Words From The Master: 18 Nov 2007

Where are you headed this time?

A traveler started his journey towards the holy city of Varanasi. He started from his hometown after making a few preliminary enquiries.

Having traveled far and fearing he may have lost his way, the traveler asked a sanyasin who seemed to be returning from Varanasi, Oh Master, how far away is Varanasi from here?

The sanyasin said: Before I reply, you must answer two of my questions.

The traveler found this strange, and having no choice agreed.

The sanyasin asked: Do you clearly know why you want to go to Varanasi?

The traveler felt that this question was foolish and the answer was obvious. He said: Oh, Varanasi is a holy place. I will be blessed if I go there, scriptures say.

The sanyasin asked the second question: Before starting, have you thoroughly enquired about the path to reach Varanasi?

The traveler felt that this too was irrelevant and said: Yes, I inquired a little bit. I left it at that, thinking that I can find out more as I travel further.

The sanyasin calmly said: If you had had clarity as to why you should go to Varanasi and had known clearly all the details about Varanasi, you would not have asked me as to how much distance you should travel further to reach Varanasi.

Thoroughly confused and irritated, yet still polite, the traveler said: Oh master, you have not replied my question at all.

The sanyasin said: You have already come forty miles beyond Varanasi.

We are much like the traveler not knowing where he is going and why.

We rarely question: Why we have taken birth in this world? Why do we continuously struggle and suffer so much? Where are we headed?

All of us lead our life in search of some goal or other. It may be any material goal like a good education, good job, fame or wealth, or it may be something different. One’s mental set up determines the type of desire one has.

The desires may be many, but the aim of all these desires is only one: Peace, Joy, Bliss. Every one journeys in his own way, only to achieve these goals.

There is nothing wrong at all in this journey, this searching. Problems arise when you embark on the journey without knowing the path.

Spirituality through meditation helps you define the path. Once you are in the right path, the destination happens by itself.

______________________
This article was earlier published in the Economic Times, an Indian newspaper.