Lessons in a ray of sunshine

Satjit Singh 

THE manager of the hill resort where we checked in guided us  that, among other attractions, there were spots for the best view of the sunrise and sunset. I was awakened before dawn the next day and I decided  to take a stroll and wait for the sun. The chirping birds heralded its arrival, but it was not yet ready to reveal itself. After a while, I could see the golden shine on top of the highest visible peak on the west. However, the hills in the east were still dark. I could  visualise the other side basking in the rising sun. To get illuminated, we have to check where we stand — the sun will not change its course. Isn’t this a life lesson?

In the sprawling lawn adjacent to our hut, the afternoon sun forced me to look down. How can you look into the eyes of ‘his majesty’? Face down, I walked leisurely and saw a beautiful pattern on the ground. I was wonderstruck by the sheer intricacy created by the play of sun and shade. Looking up in appreciation, the leaves appeared to be waving and weaving. A cluster of deodars seemed to be enjoying my fascination of what was just a simple phenomenon here. I noticed a creeper engulfing the mighty branch of the tree. Parasite! Yes, it’s everywhere in life. The strong will feed it, and survive too. Don’t we need to strengthen ourself and our support network? 

Skipping post-lunch siesta did not dampen my enthusiasm to be at the sunset point. The sun was going down. We mortals were allowed to look straight at ‘his majesty’ — the big red celestial beauty. Water droplets on leaves and in the air were playing prism with the rays. Deep down the slope, the colours of rainbow were splashed on the trees. And then, as if being pulled down behind a mountain, the sun was gone — to come up again, fresh, powerful, warm, scorching, healing or even killing. Life goes on.

I decided to walk back, a long walk. Uphill task, literally. Gasping but laughing pretentiously. The offer of a young couple to hold my hands was a bliss; a big support. The mountain, the gorge, the vast darkness: I am but a speck walking on the slippery slopes. A landslide, common in the Shivalik range, can make me non-existent. Maybe, I will rise from beneath the mud and rubble as a tree. 

‘Mountains are not going to give you any answers,/What happens rather,/ Nature becomes a fierce attacker-/Encroaches your comprehension,/and slaughters it./Butchers your ego,/and exterminates it./Harasses your mind,/and invalidates it. All that is left in you then is-/A courageous bliss,/to pick up your broken pieces!’

For ages, humans have been fleeing  to these lofty reaches, only to find a startlingly simple message — ‘for peace you have to look inwards’.