Are you sliding into a place so dark you don’t even realize it? Gopal sat in the corner of the correctional home, staring blankly at the walls. It had been five years since he was caught trying to murder his cousin in a fit of rage. Family feuds had always been part of his life—land disputes, inheritance arguments, accusations that tore his once close-knit family apart. But now, as he sat in silence, that question echoed louder than any of their fights.
Though he was away from the daily clashes, Gopal’s mind remained restless. Every night, he replayed old arguments and betrayals, holding on to the grudges like prized possessions. The thought of revenge festered, sometimes keeping him awake until dawn. He imagined ways he could exact justice, and it brought him temporary satisfaction, but deep down, the bitterness never truly left.
One afternoon, the correctional home organized a meditation session. Usually, Gopal ignored these activities. But something about this one was different. The soft sounds of music filled the air, and the instructor, a gentle woman with a calm presence, began speaking in a soothing voice. Her words painted pictures of serene landscapes and peaceful skies, guiding everyone to relax.
At first, Gopal resisted. He had no time for peace, not when his mind was so filled with anger. But slowly, without realizing it, he began to let go. His thoughts quieted down, and for the first time in years, he felt a strange sense of calm. The knot in his chest started to loosen, and the images of revenge that usually plagued him faded away, replaced by a profound stillness.
When the session ended, the instructor approached him. “How are you feeling?” she asked gently.
Gopal opened his eyes slowly, blinking as if waking from a dream. “I… I don’t know how to explain it. I feel… peaceful.”
The woman smiled. “I understand. I can see you’ve been through a lot, Gopal. But let me ask you something—are you sliding deeper into thoughts that no longer serve you?”
Gopal hesitated. He had never spoken about this to anyone. “It was years ago,” he finally said. “When my uncle accused my father of cheating the family. Since then, it’s been one thing after another.”
She nodded. “And ever since, you’ve held on to that anger, haven’t you?”
He looked down at his hands, fidgeting with the edges of his shirt. “I guess… yes.”
She leaned in slightly. “Gopal, however compelling the reasons may be, the moment we start a negative train of thought about someone, our sliding has begun, and we lose control. The more you dwell on those thoughts, the deeper you slide into a pit of anger and revenge.”
Her words struck something deep within him. For the first time, he truly wondered—are you sliding without even knowing it? He had always believed his anger was justified, but now, sitting in the aftermath of the meditation session, he realized how much control he had lost.
“I’ve never thought of it that way,” Gopal admitted. “It’s always been about what they did to me.”
“But now,” the instructor said, “you have the power to take back control. Not by seeking revenge, but by changing how you think. The moment you notice your mind sliding, pause and ask yourself—are you sliding again?”
Gopal left the session with more to think about than he had anticipated. The idea that his anger had been controlling him, rather than the other way around, was new. He spent the following nights lying awake, not plotting revenge, but reflecting on the years he had spent chained to his grudges. Was it worth holding on so tightly to the past?
Gradually, he started attending more meditation sessions. Each time, he felt the same quiet, soothing sense of release wash over him, just as it had in that first session. It wasn’t immediate, nor was it a straight path, but with each day, the weight on his shoulders lightened.
He began recognizing the moments when his mind would slip back into old patterns. He could almost hear the question now like a whisper in his mind: Are you sliding? That single line had become his anchor.
Weeks turned into months. One day, as he sat alone in his room after a session, Gopal noticed something. The familiar bitterness wasn’t there. The anger that had once filled every corner of his mind was now just a faint echo. He didn’t feel the constant pull of revenge anymore.
It wasn’t that his family had changed. They were still the same people, with the same history. But he had changed. And it all began the day he dared to ask himself, are you sliding, or are you finally climbing out?
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