Part 29: Opening one’s horizon

Ren Zu’s fourth child, Boundless Forest Samsara, fell from the tree; she did not follow after Ren Zu; instead, she was trapped inside Ordinary Abyss. One day, when she was sleeping, she met a Miniman. The Miniman was crying; Boundless Forest Samsara asked him why. The Miniman spoke while crying: “I am the tallest in my tribe, and I was brave, arrogant, and proud because of this. Today, I intended to climb a mountain, but to think that this mountain was really a person. There are actually such giant people like you in the world; this is the first time I’ve seen someone like you, so I burst into tears.” Since then, Boundless Forest Samsara and the Miniman became good friends; they were inseparable. “Miniman, oh Miniman, where is your father? Do you not have siblings? Why have I never seen your family?” One day, Boundless Forest Samsara asked the Miniman. The Miniman directed Boundless Forest Samsara to a well, saying: “Look at this well; my former home is inside.” Boundless Forest Samsara sprawled in front of the well, extending her head to look inside. Next, she shouted: “Ah, there are so many Minimen!” She saw that there were countless Minimen inside the well; they were living together. They built many houses; they lived among each other; there were markets, flowers; it was a harmonious scene; they were very happy. The Minimen in the well also shouted: “Why did the sky become so dark? It’s night time already.” “There was thunder but no rain; I don’t see lightning either.” The Minimen were in panic; they discussed as the entire city went into commotion. “Your family is here? Why did you go outside the well? You don’t want to live with them?” Boundless Forest Samsara asked. The Miniman shook his head: “They were the ones who exiled me; they think I am a monster.” “Oh? Why is that?” Boundless Forest Samsara was curious.

The Miniman answered with sadness: “I told them that the world we were living in was just a well. The outside world is very big. But they did not believe me; they told me to stop spouting nonsense.” “I also told them that the mountain at the fringe of our city is a very small mound. But they refuse to believe me; they think that it is the tallest mountain in the world; they told me to stop spreading lies.” “Which mountain is it?” Boundless Forest Samsara asked. “That’s Miniscule Mountain.” The Miniman pointed. Boundless Forest Samsara started to giggle: “You call that a mountain? It can fit in my palm.” Suddenly, Boundless Forest Samsara clapped: “Then let me tell them the truth.” The Miniman shook his head: “It is useless.” Boundless Forest Samsara did not believe him; she faced the well as she shouted; the Minimen inside started to panic even more. They felt that today was too strange. Not only did the sky turn dark, but there was also thunder rumbling, and it was getting louder and more frequent. “Heaven is raging, I want to repent, I want to confess.” “No, it is a monster, a monster ate heaven; it is burping now.” “Save me, this world is getting destroyed.” Some Minimen knelt on the ground and begged; some had despair on their faces, while others were running around crazily. Boundless Forest Samsara’s breathing became a tornado inside the well. Boundless Forest Samsara’s saliva became a huge rainstorm when it went into the well. Boundless Forest Samsara’s words were like rumbling thunder in the Minimen’s ears; their eardrums almost burst from it. Boundless Forest Samsara eventually gave up; she sprawled outside the well, exhausted; she said weakly: “Why are these Minimen so stupid? Can’t they be like you, to get out of the well and see the world?” The Miniman shook his head as he sighed: “They think that they are big enough; they think the sky is round; they think the mountain is only that tall; they think life is just like this.” “Then why did you climb out?” Boundless Forest Samsara opened her eyes wide as she asked with curiosity. The Miniman smiled bitterly: “Because I realized how small and insignificant, I was; therefore, I got out to see how big the world is.”