The Path of the River – Towards Renewal • Coonoor&Co

Listen to this story. Narrated by Malati Mukherjee. Music and soundscape by Rahul Hota.

As surely as every stream flows down the mountain and, through all its meanderings, heads steadily for the ocean, so does every living soul through every lifetime–head in the direction of the Cosmic Ocean–the Universal Spirit.

In spite of the diverse beliefs major religions hold, most agree that the physical body is distinct from the spirit, and that the spirit is immortal. Atheists and materialists apart, all of us do believe in a higher force and our existence on another plane, after the death of the body.

However, this belief may not always translate to realisation. On the physical plane, we are deep in slumber amidst the cares of the material world, running around in pursuit of ‘happiness’ through our earthly lives. Only when the slumber breaks and we wake up to realise our true goal will our journey pick up speed and gather joy. As we step onto our blissful path of renewal.

Critical in Nature, renewal does not mean acquiring something; indeed it means quite the opposite. It is a process of shedding, of giving something up, or surrendering, always for the better. As the trees shed their leaves for a healthier green canopy in the new season, the pupa sheds its cover to become the butterfly, animals moult in readiness for further growth, and humans shed their earthly desires to reveal their true, innate being.

As Rabindranath Tagore lucidly illustrates in Sadhana, his compelling book on spirituality,

Malati is a Writer, Editor and Translator, who has written, edited, translated, reviewed, and published poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. She runs Words and Space, a pro bono writing and editing service. She has over 35 years of experience in the corporate world as a Trainer, Consultant, Coach, and Mentor. Malati co-founded and runs Astitva, a programme that works in the area of nutrition and education for tribal women, adolescents, and children in the Nilgiris.

Ramya is a visual storyteller, photographer, author, and entrepreneur. Her acclaimed book, "Soul of the Nilgiris: A Journey through the Mountains" explores the UNESCO-recognized Blue Mountains and its indigenous communities, highlighting their cultural and ecological richness through narratives, writings, and photographs. Deeply engaged in the Nilgiris, Ramya works closely with the Toda artisans to ensure their GI-tagged art form is preserved, celebrated, and integrated into the contemporary landscape.

‘In the music of the rushing stream sounds the joyful assurance, “I shall become the sea.” … The river has no alternative. On both sides of its banks, it has numerous fields and forests, villages, and towns; it can serve them in various ways, cleanse them and feed them, carry their produce from place to place. But it can have only partial relations with those, and however long it may linger among them it remains separate; it can never become a town or a forest. But it can and does become the sea.’

This is our truth, too, that we shall become the cosmic ocean. We may fill our worldly basket with belongings, relationships, ego-driven actions, and cravings in the life around us, but our relationship with these possessions, aspirations, and attachments is transient, fleeting. Nothing lasts–not even the music and colours, the feelings and emotions; nothing lasts!

So how do we break the slumber? How do we awake to the renewal of our selves? Some do it when they receive a shock–a life-threatening illness, the death of a loved one, a failure from which they are unable to recover, or a deep sense of loss and helplessness. Any major setback in life can cause us to look away from our humdrum existence; look elsewhere for succour. There are, of course, a few blessed souls far ahead on the path of Sadhana, who are born with the longing.

I looked up from my sleep after cancer came and went. Wondering what message the Universe was trying to convey to me and how to receive and act on it. It took a long while to figure it out. I was living a privileged and comfortable life, supporting others when I could; what more did I need to do?

When the meaning slowly dawned, I began to search for an answer and meditation under the aegis of a Guru seemed to be the way forward. Things fell into place quite easily, and as I stepped on the path, I felt complete in a way I had not felt before. Like a central piece that was missing from the jigsaw puzzle of my life, just found its slot. More relaxed, more calm, happier too, for no apparent reason.

All of us are on that path; indeed, like the river, we have no alternative. Even when deep in slumber, we are gathering ourselves, and in a happy stream, heading for that ocean. Humming within, eager to move forward, to blend with the deep blue. The desire for that merger is embedded deep in every human heart, like a drop of the ocean within the river. Perhaps that is why we sometimes feel overwhelmed by a piece of music, a poem, a scene, or a situation. Because the author of that piece has touched his or her higher Self in composing it, making us touch briefly that inner core in ourselves. That is why we begin to feel more connected with people, and all nature’s creatures around us. The drop of ocean in each river’s heart is the same.

That is why we feel a restlessness until we have begun the search; that is why we feel at peace when we surrender, even though we may be many lifetimes away from the ultimate goal.

As Tagore sings,

From fear to the heart of fearlessness–grant me new birth, oh Lord.

From penury to infinite wealth–from doubt to the abode of truth,

From inertia to new life–grant me new birth, oh Lord!

From my desire, Beloved–to the core of Your wish,

From my selfishness Lord–to Your blissful service,

From multitudes to a single thread–from joys and sorrows to Your peaceful heart

From me to You, Beloved Lord–grant me new birth!

That is the only way forward. In renewal, our souls must blend with the Universal Self. Must Soar in the blue infinite.

Until that happens, we wait. And the Universe continues to hold us in the palm of her hand and patiently waits with us.

* Excerpted from Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Sadhana: the realisation of life’ (CLASSIX, Hawakal)

The Path of the River – Towards Renewal