This is the story of a man and an apple tree.  No, it’s not the great Sir Isaac Newton, but another young fellow who was sitting under an apple tree, thinking about his purpose in life, when he fell into a deep sleep.  This sleep was so deep that he began to dream, and he didn’t know for sure if he was dreaming or if it was real, for the dream seemed so lifelike and vivid.

The man entered a large castle during his time period of the early 1600s.  He walked into the great doorway and entered the courtyard where all the hustle and bustle of the days merchants were selling their wares. For this was the king’s castle that was open every morning to the public for trading and selling their goods.  Of course, the king did this for several reasons, but the primary reason was to collect the taxes due him for anything that was sold.  By providing a means for the merchants to sell their goods and services within the castle, made tax collecting that much easier for the king’s men.

The man purposefully walked toward one of the merchants that appeared to not be selling anything, for no one was at his tent.   The man walked up to the tent and looked inside to see the merchant almost asleep on his stool.  The merchant seeing that he had a potential customer, quickly arose nearly knocking over the large vases that he was selling.  The man introduced himself as Sir Richard Kingsley to the merchant.  The merchant did not know this man, but figured he must have some stature for his name began with “sir.”  That name is reserved only for the great knights of the country.

Sir Richard asked the man if he made these wonderful vases, and the man eagerly answered, “yes.”  For he spent many long hours on each and every vase.  After looking around the tent at the many large and small varieties available, Sir Richard chose the one in the back corner, nearly out of sight from the rest.  The man, was pleased to sell a vase, for it had been weeks since his last sale, however, he was most disappointed at the selection.  For the chosen vase was the first one he had made and was not to his liking.  He said, “Sir Richard, why have you chosen that particular vase, when there are many more that are much more beautiful?”  Sir Richard, merely said, “I have chosen that vase for very good reason, and that is the one that I would like to own.”

He paid the man, and the man wrapped the vase in burlap and handed it to Sir Richard.  “Thank you, and enjoy your day,” said Sir Richard.  With that, he exited the tent out into the crowd.

The man was so excited that he sold a vase to a knight, but he did not know why he chose the ugliest vase available.  Why would anyone choose to do that?

Sir Richard didn’t go to anymore merchants, he left the castle, mounted his horse and rode back home.

Later that day, Sir Richard took a nap under a large apple tree that had been growing for many, many years.  When he awoke, he grabbed his vase and went to his home.

Startled, the man sleeping under the tree awoke, for he realized he was having the most vivid dream ever.  He rubbed his eyes and wondered why anyone would buy the ugliest vase available, when they had the money and the means to purchase the most beautiful vase of the like.

He slowly awoke and looked around at the beautiful countryside, for he was on the top of a small hill.  He could see for miles in every direction.  This was the place that the man went whenever he had some thinking to do, or just wanted to be alone.  Alone, with nature and the world.

He looked around to see a burlap bag with a string tied around the top. There was no one else around, for this was his special place that no one else seemed to know about.  “How could this be?” he thought.  Then he removed the string, and opened the bag.  When he opened it, he saw the vase that was identical to the one in his dream.  It was the most beautiful vase he had ever laid his eyes on.  Confused, the man began to ponder his dream to figure out what had happened.

He looked around, for horse tracks, but found none.  For he had walked up the hill to this tree from the village where he lived.

The man could not figure out what was going on, but decided to wrap up the vase and take it to his home.  Maybe he could find the rightful owner.

That night, the man fell fast asleep, when he had another lifelike vivid dream.  This time, however, he could see himself in the dream and he was approaching a castle.  He knocked on the large heavy door and asked if he could come in, not knowing where he was.  The man on the other side, asked for his name.  He gave his name and they quickly opened the large heavy doors.  “Sir Richard is expecting you, said one of the guards.”.  He entered the great castle and walked through the heavy doors that slammed behind him.  Astounded at the size of such a great castle, he continued to walk into the courtyard.

With that, he heard the voice of Sir Richard.  “Welcome my friend, welcome.”

Startled he looked behind him to see this large man walking toward him with hand extended.  They shook hands and Sir Richard led the man down a corridor to a room where there was tea set for two.

They sat down and Sir Richard poured the man some tea.  Sir Richard began,  “I’m guessing you are here because of the vase.”  The man acknowledged that he was there to find out more about the vase.

Sir Richard, told the man that the vase was a gift for he and his family.  He may keep it, sell it, or do with it what he pleases.

The man, looked confused.  “How did you give it to me?  For it was a dream that I had, and the vase appeared in this world.  I do not understand.”

Sir Richard said, “Was it a dream?”

The man looked confused, “it had to be a dream.”

“Well, then it was a dream”, said Sir Richard.

“But how could the vase get from my dream into the world?”

“Well then”, Sir Richard, said, “It must have been real, and not a dream.”

“But”, the man said, “I awoke in the same location that I dreamt, and furthermore, I dreamt about you.”

Sir Richard, stopped the man and said,  “Do not question the validity of your experiences, for whether or not they are real, or imaginary, is not the issue.  The issue is whether or not you believe in the experiences and enjoy them.  If those experiences help you, and make you happy, and provide joy,  then it does not matter their source.  For those feelings that are brought to you are in fact very real.  That is all that matters.  The source of those feelings that are brought to you does not matter.  That is why you received a physical gift from one of those experiences – to bring you joy and happiness and to let you know that those experiences are real for those very reasons.”

“Okay,” the man replied, “May I ask one more question?”

“Certainly,” said Sir Richard.

“Why did you choose the ugliest vase to give to me?”

Sir Richard replied, “Do you think it’s ugly?”

“No, not at all.  It is the most beautiful vase I have ever laid eyes on.”

“Then why do you think it’s ugly?”

“Because the man who sold it to you wanted you to buy one of his other vases.”

“Oh, I see.”

“You must understand that the man who sold me the vase was the creator of those very vases.  As the creator, he felt that one was more beautiful than the rest.  His early creations became less liked by the artist because he was able to make later vases that consisted of the things that he learned while creating the first vases.  However, I do not feel that way at all.  I prefer the early creations, because those creations are exactly as the artist intended without the outside world’s influence.”

“The first vase came from the heart and soul of the artist, whereas later vases included the influence of the people who viewed the early vases.  You see the early vase is pure and genuine, whereas the other vases, although beautiful, were tainted with the pressures of the people around the artist.”

“That is why I chose the vase, and that is also why I chose you.”

“You are the vase that is pure and genuine, and you can do anything that you want, even to be a knight for a day or a lifetime.  You were in that dream and you were the knight that walked into the tent.  You and I were acting as one, for I am the rest of who you are.  This, too, is not a dream, and it is not what you call real.  This is an experience that is very real, but not an experience that many people can understand.”

With that, the man awoke in his bed at his home in the village.  Confused, he walked over to the vase and appreciated its genuine beauty.

Ω

The man was having dreams, but those dreams were very much real.  Dreams are an opportunity for you to connect with the rest of yourself, your inner spirit and source.  That is what the man was doing, and he realized that he was genuine and that he could do anything or be anything that he wanted.

He also realized that what he wanted to be was the person he in fact was.  The person in the village that was pure and genuine and could be himself – rather than the knight in the castle that was no longer pure and genuine, for the knight had succumbed to the pressures of those around him.  He was in fact the artist’s very first vase, and the knight was the shiny beautiful vases put on display for the world to see.  He realized that he was exactly where he wanted to be, and appreciated the beauty within himself.

InspiraCard

Vases are beautiful to anyone who sees them, while some appreciate that beauty, others may not see it.  Much the same as every person that you meet throughout your day.  There is beauty within each and every person, it is up to the beholder to find and appreciate that beauty.

Written Mon Dec 17, 2007, 6:59 – 7:33 AM