I cancelled my schedule of public appearances for the rest of the year, including a book tour. I put off hundreds of friends, associates and students who called or wished to fly over. I knew from the beginning how easy it is for a man like me, surrounded by people and programs and plans, with schedules finalized two years in advance, to throw himself into his work. Instead I chose to do a plunge. I chose to plunge into Jishu.
Plunges are trademarks of our Order.
They're retreats designed to jar us out of our usual way of doing things, out of our usual concepts, and bear witness. This was my hardest plunge of all. This is the schedule I followed for my plunge. I got up early and took a bath. I learned about baths from Jishu, who found them a wonderful way to relax.