Why did you come to this planet ?

Dr Sumedha Kushwaha *

"I have been a seeker and I still am, but I stopped asking the books and the stars. I started listening to the teaching of my soul"
- Rumi

So, someone the other day asked me "Do you visit a temple when faced with problems?" My answer was - I live in a temple. The body that we are bestowed with- no matter how slim or fat, how white or black, how short or tall, with or without pains, with or without disease- whatever it is. It is our own personal temple. It is our sole responsibility to take care of it.

My friend laughed and asked so who is the God in the temple- I said the "soul". If we all stop seeking outside and find answers inside, it's the ultimate truth. All the answers are inside of us. The soul is ever knowing, ever present and our own personal God. She asked me further- so who is the worshipper ? I said- the "mind".

Our mind usually observes, assimilates knowledge and asks questions and more questions. With this I thought, I have created a pathbreaking spiritual discovery for myself.

Shortly, she said, then according to you, you do not need anyone when you are sad or happy ? Now this was a difficult one. When you read Rumi a lot and people ask you questionsyou act Sufi. But, in reality you are just another ordinary human being. Haha! I thought what do people do when they get kicked by life or circumstances or people around them ?

Whenever things go wrong in life, what is the best advice we receive from people around ? Stay hopeful ! Don't lose hope ! Don't worry, things will get better ! Tell me, do you believe in any of that advice at that particular moment of time ? Does all that even remotely enter your head ?

I guess, we all just hear it like music without paying heed to any of the lifechanging lyrics that talk has. We are so overwhelmed by emotions that being practical is far beyond our reach. Things go bad with everyone. EVERYONE. It's important that they do get bad because if they don't, we never appreciate what was good.

It's important to lament, soak tissues and tissues in tears, break your heart into bits and pieces, fall and bruise yourself, be in the dark and feel afraid. Let all gory feelings pass your body, heart and mind. This is all a part of the process that will essentially change the person that you are.

Everyone of us has the power to fall down and pick ourselves up again. It's nothing extraordinary. You don't have to be bitten by a spider, make cobwebs and jump around buildings and become spiderman. Motivational speakers might also tell you, never stop trying. I disagree, sometimes its okay to stop trying as well.

Being in a silent space, alone with yourself and asking yourself the basic question- Okay, my idea failed. I accept it and surrender to the fact with or without guilt and regret. But why in the first place is it important to continue and strive so hard again ? Ask yourself reasons- Why were you doing it in the first place ?

Most people do it to impress others, solicit parents, do it for their spouse etc. If your reason isn't strong enough- learn the lesson from this one and move on. Its prudent to keep asking ourselves a basic questionWhat do I want to do ? What is the purpose of my life ? Why did nature bring me to this planet ? Have I come here to realize my mission or keep doing it for others ?

There is absolutely one quality in each one of us, which is our uniqueness- no one else in this world can do that particular task better than us. Taking time to identify that pursuit is one of the best investments. Surprisingly, for all the other things you do, you have built skills. But for this one, it's absolutely effortless. It will just flow into you and from you.

This property has the ability to change not just your life but a thousand other lives around. Try to find that in yourself. You might be a banker but the music in your heart might provide motivation to many others. When you are sure about that one characteristic in you, all other things automatically fall in place.

Sadness, happiness, jealousy, contentment, love, compassion, hatred are all temporary. In my opinion, when we realize the lofty mission of our lives, the reason why we did end up on this planet- we start understanding that is all set for us to realize that mission which only we can fulfil .

There is no time as the right time. Now is all that we got. Pick yourself up, brush away the dust from the bruise and try to find answers inside. Happy Weekend !

"Your heart knows the way. Run in that direction"
- Rumi