6. The Seer
- The Poet was still deeply perplexed by the dream which he had dreamed, for he knew in his heart that he had been shown this dream by way of powers far greater than he. He feared this knowledge, for the people of the village would surely curse him if he claimed providence to be the origin of the Wisdom he had felt.
- And he resolved that he should go to the Seer, for he believed her to be one of the few good people left in the village, and he knew her to be kind-spirited, and he knew that she would guide him, and that she would show him what the dream had to teach.
- With humility in his heart, the Poet spoke unto the Seer, saying, “I have walked beyond the boundaries of the village, and I have dreamed a dream. I have been shown a fountain—which I know from my youth—and I have communed with a Teacher who has shown me the ways of Nature, even that all is deception.
- And in this dream I saw the depths of pain and suffering, and I saw that all who walked into the depths would perish. I cried unto those who walked into the depths, even that I might save them, and the Teacher taught me that by mine own efforts none would be saved, and this was true.
- And there was a girl who saved me when I, myself, had fallen into the depths, and She led me to the light above, and I received breath.
- And I saw a pile of bones which led to great heights, and I saw that all who climbed would turn to bones. I began to speak to those who screamed and grasped as they climbed toward certain peril, and the Teacher showed unto me that none would be saved by mine own efforts, and this was true.
- And I, too, was deceived, for I climbed the pile, and I was saved once more by the girl who had led me from the depths.
- And now I am perplexed, for the Teacher in my dream was within me, and I had become the dream, and I perceived the Teacher to be most wise, and most pure. And I see Him even now, for He sits beside the fountain of eternal knowledge, and He watches as the girl saves those who descend the depths and climb the heights.
- And I come to thee now, Great Seer, for I know that thou art pure of heart, and I know that thine eyes doth see, and thine heart doth feel, and thine ears doth hear. What doth thou see in this dream?”
- The Seer saw the Poet’s dream clearly, and she spoke to him, saying, “This dream, Young Poet, has surely been delivered unto thee by way of divine Wisdom, which has become thee, and which will now guide thy path and set thine aims.
- And I ask thee, Young Poet: when thou moved beyond the village gates, didst thou see the Moon hiding behind a vale of morning fog? And did the song of the morning birds echo across the plains, and even into thy soul?”
- “Thou hath seen much, Great Seer, for I did see the Moon as She hid behind the fog, and my soul was nourished by the song of the morning birds. And what of this?”
- “Young Poet, the mysteries of Nature have penetrated thy heart, and the wise sages of Culture have guided thy soul; together they have shined their loving grace upon thee, delivering thee from the depths and the heights and into the warm embrace of the Sage, who has communed with thee.
- Thou hath been blind, Young Poet, but now thou doth see, for thine eyes hath been opened. No longer wilt thou remain in the dream of thy people, but thou wilt now rise above this dream. Much wilt thou now see, and thy words and deeds shall be as a light unto thy people.
- Lo, Young Poet, leave this village and go to the place of thy youth, even to the fountain which was shown unto thee in thy dream, and there shalt thou commune with the Sage. Listen to what He would teach, and learn of truth and virtue. Let Him guide thee toward divine Wisdom, for those who abide in Wisdom shall be great leaders among men.
- And lo, Young Poet, if thou wouldst please the Sage in thine own word and deed, and if thou wouldst follow the guidance which He will give thee freely, how much more Wisdom shall be given unto thee? Yea, how full shall be thine heart with the water of eternal knowledge? I tell thee, Young Poet, that the Sage will surely fill thy heart until it floweth over with this water, even that there might be enough to share, and even enough to save many.”
- The Poet felt that the words of the Seer were pure and true, and he perceived that he would learn much Wisdom from the Sage of his dream.
- Prompted by the Seer’s words, the Poet remembered that his father had taught him in his youth that Wisdom was to be found in places of solitude, and that while people’s wants were many, Nature’s wants were few.
- And his father also taught him that both Nature and Culture were fine Teachers who had provided many paths to learn, but only one path to Wisdom.
- And behold, he had now been given a divine vision, and he could now see that both Nature and Culture had provided him with his own guiding Sage, and he was grateful. And he was glad that the Sage had shown him that Nature’s way was of deception, and although he had been deceived, he felt that it was good.
- And he resolved that he should venture to the place of his youth, even that he might learn of his dream—which was within him—and that he might hear what needed to be heard, and that he might see what needed to be seen.
- And he hoped that the path to Alignment might be revealed unto him, even that he might become as a lantern in the darkness, and that he might show unto his people the direction which they travelled, even that they wandered far from the path of Alignment.
II
