Questions for a wise man

[Vertigo]

Originally Posted by General Tyran

I have to admit, I laughed. Not where I saw the story going.

Well VB does have a certain penchant for stories with that sort of slant

My question would be "Why do humans love their neighbours as individuals and hate them as nations?"

[Jake Reynolds]

Hmm, not sure. It seems to me that this is a little backwards. I would have thought the question would be what one would start with in a story of this type rather than the need to seek an oracle. I also have logistical issues with this. Given mankind's nature, I'd say an oracle like thsi coudl never esist in solitude. People would dig in and build a nice, safe road that led straight to him.

However, I think your query leads to what woudl be a great final line, just after he has realised that he already knows the answer he seeks:

'He turned around, and started home.'

I think the story would be more powerful if the reader never even knew what the question was.

[James Coote]

Why only one obstacle a day?

[James Coote]

Later that day, at the backpackers' hostel:
"I was the first person to sail solo around Madagascar... in a home-made Kayak!"
"That's nothing, I was the first person to moon-walk the length of the Great Wall of China!"
"Pffft, you guys haven't lived! I was the first person in 100 years to reach the great oracle of the mountains! And when I did, I didn't even ask him anything! (That's how hardcore I am! rar!)"

[Grizzgreen711]

Originally Posted by Peter Graham

On the grounds that life clearly has no purpose beyond its own continuation, I think I'd go with "what are next week's Lottery numbers?"

Regards,

Peter

I must agree with this one.

[Huttman]

There is a fantastic book by Khalid Gibran called The Prophet. In this book are a lot of questions and answers posed to a 'wise' man, you might get some ideas from it and read a great book at the same time. Perhaps the question could be..."why do I want to know...anything at all?" Or everything?

[Huttman]

OR, you could ask him why he prefers Dos Equis Beer over all the others

[Warren_Paul]

Just have to say, I love your avatar, Huttman.


It's really not about the question though, is it? The journey is what matters.

[paranoid marvin]

'Is there a God?'

[Huttman]

Originally Posted by Warren_Paul

Just have to say, I love your avatar, Huttman.


It's really not about the question though, is it? The journey is what matters.

Many Thanks! Yes, you are right. The answer lies in each of us already.

[Huttman]

Originally Posted by paranoid marvin

'Is there a God?'

Good one, but that is more of a question for God himself.

[RJM Corbet]

Originally Posted by HMart

Have the protagonist come to find there is no wise man, only to end up staying and becoming him.

I really like your concept HM: or perhaps have him stumbling up the mountain, rehearsing all these questions in his mind until he finally reaches the top and looks into the eyes of the wise man, and just turns and goes back down the mountain again ...

[juelz4sure]

Just an off the wall idea, what if the wise old man is a child... In a lot of religions children are closer to God therefore has knowledge and the older you are the connection between self and God deteriote.

You could also go with the reincarnatioin idea the the child is actually someone who has lived and died many times.

One more idea could be that children see everything in a different light and see through things for what they are... seeing as the simplest answer is usually the right answer. Just some ideas

I know that's not what you asked sorry just had to get it out my mind, personally I ask what is required for true happiness?

juelz

[Vertigo]

Or what is true happiness?

[RJM Corbet]

Yeah, the wise man is really a little baby. Nice one Juelz

Who knows the Tibetan story of Milarepa?

He begged the master Marpa to take him on. Marpa finally agreed, and then he made Milarepa dig holes and fill them again, and beat him up and whipped him, made him carry heavy stones and build walls, then break them up and build them somewhere else, until Milarepa weeping, said: "I can't go on."

Marpa said: "Well that's a shame because you were so close. I made you despair six times. If I could've made you despair seven times you would've found enlightenment, but as it is, you're going to have to sit in that cave there and stare at the wall and meditate on what you are until I call you out."

This Milerapa did, for years, until Marpa called him out and asked him: "Well?"

And Milarepa had some reply, but it wasn't good enough so Marpa sent him back in again, and after years, it was the same. Back in he went until one day he realized: "What am I doing, seeking truth?"

And so he got up and emerged and said to Marpa: "I live."

"You've got it now," said Marpa.

Something like that ...