,A Journey to the Center of the Soul

Part 4 — The Mountain and the Ant

They were mighty huge!

The mountains — the giants — they loomed in front of the journeying pair — tough, majestic and completely ignorant of the two humans who appeared like some microscopic organism in their periphery.

The mountains are not even going to know about us, thought the boy. We are to them, how ants are to us. Or like how earth is, to the rest of the universe, too tiny to be noticed. It occurred to the boy then, that if there were indeed an almighty, he would be as oblivious to earth, as the mountains were to the father-son duo. And as oblivious as how most humans are to ants. He told this to his father.

“Until the ants bite, that is,” said his father. “It is then, that we notice the ants.”

“Are you asking me to bite the mountains, father? What if they crumble me like how we crumble the ants?”

“The point is not about biting, my lad. It is about making the right kind of noise to attract the right kind of attention.”

The boy knew that he had to cross the mountains. He also knew that his pathway around the ranges would be challenging, dangerous, even. It was easy to get lost in the wet forests, or get devoured by one of the mountain predators. That was why he needed the mountain’s help and guidance. They were, after all, kind to all the beasts, the birds and the plants that had made the mountains their home. The boy was confident that the giants would see him through this part of his journey.

The giants would carry the whispers of sustenance, enabling the wayfarer to foresee trouble and good tidings along the way. If they noticed him, that is.

The boy breathed in heavily and looked around, assessing his situation, trying to figure out what kind of noise would cause the mountains to be kind to him.

Should he move a boulder or two? Would the giants even notice such a small movement, like how the water in the lake notices the movement of a tiny pebble thrown into it? And how would the mountains react to the disturbance he causes? What if they grew angry at him? Surely, they would pity a child!

Consequences, he recollected the knowledge taught in school. Like your actions, likewise the consequences. The boy was well aware of the actions and consequences that his people had set upon the great planet. No, he could not move the boulder that the mountains had placed upon themselves, at least not without re-placing similar boulders in their place. But neither were there similar boulders in sight, nor would the mountains notice this slight. The boy had to do seek kindness, by showing kindness.

He moved towards the base of the mountain to take a closer look. He immediately understood what he had to do to gain guidance from the giants.

There was litter all over the place. The giants’ feet was surrounded by garbage that humans, in their eternal sense of ownership, laziness and irresponsibility, had not bothered to clear up. The boy realized that the peace of the mountains had already been disturbed. The frequent landslides, annual floods, and incessant avalanches were a display of nature’s wrath.

The boy made a silent promise to the mountains. He would pick up as much of the litter as possible. Right now, and also along his way. Then, he sighed. He could not expect the mountains to aid him in his journey. He was only doing something that he was supposed to do. He cursed the people who had littered the mountains and put him in a position where he was left to deal with the mountain’s anger, instead of receiving its kindness.

“Think of it this way,” the boy’s father said. “Instead of trying to make noise, you are trying to make peace through the noise. No part of nature will refuse an offer of peace. As you give, so shall you receive.”

The boy smiled at his father. The man was wise, indeed. His father was also going to turn back now, go back home. The boy could see it in the man’s eyes. He had seen this look growing stronger in his father’s eyes — confidence had replaced concern. This also meant that the boy was on his own now.

He picked up his rucksack, hugged his father, and moved on, clearing up the trash, on his way.

Not long into his hike up the mountains, a gentle breeze enfolded him in its wrap. The breeze brought the fragrance of flowers, plants and rain in its wake. The boy breathed in the essence of the mountains. The mountains — looked like they had decided to give him company. The boy smiled.

(What do the mountains have in store for the boy? Will he be able to continue his journey without his father’s aid? Follow the publication to follow the series)

Dear Reader,

The world’s story is a tale of actions and their consequences.

Remove the forests, and we remove rainfall. Dirty the water, and we dirty our health. Steal, spend time in jail. Troll, get trolled right back.

Now, let us take a look at the other side of actions and consequences.

Plant forests, and the rain finds its way towards us. Clean the water, and well-being finds its way towards us. Invest effort into work, and rewards find their way towards us. Become mindful in the usage of words, and beauty makes its way towards us.

Actions and their consequences — they are etched into nature. Nature’s beauty does not merely exist outside — in the trees, mountains and rivers. It also exists in our words and actions.

Here’s to crafting beautiful actions to enjoy beautiful consequences!