Quire (Yes, I am Writing Something)

I paused all activities on AI and tried writing. Yes AI was used for evaluation. No, AI didn't write it.

A truth seeker, driven by a deep longing for meaning, enters a dream in which he is put on trial by a being via dialogue and ends with monologue. The story is a juxtaposition of the “Self” evolving from answering to questioning and the other supposedly higher being evolving from questioning to silence. Like the musical technique of octave doubling with a disappearing higher octave and merging into a lower octave. It also shows how questions are mark of higher intelligence and the human unknowingly and gradually transformed his response from statements to questions as he ascends to higher being.

The Dialogue

The story begins with the human thinking out loud his readiness to choose a religion after years of study.

The dream starts with the human observing himself on the act of defecation and suddenly was hit by a question; his first question “Do you know me?”.

The human answered without doubt. And the dialogue grew long while the questions keep getting more philosophical.

He ended up with his first question “Is this really god?” to which the question responded with even deeper query “would you believe me as god?”. This is where they dialogue with only questions.

The questions were unhingedly wicked, brutal yet poetic and the human bleeds and consumed. The encounter becomes a profound metaphysical dialogue where the question, embodying traits of all deities (ancient and modern) challenges, mocks, and dismantles the human’s accumulated knowledge of religion and philosophy, where he eventually said “Thou art god, truly”.

As the trial unfolds, the human is thrust through an emotional gauntlet: guilt, shame, fear, desire, anger, pride. He unknowingly confronts his own shadow, projected through the inquiries and provocations. Instead of receiving guidance, he faces a shape-shifting question who also weaponized his own knowledge against him.

Gradually, as the human ceases to resist, he enters a state of neutrality, detachment and he asked his first question.

The Monologue

The once dialogue slowly becomes a monologue of question and answer, eventually just questions from the human and the other being stopped responding.

In his long quiet moment, he begins to re-question everything, not realizing he’s alone.

Then realization started with “where art thou?” followed by more questions he can count.

He realized it was not god. He fell in despair, in void; the emptiness one feels after shadow work. His questioned his existence without god.

Eventually the human realized he was the one asking the questions from the start of their dialogue. He’s ego died.

The Hallowing

He realizes he’s dreaming and from that realization, he awakens from both the dream and the belief systems that once bound him. Awake, he now sees the world through new eyes; free yet empty.

He draws upon philosophy not to build belief, but to explore thought and muster courage to face the void. He learned to surrender when he accepted uncertainty, relinquished control, and let go of the need for rigid meaning.

Yet, a new existential challenge arises: the fear that letting go might mean losing meaning altogether.

He confronts this fear through reason and reflection, acknowledging that some truths are difficult, even painful.

He steps forward, no longer seeking certainty, but embracing the unknown.

A new kind of faith or value is born: not in gods, but in Self.

Below is the current progress of the book.

1. And the one that seeks thought, “I am ready to choose a path.”
2. For doctrines have been read, gods compared, and rituals weighed in silence.
3. He remembered the fire, where light was not worshiped but judged, and darkness was a choice, not a curse.
4. He remembered the breath, where suffering was neither punished nor forgiven, but dissolved through stillness.
5. He remembered the songs, where duty danced with illusion, and war itself was made holy by detachment.
6. He remembered the resurrection, where the dismembered was remembered, and death was a gate, not an end.
7. He remembered the teachings, etched in covenant, wrapped in law, carried by a people into exile and return.
8. He remembered the prayers, whispered in caves, awaiting a kingdom not of this world.
9. He remembered the tongues, where serpents taught silence and fire moved through spine and breath.
10. And the thought wandered, and sleep came as a shadow without warning, and the dream began in the lowest of places.
11. And he beheld himself in a crouch, exposed and excreting, and a doubt worded from beyond form.
12. “Do you know Me?”
13. And without a speck of doubt, he answered.
14. “You must be God.”
15. “I don’t see any other means.”
16. “What makes you say such?” question followed.
17. And verily, with fullness of his pride he retorted.
18. “I was engrossed by all literature.”
19. “Then, I came to understand them.”
20. “Hence, I believe.”
21. And with same fire, the questions challenged.
22. “Thus, have you consumed enough to understand or did you read what you were told to read?”
23. He remembered the covenant, where one came from many and many came from one.
24. And with passion tethered to tenet, he declared.
25. “Scriptures are revealed in divinity.”
26. He remembered the testimony, where the Word became light, and the Bread became life.
27. “Your words are the truth.”
28. “Those are your words.”
29. And the question mirrored with mock.
30. “Mine are they, verily? But which of me?”
31. And with fore doubt he contemplated whom he refers to.
32. And he had long reasoned whom he chose to believe.
33. For he already chose a path.
34. And though pigment of doubt that he knew he shook lingers;
35. Silence impaired long.
36. For resolve stood ground on conviction.
37. “But does not all seek me in several ways?”
38. He proudly responded “Yes. All religions are path to god, father said.”
39. “You are well aware and yet…” fore stated.
40. “Mine are they as well? Which of me?” question walled.
41. He stood firm “The father’s words are yours, for your words are his.”
42. “The father can’t err.”
43. And full to brim it lashed.
44. “How can there be many paths to me when only I am it!?”
45. “How can your father not err when my words he twist!?”
46. “How can you believe those words mine when I can contradict myself with other beliefs like the many you studied!?”
47. And the firm stance falter with an unnoticeable sob.
48. “There now, my Son. Don’t I exist for your salvation?” in tenderness.
49. And the tides shifted yet shards lay frail.
50. “Can’t belief be enough?”
51. “Would you want that to be your purpose in life?” profoundly.
52. Yearning filled him “I believe. Still.”
53. And as he was embraced for comfort, a smirk hides from him.

Here's the next draft.