Journey Towards Light- Part 2 (Defeat Despair In Life) Poem by Arun Maji

Just imagine, you are sailing in a sea. But you don't have a compass with you. And most importantly, you are not sure where you want to go.

What would happen then? You would wander and wander. Then one day, you will reach a whirlpool, and you will drown. May be you are a damn good captain. May be you have a strong new boat. Still, you will drown. Why? Because you are wandering madly without knowing any direction.

Life is a journey too. You want to reach some destination. What is that destination? How would you get there? What is your compass? Do you have these answers ready? If not, then you are bound to drown someday. Isn't it?

Few years ago, I was in a small town. One day, young Jack entered my office. He seemed to be in distress. Hurriedly he said- "doctor, I need your help", and he started crying.
I was surprised to see a young man crying like this. I assured him-
"Jack, you are in right place. Please, tell me bit more about it."

His story is somewhat like this-
8 months ago, Jack came to this small town from Melbourne. His boss offered him 40 thousand dollars raise, to leave Melbourne and pick up a role in this small town. Jack was newly married, he wanted to buy his own house. So he left his wife in Melbourne and came to this town.

After few weeks, he started missing his wife. But he could afford to fly to Melbourne only once a month. After work, when he was alone in his residence, he felt very empty. So he started drinking more and more. Sometime, he used to fight with his wife over phone; after being drunk.

Last night his wife came to this town; without notice to him. She saw dozens of empty wine bottles. They fought all night. This morning his wife told her- "that's it. Our marriage is over! "

Where did Jack go wrong? Jack loves his wife. He wants to buy a house for family. He sacrificed his personal happiness to give his wife a new home. Yet his wife wants to leave him now! Jack thinks this is unfair!

A common story. Isn't it? Jack, what is your destination in life? What is your compass?

While walking on the road of life, you will be flooded with many choices. Which path you would walk on? How would you decide which path is the best path? To answer this, you need a compass in life.

What is the purpose of life? Or what is the destination of life's journey? Over centuries, many smart people thought over this question. Indian sages, western scientists and philosophers- they all asked this question. The answer they came up with is-
life's purpose is to achieve- peace, happiness, sense of well being, calmness and serenity. Peace and happiness is the destination human should strive for.

If you are faced to choose between path A and path B; you should ask yourself, "which path will bring me more peace and happiness"? If you find path B will bring you more peace and happiness, then you walk path B.

This question- "which path will bring me more peace and happiness" is your compass in life's journey. Every time you are faced with many choices, you ask yourself this question. then you choose your best path.

Did Jack ask himself this question? No, he did not. His choices were- either to stay with his wife in Melbourne with lower income, or to stay away from his wife to have higher income. Say- Jack asked himself this compass question. What answer would he have got? He would have thought staying with his wife would bring him more peace and happiness.

That day, when Jack was settled, he allowed me to discuss this concept with him. Next norming, I received a call. It was Jack from Melbourne. He said-
" Doc, just to let you know, I resigned from my job yesterday afternoon, and came to Melbourne last night. And guess what? My wife is in my arms now."

See, how cheeky Jack is!

© Arun Maji