6. Ask the Question
- The Poet was overcome by the dream he had dreamed, even the dream which he had become, and he did seek to learn more from the Teacher who had taught him of the ways of Nature.
- And the Poet felt that the dream which he had inhabited was beyond his comprehension, and confusion filled his heart, and he knew not what was real.
- And he perceived that the fountain in the dream was an image of a place from his youth, even a fountain in the hills which he had visited many times with his father; for the Holy Prophet was a seeker of Nature’s Wisdom, and He did show unto the Poet many hidden places within the distant hills where solitude and peace could be found.
- And behold, on another cool evening the Poet did again walk beyond the gates of the village, even that he might commune with the voice which had guided him in the dream which he had dreamed, for he perceived that this voice might continue to speak great Wisdom to him.
- And he looked to the distant hills, and he breathed in the evening air, and he felt of the grandeur of the sight, and he knew in his heart that it was good. And he communed with the Teacher who he had met, saying:
- “Great Teacher, I’m afraid that we have yet to know each other fully, and Thou art still a mystery to me.
- I began my last dream with a demand, for I was in search of Alignment, which I have perceived is the highest of all aims. Without hesitation Thou didst take me in and prove Thy usefulness as a guide, for Thou didst place me within a dream, and Thou did teach me about the deceptions of Nature. And Thou didst also show unto me a girl, who saved me, and She was both within and without of me, for She knew my soul better than I.
- But now I return to Thee, not within a dream, but within my real life, and I have many questions. But doth Thou remain with me? And may I continue to commune with Thee?”
- “I do remain, Young Poet, and I see thy faith, for many have asked, but few have listened, and even fewer have heard. And I know of thy heart, for it is Mine also, and I wish to commune with thee. But if we are to commune, then thou must learn the lesson that I have sought to teach thee.
- I have seen that thou still hath not learned, for thou doth speak unto Me saying that thou wast once in a dream and that thou art now in thy real life. But hath thou forgotten that Nature’s way is of deception? And hath thou not seen that all is a dream?
- Thy pride was great when first we met; and I showed unto thee the ways of Nature, even that thou might be deceived, and that thou might know that everything is deception. And I showed these things unto thee that thou might sit, and that thou might observe, and that thou might listen and hear, and look and see, and feel, and know.
- But if thou wilt not see that all is a mystery, and that all is deception, and that all is a dream, then I cannot commune with thee, for thou wouldst be just like those who grasp and scream in the depths, and even like those who climb even upon mounds of bones. And I now ask thee: what hath thou learned?”
- “Great Teacher, I have listened to Thy words, and I know that I have yet to conceive of the depth of divine Wisdom which Thou hath to teach; yet I still question Thee.
- Forgive me, Great Teacher, for I have lived in a world of mortal realities, and throughout my whole life I have perceived that what I could see was all that was. And doth Thou suggest that I am strong enough to ungird myself of this load? For I fear that I am not, and yet I still wish to commune with Thee, even that I may gain in Wisdom, and even that I may be Aligned.”
- “I have not suggested that thou shouldst ungird thyself of the responsibilities or realities of thine own dream, but only that thou wouldst see that it is a dream, and that thou wouldst know that all is a dream. And I feel in My own heart—which is thine also—that thou hath seen that all is a dream. Hath thou not?”
- “I do see that it is all a dream, and I thank Thee for allowing that I might continue to commune with Thee while I carry the burdens of my own dream.
- And there are many questions that I consider about my own dream, and there are many people who suffer in my dream, and I suffer.
- And I have now felt that Thou art as I was in the dream which I dreamed within my dream, which is Thine own dream, even the dream of all. And I now perceive that Thou doth still sit by the pond and watch the fountain flow, even while Thou doth commune with me. Is this true?”
- “Why does it matter?”
- “I have listened to what Thou hath to teach, but I hear it not, for my heart is still vexed. Wilt Thou not allow me to learn more of Thy mysteries?”
- “I am within thee, and thou art within Me. Is this not enough?”
- “I know it is enough, and I will listen to the Wisdom which Thou wouldst lay upon me. But surely—as my Teacher—Thou wouldst not expect me to trust in Thine authority on no grounds?”
- “And who suggested that thou should trust in My authority?”
- “Thou didst not say this, but I perceived it. Shall I not trust Thee?”
- “Thou might trust in Me, or thou might not, but either way will be deception, for this is Nature’s way.”
- “Then what shall I do?”
- “Ask the question.”
II
