Chapter 14 - The Sage Does Not Infringe
It was after the meditation one morning when all the students had gone back to their homes, only Huo had stayed behind with the old sage to help him clear up the space they had used in the Pagoda and clear the energy from the meditation; for some times even after the meditation the unclear thoughts that had dropped away from the participants needed to be cleared away from the sacred space to allow anybody who used it later to find a space that was open and clear of any negativity. The old man always made sacred anything he did. It did not matter whether it was getting dressed in the morning or teaching a student; everything the old man did he would do it in a sacred way for to do any less would mean that something was less than the other.
The young man had not understood it at first, but as he began to practice the technique of making everything sacred, he soon realized that it was what connected him with everything. It was in the act of judging something to be less important or less sacred that disconnected him from the one or the Tao. It was interesting to watch his own life; to observe the difference when he did things in a sacred way.
He remembered the first time he had created a sacred space before he meditated. At first it felt silly and uncomfortable; of course that was only because he was coming out of judgement and the reason he was judging it was because he did not yet understand - everything is sacred. It was that one realization that changed him forever. Just like the old sage, he was now doing everything in a scared way and the most surprising thing was that because he made everything sacred, even things like washing, dressing and eating, which had been mundane, had now taken on a new quality; a quality of freshness.
The world had come alive for him. When he put on his clothes in the morning he could sense, almost feel the man or woman who had made the garment and what they were feeling at the time. He would give thanks to the person who had created this garment for him. He started to realize how abundant he was. Others would see him as a penniless young man because they came from their own judgement. If they could only look deeper they would see a young man who was having all his needs met. Huo was so in touch with the Tao that he wanted for nothing; it was in his gratitude that he understood that he was receiving so much.
In clearing the space in the Pagoda he could see what energy the students had left behind and it would instruct him and the old sage on what to teach the students the next day. He looked across at the old sage who was sweeping the space they had used; ensuring that on all levels it would cleaner and clearer than when they first entered it. As the old man swept, a beetle crawled into the space. To anyone else it would have been a nuisance, but not to the old sage who saw it as one of God's creatures and an extension of himself. He picked up the beetle and took it out to the garden where he spoke gently to it before putting it down on the ground.
When the young man, who had followed him out into the garden, questioned him on what he had said to the beetle. The old man replied that, "I had thanked the beetle for allowing to me have a break from my cleaning and experience the beauty that existed in the garden. It is easy for us get caught up in our own world and sometimes it takes the beauty of nature to show us that we are all connected. And to do some kindness, to even something that appears as insignificant as a beetle, can return to you a bounty far in advance of what you did. Look at the garden, it is teeming with life; all the plants and insects working together to create the moment we are now experiencing; a moment only you and I can share. It is only by living in the now and treating everything as sacred that we get to see the beauty in the world. It is through non-judgment that we can truly see the beauty that is inside us all and then it is reflected in the outer world."
"Chung Fu you are the wisest person I have ever met and each day you deepen my wisdom and knowledge of the Tao, but I never see you sharing this wisdom without being asked. Many times I am sure you could have helped people when they need you assistance. Why is that?
That was the first time he had called the old sage by his name in many years. It was good that Huo had gone beyond the master and apprentice relationship because the old sage could see that the young man was already a very wise sage himself. "I was going to answer that question but then spirit prompted me to ask what you think?"
Huo's ego was immediately taking in by the complement, but the real Huo, the eternal, immortal and infinite Huo understood that it was now time for the teaching to come totally from within. By going beyond the need to judge, he allowed a higher awareness to come through. In that moment he understood that he was no longer the apprentice. He answered his own question by saying, "I know that one word from you could change a person's life; a person's evolution. Who are we to decide what a person has incarnated in this life to learn. To give them help without asking is infringing on their journey. It is to treat them as a finite being, rather than an eternal, immortal and infinite being that they are." The young man stopped for a moment as he allowed another impression to come forward; he knew it was time, before he could even voice the words, he had felt it when Chung Fu had suggested that he answer his own question. "I have defined our relationship, as you are the Master and I am the apprentice, but now it is important for me to experience life rather than be defined by our old relationship. It is time for me to move on. I am sure I could learn much more from you, but in my heart I know that I am to become my own teacher. It is time for me to wander the lands and learn from my interactions with all the aspects of the Tao. I thank you from my heart for all that you have taught me, but it is now time for me to go."
Tears escaped from both their eyes as they both knew it was time for Huo to go. Chung Fu had chosen well, the student was now the teacher. The old sage reached into his pocket and pulled out the dragon fly pendant and gave it to the young man.
Huo took the pendant which was now more special than ever, for when he held it or looked at the pendant it would now remind of more than his parents, it would remind him of his time with the old sage. In losing the pendant it had become an even more sacred object.
After saying his goodbyes to the old sage, he went to find Qing. She was in the kitchen preparing their breakfast. He took her in his arms and kissed her full on the lips. At first she tried to pull away, not because she did not want to kiss him, she had wanted it more than life itself, but because it had shocked her that he had been so bold. After pulling slightly away she eased back towards him and joined him in a passionate kiss. During the kiss she could feel that they had come closer together, but on some level further apart. She looked at him for some kind of explanation. He could feel it to. He explained to her that, although he loved her with all his heart, he had to leave her and the old sage so he could continue his inner journey. He promised he would come back for her one day, but he was not ready, his journey was leading him elsewhere.
She tried to talk him out of it, with talk of their life and what their life would be like, but she soon realized she may as well have been taking to the wall of the Pagoda, his spirit was already on the journey and it was his body that needed to catch up.
That evening they held a banquet in his Honour, but before the speeches were finished he had quietly slipped out the side door, collected his small pack and walked from the town.
He looked back a couple of times but only to remember what the town looked like; for the people, Chung Fu and Qing were forever in his heart and he would never forget them.
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