How far away the stars

Once Peter Afonasyevich was asked how far away the stars were.

- As much as you can imagine," Mr. Fakofsky replied.

Then Peter Afonasyevich was asked how to measure the distance to the stars correctly.

- Hm, - answered Peter Afonasyevich, - you can measure it in slippers, or in grasshoppers - it's all the same. It is not correct to measure the distance from you to the star because there is no distance as such.

- I mean...," those who asked the question didn't understand.

- So the distance between you and the star nonexistent, since this distance is absorbed by infinityon the other hand, all the stars are equidistant from you.

- What do you mean, equidistant? Equidistant?

- You're going to answer your own question. Let's take two stars: this one, for example, and that one over there. Let's say the first star is 200 light-years away, the other 500 light-years away. 200 light years is infinitely far for you, isn't it?

- Well... Let's say. It's really far away.

- Very far away? Can you imagine 1,940 trillion kilometers? Wouldn't it be easier to admit to yourself that 200 light-years infinitelyHow far away is that?

- Well, I guess, although, uh.

- And 500 light years?

- Ah...Also infinitely far away?

- That's right! Both of these stars are infinitely far away from you, that is, they are from you equidistant. 200 light-years, 500 light-years, even one light-year. These are just numbers that mean nothing to you personally. But the meaning is the same: it's infinitely far away..

- Ha, ha! That's clever, Pyotr Afonasyevich!

- Uh-huh. There's another meaning - you see what you see. But look at the stars broadly and without thought. Are they far away? There they are, right in front of you, unfolded and open, you see them, they are in your perception. Only your thought is in the way. The stars are infinitely far from you only because you think that they are infinitely far from you, and also because of your underdeveloped imagination. In reality, all you have to do is reach out. And you can even touch them.

The one who asked the question looked up at the stars and held out his hand, involuntarily.

- Don't look at the stars from the outside or they will remain infinitely distant to you. Enter to them, open yourself to them, be among them, draw them to you, immerse yourself in them, immerse yourself in this splendor, in this grandeurI'm not going to be able to do that," advised Pyotr Afonasyevich.

The one who asked the question stood silently, nailed by the majesty and infinity of the sky, as if seeing it for the first time, or maybe it was - for the first time.

- Impressive, isn't it? - Piotr Afonasyevich smiled, also looking at the sky, - the sky is getting closer.

But the one who had asked the question remained silent. He remained silent long after Mr. Fakofsky disappeared into the infinity of stars, so distant at first glance, but so close at second, more attentive glance.