Often times we have varying ideas of reality. With differences in religious beliefs, political views, and plain day-to-day events, we all have different realities. Within this lifetime we have som any varying views, who’s to say it stops at the end of this world. Here is a story and reflection of  Warrior who witnesses first hand that our varying perceptions do not stop at death’s door.

There is a legend about a warrior in the East who died and went to heaven. “Before I enter,” he said to the gatekeeper, “I would like you to take me on a tour of hell.”

The gatekeeper found a guide to take the warrior to hell. When they got there, the warrior was astonished to see a great table piled high with every tasty food he could imagine – anything one could possibly want to eat or drink. The warrior then looked at the people. They were all starving.

“How could this be?” he asked the guide. “Are they not allowed to eat?”

“Oh yes, they can eat,” said the guide “but they must use the chopsticks they are given. They are five feet long and they must hold them at the end. Just look at them. They miss their mouths every time!”

“Enough,” said the warrior, “This is hell, indeed! Please take me back to heaven.” In heaven, to his surprise, he saw a similar room, with a similar table loaded with all the same food. But, the people were in radiant health, happy and well-nourished. The warrior turned to the guide and said, “I see – no chopsticks here.”

The guide replied that yes, the people were still issued chopsticks and yes, they were still five feet long and that they still must be held at the end – but, the difference was that in heaven the people learned to feed each other.

Just as the Warrior found in the afterlife, we are witnesses too. Often we see the negative side of thins when there is always a silver-lining to every darkened cloud. We can choose to see ourselves as helpless or we can choose to be self-sufficient, allowing a higher source to work within our lives.

Stepping into the Canvas with the view of a Warrior. Instead of seeming helpless and not being able to eat, we work collaboratively as one…never going hungry again. Lending a hand to another, I invariably help myself to eat.