When someone very dear to me went climbing the
beautiful rock column forests at Zhangjiajie (popularly known today as the
Avatar Mountains after the filming of the movie Avatar over there), I longed to
go there too. I knew for sure that the climb and the scenery, both would do me
good but I couldn't make it because I was far away struggling with the waves of
existence at sea level. The least I could then do was google those floating
mountains and admire their beautiful pictures. Standing tall like fingers made
in rock, these structures appeared as if they were kissing the clouds. The forest
beneath and all around looked so amazing that I promised myself another viewing
of the film 'Avatar' which was shot at this scenic spot. The image of the
amazingly striking and breathtaking view of the mountain scenery in the movie
had gone dim in my memory but those images awakened it to brightness. The
beautiful stone forest was like a heaven brought down on earth.
I then sat contentedly and smiled at the joy of
my loved one who had gone for a walk on that heavenly ground. The least I could
do was help her to live her dreams. But I had dreams too. My dreams were ageing
with grey stands of responsibilities. But I knew for sure that dreams had to be
fulfilled and so I took up a detour in the climb. I began to scale the
mountains within and believe me it wasn’t an easy attempt. The flora and the
fauna within, having settled and rested unsearched for a long time looked
amazingly captivating. There was the mist of past pains and the fluffy clouds
of soft love and the drenching of happiness. At some moments the scared waters
of pleasure stopped flowing due to the raging fire of earthly lusts that
brought along burning pain in the boat of the body making it unsteady during
stormy weather. And then, the wild inside clawed at my heart's greed but the
tamed sat undisturbed. There was so much to climb within!
On the mountains outside, the choice had to be
made to take the rope way or the lift but on the mountain inside, a conscious
decision had to be made to hold on tight to the cord of a glint of happiness or
to allow the spirit to be lifted by bright sparks of momentary pleasures. The
climb outside was made easier due to the favourable climatic conditions and the
climb within was made facile with being grateful.
I realized then, that though the view from the
top often brought a jubilant smile on the face of the climber, it was totally different
at ground level where not much seemed to be achieved. Being happy today was
largely looked upon as an emotion majorly dependent on situations, whereas a
great many forgot that it was an obligation which had to be fulfilled towards
existence.
"There is no duty we so underrate as the duty of being happy. By being
happy, we sow anonymous benefits upon the world." Robert Louis Stevenson.
Then suddenly, my mind went dashing back to the
past, when as a little school girl I had the privilege of seeing a dramatic
musical performance of the ‘Lost Horizon’, a film based on a novel by James
Hilton. Hilton in his book, had created an imaginary place Shangrila, which was
a permanently isolated land from the world outside; where those living in there
became immortal in their appearance. They were all so beautiful and exotic in
themselves that even the thought of a beautiful eternity represented by the
Avatar Mountains, brought to my memory an afternoon spent years ago at the Eros
theatre.
I then heard a soft voice; maybe a whisper which
said that sometimes a Shangrila had to be searched for in one self, 'where the
sound of guns didn’t reach' and where peace had been immortalized. Where there
would be no getting older in strife but only a collection of wisdom gathering
rich experiences; wisdom that made one understand that it wasn’t ever the
mountain waiting to be climbed that wore one out, but the grain of sand in the
shoe. I had many grains of sand which had to be shaken off to proceed with my
journey. As I travelled within to continue the digression I had chosen, another
realization dawned upon me and that was the knowledge that the peak reached
ultimately only gave a momentary beautiful and breathtaking view, but the real
happiness I had managed to achieve was due to the climb and the bruises it had
given my skin.
So as she was climbing a mountain out there, I
was climbing mine within too. I had an option to grumble at my luck which had
transformed me into a rock others needed support of, and which now I had begun to
explore, painstakingly cutting its edges and shaping it, or sing my way through
a trail never before ventured into, and then smile at my accomplishment.
Good one ... Ruby mam..
ReplyDeleteGood one ... Ruby mam..
ReplyDeleteExcellent!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent!!
ReplyDeletelets all climb life till the top and enjoy the view from the top
ReplyDeletelets all climb life till the top and enjoy the view from the top
ReplyDeletevery true ruby. ......
ReplyDeletevery true ruby. ......
ReplyDeleteVery vivid description of nature within & without! The fluency of expression holds the reader's attention. Creates a pen-picture. You are great, Mam!
DeleteVery vivid description of nature within & without! The fluency of expression holds the reader's attention. Creates a pen-picture. You are great, Mam!
Deletethanks you Mr. Kailas. It's a deep sharing which only those with depth can understand.
ReplyDelete