It was the end of a meditation that was so full of pictures my mind couldn't hold them. Finally there was one picture I could grasp. An image of me holding a huge round silver platter, over my head - an offering, toward the heavens. Atop the platter, instead of food, there were all the people I knew, those I knew intimately, those I knew only casually. In a complicated choreography, they were standing, lying, and moving in all different positions. No one dancer stood out, all moved together in perfect harmony. Together they comprised a huge Wheel.

Often when I meditate, I check the pictures in my heart. Usually, even when I'm running around like a maniac in the outside world, the picture in my heart that stays constant, is that of the Buddha sitting silent and still on the Lotus. But this time when I checked, instead of Buddha, there was Shiva, Master of the Dance. I was surprised.

My consciousness moved from below the platter I was holding, to a place above it, searched to see where I was and what I was doing. I finally found myself crouching, legs bent in front of me, sitting on my haunches, ready to spring into action to do some service. How can I be both on the platter as part of the dance, and holding the platter underneath? I asked.

Rashana, my spirit of joy and creativity said, "The one who plays the leader of the tribe is always the one who presents the offering, but all other aspects of that self still play a part in the dance." She made it very clear that "playing the leader" was just another position, not more important than any other.

"I'm offering this platter to God/Goddess, right?" I asked.
She nodded.
"Why?" I asked.
She looked puzzled.
"I mean, is He going to judge it? To see if we're doing it right?" I asked. "Or is he going to change our positions according to some laws of karma? Is it a competition of some kind where we get marks?"

Now Rashana was frowing at me.
"Don't just look confused," I told her. "You're supposed to be some kind of a guide. I want to know why we're presenting this. I want to know the purpose of the platter, the purpose in the dance."

Rashana shrugged her shoulders - though she couldn't hide her look ofdisbelief. "I thought you knew," she said. "I was sure I had explained...."
"I didn't get it," I said. "So could you repeat it? Why am I presenting this platter, why am I offering our dance?"

"To make God smile," she said, simply. "Just to make God smile."