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THERE ARE TWO HUNDRED people inside the crowded assembly room at the monastery. Everyone discusses the soil and nutrients and debates the idea of a plant's purpose and the four phases of plant life.
The meeting at the monastery was much larger than Mahá had thought it would be. There are leading scientists from the clinics and the hospital, teachers, and officials from the school. Drrea and his team in textiles and building materials, as well as Danip and his entire team of cultivation and conservation, are present.
I am here to represent the King. I (Merliana), the other four judges, and the Royal Treasurer. The Royal Judges alone can assign and remove the King, and they alone have authority over the Royal Treasurer (Visákhá and Mahá's father).
The curved shape of the room acts as a sound stage where the closer to the center of the chamber, the more amplified their voice. Our table is a few meters in front of the center stage. Together, we, judges, and experts are determining the next cycle of raising crops, including cannabis plants.
The assembly chamber is bright as the great curved roof includes glass panels. The glass is treated with a protective glaze. Therefore, most of the individuals took their hoods and eye protection off. But enough of this who and what, it is time for me to address the assembly and start the session.
Hammering the gavel across the top of the sound block four times, "I call the meeting to order. Please, everybody, let's focus on the designated speakers and listen to their data. After everyone is finished speaking, we will provide the community with a decision for the growing season."
The King's chair is empty. He elected not to attend today as he is busy sculpting his new statues at the entrance to the Palace Gardens. As I look at his empty chair I recall our meeting earlier in the day to give him the results from my analysis of the binary stars (Faust and Kelly).
My limited skills in asteroseismology (because of our lack of technology) show that the immense gravity of the dwarf (Faust) pulls the neutron (Kelly) away from its orbital position causing an unstable condition and an increase of pulsing star-quakes. Furthermore, the dwarf will merge with the neutron in as little as six hundred years at the current rate. At that moment, the resulting kilonova or gamma-ray burst will torch Planet four hundred forty-four and leave it a barren, uninhabitable sphere.
This is not the time for evaluating the extinction event and the King's reaction. without reluctance I proceed to open the meeting, "The venerable Magallan Rinboku could not be present. He was taken to the hospital today. His condition is stable. Airodia informed me that Magallan's poor condition is from early-stage radiation poisoning, but he is back on his feet and will be released later today or tomorrow.
Nevertheless, the disease of radiation is increasing throughout our community. Many here claim the marijuana plants are right for medicines, clothing, buildings, and home necessities to help us fight the X-ray emitting Kelly."
Airodia taps my shoulder and says to me, "Merliana, can I address the assembly?"
I respond, "One minute, Airodia. First, I need to inform everyone that the King and some of our judges do not agree to cannabis for recreation. The fear is that society will become reckless and careless when these plants are used for pleasure. We will now listen to Airodia, the Ambassador of Health on the King's council."
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Airodia and his wife, Utotutua (Chief of Disease Control), take center stage. Airodia says, "The neutron star (Kelly) is gaining in strength and the result causes an increase of X-ray that is now passing through the old protective robes. At the hospital, we see increases in skin, eye, and pancreatic diseases."
Utotutua says," The drugs we are producing are helping to ease the discomfort, but we are bumbling to find cures. The plants and herbs Vallena is growing are helping, but there isn't much more she can do. So please, Vallena, join us. I don't wish to speak for you."
I watch Vallena as she makes her way across the crowded room to the center stage. She had been standing in the entrance waiting for Visákhá who had run out to find Mahá When she reached the stage, she described her technique for generating cannabis strains.
"With the injection of a fraction of a milliliter of nanobots into the root, I can produce new strains of plants," Vallena revealed to the assembly.
Mahá walked into the Monastery's meeting chamber halfway towards the stage while stopping Vallena's presentation, "How is it that on our planet where there is no technology for generating nanobots that you, Vallena, can build them?"
The chamber resounded from everybody discussing his question. Some accuse Vallena of being a Humanoid spy; some suggest she's performing black art, and a few defend her and appeal that she should continue to speak. I slammed the gavel across the sound block several times and shouted for silence, but with a meager effect.
"The bees," she called out. She was trying to shout above all the debates.
"The bees! Did you just say the bees?" Mahá challenged as loud as Vallena.
The place went silent as she described, "Haven't any of you noticed the bees on this planet? They're not insects. They are bots. Every one of them is a bot. The Humanoids had to put robot bees on the planet to allow pollination for most fruit and nut trees and many of the herbs we use for medicines. I captured a few bees, and then I extract a meager amount of the nanobots from a tiny pocket at the joint where the wings hinge to the centrifuge."
A minute of cheers and applause for Vallena from the gathering before hammering my gavel onto the sound block, six times. I say "Who gave you permission to capture bees or to use nanobots in experiments?" I demanded. "You are not a Royal and you people in the orchards village cannot tamper with our food. Who? Who gave the permission?"
From the other end of the table, I heard Hoab Kumár (Father of Mahá), the Royal Treasurer says, "I gave her permission. I sanctioned the experiments. It's my job as Royal Treasurer to budget and distribute our community resources. These projects are mine and Vallena is the chief scientist of the projects. Now, if it's okay with you Merliana, and the rest of the Royal Judges, can we please let the experts continue?"
While I motioned with my hand to Vallena, allowing her to continue. I doubt that Hoab had any prior knowledge of these practices. These people below in the orchards seem to act and behave however they please, and the King charged us judges to rein them in.
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Drrea continues outlining the issue to the assembly. "Our computer science experts monitor the energy grid from the fission power services in orbit around the planet, and they communicate with the twelve satellites that provide weather and astrological information regarding the binary stars, including Kelly's X-ray surges. But beyond that, well, let's say they don't know how to program nanobots and leave it at that. So if we can't reprogram the nanobots, we've exhausted opportunities to further advance plants."
Danip made his way to the center of the chamber while Drrea was talking. Next, he adds, "The team used all the soil and mineral techniques that are available to us here on Planet Four Forty and Four to feed and nourish the plants. As he speaks, his fingers count the beads of the mala in his hand, one by one. "While we did find positive scientific practice to augment the plants during each of the four stages, my team also reached a standstill. We, too, require computer technology and computer science to help us advance."
Danip continues, "Further, we allotted too much of the planet's fertile farm grounds to cannabis and our food supplies will soon be less than what our people require. Soil conservation is past the control limits and is being depleted rather than maintained. My team estimates that within six hundred years, we cannot produce food."
Utotutua comes back, "To deal with these issues we will call for families to produce more children. Our community numbers are dropping off, and our population is aging."
Mahá confronts her, "You can't expect to add to a population that is running out of food!"
Utotutua says, "If we don't have young people, we cannot farm and clear orchards at harvest. So perhaps it is time to define senicide and the methods."
Airodia responds emphatically, "We will not end people's lives. Buddhists are not practitioners of geronticide.
Mahá looks at me, and our eyes meet. He asks, "There is only one solution to all of this crisis. Is the Royal leadership up to the task?"
Can a community free from anger battle these existential threats? Is it even possible they can work towards the solutions without first finding outrage at these zero-sum challenges? Fear and confusion prevailed in the absence of anger. Those emotions, historically, do not prove to bring about victory for the condemned.
I am shocked at the soil report. More shocked by Mahá's questioning of the King's leadership. The entire assembly bursts into spontaneous conversations, with everyone speaking simultaneously. I allow the disarray to continue.
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It was predictable, so it did not surprise me to see who showed up on the stage next. Visákhá joined Airodia, Utotutua, Drrea, Danip, and Vallena at the center. She lingered for less time than a blink before chanting the Manjushri Mantra.
"Om a ra pa ca na dhih"
This mantra will build skills in all types of learning. The more emphasis and times recited, the more prone it will succeed.
When monks within the Monastery heard the chant and members at the meeting joined her, they went into the hall and participated.
"Om a ra pa ca na dhih" With the 108th oration, she hit the tingsha bell she was keeping in her hands. The high pitch ring and long duration of the sound wave stings the ears and is uncomfortable but serves the purpose to cause everyone to be mindful and present.
Visákhá said, "Can I ask everybody who can, to sit in the lotus position?" They all sat in a lotus position except for a few who had disabilities and were in chairs. "The marijuana and poppies, as well as many of the medicinal mushrooms Vallena produces are the nectar from the devas."
Visákhá continued. "Claiming this sanctity is not the chicanery of words or any foolish bloviation of a faceless claim." She wandered from one side of the small circular area the assembly had outlined when taking the seated pose to the other is a slow repetitive pace. She continued to speak.
"Think about the predators on this almost uninhabitable planet. None of them feed on these plants. They graze on the grains, and if not kept in check, they can destroy our orchards and crops. But nothing consumes these select human-helping cannabis and mushroom plants. Because this medicinal marijuana and hallucinogenic plants are for humans alone. More relevant than realizing the gift from the devas is to see these plants are organic. I'm underlining this knowledge because, while the nanobots can help optimize the plant, there is evidence of a conscious attempt to grow from plants."
When Visákhá said the plants had consciousness, the people looked at the person on their right and left. The expressions of surprise born on everyone's faces caused many to voice questions, and the room grew louder with many questions being asked.
She placed her left forearm below her belly and raised her right forearm to place the hand in front of her shoulder, palm facing outward. This is called the Abhaya Mudra, and a gesture of fearlessness or blessing that represents the protection, peace, benevolence, and dispelling of fear.
"These plants are organic, and instead of classifying four stages of life, my family and I determined the plant exhibits intention. A moment to remind of our qualifications, our family is the first family of Planet Four Four Four, and my birth parents are physicists specializing in electromagnetism. Through months of research with the help of the queen's sister (her birth mother), I expect we can adjust the plant's intention using light filtering. My fellow experts led by Drrea, Danip, and the genius Vallena have gone as far as science can take them. But now we might go another direction by using light filters to alter the plant's intention."
My gavel strikes the sound block, and I stand to say, "Before I can agree that we use our limited resources to make light filtration, I require a better understanding of consciousness in a plant."
Visákhá's birth mother stood up from her seated lotus position at the back of the assembly. She walks carefully through the people until reaching the center of the room to stand beside her daughter. Visákhá waited until she was standing beside her and then explained conscious plants.
"Our scientific understanding of the plant's life separates a plant life into four aggregates. A plant begins when it sprouts, then moves to the rooting. From there, the plant moves through vegetation until it finally arrives at the flowering stage. It is unfortunate because this science lacks the 'heart sutra' basics of compassionate caring. Instead of engineering plant life as a commodity, I invite you to open each of the aggregates with lovingkindness.
"We call mindful lovingkindness, light; shine the light on it. In this light, we can see that the sprouting is birth, the very beginning of life. Deep inside the seed is a ferocious being ready to go to battle with any demon in the universe who tries to get its baby. Until conditions are perfect, the seed does not give up its child. Much the same as when we invoke bodhisattvas and the devas, we must make the conditions perfect and then the invocation."
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As their meeting went on the planet rotated to the time of day when the binary stars move to the back of the monastery assembly hall. Since the assembly room becomes dark at this time of the day, Tibetan butter lamps are being lit and handed out. The smell of hot butter mixes with dampness from the rain in the late-day storm and permeates the room.
Visákhá's view, looking out from the center of the stage, she sees Tibetan butter lamps flickering and dancing at every angle. Here and there, faces from behind the flames appear and then disappear as if they were floating. Each one popped into view from the barren black void from the glow of butter lamps.
For me and many of the people of Planet four hundred forty-four, experiencing darkness is unusual. But they designed the Monastery assembly hall for this experience. It often helps (the organic mind) to use visual and sound triggers to invoke the desired condition. The light of lovingkindness, for example. It reminds me of what television and movies were doing with light and sounds on Earth in the 20th and 21st centuries to brainwash their unaware audiences.
Visákhá says, "The so-called—root phase is life developing and mutating to the genetic code or life's intention. In comparison, the scientific—vegetation phase is the being's developmental period through a maturing time period of life. Firm commitments and made-up minds produce branches and leaves and a long solid stem. When the plant enters the end of its physical ability to grow and stay strong, wisdom takes hold. They show the genuine intention of living in the flower. Flowering is the gray hair, old tired joints, and yielding tissues giving emergence to beautiful wisdom."
Mahá now standing beside her on center stage, says, "When we smoke the wisdom, eat it, or make medicines from it, our bodies absorb that perfect wisdom. We call it prajna."
"This assembly meeting has gone on long enough," I say as my gavel strikes the soundboard five times. "This assembly is complete," I called the monks to the assembly room and demand they send everyone on stage out through the front of the monastery. I don't want anybody swarming the speakers with thousands of questions and creating further confusion. So I stood center stage for ten minutes, explaining to everyone how I and the judges will tell the King.
"The monks will now close the monastery. So, everyone, it is time for you to go home, go to work, go about the day and wait for further notice from the King."
Then, I went to the Palace. Disappointed in the King not attending? You better believe I am!
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When the monks escorted everybody from the stage out the front door of the Monastery, Vallena, Visákhá, and Mahá walked home and held hands (interlacing their fingers). They left by Commerce Road, as it is the more direct passage to their home. The sky was bright with only a few wispy clouds like faint brush strokes across a light yellow canvas.
Mahá explained Kelv's decision to go on an investigation. "Sad to say we won't be seeing Kelv again. At least, not for a long time. He talked with me many times over the last couple of months about a choice. The option between devoting his life to Bodhisattva, which would make him a wanderer, or a choice to the Mahayana path of performing jhanas. Today he made the decision. I'm sorry Vallena. I know you suffer and we are here for you. And I ask that you both help me with the pain too."
Vallena, ever optimistic and filled with lovingkindness strolled in silence for half a kilometer. When she spoke, she said, "We will see him again. I know I will. Until then, and as always, he will take my heart and my prayers for his success. with him"
She performed the Medicine Buddha mantra, a chant that is recited for prosperity, helping to eliminate dilemmas and suffering.
"Tayata Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha Bekanze Radza Samudgate Soha."
Visákhá and Mahá followed her in chanting the mantra one hundred and eight times.
There was still a kilometer and a fraction to go before the three of them were home. The breeze that climb the tall mountain rim and then burst across the top into squalls tearing across the mountain top becomes stronger the closer they get. The air gathers the scent of the marijuana plants as it swirls and weaves through the crowded farmlands. Visákhá draws in a deep, restoring breath and exhales.
"I love that smell!" She says. "Do you recall when we were younger before we went to school at the Monastery?"
Vallena and Mahá answer jointly, "Yes, of course. Well, some of it at least."
Visákhá chuckled at the two of them, talking at the same time and saying the same thing. She thought it was reasonable considering how comparable they were and how much alike they are.
She told them, "Do you remember the time when I couldn't focus on the lessons and I thought my mind was wrecked? I couldn't be worried about how plants grow and how soil management is crucial?"
They all shrieked with laughter to tears, recalling Visákhá sobbing her eyes out because she felt incompetent.
After the laughing faded Visákhá says, "So Mahá why didn't you tell me about your sex-capaid with Vallena when you traveled down the mountain in the cart together on the way to see her quote, quote—garden? Vallena told me every detail. She said you had a very large boner when you pulled her into you and pushed yourself up against her butt."
Vallena was laughing in tears as Visákhá interrogated her husband for his "sex-capaid."
Turning her attention away from Mahá if only for a moment, she says, "And what are you laughing about, Vallena? I heard all about you proposing marriage to Mahá. Yes, that's right!" She continues with a slight laugh in her voice, "He told me all about the proposal and I then pieced your story together with his."
Mahá still not sure if it was right to laugh along with the two of them. But one thing was for certain, he felt fortunate to share the love and friendship of these two amazing beings.
As they reached the house and each of them took a seat in an Adirondack chair on the porch, a housekeeper brought them adult beverages.
There was no opportunity for them to marry Vallena. After all, Vallena isn't a Royal. She is from family forty, which was a long way from the Humanoid imposed rule of the first twelve families being the Royal families. Many of the common families would take issue with them taking her as a wife. Caste structure and opposition to the structure can be talked about in the community, but it cannot be changed or violated. Doing so is a threat to the bond of social normality, and this would be like the proverbial thorn that festers in the heel of the common families. Besides, it won't matter to the three of them; she is their unceremonial wife.
Visákhá says to them while looking into their eyes, "Listen, you two. I have a confession to make. About your love for me and the love, you keep for each other. This is love that makes me so proud and I cling to it, though I know I should not cling to life. Our love is something that I can't let go of because of the Oracle prophecy at our wedding. The prophecy told me that I won't see my child turn seven years old. This is why I feel even more blessed knowing once I'm dead, there will be the two of you here to raise them. Truly, this is a story that would make everyone feel blessed, and recognize it is our destiny."
Though they tried to console her for a long time before retiring to bed. Vallena and Mahá couldn't convince Visákhá that the Oracle is not always one hundred percent accurate. Visákhá insisted from this day forward a new routine for them. Besides the two days a week visits from Vallena, on top of the mountain, Mahá would spend one day each week in Vallena's garden home at the bottom of the mountain.
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They filled the kitchen with a vibrant verbal exchange between the cooks, servers, and the sharecroppers assembling at the grand table to eat their meal. When the three of them, Visákhá, Mahá, and Vallena, entered the room to drink tea and eat, they took notice of what was being said. Out of nowhere, Sedor (the son of a sharecropper) burst into the room, puffing and panting. He ran all the way from school to see his father, who was eating his meal at the table. "Did you hear the news?" Sedor yells when he got a breath, "The fifty-first Dalai Lama is coming here from Blue Origin. You know . . . from Earth!"
Everybody in the kitchen burst into laughter because the announcement Sedor shared was what everybody was chatting about when he barged in. The Humanoids sent a broadcast through the satellite relay and someone hacked the communication and was listening. The fifty-first Dalai Lama is arriving here in a day.
The cook says, "That allows us little time to prepare."
While everyone organizes how the community should prepare to greet his holiness, Mahá turns to Visákhá, "I'm going to use the King's flowers to grace his passage instead of trimming the palace."
"Oh no. No, no, no no! Don't do it," she pleaded. "The King is too demanding of the flowers and palace gardens. He banned several Royals from living on top of the mountain for not keeping his flowers, perfect. Every day he watches and waits for an opportunity for you to fail."
"We get a finite number of first times." quips Vallena as she steals a bite from Visákhá's sandwich. She weaves in and out and around the two of them, looking at their food. Spying something else to steal for a snack. "It's a fascinating reality. Like a first kiss. You get one first kiss. No, wait. Not a first kiss. This one is better. It's like the first time you feel so sad, way down deep, so painful and hollowing inside, so you can't breathe. Nobody and nothing will ever make you that miserable again. Not like that first one."
Mahá realizes Vallena is not talking about the same thing as he and Visákhá. She's lamenting Kelv. "I get your concern, Visákhá," he says. "I share the worry."
The women plead together, "Please do not do this. At least think about it."
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The fifty-first Dalai Lama arrived earlier than expected. Mahá saw the caravan from his vantage point sitting on his front porch. Vallena left to join with the orchards villagers, several minutes ago. Visákhá had gone into the city to her birth mother's laboratory. After giving many minutes of pondering it over, Mahá lost no more time in acting.
He staged every cart bearing the palace flowers in key places along the route. The palace gardeners and landscapers were decorating the road that will guide the Dalai Lama to the palace with the flowers. Mahá himself was working with the first cart at the foot of the mountain.
Mahá placed five of the plants across the right side of the road, and five more on the left. Enormous flowers with stems a meter and a half, and flowers twinkle and flash with every color that the eye can decipher. Afterward, he goes to the first turn of the steep road and waits for the procession. Taking a seat in lotus pose presses the palms of his hands together in front of him, thumbs placed just below the heart. He presents this Anjali Mudra as this is a gesture of greeting, prayer and adoration.
While waiting for the Great Being, the fifty-first Dalai Lama, he chants the Jivamukti Mantra: "Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu."
This translates to: "May beings everywhere be happy and free. May the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute to that happiness and to that freedom for all."
A mantra taught at the monastery to be used as a powerful chant that focuses on living a life as a servant to the greater good. It encourages cooperation, compassion, and living in harmony, not only among other humans but with nature as well.
Those ten plants lining the road glow in brilliant silver light and golden rays. Laser beams stream upwards far into the sky, and each beam aims toward the binary stars. The stems separate into long strands that intertwine and merge. As the cart carries His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, passes between the rows, and the flowers envelop the cart. The flowers grow and become an umbrella over the top of the cart to give shade to His Holiness. The intertwined stems run below and levitate the cart, lifting it a meter. Then, the caravan proceeds up the road with a floating cart leading the way. Silver, gold, and white light stream from the flowers, and the stems take on a golden luster.
When the cart reaches the first turn, where Mahá is sitting, it stops. The Dalai Lama opens the door and invites Mahá to join him.
"You're the man I came to speak with, Mahá," says His Holiness as Mahá sat in the seat next to him. "I'm here to ask you for a favor on a universal scale and I hope that once you hear me out, you will grant me the favor."
Outside the cart, the community lined the road with magical plants, a floating cart, and various musicians playing instruments. They welcome the Great One, The Blessed One, His Holiness, The Dalai Lama to Planet 444.
The Lama stands in the cart displaying the Namaskara Mudra and bows to those gathered as the floating cart progresses onward towards the palace.
The palace gardens are decorated and set up for an enormous feast. A small makeshift platform was readied as they hope the Dalai Lama will bless them with teaching while seated on the platform. As the caravan arrives, the Dalai Lama steps out of the cart and the ten plants form a luxurious chair and umbrella covering. His Holiness sits there and the floating sedan chair takes him where he wills it to go.
The Royals are taking their seats at their designated tables and Mahá spots Visákhá. So then he joins her at the table where she's seated. The sedan chair follows Mahá and His Holiness sits at their table enjoying the celebration in his honor.
Not everyone on Planet 444 was enjoying the Great One. The King was feeling very disturbed that his palace was without the glorious display of fresh-cut flowers. They made him even less comfortable when he looked out at the view from his terrace and saw his flowers had been used to line the route for His Holiness. The last wound adding to his discomfort was when he went to the King's table and saw the chair for the Dalai Lama empty. He looked around the garden and spotted the Dalai Lama seated with Mahá.
He ordered his five Royal judges, who are seated at the King's table, to arrest Mahá. "Arrest him on a charge of sedition, but wait until the Dalai Lama departs before you take him into custody," demanded the King.
The five Royal judges took notice of Mahá using the palace flowers to line the route instead of honoring the King's palace. They also took notice of Mahá riding in the floating cart along with the Dalai Lama. As they considered the charge of sedition, they noticed Mahá having one-on-one conversations with His Holiness and that His Holiness did not sit at the King's table.
At the end of the celebration, after the fifty-first Dalai Lama had provided the population of Planet 444 with a teaching about the Four Noble Truths, the Great One did not stay in the guest chambers of the palace. Instead, the judges noted, he stayed with Mahá. He stayed an entire day at Mahá's home.
