What's (in) a Name?

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose,

(1) from statusmind.com

By any other name would smell as sweet" (From Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare)

Beautiful lines that go straight to the heart of the matter - inherent quality and / or meaning.

I have quarreled with my name for as long back as I can remember - Priya.  What a common, ordinary name. During my dramatic teens, I would say that I am going to change my name once I turn 18.  I didn't.

However, my dissatisfaction with my name stayed buried somewhere deep.  This I realised now recently when I read something that gave my name a new meaning for me.

"Sarvam priyaabhyugatham dharmamaahurmaneeshinah | 
Pashyaitham lakshanoddhesham dharmodharme Yudhishthira || "

The above lines from the Shanti Parva, Mahabharatha are translated by Chaturvedi Badrinath as follows:

"Whatever one obtains from being agreeable and loving to all is in the opinion of those who know the true nature of things, the distinguishing mark of dharma from what is adharma"

(2) - from statusmind.com

All then I have to do is cultivate my name, 'priyam' (to feel and be loving) more and more to be aligned with dharma. And anyone who knows me beyond a cursory acquaintance would know how relevant this is for me!  I would have previously come across as anything but sweetly loving.  I might even have said at some point earlier in my life, "sweet! uggh!"

I have now made so much peace with my name.  Further I began recollecting names of people, events, situations, and on a whimsical note: I think that the names actually make so much sense and meaning for those respective entities and their journeys.  Deeper into the whimsy, I think that if the name ceases to make meaning, it changes!  It may or may not be an evident change of say, first name, say, from 'priya' to 'anubhuti' or some such.  But some change would occur.  Yes, its quite a fantastic notion, but there it is.

Traditionally, 'sound' has been given so much importance.  And hence, chanting, sweetness of speech, music, and all alike in the realm of sound are given such a primary place in the order of

(3) from pinterest.com

phenomena and meanings.  An entity is obviously known and called by its name.  Consequently, the sound of the name is made repeatedly, and thereby we infuse the entity's space and being with its meaning.  While the naming itself is an important event no doubt, the name is not a full stop.  It is a journey (as most things are).  And so yes, a rose by any other name would still smell sweet, and by the logic of sound and meaning-making, the sound (name) would change according to meaning and / or it would pervade its meaning slowly into the space of the entity.  This is true at least from my experience, because it has been a revelation that all my life the universe has been first and foremost, teaching me how to love. 

What is Self Discipline

Self discipline is mostly defined as the ability to control oneself, wherein the 'oneself' takes its myriad shapes and forms, depending on who is saying it and the context - control feelings, control senses, controlling distractions and so on.  This is one level of truth; controlling these manifestations of the self does lead to some sort of a discipline in functioning.

What is discipline? It is defined in the crudest way possible as training to obey, through punishment and / or penitence.  This is one level of truth; most systems and spaces use this for maintaining law and order and agreed that this is necessary.  Penitence of course falls squarely in the space of self disciplining.

However, I see that control (controlling of the self) and training and punishment (towards disciplining) can only go so far and no more.  These meanings and actions can be used for immediate and urgent purposes and in not-stable states of being, however to continue with them as the standard for all times can only bring disaster. For, this brings in control and training from an external source in order to establish right action, and this is necessary in difficult times.  But this in no way ensures that transformation has occurred within and the inappropriate action will not be repeated.  Penitence, insofar as it is regret is fine and can be translated to action, but penitence as guilt is a non-starter and leads to a destructive cycle of self blame, judgment, negative labeling and non-action.

Following this meaning and context of self discipline all the time will actually defeat itself in the long run.  Training to control could be like training a dog or a horse and I can only visualise the animal straining at the leash, hurting itself, its throat.  Over time, the leash will fray; at some point the animal may turn and attack the trainer.  Gradually the animal may get trained to obey by way of punishment (and reward).  There is no question here of self thought, discovery and understanding*.  We do the same to ourselves.  We are our own puppets.  In this space and path of self discipline, we manipulate and destroy ourselves.  That self is becoming more and more contorted and twisted.

Photo taken at Nirkunram Campers near Chengalpet

A higher form of discipline takes off from the word, 'disciple', from being a disciple.  A disciple is a follower, devoted to something or someone.  In being a disciple, he thinks some thoughts, does not think others, follows some practices, eschews practices that does not help her in being a disciple and so on.  And hence he / she is on the path of discipline.  Does he / she slip?  Of course, yes.  He may indulge for a while in a practice that does not help the disciple in him.  She may not actively take up actions that are required for her to be a wholesome disciple.  But the context and framework for the self discipline is clear.

So, disciplining arises from a purpose.  Taken this way, I sometimes feel that all disciplining can only be self disciplining - be it any entity, an individual, a village, an organisation, a campaign... "What is that purpose?" that disciplining is arising from, is of course an entire domain of its own and worth an independent inquiry and space.

What will happen in this kind of disciplining is that, 'discipline' is removed from its shackles of being a station that one has to get off at, and becomes a journey of self discovery and understanding.  On this journey, the self is understood better and better, deeper:  Why are there some fears?  When is it that one is courageous?  When does one feel sad? When, happy? How does one act with others? Why do I think in a particular way? What makes one feel energetic? What makes me follow the path of discipline... and so on and so forth.

And then, when the patterns of the self start getting clearer and clearer, the road of discipline also gets sparkling clear ahead of oneself.  And this may include moments of a cruder form of self discipline, may include times of indulgence or violation and so on, however one can be back on the road, or perhaps is still on it and playing hooky. There is then the process of penitence and prayaschittam, in their higher forms, all in the path of self discovery (disciplining).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*  It of course is an assumption that one actually wants all that in the first place - authentic thought, discovery and understanding; however we are looking at a meaning of self discipline that will sustain, and that sustenance includes these ideas.

What is the difference between Imagination and fantasy

Someone asked me this question during a discussion on visualisation and fantasising. It is not a matter of the difference between them.

Patanjali's Yoga sutra states:

shabdajnananupati vastusunyo vikalpaha - verse 1.9
Our minds can imagine things that do not exist in actuality.

The Yoga sutra mentions imagination as a movement (function) of the mind, along with four others. Inventions, fantasies, artistic creations - all are in this realm.  Imagination - it is such a powerful ability.  Children have it in abundance, and it allows them to be so creative and malleable to learning. It is the power of imagination which allows us much (if not all) of art, of innovation, invention, visualisation...

The imaginative capacity is a necessary one for human existence and endeavour. However, what happens when imagination becomes a compulsion?  By compulsion here, I mean getting carried away with one's imagination.  Anything not in one's control is compulsion.  For example, TV watching is a compulsion with many today.  What usually starts as an escapism or a coping mechanism for stress gradually takes over one's life as a compulsion.  Or when any single attribute of life and living is given undue attention over others, the balance tilts and this may become a compulsion.  Like in the case of imaginative capacity and compulsive imagination. The former is necessary and the latter is a sure path to disaster.

Image from prits-dreams.blogspot.com

We see this phenomenon played out in the lives of artists and creative people again and again in various ways and at different levels of intensity and impact.  As long as it remains an imaginative capacity, it remains under the artists' control, and once it moves into the domain of compulsion, it controls the artist.  This seems to be an edge that artists dance on and around.  One side is imagination and the other side, compulsion - getting lost in one's imagination.  Every creative person seems to be walking or tottering or dancing or playing with this edge. For example, the performer on stage hopping between illusion and reality.  We see this happening with some extremely creative people, over time they are lost to the world of reality.  Artists (I use the word 'artist' for people who are in touch* with their imaginative capacity) have to necessarily work with this edge, whether they are conscious of it or not. In fact, not being aware of it, an artist drowns in compulsion.

As long as one remains on that edge, creativity seems to be one's lover.  Staying on that edge welcomes creativity.  Staying on that edge means not getting carried away and lost in one's imagination.  What does it mean to stay on that edge? How to stay with that line?  By taking the apavarga** location, the location of attention and watchfulness. Staying on that line means the artist can actually step back and watch her own performance. And dance the dance.  Not being able to observe would mean that over time, the artist would (may) tip over into compulsive patterns and behaviour and this can lead to madness of some sort.

Image from civasakthi.blogspot.com

Yoga is about discovering that observer location within oneself.  And with diligent and constant practice, that line or edge may actually expand, become an all-inclusive seamless expanse, simply space, where Nataraja would dance his cosmic dance, Saraswathi would play her Veena, Parvati or Nandi on the mridangam, Vishnu could be playing a flute or cymbals... and all life could be a dancing of Ananda Tandava.


------------------------------------
* I say "in touch" because I think that every being in creation has an inherent capacity to imagine and create; Patanjali has stated it as one of the fundamental categories for the mind's movements. It is simply that some are more in touch with it than others.

** 'Apavargam' is a location of observation, inquiry and learning of the seeker / student / learner and one that would lend clarity and understanding, as juxtaposed with 'bhogam', which is a location of being stuck in the old comfortable patterns of seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.

What is Yoga?

A friend asked me to write a simple essay on "what is yoga?", 'simple' being the keyword. The following is an attempt:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today Yoga has come to mean many different things to many people.  It is a vast ocean that contains a plethora of different schools and styles of teaching.  The good news is that each of them seems to work and deliver results, for those who patronise them.  It is probable that there is so much tamas (lethargy) pervading all aspects of human life in these times - our lifestyles, the food that we consume, occupations, our recreation, that, when the body starts to move even a little bit, and we stretch hitherto unfelt muscles, and give ourselves that bit of quiet time and space, then no matter what Yoga we choose to call it, our bodies and minds seem to say “thank you” and sink into it.  

However, what is Yoga really?  Is Yoga only a set of aasanas and praanayaama (PY) breathing techniques to improve health?  Is one school of Yoga teaching a different Yoga from the other?  Is Yoga primarily to improve physical health, and thereby better the quality of life?

Let’s park these general questions for a bit and come to you and me.  What is Yoga to you?  What are your aspirations in life?  Do you want to be happy?  What does being successful mean to you?  Are you pursuing a passion with everything in you?  What is your purpose?  Do you feel that you need a purpose?  Are you in search of one?

Let me tell you a story.

The Breath Shoots the Arrow

Archery is a very ancient sport.  In Japan it is still practiced as an art very much in the same way as it was done many years ago.  The most important practice in this art is breathing.  One holds the big bow, notches the arrow, and bends the bow during the inhalation, holds the breath and waits calmly for the "perfect moment" when the arrow "shoots itself" and the breath comes out slowly.  The perfect shot is the one where the archer's breath is smooth and easy and his body shows no sign of strain throughout the shooting.  It took the archer years of practice before he could coordinate the breath with the shooting so that the whole movement was tranquil.  (- Raghu Anantanarayanan, Learning Through Yoga, Published by Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, Chennai)

A sutra in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra states this as,    

                Prayathnashaithilya anantasamaapatthibhyaam | II.47

                Mindful action flows with effortless ease

Have you noticed the phenomenon that you would have been searching frantically for something, and you wouldn’t find it; you would find it at some other time when you were making no effort to search for it?  Effortless effort.  That is Yoga.

Yoga is to do with one’s entire life, and every thought, feeling and action in it. 

It is to do with our relationships with ourselves and the world. 

It is to do with how your breath changes when you get angry.

It is to do with how your voice softens and the lines of your body flow when you talk to a loved one.

It is to do with how weak or energetic your body feels at the end of the day. 

And more.

There is an outer self that is engaging with the world and its problems, with life, constantly.  This self is getting hit, hurt, falling, struggling, feeling happy, sad, jealous, and so on.  There is another self that resides in your inner space, watching all the drama of life.  This is the anchored and coherent self that is able to watch and listen, and provide the space for the external self to act intelligently.  If we allow it to. People catch glimpses of it or are made aware of it all the time. 

An artist may tap into that self inspired by nature, and create works of brilliance. 

A tragedy may open the lock for an ordinary person and enable her to act with spontaneous intelligence and empathy. 

Laughter and play with an infant may dissolve all residues of fears and insecurities for those precious moments, leaving a mother crystal clear to reflect her child. 

This inner self just observes, and is vibrant and wise simply on the strength of that non-judgmental observation.  When one becomes alive to deeper and deeper levels of this self and space, outward action is gathered, coherent and intelligent. 

Becoming alive to that inner self every moment, is Yoga.  Hence Yoga is not an end, but a journey, a process.  So where does aasana and praanayaama come into this?  It could be a start.  For, the physical body is one of the primary indicators of overall wellbeing.  And working with the breath is key to this process.  The breath is the subtle connection between the mind and body and through the breath each works on the other.  Why do we say “take a deep breath” to someone who is agitated?  A lot can begin to happen in that space of one breath.  And that "lot" can be the start of true yoga practice.