Living the Paradox

Autoshaw on street under repair, Connaught Place, New Delhi

As New Delhi prepares to host the Commonwealth Games, there are signs of activity all over the city. To a foreigner there is a sense of chaos, with the general movement of so many people and vehicles, the construction of roads and flyovers, sport stadiums and venues, the beautification of city streets and parks, and renovations occurring in accommodation centres and general facilities.

With just two weeks to go to the commencement of the Games, and the amount of work that still appears to be remaining, one wonders whether all the works will be completed in time. Adding to the apparent chaos is an unusually extended monsoonal season. As a result, the Yamuna River has risen to a record high in 30 years, resulting in flooding parts of the city, causing widespread mud and debris and movement of some people from homes.

Homeless on streets of Delhi

The paradox of this city is evident.

Amidst all the mud and slush and drab conditions of this monsoonal season, and the chaos, there are immaculately presented people, particularly women dressed in brightly coloured sarees with perfectly groomed hair. When you look at the surrounding conditions and then notice the women who walk alongside you in the mud-strewn streets, one wonders how they manage to still appear so perfectly groomed.

Amidst these perfectly groomed and beautiful women is the common sight of bedraggled and begging men, women and children, and plenty of others sleeping in public places, on pavements and benches, and in vehicles. Despite the chaos of the traffic that seems to be ordered only by the tooting of horns, pedestrians do not seem to be rushed, but rather walk along at a very leisurely pace, a far different cry to the rush of people movement in the streets of Sydney or Melbourne.

Typical scene on highway, Delhi - Agra

In contrast, amidst all this apparent chaos, a serenity exists. Less than one hour’s drive from Connaught Place, a central hub in New Delhi city, is the Garden of Five Senses, a beautiful haven of serenity, not far from the well visited site of Qatar Minar. Many young romantics seek out this garden to get away from it all and pursue romantic activities – on every park bench and well positioned bushes!

Prayer for Peace, Garden of Five Senses

India, it seems, is very much a country of paradox.

If you can see through the obvious chaos, there is a strong spirituality and serenity of its people. Worship of the Almighty is very visible: icons displayed extensively, in places such as homes, offices, shops and market places, footpaths and vehicles, often with aromatic and colourful adornments; the communal and private worship of people; and the public and regular celebrations of religious festivals.

In the same way, on an individual level, our own lives can be quite chaotic, but there is more to the story. The chaos is the exterior of our lives and living out the belief that we need to keep up with it all, but that is not essentially who we are. Beneath all the chaos, if we allow ourselves to stop awhile, we can notice the quiet of our inner selves, and the serenity that dwells within, often hidden to us, but is the essential nature of our being.

Water lily, Garden of Five Senses

Like the experience of India, paradox seems to be part of our world and part of ourselves. Rather than feeling torn apart by paradox and contradiction, perhaps we can embrace the lot, chaos and serenity together, recognising they are two sides of the same coin. If we wish to have more peace in our lives, it is important that we honour and give space to the quiet space within us, despite the external chaos.