Heaven and Hell — And Our Real Destination

Does life ever feel like a roller coaster?

Sometimes, everything seems perfect — we feel light, joyful, and the whole world looks bright and welcoming.  We call those moments our little taste of ‘heaven’.

And sometimes, we find ourselves plunged into valleys of despair, wondering if we’ll ever find a way out.  Life feels like a ‘living hell’.

So what is life really meant to be? Should we be chasing happiness? Or avoiding sorrow?

Here’s a story that offers some clues.

The story of heaven and hell

There’s an old tale about heaven and hell being side by side, separated only by a wall.

One day, the wall collapses.

Instantly, all the residents of hell rush into heaven — and the residents of heaven, overwhelmed by the noise, chaos, and unrest, flee into hell.

The wall was repaired in due time. Once the wall was rebuilt, no one could return to their old places. But surprisingly, in a short span of time, what was heaven earlier, now became hell. And what was hell earlier, now became heaven. 

There is a hidden mystery in this tale. That heaven and hell are not a place, but two states of mind. Hell is the state of being in great despair. And heaven is the state of being in great joy. Wherever the heaven dweller goes, he carries his state of mind and joy with him. Even when he finds himself in a place of difficulty, he transforms it into heaven with the power of his mind. Wherever the resident of hell goes, his state of mind goes with him. Even if he goes to a heaven–like place, his pain and despair go with him. 

While heaven and hell dwellers had switched places, it was in fact their mind that had brought heaven and hell with them. 

The challenges in heaven

But even heaven, in the way we often imagine it, has its challenges.

A life spent only in comfort and pleasure can lead to boredom.
When pleasures become routine, they lose their sparkle.
When life doesn’t meet our exact expectations, we suffer.
Even in the midst of abundance, fear of losing what we have can grip us.

In that sense, neither happiness nor sorrow is stable. Neither heaven nor hell is permanent.

The destination

A true seeker understands this. Our real destination is not heaven, nor is it hell. They are only rest stops along the journey.

Pain reminds us that there is more ahead — that joy is possible. Joy gives us rest, but it should not make us complacent. Both pleasure and pain are signposts, not the final goal.

The seeker learns to move beyond both.
They welcome pleasure when it comes.
They accept pain when it comes.
Neither one becomes a chain that binds them.

When we are no longer running after happiness — or running away from sorrow — we touch a deeper state: equanimity.

The seeker is free of both desire and fear. They are able to see that happiness and pain are only lamps along the path – that guide us forward. Pain points us towards the path of joy. Joy points us to the deeper truth of ever-lasting joy. They help us discover the meaning that underlies these phenomena of pleasure and pain. The reality of life that is beyond the changing seasons. And that is our real destination. 

As Kabir Ji, the Bhakti saint, sings:

Kabir swarag narak te main raheyo satigur ke parsaad
Charan kamal ki mauj mein rahao ant ar aad

By the grace of the True Guru, I am beyond heaven and hell.
I live in the bliss of the Lord’s Lotus Feet, from beginning to end

And so, the journey is not about reaching heaven or escaping hell, but about discovering the source of everlasting joy that lies within us.

References:

• Jaswant Singh Parwana, Do Divay Ik Joti
  
• Bhagat Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib

Reflection question:

Can you recall a time when life outside felt chaotic or difficult — but you were able to hold peace within?