For once I had awoken early, to the howls of monkeys at first light, as they welcomed the new day. My morning reiki meditation was just finishing when sounds of love making wafted in from the neighbouring hut, followed by the music of morning prayers from the temple across the river. It was an auspicious start to the day and, after a tasty breakfast, I hopped on the motorbike.
The roads were empty and the air was clear, not yet filled with the dust and pollution of a busy humanity. The machine was in its element, purring smoothly, and a slight lean was all that was needed to take it through the curves. As I zoomed along with the wind in my hair, everything looked brighter and crisper, the colours more saturated. Existence was smiling at me. And I was smiling right back.
It strikes me that the mind is rather like the roads of India. When empty and undisturbed, we see everything so clearly and there is a great joy in the beholding; life flows effortlessly. On the other hand, when the mind is busy, we stir up so much dust and pollution that everything becomes dulled, obscure and, if Indian roads are anything to go by, very noisy indeed!
