Burial in the Forest Cemetery

Prayer and Meditation

At the well in front of the gate there is a linden tree; I dream many a sweet dream in its shadow. I cut many a kind word into its bark; In joy and sorrow I was always drawn to him. I also had to hike past it in the dead of night today, so I closed my eyes in the dark.

And its branches rustled as if calling to me: Come to me, fellow, here you will find your peace! The cold winds blew straight in my face, my hat flew off my head, I didn't turn around. Now I am many hours away from that place, and I always hear it rustling: You would find peace there!

I lived sunny days happily! Whether many, few - who asked anxiously? What remains immeasurable, flees, floats silently into the past; there is nothing long, nothing short: it was! This word proclaims everything. I lived sunny days happily! Isn't that a consolation, despite all the decay before which the soul trembles in fear?

And more: I'm alive! Live, bathed in light, the present; The world lies before me, all around it swells and undulates, a thousand shoots sprout, and as my breast swells with quiet rejoicing, this fire seems to me the spark of life that nourishes everything, and like me, fanned from within, lost in the round picture, everything shines brightly in bright colors.

And you are a gift to me! The most beautiful bond binds us together in the most blissful delight, and what has ever made me happy, it wants to make me happy twice as deeply through you. I tremble, sweetly glowing on your lips, and feel all the lust: I am with you! Give a kiss for a thousand, give me an hour of bliss for eons!

And if I have to die tomorrow, don't cry! Just fill a moment completely: That is eternity! My eye breaks, but you keep it in your fine shine, you reflect away the golden light of the sun, you carry on what has fallen asleep in me, and faithfully guard in your heart all the bliss that I felt with you so fully, so deeply !

Zen Master Father Reding

If I was then, don't think how long, and that I was divorced too soon - no! You know I lived, full of the urge to heaven, Rich in hours that were already a whole being. You celebrate my memory most beautifully when, smiling, as usual, you enchant the world, and yourself, with gentle emotion, press to your bosom what the gods have bestowed upon you.