Sunsets Into Sunrises
Bishop Martin - The Progress of a Soul in the Beyond
- Chapter 106 -
MARTIN IN A DILEMMA THROUGH CHANCHAH'S FURTHER QUESTIONS.
1
(Says Chanchah): "Oh, dearest friend, I love you very much, but cannot ask you many more questions since I made up my mind not to bother you with questions that might not have been weighed carefully enough. But you must forgive me a remark I have to make.
2
I notice from your words and the expression on your face that every time I begin to discuss your heavenly friend and brother with you, you seem to be extremely embarrassed. What may be the reason for such embarrassment?
3
Could you be jealous because my heart prefers him quite considerably to you? Or do you only pretend to be his true friend and brother? Is your heart secretly vexed that this so-far-nameless, glorious one surpasses you so vastly in perfection of the spirit? Or do you, perhaps, resent his manly, divine beauty, his eyes, his mouth, his entire sublime nature, all of which surpass yours, although you display greater splendor?
4
Look, dear friend, these questions are of the greatest importance to me and I crave for answers like a wanderer in a torrid desert craves for a drink of water. Therefore, if you have any love for me in your heart, do give me honest answers to these questions. If you refuse to do this, Chanchah will turn away from you and not ask you any more questions ever!"
5
Bishop Martin, although at a loss of what to say, pretends to ponder her questions so as to be able to supply the right answers. However, inwardly he anxiously waits for Me to put an excellent answer into his heart. But for most wise reasons, I again keep him in suspense.
6
Thus, he has kept Chanchah waiting for quite a while, and she is gradually becoming quite indignant. She is beginning to measure him inquiringly from head to foot with her large eyes, which makes Martin all the more confused and quite unable to find the right reply.
7
Chanchah allows Martin a bit more time to think, as his seemingly wise expression still makes her hope for some answers. But when nothing is forthcoming, she loses patience and says:
8
(Chanchah): "Dear friend and brother, I see now that you either cannot, will not, or most likely may not, give me an answer. If you cannot answer, you may be excused, for no one should be asked more than he can give. You will probably understand what I mean, provided you have enough sense for that!
9
If you may not answer, you also may be excused. For then it would be obvious that there is somebody here who has the authority to dictate to you what to say or not to say. In that case, it would be most foolish of me to persist in demanding an answer, for I, as a Chinese, know only too well that laws must be respected.
10
If, however, you do not want to give me an answer although you could and are allowed to do so, then you are simply a jealous and wicked man. Then your shining garb would be like the coat of a gentle gazelle hiding a vicious hyena inside. In that case, there would be no excuse for you, and you would deserve my utter contempt.
11
Since you did not answer my previous important questions, I ask you from the depth of my heart, do answer at least one or the other of these three points, so that I, as a newcomer to this world and your house, may know how to behave. But do speak the truth and do answer without fail!"
12
This is much more embarrassing for Martin than were the previous questions. If he were to say, ' I cannot,' he would be lying. If he said, ' I do not want to,' it would not be true either, and besides, he would earn the contempt of his beloved Chanchah. And if he were to say, ' T may not,' he would no doubt be asked who did not allow him to speak, and why. Both these questions he would have to answer unless he shamefully took to his heels.
13
At this point, I return to Chanchah from the other party and take over the answering of the above three questions, and thus the vindication of the extremely embarrassed and trusting Martin.