Eyes of the Hawk

There lived in the land of the clouds, a young man by the name of Kwah, who wondered. He wondered about everything, mostly about who and what he really was? Why he was borne and placed in a particular time and space? He wondered, what he was to be about, going to where? His questions were many and ceaseless. And they never left his mind or his very spirit

He thought to himself; "If only I was wise. How does someone become wise? How do you find wisdom?" So he began looking, asking and listening. He read about all manner of things. He lived and worked, here, there and everywhere. Always seeking and searching for wisdom. But he learned quickly that wisdom is as elusive as a butterfly floating on the morning air. And that just a taste of wisdom fans the desire for more.

And then one day, a magic day, someone told him that there was a great man, who lived beyond the clouds on top of the highest mountain at the edge of the village.

So early the next morning, Kwah climbed to the top of the mountain and there at the entrance to a cave, sat the wise man. "Sir," he said; "I wish to be wise? I want the wisdom of the "above and the below"?.

The venerable wise man said nothing. He rose and went back into his cave. Leaving the young man standing without. Slightly bewildered Kwah climbed back down the mountain and returned home.

The next morning Kwah was up early. He climbed the mountain again and there like the morning before, sat the wise man. Again Kwah asked; "Sir, how can I become wise?" And again the wise man rose and went back into his cave, without answering him. Kwah retreated back down the mountainside, once again and returned home. Each day for the next four days he made the journey up the arduous mountainside and asked the same question day in and day out. Each day he received the same answer, no answer at all.

But on the seventh day when he reached the top the wise man was waiting for him. He rose and motioned for Kwah to follow him down a winding path that opened out onto a large green meadow and a flowing stream. The wise man walked into the water and beckoned for the young man to follow in after him. When Kwah entered the water the older man grabbed him and pushed him beneath the water holding him fast as he thrashed about trying to surface. But the old man would not let go. Suddenly in what seemed like an eternity, he let the young man come to the surface.

As Kwah was sputtering and gasping for air, he said to him;" what was your burning desire as I held you beneath the water? What did you desire above all things? Was it wealth, power, fame? What was it that you wanted above all else? And Kwah in his gasping said; Sir; I desired air, only air. I desired it above all things.

Your words were wisely chosen; as a Seeker after "All and Everything", You must remember this intensity, this passion, this singularity that you are feeling "Now". And all will come to you. Desire is paramount but with desire there are four more quintessential qualities needed if you want the answers to the "Above and Below". Along with the intense desire, the Seeker after must acquire a directed discrimination, a devoted discipline, an unswerving determination and a stoic detachment. These are essential for the Seeker.

Kwah thanked his benefactor and went back down the mountainside and returned home. Night came but sleep did not. Kwah's mind was filled with the past events of the day and those five curious words spoken by the wise man; desire, discrimination, discipline, determination, and detachment. What secret did these words hold for him? Were these truths to be had?

Early the next morning, Kwah climbed the mountain once again. When he reached the top; the wise man was nowhere in sight. As he approached the entrance to the cave; he called out but no reply came. Again he called out but no answer. As he entered the cave, he noticed that there was nothing there. It was as though it had never been occupied. Yet, something strange was happening Where was the wise man?

As he started to leave something caught his eye. The Cave was suddenly filled with a pulsating flow of light; a "Presence". And on one of the walls of the cave, the five spoken words of yesterday were being written. "Desire, Discrimination, Discipline, Determination, and Detachment". Below them, new words were also appearing; "Goodbye for now but we shall meet again, when you are ready. A word of caution: "do not mistaken the bloom for the fruit that will come. Be patient, the blossoms must fall first".

If you can hear these words and seek after that which you desire with all your mind, heart and spirit. You will truly be blessed, as I have been blessed and continue to be blessed.