: 2 :
“I feel, this street has lost its serenity now. When I started living here, there were many wise people like you staying in this street. But the situation has changed now. This Street is lacking good people now. People flourish in their business day by day. With the increase of wealth, they compete with one another and flaunt for their richness. I think of relocating in the Celestial City,” Pious repents.
“Is there any place like Celestial City?” Reasonable inquires.
I have a dream couple of nights back which I was about to inform you, but waiting for a right moment. I saw that God is calling me to the Celestial City which is situated on the hilltop which is surrounded by greeneries and a River of Life. He wants me to devote my life to religious activities.” Soul further clarifies.
“I don’t want you to leave this place. I will lose a great friend.” Reasonable express his discomfort.
“I have to leave; please don’t prevent me with your love-band. I know I am one of your close associates and you, a well-wisher of mine, please allow me to stay afloat, enjoy the God’s blessings and chant his name round the clock. The present environment is not good enough and I can’t stay here anymore.”
“OK, if you stick to your decision, I will also come with you and be a part of your journey to peace.” Reasonable strongly declares his wish.
“You have a responsibility of your family to shoulder on – a charming wife and two children. You are young too. You can not leave them in the lurch and be my companion.
“This is not a correct your decision,” Pious manages to convince Reasonable.
Pious starts his journey. At sunset, he arrives near a sealed closed door and knocks its but gets no reply. Again, he knocks with more effort and the door opens. Pious finds a very beautiful man dressed in white attire with a smile on his face.
He asks Pious, “What do you want, my child?”
Pious replies, “I am a pilgrim to the Celestial City and am exhausted by the tedious journey I have made from the Pride Street. It is almost dark now. I am hungry and thirsty; I need food, water and a nap.”
The white-attired man opens the gate and invites Pious to the King’s palace. He offers him water and fruits. Then he calls his daughter Passion to take care of Pious. Passion is a very beautiful lady draped in a white Sari.
“Wherefrom you are coming?” Passion enquires.
“I am a resident of Pride Street. I left the place in search of peace and with a wish to reside in the Celestial City,” Pious replies.

Passion shows him the palace from inside. He is bewildered to see the aesthetically beautiful palace, its big rooms lighted with many candles, gorgeous furniture, golden utensils and flower vases. After that, Pious is asked to sit in the guest room.
Passion brings some wine and corn for him. After refreshment, he takes rest until the dinner is served in the evening.
Pious is revived by the nourishing dinner. Next day morning, he feels very fresh.
Passion offers him fresh fruits and juice as breakfast in the morning. After the breakfast, he expresses his wish to start his journey to Celestial City. Passion and her father okay it and give him a bid adieu.
After two days, he reaches a beautiful place which is surrounded by greeneries, trees, plants and flowers. He finds some small huts there. People completely white-dressed stroll from their huts and usher him to a big room. Pious is able to hear some sound of hymns. He enquires with a white dressed man and comes to know that this particular place is known as Celestial City. Pious approaches another white dressed person and understands that he is a preacher.
An Evangelist enquires, “Wherefrom are you coming? What is your name and what do you want from this place?”
Pious replies, “I am a poor Brahmin from the Pride Street. I leave my locality in search of eternal peace, and with great difficulty, I am able to reach here. I am simply mesmerized with the beauties of this place and I would like to stay here for balance period of my life.
From the discussions with the Evangelist, Pious finds that he is the main monk of this place, and everyone respects and accepts him as their mentor.
The Evangelist tells to Pious, “I appreciate your efforts to reach here. But, when you have somehow reached here, you have to now surrender your body and soul to God for his service. You have to obey all His wishes. He wishes to serve mankind, animals, trees and surroundings. You have to spend a religious life over here. Everything here is routine and when your mission for peace is over, you will become a preacher like me.”
Then Evangelist takes him to a hut. Three monks are sitting on the floor in the hut and seem to be busy in their studies. Evangelist shows him the hut which is surrounded by colorful flowers of different fragrance. There are many rooms in the hut. Pious also finds that this hut is comparatively bigger than other huts. Fresher are initially trained here and are sent to the conventicler for meditations and prayers when they are proficient in the knowledge and other rituals. Evangelist advises Pious to finish his rituals and wear new white clothes to go to the prayer room. Once Pious enters the prayer room, Evangelist nods him to sit in front of idols of various Gods.

Evangelist instructs him to drink a glass of coconut water. Pious finds it of some strange taste. He then starts chanting hymns nearly for an hour. Pious is again getting mesmerized. He now starts feeling the touch of true life. Evangelist opens his eyes and asks him to concentrate on chanting the hymns with him. Pious realizes that this is a process of purification of flesh and soul.
During the course of his religious sessions, Pious is introduced to many other monks in this celestial place. One monk named Glad takes keen interest in Pious’ coronation to religious world. One day, Pious finds some difficulty in meditation in the prayer hall as his mind is distracted with mundane thoughts.
Glad watches that and asks, “What happens? You are bit puzzled today. You can freely discuss with me the issue of disturbance. I can help you.”
“Somehow, I am not able to concentrate in the mediation. In fact, out of all daily routines, I find meditation the toughest activity.” Pious politely replies.
Glad explains, “But, I say it is one of the easiest exercises if you know real technique. Imagine the serene face of God Brahma and think of him. You will find some difficultly in the beginning. But, after regular practice, you will be able to overcome it within a month. You think of his face, close your eyes and remain in the same position for a few minutes. Relax all parts of your body, sit upright and continue chanting hymns. If you continue this practice for quite some time, you will get into Samadhi automatically, and you can even remain in Samadhi for hours together. At present, you learn the basics only and try to concentrate on the particular exercise which I teach you now.”
Pious follows his instructions and continues meditation. After an hour, he finds himself rejuvenated.
Next day, Glad calls him and asks him about his progress of learning.
Pious informs, “It is quite fascinating.”
Glad gives his testimony, “I came here almost twenty years back when I was in mid thirty. Like you, I got frustrated with the hatred, jealousy, quarrel and nepotism of the inhabitants residing around me in my locality. I was leading a life of hedonist over there. I was like atheist who never turned to God’s to thank him for what he had given to me in life. I flatly refused my spouse’s request to accompany her to any pilgrimage; she was of course a very righteous lady.
Motto of my life was to earn as much as I can through my business. My wife begot two beautiful babies to whom I used to give my free time in plays. We all family members were spending a joyous life. But, every story has a twist and U turn.

One day communal riots irrupted in our city named Savage. I had no racial feeling but since I belong to a minor community, the furious mob of other community destroyed my shops and gutted factories. Within no time, all my assets turned to ashes. They shattered my house and set it on fire. Each member of my family was burnt to death. I reached house when everything was gone. I was shattered and surrendered to a thought of committing suicide. But, my servant who was with me for many years foiled my suicide attempt. After losing everything, when I came to this place, the Evangelist consoled me a lot with his loving words.”
He says, “My dear child, ups & downs are usual in life, and they are like time and tide, never obeys anyone’s instructions. Now you have to regain your courage and strengthen yourself to complete the journey of life.”
Pious asks Glad, “How you adjust initially with the serenity and full of religiousness of this place? You must have faced lot of mental distortions.”
Glad replies, “Yes, I was not able to do well in the beginning especially in the meditation because of mental sigma which were little fresh. But, by Evangelist’s inspiration, I regained my confidence and concentrated on spirituality.”
Pious is totally pleased with the talks and ideologies expressed by Glad. He also gains confidence and uses it to follow the rules of this holy place.
After one year, Pious is fully conversant with the sects of this holy place and he learns lot of techniques from Evangelist and acquires a lot of knowledge. He is overwhelmed with the sanctity of the Celestial City and feels that his life is blessed with the peace rendered by the Almighty. One fine morning he asks Evangelist about Glad but Evangelist overlooks his question with an innocent smile on his face. But, upon his vigorous pursuance, Evangelist replies, “There is no person by name Glad. You have met the person who is none other than the Almighty. Since, you have lived a righteous life on the earth He revealed Himself unto your soul.”
With these words, Evangelist disappears and Pious can’t see him anymore. He finds that he simply goes down to the ditch of the steep mountain where no one even dares to go. Pious sees everything as a spectator and spangles with the light of new wisdom he acquires since last one year in the Celestial City. And this is the peace, he is searching for