The Daily Grind and The River of Limitations

The Daily Grind and The River of Limitations

Our living cultures are constructed in ways that exhaust us and leave us with no energy. We expend our time and energy on unfulfilling jobs and spend the leisure time replenishing that energy through alcohol or any other substance, merely to go back to our jobs the next day. We internalize that as a reward, so we are fooled by the dopamine released in our brain to keep us stuck in this toxic cycle.

However, there is another form of manipulation that doesn’t involve substance abuse but people. There are individuals who manipulate and exploit others, using their influence to control and shape opinions on a larger scale. Since the power of manipulation can sway the beliefs of individuals or groups, by doing so one achieves selfish objectives with ease.

When one doesn’t conform to societal beliefs, one carries the risk of rejection and criticism. Fear of being judged, failing, or being left out makes people hesitant to do anything different. This fear keeps things the same and makes people feel like they have to stick to what’s ‘normal,’even if it’s not really what they want or what will make them happy in the long run.

This notion of being stuck in a loop—whether by societal norms, fear, or addiction—is reminiscent of a story I once heard, which illustrates the subtle but powerful ways we can be trapped by our own actions or inactions.

Many years ago, when the road to Rishikesh was treacherous, and travelers preferred to journey by boat along the serene river flowing from Haridwar, four friends decided to embark on such an adventure. They set off at midnight, filled with excitement, estimating that their four-hour ride would bring them to Rishikesh by dawn.

As they pushed off from the Haridwar shore, the friends felt exhilarated, their laughter and chatter mingling with the gentle lapping of the water against the boat. The night wore on, and the friends continued to row, their spirits high, as the sound of the waves created a soothing melody.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the first light of dawn crept over the horizon. The friends looked around, expecting to see the familiar sights of Rishikesh. Instead, they found themselves at a shore that seemed eerily familiar. Confused, they approached a sadhu sitting by the river and asked, ‘Is this Rishikesh?’The sadhu barely acknowledged their presence, and the friends thought he hadn’t heard them.

Undeterred, they approached another sadhu, who seemed more willing to engage. ‘Have we reached Rishikesh?’they asked again. The sadhu looked at them with a piercing gaze and replied, ‘You still have to go if your destination is Rishikesh.’ The friends were perplexed. ‘But we’ve been rowing all night!’ they exclaimed. The sadhu looked around the boat and smiled calmly and said, ‘You never untied the boat from the mooring rope.’

The friends’ hearts sank as they realized their mistake. They had been rowing in circles, never actually leaving the Haridwar shore. The sound of the waves had lulled them into a false sense of progress.As they stood there, feeling foolish and defeated, the sadhu’s words struck a chord. They realized that they had been like the boat, stuck in one place, never making progress toward their goals. They had been passing time, but not growing.

This story serves as a metaphor for the lives of many individuals who are part of the 84 segment. Just like the friends who thought they were making progress, many people in this segment believe they are moving forward in life, only to realize that they’ve been stuck in the same place all along. The daily grind, much like the waves against the boat, creates an illusion of progress. We mistake motion for growth, failing to see that we haven’t untied ourselves from the moorings that keep us in place.

The sadhu’s message is clear: real progress requires awareness and intentional action. It requires us to untie the ropes of complacency, fear, and societal expectations that bind us. Only then can we truly set off on a journey towards growth, self-discovery, and fulfillment.