HPS Ahluwalia was one of the members of the first ever successful team that reached the top of Mount Everest n 1965. The chapter discusses his emotions and moods on reaching the top of the summit. On reaching the top, HPS Ahluwalia shares his sense of joy and triumph at being among the first ones to reach the top.
Besides these two natural emotions, there was also a lot of humility, for they thanked God for making it possible. HPS Ahluwalia was, however, surprised that sadness was also reflected in his sentiments on having accomplished the feat. Even when the joy lasts a lifetime, there was a deep sense of sorrow because the ultimate goal had been attained. There was a certain sense of vacuum and aimlessness that had replaced the earlier objectives. “……and there would be nothing higher to climb and all roads hereafter would lead down?”
HPS Ahluwalia Talks about One the Three Qualities that Learns
HPS Ahluwalia asks himself a number of questions. He examines the enthusiasm behind reaching the top. Why one wishes to reach the top and when one has done so, it becomes an event that happened in the past, whose memory would fade away with every passing day. Then, he realise that reaching the top of the mountain helped him to become aware of the second summit(-) “the summit of the mind”. Climbing the mountains means to overcome the obstacles, obstacles that are both physical and mental.
One requires endurance, persistence and will power to do so. Mountains are nature at its best and they force you to acquire all these three qualities. Climbing the Everest, which is the highest and the mightiest, every bit of your personality is challenged. It requires great force and power, but according to Ahuwalia, it is also a way for communion or spiritual unity with God. He discusses how the passage onwards and back words are both equally difficult and during every moment when you risk your life, you remember God and thank him for every breath that you breathe.
The Smallness of Human beings in the Universe and Concerns fellow Climber
According to Ahluwalia, climbing up the top is one of he life changing experiences. From the top, one doesn’t just see the other smaller peaks but also realises his own smallness vis-à- vis the largeness of the universe. It teaches one the lesson to rise above theusual pettiness. Therefore, the experience is not just physical but emotional and spiritual.
In the fact of death every moment one becomes more and more conscious of life. One erroneous move of a climber can also affect his fellow climber or climbers and the vice-versa. You are, therefore always struggling for your and the life of your fellow climber. You become more and more conscious of the needs of your fellow climbers. You climb or descend always, but usually it enables you to mone onwards. “You draw inspiration from each other.”
Obeisance to God for Enabling to Reach the Summit Within
Reaching the top, one experiences the ultimate form of reverence for God. Every climb left a picture or a symbol of God on the mountain peak. Ahluwalia left the picture of Guru Nanak, while his companion, Rewat placed the picture of Goddess Durga. Others too similarly left relics or symbols of Buddha, Christ and so on.
HPS Ahluwalia talks of the summit of the mind, which is equally important to be climbed. To become more aware of oneself, to gather more knowledge about the interior workings of our mind and nobody but only we on our own could do it. He discusses how the effects of both the climbs are the same. They teach you lessons that last a lifetime.