In the ocean off the coast of Antarctica, a snail lives around scorching hydrothermal vents. Its name is Gigantopelta chessoia. From the outside, it looks like any other shelled slug. But on the inside, something strange is happening, scientists report in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, like no metamorphosis ever observed in any other animal on the planet.
Once the snail reaches a certain body
length, its digestive system stops growing. Its teeth, stomach and intestine make
way for an expanding esophageal gland. The organ gets so big, it takes up most
of the snail’s body, and basically becomes a new organ. Bacteria colonize it,
and the snail, which grazed for food when it was smaller, no longer needs to
eat. Instead it just sits there getting bigger, surviving on energy the
bacteria produces inside the snail’s cells. (1)
It seems incredible.
But this is what happens to us as well.
Not with our body.
But with our mind.
We “eat” spiritually in our first four years of life.
And then we are set to go. Equipped with all we need.
Our beliefs…
Our prejudices…
Our character…
We are set up from our parents from our early years. And from that point onwards we never look back. We are bound by the things we do not think that bounds us.
Watch that baby grow.
Watch her go to school.
Watch her making friends.
Watch her driving for the first time.
She never left your arms…
She is still there…
Crying…
Smiling…
Hugging you…
Don’t be afraid to die.
Please dad don’t die!
You are not alone…
Smiling…
Mother! Don’t die!
She is calm now.
Remembering her dad…
Smiling…
Giving him that perfect little kiss on his nose…
And between those crying eyes…
The sweet fire of existence starts raging…
Noli timere…
