Master had many tales—far more than just one.

And Tashi Def? He lay gasping for breath, surrounded by his loved ones. Funny how appropriate it felt to ask about tales, given the journey I was on.

Why did my father have to die so young? I was only an infant.

Master once said, “Coffins are not just for the old. They’re for the young too. You must understand this.”

Still, I wanted answers.

Maybe someday, when I was older, I’d have the capacity to understand better. For now, I accepted that.

Master broke my thoughts.

“My dear novice, to truly understand, we must grasp the consciousness that transcends death and life—that conquers and surpasses them. Do you understand?” I nodded.

“Only when we reach this understanding can we begin to see meaning in life.”

“So we’ll talk about the ‘why’ and ‘how’ later, Master?”

“Yes,” he smiled widely to my delights. “But you’ve already witnessed enough to sense the answers.”

“Yes, Master.”

“To elaborate, before this practice, life is merely a meaningless accumulation.”

I tried to repeat what I’d learned, “Master, we know nothing when we’re born. But now, I’m starting to understand what life really is.”

He smiled, perhaps seeing through the people who would need time to comprehend.

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“Master, as you know, I cried when I felt lonely, and you told me that everyone cries when their mother gives birth to them—while the world rejoices.

"......And when you die, they cry and mourn.—I remember you emphasized that—

"......my dear novice, remember this: when that moment arrives, your consciousness—yes, your mind, your soul—will be filled not with sorrow, but with joy as you exhale your last grand breath.

" So you understand, life is nothing but a cycle of birth upon birth, and death upon death."

As we walked home, it felt as though we were treading on a map of the vast snow-covered field.

I remember how Master used to draw maps to teach us. So, life, as he said, is nothing but a cycle of birth upon birth, and death upon death—you’d think I’d understand by now. It was be a polite, but amusing thought.

Now, the horizon shimmered with untold mysteries, as if spring was bringing with it a poem, a poem appearing on my mind’s eye—"an unfathomed sea hangs fire.”

Remember the third element?

Fire, perhaps the most vivid, symbolizing the rage of our hearts and souls. Rage always burns the fiercest.

For my own sake, allow me to recap.

The four elements are Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind. Now, earth symbolizing solid flesh and bones, water symbolizing their fluids, fire symbolizing their warmth and breath, and wind symbolizing their movement of our body, mind and soul.

I stressed on the Fire because I have temper issue, not to the extent of raging. Well, fire is perhaps the most vivid, symbolizing the rage of our hearts and souls. Rage always burns the fiercest.

And, among the four elements, I would claim "Snow" as my own.

Master would likely laugh at my mischief and give me a playful slap on the wrist—or more likely, on my bold little head. I’d probably swat it away, letting the loose sleeve of my novice robe cling to me in the cold.

Yes, I and my beloved master were walking home on such unfathomed map. There's a sense everywhere of dry ice fading, grey paddock fading and seeding.

The map's as thin as Tashi Def's sparse blond hair, where, as if, husbands and wives went to starting to work on their means and ends.

Yes, beneath the blues.

But then, out of the blue, a sharp, shrill shriek pierced the air, breaking my contemplation. It was completely uncalled for.