The other day, when I was walking high on the mountain ridge (see previous episode: new terrain), an eagle appeared. It was soaring effortlessly on an updraft right next to the ridge, a magnificent bird. In the clear mountain air, I felt like I could almost reach out and touch it. I could clearly see the individual feathers in its wings and the way they fluttered slightly in the wind. It was with me for a few moments and then simply turned and soared off across the valley. In no time it was far away, all without a single beat of its wings.
An intimate friend of mine is also soaring at the moment. It is beautiful to have seen her spreading her wings, flying ever higher, to heaven itself. And I smile to know that she is uncaged. At times it is so tempting for us humans to put each other in a cage; perhaps a beautiful, gilded cage wrought of enticing promises, but a cage nonetheless.
I simply refuse to do that, to put anyone in a cage. That is why I never accept disciples. And that is why my intimate friends are always free, to soar with the eagles.
