Journeying Down the River of Life - Choice is Yours! (The Speaking Tree, 15.07.'10)

Dedicated to my friends, young men and women out there, who are at the threshold of launching their careers:

Two young girls, Laukika and Samatha, set of on an adventure. Both of them had completed their formal education and before venturing into their respective samsaric enterprises, they thought of taking a break to contemplate life. And thus was born this hedonistic idea of journeying down the river.

Having reached the river head, Laukika was so overwhelmed with its sensational speed, arousing energy and her own effervescent enthusiasm that she said to her friend “Hey! Samatha, i need to get a first hand experience of the river! It beckons me. I’m going to jump into it and be carried along with its great energies. Meet you later”. So saying, she took the plunge, without waiting for her friend to respond.

So the river carried her along. Laukika, the young girl that she was, in search of all that life had to offer her, enjoyed her initial tumbling, rolling, buoying, gushing, swaying and all kinds of adventure. At times the river frightened Laukika too, by sweeping her under the currents that whipped up. But she dismissed them as something she ought to get used to. By now the girl was so into the full flow of the river. Unknowing to her, the currents carried her further & deep to a point from where even sighting the shore was difficult. But Laukika was unfazed. She was euphoric and wanted more of the adventure, you see. Forever engrossed in steadying herself from the speed of her journey, she managed mere fleeting glimpses of the beauty around her. Now, the waves got bigger, the waters deeper, the river widened, the gushing became so forceful that she was thrown about, knocked about on the rocks all over, water and sand filled her nostrils and mouth, she was being bruised by the gravel and creatures in the river. The girl panicked. She had had enough; she thought and wanted to come out to safer shores. “Help me to the shore, someone”, she cried agonizingly. No one heard. Those who did hear her, couldn’t do much, as they were in the same dilemma themselves. There wasn’t an easy way out of the situation.

In the meanwhile, Samatha, had already set off on foot. “I choose to walk down the river bank instead. I might be able to enjoy the vistas better this way”, she had pondered to herself before taking off.

Many years had passed. The two friends met again. They hugged each other tight. Unimaginable joy blossomed on their faces from this unexpected yet fond reunion. And they shared experiences from their journeys.

Laukika, wearing a shorn look on her face, a bruised body, tears rolling down from her hollowed eyes onto her wrinkled cheeks, narrated all she had to say. Of course, she did have her share of fun, she admitted, but the journey had tired her out. Moreover she felt vacant inside. There was so much she wanted to do, she said, but the sheer speed of her journey dint permit her to take those tiny liberties.

She was now eager to hear from her dear friend.

Samatha spoke: “I too thought for long after you left me, Laukika. There was a moment i was tempted to follow you. The river did look enticing. But then, there was no hurry either. So i chose to walk down the river instead. The scenic offerings around the river were spell-binding. Those beautiful moments of peace were so soothing. I marvelled at the sunrise & sunsets so different each day, the envelope of the open blue sky so re-assuring, the stars at night that i tried to count but always lost count of, i pranced and played with the countless birds and butterflies that filled the forest, i stopped to smell the forest and her flowerings, i waited occasionally with bated breath to see the handsome kingfisher dive into the waters for a quick meal, the seagulls that flew over my head playfully seemed to taunt my lazy walk. There were times when i wanted to sense what the river felt like and i would plunge into it, frolic in the waters, get the bubbles to ease my aches then dry myself on the warm rocks on the bank, read a book and resume my journey. The occasional bear that came down to the river for a drink dint bother me so long as i kept away from him and he sensed no danger from me. The local tribes who collected firewood and fruits from the forest would invite me to their humble homes. I would play with their children and share with them simple tips on improving their health through hygiene, then bid them goodbye. The journey has been incredible, full of myriad experiences…you could even say, a journey of imagination!”

“And you know Laukika, the best part of it is that i feel happy to have done it this way. My way and at my pace. I feel fulfilled”.

The two friends sat in silence. Each contemplating in what manner she had been able to carve out a holistic human life.

For my dear young readers who will soon set out to embark on their very own individual journeys, think of what you want from this precious human life. Fleeting Pleasures or Sustaining Happiness.

(Index: Laukik: Pleasure, Samatha: Equanimity...leads to a happy mind state)

Girish Deshpande
(The author is a Dharma practitioner based in Pune)