=1 "That Fire"

That Fire

A hermitage in the wilderness

Old Man: Who are you?

Young Man: I don't know.

O. M. (smiling): That's good. What do you want here?

Y. M.: I don't know. The only thing I know is that I feel empty, hungry for something I don't know.

O.M.: Feeling empty and hungry when one is young is good.

Y. M.: No, it burns.

O.M.: Ah, you are getting warm! Then it is not all emptiness? There must be some fire.
Fill yourself with that fire. That fire is most excellent.

Y. M.: The fire is hungry.

O.M.: Then feed it – continuously, carefully, lovingly.

Y. M.: With what?

O.M.: It is soul fire and it wants soul food.

Y. M.: Where does one get soul food?

O.M.: Soul food is everywhere. There is nothing else but soul food.

Y. M.: Yes, I see what you mean. But if I feed the fire it will eat everything, the whole universe.

O.M.: Yes, it will eat the whole universe.

Y. M.: It will eat me too. There will be nothing left of me.

O.M.: Nothing but fire.

Y. M.: It hurts.

O.M.: It only hurts the kindling wood.

Y. M.: But the kindling wood – that's myself!

O.M.: No, you are the fire. The fire is the big thing, the only thing important in you. The rest is small stuff, good for burning up.

Y. M.: It still hurts me.

O.M.: Not your big me, only your small me. Let it burn, then you will feel the joy in the fire.

Y. M.: How?

O.M.: You have to be very attentive, disregard the pain of the kindling wood, the small stuff, and seek only the joy of the fire.

Y. M.: Then all will be joy?

O.M. (nods): All is joy.