Mystic Mantra: Onward inner pilgrim

A sage lived beside a river with the barest minimum for survival. One of his disciples — surprised by how little he owned — asked him, “How come you manage with so little?” Pointing to his shishya’s handbag the sage rebounded the same query to him: “Why are you carrying so little?” The disciple answered, “Well, I’m only passing by”. Smiling, the sage said: “I too am only passing by: A pilgrim!”

Life is a pilgrimage, a yatra, ever moving us towards what we deem meaningful and fulfilling. I write this in Pune, my new workplace — where I’ve been transferred after 18 fruitful years in Delhi. With Mumbai as janmabhoomi, studies in Chennai, and Gujarat as my first karmabhoomi, my jeevan yatra has transported me through many states, countries, cultures and peoples — each moulding me into “me”. Delhi provided enriching “capital” resources.

During my farewell from from my previous college, I was struck by what a student said: “We thank you for what you’ve taught us as professor; more so, for what was unsaid, but we learned from your life.” Each of us is both, teacher and learner. We teach and learn with what we say and do not say. People imbibe much from the baggage we carry: Visible and invisible, conscious and unconscious. The baggage of yesteryears can be burdensome. Besides, we being teachers and learners, life itself is the greatest guru if only we see, smell, hear, touch, taste and realise that everything and everyone is pilgrimaging towards final fulfilment. Philosopher Heraclitus’ saying: “You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters are continually flowing on,” is profoundly true.

Unbeknownst to us, our inner physiological systems are ceaselessly transporting air, water, blood and nutrients through hundreds of miles of arteries, veins, nerves and muscles. Our external contexts may change us. But, each of us also has immense potential to change those places we’ve moved into and make a difference in the positions we’ve newly occupied. So let’s say a daily “goodbye” to the past, preparing ourselves for that final “goodbye” when our jeevan yatra will be over. Meanwhile, the Bible reminds us: “God walks with us” and “leads us along right paths.” The best is yet to come. Onward, pilgrims!

Francis Gonsalves is a professor of theology. He can be contacted at fragons@gmail.com