Wisdoms from the Journey - Vol IV (Nov 2011 thru Apr 2012)

The time we have left …
(04/29/2012)
“On a long enough time line,
the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.”
~ Chuck Palahniuk
“An awareness of death
encourages us to live …” ~ Paulo Coelho
When Alexander the Great was coming to India, he met a man named
Diogenes. It was a winter morning when he did so. A cool breeze was blowing,
and Diogenes was lying on the riverbank, taking a sunbath. Now Diogenes had
nothing, not even a begging-bowl, and yet Alexander had never seen such a
graceful man (for when a person has chosen to live as a Loving Soul, a Beauty arises
from within which is nothing short of other-worldly). In utter awe of Diogenes’
serenity, Alexander said, “Sir, I am immensely impressed by your being, and
would like to do something for you.” Diogenes looked up calmly and replied,
“Simply stand to the side, if you would, because you are blocking the sun–
Nothing else do I need.” Alexander then said, “If I have another chance to come
to the earth I will ask God, instead of making me Alexander again, to make me like
you.” Diogenes laughed and he said, “Who is preventing you from doing so right
now? For months I have seen your armies moving and preparing – Where are you
going? and for what?” Alexander replied, “I am going to India to conquer the
world.” Diogenes smiled again and asked, “And then what are you going to do?”
Alexander paused and answered, “Then, I will rest and extend justice and
kindness to all those I meet.” Diogenes laughed heartily at this and said, “How
odd! I have not conquered the world, and yet I am resting now — already I am just
& Kind. Who has told you that before you can be Kind, you must conquer your
enemies? And I will tell you a secret: if you don’t choose Kindness now, you
never will, for something or other will always remain to be conquered. And time
is ever-fleeting. Indeed, if you continue to proceed as you are, you will die in the
middle of your journey – because everybody dies in the middle of the journey --
and you will do so without ever having known real Love.”
And Alexander departed from Diogenes – and he did proceed to India –
and he did indeed die in the middle, while he was returning from India -- and on
that day he remembered Diogenes. (~ inspired by unknown)
There is nothing like a nice bout of intense illness (or injury, or accident, or
failure) to wake us up to the Truth illustrated by this parable — that even if we are
young &/or healthy &/or powerful &/or wealthy, we are all very close to death
indeed; all very close to departing this glorious gift of life that we have been given.
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