Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.
~ Albert Einstein
I was thinking about the same during my recent trip to a camp side .
It was a long awaited trip as I was keenly looking forward to feel the nature very closely.
It was a bright, warm ,sunny afternoon when we reached the venue after cruising through the highway, ferrying through the narrow lanes and then plunging into deep waters . But, trust me it was totally worth the effort.
Sun was a little harsh on us but the vast span to walk and play around was magnanimous. Sight of the tent laid, tables arranged, a fresh lime welcome drink was enough to satiate us.
As I sat
after the usual settling of luggage and comforting the hungry, crying and tired kids, with a much required drink in hand I could feel the heat rushing in my cheeks.
I wondered was it the temperature outside or a turmoil inside? As the spirits started to take their course I again went into my usual thought process which I always do whenever I am close to nature.
Neither the discomfort of balancing myself on a hammock nor the heat dithered my quick nap. As I shut my eyes I felt the warm air rubbing against me making me feel so naked. Again a point where I felt myself totally into the embrace of the wild and rough. How often it happens when we think about taking a road less travelled but then the human boundaries pull us back to follow a routine.
The chirpy chatter of kids and the entire atmosphere filled with their energies made the place come to life. They were all over collecting dry leaves for the bonfire, checking time for the barbecue to be laid, all excited to explore the river on kayaks and waiting for the sun to set.
As the sun sets it brings down my energy as well. No, am not a solar heater but yes I possess the heat and energy of the sun.
Sound of cricket accompanied with few other insects were making a melodious symphony which was just required for the night. Then, the strings striked
and the then quite place turned into a musical extravaganza. The night was high and most of us were slowly moving away from our inhibitions, sharing our grievance, parting our joy, cacophonous laughter and getting closer.
Beauty of darkness at night is ironic. It gives you a comfort to be you at one point but keeps your secret in place at other point.
It doesn’t happen often that you feel warm and cold in your thoughts at the same time. May be the feeling of warmth comes with the comfort of a company and cold is when you feel you’ve or you’ll lose it.
But human mind is a very powerful tool that we all boast to possess and it can think as deep as a dark night and as vivid as a fragmented sky.
The bone chilling cold at night had a special warmth. We had new acquaintance, new company, new sharing and exploring each other as newly weds.
The day broke and the sun rays swept in, morning sun is something that excites me a lot. The silence around is deafening. Its a new day with new brightness. The sparkling sunlight absorbed the darkness of night leaving just beautiful memories to cherish. That soft, cold breeze gives you a feeling of a tight hold when you clutch your fingers and squeeze yourself for more warmth.
Just walking aimlessly, inching every step to see something new, absorbing the warmth of sun rays all over me, crushing the dry leaves under my feet and looking forward for a path which is new and exciting is what I love to do in the mornings.
Sitting by the river I saw the reflection of tall trees by the bank. I could even see the tip of the trees distinctly in the reflection as compared to the tree itself. I wondered how true it is. No matter how much you grow in life, no matter how successful you become, no matter how much wealth you create but your reflection which will be you showing your truer side. When we are able to reflect our true self that is the moment of liberation. Being judged or not is of least importance then.
This beautiful trip into nature gave me a wonderful insight. I come back into my own self with warmth of the sun, magnanimity of mother nature, secret of darkness, silence of misty mornings waiting to roar as the day proceeds and above all JUST ME.
