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Finding and Making Time from Thistledown
In the Katha Upanishad, a young and very surly teen named Nachiketa lives in ancient India. He is prone to eye-rolling and constantly questioning all authority, much to the annoyance of his father the King. He is, after all, just sixteen and knows everything, well almost everything. He decides that to learn everything he can about life, he must visit Yama, the Lord of Death in the underworld. The next time his father curses him for his sassy back talk Nachiketa takes it literally and decides to leave this world behind and seek out someone who must know more than his father, I mean, Yama is the authority when it comes to the end of time for Souls in the material world, so he must know something, if not everything, about the non-material world.
While this might sound tragic it is a wonderful story of a fearless young man and ender of life striking up an unlikely friendship.
Nachiketa finds his way to Yama’s home in the underworld and knocks loudly on the door. Quietly and slowly the door opens, and Nachiketa is informed, by a very stunned attendant, that Yama is out ‘making visits’ and they have no idea when he will return. Nachiketa declares he will wait. And he does. He waits for weeks and weeks on the front threshold for Yama to return.
Yama returns from his ‘visits’ and is completely surprised to see Nachiketa rolled up in a ball at his front door. He is captivated by his determined curiosity and stoked willingness to learn. As you can imagine, Yama doesn’t have many guests, well none at all until now, so he quickly apologizes for keeping the boy in such discomfort. His heart is softened by Nachiketa’s patience and he decides to offer him three boons (blessings). Firstly Nachiketa asks that his father who was of questionable integrity and a bit greedy would become wealthy and upon his return to the Palace completely forgive him for leaving and harmony and love would be restored to their relationship. Yama agrees and it is done. Secondly, Nachiketa asks to learn the sacred fire sacrifice that brings immortality. Yama agrees. For his third boon, Nachiketa declares he wants to know what happens after death, specifically what happens to the Soul after it leaves the body. And here Yama gives pause. He offers up anything else but that. Nachiketa digs his heels in and insists that this is the third boon. Yama tries again to dissuade him. You can imagine all that he offers this sixteen-year-old boy. But Nachiketa is steadfast and finally, Yama agrees to share his knowledge with Nachiketa.
Yama shares with Nachiketa that in the greater reality there is no time and no ending. The secret to life, Yama states, is that there is no death for the Soul. There is an eternal presence that is found within each form. He elaborates that our bodies, like the seasons, and each day and night must dissolve into the cycle of life. By their nature, they are not sustainable. But the essence of each is permanent and everlasting. Yama succinctly states that the meaning of life is knowing this.
When we get this, that life is eternal, and all forms and time itself are perishable we can relinquish our hold on them. We can let them pass, dissolve, digest, and move from the seen to the unseen with a deep sense of peace.
All along the trails I walk are these enormous balls of thistledown, the light airy down which attaches itself to seeds, in the ardent hope of being carried into the wind.
When the winds come, and they will, these thistledowns take flight. Their round bodies become lighter and free, they become so transparent that they cease to exist at all. Their seeds find their place in the soil of new beginnings.
As summer draws herself into the folds of fall find time for the pleasures of this life, look for the thistledown, watch the leaves make their way to earth and swirl in the breeze, and set it free.
Reflections
If you were Nachiketa what three boons would you ask for?
What qualities in Nachiketa can you identify in yourself?
What are your thoughts about time?
Make a list of verbs and phrases you associate with time: spend, burn, kill, lose, gain, pencil in, over, idle, not enough, stop, create…
Contemplate the passing of time and notice if gripping is present or if you can softly let it go like thistledown.
Are there any verbs or phrases that could be reframed with contemplation? Example: I don’t have enough time could be reframed to there is always enough time.
Om & Blessings, Kate
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