THE SEAT OF EXPERIENCE
by Renica Rego
Three months ago, Genghis, cat-walked into our lives. I’ve always been averse to having pets in the house, but this time I reluctantly agreed to my daughter’s earnest plea to bring a cat home. The first couple of days, the poor boy refused to leave a corner of her bedroom. Two days later, he gingerly ventured out into the living room. Every time I tried getting close though, he ran. Each time the doorbell rang, he would sprint away and hide. “How would it feel to live your life in constant fear, Ma?” my daughter wondered. “But then, haven’t we been living like that for the past year?” she added as an afterthought.
It’s true. A collective fear has drained the world dry. People are frustrated; some suffering, some losing loved ones, others living in dread of what might happen. Mental illness has become more of a concern than ever before. To add to the chaos, a lot of people have made it their business to mindlessly forward unauthenticated messages that only remind us of what is wrong with the world. Some have become self-appointed panellists, bashing heads of state and discussing political conspiracies as if they are privy to secrets that commoners like me have no clue about.
In the midst of this nightmare, however, I have managed to find people who continue to be sensible, kind, and cheerful. With a little effort, I have sifted and sorted what works for me. Whether in person or on social media, I have chosen to associate with and follow these human beacons of hope. If it is important for us to nurture loved ones, the most crucial thing is to maintain our own sanity. As we all know, it is impossible to pour from an empty jar.
Not being able to freely go out, eat at restaurants or party with friends is not a good feeling. But this is a pandemic, and frustration or pessimism certainly doesn’t build immunity. For an outdoorsy person like me, being confined to four walls does make me restless. But it has also taken me deeper into an inner realm that hitherto seemed possible only through meditation. I discovered that tranquility could come from mopping the floor as beautifully and effortlessly, as it did during my morning yoga session. Filling the home with plants was the best way to invite nature indoors. Evenings could be made resplendent with mood lighting, music and wine. What I learnt is that, our world, essentially, is a reflection of us and not the other way round.
Every emotion and experience comes from within. When the wise Sadhguru talks about the ‘seat of experience’ and how we fail to sit on it, perhaps this is what he means. That instead of creating experiences from the outside, we must be joyful by our own nature. For once we overcome fear, nothing can affect us.
There is rarely a day devoid of challenges, but being happy and content is not a challenge. While we continue to hope for a better tomorrow, we cannot possibly put off living today. We are here to ‘experience’ life as it comes. It might serve us well to remember that.
