Two Short Pieces
Sahlan
Diver
‘The Master’
A master announced to his pupils the start of a great
quest. They must discover what was blocking their spiritual progress. The
pupils immediately embarked on the quest with enthusiasm and energy. They
studied holy books, practised asceticism, devoted long hours to meditation, and
spent many an evening debating the finer points of the spiritual life.
The quest rolled on for months, but on the subject of
what was blocking their spiritual progress the pupils felt no nearer to
becoming enlightened. Several times they asked their master for guidance, but
each time he would just say, ‘Wait, and you will see for yourselves.’
One day, a wealthy merchant from a far-off city
arrived to pay homage to the master. This merchant was famous not only for his
great wealth, but also for his charity and concern for the welfare and
well-being of others. The pupils observed their master affording the merchant
the utmost ceremony and respect.
After the merchant had departed, the pupils enquired,
‘Master. We are puzzled. You treated this merchant like a superior. We saw the
look in your eye. You were not mocking him; it was a look of genuine
admiration.’
The master replied, ‘The man has done great works.’
But the pupils said, ‘Yes, Master. We see that he is a man of charity, but how
can such a man be spiritually high? He has not the slightest energy or
enthusiasm for spiritual matters.’
The master replied, ‘Now do you understand what has
been blocking your progress?’
‘I Had to Test’
from ‘The Guru's Apprentice’
Song,
In the style of Gilbert and Sullivan
(Tenor
Soloist)
I had
to test
I had
to test
Should
I buy a new string vest
I had
to test
I had
to test
Or I
could not rest
(Chorus
of pretty young ladies)
He had
to test
He had
to test
Should
he buy a new string vest
He had
to test
He had
to test
Or he
could not rest
(Tenor
Soloist)
Almighty God. If you please
Kindly put my mind at ease
Does a string vest fit your will
Or will it make me ill?
(Chorus
of pretty young ladies)
Almighty God. If you please
Kindly put his mind at ease
Does a string vest fit your will
Or will it make him ill?
(International Helper - Bass soloist)
I had a strong feeling
My mind was reeling
You are too much in your head
You should be in your feet instead
Buy a pair of socks
And go to bed
(Chorus
of pretty young ladies)
Vest or socks?
Vest or socks?
Certainly a paradox
Vest or socks?
Vest or socks?
A para- para- dox
(Tenor
Soloist)
Almighty God
It’s your call
Should I ever test at all?
Strengthen my sincere receiving
Let me not be self-deceiving
Your true guidance, I’m perceiving
If we want to be the best
Then we should test
(Chorus
of pretty young ladies)
To be the best
To be the best
We should always, always test
To be the best
To be the best
We should always test