Category: Spirituality/Personality

Ten life lessons from the “Kailash Manasarovar Yatra”

  1. The journey is as important as the destination: I had a dream of visiting Kailash Manasarovar for many years but it remained a dream for long. When I undertook this mission, I realised that the journey is as important as the destination. You can admire all aspects of nature as you tread along the mountains and rivers and when you reach Kailash, you realise that the road to the destination is as as beautiful as the destination itself.
  2. Physical fitness is not good enough to make it: I have been going for a walk every day for more than three and a half decades. I also practise yoga every day for more than a decade but this physical regimen was not good enough. You needed emotional and mental fitness to undertake this yatra. We met a few Everest climbers, who were gasping for breath and needed oxygen to survive in this yatra.
  3. Spritual calling is essential to make the trip: About three months back, I had contacted an agency in Bangalore and even on phone they rejected our candidature since my wife has a history of arthritis, bronchitis, cholestrol and BP. I did not want to undertake this yatra alone, leaving my life partner behind. But three months later, a family friend called and this time the tour organiser assured us that we can make it and I would call it a spiritual calling indeed. Today I have returned from the yatra to Kailash Manasarovar , along with my spouse.
  4. A confluence of body, mind and soul : The challenges of the yatra tests you physically, mentally and emotionally. I have never been admitted to a hospital in my life nor taken sick leave anytime in my career. But during the course of this yatra, I had high altitude sickness and was having diarrhoea/vomiting for three consecutive days and was drained out. I recovered from this illness just as we reached Manasarovar lake and was fit to undertake the yatra. A fit body supplemented with a focussed mind and a pure soul, possibly enables us to achieve this mission.
  5. We understand what a luxurious life we lead in our every day life, as we experience minimum comforts during the yatra: In life, we take most things for granted.-A good night’s sleep or clean toilets or a long journey by car. But, when you undertake this yatra, you trek, you take a horse, you walk through landslides and spend sleepless nights too. Sometimes you share rooms with many more people and have to also share washrooms. This is when you realise how lucky we are ,on a day to day living.
  6. Acclimatisation is the key to the yatra: We move from 3000 feet at Bangalore to 5000 feet at Kathmandu and gradually ,go up the hills , to reach a peak of about 16,600 feet. This climb is made gradually , so as to enable the body to acclimatise to the high altitudes. There is less oxygen in the air and the temperature keeps falling too. Our ability to adjust is the key to our success in life.
  7. Adaptability and flexibility keeps you ahead: We want everything in life ,our way. This yatra teaches you the basic lesson to adapt and be flexible to achieve your goal. You are not sure, when you start the yatra ,as to what is in store for you. It could be rain, sun or landslides along the way. Our intermittent stoppages may change and hotels booked ,may not be of use ,as we may be late or early. So, our ability to be flexible and adaptable makes us realise our mission.
  8. Change will be constant in life: The Kailash yatra teaches us this basic lesson that change is constant in life. Many things may not go as planned. Our flights may get cancelled, our route may get changed due to inclement weather, our immigration may be challenging experience ,spreading to hours of wait and so on. But as long as we are willing to embrace change as a way of life, we are sure of achieving our goal post.
  9. Focus on the mission – rest will follow: We need to be focussed in our goal in life. This yatra taught us that ,as long as we are clear and focussed in our goal and are willing to take on the challenges along the way, the mission could be accomplished. If we lose focus and give up along the way, we may return to the base camp, without accomplishing our goal.
  10. Gratitude to God and all elders is essential: Last but not the least, at every stage of the yatra, we need to be grateful to God and all elders ,for providing you all the basic essentials in life, in abundance. This yatra makes us realise that real happiness in life is the product of gratitude and contentment in life ,always.

Let the journey of self discovery continue for all of us ,forever.

S Ramesh Shankar

19th Sep 2025

Success never defines character

We may often assume that successful people have great character but may not be necessarily true always. There are many successful people in life, who may have achieved success in work, sports, cinema or other fields but may not be a role model for the next generation, in terms of their character. This is an important lesson in life that “Success does not define character in life”.

It is like the successful people may have achieved success in life by whatever means, but they may not have the character of a person, whom you may like to follow. We all know of many actors, sportspersons, business persons and corporate honchos, who have been successful in their respective fields but can never be a role model for the future generation.

It is important to remember ,that the real adorable people ,have a character ,much beyond their success. They are humble, grounded, always willing to give back more than they get from society and keen to share their knowledge and expertise ,with everyone around them.

I personally know of a father and daughter duo. Father was a civil servant and one of the most highly regarded and respected person. Even today , he is finding ways and means to give back to society. The daughter on the other hand is a highly qualified and successful Chief executive , of a multinational in the USA but is arrogant to the core and can never be a role model for the younger generation.

So, the simple lesson in life is that ,success never defines character. Our simplicity, honesty, integrity, behaviour and willingness to give back to society more than what we have benefited , defines our character. Successful people may not be remembered beyond their term or even their life but people with impeccable character live much beyond their life and are remembered for generations.

While all of us want to be successful in life, we need to remember that our character is , what defines us to society and not necessarily our success. I am not denying the fact the successful people may make an impact and make their presence felt ,through their success in whatever field they are in. But, others forget them sooner than later as success is not eternal, whilst character is.

If we recall our childhood, we always respected teachers, elders in the family or neighbours around us who treated us well and not necessarily the most successful people or the most qualified. Both education and success does not take us far ,unless character is embedded in us.

Let us focus on building our character more than making an impact as a successful person in whatever field ,we have chosen to excel. Success has to be embedded by the character, which the next generation will adore and not the other way around.

Let our character always precede our success in life.

S Ramesh Shankar

5th Jan 2025

Mahakumbh 2025

I was always fascinated by the Kumbh mela and had a dream to visit the same, some day. Over the last many years, every time ,the Kumbh mela was announced, I looked at the crowd and decided not to venture out.

This year, I took the plunge. They say, this year is special, as it is the “Mahakumbh”, which happens once in 144 years after 12 Kumbhs, as some planets fall in one line. I did a bit of planning, which I usually do and booked my travel and stay ,about three months back.

I was excited to undertake this spiritual journey ,along with my spouse. I was aware that it is going to be a tough one ,with millions of people thronging to Prayagraj from around the world, and not only India.

We landed at Prayagraj on 14th Jan 2025, the day of Makar Shankranti, one of the most auspicious days of the Mahakumbh ,for our Shahi Snan. As we left the airport, all the roads in the city ,led to the Sangam. As we approached the city outskirts, the roads were thronged by crores of devotees walking there to the Sangam or returning from there.

The roads were blocked and no four wheelers were allowed. We were stuck in traffic snarls for hours and after a lot of patient waiting ,were allowed to enter the city, when the crowds subsided a bit. The air was filled with spirituality and the atmosphere electric.

We reached our tent ,after about four hours on the road from the airport , which would be just under 20 kms. Although, it tested our patience, we were blessed, to be amongst the crowds ,in one spirit. Then a long 10 kms walk led us to the Sangam and back, for the Shahi Snan or the holy bath.

When you take a dip in the Sangam in the icy waters, your body shivers but your soul is lighted up. After you come out of the water, you feel rejuvenated and are grateful for this opportunity amongst millions of people from around the world ,to take this dip on this auspicious day. We were told more than 35 million people took a dip on this day.

Both me and my wife, are not strictly religious by nature. In our book, service to mankind is service to God. Being good to everyone around you every day and then giving back to society, in your own small ways is religion for us. But this experience ,was surreal. It has to be experienced to be believed.

It is indeed a confluence of the mind, body and soul. When this happens at a time, when many planets are aligned, one can feel the spirit within you. It gives you the strength to sustain yourself and the energy to give back to the society, in whatever ways you can.

We would like to salute the organisers of the Mahakumbh. The city was clean all over and even the Sangam was kept clean with a lot of effort from the house keeping staff. The entire city was lit and every crossing was decorated and every wall painted, across the city.

What impressed us the most, was the spirit of the people of the city. They told us, if you have any problem, ask any person on the road and they will help you. There is no religion, caste or creed in this supreme festival of the Mahakumbh. Everyone is treated alike. We were showered with rose petals, when we arrived at the airport and our entire stay for two days ,was spotless and most comfortable.

After having conducted, the marriages of my daughter and son, I thought ,I have achieved a great feat in my life. But, after having witnessed the “Mahakumbh”, one realises that whatever we achieve in life is miniscule, compared to the scale and planning involved in such events. I admire the state and central agencies for this grand event. The appropriate use of technology was also very evident in this whole exercise.

The next day I visited Ayodhya to get the darshan of Lord Ram in the newly inaugurated temple. Here again, a ten km walk ,up and down in all,was needed to get the darshan of the Lord. But the queueing system (in spite of millions of devotees )needs appreciation as all of us,as devotees could get the darshan within two hours .

The “Mahakumbh” is a testimony to modern India. We can achieve what we dream to do , through systematic planning and seamless execution.

Let the spirit of the “Mahakumbh” bring peace and prosperity to the world.

S Ramesh Shankar

17th Jan 2025