The Goal is the Horizon
After enjoying the scenic beauty of Mount Extreme Bliss for a week, the master urged the disciple to continue the journey the next morning.
― Let's go, don't get too engrossed in this place.
― But haven’t we already reached our destination?! After all the time, effort, sweat, and even blood we've spent to get here, shouldn’t we enjoy the fruits of our labor instead of moving on, master?!
― I've allowed you to enjoy it for a whole week. If you think it's not enough, you can stay and enjoy it. I'll go alone.
― It's not about enjoyment. I followed you to reach liberation, not to seek pleasure. If I wanted to enjoy myself, I would have stayed in the city with all its pleasures instead of tiring myself out climbing the mountain with you.
― If you still want liberation, follow me.
― But why do we need to move on when we've reached the destination of liberation?
― This is not the destination.
― Clearly, back in the city, when I asked, “Where do we go to find freedom?” you pointed to this mountain.
― At that time, the city’s buildings blocked the view, so I had to point to a tall mountain for you to see. But I meant that “the destination lies at the horizon.”
― So we can never reach the destination 😮💨?!
― We can.
― Have you reached the destination, master?
― I have.
― You're lying! Back in the city, I never saw the horizon, so you could fool me. But now, after months of travel, I've seen for myself: The horizon is endless. The more we walk towards it, the further it moves away, so we can never truly touch it.
― I didn't deceive you. I only spoke in a way you could see and understand. Before, I didn’t say “the destination is the horizon” because you hadn't yet seen and understood what the horizon is. Today, I'm not deceiving you, either. I only speak according to what you now see. Now, look straight ahead; do you see the horizon?
― I see the horizon as a straight line in front of me, but it’s just an illusion; there’s no actual line!
― I only asked if you see it or not!
― Yes, I see it.
― Now, look behind; do you see the horizon?
― Yes, I do.
― Look to both the left and right; do you see the horizon?
― Enough! On this mountaintop 🗻, wherever I look, I see the horizon. Don’t ask such redundant questions!!!
― If you've seen it, let's go!
― Why move on if we'll never reach it?!!!
― I've reached it, that's why I'm leading you. If you don't want to go, you can stay here.
― Wait, master, you can't leave! You owe me an explanation of how you can reach that endless horizon!
― I've reached it by bringing the horizon right beneath my feet.
― 😮 How is that possible...
― I told you before that you wouldn't understand! It's only because you pushed me that I had to say it.
― ...
― Let's go, don't get too engrossed in this place.
― But haven’t we already reached our destination?! After all the time, effort, sweat, and even blood we've spent to get here, shouldn’t we enjoy the fruits of our labor instead of moving on, master?!
― I've allowed you to enjoy it for a whole week. If you think it's not enough, you can stay and enjoy it. I'll go alone.
― It's not about enjoyment. I followed you to reach liberation, not to seek pleasure. If I wanted to enjoy myself, I would have stayed in the city with all its pleasures instead of tiring myself out climbing the mountain with you.
― If you still want liberation, follow me.
― But why do we need to move on when we've reached the destination of liberation?
― This is not the destination.
― Clearly, back in the city, when I asked, “Where do we go to find freedom?” you pointed to this mountain.
― At that time, the city’s buildings blocked the view, so I had to point to a tall mountain for you to see. But I meant that “the destination lies at the horizon.”
― So we can never reach the destination 😮💨?!
― We can.
― Have you reached the destination, master?
― I have.
― You're lying! Back in the city, I never saw the horizon, so you could fool me. But now, after months of travel, I've seen for myself: The horizon is endless. The more we walk towards it, the further it moves away, so we can never truly touch it.
― I didn't deceive you. I only spoke in a way you could see and understand. Before, I didn’t say “the destination is the horizon” because you hadn't yet seen and understood what the horizon is. Today, I'm not deceiving you, either. I only speak according to what you now see. Now, look straight ahead; do you see the horizon?
― I see the horizon as a straight line in front of me, but it’s just an illusion; there’s no actual line!
― I only asked if you see it or not!
― Yes, I see it.
― Now, look behind; do you see the horizon?
― Yes, I do.
― Look to both the left and right; do you see the horizon?
― Enough! On this mountaintop 🗻, wherever I look, I see the horizon. Don’t ask such redundant questions!!!
― If you've seen it, let's go!
― Why move on if we'll never reach it?!!!
― I've reached it, that's why I'm leading you. If you don't want to go, you can stay here.
― Wait, master, you can't leave! You owe me an explanation of how you can reach that endless horizon!
― I've reached it by bringing the horizon right beneath my feet.
― 😮 How is that possible...
― I told you before that you wouldn't understand! It's only because you pushed me that I had to say it.
― ...
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