The Legend of the 33rd Sage - Chapter 31

Chapter 31 - Riding the Dragon

Time seemed to speeding up and yet he was not aging. The old sage was now in his late sixties and yet if you met him he would have appeared to be a man in his early to late thirties. It was not his diet that made the difference, although these days he needed to eat little to maintain who he was. As he made the journey from Ego to Spirit he realized that he no longer had any real needs. He accepted life for what it was; somedays he would eat, other days he would not. Some days he would stay in a Pagoda, other days he would sleep under the stars. To him it mattered not; from the quieting of the ego he understood that he was all things and he would draw to him what he needed on his journey. Of course there would come a day when the journey ended and he would shake of his mortal body and enjoy the freedom and lightness of being that he experienced in the spirit world.

There was a part of him that would have been quite happy to go to sleep one night and for his physical body not to wake up; for he knew that he was Eternal, Immortal and Infinite. It was with those thoughts that he went to sleep next to an open fire, with the full moon and all the nocturnal animals for company.

He drifted down in his levels of consciousness to the point where he was in a deep sleep. It was the level he experienced in his deepest meditations; the level where all things are connected. It is the level where the heartbeat that can be felt is the heartbeat of creation, which is accompanied by a song not unlike that of a bird song. Some mystics had called it the sound of the earth, but it was far deeper than that and Huo had remembered hearing the sound when he went up the tunnel and into the spirit world.

In what appeared to be a dream he was once again sucked up the tunnel and spat out into the spirit world. For a few moments he floated around the world and reconnected with some of the places and people he had seen and met previously. It was such a freeing experience to throw off the physical body, part of him wondered why we ever incarnated in human form. He knew the answer was to experience a life of emotion and the ego; to understand its strengths but also it's weaknesses and ultimately to transcend the human condition.

In many ways he was already more spirit than ego; he had seen the energy beyond the form; had experienced the wonders of the Tao and been one with nature. But deep in his heart centre he knew that his journey was not over. There was much more that he had to do in this world. Maybe this journey to the spirit world would give him some more answers or at least send him on the next part of his journey. In his inner self he asked to be shown where to go next on his journey.

He stopped floating through the air when he came to lake which reminded him very much of the Lake of Li, in the Forest of K'an. He floated down to the shore of the lake and there to greet him was the old log, from the real Lake of Li; the log where his students would sit when he would teach them.

He sat upon the log as if he was visiting an old friend. To him the log was very sacred. It reminded him of all the students he had ever taught and how their faces would light up when he told them one of his stories; stories which often came from so deep within him that he did not know the story himself until he began to tell it.

He was sitting on the log when he heard a sound coming from the water of the Lake of Li. The sound was off in the distance from the other side of the lake. He watched as a wave of water rushed towards him. Rather than being scared, he was mesmerized by the rising wave of water. Beneath the sound of the oncoming wave he heard another, deeper sound, it was almost guttural like the sound of an animal clearing its throat.

He watched in awe as the wave crashed over the top of him. Drenched, he did not try  to move or run as he could feel the energy in the wave. When the wave crashed back into the lake there left behind was a twenty foot dragon. Huo could not believe it. In all his wonderful life he had never seen a dragon. The dragon was red in colour, with shinny skin that glistened in the sun; skin that kept changing in colour from red to blue, brown and green. It had five claws on each foot.

The dragon seemed to be smiling at him.

He could sense its power. Rather than be scared of it the sage moved towards it. By the time he had reached the dragon it was sitting, relaxed as it did not fear him.

Anybody watching from a distance would have thought the sage and the dragon were sizing each other up, ready to strike. That could have not been further from the the truth, for within both of them was a deep respect for the other. Normally the dragon would put the person, who came before them, through a number of trials to see if they were worthy. The dragon knew this one was worthy; he could feel it with every ounce of his being.

He wondered why the sage had called him into being, for he could see that the sage was already well on the way towards his spiritual goal. The dragon opened up its feeling centers and allowed itself to enter into the old sage.

The sage could feel the energy as the dragon entered him. He opened himself up to allow the dragon to see all of him; even those aspects that he had hidden from the rest of the world.

In moments the dragon was reliving the sage's life. It was an ability that dragons had, so it was fruitless to try and hide anything from them. Everywhere the dragon looked there was a lightness to the Sage's being. The dragon could feel that Huo had wanted something but he could not feel what it was. In all the lightness there was one small shadow. This must be what the sage wanted help with.

He sent his energy into the shadow. It was as if a bright purple light was shone into the darkness revealing all there was to be seen.

The sage felt as if his heart was being ripped apart. The intensity of the pain forced him to look deep inside his heart. Without the purple light he would not have been able to do it; it was as if the purple light somehow made it more bearable. What the purple light was really doing was to increase his own vibration for a few short moments so he could become one with his shadow; for to go to the next stage he would have to be free of his shadow, his ego, otherwise the energy would destroy him.

Huo stepped into his shadow and there waiting for him were his parents and the love of his life Quing. All four of them embraced and Huo experienced a great release as he realized that he had was still feeling guilty for what had happened with his parents in the fire that many years ago. He could see that they were still very much alive and the guilt just fell away. It was in that moment that he understood the true power of forgiveness was to forgive yourself.

He turned to face Quing, although older she still looked beautiful. They stared into each others eyes for the longest time, seeing other lifetimes they had shared together and lifetimes in other dimensions yet to be shared. "Till we meet again," said Quing.

Huo watched as the loves of his life moved out of the shadows and back into the light where they belonged.

Huo awoke far calmer and more peaceful than he had ever felt in his life. Although it may have only been a dream, he realized that there had been a great release of energy while he slept and he was now different from the man who went to sleep.

He looked around himself and everything seemed different, lighter somehow. It was not just the landscape which looked lighter, he felt lighter himself, like he had been released by a burden which he had carried for years.

He put his hand inside his robes and removed the dragonfly pendant that had given him so many good memories. He looked at the pendant and a smile came to his face. In his mind's eye he could see his parents, Quing and Chung Fu they were all smiling and laughing and with a gentle wave they all turned and walked away from him.

The old sage was overcome with joy, rather than lose the greatest influences in his life he know understood they were always with him. All he had to do was look inside his heart; they were always there. There was no more guilt; he was what he was and in doing so he had taken the most courageous journey that anyone can take the journey within, the journey of the warrior sage. His life was sacred and he was dedicated to his own journey.

He stood, gathered his pack and continued on, free from the voices of the ego which had always tainted how he had seen the world.

As he walked away anyone watching would have seen him hang the dragonfly pendant on the branch of a tree.

Later that day spirit would ensure that a young girl on her own journey would walk past the tree that day and the pendant would come into her life.

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My new book the 33rd Sage and the Initiate is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and many other wonderful bookstores and online sellers. If you want to read more about 'The 33rd Sage and the Initiate,' have a look at my website on www.the33rdsage.com or my translatable blog at http://33rdsage.blogspot.com.au/

The Legend of the 33rd Sage - Chapter 30

Chapter 30 - Spiritual Discipline

After a year of listening to other philosophers and their philosophies the old sage found he was becoming even more silent; it was not that he did not disagree with what others said, he found it easier for him to be just what he was. He understood that he was not his mind or his body but an eternal, immortal and infinite being who had chosen this lifetime to evolve. From day to day he continued to wander the land every now and then he would sit for a while and teach or tell stories or just talk to people. Wherever he found himself was where he was meant to be.

He understood that he was an infinite being who had cloaked himself in a body to experience life in the earthplane. His daily discipline was focused on what he could do to transcend this experience and be able to understand his journey better. He would open himself up to where spirit wanted him to be on this day.

As he wandered he thought about writing down some of the stories he told to his students and others that sat and listened, but he soon realized that the story itself was the key and it was a story that should evolve over time. In this way it would keep the essence of the story alive but allow for the story teller to share it through their own instrument. This would allow the story to grow and evolve in ways that the original storyteller would not think possible. Huo thought to himself that it was very much like what happens to humans who incarnate to add to their own story to the library of the Godforce; a story that is written each time on an empty soul adding to the Godforce in ways that the Godforce may not even have thought possible. Here we all were insignificant in our own way and yet at the same time without us the universe would be different. As Huo pondered this he was both humble and overawed at the same time.

Who would have thought a poor disfigured boy would have grown into a humble sage who travelled the countryside telling stories, teaching and healing. He wondered where the Tao would lead him next, but he didn't need to wait long as his next journey was as close as his next decision.

As he contemplated where to go next he was overcome by a feeling of nausea. At first he thought it might be the rice he had eaten night the night before, for it had been in his pack a long while, as he had not met anyone or had any fresh food for many days. As the nausea waves enveloped his whole body, he felt a strange shift in his being and all of a sudden his consciousness was ripped from his physical body and transported through a long tunnel into a place of exquisite beauty. The bright light and the sheer beauty was almost too much for him that he had to close his eyes. As he became used to the energy that surrounded he opened his eyes again and surveyed the landscape.

The picture before him reminded him of one of the landscapes painted by prince Heng, for there was a flowingness in all objects that could not normally be seen with the naked eye. In the past the sage had only been able to perceive this aliveness or flowingness out the corner of his eyes. Now he could see it with all his being as his consciousness was no longer weighed down by his physical body.

He floated around the new world. He could have walked but with is new found lightness of being it seemed more appropriate to float and allow the energy of heaven to lead him through this new land. He wondered for a moment where he was, but it did not matter it was just one more experience given to him by the Godforce. Some would have called this place heaven, others might have seen it as a resting place between lifetimes.

Just when he stopped to contemplate where he was, he was picked up on a beam of light and transported out into the universe. He looked back to see the earth rushing away from. It was a humbling experience. The earth which had seemed so big was now less than the size of a pin head as his consciousness continued its journey across the galaxy. He soon could see galaxies by the millions rushing by. The universe was far bigger than he could ever comprehend. In his feeling centre he could feel voices talking to him, telling him that there was an infinite number of universes and he himself was existing in all of them at the same time.
The words, images and feelings continued to flow into him at such an extraordinary rate that he could not keep up with them. He tried to understand what he was seeing, hearing and feeling but it was all too much. The nausea increased and he was shot back into his body.
He opened his eyes.

He was back on earth, on the side of a mountain, sitting in a lotus position, trying to comprehend what just happened. He realized his ego was trying to hold on to the experience, so he turned his focus away from the experience and onto the feelings of nausea that he was still experiencing. The feelings were not unpleasant. It was like there had been a shift in who he thought he was and the nausea was either a reminder of the change or his resistance to it.

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My new book the 33rd Sage and the Initiate is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and many other wonderful bookstores and online sellers. If you want to read more about 'The 33rd Sage and the Initiate,' have a look at my website on www.the33rdsage.com or my translatable blog at http://33rdsage.blogspot.com.au/

The Legend of the 33rd Sage - Chapter 24

Chapter 24 - The Lightness of Being

The young prince had been coming to the Forest of K'an for almost two years and his paintings were becoming renowned throughout the kingdom. The sage had noticed in the last couple of months, that as his fame grew, so also did the young man's arrogance. It seemed that whenever they spoke the prince thought he knew more about everything than the sage. The sage did not judge the arrogance, but he did wonder what was underneath; for he knew that arrogance often came out of fear.

It was no longer appropriate for him to tell the young man what to do, for he had come to that point in the teachings when it was important for the prince to take control of his own teaching and to open up to his Higher Self. The sage knew that could never happen while he was arrogant; for to be able to connect with the Higher Self you needed a lightness of being, with the ego no longer blocking the way.

What was the sage to do?

In the end he left it to the Tao to handle; for he knew that by opening to the wisdom of the Tao, an opportunity would arise from which they both could grow.
It was late summer when the Tao sent forward them the opportunity. The sage would welcome the opportunity; he understood that his life was alway about new beginnings. I cannot say the same for the Prince who was now resisting any new experiences or any new teachings. He thought because he could see the life in things through his painting, he had reached the ultimate teaching, but that was merely his ego, which had become comfortable with the recognition it was receiving.

This day the prince wanted to go deeper in the forest to paint.
The sage could feel in an inner part of himself that it was not a good idea, for the weather, the heat and the wind were giving him signs that were not positive. He tried to talk the young prince out of going on, what he knew would be foolhardy, but the prince would hear none of it and ordered the sage to come with him.
In the end the sage agreed, 'It would be as it would be," he thought to himself.
They were deep in the woods and the prince was congratulating himself on capturing the essence of the forest in his painting. He had even painted himself into the picture and against the Taoist tradition his portrait took up more than a third of the landscape. His arrogance was getting more and more out of control.

The sage heard a crackling sound and immediately knew that his element, the element of fire was very active. For a moment he drew deep within himself, fearing his own  lack of balance had drawn the fire to them, just like it had done to his parents in the past. He need not have worried. When he went deep within, all he saw was the smiling and proud faces of his parents. He nodded to them and then came back into the outer world. By this time the crackling had become louder and the smell of smoke surrounded them.
He looked to the prince who seemed oblivious to what was happening. He called out to him and got no response. He called louder and still nothing. He struck the young man across the back with his walking stick. The young prince turned with a look of anger on his face, the like of which the sage had never seen. Heng was about to strike the sage when he smelt the smoke and heard the flames which had almost reached them. His anger turned to fear and he started to tremble.

The sage surveyed the area and could see they were surrounded by a ring of fire. They only had seconds to make a decision as the fire rushed towards them.
"Let's make a run for it," said the prince his fears clouding his thinking.
The sage touched him gently on the arm but you would think he had been stuck by a spear; so much energy had been transferred to him. The prince took a deep breath and began to relax. He could still see no way out, but at least he was back in control of his mind.

The sage went deep within and he could see them walking through the fire, not one lick of the flame touching their bodies. The sage knew with his conscious mind it was impossible and his ego was already telling him that he was mad and would die in the flames. He turned to the prince. "We have to close our eyes and walk through the flames. If we align to the element of fire then we will not be killed by it or because of it."
"Your mad," said the prince, "If we close our eyes and walk through the fire we will surely die."

"If you can let go of your fear of death and embrace life. If you can respect the elements and become the element of fire then you will be safe. Trust me."

The young prince did not know what to believe, was this a trick by the sage to punish him or was it a plan that had been hatched by someone who wanted his throne. All manner of thoughts passed through his mind; they were all fears, fear of death, fear of loss and the fear of being burnt. Just as his mind was about to go into overwhelm he took a deep breath and stilled himself for a moment. The sage had never harmed him; in fact everything the sage had done for him had only increased in him the person he was becoming. It wasn't the sage that was trying to trick him, it was his own ego.
He did as the sage suggested. He closed his eyes and imagined becoming one with the element of fire. At first nothing happened, but when he gave thanks to the fire for its teaching everything began to change. He could see himself becoming the fire, not as an intellectual exercise; he could feel the element of fire rising up from within him. He knew in that moment that the fire would not hurt him. With his eyes still closed he reached out and took the hand of the sage and walked into the flames.

He could feel the warmth of the fire brush his face as he moved through the flames. Twenty meters further on and he experienced a whisp of cooler air caress his cheeks. He opened his eyes to see they had gone beyond the fire. He looked down at his clothes and apart from one small burnt patch, neither his clothes or his body had been burnt in the fire.

He looked into the eyes of the sage, "I am sorry that I let my ego take control of me. I had forgotten for a moment that you were a gift from the Tao; a gift that the Tao could have just as easily taken away from me." Heng hugged the old sage. It was the hug of one friend for another; they had become for the first time equals. It was a defining moment in the young prince's life; the moment when his ego was no longer in charge. He was now free to become the person he was destined to become.

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My new book the 33rd Sage and the Initiate is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and many other wonderful bookstores and online sellers. If you want to read more about 'The 33rd Sage and the Initiate,' have a look at my website on www.the33rdsage.com or my translatable blog at http://33rdsage.blogspot.com.au/

The Legend of the 33rd Sage - Chapter 21

Hello everyone,

We are almost two thirds of the way through the 'Legend of the 33rd Sage and the Way of the Initiate.' I would like to thank a few of my readers who have asked me questions through my facebook page for the 33rd Sage and also through the contact button on my websites. Also I would love to know if people are finding the concept in each chapter easy to understand or would you like more information. I have tried to explain all the concepts through the story while at the same time simplifying them. The road to the Initiate although not easy should not be complex. It starts with a lightness of being, a kindness towards others and the realization that we are all Eternal, Immortal and Infinite. I have been lucky to have some amazing teachers along the way and I hoped that by sharing some of these teachings in a story format that it can resonate deeply within your being. I would recommend that once you have read through all the chapters that you may want to start from the beginning again as it will seem almost like the teachings have change, but the truth is that you have changed. It is the part that I love the most. In my first novel 'The 33rd Sage,' a story about nature and the Elements I cannot count how many times readers said that the story was different each time they read it. Anyway if there is anything you want me to explain further, just leave me a comment.
The comments I have received and will receive will determine where I go with the story in my second, third and future drafts.
Thanks again for reading.
Blessings and Peace and may your life be illuminated.

Chapter  21 - The Sacred Way

"Master," said Heng, "What is it that makes the Lake of Li and the Forest of K'an sacred. When we walk through the forest you walk as if you are in a Pagoda and when  you sit by the lake you do it with such great reverence for its water. It is like you are looking  at a god."

Huo crossed the fingers of both hands over each other and took what could only be described as reverential pose. "My son everything in life is sacred. But to answer your question; we make something sacred by focusing our attention on it. The Lake of Li has been revered for many years by the people and the animals of the forest because it is what has given them life, one generation after another. The monks of my order revere it because for them water is the closest thing they have on earth that is representative of the Tao. Of course the Tao is in everything. It is just that water seems to represent the concepts in many of the Taoist teachings. To make something sacred is to put your focused attention on it."

"But why Master, why do we need to make things sacred?"
That was the second time the young man had called Huo Master. It was a strange way to be addressed by the son of the Emperor; who at any moment could have him thrown him in prison or had him beheaded. Although Huo did not think of such things he understood that life is what it is; there was no bad or good only actions of lesser and greater energy. He took the title of master as a sign of respect from the young man who had changed greatly in their time together. Occasionally when the higher self allowed it he saw picture of the future when the young man would become a mighty leader and loved by all his people. It was still a way off and their was still much he needed to teach him in their time together.
He thought for a while about Heng's question; he knew what he wanted to say but the words were not forthcoming. He stilled himself for a moment and looked within, imagining that the old sage was still teaching him. What would he have said? What words and thoughts would he have to offer.

"Out of sacredness and humility comes gratitude and out of gratitudes comes the keys to the kingdom. For he that is grateful more will be given," were the words that fell from his lips.

The young man understood; the words passed his intellectual mind and touched him deeply in his heart. As the student he had made these teachings sacred. Before coming to the Forest of K'an, each month, to learn and listen to the teachings by the magical Lake of Li, the young man gave blessings to the Tao for what he was about to receive from the sage. When he first came he was the son of the Emperor, but now he saw himself as the student of a wise man. By treating every action and word that the sage had shared with him as sacred, he gave it power and it enlightened his own life when he came back into the palace. There was not a day that went by when one of the teachings would not come to help him in his daily life. He originally came to the forest to please his father, but now he was beginning to understand why his father wanted him to spend a week a month outside the luxury of the palace; it was not to toughen him up for the future that was to come. It was for him to understand his people and to be a leader who would put his people before himself when he made decisions.

He had been privileged to be born the son of the Emperor but to him that was given much, much was expected. He was humbled before the teachings he was receiving from the sage; humbled and grateful. What he did not expect was the wave of emotions that were now overcoming him. He looked towards his master who just smiled, for he knew what was happening, but he would say nothing as this feeling could only be experienced; there were no words for when one was truly connected to the Tao. In the first instance he knew the young man would be overcome with a wave of emotions, but that would soon change and more would be given; for the young man understood that sacredness was the way to the Tao.

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My new book the 33rd Sage and the Initiate is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and many other wonderful bookstores and online sellers. If you want to read more about 'The 33rd Sage and the Initiate,' have a look at my website on www.the33rdsage.com or my translatable blog at http://33rdsage.blogspot.com.au/

The Legend of the 33rd Sage - Chapter 19

Chapter 19 - The Eternal Power

After twelve months, one full cycle of the seasons, the carriage arrived as normal. The Emperor's son rushed out of the carriage and over to Huo who was waiting outside his house. He went straight to Huo and wrapped his arms around the Sage's neck and gave him a hug. Looking from the carriage the Emperor's wife Empress Li was shocked at the informality.  Stepping down from the carriage she was about to make a comment when she recognized that Huo was the young man who had saved the life of her son years before. Any thought of punishment or reprimand fell away as she knew that her son was in the safest of hands.

The boy rushed into the old house to get his writing implements to start his days study, not even caring to say goodbye to his mother.

Huo smiled and gave a short bow to the Empress.
"It should me bowing to you," she said, "For not only did you save the life of my son Heng, but now you are teaching him things I could only dream about. In the year he has been coming to you he has come back a calmer and kinder person."
"The boy has done all the work himself empress, I have been there only to guide him on his way. He has learnt very quickly to connect with his own inner power and when the day comes he will make a great leader."

The boy returned with his writing implements. "I am ready."
His excitement was palpable, which made the Empress and Huo both laugh.
"Heng, said the Empress, "Go and wait my son the sage will be with you in a moment."

The young boy walked the short distance to the Lake of Li and waited for the sage to appear. While he waited he practiced the martial art techniques that the sage had given him; techniques which were never meant to be used in anger, but techniques which would increase the connection to the boy's inner self and allow the power stored there to come up from within.

While he was waiting Huo and the Empress talked like old friends, discussing the training of her son, matters of the court and the beauty of nature. It was Huo who brought up the beauty of nature because he could see in the Empress a deep sadness and he hoped, looking at and talking about the beauty of the natural world would allow her some beauty in her own life.

The young sage sent a molecule into the Empress, not as an infringement, but to try an understand more about her sadness. He was not going to infringe by asking her directly, but if the beauty of nature allowed a space where she could open up to him then he would help her in anyway he could. He was going to teach her son about using his internal power, so it seemed only natural for the Tao to offer him an opportunity to practice connecting with his own inner power; so that he could speak from a sense of knowing.

When the molecule of feeling returned he could sense that there was trouble with the Emperor. What the trouble was he did not pry further. It was enough that she had difficulty. He turned slightly using only his peripheral vision and he could see that her aura was all over the place and it some areas it looked quite grimy and dark. He immediately sent her energy from within himself; not to fix her problem, but to offer extra energy for a moment to help her deal with it. He understood the wonderful energy of the Tao was not about pushing yourself onto others but allowing them a space to pull them towards you. Although the word pull was not correct; it was more that as your energy grew others were drawn to it.

The Empress sighed very deeply. A sigh so deep that it could be heard and felt by the animals and other beings in the forest. Huo looked around to see energy coming from the trees, plants, animals and unseen beings of the forest into the heart of the Empress.

Huo led the Empress next to an old tree and asked her to sit with her back against it. She gave him a confused look, but trusted him enough to follow his instructions.

The moment her back touched the tree she sensed a rush of energy race through her body and in a few seconds she was calmer and could see more clearly than she had in years.
The sage sat quietly with her as she allowed the tears to escape from her eyes. Next came the sobs as her heart opened to the energy it had received from the Forest of K'an. While her heart was open she could see the problems with the Emperor; they were nothing to do with his love for her which was as strong as ever. The problem lay in the Empire itself, for the Emperor had to decide whether to fight with the people of the north or agree to a peace pact, which would not only see his power diminished, but also cost his people financially.

The sage could see all this. He could also see both futures through his own inner feelings as each future had an energy to it. He sent the light of the Tao from his own heart directly into the heart of the Empress. She experienced another great rush of energy and in that moment she saw the answer to the Emperor's problems. She knew that she could not tell her husband what to do, but a women has ways of influencing that a man will never know. Being closer to the Tao a woman finds it easier to connect with her own inner power, the power to pull to you what you need.

Huo watched as her aura changed from dark and grimy to clear and tighter around her body. She no longer needed the power from him and the forest and these were withdrawn without a change in her energy. Her energy was no longer blocked and she was naturally drawing her energy from that place deep within where it is available for anyone who is open to it.

After a little encouragement from his wife to meditate on his problems the Emperor went within and visualized the problem, only to discover that it was not a problem but a greater opportunity for his people and the generations to come. By not going with the thoughts of the Ego, but by going deep into his inner-self he allowed his higher self to show him the opportunity that lay before him.

History may not be kind to him but his dynasty lasted over a thousand years and his people were well fed and well educated; he made changes only a wise man could have made, for he understood the power of non-action. A power that most men never get to understand, but a power of infinite energy.

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My new book the 33rd Sage and the Initiate is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and many other wonderful bookstores and online sellers. If you want to read more about 'The 33rd Sage and the Initiate,' have a look at my website on www.the33rdsage.com or my translatable blog at http://33rdsage.blogspot.com.au/

The Legend of the 33rd Sage - Chapter 17

Chapter 17 - Purification

It was nearing the end of Autumn when Huo entered the Forest of K'an. The moment his feet touched the earth, inside the forest, he felt energized; a pulse of energy shooting through his body. He had the sense that he was home, even though he had never been here in his life. He stood in an opening and allowed his feeling self to connect with the Forest and the Lake. The feeling that returned was one of serenity and tranquility. The whole area felt wonderful but there was a spot to the west of him which had a higher energy than anywhere else. He walked off in that direction. After breaking through a row of trees he could see the Lake of Li before him. His final few steps to the lake were done in such a sacred way that anybody watching him would have though he was in a monastery or Pagoda. Each time his foot struck the earth there was a deep connection.

He thought of his parents and tears streamed from his eyes; if they could only see him now, but in his heart he knew they could and like him they were eternal, immortal and infinite. This lifetime was just a brief flash of an infinite light which burned through him.
Once he reached the waters edge, he stopped for a brief moment and sat on a large rock. He instantly felt the old sage; this was obviously the rock the old man used to teach his students from. Tears again escaped the safety of his eyes. He had lived a wonderful life and it had taught him many things. It was time for him to give back some of the beauty that had been shared with him. He was not sure how he would do it or where. The only thing he did know was that he was here to be purified by the Lake of Li; to allow its special waters to wash over and purify him; clear him of any emotion he was still storing in his body, for the next part of his journey required him to be cleansed.

Huo removed his tatty clothes and put them by the base of the rock. For the longest time he sat naked staring into the Lake of the Li, but really he was staring into himself and the journey through life which had brought him to this moment. There were wonderful times spent with his parents and of course with the old sage, but between these times there was such a lot of pain. Firstly from losing his parents and in the bullying he received from the other children and some of their parents after he was disfigured in the fire. The fire he had caused because of his love of flames. As a child he was fascinated by fire, not so much for the burning properties or it's destructive powers it was its ability to throw light which had him enthralled. He would sit for hours when the others were asleep playing with candles trying to create different shapes and effects by changing the direction of the light. Just like his name which meant Fire; he was fascinated by all aspects of the flames which licked the air and moved in the breeze, until that one fateful evening when it all went wrong.

He was still not sure exactly what happened. He had been playing with the candle when he had become overcome by sleep. The next thing he remembered was being carried out of the house through smoke and flames. He had not even realized that he had been burned because he had gone into shock and felt numb. The numbness became depression when he found out his parents had died in the fire. It was then that he suppressed the feelings; feelings which were now coming back in gigantic waves. His grief was so strong that he threw himself in the Lake of Li, not caring at that moment whether he lived or died.

His body drifted down into the depths of the lake. The love he felt for his parents mixing with the grief and pain he felt for causing their deaths. The waters of the Lake were bringing up every emotion he had ever suppressed and he was forced to feel everyone of them. It was painful and yet fascinating; he watched as some emotions were attached to experiences that seemed so insignificant and yet for some reason they had mattered greatly. It was a word here, a thought there, an off the cuff remark by a passer by; it was amazing what he had let affect him and for the most part his conscious self had not been aware of it. In the purification by the Lake of Li, Huo began to understand the power of the subconscious mind to direct our lives and create lives that we would not consciously choose, but choose we did as our subconscious minds created the world from its limited perspective.

Time seemed to stand still as Huo floated on the bottom of the lake. It was as if the bottom of the lake represented the bottom of his subconscious mind, as he cleared the last dregs of the thoughts which had trapped him under the control of the subconscious mind.

At that moment when he was given the choice between passing over to higher self or life, he chose life; he felt deep in his being that there was much he still needed and wanted to do in this lifetime.

Huo floated to the top and when he broke through the surface he felt purified; cleansed of all the emotions that were holding him back from living inside his infinite spirit. Once on the surface he swam back to the shore where he lay in the afternoon sun, replaying his life in his mind's eye. When he observed the moments when he was out of control, he noticed a recurring theme. Every time he went out of a balance it was caused by four emotions; anger at himself, judgement of others, frustration at not getting his needs met or moments when he could not control his surroundings.

As each memory came up he thanked it for its teaching and released it from his being. It was late in the afternoon when he had finally released all the unconscious hurt, pain and emotions. The Lake of Purification had done its job.

As the chill hit the air he dressed in his ragged old clothes, but they did not appear raggedy any more. It was as if by releasing the negativity he had stored stored in his body that his clothes had been renewed and even changed in colour. It was impossible but it did happen.

He sat on the rock in his new plum red robe, cinched by a plum red sash.

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