It happened some 30 years ago. Location, deep in the Himalayas with a small bunch of people for company, totally cutoff from outer world.(mobiles were not known yet). Memories of those few minutes are now somewhat hazy but the reach and power of books that we all involved felt in those moments, is still vivid and strong in my mind.
It was the last stop before Annapurna base camp. We had reached the place after 6,7 days of grueling trek. It was tough, tiring and exhilarating like all treks in Himalayas. Everyday you have to climb few thousand feet and then again get down to next valley and it goes on.
There are leeches on the way. If you brush your hand against a leaf next moment you will find a leech crawling on your hand. After some time we had mastered the trick of tapping them off at correct moment while they crawled(when their bodies are almost vertical). At the end of day we always found 1 or 2 leeches crushed in our boots after they feasted on our blood and fell bloated into our shoes.
For me and my friend Raju this was nothing new because we had done a pilot trek before taking the group with us.
On this last day we were quite relaxed. After dinner we came out of the house for some fresh air.(It was in short supply at 15000 feet but it was the freshest and purest air we ever breathed in.) It was very cold but we were used to the cold by now.
There was a group of Americans staying in the same shack. They also came out to enjoy mountain weather. After some time a discussion started between our groups. Discussion soon moved on to the awesome life that Americans lead (In the minds of most Indians US of A was a dreamland then).
After some time one of the Americans said, "No doubt we have all the material comforts but we are lagging behind in spirituality and philosophical thinking. We come to India in search of that. You have Gandhiji, Swami Vivekanand and so many other spiritual guides in many small places. India has a rich heritage of spiritual studies."
We obviously felt good but I thought his opinions were partial so I told him that America had a great philosopher who is my favorite. He is Thoreau. He was suddenly very excited to find a fan of Thoreau in such a unlikely place and among Indians. He asked which book I had read. I said Walden is one of my most favorite book.
"Did you read his "Civil Disobedience"? It was an inspiration for Gandhiji."
"Oh yes Gandhiji considered him one of his teachers. You remember what he says about mail in the book?"
"That there was no important communication by mail or newspaper after french revolution."
"This trek proves his point. We are away from all sort of communication here and quite happy."
"and he talks about staying ahead of others by walking if you consider time spent earning the fare."
"I disagree a bit there. Now with salaries increasing this may not be true"
"No it is still true if you consider time spent in education to get that salary"
And so it went on for next 15 minutes. We remembered our favorite parts of the book and shared with each other. Two people from two extremes of the world, geologically, economically had met in a unlikely place and suddenly there were no differences. Place of birth, color of skin, religion, age nothing mattered. Both were wearing the same coat, one provided by Thoreau. (Thoreau at start of his book asks readers not to stretch the coat so that it can be worn by those whom it fits).
All others in the group were perplexed in the beginning and then got enthralled by what was happening. Power of a book to bridge all chasms was never so clearly demonstrated to all of us.
Mighty Himalayas around us did not look so tall after all.
This is a small book but read at your own risk. It can change your outlook to life. Basic idea behind the book is simple. We experiment with so many things in life. Cars, houses, governments. He thought why not experiment with life. so he went on to stay in the forest on the shores of Walden pond, miles from any human habitat. He led a very simple life like a sage. He gives account of each penny spent and earned and comes to conclusion that a person need not work for more than 6 weeks in a year to sustain himself in this world.
He exhorts readers to "simplify, simplify, simplify". Offers this simple key to true happiness in life. And he preaches this mantra after his experiment of 2 and half years.
Along the way he shares many priceless gems like the most famous one "If someone does not keep pace with others may be he hears a different drummer".
The book was written around mid of 19th century. It is still relevant after 150 years and will remain so forever. Simplicity will always remain the true key to happiness and fulfillment in life. If we define being rich as being able to have anything and everything you wish for then there are two ways of being rich. First is the obvious one of earning enough money. Second is to have so little needs that they are all fulfilled without sweating too much.
And mind it well, there is no deprivation, no sacrifices. You accept a simpler way of life just because you understand the advantages it offers. Time and again mightiest of rulers and richest of the people have bowed down and asked blessings of simple and out worldly poor sages.
Some thoughts are just timeless.
P.S.: This book is translated into Marathi by great author 'Durga Bhagwat' who idolized Thoreau. Print is not easily available currently.
It was the last stop before Annapurna base camp. We had reached the place after 6,7 days of grueling trek. It was tough, tiring and exhilarating like all treks in Himalayas. Everyday you have to climb few thousand feet and then again get down to next valley and it goes on.
There are leeches on the way. If you brush your hand against a leaf next moment you will find a leech crawling on your hand. After some time we had mastered the trick of tapping them off at correct moment while they crawled(when their bodies are almost vertical). At the end of day we always found 1 or 2 leeches crushed in our boots after they feasted on our blood and fell bloated into our shoes.
For me and my friend Raju this was nothing new because we had done a pilot trek before taking the group with us.
On this last day we were quite relaxed. After dinner we came out of the house for some fresh air.(It was in short supply at 15000 feet but it was the freshest and purest air we ever breathed in.) It was very cold but we were used to the cold by now.
There was a group of Americans staying in the same shack. They also came out to enjoy mountain weather. After some time a discussion started between our groups. Discussion soon moved on to the awesome life that Americans lead (In the minds of most Indians US of A was a dreamland then).
After some time one of the Americans said, "No doubt we have all the material comforts but we are lagging behind in spirituality and philosophical thinking. We come to India in search of that. You have Gandhiji, Swami Vivekanand and so many other spiritual guides in many small places. India has a rich heritage of spiritual studies."
We obviously felt good but I thought his opinions were partial so I told him that America had a great philosopher who is my favorite. He is Thoreau. He was suddenly very excited to find a fan of Thoreau in such a unlikely place and among Indians. He asked which book I had read. I said Walden is one of my most favorite book.
"Did you read his "Civil Disobedience"? It was an inspiration for Gandhiji."
"Oh yes Gandhiji considered him one of his teachers. You remember what he says about mail in the book?"
"That there was no important communication by mail or newspaper after french revolution."
"This trek proves his point. We are away from all sort of communication here and quite happy."
"and he talks about staying ahead of others by walking if you consider time spent earning the fare."
"I disagree a bit there. Now with salaries increasing this may not be true"
"No it is still true if you consider time spent in education to get that salary"
And so it went on for next 15 minutes. We remembered our favorite parts of the book and shared with each other. Two people from two extremes of the world, geologically, economically had met in a unlikely place and suddenly there were no differences. Place of birth, color of skin, religion, age nothing mattered. Both were wearing the same coat, one provided by Thoreau. (Thoreau at start of his book asks readers not to stretch the coat so that it can be worn by those whom it fits).
All others in the group were perplexed in the beginning and then got enthralled by what was happening. Power of a book to bridge all chasms was never so clearly demonstrated to all of us.
Mighty Himalayas around us did not look so tall after all.
About the book:
This is a small book but read at your own risk. It can change your outlook to life. Basic idea behind the book is simple. We experiment with so many things in life. Cars, houses, governments. He thought why not experiment with life. so he went on to stay in the forest on the shores of Walden pond, miles from any human habitat. He led a very simple life like a sage. He gives account of each penny spent and earned and comes to conclusion that a person need not work for more than 6 weeks in a year to sustain himself in this world.
He exhorts readers to "simplify, simplify, simplify". Offers this simple key to true happiness in life. And he preaches this mantra after his experiment of 2 and half years.
Along the way he shares many priceless gems like the most famous one "If someone does not keep pace with others may be he hears a different drummer".
The book was written around mid of 19th century. It is still relevant after 150 years and will remain so forever. Simplicity will always remain the true key to happiness and fulfillment in life. If we define being rich as being able to have anything and everything you wish for then there are two ways of being rich. First is the obvious one of earning enough money. Second is to have so little needs that they are all fulfilled without sweating too much.
And mind it well, there is no deprivation, no sacrifices. You accept a simpler way of life just because you understand the advantages it offers. Time and again mightiest of rulers and richest of the people have bowed down and asked blessings of simple and out worldly poor sages.
Some thoughts are just timeless.
P.S.: This book is translated into Marathi by great author 'Durga Bhagwat' who idolized Thoreau. Print is not easily available currently.
