Divine Blessings that help us Rejuvenate

THE DIVINE BLESSINGS THAT HELP US REJUVENATE

Life comprises of a series of ups and downs,joys and sorrows, pleasures and pains,successes and failures and we humans continue to cope with these extremities equipped with the survival extincts so characteristic of the human race.In our struggle to cope with these extremities and consequent learning to strike a balance between yearning for the good experiences and adapting to the bad ones develops in each one of us,the “power to rejuvenate”.

In today’s times ridden with the rarest of rare diseases, the fiercest of fierce competitions, the complexest of complex situations, the toughest of tough challenges and above all the highest of high potential threats to our existence,we humans should be heading the list of endangered species…yet we keep on growing miraculously, from strength to strength not only in numbers but also in all possible skills for survival…ever pondered over this mysterious phenomenon? Well none other than the “power to rejuvenate”, not just physically but even mentally. The power to rejuvenate is the most powerful gift that the universe and nature has provided to us.

It is said that not just humans but all life forms are made up of the five elements, namely-air ,water, soil, ether and fire.On close observation of stories of human suffering and their “ proverbial rise from the ashes”,it can be seen that the divine blessings that empower the human beings to rejuvenate, also come from these life giving elements of nature either in single forms or in various combinations and permutations or sometimes in a combination of all five of these elements.

I am sure you must be having several memories of going through agonizing physical or mental pain and finding a gradual release from that pain in the midst of nature in the form of a wift of fresh air while strolling in a garden or a gently blowing breeze at your favourite beach.Inhaling and exhaling this life giving and life sustaining force called air, slowly and rhythmically during pranayams and other yogic exercises is known to cure us of several physical and mental ailments.The breeze that fills up the sails of a boat and takes you sailing across rivers and seas,transporting you to tranquility and serenity,the wind that makes the windmills move to produce energy in an “energy starved globe” are only few more examples of the rejuvenating power that the element ‘air’ lends to the humans.

As for water,it does much more than just quenching your thirst and keeping you alive…the soothing effect of a bath specially under the shower, the soothing effect of washing your wound under running water,the therapeutic effect of swimming in your favourite poolside or the riverside,the blissful experience of soaking in the beauty of a waterfall by observing it and the healing experience of soaking yourself wet in the waterfall,the exhilarating experience of partaking in water rides and sports…and most important,the significance and effect of rain in our lives parched from not just the scorching heat of the sun but the agony of dealing with far too many burning issues that arise in our day to day life…the beauty of nature freshly bathed in the monsoon showers inspires many a poet and writer and even the common man to start living all over again!

And yet another element of nature,the soil or the earth, which yields unlimited resources to us through the life sustaining plants and trees that grow in it’s vastness, besides giving us food, fresh air and shelter,beautify this earth and make life worth living. Soil provides livelihood to millions of people and the most miraculous part that it plays in helping humans is, to go on producing tirelessly,over and over again from one crop to the other,from one season to the other and from one harvest to the other teaching us to develop the ‘never say die attitude’Besides it is known to be the biggest treasure vault-storing precious stones,metals,fuels and a host of valuable resources in its womb,no wonder we call it mother earth,creating a mysterious aura about it.’From dust unto dust’ is another universal truth that we learn from this powerful element ‘soil’ so vital in creating and nurturing us all,teaching us to face life surely and squarely and giving us lessons in humility and generosity.

Fire is the source and symbol of production and purification,it is as useful in creation as it is in destruction.In form of solar heat it is responsible for producing food in the plants and in the form of body heat it is responsible for digestion and other metabolic activities taking place in all life forms.It has life transforming and healing properties.The Sun, the epitome of the element ‘fire’ is the universal source of all energy forms that help all living forms survive. The power it has in creation, through which it helps in unfolding of new life forms as in germination,in development through which it helps in growth of so many life forms and in procreation through which it helps in the survival of all life forms. No wonder we delight in worshipping the Sun.Heat is not the only energy form that fire provides,light is yet another important energy source that it provides,illuminating our lives literally and figuratively.The effect of lighting thousands of candles in a church or in a demonstration,lighting thousands of lamps during festivals and rituals,lighting thousands of torches to make a journey through darkness is as enlightening as it is mesmerising,bringing to light the great lessons of rejuvenation that the element ‘fire’, teaches us.

Another element ether or space, symbolizes the vastness and infiniteness of the universe. It teaches us that there exists space for all life forms from the minutest to the largest,it teaches us about the expansive nature of the universe allowing all life forms to co-exist,it teaches us about the oneness of all life forms specially humanity it teaches us humility on one hand by bringing in the realiztion that we are but a tiny drop in the ocean of humanity or rather millions of life forms that make up the universe and on the otherhand it teaches us about the immense power that we are gifted with,the power to create, the power to transform, the power to heal, the power to unravel the mysteries of the universe and the power to rejuvenate.
As I said these elements inspire and instill in us the power to rejuvenate and surge ahead in life either as solo entities or in combinations-the creation of day and night caused by the movement of celestial bodies,the earth and the sun, is the cause of bringing in fresh energy and vigour in our lives every morning and relief and relaxation to rejuvenate ourselves every night…it does not require us to be a rocket scientist to understand what life could have been if day did not follow night and viceversa.Similarly the change of seasons…the relief of monsoon after a scorching summer…the burst of spring after the fall…the respite of summer after the freezing winter…and so on and so forth…all these empower us with important means of rejuvenation by instilling in us values such as patience and perseverance,acceptance and tolerance,service and selflessness to name just a few.

Finally the most signifcant creation of the universe,the humans that comprise of all the five elements, possess the maximum potential and power to not only rejuvenate but also help others rejuvenate! Provided they are willing to learn the valuable lessons that these elements impart. Can you ever forget the solace and strength you regained through the touch of a friendly hand or the healing power of a listening ear,a friendly smile,a loving look,a warm embrace,a caring attitude and above all a forgiving heart? We humans have as much power to hurt as to heal ourselves and others,as much power to ruin or resurrect the self and others around us ,as much power to accept defeat as to conquer the self and the rest of the world,as much power to resign under difficult circumstances or to rejuvenate and recreate better circumstances…we just need to observe, understand and imbibe the lessons of rejuvenation that all the elements of nature are forever imparting to us since time immemorial.

So just wake up to the innumerable divine blessings that inspire you to rejuvenate,be grateful for all those blessings and lessons that come your way including the painful ones…and the world is all yours to conquer… come on,beat the fastest known regenerating living creature,the star fish… use the power of rejuvenation you possess and be the star you are destined to be.