The Moment that Stood Still…

June 14, 2014


Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.                 
– Saint Augustine 

I am typical 22 year old woman. Still living a student’s life, studying, working, and enjoying my life the best I can, all 365 days of the year. I never really cared what came beyond or before that. Ever since I can remember I have been a strong believer in science, rationality and anything that was bound by perfect logic. 

On a mundane Monday evening, I was travelling back home in the train with my friends. Out of sheer boredom we started to talk of philosophies to live life by. It started with a comparison of different religious beliefs and narrowed down into whether one should or should not be a believer. 

One of my friends had a rather strong opinion; he felt that to live a meaningful life, one has to be a believer. A believer in something; if not ‘GOD’, then perhaps in this magical universe. He then went on to passionately explain how ignorance was bliss and that it was better to believe something blindly, rather than find the reason behind it. Being the stubborn and logically driven person that I am, I argued passionately against every word he said, because in my opinion everything that exists must be bound by logic and if it does not exist one has no reason to believe in it. The debate lasted until we could reach home and towards the end I felt good for having provided perfect arguments against this ignorant plebeian completely bereft of logic. As is the fate of all debates, it died out and was taken over by more important concerns like dinner.

I could never comprehend people who sat down lamenting their fate and waiting for some magical force to solve their problems, Instead of doing something about it or for that matter I was equally dumbstruck when someone who worked hard and thus got rewarded for it, would thank an imaginary entity in the sky rather than credit themselves for it. 
 
A few days later - not very long from the night of the debate, I was having a bad day. Nothing I did turned out to be right, this spell of bad luck continued for a week. My frustrations were getting the better of me. The harder I worked the worse were the results. So I decided to take an evening off to figure out what was going wrong. I dressed up, plugged in music and left my apartment to wander the campus. 

I didn’t plan where I wanted to go, which was very unusual on my part. 30 minutes later I found myself at an isolated lake at the far end of my college campus and I sat down on an old wooden, half broken bench. I don’t exactly know the time but the sun was just about to set. I was gazing towards the horizon lost in my thoughts when a man came jogging up to the bench and sat next to me. He asked me casually, “You alright??” I gave a slight node meaning to say something between yes and a no and continued gazing, I was actually annoyed that he had to come and sit on the same bench that I had occupied. In another 5 minutes he spoke again, “It’ll be fine, just enjoy the sunset”, and saying that he got up and left. 

I don’t know who he was or what he was doing there but I pondered over his last statement and was a little more annoyed, I was the enjoying the sunset and who told him I wasn’t fine? Was it so obvious on my face? However I decided to bottle up my anger and take his advice, I stopped the music, stopped gazing and for the first time I listened, I observed every tiny detail there. It was so quiet, for a moment I was really scared, I had never experienced so much silence in my life. The gushing water and wind swaying the grass added to the eeriness of the scene. For the first time in my life I saw the beauty of this world, I looked at the sky, there was a burst of colours, the bright yellow of the sun slowly disappearing to form a blood orange disc, moving so slowly. It was perfectly blending with the blue sky, fading away to dark. The mellow sunlight of the setting sun illuminated everything and I had a landscape in front of me that occurred day after day and yet I had noticed it today for the first time. It was nothing less than a masterpiece painted in front of my eyes. It made me smile and all logic failed me. Right there I knew how silly I had been worrying about small things, and somehow I felt everything would be fine. I was filled with an inner peace and I was content, after a span of days I was smiling.
 
I had no reason or explanation to why I was so happy when everything was falling apart. I thought harder to find a reason and just then I heard a voice, - you don’t need a reason. And it was true I didn’t need a reason, I just had to accept the feeling, the feeling of being content and most importantly being at peace. It was in that moment that I closed my eyes and stopped searching for a reason, I just believed in that one moment.

In that one moment I understood that the true meaning of life was to be happy and that happiness is a state of mind and not a state of being. I became a believer in that one moment that completely stood still for me.





By Jane Tellis
Jane Tellis is currently pursuing Master of Science in Computational Mechanics at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. She previously studied BE Mechanical from NMAM Institute of Technology,Nitte, Karnataka. Her hobbies include reading, singing and travelling.
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Comment on this article

  • Oliver Sutari, Manipal

    Wed, Jun 18 2014

    Dear Ms. Tellis,

    Congratulations on writing an article that invites contemplation - that, too, at such a young age.

    It is only when the mind is still that we are able to appreciate God's handiwork around us.

    I have, but one correction. (I sincerely hope you will forgive me for it.) You have mentioned that happiness is a state of mind and not a state of being.

    Broadly, human beings find themselves in two states: a state of WANTING and a state of BEING. The state of wanting is a state where a person imposes conditions to his or her own happiness. A person living in this state seldom finds enduring happiness.

    On the other hand, the state of being is a state of acceptance and, therefore, is a state that brings lasting happiness, even under difficult circumstances.

    Remember what the voice told you - that you don't need a reason (condition)to be happy. This, precisely, is the state of being.

    In the Holy Bible there is a beautiful verse that goes like this:

    "Be still and know that I am God." It is in that stillness you discovered God's presence. When people come to me for counselling, I encourage them to remain still for a while when I find them agitated. It is amazing to see them calm down within minutes.

    May you feel God's love all your life and happiness that comes only from knowing Him.

  • Molly Munro, Abu Dhabi

    Wed, Jun 18 2014

    Your article which I read this morning lifted my spirit and filled me with positive energy, your article is truly wonderful to stir my inner self and awaken me once again to the true meaning of life, thanks a lot dear, God bless you.

  • Rita, Germany

    Wed, Jun 18 2014

    @dear Bhandu saheb,Thank you for the compliments.If you really mean it about Meeting will have to wait till next year about in Mai .let me think over it.Anyway you can leave back your mail address,as you know already on this Forum.Thank you.

  • Rita, Germany

    Wed, Jun 18 2014

    @ Duje Porob,topic of discussions are three things.1)Bhandu Maam is travelling to Germany)meet Rita 3)Meeting Jane to see if she is still sitting on the same bench and discussing about her thema. Thank you for your interest.

  • PRABHU, Mlore

    Tue, Jun 17 2014

    BANDU ma'am referring to H. B.
    Yek Dooje Kay leeya
    2 rampa ..........

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Jun 17 2014

    For a 'Duje Porob' aa' your English is excellent! I stood still for a moment and then it struck me ! You must have a weird reason for adopting that queer name.
    Anyways here I have always dwelled on the 'Moment' which the beautiful Tellis has tellingly told
    and which has the capability to reform.

  • Duje Porob, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 17 2014

    So now what is the topic of our discussions ? Is it Jane's nice article or Bando Mam's forthcoming visit to Germany to meet Madam Rita !!!

  • Vinod John, Manipal

    Tue, Jun 17 2014

    Article is good.. Its a nicr day of a young girl who is living her logical life. I liked the wordings as I could imagine it!
    But think of it, isn't the real world far from just the philosophical feel watching one sunset.
    I like the comments section where the real world exists. Commenting and defending the entire world!
    Well whats life without people and the arguments(ok... discussions!)

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Jun 17 2014

    Madam Rita....
    It's personalities like you also who make a 'moment stand still'. Remember today the world is such that you do not have time for your so called 'dear ones' also. The thought to 'invite' also does not enter anybody's mind. How then can
    one find a 'moment to cherish ?A 'thought process' as yours is also difficult to find nowadays.Thank you so much and so what if not in Germany? Let me know if you come down to India...We'll meet...
    By the way...Ek Pal-means 'One Moment' and 'Aaanewalla Pal Jaanewalla Hai' means the 'second which comes has to go too'....
    Cheerio...

  • PRABHU, Mlore

    Tue, Jun 17 2014

    SENO RITA.....
    YOUR OPEN INVITE PROMPTS ME TO RECOMMEND YOU FOR A SPECIAL DAIJI AWARD "SENO RITA THE SWEETHEART OF DAIJIANS."
    All the best thanks for being sweet .
    BANDU AWAITING permission.

  • Rita, Germany

    Tue, Jun 17 2014

    Dear Bhandu Saheb,you Need not even write any Hindi which I dont understand.without any article the one who wants to visit me are welcome.specially in a foreign Country when we just hear someone is a Gauwali,then our heart flys there and feel like how I(WE) felt in the beginning and thought of inviting.This Country is not like UAE:Afterall she is still Young might feel lonely.(of course she will have of same aged friends.)Now if you too want to come welcome.Ask Bejai Mai s permission first.Have a nice day.

  • anita britto, Mangalore/Auckland

    Mon, Jun 16 2014

    Beautiful inspiring article, Jane. We all have our 'epiphany' moments which result in a leap of understanding and awareness. Euphoric moment which can not be explained logically.

    Hope to read more from you, Jane.

  • Prabhu, Mlore

    Mon, Jun 16 2014

    JANITA
    WHEN JANE MEETS RITA.......will
    REMIND ME OF THE HEIDELBERG MACHINE I USED TO WORK ON (30 years back parting with it was the most difficult moment )

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Mon, Jun 16 2014

    Now Dear Rita Madam,if I write a article titled 'The Moment That Wafted By'...or 'Aaanewalla Pal Jaanewalla Hai' can I get a similar invite or something close?
    Mangalore is also not that far way
    (these days nothing is) and I will somehow manage....
    'The Moment'- !('Ek Pal') -There are too many beautiful lyrics on the 'Moment' and they say it say it just requires a 'click' or for that matter just a 'kick' for one to know the mysteries and get enlightened! However the prerequisite is that you should be 'aware' or on the look-out for the 'moment' throughout!Is it not?

  • Rita, Germany

    Mon, Jun 16 2014

    Dear Jane,nice article.Sometimes as you wrote ,I see peolpe,students mostly just plug up their ears with Music and walk,never see right or left or concentrate only with their iphones ,mails,wherever they go whatever they do,forget themselves and the nature,a word to neighbours.by doing this I find something worthful they are missing in life.well Stuttgart is not far from Heidelberg,if you want can come to usand spend a day.write us if you wish.mail address is lasrado.rita@yahoo.de.all the best.

  • Raj, Mangalore

    Sun, Jun 15 2014

    I had been on a trek to Kumara Parvatha with my friends one day, it is the 3rd Highest peak in Karnataka. We pitched up our tent on the peak and built a small fire near the tent. Till then we had not cared to look up at the sky, it was very cold, it was taking too much effort to even come outside the tent. but wen we did look up, we were awestruck, zillions of zillions of stars spread throughout the vast expense of the sky, i had never seen so many stars in the sky in my life before.nobody spoke for a long time,i had never felt that feeling before, it was a sense of peace and freedom and solitude all together and a sense of excitement when i realized that i was in the middle of a Huge forest range. All logical thoughts shattered...

  • Prabhu, Mlore

    Sun, Jun 15 2014

    Jane with due respects to your thoughts, feeling and experience....
    i wish to add you had an experince seeing the setting if the sun and the beauty that surrounds it. It captured you for a moment and that moment became a part if your life.
    It was the thought that someone made it or created it.!
    I have in life gone one step further in thinking .....
    If someone created this marvel then someone must have created the creater too..that is logic.

  • geoffrey, hat hill

    Sun, Jun 15 2014

    The writer, until her rendezvous with her turning point/enlightenment on that half broken bench (Budha had his under the Bodhi tree !) had been a typical logical positivist like most of us are. The reason is most of us remain oblivious to the fact that even logic itself at grass root level relies on certain axioms. It appears at this stage of our evolution there are only two ways to comprehend things either by application of logic and reasoning or by experience or faith. In many areas, where the former fails, the latter triumphs and they need not necessarily be complementary to each other, in fact in many a domain they contradict each other. Popular sayings like ‘nothing is impossible, impossible is a word only to be found in the vocabulary of fools, do motivate us towards acquiring more and more knowledge. But the harsh reality is even greats like Newton and Einstein have gone to their graves with many unresolved mysteries in their minds.

  • sylvia, udupi/Dandeli

    Sun, Jun 15 2014

    Dear Jane
    Good artical,continue inspiring

  • Hilary Tellis, karkala/ Bahrain

    Sun, Jun 15 2014

    Very good article dear Jane. Keep it up.

  • Freema Castelino, Kuwait

    Sun, Jun 15 2014

    Lovely Article Jane. Hope to see more of your articles.

  • Lance D' Costa, Mangalore / Abu Dhabi

    Sun, Jun 15 2014

    A nice thought provoking writeup..rightly explains how positive and negative feelings and thoughts affect one's state of mind and happiness. Keep writing Jane...

  • Vincent Rodrigues, katapadi/Bangalore

    Sat, Jun 14 2014

    Students life is the best life in our life.Try to extend this with better performance and all the best.

  • Joe Gonsalves, Mangalore

    Sat, Jun 14 2014

    I have just read Jane's article and thought that I would share my feelings on the situation. Obviously God has been good to Jane all the time. Not having experienced any difficulties earlier, her present slightly different situation possible is the cause of her worry and concern.

    LIFE IS A STRUGGLE and perhaps not having experienced any adverse situations earlier Jane seems troubled with her first difficulty.

    All that I can say is THAT THE SUN SHONE YESTERDAY AND IT WILL SHINE AGAIN TOMORROW.

    Young lady - have positive approach to life and think positively too.

    Joe Gonsalves

  • John DSouza, Mangalore/Qatar

    Sat, Jun 14 2014

    Congratulations Jane, though mechanical is your profession, wonderful is your faith and belief
    Faith is to believe what you do not see the reward of this faith is to see what you believe
    Mother St. Rita is a very good inspiration for patience and son St. Augustine is for faith/belief
    Misery is blindness with eyes of vision we can’t see, sharp ears and mouths are not functional
    Blindness, ignorance, arrogance and ego makes human to follow the style and fashion in silence
    Though the heavy burden can be pulled easily, we carry it with fuel, pollution and high costs
    Knowledge is power, wisdom is powerful, Jesus is the way, truth and life, wish you good luck

  • Antony Cony D Souza, Karkala / Qatar

    Sat, Jun 14 2014

    Well placed unique thoughts.

    Inner peace at times of rarest kind to get the same from the real world.

    In general, life has become so crazy, noisy where is the time to listen to the outer world or to be obedient to the elders !. It is not late, you found it with or without logic.

    More over, if the same state of mind is applied with God as a Firm Believer, well, Lasting Peace will be yours and no one will be able to take it away from you ever too. Cheers Jane !

  • Benjamin, Mangalore/USA

    Sat, Jun 14 2014

    Good Article.


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