This page is part of the archives of the IshCon.org discussion forums, as they existed from November 2002 to January 2007. Some links and other content references may be outdated or broken. For more information about IshCon, visit www.ishcon.org.
Topic: The Parable of The Gatekeeper and the Cartographers
Part of the forum "Speakers Corner" in the IshCon Forum Archive
| Poster and Date | Post |
| slumberelegy Mon Jan 8th, 2007 at 07:59 PM |
Uncounted aeons ago, on a faraway island, a wall was constructed around a great swath of dangerous and beautiful territory. Though this piece of land that was walled off was the very origin of those people who lived on The Island, it was deemed by the powers that controlled The Island that the knowledge of that place was dangerous - both to the people, and to good order - and could not remain open. So a great wall, one hundred cubits high, fifteen cubits thick, and made with such perfect craftsmanship that no fingerhold could be discovered, was constructed all around this piece of land, to keep the people out. Years went by, then decades, then centuries, then mellennia, and after ages uncounted, the wall stood thick and heavy with vines, invisible to the eyes of the Islanders, and also the wall became unthought of in their minds, for they assumed that it had always been there, and that nothing could lie beyond it. But as time and fate would have it, the destiny of all sealed things to become unsealed came true, and several Islanders, all in their own time and in their own way, discovered that the wall hid a land of great splendor behind it, a land that was walled off before time was time and before history had existed. These people tore holes of varying sizes and shapes in the wall, and built gates - some grand and stern like an ill-tempered Father God, some small and humble like a hermit, and others solid of craftsmanship, like that an artisan would construct. They installed themselves as Gatekeepers, and taught all who would listen of their cursory examinations of the lands beyond, urging these listeners to explore even further. Most Islanders ignored these Gatekeepers, for who could deny that no one had even given a thought to that walled off land for time out of memory? Surely, if something important existed behind the great wall, it would have been known by then. But there were a few who recognized the potential of this beautiful, dangerous and Unknown Land, and so made their way to the Gatekeepers to gain wisdom from them, before leaving their people, and embarking on forays into the depths of the walled-off paradise in pursuit of knowledge. These people came to call themselves the Cartographers. The Cartographers delved deep into the unknown and savage lands, exploring, researching, experimenting, exchanging information, arguing, and arriving at conclusions both thrilling and terrifying. Every time they returned home to their Clans and the rest of the Islanders, they seemed more and more alien. Soon, even their own Clans no longer recognized them. For in truth, the savage and wondrous lands that lay beyond the forgotten wall had enchanted them with ancient magics; and so they began, ever so slowly, to reclaim those birthrights that the wall had torn from their ancestors so very long before. This story told tonight speaks of a group of Cartographers who entered the Unknown Lands through the same gate, kept by the same Gatekeeper. These people explored like all the other Cartographers, and explored and experimented and argued and came to their own conclusions, both thrilling and terrifying. And with every passing foray into the Unknown Lands, they became more and more alien to the Islanders and the Clans, and more and more familiar to themselves. One day, the first and wisest of the Cartographers to begin exploration of the Unknown Lands under the guidance of their Gatekeeper announced that a great council would be held just inside the wall, wherein all would have the opportunity to question their great Gatekeeper. Cartographers flocked from all over the Unknown Lands to gain knowledge both hidden and special from the Gatekeeper. So they gathered under a waterfall in a grove of thick trees just inside the wall, and the wisest of the Cartographers ensured order during the council, which was to the minds of many who had attended one of the most important events in their lives, and possibly of The Island itself. And so, the questions were asked to the Gatekeeper: "Gatekeeper," said the youngest and newest of all the Cartographers, "I wonder about your thoughts on the Green River that flows from the Highlands down to the Cradle of Mountains, and joins with the Blue River on its way out to the Sundering Sea. For you have called it meandering and graceful, but I have discovered in my explorations that is has great rapids and terrible waterfalls, and I wonder how you have come to decide that these, too, are meandering and graceful?" The Gatekeeper blinked and took a long time to speak. At long last, he spoke: "Oh, yes, the meandering of the Green River. I suspect that this meandering is caused by small foothills that the river has carved its path through. It makes the river wave back and forth. Does this answer your question?" asked the Gatekeeper. And the youngest Cartographer, not wanting to seem a fool, sat down and relenquished the floor to the next Cartographer, who stood and asked, "Before I became a Cartographer, I sat at your feet for many a long hour, listening to the stories of the great and wonderful things that lay beyond the gate, and I wondered and was filled with awe. But you made little mention in your prose of the realities of life beyond, of the stinging insects and the sticking mud and the sinkholes that can swallow a man whole. I wonder why you have not taught of these things?" And the Gatekeeper thought for many a long minute before answering with, "I have answered them. I spoke of them in the sonnet I composed regarding Wariness Towards Unknown Dangers. And since unknown dangers have been warned against, how can you say that I have not taken time to explain the realities of the Unknown Lands? Does this answer your question?" And the Cartographer, not wanting to seem a fool, sat down and relenquished the floor to the next Cartographer. Now, this Cartographer had journeyed deeper into the Unknown Lands than all of the others, and as his journeys were not wide, but long. Only the eldest of the Cartographers, and only the wisest even among these, understood the question he asked: "Gatekeeper," said he, "Through my journeys, I have traveled deeper into the Unknown Lands than any other. I have seen the darkness and horrifying nature of it, and also the unbounding love and brilliant joy that springs from every corner. I find that the time has come for us few Cartographers of will to make our home here, in the Unknown Lands behind these walls. But, all of the laws of the Clans of the Island are in stark opposition to this idea. They refuse to release their bonds of fellowship any of their Clansmen. Yet I know in my heart that this is what is right, not just for myself, but all who gather here." A great murmur of the deepest approval swept through the gathered Cartographers. "What say you to this? Shall we forsake our Clan bonds and make our home here, where we feel at peace, in opposition to the laws of the Clans?" And the Gatekeeper answered almost immediately, "Never have I suggested anything such as the violation of Clan Law. Indeed, anything learned in your explorations beyond thist wall you should use within your Clan life, creating Cartographers' Guilds and the like, and building mutual support in that world, not abandoning it for this world, here. Does this answer your question?" And indeed it had, and it seemed as if the council had ended, for no more questions were asked, and the Gatekeeper returned to his gate, and the council was left with a vague sense of ennui, as of something missing and unfulfilled. Within minutes, bitter complaints were exchanged between those who had asked questions, and these soon washed over to the rest of the council until it was certain that few were satisfied with the wisdom and knowledge and secrets that the Gatekeeper had given. Much did they speak of the Gatekeeper that day, until one Cartographer, who had observed, but said nothing, spoke. "My fellows," he said, "Why do you feel so surprised? Should you not have foreseen this as surely as you foresee the rising of the suns? All this Gatekeeper has done is make cursory glances and minor expeditions into the Unknown Lands through his single gate, for exploration is not his calling. He did not answer our questions because he chose to keep his secrets hidden. No, his reticence was because we asked of him that which he did not know. For he is a Gatekeeper, and not a Cartographer." - Chuck |
| Nene Mon Jan 8th, 2007 at 08:13 PM |
Hey -- FUCKING AWESOME, Chuck! Nailed it in one. Beautiful! Whate else can I say? :notworthy: Janene |
| foolish_yeti Mon Jan 8th, 2007 at 09:34 PM |
muchos gracias |
| Talvir Mon Jan 8th, 2007 at 09:48 PM |
=D> I loved the writing. Beautiful metaphor, Chuck. :) - Joe |
| bdjewkes Tue Jan 9th, 2007 at 12:56 AM |
I have to admit I was a little bummed yesterday, but my response to your parable was a resounding 'yes', and brought me back to the point of thanking the gatekeeper for showing me the gate in the beginning. Very good storytelling, Chuck! Brian |
| prometheus235 Tue Jan 9th, 2007 at 10:11 AM |
Really really good, Chuck. I know you are writing a Fifth World novel, I can't wait to read it. |
| MatthewJ Tue Jan 9th, 2007 at 11:50 AM |
Woohoo! Someone decided not to "seem the fool"! Thanks Chuck! |
| twokniveskatie Tue Jan 9th, 2007 at 12:28 PM |
ditto what nene said..... :notworthy: thanks, chuck |
| UrbanScout Tue Jan 9th, 2007 at 01:32 PM |
I love you. Call me. No seriously. Lets get some tea or something. |
| twokniveskatie Tue Jan 9th, 2007 at 01:34 PM |
oh, scout :oops: don't be silly. i live too far away..... |
| UrbanScout Tue Jan 9th, 2007 at 01:40 PM |
Um yeah... sorry Katie, I uh was talking to Chuck... Boy this is awkward... :D |
| memeshredder Tue Jan 9th, 2007 at 02:09 PM |
yes very beautiful Chuck! I've now experienced two suicides in one week... today is my catch-up day and then I won't be back until Sunday or Monday, barring the fulfillment of the rule fo three... I have now caught myself up with the transcripts, such a tragedy indeed, I think I will put thoughts down here and riff of this metaphor. Rather than 'go there' ( nuh-uh I know you didn't) like some other cartographers have. The cartographer who suggested the new clan knows many other cartograper well, as well as knowing the gatekeeper very well. he has wanted to be friends with them all in the most joyous of manner, but has seen his desire to push further into the depths be seen as a lack in breadth. he cannot do much with this perception, but call to those who wish to follow him. The cartographer can only hope that those who journey with him or those that pass through do not build another wall. The cartographer hopes that bringing along the best cartographers with him will give cartography a new vector. He has seen the world be defined as what is inside the gate, and the terrible things outside of it. Having spent a sufficient time outside the great wall, being able to look upon the wall, as opposed to peering over it, he knows that bestowing the title of 'gatekeeper' to anyone, or to many, is a diffficult task, and would rather not keep gates at all. Unfortunately in the deep darkness of the Green Hills, Trolls do live. they are stumbled upon, they do not regularly attack. That is why trackers and guides will always be able to take a scouting party home and to wisk them to safety when danger arises. With skillful trackers, parties may venture wildly, and not seek a new great wall in order to defend themselves. Hopefully, the importance of the individual will fade away once living without walls becomes commonplace. There are wells to be dug, baths to be built, sustenance must be gathered, and they all start with one handful of dirt, one handful of mortar, one handful of berries. The one handful leads to the second handful, and so on. No longer will we look to the hand that feed us first as our source of nutrition, we will look up to their example and learn how to feed ourselves, learn how to build our own camps, we will navigate the Green Hills and protect each other through the shining beacon of knowledge, not by building gates and fences. The light of knowledge will guide those who guide us, so that we may guide others in when they arrive. And with a bright enough lantern, they will come. When more than one lantern is lit, even more will come, because it will show the people that it is not another ruse to build another gate, and when thousands of lanterns are light, only a few will remain behind the old gates, because all the firecrafters, all the bridgebuilders, all those with dreams of a new world, that is, all of us, will have joined a light and found a new home. And that's all I have to say about any of it. |
| locke Tue Jan 9th, 2007 at 04:57 PM |
That is excellent Chuck. I was asked to post the chat transcript at another site, but I haven't gotten around to it yet because the chat was so short and didn't cover much of anything new. I was afraid it may disappoint some people. Your parable really adds a lot to it. Could I post it along with the transcript and what's your last name (or initial) so I can properly attribute it? Rob |
| Ludi Tue Jan 9th, 2007 at 05:07 PM |
I like the story, Chuck. :) |
| slumberelegy Tue Jan 9th, 2007 at 06:46 PM |
(Man, everyone assumes I was writing about the chat. What if it was just a story, huh? I guess, if the shoe fits...) Well, hey, Rob, I'm honored that you think this would help. Please do post it along with the transcript, that would be cool! You could call me Chuck Schneider if you want to credit it. I've edited it for a few typos I made. Rory, hate to burst your bubble, but the story I'm writing is actually a dyed-in-the-wool sci-fi novel, with faster than light travel and all. It has a very, VERY, Beyond Civ bent, but sci-fi it remains. I WILL one day take a stab at a 5th World novel, but I'll have to add in balanced city-states and low-level use of high-tech, elegant technologies. - Chuck |
| wildway Tue Jan 9th, 2007 at 11:41 PM |
Chuck: You owe me a nickel for the use of the word "cartographer". Ha! Bill Gates tipped me off that I have rights here! -w |
| surrealswirls Wed Jan 10th, 2007 at 02:54 AM |
Chuck, that was a wonderful story. Thank you. -Olivia |
| This page is part of the archives of the IshCon.org discussion forums, as they existed from November 2002 to January 2007. Some links and other content references may be outdated or broken. For more information about IshCon, visit www.ishcon.org. |