{"id":4622,"date":"2024-06-10T14:51:01","date_gmt":"2024-06-10T14:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/?p=4622"},"modified":"2024-06-10T15:00:04","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T15:00:04","slug":"the-hound-of-heaven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/?p=4622","title":{"rendered":"The Hound of Heaven"},"content":{"rendered":"
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To read the first two stanzas go to these links:<\/h2>\n

Stanza 1<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Stanza 2<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n

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Stanza 3. Dependence<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A Simple Reminder<\/h3>\n
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FLY<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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JUN 10, 2024<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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It might take a battle or two to find your understanding of the symbols in Thompson\u2019s poem. But shall we try? Is there any reason why we would not seek to understand this magnificent poem?<\/p>\n

TIP: Thompson is looking in all the wrong places for freedom. He looks at the things and objects that are impermanent – are you doing the same in your life?<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Let\u2019s begin with two short vignettes about\u00a0death.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

D<\/strong>eath and the reaction to death.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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  1. Many years ago I heard a highly trained spiritual teacher relay an incident he experienced with\u00a0his teacher.<\/strong>His teacher was well-respected and had a large following. When this respected teacher was about to go into a crowd of devotees, he was called to take a telephone call. The teacher did not know what the caller wanted but he decided to take the call. While on the phone his student watched him get very upset, so much so that he began to cry. The student was a bit shocked that his teacher was starting to cry. When the teacher ended the phone call he continued to cry for a few minutes and then STOPPED; he got up and without another tear went to teach.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Another reaction to death.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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    1. This vignette is about a very famous, world reknown teacher who also received a phone call before giving a talk to countless students around the world.This teacher\u00a0did not know<\/em>\u00a0what the caller wanted as did the first teacher. This teacher took the call. While on the phone, this teacher began to weep incessantly. The weeping was constant. When this teacher went to teach to an enormous crowd, the weeping and sorrow continued and became the lesson. This teacher was able to teach the loss, the sorrow, the struggle with the loss of a friend in ways of grief. I will\u00a0never see the other again, never see the light and vivaciousness of the friend.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>This teacher DID NOT STOP\u00a0WEEPING.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>The weeping and loss became the topic of the teacher\u2019s talk.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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      Consider the two responses. What is your reaction? I suggest you contemplate your mind. Do you see one reaction better than the other? Do you feel compelled to\u00a0judge<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0measure\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>one better than the other?<\/p>\n

      With whatever your reaction is take it with you as you continue to read the exposition of\u00a0The Hound of Heaven.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

      This stanza 3 is laden with\u00a0dependence. Let me repeat that, THIS STANZA IS LADEN WITH DEPENDENCE.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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      Stanza 3.<\/p>\n

      I sought no more that after which I strayed<\/p>\n

      In face of man or maid;<\/p>\n

      Thompson realizes he cannot depend on his peers. He relinquishes seeking from\u00a0The face of a man & the face of a woman. This relinquishment requires strength to turn away from other adults. It is the beginning of letting go.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Thompson is letting go of his dependence on the charity of other adults.\u00a0\u201cHe sought no more\u2026from them!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

      What do you seek from others\u2026from your peers? How do you depend on them?<\/p>\n

      As you read this stanza refer to the two teachers\u2026one STOPPED crying, the other expressed it. Then, continue with Thompson and kids. Surely they will reply!\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>He, however, finds the kids are plucked away by their angels. Perhaps Thompson refers to them in this way because\u00a0kids grow up too fast<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0and are in essence gone. no more need for Thompson.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      But still within the little children\u2019s eyes<\/p>\n

      Seems something, something that replies;<\/p>\n

      They at least are for me, surely for me!<\/p>\n

      I turned me to them very wistfully;<\/p>\n

      But just as their young eyes grew sudden fair<\/p>\n

      With dawning answers there,<\/p>\n

      Their angel plucked them from me by the hair.<\/p>\n

      So far, other adults, and small kids are not providing succor or relife for Thompson. Thompson recognizes he cannot depend on other adults or kids. He then turns to\u00a0nature,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>which he sees as the\u00a0other children.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

      Thompson\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>sets out all of our three hopes and the loss of our three hopes.<\/p>\n