We are like grains of sand
On a beach sunlit by brilliant rays of hope;
Repeatedly we get swept back by strong relentless waves
Of our own wishes and desires,
Leaving us in torment at times, unable to cope.
They keep coming one after the other
Keeping us tied to our senses;
Distracting us from the true purpose of life,
Always wanting more and more,
Vulnerable, never able to mend our fences.
Fulfilment of one does not always mean
Growing out of it;
Instead, the intensity could get multiplied,
Leaving us with a poor self-perception
And an inner state lacking happiness, dark and poorly lit.
Often we wonder if there is a way
To become like a hard rock;
Having an inner resilience
Bouncing back the waves which keep splashing against us,
Receiving cravings and desires which we can simply mock.
Let them break on our external crust
And return to their meaningless vastness;
Leaving us in the soft glow of peace,
Attaining harmony between our external and internal selves,
Enjoying pure bliss and happiness.
If this were indeed to happen,
Would we still be vibrant and alive?
Where would be the need to constantly challenge our own selves
With newer and higher goals;
Forever expanding, mind buzzing with new ideas like a bee-hive?
The trick possibly is in sifting the good ones from the bad ones,
Using our intellect to discriminate and judge;
Working only upon the benign ones,
With all our resources and natural gifts,
Bringing those to fruition with a skilful nudge.
Enjoying magnificent sunsets and living glorious moonlit nights,
Cheeks feeling the soft touch of a gentle breeze,
Admiring the grace and beauty of clouds passing by,
Being one with the seagulls flapping overhead
Bowing our head to the eternal power which created the nature’s lullaby.
We shall then be able to explore new frontiers of creativity,
A clear gaze helping us to navigate the rapids of life, enabling a win;
Linking enjoyment to the journey and not to a destination,
Going with the flow, simply living in the present,
Living life to the hilt, finding the fountain-head of true happiness within.
ashokbhatia 