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Ariadne/Chapter Four: The Slave

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Chapter Four:
The Slave

The next day, Ariadne was again at the performance of Pythagoras and again saw Leonardos, but only from afar. That day, they did not talk.

She went home immersed deep in thought because of what was happening to her…

She still existed as if in some kind of gentle transparent and luminous fog. Calm joy filled her.

Thoughts seemed to come up — and then dissolve again. And the soft joy did not disappear even for a moment.

What’s happening? Have I fallen in love? But, with whom: with Pythagoras? Or, with Leonardos? Or, with this beautiful Divine world of which Pythagoras speaks?

She tried to rethink what she heard: “A person can become God-Man, God!”.

“Is it too presumptuous and immodest to think so? What if the Gods punish us for such impudence?

“But no: it’s not insolence, but the desire to become better! After all, I feel that what Pythagoras says is true!

“Many times in my childhood, I myself dreamed of becoming like a Goddess! And not only in terms of the beauty of the face and the whole body, but also to be wise and to perform magical acts of kindness!

“But those were childhood dreams… And now, everything is real! Or… does it just seem real?

“Here, Pythagoras says that the meaning of human life is to become Perfect, just like the Gods, and then to wisely help all people!…”

* * *

At that time, a young slave brought supper for Ariadne.

Ariadne, still as if in another world, accidentally knocked down the tray which the slave was going to put on an inlaid table with golden legs. Everything that was on the tray fell down, staining the fine outfit of Ariadne. Expensive ceramic painted cups were broken, a golden goblet clattered and rolled on the marble slabs…

The slave fell to her knees in fright:

“Forgive me, Mistress! Sorry!”

… Ariadne was not cruel or arrogant with slaves. So, the slave was not at all risk of being punished! But she shrank back as if she expected to be struck.

Ariadne had been accustomed since she was a child to believing that there were those who were obliged to serve her, performing all the necessary work, and she never paid much attention to these people… “of another sort”.

But that day, she suddenly saw that this young and beautiful girl, who was the same age as Ariadne, was now in a state of fright and confusion because of Ariadne’s own mistake! She was kneeling, not knowing where to start: should she change the outfit of her mistress — or remove the debris?

… Ariadne knew almost nothing about the fate of Diantha: about what happened in her life that made her a slave… And it did not even occur to her to ask her about it!

Ariadne had recently bought her from a man who was very cruel to his slaves. Diantha repaid for this salvation with special devotion and love, which were not characteristic of other servants. But, at the same time, Diantha was always silent and closed off, as if she wanted to hide from the whole world around her.

Ariadne hurried to reassure the girl:

“Why are you so scared? It’s me who’s to blame: I knocked down the tray with my hand!”

… She gently lifted the girl from her knees and looked into her eyes, which were wet with tears.

“Let’s go swimming in the pool!” — she suddenly suggested and led Diantha with her, like a friend.

Throwing off her clothes, Ariadne, laughing, plunged her beautiful body into the clear water and dived under, admiring the mosaic image of Neptune at the bottom of the pool.

Resurfacing, she called out to Diantha:

“Well, what about you?! Jump in quickly!”

… When they came out from the water, they were already almost friends.

… The same evening Ariadne wanted to know the life story of Diantha, but she only told Ariadne a little:

“My father was a merchant and highly educated man. He told me a lot about distant countries, taught me to read, write, and count. After the death of my mother, he began to take me with him on his distant wanderings.”

“You can read and write, but you never told me about it!… Tell me more about yourself! What happened to you?”

Diantha gloomed:

“I would not like to remember that… What for? The past is no more! And I, even though I may still look the same, am also no more! I’m nothing! I allowed myself to become a slave, I allowed myself to be mocked!

I should have killed myself, but back then I did not do it for some reason and allowed my honor to be trampled down and my purity to be desecrated! And now… nothing matters! I do not know why I'm still alive!…”

“Listen, you’re no longer a slave, Diantha! From this moment on, you are free! You can start all over again!”

… Diantha shook her head sadly:

“No… It’s impossible to erase everything that has happened in my life! I am not worthy of freedom, purity, and happiness!…”

“You should not say that! Listen: tomorrow, if you want, we’ll go to listen to Pythagoras, the Sage! Perhaps you will want to study in His School — just as I now dream!”

* * *

The next day, Ariadne announced to the rest of her slaves that they were free without any ransom! She even gave everyone money. Some of them returned to their lands, several people wished to remain in the house of Ariadne and help with the housework, since they had nowhere to go and no reason to depart.

Ariadne was filled with delight at starting to put into practice the performance of good deeds! Then, she chose one of her outfits for Diantha. When Diantha saw her reflection in the mirror, a smile even slightly touched her lips…

They went together to listen to the speech of Pythagoras.

* * *

After the speech of Pythagoras, Leonardos himself approached Ariadne and Diantha with the words: “Pythagoras said that you and your friend have something to talk about with Him.”

“Wow! I was just about to ask you about this! Diantha really needs to hear the Teacher’s advice! And, somehow, He already knows about this! What a miracle!”

“You have not yet seen His miracles, my dears!” — Leonardos smiled.

… When the audience dispersed, Pythagoras, Leonardos, and the ladies settled on the steps of the amphitheater for a conversation.

“Should Leonardos and I leave?” — Ariadne asked.

“No, My friends, I will not say anything that you all would not find useful to hear. Perhaps, someday, you yourselves will be able to pronounce such words for other people.”

… Pythagoras gently took Diantha by the hand and began to say:

“Today is a significant day in your destiny, Diantha! You can be reborn to a new life — a life in Love and Light! — like Aphrodite, born from the waves of the ocean!

“You can begin to learn how to lose the heavy burden of the past! You can start to create a wonderful future for yourself and for others!”

“How is this possible? I cannot change myself so quickly!…”

“Yes, a soul does not change quickly. But you must open a new life for yourself! Today, for example, you can learn how not to be upset about the past, Diantha! I, too, was once a prisoner of the Persians, and I know well what slavery is!”

“How did you know that I had been a slave until today?

“I cannot hide my disgrace…

“But You, great Pythagoras, were never a slave, even though You might have been, perhaps, a prisoner! But I became a slave instead of dying!… I allowed myself to be mocked and humiliated!… I permitted myself to be trampled in the mud!…”

“And now, are you going to reproach yourself for this up until your death?

“Do you want to take your despair with you into the afterlife?

“Do you want to make your sadness eternal?

“Do you want to turn the beautiful life, given to you by the Creator, into self-punishment and torture for yourself?”

“Oh, no!…”

“Diantha, perhaps you could have done something worthier then. Or maybe, you could not have. But now, all that is not important! Look: you are here — at this moment — alive and listening to Me!

“The past — let it be the past! You will not live in it anymore! You should not bring sadness back to the soul with a memory of the past!

“You are free: to choose life in the past — or in the present, which you create for yourself right now!

“All that once was, is already carried away by the river of time!

“Don’t keep your thoughts and emotions in the past!

“Now — in this very minute — you can start to change yourself and your life for the better! It makes no sense to mourn failures — when you are given the opportunity to correct them!

“Feel what wonderful opportunities are opening up now before you! All is in your hands. And I’m ready to help you! Do you want this?”

“Yes, I do!”

“Then forget your dark past and do not torment yourself with the uncertainty of the future, in which you have not yet begun to see the Light!

“It’s a mistake: to see the world as gloomy, devoid of kindness and joy! You are wrong when you see yourself in this world as a victim of atrocities and of your own wrong actions! You should no longer feel worthless or fallen!”

“Can You teach me to think and see things in a different way?”

“Yes, I’ll try to reveal a little of the Truth to you and show you how things really are. This is so that, in the future, you yourself can learn and know how to live in accordance with the Truth!

“Truth is the Divine Primordial Power that controls all that exists!

“Truth is the manifestation of Love, Beauty, Harmony, Wisdom, Kindness, Caring, and Perfection!

“Truth is God!

“I’m not talking about a fictional ‘god’ from some particular cult and neither about a statue of marble on the altar to which people bring sacrifices.

“But there is a real God — the All-Creating United Power!

“He really exists!

“He is like an ocean, which unites in itself several rivers that flow into it, and which bring their waters into the boundlessness of this ocean!

“In the same way, the Primordial One unites in Himself all the truly Divine, that is, All Those Who attained the Perfection and became One with Him throughout all time, beyond measure!

“God is the Great Primordial Power, possessing the highest Wisdom and Justice!

“He created the Laws, according to which everything develops in the universe!

“All this can be cognized not as special words — but as the Reality, that can be seen, felt, and understood! And then, man can become an Integral Part of Him!

“Now, to begin with, feel that you are always surrounded by the Light of His Love!

“And this Light of Divine Love is near, at every second!

“This Light is everywhere! The Divine Light hugs you from the outside and is ready to fill you inside!

“But the sadness, fear, and despair, which are now inside you, do not allow the Divine Love to flow into you!

“Open in yourself the love of the soul — to meet the Love of God! And then you yourself will see this Divine Light!

“Feel this Light, too, with the hands of the spiritual heart!

“You know how to love!

“The Light of Divine Love is always ready to carry you — as if on Its Hands!

“This Light can support you, protect you from dangers, and guide your life!

“In It, you will discover the meaning of your life personally, and also the role that you can play for other beings on this theater stage of the material world!

“With regard to helping others, much help can be given by carrying love and care to them, and by revealing the steps of cognition — while your body-shell is present in the world of objects and bodies, visible to the ordinary sight.”

… Diantha felt herself as a free soul soaring in that Light Which was shown and revealed to all by Pythagoras!

“The Love of God! Such happiness!” — Diantha had long forgotten what it was like to be happy… But now, the true Power of Divine Love filled her!

Pythagoras went on to say:

“Wash yourself in this Sea of Light! Look: you — as a soul — are now free and similar to the Light! And this can be your future, if you yourself want it! You can rush to the Light and become a Divine Soul, bearing Love to others who live on the Earth!

“Live, feeling this Ocean of Love! God loves you, cherishes you, carries you with His Power, and guides you!

“You will soon learn to live this way always — if you want to and if you practice some simple rules, which we teach in our School!

“And you will be able to help others to discover that which was only slightly revealed to you today!”