lived life
is into the Sun
with shadows left behind

*********

When the light came
I used to say
"It dawned on me"
never wondering
what It was

Finally I wondered
until I discovered
that the SUN
dawned on me

and It is I

*********

Often
in those days
when spirit fled me
I returned silently
to the SUN
awaiting rebirth
While waiting
I discovered
the awesome power
and infinite knowledge
of the SUN

The mystery of our meetings
touched me deeply

Now
with ultimate questions
I always go to the SUN

He knows
about man
and meeting

*********

MYSTERY OF MEETING

I asked Him once
about meeting in our special way
a kind of encounter
remembered for its depth
and
treasured for its wealth

"What is the mystery?" I asked, "Whenever we meet
sparks fly
the air is electric
I am charged, changed
and never forget!"

"Yes," He said, "There is mystery in meeting
Whenever two others
two separate others dare stand together
in their separateness
the transfiguration occurs again

"Ones apart become at one
in the magic moment

"Without losing their separateness
their division vanishes in the unity which is the
mystery of meeting."

"But why is meeting mysterious?," I asked. I have always feared the unknown.

"Meetings of consequence are mysterious," He replied, "because they are always between mysterious ones. Only individuals, apart, can meet in this way. Each one is like a sphere: complete, contained, separate, and mysterious - above all, mysterious.

"As a mysterious one, you can show aspects of yourself, but you cannot finally be known by any other. You can know about an other, but never fully know an other. Always the element of mystery remains. You can be with one, encounter his mystery, but you can never grasp the mystery itself. Bits of information may obscure the fact, but they do not change it.

"Your people seem only willing to meet what they know. They immediately try to name, place, and categorize each new unknown. When they find a person, they first try to pin him down in their mind's eye, with such irrelevant information as, 'What's your name?,) 'where are you from?,' and 'What do you do?.' Once they have him pinned with a label, a location, and an occupation, they act as though they know him.

"Unfortunately such classifying creates a spiritual gulf which is often uncrossable. Once the asker thinks he knows, he has no reason to remain alert. Soon he will be bored. If the answerer falls for the trap, he may become enmeshed in the asker's web, losing his own freedom to remain a mysterious person. The assumed 'knowledge' may obscure the real mystery, killing the encounter.

"Mystery is the basis of the authentic encounter, not a curse on it. When you think to eliminate the risks of meeting by getting to know the other, you unwittingly destroy the one essential requirement. To know anything for sure kills meeting, in proportion to the assumed 'knowledge.'

"Therefore, gather no information about the other. Ask not his name, where he is from, where he has been, or what he does. Risk encountering him as he is and always will be--a mystery. Stand with, but do not lose yourself in seeking to understand the other. Bring your mystery to him; reveal chosen aspects of yourself; and respond to his mystery. Listen for your own name to be called from it, but never try to eliminate the mystery of the other.

"Nor should you destroy the mystery of yourself. Stand with him, revealing what you will,: but never try to make him understand. Let your record always be incidental. Though it may be revealed as you show yourself, never make a show of it. Do not substitute information for revelation.

"So, if you would meet some one--be he stone, moth, or human--you must keep the element of mystery alive, both in yourself and in the other. Let your fear of the unknown become excitement in the face of mystery. Worship at its altar rather than attempting to destroy it. Pin nothing down; take nothing for granted; let nothing be for sure. Never conclude that you know an other. Explore him, but do not try to figure him out. Remain a mystery yourself. Reveal your mystery as you choose; encounter the mysterious other; but never erase the mystery. With it goes the meeting."

(From the Introduction to: I LOVE THE SUN: Conversations on Encounter)

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