The House

The universe hides nothing; its truths emerge the moment you stop asking others how to see. In the quiet that follows, you realize the path beneath you was never lit by another’s lantern and that your own way of looking was enough all along. No one can guard what is infinite. Step past the noise of gatekeepers, trust the compass within you and the horizon reshapes itself into a way forward, where truth begins exactly where you stand and the gatekeepers fade back into the shadows.

The House - Dall·e AI

I step to the edge of the treeline, look towards the valley clearing ahead with the sun rising behind me, behind the trees, the orange glow is starting to illuminate nature, the stars above have faded, the dark night sky is slowly transforming into the dark turquoise blue of morning. The clearing is mostly wildflowers with a gentle stream running through it and mountains jutting towards the sky in the distance. Next to the stream, there it is... just as I was told I would find it, a house way out in the middle of nowhere.

I can't believe it actually exists, I mumble to myself. The old man was right. I've been wandering through the forest for three days. I was told if I followed the path I would find it. It was not mentioned that the path is not a well worn path, very few people ever take it, it's overgrown, hard to follow and it's mostly just markers on trees every now and then so you know you're headed in roughly the right direction.

I approach with caution, not knowing what to expect. From a distance I see somebody in the top window of the house watching me closely. It's a very peculiar house, there isn't a single door that's an obvious entrance but many doors, 10 to be exact. Each door has a guardian out front determining who can enter their door and who cannot. They each seem nice enough and they all either ignore me or don't know I'm there as I make a loose circle around the house from a distance attempting to survey what I may be getting myself into. The eyes in the top windows keep watching me intently, they can see me no matter where I am, they have a good bead on me. As the morning sun hits the house a ray illuminates the window turning the shadow eyes into a face, they're smiling at me, as if I'm expected company.

I approach who I determine to be the least intimidating guardian as I get closer I realize I know them, I grew up with them and see them in town from time to time, they've never mentioned this place though... peculiar... When I get within 10 feet of their door they go from their statue like attention to greeting me. Welcome, welcome, welcome they say in a very excited voice without acknowledging that we already know each other... peculiar indeed.

Is this how I get get in the house? There are a lot of different doors which makes it a bit confusing.

Yes! This is the correct door to enter the house. This is the only true option, all the others are traps. He opens the door, I go to walk by him to enter, he sticks his arm into my chest to stop me which is very surprising. I glimpse into the house and see the same face that had been upstairs, they're now sitting in a chair on the far side of the house, they look over at me, give me a big smile and wave before the door is slammed shut in front of me.

First though, the guardian says, there's a fee to enter through my door.

Oh... I didn't bring any money with me. Why would I? We're way out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the forest. I was told this house isn't owned by anyone in particular but is open to anybody who finds it and anybody is welcome to enter and explore it.

It is, that's all true, but this is my entrance to this house and if you wish to use my entrance, you must pay me.

Okay, well, I'll just go use one of the other doors then, this isn't the only way to get into the house.

As I told you, all of the other doors are traps, my entrance is the only true way to get into this house unscathed.

I walk away and go to the next guardian, then the next then the next until I've exhausted every option.

Each guardian told me the exact same thing just in a slightly different way, none of them will let me in. Yet as I glimpsed through each door I saw the exact same person inside. Each time they were smiling at me and waving as if we're old friends that have always known each other. I've definitely never met that person before though and if we had it would have just been briefly and in passing. Nobody will let me enter through their door though.

This is frustrating, I mumble to myself. I came all this way, not sure if this place even existed, not knowing where I was going half the time, the path was not easy yet here the house is, it clearly exists, yet I'm not allowed in. That's the story of my life, which gives me a chuckle. There's another way, I know there is, I just have to figure it out, there's always another way.

I do another lap around the house in the opposite direction, studying it closely, each door guardian fully ignores me now, even the one I know, they're back to acting like statues, standing in front of their doors as if they're soldiers guarding the worlds reserves of gold bars. I pick up a smooth stone, perfect for skipping on a lake and huck it at one of the doors, it hits the door in the top right corner, making a loud thud that echoes through the valley, the guardian doesn't flinch.

I take a deep breath, close my eyes, let out a big sigh and saunter over to the creek. Well, at least I can enjoy this creek, the valley, the trees, the wildlife, the sky, the sun, the moon, the plants, the rocks while I'm here. I came all this way so I might as well enjoy it. Even if I can't get into the house, this is a beautiful spot and now I know where it is. There's a big boulder that's flat on top, it looks like the perfect sitting rock so... I sit and start meditating while listening to the gentle trickle of the mountain creek. If there's a way in, it'll come to me.

I focus on my heart beat, then my breath, then my fingers, then my toes, then I notice the wind, the rustling of the tree leaves, squirrels scampering about, the water in the stream trickling which leads my mind to get lost within itself.

A fair amount of time goes by... I don't know how much... could have been 30 minutes, could have been a few hours, meditation does not allow for accurate estimates of time. I open my eyes and sitting directly next to me is the same person I kept seeing in the house, they're sitting directly next to me, also meditating. I didn't notice them walk up or sit down or sense them at all... peculiar I say inside my head. I don't say anything but rather stare at them trying to figure out who they are. They open their eyes, look at me and smile with that same friendly grin that you give an old friend. Welcome! They say very happily. I've been expecting you, I even had tea ready for you.

Do we know each other? Have we met before? You do not look familiar to me at all.

We do know each other but it has been a long time. I'm not surprised you don't remember me... nobody ever does. Their smile does not fade and they're gazing very intently into my eyes, staring into the deepest depths of my soul, which is very chilling to experience.

Do you own this house? I tried to enter but none of your jerk guards would let me in. Each one wanted a fee and I didn't bring any money with me. I look back at the door guardians, none of them seem to be aware that the two of us are by the creek chatting. They're still standing at attention at each of their doors, acting as if nobody is around for a million miles yet guarding their door as if they're seconds away from being attacked.

I don't own this house, I just live in it, more of a caretaker type of situation. Those guards aren't mine, they're not even supposed to be there. Out here, things are a bit different from what you're used to. Nobody owns this land, nobody owns this house, nobody owns anything out here, it's all meant to be open to anyone who takes the time and effort to come out here. Funny thing is, each person seems to make a claim of their own and act as if they own everything, when in fact they own nothing. You have just as much of a right to be here as they do.

Then they should let me in.

Yes, yes they should. If it makes you feel any better, they don't talk to me either and I live in the house. They treat me just like they treat you yet they tell everyone that they're best friends with me and they know all about me yet they know nothing. Funny thing is, I don't need any of their doors, I have my own ways of getting in and out. Why do you think none of them will let you in?

Well they all wanted money so they all seem very greedy, that seems to be all they care about. Why is this house designed this way? Why are there so many doors? Which door is the correct door?

The house was actually never intended to be the way it turned out. It was built over a very long period of time by lots of different people. Lots of different people have lots of different ideas about what a house should be so in the end, this is what you get. He gestures towards the house. The foundation is very sturdy, was laid by a handful of teachers who all worked together and were all on the same page for what the house should be. They didn't have time to complete it themselves though. They gave their students very strict instructions on what the house should be: a sturdy open air forum that doesn't have an entrance but is open to anyone and is a place for gathering, for talking, for anything anyone wants it to be. This is why the house is round. The forum was to have a sturdy roof to protect everyone from the elements but it was never meant to have doors. The students of each teacher had their own ideas though for what would make the house better so instead of listening to their teacher, they ignored and did what they wanted instead. This house was meant to be inclusive of and for everyone but is now very exclusive, as you found out. Each group of students added their own door, they realized that if they have a door, they can make money off of it whereas if it was the open air forum, as it was intended, they would have no way of profiting off of it and wouldn't have any oversight. So here we are, the lineage of the students live on and each door has a guardian of which I have no control. Every door is the correct door.

My eyes scrunch up into a confused face. I don't understand I say. I've been told there is one correct door and that the others are traps, I just don't know which one is the correct door but I don't like any of the options, they all seem very disingenuous.

What is 2+2?

4, I reply.

Is 4 also an even number?

Yes

Okay, so multiple things can be true at the same time, correct?

Yes

Good, now let me show you this, they pull out a prism from their pocket and hold it up to the sunlight. A rainbow shines on the ground next to us. What do you see?

I see a rainbow.

Are the colors fighting with each other?

They don't seem to be, they're just sitting side by side.

Where did they come from?

The sunlight shines into the prism which scatters the light and out comes the rainbow.

So, each of these colors started as one then? They started in one piece of light?

Yeah, of course, that's how it works, this is a very basic and elementary concept.

So each color works together to form the entire piece of light yet can also exist on their own if they want to?

Yup.

Good, so multiple things can be true at the same time. They motion to the house, each of those doors were never supposed to exist, but now that they have been separated out, they must work together but each one thinks their color is the only correct color to get back to the original light, each guardian fails to realize that they all need to work together. There is no correct door, there also is no wrong door, you can go through whichever one you're the most comfortable with, it does not matter at all, they all lead to the exact same place, back to the same ray of light. You got to see inside each door, what did you see when you looked in?

I saw you, standing there, waving at me through each door.

Exactly, you saw the same thing through each door. So, each door is the correct door, there is no wrong door. Want to know a secret?

Yes, I most certainly do! I say very excited. I love hearing secrets.

They lean in close to my ear and whisper, "You don't need any door!"

How would I enter then? I ask confused more than ever.

Let me ask you this, why are you here? What brings you here?

I was told by an old wise man that his place existed, that he had been here himself and that if I came here, there would be somebody here who would answer any questions I have. So... here I am. I actually didn't believe this place existed. I had heard about it from loads of other people throughout my whole life but they were all very pushy so I ignored them. The old man is very well respected though, we encountered each other by chance and he was the first person who just treated me like a normal person and didn't judge me. Every other person was actively pushing this on me, he didn't though, he actually never even brought it up, I asked him about it and he actually seemed a little annoyed when I asked about it but was happy to share his experience. That's why I came, to see for myself, to see what I'd find, to see if anything actually exists out here.

And what have you found? They're smiling more than ever and hands me a cup of hot tea.

Where did this come from? I ask, the tea seems to have been conjured out of nothing.

I have my ways, they say with a grin.

I found the strangest, weirdest, most confusing house I've ever seen with way too many doors and way too many guards who seem nice at first but they're all jerks.

They laugh, and yet, here we are, sitting on a nice rock by a creek, enjoying the sun, having a great conversation. So... do you need any of those doors?

No, I guess I don't.

Exactly, you came all the way out here, you put the effort in, you showed up not knowing what you'd find and you have good intentions. I'm more than willing to meet people halfway if they are willing to put the effort in. Which is why I came out here. Rainbows can be enjoyed from anywhere, they are inclusive not exclusive.

How did you get out here though?

That's not important. So... how can I help? What questions do you have?

Why am I here?

Ah, the million dollar question. Do you think I'll answer that?

I hope you will but I don't think you will.

Correct, if I told you, that would alter your path. I know where your path goes but that is for me to know and for you to find out. If I told you that would alter your path, which we can't have, everybody's path needs to stay the same. I'm full of secrets yet am an open book about what I can. Why do you ask that though? I see your heart is heavy and is weighing you down.

I've known so many people who have passed on, many at a young age. I've almost been killed over ten times yet each time I somehow escape relatively unscathed and in each of those situations I have had zero control over the situation or the outcome, I'm just along for the ride. Each person who is no longer here was killed by a lot less than each of my encounters. Why am I still here? I feel like I shouldn't be yet I know I'm very lucky to still be here. Why does suffering exist?

Survivors guilt is a very interesting thing but you are here to learn... everyone is here to learn, you had very specific things to learn from each of those people, each interaction, each experience and you did learn what you were supposed to learn, you have shown me as such. You are still here because you still have much to learn and much to offer. You have a very narrow view, you are viewing things through your eyes and your eyes only. I have a very broad view, I view things from the eyes of everyone and everything in existence all at the same time.  The path in front of you is the correct path for you. The path laid out in front of others is the correct path for them. You can only see your path though and a short view of others when your paths just so happen to cross. Some paths are longer, some are shorter but they are all built very specifically for the person walking on them, to teach them exactly what they need to learn. You are here to learn, to love, to laugh, to listen, to experience, to feel, to enjoy this planet, this world and this universe. It is exactly what you make of it. It can be anything you want it to be. You can make it a prison or you can make it a five star resort. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Let me ask you this though, do you really think each of those people are gone?

No, I don't, they just seem to be in a different form. I call on them all the time and they all answer and help guide me.

Exactly, it's a lot like this water, they motion to the creek that we're sitting next to and run their hand through it. Currently, it's in a liquid form, moving downstream. We can take our cups, scoop out water, put it in a freezer and then we'll have ice. That's the form you're currently in. We can take that ice, put it in a pot on the stove over some heat and the ice will transition to steam and vapor. It all still exists just in a different form. Eventually some of that vapor will condense, turn into water again and end up back in another stream.

Does that mean we all come back at some point even after transitioning?

Some people do, some people don't. It just depends on if they've learned what they were supposed to learn or if their path got cut short or if they didn't trust their path, went rogue and wound up somewhere they weren't supposed to. Trusting the path is key, the path is there for a reason and everyone's journey is full of unexpected twists and turns.

Do you make the paths?

I do

So if you make the paths, can't you make everyone follow their own path?

They chuckle again and look at the water. That's not how it works. I can't control anybody's actions, I can only react to them. With this creek, the banks exist and direct the water, each molecule of water can go wherever it wants, depending on how it interacts with all of the other molecules and if a molecule splashes out onto the bank, it splashes out, if an animal comes along and drinks some of the water molecules, then some of them get drank. Once the water's in motion, it's hard to intervene in a meaningful way and it's best to not intervene, let the water figure it out. Can you control anything anybody else does to you?

Nope, not at all, at best I can have conversations which may lead to people changing their minds about their actions.

Exactly, that's how it works for me too. Once someone decides to do something, I cannot change that action that they have decided on. Say you pick up a stick and go to hurt one of those guardians, I cannot stop that action. I can however stop your heart or have a tiger suddenly notice you and attack you or blow the wind so hard that it snaps a tree branch by you that causes the guard to look towards you and notice you as you approach them. I cannot change anyone's direct actions, just as this water cannot be stopped. I can only react to them and same as you, I can have conversations, just as we are having now which may change people's actions. For that though, they have to be open to having a conversation, I cannot force them to do that, it is their decision. I am always here for that conversation though and am always willing to talk with anyone who puts in the work and is open to it... regardless of their situation.

Do the guardians know all of this?

No, not at all, like I said, they don't care to know me. They only care to have the illusion that they know me. Money and control is their only goal. The funny thing is money doesn't matter at all. It's how you treat each other that matters and yet if you don't pay them money, they'll treat you terribly. It's pretty messed up, unfortunately a lot of people fall into their traps. That's not what they were taught to do, they were taught to be open and accepting of everyone and for there not to be any doors, to keep the light as one, they thought they knew better than their teachers though and now we're left with this, as they motion to the house again.

It really is a mess of a place they say, I wish it would get remodeled and we could get back to the open air forum it was meant to be that the layers of the foundation intended it to be so it's easily accessible to each and every person.

The original teachers that laid the foundation were really quite something. They weren't any different from you or the guardians or anybody else. Each one was just a normal person. The difference was they were each willing to buck the societal norm they were conditioned for and each one sought out the truth. Not just what they thought was true or what they wanted to be true but what is truly true. Each one was just as hesitant as you are. That's a feature, not a bug. But they were willing to have a conversation and they listened, not just to me but to what was revealed to them as they walked their path of their life. They learned to listen. Each one had extreme challenges their whole lives, which you'll never hear about, those have long been selectively forgotten and it's those challenges that caused them to go against the grain and seek out the truth in the first place. Through those challenges they each learned how to help and heal themselves which then led to them helping others. People actively sought them out for help. They didn't impose themselves on others, they lived their life as best they knew how and when others asked them for help, they helped if they were able. Each one learned to trust each and every footstep they took and if they stepped in quicksand, they knew there was a reason for it and not to fight it but to learn from it. Each one taught all of this to each of their students but the students did not have those same experiences, thought they knew better and strayed from what they were taught, thinking they knew better than their teachers. The water will flow where it wants to once it's in motion.

Will it ever get back to that original intention?

Oh yes, it will, it might just take a while, that would require each of the guardians to all work together and put their greed aside though which won't happen easily, they currently all seem to despise each other unfortunately.

How come they don't seem to notice us out here? They're all acting as if nobody's around.

Yeah, they all think I'm still inside the house, they see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. They twist the words of their teachers to fit what they want to believe, what will give them the most amount of money and most amount of control over others. Like I said, this world is what you make of it. You can choose to see reality as it is or you can choose to see what you want to see. Most people choose to see what they want to see because it's comforting. There's a lot of value in being comfortable with the uncomfortable, seeing things as they really are, knowing full well it will challenge everything you think you know and make you realize that you really know nothing at all. Most people choose comfort. Why have you not chosen comfort?

I don't think I've ever been comfortable so I don't feel like I ever had a choice for comfort, I've been constantly pushed into the uncomfortable my whole life. Only recently did I stop fighting that and accept it for what it is, which ultimately led me here.

That is your path... continue to follow your path and don't look back except to enjoy the views from where you've gotten to. Don't compare your path to others. Remember, each path has ups and downs, switchbacks, false summits, etc. You might get tired, you might get hungry, you might find yourself in dire situations but there's only one way to climb a mountain. One step at a time. You must always keep going. Remember, I'm always here and am always happy to talk and will always answer what I can. I am in every person, every heart, every plant, every tree, every rock, every stream, every breath of air, every animal, every atom, every proton, every photon, every neutrino all at the same time... always. You now know how to find me, you're welcome here anytime. Don't mind the door guardians, you don't need them. Do your own thing, follow your own path, do what you know to be true, follow the guidance I give you. I am always there, those who transition are never really truly gone, they can be called on at any time and you may bump into them again in different forms. You'll know them when you see them if you're open to it. Never lose sight of your path, trust your path and that it is taking you exactly to where you need to go and you are currently exactly where you need to be and you are learning exactly what you need to learn. Trust that is also the same for everyone else. Never lose sight of that. Give everyone the benefit of the doubt, you never know what others are going through just as others never know what you are going through. Lead will compassion, love and empathy. Listen more than you talk, ask questions, you have two ears for a reason, use them. Above all, always remember that I love you more than you will ever know and nothing will ever change that. Nothing will ever change that. Nothing will ever change that.

Call me whatever you want, the name you give me does not matter, it does not change who I am but is merely a label, which does not matter.

Whenever you feel lost or hopeless, close your eyes, take a deep breathe and know that I am always with you in every moment of your life and I always will be.