Diary of an Isolate

14 Days in Quarantine

Day 6

Meditation is not a withdrawal from life. Meditation is a process of understanding oneself.

Jiddu Krishnamurti

I woke to the screeching of the birds. There were several of them. And then from the side lane the dog emerged. The one with the white coat — large frame and a collar on the neck. He appeared apologetic for not having visited me for two days but quickly ate a part of the cake that the birds had left, rolled his tongue over his nostrils, and disappeared without looking back.

The birds kept screeching. There were several different sounds that I could recognise — about six of them clearly but could not make out if they came from the same bird(s). And when I sat down to meditate — they kept coming even though I had closed the room firmly. I could not make out if it was my mind screeching or …the birds?

She came much later. With innocent face and the most beautiful pair of eyes in the whole world. She could make any man fall in love with her. And stayed longer. I fed the last piece of the cake and caressed her softly on her neck and face and her underbelly. Finally with a sense of reluctance and remorse, I let her go.

With phone and laptop firmly switched off — I began my ‘Oath of Silence” — a day long attempt at avoiding all human contact and conversation. I spent about 4 hours at meditating — two each in the morning and the afternoon; and the rest reading Sadat Hasan Manto and RK Laxman and other less known Indian short story writers.

If Manto was alive today, I pondered, what would he write? About the unemployment of prostitutes who cannot practice their trade? Or about the migrants who cannot go home? Or about the homeless themselves who cannot find shelter? Or about the absurdity of communal fights and the innocent lives they claim? Or about the crooked politicians who are taking advantage of this great human calamity called Corona to steal and to extend their power?

I have tried meditation in the past and realised that it does not necessarily require sitting in the lotus position with eyes closed — as its generally believed. Most of us practice some form of meditation on a daily basis, without necessarily being aware of it. Reading, for instance, is form of meditation. So is watching a great movie, going on long drives, forest walks, star gazing, sun bathing etc etc all provide the same therapeutic benefits that meditation provides.

Obviously it helps to be in a comfortable room sitting in a meditative position. Original temples and churches and gurdwaras and mosques were constructed to provide a common place for people to meditate. Praying is a very effective form of meditation.

In my silence, I heard various sounds, that I had not heard for days. The sound of the breeze blowing slowly over the sea. The breaking of waves on the reef. The sega music at a long distance and the occasional passing of the vehicles. The buzzing of the wasps. The constant crackling of the insects and the sound of water leaking silently from the pipe.

There is a view that meditation allows us disconnect with the world and help explore our inner selves. I would think that nothing other than meditation can make connection with the non-human and non-material actually possible.

The teachings of Adi Shankracharya have persuaded me that ultimately all human endeavours; our lives, our jobs, our entertainment and our social and spiritual life including meditation must lead to the achievement of one thing — “bliss”.

Amongst many others ways, think of meditation as a very effective path towards that end.