Martian Meditation 20

The soft, orange light of the Martian sun filters through the thin atmosphere, casting a warm glow on the red dust that covers everything. The temple is silent except for the sound of breathing and occasional clicking from the robots who maintain it. The Martians sit in lotus position on their cushions, eyes closed and minds focused inward. They are seeking enlightenment, searching for a way to break out of their cycle of rebirths and attain Nirvana. For hours they meditate, going deeper and deeper into themselves. Time ceases to have meaning as they reach a higher state of consciousness. They become one with all that is around them—the sandstone walls of the temple, the dusty air molecules floating in front of their faces… Even the rocks outside seem alive to them now, pulsing with energy. As they attune more closely to these energies, they begin to see visions—flashes of other worlds, other times, even other galaxies. These glimpses fill them with awe and wonder, but also with great sadness, because they realize how much pain and suffering exists in this universe. But then they also see moments of incredible beauty and love, which fills them with hope.