Death

Then Almitra spoke, saying, We would ask now of Death.

Then Almitra said, We would now like to ask about Death.

And he said:

And he said:

You would know the secret of death.

You want to know the secret of death.

But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?

But how will you find it unless you look for it in the heart of life?

The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.

The owl, whose eyes see only at night and are blind in daylight, cannot reveal the mystery of light.

If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.

If you truly want to see the spirit of death, open your heart wide to the body of life.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

For life and death are one, just as the river and the sea are one.

In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;

Deep within your hopes and desires is your silent knowledge of what lies beyond.

And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.

And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow, your heart dreams of spring.

Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity. Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.

Trust these dreams, for the gate to eternity is hidden in them. Your fear of death is only the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king, who is about to lay his hand on him in honor.

Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?

Isn't the shepherd joyful beneath his trembling because he will wear the king's mark?

Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

Yet isn't he more aware of his trembling?

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

For what is dying but standing naked in the wind and melting into the sun?

And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

What is stopping breathing but freeing the breath from its restless tides? Then it may rise, expand, and seek God without hindrance.

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

Only when you drink from the river of silence will you truly sing.

And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.

And when you reach the mountaintop, you will begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

And when the earth claims your limbs, you will truly dance.