No Better Place to Meet Yourself, by Moussa Ag Assarid

अपने आप से मिलने की इससे बेहतर जगह नहीं

- मूसा अग अस्सारिद

मूसा अग अस्सारिद ( म ) : मै अपनी उम्र नहीं जानता। मेरा जन्म सहारा के रेगिस्तान में हुआ था, जहाँ जन्म का प्रमाणपत्र नहीं मिलता। मेरा जन्म तोउआरेग्स (Touaregs) के खानाबदोश समुह में, तिम्बुकतु और गाओ के बीच, माली से उत्तर की ओर हुआ था। [...]

पत्रकार ( प ) : तोउआरेग्स (Touaregs) आजीविका के लिए क्या करते हैं ?
म : हम ऊँट, बकरियाँ, भेड़, गाय और गधे चराते हैं, अनन्त और मौन के साम्राज्य में....

प : क्या रेगिस्तान वास्तव में इतना शांत है ?
म : अगर उस शान्ति में आप अकेले हैं तो आप अपने दिल की धड़कन सुन सकते हैं। अपने आप से मिलने की इससे बेहतर जगह नहीं।

प : क्या आपको रेगिस्तान में बीता आपका बचपन याद है ?
म : मै सुरज के साथ उठता हुँ। मेरे पिता की बकरियाँ हैं। बकरियाँ हमें दुध और मांस देती हैं और हम उन्हें पानी और घास वाले इलाकों में ले जाते थे। मेरे पर-दादा ये काम करते थे, मेरे दादा, मेरे पिता और मै भी। इसके अलावा दुनिया में और कुछ नहीं था, और में बहुत खुश था !

प : सच में ? सुन्ने में तो बहुत रोमांचक नहीं लगता।
म : रोमांचक है। सात साल की उम्र में आप समुह से दूर जा सकते हो, और इसके लिए आपको जरुरी चज़ें बतायी जाती हैं - हवा को सूँघना, सुन्ना, ध्यान से देखना, सूरज और तारों के उन्मुख होना...और खो जाने पर ऊँट से मदद लेना। ऊँट तुम्हें पानी के पास ले जाएगा।

प : बेशक ये जानकारी महत्वपूर्ण है।
म : वहाँ हर चीज़ सरल और गहन हैं। बहुत कम चीज़ें हैं पर हर चीज़ का बड़ा मूल्य है।

प : तो उस दुनिया और इस दुनिया में काफी फर्क है।
म : वहाँ, हर छोटी चीज़ खुशी देती है। हर स्पर्श कीमती है। हमें एक दूसरे को छूने मात्र से, सिर्फ साथ रहने से बड़ी खुशी का अनुभव होता है। वहाँ, कोई कुछ बन्ने का स्वप्न नहीं देखता, क्युंके वहाँ, हर कोई पहले से ही है।

प : यूरोप की आपकी पहली यात्रा में आप किस बात से सब से ज़्यादा हैरान हुए ?
म : एयरपोर्ट में मैंने लोगों को दौड़ते हुए देखा। रेगिस्तान में आप तभी दौड़ते हैं जब तूफान आ रहा हो। ज़ाहिर है के मैं डर गया था।

प : वो लोग अपना सामान लेने जा रहे थे, हा हा।
म : जी हाँ, ऐसा ही था। [...]

प : आपको यहाँ कौनसी चीज़ सबसे ज़्यादा नापसंद है ?
म : यहाँ कुछ लोगों के पास सब कुछ है, और उन्हें फिर भी संतोष नहीं। वे शिकायत करते हैं। इस [ आधुनिक दुनिया ] में कई लोग हमेशा ही शिकायत करते रहते हैं ! वे अपने आपको बैंक से बाँध लेते हैं; बहुत लोग चीज़ें पाने के लिए चिंतित रहते हैं। लोग बहुत जल्दी में रहते हैं। रेगिस्तान में ट्रैफिक - जाम नहीं होते, पता है क्यों ? क्युंके वहाँ किसी को एक दूसरे से आगे निकलने में कोई रूचि नहीं है !

प : रेगिस्तान में गहरे - आनंद के एक क्षण के बारे में मुझे बताइये।
म : ये वहाँ हररोज़ होता है, सूर्यास्त से दो घंटा पहले। गर्मी कम हो जाती है, अभी ठंडी हवा बहना शुरू नहीं हुई है, आदमी और जानवर धीरे - धीरे छावनी में वापस आते हैं और उनकी परछाई गुलाबी, नीले, लाल, पीले और हरे आकाश की पृष्ठभूमि (background) में दिखाई देती है।

प : ये तो बहुत ही मोहक है।
म : वो एक जादुई क्षण है... हम सभी तंबू में आ जाते हैं और चाय बनाते हैं। मौन बैठे हुए हम उबलते हुए पानी की आवाज़ सुनते हैं... हम सब शान्ति में डूब जाते हैं : धड़कनें उबलते हुए पानी की लय के साथ ताल मिलाते हुए, पट पट पट...

प : कितना शांतिपूर्ण।
म : हाँ...यहाँ आपके पास घड़ियाँ हैं; वहाँ, हमारे पास समय है।

आत्म-मंथन के लिए कुछ प्रश्न :

क्या आपको प्रकृति के बीच में गहरे - आनन्द के क्षण प्राप्त हुए हैं ?
क्या ऐसा कोई अभ्यास है जो आपको शान्ति में डूबने और ऐसी जगह पहुँचने में आपकी मदद करे जहाँ आप अपने आप से मिल सकें ?

लेखक का संक्षेप में परिचय :

मूसा अग अस्सारिद एक खानाबदोश तोउआरेग्स (Touareg) परिवार के तेरह (13) बच्चों में सबसे बड़े हैं। उनका जन्म उत्तरी - माली में 1975 में हुआ था, वे 1999 में फ्रांस आए, जहाँ उन्होंने मोन्टपेलिएर विश्वविद्यालय (University of Montpellier) में प्रबंधन ( management ) का अभ्यास किया। उप्रुक्त ( above mentioned ) वार्तालाप विक्टर अमेला द्वारा लिए गए उनके साक्षात्कार (interview ) का अंश है।

Moussa Ag Assarid is the oldest of thirteen children in a nomadic Touareg family. Born in northern Mali in 1975, he moved to France in 1999 to study Management at the University of Montpellier. The above is excerpted from an interview with Víctor Amela.

Seed Questions for Reflection

Have you had moments of deep happiness in the midst of nature? Are there any practices that support you in being immersed in calmness and entering a space where you can meet yourself?

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Add Your Reflection

23 Past Reflections

Mary Thomson

Jul 28, 2023

I have had countless moments of deep happiness and pure joy in nature. I like to start my day by going outside and bringing a sense of awe and appreciation to my first moments of the day. I like to pause throughout the day to feel my heartbeat, notice my breath, move my body /stretch, simply be, in a space of calm and meet myself

Neeta Raajkumar

Sep 2, 2021

Life is...Being with nature.. we'll find ourselves for sure. Awesome read it is this itself is so calming.

Hema

Jan 20, 2019

Yes, I experience this silence you are talking about. In that silence, the heart whisperers, the rivers flow, and we can see the wind. Time expands and heart will be filled with contentment. Beautifully explained.

Pranita

Apr 7, 2017

This is the best thing I've read today. :)

Krishna Shethji

Jul 24, 2016

Wonderful read for sure ! I agree that best way to meet yourself is to be in nature without any other rush in mind. My all nature camp trips from my school helps me in overcoming my weaknesses which I have within me like swimming, height phobia, etc. I can spend time with myself introspecting things which I do in life and give a re-think on it.

Thanks for sharing this story :)

Subhalaxmi

Jul 24, 2016

Amazing read! The closing line is most poignant. Not only do we have watches, we have brands of watches...but we don't have time, for family, or for ourselves.
Thanks for making me re-think about what is more valuable in life.

Ramesh Narayan

Feb 3, 2016

Yes, I strive to enter that space where I can meet myself. In fact, in this modern technologically advanced world, I don't know who am I, where am I going and what I want. I am known to the world by my name, my position and what I possess in material terms.

jenny

Dec 28, 2015

As dawn is breaking, sitting with my head resting against the flank of my cow, as I draw the generous flow of sweetly scented milk from her udder. She turns her head and breaths warm sweet breath in my face as her tongue rasps across my cheek. She loves me. f s

Subhalaxmi Jul 24, 2016

Lucky you!

Tricia

Dec 25, 2015

I have traveled in the Sahara, camping for 3 wks at a time, with a Toureg crew & guide. All that he says is true, and as simple and as pure as his description. Absolute silence, and at night a wealth of stars. Clear dry air and no light pollution makes the vastness of the night sky overwhelming. That is part of their environment also.

paras

Dec 24, 2015

funny, everytime i'm at a difficult stage in life i get a reflection that speaks to it. this one was perfectly written. simplicity of life explained is a simple but clear way. the courage to follow the path while the crowd is pulling you in another direction.

arsha gosine

Dec 23, 2015

I had a conversation with a friend in India and I immediately googled the website. Awakin Circles immediately resonated with me and I as read the passage above it made me think further on how we are our worst enemies...... never taking time to nourish our own souls and look within. Yes we have all the conveniences like washing machines vacum cleaners etc to make life easier but we still run around, we still waste our time on frivolous things, frivolous actions. I thank you today for reminding me of the space within and the silence I can experience.

Narendra Goidani

Dec 23, 2015

Reading this has changed my life! I am 47. Had wanted to work till 52 and then devote myself to 'listening to silence'. I just gifted myself two more years of silence.
Thanks a ton. Hugs!!!

Rosie Bachand

Dec 22, 2015

what a blessing to have time and the quiet and peace for our spirit it brings with it.

Mish

Dec 22, 2015

The deep peace of beautiful simplicity....smiling, breathing, going slowly.

Annette

Dec 22, 2015

I live and work in a big city and I deal with the public doing retail which can be so stressful at times especially during the holidaze. That and the fact that my sister recently passed away. I allow myself to grieve and when I can, during breaks at work, I'll sit outside with my face towards the sun (which we have during winter) and just absorb the warmth of it for a while. A sense of peace, calm, and comfort engulfs me as it feels so healing. I try to hang on to that feeling as long as I can as it helps me during the stressful times. Nature is so much bigger than our own problems so for me, to indulge in it's myriad ways of beauty whether it's the sun or rain or birds flying in waves of grace and beauty..........or even observing the wild cats who own the neighborhood as they go through the dynamics of their hierarchies.....it's all grist for the mill in my being grateful for life.

Amy Dec 25, 2015

Love!

Smita

Dec 22, 2015

Every time I read this, a sense of calmness quietens the noise within ....

Sunil,Bangalore

Dec 21, 2015

Desert ,close to nature is sublime.Connected to the life force without hindrance. But life is holistic with many other aspects also.And these are all interconnected to be complete.Let us not isolate to be incomplete but take a 360 degree facts based life view to be immersed in ourselves.Cheers

Miki

Dec 21, 2015

As beautiful as MAA's description is, and as much as I am troubled by the very things about Western Civilization and modernity that he describes, I cannot sidestep two challenging aspects of this.

One is that he actually made the choice to leave the desert and move to France. Without any transparency about what led to that choice, I am challenged to understand it and it leaves a veil of discomfort for me.

The other is that while I don't anything specific about the culture he comes from, many cultures of the desert are very brutal towards women. I cannot gloss over that in reading his description.

I do, personally, love the desert and have a deep personal understanding about the silence and the amazing sky and the sense of such profound and nourishing starkness.

Both are true. It's complex for me.

Tricia Dec 25, 2015

The Toureg women are actually very empowered. They do not veil themselves; the men do. They have a very complex culture, which I have studied after my several visits to the Sahara. As far as moving to France, this is pretty common. The desert life is very simple and beautiful, but, like people anywhere, some want a greater complexity-- to study, to engage the world. Also it is a very hard life with frequent famines. Some who can afford it go back and forth-- live in two worlds. His country undoubtably was once under French rule, and thus French is his second language.

david doane

Dec 20, 2015

I felt some jealousy of Moussa Ag Assarid regarding the simple, basic, pristine experience of which he speaks. I've had some brief moments of happiness in the midst of nature. For example, time I've been in a heavy snow fall when there is no traffic, only the sounds of nature, no one around, and I felt enveloped in snow falling, wind blowing, and cold air. I felt alone with nature, close with nature, part of nature, and I felt happiness and some awe in the midst of nature. Such moments are deepening and special. Meditation, early in the morning before the sun comes up and before traffic and other human noises of the day begin, is a time that supports my being immersed in calmness and facilitates and supports my entering a space in which I meet my individuality as simultaneously part of universality. Such meditation moments are also deepening and special. I'm remembering Paschal's saying that "all men's miseries derive from not being able to si... View full comment

Smita

Dec 19, 2015

This simple story says so much. What MAA describes here is what I call feeling human -- that sweet spot when the mind slows down and there's no rush at all. With all the stimuli we're surrounded by so much of the time, It can be challenging at times to feel human. It's nice to take a break from the stimuli when possible, and when not possible, find ways to feel human in the midst of it.