The Gates of Heaven - Part-II

‘The Gates of Heaven’ & My Close Encounters with Peter

(These chronicles are dated May 2011)

Before I continue with the adventure, I wish to highlight that Peter has huge concern to preserve our ecology. His programmes of cleaning the Marina Beach, Adayar beach, or any other coastline do not carry any incentives nor they are assignments from any high-profile World Organisations such as ‘Green Earth’ etc. It’s Peter’s faith, and he preaches the same to all youngsters who follow him. He inspires all the Members of the Club to participate in the clearing of the litter thrown by tourists at all the Beaches, Lakes, or at any pristine locations of nature. Tonnes of litter is picked up every month. Peter or the Members who follow him have excellently placed jobs for their livelihood but picking up litter is a social responsibility Peter inculcates in all his Members, and everyone does such selfless services as a religious ritual.

Peter conducts ‘Awareness Workshops about Environment Preservation’ at the doorstep of the economically backward classes and even provides them the required containers for separating the waste before disposal. Peter and his members make those underprivileged class realise the health hazards if such practices are not adopted by them, and how to keep away from numerous diseases as a precaution.

As regards my Trekking adventure at Nagalapuram range; when we reached the 1st pool, a sudden urge spurred within me to jump into the water, but Naveen one of the organisers advised that we would come across several pools ahead to cool ourselves and this stop was only to rest a while and have some breakfast before we resume. It was at this point I happened to interact with Naveen who was organising the groups. The 1st group started off with Peter for the Level–II hike on a different and difficult route and the rest of the members were assembled as the 2nd group for the regular Level–I hike. Naveen enquired whether I faced any difficulty to which I replied that as such except for my backpack I have no difficulty. I explained him how I had purchased the extra-large one foolishly and did not foresee the additional weight which I would be carrying. He advised me to rest a few minutes and carried on to organise the group reminding everyone that we would resume our trek in five minutes. I sincerely took the advice and cooled until my knees in the chilling crystal clear water, spilled some stream water on my face which was absolutely refreshing and then I had cream bread and an orange to energise until the next stop of the hike.

It was then that Naveen introduced me to Brijesh who without any discussion lifted my back pack and said he would carry it and relieve me from the difficulty. I could not believe whatever he uttered and I apologised for my mismanagement. He just brushed my thanks aside and stated it was nothing. I eagerly volunteered to carry any of his belongings in return, and to my surprise he said, “I have no backpack. No belongings. I travel light and the only thing I carry is this white cloth of almost three meters”. I stood there dumbfounded and was amazed at his travel plan. His simplicity was unmistakably seen by his attire. I imagined him like a God-sent angel to help me.

It was the first time that I felt that this trek was no ordinary one and I was realising that it could be a discourse from a Guru. Who is this Brijesh, and why did he volunteer to carry my backpack despite having the wisdom to travel light? I would not treat it a sacrifice but visualise it as a contribution. A selfless service to others without even having any thought that he was doing any service was something I saw within him. It was a new dimension which emanates many messages. Not to claim of our sacrifices and contributions. This was the first lesson Peter might have taught to all his followers with gestures and not by instructions or preaching. It was a priceless contribution.

From that point onwards I was given the privilege of travelling without a backpack and the only burden I had now was to keep pace with the young trekkers. I placed my feet carefully on the boulders along the stream and at time jumped on large boulders to quicken the pace, and it reminded of my schooldays. But at the back of my mind I have not come to self from the magnanimous gesture by Brijesh. The beauty of the indirect teachings from the trek was taking shape before my eyes.

Naveen let some members to proceed ahead and he kept calling the rear to keep pace and catch up. I learnt that usually there would be one to lead ahead and one behind to see nobody is lagging too much behind. The man behind is called the ‘sweeper’ he said, the title which I found a little misplaced, but it did make sense. The organisers have a huge responsibility on their shoulders. They make efforts to ensure the trekking by all means would be a pleasurable experience to all, hence observe the participants with hawk’s eyes. I now understood why Peter decides the size of the trekking team basing on the number of organisers available for the expedition.

I started a conversation with Naveen and found that he is working as a Team Manager in a software company and this is his fifteenth expedition to Nagala. He knows the range inside out. As we discussed about his experiences, we sped at a brisk pace, jumping on the small boulders, and sometimes crossing the stream from one side to another depending on the clearing. It was exactly how Peter had briefed on April 30th at his residence when he conducted the workshop on ‘maps, navigation, and GPS’. The path was along the stream with trees and foliage on either side protecting us from the scorching sun which was not less than 38 degrees. The planning of the trekking path is vital for we need to see how long a person can continue without any resource and shelter. In the present instance it being the summer, water is a vital support for frequent refill and the shade from the meagre forestry on the either side of the stream is much more important to keep us going by totally avoiding the hot sun. Both kept me from any dehydration or exhaustion. I found that in this Level-I expedition the sun protection cream was not necessary; maybe it was useful for the Level-II trekkers. Peter had given a clear picture of the entire expedition during the briefing session at his residence. It was not an adventure of overcoming extremely dangerous terrains like we see in Hollywood movies but a pleasurable expedition with pleasurable experience.

Many greeted me with a ‘Hi’, and I know what bugged their brains about me. I knew I was conspicuous among the young adventurers. The best part was no one called me ‘uncle’ or ‘sir’ but instead addressed me by my name as ‘Prem’ which was comforting, helping me to merge with the rest without any embarrassment. The group was lead by Brijesh, and Naveen was the sweeper at this juncture. There was one young couple who were also trailing behind, the husband helping the wife frequently with a firm hand at the slippery and rugged terrains. I really appreciated their participation and hoped they continued the same way in future.

Before we reached the next destination, I realised that we had reached almost one third of the planned route. Frequently I splashed the stream water on my face and neck which was refreshing and drank the water from the flowing stream. If Aquafina costs fifteen bucks then this handful of stream water can be positioned at a hundred. I remember Peter informing that despite the summer, the water from dew and humidity collected drop by drop would accumulate into small streaks and then flow as a stream. The lessons nature teaches is that even during adverse conditions we can have hope and strive to reach our goals. It is not necessary that one needs to be intelligent or a genius to be successful. All we needs is faith and harnessing of inherent talents. We only need to consolidate our inner strength drop by drop and build our future on it.Resiliency is what one should develop. Peter has lured all these youth to this wonderful sport with strict rules only to realise that happiness and pleasure does not mean going to a multiplex and indulging in a variety of junk food, watching mindless movies, and getting loose at bars; but to observe the natural surroundings and learn to enjoy the real pleasures of life. Even though I have spoken passionately about my school days earlier, now I feel this experience as more rewarding and enlightening, for apart from the adventure there are plenty of messages.

The Dead End Pool

As we travelled further along the stream for almost a kilometre nearing the next destination we could hear the loud raptures of ecstasy of the group which reached earlier. My heart leaped at the sight of the magnificent ‘Dead-End Pool’. I found Brijesh and the other guys who came earlier were already in water playing gleefully without any bounds. Finding my back pack hanged conveniently at the spot, I immediately changed to my swimming trunks and splashed in the water. Having only the habit of wading in the swimming pools at our residential apartments would not be enough to dare these deep waters, I took support of the thermo mat. Even though the water is shallow at the banks, it suddenly fell deep at the centre of the pools to not less than 20 ft to 30 ft. The sleeping mat was useful to float around even at deep waters. Peter had made it mandatory in all mails to bring the air tubes or any other safety item as a precaution unless you are capable of swimming like a fish.

I pulled out my new Olympus 720 SW waterproof camera which I purchased only a few days back for this trek at their Guindy Showroom at a ridiculous price of Rs 4000. I was told that they import 10,000 pcs of every model distributing for sale all through the country and was marked at Rs 22,000; and the last few pieces were sold at an unbelievable discount. I switched on the camera with an intention to take it into the water for some memorable snaps but to my shock the battery power was blinking red. It was then I remembered the advice of the salesman at the showroom to charge the SDV battery for a minimum of seven hours before use, which I failed to do in the excitement. I only realised that I could snap a few before it goes totally dead. Hence I got busy in the water asking others to snap photographs from my camera and thereafter enjoyed without any bounds just like any of those youngsters in the pool.

I was told that all these fancy names to the pools were christened by Peter himself.The Dead End Pool was named because the path was blocked by three huge boulders at the far west end and there was no possibility that one could walk alongside the pool as we did until now. The pool was lined with steep step-like walls with not much place to tread with steady feet. The only place they could step on the wall was half way at the middle of the pool which was slightly slanted enough allowing a person to negotiate as if on a trapeze until the base of the second boulder. I was told that the only way to avoid the steep wall and the first boulder was to swim across the pool to the other side, going beside the first boulder where there was a small gap and the wall adjoining curved with a cave like cavity giving space to swim across. One needs to slowly stride towards the bottom of the second boulder and then mount on it and then jump over the third boulder to reach across the other side. Meanwhile in the middle of the exultations, Brijesh, Naveen and others prepared ramps to transport the backpacks to the other side. The buoyant tubes were covered by the thermo mats upon which one or two backpacks and shoes were placed at one time and slowly pulled until the slight platform raised on the right side at the centre of the pool which were unloaded by one person standing at the edge of the wall. This exercise was repeated several times until the whole lot of backpacks and shoes were transported. It was Brijesh, Naveen and others who could swim well that completed the entire job of transportation of the luggage as well as the members.

As time passed, one by one started off to swim upto the centre of the pool and lift themselves to the right side of the wall to start walk steadily leaning on the cliff wall. My turn came for the crossing. Before I could take any initiative, Naveen called up someone to help me until the second boulder through the water. I held the thermo mat close to my chest and slowly stroke to negotiate the water and alongside came one of the good swimmers who pulled me until the second boulder. I felt relieved but the bigger task lied ahead. There were two boulders to cross. I took an estimate of the second boulder and found that it would be not an easy task for person of my age to perform such feats, but still I did not want to be a liability to the organisers and cause additional burden. I just skipped under the narrow cavity under the second boulder squeezing through the slippery stream just a little larger than my waist and successfully emerged on the other side of the second boulder. Having half succeeded, I stood up and looked up to the third boulder upon which Brijesh was sitting helping others to mount the boulder. Brijesh extended his hand suggesting me to stretch and swing to the third boulder to a height of almost ten feet. I said it was just impossible for me but immediately Naveen and others volunteered to make pseudo steps with their firm hands providing me to place my feet for the climb. I realised that there could not be a better help and trustingly swung into action placing my feet on the fleshy steps firmly and heaved with all my might. I did it and everyone at the location clapped in appreciation for the achievement. I almost blushed remembering that it was truly a challenge for my age, but not without help. It was unbelievable as I looked back to see what I had overcome. Silently I slipped to the other side towards the upstream.

It was almost one in the afternoon and Naveen suggested we stop for lunch at the said location. The other side of the Dead End Pool was a narrow path like a ravine. It was a location between two steep mountain walls. The path was laid with smaller gravel like stones which was more comfortable to sit and have lunch. A small stream passing at the centre of our circular gathering was sheer luxury. Everyone ceremoniously pulled out the food stuff from their bags preferring the chapattis and jam and ketchup. I didn’t want to fill my stomach more than two chapattis and preferred to share the pack with others who have already exhausted their stock. It was interesting to hear the experiences from the regular trekkers including Eric and his girl friend who sat alongside the wall expressing how thrilled they were with the day’s trek.

I was in a different world and not a second did I repent that I was older and may not be able to participate repeatedly in such outings. It inspired me to make an agenda of this passion and passed a conviction within myself to stay fit than now and that I should repeat as long as I can. We wound up after a few minutes for Naveen was always keeping a watch on the time being spent at every stop and started to pursue all to continue the journey. Here the most impressive practice was that no ever littered any waste packing or plastic in the open. Each one ceremoniously stuffed all the used packing and plastic into their bags and the gravel flooring was as clean as before.The environment was preserved after enjoying its benefits.Peter has brought a consciousness irreversible and uncompromising within the minds of all the members. This is a college where basics are taught without any lectures. It is the conscious and a religion that has to be followed universally but not an imposition without understanding. I began to realise that the methods of teaching is important than the syllabi.The pupil grasps it quickly making it an integral part of his nature and not as a specific duty. I followed suit as others and checked twice around me once again. I resumed the journey, content that I have learned one more profound teaching of Peter.