India, Sept. 27 -- Many of us have been striving to fulfil the spiritual purpose of life. Or at least pretending to do so! The saints say that realising our oneness with the Lord is the only real goal. The much-vaunted destination appears perennially distant, though. Effort is progress, says the wise one. And we have no choice but to believe him, for we can discern no evidence of having galloped past spiritual milestones, as per latest updates.

Yet, at times, Mother Nature and the divine hand indeed seem to be kind and loving, even if we happen to be inordinately restless individuals. But we hardly feel any divine joy, unless we are receptive to it. Life appears to be dotted with elements of drudgery. Still, a sense of mirth sometimes we...