S p i r i t ua l i t y S t u d i e s 5 - 2 Fa l l 2 0 1 9 5 9 Petr Pavlík ies he would find there. “How can he know it when he’s never been there?” the knight wondered. But he was finally content now. His wandering already led somewhere, and finally it had the right direction: ever higher and higher. As they passed the last of the wind-beaten spruces, the vast green pastures of pink rhododendrons and blue gentians blossoming in the islets among the protruding dark rocks opened before them. They were in the mountains. The next morning, they finally managed to break through the clouds. The eternal twilight subsided unwillingly, and for the first time the knight saw the sun rise majestically over the pink wall of red clouds. They glowed solemnly by all the tones of blue, cyan, purple and gold. The whole world was suddenly flooded with heavenly brightness. For the knight, it was a very glorious day. It seemed to him that the celestial glory would never end: “I’m here, finally I’m here. I really came up here! So beautiful! So magnificent! The whole world is shining, the whole world rejoices! Now I’ll be wandering forever with the sun over my head. I’ll never get lost! The battle has been won.” Chapter Two What did the knight fight on the ground? As he forgot the sun, the clouds turned on the spot in a heavy, blinding fog. Though the knight was immensely happy, there was a strange doubt about him that he could not dispel: “How come the clouds gave up without a fight? And where did they vanish, anyway? I didn’t even deserve the victory! And what about my horse, it didn’t fly at all! What kind of heavenly knight am I, what am I dragging my sword and shield around for! And above all – what am I going to tell the guys below the castle? How bravely I conquered the clouds? Should I lie to them? Everybody’s going to laugh at me!” And as he rides silently on his horse with his head down, immersed in his doubts, he suddenly looks up and is startled: The sun is gone! How come he didn’t notice it before? up to the mountain pastures, as if remembering what goodfully along a narrow path that wound out of the dense woods So they headed for the mountains. The horse walked peace- firmly on the ground. mountains. There he may fight the clouds while still standing It occurred to him that the closest thing to heaven was the “So where to go with a horse like that?” the knight pondered. heaven when there’s so much good stuff!” on his hips, as if he’d always been able to do it: “no hurry to used to drift along, and he folded his new wings comfortably in what it would chew on a sweet herb or a crispy twig. He fly. on the contrary, this choosy animal was most interested But even with the new wings, he could not get his horse to enly. no longer a worldly knight, having just been knighted heav- new wings. The knight understood that from now on he was happily dug his hooves and waved bravely – yes, really! – his amazement but saw no more of the hermit. only his horse But to his wonder, he felt no pain. Startled, he looked up in heavy on his shoulder that he almost collapsed beneath it. alized this truth — unknown from where — a sword fell so repeated his words in a solemn voice. And as the knight re- “You’re right, you’re not the one you used to be,” the hermit I am no longer the one I used to be.” “I have nothing to give you, Sir, please forgive my poverty. hermit and pleaded with his head bowed: Embarrassed of not knowing what to do, he knelt before the with it! pockets were already quite empty. Too bad he was hurrying He’d love to give him something, but his moneybag and “Knight, do you have still anything to give me?” into his path and looked at him sternly: robes with a brown hood, girded with a rough rope, stepped When he had nothing to give away, a hermit in his scuffed serve the travellers. So much he liked the giving in the end! coins he gave away with a joyful smile and sincere wish to
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