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Page: Profile: Poetry
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Poem Specs
VxPoem ID: 19225
Category:
myth_legend
Posted: January 14th. 2006 7:40:04 AM
Views: 1342 |
Parable of the Wrestler's Lover
by B. T. Newberg
Age Group: Adult
In the wanderings of the Goddess, she came upon a traveling wrestler challenging all comers. The wrestler said, "They call me 'I am.' For within this ring, I am the power that determines the worthy. All that are not worthy shall be cast out. Then, when all are cast out, only I shall remain. Therefore they call me 'I am.'"
Now the crowd was inflamed, and three of the heftiest of them rose one by one to the challenge. To the first the wrestler said, "I shall call you Greed. Thus calling you, I grasp you. Thus grasping you, I cast you out!" And Greed was cast out. To the second the Wrestler said, "I shall call you Ill Will. Thus calling you, I grasp you. Thus grasping you, I cast you out!" And Ill Will was cast out. To the third and final the Wrestler said, "I shall call you Misperception. Thus calling you, I grasp you. Thus grasping you, I cast you out!" And Misperception was cast out.
All comers were called by one of these three--Greed, Ill Will, or Misperception--and all were cast out in just this way. The crowd surged forward with praise and reward. But the wrestler refused all, mounted a wagon, and left.
The Goddess followed the wrestler. In the next village, the same events took place. All comers were called Greed, Ill Will, or Misperception, and all were cast out. Still the wrestler refused both praise and reward.
In a third village it was so yet again. Finally the Goddess approached the wrestler. She said, "Fellow wanderer, stop apace and talk with me. What is it you seek, if neither praise nor reward?" The wrestler answered, "They call me 'I am.' But I am not worthy. Therefore I feel obliged to seek someone worthy of 'I am.' Everyday I cast out all comers, countless incarnations of Greed, Ill Will, and Misperception, and I never find anyone worthy of that name."
Then the Goddess said, "Wrestle me." They did and she was called Greed, but she was not cast out. Then she was called Ill Will, but she was not cast out. Finally she was called Misperception, but she was not cast out.
Then the wrestler cried, "At last!--someone worthy of 'I am!' I shall call you my Self! Thus calling you, I grasp you. Thus grasping you, I cast you out!" And the wrestler was cast out.
The next day a crowd came looking for a bout, but they found the wrestler sitting idly in the wagon. The wrestler explained, "She followed me and stayed with me all the radiant, blissful night. But in the morning she was gone. Now there is no one left to wrestle. Never again need I ask 'Is anyone worthy of 'I am?'"
Author's Notes: This story shows my Buddhist influences. The names by which the wrestler conquers all comers are the Three Defilements of the mind taught by the Buddha. The third, moha, which I have called "Misperception", is more commonly translated "Delusion."
copyright 2006
As a Naturalistic Pagan, I believe in evidence. There is no evidence that deities and magic are "real" in the most literal sense, but they may yet be moving and powerful. These poems are a tribute to the inspiration of Pagan ways.
For more information on naturalism, see HumanisticPaganism.com.
Author's Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
More Poems: B. T. Newberg has posted 73 additional poems- View them?
Author's Profile: To learn more about B. T. Newberg - Click HERE
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