From: Phaedrus Wolff (PhaedrusWolff@carolina.rr.com)
Date: Sun Dec 19 2004 - 16:15:14 GMT
Hi msh, and all,
Looks like a great thread you have started here.
I am going to offer my thoughts on this, and it is only that -- thoughts.
I moved into a 'Hippie House' at the young age of 15. The following years
could be described as 'Mind Blowing'. I look back at those years with
fondness, and it is possible that my experimenting with mind altering drugs
could have built up some of the character I now am. I must be honest and
admit that, even though fun, I don't look back at it as a period of
enlightenment, other than this period in my life most likely led to the
balances and checks that rid me of my prejudices and superstitions, and
possibly some of the ignorant ways I saw life.
I believe that my Cherokee brother does experience enlightenment by the use
of peyote in their rituals, but feel that it is more because they have spent
their life being built up to feel close to Mother Earth and the Creator.
Whether or not peyote would enhance the experience for the European in me, I
can't say.
Where I do feel I experience enlightenment is on the top of a mountain after
hiking 5 or 10 miles to get there. I feel that I have also become
enlightened sitting by a camp fire next to a creek. Most of these instances
were from being alone with my thoughts, and possibly from exhaustion, so I
had only my own feelings that told me these were mystical experiences.
Once, I met up with a group of college students, and I told them how I felt
about this. They wanted to experience what I had experienced. I had never
taken anyone with me before, except my youngest son who was only 4 through 7
during these camping trips, so I didn't know if a group could experience
this or not. I led the group on a hiking trip through the unbeaten paths of
the Pisga District of Pisga National Forrest, and kept a pace I felt would
wear them out, until we came to an opening large enough that there was no
restrictions to the heavens in our sight path above. After setting up the
tents, and building a small fire, having a little something to eat, we sat
down to enjoy the stars and the night.
There was one young lady with them that complained most of the way, and kept
talking about how she got 'Stupid' whenever she became really exhausted. As
all were in awe of the experience, I listened to what they had to say, and
all were in amazement at how beautiful it was where we were, how beautiful
the sky filled with stars from no lights from civilization obstructing the
view, and all were at peace with the world. The young lady that had been
complaining the whole trip just sat there an said nothing. When the others
decided to bed down, she said she was going to stay up for a while. I stayed
up with her, and sat on the opposite side of the fire. When the fire died
down, I soaked it, and took her by the hand, and guided her to the lady's
tent they had set up. She didn't speak one word after telling the others she
was going to stay up for a while, and didn't even say goodnight as she
crawled into the tent.
The next day some went out and hiked up the creek, except for this girl, and
one other who may have stayed behind just to make sure I had no intentions
toward this girl. In the light of day, I could see this young lady was
glowing. The other girl that stayed behind asked what I usually do for fun,
and I told her "Fish." The complainer decided to stay by the fire, so we
stayed close enough to keep an eye on her, and I helped the guardian learn
how to light a fly on the water, and she caught a trout, and we walked back
up to the camp. She told the complainer how exciting it was, and the
complainer just sat there and smiled.
The others returned, and we broke camp, and hiked back. The complainer
stayed right behind me, and never lost a step, and never lost her smile on
the long trip back. About a third of the way back, she finally started
speaking again, and never shut up again. All she could talk about was how
beautiful it was, and how great she felt. She helped me to look for the
landmarks, and was studying my notes, and learning how to use the compass.
She wanted to know everything I knew about hiking.
If you are beginning to think this is a love story, you are right. I have
not seen or spoken to that girl again, but she found a love in nature that
day she had obviously experienced in the past from this 'Acting stupid' but
hadn't realized it was a mystical experience until she hiked long enough to
remove her inhibitions, and possibly thinking about the 'better' things she
could have been doing, as opposed to hiking with her friends. I believe she
saw a new light, through new eyes I could never experience again, but I got
to experience it through her eyes.
This young lady was not my 'lila' as I had already found my Lila, but I can
still see every detail of her face and that glow. I don't know if I have
ever experienced anything close to this myself, but then again, I am usually
alone with my Creator and Mother Earth when I go hiking.
Chin
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