Q - Ananda's Stone

There was once a kingdom, and the people of the kingdom were given
to the pursuit of wisdom. In the biggest city at the centre of the
kingdom was a great circular arena where scholars of all creeds and
people of all faiths gathered to discuss matters of philosophy and
religion.

Prince Ananda would often dress in rags and travel to the arena, where
he would move freely among the crowds and listen to the many debates
that took place. He sought truth but never found it. The discussions
were long and frequently obscure. Men known as wise described at length
the correct interpretation of sacred texts, and the nature of the
universe, and the nature of the soul, and the many gods in the many
heavens and the many demons in the many hells that filled the sky and
the earth. These men talked, and they talked. Ananda listened, and the
longer he listened, the less he understood.

One day the prince visited a stream on his way to the arena, and
plucked from the soft mud a stone as big as his fist, worn round and
hard as an egg. Ananda wrapped the stone in a red kerchief and placed
it inside the bag he carried upon his back. When he reached the arena,
he marched through the chattering crowds to the circular platform at
the centre, and casting aside his disguise revealed himself as Prince
Ananda. The people fell silent.

"Often I have journeyed here in secret," he announced, "to hear pious
men speak of laws and doctrines. Often I have listened, and often I
have been disappointed." He reached into his bag and produced the
stone. "Whomsoever can toss this stone into the air, and explain the
ultimate truth of life before the stone lands, will receive half the
royal fortune." He held the stone out expectantly. "Who cares to
try?"

For a time, the crowd did not respond, and then "I!" came the shout,
and a man dressed in long, flowing robes stepped forth, surrounded by
followers. He bowed and took the stone from the prince. Taking a deep
breath, he flung it high into the air and began, as fast as he could,
to recite from his faith's holy book: "To be at one with the primal
force, to return to the godhead, to ascend from this-" The stone landed
on the steps behind him with a loud report.

Another stepped up. He was stronger and younger than the first, and
with a grunt threw the stone almost twice as high. "Almighty Dugong is
our creator and our saviour. If we adhere to his rules then he will
receive us into paradise in which we can reside for-" Again, there was
a bang as the stone landed. The crowd, fearful of being struck by a
falling stone, began to move back to make room for the next
challenger.

This process went on for hours. Some tried to speak as fast as
possible, almost so fast that they could not be understood. Some took
great pains to hurl the stone as high as possible. All were silenced by
the crack of the stone returning.

As the light began to fail, a hooded man stepped up and wordlessly
accepted the stone. He held it for a moment, and then with no
particular effort tossed it up into the air. The crowd expected him to
speak, but he said nothing. The people waited, but he was silent.
Prince Ananda waited, but the man simply stood there, a slight smile on
his face, his arms by his sides. There was no sound of the stone
landing. The crowd looked up. It was gone.

The man simply bowed, turned and walked away, melting into the
crowd.

Prince Ananda, and all the people who were in the arena that day, are
dead now. The kingdom is no more, its cities have crumbled to dust. As
for the mysterious silent sage, who knows? Since the stone has not
landed, he has yet time to answer. Some say, only half-jokingly, that
the sage's reply began on that day, and that it continues, even now.
Some say, only half-jokingly, that when Ananda's stone finally falls to
earth, the world will end.