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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Y2K" data-source="post: 10834903" data-attributes="member: 35049">You've hinted at a timeless truth, though, that time isn't just a fleeting thing. It never moves forward without engraving its mark upon the heart-sometimes a stab, sometimes a tender touch, sometimes a vise grip of spikes, sometimes a mortal wound. But always an imprint.Priya: You don't think of that when you're young and carefree. But it doesn't take long to feel those imprints deep inside you.Jesus: Which means, Priya, that these few moments we have together are not a meaningless exchange as you near the end of your life, but rather a real possibility as to how your story may end.Here, have a drink of water. Your mouth is dry, and a ride in a boat on this torrid day will only intensify your thirst.Priya: My drinking cup is in my bag. Let me get it ... you shouldn't touch it. Oh, thank you, Sir! You're very kind.Jesus: It didn't take long, did it, to find out that even those you trusted used you and abused you till you were nothing more than a body to them. How typical it is that the scavengers are never around after the flesh is consumed.Priya: Sometimes I'm filled with anger toward them, Jesus, but frankly, sometimes I'm just too tired to be angry anymore ... too tired to live.Jesus: I understand. But it's not just the others, Priya. They become the natural target, but you found out some things about yourself, too. And maybe the hardest part to accept is that your parents were quite willing to see you go into this profession. In fact, they encouraged you. The very arms that nurtured you thrust you into the fatal clasp of pleasure seekers; the stranglehold of guilt on them must now be suffocating.Priya: How could we all have been so foolish, so insane?Jesus: That's the deceit of the human heart ... and of the evil one. He enticed you, as he entices everyone, in small increments. It happens all too often.You know, when the imagination is beguiled-which is where it all begins-and the will succumbs, the mind is unwittingly taken prisoner. With each breakdown of the will comes a greater imprisonment of the mind. You end up doing what you don't want to do, and not doing what you should do. How wretched you feel then!Priya: In defense of my parents, I must say that this is the way it is in our small towns,Sir. Many parents send their daughters into this trade. I'm not excusing them, but I suppose it's all a matter of making a living. I don't know. There's much I don't understand anymore.Jesus: It's not just your culture and your small towns, Priya. Gaining the world and losing the soul has been a malady of all mankind from the time people first tried to build names for themselves. There was a way that appeared right to you and your parents, as it does to every man and woman, but in the end it has brought you death-yes, even spiritual death.You now know that you sought fulfillment for your hungers in the wrong places. I've said it many times: Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.Priya: Those are strange words to me.Jesus: I know they are. But I'd like to help you understand what they mean. I want to give you life and forgiveness, a promise for a better tomorrow, so that even though your body might wither and die, you will still live.Buddha: I cannot remain silent anymore, Jesus. You've already said more than I can accept without interrupting. I, too, feel compassion for this woman, and I don't want her distracted by the things you're suggesting. Spiritual death, the Word of God, forgiveness-those are crutches for the spiritually weak. They're not realities but illusions!And as for the evil one having some part here, I no longer believe these things in my enlightened condition. Only the immature or the uninformed cling to such mistruths. I'm sorry to be so forthright, but we must seek the truth and do away with falsehood.Jesus: Actually, I was wondering how long you'd remain silent. Your forthrightness is most welcome, Gautama. And your followers well know that debate and disagreement aren't exactly unfamiliar terrain to you. I'm certain you'll have much to say here. But I do have a plea. We've both said that truth must be pursued to wherever it leads-I assume you mean that to include both word and deed.Buddha: Very much so.My entire life was shaped by issues such as these. And I certainly debated them roundly with my opponents.As you know, Jesus, I lived in a palace from my birth. I know that wealth and plenty don't satisfy-on that point I agree with you. Priya should've known this was so since her family is familiar with all of my teachings.But all these things do not satisfy for a very different reason than the one you are ascribing, Jesus. I saw heartrending sights when I was young, and I was overcome with compassion. I can explain what this woman is going through.Woman, you don't realize it, but everything you've lived through is the fruit of all that you yourself have sown. You were not free from debt when you were born, and you won't be free from debt when you die. You were born with a cup half full; you have filled it the rest of the way. And your every act, word, and deed has to be paid for.</blockquote>

Verification: Nawa warak dahaya keeyada? (Namaya wadi kireema dahaya)

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