touching THE tiMEless

I am only a ferryman, and it is my task to ferry people across the river.  I have transported many, thousands; and to all of them, my river has been nothing but an obstacle on their travels.  They traveled to seek money and business, and for weddings, and on pilgrimages, and the river was obstructing their path, and the ferryman's job was to get them quickly across that obstacle.

"You will learn it," spoke Vasudeva, "but not from me.  The river has taught me to listen, from it you will learn it as well.  It knows everything, the river, everything can be learned from it.  See, you've already learned this from the water too, that it is good to strive downwards, to sink, to seek depth.  The rich and elegant Siddhartha is becoming an oarsman's servant, the learned Brahman Siddhartha becomes a ferryman: this has also been told to you by the river."

"Did you," so he asked him at one time, "did you too learn that secret from the river: that there is no time?"  Vasudeva's face was filled with a bright smile.  "Yes, Siddhartha," he spoke.

"It is this what you mean, isn't it: that the river is everywhere at once, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the rapids, in the sea, in the mountains, everywhere at once, and that there is only the present time for it, not the shadow of the past, not the shadow of the future?"  

[courtesy:  Project Gutenberg EBook of Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse]

IN MEMORIAM

No man lives forever.

I knew a man that should have.
If not forever then certainly for a long long time.
For he was good and he was kind.

He gave of himself always.
He delivered the goods!
He thought of others as well as the future.
He had visions of great change and real possibilities.
He had a great family and real friends.
He loved well.

He was whole.

He provided and included and supported and advised.
He did all that while doctoring the ill.
He was nearing the time he planned for.
He was nearing the time where he would have more time.
He wanted it to be great and satisfying and inclusive.

He planned.

He still planned to go forth and take part in yet more adventures to encompass more and
wider visions of the future.
He enjoyed life for its possibilities.
He lived a great life, accomplished much and left a great legacy for all of us to admire
and follow.

He is now gone.

He left suddenly and unexpectedly.
He left a great big hole in everyone’s life and everyone’s heart.
He was my friend and I loved him.
A lot!
I will always miss him.

[courtesy:  George Gral]