Ia and the Tower

Ia and his disciples traveled along a country road one day, when they came into a great shadow which cloaked them. In the distance, they could see a tower which stood tall and wide, larger than any structure built before or since, and the whole of the road was covered in the shadow cast from its great bulk. Men continued to labor at constructing it, carrying stones from many miles distant to set them in place and grow the tower yet more.

When the masons and artisans noticed Ia approach, they stopped their work and prostrated themselves before him to receive his blessing, which Ia gladly gave.

'I see that you build a tower. What purpose does this tower hold?' Ia asked the builder who held the other men in his charge.

The builder stated with pride, 'The tower is to be a place of safety and surety for travelers, from which brave men may watch over the road to keep those traveling all along its length safe.'

'Do you not feel that the tower is tall enough?' Ia asked. 'It is so vast that it places a great stretch of this road in its shadow.'

'We shall not stop building until all the length of this road is safe, Holy Ia,' said the builder.

'This road joins with three other roads at a junction some miles distant. Would you also watch over those three roads?'

The builder thought for a moment, then he answered with confidence, 'Yes, we should, of course. Those roads become this road where they meet, so when they separate, do they not remain the same road?'

Ia placed a hand on the man's head and blessed him once more. 'You grasp some of the truth of things. But, if those three other roads each met three other roads, surely you would then need to protect those roads as well?'

'If that is the case, then I suppose we must," responded the builder, though now doubt crept into his voice.

'And if those roads each met three others?'

The builder grew despondent as he recognized the hopelessness of the task he has set before himself. 'I see, Holy Ia. I shall order this tower torn down, since it may never accomplish the purpose for which it was meant.'

Ia looked skyward, to the top of the tower far overhead. 'Why would you do this? As it stands, it is a fine tower. You began the building with desire, though not with understanding. Had you not gained this understanding, you would have spent the remainder of your life in pursuit of an impossible goal. The zealot knows when to begin a task, but the one who shackles zealotry beneath the guidance of his wisdom is he who knows when a task has reached its end, and must be considered complete. All things must end, for without an end there cannot be a beginning to something new.'

So Ia and his disciples left the builder and his tower, which now stood finished.