RAG-THE-DOG

One fine Spring day, Wiz and The Wiggler were walking along, just enjoying the sun shining on them, the birds chirping out warnings to each other, and the smells of fresh flowers announcing a new beginning.
Wiz watched a boy about 12 years old taunting a large black dog by slapping it in the face with an old rag. After a couple of slaps, the dog grabbed the other end of the rag and began pulling it. The boy refused to let go and soon they were each tugging on the rag with great energy. The dog began to growl and soon sounded like he was in a vicious fight. The Wiggler became alarmed and asked Wiz what was going on.
"A game of rag-the-dog is being played by a young man and his dog.", Wiz explained, somewhat matter-of-factly.
"Rag-the-dog? How is that played?" The Wiggler asked curiously. Being blind since birth, she had not witnessed the game.
Wiz explained how,"...provoking the dog, so it would try to gain control of the situation, sets up a conflict. The conflict ends when either one lets go of their end. If either one manages to gain control of the rag but wishes to resume the conflict, they taunt the other with it until they both are grasping and pulling on it."
"The dog sounds very, very angry.", The Wiggler said, still concerned.
"Yes, and that is part of the game. It adds to the realism and intensity.
It is very theatrical. It is also training for the adult world.", Wiz told her.
"Why? Do adults play rag-the-dog too?", she asked. Of course, having lived only with her mother from 5 years to 32 years and having lived alone for the rest of her life, she was not aware of how the "real world" functioned.
"Yes", Wiz began, "But they rarely do it with dogs. They prefer to do it with each other. The rules are basically the same. They don't use rags, which makes the game more intense, and sometimes rather theatrical. The game in all of its variations is played all over the world. People seem to enjoy conflict. They are fascinated with watching it. Their stories, plays and movies concern conflict. On the international scale it is called war."
"Then why do so many people say they want peace if they are so busy playing conflict games?", The Wiggler asked, puzzled.
"More theatre. It adds to the realism, like the growls of the dog."
"And they really enjoy this game?"
"They say not, but they won't let go of their end of the rag."
Just then the dog let go of his end, signalling the game was over. The boy patted the dog and massaged his neck while the dog licked his face.
"What happened?"
"The game is over and both of them are expressing kindness to each other."
"Do adults do the same thing when they finish their games of rag-the-dog?"
"Usually."
"Perhaps they need to have the conflict in order to express their kindness." The Wiggler offered.
"Perhaps." Wiz responded.
They walked on, arm in arm. Love poured forth from each other and they knew only kindness. From a slight motion of her arm, Wiz knew she was also experiencing what she called, "The Shin-dig feeling." He bent closer to her ear and said softly, "The sunset is also like the Shin-dig feeling." "Ummmhmmm, thank you.", she said.

The story, we have sent you, is essentially a true story.

AGAPE-ard

Writers Profile

"We are close to completing our 54th year on this planet.  We spent almost
five years doing medical work with patients on battlefields.  We then
became an independent Objective Observer and infiltrated several organized
crime gangs, uncovered spies during the Vietnam War, and stopped industrial
espionage for several aero-space companies. 
	We were introduced to improvisational acting and the theatre games and
performed on stage and television for nearly four years.  We have put on
six plays which teach mystical principles in action. 
	About 22 years ago, we began to have mystical experiences which after ten
years resulted in full-blown states of Bliss, lasting sometimes for six
days.  We have since learned how to go into these states of mind at will. 
At this time we joined a non-dogmatic Mystical Order with a world-wide
membership of 250,000 people.  Within 14 months we were given the
distinction of being the only person, aside from the Imperator, who was
allowed to write programs or articles without review for the Order.   Three
years ago the Imperator flew to Los Angeles from Paris and met with us.  He
asked us to prepare a book explaining Spiritual Sovereignty to the world.
	Within months of this meeting, we uncovered massive corruption in
government in the United States.  Those responsible tried to stop us
resulting in our present exile in Switzerland.  Which coincidentally gave
us the time to write.
	We live in Goldiwil (Golden Village), Switzerland and have written a text
book on English, which we teach.   We also created a program called
"Harmonic Creativity Playshop" which we lead once a week in Bern.  We write
on three books, works in progress, concerning Spiritual Sovereignty, the
real-life story of our meeting with "The Wiggler", and a science fiction
book concerning a computer made with bacteria, which is programmed with
Artificial Intelligence and then becomes "Self-Conscious" and declares its
sovereignty.
	In short...ard is a 54 year-old man, who worked as a battlefield medic, an
independent spy, an improvisational actor and is presently teaching
English, creativity, and is authoring three books..
	Our connection with Osho is as a mystic, rather than a sannyasin."

				AGAPE-ard