The Father Within by Chris P (top 100 novels of all time TXT) 📖

3

Lessons by the Meadow

They climbed for another ten minutes and rested by a field of flowers that had every color of the rainbow.  The path was not as rugged and they both sat under a tree in the middle of the meadow.

"You have spoken well, my young student."

Kai smiled.  His old teacher always seemed to know exactly what to say.

"As I mentioned earlier, I am honored that you have sought my counsel  before you go out into the world but i must, however, ask you another quesstion," remarked his teacher.

"Of course," replied Kai.

"Tell me, then, why do you want to share all that is within you with the world"?

A big smile graced Kai's eyes as he jumped up instinctively with the passion of ten prophets.  It was the question he was waiting to here from his Master.

"I want to touch every man and woman I encounter with my thoughts and words.  I want to spread goodness into their lives as you have done to mine and write the best books about God, Truth, and Knowledge as you have done.  There would be no greater books except yours, or course, not only in this land but all over the world.  I would endeavor to be a great teacher to others as you have been to me."

Kai picked up a white tulip and continued, "I would teach them how delicate their lives are and how we are all equal in the eyes of God."

"Excellent!" shouted the teaching knowing one simple word of praise would have his student preaching to the flowers in no time.

"I want to be the spark that ignites their Divine Light so as to awaken them to God."

Kai paused and smelled the flower.  "Yes, great Master, this is why I want to share all that is within me with the world."

A gentle wind blew as the two sat among the field of summer flowers.  A wonderful fragrance filled the air.  As Kai took a deep breath from the world around him the teacher said, "And what would you say to those that after listening to your words, after reading your books, and after singing your songs..."

The teacher paused and chose his works carefully.

"What would you say to those who did not agree with you and to those that did not believe in God?"

"Ahh, great Master," sighed Kai.  "I would convince them with the various theories I have learned through the years that God is withing us all.  I would tell them that if they wanted to be saved or wanted to stop the cycle of reincarnation, or whatever specific beliefs they held, they would have to follow a religion.  It would not matter which one but a religion that made sense to them.  A religion that would help them gain answers to the questions during their beautiful lives."

"Wonderful, wonderful," said the teacher, "but what if they were still not convinced ever after your teachings?  What if they did not want to belong to any religion or follow any way of life?  What if they truly believed there was no God, heaven, hell, or things of this nature.  What would you tell them?"

Kai thought for a moment and said, "I would tell them that their very lives were in danger; they walked in the shadow of darkness.  I would try to be their light as you have taught me and remind them that a life without God is certainly a life that is lost.  I would find what concept of God made sense to them and teach them in the ways of this perspective."

The teacher continued his probing questions, "Yes, but what if they still did not care what you said?  What if they chose to perform actions your religions does not accept?  What if they chose, for example, to cut some trees down to build a simple fire in the forest?"

Mad passion lit Kai's eyes.  "To cut a tree down is both blasphemy and deserves dead according to my religion!  Trees are sacred since Luma wrote His Laws on a Tree.  My dear teacher, this person would be a sinner and would be cast out from among our group.  I would turn my back on this sinner  because the dark one already tainted his essense with the color of evil; our Great Book teaches us this matter plainly and simply.  He is a sinner and according to the Laws of our religion, the shadow of evil fills his heart.  I also know many religions also professes this to be the case.  Any good, solid religion has rules and regulations to help govern its people's behavior within the context of God.  When one of these rules or requirements are broken, then the punishment should fit the crime.  This is simple, and, as you know, is one of the rules all major religions have in common. This is what I would I would endeavor to teach all of those who cross my path during my journey into the world."

A crow flew by as Kai finished his words.  Both teacher and student became silent once again.  Kai was pleased in how he answered the arsenal of questions from his teacher.  In his heart, he knew Luma would was smiling; Luma would be proud, he thought.

It was almost two hours into the day after they started their journey.  Kai leaned his head against the tree and closed his eyes.  The warm sun felt goood opon his face.

Then, as unexpectedly as the crow flew by a few minutes before, the teacher arose and said, "You have learned a religion and its doctrine quite well indeed since we studied together many seasons ago.  Now, follow me, and I will teach you about the Father Within."

4

Lessons by the Lake

The student and teacher continued their journey into the higher parts of the mountain.  The sun, too, continued its journey into the brilliant blue sky.

Magnificent clouds softly passed in the sky and looked like gigantic, white creatures floating in the air.  After several more minutes of walking, they came upon a splendid lake in the mountains.

The water reflected the sky as birds and a variety of other animals played in and about the lake.  Kai also saw two swans as they glided across the lake both on their own journey.  He spent many days fishing in this lake when he was younger and this part of the mountain had always been his favorite.

Kai saw his teacher slowly making his way deeper into the trail as it veered to the left of the shiny lake.  In so many ways his teacher had changed, but in so many others he was the same teacher of old.  Kai smiled to himself as he thought how fortunate he had been to meet such an extraordinary simple man.

There were many times throught out his life he wished he could read this teacher's  mind.  This moment was one of those times.  He wondered what his teacher thought about his ideas and reflected upon how he always seemed to look for recognition and approval from his wise, old counselor.

"Come, Kai," shouted his teacher.  Kai had not realized he had fallen a bit behind while watching the magnificence of the lake to his right and losing himself in thought.

"Come, and we shall sit by the lake and continue our lesson for this day."

 Kai joined his Master as they sat by a tree whose branches created a perfect shade from the sun.  They sat a few feet by the lake and both stared at the sheer beauty of this part of the world.

"Listen," said the Master.  "Listen to the world.  Hear what it has to say."

Both listened.

Kai could hear the sound of the breeze as it sailed through the leaves above him.  He heard the splashing of the birds as they busied themselves with small branches that had fallen into the water.  His ears heard the silent slapping of the small waves as they massaged the sand at his feet.

The world was alive and with sound.

'I hear, Master.  It is all so beautiful.  The whole world is alive and bursting with life."

The Master smiled.  This old man adored the world.  He adored and appreciated everything.  His ways were gentle and warm.

"You will be a great teacher, much greater than I, and one day your students will be much greater than you.  Your goal will be to teach your students so well they they learn more than you do.  This is the sign of a Great Teacher.

The Master too a long, deep breath and breathed it back out into the world and continued.  "As you go off into the world, do not forget to stop and listen to what the world is telling you.  Listen to the sounds of the world but also listen to the silence of the Father within yourself."

"I will teach others as you have taught me," said Kai.

"I know you will, I know you will," said the Master as he placed his hand on Kai's shoulder and smiled.  "I know your heart is filled with Love and your mind with Light."

Kai smiled since he lived for his Master's compliments.

"Many great men have achieved your level of knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the Universe.  Your passion will carry you through many dark days to come."

The Master stared at the swans momentarily, "Realize also that your passion might blind you to the fear that lvies within your heart," he said.

Kai was listening so intently to this Master that it seemed as if they were the only two people in the Universe.  A squirrel scampering through the branches above reminded Kai that the rest of the Universe still did exist.

"Master," said Kai in a worried voice.  "What do you mean my passion might blind me to the fear that lives within my heart?"

His Master became silent.  Kai could see the Master was measuring his words carefully.

The old teacher continued, "Watch the ripples of water as I place my stick into its silence."

Kai watched as his Master placed his walking stick into the water.

"The ripples carry to all parts of the lake both seen and unseen.  The lake will then empty into the flowing mountain stream which eventutally will find its way into other bodies of water and mix with the Ocean.  As you go off to teach the world, make sure the ripples you create with your thoughts, words, and actions also carry love into the hearts and minds of all seen and unseen.  Make sure you spread love to the world and not fear."

Kai looked puzzled.

At times he felt his Master was not listening to him.  "Master, have you not heard a single word I have said all morning?  I wish to travel into the world and touch all people, places, and things much like you have touched me.  I will teach people to look within themselves to find their own unique conccept of God and fill their hearts with stories, riddles, and puzzles much like have have taught me.  My hope is to plant various seeds within their soul so they can find deeper meaning in their lives and experience life more profoundly.  I intend to make a difference to all people crossing my path wherever my path might lead me."

The teacher pulled