An Ancient Riddle

[A Lost Soul]

[b][i]The key to life and death is everywhere to be found, but if you do not find it in your own house, you will find it nowhere. Yet, it is before everyone's eyes; no one can live without it; everyone has used it. The poor usually possess more of it than the rich; children play with it in the streets. The meek and uneducated esteem it highly, but the privileged and learned often throw it away. When rejected, it lies dormant in the bowels of the earth. It is the only thing from which the Philosopher's Stone can be prepared, and without it, no noble metal can ever be created. What is it? Think about this and explain what led you to your conclusion. I assume that there is a right answer, but I don't know what it is nor do I claim that my own personal conclusion is the correct one. I'm very interested in hearing everyone's theories. And remember: We can discuss this like civilized human beings!

[Redeyedwolfking]

I did not even have to read the riddle to know my answer ive heard many riddles like this and they all have the same answer it seems, and that is love it is the key goal of all religens and the only thing that can connect all souls into one. I have become fasinated with this word and it seems that the more I understand love the more I understand the soul and that we are like eyes we all belong to the same soul force but we see life from different prespectives and this is what binds us into one force. The poor seem to possess more than the rich because they are less spoiled and have to rely on it more. also if you Love everything and everyone you will begin to feel like a god or a parent its an awsome feeling to have.

[Alric]

Doesn't sound like love. Kids play with love in the streets? Can't really "use" love.

[Rakkantekimusouka]

Well, "Matter" is kind of vague...and it's not really ironic, like you would think a riddle would be, but that's what I put... *shrugs*

[Lucius]

You know my answer To me its still love. Though Im not going to explain in detail anymores for every single part of the riddle. I think love goes beyond what most people think it is. Love is more then family, friends and lovers. Im not saying love is the only thing that will bring you 'spiritual enlightment'' but I think its a basis you need before you can even begin to look for the higher, spiritual truth. And love in itself is very spiritual and universal. But Im not going there now =P Before you look for more after all, you will need peace with oneself, and with everything around you. Love goes beyond love lolies. But oh well, thats all i say, dont wanna get started ^_^"

[Mystical_Journey]

I personally think that the core of the question has many answers that make up many more Questions (lol). If I was to respond to the riddle on a theoretical level I would go with either Soul or Hate (lol). My poorly put together argument: We cannot have life without ‘Hate’, the substance and continuation of life is within the ‘Soul’, since you cannot have ‘Love’ without a ‘Soul’, you cannot have ‘Energy’ as it radiates from ‘Love’ therefore creating ‘Light’ within us, which also creates darkness or ‘Hate’ within others. You cannot understand substance (Matter) without a soul which I believe is the core of spirituality and life (Philosopher's Stone). That brings into the ‘light’ a question of God…… ----- have I just totally destroyed the meaning to this riddle? I think if you focus on each word individually and then re-read the riddle with that word in mind, the riddle can fit easily into each word and create its own meaning around that word. Each person would come up with their own answers from their religion or lack of religion. Sorry for the assumptions everyone just trying to come up with my own conclusions from the riddle or maybe the conclusion is not coming up with a response, the answer is within the riddle itself but in a more objective and physical sense that goes beyond words (lol). Thanks for making me think (even if its empty thought) Who came up with this riddle? Its feels like its basis is from Alchemy.

[A Lost Soul]

Mystical, I'm not looking for the 'right' answer. As far as I'm concerned, nothing anyone says can destroy its meaning. I'm more interested in why people chose their answers. And you're absolutely right; it's basis is in alchemy. I found it on an alchemy site. I love stuff like this because it makes me think.

[Oath]

i really enjoyed mysticals response and i chose god.... well... i guess in a way all is god. you see love is just one tiny aspect of god and so are we. even hate to me because there is a balance. i should clear this up. god (of israel) is not evil but some of his creations are such as satan and sometimes people. i dont believe this is necessarily bad but rather beautiful. ah what the hell do i know. i am a blind fool. forgive me for any misunderstandings its hard sometimes to put certain thoughts into words. and also i am viewing everything as one not dividing it as seems to be the misconception. -oth p.s. why havnt you replied to any of my messeges lost soul?

[Stalker]

None of the choices given seems to fit for me. Can't say why not and can't say which would.

[Mystical_Journey]

Good Answer

[Alric]

Maybe I am to picky but none of them work for me either. I mean kids don't play with any of them, and poor don't have any more of it than anyone else. And its kind of offensive to say educated people don't have souls or can't love people. I was thinking of something like imagination. Doesn't quite fit but I think its closer.

[A Lost Soul]

Fair enough. And Wizard... what messages?

[CT]

its poop, right?

[Joseph_Stalin]

Yes, CT. Poop. It's the answer to all of life's mysteries...

[sensi]

Love - For without love how could you feel? (Keep in mind that feelings are not always positive but with love usually all things can be over come). Without using your heart you could not know compassion, you could not feel the light around you, you could not feel 'god' in your heart, you could not see the beauty within Mother Nature, I could go on but you see my point. Just my opinion tho, each to their own..... As for Alchemy "The Alchemist" is a great read if anyone is interested? Peace Sensi.

[Belisarius]

It's obviously love, the key is "If you can't find it in your own house, you will find it nowhere." if you can't find matter or energy in your own house(which is quite possible if you have no house) then you can certainly find it elsewhere.

[Mickeys_Elbow]

Originally posted by Alric Kids play with love in the streets? Ever hear of "Puppy Love"? Kids play with love all the time... that's how most teenage pregnancies happen.

[Alric]

So educated people throw love away? That doesnt make any sense. Maybe its like fear. Everyone is scared of something and kids are scared of a lot more stuff. The more you understand things the less you will fear them. The more money you have the less you have to worry about whats going to happen to you in the future. If rejected it hides and can come back and you can't hide from fear even in your own house.

[Mickeys_Elbow]

[i]Originally posted by A Lost Soul+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(A Lost Soul)</div> [color=indigo]The key to life and death is everywhere to be found, but if you do not find it in your own house, you will find it nowhere. Yet, it is before everyone's eyes; no one can live without it; everyone has used it. The poor usually possess more of it than the rich; children play with it in the streets. The meek and uneducated esteem it highly, but the privileged and learned often throw it away. When rejected, it lies dormant in the bowels of the earth. It is the only thing from which the Philosopher's Stone can be prepared, and without it, no noble metal can ever be created.[/b] <!--QuoteBegin-Alric So educated people throw love away? It's all in the context. Usually and Often does not mean all. It's merely pointing out that people who go without usually search for that "something more" in others while the rich and knowledgeable often throw it away in search of something more material. It's surprising how knowledge can blind some from the spiritual side of life... almost like it doesn't matter after a point. In my experience knowledge has just led me to a more profound spiritual existence than I had ever had without.

[Alric]

Maybe its just me but I dont think thats true at all. Infact I dont think its even close to being true. As I said before its kind of insulting to even imply it. I could say if your poor and uneducated your more likely to be angry and hateful for having less and being to stupid to do anything about it. So if your poor, your less likely to have love for others. Thats kind of what it sounds like to me.

[A Lost Soul]

This is cool. I'm loving the discussions. ^_^

[Redeyedwolfking]

Rich people usally have big mansions and have no need for any more money or protection so they dont need to help others to get it they see little reason in helping others so they dont care. getting spoiled is most of it thoe. but most rich people now do not act like that. also a highly educated person (at first) might realise that chemicals controle guilt and sorrow and love so they might live in a self considered only world like an evil genius. But uneducated run on intuition which obviosly is not going to lead them to do bad unless they think there possessed or think they are a werewolf or they are schizifrenic or something. Poor need money and get used to helping others and learn to like it. But its true that not all people are like that.

[FaatFaat]

The key to life and death is everywhere to be found, but if you do not find it in your own house, you will find it nowhere Energy "God" Soul Matter Yet, it is before everyone's eyes Energy "God" Soul Matter no one can live without it Energy "God" Soul Matter everyone has used it Energy "God" Soul Matter The poor usually possess more of it than the rich "God" Soul Matter children play with it in the streets "God" Soul Matter The meek and uneducated esteem it highly, but the privileged and learned often throw it away "God" Soul When rejected, it lies dormant in the bowels of the earth "God" doesn't lie dorment Soul It is the only thing from which the Philosopher's Stone can be prepared, and without it, no noble metal can ever be created Soul

[dream-scape]

Just wondering how you came up with the possible list of answers for this alchemists riddle that has been debated throughout history? Any why there is no "other" answer since you said you don't know the answer? Alchemists often talk about a kind of gold inside of us, the gold of alchemy or whatever they say. I've read something before along the lines of "the deeper the wound runs, the more pure the gold is" or something like that. I think this gold is probably the answer, but exactly what it is I can't say for sure. Another interesting quote I came across before is, "alchemy, it is both the riddle and the answer"

[sensi]

"the deeper the wound runs, the more pure the gold is" "alchemy, it is both the riddle and the answer" These quotes i do like. I think everybody’s gold is different. What is golden to me may not be golden to you..... For me my internal gold is my essence/spirit, love thats in my life and inside me, that’s why i choose that answer. As for external gold it is everywhere, for example seeing a butterfly is golden to me. To someone else their gold may be 'God' so that is what they choose? With Alchemy i think you need to know your heart and soul deeply to ever even begin to understand the whole concept of transformation. To be honest tho i'm not too up with the whole concept of it. I just know a little. Peace Sensi.