Mongo and the Wise Man

Mongo asked the wise man, “Where are my wings?”

The wise man replied, “First you must attend to that bag of sorrow you drag around.”

Mongo went back to the Path to ponder. Sure enough, he looked behind him and discovered a huge, lumpy sack filled with grief and guilt, regrets and misery, tied firmly to his waist. He took a knife and cut it loose, and immediately felt a stirring between his shoulder blades.

Then Mongo asked the wise man, “Where are my wings?”

The wise man replied, “First you must attend to the constant chaotic chatter in your mind.”

Mongo went back to the Path to ponder. Sure enough, he listened closely and heard an infernal racket, like hundreds of monkeys constantly leaping and chattering inside his head. He took a broom and swept away all the noise and clutter. Finally, his mind was clean and quiet, and he heard a soft rustling.

Then Mongo asked the wise man, “Where are my wings?”

The wise man replied, “First you must attend to the crippling pebbles in your shoes.”

Mongo went back to the Path to ponder. Sure enough, when he took off his shoes, he found two pebbles. In the left shoe was the past, hobbling him with remorse and shame. In the right shoe was the future, hobbling him with anxiety and fear. No wonder he limped and stumbled! He dumped out the pebbles, stood up and walked with ease, feeling light as a feather.

Then Mongo asked the wise man, “Where are my wings?”

The wise man exploded with laughter. The trees and clouds and sky joined in, until it felt as if the entire world were laughing at him. For once, he did not mind being the brunt of a joke. He was too busy exploring these strange new feelings – what was happening to him?

Mongo flew back to the Path to ponder. Then he too began to laugh uproariously. Sure enough, his wings were strong and supple, soft and luminous, gleaming like mother-of-pearl.