"A slave boy, Ushi?" I asked surprised.

      "Of course, Peter, but if you don't want me to help. I am referring to the slave boy in Plato's Meno dialog, Peter."

      "And you think that's going to be a big help," I said and shook my head.

      "No Peter, I am serious. I am not making fun of you. You are familiar with the Meno dialog, aren't you? I know that you are. Socrates had made it plain to his friend Menon that even an untrained slave boy possesses the ability to recognize universal principles, because he is a human being. Socrates told Menon that such a boy would not have to be taught anything at all to be able to solve a highly complex problem in geometry. Socrates said that it would be possible for him to do this, because of his ability to see with the mind's eye, and thus the ability to recognize the existence of universal principles that the physical eye cannot behold. That's native to every human being. Socrates told Menon that it is primarily this unique ability that all by itself defines us as human beings. Socrates told Menon that our ability as human beings to be able to recognize and to understand universal principles is an enormously big thing in the development of life on this planet. Socrates understood that this is what sets us apart from any other species of life on the planet. He understood that a human being, even an uneducated slave boy, has the capability to recognize universal principles and to respond to them. He would do this quite naturally unless he denies himself. Therefore he only needs to be guided to acknowledge the capability that he already has. Your problem with Anton can be resolved in the same way. Did you realize that, Peter?"

      "But how, Ushi? What do you have in mind to open the door for it?"

      "Take a guess at what I have in mind. You know me well enough by now, Peter. What's my preferred method for solving fascinating problems?"

      "Oh, your role-playing, is that it?"

      She nodded. "Right, Peter. The process of role-playing forces us to be more honest with ourselves. Since you are the one who has been asking the question, I propose that you should play the role of Socrates who asks all the questions, and I will play the role of the slave boy. Is that acceptable?"

      I nodded. I thought about it. I wondered how Socrates would approach the puzzle that Anton had become. Ah, yes... "Yes, I accept the challenge, Ushi," I said exuberantly, "provided you are willing to play the dual role of playing the slave boy and of playing yourself as a woman."

      Ushi agreed. "So ask away Doctor Socrates."

      Instead of asking a question I leaned across the table for a kiss and smiled, and as expected the gesture was met with an equal response so that the kiss happened. I called it a personal kiss as a reflection of the universal kiss, all happening at the same time.

      "Did you observe what happened?" I addressed the slave boy in the low voice of a professor.

      The boy replied, "You kissed each other, so what?"

      "Did you ever see an animal do that sort of thing, with such evident joy, and with such a total embrace of one-another, even with a sense of elation?" I asked the boy.

      "Of course not," said the boy.

      "Why not?"

      "Only human beings do that, Socrates. You of all people should know that."

      "OK, then let me ask you why only human beings do that?" I said in the voice of Socrates. "Let me help you with the answer. Did you ever see a rose, my boy?"

      The boy nodded. "I know where there is a meadow with lots of wild roses. They are beautiful when they are in full blossom."

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Stories about  Healing from novels by Rolf A. F. Witzsche