Chapter 16 - Life is Sacred
Hello all,
Today we have almost reached the halfway point in the story and I thought it would be a good time for a chat. A few of my writing friends have questioned why I am willing to put out the first draft of my story knowing that the grammar, writing and the story itself are not even close to the final form. They said they would be too worried by the criticism.
If you have been reading this story you will understand that it is important to not only live your truth but also to not worry what others think of you. I have chosen to share this early version for two reasons. Firstly it is a good lesson for me not to worry what others think, although I will always listen to constructive criticism as I develop my story telling skills. Secondly I published this early draft on my translatable blog for my friends who do not speak english and the likelihood that it will never be published in their language.
Thanks for the chat now it's back to the story.
Blessings and Peace to you all.
Geof
Chapter 16 - Life is Sacred
Huo wandered through the countryside for many months with one goal in mind, to find the Forest of K'an and journey to the mystical Lake of Li. The old sage had talked often about this magical lake and the forest. Over the last two days he had found the Forest of K'an and now he was heading towards the lake. He knew intuitively where the lake was; he could feel her presence with every part of his being.
On the journey to find the lake he had many adventures and had met many strange people. The strangest being the badger that could talk; well, talk was not quite right but he could communicate with Huo in the most unusual way. It happened over a month ago when Huo first thought of finding the Lake of Li in the Forest of K'an. He had been sitting by a stream meditating when a picture of the Lake of Li came into his mind. He knew it was the Lake of Li because of the description that he had received from the old sage. He could even see the large rock that Chung Fu used to sit on when he was teaching his students. In the meditation Huo could imagine himself sitting on the rock and staring into the Lake of the Li. The more he stared, the more real the picture became; it was so real that if Huo had wanted to he could have transported himself there in an instant, but of course he was not yet aware that he had those abilities. He opened his eyes with the knowing that came from deep within that the next part of his journey would take him to the lake the old sage had talked so much about.
He returned to his camp to the find a badger, a big fat badger, fossicking through his pack, for what little food he had left. Years ago he would have become angry to lose the little food he had, but he was different now. He understood that the Tao gives and takes away. So rather than express his anger, he sat down on a log of wood and watched the badger, for the inner part of him knew that the badger had a message for him.
Badgers by nature were very independent and this one was no exception. The badger turned to look at Huo, but the look was brief and he went back to eating the food and destroying Huo's pack. He certainly was an individual. Huo knew that badgers were very different from most animals in the forest and they did not seem to care what humans and other animals thought about them.
Huo sent a molecule of himself into the badger and what returned did not surprise him. He could almost hear the badger talking to him.
"Walk your own path at your own pace. Don't defend yourself. You are what you are, so be proud of it. If someone attacks you don't defend, just walk away. You are an infinite spirit walking your own journey; be proud of yourself, but at the same time do not judge others because you do not know what their journey is, or where it will lead. You don't have to explain to anyone what you are doing. You are following your inner spirit and to explain it would be impossible; it will lead you in ways that you would not think possible."
Huo was not sure the words were coming from the animal or were just the workings of his own mind. It did not matter for the teaching was the same. It was time for him to go back into the world and take what he had learnt to the people who were drawn to him.
He looked down at the badger and offered thanks for its teaching. For its part the badger gave him, what appeared to be, a grin and then scurried off into the forest without any apology for destroying Huo's worldly goods.
No longer encumbered by any earthly goods Huo continued on his journey to the Lake of Li in the Forest of K'an.
**********
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/
No comments:
Post a Comment