“There it is.  We are almost there.”

The young, athletic man and his friend had been planning this adventure for months.  It all began when the man read a book about a wise master who lived high above the clouds on a mountain, that few people knew about.  He had researched this trip for months after reading the book that changed his life.

His career was all that had mattered to him, at the expense of his family and most of his relationships.  That is, until the “book” discovered him.  He likes to think that the book found its way to him, since he was not actively looking for it himself.  It was a classic case of, “when the student is ready the teacher will appear.”  In this case, the teacher was the master that he was about to meet.

The two friends had met at a meditation center in their small city.   They had gotten to know each other over the years.  However, now they knew each other extremely well.

The excursion up the mountain began when they landed in the nearest city several weeks ago.  They had to find a guide, equipment and most importantly, directions to this master’s living quarters.  They could make out what appeared to be flags strung from a string, whipping in the wind some hundred yards away.

All the villagers had warned them that the last hundred yards is the toughest and not to let their guard down.  Many seekers before them had lost their lives in that “last hundred yards.”  Now it was their turn to make their way across the treacherous land.

They had done their research, and spent many months practicing their rock climbing skills and strengthening their grip.  They learned how to scale a wall like an animal pressed against it.  They could move their legs and hang from their finger tips – supporting all of their body’s weight.  Yes, they had prepared for this journey, but now those preparations would be put to the test.

“I’ll set up the line, in case we need it.”

“That’s a good idea.  We need to proceed cautiously and not leave anything to chance.”

“I agree.”

The two of them didn’t need to scale the large rocks with only finger tips and toes.  This was going to be difficult, but nothing to that degree.  The key was to keep their focus and to make each step an intentional one.

Slowly, the two men made their way across those last hundred yards.  The first man waited for this friend before they stepped onto the summit – together.

“We made it.  I didn’t think this would ever happen.”

The two men embraced and tears began to flow.  They looked around to see the most marvelous little village they could imagine.  Pictures were not allowed, so they had only the descriptions of the villagers to tell them what to expect.  However, as most of them had told them, words cannot describe it.

A man in a colored robe approached them.  He spoke broken English and asked them to follow him.  He sat them down on wooden stools at a small wooden table.  Another person brought out hot tea served in exquisite, old cups.  It was as though they were expected.

The two men said nothing as instructed by the villagers below.  They now understood, because they had no desire to speak.  Their eyes and body were taking in all of the world and energy around them.

After being led to a room where they could wash up and put on clean robes that were provided, they were led into a room.

“The master will see you now.”

As they waited, they wondered what was going to happen.  They both closed their eyes and began to meditate.  They had learned that nothing is permanent, and that time is only a measurement of that which cannot be measured.

The sun began to set and the room grew dark.  Their eyes still closed, they could feel the magical energy of the ground which surrounded them.   At some point, oil lamps around them were lit.  They couldn’t help but wonder if there was some sort of mistake and the master didn’t know they were there.

The man began to grow anxious.  His body was beginning to ache, sitting on the ground for hours.  He kept his eyes closed, but his mind began to speak to him with doubt.

A few hours later, the man could feel a presence of energy enter the room.  A soft voice said, “you may open your eyes.”

I small man wearing a colored robe, like the others they seen, sat before them while facing the pair.

“What brings you to my home?”  He asked with a smile.

“We were wanting to meet you and wondered if we might ask you a question.”

“Certainly, what is your question?”

The man pondered for a moment.  He could not believe that he wasn’t better prepared.  He had lots of questions, but for some reason none of them seemed to matter now.  He didn’t want to waste this moment on something that later would seem trivial in the larger scheme of things.  This was his moment to ask a question that might serve him for the rest of this lifetime.  A question that might serve his descendants for years to come.

“What am I to learn?”  He asked respectfully.

“Ah, that is a good question.  When I look into your eyes and into your energy, I can see a man that has led a generally good life.  I can see a man who attempts to do the right thing.  I can see a man who is trying to better himself so that he may leave the people around him and the world in a better place.  I can see a man who cares about others.   Yes that is a good question.”

He paused for a moment and closed his eyes.  The oil lamps appeared to get a bit brighter.  His face was old, yet it seemed young.  The man wondered how old this great master in fact was.  He could not believe that he had this opportunity before him.  He was pleased with his question, but wondered if it was too vague.  Doubt began to set in.

The great master opened his eyes and pressed his palms together to meet at his heart.

“The thing that you and everyone must learn is this.”

He paused some more and opened his hands.

“You must learn to let go.”

The man heard the words and waited for more.  After several moments he replied.

“Let go of what?”

“Let go of everything.  Let go of the past.  Let go of expectations.  Let go of anything that is holding you down.  When you can learn to let go, you will be free to fly.”

The master then stood up and bid his farewell with a bow.

The two men followed his lead and bowed, while saying “thank you.”

That was the last they saw of the great master.  They stayed a few more days at the request of the others in the small village.

On the flight home, the man closed his eyes.  He could hear the words of the great master, who he travelled thousands of miles to see.   He could hear the simple sentence that would change his life – “learn to let go.”

He laughed to himself and realized that the preparations and the journey taught him just that very thing – to let go.  Now it was time to go back to the “real world” and practice that wisdom!

Ω

InspiraCard

When we learn to “let go,” we can be free.  Letting go of the past allows for us to move forward into the future, while engaging in this moment.  Letting go of desires allows for us to live with gratitude.  Let go and let life!

Written, Fri, Apr 1, 2016, 8:17 – 8:46 AM MST