This is a story of two brothers, born and bred in a fertile farm. Their lives woven to the land. They sowed the seeds, killed the weeds and waited by the seasons to change the crops. Nurturing livestock, singing by the setting sun, their skilled hands tirelessly toiling, day after day. The earth embraced their touch, birds harmonized with their melodies, from dawn’s first light to dusk’s gentle call, artistry and joy combined.
Every single day, on their way back home, having put the crops to rest, they would stop in the woods and pick a tree to catch their breath under. Those fleeting moments between dusk and nightfall were theirs alone. They would start sketching on the trunks of the tree, with their fingernails and pebbles on the ground, making shapes only they would comprehend. Yet as any tiny little thing that compounds over years, the trees they frequented acquired a resonance. The villagers christened them the “talking trees,” while wandering traders whispered of their spiritual aura in far-off lands. The village folk, captivated, adorned the carvings with colors extracted from flowers. Yet, amidst this little spectacle, for the brothers, it remained but an hour of childlike playfulness.
Then one fateful day, the King passing by was stopped by these trees. He was moved by the poetry in these barks. The stories of friendship and the tales of nature written in them so easily, sent shivers down his spine.The kind you feel when something transports you to a higher realm, the kind one cannot put down in words.
Summoning the brothers, he extended an invitation to join him at the royal palace, where they would lend their artistry to sculpt the trees adorning the Queen’s gardens. Overwhelmed by the recognition bestowed upon their carvings, the brothers stood in disbelief. However, they faced a parting of ways. “Go ahead, elder bother, I will take care of the younger one and Mother. Venture forth and unveil the worlds we have glimpsed amidst these farms, but have barely scratched upon those trees. Share with them tales of our friendship and our profound bond with Mother Nature. Go away now, as I won’t be able to stop this aching heart and will stand in your way.”
Years passed by, and the tales of the King’s enchanted gardens rippled across Kingdoms, weaving a world of fame that stretched far and wide. The eldest brother, adorned with titles and bestowed with honors, basked in the limelight. An eternity later, one other fateful day, he proudly paraded in his majestic chariot, accompanied by the King’s cavalry. The entourage halted amidst a forest, seeking respite from their journey. Stepping down, he was taken aback by an extraordinary sight, the forest trees adorned with carvings. Carvings unfamiliar, beyond his imagination, evoking laughter, tears, humor, and the sense of urgency of souls searching for their essence. Finally, when he came to his senses, he asked where they were? To his astonishment, this was that very forest. He could tell, his two younger brothers had been carving away, one tree at a time, one story per tree.
He started running, like he had never run before and reached inside a familiar looking house, with three familiar faces, whose presence he hadn’t felt in a while, getting ready for dinner.
“Can I come back home, will you folks take me back?”
“How dare you even ask such a question? I should be the one asking, have you traveled the seven seas, have you found the unique treasures?” replied one of the familiar faces.
“I have ventured far and wide, accumulating ayes and accolades from queens and emperors. But what I experienced today, witnessing both of your carvings in that forest, awoke that person long absent from my being. I yearn to paint once more, for myself.”
Post-Script
One of the breakthroughs in the field of reinforcement learning happened in Dec-2017 when a general program just with the knowledge of the rules (of the game) was able to achieve superhuman performance in multiple games of strategy (Example: Chess and Shogi) by simply engaging in what is called self-play. Two different versions of a program play with each other and they both level up simultaneously both becoming better, game after game, play after play.
It’s that simple, finding the company of people at the same level of skill as oneself or those humble enough to engage in playful exploration and just play.
Amogh Mahapatra's Writings 