VI

[The story has been paused. Both of them, are looking out of the window. Lightning flashed in the sky, accompanied by the sound of thunder, rumbling like a roaring lion. The flash of lightning showed the rain drops, falling in a tilted manner. Now, the Publisher is more interested in the story.

“Monk was trapped in the cycle of materialistic and ascetic life?” asked the Publisher

It is clear from his innocent question that, he wants to hear the remaining part. Though he wanted to know, but without pretending.

“Yes” replied Jeff, while carrying forward the wheels of the story.]

Jeff was in the monastery from the past one month. He had started meditating for most of the day and night.

While meditating, he saw a place. It was a secluded path, full of pebbles. He was not able to understand: why his mind was showing him that place. Following his mind, he tried to expand his vision. Looking with more concentration into the place, but he could not find any nexus. His mind was able to see a path and pebbles, which were covered with snow.

“It can’t be real” he said to himself

But in the corner of his mind, he was actually interested in unveiling the illusion. So, he decided to meet the old wise monk. He changed his clothes and straightaway went to the monk’s hut.

“Come this way” said the old wise monk

The monk was feeding the birds. It was a sunny day. The birds were happy and chirping loudly. The monk was busy with his work. So, Jeff thought, to discuss it later. He went to his dormitory. After sometime, he came again and found the monk to be free. He decided to share his experience. As he was yet to speak, the monk said:

“Young man, Can I ask you four questions?”

“Yes, be free to.” replied Jeff

[The same words were earlier used by Noah in the diary. ]

Jeff was in a mood to ask questions and not in a mood to give answers. But sometimes, one learns through giving answers, rather than through asking questions. The monk asked his first question:

“Who created you?” asked the monk

Jeff thought, what type of the question, monk had asked him. He was expecting a wise question, to be asked by the monk.

“I don’t know.” replied Jeff

There came a feeble smile on the monk’s face. Monk paused for some seconds and asked the second question.

“Who created this universe?” the monk asked

“ I don’t know.” Jeff replied instantaneously, with an expression of surprise on his face.

“Who created, day and night?” asked the monk

“I don’t know.” Again replied Jeff

The monk smiled a bit broadly. He paused for some moments. Looked at Jeff, as if, he was testing his patience level. Then, the monk asked his last question, with a cunning smile on his face.

“Who is the supreme power in this world?” asked the monk

Jeff remained silent for some moments. He looked in the eyes of the monk . May be, he had understood monk’s trick.

“I don’t know.” replied Jeff

“Interesting” said the monk

Jeff got confused. So, he asked the monk.

“I answered to none of your questions. Still, you are saying that it was interesting.” asked Jeff

“You have answered all the questions very well.” replied the monk

“I asked you four quite difficult questions. Whose answer, as taught by our society, was supposed to be God.” said the monk

Jeff was eager to learn, what the monk was explaining to him. Throughout his life, he had only learnt that, not knowing was considered to be bad. But the man sitting besides him had taught him: not knowing is good as well. As, he was carried by his thoughts, the monk further said:

“ It is because society does not want to know.” said the monk

“Does not want to know?” asked Jeff

“People think that, they are wise enough. So, ‘don’t know’ word usually sabotage their wisdom and this in turn hurts their ego.” replied the monk

“This insult word literally, insulates the society from knowing. But the real learning comes from insult.” said the monk

Listening to the monk, Jeff had forgotten about the questions, which he wanted to ask the monk. Today’s teachings were enough to think about, throughout the day. He came back without even asking a single question. But he was happy to gain, whatever the monk taught him.

***

[Now, the clouds have stopped roaring. The mild fragrance of wet soil is being felt by both of them. They are able to hear, the sound produced by rain drops falling in the running water. It is obvious that the soil nearby them, has already soaked enough water. The rest of the water is heading towards the thirsty soil.

The Publisher wants Jeff, to straightaway tell the end. But he knows that, there is some relation of Jeff with both the stories.

On the other hand, Jeff has observed the discomfort, augmenting inside the Publisher. So, he decided to increase the pace of the story. ]

Staying in the monastery, Jeff started unveiling the place through meditation, which used to haunt him.

One day, sitting in meditation, he tried to see a clear picture of the place. After two hours, he was able to see a cave, which looked abandoned. There was a tree near the cave. Behind the cave, was a huge peak covered with snow. Slowly, tears started flowing out of his eyes, without any reason. His mind was now sure, it was not an illusion. He instantly opened his eyes and came out of the meditation. He was sitting still, looking at the pigeons. The beautiful white coloured pigeons, came near the source of stagnant water. They looked around and noticed him. They kept on looking at him to ensure, he was not a danger. Then, they put their beaks in the water. After that, they flew away. The birds had reminded him about his future. Even, he was in the monastery for a short period of time and would be taking away the learning along with him.

All of a sudden, he looked into the stagnant water and saw someone standing behind him.

“So, you became an early riser?” said the monk, while sitting next to him

Jeff smiled and continued his silence. May be, he was waiting for the right time to speak. Monk sat for some time with him. As he stood up, Jeff broke his silence:

“I want to discuss with you.” said Jeff

The monk sat again and waited for Jeff to speak. After two-three minutes, Jeff told him about all of his experiences while meditating. Monk told him, not to share with anyone and try to concentrate more.

Days passed, creativity started touching Jeff’s feet. Meditation allowed him, to know more about himself. With the passage of time, he came to know all about that place. Even, he saw an object placed between two stones. His teacher told him, to follow his mind.

As, he was thinking of the way, to reach his destination. A voice emerged out of nowhere and whispered in his ears.

“I’ll direct you” whispered the voice

He looked here and there. But nobody was there.

“I’ll direct you” again whispered the voice

“Who are you?” he asked

“You don’t have time for all this?” whispered the voice

Now, he could reach there. While leaving the monastery, he wanted to meet the monk. But the monk had gone somewhere. He packed his luggage and started his journey.

He was travelling alone through the huge mountains, thinking about the treasure, which was hidden near the cave. After many days of his travelling, crossing each and every hurdle on the way. He finally had discovered the same place, which used to haunt him while meditating. The snow covered abandoned cave was in front of his eyes, along with a tree. As he reached the place the whispering had stopped.

He went inside the cave and sat on the rectangular flat rock. He felt some energy being trapped inside the cave. Though, it was a peaceful sensation. But, it seemed as if the energy wanted to tell him something. He was recognising the cave. He moved out of the cave, went behind the tree and had found the place to be recognisable too. He was not able to uncover the place completely. He was not able to know about his connection with the place.

While he was sitting near the tree, his eyes fell on an object, partly shining under the snow. He headed towards the object, started digging the soil beneath the snow. When his eyes came in the direct contact with the object, he felt an emotion of pain. The object was a beautiful ring in which, jasper was embedded. Though, while handling the ring, he was feeling pain. But, he was not able to find out the reason of the pain.

He knew, something inside him was hidden, which had some connection with the object. In order to connect with his hidden self, he closed his eyes and went into a deep meditative state. While in meditation, another object started blinking in his mind. He opened his eyes, saw the same two rocks, which were flashing during meditation. He rushed to the stones. He groped for the object, but could not find it. Disappointed Jeff, sat near the base of the rock.

Suddenly, his eyes got stuck on an object, which was trapped in a crevice of the rock. He tried a lot, but his hands were not able to grab the object. The crevice was quite thin. He went near the tree, broke two thin branches and went to the spot. After trying hard with the branches, he was able to take the object out of the crevice.

It was a rectangular thing wrapped in a piece of cloth. He delicately un-wrapped the cloth and saw a scruffy diary inside. Sat besides the rocks, opened the diary and read the whole diary in one sitting.

The part of his mind which was earlier blank, now had filled itself, with the information in the diary. He had completely recognised the place, as well as, came to know about his connection with the diary and the place. He was shocked to know the secret, which was hidden inside him. He slowly closed the diary.

While wrapping it again in the same piece of cloth, he noticed a name and address written on the inner side of the cloth. Though, the name and address were faded away by the forces of nature. So, were not clearly visible. His mind did the guess work, and the words started to reveal themselves.

“NOAH PUBLISHING COMPANY

PALACE STREET, SANGLON CITY”

[Now, Jeff has stopped narrating his story. The Publisher has solved the riddle.]