--- વિચારયાત્રા ---

Surprised by the title? Please do not be. Because as you will go on reading further you will find only this name significant for the query I am going to present. Because they are:

“QUESTIONS THAT THEIRSELVES ARE ANSWERS”

Nowadays it is the fashion to ignore the simple and basic things and to rush for the pompous will-o'-the-wisp! I think it as a main reason for our mental and moral degradation and for many miseries. While contemplating on this problem, some questions erupted from somewhere deep inside. And, guess what? They proved to be the answers I was searching! It was really a priceless experience from the mind-boggling questions to the mind relieving answers. It gave me the peace and satisfaction, which I want to share with you.

I hope these questions might help you to dissolve the veils blocking your vision for years. Here are those 60 questions that might help you to discover the peace already residing within you. So, let’s embark on this heart throbbing journey….but…wait…wait….wait…., kindly follow the one and only condition : Be honest with (at least!) yourself.

All these questions are in the first person singular, as it is always more useful and fruitful to ask our self a little then to ask others a lot!

Ø FOR :-

* For whom I am living?

* For what I am searching?

* For what/whom I can sacrifice everything, even myself?

Ø WHAT :-

* What is my opinion for myself?

* What is the ultimate goal of my life?

* What I wanted to be & what I am, are both answers same?

Ø DO :-

* Do I learn something new every day?

* Do I love someone more than myself?

* Do I express my feelings to whom I love & care?

Ø CAN :-

* Can I accept my flaws & faults?

* Can I accept my nears & dears as they are?

* Can I say sorry, with my eyes into others?

Ø HAD :-

* Had I ever thanked those silent & forgotten people; having contribution in the life, I am living?

* Had I ever offered a little gratitude to my parents for a lot they are doing for me?

* Had I ever appreciated the almighty for bestowing me such priceless birth as human?

Ø AM I :-

* Am I enjoying the things I already have?

* Am I doing the exact thing I should be doing?

* Am I the person on whom anyone can trust?

Ø HOW :-

* How do I treat those having lower standards than mine? (i.e. social, economic, etc.)

* How do I face the success as well as the failure?

* How do I treat; people having totally different or opposite views, ideas & values?

Ø WHICH :-

* Which are my favorite books?

* Which place provides me extreme calmness & peace?

* Which way I would choose: short but immoral or lengthy but moral?

Ø WHO:-

* Who inspires me the most?

* Who is my favorite artist? (i.e. painter, musician, poet etc)

* Who is responsible for my failures, setbacks and miseries?

Ø WHEN:-

* When was the last time I smiled at a person I don’t know?

* When was the last time I helped anyone in need without the expectation of reward?

* When was the last time I enjoyed the murmur of rainfall, music of flowing river, peaceful roar of the ocean and mysterious calmness of the mountain?

All right then, here I conclude with what I wanted to say. You might be thinking that I forgot the other 30 questions or I am weak at calculus. No, neither did I forget those 30 questions nor I am weak at mathematics. Here are your remaining 30 questions. Just ask each question again to yourself but this time with “WHY” at the end of every question! Answer each one again with the same honesty to yourself and you will be amazed that you uncovered another layer of your infinite mysterious self.

 Life comes to us with 86400 evaluable pearls each day. But, many of us are so busy with literally unnecessary stuff that we failed to recognize the value and importance of each pearl. As you might have guessed till now, I am talking about 86400 pearls of seconds which makes one whole day of our life. Actually many of us don’t realize that but it’s the fact that our whole life is passed in the arena of fighting between “Few seconds Vs Many Years” !!

Many times in the whole day “Few seconds” attack the “Many Years” ! Some seconds of seismic shocks of earthquake or tsunami can destroy many years of elaborated and well established infrastructure. Those few seconds of divine wish can destroy centuries of human hard work! This same phenomenon of natural disaster is applicable to the emotional disaster. The shocks generated by ego, misunderstanding, short temper or prejudices can be proved fatal to the lifelong nurtured relationships.

But, the basic difference between these two disasters is the previous one is uncontrollable and the later one is! One can check the emotional disastrous shocks by providing the shock absorbers like Love, Calmness and Meditation. Such shock absorbers can nullify the deformities created by the shocks.

      So, what should a wise person do is never allow a few seconds to conquer over many years !!

Gone the heavenly light

As was the pure truth

None else then the son

Did that task of brute,

How can we blame others ; when

Indirectly/Directly we all are the killers !!!

India once proud to be known by name of his,

Shame; today we know nothing else but name of his !!

Love, trust, truth & honesty ; weapons,

Occupied by that warriors to check blow stunning,

Sight could seen ray of light amidst the dark immense,

Thus; he won each battle, except one still running....

- Chintan Patel

Life can be found only in the present moment , but our minds rarely dwell in the present moment. Instead we chase after the past or long for the future. We think we are being ourselves, but in fact we almost never are in real contact with ourselves. Our minds are too busy chasing after yesterday's memories or tomorrow's dreams. The only way to be in touch with the life is to return to the present moment. Once you know how to return to the present moment, you will become awakened and at that moment you will find your true self.

Look at the tender leaves caressed by the sunlight. Have you ever looked at the green of the leaves with serene and awakened heart? This shade of green is one of the wonders of the life. If you never really looked at it please do so now.

- Gautam Buddha

( From Old Path White Clouds, By Thich Nhat Hanh)

ધીરી સી આંચે તો ન પરખાશે કાંચન

પથ પર અગન આજીવન તું લખી દે !!

શું કરું સનાતન ઘૂઘવાટ સાગર સમો ?

વહેવું, અથડાવું છ્તાં ખળખળ હસવું લખી દે !!

ગલહાર થઇ ચળકવું ન પોસાષે વર્ષો

તવ ચરણે મહેકવું દિવસભર નું લખી દે !!

શું થયું જો ઉર્ધ્વગમન નિત દીપશીખા નું ન હો,

પતન તો પતન ; પણ નદી સરીખુ લખી દે !!

ટુકડે ટુકડે જીવી તો ન નીકળશે જીંદગી,

રેતઘડી શું ક્ષણે ક્ષણ નું સાર્થક સરકવું લખી દે !!

- ચિંતન પટેલ

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