As I’ve watched the heartbreaking news from Nepal over the last few days, I’ve found myself reflecting on time I spent in Nepal and India about 15 years back. I remember the Nepalese fondly. I met many kind, generous, resilient people… people with twinkling eyes and quiet strength.
On that trip, we discovered how quickly circumstances can change, and how perilous it can feel to be far from modern conveniences. As our group traveled through India on a bus, a cyclone struck. It uprooted huge trees, washed away roads, laid debris across train tracks, and knocked down the airport’s tower. At one point in our journey, as the rain poured, we came to a place where a flood of water washed over our dirt road. We stopped to deliberate.
If we turned back, it was likely that the road behind us would also become flooded out. And, the trains and planes were shut down, likely for weeks, due to the cyclone’s damage. If we waited for clear weather, it seemed likely that the flood waters would carry the dirt road out to sea. If we drove across the flood waters, our bus could be pushed off the road and washed downstream. Or, the road could wash away beneath us. Or, we could safely cross the path of water.
It can be difficult to move forward into the unknown. And yet, in that moment, doing so was our best option. We decided to drive across, and so each of us made our own preparations. I zipped my passport, a few food bars, and a bottle of water into my pockets. Then, as we crossed, I reflected on my loved ones… picturing each in my mind’s eye – their appearance, their mannerisms, the sounds of their voices, their unique smells… For each, I reflected lovingly on their qualities, appreciating their inner and outer beauty.
As I reflected, and as love and gratitude filled me, I felt tremendous joy and appreciation for our connection, for my life, and for the dangerous moment that so powerfully slowed my mind’s activities. I felt the power and love that arose from deep gratitude – as well as the understanding that, truly, in that moment, everything was OK.
Since that journey, I’ve found it tremendously beneficial to meditate on love and gratitude in other challenging moments… to welcome whatever is present, even (or, perhaps, especially) when the outcome is unknown. If you find yourself in a challenging position, I invite you to take a moment to deeply reflect on love and gratitude and then to see what arises for you.
And, if you feel inspired to support the Nepalese relief efforts, there are many wonderful organizations helping the people, and there are several sites that describe the type of help your donations would support (such as on CNN, at the New York Times, and at Buzzfeed).
I hope you are tremendously, joyfully, well.
Namaste (an Indian and Nepalese greeting which means “the light in me honors and bows to the light in you”),
Robin