Based upon a real incident with good old Silent Monk analogies!!!

All that I have ever seen in life — I had seen in that beer party itself!

I could not help but wonder “If life itself is a big beer party” or “a beer party a miniature version of life itself”.

And the gates were open! It was the perfect setting — a beautiful moonlit garden entrapped in the middle of high rise apartment buildings, a small wooden canopy in the middle, a line of barbeque pits towards one corner, and lots and lots of colorful flowers!

Under the canopy was a big round table and on it were placed all sorts of beers, alcohols, whiskey, and I don’t even know what else. The host had put in a lot of effort, and the stage was set for all the guests to arrive.

I. A lot of things are already pre-decided by our hosts before we even arrive to the party.

I wonder if Life is also the same — before we even arrive, the stage is already set for us. The place we live, the food we eat, the culture we adapt — it is all pre decided!

We may eventually carve our own path, but our starting point is always decided by our hosts — on which we often have no control! (And I wonder why I was not born as a millionaire 😃!)

As guests began to arrive, the first thing everyone did was to pick up a can of beer — I guess beer is a starter for the main course. In now time, there were a total of 17 guests in the party — all men in the age group 30 to 55, absolutely thirsty and ready to drink whatever their hand touches first. The beer cans opened first and the conversations started afterwards!

And in this merrymaking festival of sorts, apparently I was the only one who did not drink 😲.

II. We all play to the music of the life. Sometimes, we define the music sometimes we just tap along.

I realized music was such an integral part of this festival —and how the music changed throughout the course of the party!

The music began and the bodies began to wiggle! One can of beer down — feet were tapping and everyone humming along. As beers and whiskey and gin rolled in — the behaviors changed, and so did the music. The music was loud, expressive, a tad bit foul — and so were all the drunk men.

All the inhibitions had gone, and I wondered what magic is there in this foul smelling liquid. Barbeques began — and all I could see was a lot of enthusiastic men wiggling their asses to the music while doing the barbeque. It was a fun sight to watch — yet I would not like to witness (or even imagine) it ever again!

Amidst all the funniest new dance moves being invented, I was silently sitting on the side, drinking apple juice and smiling at life itself.

Such is life as well — Our aspirations, our heartbreaks, our dilemmas, and all that happens around us — is nothing but background music that always keeps playing. And we just have to dance to this tune!

Some of us just sit on the side and watch, some tap their feet lightly, some wiggle their bodies, while some dance thoroughly to the tune and invent latest trendy dance moves.

I guess all are equally good — we just do what our heart desires.

III. Cheek kisses and rib breaking hugs — There is a lot of fun and merriment at the party!

The whiskey and alcohol was pouring at rate that I stopped keeping track of it. And in no time, the merriment was at its peak. Everyone was sharing their funniest adventures and how they are all so smart and the rest of the world so stupid.

And with more and more drinks, cheek kisses and rib breaking hugs began to flow. All were straight men yet the bromance was at the peak.

After a few drinks, “You are my only true brother!” was a common phrase being said by everyone to everyone 😃.

Somehow I never liked the idea of drunk men hugging me tightly and kissing my cheeks, and I desperately try to avoid this! It just appears like a drunk text to me! Or you have to be drunk yourself to be able to appreciate the love and togetherness in those tight hugs or cheek kisses!

While there are people involved in all sort of merriment, there is a silent monk sitting in the corner, drinking apple juice, eating lots and lots of salted peanuts, and very calmly observing the world. People might think he is bored, but trust me — he is having the time of his life.

Drunk men at a party are a treat to watch! They often impart wisdom which no sane man would ever have!

IV. Everyone reacts differently to the same liquid!

In their most drunk state, everyone reacts differently. Some of them laugh at anything, while others just begin to cry. Some become their loudest self, while others go into a “zen” state, and join the silent monk.

Safe to say, such is life as well. Whatever may appear on the outside — we all have an equal share of happiness and sadness in out life.

Yet everyone reacts to it in a different manner.

V. I saw a united group without any discrimination.

There was neither a black glass nor a white glass, neither a Christian glass nor a Jewish glass, neither an American glass nor an Asian glass. They were distinct, yet they were one and the same.

All the discriminatory barriers had been removed and there were just glasses after all — pouring liquid from one glass to the other without any hesitation.

And in all of it, I saw a group that was united, a group that was together.

VI. Eventually everyone goes home!

At the end of the merry making, everyone is tired. The music now changed to the classical Elvis Presley songs. The pace of the party slowed down and we appreciate the same. We just want to rest, look at the photos we have clicked and reflect on the same.

These are the golden sunset years when the party is over. I guess it is now time to go home!

Everyone is tired, yet happy — of all the hard work they have put in, all the memories they have created, and all that they have achieved in this life.

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For all my readers who are beginning to think alcohol is such a great thing, I quote my favorite philosopher Rumi wherein He says:

There are thousands of wines that can take over our minds. Don’t think all ecstasies are the same! — Rumi

I guess in the end we just have to choose our glass of beer — the one that makes us happy, the one that gives the long lasting tranquility, the one that makes us feel satisfied. For some it can be love, for some it can be gratitude, while for some it can be togetherness.

Come sit with me! Let us drink the holy wine of happiness. — Rumi

I am thinking whether I should give beer a try — I guess I will give it a pass. I heard all the drunk men vomited on their way back home. May be there are more downsides to it than the upsides, and why risk if I can get the same emotions on a good cup of tea with my close friends. So that will do!

P.S. In the end when the bill was divided, I ended up paying an equal share — for just drinking apple juice and eating salted peanuts. Such is life as well — we often pay for others merriment 😅.

Please share your thoughts about the article. I love to read reflections from all the readers.
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Another super interesting read from The Silent Monk:

https://medium.com/@thesilentmonk/the-famous-thirsty-crow-opened-an-instagram-account-4514713db851