by S. K. Ng
Sky’s jaw dropped. His bloodshot eyes bulged in surprise. So even in his grief, they would sell him this ridiculous belief? They truly are heartless, or is it that it is he himself who is truly confused?
“If that is the case, then why are there so many different Receptions? Why are there so many different doctrines when there is only one Nature, therefore only ONE TRUTH!” questioned Sky.
“That is because all the Receptions and founders of each Reception see and agree on that ONE TRUTH that you have mentioned, but disagree on what is the best way to deal with this truth. What I am trying to say is that there is the one set of questions and all agree that there is the one and the same set of questions but they all came up with different answers to that very same set of questions. Whose answer is the best? No one knows! It is up to the individual to choose one of the answers offered. This is what is called ‘free will’. This is why there are so many Receptions in existence even though it is only one truth and one reality that we live in,” answered Higher Recipient Truthkeeper.
Sky was beginning to see the sense in the Receiver’s words. But he needed more information.
“And so, what is the set of questions and what are the answers?” asked Sky.
“The first question is ‘who are we?’ The answer is that we are an element of Nature, no different than earth, wind, water or fire; except that we have the capability to think and feel. It is this extra capability that makes us alive and distinguishes us from the other elements. Some Receptions call this element of what we are as ‘Mind’ while some call it as ‘Soul’. The difference between the two is a matter of opinion, not fact. So whether it is mind or soul that truly exist is irrelevant. The name of the element is irrelevant! The relevant point is that we ourselves are an element of Nature! And being an element of Nature, we are part of Nature and not separate from it. If Nature was a book, then we are just a page in this book. We are not a separate book altogether. Furthermore, a human being, or any living being altogether, exists as a combination of two materials. The first material is the mind, or the soul. The second material is the materiality, or the body. But bear in mind, the true person is the mind, or the soul; and not the materiality or the body. Why so? Because it is the mind, or soul, that continues on after death and is the keeper of our memories, thoughts and emotions. So our minds, or souls, are the true us; and our materiality, or our bodies, are just empty shells to be discarded when they no longer function,” explained Higher Recipient Truthkeeper.
Sky nodded his head. So he understood it as all living beings, humans included, are a part of Nature and not separate, independent, different or detached from it. He also understood that all living beings consist of a soul and a body, but it is the soul that is the real person and the body is just a container that keeps the soul inside it.
“And what is the second question?” he asked.
“The second question is ‘why are we here?’ Different Receptions offer different answers. Some Receptions believe that we are here to help Nature manage the other elements, and also ourselves, more smoothly. That is to say, that we are here to do a duty. The duty that we are supposed to do is to manage this world and to make smooth the interaction between all the elements. Nature will always try to seek equilibrium. Always! This is the true nature of Nature. Our function, to which we were created, is to facilitate this process, or in other words, to help Nature achieve equilibrium! Remember, this world was not made for us! We were made for this world! If this world is a garden, then our duty is to be the gardener who tends to this garden. But we are not the owner of the garden, just merely a worker in it. The Reception of Light and other Receptions like us, however, believe that there is more to this. We believe that besides being the gardener, we also have the duty of cleansing our minds, or souls, from any and all sins. So life is supposed to be a purification process. We are here to purify ourselves and rid ourselves from all sins. If our minds or souls are like dirty clothes, then life is the process of scrubbing and washing of these dirty clothes and Receptions are the detergent that we use to wash these dirty clothes clean,” answered the Receiver.
Sky nodded his head to show that he understood. So basically, what Higher Recipient Truthkeeper told him was that humans were created to take care of the world and at the same time, were required to clean up their own souls. The world does not belong to humans. Humans are just workers in the world, working for its true owner.
“So what is the third question?” he asked.
“The third question is ‘what are we supposed to do?’ The answer to that is firstly, to learn all of Nature’s laws and comply with them. We have to understand and comply with these laws so well that we actually resonate with them, be in total synchronisation with them. Secondly, after understanding and complying with these laws, we shall try to act as ‘lubricants’ to make smooth the execution of these natural laws and their related processes. Nature will always achieve equilibrium in the end, but these are violent and radical processes that are sometimes wasteful and produce a lot of collateral damage. Our function is to make smooth this process. With the proper understanding of Nature’s intention and its laws, we are to take actions that will achieve the same result but with less violence and less collateral damage. Remember this! We must never go against Nature!” answered Higher Recipient Truthkeeper.
Sky nodded yet again. So he understood it as that it was Nature that was the boss, not the humans. So humans must do what the boss says, not the other way around. And humans must try to help the boss achieve what the boss wants to achieve.
“And the fourth question?” he asked.
“The fourth question is ‘where we are supposed to go?’ The answer to this one is simple but varied. Some believe that we should all aim to go to heaven. This is our aim and this is our responsibility to achieve. And for those who believe in this doctrine, there are even two schools of thought. One is to go to heaven and be together with The Creator. Thus these people are known as those ‘who want to taste sugar’. The other is to go to heaven and merge our souls with The Creator himself. These people are known as those who ‘want to become sugar’. Receivers of Light and others like us, however, believe that Nature itself is The Creator, and that we should achieve the ‘void’, and thus be returned to our most basic and elemental state and be unified with Nature. Thus, we believe that we should ‘become sugar’ with Nature, because Nature is The Creator. Whichever of these answers that you decide to choose is up to you. However, no living beings, and particularly human beings, are allowed to choose to go against Nature and its laws, or to choose to be evil; as this will result in punishment in hell or at the very least, miserable births in the animal form, ghostly form or the demonic form,” explained the Receiver.
Sky nodded his head again. So basically, humans are required to either go to heaven and be with The Creator, go to heaven and merge with The Creator, or achieve the void and merge with Nature because Nature is The Creator. And if they fail to do so, they will be severely punished.
“And the last question?” he asked.
“The last question is ‘who made us?’ Basically, what we are asking is, who is The Creator? There are various answers to this question and to a certain degree, the answers are a huge contrast to each other. Some Reception teaches that an omnipotent, all powerful being created Nature and everything in it, including us. Some Reception teaches that an omnipotent, all powerful being emerged from Nature and created us, but because he is the first to exist, he is called The Creator. The Receivers of Light believe that Nature itself is The Creator and that Nature had created several omnipotent, all powerful beings to ‘administrate’ all of creation. These omnipotent beings then created angels, humans and animals and hells to help make smooth the administration process. But certain angels became ‘troublemakers’ and traitors; and were cast out of heaven. These ‘outcasts’ were then known as demons. So which one is actually correct? Who is to say? No one really knows because no one saw how it actually happened! So in t
his sense, you are free to choose which of these answers you think is the most true and accurate, because no one can truly prove that their version is what actually happened,” explained the Receiver.
Sky nodded his head yet again to signify that he understood. What he managed to process was that there were a variety of answers that explained who and what The Creator was, but since no one can truly prove that their version was correct, humans were free to choose the version that they thought was the truest.
“Is that it?” he asked.
“Yes, that is it. The answers that I have given you are, of course, basic and general in nature. The actual explanations will differ from Reception to Reception because although their intentions are generally the same, their methods are varied and therefore, their explanations are also varied,” answered Higher Recipient Truthkeeper.
Now Sky shook his head in disbelief. How can Higher Recipient Truthkeeper’s explanations be correct? Can The Creator be so cruel, so heartless towards humans?
“So what you are saying is that my people had not only disregarded Nature’s laws, but had broken them through and through; and as a result, they are all dead! So what you are saying is that they all died miserable deaths because this is what they deserved! But what about the children!? Surely they are innocent and do not deserve such a fate!” he objected.
“As I have said, these processes are violent, wasteful and produce a lot of collateral damage,” the Receiver pointed out.
“Collateral damage! So this is how you explain the cruelty of Nature!? Is this how you explain the cruelty of The Creator!? Of God!?” questioned Sky.
“Yes,” came Higher Recipient Truthkeeper’s simple answer.
“But why!?” questioned Sky.
“Because you and your people did not learn, put to test, conclude, believe, commit, put to practice and be devoted to the wisdoms that were offered and made available! Because you refuted, challenged, ignored and contradicted these wisdoms! You played with fire, and so you got burnt! So now you know how it feels like to be on the receiving end of things! To quote the Receivers of Sacrifice, ‘you reap what you sow’, and this is just another way of explaining the Law of Retribution. In the end, it is no one else’s fault but your own!” explained the Receiver simply.
Tears are welling up in Sky’s eyes once again. The bitter truth slams into his heart like a sledgehammer. Anger turns into guilt, or more correctly, Sky begins to realise that his anger is baseless and eventually proper guilt begins to be established. The bitter truth is now tormenting his heart. The painful sorrow overwhelms him and he collapses onto his knees, crying and trembling. All of what has happened could have been avoided, he realises. It could have been avoided! But they did not listen and they did not believe! He did not listen and he did not believe! Between the sweet lies and the bitter truth, they had chosen foolishly! He had chosen foolishly! And as a result, they had tasted Nature’s fury! And now, he is tasting Nature’s fury! So, finally, he laments in his heart the words ‘Oh! How bitter is the truth!’
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
ESCAPE FROM THE LAIR
A sad sight occurs on the 25th Day of Fourth Month of Dry Season. Minvians Ray Iddell, Clover Genox and Sky Proest arrive at Palace Liberty; together with Channeller Styruss and the handful of children who had survived the earthquake and volcanic eruption at Southgust Town. The children’s clothes are in tatters and are black with soot. Their hollow expression is an outward representation of the grief in their hearts.
Ray, Clover and Sky had, a few days prior, managed to capture a few of the escaped horses at the outskirts of Southgust. A few were even attached to carts when they were caught. This had allowed them to complete the journey to Fallsene fairly quickly on horseback and horse-drawn carts. Higher Recipient Truthkeeper was not with them, as in accordance with the laws of his Reception, he was not allowed to ride a horse or to burden any animal in any sort of way. Therefore he was making his way to Fallsene on foot. It would take him six days to complete the journey. Meanwhile, he had given instructions for Sky to get into contact with Higher Recipient Truthrejoicer, who ran the temple of The Receivers of Light at Fallsene City.
The minvians wasted no time in reporting the outcome of their mission and the catastrophe that befell Southgust to King Patrum and his son. The surviving children, meanwhile, were given temporary accommodations at the Sollenthars’ barracks. The Channeller was ‘accommodated’ in the palace dungeons, just a few cells away from Minvian Thorn Sayvion.
After he was done with his report to the king, Sky set out to look for Higher Recipient Truthrejoicer. It took a while for Sky to find the Receiver’s temple, for he had never been there. He dismounted and tethered his horse to a pole that was beside the front gate of the temple when he had finally found the place, but he was hesitant to step in. He began to cry badly, out of grief or shame, he did not know.
One of the Receivers saw Sky crying and although he was puzzled by it, he decided to invite Sky in. It took a lot of persuasion and consoling on the Receiver’s part to finally get Sky to go in. Then Sky was brought to Higher Recipient Truthrejoicer’s office. Sky, with much trouble, explained to Higher Recipient Truthrejoicer the reason he was there.
Higher Recipient Truthrejoicer sat silent for a while. He was in deep thought. He had never dealt with such a serious issue before.
Finally, Higher Recipient Truthrejoicer spoke. He told Sky to bring the children to the temple at his convenience. There was sufficient space to accommodate them.
“So what will happen next?” Sky asked.
“Collect donations and build an orphanage for them, I suppose. Not much else I can do,” answered the Receiver.
“I want to be involved in this! I want to contribute! I shall help you set up this orphanage! I shall donate all my life’s savings and help you look for more donations. And I shall help you run the place, in my spare time,” expressed Sky.
“Very generous of you, minvian, but why?” asked Higher Recipient Truthrejoicer.
“These children are all that are left of Southgust, of my home. I am an orphan now, just like them. They have lost as I have lost. They mourn as I mourn. And they shall carry on as I shall carry on, together! We are all that is left of Southgust and staying together is the only way to keep the memories of our lost home alive,” said Sky tearfully.
Higher Recipient Truthrejoicer nodded his head. He understood what Sky was trying to say.
“I understand. You are more than welcome to join us. These children will need guidance that we may be ill-equipped to give. There are certain things that we Receivers cannot or do not teach, you know,” said the Receiver.
“Such as?” questioned Sky.
“Politics. Survival skills in the wild and in the urban jungle. The norms and practices of society. We Receivers are only focussed on the moral and the spiritual, not the physical. Our minds are tuned to change societies, not to adapt to them. So you see, there is an important role for you to play in these children’s development,” answered the Receiver.
“I am beginning to see your point. Where do you think is a suitable location to build the orphanage?” asked Sky.
“Somewhere that is close to schools and healing centres. Preferably in decent neighbourhoods so as to avoid criminal influences. And preferably close to this temple as well. I let you decide,” responded the Receiver.
“I know just the place!” said Sky spiritedly.
Birds chirped loudly on the cheerful, sunny morning of the 27th Day of Fourth Month of Dry Season. On the north-eastern section of Tower Forest, a lone female assassin perched herself on the high branch of a tall tree, looking out at her surroundings. She detected nothing unnatural, only the cheerful chirpings of birds and the gentle flow of the stream in front of her.
Dawn Breven jumped off the branch and approached the stream. She dipped her cupped hands into its icy cold water and scooped handfuls of the crystal clear liquid to her mouth. The quenching of her thirst with such clean and coo
l water lifted her spirits tremendously. She afforded a little smile. She took out her empty bamboo water container and filled it. She then jumped across the stream and moved up along the side of the road that ran parallel to it. She bent her body low to conceal it amongst the tall grasses. Observing no presence of humans or vehicles, she crossed to the other side of the road where the thick growth of shrubs and trees offered her better concealment. She felt absolutely sure that she was not seen.
But Dawn was wrong! A hundred paces upstream and on the same side of the road, a thick cluster of grass began to move to reveal a small pit. The rectangular hole of the pit was wide enough for two men to lie down side by side and was covered with a removable wooden roof on which the grasses were carefully tied into place. Minvian Serene Genox emerged kneeling from the pit with a smile on her face.