In Search of the Holy City like Lhasa
“Wherever I live, I shall feel homesick for Tibet.” –Heinrich
Sometimes I feel I don’t belong in this world. When people talk, all I hear is chaos. I know their language, but I am unable to understand the meaning. I feel like a stranger in my family. My parents think I am crazy. Maybe they are right. Who knows! My siblings are happy with each other, but when I am around, they go silent. Everything goes silent. I decided to stay alone. At least they are happy this way.
Life is like a silent movie. You can see the characters, but you can’t hear them. Even if you try to understand them, it may be your perception or version of the story.
Some movies speak to your soul directly. Even the mountains shown in the movie seem they are talking to you or calling you.
You find yourself drawn towards enigma of life.
Seven Years in Tibet is one such movie, which is also one of my favorite movies. It has touched every corner of my heart. Every time I watch this movie, I promise myself not to cry, but every single time I break the promise. I cry not because I feel sad, but because I feel peace. I feel my soul alive.
Seven Years in Tibet is the true story of Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountain climber who became friends with the Dalai Lama at the time of China’s takeover of Tibet.
Some part of me wants to go to the holy city of Lhasa. My heart seeks the blessings of the Dalai Lama. The peaceful mountains and a pure blue sky call me. My soul has visited there many times. It has talked to them through the silent language of the universe. I close my eyes and feel the cold sand of Tibet under my feet. The feeling of cold air embracing me puts me in a delightful trance.
Isn’t it amazing how the soul travels to places wherever the heart wants to go? The love between the heart and soul is pure and true. They are always together.
The title of Dalai Lama means the ‘Ocean of wisdom’. The Dalai Lama’s parents and brothers called him ‘Kundun’, which means Presence. I wonder if it is the forever presence of Dalai Lama in the air that makes this place magical.
There is one scene in the movie where the Dalai Lama talks about the sayings of Lord Buddha. The Dalai Lama says to Heinrich, “All beings tremble before danger and death. Life is dear to all. When a man considers this, he does not kill, or cause to kill.”
Watching this scene, I thought why is it difficult for people to understand this simple thing? I hope one day, everyone will understand the value of life.
Like all other human beings, I also have weaknesses. My biggest weakness is when I share my thoughts with someone, that person becomes my thoughts. I see my happiness in that person. When that person goes away, I feel my thoughts are gone too. I feel empty.
In the movie, when Heinrich says to Dalai Lama that he is on his path to deliberation, the Dalai Lama tells him about what the Buddha said, ‘Salvation doesn’t come from the sight of me. It demands strenuous effort and practice. So work hard and seek your salvation constantly.’
This movie seems to have the answers to all my questions. When I feel agitated, I watch it. It refills me with positive energy and brings me closer to Spiritual Power.
I imagine myself sitting at the feet of the Dalai Lama. I feel like I am with Heinrich and the Dalai Lama in the same room and listening to their conversation. This feeling is heavenly.
Please don’t be surprised if someday you hear that I have started living in the mountains.
I know it is nothing but the madness to run everywhere in search of inner peace, which one can only find within.
I understand it too, but my soul searches for a place where I can find myself closer to humanity, a place where I can be away from all the madness and selfishness in the world, and where I can have something to offer to the people around me.
Heinrich has written in his book, Seven Years in Tibet: My Life Before, During and After, “I lacked the advice and guidance of experienced counselors and so wasted many years before I realized that one must not pursue several aims at the same time.”
Though I have never pursued more than one aim at a time, I often find myself surrounded by several thoughts about the future, all at once. Heinrich was right. It is nothing but a waste of time.
“Wherever I live, I shall feel homesick for Tibet.” –Heinrich
I want to have that feeling!
I am a wandering soul searching for the place called home.
I want to live in a place where people are honest with each other. I want to see myself in a world in which I can learn good things and not just a good lesson that we learn after a bad experience.
I understand that it will also not last forever. Everything and everyone comes and goes for a reason, but I want to feel myself, and I want to live the part which lies between coming and going.
Is it that difficult to feel it? Is it so difficult to find that part?
Give some thought.
©️ K A Simran 2020. All Rights Reserved.
Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this , explore a few of my other poems / haiku /stories
