This does not mean setting a homeless person ablaze. And yet in another sense it does, if the homeless person is ourselves.
In one of the teaching stories told in the Upanishads, the father of Nachiketas, in a fit of anger, gave him to Death. Nachiketas was only a boy but he had a strong and loving heart. So he asked himself the question, "What may be the work of Death that today must be done through me?" and went to Death's house.
Because Death kept him waiting three nights without food or water, he gave Nachiketas three boons or wishes. The first wish was for the healing of the relationship with his father. It was granted.
The second was to know "that sacred fire which leads to heaven." Death told him that fire, which leads to "the infinite worlds, and is also their foundation, is hidden in the sacred place of the heart." Death was pleased with Nachiketas because not only did he have that fire within his heart, but followed its lead.
Death got a little perturbed with Nachiketas' third request: to know the mystery of Death. What happens to a human when s/he dies?
O No! said Death. I cannot tell you that! Look here! Take all the riches of the world instead. And Death began listing all the stuff and fame and power and fulfilled desires that would be his.
Nope, says Nachiketas. "Grant me the gift that unveils the mystery. This is the only gift I ask."
Okay, says Death finally, yielding to Nachiketas' persistence and good heart. There are two paths for humans: the path of joy and the path of pleasure. On the latter path, a human focuses only on the transient. On the path of joy, all that is transient is sacrificed within the fires of the heart. Those who follow the path of joy "come to good." Those who follow the path of pleasure "reach not the End."
And what is the path of joy? The forgiveness of others and the healing of relationships, keeping the sacred fire burning within the heart, and, undiverted by the transient, following the path right through Death to the End, also known as the Eternal Beginning.
Oh man! You mean this is all set up so that the only way out is for me to be joyous!? The Wellspring certainly has a sense of humor.
In one of the teaching stories told in the Upanishads, the father of Nachiketas, in a fit of anger, gave him to Death. Nachiketas was only a boy but he had a strong and loving heart. So he asked himself the question, "What may be the work of Death that today must be done through me?" and went to Death's house.
Because Death kept him waiting three nights without food or water, he gave Nachiketas three boons or wishes. The first wish was for the healing of the relationship with his father. It was granted.
The second was to know "that sacred fire which leads to heaven." Death told him that fire, which leads to "the infinite worlds, and is also their foundation, is hidden in the sacred place of the heart." Death was pleased with Nachiketas because not only did he have that fire within his heart, but followed its lead.
Death got a little perturbed with Nachiketas' third request: to know the mystery of Death. What happens to a human when s/he dies?
O No! said Death. I cannot tell you that! Look here! Take all the riches of the world instead. And Death began listing all the stuff and fame and power and fulfilled desires that would be his.
Nope, says Nachiketas. "Grant me the gift that unveils the mystery. This is the only gift I ask."
Okay, says Death finally, yielding to Nachiketas' persistence and good heart. There are two paths for humans: the path of joy and the path of pleasure. On the latter path, a human focuses only on the transient. On the path of joy, all that is transient is sacrificed within the fires of the heart. Those who follow the path of joy "come to good." Those who follow the path of pleasure "reach not the End."
And what is the path of joy? The forgiveness of others and the healing of relationships, keeping the sacred fire burning within the heart, and, undiverted by the transient, following the path right through Death to the End, also known as the Eternal Beginning.
Oh man! You mean this is all set up so that the only way out is for me to be joyous!? The Wellspring certainly has a sense of humor.
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