea, and though I could still see myself reflected in the tea, as the bottom of the bowl came into view, I could see myself reflected there, too.
Now there were two reflections of me, plus me. That's three of me. Brain overload, Buddhist-ego crumbling, pre-conceived notions shattered, dominant paradigms subverted.
I almost cried...or at least got really, really scared and nervous for a second. Like I had just pulled that last thread holding the sweater together, and the whole thing just unravels.
But actually I just drank the tea, enjoying the warmth as is went down my throat, and got over it.