The Trap

One day I was walking along the no-path through the forest of life. I was wearing shoes of joy, a coat of trust, a hat of strength and lingerie of love, carrying a sword of bold courage and a heart of open sensitivity. I was skipping along, whistling a sound of freedom.

Suddenly it started raining. First, the coat got wet and the hat started dripping. I was cold but I thought to myself: “No, this is the coat of trust and the hat of strength; I will keep them on to help me on my path.” It rained harder and my clothes got wet and cold to my bones. The lingerie was freezing cold against my skin; the sword squishing in the scabbard.  I thought: “No, I will not take of the underwear. Without love I cannot see my path and without the sword of courage I cannot cut through the obstacles.” 

By then I was shivering, muscles freezing, each step was a painful effort, my lungs grasping for air, the heavy burden of the coat, hat and shoes were weighing me down. My head was dizzy and confused. I saw people pass but could not see their faces.

Tired I sank to the ground by a large tree.
What had happened?

I could no longer bear it; so I took off my clothes and rested the sword. Naked and cold I sat in the rain, the water running down my bear shivering body - nothing to do besides feeling the rain, each droplet meeting the skin. I gazed into the mist in a long silence. Suddenly I heard a whisper:

“Don’t you know - the no-path can never be your path and essence can never be your belonging. Go, dance in the rain, naked – with your eyes wide open. That’s all.”