“What is reality?” asked the student.
The traveler didn’t answer. He said only, “Go to the well and fetch a bucket of water.”
The student did as instructed.
“Now grab a cup of water from the bucket and take a sip.”
The student again did as instructed. The water was cool and provided refreshment. “Aah, so this is reality?”
“No,” replied the traveler.
The student looked perplexed.
“Where did the water come from?”
“The well” responded the student.
“The truth is more elusive,” replied the traveler, “and it reveals itself slowly over time and, often, only in slow doses. Just as the water you sipped changed from warm ocean waters into snow that fell on mountains only to melt and flow down streams and rivers and seep into the ground.”
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