Summary

| Day 14 - 15 |
THE SEVENTH STEP
is to conclude your journey by with
AN UNBOUNDED INSPIRATION
and
PURSUIT OF A DREAM
so that,
You leave India with the a new born seed of vision
and
this all begins at
AGRA
where one man's unbelievable dream came true and inspired million others

Chapter Theme

We undergo two major moments in our lives, one being the moment we are born. The second is when we realize why.

This 2nd major moment – also called the point of inflexion - comes when we identify a deeper purpose, a passion towards something, a dream that make us who we were meant to be. Life goes through an inflexion, a dramatic favorable shift, when one comes to this realization. This chapter is dedicated to finding this moment, for our classrooms, workspaces, homes and lives in general don't give us enough time to initiate, leave alone conclude this search.

And, we will make this effort at a place to be: Agra, a beautiful place where a single man's dream to fulfill the last promise of his dying beloved led to 20 years of struggle and finally, the creation of Taj Mahal. If ever a dream took the most beautiful shape ever for mankind to see, Taj Mahal is that very expression of a single man's dream.

This chapter is about knowing his motivation, struggle and the masterpiece he created, and introspecting on your own life journeys ahead at the backdrop of this surreal wonder of the world. The idea is to draw out an inspiration with which you can identify and pursue a new direction, long-hidden dream, a meaningful life-journey once your India journey is over.

Chapter Specifics

The chapter begins at the Taj Mahal, a breathtaking 350 year old man-made splendor located on the banks of the River Yamuna in Agra. You begin your journey by discovering the beauty of the mausoleum, crafted in rich marble and jeweled with semi precious stones, sitting as a magnificent gem of a vast Mughal garden that encompasses nearly 17 hectares of land. It goes without saying that your impression from the postcard picture of Taj Mahal will not have adequately conveyed the legend, the poetry and the beauty of this monument.

What make this experience even more inspirational are the four stories you hear from your Chapter Navigators and the remnants you will see that would make those stories almost alive. Of these stories, you discover the four promises, one of which led to the creation of Taj Mahal. You get awed to learn about the relentless love of Shah Jahan that inspired him to build a beautiful burial chamber for his wife and himself. You get to understand the pain, labour, resources and science that went behind the construction of this masterpiece that makes it a truly magical piece of art. And, in the end, you get to know of those people who have fulfilled their own unlikely dreams after coming to Taj Mahal.

As you unfold the pages from the past, since your arrival in the morning, you experience the surreal beauty of The Taj that changed its colors, from pinkish in the morning to milky white in the evening to golden when the moon shines. Amidst these stories and inspirational experiences, you will have plenty of time to introspect and ponder over the possibility of a new future in the backdrop of like-minded participants, surreal monuments, larger than life garden and a silent river.

All this definitely leaves you with enough groundwork to conclude your journey of self-discovery, and hopefully, a never ending inspiration to redraw Year 2015 and the years ahead.