The Dancing of Light

Once upon a time, a friend who was unable to see at the same time also very intelligent in debate came to a wise teacher. He asked about the existence of light which is very difficult to him to believe.  As long as light can be felt, can be touched, can be smelled, then he will believe that light is exist. At the end of his question, this blind man complained angrily: "most people accuse me to be blind of light, what actually happened they actually lie about the light".

Knowledge That Blinding

To some extend, most people are like the above blind man. Keep thinking that life is as limited as what they can see, only as far as what human being can think, just as narrow as feeling. And the more dangerous thing, being equipped with such limited understanding then they attack and judge the others.

In such circumstances, knowledge is not a source of light, otherwise knowledge is a source of darkness. While the philosopher Descartes wrote "I think therefore I am", if they are not well-guided, these kind of person can fall into a dangerous chasm in the form of "I think therefore I attack". In the hands of human being like these, knowledge is a wounding weapon.

For that reason, the followers of Socrates developed the Socratic dialogue. A form of knowledge exchange which is done in a very polite way. The dialogue is started with the intention of sharing the light. It is far from the hostile intention of attacking each others. Socratic dialogue follow the law of nature. We human being have two ears and one mouth. It simply means, one is supposed to hear two times more than he/she talks. In this way, knowledge is no longer blinding.

Knowledge That Illuminating

Back to the story at the beginning about the blind who called the others as lying about the light, this wise teacher handled the blind wisely. With a soft and polite language he whispered to the blind: "Today is not a good time to debate. But I have a close friend who is a medical doctor who know much about eyes. Please you go to this friend, after that we will have some dialogue"

Months later, after the blind man could see, he ran into the teacher, he kissed the feet of the wise teacher with full of respect, then he whispered:  "people are true, there is light". In the hands of a wise guide, the incomplete knowledge which is full of darkness and judgment, then was transformed into an illuminating light. This illuminating knowledge is started with the knowledge of self. Based on the knowledge of self then one steps according to his/her natural calling.

The situation is similar to enter an old forest of life. If you are a fisherman, then go fishing to the lake. If you are a carpenter, then look for a dry tree to be cut. Without the knowledge of self, most people will get lost in the dark forest of life. That's the reason why before discussing with the above blind man, the wise teacher sent him to the eye doctor.

You Are the Light

Guided by the knowledge of self, then any soul would be easier to follow life journey. It is as simple as a driver who enjoys driving, as simple as a cooker who enjoys cooking. It is understandable when a zen teacher explains meditation in a simple yet profound way: "Meditation is to eat when you are hungry, to drink when you are thirsty".

Put it simply, whatever the daily life calling always remember to be presence to the present. In a simple but deep message which is often mentioned in meditation classes: "accept, flow, smile". When you have the experience of oneness like this, you are the light. Similar to the electrical light which synthesizing the positive and the negative, in a meditative approach like this all experiences of the present are synthesized. And do not be surprised if you can see the light later, do not be surprised if your knowledge is full of insight later.

In the group of teachers who met the light, embodying the light, emit light, there is often heard a message like this: "while the ordinary people like to meet the light, the wise teachers love to emit the light". And among so many lights which are often emitted, kindness is the most touching light. And any soul who often emit the light, then they can understand that life is a dancing of light.

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