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present moment superseded the premonitions.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.
