# The Tale of Issa: Part 3 By [MacKenzie ](https://paragraph.com/@mackenzie) · 2024-04-30 --- **Confronting Injustice and Seeking Enlightenment** * * * There will arise in the world a lord, a fully enlightened buddha endowed with wisdom and conduct, enlightened and blessed, just as I am now. He will teach dharma and proclaim the holy life in its fullness and purity. - _DIGHA NIKAYA 26.25_ Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? Jesus said, “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,’ and ‘coming with the could of heaven.’ … But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” - _MARK 14.61-62 & JOHN 14.26_ * * * Several IRON SHOVELS break the cold ground, and tear up the earth. Arnaud, richly garbed in Velvet attire and astride his magnificent horse, watches in silence as four soldiers steadily unearth a GRAVEYARD TOMB. It is a public affair, and many local Cathars and Catholics alike have gathered to look on in dismay, as Arnaud orders his men to lift the casket from the ground. Josephus, accompanied by a group of Students, Isabella included, hear the bustle of the crowd, and approach to see what transpires. It seems that certain lands once held by dearly departed fell into dispute. In other words, the Church wishes to claim the land currently held by the deceased, over its rightful heirs. By the manner in which the man was buried, Arnaud points out that clearly, a Cathar lies buried here and not a Christian. Therefore his heirs no longer hold claim to the inherited property. This outrageous atrocity causes much unrest among the gathering crowd. With a casual smile, Arnaud holds up a DOCUMENT signed by his Holiness Pope Innocent III, empowering Arnaud to such a claim. In an attempt, to ease the crowd’s tension, Arnaud proudly quotes from the Gospel’s of Paul. His perfect elocution is met with utter silence, in disgust Arnaud sharply turns his stallion around to depart ...but then... Josephus, speaks loudly from the Gospel of John. As if in debate, he indirectly challenges Arnaud’s stance. This gets the Abbott of Citeaux attention. Arnaud has heard well of the great Perfect Josephus, yet this is the first time the two have ever met. Isabella looks on, as Arnaud gallops around her Uncle, trying to both intimidate and size up the humbly dressed Cathar. Overly confident, Arnaud suggests that perhaps a Public debate may be a better forum for the two men to discuss which Faith is Truer, and which God is Greater. Studying the eyes of Arnaud, Isabella senses that this is some form of a trap. As she moves into to grab her Uncles hand, the Perfect quotes once more from the Gospel of John, and in doing so signals his agreement to the public challenge. The Day and Time is set. Arnaud bows his head his, and rides off with his soldiers trailing. The CROWDS OF ONLOOKERS slowly gather around the OPEN GRAVESITE. Josephus begins to sing from the Gospel. Alone he starts re-closing the open coffin and then re-sealing the disturbed grave, singing to the departed as one would when trying to put a child to sleep. Isabella’s voice joins his, and soon ALL ARE SINGING AS ONE, as the Cathar Community help in putting to rest one of their own. Their voices beautifully echo through the air. * * * ![INT. BUDDHIST MONASTERY](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/97a7a658ae38031f82d228a2c03a800eb8fc2bd9c95d37149088c89931e8413c.png) INT. BUDDHIST MONASTERY * * * Deep Guttural OHMS are chanted in unison, as Issa and Minuv, along with the other students pray in a circle around their Master. In the center of the SMALL CANDLE LIT CHAMBER, the Master moves his hands over A BODY WRAPPED IN CLOTH, lying prone on the floor. An Old Shepherd approaches death, and prepares to leave this world. It is the task of the master to help guide his spirit safely into the next life. With a ring of his silver bell, the Master calls forth a student carrying a large LEATHER BOUND MANUSCRIPT. A second student follows alongside, holding out a pillow with a single KEY placed on top. Unlocking the clasp binding the pages, the master skims through the book to a specific page, and once finding it…starts to chant verses. The BOOK looks remarkably similar to the one, so closely guarded by Josephus. Issa looks on in complete wonderment, as he studies the aged yet powerful hands of the master, floating over the Shepard’s Body energetically redirecting his Chi. As the master’s chant fade, we hear quotes from another sacred TEXT - the Tibetan Book of the Dead. And for a just a brief moment we DISSOLVE TO THE ASTRAL PLANE, and visit the reality of Light that exists beyond our physical world. This is the place from where all things come. * * * ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/8e32b65f014d763c9b5a59b2cfaf366dddd0ec646db1b301838194e961ca8831.gif) * * * FADING: back from space, Issa sits alone in concentrated study. Surrounded by GIANT COLUMNS composed of hundreds of Weather-bound Books, Issa reads aloud from the Ancient texts. A treasure of immeasurable worth, the MONASTERY LIBRARY contains one of the largest collections of Ancient written texts in the world. Students and Teachers alike spend untold hours each day, transcribing Text, creating Illustrations, and restoring forgotten Works. The Illuminated Text and Imagery is rich, informative, and utterly engrossing. Issa reads from a very old and weathered book dating back hundreds if not thousands of years. Minuv on the other hand, is hard at work translating the Tibetan text into the Language of his People, ARAMAIC. They begin to discuss the Illusory reality of all things. And the impermanence of both pain and fear. Yet the Buddha says, “All Life is Suffering” It appears that Issa is somewhat conflicted with this realization. “Why Endure?” Minuv tries to console him stating that the Torment their people share under the Roman’s will surely end. Minuv believes in the prophecy that House of DAVID will return and a new King will rise to save their people. Caring little about prophecies, Issa says his concerned is with reasoning the Karmic cycle of death and rebirth...until finally one can transcend beyond and re-merge with the prime essence of God. Minuv is fascinated by Issa’s passion Quest for deeper and deeper understanding. The young students continue their discussion as the two walk onto the OUTDOOR DIAS. Joining the others, the TWELVE STUDENTS prepare themselves once more for their daily meditation. The Master guides them deeper, and deeper within their own consciousness. STARING AT A CANDLE, Issa’s vision is focused on the space between, the absences of thinking. And we see through his eyes as the PHYSICAL WORLD AROUND HIM ALTERS. Everything becomes flat and two-dimensional. Issa leaves his body, and we follow his ASTRAL JOURNEY back to that abstract dimension of Color and Form. Drowning out all other sound, the awe of OHM echoes through eternity. It is an amazing and uplifting journey, UNTIL a BLACK HOLE in the middle of a million stars, calls out his name. Images of PAIN and SUFFERING pour over his consciousness like a tidal wave. There is point that Issa fear’s to travel…it’s where the light ends. As if awakening from a dream, Issa slowly readjusts his gaze upon the single candle flame still burning in front him. But as he does, Issa’s EYES GO WIDE IN ASTONISHMENT. There before him, still in Lotus position is the Master. Lost in a deep a meditative trance of his own, the Master is the picture of perfection, unmoving, completely silent ... And LEVITATING 6 INCHES OFF THE GROUND. * * * By Sami MacKenzie-Kerr © --- *Originally published on [MacKenzie ](https://paragraph.com/@mackenzie/the-tale-of-issa-part-3)*