The Ancient One

[Schme]

I thought this was a beautiful story. It is by a man called Bearwalker.

I was told I could share it.


The Ancient One
by Bearwalker

Ancient One sat in the shade of his tree in front of his cave. Red People came to him and he said to Red People, "Tell me your vision."
And Red People answered, "The elders have told us to pray in this manner, and that manner, and it is important that only we pray as we have been taught for this has been handed down to us by the elders."
"Hmmmm," said the Ancient One.
Then Black People came to him and he said to Black People, "Tell me your vision."
And Black People answered, "Our mothers have said to go to this building and that building and pray in this manner and that manner. And our fathers have said to bow in this manner and that manner when we pray. And it is important that we do only this when we pray."
"Hmmmm," said the Ancient One.
Then Yellow People came to him and he said to Yellow People, "Tell me your vision."
And Yellow People answered, "Our teachers have told us to sit in this manner and that manner and to say this thing and that thing when we pray. And it is important that we do only this when we pray."
"Hmmmm," said the Ancient One.
Then White People came to him and he said to White People, "Tell me your vision."
And White People answered, "Our Book has told us to pray in this way and that way and to do this thing and that thing, and it is very important that we do this when we pray."
"Hmmmm," said the Ancient One.
Then Ancient One spoke to the Earth and said, "Have you given the people a vision?" And the Earth said, "Yes, a special gift for each one, but the people were so busy speaking and arguing about which way is right they could not see the gift I gave each one of them." And the Ancient One asked same question of Water and Fire and Air and got the same answer. Then Ancient One asked Animal, and Bird, and Insect, and Tree, and Flower, and Sky, and Moon, and Sun, and Stars, and all of the other Spirits and each told him the same.
Ancient One thought this was very sad. He called Red People, Black People, Yellow People, and White People to him and said to them. "The ways taught to you by your Elders, and your Mothers and Fathers, and Teachers, and Books are sacred. It is good that you respect those ways, for they are the ways of your ancestors. But the ancestors no longer walk on the Face of the Earth Mother. You have forgotten your own Vision. Your Vision is right for you but no one else. Now each of you must pray for your own Visions, and be still enough to see them, so you can follow the way of the heart. It is a hard way. It is a good way.

[Stan]

I assume this is an allegory of representing God and His will for mankind.

I know of a beautiful story as well written by a man named John.

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"

"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

John 6:32-51

[Schme]

I don't know.

I have a feeling it was saying that it was foolish to argue over matters of religion, as all religions are beautifull, and we are all people, just the same.

I see no messages from god in it at all. If that is how you interpret it, I believe you may be missing it's message.

See, you tell quote the scripture, a piece of the scripture describing all other religions, that being other than christianity, as wrong.

This is quite the opposite, or at least how I interpret it.


But take from it what you will.

[Stan]

I agree it was opposite to the original story. I think the story you posted is a very nice story. It conveys love and acceptance which are qualities of God.

If, in fact, it was intended to be allegory, then my concern with the first story is that the Ancient One is telling the people to follow their own vision. But, God didn't tell people to follow their own vision. He laid out the vision and it is described in the scripture.

In my humble opinion, following my own vision is easy, not hard. Heck if it gets hard I tend to modify my vision. Following God's vision and purpose is more difficult. God is unchanging. If I decide my path and take that path then I'm playing the role of my own god.

All major religions state that theirs is the only way, right? So, by contending that there are many ways is the same thing as saying ALL major religions are wrong. Thus, none of them can be the way...because they are inherently wrong.

That said. God loves everyone...and no particular [person regardless of*] religion over the other. He gives air to breath and water to drink to Hindu's, Christians, Muslims, heck even Nazi's. The question that remains, however, is do we love Him enough to try to do what He says, even if it gets in the way of our own vision?

*Edit - Added the enclosed text

[Nixit]

Yes, the minor religions are much more open...

[Stan]

Yep...and we all know open means right.

[Nixit]

I don't know about that one...

[Stan]

I think we agree on that.

Hey man, I hope you know I'm not trying to force anything down anyone's throat. I'm just wanting to convey my opinion which is in the minority here and in most places around the world.

[Nixit]

It's fine by me. I'm actually quite interested at these thoughts as I don't know much about Christianity and such except for basic beliefs... so I'm happy to read this.

[Schme]

Yep...and we all know open means right.

Honestly, guys.....

[Stan]

I was just kidding, dude.

[Nixit]

Oh, and more related to the story... I think I misunderstand the last paragraph because it seems like it's contradicting the whole message, but I know that that's not what it means.

[Birdsall007]

Very nice story, very New Age. Pick a bit from this religion, a bit from that one. Mix it all together as you like and let no-one tell you that it's wrong because it works for you.

I agree with Stan:

God loves everyone...and no particular religion over the other. He gives air to breath and water to drink to Hindu's, Christians, Muslims, heck even Nazi's. The question that remains, however, is do we love Him enough to try to do what He says, even if it gets in the way of our own vision?

Not quite completely, because, as I posted elsewhere, anyone who promotes another way over the way God himself has described, is taking you away from worshipping him.

[Solfius]

He loves eveyone enough to forgive them when they're on the brink of death after a sinful life, if they're repenting wholeheartedly. But, if you don't ever admit to the truth of his way, you will inevitably burn in a pit of fire along with all the other sinners.

At least, that's what I understand from reading Revalations

[Stan]

Yes. I agree. In my opinion, the human soul will live forever, it cannot die (ie "God created man in His image" by the Judeo/Christian perspective in Genesis). The question is, in which place will it live?

It is a very simple thing to ensure an eternity with God. I believe, He was very clear about it. Some people believe otherwise, but I don't. But, I do believe we must make a choice to accept Him and His ways. Afterall, He's God. He created this whole thing. He gave us the free will to make our own choice.

From my perspective, if there were more than one way, then why would Jesus come to earth to hang on a cross and die? It wouldn't be necessary. That is unless Jesus himself was a liar or a nut case. If was neither of those things then there's only 1 thing he could have been.

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like an authority, I'm just trying to think through this logically.