I recently made a wonderful month long trip to Sikkim Himalayas exploring some place and spending majority of the time with Himalayan Mountaineering Institute , doing their BMC (Basic Mountaineering course). It was a lovely experience, adventurous, challenging, joyful , exciting , painful , discomforting and enthralling – all at the same time. The common question I was asked for almost few dozens of times – Why are you doing this ? What’s the need ? What happens after this ? – etc…

My parents, my wife’s parents , a lot of my friends, my colleagues at HMI and even our chief instructor – were all puzzled. This is how the conversations went –

So, what do you do – “Well I am into organic farming ? ” – Oh nice !

So, why mountaineering ? – ” Well because …..******** ”

* here I gave different reasons to different people depending on what would satisfy them the most.

However, to me it was truly a pause from pause. Life at my farm is already a pause from the regular life and this was a further deeper pause. Also, I have felt that doing things that you don’t normally do , challenging yourself , pushing your limits , doing things that you don’t really want to do – it all is always a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Add to it the fun, friendship, food and Himalayas – it was a perfect break from me.

The one learning that keeps getting deeper with each trip that I make to mountains or to a country abroad or to some secret island – I am absent , not fully present to life. Thus, it makes no point where I go, I largely miss life and that place. When I am really present, the whole universe is right here and now with me and I need not go anywhere for any experience. Why am I mostly absent ? How do I really be present to life, totally , absolutely ?