Pedro, a traveler, grew up in an unhappy home. Since his youth, he has been searching for happiness. By middle age, he had read many books, traveled to places where people spoke foreign languages, pursued hobbies, had girlfriends, worked both office and manual labor jobs, studied spiritual teachings, and undergone psychological counseling. All these things brought him joy or relieved his sadness in some ways. However, he continued his search because the happiness he found always vanished quickly.
One day, Pedro took a walk alone in a hilly park with a trout creek running through it. Hiking on a tree-lined trail, he began to think about a story. The story was about a British anthropologist who watched a Balinese artist create a traditional painting. It was a lengthy process because traditional paintings had many steps. The anthropologist understood what the artist was expressing; it wasn't just what was visible in the painting. The visible part was merely the surface of the artist's creation.
Suddenly, Pedro sensed something invisible. He realized that the happiness he had been seeking was a product of his imagination, like a fleeting cloud that constantly changes shape in his mind. Then it struck him: the mind is a collection of interactive memories. He chuckled and clapped his hands at this idea. Happiness, he thought, is a projection of memories. His grin widened. This insight might open a new door to understanding his own mind.
That night, Pedro had a dream. He found himself in a building with corridors of stone walls—an ancient, silent castle. He entered a library filled with very old books and picked one out. The title read, "Two Proofs of Fermat's Last Theorem." Pedro's eyes widened. What was this? A million-dollar jackpot? He tried to remember. Some years before, a mathematical society had offered a huge reward for anyone who could prove or disprove Fermat's Last Theorem, and it had generated much discussion among mathematicians. However, no one seemed to have come forward. If that was the case, then this book was a real treasure!
Pedro walked around excitedly, picking up another book to see what was inside. The cover read, "The Mind - What It Is and How It Works. By G. Bateson and R. van Gulik." Pedro was surprised. Had the mystery of the mind already been solved? He slowly turned the page to read it. Just then, he woke up.
