The Short Journey and the Biggest Wisdom
- Ravi Ila Bhatt
One bustling morning in the heart of Mumbai, Meera, a young professional, hurried to catch the notoriously crowded city bus. She managed to squeeze aboard and finally found an empty window seat beside a quiet, elderly man named Dada Shanti Lal.
As Meera settled down, her heavy leather handbag accidentally swung and struck Dada Shanti Lal’s arm sharply. The Dada winced slightly, his hand moving automatically to massage the spot, but he did not utter a single word of complaint or anger.
Surprised by his absolute silence, Meera turned to him, slightly embarrassed, and apologized, "Oh, I am so sorry, Dada ji! My bag hit you quite hard. Why didn’t you say anything?"
Dada Shanti Lal, with a gentle, serene smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, replied softly in Hindi, "Beta, there is truly no need to be upset or to make a fuss over something so trivial. Our journey together on this bus is very, very short—I am getting off at the very next stop, the 'Chowk'."
Meera sat quietly for the rest of the short ride, the Dada's simple words echoing profoundly in her mind: "Our journey together is very short." She realized how deeply true that sentiment was—not just on the bus, but in the grander journey of life itself.
Life, she reflected, is nothing but a fleeting transit. We meet countless people—some stay for many stops, like family and close friends, while others, like strangers on the bus, leave all too soon. Yet, people spend so much of this precious, limited time consumed by anger, holding onto hurts, resentment, and grudges. They argue over trivial matters, compare their fortunes, and forget that they are all just travelers who will inevitably part ways at their final destination.
Meera imagined the profound peace that would settle over the world if everyone truly understood the value of 'Kshama' (forgiveness), 'Prem' (love), and 'Daya' (kindness).
If someone insults you—stay calm.
If someone betrays or hurts you—let go and release the pain.
If someone speaks harshly—offer a smile and forgive quickly.
Because in the end, nothing—no argument, no possession, no past slight—is worth losing your inner peace and wasting your limited time on this short journey.
When her stop finally arrived, Meera stood up, offered the Dada a heartfelt Namaste, and whispered, "Dada ji, you gave me a great teaching today. You are absolutely right—the journey truly is very short."
As she stepped off the bustling bus and into the crowd, her heart felt incredibly light. She made a sincere promise to herself: to live every day with gratitude, to cherish the people around her, and to maintain her inner peace and smile, no matter the turbulence of the fleeting journey.
Moral
Life is a short journey; don't waste precious time on conflict and negativity.
