Hidden Treasure

James went to the park that was drawn on the map. The landmark he was supposed to locate was a tree in the northwest corner of the park. That was where the “x” was marked. That was where James was supposed to find his treasure.

The map that James was using was drawn by his father, who had died a couple of months ago from cancer. What his father had left him was a little black notebook of many scribblings and drawings and notes, and a map.

Following the pathway that the map outlined, James was able to locate the tree that was marked. In fact, the tree itself had also been marked, indicating that James had found the correct tree. Now James looked at the map. What was the next step?

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James’ father was kind of eccentric. He was an artist and a writer, and what some would call a “spiritual person”. As far as James could tell, he was always very happy and content with his life. Although he had a successful career, material prosperity wasn’t the important thing in his life. His satisfaction seemed to come from within.

When James found out that his father had cancer, he was not so surprised at the fact itself, but was surprised at his father’s reaction. He was totally calm about it, with no sense of fear or apprehension. Just total acceptance. While it was difficult for James to deal with, facing the reality that his father was likely dying, he took strength in his father’s calmness about it.

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James looks through his father’s notebook to get an idea as to what the next step is. In the notebook he finds a drawing of a compass with symbols drawn at the four directions. Upon closer inspection, he can see that these same four symbols are carved on the different sides of the trunk of the tree.

As he continues this treasure hunt, James is wondering what his father had in mind with this game. After all, he is not a little boy anymore, but a grown man, although he feels like a child playing with his father. Perhaps there is some lesson? Maybe there really is treasure? Or maybe in a loving way, his father is just playing a game with him?

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After his father’s passing, James reflected on his relationship with his father. He was sometimes elusive, indirect, speaking in riddles, but always there was some lesson, something to learn. James could not help but feel that throughout his life, his father was just trying to help him be a better person. To never lose sight of the more important things of life.

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Each of the four direction had a symbol and also an instruction. The one for the eastern direction was marked with a diamond, the southern direction was marked with a wasp, the western direction was marked with what looked to be a ghost, and the northern direction was marked with a snake. But what could these symbols mean?

James consulted the notebook to understand these symbols and to get further instructions. The first symbol, that of a wasp, came with the following instruction: “Beware the path of karma.” What could that mean? James was familiar with the term karma, but what could this warning mean? What did his father mean to warn him about?

Continuing to the next symbol, that of a ghost, James read the next instruction: “Beware the path of philosophical speculation.” This instruction was even more puzzling than the last, but clearly his father was guiding him towards something, towards some path, by warning of possible pitfalls or dangers. But was it literal? Was it symbolic? James was bemused as he looked at the next symbol.

Next to the drawing of a snake was the following instruction: “Beware the path of impersonalism.” James could not even comprehend the meaning of this instruction. It was apparent that his father had a deeper understanding of things that he was not even aware of. He knew his father to be eccentric, so this whole game did not surprise him much, but it was beyond his current level of understanding. All the same he was having fun playing this game with his father.

The final symbol had the following instruction: “Here lies your treasure.” That was clear enough, James thought, contemplating the instruction and the symbol of a diamond.

James found the spot on the tree marked with a diamond. Under the diamond was an arrow pointed downward, pointing towards the hidden treasure. The next step, James conjectured, was to dig.

As James dug into the dirt at the base of the tree, he again had the feeling of being like a child playing a game with his father. He was overcome by a feeling of nostalgia mixed with sadness, sadness at the thought that his father was not actually here with him, at least not in person. He continued to dig.

Sure enough, after a few minutes of digging, James hit something solid. As he continued to dig around this object he understood that it was a box. Very soon he had dug the box out of the ground.

Pausing for a moment to reflect on this treasure hunt that had lead to this box, James was thinking that whatever was here in this box must be very important and valuable. Either that or his father had an incredible sense of humor. He was also awestruck that his father had gone through all this effort to bring him here.

James opened the box. Within the box was one item, a book. James knew this book. He had seen his father reading it many times throughout his life. The cover of the book read: Bhagavad Gita As It Is. It was gloriously decorated with a picture of chariot and a warrior sitting on the chariot and his luminous friend speaking to him.

James knew this book to be one of his father’s favorites. But why the elaborate plan to get it to him? Was it just for fun? James realized that it was about the book, but also about the memory of finding it that his father wanted to give him. James knew that he would cherish both. He knew that what his father wanted him to find in life would be in that book.

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A couple of weeks after the treasure hunt, James finally had a chance to sit down and read from the book his father had given him. He looked forward to getting a deeper understanding of what motivated his father in life. He wanted to know what made his father read this book again and again. As James open the book to begin reading, an envelope fell out onto the floor. He had not noticed this envelope when he had first discovered the book. He picked up the enclose to see what was enclosed. James saw that it was a check written out to James from his father. It was a considerable sum of money:$20,000. This was a complete surprise to James, and he began to laugh. This was typical of his father. It was always the lesson first, it was always the imparting of what is valuable, and then came the money. This is what his father had always tried to share with him. As he pondered the money and the book in his hand, James shed tears of happiness at the gifts his father had given him.