The Journey of Our Soul
Shunkmanu sat by a serene mountain lake with his grandchildren, Oliver, Nahtayu, and Ella. They had spent the day exploring the woods, learning about the medicinal herbs, and watching the birds fly high above.
Now, as the sun descended behind the majestic peaks, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Shunkmanu sensed it was time to share a profound wisdom about our soul's journey.
Gathering his grandchildren close, Shunkmanu looked at their young faces, full of life and curiosity. "Do you know why this place is so special?" he began.
Oliver, the eldest, ventured, "Because it's beautiful and peaceful?"
"Yes," Shunkmanu nodded, "and because it's a place where the soul can breathe. Have you ever wondered what happens to us after we pass on from this world?"
Ella, the youngest, scrunched her nose. "Do you mean like…heaven?"
"In a way, yes," Shunkmanu said. "Our journey begins when we are but a tiny embryo, a small form when our soul associates with our physical body. Each of us is a drop from the universal ocean of consciousness. Each of us is Sacred and Everlasting.
Nahtayu, who loved reading, said, "Like a character in a story, who starts as an idea?"
"Very much so," Shunkmanu smiled. "As the years pass, we grow and change, but the soul remains eternal. When our time here is done, the body returns to Mother Earth, like dust settling after a storm. But our soul continues its journey."
Oliver was intrigued. "What's that journey like, Grandfather?"
Shunkmanu reached down to pick up a feather on the ground beside them. "Imagine this feather is like your soul, and my hand is like your body." He enclosed the feather tightly in his palm and opened it, allowing it to float upwards on the gentle wind. "When the body is no more, the soul is freed. It continues to exist, even more vibrantly, sensing things more deeply and embracing an unending happiness."
"So, it's not the end?" Ella asked a spark of wonder in her eyes.
"No, my Granddaughter. It's a transition into another realm, as different from this world as this world is from the time you were in your mother’s womb. Our Great Spirit blesses us with the spiritual qualities we need for this new journey—spiritual qualities we need to cultivate and develop during our time here, on Mother Earth."
Shunkmanu paused, his eyes filled with a distant wisdom. "Even after we have moved to the Other Side Camp, our presence remains. The good deeds we have done, the love we have shared—they continue to manifest and influence this world. These beloved ones are always closer than our closest vein. Our illumined souls become like leaven that helps the world rise to greater heights."
Nahtayu looked towards the lake, now reflecting the twilight. "So, we're always part of something much bigger?"’
"Yes," Shunkmanu nodded, "and we're never alone on this journey. Our Great Spirit is with us, and so are the prayers and thoughts of our loved ones. They help us progress here and even in the worlds beyond."
The four of them sat in peaceful silence, the wisdom of generations blending with the tranquility of the mountain lake. Oliver, Nahtayu, and Ella felt a newfound comfort in understanding the eternal nature of the soul and its journey.
As stars began to appear in the darkening sky, Shunkmanu knew that one day, this wisdom would be passed on to yet another generation. And with that thought, they all felt an almost mysterious connection—not just to each other but to the grand tapestry of life and beyond, woven with the threads of countless souls on their eternal journey.
And so, by the side of that mountain lake, under the expanding canopy of the cosmos, Shunkmanu and his grandchildren shared not just a moment but an understanding that spanned lifetimes—a lesson of love, soul, and endless possibilities.
