7. SPACE . . .

Merlin's robe was embroidered with moons and stars, and the boy Arthur wondered why that was so.

"Let me show you," Merlin offered. He took Arthur and sat him on a hilltop. "Now tell me the farthest thing you can see."

"I see the forest extending for miles until it reaches the horizon. That's as far as I can see," said Arthur.

"And what is farther than that?" Merlin asked.

"The edge of the world, the sky, and the sun, I suppose," Arthur said.
"And beyond that?"

"The stars and then empty space, extending to infinity."

"And would that be true if I turned you around?" asked Merlin. The boy nodded. "Very good," the wizard said. "Now follow me." He led the boy to the stream where they often napped in the afternoon. "Now what is the farthest thing you can see?" Merlin asked.

"I can see very far in deep woods like this, only to the last bend of the stream down there." Arthur pointed about a hundred yards off.

"But you know that the stream runs to the sea, and the sea to the horizon?" asked Merlin. Arthur agreed. "Then the horizon would give way to the edge of the world, the sky, the sun, the stars, and infinite empty space, just as before?" Merlin said.

"Yes," Arthur replied. Once more the wizard looked pleased and led his disciple into the crystal cave.

"Now what is the farthest you can see?" he asked.

"It is dim, and all I can see are the walls of the cave," said Arthur, "but before you ask me, I will agree that outside this cave are the forest, the hills, the horizon, the sky, sun, stars, and empty space."

"Then mark well," Merlin said in a louder voice. "No matter where you go, the same infinity extends in all directions. You are thus the center of the universe no matter where you go."

"That seems like a trick," Arthur protested.

"No, the trick is played by your senses, which fool you into believing that you are localized. In truth every point in the cosmos is the same point, a focus for infinity in all directions. There is no here or there, no near or far. As the wizard sees it, there is only everywhere and nowhere. Knowing this, you would wear moons and stars too. Without the illusion of your senses, you would realize that the moon and stars are right here beside you."

"When will I realize that?" the boy asked.

"In time. As the turmoil of your soul settles, you will see the heavens in your own being."