Ketut's answer is: "Man is a demon, man is a god. Both true." p. 251. "Human beings are born," Liz goes on to explain, "with equivalent potential for both contraction and expansion. The ingredients of both light and dark are equally present in all of us, and then it's up to the individual (or the family, or the society) to decide what will be brought forth - the virtues or the malevolence. The madness of the planet is largely a result of the human beings difficulty in coming into virtuous balance with himself. Lunacy (both collective and individual) results."
"So, what can be done about the craziness of the world?" Liz asks.
"'Nothing,' Ketut laughed, but with a dose of kindness. 'This is nature of world. This is destiny. Worry about your craziness only - make you in peace.'"
Then, Ketut gave Liz a new meditation - The Four Brothers Meditation. According to the Balinese, we are accompanied by Four brothers (invisible brothers) throughout life who protect us. "The brothers inhabit the four virtues a person needs in order to stay safe and happy in life: intelligence, friendship, strength and (I love this one) poetry." p. 251.
They even have names - Ango Patih, Marago Patih, Banus Patih and Banus Patih Ragio. And, they have a secret nickname for us . . . or maybe it was just for Liz, "Lagoh Prano" which means "happy body". I don't know which virtue belongs to which, but I'd be happy to have the Four Dudes with me at all times. I've secretly been bummed that I'm the only boy amongst my siblings. I think somewhere, deep down, I've always wanted a brother . . . an older one with out all the beating up, the noogies, purple nurples and such.
Imagine! Four older brothers that went with you everywhere, not only to protect you, but to teach you from their experiences, to guide you, to give you strength and teach you wisdom. The lessons they'd teach I'm sure would be hard sometimes, but they sound like the four greatest brothers of all time!
I missed the concert of meditation music which was part of the Meditation Festival I've been writing about. I thought it was today. It was on Saturday. I'm an absent minded professor . . . without the professor part. Maybe I was supposed to miss this for a reason. However, I'm sure with a well-conjured brain-storm I could kick my own ass for this.
Maybe, it's good the concert wasn't tonight. Maybe what I'm really supposed to be looking for is the meditation part. Regardless, I've never done things the way I'm supposed to: "That's good. Just not the assignment." or "That's good, just not the kind of article we're looking for."
So, stay true to yourself. The right medium will present itself. Stay non-conformist. Write what a write and, eventually, there will be an audience. And, worry about my own craziness.
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