The Seeker
Once upon a time there was a seeker who longed and thirsted to live the deepest and fullest life possible. The young person realized that the material world could never fulfill the deepest longings for meaning. So, a journey took place in which all sorts of retreats, silent meditations, postures, poses, breathing techniques, contemplative leaders and books were read and internalized. The young person travelled the world, lived and studied with the best and spent many a year in different communities and ashrams. The differences between the true and false self (in all sorts of subtle and crude ways) were probed and examined from a variety of angles and perspectives. The time came, eventually, when the young person returned to visit parents. A large dinner was put on to celebrate the homecoming and many arrived to greet the seeker. The festive time came to an end, one and all departed, and night welcomed each and all to sleep and slumber. The next day arrived and much cleaning had to be done about the home. The seeker slept in as the parents began the work of cleaning the dishes, floors and much else. When the young seeker rose from slumber and sleep, the parents asked for assistance in the cleaning from the celebrations of the previous night---a variety of reasons were brought forth for delaying assistance. The parents kindly suggested, with a wink and twinkle in their bemused eyes that, if truly awakened and enlightened, the washing of dishes and floors could be seen as a washing of dirt from the soul--the seeker was none too amused.
St. Anthony: Bows and Arrows
The desert in the early church was seen as a site of spiritual renewal--no distractions and diversions from the demands of city life. The silence and stillness meant the inner journey could go to greater contemplative depths. St. Anthony was known as a father of contemplative renewal and many gathered round him at his desert dwelling to absorb his time tried wisdom and insights. A visitor from the city took to the desert in search of Anthony. The deeper he went into the desert, the more he neared Anthony’s community—he followed the lead of many who pointed the way. The city visitor, being rather serious and ascetic by nature, was surprised, as he crossed a small sand dune, to hear much laughter. He decided to trek over to the place of all the merriment and ask the group where Anthony’s dwelling might be. The man was met by and older man and he asked him the way to Anthony’s community. The older man said, “I will tell you the way, but you must first do something for me“. The younger man willingly complied. The older man asked the young man to take his bow and put an arrow in it—the young man did so. Then, the old man asked the young man to pull the bow taut with the arrow in it---the young man did so. “Pull it yet tighter”, the old man said-- “And, again tighter”. The young man finally said, “The bow will break if I pull it much tighter”. “You are tight”, the old man replied--“so it is with the spiritual life---if we pull the bow of our soul too tight, we will break”. The old man then said to the city seeker, “I am Anthony, come and join us in our friendships and merriment”.
Ron Dart
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