The Journey Of Flames

 

There were vibrations inside his soul though he was aware that his true nature was much more silent. He had to go through and beyond these vibrations to find himself, to know the unknown. It reflected in his moist eyes, the fears, the questions, the doubts, and also the purity of his vision which seeked something so selfless that even though he was filled with mixed emotions his core remained unaffected and completely lost in its own universe.

The forest is filled with mist, the night is magical. The torch in his hands can spot the dew drops on the leaves of the trees, some birds hiding and sleeping  peacefully, some looking him intently too as if they know what he is searching for. On the soil down he sees footprints of three different people moving in a certain direction. He follows with the name of Ma Durga on his lips. Heat, he feels the heat coming from a bonfire at a distance, will the flames burn his ego and attachments? He is moving closer, the borders of the tree glow golden indicating the fire and the people are behind it. The light is so bright and powerful that all he sees is three figures, not even humans but some heavenly structures made of the same flames contemplating on something great. Only when he moves a bit closer he finds them to be two muscular men and a woman all three dressed in  saffron.

“Coming from a long journey it seems..”, said the first gentleman in a strong yet soothing voice.

“Yes! I am a bit thirsty”,our hero replies.

“ Yes we have water, come you may have it”, says the woman whose voice has a motherly touch.

He moves towards them looking at them in disbelief. As he gulps water from the small pot handled to him by the other man, he feels an uncanny cold sensation in his throat, that he had never experienced in his whole life. 

“So your thirst is quenched?”

“Yes... I feel some frosting sensation in my throat though”

The man smiles looking at the other man who smiles back. The woman rises and as if in a blessing position places her hand on his head. His eyes close. 

“ Rise o Son! The thirst for knowledge should be limitless, Rise!” These words are echoing in his ears. He opens his eyes. What he felt in his throat was now replaced with a feeling of spread of a soothing sensation throughput his body starting from his throat. He tries to sit, he sees the two men and the woman smiling at him. The beauty of their face is so divine in itself that just looking at their faces seems to be enlightening, such is the the gentleness of their glory.

“What is limitless?” He asks

“ The purity of your soul, and your quest to find it” the woman replies.

“ Will I find it? The journey is so painful. My tears don’t stop at times. I’m unable to sleep at nights...it is unbearable at times ”

“ Pain is the most important part of the journey and the toughest too.Yes you will experience pain but does the pain really affect that greatness you are searching for? If it doesn’t affect that greatness...then why should it affect you..that greatness you are searching for is so powerful and beautiful it is immersed in its own contemplation ,ecstatic in its own search for knowledge incessantly ..for you two are one, you and the one you are searching for , are one”

The last words echo... You and the one you are searching for are one.You and the one you are searching for are one.You and the one you are searching for are one.

He was shivering now. He asks in a trembling voice - “ Who are you”

The first man replies in a godly voice, “Ram”

The second man replies with a childlike mischievous voice, “Lakshman”

The woman replies in her motherly voice, “Sita”

The three reply in one single voice now, “We are who you were looking for , we are you”

And they slowly smile and dissolve in the fire. What is left now are the flames. All he sees now are the flames, flames in the magical night...Flames..... Flames burning fear, ego , attachments. Flames within, flames lightning the path. The path of self discovery, the path of devotion, the path of God.