.........................................NUDITY AND KNOWING....................

Whoever knows himself is nude.

Nude because he lacks the clothing of false identity.

Perhaps he remains physically nude, like crazy people or like the disciples of St. Francis of Assisi.

Probably, however, he stays behind the mask of conformity in order to continue his assigned role in the theater of life.

While continuing to experience pain and joy, he maintains a kind of subtle, permanent delight underneath.

This experience may well remain hidden.

Perhaps the man who knows himself wears the mask of normalcy precisely because of his awareness of being nude.

He sees, at the same time, the nudity of everyone else -- in their pain, in their eyes.

He treats them with tenderness.