The journey is the reward...

The journey is the reward...Back from my India trip, I am filled with mixed emotions..On the one hand, there is the joy of having met loved ones...On the other hand, the pangs of separation continue to depress..For quite some time, I wanted to make this journey. As the day dawned, I was pretty excited. As I touched down in Mumbai, I was filled with joy. Met with family and friends. Now, that I am back..I have fresh memories to cherish..Lots of moments to wonder about..And many feelings yet to soak in. Now, I relax and gather my thoughts..

The only journey is the one within...so wrote Rainer Maria Rilke almost a century back. After this India trip, I have begun to understand the depth of these few simple words. There are some things in life which are inexplicable. We desire many things in life. We wish to see many things in life. However, our hearts and minds are not moved by these things. The human spirit strives to achieve everything. It strives to surmount every unseen obstacle. All the human spirit needs to sustain itself is love and faith. These two provide all the nourishment required to endure any challenge. They provide all the fierce will needed to pursue any goal.

Every journey has its moments..and meaning. One always seeks the meaning beforehand. Some get it. Some do not. One always seeks the moments after the journey is complete. Some get it. Some do not. It is difficult to appreciate the value and joy of any journey in advance. It is even more difficult to do so during the journey itself. Almost impossible after it. Ironic isnt it? One would assume that once the journey is complete, its full range of emotions and finality would be obvious. But, amazingly it isnt so straightforward. Some elements are trivial by nature. But most are not so obvious. They cannot be evaluated against any set pattern or judgement. How does one decide what one gains from the journey? On a deeper note, is gaining anything actually a purpose of the journey ?? One makes the journey without any expectations or gain. Yet, whatever one gathers or achieves during the endeavor probably has some meaning and significance in the context of the journey itself. Perhaps in the context of the purpose of the journey as well.

The journey is the reward. Arguably, there is no greater joy than that experienced by a soul who completes his journey. Every journey is a part of one's destiny. Every journey completes some part of one's destiny. Every journey begins with one step. And ends with one too.

However, this is what strikes me the most...Every journey lays the foundation for another one in the future. Every journey has its footprints in some past one. And the heart is anxious to hear the silent footsteps of that one which is yet to come.