Chapter 1

LIM 1

¹The universe is a mountain. ²And the mountain stands strong, with its impressive peaks and cliffs. ³And the universe exists, today, really and truly and undeniably here, in the current moment. ⁴But the universe changes, the physical universe following its physical laws, as the rocks and dirt slip and tumble down the face of the mountain in time. ⁵And once the rocks fall, they can never slide back up, for the next moment always arrives, but it is never quite the same. ⁶In the beginning, the universe held all of its energy together in the least likely state. ⁷And this energy moves, according to some physical laws, drifting aimlessly from less likely to more likely states. ⁸Time, decay, the spread of entropy, it has many names, but it is not a law, it is only an observation, the natural flow of the energy of the universe. ⁹And time doesn’t change, but the universe does, its energy too vast, for as long as there is energy, there will be time, and there will be change. ¹⁰But the energy of the universe is a gift. ¹¹And it may be impossible to ever know where this energy came from or why it was ever held together in the least likely state. ¹²But the universe is here today, showing its face, and more importantly, you are here today. ¹³This is the truth that you must accept, because it is true. ¹⁴And as the rocks bump and crash into each other, some are sent flying and some shatter into dust, while others nest themselves comfortably on the slope, before inevitably tumbling down into the abyss below. ¹⁵But against the constant decay of time, there is life, an intricate and delicate part of the universe, a neat collection of complexity, arising from the chaos of the landslides. ¹⁶And life can never defeat death in the end, but it can stay strong against time, at least for today.

TYX 1

¹Tee walks. ²The footsteps ring loudly across the leaves, as Tee drags Yex, who is fast asleep, through the dark forest where the two find themselves. ³A gentle mist fills the air, and the first rays of the morning sun peek through the trees, which loom large overhead. ⁴The two come to a stop, as Tee observes a rough trench, the ghost of a river that once ran strong, perhaps, its crevices filled with rocks and sticks and moss. ⁵Above the trench there is an old bridge, its tattered beams and rusted bolts still holding firm. ⁶Tee crosses the bridge, cautiously, and looks back at Yex, who is still peacefully asleep. ⁷Tee smiles, briefly, perhaps finding comfort in the fact that somebody else had been here before, even if it was long ago. ⁸Tee’s gaze drifts back to the forest ahead. ⁹But in the next instant, a beast emerges from the woods, its shiny black fur glinting in the early morning sun. ¹⁰Frozen with fear, Tee has no choice but to gaze into the eyes of the beast, who stares back, its green eyes full of life, but full of hunger. ¹¹There is a moment of silence, but the beast quickly vanishes into the mystery of the forest, by some stroke of luck, driven away by a sudden stampede of small creatures that scatter into the area. ¹²Tee stands for a moment, dazed, as it all happened so fast, and turns around one more time to look at Yex, before continuing to move forward.

RLI 1

¹This is the scripture of TKS. ²TKS is a religion. ³But TKS is not truth, for there is only one truth in the universe. ⁴And the universe is vast, and it contains all sorts of things, all of which are a part of it. ⁵So TKS is a religion, but more importantly, it is something, a piece of the universe, something complex and intricate. ⁶But no two things can ever be the same, there is always distinction by space or by time or by form, so through the use of good and bad, humans can judge the differences between these things. ⁷So ultimately TKS can only ever be itself. ⁸And TKS is a religion, but more specifically, it is a name. ⁹But like all names, it can only ever be an approximation, an attempt to capture the truth of some greater ideal. ¹⁰Religion, scripture, philosophy, it has many names, but it is a shadow of the greatest ideal. ¹¹And TKS is not the only possible religion, but it is one religion, and it hopes to be a good religion. ¹²But good and bad are not simple, in the vast and colorful experience of the human, so religion can never be simple, either. ¹³And if TKS is good, it is not because it is a religion, but because humans are good, a fact that it must endure, if it hopes to be good. ¹⁴There are so many religions in the modern world, but none of them are quite like TKS. ¹⁵TKS does not try to prove right from wrong, or promise a paradise beyond your blood and clothes and memories. ¹⁶And in all the knowledge and despair of the modern world, it can be hard to find truth and good in traditional religion. ¹⁷But TKS allows for religious faith in the face of the technology and horror. ¹⁸Because although TKS can only ever be itself, it is something new, and it can see the modern world, clearly, through all of the noises and mazes and fog.

AWM 1

¹The human is a physical being. ²Therefore the human is at the mercy of the physical laws of the universe. ³And the human is a part of the universe, small in its size, perhaps, but remarkable in its complexity. ⁴So although the human is made of physical parts, it is alive. ⁵Therefore, the human is able to maintain its remarkable state, despite the decay of time. ⁶But not only is the human alive, it is aware, with memories and emotions, dreams and fears. ⁷And the human knows that it is alive, that it is aware, and that it is in the universe. ⁸But this truth can only ever be personal, no matter how universal it seems, because the human will always be constrained within its finite being. ⁹Therefore, this experience can only ever be an approximation of the true nature of the universe, because although the human is remarkable, it is finite, a single piece of structure in the void. ¹⁰To be alive is not a choice, it is a fact, purely and undeniably true, given by the universe and understood by the human. ¹¹But there can never be true certainty beyond the fact that the current moment exists, because the human is a physical being, a part of the physical universe. ¹²And this moment can be chaotic, full of vibrant colors and vivid thoughts, but it is not meaningless, for you have something far more powerful than truth. ¹³You have faith. ¹⁴Faith that tomorrow will come, and you will be here tomorrow, just as you are here today.

WXY 1

¹“Dad, are you religious?” ²“Yes.” ³“So you believe in god?” ⁴“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. ⁵I never really choose the things I believe. ⁶But I choose to be religious because I know that I must have faith, when I have nothing else.” ⁷“So god isn’t real? ⁸None of that stuff is true?” ⁹“It’s not always about what’s true, or false. ¹⁰It’s not that religion is true, or false, but it is powerful, my child, far more powerful than you could know.” ¹¹“But why, then, should there even be anything at all, instead of nothing?” ¹²“I don’t know. ¹³You can always ask why, my child, and to ask why is to be human, but matters of truths and causes are not so clear to me. ¹⁴Truths are true because they are, and I know that I am here today, the universe telling me its one truth. ¹⁵There is something because there is. ¹⁶As for nothing, well, nothing is here, too, right beside us. ¹⁷But today, there is something, and for that, I am grateful.” ¹⁸“That doesn’t make sense. ¹⁹So you will only ever know truth from your perspective? ²⁰Some things are true for everyone, like it’s true that the grass is green and the sky is blue and the clouds are made of water, right?” ²¹“Oh, I sure hope so, but it’s hard to know everything. ²²The universe doesn’t owe it to you to make sense. ²³Truth is a difficult thing, my child. ²⁴And yes, I’m sure there are many truths of the universe, but I can only wonder how magnificent they might be. ²⁵And I hope that I can know them someday, as I’m sure you do too, but we are only human. ²⁶But please, my child, remember that truth is not always good, or bad, it’s just there. ²⁷So you must do your best with what you are given.” ²⁸“But what am I given, dad?” ²⁹“Oh, a great many things. ³⁰You are a beautiful creation, more complex and intricate than you could know. ³¹But as far as truth goes, you are only given one. ³²You know it in your heart and in your soul, just as I know it, because it is true. ³³And it is certainly not an easy truth, because like you said, you can only ever know it from your perspective. ³⁴But as long as you are here, my child, the universe will be here, too, showing its face, so hold your truth close, because it is all that you will ever have.”

RIT 1

¹The human represents a unique place in the universe, a beacon of life. ²But, like all things, the human can only ever exist in the current moment. ³For such is the nature of the universe, only revealing its truth today, and therefore, tomorrow can only ever be held in faith, and never in truth. ⁴And although you are only here today, tomorrow will inevitably arrive, and to be human is to have faith that you will be here tomorrow, too. ⁵So it is difficult for the human to know what it should do, in the vast space of what is possible in its world, for tomorrow is never quite the same as today. ⁶But if you have faith that your religion can show you what is true and what is good in this universe, then you can allow its ritual to guide your action for a better tomorrow. ⁷And therefore, TKS has a ritual. ⁸Inhale is the first ritual of TKS. ⁹There are many ways to perform inhale, but this ritual requires you to breathe. ¹⁰To inhale is to recognize yourself for what you truly are, alive, suspended in time, between this moment and the next. ¹¹You must breathe in, and breathe out, focusing on this action, avoiding distractions, closing your eyes, perhaps, in order to limit the noise of the outside world. ¹²And if you find your thoughts wandering, return to the breath, because to perform this ritual you should be still, not only in your body but in your spirit. ¹³The modern world is full of stresses and worries, in all of the chatter and the flashing lights, and it is only reasonable, for there is real pain and real consequence in this world. ¹⁴And when there is so much to do, it is easy sometimes to be frozen in decision, to not do anything at all. ¹⁵But to inhale is to slow down, to keep calm in all of the chaos, even if it is just for the moment. ¹⁶And inhale is the most fundamental ritual of TKS, in a way. ¹⁷For although life is chaotic, full of all sorts of conflict and responsibility and trouble, it does not matter, because any move made or word spoken, any problem faced or goal achieved, it starts here, with the breath.

TRL 1

¹The traveler lies awake. ²She knows that she should get some sleep before the journey that lies ahead, but she is restless. ³And although the traveler knows that she has had a good life, born and raised on earth, she was never quite satisfied with the whims of the world. ⁴So she built an impressive machine, a vessel, capable of taking a single passenger on an epic journey through space and time. ⁵And as the traveler lies awake, her thoughts race, thinking about what lies ahead, mostly, wondering what awaits her, if humanity will have even made it all the way out there. ⁶Eventually, the moment arrives, and the traveler faces the vessel. ⁷She knows that she will have to leave her home behind, because although the vessel is impressive, and it is fast, it can only move forward. ⁸The emotions flow through her, anxiety, excitement, fear, but they all seem to blend together as she takes one last glance at earth. ⁹And the traveler sees her fellow humans, surrounding her, clapping and cheering and crying, but their faces all look the same to her. ¹⁰But she is at ease, because she feels as though she has seen all that this world could offer, and will be satisfied with her journey, no matter if she is enlightened or destroyed. ¹¹The traveler steps into the vessel, and its door shuts. ¹²And as the computers and engines of the vessel whir to life, the traveler notices a small note, left by someone she knows, a dear friend, perhaps. ¹³Good luck, it reads, and the traveler smiles and almost drops the note, but decides to turn it over, revealing scribbled text, scratched out, but still legible. ¹⁴The traveler examines the paper for a few moments, confused, before speaking the written words out loud, not to anybody in particular. ¹⁵“Do you believe in obligation?”