“How stupid can I be? Set my geocache filter to find only
first-to-finds, terrain and difficulty of 5/5, and caches that have
never been attempted…and look at the mess I’m in. The cache wasn't
at the posted coordinates and now I don't think that they are in
this place either.”
Carrying a backload of ropes, carabineers, and freeze-dried ice
cream, the geocacher continues his trek up the side of this
forgotten 20,000 foot peak in the midst of the Himalayas. Hand over
hand he continues until his head breaks through the last cloud and
his GPSr points to the middle of a beautiful grassy knoll
illuminated by a single sunbeam. In the middle of the heavenly
light sits a circle of bearded monks, each half smiling as if they
had expected this man’s appearance.
Perplexed, but undaunted, the man stepped up to the unlikely
group. “Dear sirs, I have come a very long way…I have reached my
physical limit…I am exhausted…but I am looking for something…I am
looking for…”
Before he could finish his sentence, one of the monks said “We
know what you are looking for…you are looking for what everyone
looks for…you are looking for the eternal truth.” Before the
geocacher could say that he was just looking for some Tupperware
using this random list of numbers he printed from the website,
each of the monks in turn began to give him the advice that each
had probably pondered for endless years.
Monk #1 – “Forever have the intellects, the brutes, the poets,
and the dreamers tried to find truth…to find truth, get rid of the
scholars…just get rid of the wise and work with the rest.”
Monk #2 – “Searching for truth, adventurers have climbed the
highest mountains, flown through the clouds like eagles, suffered
the heat of the endless deserts…yet they forget from where life has
come…you must look beneath the seas!”
Monk #3 – The most weary of the monks just sobbed and shook his
withered head “No use…to find the truth…its just no use…” His
mumblings trailed into nothingness.
Monk #4 – “The secret to finding truth is not in the taking.
Never take from the Earth…the seeker always gives back what they
borrow…things are transitory, not for the holding…give back
all...the finder of the truth is the one that never owes…never
owes.”
Monk #5 – The grimmest of the monks said “Truth is in
abstinence. Resist temptation, be it pleasures of the mind or of
the flesh. Truth can only be found when ignoring those birds and
bees…there is no other way.”
Monk #6 – “Truth is in the face of every person. Open your mind,
and look into the countenance of mankind. But be wary, truth is not
found in their words. Truth cannot be found from their appearance.
Look into their soul, behind the eyes, and deep into the soul.”
Monk #7 – Bursting from the group was the wild haired monk who
started yelling “No …geeze….no…!!!” and before he could say another
word, he lapsed into a catatonic state, stared confused, paused,
and slowly walked back to his spot.
Monk #8 – “Truth is found only through constant struggle. The
mind opens after inner conflicts and their resolutions. Peace is a
deception…you’ll find truth when there is no peace.”
The original monk said “It is now time for you to leave. We have
told you all we know. Go in peace and find your truth.” The monks
gave the cacher another parchment filled with letters,turned and
walked into the suddenly forming fog.
Glancing at the parchment, the cacher took a deep breath and
began the descent. “Truth?...I just wanted a smiley.”
