The Demon in the Cave
“Fear vanquished by light: A tribe confronts their darkness, guided by a brave outsider.”
Long, long ago, in a wild forest, there lived a primitive tribe. They adhered strictly to the ways of their forefathers, following a routine that had not changed for generations.
Every day, the tribe awoke at sunrise and fell asleep the moment the sun set. They consumed raw meat, roots, and fruit, unaware of the art of cooking.
In the forest, there was a cave that the tribe believed to be the dwelling place of a demon. Years ago, some villagers had entered the cave but never returned, leading the tribe to conclude that they had been devoured by this fearsome creature.
One day, the tribe decided to drive away the demon. They gathered outside the cave to fast and pray, hoping this would appease the creature. However, their efforts were in vain as the demon remained, seemingly occupying the entire cave.
On another occasion, they resolved to kill the demon. Armed with stones and spears, they hurled their projectiles into the cave, but the demon showed no concern for their actions.
Then, one day, a man from another tribe arrived. After hearing about the dreaded demon, he confidently stated, “This demon will disappear if you do what I say.” He fashioned a torch by tying dry grass to the end of a bamboo stick, applying fat to ignite it. With a spark created by striking two stones together, he lit the torch and led the tribe into the cave.
To their astonishment, the demon had vanished!
The truth revealed was quite simple: the people of the tribe had never truly understood the concept of darkness. They had been asleep from sunset to sunrise, and in daylight, the cave appeared dark. Mistaking the darkness itself for a demon, they had allowed their fears to take root.