"pilgrimage" Archive

Fourth Floor Rain-bow

As we were moving out of our apartment, I blurted out: "Guri, do you know what you're doing? Selling everything, moving out of your home, saying goodbye to all your friends, letting go of a thriving organization ... all for what? For some unknown destination outside your comfort zone, for some unknown reason?"

I paused and then continued my tirade as Guri, Harinder and my mom were wrapping up the packing. "It's one thing to leave if you're dis-satisfied, lacking in some way, wanting adventures, feeling the need to make a difference in the world. But I have it all here. Why would I leave all this? Now, why exactly am I leaving again?"

They all thought I was joking, and started laughing. I mean, I was sort of joking but not really. You gotta be pretty crazy to do something like this without a rational reason.

For the next half hour, we wrapped up our packing as the rain outside intensified. Then it started pouring like I've never seen in Berkeley. And out of the nowhere, out came the sun.

And the most beautiful, full semi-circle rainbow across the Berkeley hills. From the fourth floor, we had a perfect front-row view of the most majestic rainbow that any of us had seen in our entire lives.

by Nipun Mehta on Jan 29 '05 | add comment | permalink | more 'pilgrimage'

Walls Must Come Down

Everywhere I turn, I see walls. Some tall walls, some short walls, some dividing walls, some illusionary walls. But they're everywhere. I can't see a situation, without building up my own wall, my own secure fence to protect what I have -- my judgements, my opinions, my hopes, my desires.

These dividers are really getting in my way now. I have peeked on the other side of the wall, and that's my real turf. In the past, I couldn't even see the walls; I would keep running into it and complain of the headaches. But my time has come.

Walls must come down.

While I'm at it, I want to have a word with the builder too. Poor guy has been working so hard all these years, that it's time to give him some real rest.

by Nipun Mehta on Jan 31 '05 | add comment | permalink | more 'pilgrimage'

Kachi Kapshida

Guri and I are leaving for India today. We want to use our hands to do crazy acts of kindness, our minds to profile everyday heroes and broadcast it over the world wide web, and our spirits to be true pilgrims of life. Many others plan to join us and while much is unknown, we bow to all you and request your blessings ... that we may truly serve in our every waking moment.

A friend, serving in the army, wrote me a touching note that ended with a beautiful Korean phrase: 'Kachi Kapshida' -- we go together.

Always together ...

[ Update: note to CF'ers ]

by Nipun Mehta on Feb 1 '05 | add comment | permalink | more 'pilgrimage'

Going With The Flow

From Guri ... from January 31st ...

After months of much thought and consideration, we're finally off to our journey in India. We've moved out of our place and gotten rid of most of our belongings. We have no real plans. With the blessings of many, we'll go with the flow.

PapaUncle -- Nipun's Dad -- used an analogy couple of weeks ago that seems appropriate for the trip. During one of our meditation circles, he shared that life can either be like a mountain where your goal is to get to the top, or like a river that flows effortlessly into the direction that is most natural and eventually merges into the large ocean.

When you're climbing uphill, going to the mountaintop, there's a constant struggle but in the end you reach the top no matter which side you start from and see the entirety of the universe.

For me, the analogy of the river flowing along is naturally a more attractive one. In this journey, I hope to be like the river that flows along. I know we'll hit a few rocks along the way but if the current is strong even the largest rock feels like a mere pebble.

by Nipun Mehta on Feb 2 '05 | add comment | permalink | more 'pilgrimage'