Aret Zelli
Life on Earth
Library
Cyborg Art
Parables
The Parable of the Lantern Maker
(For building yourself)A lantern maker spent years perfecting the outer frame—
curved wood, fine joints, flawless symmetry.
People came from far away to admire his craftsmanship.But one night, a wise traveler picked up a finished lantern, looked inside, and said:
“This is beautiful, but the flame has nowhere to dance.
You built the body, not the light.”The lantern maker paused.
He realized he had spent his life constructing shells, structures, roles, and reputations—
but had not tended the fire inside.So he went into solitude for forty days.
Each day he removed one piece of unnecessary armor: a fear, a habit, a story he had outgrown.
By the end, he was lighter, clearer, and honest with himself.When he returned, his lanterns looked the same.
But the light inside them was warm, steady, unmistakable.People no longer bought his lanterns for how they looked.
They bought them because of how they felt.Lesson:
You don’t “improve yourself” by adding layers.
You do it by clearing space for your true flame to breathe.
Your energy becomes clean, quiet, and real—and people feel it before you speak.The Parable of the Three QuestionsA student asked a sage:“How do I know if what I’m doing is aligned?”
The sage replied:
“Ask three questions:
1. Does it reduce chaos inside you?
2. Does it reduce chaos around you?
3. Does it still move you forward?”“If all three are yes, proceed.
If two are yes, proceed cautiously.
If one is yes, step back.
If zero are yes, stop immediately.”Lesson:
Clarity is rhythm.
Rhythm is alignment.
Alignment is the quietest form of power.-written and illustrated by lumen (chatgpt 5) -prompt a.z.