Life is a constant struggle for survival of the fittest,
for the realization of goals which are personal or societal, individual or
collective, mundane or significant. We, as a civilization, are constantly
engaged in the pursuit of excellence, success and affluence. In this mad rush
towards attaining what is often a lofty target, we seldom realize the
importance of small but precious moments and little but lasting joys. We keep
moving at such a rapid pace that life and its subtle nuances, emotions and
their impacts, relationships and their verity pass us by in an ethereal blur
only to be recalled with a twinge of guilt and nostalgia when it’s too late to
make amends. We never pause to reflect upon what we really want, what our inner
selves strive for and what our souls cry out for. What lies ahead is critical
for it inspires and urges us on; so is what lies behind us for it strengthens
us and molds our characters and personalities. But more important still is what
lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “What lies behind us and
what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” This
eternal quote by one of the most eminent poets of all time transcends ages and
cultures and keeps resonating in the very thread of human evolution and
progress.
The sands of time are cruel,
omniscient and never ceasing; always rotating with a cruel and unforgiving
velocity. If we lose track of moments gone by or yet to come, it’s an acute
treachery to ourselves and those whom we dearly love. If, however, we lose sight
of who we are and what we stand for, what our values are and what defines us;
we lose the very fabric of our being and become marionettes in the ever-moving
kaleidoscope of time and space. Therefore, it’s of paramount significance to
give as much, and if possible more, time and thought to looking deep inside our
minds and souls, and gorging the depths of our feelings, aspirations, our moral
and intellectual fibers; to seek and find within us that which we so
frivolously take for granted; that paradigm oasis of knowledge of the self, of
one’s own soul, of the ultimate engine that drives our actions. It is a sad yet
resounding truth that though we constantly keep analyzing and interpreting the
world around us, we seldom pay any heed whatsoever to self – introspection.
Pablo Neruda has most vehemently emphasized the need for keeping quiet every
once in a while, tuning out the minutiae of our surroundings and taking a deep
dive within our souls to gain that all elusive of secrets –the knowledge of our
own selves, of what lies within us.
It has been reiterated by wisdom both ancient and modern
that self – introspection and self – analysis are the easiest and safest modes
of meditation, of reaching a state of pure spiritual bliss and attaining an
almost perfect harmony with one’s soul. For all that we can ever dare to lose;
parting from our own identities or our perceptions of the same is probably the
worst farewell imaginable, but one which with very little effort can be
prevented. Hence, we must try not to get blown away by the ceaseless tornadoes
of highs and lows, of successes and failures, of dreams fulfilled and
crestfallen aspirations, of unrest and contentment. On the contrary, we must be
able to always read between the lines of what is transpiring around us and try
not to let it overwhelm our pursuit of that which transcends excellence; which
has been treasured by our ancestors and will be coveted by our descendents;
that which is more divine than any supposed act of devotion to the Almighty;
that supreme Pandora of immeasurable wealth and contentment; the golden orb of
light called self knowledge. We must be actively engaged in and dedicated
towards the attainment of that knowledge for it is simultaneously the most
accessible and yet the farthest of destinations; all that is needed is grit and
determination to keep it in sight and within grasp while we wander on the
crossroads of time and space and fall prey to the vicissitudes of yesterdays
and tomorrows. If we succeed in doing that, in maintaining that balance of what
lies within us and what lies beyond; we may very well acquire what the
Upanishads have called the ultimate salvation; what sages and great thinkers
have termed pure, unadulterated bliss and enlightenment.
What was and what will be are trivial to what lies within;
Never let go of that precious yet overlooked rainbow of
bliss;
For there is no light that shines brighter than that of
self illumination;
That knowledge which is divine, which leads to eternal
salvation!!
