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How many lives - a story





The last meeting with the wise man and the wise woman
impressed Jan and Janina a lot So much
– that they often talk about it – with their friends as well.

« You know » Jan said one day
«I am very aware -
that I have already had many lives
but I am a bit curious none the less
about one of my former lives
What do you think - Janina – can one find out about that »
« Yes – I would like to know that as well
- but I am a little afraid
you never know what will be revealed - »
« Well – we should ask the wise man
it’s a shame – that he didn’t tell us his name »
Jan smiled a bit mischievously
« why are you smiling - Jan »





« The last time we met with him
he gave me his cell phone number »
« And you’re only telling me this now »
« It was supposed to be a surprise
Well – he was of the opinion
that with the help of modern technology
it would be easier for us to reach him
and that he is always available for us »
« Well then – hurry up »
« Yes – now nothing is quick enough for you
but don’t worry – I will call him today »

Said – and - done
Jan scheduled an appointment
and a meeting place with the wise man.

The next day Janina asked
« Jan – do you have an appointment »
« Yes – I do – allow yourself to be surprised
but you’ll need patience until the weekend »
« That is going to be difficult
and where are we meeting – if I may ask »


« It’s a big secret – I won’t reveal anymore »
Never before has a week seemed so long
Finally it’s Sunday – They are on their way
« And where are we going » Janina wants to know
« We are meeting at the 'Stony Ground'»




Now this 'Stony Ground' isn’t very far away
Soon they will arrive
They can see the wise man from a ways away
They greet each as usual,
heartfelt with a kiss on each cheek
« Nice – to see you again »
« Yes – all week we have looked forward
to our meeting »
« I was looking forward – to seeing you again -


Now come – let us take a little walk -
- before we begin talking about your problem »

They descend a long flight of stairs into the Ground -
On both sides sandstone cliffs tower above them



Small and large trees grow in the Ground
sometimes they even grow on the steep cliffs
somewhere, within themselves, they have found their footing.





The path snakes along a small stream



Soon they arrive at a natural arch in the cliffs




A fallen rock is lodged in the pathway
So they go through the canyon
and are impressed by the silence
the green and brown splotches of colour
on the moss that the sun is shining on.




Eventually, a small bench to sit down on appears.




«So » thus begins the wise man after a short break

« You want to know about your past lives
I can tell you about them
but are you aware that you’ve had many lives »
«Yes, we’ve thought about that
and at the last meeting
your wife explained it quite well to us
yet for us it’s difficult to imagine»
Janina exclaimed, somewhat hesitantly
« Can you even find out about this »
« Oh yes - certainly
For thousands of years,
each folk had its wise men and women
who had a very lively relationship with other worlds
but this knowledge disappeared over the years »
« Why- why did this knowledge about these things disappear»

The wise man answered deliberately

« The wise ones were convinced-
that this knowledge wasn’t necessary – in order to live here-
they were of the opinion – that it was better -
to concentrate themselves fully and wholly on to life on earth
And – have a look around-
don’t most people live that way as well »

« That’s true » Jan replied
« And what do you think - Janina »
« Dear wise man – is it so wrong
to want to know about only one or two lives»
« Not at all – that is a completely natural wish -
and nowadays more and more people have this wish

Well - alright

Jan – in your last life, approximately
95 years ago, you were a young man -
Then came the great war
Full of enthusiasm you enlisted
But it didn’t take long
before the destruction and the killing
became abhorrent to you in the depths of your heart




You couldn’t take the daily – almost hourly fear
for your life anymore and then the moment arrived -
in which all you wanted was to be
....dead....

You emerged from the ditch
- and knew – that you would be shot
and that’s exactly what happened……
It was silent – completely silent -




Evidently moved - Jan says
« Now I understand why I sometimes feel
- deep inside of me – an inexplicable fear
and why I am – sometimes -
so sad.
There are wars all over the world still
Wars and death and destruction
and on television
the horrible images are
projected into your living room.

Yet now I also understand -
Why I feel excited every day -
and that I am allowed to live in a relatively peaceful area »
« That’s how it is » the wise man replies quietly
« You don’t need to have
these horrible experiences in your life anymore »

Janina had listened quietly -
« Not all lives lived were difficult »

« No – of course not » the wise man answered
« You were a nurse during this atrocious war -
you had decided
to try to ease the misery a little -
You cared for the wounded »
« Now you know – why I became a kindergarten teacher
in body and soul
I wanted to care for the healthy, small children »
« That’s right – you’ve seen enough of -
injured, primarily young men »


The wise man takes a break -
«Both of you have had - good – somewhat adventurous lives together -
- there is a connection throughout many lives -
- and it’s no coincidence -
that you’ve found each other again here. Now you can
live a relaxed and loving life »

« May I ask one more question »
Jan had decided that he just had to ask this question

« How many lives have we had
on this planet »
....now the question was out in the open....
After a long pause -
and while looking at Jan and Janina lovingly -

« My dear Jan – you’ve had 643 lives on this planet
and you my dear Janina, 346 lives
That might seem like a lot to you
but within the timeframe of the universe, it isn’t very many
You’ve forgotten
that the universe is much bigger and more powerful
than you can imagine »

« In general » he continues
your I – needs – several lives
in order develop certain skills
and to reach a certain
state of ease and joy in life
What do you think
How come – that a small child can
already do things with certainty -
- with ease and with joy
to the large surprise of adults
- Mozart – as a child was already a musical phenomenon
to name just one person.
But this phenomenon is present everywhere
in men as well as women.

And there’s something else I want to tell you.
Most of your lives that you had here on this planet
were good - harmonious lives filled with lots of joy.
That counts for every man and every woman




The sun is shining on to a moss-covered rock
into the canyon
and both become aware at the same time.
Even their present life has a deep and beautiful purpose

« Let us get up » the wise man says after a while
I will continue to live close by to you
and I know – that you still have many questions
but by having more questions all the time
life continues to be interesting »

Slowly they return through the Ground
it, too, has gotten brighter.




After a while
they reach their town with the river.
The wise man takes his leave
- waves to them – and descends toward the ferry
And the ferry brings him along with many other people
to the other shore.




Jan and Janina wave farewell to him as well.
They sit down on a bench.
The sun is shining warm and bright
the waves are sparkling and silver
and it seems to them as if:

This shore is their present life
the other shore
....That’s where their future lives are...






Text and photos by Albert Jäger
the war photos are from an old album
The translation from Tamara Girke