The dilemma

Unstoppable Force was very happy. He was, well, unstoppable. He won in every match and was literally undisputed. There was none who could beat him. Life was going great, until one day he heard renewed murmurs of an age old legend – Immovable Object.

People started saying that if there ever was a match, the legendary Immovable Object would definitely win! This started bothering Unstoppable Force. His impression as the undisputed champion was at stake and he needed to prove to the world that he was the greatest.

So Unstoppable Force packed his bags and began his journey to seek out Immovable Object and show the world the true champion he was. But alas, is quest was difficult. He moved on for days and days but never found immovable Object. He roamed all around the world but in vain. Much to his chagrin, everywhere he went, Unstoppable Force heard rumours that people had seen Immovable Object but he could never trace him. Slowly, he lost the vigour and enthusiasm of his journey and started wandering hopelessly; the misery of failing to meet his elusive foe made him more miserable and melancholic. He was afraid that he would no longer be remembered as the world’s mightiest.

Then one day, Unstoppable Force walked into an orchard aimlessly and found an old sage meditating under an apple tree. The sage took one look at him and asked with concern, ‘You look miserable. What is wrong?’

Unstoppable Force explained his hopeless situation during which the sage started smiling at first, and laughing loudly by the time the narration was completed.

‘Are you laughing at my misery?’ Unstoppable Force was angry

‘Of course,’ the sage replied merrily,’ because like most problems in life, the only person responsible is yourself!’

‘What have I done? All that I seek is glory and to silence the world that doubts me!’

‘And that my son is the biggest blunder, seek glory, but to answer yourself, not the world. The world will always doubt you, ask questions, and you can’t answer all of them, but then the bigger question is, do you need to?

I laugh because you have spent days in a pursuit that you undertook because of what the world said, but did you ask yourself first? Young one, the world around you will always want to prove that you are not the greatest, but why should that bother you, for your greatest challenge should be only with yourself.’

Unstoppable Force felt lighter and much better, but he still had his niggling doubts.

The sage continued, ‘You are still wondering whether you should continue this pursuit, isn’t it? Look within and you will get all your answers!’

Unstoppable Force asked anxiously, ‘But how?’

The sage smiled peacefully, ‘As I said, look within and you will find all your answers’

And that sparked a divine revelation for Unstoppable Force. He realised what the sage meant, he realised that he was pursuing a mythical nemesis all these days because he himself was the Immovable Object.

‘You found the truth, didn’t you?’ the sage smiled, ’When you become unstoppable, your inertia becomes infinite. Which only means, that once you stop, you become immovable. That strangely makes you your exact opposite, but isn’t that the highest level of balance in our universe? Be then proud of yourself, and remember to listen to yourself, not the world.’

Unstoppable force was once again at peace…he had found more than his answers, he had found himself…