(1) Ellery said: "Seeing his friend in pain and
moved to desperation, the devil's despair spoke the following words:
(2) The great soul said: 'This is really not the
time to give it up Aylen. This doesn't befit you at all. This is the
way of losers who never make for a better world, it's a disgrace
really! Aylen, get yourself together! (3) Do not give in to such a
weakness of heart, it leads nowhere but to the asylum, so stand and
address the audience, get over your stage fright!'
(4) Aylen retorted: 'How can I launch an attack on Jeremiah and
professor Cooper, they are honorable gentlemen of great standing! What
would I then be, oh devil's despair? (5) Wouldn't it be better to live
for the rest of my life on social security than to bring those high and
respectable gentlemen down, even though they, as leaders and teachers,
want the kingdom of heaven on earth? I'm not going to get my hands
dirty on matters like these, that's way beyond anything honorable! (6)
And what if - their defeating us is as good as our defeating them. I
wouldn't want to live to the victory of either of us, no way, in
whatever position we would end up in relation to uncle Edward. (7) With
my fear and fright, I ask you, confused within on what to do, what
would be the ideal compromise to all of us? Confide it to me, instruct
me on this and accept me as your pupil so to say. (8) I'm at a loss in
figuring out what to do, on how to proceed from here; how can I not be
desperate and lame, wishing for an undisputed position on earth or even
the supreme of a set of angel wings?' "
(9) Secretary Ellery said: "Thus addressing the
sensemaster, he who had proven himself stronger than sleep and used to
be the terror of his opponents said: 'I give up, I won't step forward',
and next fell silent. (10) Oh descendant of Many, then, right there
between the mob outside and the family gathered for the debate inside,
the sense master with a smile spoke the following words.
(11) The master of happiness said: 'Don't be sad
over that what doesn't deserve such an emotional commitment; with all
your words so educated you should, whether you win or lose in the
upcoming debate, being a wise man, not be moved in any such way. (12)
Listen, yesterday I existed and so I will tomorrow, and so it is with
you, and with all these important people here. (13) In your lifetime
you change from a child into a youngster and from a youngster into a
grown man; but, honestly, did that make you a different person? (14)
What the senses tell you, oh son of aunt Alice, in the sense of pain
and happiness, comes and goes like summer and winter. Such things don't
last, just take it like a man, oh man out of Many. (15) He who's not
upset in this, oh best of them all, he who is equal and steady in
distress and happiness, is the man fit for the job.
(16) So don't expect anything durable from outer
appearances, nor think that the person you stay within will ever come
to an end; and this is what the greatest scholars confirm in their
studies on the subject. (17) Just keep in mind that what there is in
all states of your physical existence as a constant factor, that that
self, cannot perish or be defeated by anybody. (18) All these material
bodies are perishable, while the indestructible and immeasurable one
that is embodied is called eternal; and therefore fight, oh son of the
noble line. (19) Anyone who says that that self of yours can put an end
to any essential self of someone else, or himself can be put to an end,
is in either position out of his wits; you really cannot put anyone to
an end nor can you be put to an end. (20) So, to be clear: actually you
never began living nor will you ever stop living; you never took birth,
nor will you ever really die. Just the same you don't reincarnate
either in that sense; the soul as it is, is never born, is eternal and
constant. It's in existence from the first day of creation and it never
ends when the body ends. (21) Once you realize that that soul we talk
about is indestructible and everlasting, without any change or birth,
how then, oh son of Alice, could you be the cause of anyone's end or be
put to an end yourself? (22) Wearing your body and the ego along with
it like a garment, you can change them just as easily, and thus you can
end a life and pick up a new one as you like. (23) That what you really
are cannot drop apart, fry, drown or wither away. (24) You are
unbreakable, you can't burn up or dissolve; you're everlasting, you
reach wherever you want, you'll stay your same self always, nobody can
touch you as such and you've always been that way, and that's that.
(25) Considering this real self of yours that can't
be seen really, that can't even be conceived really, nor undergo any
change really, you should know that it thus is nothing for you to worry
or despair about. (26) And even if you'd reincarnate and die again, oh
man of power, never worry about it. (27) He who dies will certainly be
born again, just as the one born will die again of course; such
irrevocable facts do not deserve any worry, that you should know. (28)
Each and everyone is, oh son of the Many dynasty, to begin with a
nobody, then he or she is known and then he or she is forgotten again,
so why worry when it's all like this? (29) This soul is by some seen as
amazing, some speak about it as amazing, and some know it as amazing,
while still others never come to understand what this real self all
means. (30) This soul, this owner of each his body, never perishes, oh
son of the dynasty, and thus you shouldn't be troubled about anybody.
(31) And, concerning your duties in the debate, I must say that
you must always stand your ground to serve God, your actual quality,
virtue and righteousness, in the first place, that is the very best
thing a politician can do. (32) Oh son of aunt Alice, praise yourself
happy as a politician to find opposition in the debate, for that offers
you the opportunity to excel and express yourself. (33) So defend your
case as if it concerned God Himself, for if you fail to serve your own
nature with Him you'll be nothing but a profiteer without any
self-respect. (34) Not speaking up you'll lose your reputation and to
an honorable man that is something far worse than death. (35) Your
colleagues in the field, all thinking highly of you, will write you off
as a looser, if you back-off now out of fear. (36) They'll gossip and
deride your ability, and you know how painful that is. (37) Consider it
this way; you either lose with honor, or you win the debate adding to
your repute; so, stand and be sure in this choice, oh son of Alice!
(38)
Whether the outcome is to be happy or unhappy, whether it is to your
advantage or disadvantage, whether you win or lose, you'll never be
making a wrong move if you engage in the debate being equanimous with
this in mind!'