The Mantra of Life and Death

Once upon a time, there was a teacher, a guru who had many followers. They came from all over to listen, to learn wisdom and enlightenment and to be liberated from their desires and needs. There were classes and one-on-one apprenticeships. At the end of the students’ teaching the master would send them out into the world to share their learning and knowledge with others as masters in their own right. And just before they left, he would give them a gift: the mantra of life and death. Phrase by phrase he would teach them until they had learned it by heart. Then he would tell them that as long as they said this mantra faithfully, they would be blessed; that its power would give them insight and clarity and allow them to discern the truth when all around them were lies and shadows; that its power would keep them from despair and give them hope in the midst of misery and hopelessness; that its power would strengthen their faith and one day save their souls and give them everlasting life. The disciples were grateful and humbled by the gift. Then he warned them never to teach anyone else the mantra; it was for them alone, those who had been enlightened.

And so for years and years students finished their studies, were given the mantra and went out into the world to share their wisdom and to pray their mantra in secret. One day a young man came to the master, ready to go into the world. He too was taught the mantra and humbled by the enormity of the gift he was given. However, when the master warned him not to share the mantra with anyone, he asked why. The master looked long and hard at him: “If you share this mantra with others, then what it was to do for you will be handed over to them. And you will live in darkness even when light is all around you. You will know only despair and misery of body and soul all your life. You will stumble over the truth and be confused endlessly. Worst of all, you will lose you faith, and you will lose you soul. You will be damned forever.”

The disciple turned white and shook visibly and nodded and left the master’s presence. But he was troubled in spirit. Finally, he decided what he had to do. He went to the nearest large city and gathered the multitudes about him, teaching and enthralling them with stories and wisdom. Then he taught them the mantra, line by line, phrase by phrase, just as his master taught him. There was a hush, and people left whispering the mantra to themselves.

A number of the master’s disciples were in the crowd, and they were horrified at the man’s actions. He had disobeyed the master. He had betrayed his community. He had given away the wisdom and the gift to the ignorant and unenlightened. They immediately went back to the master and told him what had happened.

They asked him: “Master, are you going to punish him for what he has done?” The master looked at them sadly and said: “I do not have to. He will be punished terribly. He knew what his fate would be if he shared the mantra of life with those who were not enlightened. For him it has become the mantra of death. He will live in darkness and despair, without hope or knowledge of the truth. He will live isolated, alone, without comfort or faith, and he will die terribly and lose even his own soul. How could I possibly punish him? He knew what he was choosing.” And with those words, the old master rose and gathered his few belongings and began to walk away. “Master,” one disciple asked, “Where are you going?” And the master looked at all of them sadly and spoke, “I am going to that man who gave away my gift of the mantra of life and death.” “Why?” they chorused. “Because,” he said, “out of all my students, he alone learned wisdom and compassion. Now that man is my master.” And he left them to follow the man who walked now in darkness and despair, who had chosen compassion over wisdom and knowledge.

Megan McKenna ‘Parables: The Arrows of God’ Orbis Books, New-York, 1994 pages 158-160.