• Angel
  • Stepping Into the Sunlight
  • Happiness & Joy
• Sylvia B.
  • Just Another Day
• Anonymous
  • The "Falling" Bridge (art)
• Anthony Baez
  
  • Utmost Vehicle Zen
  • Fear
• Carla
  
  • Other Voices
• Daud
  
  • An Open Letter From a Political Prisoner
• Emil
  
  • Maitreya Project Essay
• Juan
  
  • Greetings to the Coleman Sangha
• Amos King
  [Executed February 26th, 2003
  by the sovereign state of Florida]
  • Dear Henri
  • Letter to a Ten Year Old
  • Some Reflections
• Ellis Matthews
  
  • Reflection
  • Unresolved Issues!
  • Message From A Fool
  • Everyone Needs Healing
  • Dead Sea of Dreams
  • Is This Your Situation
• Mitch Medford
  
  • My Story
• Joseph Vivona
  
  • Do as I Say, Not as I Do: A Recipe for Disaster
• Amy N.
  
  • Till Death Do We Part
  • Clouds In Your Coffee

Fear
By Anthony Baez

Walking through the forest in Japan master Uriah and his student Fhi come upon a rope bridge leading to the other side over a gorge. "Wait Fhi". What is it master? I left the water canteen. I'll go and get it master. No! continue on your way to the temple I will retrieve it myself. . Are you sure master it will be no problem for me to retrieve it. Just continue on your way I'll see you ar the temple. Uriah does a 180 degree turn as he walks back into the forest, looking far into the distance in front of him to find the spot where he and Fhi were meditating. Fhi continues on his way to the temple stepping foot on the rope bridge to cross it. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA A loud laugh Fhi hears while crossing the bridge. He stops in the middle to see in his amazement at the end of the bridge an older monk named Yin, dressed in a dark black Kimono and Red Obi. Where is your pathetic master young student? He is of none of your concern. Why bother me yin? Are you attached to being bothered? No I'm not. Ah you open your mouth to justify yourself mistake already. What is it that you want yin?

I'm quite sure your master have told you about me young student, the way I teach the dharma. Yes! My master have spoken about you also the novice students you had tested. Your master and students must have described my appearance to you because its funny you called my name. I've never seen you before young student. Who cares if I seen you or not like I said from the beginning of my speech what is it you want? HA HA HA HA it tickles's me to see the fear in your eyes. I have no fear of you. Is that so. Suddenly the ropes of the bridge begin to turn into serpents and a great gust of wind swings the rope bridge from side to side. Fhi loses his balance he reaches for the ropes that are now serpents as they slither away from his grip. He falls and quckly holds on to the wooden boards. Beneath him. He closes his eyes tight as the rate of his heart pumps faster and faster. Fear has struck in and Yin laughs loudly. Yin! A cold screams from the other end of the bridge. Ahhhh master Uriah once again you caught me fooling with your students. Let him go yin. Now you know Uriah you have to comply with my rules to save your student. What are your rules? How can you forget my rules? This i9s not the first time I've tested your students.

I know you Yin you like to play mind games. You never cease to amaze me Uriah you stay on point when it comes to my actions, but never-the-less the only way you can save your fearful student is by giving him a clue but you cannot speak, only one movement of action to help. Oh yes one more thing your students has two minutes to save himself and time is ticking> Uriah looks at his student hugged to the boards beneath him swinging from side to side. Fhi still has his eyes closed thinking of what to do. He finally opens his eyes to look at his master for help. Uriah looks in the eyes of his student he sees the fear growing larger and larger within Fhi's mind. Uriah opens the water canteen and holds it over his head he looks at the canteen with one eye open and peaks inside. Fhi takes this action of movement as a clue. What can that mean? One minute and 30 seconds left Yin shouts. A stronger gust of wind swings the bridge further out from side to side. Fhi grips the boards tighter as the serpents that were once ropes hisses at him. Damn it, what I'm going. The sounds of wood cracking rings out loud. Before Fhi's very eyes he sees the boards cracking wide open just like an earthquake cracks open a land mass apart. No this can't happen to me. I can't die like this.

He looks over to Uriah where he is still gazing into the canteen. What can that mean? What is he looking at inside the canteen? There's nothing in there 45 seconds left young student free yourself or prepare to plunge to your death said Yin. Wait a minute that's it! There nothing in the canteen its empty. Emptiness! Keep a empty mind. Emptiness is before fear. I created fear by thinking its within my mind that's why I'm scared of the serpents snaps at Fhi. He loses his grip on the board to dodge the bite. The board gives way completely snapping in half. The bridge swings to the left at a 45 degree angle, he slides closer to the snapping serpents, he quickly grabs another board to hold on which slowly cracks away. I must maintain composure my mind is creating this. I must go before thinking then all will be truth. All will be just as was. 20 seconds left young student. Fhi closes his eyes and meditates. He inhales emptiness and exhales clear mind. Fhi puts his mind before thinking. Where he reaches emptiness. He opens his eyes and sees the serpents turning back into ropes, the cracks in the boards close up together before his very eyes and the bridge no longer swings. Fhi stands up to his feet. As he stares into the eyes of Yin. Its over Yin. I passed your test. Fear comes from thinking and emptiness is before thinking. Therefore I no longer fear the danger you make in my mind. Ahhh young student you understand. Practice had and you will understand. Practice hard and you will understand all. Yin vanishes before his eyes.