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#4293 -
The Nonduality
Highlights - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDhighlights
Dear Jerry:
I have been a fan of the
ND highlights for over three years now, and while I am still
learning much about advaita, I never fail to enjoy the daily
excerpts and wisdom.
I had to pass this along,
mainly because I didnt know how to answer him appropriately:
My son, who just turned
six, and I went fishing for the first time in awhile over the
weekend. It was a perfect day, and we were catching them as
fast as we throw our line in. It was great to get him away
from Wii, I phones etc to spend some time outdoors. Out of
the blue, he turned to me and asked, "Dad, is all of
this real, or is it a dream?"
Wow, did that hit
home. I am of course weighed down by so much intellectual
baggage to answer him with a quick definitive "yes or
no". But I did say I wasnt sure, and that it
was a great question. And, dont stop asking it.
How would you have tacked
that one, responding to a six year old who may be wise beyond his
years? :)
S.L.
------------------
Dear S.L.,
Thank you for writing and
for being part of the great Highlights audience.
I'll give my response and
also invite the Highlights readership to respond.
You took the question
seriously and invited him to pursue it. You let the question
stand unanswered suggesting that the asking is what is
important. The question is as significant as any inquiry. I
wonder if he'll continue to periodically ask the question. Please
give us updates on his relationship with the inquiry.
Your story reminds me of
the YouTube video David After Dentist, the seven year old boy,
coming off anesthesia, asks a couple of powerful questions
about reality, and throws in a primal scream:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs
Thanks again for your
letter, it makes for a great Highlights issue!
Yours,
Jerry