Judge's Dreams I

”We will be committing a crime. The greatest crime that can be committed. They are defenseless beings, and they need our help. They have been giving themselves to others throughout their lives. For this reason, I say and maintain that the elderly must be respected and treated with the courtesy and affection they deserve as people. As well as parents of those who now want to get rid of them and take what is theirs.”

”But not only this. Right now, you are trying to decide whether it is right or fair to support the elderly who are of no use to humanity while they are alive. Keep in mind that, if we are not going to offer arguments to some powerful or not so powerful as to how to stop all those relatives imposing their will, then they will have the right to decide for themselves.”

”See that, based on the above, they will only stay with those who they know will treat them right. We will be covering a crime with the corresponding actions of that who will become the victim. And, as you know, that who is in danger of death has all the right to the Defence.”

”But also consider that, if we do such a thing, all those who reach a certain age will have made sure that their fortunes had been exhausted. And they will not worry themselves with securing their estates, so as to ensure that nothing is left to that who would execute them in order to keep their property when the supposed time comes.”

”You know that everyone who owns something is concerned that their assets be preserved through others. As well as that, although some may think that hoarding assets here on Earth is foolish, some people feel like that, and the Kingdom is an excellent example of it.” As soon as the Judge said this, he realized that he had just meddled with the Crown, which was a mistake. And so he continued to correct himself. ”Not to say that this latter case is a bad example but, rather, the desire to ensure the best of everything for their own, so all can live in better health and with access to food and clothing for all.” And, when he considered that he has recovered from the failure, he continued. ”Of course, the matter that we are deciding on is important! But what also lays behind it, is the fundamental question of, ‘Who has the right to give themselves permission to kill?’ Because that would be what all men would think as they gradually approached old age. Or who has the right to kill another? Because would it not be – and that serves to reflect – the father who had that right over his children who, after all, have come from him?”

”Perhaps when I wished I would not have that right?” The Defender continued. ”And then, if we deny it to him, how can we give that right to the children, if the father is that who has given them life? Or, maybe, men of our minds do things that defy nature?”

Here he made another mistake and, after immediately realizing that, corrected himself again.

”Admittedly, nature has these customs developed in some animals. But if we carry out such act, we become carnivore animals, who kill to be left with the resources of others or simply because they do not benefit us, even when they do not bother us.”

Here, the Defender paused, and utilized what in the trials is known as ”the silence of attention.” By allowing for this silence, one has everyone still, waiting for what follows, and focusing attention on the next thing that is going to be said. The Defender, raising his voice, continued:

”So I raise my voice, as loud as I can, to say that life is important and no one has the right to take it! And if one has fought for their Country, for their land, for their family, no one from this Country, from these lands, or from his family has any other right than to protect them until the end of their days.”

After that, it was the turn of a Defense witness who said:

”You know me as a Judge, and you also know my reputation that I never lie. I want you to listen to this story, which is real and was not only prepared for this defense.”

”I have my father in my home, and I feel blessed having him beside me because he is a wise and just man, and he brings his wisdom into the house. He can hardly help out at home, but what he gives is a pleasant compensation of joy and sweetness. It has been five years that he is with us and, although we hope that he will heal, we do not know. He was in an accident where he was run over by a soldier's mount, which left his back with injuries, and his legs suffered several fractures. We know that he will never be the same and that he will always need help, but his head is just fine, and he continues teaching his wisdom to everyone around him.”

”I also want to emphasize that he is very close to my children, whom he loves more than he loved us, and it shows that they match it back in the same measure. One of my daughters says that she wants to take him home with her. She is getting married soon, and he would provide company and sound advice, which they will need for they are young.”

The witness had his say and, when he had nothing more to add, he finished up assuring that his father was a very different person before. He had always been busy with work and merchandise; he was a merchant who had little time for his family.

”But, since the accident, what we lacked before he is now giving us and, although it was a disgrace that we hope he will heal from, I bless the moment of the accident for the change we have had in him.”

Then it was the turn of the Judge who was acting as a second witness of Defense. After he greeted everyone, he went on to say what he had prepared:

”I do not have a personal testimony to offer, but that of many men and women who would have to change their ways of thinking if we were to do something as monstrous as authorizing the death sentence for the elderly. And that is what our accusing judge – or prosecutor – has tried to convince us to do.”

”As you will know, a long time ago, Druids arrived in these lands and settled. We derive from them in terms of our culture and our ways of thinking. And, although some of our concepts differ now, such as the Spiritual. As you know, for the Druids, nothing existed after life, but everything returned to mother earth or nature. We believe that there is a spiritual life after the physical one and that it is lived in the form of Spirit, the Spirit that we all carry within ourselves. But our differences are not in terms of physical life.”

”We know, and we are taught in the Spiritual School as children, that the Spiritual world exists, and that everyone who has been good in the physical world will be allowed in. Apart from those who have committed a crime against life. The principle that we are taught, the one of the twelve, is that Life is sacred.”

”The principles on which our customs and our traditions are based are basic – RESPECT FOR LIFE AND HELP another when they are in need. These two fundamental pillars are not only Spiritual. When we entertain this idea of killing or letting die, we forever lose our right to preach the Upper world.”

”See, what we are here discussing is the killing of the very special people to whom the Society – as well as families and communities – owe a lot. Or letting them die. For that reason, I fear that we may be authorizing something that others do not want and do not think to accept.”

”Will the Judge who will be passing this Judgment please consider that he may have to get soldiers to carry it out? And let him consider the communities of the mountains. None of them will comply. Or the communities of the valleys, and of the lowlands, where the commitment to unity is even stronger. How can we, a few judges, even with a King in front of us, claim the right to try to change something so deeply rooted in our own Ethiopian essence?”

The man was radiant, and he knew he was heard. He was good at reading the public, so he did not prolong the subject so as not to spoil it. He ended with:

”So I tell you, if you approve of such a thing, you will not be worthy of being Ethiopian.”

And, as a man who had put forward his argument in this manner, he took a few minutes of silence so that his last statement can settle in everyone's mind. After confirming that it was over and saluting everyone, he sat down.

Now, everyone was watching the Judge, who got up to speak in front of the King. He greeted him and said:

”As you can see, my Lord, it has gotten late. If you wish, we will continue later because the morning is over, and the noises in the guts of the attendees could be heard for quite some time now.” At that, everyone smiled because it was true. The King himself had noticed it and said:

”Very well, we shall continue later. But, remember, you cannot take the discussions of this subject outside with you, because you have the whole city listening and that would not serve justice.” He got up and left the chambers.

When they resumed the session, the King, who had been waiting for the right moment, said:

”So, now is the time when you say your prayer and ask for advice before you pass your judgment, right?” He was looking at the judge who, in turn, replied:

”See, my Lord, Justice cannot be done a hurry. Remember that the Accuser – or the Prosecutor – had reserved the last turn, after the Defense had spoken. So it is now up to him to continue.”

The Judge to whom he had referred took the floor. However, he came short. He had initially intended to make a great speech, but the apparent haste that the King had shown advised him against it. He determined that he had nothing new to add, and so the time for Judgment to be passed had come.

The judge, the Spiritual Body, observed himself serving as a Judge’s in a court session that was all a dream. He saw himself take the floor and say:

”You will have seen, my Lord, how the matter has been presented. It is not an easy task. As a Rural Judge, I have not been gifted with wisdom.”

”Remember that I only administer Justice in the Souk and for the Souk, so I need all the help that can be given to me. That is why I always retire – to ask for it. I do it through Prayer. You all know that, when we do that, our Spirit gets connected to the Spiritual Master, which is always attending to us, young men.”

”You also know that this Master – who to me is SUPREME – is the one who always advises. In my case, he always does so in all aspects of life, in which I feel that I want to consult him. He advises me in the courts and tells me what I have to say. All I do is repeat in words the ideas that he had given me.”

As the King – attending in disguise – had seen him conduct the tribunal, he did not believe that the advice that this man can receive could give him any greater wisdom than he himself had so, upon hearing this, he jokingly said:

”Go and ask for this advice, and make sure that it is a good one. And that it is different from the one we all know. If not, we may find that it is your own mind that advises you, and what you are looking for in the Prayer is time to think as you are already old.”

The judge considered this to be an insult and blushed. He turned to the King and said:

”My Lord, you have the strength, but not the reason. If the reason is sustained by force when you are deciding what you expect from your people, you will be hated rather than loved. Because, if justice is done under pressure and by force, no other but fear will result. Is this what you are seeking?”

Everyone was suddenly frightened by the words he had addressed towards the King. Even the Judge himself. Therefore, he assumed an attitude of submission that would please the King and said:

”I think your comment is good and fair, albeit a little harsh. I want my people not to fear me. So take the time you deem appropriate, and we will see if that advice is worth the time that we are losing.”

The judge – the Spirit – watched how the Judge retired from the court hall and into a solitary place where he began to pray. After some time, he saw the sloping figure nod and nod again. It continued for some time; he sat down on his heels, and with his eyes closed, he listened. When he had finished, he left the room and went back out to where everyone was waiting. The King said:

”It is late, so, as you need your time, we will continue tomorrow. Everyone, go now, and return for the second session.” And that was when everyone knew that it was time for the sun to become vertical.

In the morning, everyone gathered again. The Judge greeted the King and the Minister of Justice first, followed by the other ministers who had come. There were already several others in addition to those that were invited by the King. They have heard about this and, not wanting to be left in the dark, they came of their own initiative. He greeted his companions and proceeded to speak.

”You see, my Lord,” he addressed the King.” The one who listens to me and the one who advises me has also listened to your words, and said the following:

‘Tell your King that he can cut off your head as he has that power; that he can cut off your tongue as he has that power; and that he can sell you for a slave to the Egyptians because he has that power too. But the voice of the Spirit cannot be silenced. If he does not speak through my lips today, he will do it through someone else's. Because, if the Spirit must manifest itself, the power of the King is not enough to stop it. You see, if he so wanted, he could choose your own lips to speak to others.’”

Everyone found themselves frightened because they knew about the power of the Spirits. They understood that the Spirit of that man had to be very powerful to explain what he did. Right there, in front of him, was the one who was in charge of the Temple – or of the Spiritual School. Upon hearing these words, he became scared and approached the King to tell him something in private. The King was looking serious and said nothing until The Judge finished. Then the King spoke up and said:

”See, all this is new to me. I never wanted to offend anyone, neither Spirit nor my citizens. And you yourself are respected, since you are old, and I have given you the role of a Judge. So, continue with the subject matter and let us end this.”