18/05/2022
THE WISDOM OF CHIMALMA
Chimalma and Mixcoatl are in the gardens of Tepoztlan.
Chimalma is sitting next to Mixcoatl in front of a water fountain, a temple in the distance.
Mixcoatl, puzzled, then said, "You tell me of things strange and unknown to me.”
Mixcoatl stood up and shook his head.
Chimalma, answering his questioning face, “The teachings are ancient. It is told that they first came from where the rubber and cocoa trees grow. The old ones gave us the picture books, the ancient wisdom, the knowledge of the stars, the calendar.”
Chimalma opened a book on her lap.
Chimalma then said, "From this divine book, we have been taught the ways of the ancient ones. They were the men of wisdom, the first Tlacmatini's."
Mixcoatl, "You say that all things are transitory and unreal. Can anything be found on earth that has substance? That is separate from other things?"
Mixcoatl walks back and forth, agitated as Chimalma closes the book.
Chimalma, "There is only sacred energy that we call Teotl. It is divine energy in motion. Teotl gives the appearance of being separate things, yet its true nature is an undivided unity."
Mixcoatl takes a step, "I feel the earth as I walk. Does not the wind cool my brow? Yet you would say that all humans, plants, mountains."
Chimalma finishing his sentence, "Are One. Made of the same substance. Their separateness is an illusion. You have seen the reflections of trees and mountains in a lake? Would you call such reflections a tree or mountain? Would you try to climb such a mountain reflected in the lake?”
Mixcoatl, "But I can throw a rock in the lake, and I know the rock is real, for it disturbs the reflections." Laughing, "When I throw a rock at a mountain, it only makes it bigger!"
Chimalma smiles, "The rock is only real to those who look into the mirror when you do. Teotl is a single, eternal, self-creating unity. It is energy in motion".
Mixcoatl, "Is there anything that is stable and lasting? Does not man possess any roots in this Earth?"
Chimalma, "Not two. Not two. Not two."
Mixcoatl, "You speak nonsense. What do you mean?”
Chimalma, "There are not two things in all the universes that are
separate from each other. Our world, our existence is the duality of a singular reality." Chimalma holds out her two hands clasped, then separately. Then putting them together. “There is only one reality. Not two. In all the universe, not two."
Mixcoatl placed his hands in front of his face for a moment.
Mixcoatl, "I must think upon your words. They touch something deep inside me, yet your words defy my reason."
Chimalma stands and grabs hold of Mixicoatl’s hand. "Let us walk in the gardens of the temple as the flowers turn to greet the sun.."
Chimalma gets up and carries the book by her side.
Chimalma leads Mixcoatl to a small pond where beautiful water lilies float on top, and a hummingbird takes a quick drink, then flies away.
Mixcoatl turned to Chimalma, "The gardens are beautiful. Their fragrance is intoxicating, refreshing. The hummingbirds come also.”
Chimalma said. "We have planted those flowers whose nectar will attract the butterflies and the hummingbirds.”
Mixcoatl, "Why bother when there is nothing real? When that which we create will vanish one day."
Chimalma responded with a smile, then said, "Yet there is beauty and the fragrance, the softness of the petals to enjoy. The flutter and moving colors of the butterfly’s wings. If even for a moment, let us enjoy the illusion of this world. It is a gift."
Mixcoatl, "It seems such a sorrowful existence with no purpose.
That we merely dream this existence."
Chimalma looks up at the sound of a bird.
"The Coyolli bird has brought us messages from the Giver of life. I shall tell you of his message.” Chimalma said.
Mixcoatl, "So, a bird is to instruct me?"
Chimalma laughs, and her laughter brings a smile to the face of Mixcoatl.
"Yes. A bird can instruct you. For all is created in the oneness of the lord of our creation, Teotl.”
“I have heard you say that name many times. Is Teotl a god?"
“The Lord of Creation is known by many names. Teotl is only one of them.”
“So many names for the same god,” Mixcoatl answered.
"Yes! Nothing can be separate from Teotl. Ometeotl, another name, is but the ceaseless motion of energy that creates the appearance of duality."
Mixcoatl then said, "You once told me that it was as if two ends of one stick revolving around the other end. One end on the left and the other end on the right."
"Yet they remain one stick. Life and death, right and left, man and woman, order and disorder, good and bad, light - and darkness; never are they separate." Chimalma answered.
Mixcoatl walks around the pond, taking a few steps. Then turning around, exclaiming in a loud voice.
"I cannot accept such teachings. All that I perceive teaches me otherwise."
"It is like the various faces of a gem that gives off light. Yet all the
light is still reflected from this one gem,” Chimalma said.
Mixcoatl grabbed some flowers and sniffs them for a moment.
"I would ask of you something simple. How shall I pray?"
Sit quietly to silence the mind. Breathe deeply at first.
"I would much prefer to lay with you and hear the quickening of your breath!" Chimalma smiled and touched his lips.
"When all is quiet in your mind, you will find wisdom in many places. In the wind in the willows, the whispering of the mountain pines. The eagles’ screech."
"I was trained as a warrior of Tula.” Mixcoatl stands up and grabs his sword, and holds it high, remembering the moments on the battlefield.
He shouts, "The stone, the sword, the shield, and the arrow. A warrior's life is avoiding the blows that are certainly real. I cannot accept these beliefs."
Chimalma bows her head and remains silent. "For many generations, the people of Teotihuacan, Xochicalco, and Coyotepec have known of this wisdom. These words are the teachings of the Elders of many peoples, from many lands.
Chimalma grabbed the divine book from a table and held it. She understood Mixcoatl's confusion.
Chimalma slightly nods her head. "I could not accept such things for a time, as is true with many others. Not till I saw the wonder and the light of our lord."
Mixcoatl holds out his hands for the divine book, the book of truth.
Chimalma hands it to him. Mixcoatl holds the book and looks at a few pages.
Chimalma almost reaches to take the book back as Mixcooalt opens the book in a rough manner. Chimalma touches the hand that is turning the pages.
"Please, my husband, there are now only three books that have come down to us from the ancient ones. The books are old."
"I shall be gentle," Mixcoatl says as he turns the pages. "There is nothing here than I can understand. What writing is this?"
"It was written in two languages. The writings of the Mayans, and the picture writing of the Mixtecos, the cloud people.
"The Mayans, I only know of. There are a few Mixtecos that I have met in Chalula when I guarded the merchants from Tula who traded there."
Chimalma said, "Many years are needed to learn how to read the book of wisdom?"
Mixcoatl handed the book back to Chimalma and looked into her eyes.
"How should the lord of these lands act? What guidance would the wisdom of our elders provide me?"
Chimalma grabs hold of Mixcoatl's hands. "Wisdom is not just understanding the nature of our existence, but how to live a life on this slippery Earth when knowing of its true nature. Wisdom is seeing yourself in other human beings."
"You only confuse me."
"Like the corn, we must stay rooted and not allow the wind to bend or break us. To understand our true nature is what allows us to act through the heart and the spirit of Ometeotl.”
Chimalma walks around the garden picking and placing one flower in her hand as Mixcoatl follows with his eyes, the love of his life. Chimalma then hands the flowers to Mixcoatl, who smells them and holds them to his heart.
Mixcoatl then asks, "How shall a ruler govern, so as to be wise and just?"
"A wise man, a Tlamatini, is like a torch that does not smoke. He or she is always aware and in balance."
Chimalma throws a small nut toward a squirrel that has come down from a tree and is too frightened to approach.
"A wise ruler comforts the heart of the people. He provides food and shelter to the widows, the children and those who are afflicted and give cries in the night.” Chimalma said.
"This begins to sound more useful."
Mixcoatl smiles and picks a flower and places it in the hand of Chimalma.
"Serious and careful, like a doctor who would cure and not harm. The wise ruler teaches the people to live and work together." Then with a soft voice, Chimalma continues. "We are social beings who need each other to stay balanced. The peace and unity of all is your greatest task.”
Chimalma gets closer to Mixcoatl.
"The wise man is one who knows," pausing for a moment, "when
he has found the lady of his life."
Chimalma smiles and places all the flowers in Mixicoat’s hand.
Chimalma turns and gets closer to Mixcoatl as she once again looks deep into his eyes. "The wise ruler knows the need to store four years of food, to protect the people from famine."
"And as to the daily behavior of a great Lord?"
Chimalma answered, "Be not a burden to your people. Eat and sleep as is needed and only that. In all things you must be of moderate disposition."
Chimalma picks another flower.
"The wise ruler knows that the wonder and beauty that has been given to us is to be enjoyed and cherished during these days of our lives."
Mixcoatl grabs hold the hips of Chimalma and brings her closer.
Mixcoatl kisses Chimalma, then looks to those who have entered, waiting for his attention, "The wise ruler must attend to his duties. This I know. And that is why I must now go." Mixcoatl said.
Mixcoatl starts to go to take care of his duties. Chimalma comes close to Mixcoatl, as Mixcoatl said turning to her, "You are my teacher, my wife." Loudly proclaiming, "This is the lady of these lands.” Then softly “Just to be with you." Mixcoatl kisses Chimalma once again. "All is so peaceful here."
As they hug, their arms wrap around each other, the flowers fall from their hands to the ground.
