First of all, the music, a traditional song, “Ilya Muromets and the Devil”, performed by the members of the Russian folk group Living Water, who sing accompanied by their hypnotic Guslies, the Slavic psalteries:
Now the story. According to the medieval legend, Ilya Muromets was the son of a farmer, born in one of the old villages of Ukraine. Since a very early age he suffered from an illness that kept him from walking and obliged him to remain lying down.
But one day, when he reached the age of 33, he was miraculously cured by two pilgrims. Soon after, he meet a Knight who conferred on him super-natural powers. And wanting to be like him, willing to serve the Prince Vladimir Fair Sun, he became a warrior and liberated the city of Kiev, which was dominated by the devilish god Idolishche. Ilya won this and many other battles, for the sake of freedom, until he was eventually ordained as a Knight of the Prince.
Finally, after all his adventures on woods and steppes, he devoted himself to the Divine, becoming a monk and developing his spiritual capacities further.
But one day, when he reached the age of 33, he was miraculously cured by two pilgrims. Soon after, he meet a Knight who conferred on him super-natural powers. And wanting to be like him, willing to serve the Prince Vladimir Fair Sun, he became a warrior and liberated the city of Kiev, which was dominated by the devilish god Idolishche. Ilya won this and many other battles, for the sake of freedom, until he was eventually ordained as a Knight of the Prince.
Finally, after all his adventures on woods and steppes, he devoted himself to the Divine, becoming a monk and developing his spiritual capacities further.
In the Russian tradition Ilya Muroments is regarded as a model of spiritual strength and integrity, values that modern society lacks, for it is not truly civilized and heroes are almost extinguished.
This Slavic story follows the typical structure of the Hero’s Journey, which was thoroughly researched by Joseph Campbell.
And since all seekers are called to make that journey, we should realize that we´re many times emotionally and mentally crippled, unable to see life as it is.
Yet, when the heart really wants the "change", a higher help usually emerges out of the blue. Then it’s up to each one to use it properly and follow the own path of light.
Once again we´re entering the legendary Age of the Heroes; although this time the adventure is not so much focused on battles as on "understanding" and "reconciliation" of all the things humanity has experienced so far.
Who sets out to walk in darkness raising the flame of mindfulness?
And since all seekers are called to make that journey, we should realize that we´re many times emotionally and mentally crippled, unable to see life as it is.
Yet, when the heart really wants the "change", a higher help usually emerges out of the blue. Then it’s up to each one to use it properly and follow the own path of light.
Once again we´re entering the legendary Age of the Heroes; although this time the adventure is not so much focused on battles as on "understanding" and "reconciliation" of all the things humanity has experienced so far.
Who sets out to walk in darkness raising the flame of mindfulness?
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