One of the most fascinating things about life is how some random incidents reveal insights that enhance our perception about people and life in general. Sometimes, these incidents compel us to visit unknown realms in our minds. The greatest reward of such beautiful moments is when one's nurtured energies find space for contemplation that translates into life changing experiences. Few days back, I happened to have such experience that took my breath away.
I was very exhausted by hair tearing moments while being stuck in the traffic, cursing my past life karma and seriously contemplating if there was any possibility of atonement. The vehicles barely moved a few inches every time the signal was green and I was feeling furious, helpless and almost in tears thinking about how much travel I still had to complete.
Just then, a tall lanky figure in barely a loin cloth emerged near the car ahead of me. A man in his late thirties, a beggar from across the street, carrying a chubby kid on his shoulders was trying to cross the road. There was something primitively beautiful and enigmatic about him. His solemn walk and the joyful conversation with the kid had esoteric quality to it. Despite his dirty body that was perhaps not washed for quite some time, he came across as portrait of purity and radiance that emanated from him. (Remember the kind of halo that the books talk about while describing holy men?) The moment I saw him with his kid being completely soaked in their own bliss, I forgot about everything around me instantly!
The flood of emotions I felt while experiencing it is beyond realm of words! Here was a man, who did not know from where his next meal would arrive, walking as if he owned this world. I was in such awe for those brief moments that when my eyes met his beautiful, serenely calm eyes I could feel God! It took me quite a while to realize that the man had already left and the people from the vehicles around me were cursing me for not moving my car.
I was in deep contemplative mood after that incident wondering how life is not all about wide eyed glares and wistful glances. There are open and much playful little moments to this long, unending scroll of floating world, a lyrical stream of tenderness running through life right amidst the chaos and cacophony. There are several moments that offer vismaya, that elevating sense of wonder our scriptures talk about. All I need to do is just embrace these simple, poignant moments.
My only regret during this incident was not having my camera with me but some incidents/images/people are etched forever in your heart and the fakir like man that I saw is one of them.
