a man came to see the saint..

in the morning he came to see the saint
he walked over the grassy hills and pebbled path
to find the sage that lived in the ashram there ...
as he approached his heart sank inside as he felt himself
to be unworthy to bow before a man of God
a man that was saintly and bore no marks of ignorance or
deceptive ways like ordinary men...
he wondered how the saint would take him in..
was he good enough to look upon ..
did he have something of value to offer or give or say?
all of these thoughts echoed about his head while he walked closer
to the opening of the sage's quarters..
when he walked in, there was a sense of quiet inside that
he had not felt for many an era...
and he caught himself feeling ashamed at getting so lost in the world
and not paying attention to his heart...
but he let this go and went forward into the area where the sage sat
on his couch that was made by his devotees...
he sat down before the sage that looked to be pure peace to his eyes..
he made a cross legged sitting position and stayed quiet until the sage
caught his glance ...
and then the man that came forgot what to say...
he was speachless for a moment...
but soon he said, dear master i know not what to say..
for i am a simple man that has not lived in awareness like i should
i have come to offer my poor ways to God
i would like your blessing so that i can be set lighter in my journey
through this world...
the sage did not respond right away...
he remained still and not at all looking changed by what was said..
he spoke up finally and said ..
dear man, you may feel like you are a sinner or that you have done this and that
not good enough or right enough...
regardless, you are to begin the journey where all begin ...
right here ---
and go inside and question what this ego nature is --
is it lasting? or does it rise and fall?
from where do thoughts arise and from where do they return?
this man fell silent for awhile as he was expecting to be given forgiveness
or a blessing and not to be thrown in on himself this way ...
it was a jolt to his mind and he was quietened within...
and made to be present with the energy that was about in such a balanced way...
his thoughts faded and were lighter...
he left feeling blessed and less burdened... and felt as he did nothing to *earn* this grace ..
it simply took place without any doing on his part...
this he knew for certain and he went about his walk a lighter man for it ...