About the Dream

There were three brothers. From early childhood they got accustomed to labor and mutual assistance, they lived friendly, and together the work went on smoothly and the rest was cheerful. Once during the evening conversation the brothers talked about dream.

– A man cannot live without a dream, - The Eldest brother said. – Dream is the basis. It adds wings, it gives strength, it helps to live.

– A dream is the lighthouse, - The Middle brother answered. With it you won’t lose your life track, it will always show you the way.

– I disagree, - The Eldest got excited. – A dream – is like faith. If you have it, you may go wherever you want, everything will be delightful.

– Where can one go, if he does not see the way? – The Middle one was more reasonable. – A dream is more like a hope; without a goal, and faith may be blind!

– And I think, - The Youngest brother uttered, lowering his gaze, - that a dream – is the salvation. Without it, the soul will dry out like a sprout in the desert.

– A dream should be high, - The Eldest said. – The higher is the dream, the more strength it gives to the going one. For instance, I dream about making all people happy. What can be higher and more joyful?

– A dream should be achievable, - The Middle brother objected. - People say that it is necessary to build a house, to plant a tree and to grow up a son not to waste your life. This is my dream.

– Why are you keeping silent, brother? – They turned to the Youngest.

– I dream about perfection. – Without lifting up his eyes, he said in a low voice. – I dream to be a master and help others to become masters as well, because mastery dies if it is left in one man.

After short silence the Middle said:

– So, brothers, isn’t it high time for us to go towards our dream?

– It is! – The Eldest answered eagerly.

– It is, - The Youngest breathed out.

– This is settled then. Tomorrow – we start our journey!

…For a long time brothers went along their motherland, when once they stopped at the cross of three roads.

– This sign from above is no mere chance, - the Eldest uttered. – As each of us has his own dream, so each one fated to lead his way.

– I agree, - the Middle answered. - However, it is getting dark. Let’s stay at night here, and by morning we’ll decide who will go each way.

At night all of them had the same dream. They dreamt that a very old man, white, like snow, in long white clothes came to the place of their overnight stay.

“I know your dreams, - the Old man said. – They are high. But they should get stronger, before they will become what you think they are. Many ordeals are in store for you, but one of them – is the most important. Each of you has to recognize your dream by its face, find among many others. And here there is your touchstone. If you recognize – you’ll get a key in your hands, turning which, you may open the cherished door to your happiness. If you don’t recognize – don’t judge too severely, you’ll lose your dream forever. Don’t haste to go ahead, think. Do you know well what you are coming to? Are you ready to lose your dream in case of misfortune? This night and this crossroads – are boundary of your new way. Behind it there is no way back. Think, decide!”

Having awoken, the brothers kept silent for a long time at the burnt out campfire. Each of them was thinking of his own issue, but all of them thought about the same things. The Eldest brother’s soul was harried by doubts.

“How will I recognize my dream? Each man has his own happiness, and each man’s happiness has its own face. So my dream is of many faces, the same as people’s happiness. But if from thousands faces I don’t recognize the only one, will my dream leave me forever? My faith, my basis…No, it’s better to come back, let it remain unachievable, but it will exist and warm my soul, like the distant sun!”

The middle thought another way.

“My dream is plain and clear – how can I not recognize it? It is, my star, my guiding torch, how can I pass it by? No, I’ll go ahead, following its call, and nobody can stop me!”

“God knows best! – The Youngest was thinking meanwhile. – Though I don’t know yet what my dream is like, for the sake of opportunity to realize it, I am ready to take the risk of losing not only it, but my life as well, because it is more important than my life. Good faith, I’ve started this way not for acquiring it, but for serving it, as something great and everlasting. If I don’t recognize it – not it will die for me, but I will die for it, - and this is not such a big loss.”

The Eldest was the first to break silence. When he started speaking, brothers did not recognize him at first – he grew older during this morning. Looking somewhere through them with unseeing eyes, the brother dropped words, like one pood weights.

– I can not go further, brothers. Don’t judge me strictly; I will be unable to survive its loss, if I happen not to recognize it. I’ll never forget myself. So, remember me kindly!

The Eldest brother turned back, and without saying goodbye, started on a return journey.

– I respect your choice, brother, - The Middle called after him. – A lot of courage you need to see your strength in proper perspective and give up further struggle, realizing the inevitable defeat. Heavy burden you’ve shouldered to live with the dream, understanding the impossibility of realizing it. Let the God’s blessing be on you! And for me, as the Middle brother, the middle road is fated.

– I’ll go to the right, - The Youngest responded. – If we won’t meet again – Farewell!

The brothers hugged at parting and each one took his own way.

…Many years passed since then. And as parted brothers that time, they did not meet anymore.”– The Old master finished his unhurried story.

His pupils kept silent for some time, and then started vying with each other.

– What happened next?

– Why didn’t they meet anymore?

– Is it a true story, or you’ve imagined it?

– What happened to those brothers – I don’t know. True story it is or a fairy-tale – this is for you to decide.

– What happened to the Youngest? – A fair mop-haired boy with clear blue eyes asked. – Like him, I dream of passing my knowledge to people. When I have it, of course, - he added, confused.

The Old man got up, hiding his smile in the moustache.

– That’s all, sparrows! It’s time to break up – it’s late!

When noise of numerous voices quieted and the large chamber became deserted, the Master was sitting for a long time, propping his white head up on his hands and looking at candle light with a fixed stare. Bright flashes were dancing in his eyes; memories were quivering as light wings at his face.

– Why haven’t you told them the truth? – A low voice was resounded behind his back and made him start, returning him to reality.

The Master turned back. The Old man did not change a bit; though many years passed since their last meeting in the remote dream, it was not difficult to recognize him.

– You did not want to make them upset by the story of the brothers’ fate?

– It would be a dull tale, - The Master answered, giving a deep sigh.

– But hasn’t your dream come true? Is there anybody in the neighborhood equal to you in your mastery? Don’t you have worthy pupils, who adopted not only your deal, but attitude to life and eagerness to serve the dream?

– But you told me about the ordeal, I would have to undergo, when I recognized my dream in its face. Why haven’t I had it?

– My friend! – The Old man shrugged his shoulders. Recall that night by the crossroads one more time. That was your ordeal, and each of you found his own way out. The Eldest brother has failed to find out that nobody can make a man happy besides himself. Each man - is a doer of his own happiness, and until the Eldest understand this, he will continue living with his unrealized dream.

– And what about the Middle brother? Does he have a house, a garden, a family? Has his dream come true?

– It’s more difficult with the Middle one. He has not recognized his hope, his cherished dream, driving it in the intimate and dusty circle of his family hearth. Once his young heart responded to the ancient wisdom, but his cold mind misinterpret its meaning. “To build a house” – means to find spirit basis, firm life position, independent on storms and hurricanes. “To plant a tree” – to plant seeds of the good in people around, that you keep carefully in your heart. “To grow up a child” means to pass your experience to others, as to your children, reaching for the light. Your brother has withdrawn himself into the tiny world of his own illusions and lost his dream that might be equal to yours.

– Isn’t he happy in his world?

– He thought so, when you met last time. But now… I don’t want to upset you, - The Old man laughed.

– But why am I better than them? What made me deserve the realizing of my dream?

– You’ve undergone your most important ordeal that morning at the crossroads. You’ve realized that not a dream serves a man, but a man serves a dream. Understanding it, you’ve dedicated your life to this service. Your dream may be called by one word – love. Not to the concrete man, but to the perfection, beauty, love to people. That’s why you’ve showed your pupils the way to happiness – what your Eldest brother has not achieved, you’ve planted seeds and grew up fruits – what Middle brother has evaded, you’ve touched the Perfection, what you dreamt about. I don’t have anything else to tell you. You’ve found your way. Head it and let the Blessing of the Single be on you!

With those words the Old man bowed and disappeared.

The Master came to the window, looked into the sky, covered with big, bright stars and it seemed to him that through the scattering of stars there emerged an image of unearthly beauty, it made the old Master gasp for air and tears welled up in his eyes.

“So, this is what you are like, my dream! – A swift thought rushed past. – My God, it is worthy of living!”

The Master stood long time, looking in the turning pink sky, and stars were melting in his eyes engraved the image of realized Dream forever.