The Horizon

 A young man prepared well for the journey. He acquired the necessary skills and packed all essentials. With great vigour and optimism he set off on his journey, a journey to where the earth meets the sky.

‘I will be happy when I reach that place,’ he assumed.
Enthusiastically he sped along the way. He walked on lush green meadows, traversed quiet forests, walked by pristine lakes, sailed across the sea, and climbed snow capped mountains.

The faster he moved, the more elusive his goal seemed to be. He was tired, optimism was replaced by frustration. The thought of quitting this quest came to his mind more often now. He was sitting and looking at the horizon when he felt a pat on his shoulder, he turned around to find a sage standing there.
“You look troubled, what’s the matter?” asked the sage.
“Oh guru, I have been chasing the horizon, where the earth meets the sky. But, despite the best efforts, I have been unsuccessful,” said the man.

“A mirage,” said the sage.
“What?”
“A cursed mirage, that which you are chasing,” said the sage.
“Can you explain, wise one?”
“You’re heading in the wrong direction. Where did you come from?” asked the sage.
“There,” the man pointed to a direction.
“Did you notice the beautiful mountains, the trees, and the lakes along the way?”
“No,” said the man. “I was in a hurry to get to the destination. So, I did not really notice them.”
“Cursed mirage,” said the sage.

“Where you are is where the union of the earth and sky takes place,” said the sage. “It happens here, it happens where you came from.”
“I do not understand,” said the man.
“The earth and sky never meet, but their union is possible within you. In chasing this mirage, you have missed the beauty of the journey. You look weary and tired,” explained the sage.
The young man looked confused.
“Close your eyes,” instructed the sage. “Feel the earth beneath you. Raise your hands, feel the sky above you. The earth and sky are both within you, in you, through you the union takes place.”

Tears flowed through the man’s closed eyes.
“You are the universe, the universe is in you,” continued the sage. “The seed is nurtured by Earth, watered by the clouds from the sky, and nourished by the Sun. When you eat a fruit of this cosmic union, you become a part of it,” said the sage.
The man sat with his eyes closed and hands up in the air.
“The universe is in you and you are also in the universe. Till you see everything in the universe as separate entities, you will never experience their union. You are me, I am you and we are all connected by the same life force. Can you feel the earth and sky meeting?”
“Yes,” uttered the man.
“Then your search is complete,” said the sage. “You can go home.”
“Yes, oh wise sage, thank you,” said the man. No
The sage said nothing.

By the time the man opened his eyes, the sage had left. The man had a smile on his face. He got up and turned around towards his home. He looked at the picturesque landscape and his smile became wider. He vowed to enjoy the view on his way back home and began his journey.