LIFE SHOULD BE A PRECIOUS JOURNEY

LIFE SHOULD BE A PRECIOUS JOURNEY Life is something very precious, a divine gift given to us by God or nature. Do humans realize how high-priced is it? When we wake up in the morning, are we in a tearing hurry to accomplish all the unfulfilled tasks of yesterday. Do we bow down and touch Mother Earth, feel it? Do we spend some quality time embracing nature, take a few deep breaths, spend moments in solitude, and feel the silence encompassing us? Are we grateful for our existence or do we mechanically hit the gym and head for the kitchen to have the mandatory morning cup of coffee. Life is a huge university which imparts esoteric knowledge, but as we are caught up in the rigmarole and the fiercely competitive struggle, we are unable to differentiate chaff from the grain. Yes, for sure morning exercise like a walk, a jog, gymming or executing the chores are essential, but it is equally important to slow down the pace of life and become grateful to the Universe for its vastness and its exquisite grandiose geometry. We fail to appreciate the rays of the rising sun which provide us with the warmth during our early morning walk, the wafting clouds, the formation of a rainbow, or a brood of hens. Pierce Brosnon, who wielded guns and gals with remarkable felicity once remarked, ‘I realize how precious life is, probably because I’ve seen how it can be taken away.’ The bounty of nature can be cherished and appreciated only by extenuating the mindless chatter of the mind. Perspicacious observation, unfailing practice of Yoga, meditation, mindful breathing and walking over a period of time edifies the mind to develop aesthetic qualities in ourselves. As the cloud moves across the sky, so do moments in our lives. We need to be in harmony with our thoughts and actions and also realize the ephemeral nature of events. When this percipience dawns on us, we look for the nuggets in life nurturing and nourishing them. Once, a student approached his Master and complained that he could not meditate as his body ached, he felt distracted or asleep and was extremely disconcerted. The wise man smiled and merely said that this would pass. After some days, the tutee was in an ecstatic mood and apprised his teacher that the meditation was wonderful and he had an experiential feeling. He could observe stillness in the mind; see shimmering light and experienced levitation. The Master merely smiled and added that even this would pass. The human mind should grasp the transitory nature of existence to appreciate the inexhaustible journey of life. Life should be treated as a celebration and as a precious gift, since it is fleeting and transitory in nature. Therefore the journey of life ought to be made into a jollification and carouse it with uniqueness and precious moments which can be cherished. The sacrosanct premise of life therefore should be to focus on its truly celebratory nature and savour its prepossessing moments. Negative emotions spoil the party and have an adverse effect on the body, soul, mind and its psyche. Humans should create a space where they are joyous, in love and enjoy their peace and freedom. For all this to happen, we need to increase our Prana/energy levels manifold. We derive energy from food, breath, rest provided to the body and by maintaining a calm and meditative mind. These Sutras or tenets are imparted during the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living. To learn more about the secrets of the Sutra, a seeker can undertake the course. However the Prana/energy level needs to be sustained to nurture the precious moments of life. Humans have to treat their minds and bodies as sacred. Desecration of the place of worship makes the body infirm and mental atrophy also sets in. As discussed earlier, upon waking up in the morning do we head to the kitchen for a strong cup of coffee? We have conditioned our mind and bodies to be addicted to caffeine, though nutritionists suggest that the ideal beverage for the body is plain water. Early morning blues can be combatted with warm lime water laced with honey. It is efficacious for the human body to have a few glasses of this elixir of life. While veganism is on the rise world over, simple vegetarian fare, which includes plenty of fruits, is extremely worthwhile to massage the digestive system. A Sattvik diet helps in increasing Prana levels and also in meditation. The purpose of Yoga is not just performing physical exercises but to ultimately do Pranayama and Meditation. This helps isn assuaging the mind so that we are in a position to recognize and appreciate life’s precious journey. Physical sciences, till recently, were all about matter and particles. However, newer studies reveal the mysteries of science have transcended the boundaries of matter and dwell on waves and its patterns. Waves connect us to science and also to people. A congruous atmosphere attracts like-minded people who are uplifting in their thoughts and behaviour. These positively inclined people provide the necessary direction through Laws of Attraction to shore up our thoughts on the amplitude of life. While acknowledging the precious nature of life, we need to harness the potential further by choosing a passion. This is an outlet from the dreary ho-hum of life and we can appreciate the droplets on the petals, a nest built on our roof or a koel bird singing mellifluously. If we close our eyes and open our minds, we can attract all these sounds instead of the cacophony of gizmos surrounding us. In this age of a wired world, humans need to break the chains of the tech bondage and develop a harmonious dwelling place where people care and share making life a truly momentous journey.