Spirit beyond Enlightenment

An episode from the past enveloped the life stream; I saw the carousel of the world and the stars circle about my eyes, and the music of the souls enrapture me as I fell backwards into the eternal orb, felt my fingertips in the stars, the golden threads blood. The answer to a question that must be killed in order to be answered -- arrived -- with the help of an other.

Then everything became gray, for a time that passed for years.

It took time, but a secret process in service of higher powers hacked around question suppressant cement, and asked: "What is enlightenment for?"

Buddha's sister pointed to the realms -- a golden road passing through the gap between Yin and Yang. She pleaded to me, with tears in her eyes, "What are the worlds of form for, if not to evolve?"

Monks around the Buddha, men and women, boo'ed severely: "There is nothing to search for! There is no evolution!" they shouted, as they continued their circumambulation.

"There is nothing out there, but dried bones, withered trees, policeman's boots, cold religion, and most despicable of all, -- idolatrous ideas."

"Come, turn about the Buddha" they said to me.

Buddha's sister touched my forehead, though, and shook her head.

"There is a golden road, and you and I must follow it to where it leads."

I saw the wind blowing in the grass, and mountains capped with snow. I saw my San Fransisco in a dream, the people dancing, and the exuberance of awakening. I saw trees, citizens, and patterns rejoicing together, and animals walking the streets. I saw -- I saw, -- and I saw.

"Do you remember when you said that you would sacrifice your life for God?", she said, turning into a character from a story that turned me long ago.

"I remember the promise I made," I recited solemnly.

She took my left hand in her right, -- "shall we go then?"

I started on the curving path that led into the floating heart, brilliant light streaming forth, and that is what I chose.