The Lighthouse overlooking the Welsh countryside #3
There is a certain peace in being totally aware.
This is the final part of the Lighthouse escapade. Thanks for the enjoying my covid era adventures. Here’s the previous two parts - PART 1, PART 2.
Sitting by the lighthouse, I contemplated the profound impact fear had on the human experience. Just as the sea's waves were shaped by unseen forces, so too was human behavior influenced by the currents of fear. The COVID-19 pandemic had reminded us of the fragility of our existence, of the intricate interconnectedness of our lives, and the importance of facing our fears with resilience and unity. As I watched the waves crash against the shore, I realized that while fear may be a natural response to the unknown, it was our collective determination and courage that would ultimately guide us through the storm and toward a brighter horizon.Â
I found a tranquil spot to settle near the Lighthouse, where the sea stretched out before me, a vast expanse merging seamlessly with the distant horizon. The rhythmic crash of waves against the rocks filled the air, creating a soothing symphony that resonated with the deep currents of thought within me. With a sense of anticipation, I removed my headphones and allowed the voice of J. Krishnamurti to envelop me. His words were a river of wisdom flowing into the landscape, merging seamlessly with the waves that ebbed and flowed before me.
As Krishnamurti delved into the nature of thought, the intricacies of the mind, and the entanglements of conditioning, I felt an intimate connection between his teachings and the awe-inspiring seascape. The sea itself was boundless, ever-shifting, and in constant dialogue with the winds and tides, just as the thoughts in my mind danced and swayed in an intricate choreography. Krishnamurti's words urged me to observe these mental ripples without clinging to them, much like observing the waves without attempting to control them. I fixed my gaze upon the horizon, the boundary where the sea and sky converged, and contemplated the metaphorical and somewhat visible Welsh countryside on the other side of the sea. It seemed close, almost attainable, yet distant enough to be shrouded in the mist of uncertainty. This geographical mirage mirrored the barriers within my own mind, the self-imposed limits that required transcending in order to reach a deeper understanding.
Its beautiful to be alone. To be alone does not mean to be lonely. it means the mind is not influenced and contaminated by society.
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Just as the tides rose and fell, our thoughts swirled and flowed with fear. This emotion hindered us from embracing the uncharted territories of existence, preventing us from delving into the vast reservoirs of potential that lay dormant within. To truly comprehend truth and to authentically live, I realized that we needed to confront and dismantle this fear, to expose it for the demon it truly was.
Amid the gentle susurrus of waves, the wisdom of Buddha echoed in my consciousness: "The mind is everything. What you think, you become." It struck me that fear was a construct of the mind, a creation nourished by our thoughts. If we could dissolve the shackles of fear, we could unlock the full spectrum of our being, stepping into a realm of liberation and insight. The sea held countless enigmas beneath its surface, much like our consciousness holds the potential for profound realizations, waiting to be uncovered by our courage to face the unknown.Â
I sat while contemplating the interplay between the internal and external worlds. The Welsh countryside across the sea appeared both tantalizingly close and enigmatically distant. As I relinquished the fear that had silently shadowed my steps, I experienced a newfound sense of freedom—a glimpse of the liberty that awaited by embracing the enigmatic, seeking truth with an unburdened heart and an unwavering spirit. Out of a sudden, I noticed a curious shift in the atmosphere. It was as if my contemplative solitude had attracted the attention of a small group of passers by. Unbeknownst to me, they had settled on the nearby seats, their gaze fixed upon my presence.
With the soothing voice of Krishnamurti guiding my thoughts, I instinctively decided to transition into a yoga pose— the unity between mind, body, and environment. As I moved through the asanas, I could sense the subtle shift in the air, as if the sea breeze itself was mirroring my movements. In the midst of my yoga flow, a realization dawned upon me—a paradoxical interplay of observer and observed. The people who had been watching me were now unwittingly part of the very scene they had been observing. The boundaries between performer and audience were dissolving, echoing the philosophical concept that "the watcher is the one being watched." In this scenario, I was both the yogi and the object of their observation, the one who performed and the one who bore witness.
With each breath, I embodied the essence of Krishnamurti’s words "the knower is the one being known." The physical postures I assumed were expressions of inner knowledge, manifesting outwardly for all to see. And yet, in their watching, they too became part of my awareness, forever entwined in the intricate dance of existence. The observer and the observed coexisted, their roles and significance ever-shifting, much like the waves that kissed the shore before me. As I gracefully moved through the yoga sequence, I marveled at the interconnectedness of all things—the convergence of individual consciousness and collective perception. The rocks, the sea, the lighthouse, and the people watching formed a symbiotic tapestry, each thread woven into the fabric of reality. My actions, guided by Krishnamurti's wisdom, bridged the gap between self and other, blurring the lines that traditionally separated performer from audience.
I don't mind what happens. That is the essence of inner freedom.
It is a timeless spiritual truth: release attachment to outcomes,
deep inside yourself, you'll feel good no matter what.
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Eventually, my yoga practice drew to a close, and I sat once again with the teachings echoing in my mind. The people who had observed my practice offered smiles, some moved past and some were looking at the sea. I smiled back. In that moment, the waves that had once been the focal point of my meditation seemed to have absorbed a new significance. They were no longer just a backdrop to my thoughts; they were the embodiment of interconnectedness, a living metaphor for the interplay between observer and observed.
As the sun began its descent towards the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the meticulously designed landscape, I felt a sense of quiet satisfaction settle within me. The Portishead Lighthouse, standing as a sentinel between the developed world and the vast expanse of the sea, seemed to embody the essence of my journey. In the midst of this carefully curated environment, I had found moments of introspection, connection, and contemplation. The journey from the Portishead bus station to the lighthouse had been both physical and metaphorical—a passage from the structured realm of human creation to the unbounded realm of the natural world.
As I looked out towards the sea, I could sense the layers of meaning woven into the scene before me. The waves crashing against the embankments whispered of untamed forces that could not be contained by human constructs. The merging of land and sea spoke of the eternal dance between nature's elements, a dance that transcended the boundaries we placed upon it. I thought back to the stories and philosophies that had guided my thoughts throughout this journey—stories of ancient sages, teachings of profound thinkers, and personal reflections on life's intricacies. Each story had added a brushstroke to the canvas of my understanding, enriching my experience as I navigated the landscape of Portishead.
As the day's light gently faded, leaving behind hues of orange and purple, I felt a sense of harmony with the world around me. The lighthouse, once a symbol of human guidance, now stood as a reminder of the balance between human endeavor and the forces of nature.Â
With a contented heart and a renewed perspective, I slowly rose from my spot. The journey had been one of exploration, discovery, and contemplation—an expedition that had taken me from the bustling city to the serene coastline, from the structured to the untamed. All this was happening when I was bombarded on all sides to not leave my house in Cheltenham. I could very well have stayed home and not felt any of this. As I made my way back to the bus stop, the echoes of the stories and thoughts I had encountered lingered within me. The landscape around me, despite its man-made intricacies, still held the visions of the once natural world, reminding me that even within the constructs of human creation, the spirit of the wild could not be entirely subdued.
And so, with each step, I carried with me the wisdom, the stories of distant lands, and ancestral harmony. The journey had been a testament to the interplay between the human and the natural, and I left with a renewed appreciation for the harmonious dance that unites them both. We are it and it is us— what else could it be?
Thank you Ashutosh for sharing your profound day trip to the Lighthouse. What a delightful experience!!