Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Silhouetted against the river.. Rishikesh



I folded my jeans and planted my feet in the shivery waters of the Ganges. The contact sparked a rush of blood upwards into my body, unsettling the dogmas that I carry within. My credos certainly could not bear the purity of the moment and shattered like a glass pane. Suddenly, I could see through my identity.

A positive start! I am sure.

Ganges manifests a grandeur at Rishikesh which is not visible anywhere else throughout her course. Perhaps this happens because it is here that the river liberates her self from the rough course of the hills and prepares for a joyride into the plains. The river actually celebrates the battles won in the Himalayas. She indeed looked cheerful and I intended to utilize that moment and initiate a dialog with her, maybe find out few of her godly secrets.


The water was gleaming in the setting sun. The river seemed to be full of pride and why not, for the awareness of source and destination was reflected in every drop of twinkling water.

Did she not know that sooner her existence is about to perish into the vast sea?

I reckon that she did, but the very joy of the present moment superseded the premonitions. She seemed to be completely ignorant of the future. Actually she was too engrossed in playing with the fading sunlight then to think about anything else. I was clueless as to how the river manages such grace so spontaneously. All I could do was to envy her. A bit confused, my attention was diverted to a bunch of rapids at the far end of the stream. The river was perhaps laughing at my confusion. “Can I ever have her secret that makes her so free and easy?” I thought within myself. Being a meager identity as compared to the river, it was best for me to surrender myself in order to find those answers. I pleaded to her, “Help me to be like you.”

The river kept flowing and didn’t respond. Or did it?


I melted further into the river determined not to leave without an answer. A gush of wind passed over. The wind, moving downstream paced the flow of water sort of emphasizing the flow. Quite elegantly, the river had communicated its secret to me. It was the FLOW.

I wasn’t completely mindful of my realization until the river started talking to me…

“I originate from a source hidden deep within the valleys. Although in oblivion, those glaciers are the source of all my charm. Thumping into grueling terrain, and crashing onto rocks, I get the liberty of letting out myself only once I flow into the plains. All the while, religiously, I keep flowing.

From your point of view, I flow towards the ocean. This is ignorance on your part. The truth is, I JUST FLOW.
From your point of view, my destination is the ocean. This is again ignorance. My friend! The truth is, JOURNEY IS MY DESTINATION.

Like me, you have a source hidden deep within yourself. Your outer skin, the body and the senses might resemble a river and its branches. Connect with your source and let the river flow. Celebrate the numerous blessings that are bestowed upon you while you flow. And as you plunge into the vast sea of death, don’t be dejected, for the life cycle will repeat itself. The spirits rises to heaven simply to pour down again as the rain livens up the river afresh.”

A drop of dew hit my eyelids and made me come out of myself. I realized it actually started to rain. Fresh shot of life for the river and for me.


No comments:

Post a Comment