When the Silent Warrior Speaks Too Much
A short story
It was many births ago. I lived in a simple hut in the ancient Himalayas. My name was Gautama then. And I was twelve. I was not happy with the rampant confusion in the world of Maya we lived in. Universe’s essence, I burned to capture. My spirit sought to pierce Maya’s veils. I yearned to touch enlightenment. So I dove deep into meditation.
Years passed. Each breath became a thread through consciousness. Each exhale whispered secrets to the cosmos. Ancient sutras were my companions. I traced the brushstrokes of sages. Their words echoed in my mind like celestial music. Yet I thirsted for more.
Words weren’t enough.
I explored my inner wilderness. I moved through thought-thickets without fear. My steps became a dance with existence itself. The boundary between dancer and dance dissolved. Still, I remained restless. Then I heard of a venerable sage. And since I do not want to divulge his name, let us call him Guru.
Guru lived on a remote mountain. Emerald forests embraced jagged cliffs. Nature spoke the truth there. Stories of his wisdom reached me like music. My heart yearned to transcend ordinary realms. I began my pilgrimage with iron resolve. The journey purified me. I crossed dense forests and treacherous mountains. Shadows danced under ancient trees. The ground trembled beneath my feet. I drew strength from the Guru’s distant wisdom.
Finally, I reached his humble dwelling. A strange power pushed against me from all sides. I approached and bowed deeply. Words felt scarce here. Guru taught through presence, not speech. I found my voice and shared my yearning to understand everything.
His eyes held ancient wisdom. They pierced through illusions. Time passed like a slow century. Understanding flowed between us without words. He gestured for me to sit beside him. Then he picked up a rough stone. He struck it against the ground. The sound rang clearly through the mountains. It stirred my soul.
“Do you hear the sound of the stone?” he asked. I nodded yes. A knowing smile crossed his lips. “Now,” he whispered. “Listen to the Sound of Silence.”
I focused all my senses on the silence after the stone’s echo. Thoughts flooded me at once. Thoughts of all kinds and types. They nearly swept me from understanding’s path. But I refused to surrender. I knew it would take me years to listen to be capable of the sound of silence. I embraced the challenge. Days became weeks. Weeks became months. I meditated on The Sound of Silence. Gradually, mind-waves calmed. Thought-chatter receded. Expansive stillness filled my being.
In silence, I found refuge. My perception sharpened. The world opened like dawn blossoms. I saw hidden truths beyond appearances. I discovered new ways of listening. I reached a heightened state of being beyond ordinary sound. I witnessed the dance of interconnectedness in reality’s fabric.
The universe revealed itself as a subtle symphony. Leaves rustled with ancient wisdom. Streams murmured of eternal existence. Each breath invited me to witness the cosmic orchestra. Every note played its part. I learned silence isn’t emptiness. Its pregnant possibility. It’s the canvas for presence. The space where truth whispers. Wisdom blooms here like lotus flowers. Existence reveals secrets to those who listen.
In silence’s depths, I discovered my being’s vastness. Infinite possibilities waited there. Silence transformed me. It became my refuge and strength. A sanctuary from worldly chaos. Each day became an inward pilgrimage. I moved through life with heightened awareness. I watched shadow-light dances and rhythms of life. Silence guided my words and actions. I realized enlightenment isn’t a destination, but a journey. It’s the dance between silence and sound, stillness and action. Every moment holds awakening’s potential.
And even after several births, I walk as a silent warrior. I honor Guru’s legacy and the ancient sages. In existence’s tapestry, I’ve found my place — a seeker, student, and guardian of truths hidden in the sound of silence. And this is what I ask of you, my new teachers and seekers of truth.
