Wise One and the Dragon

Once upon a time… When was it? When was it not that Dragons lived upon the earth? Dragons are beings of magnified power. They can manifest change for the good or revel in fear and destruction. One such dragon was cast out of the heavens; it lived within poisonous molten gases below the earth. Every seven hundred years it crawled up through the caves to enter the world of humankind. There it fed on fear and lies, hatred and ignorance. It flew out over the land with great power and it’s breath burst with fire - burning the land and it’s people. This is a story of how this Dragon was tamed and transformed…

Long ago, in a Kingdom of earth and sky, close to the great opening of the Dragon cave, there lived a people who were preparing for it’s return. Legends of the land taught about the coming of the evil Dragon, recounting the death it had caused in the past and foretelling it’s coming again. Brave men and women, who chose to do battle, trained for Knighthood. Chosen for their might and courage, they trained in skills of fighting and killing with swords and shields of metal. The King and Queen rewarded them with great riches and promises of glory. 

All preparations could not stay the inevitable, and the day came when rumbling was heard beneath the earth. Poisonous gases began to seep out of the mouth of the caves at the base of the mountain and the people steeled themselves with vigilance. The Knights slept little and were on edge, ready.

Then it came. Monstrous, the dragon burst upon the world and took flight over the land. It burned all that was in it’s path and took pleasure in causing suffering. The people ran in fear. The King called for his knights to do battle. Though they were brave, they fought with hatred for the beast and it only gained strength. One by one the Knights went to battle the Dragon - and one by one they all perished - burned by painful fires. The Dragon gained strength from each of these battles. The people lived in terror, hiding during the day as the Dragon flew over the land. The King and Queen, in despair, thought there was no future for the people left. As more and more of their kingdom was burnt and destroyed, and the graves of the people grew, they lost hope. There was one empowerment left - and that was the power of prayer - finding the eternal within. This they did.

That night, while the Dragon slept, the King and Queen had a dream. They were lifted into another realm where a great Knight, in golden light, was sharpening a sword of spirit power. Shooting stars were born from the anvil of light… bringing renewed strength and courage where ever they fell to earth.  The shooting stars fell to the earth of the Kingdom for the people who still were among the living. Then the great Knight spoke, “There will come a Dragon Tamer, Wise One, who will teach you what must be done.” 

In the morning, throughout the Kingdom, shooting stars were indeed falling to earth… The Dragon was not able to fly in the meteor shower, and did not stray far from the mouth of the cave that day. In prayer, the King and Queen prepared for the coming of the Dragon Tamer. They bade the palace guards open the gates upon his arrival. Whispers of hope spread among the people who were left. Then, riding from the place of the rising sun, through the ashes, there came a stranger into that land, arriving at the gates of the palace. It was not the arrival that the people expected. For the rider was not dressed for battle but in garments that were filled with a soft light, and she was but a young woman, scarcely past childhood. She carried a sheath that held a shaft of sunlight. “I have come to tame the Dragon,” she said to the palace guards, “Let me enter”. Surprised, they opened the gates. She was of small build, but very strong. She bid them tend her steed and entered the palace, led to the throne room where the King and Queen were waiting. “I have come to teach you the ways of taming the dragon. I have many names, this time it is Wise One. We must be swift for the time is at hand. While the meteors fall, the dragon will not fly…. Gather all who remain with the gift of life in this Kingdom. No one can be left behind. All must come together to the safety of the palace. Here I will teach all what must be done.” 

The King’s heralds and guards then went throughout the land. They gathered the people and told them of this message. They made sure that all joined them. This was not easy; there were many who trembled in fear, some who had been injured by the Dragon and were not able to physically come without help… At last, at the setting of the sun on the third day, all were gathered within the walls of the palace.

Then the teachings of Wise One began. First was the knowledge of healing. This required that first, the truth of suffering was named. Mourning was honored. Then a new light began to come from within. Second was the taming of fear, overcoming of ignorance, and the transformation of hatred. The people were taught how these qualities were what the Dragon fed upon. The Dragon hungered for the destruction that was caused by them. As the people of the Kingdom began to understand this they then could embrace the Third Lesson. It was that the will is empowered when each individual seeks to take care of the other - of love that never fails. As they practiced this, trust and peace grew strong in their hearts. As they went through these teachings, Wise One taught them to sing of the light. The melody was of harmony. The words sung were that of new creation.

“Now the meteors will be ending and the Dragon will fly again. It will be hungering for new fear and hatred… take care to not feed it.” Said Wise One. “There is but one garden left in the land - that of the Palace has been protected. We will not meet the Dragon with swords, but with this garden’s fruits and flowers.”  So saying, she led the people to the Queen’s garden - where they gathered that which grew there. Then she led the people out through the palace gates. 

Bearing the fruits and flowers of the earth, all of the people left in the land formed a circle on the field outside the walls of the Kingdom.The field had been burned, but instead of ash upon the ground it seemed to be a ground of light. The shooting stars that had fallen made the earth look like a star. Wise One stood in the center of the circle. She led the people in the song she had taught them. 

The Dragon awoke, hungry from it’s time of waiting. It saw that the shooting stars had stopped falling. It heard the song of the people on the wind and it became enraged. With a terrible cry it rose to the air and it’s fiery breath made the air unbearably hot. It flew out over the land and saw the people gathered. It was filled with anger to see them thus - not fleeing with cries of terror, but steadfast and strong, in song, unfailing in their unity - each holding the hand of the other. It screeched and flew straight for the center of the circle - seeking to burn Wise One first. But Wise One did not falter. She raised her sword of light over her head and spoke,” Death will come to those who glorify it. Life will remain with those who honor it.” And the song of the people grew stronger. 

At the moment of their unification, the power of the Dragon ended. It’s fire was not able to burn without the poisonous gas of hatred. It’s wing was not able to fly without the winds of fear. It’s control faltered when the people sought knowledge. It looked in the eyes of Wise One and knew for the first time what love was. Then it began to fall. The sound of rushing wind filled the air. It fell towards the center of the circle of people. It fell towards Wise One who stood her ground, shaft of light held firm. The Dragon fell upon the shining one - and Wise One and the Dragon disappeared into the earth that closed over them both. 

The ground beneath the circle of people became white for a flashing moment of brilliance. Then it faded. The people were filled with love and gratitude for the being of the Wise One. They were sorrowful for her loss but somehow still felt that she was close to them. “We will remember Wise One and live her teachings from this day on,” said the King. The Queen then bade them all to place the fruits and flowers in a great mandala where the Dragon and Wise One had entered the earth.

In the days and months that followed, the seeds of the flowers and fruits took root and grew into a magnificent garden. Just as the people remembered and practiced the teachings of Wise One, making sure that each new generation also received her wisdom, so did the seeds of the garden continue to grow. The land was one of plenty .The land was one of peace.

And what of when the Dragon comes again? The people were careful to counter the fear in their hearts about this with knowledge. They remembered that fear would only empower the beast’s destructive fire. The teachings of Wise One held the truth that in a land where the people lived in peace and with compassion, only a Dragon transformed by love could remain. It’s fire would be empowered with light - It would seek beauty and joy as it’s nourishment. They taught this knowledge to each new generation and the promise of a future ruled in freedom, out of love, was known to all.

      ~ Janene Ping                                                                                           Michaelmas 2018