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PART 2: |
With my new porter, Osman, I continued the journey up into the mountains and as we worked our way further and further from the "civilized" world I worked Binod's mani stone over and over in my hand. I was starting to feel desperate for the the prayer stone's healing powers. Since the third day of the trek my left knee had developed a sharp pain that I had never before experienced in all my years of arduous hiking. Like a hot knife driven into my knee with every step, the pain had now developed into pure agony and torment. Often after ascending and descending thousands of vertical feet in a day, I would stagger into a village completely unable to bend my leg and be forced to rest for a day before I could continue. And then, within hours of resumed trekking, the pain would begin its evil debilitation once again. Was I not meant to reach the Hidden Lands? Thoughts of not being worthy to enter such sacred grounds filled my head. It seemed that many barriers were being put in my way as I continued deeper into the mountains. The solitude of traveling the trail alone was almost as debilitating as the pain in my leg. Many nights while lying in my tent, I would have visions of friends back in Kathmandu relaxing on thick Tibetan carpets in warm, incense scented rooms, sipping wine, listening to pleasant music and sharing stories by candlelight. Often I wanted to turn back or abandon my original goal for the peace of mind of an easier route. Were the lessons to be learned on such a pilgrimage simply that I cherished my family and friends more than I thought, that I should really appreciate what I have and that I now had a better appreciation and empathy for the loneliness that one can feel? Could I content myself with these simple revelations and return to the warmth, comfort and security of Kathmandu? Always when these questions and desires filled my mind with doubt I would try to remember the key ingredient that makes any adventure or exploration a success: The absolute and dedicated commitment to the journey and a willingness to overcome all adversities to realize the completion of it. Over the years I had learned from various heroes and mentors that the road to true success is habitually difficult and uncertain. If I turned from every difficulty and pursued only the easy course, then I would forever be missing the rewards that always lie on the other side of a great challenge. I knew deep down that if a direction held fear and uncertainty, then that was the direction towards which I must move in order to expand my horizons and increase the possibilities for adventure. |
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