“Hey, are you back from your holiday yet or what?” , asked Eric, sounding quite anxious on the phone
Oh yeah, I came back over the weekend, mate. Wassup?
“Oh! Good…Two things…
Firstly, I am planning to take a break myself – God knows I need one very badly. So I wanted to check if I can visit the same places you went to.
Secondly, I am stuck with some of the quiz questions, so I wanted to know when you are going to share the answers”
Let’s get to the quiz in a while. First tell me..what sort of break do you need?
“What a weird question! Of course, a nice place where I can take a break from all the city stress!”
Ah! Waste of good money. A place by itself doesn’t relieve stress. It has no power to do so, if you just land up there.
C’mon, Eric. Do you believe that the people who live in mountains and beaches are free from all stress all their life?
“Oh crap! No. Then what should I seek in a break?”
Seek to refresh, rejuvenate and renew. That is the perfect break – wherever you are on holiday.
“I have seen some travel brochures that promise that as well”
(I sighed!)
Eric, forget about travel brochures for a few minutes and listen to me
“Ok” he said in a resigned voice.
Some folks believe you can refresh, rejuvenate and renew (the 3R’s), just by visiting a mountain or a beach resort. Others believe you need to do an activity like hiking or river rafting or mountain biking. Some others suggest you enjoy the experience of a spa or sauna or nightclub.
Many of these can at best, help you relax.
“Isn’t that good enough?”
Perhaps..but know that the effect on you will be temporary. At best, it is like pouring cold water on a hot car radiator to cool it down. When the effect of the relaxation wears off, the radiator will heat up again.
“Yeah, I see what you mean. I have tried these in the past, but on the Mondays when I have to get back to work, I feel like crap!”
Right, Eric. So, here’s the deal. If you are really committed to taking a perfect break to Refresh, Rejuvenate and Renew, I will tell you the secret of the 3 R’s. It will relieve all your stress and the results will last long after you return to the city.
“Do tell. I am committed”, he said with sincerity in his voice.
This is the secret.
The perfect break is when you rejuvenate all the 8 chambers during your holiday.
(He was stunned). “All 8 chambers? But how?”
Wherever you go on holiday,
When you visit a tranquil place with an expansive view, you rejuvenate chamber 1
When you perceive all sights and sounds there without judgment, you rejuvenate chamber 2
When you pacify all your sense organs, you rejuvenate chamber 3
When you increase the vitality in your body, you rejuvenate chamber 4
When your emotions are in harmony with the energy of the place, you rejuvenate chamber 5
When you contemplate and drop all the maps that are causing you stress, you rejuvenate chamber 6
When you reduce your arbitrary clinging to ‘Me’ and ‘Mine’, you rejuvenate chamber 7
When you recognize your real nature in a flash of insight, you rejuvenate chamber 8
So, when you rejuvenate all 8 chambers, you will have ‘the perfect break’!
“Somehow…. it sounds right…but at the same time, difficult to pull off”.
True. But look at it this way. Whether you take ‘the perfect break’ for 1 week or 1 month, it’s effect will last for years to come.
So, set this as your goal.
Because, that’s the kind of break that you really need!
“What does it feel like to have a perfect break?”
It feels like a prolonged ice-cold bath to mind, body, heart and spirit!
“Wow! I can imagine how that will feel. Thanks buddy ”
You are welcome.
“By the way….during my break, I plan to crack the quiz…Its too complicated to solve here in the city”
Eric, the complications are not in the questions
The complications are in the mind and energy of the reader!
When you are refreshed, rejuvenated and renewed, you will not go round in circles or give up in frustration!
“Actually, I came up with many answers, already. I want to run them past you”, Eric said proudly, showing them to me.
Nice, Eric. That’s a great start. These are very good answers, indeed.
“But I suspect there is a catch, isn’t there?”
(I smiled). Yeah Eric. When you take a perfect break, you will realize that….
All those quiz questions just have 1 common, ultimate answer!
Find it. And the treasure hunt is over for you.
The Urban Monk diaries 
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