Ia and the Stream

Ia and his disciples walked through a forest so old and so tall that the sunlight could hardly pierce the leaves overhead and their path was wreathed in perpetual twilight, even at noontime. They paused near a small stream which crossed the path so the disciples could rest their weary bodies and somewhat lessen the aches of travel. The stream was choked thick with fallen leaves and gravel, but it wended still among the obstructions barring its course.

One of Ia's disciples, Preston, walked to Ia as Ia stood on the far bank of the stream, gazing into the forest. 'Holy Ia, I am troubled by a dream which I had last night. I fear my soul and dedication are in peril,' Preston said, kneeling upon fallen leaves and bowing his head in shame. 'Will you help me to remove these blasphemies and doubts from my mind?'

Ia regarded the disciple calmly and replied, 'Fear of peril is not the same as fear from peril. But you are not yet so far along your path to heed the distinction, and so you react to both in the same manner. What thoughts plagued you during your rest?'

Preston's voice shook in chagrin as he admitted to Ia the uncouth fantasies which his mind had conjured, and of the urges which those fantasies kindled within his mind and soul. But Ia did not judge the disciple harshly, instead listening in quiet attention until Preston finished his retelling.

Ia gestured to the stream which trickled but a short distance from them both. 'This stream feeds into a larger river, but it cannot do this if its path is blocked. None will clear the stream's path for it. It must manage this task on its own, and do what is necessary to succeed at this, lest it cease being a stream and cease fulfilling its duty to the river.

'You must not deny the longings which you hold,' Ia told him, 'for to force away part of what you are is to welcome dishonesty into your soul. All matters have a time and a place where they must be expressed. Without them, the unending cycle which links Creation and Destruction will break, and all of Being will crumble to ashes and thence to nothingness. Place the task of maintaining this cycle foremost, and all other urges and desires you might feel will become part of and subservient to those most important duties.'

Preston's heart was replenished anew with love and dedication for his master and teacher at hearing these words and receiving this guidance, and he rejoined the other disciples with levity in his stride, and they left the little stream behind upon resuming their journey.