Talking With A Sage

After going for my daily walk in the park yesterday I laid down for a little nap and began to have a dream. In my dream a Chinese master with a long beard and monk's robe walked toward me with a stern look on his face and pulled out a gun and said "I would like to have a little chat with you". Ironically, I was not a bit nervous and was quite relieved that I would be able to express my views to this bonafied master. We were in the woods and we both sat down next to a tree. The sun was starting to set and there was a small pond nearby. It was a peaceful and serene setting. I remember our conversation almost word for word and it went like this :

Master : In your heart do you believe you are doing justice to the world by exposing those who in your heart you believe to be exploiting others ?

Andy : Even though you have a gun in your hand, I will answer you honestly and say I don't know if I am or not.

M : I will lay the gun aside and you can reach for it at anytime you wish.
(he laid the gun down between us)

A : Your gun doesn't intimidate me, and neither do you, But I do respect certain things about you. I'm not sure why though.

M : Why do you suppose I have a gun with me ?

A : Maybe for the same reason that every master carries a gun, to try to convince the world that they are the boss. Like a priest who carries a cross as his gun to convince the world that they are special and close to God. I think it is your security blanket.

M : Priests are fools, and so are masters, and so am I and so are you. Do you understand that we live in a foolish world. What is your security blanket...is it the exposing of false masters and gods ?

A : There are not enough blankets to compensate for every false god and master in the world and beyond. I cannot say if you are correct or not.

M : Do you know who I am ?

A : No.

M : I am every god and every master...every saint and every devil...every friend and every enemy that has ever existed. I am every success and every failure that you and everyone else has ever had or experienced. I am all of these and I am sitting here talking with you and you are not wise enough to sense this.

(At this point I am confused and speechless and don't know what to say. We sit together quietly for what seems to be a while)

A : Did you come here to stop me from expressing my views to others about the bogus metaphysicians in this world ?

M : I came here to ask you if you are going to stop expressing these views. What is your answer ?

(He gets up and picks up his gun and I get up to answer. I am about to answer him honestly and I am all but certain that he is going to shoot me if he doesn't like my answer)

A : Ok heaven, here I come. No.......I am not going to stop expressing my views about bogus metaphysicians.......regardless if you shoot me or not.

(At this point he has the biggest and brightest smile on his face and the gun transforms into a red rose and he throws the rose toward the sky and as the rose reaches a high point the petals start spreading out in all directions and comes cascading down over the earth like a beautiful rainfall. The master hugs me tightly and as we walk away together I realize that he is a Sage and not a master after all).