Butterfly
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Butterfly
An anecdote about the butterflies
One evening, the butterflies gathered, tormented by a deep desire to come into union with the flame of the candle. They all talked about their love, saying that it was of this nature or of that nature. The king of butterflies said to them: “Do you really know what you are talking about? Do you know what love is? Do you know the reality of union with the Beloved? Which one of you will fly to the candle and bring me back news of Love?” A butterfly quickly came forward to volunteer and flew towards the object that had caused such a fever of love amongst his companions.
Having circled the flame a number of times, he came back in a drunken state going on to describe how splendidly beautiful, warm and radiant was the candle’s flame and how totally dumfounded he was by it… The king of the butterflies answered him: “ What you describe to us is certainly magnificent, and it is clear that you are overwhelmed by it, but it is still a pale reflection of what Love truly is. Who else will go and bring me back news of this Love.”
A second butterfly came forward desiring to accomplish this mission. Like the first butterfly, he circled a few times around the flame. Hypnotized by its beauty and pushed forward by his desire, he came so close to the flame that he burned the tip of one of his wings. The candle had been victorious and he had been defeated. His head swirling from both pain and drunkenness, he flew back towards his companions and began to reveal his own small experience of the mystery of Love and of the union in Love. But the wise king of the butterflies told him: “ Although your experience has some substance, it is insufficient.
Is there someone who can really bring us back news of Love?” A third butterfly came forward saying: “ I am willing to try”, and he flew away. When he came within sight of the flame, he was so overwhelmed that his reason left him completely. Drunken with love, he flew straight into the heart of the flame, forgetting himself to become the flame. His body burned. His incandescent body took on the colors of the fire as the flame took hold of his being, inviting him to merge and become one with her. From afar, the king of the butterflies saw what was happening. He turned to the others and said: “ This butterfly has come into knowledge and reached his heart’s desire. But he alone can savor the fruit of his experience.” At that moment, the smell of their companion’s burned body reached them, and its scent was like a burning incense stick that had been soaked in a rare perfume. “ Here are the scents of Love” the king told them. “ This is what Love is all about, this is what Union is all about.”
The person who leaves neither a trace nor an indication of his (her) existence, certainly knows more about the nature of annihilation than the others. How will you know the object of your love if you do not forget about your body and your soul?
