As we wander through the desert, we begin to thirst after some time. The time differs for each individual. For some, the moment of thirst occurs at birth, for others this thirst only appears after many obstacles within the desert. There are many liquids in the desert. With these liquids we fill the canteen. We also drink the liquid which satisfies our thirst for a time; however, after we cross other obstacles the thirst returns and we must find more liquid to refresh us. The choices are wide and varied. Included among these liquids we encounter many which stain our canteen. These stains start light, but continue to grow in darkness as we draw from the liquid again. The liquids vary in color and scent. The scent is what draws us to them. Each individual chooses what scent(s) he will pursue. As we wander through the desert, our canteen begins to leak. Very slowly, the liquid leaves a trail for others to see. each drop represents a moment in our lives. They have strange effects upon the desert. The drops record everything we see and do.
As I wandered through the desert, I noticed people congregating around certain liquids to sustain them. Some chose very dark liquids with very rich scents. Others chose light liquids with very light scents. I thought, "What a sight. All these liquids, to choose from, but the sun has barely begun to shine. I will search for a proper liquid so that in the height of the day I will not have to be burdened by the burning sun. What then is the most satisfying liquid? Where is the liquid that when drunk, I will not need much to survive the hottest part of the day?" So, as a result, I began testing the liquids. Many were satisfying, but the more I drank of one, the quicker the satisfaction diminished. Although many seemed adequate, I needed to find the right liquid for the day was increasing rapidly and I was still not completely satisfied with any of the liquids. Then, I looked up towards the sky and saw a mountain. On the mountain I saw that the people seemed happier and more content than those who where down in the low desert. I decided to climb the mountain even though I did not think there would be any liquid up there. I borrowed some liquid from my brother and began to ascend. As the sun became hotter and my thirst became harder to bear, I finished off the liquid which my brother had given me. Just when I thought I could not go on, a mountain lion appeared and lead me to a new trail. This trail, .although in appearance it seemed easier than the other, turned out to be the most difficult trail I had ever encountered. I continued on, seeing those who could not go on under the shade of liquid trees. Some were kind and offered me a drink. I accepted, only to find my thirst grow. Some were unkind and scoffed and ridiculed me for climbing the hardest trail so close to noon, following a mountain lion, no less. I almost stopped under a few trees, but I decided that there must be something up there if this mountain lion was so intensively following the trail. After I got back on the path, I continued to strive upwards. It was a very arduous journey and many times I thought about turning around and running back down the mountain. But my rational mind kept telling me that the mountain lion is not foolish for he relies on instinct and doesn't quite cognitively realize what he does.
The sun was nearing its apex as I rounded a corner which didn't look like a promising route. The path seemed to whither to the point that I had to slowly shimmy across it. I thought that this was the end. I thought that right then I would slip on a pebble and fall to my demise. As I slid across the narrow path, I lost my balance and began to descend. I saw my life flash before my eyes, all the pools of liquid which I drank from and swam through. I saw my ages slip by with that thirst welling up inside. I also saw how many of those pools blackened my canteen and how beautiful it was before I drank my first liquid. Right when I thought that I had lost all hope, there was a tension from above. The mountain lion, which I had arduously followed caught my canteen in his mouth and saved me from death. He pulled me up. After crawling back upon the ledge, I was so short of breath and so tired I felt as if I could not go on. I thanked the mountain lion, but its only an animal and it wouldn't understand my thanks. I tugged on the canteen, but the mountain lion would not let go. Instead, the mountain lion began to use all of its ferocious might to pull on the canteen. I was slowly being dragged by a mountain lion that just saved my life! I thought about letting go of my canteen, but I knew that it had been with me since birth and it was something that meant too much to me to let it go for any reason. My muscles were too weak to stop the mountain lion from dragging me on the ground. I kept telling the mountain lion that I was too weak to go on, but the mountain lion continued to drag me. The noon-day sun seemed to be at its height, and my long, painful journey caused me to believe that I was going to die that instant. I closed my eyes and tried to revive some of the memories which only a few moments before were so clear. I could not remember!
"No!" I shouted, but then I sensed a cooling breeze. I opened my eyes to see that the mountain lion had dragged me into its den, within the mountain. The den was cool to the skin and there was a nice sense of moisture within. I looked around. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I noticed a large, clear pool of water which seemed to be coming from a waterfall. Although I could not see the source of the waterfall, I heard the churning of the water and I felt comfortable. I then noticed that the mountain lion had released my canteen and went into the water. I remembered my thirst and I dipped my canteen in the water. The water seemed cool to the touch and felt very refreshing. As I drank the water, I felt my muscles revitalize and my mind became clear. I could remember everything, including things that seemed trivial to me back then. After my large consumption of the water, I looked at my poor blackened canteen, to inspect for damages. Without realizing it, I did not see any damage on the golden canteen. The thought dawned on me that my canteen had been nearly black before, but was somehow now cleaner than I ever recalled. I was confused. How could the water have cleaned my canteen?!! Won't that kill me!?!
I became frightened, when I heard the mountain lion's roar. As I looked towards the sound, I saw something very astonishing. There were hundreds, perhaps thousands of people in the cave, each one with their bright, beautiful canteens. Some canteens were more ornate than others. I then realized that my whole sight had returned and I could see clearly the entire cavern. It was beautiful. There were many crystal-like formations which created multiple rainbows throughout the space. I couldn't tell where the light was coming from, but I saw that the water, which cleaned my canteen and refreshed my body, was falling from a small, wooden canteen near the top of the cavern. The mind delights in many things. Were it not for the water, I would have died. Because I have drunk the water, I have been refreshed.
LIVE
THINK
FEEL
LOVE
JOY
SEE
TRUTH.