Life's Meaning - A Short Story

As a spoilt child of rich parents, “all play & no work” kind of purposeless masti defined the life of Gokul in his childhood days which lasted thru his school and college. 

After college, he could land up a decent job, thanks to his father’s connections. This also helped in getting him married to a decent girl. Life was fun, enjoyable but remained mostly meaningless and in pursuit of nothing particular or valuable. 

By the time he was fifty, his parents had passed away, and with decreasing influence of his father, his progress in office also was getting stagnant. When he retired, he realized for the first time that he had squandered everything he inherited, and though he could still marry off his only daughter, he had just about adequate resources to survive without any of the frills which he had taken for granted. His entire life had so far been meaningless, and this realization hit him hard.   

The turn to things spiritual was the most obvious result. He started to read some religious texts, as somehow the visiting of temples or going to holy places after getting “bulaavaas” kind of faith, did not quite excite him. That his financial conditions could have influenced such a nuanced disposition, was also a possibility.  

He was particularly fascinated by the “I Am Him” kind of non-dual reality espoused by Upanishadic texts. This dispensation coming with such impeccable testimony, viewed in the context of his decades long life style and social lubrication, gave him a great solace. He may not be a late starter after all when compared to others; most of them could lay claim to being more faithful and devout and therefore being somewhat superior.   

Thus musing he started to wonder as to whether even the so called “realization” which comes to the rarest few, would be “meaningless” when viewed in the context of billions in this secular world of ours who are possibly unrelated to it.  Could it therefore mean that akin to the adage “the grapes are sour”, the guys who have not really made a grade in matters purely secular, may try and find solace/acceptance in matters spiritual? It definitely was a disturbing thought.    

He had just finished his morning breakfast and was in a mood to take a walk. As his house was near to a railway track, he presently came to this when he saw a distant train approaching even while noticing that a small worm was moving merrily on the top of one of the rails. 

It was as if the worm also noticed the oncoming train; it paused for a moment, took a 90 degree turn, gingerly got off the rails, and just in time, to avoid getting crushed under the wheels. Gokul observed all this in fascination, and was surprised to find besides him a very old man -who appeared wise with his flowing white beard and sparkling eyes- who was also a witness to this unusual sight. 

“ Wasn't it beautiful? Indeed the worm is blessed” the old man said and was about to walk away. He however paused, smiled and continued: 

“The worm just like you and me is a living being. The train etc represented the alluring material part of the secular world we live in.  When the worm perceived the overwhelming manifestation of that gross material about to devour it, it simply decided to sever the relationship and got itself out of its orbit. No self-doubts, No comparisons with others, just plain detachment.  

As if reading Gokul’s mind, he continued; It is your choice if you wanted to board the train and join the majority but then you will have to wait till the wisdom of the worm dawns on you by God’s grace to join the select few in Liberation”.

So saying the old man walked away. When he reached home, his neighbors told him about the “baba” in town. He soon realized that the old man he saw in the morning was indeed this baba even as he was still struggling to come to terms with what he had mentioned.    

Like all other fairy tales this did not end with Gokul swooning with that overwhelming wisdom immediately thereafter. He was confused. He however did what he had not done in his entire life; He prayed and the prayer was sincere……..The year had just begun on something positive…….and perhaps meaningful…..                    


Ekalavya alias Vichu