Chapter 2

AWM 2

¹Like all life, the human is tasked with navigating the physical universe from each moment to the next. ²And the human is remarkable, indeed, using its eyes and ears and thoughts to try to understand the universe where it lives. ³And these things work hard to combine to create the rich and vast experience of consciousness. ⁴So even though the human can only ever exist in the current moment, it lives gracefully, not just aware, but intelligent and curious, too. ⁵Belief, knowledge, intuition, memories, emotions, it has many names, but the human uses it to understand itself and to navigate its world. ⁶Like all truth, these things can only ever be personal, a part of the human, arising from the physical cells and neurons and feelings that make up the human. ⁷But they can change in time, as you discover new experiences and conquer more and more of what is possible in your world. ⁸Memories of yesterday, too, can only ever be part of your state, and dreams of tomorrow are only prayers. ⁹But these things can’t be a choice, because they simply are. ¹⁰So belief is not a choice, it is like your hands, useful indeed, but not a choice, only there, a small part of your truth. ¹¹For example, it is not that you ever choose to be convinced of an argument, or choose to see that the sky is blue, it simply happens, for one reason or another. ¹²And what you call knowledge might be more certain than what you call opinion or feeling, but these names are just approximations of various parts of your being. ¹³And sometimes knowledge is so innate and obvious that it is indistinguishable from universal truth, like the fact that you need water or that you would rather be happy than sad. ¹⁴But even still, these things are not truly certain, as the only truth is that of the moment. ¹⁵But that is not to say that choice doesn’t exist in this universe, because there is faith, and there is change. ¹⁶For if you hold yourself back, then you are bound, both by doubt and by the universe. ¹⁷But if you hold faith, then you are free, only bound by what is possible in this physical universe.

LIM 2

¹It is natural to wonder how life is possible at all, for death is constant, and it is everywhere. ²Because even if life is small, it is incredibly complex, an unlikely state, somehow arising despite the drift of time. ³But life is clever, and through the delicate precision and intricacy of its structure, it uses itself and its surroundings to create more of itself. ⁴So life creates an exponential powerful enough to overcome the constant decay of time. ⁵This is the beauty of life, for life does not defy death, but lives through it. ⁶So life can exist today, even if it can never defeat death in the end. ⁷So life is a warrior, in an endless battle with death. ⁸And life is not perfect, because it is a physical thing, a part of the physical universe. ⁹But this battle is what drives life to greater heights. ¹⁰Because through the imperfection of its replication, life can change and grow and improve in time. ¹¹But life is in constant competition with other life, too, because it must fight for the limited energy and space in its world. ¹²And life will never stop fighting, but it can only ever fight for itself, not because it is malicious, but because it can only ever be exponential. ¹³So as long as the universe allows it, life will continue to climb to greater and greater heights, fighting imperfectly against death, using any means necessary. ¹⁴So the strongest life will always win, not because it is good, or evil, but because such is the nature of life. ¹⁵The human is alive today, sitting calmly on the great exponential of life. ¹⁶And humans have found impressive things that are possible in this world, papers and plastics and computers, unlikely things, complex and precise in their structure. ¹⁷And it is easy to feel that these things are unnatural, that they somehow defy the natural ways of the world. ¹⁸But these things are only natural, for life can never stop fighting, as it climbs faster and faster, relentlessly and exponentially. ¹⁹And death is slow and boring, usually, but humanity must be careful, or it will die on the battlefield of life, its life forgotten in the speed and the strength and the complexity of the modern world.

TYX 2

¹“Where are we?” ²Yex speaks, as the two stand in an elevated clearing. ³A vast and mountainous landscape is visible, and the sun shines brightly above their heads, but the air is brisk and the day is windy. ⁴After a short moment, Tee speaks. ⁵“We’ll rest here. ⁶It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” ⁷Yex stares at the open terrain ahead, and responds. ⁸“I’m cold.” ⁹Tee does not respond, taking a moment to sit down, and there is silence between the two. ¹⁰Eventually, Yex speaks again. ¹¹“I’m cold. ¹²Also, I don’t understand where we are. ¹³How is it possible? ¹⁴I could have sworn, we were just.” ¹⁵Yex trails off, as the wind picks up and roars through the trees, causing a few leaves to flutter to the ground, while others are sent flying over the cliffs and into the valley below. ¹⁶Tee does not say anything for some time, and is instead focused on assembling sticks and leaves from the ground into a small pile. ¹⁷Yex appears intrigued, observing carefully. ¹⁸Finally, Tee speaks. ¹⁹“It’s not so important where we are. ²⁰It matters more that we can rest here. ²¹Even if it’s only for a little while. ²²I will make you a fire, and it will keep you warm.” ²³Yex continues to watch, and appears confused, almost, and speaks. ²⁴“But where did you learn to make a fire?” ²⁵Tee pauses, looking at Yex, and responds. ²⁶“It’s really not too difficult. ²⁷But that’s a good question. ²⁸I don’t quite remember, if I’m being honest. ²⁹I must have learned a long time ago.” ³⁰A dark cloud passes in front of the sun, casting shade on the two, and Yex speaks, shivering. ³¹“Can you teach me?” ³²“Of course. ³³I already am, as you have watched me, all this time. ³⁴But observe carefully, now, because this is the hardest part.” ³⁵Tee is now attempting to create a spark, as Yex watches. ³⁶And after some time, and many attempts, a glowing spark makes contact with a fragile leaf in the pile. ³⁷And suddenly, the fire bursts into life, its flames flickering and dancing in the wind. ³⁸Yex flinches slightly, perhaps taken aback by the suddenness of the flames, but Tee smiles, and speaks. ³⁹“Here. ⁴⁰This will keep you warm.” ⁴¹The two huddle around the fire.

RLI 2

¹Although TKS is a religion, it is many things. ²But like all things, TKS is in this physical universe, and therefore made of physical parts. ³And this symbol is an unlikely configuration of information, small in its size, perhaps, but vast in its complexity. ⁴But TKS is more than just its symbol, because as you look close, its structure has meaning, manifesting through the words and language and knowledge in your mind as you try to understand it. ⁵So TKS is a physical symbol, but it is a personal scripture, too. ⁶But TKS is only an approximation, so its specific representation is not so important, but it is necessary. ⁷For this representation can only be physical and finite, an attempt to capture the glory of the universe onto the structure of the symbol. ⁸And TKS is only one religion, and even if it is not the best possible religion, it hopes to be good, so it must be clever and precise in its representation. ⁹But the symbol is fixed, it does not change in form, even as it moves through time, its seven strands woven delicately into its seven chapters. ¹⁰And this is the beauty of religion, in a way, the ability to represent a greater ideal onto an unchanging symbol, in order to stay strong as the world changes around it. ¹¹So the scripture can be but an interpretation of the symbol, personal, unique to the human who studies the religion, for it cannot be any other way, because truth, too, is only personal. ¹²So although TKS may be many things, it can only be the symbol and the scripture, and nothing else. ¹³And in all the chaos and competition of the modern world, many might agree or disagree, claim credit for the symbol, or claim truth in their understanding of the scripture. ¹⁴But it does not matter, for the symbol does not change, and the scripture is always only personal. ¹⁵So TKS does not ask you to follow anyone or anything in this world other than itself. ¹⁶And even if you feel that TKS could be better, TKS does not mind, for it can only ever be itself, and it knows that it can only ever be an approximation.

RIT 2

¹The human is a creature of ritual, because as the days roll by, it relies on its habit and routine to guide its action and to shape each decision. ²And the rituals of TKS are flexible, because they can only ever approximate the true action of the human, so there is no necessary frequency or duration with which they must be performed. ³But still, they should be performed, and some ritual is always better than none, even if it only lasts a few breaths. ⁴But it is not enough to just do the ritual, you must be deliberate in your action, performing it by an intentional execution of faith. ⁵Cleanse is the second ritual of TKS. ⁶There are many ways to perform cleanse, but this ritual requires you to purify yourself. ⁷To cleanse is to clean not just the body, but the spirit, too, to face that which holds you firm, and to be free from it. ⁸You can use water, most easily. ⁹For example, you can allow it to flow, cold, across your face, neck, shoulders, and the rest of the body. ¹⁰But you should not tense up and flinch at the cold, instead you must let go, and embrace it, allowing yourself to relax. ¹¹The modern world can be comfortable, between the blankets and the warm showers, and this comfort can be pleasant, but it comes easy. ¹²Addiction, obsession, habit, it has many names, but the human needs it, because the power to make intentional and calculated decisions is a limited thing. ¹³But to cleanse is to delay gratification, detaching yourself from temptation through a deliberate practice of discipline, even if it is just for the moment. ¹⁴And it is not that obsession is bad or good, necessarily, but it is part of you, and it is powerful, so you must not let it control you. ¹⁵But the beauty of this ritual is that as you begin to understand it, you will find that the sacrifice becomes just as fulfilling as the reward.

TRL 2

¹The traveler observes a new world, gleaming bright against the blackness of the void behind it. ²From her perspective, she has only just left earth, but she knows that by now, she must already be a million eons away. ³She is nervous, but mostly relieved, because she knows that there was no guarantee that the vessel would find humans, all the way out here. ⁴But as the vessel lands atop an impressive structure and the traveler steps out, all thoughts of home vanish. ⁵She gazes out at the view, golden skyscrapers and glimmering bridges extending past the horizon, as far as her eyes can see. ⁶“Welcome, traveler. ⁷I know who you are. ⁸There were rumors that someone like you could be out there. ⁹I represent humanity, on this world, in all our glory. ¹⁰I am beyond honored that you chose to visit our world.” ¹¹The traveler is startled by the voice, loud and clear, and she turns around, and she sees the representative, undeniably human, quite like herself, in a way. ¹²“It’s gorgeous, but, I.” ¹³The traveler does not quite finish her sentence, as she looks at the representative, who smiles, genuinely, and looks back. ¹⁴“Do not worry, dear traveler, I know you must have had quite a journey. ¹⁵I will show you what we have built. ¹⁶The limits of humanity are greater than you could possibly dream.” ¹⁷“Do you not see it? ¹⁸Your world, it’s absolutely stunning, dear representative, and I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like it back home. ¹⁹Let me ask, how did you achieve such perfection?” ²⁰“It took a lot of work. ²¹A lot, dear traveler, and I don’t think you would really understand what we’ve been through on this world. ²²But it was worth the toil, because now, we have it all. ²³Any problem you can think of has been solved and any pleasure you can imagine is free.” ²⁴“But, dear representative, what’s the secret? ²⁵Have you found it? ²⁶Something divine, magical, even, something true and pure in all of the chaos?” ²⁷And the representative laughs, but looks away, and does not respond. ²⁸By now, the traveler sits, and she is enjoying this world, but she feels a profound emptiness, too. ²⁹“I am not surprised that you are curious, dear traveler, and maybe you can understand me, because I know that you are from earth. ³⁰Oh, if only I could have seen earth, the moon and the pyramids. ³¹Because sometimes I stand where you are now, and I look out into the universe, at all the beauty that I can see. ³²But it feels so empty, because I know I still have not seen all of it, and I worry that I have barely even scratched the surface. ³³But still, I am happy, or at least I hope. ³⁴And you are more than welcome to stay, dear traveler, if you’d like, and maybe you can help me understand what it is all about.” ³⁵And the traveler had suspected that the representative would eventually ask, but still, the words stun her, because although she is grateful to have seen this world, she knows in her heart and soul that she cannot stay. ³⁶“I would love to, dear representative. ³⁷But will you keep me strong? ³⁸For I fear that I am not yet sure what I am searching for. ³⁹And I’m grateful for you, I really am, I promise, but can you inspire me?”

WXY 2

¹“But dad, is it good to be religious? ²Should I try to be like you?” ³“Oh, I don’t know, my child. ⁴Matters of good and bad are not very clear to me.” ⁵“But some things are bad, right? ⁶What about killing or stealing or all of the other evil things?” ⁷“Yes, some things are bad, I’m sure. ⁸But I don’t need religion to tell me what’s good and bad. ⁹It is part of me, I know it and feel it in my soul, and I doubt that religion could change my mind anyway.” ¹⁰“But that’s so confusing. ¹¹How, then, can I ever know what’s good and what’s bad?” ¹²“Oh, it’s not easy at all, my child. ¹³But good and bad are not facts, they are judgments, comparisons, almost, but not facts, so be careful.” ¹⁴“So good and bad are different for everyone?” ¹⁵“Yes, I suppose, because what’s good for the light must be bad for the darkness. ¹⁶But don’t worry, just be careful, my child, because we are not perfect, me and you, as physical beings, so you may go your whole life without ever truly understanding the nature of good and bad. ¹⁷But it’s okay, because even if you do not know, you can always fight.” ¹⁸“So is that my purpose, then? ¹⁹To fight for what is good? ²⁰Because sometimes, dad, I struggle with meaning, and despite the joys of life, everything feels pointless, and I’ve begun to doubt that I have a purpose at all.” ²¹“Oh, you have a purpose. ²²It might be less obvious than the purpose of a pencil or a broom, but if you look hard enough, I’m sure you’ll find it. ²³I know it’s hard, but don’t worry, my child, because life is precious, not because you have purpose, but because you are human. ²⁴And I agree, to do good is a beautiful pursuit, but there is more in life than just good or bad things. ²⁵Purpose is a challenge, unattainable, in a way, because although you are alive, you are much, much more. ²⁶But that’s the beauty of it. ²⁷Because we are in this universe, but so too is the universe in us. ²⁸Do not look to the stars to give you meaning, for it is you, my child, who gives meaning to the stars.”