BXBX NOVEL Chapter 67 The Wise Sage
Inside a small hut made up of mud, stones and hay, there was a clean pedestal present, above which lay a small idol of a deity.
The deity was in a meditative pose and the idol was made with a shimmering stone, symbolizing that this was the energy they could always look upto, even in the darkest of times.
A family of four, dressed in worn out, patch-filled yet clean clothes were standing in front of the idol, holding their plates consisting of nothing but boiled millets.
The millets covered just one-fourth of their plates, appearing not a least bit appetizing or flavorful.
Despite the extreme poverty of the family, the four had calm expression on their faces.
The family showed their plate with food to the idol and the man chanted,
"Oh dear God, the Sustainer of the Universe,
With gratitude, we present this simple meal before you,
Your wisdom guides us, and your compassion sustains us.
Dear God, you are our whole essence, we are your children,
We pray you continue to bestow your blessing unto us as you always do,
And be our strength to survive these times.
With every breath, we\'ll cherish your guiding light,
Your name on our lips, a prayer that takes flight.
In unity, we stand, your devotees true,
Thank you, dear God, for all that you do."
The four then took some millet from their plates and placed it at one end of their plates, making it an offering to their God.
They then ate their food and with a belly not even half-full, went to do their work in the fields, under the scorching sun.
"Despite their poverty, they are always content and filled with gratitude. They worship God with all their heart and truly believe in his divine presence."
A wise sage had been watching this family for many days and had finally come to this conclusion.
These family members found devotion to their God as a source of strength and solace. They saw the divine in everything and felt that their devotion was their greatest treasure.
The sage had always thought of God being the superior, however, such devotion, faith, and love of these devotees made him think otherwise.
Their devotion was so strong, he felt it being superior to the might of the Gods themselves.
It was then that a profound question appeared in the wise sage\'s mind:
Who\'s superior: God himself or his devoted worshippers?
In search of an answer to this question, the sage traversed through the lowest of low mortal realms and the highest of high heavens.
He completed one full round of the entire cosmos, yet he didn\'t find his answer.
Troubled greatly, the wise sage decided to seek the answer from God himself.
Having spent a lifetime delving into the mysteries of existence, the wise sage was someone adept in ancient teachings and practices.
Through intense meditation, he attuned himself to the universe\'s subtle vibrations, revealing concealed portals to majestic realms beyond the cosmos.
With his profound insights as a guide, the wise sage performed a long-forgotten ritual known only to a select few.
This ritual, when performed with pure intentions and unwavering focus, enabled one to transcend the confines of the physical realm.
Thus, with intricate meditative techniques, and with the help of the ritual, he aligned his own energy with cosmic forces, forging a bridge between his human existence and the divine plane above.
Upon completion of the ritual, the wise sage then stood at the precipice of the Gods\' realm.
Here, he was questioned by a God about what brought him here.
The wise sage replied with what was troubling him and the wisdom he seeked. He prayed for an audience with the divine one he worshipped.
The God the sage talked to, acknowledged the sage\'s dedication and honored him an audience with the divine.
As the wise sage entered the realm beyond the cosmos, just one step had brought him to a majestic grand hall.
The hall was open and simple, yet the entire cosmos that lay around it fascinated the wise sage.
However, it was but a slight fascination, for the sage had traversed throughout the cosmos, and the thing that would intrigue him the most would be finding an answer to his question.
A bright light shined in front of the sage and there he appeared…
The divine one.
The one the sage had been seeking for an audience.
The divine one, God himself, exuded an aura of serene authority.
His raven-black hair framed a face with piercing blue eyes, reflecting depth and compassion. His physique — lean yet powerfully toned.
Draped in simple attire, he wore distinctive accessories – large black pearl bracelets and anklets, each carrying a tale of cosmic significance.
Amidst divine elegance, he stood as the guardian of balance and continuity.
Despite being the highest authority, the wise sage didn\'t feel pressure, just gentleness and warmth under the presence of God.
"Your presence is cherished, and your devotion has brought you to my realm. Speak, my devotee, and let your heart\'s stirrings be known." God said in a gentle yet authoritative tone.
The wise sage bowed and joining his hands, prayed, "Divine Presence, I come with nothing but gratitude and pure curiosity. I have traversed the cosmos, searched everywhere for eons, yet I could not find the answers I seek."
"O Source of All Wisdom, I humbly ask: What truly distinguishes your eternal essence from the devoted souls who tread the path of faith?"
The wise sage didn\'t look up at God, just stared down and waited for an answer.
Had he looked up, he now would\'ve seen a complicated look on God\'s face.
God, the Balance of the Cosmos, the Preserver, the Sustainer of the Universe…
A divine being whose very existence is the cause of all things to exist in the cosmos, the one who is the reason for balance and a fine line to exist between Creation and Destruction…
The epitome of everything, the sovereign above all, the zenith of all knowing, and the highest authority in the vast tapestry of the cosmos…
This divine being…
As he looked at his curious devotee, the infinite expanse of his being bore witness to a truth he had never contemplated before…
He…
The one who held the threads of existence together…
He…
…had no answer.