Something More

Reincarnation

Monday of the 4th Week of Easter

Joshua's POV:

"Sir, we have found the gunman..."

A senior police officer has released an artistic sketch of the suspect...in raping my cousin Catherine...and attempting to kill Imee...wait, it's...it's the same person!

"Sir, we have identified the suspect as Mr. Murad Ibrahim Bektaz. He's one of the members of a radical terrorist group. They are aiming to realizing an Islamic caliphate over this place. Intelligence report states that they are just starting to spread violence...that's why we are on red alert, putting up higher security...especially for Ms. Villaflor."

"Yes, certainly."

Catherine's POV:

I observed that there are more policemen surrounding the church. I hear from the passers-by that the police has tighten their measures here since they have identified the suspect in the attempted assassination of my friend Imee. For those who are going to daily Bible-sharing session with Imee, they need to undergo some random inspections over the things that they carry...

"Please...let me in! I don't bring anything dangerous, I swear!"

Then I heard a little commotion outside the church doors. I peeked out to see what's going on...

"I'm sorry, sir. But we are just complying to the orders from our superior." A police officer explains. "And it states that we will gonna have impose restrictions in visiting Ms. Villaflor for the time being."

This man...wearing a Buddhist monk robes, then continues to plead over the authorities to let him in. Well, being a Buddhist monk means that he's not bringing any deadly weapons with him. Perhaps...for the closest friends of Imee like me, I should let him give a chance.

"Umm...excuse me?" I let myself out of the church doors to inform the police.

"Oh, Ms. Jimenez!" The same police officer greets me. "Well, what brings you here?"

"Hmm...I wonder if I allow this person to enter our premises?"

"Huh? What if he hides something dangerous agai-"

"Don't worry, sir. I know that he will won't do anything stupid that will harm my friend." I tapped the officer's shoulder and assured him.

Convinced by my simple argument, the officer let the Buddhist monk in of the church and salutes me in return.

"Thank you, sir!" I thanked the policemen in gratitude. "Don't worry. I will keep an close eye, okay?"

I accompanied the monk into the church. I know that he's one of the countless people who seeks an advice from Imee, not only from our fellow churchgoers, but also from experts from other religion. Her popularity slowly soars after the news of feeding 600 people using only 100 boxes of relief goods...as well as taming and liberating a lost spirit...spread like wildfires.

"Thank you for allowing me here, milady." The monk thanked me. "Seriously speaking, I just wanted to have a chitchat whit your friend Imee."

"Hehehe! Your welcome!" I giggled in return. "I'm curious though...with all due respect, I'm wondering why a Buddhist like you will seek an advice on a person from another religion?"

"Well...I'm really not in doubt of my religion...but as one of the learners of our community, I just want to know the opposing views about our doctrine so I realize how important Buddhism is. Like for instance, I'm gonna ask her about the life after death..."

Hmm...actually, I'm curious right now on what Imee would respond to the monk's question...what I know about Buddhist afterlife is that once you died, you will not enter heaven yet...instead you will be reincarnated into somebody else...and the cycle continues until you have realized the essence of life...and that's when you are allowed to enter heaven.

"Imee! Imee! Somebody wants to see you!" I notified my friend when we entered her room. "He's a Buddhist monk...asking about reincarnation and stuff."

"Oh! He's the one that I'm waiting for! Hehehe!" Imee giggles in response. "What would you took so long, mister?"

"Oh...ehehehe...the things is...they're are policemen outside of your church and they didn't allow me to visit you." The monk scratches his head in embarrassment.

"Oh, I see. How about you sit with my friends before we start our chitchat?"

"Why yes, certainly. Thanks for the offer, madam." The monk accepts Imee's offer of a sit on her bedside.

"Ehehehe! Please don't call me madam...just call me Imee."

Imee Therese's POV:

"You are supposed to ask something about the afterlife, right?" I started to ask the monk.

"You're right, Imee. I'll just want to know who a person in your church will reach enlightenment after life here on earth."

"Well...one life on earth is enough." I replied. "Our Good Lord all the chances here on earth to prepare ourselves for the judgement whether we are worthy to be join the choir of angels, saints and all holy in the heaven...or otherwise. We don't need to be reincarnated to a more glorious...or more degrading life to understand the power of God. He will assign you to a place, time and situation that He thinks that will be good for you. We all don't know when the angels of the Lord will take us from here into heaven."

"In simple terms, let us just relate it to a theater play: our life here in earth are just the rehearsals for the great play that will be happen in heaven...where everyone of us will be forever applauded and glorified by our only audience...our Good Lord."

"Hmm...pretty convincing." The monk comments after my explanation. "Oh, hey! How about we'll gonna engage with some dialogue with our other fellow brothers and sisters from other religions like us...and exchange our thoughts about everything."

"Oooh! Great idea! Hehehe!" I quickly accepted the idea. "I'm pretty curious about what are they thinking about so many random things in life."

"Yes, milady. Perhaps when you meet them all, you can able to learn more about our brothers and sisters from neighboring religions...especially that we are currently fighting for a cause against social injustice from the hypocrites."

"Hmm? Social injustice?" I was curious about what the monk said. "Tell me more about it."