The Sacred Rhythm

Because, I couldn’t afford for the taxi, decided to walk 10-12 kms. From Gangtok (Sikkim, India) to the Buddhist monastery at Rumtek. The ‘Kanchanganga’ Himalayan ranges (3rd highest peak) at the right hand side with changing colours of the clouds and the cold were energizing my whole body and spirit. I took a right turn, walked couple of kilometers to reach the base of the monastery. This huge multistoried colourful structure was following the shape of the mountain, on which it was rested. That, thin rhythmic sound of gongs and chants was more clear, when I arrived in a beautiful large court, after climbing few steps. Rather, that mysterious sound attracted me and I moved myself, effortlessly. There was a very beautiful traditional monastery, covered with huge curtains and divine symbols. I was not able to attend anywhere else, but, that constant rhythmic sound…… With the hypnotized state of mind, I entered the monastery. The light inside was very less and in front was a huge golden Buddha in seating position. Many Buddhist Lamas sat on the floor, playing gongs and singing sacred words and chants with a very beautiful, synchronized rhythm.

That mystic, sacred rhythm, created a vibrating effect in my mind, filling my soul as well as the atmosphere. The whole body and the spirit inside and outside me was resonating with the sound, making me feel like surrendering myself, submitting to the spirit of the Divine space and Buddha. Every chant and sound finding it’s way into my consciousness, where, I forgot myself, became one with the space, with the sound, with the one almighty……………… 

I don’t remember, how much time I had spent there…. but, that was the experience of surrendering, giving and leaving away everything…… even the body… effortlessly…….. with joy.

Darkness

It was an experience, diving into myself to see and feel the darkness. I always think of the darkness, what is it? 

Is this just an absence of light? 

What would be it's nature, it’s shape…… 

what kind of touch, smell have the darkness? 

 Is it really possible to see the darkness with open eyes...... (don't think, it happens.. because, even there is no moon in the dark night, sun exists somewhere) 

In the darkness, you are you, only existence of pure consciousness, because.. 

you see nothing. 

You see limitless infinite darkness, a vast space, even though you are occupied in a physically limited volume. 

 One can experience this darkness by withdrawing all our relationships with outer world, thoughts, visualizations, assumptions, knowledge, conditions etc. etc.. 

For this, one need to close the eyes. In this state, one can feel the darkness, but can not see it. 

While descending down through a very narrow passage inside the mother earth, with uneven, unshaped steps in a dim candle light, I experienced the journey as climbing down into myself.

This place, I visited, was a small carved out space to stay, underground, almost 70 feet (22.0m) below the earth surface. This was created few centuries back for the children of royal families, with primary consideration of security. And it is located near Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. 

These parallel explorations through tight and sometimes little wide passage, inside the earth and inside myself were creating very different vibrations, feelings. 

In the carved out space at the bottom, decided to sit quietly for few minutes. Turned off the candle and…….. and…….. in few minutes...

The whole infinite world of darkness unfolded before me…. a fulfilment of the urge, which was there at the back of mind for several years.

 After few moments, when senses got tuned with the space and the spirit, I felt the existence of the darkness, outside and inside me. There was no difference between my inside and my outside... all the elements in the body, got dissolved.. Everything was unified so easily, that, I could touch the darkness, smell it, hear it.

And, I forgot, my eyes were open. 

Just a thought came and went…… is this the same experience, when I was in my mother’s womb…….