“Heaven”

 

: “Heaven”

Listening to descriptions of heaven again and again, I, too, leave all my ten tasks unfinished and set out to see heaven for myself.

As soon as I enter heaven, I receive, like everyone else, a magical bag of my own choice. The bag speaks—

“I am your companion. You will receive all help and support from me while you are in heaven.”

Before beginning the journey, I wish to rest a while.
A green meadow spreads before me—flowers in full bloom, butterflies fluttering, trees heavy with fruits—such a delightful orchard!
I sit down, breathe in the pure air, and feel blissful. Then I wonder—what might this orchard be made of? Though it looks metallic, it feels soft. I try to scratch it. The bag says,

“This orchard is made of five metals—iron, gold, copper, silver, and brass—along with wood and silicon. It is durable, unbreakable, and unaffected by sun, rain, or storm. Trying to scratch it is useless.”

My hand instinctively reaches for the trees laden with fruits—apples, oranges, lychees, mangoes, bananas, grapes, and kiwis.
I eat them and, satisfied, start walking to behold the gods—those adorned with gold, diamonds, and precious stones—as imagined by humans on earth.

But then, the bag speaks again—

“Please pay the proper price for the orchard stay and the fruits you have eaten!”

“Price?” I ask.
“Yes,” replies the bag.
“I have nothing with me,” I say.

“Inside the bag is the book you wrote. Place it on that beautiful marble table. Nothing here is free. Everything is available, but one must consume according to need and contribute to production according to ability. Everyone here is equal.”

I feel happy that my book can serve as payment—so literature, too, has value here!
After placing the book, I recall my magical companion.
“I wish to see the gods, the fairies, the celestial palace, and the throne. Please take me there, my bag!”

“There is no such thing here,” says the bag. “Here all beings—humans, animals, and plants—are equal. Animals, birds, and trees all speak the eternal universal language. Everyone consumes as per need and contributes as per ability. There is no ruler or ruled, no great or small. But you may visit Sarva-Aawas, the universal dwelling, to see how all coexist.”

Sarva-Aawas!
Plants, birds, animals, and humans all living together!
Flowers blooming, birds raising their chicks in nests, animals roaming freely, and humans—without rulers or hierarchies—living joyfully, in harmony with all.

Ah! So this is what heaven truly is!