============================================================== To reach ALL SJD members, please send to sjd@satjadham.net ... Do NOT include any other addresses when sending to the list... Include as LITTLE of the original messages as possible........ Message sent by: Kartoon22@aol.com *** Announcement: *** Please send your member fee to Victor if you haven't done so. ============================================================== Fellow Readers, I apologize for the first version sent of Part 2. Now, that my computer is back to normal, we can all enjoy the edited version. Happy Reading, Toon Publication Core _______________________ The God and Three Brothers By Da and Du Edited by Toon Phapphayboun Drawing level with the twins, the older boy was pelted from head to toe with sloppy yellow mud. “No you little rascals, I’ll skin you alive,” the victim called. “Now you really need a bath,” the twins replied. They ran towards the river, straight into the water they fled the victim in hot pursuit. As the boys wrestled in the water laughing and slashing, the god watched, and never had he known such beauty, such joy in simplicity. Exhausted the boys left the water and began to walk towards the village. Suddenly, they stopped-all three staring directly at the god. "Why are they looking here," the god thought, "they can’t possibly see me." “Oh yes we can,” the twins answered his thoughts in unison. “Who are you, stranger?” The elder boy asked respectfully. Shocked that these beautiful children could see him, the mighty god answered in a gentle voice, “I am a simple traveler, exhausted by my journey, seeking shelter for the night.” “Then come to our home, it is the custom of our village to welcome strangers who come with peaceful intent.” “Thank you, I shall be honored.” “There is a condition to our hospitality; a story is expected from those who visit.” “A story you shall have of wonderful places, mighty armies and a great king.” “Then it is well.” Into the simple hut the children led the mighty god who took pains to allow all the family to see him. They provided him with food and wine, rejoicing in his companionship, laughing at his jokes, listening in awe to his story. As he was given his food, the god noticed that each of the family was given a little less so that he might have a full bowl. Each man drank moderately of the wine so that the visitor might have his fill. Such generosity made him love these people more. The elder son sat quietly while his little brothers fidgeted looking around for mischief. After the meal, the god told his story while the twins listened with rapt attention. All three boys asked several questions about the wonderful land and the great king in the story. The twins were especially interested in the king’s great chariot, drawn by two wonderful beasts called horses. Since they had never heard of horses, the god drew them a picture. Then entire family enjoyed the story and looked with amazement at the wonderful drawing the god produced with such ease. After the children were asleep and the women had completed their duties, the opium pipes were lit, and the adults relaxed from their labors. The great god sat on the floor, not missing the golden throne that was his right. He drank from a bamboo cup, not regretting his golden chalice. He listened to the simple stories of his host feeling no sadness that it was not the dishonest flattery of priests. Resting that night on a woven mat as all the family slept around him, he wondered how he could reward these simple people for their generosity. He had looked into their hearts finding them pure and honest, desiring nothing of wealth; they were happy. "It will be a sad day when the world finds these children of the forest," he thought. Then, he gave the twins a wonderful dream of the mighty king and his wonderful chariot; the boys saw themselves standing beside the king in his chariot with the two beautiful horses pulling them along at great speed between a mighty river and a land covered in sand. The god smiled at the looks of wonder and joy that chased each other across the sleeping faces of the twins, for he knew they would always remember their wonderful dream. The elder boy also dreamed that night but his dream was very different for the one his brothers enjoyed so much. He was by nature a quiet studious person with a deeply religious soul; he liked to work hard because it satisfied something that was missing in his life. The gods and spirits his people worshipped did not satisfy his spiritual needs. In his dream, he found himself in a great temple, priests with shaved heads worshipped a wonderful golden idol while beautiful people in magnificent robes watched. In his dream, the lad walked towards the idol, which came to life as he approached. The living god who looked so much like their guest took him into a large room; they sat and talked for hours about things, which interested the boy but no one else in his village. Everything the god told him made perfect sense; here was a god he could believe in, a god he could worship with heart. He never forgot a word the god said to him; he based his whole life on the teachings of that magnificent dream. (to be continued) _ ***************************************************************** Visit SatJaDham Homepage at: http://www.satjadham.org (or .net) *****************************************************************