Mountains inside of us



The HImalayas

Having grown up on the beautiful lap of Himalayas, the omnipresent sight of the mountains has always brought joy and peace into my heart. Later I was told that the people of my tribe hold the mountains sacred and pray to the mountains. They said it is the source from where all things begin and end, and it’s the doorway to the fabled Mayal Lyang (paradise) of the Lepchas where time has no beginning and end.

In the initial part of my life I never tried to understand what the mountains meant in my life or why it meant so much to me. I only knew that every time I looked at the glorious Kanchenjunga my heart would leap with joy when I was sad, it would calm me when shaken and confused, and help me reach to the sacred part of myself that I now call soul.

I revere the mountains because of its beauty and magnificence. It shows me how pure, sacred and pristine it is covered in a halo of snow. Its so beautiful and yet stands alone, unmoved in solitude with unmatched strength to face storms, avalanches and biting cold winds. It is the source of life which it gives through Teesta and Rungeet.

During the part of my life I was away in the city, the thing I missed the most was the sight of the mountains. It was sad to know that I would never wake up to the sight of the brilliant mountains in the insipid city. During those three years, the picture of the Kanchenjunga adorned my desktop but it was never the same as seeing them from my home town. And it was then that the revelation came to me; I realized the himalayas are a mirror to my soul assuring me and reminding me of how beautiful and strong I was. It reminded me of where I came from and where I was going and where it will lead me to. It assured me that I was never lonely in my aloneness . It taught me that the soul can be pristine and pure, as magnificent and beautiful. It gave me strength to face the storms and winds which would never destroy the beauty within me. Paulo Coelho says "We always have the necessary resources to face the storms that life prepares for us, but most times these resources are locked away in the bottom of our heart and this makes us waste an enormous amount of time trying to find them."

To this extent I know, the mountains we adore exists within us just as the ocean, the sun and the rivers. A person who sees the mountains for the first time takes the first step towards awakening of his soul. I don't know why people climb to conquer mountains, but all I know is that the mountains to be conquered are within. The mountains to be nurtured are within. May the mountains glow brilliantly inside all of us.

"Even though beauty is simply an ornament, its contemplation can bring joy, albeit ephemeral. Highlight your own beauty and admire that of others-I Ching"
-Pasang D Lepcha