General video · Level C1 - Part 1
The Egg - Short Story
You were on your way home, when you died. It was a car accident.
Level: C1 · 125 sentences
Transcript
- You were on your way home, when you died.
- It was a car accident.
- Nothing particularly remarkable but fatal, nonetheless.
- It was a painless death.
- The medics tried their best to save you... but to no avail.
- Your body was so utterly shattered, you were better off. Trust me.
- And that's when you met me.
- "What happened?"
- "Where am I?"
- "You died" I said, matter of factly.
- No point in mincing words.
- "There was... there was a truck. And it was skidding."
- "Yes."
- "I... I died?"
- "Yes."
- "But don't feel bad about it. Everyone dies."
- You looked around.
- There was... nothingness. Just you, and me.
- What is this place?
- Is this the afterlife?
- More or less.
- Are you... God?
- Yes. I'm God.
- My kids... my wife...
- What about them?
- Will they be alright?
- "That's what I like to see," I said.
- You just died, and your main concern is for your family.
- That's good stuff right there.
- You looked at me with fascination.
- To you, I didn't look like God.
- I just looked like some man, or possibly a woman.
- Some vague authority figure maybe.
- "Don't worry," I said.
- They'll be fine.
- Your kids will remember you as perfect in every way.
- They didn't have time to grow contemptuous of you.
- Your wife will cry on the outside.
- But will be secretly relieved.
- To be fair, your marriage was falling apart.
- If it's any consolation, she'll feel very guilty for feeling relieved.
- Oh...
- So what happens now?
- Do I go to heaven or hell or something?
- Neither. You'll be reincarnated.
- Ah...
- So the Hindus were right!
- All religions are right in their own way.
- Walk with me.
- You followed along as we strolled through the void.
- Where are we going?
- No where in particular. It's just nice to walk while we talk.
- So, what's the point then?
- When I get reborn, I'll just be a blank slate right?
- A baby?
- So, all my experiences and everything... everything I did in this life... won't matter...
- Not so.
- You have within you, all the knowledge and experiences of all your past lives.
- You just don't remember them right now.
- I stopped walking, and took you by the shoulders.
- Your soul is more magnificent, beautiful, and gigantic than you can possibly imagine.
- A human mind can only contain a tiny fraction of what you are.
- It's like sticking your finger in a glass of water to see if it's hot or cold.
- You put a tiny part of yourself into the vessel, and when you bring it back out, you've gained all the experiences it had.
- You've been in a human for the last 48 years.
- So you haven't stretched out yet and felt the rest of your immense consciousness.
- If we hung out here for long enough, you'd start remembering everything.
- But there's no point to doing that between each life.
- How many times have I been reincarnated then?
- Oh, lots! Lots and lots! And into lots of different lives.
- This time around, you'll be a Chinese peasant girl in 540 A.D.
- Wait... what?!
- You're sending me back in time?
- Well I guess technically.
- Time as you know it, only exists in your universe.
- Things are different where I come from.
- Where... where you come from?
- Oh sure, I come from somewhere. Somewhere else.
- And there are others like me.
- I know you'll want to know what it's like there but honestly you wouldn't understand.
- "Oh..." You said, a little let down.
- But wait... if I get reincarnated to other places in time,
- I could have interacted with myself at some point.
- Sure, happens all the time.
- And with both lives only aware of their own lifespan, you don't even know it's happening.
- So... what's the point of it all?
- I looked you in the eye.
- The meaning of life, the reason I made this whole universe, is for you to mature.
- You mean... mankind? You want us to mature?
- No, just you.
- I made this whole universe for you.
- With each new life you grow and mature, and become a larger and greater intellect.
- Just me?
- What about everyone else?
- There is no one else. In this universe, there's just you and me.
- You stared blankly at me.
- But all the people on Earth...
- All you. Different incarnations of you.
- Wait... I'm... everyone?
- Now you're getting it.
- I'm every human being who ever lived?
- Or who will ever live, yes.
- I'm Abraham Lincoln?
- And you're John Wilkes Booth too.
- I'm Hitler?! you said, appalled.
- And you're the millions he killed.
- I'm Jesus?!
- And you're everyone who followed Him.
- You fell silent.
- Every time you victimized someone, you were victimizing yourself.
- Every act of kindness you've done, you've done to yourself.
- Every happy and sad moment ever experienced by any human was or will be experienced by you.
- You thought for a long time.
- Why? Why do all this?
- Because someday you will become like me.
- Because that's what you are!
- You're one of my kind. You're my child!
- Wow!! you said, incredulous.
- You mean I'm a God?
- No, not yet, you're a fetus.
- You're still growing.
- Once you've lived every human life throughout all time, you will have grown enough to be born.
- So the whole universe... it's just... an egg!
- I answered: now it's time for you to move on to your next life.
- And I sent you on your way.