A Traditional Spiritual Story
A long time ago. . . Or, a long time hence. . . Or, a long time now. . . There was a woman made of salt.
The woman lived beside the Great Ocean, the eighth ocean of the world. As time went by, she felt herself drawn more and more to the Great Ocean. She longed to plumb it depths and to know its span.
One day she stepped into the Ocean. It covered her ankles, her knees, her thighs, her vulva. As she immersed herself deeper and deeper in the Ocean, being made of salt she began to dissolve. She immersed herself more deeply in the Ocean. It covered her buttocks, her belly, her back, her breasts. More and more she dissolved in the Ocean, salt as she was. She immersed herself more deeply in the Ocean. It covered her neck, her face, the crown of her head. For a moment her salt hair floated upon the Ocean, until it too began to dissolve.
And as the last particle of her dissolved, she became one with the Great Ocean. And knew its depth and span. Afterwards, even if she could, she would not return.
This tale is based on a Vedantist Salt Doll parable told by Sri Ramakrishna, “In samadhi one attains the knowledge of Brahman.”
© David England, 2003