Page 87 of The Prayer of the Frog - Volume I
by Anthony de Mello
Published by Gujarat Sahitya Prakash, 1988
Florentino Ariza has had 622 serious relationships (combo pack with sex) apart from numerous fleeting liaisons before he is able to embrace the only woman whom he loved with all his heart and soul. And that embrace happens “after a long and troubled love affair” that lasted 51 years, 9 months, and 4 days. Florentino is in his late 70s when he is able to behold, and hold as well, the very body of his beloved Fermina, who is just a few years younger than him. She now stands before him with her wrinkled shoulders, sagged breasts, and flabby skin that is as pale and cold as a frog’s. It is the culmination of a long, very long, wait as far as Florentino is concerned, the end of his passionate quest for his holy grail. “I’ve remained a virgin for you,” he says. All those 622 and more women whose details filled the 25 diaries that he kept writing with meticulous devotion have now vanished into thin air. They mean nothing now that he has reached where he longed to reach all his life. The
Very touching words..!
ReplyDeleteThe entire book consists of such stories or pieces. It is a meditation book, in fact.
DeleteSo true these words hold good today as well
ReplyDeleteSome truths are eternal!
DeleteLovely piece of writing, a great read :)
ReplyDeleteAll credit to the author.
DeletePerfect!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found it so.
DeleteAny practical example of knowledge and enlightenment?
ReplyDeleteScholars have knowledge. But a person like Mahatma Gandhi was enlightened. The difference is that the former can teach you about love, tolerance, or whatever, while the latter's life shows you the quality. It was Lander who said that for those who are capable of love, love is a secondary affair. The same holds good for any virtue. People who really possess the virtue are the enlightened ones, while the others give lectures.
DeleteWhen you are enlightened you become a torch.. True. You lead the way and a true quality of a great leader.
ReplyDeleteA rare quality nowadays!
DeleteSadly enough, these days religion has become a brand which people promote. Wearing a saffron robe being colorless within- such an apt description.
ReplyDeleteReligion is just another business now, thanks to politicians mainly but Babas too have their share in the capital.
DeleteDo you know a good book on how to get started with Meditation? I have been trying to get into it for a while. Torsten @ MightyTravels
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I won't be able to help you with this. I don't use any book for meditation.
Delete