“For the self there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.”
– Bhagavad Gita (2.20)
As I looked down at my fully drenched body, I realized with disgust that the latrine water had found its way onto me, mixing with the rainwater and leaving me feeling desperate to get out. I was at a friend’s place in a low-lying area, and as the rain continued to pour, the drainage from all the houses in the colony overflowed, filling the streets with neck-deep effluent. It was a harrowing experience, and it wasn’t until late evening that my friend’s family was finally safe at a shelter.
Meanwhile, I was still desperate to get to my own home, but the rain showed no signs of stopping, and there were no buses or taxis available. So, I trudged through the muddy streets for hours, feeling sick and yucky as the slops from the street soaked into my skin.
Finally, at midnight, I arrived at my safe sanctuary – a well-maintained apartment in a decent locality in Mumbai. I ran to the shower and let the cooling water wash away the filth, staying there for a long time. Afterwards, I drank some hot soup and relaxed on the sixth-floor balcony overlooking the ocean. It was a relief to be home, to be in my ‘Home-State’, where I knew I was safe and could feel a sense of belonging and shelter.
Just as we have a physical home that provides us shelter from external elements, we also need an inner Home-State to provide us with a sense of security and peace amidst life’s challenges. Whether it’s unexpected setbacks, misunderstandings with loved ones, or overwhelming emotions that leave us feeling drained and disconnected, we all need a refuge that we can turn to in times of need.
While distractions like Netflix or motivational videos can provide temporary relief, they often fail to address the root of our problems. In moments of true introspection, we realize that the void inside us cannot be filled by external sources alone. This is when we can begin to explore our spiritual side and find deeper meaning and purpose in our lives.
Rather than simply learning the techniques of meditation, we must delve into the essence of it, exploring the innermost recesses of our hearts and minds. By doing so, we can find a sense of belonging and connection that transcends the limitations of our physical reality, providing us with a lifelong source of comfort and support.
Expanding the Heart
A troubled young man sought the guidance of a wise sage, expressing his anxieties and constant worries. In response, the elderly monk, dressed in bright saffron robes, asked the young man to get a palmful of salt and poured it into a cup of water. He then asked him to drink it, which made the young man puke. The sage then took the young man to a nearby lake and asked him to pour a handful of salt into the crystal-clear water. He then asked the young man to drink it, and this time the water tasted sweet.
To be continued….
