The man was dressed in robes that were worn with age and they flowed about him as he strode, making him look quite majestic. His hair was completely white and one couldnt tell where it ended and his beard began; both of which hung down to his waste. He wore no shoes, but his feet did not look worse for wear even though it was apparent that he had been hiking these woods for many years. Though he didnt look surprised at my presence he stared at me for a long time. His eyes were small and black amidst the mass of hair on his face, but they were also bright and piercing. The gaze he gave me seemed to go straight through me, and was almost painful. I felt that I couldnt look him directly in the eyes and turned my face away. Time seemed to stretch on and on, but I knew only moments were passing. Each time I looked up at him, I was forced to turn away. Finally he spoke in a deep, booming voice that commanded attention, Well, are you just going to stand there staring at the ground like some kind of groveler or are you going to come and sit with me? His question startled me at first, not just because we had been in silence for so long but also because I wasnt exactly sure he could speak. Now it wasnt that I thought he was primitive in any fashion because his presence seemed educated, but I was surprised he could speak because I had heard tails of hermits losing their powers of speech for sheer lack of someone to talk to. This was not the case, however, for him. Another reason I was surprised was that no one had directly spoken to me in a while now and I was beginning to doubt my own existence! At first I didnt respond to his question because I was unsure of what to say, but eventually I uttered, oh, yeah, sureI was about toI mean Confound it man! Stop stammering and come with me, he replied to my incoherence and began walking toward the cave. Despite my apprehensions I followed him into the cave. Inside the cave was nothing surprising, it was fairly large, and there was a few rocks placed like chairs toward the entrance. A bedroll was rolled up against the wall of the cave, but it looked like it had never been used. Other than these items, there was nothing else in the cave. The man immediately sat on one of the rocks and indicated for me to do the same on the other. When I hesitated he became insistent, dont dilly dally, we wouldnt want to waste time. I sat down without saying a word and then looked up at him. His eyes were still brilliant in the dim of the cave, but somehow I was able to bear it now. Next, I had one of the most interesting conversations I have ever had:
The Hermit: How is it that you have come into my realm?
Well, it sounds kind of ridiculous, but
The Hermit: Ridiculous? I will decide what is ridiculous. Tell me the
truth and I will not doubt you. I can see through men.
I came with a truck driver to a gas station somewhere on the other side of that valley down there, and there was an eagle in the sky who led me into the woods.
The Hermit: Ha-ha! Was that you? (He looked outside the cave at a
massive eagle that was perched on a branch, presumably
it was the one I had followed before.) Were you leading him
to me? You must be something if he led you here.
Im not exactly sure what you mean. Do you communicate with this animal?
The Hermit: Of course I do! I talk to all of my animals. They are much
wiser than men. Now finish your tale.
After I entered the woods, I became lost, but a red stag guided me through them and into the valley on the other side.
The Hermit: Oh you saw him. This is quite an occasion. He doesnt come
out for just anyone you know. But well talk about that later,
now finish.
(By now my curiosity about this strange man had been peaked, but I knew from his tone that I should ask questions later.) When I entered the valley I became lethargic and content and rested against the tree. It was very strange because I became so apathetic, and then a figure spoke softly to me with a mans voice. He urged me to stay there in that place, but I ignored his words and ran off toward the woods at the base of this mountain. After I passed through the woods, I ended up here by your cave.
The Hermit: That is quite the story youve spun there, but I believe every
word of it because Ive seen and heard stranger things and I
was there of course.
Wait, what? How were you there this is the first time Ive ever seen you. (And then I realized the truth before he even said it)
The Hermit: Why it was me, of course, who was speaking to you by that
tree in the valley. You looked much different then.
Why were you trying to stop me from moving on? Especially in that awful placewait, how do I look different, that was only yesterday?
The Hermit: I was trying to save you from the pain of leaving that place.
You see, once you leave there, you can never go back.
Despite what you might think, you will never find that place
again. Was it really awful? Could you say that you have
more at peace in your life?
No, I cant say I have ever felt peace like that, but I didnt feel good either. I simply felt empty and devoid of feeling at all. If I can never go back there, then how did you find me there?
The Hermit: You are making assumptions, my friend. I said that you
could never go back that there, nothing in that says anything
about me. But because you brought it up I will attempt to
explain. I found you there, but when I was there it was a
different place than what you experienced. Even though we
were in the same place we were experiencing completely
separate phenomena. I could tell by your appearance that
you were in that place, especially the way you were clutching
that clump of dirt as if it were some luscious fruit. I only
encouraged you to stay because I too have been there, and
now wish I had stayed.
How is that even possible, us experiencing different realities?
The Hermit: Ha! Dont act so surprised! Surely you have seen things
seen things stranger than this. The world is not as neat and
orderly as you would like to believe. We like to conform the
world into a little box and limit our imaginations, so we can
cope with reality. But when you let the world take the lead
on your reality, you find much more interesting things can
happen.
(I was mesmerized by his words, and despite how unbelievable they might have sounded I took in everything he said, soaking it up like a sponge) How is it that I look so different than last time you saw me?
The Hermit: Dont think that I had forgotten your question! You say that
our meeting occurred yesterday, but what exactly do you
mean by yesterday?
How can you ask such a question? I mean the day before today, of course, before the night passed last.
The Hermit: I stopped counting days long ago. Time only has meaning if
you want it to. I am no longer a slave to that tyrant who
dominates men! I have fought and defeated time at his own
game. Submit! he cried, and when I refused he lost all
power, turned and disappeared. Out here submission leads to
the death of spirit, one must use his Strength and Will to rend
his would be enemies asunder.
Now, I say you look different because indeed you do. Your
appearance is very different than when I saw you last.
How is that?
The Hermit: When I saw you before you had the look of a young man,
nave, but leery of things that were out of the ordinary. Now
you have a much bolder look about you. Your hair has begun
to turn much as mine did once. In your eyes, I no longer see
youth, but age and wisdom.
(With all that had transpired this didnt surprise me, but I did wonder if I truly did look older or if I just felt that way. Something about this place was making me feel aged. In the air was the sense of countless ideas that must have passed through this mans mind. I wondered how long he had been there by my time measurement.)
Why have I changed?
The Hermit: You have changed because, by leaving your apathy behind
and grabbing hold of your passion, you have embarked on the
real journey, the pursuit of knowledge.
But I thought that I had been pursuing knowledge before?
The Hermit: Knowledge is not gained by reading books! The dusty
thoughts of some dead philosopher help no one. One must
go out into the world to discover his reality. He must speak
to the world and listen for its answer. Those scholars locked
away in their libraries know nothing of knowledge. Their
knowledge is limited by the boundaries of their lifetime, but
my knowledge is eternal and because my knowledge is
eternal, so am I.
(This last statement stunned me, and my eyes became wide. It was as if I had been asleep and dormant all my life, and now I had been awakened by this mans words)
The Hermit: At last you realize the truth! I knew you would! Many are
unable to understand or accept the true reality of things, but I
knew that you would.
Yes, I do. I cant explain how, but you have awoken me from my slumber. Everything seems so clear now. Before I would have said that this was an insane notion, but after everything that has transpired I understand.
The Hermit: Good, but now I must tell you that this is not the end for you.
When I came here, I too was on a journey as you are, but I
stopped traveling to settle here because I became tired and
lazy. It is too late for me to continue, but you must keep
going. What you are searching for is more important than
knowledge. Knowledge is eternal, but it is also lonely.
I wish I could have found what you are searching for, but I
cannot go on that search anymore. Once you give up, you
cannot go back. The path is forward!
Wait, what about him? You didnt tell me about him.
The Hermit: You will find out about him soon. He is always watching you
and when youre ready he will tell you. Now you must go.
Up over the mountain, it will not be easy, but it is the only
way. Do not go around because this only avoids the obstacle
and you will become lost. Goodbye, my friend, speaking
with you has brought me joy and given me much to think
about. The path is forward! Dont ever look back!
I said my goodbyes to the strange hermit and looked up toward the peak of the mountain. From where I was standing it seemed to be so high that it exceeded the boundaries of the sky and I doubted my abilities at first, but my conversation with this strange hermit filled me with assurance and I set off into the trees leading upward toward the peak