The Mountain

[Jack]

There is an infinitely tall steep mountain. At the bottom was nothing but a swamp. People there live Dystopic lives. Most of them have no hope. Most of them have no will. Most of them don't have the courage to climb the mountain.

Some men were given ropes. Some men were taken by the men above. The mountain path was perilous and full of slaughter. Wind and thunder ,wild animals, diseases and poisons.

I had no rope or anything to rely on. I decided to live a life of courage. I shall not accept living in a swamp. Having nothing but hands and an iron will. I set out to climb the mountain.

Just as a man left the swamp some found themselves a nice warm cave. Small but nice. These men didn't have the courage to continue on.

These men shall be slaughtered by wild animals. This was the lowest level. I knew death was around the corner so I decided to move on quickly.

The caves became progressively bigger and more abundant as we move up. The mountain became steeper.

I was blinded and went upto dead ends once or twice.

The nights are hard. Sometimes you can't make a fire and you get mosquitoes. Sometimes you can't have food. Sometimes you can't see in the dark. Being at the behest of nature ,feeling completely exposed and vulnerable.

But I have to go up. I have to see what's up there. I don't know why but I am not like the other men. I met a group of compatriots during my journey.

As we went up we had to face massive storms and fight wild animals. By now using our environment we had made some basic weapons. Some of my friends were killed in these battles.

But we aren't dissuaded enough. We still keep moving forward. We found a path that lead to a colony inside a tavern.

They had abundant food ,water and protection. They lead a comfortable life. A lot of women in the Colony found us battle hardened men attractive. The chieftain welcomed us with open arms. All of my friends decided to stay and become part of the colony.

But we still had just traveled half of the mountain. I was torn between staying and living a comfortable life or still moving forward.

I decided to move forward.

The chieftain was once young like me. Having seen unconquerable fortitude in me ,he decided to give his armor,shield and Lance to me.

So I continued on the mountain now with some protection.

The storms ,and animals stopped. I noticed the plane I had traveled to did not have colonies. Men here lived in huge mansions, oblivious to the suffering of the men below.

There was greenery and plenty here. These men were leading lavish lifestyles with wine ,bounty and women. However these men had other men protecting them. I stayed with one such man ,who was a thousand years old having lived in the same mansion since times of old.

He wouldn't move outside his castle. He would not have any sharp objects in his vicinity. He was always guarded by other men.

I was very demoralized having traveled from afar finding such filth living at the top in green plains while we were suffering below. I slaughtered everyone in the castle. They had never been In a fight for a thousand years.

Confused ,I searched the plains for places that would have answers. I came across an ascetic sitting nonchalantly in these plains.

I decided to question him but he seemed to already know I was coming. Having described me and my struggles, he earned my trust. He wanted me to travel to the Seventh Heaven. Once from where he had returned.

I decided to travel there. I started out thinking about all the struggles I had to face moving forward. However I found a staircase leading to the next plane. There was no suffering, there was no struggle, there was no resistance from the outside world.

I went to the top and found the golden statue of an era once long forgotten.

Seeing light ,I was finally at peace.

Glory to the one who climbs the mountain of meru. He shall turn light into gold. Never again shall he know despair.

 

[Demonic]

There is an infinitely tall steep mountain. At the bottom was nothing but a swamp. People there live Dystopic lives. Most of them have no hope. Most of them have no will. Most of them don't have the courage to climb the mountain.

Some men were given ropes. Some men were taken by the men above. The mountain path was perilous and full of slaughter. Wind and thunder ,wild animals, diseases and poisons.

I had no rope or anything to rely on. I decided to live a life of courage. I shall not accept living in a swamp. Having nothing but hands and an iron will. I set out to climb the mountain.

Just as a man left the swamp some found themselves a nice warm cave. Small but nice. These men didn't have the courage to continue on.

These men shall be slaughtered by wild animals. This was the lowest level. I knew death was around the corner so I decided to move on quickly.

The caves became progressively bigger and more abundant as we move up. The mountain became steeper.

I was blinded and went upto dead ends once or twice.

The nights are hard. Sometimes you can't make a fire and you get mosquitoes. Sometimes you can't have food. Sometimes you can't see in the dark. Being at the behest of nature ,feeling completely exposed and vulnerable.

But I have to go up. I have to see what's up there. I don't know why but I am not like the other men. I met a group of compatriots during my journey.

As we went up we had to face massive storms and fight wild animals. By now using our environment we had made some basic weapons. Some of my friends were killed in these battles.

But we aren't dissuaded enough. We still keep moving forward. We found a path that lead to a colony inside a tavern.

They had abundant food ,water and protection. They lead a comfortable life. A lot of women in the Colony found us battle hardened men attractive. The chieftain welcomed us with open arms. All of my friends decided to stay and become part of the colony.

But we still had just traveled half of the mountain. I was torn between staying and living a comfortable life or still moving forward.

I decided to move forward.

The chieftain was once young like me. Having seen unconquerable fortitude in me ,he decided to give his armor,shield and Lance to me.

So I continued on the mountain now with some protection.

The storms ,and animals stopped. I noticed the plane I had traveled to did not have colonies. Men here lived in huge mansions, oblivious to the suffering of the men below.

There was greenery and plenty here. These men were leading lavish lifestyles with wine ,bounty and women. However these men had other men protecting them. I stayed with one such man ,who was a thousand years old having lived in the same mansion since times of old.

He wouldn't move outside his castle. He would not have any sharp objects in his vicinity. He was always guarded by other men.

I was very demoralized having traveled from afar finding such filth living at the top in green plains while we were suffering below. I slaughtered everyone in the castle. They had never been In a fight for a thousand years.

Confused ,I searched the plains for places that would have answers. I came across an ascetic sitting nonchalantly in these plains.

I decided to question him but he seemed to already know I was coming. Having described me and my struggles, he earned my trust. He wanted me to travel to the Seventh Heaven. Once from where he had returned.

I decided to travel there. I started out thinking about all the struggles I had to face moving forward. However I found a staircase leading to the next plane. There was no suffering, there was no struggle, there was no resistance from the outside world.

I went to the top and found the golden statue of an era once long forgotten.

Seeing light ,I was finally at peace.

Glory to the one who climbs the mountain of meru. He shall turn light into gold. Never again shall he know despair.

Amazingly put together as how one starts on very low level and can reach such high levels, step by step, with meditations and workings