http://kolkatakonnector.blogspot.in/2016/02/healing-through-nada-yoga.html
(~ An Interview with Shivam Rath in Kalkatta in India ~)
MahaBharat ~ meaning ~ Great India !
So what is it about this chaotic; overpopulated, dirty, diseased and heavily polluted country that makes it so great or not so great then?
Any blog Takers?
My belief is that the answer lies in the great juxtaposing contrasts this country is always readily demonstrating. Especially towards the diversity and paradox of life itself. Since historical times India has had the ability to be so inclusive of all people; and so adaptive and flowing amidst what appears on the outside sometimes as seemingly anarchy. And yet this flow of life moves along with so much steady faith and focus for the values of tradition and spiritual stability. Thus we may learn very evidently in India, Yoga is not simply about flexibility of the body; but also our flexibility of the mind and adaptability to the natural order of our context and surrounding environment.
(On the other hand of course; there is the corrupt officials, thieves, blatant liars and the business oriented who are discarding tradition for the fashionable market of western language; clothing and dollar mentality).
The paradox ~
Never have I seen so much poverty and pollution in the public premises on such a regular basis but also never have I seen so much love and devotion for the sanctity of that which is regarded as divine and sacred. The subtle acts and ceremonies applied to all aspects of life; have often opened my eyes to the very simple truth about serving our daily life with such sincerity. Like when you find someone really putting their heart and soul into the work or care they are commencing; offering everything they do as a a kind of service towards the divine
This however should not be confused with or mistaken as a means to subvert ourselves to the notions of surrendering or handing over our responsibility to god or a religious icon / organisation. I believe practically it is more simply about cultivating the heart felt devotion of love, gratitude and recognition in life and to evoke more attentiveness and more commitment towards the enhancement and experience of life as a divine reality itself.
The devotion ~
Sincere devotion I feel is something akin to inspiration. For it is the experience of having been devoted which should create the sincerity and thus inspire oneself to become more devoted to that.
Just as when we take a moment to breathe consciously; so too do we feel that breath becoming something more than just an ordinary, subliminal act of breathing. It becomes a whole focus point of mind/body connective~ness and inspires further breath awareness to be pursued in the experience of physical and mental relaxation. The more we breathe in that way; the deeper our experience becomes in the practice and the deeper our insights; possibly dedicating and inspiring us to devote more time and energy towards this.
The conclusion ~
Hence I have seen and experienced more so in India than anywhere else; through this act of devotion, attention and intention that we can transform any mundane act, profession or ritual into something more powerfully connected to any given moment that is this life itself.
For myself; it is music which is the most transparent form of energy that can be used as a conveyor for the act of both emotional or spiritual devotion. Thus the the indian classical system is also one of the oldest schooling systems of music in the world; though traditionally oral without a written system of words or texts the music was a taught in a direct line of teachers and their disciples who would spend time constantly engaged with each other to share and imbibe the essence of the ancient spiritual knowledge that was imbued in their music.
(~ An Interview with Shivam Rath in Kalkatta in India ~)
MahaBharat ~ meaning ~ Great India !
So what is it about this chaotic; overpopulated, dirty, diseased and heavily polluted country that makes it so great or not so great then?
Any blog Takers?
My belief is that the answer lies in the great juxtaposing contrasts this country is always readily demonstrating. Especially towards the diversity and paradox of life itself. Since historical times India has had the ability to be so inclusive of all people; and so adaptive and flowing amidst what appears on the outside sometimes as seemingly anarchy. And yet this flow of life moves along with so much steady faith and focus for the values of tradition and spiritual stability. Thus we may learn very evidently in India, Yoga is not simply about flexibility of the body; but also our flexibility of the mind and adaptability to the natural order of our context and surrounding environment.
(On the other hand of course; there is the corrupt officials, thieves, blatant liars and the business oriented who are discarding tradition for the fashionable market of western language; clothing and dollar mentality).
The paradox ~
Never have I seen so much poverty and pollution in the public premises on such a regular basis but also never have I seen so much love and devotion for the sanctity of that which is regarded as divine and sacred. The subtle acts and ceremonies applied to all aspects of life; have often opened my eyes to the very simple truth about serving our daily life with such sincerity. Like when you find someone really putting their heart and soul into the work or care they are commencing; offering everything they do as a a kind of service towards the divine
This however should not be confused with or mistaken as a means to subvert ourselves to the notions of surrendering or handing over our responsibility to god or a religious icon / organisation. I believe practically it is more simply about cultivating the heart felt devotion of love, gratitude and recognition in life and to evoke more attentiveness and more commitment towards the enhancement and experience of life as a divine reality itself.
The devotion ~
Sincere devotion I feel is something akin to inspiration. For it is the experience of having been devoted which should create the sincerity and thus inspire oneself to become more devoted to that.
Just as when we take a moment to breathe consciously; so too do we feel that breath becoming something more than just an ordinary, subliminal act of breathing. It becomes a whole focus point of mind/body connective~ness and inspires further breath awareness to be pursued in the experience of physical and mental relaxation. The more we breathe in that way; the deeper our experience becomes in the practice and the deeper our insights; possibly dedicating and inspiring us to devote more time and energy towards this.
The conclusion ~
Hence I have seen and experienced more so in India than anywhere else; through this act of devotion, attention and intention that we can transform any mundane act, profession or ritual into something more powerfully connected to any given moment that is this life itself.
For myself; it is music which is the most transparent form of energy that can be used as a conveyor for the act of both emotional or spiritual devotion. Thus the the indian classical system is also one of the oldest schooling systems of music in the world; though traditionally oral without a written system of words or texts the music was a taught in a direct line of teachers and their disciples who would spend time constantly engaged with each other to share and imbibe the essence of the ancient spiritual knowledge that was imbued in their music.
