As Unna approached the imposing arched entryway of the temple of acolytes, she was feeling heavy and nervous. She was less than welcome in this hallowed hall. Nami would never think of entering. He knew better than to try to discuss their disability with these fanatics. Nami would probably refer to them as nuts or bigots. They had their place in society, and they had their uses. She made a fist with her long, delicate fingers and rapped on the thick oak doors. The doors were beautifully manufactured with the use of the voice of the tree that sacrificed itself for the temple. Not all things built in her village were crafted with the permission and voice of the material as a guide in the process. That being said, everything in the temple was sourced with the consent and help of the materials used. Also, the finest quality man-made objects in society were built listening to the material. The door appeared to be alive. She ran her hand along it, and it was smooth; the knots and imperfections were not sanded over with an effort to conceal, but somehow they were accentuated, making it alive. If she could hear the All she would know that it was indeed alive and as sturdy in voice as it was imposing an entrance to the temple. The voice of the door and temple had already announced her arrival. She didn’t hear this announcement, but it was delivered. 

Kunda opened the majestic doors, which shocked Unna, because he was the head acolyte. Usually the door was never answered by one of his station. Which must have meant he wanted to speak with her. Now she was nervous. She had drawn the attention of a very powerful man. What did he want? She knew he wouldn’t get to the point; he reached his position by being subtle and careful. He was a master manipulator. I mean, all the acolytes were, and he was the head of the acolytes. To prevent herself from panicking, she decided to practice her mindfulness. She would go through her five senses, not six like everyone else. Before observing her body and her surroundings, she thought, He probably wants to know if Nami is behaving strangely and putting people in danger.

As Kunda led her into the sanctuary, she started with what she could see. She saw a large chamber with a raised wooden floor. Looking at one of the acolytes on the floor, communicating with some aspect of the world. Probably the weather. They were always trying to get the weather to tell them what she was going to do. She seldom complied. She loved surprising everyone with her storms. But an acolyte’s gotta try. The man was sunk into the floor a few inches. It was springy and comfortable to sit or stand on for long periods of meditation and commune with the All. It was made of interlacing strips of wood.

Kunda led her further into the temple. There was no vocal communication in the chamber of the All so as not to distract those in communion with the All. Next, she saw the granite that the building was made of. It was seamless. It appeared to be grown from stone as opposed to cut and mortared. It wasn’t smooth, but it wasn’t rough either. It was as if the mountain had built itself into this temple. She knew that the temple was built by master stone masons, though. The mountain directed their cuts and helped create this living building. 

The floor was made of travertine. It was tiled, but they were cut and placed in a manner that had no seams, and the patterns lined up to perfection. There was no evidence of cuts. It looked like the ground was made of travertine. It was beautiful and elegant. There were candle sconces throughout the chamber and giant chandeliers hanging from the top of the dome, giving light to the chamber. She wondered, how many candles do they go through? Nami and Unna couldn’t be trusted with candles because they couldn’t hear the alarm of the house or other objects when the fire tried to burn them.    

Next, she paid attention to what she could hear. She heard the footfalls of Kunda. She heard her steps. She could hear her breath. She also heard Kunda’s breath. He was a large, heavy man and took heavy breaths. There was no other sound. Well…she thought if she listened hard enough, she could hear the candles burning as she passed. Maybe. 

She could feel her feet compressing against her sandals. She could feel her loose pants brushing her legs. And she could feel the strap of her leather sling bag digging into her shoulders. 

Okay, two things I can smell. She could smell the wood floors. She loved the smell of wood. And she could smell the beeswax from the candles burning. 

Finally, she could taste the chicken soup she had eaten for lunch; her mother had made it. 

 About the time she finished her mindfulness, they reached Kunda’s chambers. The anteroom was modest and sturdy, yet elegant. Six chairs were crafted with voice and a desk where Kunda’s secretary worked. The secretary was out. She couldn’t remember his name. Kunda unlocked the door. The door was built from the same tree as the temple’s entrance, and looked just like it, only much smaller. I wonder if it’s speaking to him? She knew from previous visits with Kunda that his chambers consisted of a study with a library attached to the left, and his living quarters were to the right. There was a grand desk in the middle of the room with four chairs in front and fifteen lining the walls. The desk had served the head acolyte for over 1,000 years. It advised the head acolyte based on these years of service. Unna didn’t know quite what this advice consisted of, and of course, she didn’t know how it was communicated, but the desk must have heard so many important conversations. 

Kunda asked, “What brings you to the temple today?” 

“Well I have been meditating for years, for long periods of time trying to connect to the All. This morning I made a conection with a power I can not explain in words. It was Nothing. It was everything the All is not. My mind and sense of self was empty, which, as you know is when communication with the All is possible. Instead of connecting my consciousness with All I connected to something else. All sense of self was lost. I ceased to exist. I was Nothing. After a few hours I came back to the present moment in my home.” Unna confessed. 

She wasn’t sure she should tell this man, but she needed someone with his knowledge and connection to the All to advise her. After the acolyte election process, the All approved his priests, and like naming His people, He whispered the name and position on the hearts and minds of everyone. Well, everyone who could hear His voice. 

Kunda sat for a minute behind his desk, contemplating his response. All the while, Unna was regretting telling this man. After what felt like forever he spoke, “This is interesting, and concerning. When I connect to the All, my consciousness is expanded to everything. I become All things. I do not control it I just become it. I believe you. What do you think about this “Nothing” you connected to?”

“I used the word power, but maybe weakness would be more appropriate. It felt like I had no power, and I ceased to exist. Why are you listening to this? Isn’t this blasphemous?”

“Yes, yes, it is. And I would like you to keep this conversation between us. But you and your brother are the embodiment of blasphemy. But you are also people under my care. And like everyone, you have a purpose.” 

“What could be the purpose of someone deaf and dumb to the All?” Asked Unna. 

“We don’t know, but I fear it is direly important,” Kunda said

“Well, that’s ominous. I was hoping to get more direct answers.” Unna plead.

“I can tell you this much, and it’s too much. As you know, everything has an opposite and can’t exist without an opposite. Light has dark. Wet has dry. Cold has hot. You and Nami are opposite the other people in our society. Even the All has an opposite. I don’t know what it is, but I think you and Nami are children of this antiforce. The All doesn’t know because it is unknowable to Him. You are hazy to the All because of the touch of Nothing.” Kunda delivered this with arms folded. 

Unna responded with wisdom beyond her years. “Maybe it’s not opposite to the All, maybe it’s just different and complementary. Like how I am still a human but different from those whom the All has named.” 

Unna left with more questions than answers.