3

The Path of Enlightenment

A through-composed Novel by Christopher Moors

3. After a long day of playing Frisbee golf with his Earthly friends Mang, and Krendal, Zoshu retired to his apartment for an evening of leisurely computing and communing with his cat pals Yinwards and Baby Kit. Drinking a couple of micro brews and visiting a bunch of websites, Zoshu finally had enough and headed to bed.

This evening he decided to practice the Yogic technique of keeping his attention all the way into a full sleep state. The mystics all say that a true yogi never sleeps. One can remain conscious while the body is awake or asleep. It is all experience in some kind of realm. Even if the whole Universe disappeared, a Yogi would remain unmoved.

Zoshu inhaled deeply, took in a couple of more sips of air, held it for three seconds and exhaled into complete relaxation. Slipping a crystal given to him by a very special friend under his pillow to amplify and clarify the dream state, he closed his eyes and remained focused inside. Watching and patient, he noticed his body become quiet with a natural repetitive breathing pattern.

Suddenly he was far away from his body, but still aware of what was occurring. “Interesting,” mused Zoshu to himself. “The body is truly just the surface of experiential phenomenon.” Drawn through inner space by longing and the intentional directing of will power, Zoshu returned to the enchanted forest in search of Marah.

Things were different than they were when he left them as things often are when you attempt to return to a moment from the past. The trees were the same, but they were asleep and there was a thick fog in the air. It was night time here too, and but for the hum of the astral bug equivalents things were silent. In any time and place, silence is a golden and rare occurrence. It is a moment to treasure because all is well enough for you to take the opportunity that life provides. Boredom is impossible when life and health are acknowledged.

Somewhat ahead in his path Zoshu saw an owl that was watching from an astral elder tree fly away in a South Eastern direction. “I must follow my destiny,” Zoshu thought to himself as he set off boldly. Before he could get very far, he was happily shocked to see bounding towards him his old dog Sniff the Cocker Spaniel who passed over to life without flesh many years before. Sniff’s best buddy, Zoshu’s grandfather Willhelm’s old dog Sam the Springer Spaniel was right behind him.

Though they continued to change forms since he knew them on Earth, they decided to appear as dogs to fit his context and joyously join him on his journey. “Hi buddies,” Zoshu said laughing as he ran around in circles. They all shared a moment and then continued on with renewed spirit until they were stopped suddenly by an apparition approaching them on the road.