Writing Feedback / Eastern thought - an introduction in three parts [24]

Part 1 will be of help in recognizing and categorizing actions and behaviour from the view of the Yoga system, part 2 should be of interest as it introduces the technique of developing concentration with one consequence of the ability, and part 3 goes back to earlier in the book to bring in the real, why life isn't perfect for us.

Understanding philosophical theories is about establishing their relevance, the correspondence in the ideas they express and our experience. Instead of making enormous efforts at understanding a theory alone, is it not a better learning if our experiences can be interpreted in the ideas of a philosophy.

My intention is to convey some of those ideas and how life may actually be happening in that way. That is, we can look at life in a particular way and things begin to make sense, and then as we see it happening, we take assurance that what we learn and believe is not untrue, and have confidence that life may work out like that all the way.

An important philosophical text is the 'Yoga Sutras of Patanjali'. These are a collection of aphorisms, about fifty each in four chapters. The part easiest to connect with is in chapter 2, where Patanjali outlines the practice of Yoga, called Asht-anga, eight-limbed Yoga. I will tell you how I understand the philosophy from this sutra till the 15th sutra in chapter 3, where he explains how the Yogi's perceptions can transcend average natural abilities.

I will step back and speak in general terms of the ideas expressed in these sutras, because they have to be interpreted and understood by a person individually. If I try to explain the sutras one at a time, I may not be able to do it effectively. I will try instead to give the general ideas expressed in these, and then you see when you take them one at a time, how they may apply to your life.

The eight Angas or limbs are a progression and we are spread in our life-experience among them, depending upon how we may be applying these principles. The first idea is about Yama and Niyama, the first two Angas. Each has five elements. The Yamas are manifest as behaviors to control. They are recognizable principles in our lives; non-violence, non-stealing and truthfulness are acceptable values everywhere. The other two, sexual restraint and non acceptance of charity have different emphasis in India compared to West.

Next, in the five elements of Niyama, meaning discipline, the first is purity and cleanliness. It is a very acceptable quality and may even be better practiced in the West. The next, contentment is opposed to values in America, but may be acceptable in Europe. The next three again maybe somewhat acceptable in European culture, but I wonder if austerity is considered practical as a practice as is implied in the text. Similarly self study, even as reflection on oneself maybe ambiguous, because I don't think Western culture may consider pondering on just the idea of our existence as having any benefit for us, and on surrendering of the outcome of all our actions to God; the last of the Niyam, people may see that as implying too ready an acceptance of failure. I will say more on these last three Niyams later in explaining how their practice may lead us towards the desired goal.

Here is the point I am trying to make though. Look at these on one hand and the extent to which within our own lives we may be following them. Notice their outcomes as one practices them to perfection explained below. We may ask how much individually, have we acquired of these 'rewards in nature'. If we accept this philosophy as a correct description of 'nature's behavior', then every human is really living by these principles, even unknowingly, all over the world.

Reference:

YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI by Hariharananda.( Chapter II )

Writing Feedback / on sounds and meaning - an essay [4]

The question is - what is the position of words, spoken and read, in our inner realm. Why do they acquire a special significance, or even, how do they have the power to affect us more deeply than even the things we see, objects. All words are constructed with individual sounds but connect as though to our minds in a particular and special way, uncovering the dross.

All our learning, development of our minds has been through written or spoken words, so we could say the knowledge we prize in ourselves has so come about.

What is the significance of this, how does it come to be this way. Something very basic in our minds must have some similar constitution, which is not sound in itself, yet keeps our mind stabilized in some inner knowledge.

There are two ways in which words are real - as written and spoken. What they convey comes also from what precedes and follows them but the existence of written and spoken words is different from those which come to our mind with our ideas. These become a part of the real world, though spoken words are still less permanent than written ones.

What is the significance of sounds in general that surround us. We swim in them as a part of our atmosphere and some are definitely assuring depending on where we are. How disconcerting it would be if we were to hear only 'silence' on a crowded street.

Sounds happen and we attend to them, to first understand their context, what could this sound being there at all mean. Does it fit. I expect a person sitting next to me to create sounds, most likely words, but not like those that can come from vehicles, or an animal. I notice a certain alertness for this in myself, like creatures in the wild have for prey or danger. It has an instinctive quality and for that reason is on the surface.

Past this boundary we admit sounds into an inner sense, those we want to feel with greater sensitivity, as though mixing them with our own thoughts to understand them. A word, an idea or sentence is introduced into a living sea of our mind that works with an intelligence forming structures with this entrant. Sometimes it is happy to discover that it is outside its ability to make it a part of itself, and is still intrigued by it.

To identify a sound in a myriad of many, the mind sifts through its own structures, finding one which relates to the one holding our attention. Till that happens we exert at holding the mind in that state of awareness. We may also become aware at this time of other unresolved things on our mind.

We try to hold just the sound of this unfamiliar word, but seek something to make it easier to hold on to it with, a meaning, to strengthen our grasp. What if there is very little we find in our repertoire, anything similar, how would our mind behave in that situation.

We reach a deeper layer of purpose in our mind which determines our resolve to grasp this unfamiliar sound. We say to ourselves this has to be. If the meaning lay outside of us, it's almost as though we force the outside to let us have it, a need as though to expand our mind.

Writing Feedback / essay on - why I write [17]

So, what do I want to do that is different with my writing?

Writing, to me, if you allow me to express myself philosophically again, are words which lie on the boundary of the physical and the power of thought. It's not some fixed line, for thought is never defined anyway, but may seek to answer the question, where does the thinking lie, at this time, on this subject.

I do not doubt that people write, to entertain, to engage others and that can be interesting. I want to write so that those who read me, can use it like a butcher uses his carving knife, to cut away the fat, the stuff that is not after all so vital and take away the real and meaningful.

More like a surgeon sometimes, I want to correct a disfigurement of thought, an idea that has un-necessarily grown into a diabolical and grotesque caricature of something originally sublime and natural - something in the way we could see things, but do not.

When you are done with a piece, consider it, for the truth in it. I try to convey meanings, unfamiliar and strange sometimes, in small steps; but keeping in mind the larger idea that I would like to lead you to. Then leave you alone with it, that you may reconstruct familiar things, with new rules, and decide do they enhance or diminish your understanding of life.

Here's how what I am trying to do, different from other motivational, self-help advice. Where that advice leads you with the promise of making you stronger, in many ways, my paradigm is, to unbefuddle. I take it, that's very important, else you would'nt have come this far. Please raise your questions, as you see things from where you stand. Knock down my hypothesis, you will earn my gratitude.

I mean it!