The entire world seems like a mere illusion. Everything here is transient, and the uncertainty of the next moment is a constant reminder. Ownership is temporary; nothing is permanent. He muttered to himself while observing the vast expanse of sand dunes in the distance.
What difference will a materialistic life make if it leaves me feeling melancholic? He continued his musings.
Happiness, like a mirage in the desert, is a deceptive illusion. It's visible, but it's not truly there. We chase after it, but it remains elusive. Aren't we seeking happiness in things that are just earthly possessions? These things, which we believe will bring happiness, are just fragments of the Earth. They are extracted, moulded, and fashioned into visually appealing objects. They were never truly ours. They originated from the outside, not from within. They don't genuinely bring happiness. As a gust of dry wind blew across his face, stinging with grains of sand, he felt a dryness in his mouth.
True happiness resides within. Why search for it outside? Happiness is subjective; it was never an objective reality. Even the happiness found in relationships is often an illusion. It fades over time. Think about it, isn't our partner also composed of earthly elements? He began questioning himself, feeling a growing thirst.
It's said that God created men and women from earthly elements, in a form that resembled him. Moulded from clay, shaped with flesh and blood, tempered in the fires of good and bad, and finally brought to life by the breath of air. Following this logic, aren't we all just collections of dust wandering the Earth? From dust, we emerged, and to dust, we shall return. So, why be possessive in the interim? His thoughts accumulated like layers of sand forming dunes.
The space is filled with the ocean of silence. That's where God resides. To find God is to find happiness, and the path to finding Him is through meditation. By doing so, we discover both God and happiness. As the sun gradually shifted to the centre of the sky above, the entire desert appeared scorching, as if vapour was rising from the parched earth. His thirst was reaching its peak. Slowly, he began to move, searching for water.
I've heard about hermits, those who live in seclusion, detached from the world. Have they not achieved a state of true happiness, real contentment? Indeed, I've seen some of them; their faces radiate a glow, their eyes sparkle, their minds exude serenity. It seems their sole purpose in life is to meditate on God. Everything they do, they do, not for themselves, but for God. Some levitate, some hold their breath for extended periods, some can sustain themselves for days without food, while others can manifest elements from thin air. Have they not mastered the very elements of Earth, while we have become enslaved by them? They have discovered the gateway to true happiness. As his thoughts flowed, the aridness of the desert seemed to sap every bit of moisture from him. His face turned pale, and his eyes swelled. A few yards ahead, he spotted a makeshift structure and started moving toward it.
When will I master every element? When will I find genuine happiness? I've spent my entire life searching for happiness, and look where it has brought me...Before he could finish his thought, he saw a blurry view of a metal plate hanging at the top of the makeshift structure, with words inscribed on it. Squinting his eyes, he read the words.
"HAPPINESS SOLD HERE."
He peered inside the structure, and his heart swelled with joy. Happiness knew no bounds. Inside, he could see bottles of water neatly arranged.
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