Tag: sabiha tanvir

The Past, The Present and The Future

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past present future

The past is an interpretation. The future is an illusion. The world does not move through time as if it were a straight line, proceeding from the past to the future. Instead time moves through and within us, in endless spirals. Eternity does not mean infinite time, but simply timelessness. If you want to experience eternal illumination, put the past and the future out of your mind and remain within the present moment.

– The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak

Yes I finally read the Forty Rules of Love, by Elif Shafak. The book was very thought provoking. It was a reaffirmation of many beliefs I hold true, it served as a reminder of the  important things in life, and left the reader with a lot of food for thought.   As I let the 40 rules marinate in my mind, I will regurgitate some of them as I process them.

To start with rule #28. We have all heard it before, live in the moment, the present is what is real and yet most of us drag the past with us as we pave the way for the future,and in the process create just a liveable present. Firm in the belief that the present will pass. Using carefully adorned reminiscences from the past and presumptuous optimism of the future, as our crutches for the present. Hoping that together they will help us carry the weight of the moment.

But why are we always trying to pass the present, even though it is the only real moment we have. We are so comfortable bearing hardships in the present only to create a picturesque future. Why do we want the certainty of hardships today in exchange for the possibility of hardships in the future?

No where can this mindset be more evident than in immigrants. They sacrifice their present in hope for a better future. Spending day after day, some home sick, some lonely, some angry, some bitter, but all hopeful that the future will be better. Losing count of when the future rolled into the present and also passed.

What is a better future? And can a better future really exist without a beautiful present? Is the future  not just an extension or trajectory of our present and the past an account of it, both deeply entrenched and sourced by the present moment. If only we could live life in the present, if we could manage all our relationships without a past history nor a future expectation, we would be ensuring a better future and a beautiful past. May be that is what hell and heaven really are ………a real moment.

Adam’s Peak…A Traveler’s Tale

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We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.
– Anais Nin

Wow we are in 2013, the world hasn’t ended…….yet, and we are back from our travels. This new year was special as we were halfway across the world in Sri Lanka, climbing Adam’s peak on New Year’s day. Adam’s peak is a sacred pilgrimage spot for persons of all faiths in Sri Lanka. It is a conical mountain at an elevation of 2243 meters.  It is common belief that Lord Buddha during his third visit to Sri Lanka left his footprint on this sacred mountain. The Muslims and Christians believe it is the foot print of Adam after he was expelled from the Garden of Eden, and landed on top of the mountain. Some believe it is the footprint of St Thomas and Hindus regard the footprint as the footprint of Lord Shiva.

DSC01930The 6 hour hike up is surrounded by breathtaking views, and long opportunities for introspection. As we hiked we came across people of all  faiths. Each person carried with him a different belief but the same zest and zeal. Each person starts his/her journey with a different conviction, a different set of beliefs, but ends it by converging at the same point. The tip of the peak doesn’t change, it stays the same, even though down below it’s interpretations differ.

DSC01925The adventure by far was the most physically strenuous thing I have ever done, but definitely worth every aching muscle. During the hike we came across children, elderly and even physically disabled people, amazed by their will, wondering each step of the way how they would complete their journey. But may be it is their faith, the belief in something higher, something bigger, that gives people the strength to continue forward and hence each faith has formed their own connection with the peak. But it is not the peak that needs the connection, it is the traveler’s need.

The more we travel the desire to seek other states, other lives and other souls continues to grow. The boundaries start to vanish, the differences begin to disappear and you realize no matter how different one appears on the surface, our soul’s journey is the same. We are all eventually converging towards the same eternal truth. Our class, mode of transport, belongings might be different, but our destination is the same.