In India They Simply "Get It"

By: Jonathan Lourie

I recently returned from a 3 week vacation to the North of India. I travelled without my wife and three daughters so as to get the most access to a number of life issues. I went with no plan or expectation at all. I left with a small backpack, a ticket from Melbourne to Delhi, 2 huge bags of lollies (sweets) with no accommodation arranged. I knew from my previous visits there would be no problem, and I am yet to see a foreigner sleeping in the gutter. Needless to say, I slept well. For anyone who has spent more than 1 week in India knows what a mad house the place is. Cows roaming the dusty streets, drivers of rickshaws rarely driving on the correct side of the street, and the inevitable 2 questions: “What country you from” and “what your name”. Action that never seems to stop, but the attraction is unstoppable. There is a thirst to be part of it. All I could wonder is “why”. Was is simply a case of the grass being greener or was there something more. Why surrounded by the smell of urine, and the oppressive heat do so many seem so happy?

On a 3-4 hour train trip from Amritsar (The home of the golden temple) to Pathankot, I was once again surrounded by curious Indians trying to make conversation using Punjabi hand language and even mobile phones to communicate. After about 30min, I was approached by a very well spoken 25 year old Indian. Very early in the conversation he seemed interested in my life coaching and began sharing his personal life challenges with me. As my time was limited I explained a few things to him, discussed his blind spots, and even offered a few tools to assist him. After about 15min he explained that he needed to get off the train as his stop was approaching, and turned to me and asked if I would be willing to join him and continue the conversation at his home. Without any thought, and although I was 3hs from my destination, I agreed and got off at a small station in the middle of nowhere. I simply stepped out my comfort zone, and the decision was powerful, and in hindsight was a worthy one. Being a pretty good judge of character and given that the majority of Indians I have encountered were inviting and caring I had no problem joining my new friend. After a 10min motorbike ride from the station, I arrived at a middle class (Indian style) home. I was introduced to a 85 year old grandmother, a sweet and innocent looking mother and a tall modest, almost majestic looking Punjabi father.

For the next 2 days I was spoiled with fresh Indian style cooking, and met friends and family of my new friend Vikram. I enjoyed the hospitality of the most incredible people I have ever met. I am not exactly sure where their happiness began or ended. It seemed to be part of every moment of existence. It is difficult to put it down to one or two things, however I have no doubt that the simpler life, living amongst basic facilities was part of the equation. Time was filled with friends and family communicating about the happenings of the day. When friends came over (which was often), grandma sat on the bed and was part of the discussion. There was no mad rush to anything. No rush to after school activities, the simpsons, playstations, computer, tv, no pressure to get homework done and there was no feeling of having to go somewhere or be somewhere. There was very little human desire to compete. People had what they had and what they had is what they had. It seems that in the west, most people don’t really think or spend time thinking what they are or simply planning their life. They are on autopilot living the life designed for them.

In India, how is it that so many people are just able to sit for hours, and be satisfied? How can thousands stand in line for hours in the heat, just to offer sacrifice to a temple? From the shop keepers in Shimla to the Tibetan monks in Dharamsala to the sikh’s at the Golden temple in Amritsar, people are not pushing and are happy.

I am not saying that these people lack the human instinct of wanting to improve their standard of living if they believed they could, it’s just interesting to note the satisfaction one gets from not having to be chasing after something. Many Hindu’s play the game of life very well. They don’t create illusions about the future except when it comes to the afterlife, and are good at putting their past in the past.

We all know that if you are a person who is rushing and pushing forward or you are a person who knows to relax and have an appreciation of life, you will both end 6 feel under.

Someone once told me that the 1st step to financial wealth, security and happiness is to appreciate what you have now and accept now that you are healthy, you feel secure and are happy now, because these things are relative anyway.

If people in the west would stop for 2 minutes everyday and considered what they had was “perfect” and were able to train their minds that they had an abundance of everything they needed and wanted, then they could adjust their thinking and truly appreciate what they had.

My trip to India was not only exciting and full of colour, it once again reminded me that I am the luckiest person in the world, not because I have a beautiful healthy family, rather because I am simply alive and daily becoming more aware of the wonders that surrounds me. The universe is a perfect place in every way and all we have to do on this planet is to see what is already available to us.

I hope I have made a difference in your life, even in the smallest way.

Jonathan Lourie
Life is beautiful.

Jonathan Lourie is life coach living in Melbourne Australia. He can always be contacted on 1300-789-007 for coaching. Free intro session with exceptionally reasonably charges.