Riddle me this... (D3 LM)

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"Not always easy to know what to keep from a former life. But it makes you much like this Temple, no? Was once held and led by the Asako I am told, before the city changed hands." He looks to Ren a moment, then turns aside his eyes.

"We've all a winding path to walk. It is difficult to cast aside who we were when we walked a different one."

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

"Do we need to?" She asked with a grin.

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"Not everyone can carry the weight of oaths made in previous lives into new ones." A look up to the Temple. "Else the new ones be made into a mask and not a life."

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

"The life we currently occupy is no more or less heavy than any we have occupied before. Shinsei stated, 'Those with pure purpose have the strength to never fall.' As long as we are sure of ourselves, we will have the strength to walk our path."

She continued, "Also This thing that we call 'I'... is merely a door... that swings as we breathe in and out. What we've done will always resonate in who we are... but who we are is not only what we've done. Energies flow, roles change, time passes. Nature itself has something we may call 'masks'... Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... But each contribute to something much greater than any singular aspect."

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

He dips his head in thanks for the thoughts and words given.

He ponders the thought awhile. "Is it not harmful when the farmer sees 'spring' and so acts based off that 'mask', but then 'winter' comes back?"

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

"It is just as dangerous to act as if spring will never come again and he sells all his seeds for the future. To act in the appropriate manner in a given circumstance is important... but this moment is not the only moment. 'What is now has been before and will be again. It is the short sighted and foolish who believe that life has no patterns, no purposes. All that is now is part of what has been and what will come to be.'" She said with a smile.

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

He lightly chews the inner side of his cheek in thought at Ren's words.

Then speaks, tenatively. "Is it more foolish to say you understand the patterns of this moment or the next as to how it fits, or to say the moment does not fit the patterns of yesterday or tomorrow?

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

"'The center is everything. Find the center. All else proceeds naturally from there.'" She replied parroting yet another line from the Tao.

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"Not sure I'd know the center if I found it."

A small shake of his head. "Searching for it while I walk my path sounds like distraction." He pauses and recites the Tao himself. "When you are doing one thing, be concerned with that one thing and nothing else. Distraction breeds disaster."

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

She shakes her head and chuckles, "You're thinking too much. The Center isn't outside your path... it's in you. It aligns you with your path. Lets you know when you've deviated from it. It's what you are opening yourself up to when you let all the noise around you disappear."

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

A brief nod at that.

"What of that which lights your path?"

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

"There are many lights... which one do you refer to?" She asked.

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"Those that light our paths and show us where to go." He states, looking to the Temple again. "Set there by others, or ourselves."

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

"These things are not mere coincidence. Life is full of auspicious occasions that help us walk the path best suited for the moment. Even if they last only as long as a flash in a thunderstorm." She replied.

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"Are the light and the center the same?" He turns around, so as to dry the other side of himself.

"Or do we use the light to align the center?"

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

"Light comes from different places. Sometimes it's you, sometimes it's others... But no matter the direction it does the same thing. Lets you collect your bearings... gives you perspective. What you do with that remains up to you."

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"Sounds very wise. Thank you Akodo-sama." He states, calmly. "An enlightening conversation."

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

"While others lament on what they should have done, the wise man prepares for what he should do next." She smiled.

"Whatever your next step is... take it. Find the wisdom within yourself to carry on... and you too will be fine my friend."

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

"Carrying on is not the concern. Helping others do so wisely now." He smiles, "I hope I can share wisdom as well as you when I'm called upon."

Akodo Ren · **Joined:** Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:10 am **Posts:** 380

"You'll find your way of doing it. Everyone does. Whether it's good or not really depends on the listener." She said with a smile.

Riddle me this... (D3 LM)

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