As a young man I went on a quest to find the answer to "what is reality".
For many years I searched and asked everyone if they knew the answer, but was always met with a no or a shrug.
Then, at last I met someone who told me, "I don't know, but if anyone knows it could be the hermit in the mountains. But it is said he never talks. Finally, after all these years of fruitless searching I seemed to have found a possible source.
Much encouraged I set off to find this hermit and after days of climbing up the steep rocks I arrived at a cave. I peeked inside and saw an old man sitting on a stone. He had a beard about 3 ft long, obviously a very learned and wise man.
I kneeled at the entrance and waited for him to invite me. After another day of silently waiting, finally, the old man motioned for me to come closer and when I was directly in front of him he told me, "You have one question"
I offered my respects and asked him, "Do you know the meaning of reality?"
He closed his eyes and sat in silence for yet another hour, then finally he looked up and in a clear decisive voice told me, 'Reality is like a dark deep cave"
I could not help but exclaim "Reality is a dark deep cave"??
Again the old man closed his eyes and yet another hour passed, in which I almost fell asleep from exhaustion.
Then, opening his eyes wide, the old man stood up and in a clear loud voice announced,
"well, it is for me"!