However I show her that there are no people anywhere around. What she is disturbed by are only pieces of clothing draped on some kind of sticks that are attached to her chair in various places. I point to one behind her shoulder, with fabric over it and a hat. She sees that there is no one to fear, only some things she is imagining are hostile people. This dream reminds me of a classic teaching story about a holy man in India who is resting by the side of the road.
Several men pass by and stop.
After several others come along and each sees in the Sadhu what he himself is, they get into a big argument about whose version of the situation is true . Another holy man comes by, sees them arguing, and goes over to the fellow sitting by the side of the road. He recognizes that this man is calmly meditating and is in an altered state of consciousness. For example, I was surprised to find today that underneath my objections to comments about age, was my own ageist attitude. When I called people's attention to their prejudice against old people, I believed I did not share it.