Go That Way

Once, there was an old city, with many winding roads. In the center of the city stood a Great Tower, which could be seen for miles around. It was said that this tower contained ancient wonders, and many wished to see inside.

One day,
five travelers approached
the outskirts of the city.
They were faced
with a problem:
How would they navigate
the winding streets
of the old city,
in order to reach
the tower at its center?

Steve Earle / Emmylou Harris: Pilgrim

The first traveler said
The best way
is to always turn left.
So he entered the city,
and turned left
at his first opportunity.
He turned left again,
and again.
In time, he had
left the city entirely.
He never reached the Tower.

The second traveler said See, our friend who turned left has failed. If I am to succeed, I must do the opposite as him. So this traveler decided to always turn right, instead of left. He entered the city, and turned right at his first opportunity. He turned right again, and again. In time, he had left the city entirely. He never reached the Tower.

The third traveler said
See, the first two travelers
were both wrong.
The solution is
to take the middle path,
splitting the difference
between them.
So he entered the city,
and he never turned
right or left,
but instead
he always marched forward.
But in time he reached
a solid wall,
and he could not advance.
He was forced to turn back.
He never reached the Tower.


The fourth traveler said These fools don't know what they're doing. The solution is not to go left or right or straight. The solution is to do each of these things in sequence, at the appropriate time. He took a scroll from his coat. On the scroll was a series of instructions, written by an earlier traveler who had reached the Tower successfully. If I follow this scroll, said the fourth traveler, I will surely reach the Tower. So he entered the city, following the directions as they were written. Sometimes he turned right, sometimes he turned left, and sometimes he went straight ahead. He made good progress. But there came a time when the scroll told him to go across a bridge, and he found to his surprise that the bridge had been destroyed by an earthquake. The scroll was suddenly useless, and he was forced to return the way he had come. He never reached the Tower.

The fifth traveler
pondered over
what he should do.
Then, to his good fortune,
he saw that the Teacher
was approaching.
He said to the Teacher,
I am trying
to reach the Tower,
but all my friends
have failed.
Whether they turned
left or right,
or walked straight forward,
or even followed
the directions of those
who have gone before,
all of them have
failed to reach their goal.
What must I do?

The Teacher said Can you see the Tower?

Yes, said the traveler.

The Teacher replied Go that way.

IT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU FREE AND CLEAN
AND I'LL BE DAMNED IF IT DID NOT COME TRUE