The Young One, The Old One, and The Realized World
“Non attachment is not an apathetic mindset rather it refers to seeing everything from a broader perspective and appreciating All manifestations without becoming attached to a particular One.”
A Young One and an Old One sat next to a babbling brook. The Young One feeling sad and heavy lets out a deep sigh. The Old One, who was enjoying the cool breeze, the cacophony of the stream, and the light sparkling off the water, looks quizzically at the Young One’s morose countenance.
“Why so sad, my Young Friend?”
The Young One looks seriously at the Old One and asks, eyes welling up with tears, “why is there so much suffering in the world?”
The Old One looks around for a little while and then compassionately at the Young One and asks, “What suffering? Is it not a beautiful day? Are we not experiencing Nature in All her glory?”
The Young One looks around and then down with a frown and mumbles, “that’s not what I mean.”
Looking back at the Old One with fire and frustration the Young One says, “No! Why are there Wars? Why do people starve? Why is there sickness and death?”
The Old One slowly and deliberately replies, “Okay... I will tell You All that I know about suffering, but first I need You to take three deep breaths and come back to this place at this moment. It’s hard to listen when Our minds are busy and full. Just like a full tea cup can’t hold anymore tea or We can’t see the bottom of a pond that is muddy.”
The Young One takes three slow breaths and focuses on a happy bird singing in the distance, then the Young One looks back into the Old One’s eyes feeling a little better, a little calmer.
The Old One smiles mischievously and says, “do you know what that bird is saying?”
The Young One looks at the Old One eager for an answer.
The Old One says, “the bird is saying, ‘I’m alive, I’m awake!’”The Old One then looks deep into the Young One’s eyes and whispers, “are You awake.” The Young One is puzzled by the question as the Old One looks away saying dismissively, “not yet, but soon.”
The Old One inhales deeply bringing in the Sun’s warm light and then exhales slowly feeling relaxed and peaceful. Looking with wise eyes the Old One begins with a soft and caring voice, “first off, You, my Young Friend, are not as Young as You think, and I am not as Old as You think. I was born into a chaotic world. I suffered a great deal and I was too busy trying to stay alive to ask myself why the world is the way it is, so You are already much further than I was.”
The Young One can’t help feeling pride well up inside, but then the Young One feels sad for the Old One’s rocky childhood and looks away into the sparkling water thoughtfully.
The Old One smiling continues, “I just accepted the world as it was because I didn’t feel there was any other choice. Good was in a constant battle with Evil, and Evil seemed to be winning on this planet. I spent many years angry and unhappy. It wasn’t until more than half of my life was over that I discovered a simple truth that changed everything.”
The Young One looks intently at the Old One, knowing some very important information is about to be revealed.
The Old One continues, “I learned that I was not looking at Life from the proper perspective. You see, my Young Friend, there are two main forces in the Universe. These forces are not inherently good or bad, each force has positive aspects and negative aspects. Without both of these forces Life as We Know it wouldn’t be possible. These two forces are everywhere and in everything including Us, for We are not separate from the Universe. We are made of atoms and molecules just like everything else. The two main forces in the Universe that makes Life possible are Chaos and Order. Without Chaos there can be no Order and without Order Chaos can’t exist. Order springs from Chaos and then Order dissolves back into Chaos.“
The Old One pauses thoughtfully as a leaf blows by, riding on a brisk breeze, a sign of the changing seasons.
The Young One looks at the Old One and quizzically asks, “this is All well and good, but what does it have to do with why suffering exists?”
The Old One smiles slyly and chuckles, he says, “You’ve always been good at getting right to the point, but do You mind if We walk and talk, My old joints are getting stiff just sitting here.”
The Young One agrees and helps the Old One up, they begin to walk slowly side by side along the trail. After a couple minutes the Old One begins again, “So, where was I? Oh yeah, I awakened to the fact that We live in a world of dichotomy. Up cannot exist without down. Light cannot be seen without dark. Happiness cannot be known without sadness. And so on. The two forces are different but connected, like two sides to the same coin. I also realized that the past cannot be changed and the future does not exist yet, so All We have is a continually changing moment that is eternally unfolding from one side of the coin to the other side. Lastly I realized that we assign value judgments to these two forces. Suffering happens when We become attached to things in this ever changing world. Human beings create their own suffering.”
The Young One couldn’t help but interrupt, “but what about wars, starvation, famine, and killing? Are you telling me that it’s their fault that they are suffering?”
The Old One slowing his pace replied with infinite patience, “No, what I’m saying is that We must All do Our parts to reach balance between the two forces and not become overly attached to things. Many, many things are out of Our control, but something that is out of my control isn’t necessarily out of another’s control. There are individuals who use their influence, money, and power to better the world and in my opinion that is good, and there are individual that do the opposite and in my opinion that is not good. There are also individuals that do a mixture of good deeds and not so good deeds and in my opinion that is human nature. I aspire to be a good person, but many things are out of my control. I can be angry, bitter, and depressed about things I have no control over in my Life, or I can be compassionate, kind, and joyful about the things I do have control over in my Life. It doesn’t mean I’m ignoring the horrible atrocities that befall Our fellow human beings, I’m just focused on what I can do to better the world through my existence. Even if All I am is an Old Fool trying to impart age old wisdom to a Bright Young One.”
The Young One stops and looks at the Old One’s wrinkled smiling countenance and begins to realize Something very profound. Something begins to make sense and falls into place. Something intuitive and outside the realm of words. Something that was once known but had been forgotten. Something so great it can’t quite be grasped, but the Young One tries very hard to grasp It. Every time the Young One gets close the Something eludes understanding.
Suddenly the Old One yells out triumphantly, “Now We are coming to Life!” Startling the Young One out of deep thought and into the glorious present. Tears begin to fall from the Young One’s eyes as everything everywhere happens all around.
The Old One putting a hand on the Young One’s shoulder says jubilantly, “welcome home my Friend! I’ve missed You.”
The Young One, now no longer Young, has discovered a purpose, to facilitate the Awakening of All that are ready to remember, understand, and Be balanced in an eternally unfolding moment and an infinite Universe.
The Old One smiles and joyfully says, “I have nothing more to teach You, now it’s up to You my Friend.”
The two Awakened One’s continue walking down the path peacefully smiling, grateful for All that was happening around them.
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