A BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE                                          <<   back 

We arrived at the farm - from the balcony of the farm house a beautiful landscape was sprawling.

Jose decided to climb the mountain that oversees the farm. Each one of us had the possibility to decide whether he follows or stays.

The mountain -in all but few traditions is analogue to the spiritual path. There we were - climbing, tackling ants’ nests, having to, in each step ,decide -be present - sense - where and how to put our feet. What is our attitude? But we were not alone. We were part of a chain. There was always someone to help us. There was someone who needed our help.  When the climbing became really tough - a harnelaoot - when it is too far for turning back and it doesn’t seem as if we are approaching the mountain top. The whole chain could not, even, be seen - a few of the group in front - the one behind. It was there that it became even more important to be in the present moment - step by step - one foot - than the other - be there - the supervisor’s bell was calling for the exercise more often - an awakening - so as to be more and more alert and present - there is no peak -no backward - There is the path - the chain - and the step by step…

We didn’t stay long at the peak - and while descending - we encountered moments-places of the climbing …

As Rene Daumal says in ‘Mount Analogue’: we have to descend from the mountain top - but we don’t get down the same as before climbing - A taste of the mountain top stays with us…..

When I reached the river - my feet trembling, bleeding my encounter with the ants’ nest - his water embraced me - pure transparent continuously moving in endless flow; but something was there - a connection has been established - a connection with that which is immobile - that which never changes.

Back at the balcony of the farm house - the view was not a postcard like, anymore- it was part of us - we were part of it;

We have submerged in the mountain, the earth held us when we fell or slide the slippery slope. We were touched by water. The river rocked us. It was felt and sensed and lived by us - it was not just a nice view. I thought it was the same with our body; it is not until we can sense it - that it becomes something more than just a postcard. It is only then, when we are present in it - sliding its earth, tackling its ants’ nests, breathing its heights, climbing its mountain, sailing its life river - that it becomes ours and we really live in it.

We have been baptized in transparent water that alleviated our bruises.

We drank pure, transparent, life water.

There is a taste of mountain’s heights which is a part of us.

There is a sweetness that accompanies since that river- ever since that circle….

But Thirst is still there - a bell - a call - to walk our Path - to further follow our Way….

Leora / Piedra Blanca /2006