THE TIME AND LAND OF ARASCUS
by Mike Zonta, H.W., M.
Even in the time and land of Arascus, men felt the overpowering sensation of the oneness of the universe. Thus, when there was born to them a certain one, they could see him and notice him from afar off. They saw in him the allness and oneness that they could feel so strongly in themselves.
They called this one Aman, and all who saw him wondered and marveled at his oneness.
It was not long after the birth of Aman that the time and land of Arascus experienced a great proclivity of creative enterprise.
But it was also during the time of Arascus that there appeared in the land a certain one who was called Mobid, who seemed to all who encountered him a most mean and onerous sort. Mobid’s deeds became as well know and wide-spread as those of Aman.
It was Arascus himself who was to experience the terrible presence of both Aman and Mobid.
One day, Arascus and many of the townspeople were gathered together to hear the wondrous words of Aman. There was a great feeling of festivity in the air as Aman approached the platform from which he was to speak. Flowers and music filled the senses, and great anticipation was felt among all who came to witness this great and joyous event.
Finally, and very surreptitiously, Aman ascended the platform from which he would speak. There fell on the people gathered there a sudden hush. Aman settled himself at his station and looked out among the many people gathered there. And this is what he said:
“There is amongst our people of this time and land a great explosion of newness and rebirth. And it is a joyousness to perceive. Fathers and mothers have become as little children and little children have become as fathers and mothers. And this is very good. And women have become as men, and men have become as women, and this too is very good and as it was meant to be. And the simple-minded have been proclaimed as wise men and the wise men have acted the fool. In this I rejoice with all of your rejoicing. And it is very good.”
The townspeople were alive with loving awe and appreciation of what they were hearing. And Aman continued:
“But it is said there is amongst this time and land one who would undo our great doings and cast a mockery at the loving oneness which we have proclaimed to be our natural heritage. And this one they call Mobid.”
A great silence encompassed the crowd. Aman continued:
“Yet you need not experience fear, for I have come to give you peace and life onward until Forever.”
There was some rumbling amongst the townspeople.
“And this gift is yours if only you but ask for it,” said Aman.
Then one of the townspeople spoke out and said, “O great one, if you have come to give us peace and life onward until Forever, I beseech you to banish this one called Mobid and forever rid our time and land of him who would seek to destroy our creative enterprise and loving sense of oneness.”
Aman was silent for a moment. He looked at the man with great compassion and with words very paced and clear he answered him:
“There is only one way in which you can stop the menacing deeds which Mobid would perform, and that way is to love him as you love me and as you love each other.”
The townspeople stood in amazement at what they were hearing for it was Mobid who would spread fear and hunger and disease among all that which they knew was good and great and plenty.
And one of the townspeople shouted out that he would rather cut off his right leg than give love to such a one as Mobid. And other townspeople were crying out similar expressions of grief and dismay.
Then Aman said to them: “I understand your anger and grief and dismay, and I have come before you that you might transform your weapons of anger and grief and dismay into tools of love and happiness and wisdom. But before you can take up these tools you must lay down all weapons which you would use against Mobid or against any other whom you think might spitefully use you. For I say unto you that whatsoever hate and fear you harbor against Mobid or any other, that you also hate and fear within yourselves.”
The townspeople were bewildered.
Aman continued: “As long as you would banish Mobid or any other from this time and land, you would also banish yourselves from the Eternal Kingdom and Timelessness and Landlessness.
And the people felt sore amiss, for was it not their divine heritage to be living in this time of plenty and this land of loving brotherhood, and was not Aman himself the proof of their destiny manifest? How could so great a one as Aman speak to them of loving so low a one as Mobid whose evil deeds and vicious tongue were common knowledge?
Aman, sensing their thoughts, continued:
“The abundance of love and wealth that you bear witness to in this time and land are not children of this time and land but are children of the Eternal Kingdom of Timelessness and Landlessness, which is the only kingdom there is, was and ever shall be.
“Then what of our time and land and what of Mobid?” demanded one of the townspeople.
Aman continued: “Believe only that which you know. Trust not your senses which tell you of forms and faces, sounds and words, smells and taste and touch. For this is not the stuff of which you are made. Be ye not deceived by what appears to be so.”
Again one of the townspeople demanded, “And what of Mobid?”
Aman answered: “Love not evil, neither give it credence. Evil is nothing but a lie about that which is true. Love that which is true about Mobid and every man and all life.”
One of the elders of the townspeople now spoke out saying, “And what is it that is true of Mobid and every man and all life?”
Aman knew this elder and considered him for a moment. Then he continued: “Truth you must seek within yourselves and this is a journey you must make alone.”
Aman had finished speaking. He slowing descended the platform and began walking away to his home in the hills. And the other townspeople began their walk homeward also.
Arascus sat for a few moments longer and watched his neighbors and friends leave. No longer was there the air of festivity shining in their faces. Something very new and different to Arascus was expressed in the faces of his friends. It was awe, and it was uncertainty and at times it was even anger and fear and dismay.
II
Now Arascus was alone. He looked upwards at the sky and the countless shining stars, and he wondered. He looked at the trees which surrounded him and also wondered. Then he looked at the grass on which he was sitting and then he looked at his very own body, and still he wondered.
Sometimes he would wonder in joy and amazement, and sometimes he would wonder in anguish and dismay.
Arascus was sitting in this sense of deep wonder and concern when he heard a noise of rustling bushes. He looked to where the noise came from and saw an old, dirty man stumbling toward him.
Arascus got onto his feet.
The old man approached Arascus. “Do you have anything to quench the hunger of a tired, old man?” he asked.
Arascus reached into his satchel and gave him what was left of the cheese and bread he had brought that day to hear the wondrous words of Aman.
The old man took the bread and cheese and ate heartily of the few morsels. “And is that perchance a jug of wine you have strapped over your shoulder?” he asked.
“Yes, that it is,” Arascus replied hesitantly.
“Then a few swallows would do me well to warm up my insides.”
The old man reached for the jug of wine and Arascus had little choice but to hand it to him.
Arascus watched all this with uncertain anticipation. As the old man finished the last drops of wine, he fell back to the ground and moaned in satisfaction.
Arascus approached the old man cautiously, “And what is your name, kind sir?”
The old man opened his eyes and lifted himself up to a sitting position. “I am not a kind sir. I’m an old man,” the old man replied rather indignantly.
“I am sorry if I have offended you,” Arascus began without knowing what to make of this irascible character.
“It is very difficult, indeed, to offend me,” the old man said to Arascus. “Sit down and talk with me a while. You’ve got no place to go.”
Arascus sat down. They sat in silence for a few moments. Finally Arascus asked, “Who are you?”
“I am nobody really, and I am everybody. My name is Mobid. Perhaps you have heard of me?”
Arascus was aghast for a moment. Then he remembered the words of Aman: “Be not deceived by what appears to be so. Love that which is true about Mobid and every man and all life.”
Arascus introduced himself. “Yes, I have heard of your name. My name is Arascus.”
Mobid continued: “What is it that you are doing here and where do you live?”
“I have just listened to the wondrous words of Aman, and I have not yet gone home to join my father and mother in the village.” Arascus could feel his body begin to shake and quiver. He tried to control it but to no avail.
“Do you have fear of me?” Mobid asked, sensing Arascus’ uneasiness.
“I don’t know,” Arascus replied.
Mobid laughed.
“It has been said of me, I know, that I am a very evil man. Really this is not so. It has been said of me that I would spread fear and hunger and disease among all that which you know is good and great and plenty. Neither is this so.”
Arascus was listening intently.
“If the people of this time and land are fearful and angry at the evil they think they see in me, then obviously they still believe that there is something evil to be feared.”
“But it is common knowledge,” said Arascus, “that even that which is good and great and plenty in this time and land cannot last forever. And the people fear your intrusion.”
Mobid thought for a moment. “The good and great and plenty that you bear witness to in this time and land are not children of this time and land but are children of the Eternal Kingdom of Timelessness and Landlessness, which is the only kingdom there is, was and ever shall be.”
Arascus was amazed that Mobid spoke the very words that Aman had spoken.
Mobid continued: “Believe only that which you know. Trust not your senses which tell you of forms and faces, sounds and words, smells and taste and touch. For this is not the stuff of which you are made. Be not deceived by the mask of what appears to be so. You can only seek truth within yourself. And we must each take this journey by ourselves.”
Mobid had finished speaking. He got to his feet, smiled at Arascus, said farewell, and stumbled back into the bushes.
And thus it was that Arascus experienced the terrible presence of both Aman and Mobid in the time and land of Arascus.
(from The Prosperos Newsletter, September 1971)