THE RIVER CALLED LIFE
An awakened person is often found decoding words like attachment, connection, liking, letting go, gratefulness, peace, purpose etc. Aren’t we all constantly grappling with these? We are trying to understand these all the time. What I have come to realise is that, understanding and assimilation of these is a journey which is never complete. Life is like a river and these are the sediments that flow with the river constantly. It gives the river its colour, its identity and sometimes the nourishment before the river finally surrenders to the ocean.
Attachment & Connection/Liking:
Liking something, someone or some place is natural. We all are homo sapiens who live to have likes and dislikes. I like to help, she likes to go to a certain place, he likes her…. All these are natural tendencies. At the same time to live in extremes is also human nature. When we go overboard with our liking, it meanders into the realm of an attachment. A need , a craving an attachment which is beyond just affinity or liking. It is a distorted form of self-assurance, validation and a delusional chase. This is where our awareness of our selves comes as a saviour. The awareness to know when you are going overboard, is what differentiates a liking from an attachment. A sense of protecting your boundaries which tell you that beyond this it is not just a liking, it is a dependency. Should you allow yourself to go that path? Is a choice you make.
Letting go & Gratefulness:
In these unprecedented times, we often hear everyone say, be grateful for what you have. Some wire in my head got loose and made me question, if you let go of something does that mean you were ungrateful for having it in your life? May be no. Everything is a means to an end ( and that’s not a capitalist view), we all have people , things, instances in life aimed at serving a meaning or imparting a learning. The day you stop learning you stop growing or adding value. Holds true for every person and things ( professional & academic pursuits) you have in life. What you are grateful for, is the knowledge you have gained; the wisdom you have acquired and the person you have become. You are always grateful for what you have and letting go has no bearing on it.
Peace & Purpose
Peace cannot be put in words it can only be felt. It is not dependent on relationships, wealth or Covid (just saying). It is a tranquility you feel despite all the seemingly horrible things in life. This is because peace is found within and is not external to us. Peace is found in living every moment with love , compassion and earnestness. Purpose on the other hand is very individual. We spend our lifetime looking for ‘purpose’ not knowing that giving whatever we get; sharing whatever we learn is sometimes the purpose we are meant to fulfil.
Raising a child to be an empathetic human being is a purpose. Making a home is a purpose. Showing resilience at work and empowering people is a purpose. Being there for your tribe is a purpose. Hence purpose is not a place, or found in a job or in a relationship. It is found in everything.
Everything comes full circle doesn’t it? Hence, I end where I began.
Our life is a river our purpose is to flow, and on the way, give what we get. That in itself will give us peace. Let go of the things that curb the flow and be grateful for all that enables it. A river is not attached to beautiful green plains or snow peaked mountains, it loves them both yet leaves them both to surrender to the vast expanse of the ocean.
