In a distant binary star system on a planet colonized as an experiment, a group of four friends led by Maha embarks on a desperate quest for survival.
In a world teetering on the edge of transcendence and despair, Planet 444 stands as humanity’s final experiment—a utopia built on the fragile foundation of anger-free DNA and governed by the forty-four sacred laws of the Buddha. But beneath the serene surface, power struggles, ancient prophecies, and the mysterious forces of consciousness threaten to unravel everything.
Mahá, destined to become King, is torn between fulfilling the prophecy and resisting the immense power that comes with it. As the living Buddha incarnate, he must navigate the treacherous waters of politics, spirituality, and love, all while wrestling with his own doubts about the nature of existence. Alongside him are the brilliant women, Vallena and Visákhá, whose fates are intertwined with his in ways that even they cannot fully comprehend.
But as the first priority of transcendence looms ever closer, a forgotten Sutra, hidden in the desolate wastelands of the planet, may hold the key to humanity’s liberation—or its ultimate downfall. To find it, Mahá’s best friend, the magnificent man, Kelv, must venture into the unknown, leaving behind everything he knows for a chance at salvation.
In A Conscious Thing, Mark Bertrand masterfully weaves a tale of philosophical depth, cosmic intrigue, and human emotion, where every choice could lead to enlightenment—or oblivion. Will Mahá rise to his destiny, or will the ancient forces of the universe pull them all into the abyss?
