Somehow I've always regarder westerners who often speak about buddhism as -pretentious is not the right word- but something equal, perhaps, to silly. This is strange, as I am myself a westerner, and believe that to be a Buddhist is a respectable (even wonderful) way of life. But putting this aside, I really did enjoy reading this. It's better than what I've read of your more formal poems, and I like the fact that while meandering around Buddhist imagery, refrences to the faith, it has a tightness to it- it goes back to the same place, has some sort of focus (the scene in the garden). Nice.

hmm, interesting to think about...nicely paced and worded... makes me think really...

wow... you pull the reader through all of your experience willingly with a smooth voice... love it. my only concern is with your ending-the second to last stanza sounds a little like an ending, which is confusing, and it makes the actual ending seem like a repeat. just something to think about-I enjoyed every word of this poem. well written.