A Leaf on a Quest

By Alastair Batchelor

Synopsis

This sequel to ‘A Leaf That Floats Upstream” is concerned with many of the same concerns regarding issues and problems facing humanity and our environment, but where the first book assumed a position, outlining the issues in a confrontational, controversial manner, intended to shock and was always meant as a direct challenge, “A Leaf on a Quest” looks at why the problems exist, what was the causes?
The more these problems are examined, the more incongruous they appear. What perverse characteristic in human nature could possibly empower civilization, the instrument of the people, to wantonly destroy all that is vital to safeguard the continuance of humanity and all life on the planet: the planet which itself was the source of all living things that inhabit its surface? It is a living, breathing, self-consuming conundrum, one, which is at first glance, impossible to accept, it is just too ridiculous to be credible. Yet it does exist, it is all around us, and we have been and are responsible for the creation of this embodiment of crass stupidity.
Every single problem which is currently a threat to our continued existence has been caused by humanity, or can we attribute responsibility to that mindless machine, civilization. It is all a result of attitude, the attitude of every living person, society and nation on the face of the Earth. Yes, not only are we are the initiating, causal factor, we are responsible for allowing known destructive circumstances and activities, to continue and multiply, to the extent and obvious inevitable conclusion, that it will soon be beyond our ability to rectify, or reverse that which we have done, or have permitted to be done.
This book looks individual’s and society’s attitudes and the consequences of those attitudes on our lives. It offers, perhaps a different perspective on cause and effect and is always, I trust, inspirational, because we need that.
Whilst the original intention was to write another narrative non-fiction book along the lines mentioned above, this time I have deviated a little. Possibly my writing has followed the dictates of my heart. rather than strict convention and protocol, thus allowing the plot to develop in its own way. Certainly where it seemed viable to highlight our plight by introducing fictional hypothesis in the form of short stories within a story, that also felt comfortable rather than contrived.
The theme throughout the book, as the title suggests, is that of a search, more questions than answers, again motivated by the very simple reason, that I believe you can find most of the answers needed, within your selves.
Our innocent little leaf serves as a focal point; it epitomizes each of our lives in the way we live and of our choices. Are we just one of the masses, which are swept along, at the mercy of every breeze and current, or dare we choose to be one of the few, to stand alone and follow the dictates of our conscience and our beliefs? To be an individual and go against the flow means, to be both applauded and condemned, being an individual is a lonely position, but perhaps, in the face of criticism, possibly discrimination, there is gratification in the knowledge that we are doing what we believe, not blithely accepting everything we are told, and being herded along with the rest of the sheep.
No-one can tell you what is right for you, you must search within yourself and there, you will find the truth and the answers. Only then will you find the strength and the purpose to follow your special path through life. If you can find and adopt your own purpose, you will take the knocks, but in the process will become the complete person.
So you have survived the process of reflection and self-examination, you know who and what you are. Having attained this stage of enlightenment, what is your choice for this world of ours going to be Dystopia, or Utopia? Why, because it is up to you, it is your choice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alastair Batchelor
• Release date: Nov 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310733611

Alastair Batchelor

Born 1941 in Dunedin, New Zealand. Moved to Thailand in 2004 where he worked as a teacher and manager at an English Language school. Alastair and his Thai wife live in a rural area about 150 km from Bangkok and enjoy being part of the local community. Although the years are catching up. he still enjoys getting out on a Kawasaki sports bike and feeling the wind in his hair, stopping frequently to observe, photograph and video the nature around us. A student of human nature, Alastair feels, living in a grass roots community, offers a far greater opportunity to get to know his neighbors as real people

Book preview

A Leaf on a Quest

Book 2 of the Leaf Series

Alastair Batchelor

Published by Alastair Batchelor

At Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Alastair Batchelor

Other Titles by Alastair Batchelor

A Leaf That Floats Upstream

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/309792

Five Million Years On

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/379812

Call of a Dragon

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/402507

The Wave Beneath

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/466463

Blood and Jade

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/560402

Wild and Tranquil

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/798884

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Acknowledgements

My gratitude to Stewart (Jim) Adie for his meticulous proof reading, I never cease to be amazed how he picks up typos and punctuation oversights, which regardless of how often I check, manage not to see. Thanks Jim, I appreciate your help and your friendship.

Again, my thanks to John Sercel, for his magnificent photo, Streams of Autumn; again, John has captured the essence of life and more, in this, a saved moment in time, there is a poignancy which expresses our Leaf’s relationship and purpose within nature. Thank you John.

JS Nature Photos http://photos.jstechs.com [1]

To the person who produced the image of a child and the globe, I have combed the web to try and find that person to extend my thanks for a message which is so vitally important to us all. However, I can at least pass on the message.

Table of Contents

Homage to a Leaf

Introduction

Chapter 1 - What is Truth?

Chapter 2 - Deception

Chapter 3 - Values

Chapter 4 - Why Some Great Plan?

Chapter 5 – An Assumption

Chapter 6 - Spirituality

Chapter 7 – Freedom is an Illusion

Chapter 8 – Oppression/Force of Superiority

Chapter 9 – A Partnership

Chapter 10 - Apathy

Chapter 11 – Educational Status

Chapter 12 – You Owe Me

Chapter 13 - Reflection

Chapter 14 - Responsibility

Part Two

Chapter 15 - Protests

Chapter 16 - Warnings

Chapter 17 – Out of Sight

Chapter 18 – The Trigger

Chapter 19 – An Explanation

Part Three

Chapter 20 – The Pen is Mightier

Chapter 21 – What’s Happening?

Chapter 22 – So That’s It

Chapter 23 – Self-Motivated

Chapter 24 – Spring Cleaning

Chapter 25 – Some Thoughts

Chapter 26 - What is Needed?

Chapter 27 – The Time Factor

Chapter 28 – In Conclusion

A Leaf on a Quest

Homage to a Leaf

There is a tree in a forest of trees, not far from where you are. I would like to say it was a special tree, but it is only special in the way all trees are special, until one spring day. On a branch about halfway up the tree, a small bud formed, and over the next few days developed into a leaf. Nothing special about that, or was there? This leaf was different; it was a leaf with a mission.

The leaf grew stronger, a glossy rich green, it faced upward toward the sun, absorbing the life giving rays. By day it photosynthesized, utilizing the sun’s rays to feed the sap which flowed through its host, and by night, absorbed the carbon dioxide and pollution from the atmosphere, to produce the essential oxygen for other life forms. You may be wondering why this particular leaf was special. It was indistinguishable from all the others and from a distance, merged into all the rest of the vegetation. But just sometimes, even the most insignificant of life forms can add something special in our lives.

Unnoticed by those who came to visit the forest, pause beneath the tree to sit awhile and enjoy the shade, to perhaps feel the vibrant life force emanating from its sturdy trunk, the leaf is fulfilling just one of the prescribed functions of its existence. It’s time has not yet come.

Days turned into weeks, then into months and the season began to change. Cool winds started to blow and slowly, within the mighty tree the flow of sap slowed as it prepared for the onslaught of winter. The leaf, deprived of the vital life flow began to wither, its glossy green turning to gold and its hold on the branch began to weaken. All around, the other leaves were falling to the ground, blown on the winds until they drifted into the river, and were carried away by the current. One of the last, our leaf fell as well, and like the others was carried on the wind to the river, but this was a leaf with a mission. Ignoring all the other leaves as they floated listlessly downstream with the flow, our leaf set off upstream. It was on a quest, a search for truth and the source of life, for they are as one.

Time seemed to have no meaning as it floated against the current, the banks of the stream drew closer together and the current stronger, but the will to carry on was stronger. Eventually, withered and torn by the rigors of the journey and the ravages of time, it came to a place where the water rose, gurgling softly up from within the cool brown earth. It was fresh and fragrant; it was from the earth itself. The mission was complete; this was the Holy Grail of eternal life, the truth was there for all to see, as it always has been. The Earth opened her arms and welcomed the leaf to her bosom, as a mother would a lost child. The leaf had come home to the source of life, returned to become part of the on-going cycle, the perpetual recreation of life on Earth.

Introduction

Following on from A Leaf That Floats Upstream, this sequel seeks reason and truth as a basis for living. For it is only when we are completely honest with ourselves and with those with whom we co-exist, can we really live our lives to their full potential, to build foundations which can withstand the onslaught and pressures of modern living. Many problems we face as a society are due to a variety of attitudes, ours and those of our respective governments, organizations and religions. To a large degree many of the troubles currently plaguing our existence, are unnecessary, and could, if we so applied ourselves towards that end, be totally eliminated. If those who are manipulating and utilizing all the resources of the Earth, and civilization to their own ends, could be persuaded to abandon practices which are detrimental to our lives, would they change? Of course not, not until we the people, make it impossible for them to do otherwise? In other words, to control factions and institutions in all sectors of society, they must be made accountable and transparent. They all seem to forget that ultimately, they are responsible and answerable to us, the people, and they depend on us for their very existence.

Every day, we see and become more aware of the undeniable evidence, of the impact civilization is having on the people and the environment, the visible, tangible manifestation of willful neglect and destruction, all of which is directly attributable to human attitudes and, sadly, a lack of caring. We can say the havoc and turmoil caused by civilization can be directly attributed to greed and is the inevitable result of man's excesses, and these are both a reflection and an indictment of our ever changing attitudes within society.

We demonstrate, have meetings and loudly, we voice our condemnation of governments, organizations, nations and industries responsible for the destruction and contamination of our environment. Yet these organizations only exist because of humanity's greed and apathy, it's as simple as supply and demand. So when you point your accusatory finger at others, pause and reflect, who is really to blame, the industries which only exist only to cater to a demand, or us, for it is we who create the demand?

This book is for all those who care for their family and the environment, it is not finished, and it never will be, for it is a living, growing entity which only awaits your contribution. Why? Because I believe all the answers and solutions, so necessary to preserve and protect humanity, all life on Earth and our planet, are within you, the reader. Your contribution to this writing, the way you live your life, can be of benefit to you and to us all, it can help to find a better purpose and the change of direction, so vital for us and all those yet to be born. The greatest responsibility which can be attributed to mankind, is to all those who cannot speak for themselves. Since we bring them into this world; make them part of this existence that then imposes on us the obligation to ensure they have a world to live in.

Your attitude today can influence events here on Earth tomorrow, or in one, five, ten or one hundred years’ time. Will the effect be positive or negative? It’s your decision.

Chapter 1

What is Truth?

Truth is all around us, but as it is more often than not, diluted with lies, the trick is to be able to discern the good from the bad. Often truth is the light at the end of a tunnel of controversy, to find it, we are compelled to negotiate tortuous paths, with many false turns and blind endings, only to be rewarded with a blank wall of deceit. But, to reach that precious moment, when we are finally able to grasp the solidity and dependency of honesty, to perhaps become one with our objective, we must overcome many obstacles and reject temptations. Attaining such a goal will allow us to experience an unequaled glow of achievement. It is not surprising this reward is often called enlightenment.

The greatest barrier to the discovery of truth is money, high finance and the dependence on an acquisition of material possessions. It is probably the greatest deception, other than religion, ever imposed on mankind. Worldwide finances are controlled by cartels; no doubt this will not be a surprise to you. It is hardly a revelation as we accept the banks, financial institutions and government spending are out of control, and this is just one reason we are compelled to pay many more times the value of everyday items, for our survival. It is the reason why we are in the middle of a recession, (another name for a depression) with unemployment going up by the hour. It is also the reason; there are millions of people around the world starving, when, in fact, there is more than adequate food for everyone. Did you know 50% of all food produced worldwide is wasted, how many starving societies would that feed?

There is not much doubt most people are aware they are being manipulated and used, probably by every organization they come into contact with, forced by tradition and convention to deal with. But as an individual, what can you do? Scratch the surface of civilization and you will find deceit, but because the powers under which we exist have so much influence over people’s lives, they seem to be above, immune to anything we can do. It is also dangerous to challenge these financial and other institutions, they are under the impression they control a delicate balance and will do whatever is necessary to protect their respective golden goose. Their world could collapse like a house of playing cards, for a very simple reason, it is based on an illusion. Take away all your contributions to this financial black hole, and it would only last for days.

So you can understand even as we embark on this quest, we are conscious of the ominous, oppressive clouds shadowing our every step of the way. It is as if our progress is being observed and assessed from every angle by a malignant presence and if it is