How baths in freezing Himalaya waters helped 17-year-old Narendra Modi find his guiding force

Recently in an interview with Humans of Bombay, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed about his life as 17-year-old living in the Himalayas.

In their latest post shared on social media, featuring Modi, a few things have been revealed about the Prime Minister and his curiosity about life.

At 17, young Narendra Modi sought to bring clarity and direction to his life. But during his stay in the Himalayas, he realized he had an inward journey as well.

Modi said that at that age, he became a traveller- a young man on a quest for answers about the world and himself. 

"I was undecided, unguided and unclear," the Prime Minister told Humans of Bombay. 

"I didn't know where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do and why I wanted to do it. But all I knew, was that I wanted to do something,"
he added.

"While growing up, I had a lot of curiosity but very little clarity. I would see army men in their uniforms and think that this was the only way to serve the country. But as my conversations with the saints and sadhus at the railway station grew deeper, I realized that this too was a world worth discovering," Modi went on to say.

He also spoke at length about the two-year journey that helped him discover his "guiding force".

(Very) early mornings, baths in freezing Himalayan waters, and life with sadhus who taught him "to align himself with the rhythm of the universe". 

"I went wherever God wanted to take me. It was an undecided period of my life but still, gave me so many answers," Modi said.

"I learned that peace, oneness, and Dhyan can be found, even in the simple sound of a waterfall," he added.

What he discovered then, he explained, continues to help him today.

The post further read, "I aligned and experienced revelations that help me till today. I realized that we're all tied down by our thoughts and limitations. When you surrender and stand in front of the vastness, you know that you're a small part of a large universe. When you understand that, any trace of arrogance you have in you melts and then life truly begins."

"That's when it all changed. After two years, I returned home with clarity and a guiding force to lead the way," Modi said.

The Prime Minister's interview with Humans of Bombay will be published in five parts. Part 2 of the series was posted on Wednesday.

In Part 1, Narendra Modi spoke about his childhood, his first RSS meeting, his eagerness to meet people from all over India and his "great need to look sharp and groomed".