WE ARE ALL ONE
Part 11: WE ARE ALL ONE
“What do you mean by WE ARE ALL ONE?” asks the Seeker the mysterious stranger.
Both the Seeker and the mysterious stranger are traveling through the pathless land. They cross a field of high grass and walk into the edge of a pine forest. The mysterious stranger points at at a mythical pine tree. There are runic inscriptions engraved in the bark, glowing like hot iron. As the mysterious stranger approaches the tree, the Seeker feels an indescribable presence in the air. Like an energy or pressure.
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The mysterious stranger clears her throat: “We say there is tree, where there is bark. We say the bark separates the tree from the air. There's this line between air and organic matter, between oxygen and carbon dioxide. WE SAY WHERE THERE IS AIR, THE TREE IS NOT.”
The mysterious stranger caresses the bark. Her palm moves downwards. Pointing with her index finger at the line, where the tree is sunken in the ground.
“We say there is tree, where there is roots. The tree is not, where there is dirt. The tree starts at its roots and ends at its leafs. The ground is not part of the tree. The air surrounding it, is not part of the tree. Neither are the animals, birds and insects, that live in symbiosis with the tree. Nor are the mushrooms, plants and microbes, that sustain it. So we see the tree, as if it were standing in and of itself. On the quantum field, are things separate, or is everything entangled? On the atomic level, is there a line separating the Carbon from the Oxygen, or is there only empty space?”
“Both atoms, containing nucleus and electrons, are part of a field,” answers the Seeker thoughtfully.
The mysterious stranger, looks into the Seekers eyes.
“Then... Does it even make a difference, where one thing starts and the other ends? What if the Line doesn't even exist? What if the Line is just an illusion? Lets face it: There is only space and the things, which space contains.”
The Seeker scratches their head. Then they think about it again. And again. After the third time, they get it.
image [https://img.wattpad.com/62d6c5d167bb25b60c57f6432a1a6f260ee54d8b/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4835753930755f6c41416f4f38513d3d2d313433333839313638362e313763306262616330333937376164633435323636323833303232392e6a7067]
“WE SAY THERE IS TREE, WHERE THERE IS BARK,” continues the mysterious stranger.
“WE SAY THE AIR IS, WHERE THE TREE IS NOT.
WE SAY WHERE THE ROOTS ARE, THERE IS TREE.
WE SAY THE GROUND IS, WHERE THE TREE IS NOT.
WE SAY WHERE THE LEAFS ARE, THERE IS TREE.
WE SAY WHERE WATER IS, THERE THE TREE IS NOT.
Now, let me ask you... Can the Tree exist without the air? Can the Tree exist without the Ground? Can the tree exist without water? No, the tree can never exist on its own. It can only exist within its environment.”
The Seeker is speechless. They have to process it for a moment. Then they get it.
“Okay hold on,” they say. “The tree can still exist in a vacuum. Like if you were to throw it out of a spaceship. It doesn't need the environment.”
The Seeker and the mysterious stranger, leave the mythical tree behind. They continue walking through a pine wood forest. There are totems everywhere throughout the forest. Made from bones, blood, sticks and hide.
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The mysterious stranger responds:
“But then you will still need to ask yourself, how it got into the vacuum. Was there always a tree in a vacuum? No, the tree can only exist because the earth exists. The earth can only exist, because space exists. Space only exists, because time exists... You see, all is interconnected. There is no dividing line between things. It is only our mind that divides. But in the physical realm all is connected. ALL IS ONE.”
The Seekers mind is blown. As if the mysterious stranger knew what they were thinking.
“So,” continued the mysterious stranger. “You remember, when we discussed, that there are two aspects to reality? Right? There is MIND and there is MATTER. The SOFTWARE and the HARDWARE. Thought and Brain. The realm of LANUAGE and the realm of PHYSICS. The INNER and the OUTER.
On the inside, we perceive things as if they would exist independently. Our mind creates mental images of physical reality. We use the word 'tree' to describe things, that have a similar appearance to the thing we see in nature. We conceptualize the image of a thing with roots, bark, twigs and leafs and name it 'tree'. This is how we split the concept of a tree, in our minds, from the rest of the universe.
But in actuality, THERE IS ONLY THE UNIVERSE. There is only the entire system of reality, of which all things are part. No matter how far enough you zoom in, there is no Line dividing separate things, only particles in empty space. Now zoom out. All things are connected. The atoms are part of the molecule. The molecule is part of the cell. The cell is part of the tree. The tree is part of nature. Nature is part of the Earth. Earth is part of the solar system. The sun is part of the milky way. There is only ONE THING. It is all connected.“
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The Seeker suddenly stops. Rethinking the mysterious strangers words. Its getting darker.
“I still don't quite get it,” they admit, standing in the middle of a forest. “There are still different things. Like there are different kinds of trees. There is still a difference between tree and ground, or tree and air...”
“Yes,” confirms the mysterious stranger. “Things are different from each other. But that doesn't mean, that they are separate. Don't forget: All things are different. All things are unique. You won't ever find two identical trees. With the same surface, the same molecular or biological structure. Up to the atomic level, all things are unique.
You see, this is the problem with language: It can neither grasp the interconnectedness of all things, nor can it describe the uniqueness within all things. With our limited minds, we can never grasp infinity.”
Both continue walking through the forest as the sun is slowly going down. Remains of broken walls and ruins are overgrown with moss and vines. The orange sun shines on them.
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The Seekers forehead is sweating. “You are telling me... The way, we perceive reality is simply...”
“...Wrong,” completes the stranger their sentence.
“Things don't exist independently from their environment. There is no separating line. Things don't stand on their own. We only perceive reality that way. But the truth is: There is NO THING. The very concept of Things is an illusion. Created by words. Created by Thought. There is only the universe. And not one thing within it, could exist on its own.
Let me extend this train of thought: Can the wave exist without the ocean? Can the animal exist without nature? Isn't it made up of the food, that it consumes? Can the human exist without its environment? Isn't the environment that, which defines the human? All things exist in relationship to another.
Separation exists only in the realm of the mind. Only within our language. Within our thoughts. In physical reality, there is no separation. There is only the totality of all things, interconnected and unique on every level. No word can grasp it. No thought can touch it. The truth, behind our reality, hidden in plain sight: ALL IS ONE.”
The Seeker and the mysterious stranger suddenly stop. The sun is gone, the night has come. They are in the middle of a clearing. A circle of high grass surrounded by pine trees. A giant silver statue in the middle. The statue of a warrior king. The blue moon shines on the altar. A couple of fireflies are buzzing around that piece of land.
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The Seeker notices broken swords, axes and spears sticking in the ground, right around the statue. Everywhere are skeletons, rusted helms and armor. All looking identical. The Seeker swallows their spit. Suddenly they hear a rumbling and rustling. A slow groaning. The skeletons stand up.
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A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The Seeker gets out their torch, lighting it up and using it for self-defense. The skeletons attack the Seeker. Swinging at them with their broken swords. The Seeker dodges, then strikes back with their burning torch. Hitting three. The skeletons are burning. Turning to ashes.
Fire is very effective
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One skeleton attacks the Seeker from behind. Cutting their shoulder with a broken sword.
-5 vibes lost
The Seeker strikes back. Hitting Three more skeleton warriors. But with every skeleton down, another one spawns nearby. They are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of enemies.
“Why are you just standing there?!,” screams the Seeker at the mysterious stranger, as they fight off their foes. “I need your help!”
The mysterious stranger trembles. ”I... I... It's not like I don't want to help... But I shouldn't... It's your story... And I must not intervene...”
“Why not,” shouts the Seeker. “Why can't you help me?”
The mysterious stranger wipes their forehead. “Because it's not how the story is supposed to be.”
Another Skeleton attacks the Seeker. Biting their right arm. The Seeker screams in pain, pushes the skeleton away and breaks its bones.
“Who cares, which way the story is supposed to go,” screams the Seeker, whilst crushing a skull.
“I want you to help me! Aren't we together in this??!”
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The mysterious stranger suddenly has a revelation, as she is reminded of something. Stunned by the Seekers words, she speaks with burning eyes: “Yes... You are right... We are together in this.”
In the hand of the mysterious stranger manifests a staff out of thin air. She hits her staff against a crowd of bone warriors. Sending out an energetic shock wave. Many of the skeleton warriors fall apart.
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The Seeker meanwhile strikes down Two more foes. As the last one crumbles, the earth suddenly starts shaking.
The atmosphere shifts.
The moon turns red.
The silver statue vibrates.
BOSS MUSIC!
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Then the silver warrior king starts moving. It uses its giant sword to attack the Seeker. The silver beast moves very fast. But just before the sword would have hit them, the mysterious stranger jumps towards the Seeker, pushing them out of the way. They barely dodge the striking sword.
The mysterious stranger and the Seeker both get up, standing side by side. The mysterious stranger with their staff and the Seeker with their torch, face the silver giant. Both grinning. The Seeker attacks the giants legs, the Stranger goes for the statues head. The torch is not effective. Minor damage at the enemies head.
The stranger is grabbed by the colossus and thrown into the forest. She lands nearby the ruins of an ancient stone fortress in the middle of the pine wood forest.
The area around the fortress is foggy. The Seeker runs towards the Stranger, helps her back on her feet.
“That one is tough,” comments the Seeker.
“Yeah,” confirms the mysterious stranger, whilst wiping off the dirt from her robe. “Level 14... Way overpowered...”
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The Seeker and the mysterious stranger run away, followed by the destructive silver giant. An unstoppable force. Crushing through every wall, running down any tree. They jump over tree stumps and stones, sliding under fallen trees and swinging from one branch of a tree to the next.
The mini boss is throwing rocks at them. One rock hits the mysterious stranger. She is badly injured. There is a cave, not far away, etched in a stone wall. The Seeker turns their head and looks back at the stranger.
“Run to the cave,” shouts the mysterious stranger. “Leave me behind!”
But the Seeker runs towards the stranger, lifts of the stone under which she is buried and carries her into the cave. There they take refuge. The silver giant is too big to enter. The Enemy hits against the wall, causing the walls to crumble.
“You can do it,” gasps the mysterious stranger in the cave, breathing heavily. “I know that you can... And this time... I will help you.”
From the mysterious strangers staff suddenly emerged a light and engulfes the Seekers glowing body.
New Buff added: Power of friendship
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Suddenly a bright fire burns in the eyes of the Seeker. They feel strength flowing through their body. Running towards the silver statue, the Seeker strikes with their bare fist. The impact is so enormous, that the silver giant flies through the forest, crushing any tree, rock and ruin.
“Wow,” utters the Seeker, surprised by their own sudden strength. “I always thought this happens only in anime...”
The Seeker jumps so high, that they can see the entire forest from above. They notice a faint light on the eastern horizon. Soon the new dawn will come. The Seeker lands just in front of the silver colossus. The enemy covers on the floor. It has cracks on its silver surface.
Its eyes are glowing red. Staring at the Seeker. A huge shadow, standing right in front of them.
The silver king speaks in a deep voice:
“Is that really what you want? The truth? You don't want to go there. Living in Duality is far easier. Do you know, what you will lose, when you give up separation? You will stop being special. You want to have a name. You want to have an identity. What are you without your identity? Without it, You are nothing!”
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“No,” says the Seeker with a determined voice. Their eyes are burning brightly. The glow around their body grows and grows. “Without my identity I AM EVERYTHING.”
A light emerges from the Seekers body, so bright, so hot. Burning away all the shadows. The night fades, the sun rises from the east behind the mountains. As the Seekers light expands, it drives out the darkness from the statue. Its shadow burns away. The first rays of the sun cover the land of truth.
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The birds are singing in joy: “A new day has come.”
The warrior statue crumbles to dust and leaves behind a silver key. The Seeker picks it up and also receives a new outfit.
'Silver key added'
'Silver plate armor added'
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The Seeker puts on the armor and changes their skin, receiving enough Experience to level up.
LEVEL UP!
LVL 6: Maximum Vibes increased
35 vibes Total
Skin changed to 'Silver plate armor'
+5 strength
+3 defense
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“You did it,” smiles the mysterious stranger. “At last a new day has come. Together, we will now walk forward.”
Both the Seeker and the Stranger continue on their path. As they leave the forest behind, they walk into a large field of grass.
The Seeker takes a deep breath. Now they are ready. “Tell me, Mr. Stranger, who am I?”
In the distance, the Mysterious Stranger sees an Obelisk, standing in the middle of the field. There is a sign on an obelisk, stating:
'You are now entering the land of truth'
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TO BE CONTINUED