Of late, the country has been under turmoil. Political as well religious unsurity and unrest has been prevalent everywhere. Here in North-East itself we have seen the CAA and the chaos it has ensued. Now, this article is not about political and religious comments don’t get me wrong. What I merely am trying to state is a question, "Where does one find solace, peace and tranquility?"
January first week, Majuli, Brahmaputra. I went on a trip to get my mind off of these fixations that had bothered me. Well it was a planned trip along with friends and in fact my first time anywhere near Upper Assam, let alone the majestic island of Majuli amidst the mighty Brahmaputra.
Well most things about this trip isn’t something really unique but rather very generic. My idea of a perfect way to travel and explore a place is by connecting with the locals of said place. And that is exactly how I came upon one of the most enriching experience I have had in my life. It was just a conversation that spanned about 5 mins in a dimly lit room with a priest of the Gormur Satra, my first time ever visiting a satra.
On our visit to the satra, just as we were about to leave, I decided to have a conversation with one of the old priests of the establishment, Pankaj Kumar Saikia. Our conversation was more of me asking him questions about himself which he was more than happy to answer.
He told he me that he had joined the sect as a very young child and has no recollection of his age when he had. As a result of which, he wasn’t very sure of how old he was except for an approximate idea. He had a genuine smile that showed satisfaction and happiness on his face when I asked him about any regrets in his life. He said that he had none. He had done what he believed to be his worldly duties that he had towards his family (siblings). And now his duties, responsibilities lied in the satra itself. Lastly I asked him about happiness. Honestly I won’t lie to you, happiness is a very abstract concept and it is uniquely fit for individual tastes. More often than not, we can’t comprehend the idea of happiness of the person we don’t understand. And thus, I could hardly see what kind of happiness one could have, residing in a satra. His reply, "My happiness lies in helping the people who come to offer their prayers and wishes here or by helping the visitors who come to see this place."
This reply of his cleared everything in front of my eyes. Here was a man who knew what his happiness was and probably had achieved satisfaction for himself. In view of the state of how things were, unrest politically, socially and religiously, his main concern was reaching out to help those who came by him. He knew peace.
Have you got a favourite quote? Lines that are so beautiful to you that you long to understand them so, but haven’t been able to? Well, even if you did know the meaning they wouldn’t lose their appeal one bit. I have mine. They are lines by Sir Alexander Pope:
How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each prayer accepted, each wish resigned.
I came to live an experience that taught me what these lines meant. That place belonged to the blameless vestal’s lot. Satras and the culture need more exposure, a place slowly forgot. This priest there, a spotless mind with eternal sunshine. And me whose untold prayer was accepted and wishes unknowingly resigned.
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