About 15 years back, I engaged in a tandem skydiving experience. This entails jumping from an airplane approximately 10,000 feet high and plummeting into the sky along with your instructor. Then, upon his cue, you pull the parachute and soar up into the sky for a breathtaking view of the landscape below until finally making an expert landing on the ground—safe and sound. This is called a Tandem Jump- where two people jump out of an airplane together, strapped to one another during the entire descent.
When I started my spiritual journey, I realized that tandem skydiving and the path of self-realization share many similarities. These are the steps undertaken to execute both the adventures safely and perfectly:
1. LEAP OF FAITH
This is the hardest step in skydiving.
Letting go and taking the leap of faith is incredibly difficult, but this is the most crucial step in starting this adventure.
I remember sitting in the airplane, looking down at the abyss of nothingness and trying to summon the courage to jump into the clouds.
Krsna gives His final teaching in Bhagavad Gita: ‘Let go and have no fear.’ He urges us to break free from all varieties of shackles of this world and take only His shelter completely. He has promised complete protection, perfection, freedom, and success to those adopting this instruction. Such a leap of faith that leads to ‘perfection of life’ is most glorious. This is the conclusive instruction of the Bhagavad Gita.
However, as minute living entities inhabiting a body and a corner of the world, we tend to become very attached and comfortable with our material situation. In such a condition, detaching from the body, material accomplishments, properties, comforts, etc., and accepting a life of selfless devotional service can be daunting.
Thus, Krsna reassures us ‘to have no fear.’ His loving arms beckon– us to let go of all the fears, attachments, dependence, and identifications and commit ourselves wholeheartedly to His love and service.
2. JUMP IN TANDEM
No one will allow you to jump from an airplane solo. But you can’t Tandem Jump with Just Anyone!
One needs a licensed skydiver, an expert in the field who will skillfully guide you and do most of the work during the landing. These certified skydivers have undergone rigorous training, with hundreds of jumps and hours of freefall to their credit.
A journey of self-realization or devotional service is not a solo expedition either. Rather, it is undertaken with a group of like-minded people and, most importantly, under the guidance of an advanced spiritualist who will help one navigate the ups and downs of this journey.
As glorious as such a dive is- we are recommended to jump in tandem with a superior authority guiding us; an expert diver can capably guide you through thick and thin. Similarly, one undertakes the spiritual journey in tandem with a spiritual master, an authorized teacher who can instruct, teach, encourage, and chastise us. A dive from material life into spiritual practices necessitates redesigning and modifying one’s life to accommodate and support spiritual activities.
3. THE FREEFALL
The average human body falls at a speed of 120 miles per hour from the sky. It is indeed an exhilarating, liberating experience!
A deep dive into the spiritual world is even more enthralling as the illusion and darkness caused by material nature start dissolving. One can immediately feel the excitement and exhilaration of liberation from the shackles of the material world. A sharp turn occurs from ignorance to knowledge, darkness to light, and melancholy to happiness.
As one embarks on the spiritual journey, adopts the lifestyle of service and association with devotees, hears and reads the scriptures, chants the names, and visits the holy places- the bondage of the material world starts breaking. Contact with divinity instantly reveals the lies created by this world and the falsity of our position in it. Thus, one understands their true, original position as a free, supremely conscious entity in the spiritual world rather than a weak, fearful, encaged being in the confines of the body and this world.
4. SOARING THE SKIES
Once the parachute opens, you will be pulled upwards into the heights and soar through the skies—like a free bird who escaped the cage.
Behold the fantastic view, feel the wind beneath your wings, and enjoy the serenity. This freedom, peace, and bliss are inexpressible.
In spiritual life as well, once we dare to let go and face the freefall, what comes next is truly sublime, subtle, and beyond mundane. What you experience next is beautiful realizations and reciprocations from Krishna, His presence and participation in your life, and His plans for you unfolding with each passing day. Life becomes a tapestry woven with divine qualities, topmost potential, beautiful experiences, interesting adventures, heartfelt relationships, excitement, and hope. You feel tranquility amidst all the adventures, hope amidst all the miseries, and profound relief amidst all the pain. What a Beautiful Life!
5. LANDING
Finally, guided by your tandem instructor- you reach the goal!
Thus, one gracefully lands in perfect style amidst the uproar of friends waiting to welcome you.
I imagine this is how one’s spiritual master will drop one off at the gates of the spiritual world in the loving arms of the Lord, who eagerly awaits our arrival. This is the perfection of life and the ultimate success of all endeavors.
DIVE DEEP AND FLY HIGH
Would you dare to leap and soar through the vast skies and bask in the love of the Lord or stay rooted to your spot, holding on tight to the same old comforts, enjoyments, worthless activities, and mundane affairs? Do we dare miss out and never know the Greatness, Happiness, Love, and beauty that so many before us have experienced and that awaits us on the other end of this journey?
The Lord gave us His final teaching in the Bhagavad Gita, instructed us to jump, and promised all success. He is the Absolute Truth, and I feel no reason to doubt His word if He guarantees to catch us when we take the leap of faith.
Moreover, Krishna gives us all the resources to dive successfully- He provides us with a teacher, a parachute, and wonderful friends to cheer us on. Spiritual success is achieved in tandem – where one is always accompanied by a teacher, a master – an expert guide who factually has our back and literally will not let us down! His mission is to see us fly in the skies and help us land safely at the desired destination. In return, we put our complete faith in him and the words/promise of God.
Therefore, take that leap of faith and do not fear- the exhilarating freedom, the thrill, the beauty, and the bliss await on the other side of that jump. I pray that all of us find the courage to make—
‘A Tandem Jump and Fly High’
Very beautifully explained! Totally agree. Grateful for making the concepts so clear and succinct!
Amazing analogy comparing Sky diving to Spiritual Life. Thank you for your blogs with original thoughts full of realizations. Koti koti Dandavats.