Go out one clear starlit night to some open space and look up at the sky, at those millions of worlds over your head. Remember that perhaps on each of them swarm billions of beings, similar to you or perhaps superior to you in their organization. Look at the Milky Way. The earth cannot even be called a grain of sand in this infinity. It dissolves and vanishes,
and with it, you. Where are you? And is what you want simply
madness?
Before all these worlds ask yourself what are your aims and hopes, your intentions and means of fulfilling them, the demands that may be made upon you and your preparedness to meet them. A long and difficult journey is before you; you are preparing for a strange and unknown land. The way is infinitely long.
You do not know if rest will be possible on the way nor where it will be possible. You should be prepared for the worst. Take
all the necessities for the journey with you. Try to forget nothing, for afterwards it will be too late and there will be no time to go back for what has been forgotten, to rectify the mistake. Weigh up your strength. Is it sufficient for the whole journey? How soon can you start?
Remember that if you spend longer on the way you will need to carry proportionately more supplies, and this will
delay you further both on the way and in your preparations for it. Yet every minute is precious. Once having decided to
go, there is no use wasting time. Do not reckon on trying to come back. This experiment may cost you very dear. The guide undertakes only to take you there and, if you wish to turn back, he is not obliged to return with you. You will be left to yourself, and woe to you if you
weaken or forget the way—you will never get back. And even if you remember the way, the question still remains—will you
return safe and sound? For many unpleasantnesses await the lonely traveler who is not familiar with the way and the customs which prevail there. Bear in mind that your sight has the property of presenting distant objects as though they were
near.
Beguiled by the nearness of the aim toward which you strive, blinded by its beauty and ignorant of the measure of
your own strength, you will not notice the obstacles on the way; you will not see the numerous ditches across the path. In
a green meadow covered with luxuriant flowers, in the thick grass, a deep precipice is hidden. It is very easy to stumble
and fall over it if your eyes are not concentrated on the step you are taking.
Do not forget to concentrate all your attention on the nearest sector of the way—do not concern yourself about far aims if
you do not wish to fall over the precipice. Yet do not forget your aim. Remember it the whole time and keep up in yourself an active endeavor toward it, so as not to lose the right direction. And once you have started, be observant; what you have passed through remains behind and will not appear again; so if you fail to notice it at the time, you never will notice it.
Do not be overcurious nor waste time on things that attract your attention but are not worth it. Time is precious and
should not be wasted on things which have no direct relation to your aim. Remember where you are and why you are here.
Do not protect yourselves and remember that no effort is made in vain. And now you can set out on the way.
