Andy studied my face for a while. "I thought you told me that, when you were in India, a few wise people told you to look within for the answer?"
"Yes, that's true," I said. "But that advice still confounds me."
Andy smiled. "I think you are trying too hard to fathom my words intellectually, so I will tell you again: It is not the words you seek, but the knowledge that lies beyond the words."
Still puzzled, I said, "You know, Andy, this may sound strange to you, but I don't understand that statement. I do on some mental level, but I have a hunch there's another level I don't yet comprehend."
Andy gave me a sympathetic look. "Hearing, as the mystics refer to it, takes you beyond the word to what the metaphor truly means. It is such knowledge that will set you free from the chains of yesterday, allowing you to see beyond the known to the unknown. Remember, Eric,
Only in the quiet chambers of your mind will you find real knowledge, for it is here—with the assistance of Mind, Consciousness and Thought—that the incubation takes place and the wisdom you seek is brought forth into this world of form."
Andy stood up and stretched. "I think I feel like a little walk. How about you, Emily?" Emily smiled, took his hand, and the two of them walked away, leaving us to our contemplations.
Chapter 16
A Prophecy
Then Andy and Emily returned from their stroll, I was still trying desperately to comprehend Andy's baffling philosophical beliefs. One look at Janet, Peter and Tom told me that they were just as bewildered as I was.
Andy asked whether any of us would care to take a walk to the river's edge. Peter, Janet and Emily declined but, to my surprise, Tom accepted. Andy, Tom and I were soon enjoying a brisk hike.
On the way to the river, Tom mentioned that he used to be an avid fisherman and regretted that he hadn't brought his fishing gear. "Come to think of it, some of my best memories go back to when I used to fish. It always used to calm my old mind down."
"How long has it been since you last went fishing?" Andy queried.
"Oh, it must be at least 15 years now. I used to go with my son, Tom Junior."
"Did you enjoy fishing together?"
"At one time we both loved it," Tom said a bit sadly.
"Why did you stop?" Andy asked gently.
"Oh, lots of reasons, I guess. I got too busy at the office and couldn't afford to take the time off."
"Perhaps you should take your son out fishing again," Andy suggested. "Maybe that's where you will find that peace of mind you spoke of."
"You know, that's not too bad an idea," Tom conceded. "When I get home, I'll phone my son and see if he would like to go fishing. It's strange, Andy, but I've just been thinking, right now, I wonder what happened to my life and why it is that things are not what they used to be?"
I could tell that Tom's question was rhetorical; neither Andy nor I made any attempt to answer him. But I was truly amazed to see that the old gardener had somehow managed to reveal a more thoughtful and vulnerable side of my old colleague than I had seen in years.
We reached the river's edge and stood quietly, reflecting. Finally Tom seemed to be pulling himself out of his torpor.
"Do you have to buy a license to fish in the rivers in England?" I said to break the silence.
"Oh, yes!" Andy answered. "You definitely need a license. First you must buy a government license, although I have no idea what that costs. Then you have to pay the owner of the river a fee. Quite often you are allocated perhaps 100 feet or so of river to fish."
"Only 100 feet?" Tom gasped. "That's highway robbery! You would never get away with that in the States."
"Remember, Tom," Andy said, "you are in England now, and most of our laws are older than your country."
"I realize that, Andy," Tom huffed, "but I still think it's a complete rip-off."
Andy burst into peals of laughter at Tom's righteous indignation over the local fishing regulations. After Andy's hilarity subsided, Tom became very serious again and started to confess how unhappy he was. He declared that his life was hell and that everything he touched these days seemed to go wrong. He couldn't understand why his life was in such turmoil. "As a matter of fact," he sighed, "just before I came on this trip, my associate informed me that he wants to dissolve our partnership. Apart from that, my marriage just came to an end."
"I'm truly sorry to hear that, Tom," Andy replied. "It must be an awful time for you. I have no doubt you are suffering from all the trials and tribulations you are going through."
"It hasn't been easy," Tom admitted. "When I get home I have an appointment with a friend of mine who specializes in such traumas, and I'm hoping that he can help me. To be truthful, Andy, I really don't understand what's happening to my life these days. Both my wife, or I should say my ex-wife, and my partner accuse me of being stubborn and unyielding. And if anybody was stubborn, it was my wife."
It was obvious to Andy that Tom was experiencing a considerable amount of pain. With great compassion, Andy said, "You know, Tom, I'm not saying you are stubborn, but it has been my experience that stubborn people can get themselves into a lot of trouble. One very important thing I've learned in this life is that happiness doesn't depend entirely on your circumstances but has more to do with how you think from moment to moment. Be careful what you do with your thoughts. Remember, if you pour water into a tea cup, it will take the shape of the tea cup. If you pour water into a bottle, it will take the shape of the bottle. Each one of us has to be like the water and be prepared to change with the mold life creates for us from day to day. But we must also be aware that our thoughts can profoundly influence the shape of that mold."
For a short while, Tom looked perplexed by Andy's analogies. "I think I know what you're getting at, but I honestly don't think I'm stubborn. Perhaps I stick to my principles, but that is a far cry from being stubborn."
With a knowing smile, Andy put his arm around Tom's shoulder. "Perhaps there are better days to come," he said brightly. "In the meantime, my friend, let's try to forget all our problems and enjoy what precious time you have left here in Jolly Olde England."
It didn't take long for Tom to forget his worries, at least temporarily, as he excitedly pointed to the passing trout. "Look at the size of that one," he exclaimed. "It must be at least 18 inches long! And look, there's another just as big. Maybe you could catch your limit in a 100-foot stretch of this stream after all!"
Leaving Andy and Tom to admire the fish, I wandered back to the picnic site and struck up a conversation with Emily and Janet. I described to Emily how I had met Andy a year ago and explained that we had talked quite briefly. I then told her that my own personal life had never been better and that my practice had changed dramatically.
Emily listened with great interest as I related the entire story of Mrs. Taylor's recovery and the results of some of my other clients who had picked up on the way their own thoughts shaped the way they saw life.
Emily didn't seem shocked or surprised by what I was saying. With a beautiful smile, she commented on how wonderful it must be to see such positive results in my work.
"It is," I replied. "At first, I didn't quite understand why I was getting such positive results; all I had done was talk to my clients about their thoughts. But as time went by, it became more obvious that my own thinking had a great bearing on my life, too. Then I started to realize that it was universal, and that everyone's behavior is somehow connected to how they survey life. Yet I could see there was so much more to learn!