Part 9

Alid Faski Natva returned to the place of his main work in Tbilisi. The financial situation of his family with his little daughter Tamuna growing up was quite poor. The wage of a fitness instructor is quite small; to work at two jobs was against the yoga philosophy. His special abilities were not in demand. Diving into the ocean of everyday life Alid Faski Natva was aware that it is not going to be easy for him to live by his new life philosophy. The High Teacher taught him how to heal people, but he could not do it so far. He was persistently using the methods given to him by his Teacher for his own self development – he remembered what his Teacher taught him: “You would feel it yourself when you ready to do the healing…” Like any Raja yogi (which are rare on Earth), he was suppose to send the energy he received from the outside (sun, air and so on) to the world by special breathing exercises. The energy he would send to the world would mend the lost harmony in the world and it would find people which are in need of it. In the ether of the earth which is full of thoughts, sounds, words, music, noises, raja-yogi of a high level find each other and communicate… there is even a special time of the day for this purpose.

Certainly no one of his family had any idea that early in the morning when everyone was asleep he would lie with his eyes closed and do breathing and mental exercises committing this unbelievable for an average person selfless act of helping the humanity. Raja-yogi Alid Faski Natva was not sitting in traditional in our understanding pose “yogi pose”, it was not necessary for him any more. Looking at his closed eyes one would think that he was asleep; his facial features looked so peaceful.

Thus the transformation of Alid Faski Natva’s spirit was continuing.

In two years after returning from India he felt the need to cleanse himself which required a prolonged fast. He started two weeks before Shrovetide carnival. In Georgia, like in Russia they celebrate this spring holyday with great joy. People are making pancakes and serving them to their gests. Relatives and friends gather to have their meals together. It is a custom to serve pancakes and national Georgian dishes. Alid Faski Natva looked how others were enjoying the feast. It was his second week of eating just fruit and vegetables. The food looked delicious – it would have been tempting for any one, but Alid Faski Natva looked indifferently at it.

After the holyday had finished, on Monday when religious people began their fast (not many people were fasting those days) Alid Faski Natva started his fast – no food at all, just water. He fasted for forty days. Not many people knew about it. He continued with his work, doing his everyday chores. A prolonged fast like that would be very dangerous for an ordinary person it needs to be done under supervision and monitoring but Alid Faski Natva already knew how to refill the lost energy. His features obtained special spiritual graciousness. Harmony was in all his body. He was a perfect example of perfection of the body and soul.

During this fast no one of his friends and even family new about his experiences and discomfort he had encountered, that how great his self control was. He stayed in state of high spirit. One could only guess what this man was going through during such a long fast. Suffering from starvation? Of cause… He was a living person! Insights…? Perhaps… After ester he started slowly coming out from his fast adding water and juices to his diet. Only after two weeks he started slowly having some food. There is the rule: for how many days you fast – for so many days you come out of it. The human body does not like any sudden changes, no matter what the changes are, whether it starvation or overeating, heat or cold, isolation from the outside world or any other extreme situations – it all could lead to negative or even irreversible processes in a human body. It is not advisable to experiment with your body, whether its yoga breathing exercises without guidance of an advanced teacher or prolonged fast. This particular case was a case of extraordinary person who could do what an ordinary person is not suppose to do.

In the evenings the family would gather around the table. The mother would set the table; the wife would join her after putting their little daughter to bed. Especially interesting were the evenings when their friends would come along. They were always happy to receive their friends. Conversations were about anything: about daily events, relationships, helping someone of their friends who were in some kind of a difficult situation; talking about funny things happening, having a lot of laughter or just enjoying the time together.

Once his father in law Ilia sad to Alid Faski Natva:

- Alid Faski Natva, I don’t think you like your job much. You would be much more useful to people doing something else. Maybe you should think about changing your job?

- May be, - Alid Faski Natva replied.

- I think you place is in church. You would have made a fine priest. You are an honest person; you can do a lot for people. You could guide people on the path of Truth. This is an honorable vocation.

- Yes it is an honorable vocation, - Alid Faski Natva agreed.

- People are weak in their spirit, sinful in their thoughts and deeds, they need a strong honest and fare mentor, - continued Ilia – which would guide and support them throughout their lives and give them a good advise in the times of difficulties. Do not you agree?

- It is hard to disagree with that, father Ilia, but one could give people advice without being a priest.

That is true. But how many people you could help working as a fitness instructor? The position of a priest would open up more opportunities for you. I would really love you to meet out patriarch Ilia. – If you really want me to, father Ilia, I will meet the patriarch.

- Great - sad his father in law – I’ll talk to Ilia. Let’s not put it of for long. What about the end of this week?

- It is OK with me, if it is convenient for the patriarch – Alid Faski Natva replied.

The meeting took place in four days and it had its significance. They came to the temple at five pm. They were expected there, a heavy door was opened up for them and they entered a big inner yard. The secretary greeted them at the door and invited them in. They sensed cool air and the smell of candles. Holly Patriarch of Georgia came out to greet them; he was wearing a black robe and a big cross on his chest.

His father in law and the patriarch had the same name and it had its history. Fifteen ears ago when his father in law taught in seminary the future patriarch who had a big respect for him came to him for an advice.

Ilia, Synod made a decision about me taking the san of patriarch. What name do you think would be good for me when I’ll be christened?

I would advise you to go and ask the one who will be christening you, - said Ilia, - he is going to help you choose a name; tell him that Ilia sent you.

That was what the future patriarch done. The priest christening him gave him the name Ilia. That was how the Patriarch of Georgia became a namesake of Alid Faski Natva’s father in law.

Coming up to the patriarch, which had a title of a his holiness (the title was passed down from patriarch to patriarch) Alid Faski Natva wanted to kiss his hand which was predetermined by the protocol, but the patriarch embraced him in a friendly manner and kissed him on his forehead as his equal. After exchanging their greetings, patriarch asked them to sit down and sat down next to them even though there was a beautifully incrassated chair standing aside which he usually sat in greeting his guests. This chair was a peace of art. It was specially made by a master - artist Givi Dgamasshvily for holly patriarch Efim the second on his request. Since than the chair became a part of the monastery. Patriarch Ilia made an exception to the rule by sitting in an ordinary chair to give their meeting a friendly informal sense. They talked about health, family and business. There was a feeling of tension in their conversation. After a quick glance at Ilia, Patriarch Ilia asked Alid Faski Natva:

I know you are a believer. God gave you a gift of compassion. You know and feel how difficult is for the church to guide people on their way to the Truth. If God has given you this gift may be you could help us?

Alid Faski Natva felt straight away that patriarch was not happy with how he had expressed his thought: “help us…” It could imply that the church is helpless, and he is asking for help a person who is not even in service. He was not accustomed of asking, he was used to being asked. The patriarch thought for a second that by doing this he demeaned the church and himself. But than he calmed down: the gift that Alid Faski Natva had was a gift from God and God would not give this gift to a person who would have pride and feel superior over church and people. He thought that most probably Alid Faski Natva was genuinely a sincere and humble person. Knowing that Alid Faski Natva could read people’s thoughts he proceeded trying to avoid to look into Alid Faski Natva’s eyes, thinking that he could hide his thoughts by doing so and he offered quite formally:

- Would you want to become a priest and to serve God and people?

Alid Faski Natva could understand the thoughts of the patriarch, there was no need for him to see the eyes of the people he was conversing with, to know the state they were in and their thoughts, therefore he replied:

- One could serve God without the title of a priest.

Certainly one could. But I consider it to be my duty – he looked at Ilia again, he nodded, to offer you an appropriate vocation which would suits a person who has believes, convictions and abilities like yourself.

Thank you for the offer – replied Alid Faski Natva politely, still not being able to catch the patriarch’s eyes – he was avoiding the eye contact – but I’ll do much more for people if I won’t serve the church.

How come? – The patriarch surprisingly looked for the first time into Alid Faski Natva’s eyes?

Alid Faski Natva looking him in the eyes replied:

If I would become a priest it would be my duty to teach people to love each other, and listening to me they would think I do it out of obligation. But if I talk about love without being in service for the church, and that is what I do now, they would trust me more, because it would mean that I truly believe so.

Listening to Alid Faski Natva’s explanations the patriarch with obvious relive replied:

- Well, if that what you decided, so be it.

They talked for another half an hour and parted. On the way home Ilia said to Alid Faski Natva:

Sorry, I just wanted you to be a Priest…

No apologies required, Ilia. I understand your intent, but I have a different path in my life.

Ilia sighted. Then he shook his head as if shaking off sad thoughts, and said to Alid Faski Natva smiling:

Don’t you think that our patriarch was a bit frightened during the meeting with you?

Do you think so, he asked in reply.

Yes, continued Ilia – he was probably afraid that you were reading his thoughts! Tel me honestly, did you read his thoughts?

No I did not – honestly and surely replied Alid Faski Natva and then added – what for, there was no need for it; his thoughts were so obvious without my intention to read them…