Risk is an essential part of human life. And it is in the moment of taking risk that one finds the true meaning of life, explains Niharika Nigam
As one goes through the daily discourse of life, the question of spirituality crops up at almost all circumstances. After all, it is connected to our very existence and the role we play in the scheme of things. We have all heard of that ‘life-changing spiritual experience’ that evoked in one a sense of gratitude for being alive. None of that can really be described in scientific terms even if the spiritual experience does correspond with the scientific experience of discovery and insight. The significance runs deeper than what we have perceived life to be. People lay immersed in religion and spirituality, visiting temples after temples, in order to find the meaning of life. Yet, one has to challenge the very basis of life in order to find meaning and semblance to the whole system.
Mortality is fascinating to mankind, despite its fragile nature. We are found to be fascinated by things that would ultimately ruin us, making it a catch-22 situation to work upon the allure. One can never put a finger on our fleeting friend mortality. We indulge in thrill-seeking activities and are caught up in this cycle between life and death. The logic is simple — the individual faces the possibility of success or failure alone. Usually, deep within the self, one has resonating questions such as “Will I be able to return to the safe confines of my home” or “Can I defy the framework of mortality” and so on. Defiance is the state of rebellion that every human being strives to achieve — a control over his surroundings and life. In effect, an enthusiast puts his/ her life on the line, at least as a rehearsal of victory and personal renewal, to attain the lust for life. These experiences solidify variations on the all-encompassing theme of human existence: to live and be reborn whilst hurtling inexorably towards death.
In the case of Bungee jumping — where one has to take a leap from buildings and structures, the risk of death and serious injury looms gravely, in exchange for a sense of euphoria and entitlement. One gets to confront death in a literal sense, acing it to be soaked in a sense of appreciation towards one’s existence. In jumping, every small thing dictates life or death, making one feel vibrant yet humble, in the simplest terms. Knowing and controlling time and the presence of life is important, as our existence is anything but static. To rejoice this defiance is one thing, but wisely knowing when to give up trying is an act of maturity. Often, one knows how to balance thrill with the sheer act of foolishness, opting for the former gladly. Such is the journey of faith, the grist of a human spiritual life, filled with moments of heart-thumping wonder. Most of us love the pounding heartbeat, rapid breathing, nervous perspiration, and the butterflies in the stomach that come from participating in a hazardous experience. The beauty of this is that all such experiences are secular, without an inch of religious bias. Bungee Jumping doesn’t segregate a Hindu from a Muslim — it seeks to celebrate the presence of life, free from prejudices and the harsh hand through which life deals reality to us.
Sport can increase spiritual awareness as enthusiasts embrace the tension between renewal and failure from moment to moment, which makes sport a ritual activity. Risk-taking deepens and intensifies the experience, creating a ritual encounter with the power of life and death at each bend. It also urges us to grow and widen our perspectives as we go up to take bigger challenges, like taking a larger leap. There is something called as the leap of faith, where one blindly plummets into the unknown, keeping faith in mind. The transcendence of life is the key learning here. We are all in for an adventure of a lifetime, with our own share of hikes and pitfalls. To maintain humility and humanity through all of it is what one requires to attain. In times of heightened awareness — what’s called being “in the zone” — spiritual insight is possible, offering one a transcendent perspective on life itself.
Throughout our lives, we have gotten various examples where great religious leaders are depicted addressing the tension between renewal and failure in all experience. In most of these depictions, the personal stakes were interminably high: Jesus “played the game” of reckoning with mortality and went to his cross a failure and yet, the cross itself became a source of Christian resurrection. Buddha also struggled to come to grips with his failure to find contentment and happiness. Only when he gave up his quest for these things and embraced suffering as the intractable nature of existence did he, paradoxically, find spiritual renewal in enlightenment. And Muhammad was at first anguished by self-doubt and poor self-esteem, feeling like a failure in life. He then accepted himself as he was and, again by a paradox, found spiritual renewal when he fully submitted his life selflessly to his God, Allah.
These lessons show us the importance of taking risk to savour the victory. These very risks lead to greater disruptions in mankind, with an emergence of a new revolution to ride on. life after all is a sense of adventure and we should all embrace the inconsistencies and inconveniences and take whatever it doles out, in our stride.
The writer is Director, Business Development at Jumpin Heights
