When we reached Gopeshwar that night, Gana seemed speechless. But Neel looked at him with satisfaction giving an expression like then he has seen.
We sat around fire, while waiting for the food to arrive. Open your ears said Neel and he began speaking like reciting an over practised hymn. The men in the east, he said, are trees; those in the south are flocks of animals; those in the west are wild plants. And those in the north like ourselves, who cried out while they ate other men, were the waters. When the collective sound started filling the air, he started explaining about eating.
The act of eating is a violence that causes what is living, in its many forms, to disappear. Whether grass, plants, trees, animals or human beings, the process is the same.
There is always a fire that devours and a substance that is devoured. This violence bringing misery and torment will one day be carried out by those who inflict it. Pouring milk into the fire- every morning, every evening- meant accepting that what appears disappears and that what has disappeared serves to give sustenance to something else, in the invisible. There are some people who have become skilled in detecting evil with supreme ease. Evil for them was already apparent ever since that moment when an axe first struck a tree or a hand uprooted a plant; a metaphysical evil, inherent in everything that is forced to destroy a part of the world in order to survive. Evil is therefore everywhere and in everything. This is why sacrifice is also everywhere, above all in mankind and hence in everything. In every act that consumes a part of the world, in every act that destroys. There is no neutral state, no state in which this doesn’t happen. Such a chain of events cannot change. Those who eat will be eaten. Those who slaughter will be slaughtered. Those who eat meat will themselves become meat.
Men always follow, it is the agni who conquers.
For several years there have been feverish attempts to unearth horse bones in Punjab and around regions. Region around Kurukshetra, the birth place of Bhagvad Gita – to prove that there innovation the horse was already to be found in those regions. For according to some all that is most ancient and memorable must necessarily grow on Indian soil.
Why did the ancients not build cities, or kingdoms, or empires? Asked Gana. Because they did not seek power, but rapture, said Neel. Every construction was temporary, including the fire altar. It was not a fixed object but a moving vehicle. Once the voyage was complete, the vehicle used to be destroyed. And hence the ancients never developed the idea of a temple. If such care was given to constructing a bird, it was to make it fly. To attain the light. They wanted nothing more, but also nothing less.
That they received their learnings from the sun. To know one must burn.
Also read: Life is only breath. Every other thing a distraction
: ँ :
Illustration ‘The Ancient Life”(2017) by Narayan Tushar Kaudinya
If you have anything to share, or ever feel like saying a hello, do write to me at narayankaudinya@gmail.com
To follow other ethnographical and short excerpts of stories from rural Indian Subcontinent, find me at narxtara ~ Road to Nara or sometimes on Narayan Kaudinya
ROAD TO NARA 
This writer is known for his love of nature, and as he wrote above “the elements of life that are us”, here, he wrote a philosophical treaty that is interesting but could be controversial.
India – Empire Of The Spirit is over 10 thousand years old and the speculations of what went before are easy to understand as a quest for knowledge. Was this achieved?
I leave the readers to decide. The illustration by the author is poignant and illuminating his
thoughts, On the whole, this is a persuasive argument for being a vegetarian, essential to me
because I am one already.
Joanna
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Thank you dear Joanna. This essay came out as a conversation between two researchers while i was merely an observer, a listener penning down his intent.
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Your words, support are the floor and the roof. Thank you so much dear Joanna.
Narayan x
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How mystical is this writing of yours! A stream of consciousness about the act of living, consuming and being consumed. Poetic.
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I am relieved by your explanation, Dear Narayan. I was puzzled for a moment about your state of mind. As it is, you will always have my support because of your immense talent and ability. It will take you to the highest literary position, not less but the Nobel Prize For Literature, of this I am sure.
Joanna x
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You make me smile. Thank you. My state of mind is balanced Joanna, and is always working towards carrying readers to their own untouched corners.
I can only rejoice that you think so my dearest. Even i could not even imagine right now what you have been stating. But nonetheless. It is a gift from you i am keeping.
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Thank you Thank you again.
Narayan x
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I grew up in isolated settings where we watched how the wheel of life and death supported the ecosystem. This has me thinking of those days and the broader world. Wonderful writing. Thank you for sharing.
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It’s heartening to read your comment dear Sarah. While importantly getting to learn about you, a glimpse that can only be lived in exceptional circumstances. Because I know what I wrote up there and to hear from someone like you understanding it, knowing it, having lived it. It’s beautiful to know this and you. You are a friend.
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What a beautiful comment.
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🙂 Sarah
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And thank you for writing dear Sarah.
Friend, Narayan x
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You are more than welcome. I am most of the time right, especially about the writers as it is my profession! As I have 10 thousand books, all read by me, I can see the extra special talent, like yours! Just keep on writing without too many distractions.
Joanna x
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And I am more than delighted to get a glimpse of old Joanna back. Very happy that things are getting better, back on track.
Love to you
Narayan x
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Thank you!! Back on track? Yes!!
Love to you,
Joanna x
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Wow. I have never thought things in this way. But to think deep it makes sense. We all follow a cycle of nature to keep the balance right.
It always so good to read your posts..it always open me to so many different perspective which I otherwise wouldn’t have been aware of.
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Lovely to read this from you. And thank you for affirming as i know this wasn’t an easy read. In some ways it takes the reader to some un touched corners. Questioning beliefs and their already made perceptions.
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You are right.. its always interesting to know things and thoughts beyond the generally accepted norms
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Yes, and it is important to just push a little, not too much. No. Just so much which can reverberate.
Thank you again dear friend. My wishes
Narayan x
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And thank you again dear friend. I only get to know today that you have been reading my writings already. Delighted to know.
Thank you
Narayan x
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Come on.. we have interacted a couple of times and the way you work with words always leave me awestruck.
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haha.. yes certainly i remember. Just became too modest i imagine.
Thank you so much for your words. Kind words 🙂
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Well, that is really beautifully written, I like the sketch at the end. Have a great and inspirational week.
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Thank you dear Cornelia. Hope you and family are doing well. Thank you again.
Narayan x
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You have taken me on a mental journey to some different corners of my mind. Interesting! “Round like a circle in a spiral , like a wheel within a wheel.” Good writing can take the reader to many places. All of them good. I also loved your drawing! A
‘
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Anne, lovely to read from you and about ’round like a circle in a spiral’, yes this wasn’t a regular easy read. I knew it when it was being written and wanted to see how it is received. Or can even be understood!
Your words affirm my belief. Thank you.
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Also thanking you for acknowledging the drawing Anne. 🙂
Narayan x
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Reblogged this on The International Correspondent: Journalism for Peace (Peace Pursuit) and commented:
http://www.foreigncorrspondent.wordpress.com
Hi Narayan
Thanks for the follow (+ like(s)
Happy blogging/writing and all the best
craig
“The www and cyberspace, is the domain, the medium, the ‘arena’ that allows me to express myself… and be who I really am.”
http://www.craigsblogs.wordpress.com
http://www.craigsbooks.wordpress.com
“It always seems impossible…
until it gets done!”
– Nelson Mandela
http://www.mandelamadiba.wordpress.com
http://www.craigsquotes.wordpress.com
You CAN…if you THINK you can
‘Driven (“crazy”) …to inform, encourage, uplift and (perhaps even) inspire‘
PPS
Don’t worry about the world ending today
it’s already tomorrow in scenic and tranquil ‘little’ New Zealand
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You are the best writer
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Nana ji you are best observer. The best reader. Thank you so much.
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This is a very interesting conversation with a tinge of philosophy. I enjoyed reading it. The contention that the act of eating is a violence may be controversial, but if plants are living beings as per science, eating even vegetables may be considered an act of violence. This is a debatable point. But thank you, Narayan ji for posting such a thought provoking piece.
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Kaushal ji, thank you for writing on this essay as i knew myself while i was constructing it, to be little abstract.
Yes, Kaushal ji, terming simple act of eating as violence certainly comes out to be controversial. I had only those examples of our ancient Rishes who had given up on eating while have gone deeper during their sadhna. Also eating being very much connected to sensual pleasure, i for once felt to put this point out to understand it myself. but without doubt it is very much debatable as you rightly pointed out.
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And this certainly came out to be a wonderful, provoking essay. Thank you again for your time dear Kaushal Ji
Narayan x
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The co-existence of duality in everything. Deep and thought provoking post..
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Neel. It was lovely to have your words here. How have you been? Hows your health and being?
Yes, it is very much there that apart from our perceived reality there are many other realties which are roving parallel-ly around us.
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Sorry for my delayed responses. Have gotten a little irregular with WP.
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Yes I see you are being away. May be time wants you to sit back for a while. And asking you to arrange back your perspectives. A slow process.
But I will hope you ll find your way to the roads again.
Narayan x
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And Thank you for writing again.
Narayan x
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V Different writing , wonderful
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Thanks Nitin, for reading. Yes gives something away as thought, even to me.
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Much appreciated. Thank you again.
Narayan x
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Beautiful expression and is nicely penned. Thank you for sharing this extraordinary post. Know thyself within the inner silence.
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Sushil, lovely to have you on the blog and sharing your view all the more. Thank you so much for this.
Narayan x
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Your writing certainly reaches the “untouched corners” of my mind. Thank you!
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An interesting post, Narayan. Perhaps if we were more like the ancients, we would not be killing each other to gain power and control.
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Dwight, to think of it now, there is no doubt that we were once ancients ourselves, that we are coming from only there. Hence this destruction, this apathy and indifference is inevitable or so I believe Dwight.
I appreciate your valuable words dear Dwight. Thank you so much.
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