unburdened

in the time when sages were plentiful
and buddhas roamed about in the beautiful forests
there lived a bright sage by the name of sadhil
he was a light to all in the community
he spoke rich words that set hearts to rest and minds to be quiet
he lived what was real and did not carry a burden on his back
that weighed heavy and brought his stature down
he was a comely lad
and when he spoke his hands moved fluidly as the trees
that swayed in the breeze
one day sadhil came upon some travelers
these travelers were going to a land called shadow
sadhil asked them why they would want to go there
they said that this was the way to their home
sadhil said there is another land called light
where one can live freely without any baggage or collected
false notions of mind
where there is deep abiding peace
that is beyond birth and death
the travelers looked at him aghast and said what does this
have to do with anything
we are accustom to going this way and our home is there
why would we want to go to this land of light that you speak of
we know nothing about it and are not equipped to travel elsewhere
sadhil looked at their packs on their backs and heavy carriages and said
you look very heavily laden with baggage to travel to this land of yours
called shadow
why not leave these things and come to the light
the travelers were dumbstruck by this ...
leave our burden? how could we do this
as this is all we own
how can we discard these things just at a whim and go with you elsewhere
what complete nonsense
this is our lives that we carry with us, and we will keep all of this safe in our home
in the land of shadow
well, said sadhil, you can keep all your baggage if you like and be on your usual way
following your usual route
but i am speaking of a peaceful land that is distinctly different than shadow
where mind will be liberated from suffering eternally..
you are a crazy man said one of the travelers ...
we have never heard of such a place ever and we need to be moving on to take
care of our responsibilities ...
you are speaking in a way that is so very unfamiliar and foreign
we cannot grasp it in the least...
it is true said sadhil, that you cannot grasp what is being said because you have only
experienced shadow
again, the travelers shook their heads in disbelief ...
one of the travelers said, we are going now and do not have any more time to listen
to these words that are very strange ...
please sir, excuse us ...
and the party burdened so greatly, went their way onward to the land of shadow
and sadhil, went his way unburdened and at peace ...
what was to come into his path next was not known and did not matter..
his mind was absorbed in the light always ...
and so he walked onward into the unfolding wonder that is ...


om shanti...