8. To the Distant Hills
- The Poet did as he had been instructed by the Seer, and he resolved that he should go to the distant hills.
- He woke early in the morning before the Sun had risen, and the people in the village slept as he walked beyond the gates and began his journey to the place of his youth, even to the fountain which had been shown unto him in the dream.
- The Poet followed the path which led to the fountain, even the path that wound through the ancient forests which he had explored in his youth.
- As he walked on the path, he perceived that—while he had gone this way many times before—he was now privy to a new vision, for where once he had seen trees, he now saw a forest, and where once he had seen a forest, he now saw the bark upon each tree, for there was much that was kept from him before, whereas now he could see.
- The Poet placed his hand on an ancient tree that stood tall and steadfast—even one which had grown higher than all the other trees in the forest. He looked up to the branches of the tree, and he felt that where once he had seen the canopy, he now saw eternity.
- The grandeur of the tree was thrilling to behold, and though the tree did not speak, the Poet heard much.
- The Poet continued his journey toward the fountain, passing through lofty forests and thick mountain brush, and he could hear the water flowing through the dense layers of trees.
- He came upon an outlook where he could see the fertile valley into which the water from the fountain flowed, and it was pleasing to him—even more so than it had been in his youth. And he perceived that where once he had seen a valley, he now saw a living, breathing, providential Cosmos.
- And he saw the trees, so numerous that he could count them not; and the mountains, vast and untamed; and the sky—a sea of clouds concealing the face of the Sun, and yet powerless to hide His golden hue.
- The Poet breathed in the mountain air, which was pure, and he perceived that his soul had dissolved into the valley which was set before him, and into the trees around him, and into the hills beneath his feet, and into the sky above him, and into the air—which was the breath that flowed through all things.
- The Poet looked upon the ground, and he beheld a red songbird. Her song was sweet to his ear, and he perceived that—while once he would not have heard her singing—he could now hear the song of the Cosmos. He now knew that the songbird also had a role to play in Nature’s grand scheme, and that she played her role well—as did the river, and the mountains, and the sky, and the trees, and the air which breathed life into all these things.
- And behold, the Poet arrived at the fountain—the sight of which was pleasing to him. And it was even more beautiful than it had been in his youth, for where once he had seen only a fountain, he now saw Wisdom and truth flowing through the deepest recesses of his soul.
- And he was grateful, for his eyes could see, and his ears could hear, and his heart could feel.
- And he did speak kindly into his heart, saying, “Where art Thou, Great Sage of my dreams? Where doth Thou hide? For I have dreamed a dream, and I have heard Thee in my dream, and I have journeyed here to meet Thee, for I wish to learn what Thou hath to teach, even that I may return to my village and speak with Thine authority to my people, that they may hear Thy word, which is in me, and that they may be freed from the horrible fate that taunts them.”
- And behold, he did perceive a soft voice which whispered to him, saying, “Be still, Faithful Poet, for I have heard thy words, and I have felt of thy spirit, which is in Me. And I wish to commune with thee, for thy heart is pure, and thine intentions are good. But for what reason hath thou come to this place of thy youth?”
- The Poet heard these words, and he spoke unto the Sage, saying, “I have come to this place of my youth, Great Sage, for I have heard Thine own guiding voice in a dream, and Thou didst show me this fountain of my youth in the dream I dreamed, and the Seer of my village did show unto me that I should seek to commune with Thee in this place.”
- “I have seen that thou didst wish to commune with Me, Faithful Poet, but by venturing here, thou hath revealed a hole in thy faith, for was it not I who spoke to thee in the dream that thou didst dream? And was it not I who revealed unto to thee the place of thy youth in the dream? And when thou hath called out to Me, have I not answered? And if thou had called Me now, but from thy room, would I have not spoken to thee? Would I have deserted thee and left thee as a blind man without a guide?
- Surely I would not, for I am always with thee, and I am in thee and around thee at all times, for I am as the spirit that flows through all things, and I flow even through the people of thy village—though they know Me not. And hath thou known Me?”
- “I tell Thee now, Great Sage, that I have known Thee, and I have heard Thy words, and I have felt that Thou hath always been with me, and I have seen that as I learn to listen to Thee, so too are Thy secrets revealed unto me.
- And although Thou hath seen the holes in my faith, I beseech Thee now to shine Thy mercy upon me, and to fill my heart with great truths.”
- “I have heard thee, Faithful Poet, but with what truths shall thy heart be filled?”
- “I wish to be filled with a knowledge of the way to Alignment, for I have spoken unto the people of my village, who suffer greatly in their inequities, and they have harkened not unto my words. And I have perceived that I must be Aligned, lest they turn their faces away from me and listen not, which I have seen will lead to their destruction.”
- “I hear thy request, Faithful Poet, for thy heart is Mine also, and I am in thee, and thou art in Me. And behold, thy heart shall be filled, and it has been filled, for on thy journey to this place of thy youth thou didst stand at the base of the tallest tree in the forest, and thou didst feel of the tree. Thou didst look up to the canopy, and I did reveal unto thee that it was eternity, and this was pleasing to thee. And I say unto thee, Faithful Poet, that what I did not reveal unto thee then shall be revealed unto thee now.”
- “Surely Thou hath been generous with Thy Wisdom, Great Sage, for I have seen eternity. But what have I not seen through Thee?”
- “Thou didst surely see the trunk of the tree, Faithful Poet, and thou didst see the canopy, which is eternity, but the roots of the tree were hidden from thee. And from which source shall a tree grow if it has no root? And if a tree has no root, from where shall it gain sustenance—even that it may reach its branches high into the vast plains of eternity?
- Thou hath asked for the way to Alignment, but lest thou see the roots which lie below, Alignment shall be as a mystery to thee.”
- “I have heard Thy wise counsel, Great Sage, and I perceive it to be true, for I know not the roots of the tree. But I still wish to learn of the path to Alignment. And how, Great Sage, shall I see the roots? Are they not hidden from me? And how does a man see that which is hidden from him?”
- “Oh Poet, thou mortal of wavering faith, it is only through Me that the things which are hidden shall be revealed. And wilt thou trust in Me?”
- “Surely I will trust Thee, Great Sage, for Thou doth see much while I see but little. And Thou hath revealed unto me great truths, and my heart has been filled, and my soul has been nourished. And wilt Thou guide mine eyes toward the roots, that I may see that which has been hidden from me?”
- “Faithful Poet, while we have communed, hath thou seen the spider that waits by the water at thy feet?”
- “Nothing is hidden from Thee, Great Sage, for I have seen the spider that Thou doth see. And what of the spider?”
- “Has the spider moved but once?”
- “The spider has not moved.”
- “And doth thou not see that I, who have breathed life into everything in the Cosmos, have also breathed life into the spider that thou seeth before thee, and that I have led this spider to the water at thy feet, even that she may drink? Behold, even as I have led the spider to drink, so too have I lead thee, Faithful Poet, to this fountain of thy youth, even that thou might drink.
- Thou hath sat, thou hath received the water I give, and thou hath been filled. And even as the spider shall go away when it has been filled, so too shalt thou now depart, for everything that will be shown unto thee will be revealed by Me only, and through Me only, and by My time, which is good for thee.”
- “I thank Thee, Great Sage. I have been filled, though I still yearn for Thy guiding words, even that Thou might teach me what I need to learn. I shall abide with Thee, and I shall be led by Thee, for Thou hath shown me many great secrets.
- And I will align my own wishes with Thine, for Thou hath shown me that through Thee nothing is too early or too late. And I wish only to be in Thy presence, and to be guided by Thee in Thine own time and manner.
- And behold, I wish to make a covenant with Thee, Great Sage, that I will listen when Thou doth speak, that I shall learn when Thou doth teach, and that nothing shall be lost in me which has been revealed by Thee.”
- “This covenant is pleasing to Me, for thine eyes hath seen, thine ears hath heard, and thine own heart—which is Mine also—hath received Me.
- And this covenant I shall return to thee, that if thou wilt trust in Me, then I shall make of thee a shining beacon set on a hill, that through Me and by My grace thy village shall be led to safe ground. Thou wilt be as My messenger, for I shall reveal much unto thee, and that which I will reveal unto thee shall also be delivered unto the people of thy village, by My word, which shall be in thee.”
- This covenant was pleasing to the Poet, and the Sage was pleased with him.
- The Poet began his journey back to the village, and as he made his way through the forest, he stopped again at the outlook where he had viewed the fertile valley below.
- His soul was warmed by the Sun as it set beyond the distant hills, and he saw the rays of the Sun, that they shone through the parting clouds and fell upon the valley, reflecting golden shimmers upon the winding river which flowed from the fountain where he had communed with the Sage. The scene was pleasing to him, for he now knew that the same breath which flowed throughout the valley also flowed through him.
- He again visited the tree which had inspired him on his way, and although he did not see the roots, he knew that they were there.
- The Poet wandered back to the village, and he was confident that he had now met the Sage.
