I Possessed Nothing, Missed Nothing, Wanted Nothing

I Possessed Nothing, Missed Nothing, Wanted Nothing

On a beautiful clear day, looking across fields of hay and livestock, I suddenly saw myself a short distance away, shaking the encumbrances of the world from my person, like shaking drops of rain from an overcoat. It felt as if I were dusting everything temporal from my soul. As I watched, I transitioned from merely seeing myself to actually experiencing the process. While I experienced it, I continued observing it from nearby. I know that’s not possible in the mortal world, but that’s what happened.

I shook all worldly possessions from my being, then I slowly passed through an indistinct veil and into a beautiful lush landscape. I felt the gentle brush of the veil slide past my face and arms as I emerged into a brilliantly pleasant place. I felt sanctified, wearing clean well-worn blue jeans and a simple white shirt with a button-down collar, no shoes or socks, nothing else. I had no belt, no jewelry, no hat, and nothing in my pockets. I was completely disencumbered from everything worldly. The ground embraced my bare feet and welcomed me. An intensely liberating realization washed over me: I possessed nothing, I missed nothing, and I wanted nothing. The mania of acquiring things had fled. I was free.

Call it a vision, a waking dream, an out-of-body experience, whatever feels comfortable to you. I can’t call it a dream because I was wide-awake. What mattered was what I learned. It’s not about what I acquire; it’s about who I am.