Life Truths And Death Threats

It's a short flight from Sydney to Adelaide. But today it seems longer.

The Five Truths discussion continues......

David: That's not it. I would have remembered.

Katherine: You obviously didn't. Nor did Fish, come to think of it.

David: I feel a strong rapport with my nephew. 'Have fun' is not a Truth, it's a facile instruction.

Katherine: An objective. You would do well to remember it.

David: I always enjoy myself, mother. Look, I'm enjoying myself.

(He indicates the half-finished Sudoku in the open magazine on his tray).

Katherine: There are two fives in that row.

Ray (from the seat behind them): Perhaps I can help you?

Katherine: Perhaps you can. David could do with a rubber.

Ray: No, about the Five Truths. Church precepts are instructive.

Katherine: Ha! Go on. This will be precious.

Ray: Indeed. One: Life is hard.

David: Just give me the last one.

Ray: Your life is not all about you.

David: Oh really. Who is it about then? That can't be the last one.

Ray: No, that's the second one.

David: Typical. You church types never listen. What's the last one?

Ray: You are going to die.

Flight attendant: Tea or coffee?

Katherine: Tea please, and one of your muffins.

David: Going to die! That's a dispiriting send-off for an infant on his first day at school.

Ray: It's not about school. These are Life Truths.

Rosamunda: (looking up from her iPad): Are we talking Life Truths?

Katherine: Yes dear. We've extended our horizons. Do you know any nice ones?

Rosamunda: The Buddha had four Noble Truths, which some people find helpful.

Ray: Only four. Ha ha! And I can guess which one's missing.

Rosamunda: There isn't one missing. They go like this. One: All temporary things are unsatisfying.

Katherine: How true. I shouldn't be having this muffin.

David: Forget the first three. Just tell me the last one.

Rosamunda: All right. Four: Practice mindfulness.......

David: Whatever that is. What is it?

Rosamunda, I hadn't finished.

Flight attendant (to Ray): Sir, I must ask you to please get out of your seat and walk calmly with my colleagues up to the front of the aircraft.

Ray: There must be some mistake.

Flight attendant: No, there isn't. Off you go now.

Ray gets up and is escorted to the front of the aircraft to report to the captain.

Flight attendant: I'm so sorry. I was legally obliged to report your friend's death threat.

Katherine: That's quite all right. He will no doubt give the captain the Good News. He's a pastor.

Flight attendant: A pastor. Ha ha. That's quite funny.

Rosamunda: We were actually discussing the Four Noble Truths of the Buddha.

David: Five if you call 'Have Fun' a Truth, which I don't, necessarily.

Flight attendant: The Buddha said 'Have fun'? That's so unexpected. It reminds me of something I saw on Facebook. The Five Truths of Life . What were they now? They were all different. Especially the first one.....

David: The first one? What was it?

Flight Attendant: It was: Nobody is real in this world except Mother.

David: For goodness sake! How is that truthful?

Katherine: Nonsense, David. It's the best thing I've heard for ten minutes.