THE RIVER FLOWS ON
The river just flows on – its ultimate goal is to reach and merge with the ocean. On its way thus, it passes through mountains, becomes a waterfall maybe, then go on through the plains through hamlets, villages, maybe cities on both its banks – but it just goes on regardless of anything. Does it ever stop to think how it is useful to those around? Does it ever feel indispensable or worry, as to the consequences of its waters flooding or starting to dry up? No, I do not think so, because if it were to think it was indispensable – it would stop flowing – and the moment it stopped to flow, it would cease to be a river. Its existence, its survival – is in the fact that it flows; irrespective of the conditions – internal or external – because its source is somewhere else – and the source is limitless, whereas its conditions are temporary. It is probably aware of the fact that because it just keeps flowing, its energies keep getting replenished – and because its energies keep getting renewed every instant, its waters are useful – otherwise the moment they stagnate, the dirt all around would not get a chance to wash away – it would just stay and further dirt would go on getting accumulated. Thus the waters will get dirty, polluted and lose their usefulness – the very fact for which it thought its existence was indispensable!
So also we have to just keep flowing – easily passing from moment to moment, from one stage to another - obstacles will come – but that Source will provide us the required energy to either cross the obstacles, overcome them or go around them. We have to just have faith. The energy will come sometimes in small quantum and sometimes as a tidal wave that overwhelms and floods all around – till we reach our ultimate merger! Till then, as we go through life, people may make use of us, we may make use of people and/or things – whatever – but we have to keep in mind that it is just the journey, it is not the goal. We cannot get caught in their attachment and stop our growth – or – our on flow! The journey must go on – irrespective of our usefulness or uselessness – otherwise we will be caught in the vicious circle, with no way of getting our and moving forward!

Dr. Poonam Mehra