My Mentor
The unexpected reunion
Hiking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California is a personal religious experience. Continuing along a singing tributary, leading into a carpeted emerald meadow. The aroma of resinous towering Sequoia giants. Resting on a fluffy bed of pine needles.
I was hiking solo on a brisk spring day in Kings Canyon. I had just approached the crest of a rather challenging mountain at an elevation of 7,200 ft.
As I reached the summit, I was astonished to see an older woman with shoulder-length gray hair. She wore a modest navy blue dress past her knees, a white blouse, a light sky blue sweater, and nondescript flat shoes. She was leaning up against a sheer rock face, glancing down a precipitous cliff. How the hell did she make it up here? I had my Sierra hiking poles, Mammut pants, Merrill boots, and an Arc’teryx jacket over a Patagonia sweatshirt. It was quite chilly at that elevation. As I approached, she glanced over her shoulder and said.
“You were always the best athlete in school. You won those back-to-back presidential awards, remember? Congratulations on your climb.”
I could not believe my joy in seeing my 8th grade teacher, Ms. Downey. In an attempt to catch my breath, I squeaked —
“Ms. Downey, what the heck? How in the world did you get up here? And, in those clothes? It’s at least, what? Twenty years? But you look the same. You are exactly as I remember. How can that be?”
She smiled that beautiful smile with that small gap between her two front teeth that I remembered so well; Ms. Downey was the only teacher in all my years of elementary, high school, and college that I could call my mentor. She was a calming force when I became over competitive in sports, had the patience of a saint, helped me learn to challenge my dyslexia and learning disabilities, taught me the magic of reading books, and tutored me in math after school on her own free time. She even shared an album for me to take home and listen to once; it was Steve Winwood’s Blind Faith album. The song that really stuck with me to this day is Can’t Find My Way Home.
Ms. Downey looked at me with that warm smile as she moved away from the rock face and said. “Let’s sit down and have a nice talk. Above all, I want to discuss with you some things that you may find hard to believe. I want you to promise to listen attentively. You were always my best listener because you craved knowledge. Can you promise me?”
As we sat facing each other on the cold stone, I smelled her familiar fresh scent of always-fresh gardenias; it all came flooding back to me, and I felt once again like the young student who so admired my kindhearted teacher. “Yes, Ms. Downey, of course, I will listen.”
“Humankind on this planet has not advanced. Man has yet to realize that violence and war hinder civilizations. Nothing good comes of it. Our universe holds a vast number of life forms. My civilization is a world in which unlimited life forms coexist in what we term a Union. This union, this many in body but one in mind, is when all creative energy and intelligence of each individual are joined into a collective, to form a joined intelligence. Billions of minds joining to summon advancement. So, that is why each life is so crucial. Wars and violence to end the life of another — this degrades the collective. As each drop of water forms the oceans, each mind, each life, adds to the universal intelligence. At this point, your planet’s history and mental capability are still in a beginning evolutionary phase. To simply state, humankind is incapable of forming this bond of billions of minds, this Union. Mysteriously, there have been a few anomalies in your civilization we’ve studied that have been quite interesting to our research. What you may call here on earth your god-like nature or enlightenment. Shakyamuni, Rumi and Nichiren, a rare few, have attained a close resemblance to this heightened awareness. There was even, in pre-recorded history, a mystic from the Caucasus area over nine thousand years ago who had transcendent powers. However, these are extremely rare instances, an aberration, that we still are analyzing.”
Ms. Downey tilted her head slightly and gave the most heart-melting smile and said. “As I expected, you have been such an attentive listener. You may ask a question at this point.”
This union, this many in body but one in mind, when all creative energy and intelligence of each individual is joined into a collective, to form a joined intelligence.
“There is much I do not comprehend. You have never lied to me, and I do not doubt that what you say is the truth. But why have you met with me, an insignificant journalist, never married and no children? So many great people in history: Alexander, Leonardo da Vinci, and Einstein. Why haven’t you spoken with them?”
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“We have. We have spoken with every man and woman who has ever existed on this planet. After we finish those discussions, we ensure there is no recollection.”
“Then why waste my time, Ms. Downey, if I am not able to share this knowledge you have given me?”
“From all our multitude of discussions we have listened too. We also gain knowledge for the betterment of universal life. If your species were to have the knowledge we share with you during this time in your early evolution, you would only turn it into an advantage to conquer your neighbor… you just haven’t acquired the proper intelligence yet to grasp the significance of this fundamental evolutionary step. The only difference between humans and the beasts is that you have the ability to read and write; this is the only advantage you have so far. All the rest of your behavior and actions are still primal.”
“Remember what I told you at your 8th grade graduation? I was so proud of you as you readied yourself for entry into high school. What did I whisper into your ear?”
“Of course I remember Ms. Downey. At the time, I didn’t comprehend what you said, but was hesitant to ask you for an explanation. I am now beginning to understand. You said. ‘I look forward to meeting up with you in the distant future — just promise me to not be surprised.’
“Well, surprised you shall be my favorite student. I would like for you to remember our little encounter… or shall I say, reunion? Feel free to discuss or even write about it. You are a journalist after all. I am so proud of you!”
If your species were to have the knowledge we share with you during this time in your early evolution, you would only turn it into an advantage to conquer your neighbor…
“Ms. Downey, I’m afraid. I don’t understand. Why allow me to share this knowledge? People will just think that I have lost my mind.”
“Yes, what you say is likely true. Your species does love science fiction. However, the seed you plant may perhaps germinate, or it may go dormant, we shall see. There is always an impatience when it falls into the warm earth. Will it grow? Or, will it fail? When this impatience, this dereliction of history, is fully understood, then humankind may perhaps trigger the next step, to advance toward the true meaning of the precious nature of life.”
“Ms. Downey, how long will it take for mankind to advance to such a life condition?”
“That is for mankind to decide. I must go now, but before I do. Look back at the rock face. Tell me, what do you see?”
“I see the illuminated projection of a constellation. It glows brightly. Why…it’s Orion.”
“You were always intrigued by astronomy, remember? We shall not meet again my precious student. Just look at the top of the belt in that constellation. I am from that general vicinity, around nine hundred and fifty light-years from earth. Whenever you gaze in that direction in the night, you will be sending a greeting to me, and I to you.”
