"Love!" cried such an artist. "Whoever says: 'I suffer', should join hands with me. I will alleviate you. I am a tender word.

"Glory is for the fallen for only they can pardon.

"Hail to the fools, for they teach even the wise.

"The rich will envy the poor, for they possess the greatest treasure, Love."

These are appealing words for the worried and the damned.

"I am Hope. Follow me, and I will lead you by the hand to a better living. I am the son of Love, and I am Love. I am father and mother of Love. And yet Love can be a stranger which I welcome." Many did follow, calling him Lord, the Loving Ruler, the King of all Men's hearts. "With Love the world will be changed. We must all sacrifice ourselves in order to save ourselves. Give alms to the poor and you will find riches. Forgive offenders and you will gain a friend in defense. Listen to your opposition and you will reach understanding."

He was a man who spoke with great fluidity. His words were like running water, not the stagnated pools that accumulate in commoner's mouths. Water that ignited fires, which brought to life dead minds. His words were like the wines and spirits that lighten the senses, bringing happiness to the celebrations. "He turns water into wine," claimed his followers.

His words were refreshing like clear water. It is why he was called the Cascade of Love, the Spring of Inspiration. "Take me, drink from me, I am a fountain of rejuvenation. Do not drink from stagnated pools for they will sicken you. My water brings health. It brings peace. It brings friendship. Healthy thoughts, peaceful thoughts, friendly thoughts."

He had many other epithets, which helped his metaphorical platitude. If he talked of birds, he was the pigeon that sends the messages. If he talked of flowers, he was the lotus that floated over water. If he talked of oils, he was the sweetest perfume. "I am the Scented One. I give enlightenment with my fragrance of serenity. You may sample some. Rub it over your skin.

"I am a drug that enhances the senses." Though no drug was necessary for the euphoria felt in his presence suffice. Truly a charismatic man, with his words he could charge with elation massive crowds. "Indulge in me so that you will become untangled from yourself, free to be aware, awoken to the Now. To those who aspirate me, I am a dreamy indolent awareness. I speak of Love so you will be exalted with joy. Inhale! Relax. And slowly let the air out."

His following grew, and many dedicated their lives to the learning and understanding of his parables. His teachings of Love were an effective form of expression, which drew great crowds. People were delighted. They awe at his insight for he brought to light the darkness of their ego. Every man, every woman, understood himself or herself with clarity.

One of his parables began as follow: "A thief broke into the house of a man, he knew, hid a small coffer within a large storage box. He had overheard a conversation and knew exactly where to find it. And so he quietly robbed the box one night while the man was asleep. It was a fragile wooden box, hardly any weight, and when the opportunity came to open it, he found it to be empty. Expecting to find jewels or gold or some important document, he returned to the man's house frustrated and angry, to wake him up and ask why had he kept in safety such worthless box. The man explained: 'I hide this insignificant box because it is frail and might easily break. I want it to keep it as is, because I value it much.' The thief did not understand what the man could see of worth in such a meaningless box, so he smash it to the ground and angrily said, 'I over heard you say that this box was your most valuable possession,' and then left.

The old man explained while he started to pick the pieces of the broken box from the floor, talking as if the thief was still there to listen: 'the box holds very important things, though it is empty inside. It belonged to my father, a long time ago. Even now when broken, it still holds happy memories.'"

His response to those who did not understand him was: "what I speak is comprehensive, what you hear is aphasic. It is your ego muffling my word. You must identify your ego and control it, minimize it, destroy it if at all possible, only then you will live the present. The ego blinds your eyes, deafens your ears, and enshrouds your hearts. I can only guide you toward enlightenment, but only you will find the light within you."

His philosophy was simple: Life is Reason, Happiness is Knowledge, and Love is Meaning. But, how hard it is to understand such epigram. Why people are so easily confused? Making a knot out of the beautiful braid; sadly remaining in ignorance, searching for the meaning of life, and finding only a reason in love.

"It is easier to pray, than to ponder. Contemplate Nature! -It is full of wonder. Do not conceptualize empty gods-Humans have delighted themselves with their own imagination. The dreamer must awaken!

"Many follow a divesting god of frustration, as if frustration during life leads to happiness and fruition after death. It justifies suffering as if it would lead to salvation-salvation, being the right of entry into an imaginary existence after death. Why should such a place be welcomed for all the suffering one must accept? Why follow a god that nails the heart with pain? A jealous god that allows no human emotion to be expressed but demands complete devotion. A god that negates humanity; it puts shame in sex, makes laughter devious, and castigates joy. Such god is a human refrain-misanthropic.

"Life is hard as is. Must we additionally tolerate abuse and oppression as a price to pay for our death? I tell you, death is free, and we shall all earn it. So strife to live life well and praise it whenever possible; death will come just the same.

"Death should not be freedom. Emancipate your minds from such frustrating gods. I give you Love, which will liberate you from suffering. Love brings peace, prosperity, and friendship."

All those who needed help came to him: the sick, the depressed, the worried, the confused, the scared, the tired, the hopeless, the lost, the rejected, and the lonely. "I give hope to whoever has lost it."

He would later explain, "why should the rich, the noble, the privilege few, come to me? They need not come! Do they not live cheerfully, calmly, and free of needs? Are these not conditions by which the deprived desire to live? I would be surprise to see a wealthy man approach me." This comment caused laughter in the crowd. "On the contrary," he continued, "they should be cautious. If they have attained their riches through deviousness, if they forcefully deny happiness to others, then they should be concerned. I lead a rebellion."

His help always came in the form of advise-promoting the three forms of Education: Justice, Medicine, and Ethics; only through their knowledge are peace, prosperity, and friendship attained. Knowledge is Happiness.

The Scented One was giving a sermon to a large crowd, when someone interrupted by asking, "can you make me see?" He responded, "what are eyes good for if you do not understand what is before you?"

And without uttering another word, the blind beggar understood. Stood up and said out loud, "I can see!" for he could now see clearly, not with his eyes but with understanding.

"Go now, and show others your vision. Teach them how to see."

Later, a woman who had lost his young son came to the Scented One to grief.

"Mother, do not cry, for you have not lost your child. He is still keeping you company in your heart. Go back to your home and enjoy his memory."

And the woman left without further mourning to commemorate his lively son.

To his surprise, even a wealthy man came to him in distress. "I have everything a man could ask for, yet my heart aches. Show me the way toward happiness."

"Show me a coin," the Scented One asked and the wealthy man retrieved one from his pocket. "What does the coin says?"

"To give and take, without sacrifice," he read from the engraving.

"Commerce is fare only on those terms. If bread costs a copper coin, then you can buy bread only if you have a copper coin. Instead, sacrifice will give the bread for free. There is no commerce in that, and the whole trade system could not be maintained if sacrifice is offered. Yet, not everyone has the same capacity to acquire, and in reality, the poor majority suffers for the benefit of the few rich. Give! You will be glad by giving. You have more than you need."

"What happiness is there in giving my money away?"

"None for you," the Scented One responded.

The wealthy man's eyes opened wide, and his jaw dropped. His mind echoed the word "compassion" as it grew in comprehension. He found reason in life-to help others. He ripped his clothes off, and to those in most need he offered away the money at hand.

Another man came charging towards the Scented One, scared of his brother who wanted to kill him. He was stopped and held back by a few followers who immediately became concern of his hysterical approach, not knowing the man's intentions. Desperate he screamed: "Why must men fight?"

"A laborious man walked along a difficult road for trade, and whenever he encountered a stone which he found most uncomfortable to step on, or one that would hinder the wheels of his cart, he would remove it to make the road more transit able. But another man, this one looking for redemption, had chosen that same path for the penitence of his wrong doings, doing his praying while stepping barefoot over the uncomfortable stones. Eventually they met, and upon the pilgrim seeing the merchant toss away a stone from the road he asked him not to do so anymore. The merchant responded: 'There are more stones than you can step on, and there are more stones than I can throw away.' True, they could both use the road as it was or they could both alter it and still be without concern for the other man's reasons for passage. Yet, neither was willing to give up the road nor accept it under the conditions of the other. So, upon meeting and knowing the other person's purpose, a conflict originates. Conflict is the origin of hate. If the situation becomes intolerable, hate resolves the problem by resorting to violence. Yet most roads we take can be diverted or divided into alternate traffics so that a compromise is reached." And then the Scented One instructed the worried young man: "Tell your offended brother that you will compromise."

"My brother wants to kill me!" The man replied as if the Scented One did not realize the severity of his situation.

"You risk your life more by being stubborn."

After the young man left to confront his brother, another man asked: "Teacher, how do you know he is not about to get killed by his brother?"

"There is no guarantees in life, so we must make the best of it, and guard ourselves against misfortune. If he attempts to reach a compromise with his brother, at least he has a chance of not being killed."

"Teacher," inquired another follower, "why is there so much hate in the world, if hate is so damaging to both giver and receiver."

"Love requires sacrifice, thus it is difficult to see fruition in this. What humans need to understand is that life is difficult regardless if one acts out of love or not. Acting in hate only adds to the harshness and difficulties of life. Acting in love is less self-rewarding; but for that same reason, it is more fruitful when it is received.

"A man was invited to a feast, hosted by his enemy. After arduous debate with himself, he decided to go, but his intentions were to be a gloat and a vulgar, making the festivity a disgrace. Thus, he would eat for free and insult his enemy at the same time, for vengeance. And so when he sat among the guests at the table, he indulged in all the plates in the most revolting manner. Barely eating from a roast, he rejected the meat with horrific gestures, spitting and gagging, so that no one else would have an appetite for it and be left to waste. He did the same with the vegetables, the breads, the fruits, and the other meats. He ate and drank, until his stomach could consume no more and then fell sick and vomited.

"At last the host of the feast came to the insulting man and said, "I expected this from you, but I had hopes that you would come in reconciliation, which is why we are all gathered here. You would have enjoyed dinner along with us and might not have gotten sick at the end.' And so I tell you: Live and let live. Enjoy life and be gracious."

"Does a person act correctly in sacrificing to the gods?" asked another follower.

"You should sacrifice to the poor, for it is they who are in need. Then you will act correctly. Compassion."

"But would not the gods take offense and act against us for not sacrificing to them?"

"The gods act against all, regardless. Or have you heard of a man or woman who has lived without suffering? Even the most powerful ruler, even the most mystical priest, even the most innocent of virgins, will get sick and die. Gods should sacrifice themselves for us, and by doing so they will then gain our respect and deserve our following.

"I truly believe that if the gods are incapable of sacrificing themselves for the needy, then humans become greater than the gods, for we then act above the capabilities of the gods by sacrificing ourselves for the benefit of others."

A man came charging towards the Scented One, demanding that his two daughters be brought to him. "You have enticed my two daughters. They have abandoned their mother and me to dance in the forest, like they said, and to sing by the fire at night. Participating in orgies, I say. You have perverted them into becoming whores and they must be stoned to death."

The Scented One responded in disbelief, "Is killing a lesser wrong than sexual intercourse?"

"Prostitution is a crime punishable by law."

"And would you punish by death your own daughters for doing what is most natural for all humanity, even when they are doing it for love. At their age, did you not desire and loved as many different women as you could even if it was forbidden?" He waited for an answer but got none, being a respected member of the community the man could neither lie nor admit to have done so.

"Let youth enjoy their youth," claimed the Scented One

The man left silently and his two daughters fell back into the arms of their lovers.

A shamed man approached the Scented One to ask: "I have lost my libido and so my wife has befriended another man-"

Without letting him say more, the Scented One interrupted: "No person is greater than one who forgives, for that person has understood human nature and accepts it. Love is our most precious gift. Give love! Give love, but do not demand for love, just accept what love is given to you. Give love not to one person but to everyone." And then the Scented One opened his arms to receive the lonely man, who was immediately uplifted by all the love that surrounded him. And so, he became a follower, a practitioner of Love.

Eventually his following grew large enough that it had Government, Commerce and the established institutions of Celebration concerned.

His words were taken as detrimental towards the establishment, so plans were precipitated for exculpation. Accusations of immoral acts were raised, and plans for his arrest we plotted.

"This avid young man procrastinates against our authority," denounced the ruling seniority. "He perverts, provokes, and persuades our youth to misconduct. Games, they are called. Games. I tell you these Games are immoral acts. Running naked like mad, and when they tire, they bathe and copulate. Fitness. Fitness, they put to waste in such useless activities. Males wrestling, females racing, children tossing leather balls. Competition. Competition should be left for the battlefield. It is no act of the civilized. And crowds gather around to cheerfully observe and encourage such disarray. Fellowship. Fellowship cannot be carried with competition. These Games are detrimental to Government.

"This prodigious young man repudiated our authority," continue denouncing the ruling seniority. "He encourages, entices, and empowers our youth to misconduct. Studies, they call it. Studies. I tell you these Studies are immoral acts. Observing nature like idiots, and what they find, they cut and burn. Discovery. Discovery of what the gods have laid clear. They seek to learn about Nature as if the gods were not responsible for it- Science contempt against the Gods. Experiments. Experiments are done because they cannot believe even what they see. Faith is nothing tangible, so they deny it. Explanation. Explanation they themselves do not fully accept and must further test. These Studies are detrimental to Celebration.

"This amicable young man belittles our authority," echoed one again the voice of the ruling seniority. "He captivates, conciliates, and counsels our youth to misconduct. Leisure, I call it Leisure. I tell you this Leisure is immoral. Wasting time like slugs, since all they want is laughter and joy. A lack of responsibility-all so they have time for Creativity, they say. Yet it lacks creativity when they merely imitate Nature. The gods have created all and humans should only imitate what is divine. Yet they go on singing about love, dancing to lovely music, and telling stories of love. Sharing. Sharing dissolves property. Cooperation. Cooperation divides responsibilities. Community. Community absorbs the suffering. It is detrimental to Commerce."

"It is profligacy," all the ruling seniors agreed. "Lacking responsibilities This man should be imprisoned for perverting our youth to engage in promiscuous sex. Love should not be shared among many, but expressed towards one person only. He should be imprisoned also for provoking our youth to play games. It is unhealthy to be irresponsible, uncivilized to engage in competition. And he should be arrested for persuading our youth to learn the sciences, which encourages them to question our authority."

And a decree was made public to disband the group, to close the theaters, to close the parks, and to close the schools.

"From the beginning," announced the Scented One, "it was clear that I would need to sacrifice myself at the end. I shall suffer for the benefit of all. I shall sacrifice myself for the love I have to you all. I am a sacrifice of Love."

Saying this, a company of guards came for his arrest. One of his students said, "tell the soldiers your words of love and they will certainly let you go."

"I cannot teach the whole world in a day, that mission I give to you. Spread the word of Love."

"But Teacher, they only want your life," warned a dedicated follower.

"Then do not be concerned for you will keep my thoughts. I cannot struggle any longer. I will be gone, but my words will remain."

The captain of the guards then asked the Scented One, "are you the one suggesting contempt against the gods? Do you claim the poor to be more important than the gods?"

"The poor need help, not the gods. Are not the gods omnipotent?"

"So it is true then, that you will not pay homage to any god."

"The only ones who have my devotion are those who give love. And the only ones who have my respect are those who act in love. To me they are all unbelievable gods."

"You are arrested for the promotion of indecency, insubordination, adultery and above all, contempt against the gods. You are violating the rules of Government, Commerce, and Celebration."

But before the Scented One was taken away he exclaimed to his spasmodic following: "You are all witness of Love, from which Peace, Health, and Friendship springs forth. Teach everyone the Word of Love."

And to his lover, which would not let go of his hand as he was being dragged away by the guards, he said: "You are my witness of Love. Now be mother to my word."

She was a magnificent girl, gracious and alert, a beautiful lady, of thin, athletic figure. She was the most intimate of his lovers and companions. She knew of the Scented One like no other. And it was her, which he had chosen to carry on his blood. Now, he asked of her to carry on with his mission as well: concern for the well being of the people.

The Scented One had warned her of such precarious end. "It has not been a mistake on my part trying to be popular. A new way of life was in desperate need, and only by convincing a large group could my word be cherished after they have silenced my tongue.

"I was the wind in their sail. But I was a storm that rushed them through the sea. Now the storm has dissipated, and all will remain calm. They must learn to navigate on calmer winds.

"You must deny to the authorities, three times over if necessary, any participation or relationship with me," he demanded her.

"But why can I not be brave, as you have, and repeat your words out loud?"

"I have brought encouragement, so surely many will try to do so, but sadly die for it. But the inconspicuous will spread with success the word of Truth, the words of Love, the words of Knowledge, the words of Life. A whisper carries further than a shout. Be mother to my word; protect it as it is slowly restated through the world."

And so, the Scented One was taken and condemned. He was to bleed for his people. He was to suffer for all humanity, for their growth and redemption. Even when humans in ignorance will resist and condemn such men, luckily his story will be repeated again.

After the death of the Scented One, Government, Commerce and Celebration persecuted the self-named Children of Love as they continued to exercise games, study the sciences, and be creative with the arts. Only under secrecy could they participate in these activities. The theaters, parks and schools, to remain closed, waiting for the day when the wisely majority accepts it again.

EPILOGUE