The Flight of Chittà — A Journey Through Pain, Stillness and Inner Healing

Two months ago, life threw me off balance — quite literally.

A sudden fall left me injured and immobile, forcing my once bustling, outdoor-loving life to an abrupt halt. Gone were the days of cycling at dawn, wandering with my camera on photowalks, and embracing the world with the rhythm of my feet and breath. What replaced them was a bed, severe physical pain, and long, quiet days and nights that stretched out endlessly.

But here’s the truth — I never allowed myself to sink into negativity.

Instead, I saw this unexpected pause as a powerful invitation. A gift wrapped in discomfort.

While my body remained still, my mind turned inward. Slowly, I began to dive deep into my Chittà — the seat of consciousness, emotion, memory, and intent. In Buddhism, Chittà is not just mind; it is the mind's very canvas — the field upon which thoughts arise and dissolve.

The injury became a portal

As I lay motionless, I found myself more in touch with my inner world than I had ever been in months of movement. I reconnected with dhyān (meditation), scriptures readings, and the silent witnessing of my thoughts, emotions and attachments. The pain and suffering became messengers — not punishments, but invitations to re-evaluate, to soften, to transform.

In exploring my Chittà, I realised that suffering had knocked on my door not to torment me, but to teach me. To push me into depths I had recently avoided in the busyness of life. It was as if life whispered, "Now that you can’t run outside, how about you walk within?"

The Chittà Came Knocking

I began to witness how my Chittà chased after pleasures, got entangled in desires, and reacted to the world outside. But in this forced stillness, I discovered that true joy lies not in motion but in meaning — not in activity but in awareness.

Healing, I discovered, is more than a return to physical health. It is an alchemy. A therapeutic unfolding of truth, peace, and a renewed sense of who you really are. Each day brought not just physical recovery, but deeper alignment with something far more enduring than flesh and bone — the serenity of an untethered Chittà.

And as I emerged from this cocoon of pain, I found wings. My loved ones, friends, coursemates came and rallied my moral, too. 

Here’s a poem I wrote from that space of reflection:

The Flight of Chittà

Chitta wanders, restless and free

Chasing sense objects, with glee

Desires "fuel" its journey outwards, 

for scents of delight, temporary highs, 

n a moment's light

But then I learnt to tame its flight

Guiding chitta back to

inner landscapes bright

Where joys are blissful, permanent, and true

A refuge from the world's maddening pursuit n hues

In my inner realms, my chitta finds its nest

A sanctuary of peace, forever at rest

No longer swayed by external thrall

It basks in inner radiance, standing tall...

A Poem Dedicated to Chittà

How amidst last two month's pain and suffering, I reflected and meditated to find peace, inner healing

Ashutosh