Life lessons from dance - Bharatanatyam

Life lessons from dance - Bharatanatyam 

Bharatanatyam teaches us how to perform actions without entanglement both from the dancer and the audience perspective.

Dancer Perspective

As a dancer, the dancer must align with the a given scene (Bhavam), music (Ragam), and rhythm (Tala), to bring out the emotions, that get expressed facial expressions, mudras and body movements so that dance as a whole is in sync with the scene she is trying to portray.  This entire process becomes much tougher when she must switch to multiple characters within few seconds.

For example, the dancer had to constantly switch to multiple characters in quick successions.  Consider the following varnams portrayed by the dancer:

• From, Devaki to Krishna to Vasudeva to Krishna and then to Vasudeva.
• From demon Pootana to beautiful Pootana.
• From warrior Arjuna to Krishna
• From warrior Arjuna to weakened, despondent Arjuna
• From Krishna who calms down Arjuna, to Arjuna
• From Viswaroopam Krishna to Arjuna who was frightened seeing this roopa

Imagine, if the dancer gets things mixed up.  For example, if the dancer lingers upon despondent Arjuna for some more seconds, he / she could not perform well portraying Krishna giving advice (Upadesa) to Arjuna. 

When the dancer performs dance very nicely, we will be able to distinguish and appreciate the characters very well. Dance itself should bring immense joy to the dancer if she neither lingers on the previous scenes nor worries about the upcoming scenes but continue to dance that was aligned with the scene and the characters she tried to convey to the audience at that moment.  The dancer joyfully leaves the previous scene and readily takes upon the next scene without any entanglement.

What all these means for our life situations from a Spirituality or connecting to divinity standpoint?  In our life, situations invoke emotions and emotions play an important role. Sometimes, these emotions still linger upon a long time affecting the performance of entirely new set of actions.  For example, something that went wrong at work, can affect how I behave with the family, long after I come back from work.

What does connect to the divinity means?  To align with the given life situation: my emotions, thoughts, facial expressions, and body movements must be in complete synch like the dance performance.  As I am ready to perform the next act, like the dancer, neither the past nor the future emotions, thoughts, facial expressions, body movements should impact the current act, they all should align with the current life situation.

Like the dancer, I should be able to joyfully leave the previous action and readily take upon the next action without any entanglement.  This is the complete freedom in action.  This means, as an actor (dancer), I continue to live in the present moment amidst continuous changes around me and within me.

 Truly speaking I am not the doer, the actions continue to take place, this body moves (dances) as per the supreme will (the real dancer). 

Needless to say, like the dancer, living in the present moment is connecting to divinity as there is RASA – Bliss, which is nothing but SELF or BRAHMAN.

Thus, Bharatanatyam teaches how to act as a dancer in line with the life situations.

 Audience Perspective

From the audience perspective, we take an inward journey (Gross – Body to Subtle - Emotions), watch the dancer’s mudras, dance movements through our eyes, assimilate those movements as thoughts in our mind, which invoke emotions within us.  

Like the dancer, to completely appreciate the dance, the audience must “follow” the dance without entertaining any other thoughts.  Other thoughts may appear, they are neither followed nor suppressed.  Every time, we notice the thoughts are wandering away, the attention is brought back to the dance performance, so that all those aspects grossest to subtlest are aligned.

As the dancer moves through various scenes and characters, they are appreciated to the full extent, without getting entangled to any of previous scenes or upcoming scenes. For example, we may also experience similar type of emotions such as joy, sadness, angry, jealousy, etc. within ourselves.  But they are all momentary for that scene.  There is a deep ecstasy in witnessing all these scenes irrespective of the emotion types including sadness, but never carried over to the next scene.  This means, living in the present moment, which in turn means experiencing the RASA – Bliss within one SELF.

This also could be explained in a different manner.  When the audience follows this precisely with a pure appreciation of dance, without any strings of attachments or aversions, the audience finds the emotions are invoked within and not outside anymore.  Thus, the audience finds that the entire dance is happening within one SELF, thus breaking the duality or the divisions among the dancer, the audience, the act of watching the dance, all becomes ONE.  The absence of division enables the audience to recognize the RASA.   This is the divine cosmic dance (Aanandha Dhandava) that is happening in the hall of consciousness (Chit Saba)

Thus, the dancer enables us (as the audience) to take the inward journey towards the SELF – Brahman by pure appreciation of the dance.

Neither the dancer who performed so many emotions over multiple scenes nor the audience who watched those scenes would take them as real.  However, both the dancer and the audience have appreciated those scenes during their momentary appearances.

Thus, Bharatanatyam teaches us both from the dancer and the audience perspective how to connect to divinity and continuously live in the RASA amidst continuous movements in our life situations and enjoy the freedom in action without any entanglement.

Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige"

Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige"

In a way, Christopher Nolan's movies depict or represent the facets of the life, the mind, and the world, which are subject to many different perspectives and interpretations. 

Let us look at some of the interesting aspects of Nolan’s movies, which emphasize this point.

Nolan’s movie consists of multiple layers.  Each of the layers may give different meanings at different times and may POSSIBLY reveal the plot of the movie when understood holistically.  

We undergo many stages in our life. Things that are silly now were critically important at an earlier stage and vice versa.  We can’t comprehend life if we don’t look at it holistically. 

Nolan’s films represent utter chaos, as the screenplay goes back and forth between the past and the present. 

Similarly, our mind goes between the past, the present and the future as well.  Yet there is an underlying plot / purpose behind this chaos.

In some of Nolan’s films, like Inception for example, the ending is left to the viewer’s imagination or judgement.  

This is like some beliefs of the mind about what happens after death.  The opinions differ, claiming that there is a life after death, no life after death, reincarnation, judgement day, heaven, hell, etc.

Even in films that have clear endings (like Memento or Dunkirk), the motives behind the characters’ decisions are subject to many interpretations. 

The same life events can be perceived differently according to one’s own perspectives. People may believe that the outcomes in the film are due to specific life situations such as conscious act, unconscious decision, astrology, numerology, religious reasons, medical conditions, natural calamities, unknown entity etc.

The movie, "The Prestige" is no different.  Look at this statement made by one of the protagonists. 

"The audience knows the truth: the world is simple. It's miserable, solid all the way through. But if you could fool them, even for a second, then you can make them wonder, and then you... then you got to see something special... you really don't know?... it was... it was the look on their faces."

We can interpret this quote in many ways. Here is one interpretation: 

The audience knows the truth: the world is simple. It's miserable, solid all the way through.

The world (/ life / mind) is simple (integration, sustenance, and disintegration). In other words, everything that has a beginning has an end

It is miserable.  The Mind wants to continue to possess (health, wealth, or the power to live) and it doesn’t like the ending which is unacceptable and miserable. Between the beginning and the end there can be suffering, sacrifices and sadness.

It is solid all the way through.  The world / life is solid all the way through because Existence always remains. It is the basis of all integration, sustenance, and disintegration.  Even before the Big Bang, something existed.  Only the forms undergo integration, sustenance, and disintegration. 

At the world level, a tree exists.  When the tree is cut down, wood “exists”.  When the wood is burnt, ash “exists”.  When the ash merges with the dirt, earth “exists”.  As human beings, our food “exists”. When the food is consumed it is broken down into glucose. The glucose “exists”. Glucose is converted into energy and the energy “exists”. Energy is dissipated in the form of action and the output of the action “exists” and so on.  In other words, the law of conservation of mass and energy remains constant and “exists” despite any changes.

But if you could fool them, even for a second, then you can make them wonder, and then you... then you got to see something special... you really don't know?... it was the look on their faces.

In forgetting these basic tenets about existence, the mind is easily fooled by the various phenomena during integration, sustenance, and disintegration.

The food that was ate for the breakfast has miraculously transformed into various body cells.  Specifically, the same food has transformed into eyes, ears, nose and so many various body cells, performing totally different functions.   

Another quote shows how the mind is fooled by the phenomena.

Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts". - "The Pledge", "The Turn” and "The Prestige”.  The first part is called "The Pledge".  The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird, or a man. He shows you this object.  Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course, it probably isn't.  The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary... But you don’t clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you must bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige."

Let us use nature as an analogy and breakdown this quote:

Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts". - "The Pledge", "The Turn” and "The Prestige”. 

The “Pledge” is the SEED. The “Turn” is the SEED disappearing into the ground. "The Prestige" is when the SEED becomes the “SAPLING”, "PLANT”, “TREE" and potentially “THE FOREST”

The first part is called "The Pledge".  The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird, or a man. He shows you this object.  Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course, it probably isn't. 

First the SEED (the Pledge) is shown to us.  It seems to be real, unaltered, and normal.  But of course, it is not just a simple object. While the SEED may seem ordinary at first glance, it contains all the necessary potential aspects to integrate into a different form (manifest) under the right conditions.

The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary... But you don’t clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough;

Next the SEED goes into the Ground and disappears (The Turn).

You must bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige."

Under the right conditions (i.e. the necessary setup and methods of the trick), the SEED becomes a sapling, a plant, and a tree.  If the tree can produce many seeds, they sprout and become a forest (the Prestige).

Let us connect back this phenomenon with our first quote:

“The world is simple (integration, sustenance, and disintegration).  It is miserable (suffering is there), solid all the way through ("I exist" - the existence principle is solid throughout it).”.  

The seed is formed through integration.  It sustains, encounters hurdles or suffering and ultimately disintegrates. However, the “existence” principle remains the same.  The seed “exists”. That form disintegrates and becomes a “sapling”.  The sapling “exists” and becomes a “plant” and so on and eventually a forest “exists” and goes through its own life cycle.

One final quote, the last monologue in this movie:

 Now you’re looking for the secret, but you won’t find it, because of course, you’re not really looking. You don’t really want to work it out. You want to be fooled.

As long as we are identified with the body-mind complex which is subject to integration, sustenance and disintegration, we are always looking for a secret, but we are not looking at the correct place, we don't really want to work it out; we want to be fooled.  We need to look at the substratum that remains in all the three stages of “The Pledge, The Turn and The Prestige”.   That substratum is the “Existence” which always remains the same across all the integration, sustenance, and disintegration.   

Of course, it can be said that this interpretation is viewed through the lens of spirituality and that there are other perspectives.

As discussed in the first paragraph, there are, as the nature of life, mind, and the world are open to countless perspectives and interpretations.  These perspectives and interpretations go through their own life cycle of integration, sustenance, and disintegration, what we can call as the human experience.

The Whole or the Fullness is not concerned with religions

The Whole or the Fullness is not

concerned with  religions

From one religion's perspective, it could be true

that everyone should follow or convert to their religion

in order to establish their God's order in this world.

From another religion's perspective, it could be true

that everyone should be allowed to follow their own religion

in order to establish their God's order in this world.

For God's sake, how could both of these conflicting

positions can be true from their own perspectives?

How could Dvaitam, Vishishtadvaitam and Advaitam

can all be true in their own perspectives?

Either, they all could be true or all could be false

There cannot be in between unless I take a certain position

In a dream, all the characters or events are totally false

and immaterial and this attitude sets me (I AM) free

For a toddler who is listening to a fantasy story, all the

characters and events are totally true, no matter how

illogical the plot or content of the story is and this attitude

gives me (I AM) immense happiness listening to the story

Either totally false or totally true is possible only when

You consider dream or fantasy story as one single entity

If you dissect and divide the dream or fantasy story, then

the division of right and wrong, truth and false are inevitable

By looking at the dream or fantasy story as one single entity

I have an option to either totally accept it or totally renounce it

The truth is, you are the reality, in which all these dreams

and imaginations appear and disappear in the matrix of your

consciousness.  The appearances shines, thanks to the light

from your consciousness, you simply witness them and either

totally renounce all of them as false, the fleeting appearances

or accept all of them as the truth (as nothing but God)

The conflict arises only when some of them are considered

as the truth and the others as the false.  Remember, you cannot

consider certain portions of the dream or the fantasy story

as false and other portions as the truth and the divisions only

appears in the dream or in the fantasy and not outside of it

Therefore, it is either all or nothing and no in between.

Based on the vasanas, time to time, the thought, speech

and the action may continue to take a position and attempt to

divide the cosmos into truth and false, right and wrong, but

remember that too is nothing but appearance in your consciousness

You are the whole in which vasanas and its projections - thought,

speech and action are shined by the light of your consciousness

Bottomline, you either take all of them as the truth (as God) or take

all of them as the false (just an appearance you cannot hold on to)

It cannot be either partially true or partially false.  It is all or nothing

In either case, you stand as the whole for all (all creations)

or the whole for nothing (no creation at all), simply put, you

are the whole in which all the apparent divisions seem to exist. 

All the things, concepts, religions & interpretations - Dvaitam,

Vishishtadvaitam and Advaitam, can be taken as the truth,

as the same fullness is present as the substratum and pervades

all of them.  On the other hand, even if one or some of these are added

or removed, the fullness the Existence-consciousness principle (I AM)

remains as it is without any change, thus rest of them can be taken as false

This is beautifully explained in the following mantra on the fullness (Purnam),

Then there is no conflict about the things, concepts, religions and their

interpretations within oneself (Adhyatma), with the universe of objects

(Adhibhuta) and with the superintending Divinity (Adhideva).  The peace

(shanti three times) exists with all of them, by the attitude of appreciating

the presence of fullness in all of them or just taking only the fullness alone

Om poornamadah poornamidam poornaat poornamudachyate

Poornasya poornamaadaaya poornamevaavashishṣyate

Om shaantih shaantih shaantih

Types of Minds and their Freedom

Types of Minds and their Freedom

****Reactive Mind****

In a reactive mind, the experiences

are accumulated and categorized

The expectation is, to repeat the pleasant experiences

and avoid or eliminate the unpleasant ones

In that process, the mind curtails

itself to a limited boundary

The confined mind, struggles to cope up

with the ups and downs of life

It can only redefine or expand the boundaries

but cannot find a way to break

away from the strong barriers

built by the memorable experiences

***Lonely Despondent Mind***

In the lonely despondent mind, the

experiences are avoided and rejected

The expectation is to desist the boundary formations

from the pleasant and the unpleasant experiences

In that process the mind pushes

itself to build a vacuum boundary

Due to fear of losing control, this disowning

mind, tries to suppress all aspects of life

It can only engage in rejecting experiences 

but cannot find a way to free itself

from the very experience that attempts to 

empty out all other experiences

****Open Mind*****

In an open mind the experiences flow

naturally without judgement and rejection

It remains as the witness both in

pleasant and the unpleasant experiences

In that process the mind remains

equanimous free from all boundaries

Just acknowledging the experiences that show up

naturally, the meaning of life is self-revealed

It recognizes, the experiences come and go

in its abode, yet untouched by any experience

It remains free as the substratum of all

and revels in the boundless peace

Eclipse & Perceptions, Sun & the Self

Eclipse & Perceptions, Sun & the Self

    Max eclipse varied as observed by the viewers across the country Each one of us may have different perceptions of the same thing based on our point of view The covering continuously changed and lasted only for few minutes Our perceptions of things continuously change and may last only for a period of time The covering of moon is not a myth but a fact that was observed at that point of time Perceptions weren't incorrect and they are Nothing but facts at a given point of time The moon covered and uncovered the sun, the source upon which the very moon is made possible Perceptions come and go on a plane of awareness, the source that makes the perception possible The sun remained continuously illuminating in spite of the fact that it was covered by the moon The awareness continuously illumines in spite of the fact that it is covered by the perceptions It is okay to accept the covering as fact but as it covers and uncovers, it can never be the reality It is okay to accept the perception as fact but as it comes and goes, it can never be the reality The sun being the source, which is the basis upon which the covering come and go The awareness being the source, which is the reality upon which the perception come and go Hold on to the awareness and let our own and other's perception come and go Recognizing that we are that awareness and not the perceptions is the gateway to true freedom

Being in the Present is the Invaluable Present

Being in the Present is the Invaluable Present

Being in the present we can
enjoy the presence of an invaluable present.

HIS presence is internal cool moisture,
which is beyond the grasp of the senses and mind.

After all, we are looking forward to be with the moisture
but searching frantically elsewhere.

The presence of internal cool moisture seems to be absent
due to the presence of the heat.

Sometimes we taste the external moisture and
claim as the invaluable present.

Unfortunately, heat and external moisture are
awful combination causing us to sweat.

In the absence of the heat we
become conscious of internal cool moisture.

In the absence of the heat both the internal
and external moisture becomes one and the same.

Without the heat, who is the enjoyer?
Who is that WHO?...... who cares?

Being in the present we can enjoy
the presence of the invaluable present.

Liquid and the Container

Liquid and the Container

Liquid takes the shape of the container.
Mind is a liquid, held by the container called ego.

The liquid has the memory of the past
or imagination of the future.

Strangely enough, only the container
determines the condition of the liquid.

When the container possess the memory,
resentment, guilty, complaint and sadness results.

Anxiety, fear, stress and unease are given birth
when the container holds the future.

The container is an imaginary wall
with ingredients of concepts, labels and judgment.

Surprise! These ingredients are derived
from the liquid itself.

By isolating and holding on to
a small portion of the liquid
this imaginary wall is formed.

The container assuming the role of the
slayer cannot break itself.

Seek the Guru's grace and guidance
and perform self-enquiry

Then the imaginary container would disappear
leading to the glimpse of the freedom

Glimpse experienced even once can
identify and demolish the construction
of new wall(s) right at very early stages.

Then with the absence of the imaginary wall
the liquid (river) will enjoy the freedom
and continue its journey in its course
until it merges with the sea.

At that point, the liquid (river) will lose its identity.

Selves, self-enquiry and the Self

Selves, self-enquiry and the Self

Discover the many selves within oneself
The ways they form and deform themselves

The more one watches this cycle, the more
one can discern what the Self is not

A set of formations repeat themselves
Strongly defining as selves

Totally identified with these formations
There is a struggle, which turns into suffering

By the way of witnessing oneself, selves
deformations can be discovered as well

Now, couple of questions arise,
can there be many selves?

If there are formations and deformations
can they be called as Self?

Where do the formations arise
and the formations dissolve?

This self-enquiry eventually should lead
to our true Self, the one without the second

The one, which is ever present
free from formations and deformations

Discover the many selves within oneself
The ways they form and deform themselves

The more one watches this cycle, the more
one can discern that what the Self is not

Contemplate on three words: ‘Life’, ‘Moment’ and ‘Movement’

‘Life’, ‘Moment’ and ‘Movement’

Contemplate on three words to cover all comprehensively: ‘Life’, ‘Moment’ and ‘Movement’

‘Life’ is a series of continuous ‘movement’ without any signs of stoppage at any time

These series of ‘movement’ are made possible by the ‘moment’ – present ‘moment’

Literally, the word ‘movement’ cannot be coined without the letters in the word ‘moment’

In ‘life’, the present ‘moment’ is one and the same at all times, but ‘movements’ are many

If I get identified with the ‘movement’, then ‘life’ is a convoluted puzzle, eternally unsolvable

If I abide in the present ‘moment’, then ‘life’ is just a nonstop entertaining play, in which

Many ‘movements’ continue to happen in the unchanging single canvas of ‘moment’

The ‘movement’ differentiates and emphasizes plurality, by adding letters ‘ve’ (pronounced as ‘we’)

Take away the letters ‘ve’, the word ‘moment’ that cannot be different to one and all is recognized

By turning our attention from outward (we -plural) to inward (I -singular), the oneness is recognized

Upon recognition, could there be any better choice but abiding in the present ‘moment’ - The Self 

LET US HAVE ROMANCE IN LIFE

Let us have romance in life

Let us have romance in life

That is integral to the life itself

Yet not the type of romance portrayed in the stories and movies

It is the type of relationship with one and all

That appreciates their importance 

Yet not craving or dependent on them

It is the type of love with one and all

That adores their presence 

Yet not attached to any of them

It is the type of attraction with one and all

That embraces their beauty

Yet not bounded by them

It is the type of friendship with one and all

That nourishes the benevolence 

Yet without any accord

It is the type of passion with one and all

That has the intensity in the present moment

Yet passionately dispassionate in their absence

It is the type of joy experienced with one and all

That appreciates their presence

Yet not limited by a specific names and forms

It is the type of wonderment with one and all

That has the vision of seeing everything as a miracle

Yet not confounded by them

It is the type of business with one and all

That doesn't keep note of credit or debit

Yet the wealth never dminishes at any time

Let us have romance in life

That is integral to the life itself

Yet not the type of romance portrayed in the stories and movies

THE INTELLIGENCE EQUALLY SHINES IN ALL, YET QUITE IN UNIQUE WAYS

The intelligence equally shines in all, yet quite in unique ways

Each and every form has its own purpose and expression.   

If we can somehow keep aside the eyes of the judgement from our vision,

Then we can appreciate the fact that one form is no significant than the other,

As the intelligence equally shines in all, yet quite in unique ways

Can we say the intelligence of other mathematicians was dull compared to

Ramanujan's brilliant, intuitive, intriguing mathematical formulae?

Can we say that Ramanujan struggled to provide the proof of his formulae

While his partner Hardy exhibited his intelligence in the importance of proof?

Can we say that the intelligence failed in his personal life

that he, his mother and his wife lead a miserable life?

Consider the fact, if other mathematicians intelligence shined in the same way,

then Ramanujan would be just one more mathematician.

Ramanujan credited his acumen (intelligence) to the God where he 

would receive visions of mathematical unfolding before his eyes.

Ramanujan is one of the forms through which the 

intelligence shined as the mathematical formulae

Ramanujan said "An equation for me has no meaning unless it expresses a thought of God"

Truly speaking, "No form can appear unless it is expressed by the intelligence of God"

Each and every form has its own purpose and expression.   

If we can somehow keep aside the eyes of the judgement from our vision,

Then we can appreciate the fact that one form is no significant than the other,

As the intelligence equally shines in all, yet quite in unique ways

Life is an open book, as such there is nothing specific to read!

Life is an open book, as such there is nothing specific to read!

Life is an open book,

As such, there is nothing specific to read!

Life is an open book

As there is a constant movement without stopping for a moment.

Thanks to the letters, words, sentences and their imports,

That appear and disappear,

Suggesting different significances at different times.

Life becomes an exam,

If we get identified and entangled with the concepts & meanings

And get caught busy flipping through the pages of the book.

Resulting in sorrow, anxiety, guilty and remorse;

To name a few!

Just be aware that we are the paper, the substratum

The changeless entity, upon which all the letters, words, sentences

And their imports appear and disappear

Life is an open book,

As such, there is nothing specific to read!

Can there be two selves? Asks the Guru!

Can there be two selves? Asks the Guru!

I love myself; I hate myself;

I have to change myself; I have to realize myself!

Says the person, as if there are two selves (I and myself).

Can there be two selves? Asks the Guru!

Can there be a direct and simple question than this one?

The question is so direct that

It is not concerning anything but the self (I)

The question is so simple that

It is neither I need to have prior knowledge of any external things

Nor it has anything do with what I possess

The knowledge includes the language, math, science, all the ‘-logies’,

Relationships, scriptures, testaments and revelations.

The possessions include materials, concepts and philosophies

Thus, the question is applicable to anyone, without any exceptions

Let us contemplate and enquire!

Let us contemplate on our many selves.

There appears many selves claiming I am the male, I am the son,

I am the brother, I am the Employee and I am the father.

The list goes on and on and there is no end to it.

Acting as the basis of all these selves

There appears the body & mind identified self (Ego)

All other selves are derived from this Egoic self

Now, let us enquire if this ego is my true self?

The body identified self appears in the waking state and

The mind identified self appears both in the waking and the dream states

Egoic self and its derived selves are absent during the deep sleep state

But there is a continuity of self at all times

So, which self remains in all the three states?

Who am I then?

During the waking state, we need to ceaselessly enquire this egoic self

Enquiry comprises of paying complete attention to:

The egoic self’s emergence, movement, transformation and subsidence;

And the effects of this egoic self.

Let us enquire into the egoic self, its appearance and disappearance

And discover the substratum / the Self, from which the egoic self appears

Can there be two selves? Asks the Guru!

Can there be a direct and simple question than this one?

The most important question that can root out all the other questions

Yet, the mind that is habituated with the external knowledge and possessions

Doesn’t find this question as interesting, appealing and important

And does not want to pay attention to the self.

If this question is that of the life itself

And has the potential of discovering that we are already free

Let us contemplate and enquire!

Can there be two selves? Asks the Guru!

Can there be a direct and simple question than this one?

Just revel in the present moment!

Just Revel in the present moment

It is Friday, the garbage can is out for pickup!

The passing by dog urinated on the can,

To mark his identity and territory.

It is quite natural to do so and

It is a charm to stamp its presence.

But, why the mind has to try to own the territory?

As if, the identity and territory are permanently secured!

Do not hold on to the mark that you have left.

Or struggle for the one that you are about to make.

Move on, as the life can be never stopped

And be the life that is fresh and new,

Ever blossoming in the present moment

And the present moment is only there at all times

There is nothing to mark as my own,

As everything that IS is within the awareness in the present moment!

Just revel in the present moment!

Benevolent / Monstrous Wave

Benevolent / Monstrous Wave

I desperately wanted to reach the shore

I clearly see that, with my current strength and power,

It would be impossible to touch the coast.

All of a sudden, I found a big wave gently caressing and pushing me towards my goal

Thanks to the big wave, with this momentum, I believed I can.

As I continued the journey three quarters of my goal,

The gracious big wave collapsed and disappeared in the ocean floor.

I can't accept the fact such a thing could happen to a benevolent wave!

In my short span of life as a wave,

I had witnessed, a giant monstrous wave far away from me that devoured many waves.

To my bewilderment this dreadful wave reached the shore successfully. 

Even after several calculations and justifications,

It was unfathomable for my mind to settle down with these two incidents.

My mind has gone berserk, was restless and found it difficult to come to terms.

While the mind is afflicted with suffering,

My journey towards the shore didn’t stop for a moment, but continued!

Suddenly, I find that, I am graciously caressing and

Pushing a wave before me, towards the coast.

Instantly, I became the benevolent wave.

Wait a minute, can I be proud of myself?

I didn’t do anything really, things are happening in its own course.

How can I claim myself as the benevolent or monstrous?

On the same token, how can I judge others?

Who am I really?  What are all these so called actions?

The waves that are appearing in the water, seemingly perform actions

As the ocean, I remain there all the time, while the waves come and go,

Waves embrace and fight with each other in the plane of space and time,

With seemingly experiencing the resultant cause and effect.

In the grand scheme of Ocean,

Can there be a wave that is independent of Ocean?

Can a wave perform an action independent of Ocean?

If that is the case, how can a wave be judged as a benevolent or a monstrous?

Both the ballet and hip-hop movements appear and disappear in the ocean floor.

The mind cannot fathom these movements as they continuously change and come to an end.

Instead, focus the attention and be aware of the changeless behind all these movements. 

A View from (of) the SKY

Flight Journey

A View from (of) the SKY

 In the Sky of Awareness, there are countless Clouds of Thoughts

Some clouds are so dense, others are wafer thin.

In the Wind of Life, there is a continuous movement

This movement brings many relationships among the clouds far and near.

The movement brings about a continuous change

Sometimes the movement is very strong and vibrant

And at other times it is gentle as a breeze.

Accordingly, the clouds are rearranged within and among them.

The Sky identifying with the Cloud(s), feels and experiences the limitedness.

This identification is due to the ignorance of its real nature

Unfortunately, not knowing the precise way for liberation from the limitedness

It tries to break the bounds through external means.

By comparing its own size and density with other clouds in the Sky

It attempts to accumulate the clouds that are favorable

And tries to reject the clouds that are unfavorable.

After such several attempts and tries,

It finds that it is unable to secure its relationship with other clouds;

As they are continuously rearranged, thanks to the movement caused by the wind.

Finding no end in the vicious circle of the movement; it continues to fail miserably

However, by giving complete attention of the struggle without self-judgment

It turns away its focus from the external movement and makes a journey within (inward)

It enquires into the suffering and questions who is suffering

It witnesses that the clouds come and go and the

Rearrangements happens only among the clouds and not within itself

Finally, it understands, after all it is the SKY all the time and not the clouds,

Within its bosom, the clouds appear & disappear and the movement of the wind happens.

When the bewilderment born out of identification with the clouds (ignorance) ceases,

The SKY recognizes, by nature it is boundless and remains eternally at peace;

Totally unaffected by the movement of the wind and its effects.

Analogy notes:

SKY – Self, Brahman

Clouds – Thoughts

Wind – Movement of Life

Rearrangement among clouds - Relationships

Sky identifying with the Cloud – Ego

Break the bounds through external means – Gain liberation through actions

Its own size and density – One’s own position and power

Accumulation of other clouds that are favorable – Desire

Rejection of clouds that are unfavorable – Fear

Vicious circle of the movement – Continuous fleeting cycle of beginning and end

Giving complete attention of the struggle - Witnessing

Turns away its focus from the external movement – Understanding that just performing actions won’t lead to liberation

Makes a journey within (inward) – Giving importance to knowing oneself rather than actions

Questions who is suffering – self-enquiry