ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಅನುಭವ!!

ಚಳಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿತ್ತು.  ನಡೆಯಲೆಂದು ಕ್ರೀಡಾಂಗಣಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದ ನಾನು ಓಡ ತೊಡಗಿದೆ.  ಮೈ ಕೈ ಒಂದು ರೀತಿ ಮರಗಟ್ಟಿತ್ತು. ದೇಹದ ತೂಕದ ಅರಿವು ಆಗಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ.  ಮನಸ್ಸು ಬಹಳ ಹಗುರವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಮುಖ ಅರಳಿ ನಗೆ ಅಂತರಾಳದಿಂದ ಹೊಮ್ಮುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಸುಮಾರು  ಆರು ಗಂಟೆ ಸಮಯ. ಅರ್ಧ ಬೆಳಕು. ಸೂರ್ಯ ಆಗ ತಾನೆ ಕತ್ತಲನ್ನು ಸರಿಸಿ ಹೊರ ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಮರಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಇಣುಕುತ್ತಿರುವ ಸುಂದರವಾದ ಸೂರ್ಯ ನನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಎದೆ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಹಿಗ್ಗಿತ್ತು.  ಸೂರ್ಯನ ಕಿರಣಗಳು ಎಲೆಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಚುಕ್ಕಿಗಳಂತೆ ತೋರುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು. ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಕಿರಣಗಳು ನನ್ನ ದೇಹವನ್ನು ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಿ ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳಿಂದ ಹೊಮ್ಮಿ ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳು ಹೊಳೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು,  ಮುವತ್ತೈದು ನಿಮಿಷಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಕಾಲುಗಳು ವೇಗವಾಗಿ ಚಲಿಸಿದವು. ನೆಲದ ಮೇಲೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆ ತೋರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನೆಲದಿಂದ ಹತ್ತು ಹದಿನೈದು ಅಡಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಾರಿದಂತಾಗತ್ತಿತ್ತು.  ದೇಹ ನೆಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಮೇಲೆ. ಅವರ್ಣನೀಯ ಅನುಭವ. ನಡಿಗೆಯನ್ನು ಮುಗಿಸಿ ಕೆಲ ಸಮಯ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲುಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಕುಳಿತೆ. ಕಣ್ಣು ಮುಚ್ಚಿದರೆ ದೇಹವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಬೆಳಕು. ಬಾನಿನ ಭಾಸ್ಕರನೇ ನನ್ನೊಳಗಿದ್ದಂತೆ ಭಾಸವಾಯಿತು.  ಕಣ್ಣು ತೆರೆದರೂ ಸೌಂದರ್ಯ, ಮುಚ್ಚಿದರೂ ಸೌಂದರ್ಯ.  ಯಾವುದೇ ಆಲೋಚನೆಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶವಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ದೇಹದ ನರ ನಾಡಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಚಲನೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು.   ಇದೇ ಆನಂದದ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಇರಬಹುದು ಎಂದೀಗ ಅನಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಕಣ್ಣು ಮುಚ್ಚಿದಾಗ ಎಲ್ಲೋ ಬೆಳಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ ನಡೆಸಿದಂತೆ ಇತ್ತು. ಅನಂತತೆಯ ಕಲ್ಪನೆ ಇದೆ ಇರಬಹುದು.  ಆದನ್ನು ಪದಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬಣ್ಣಿಸಲಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಎಂತಹ ಪದಗಳನ್ನು ಹಾಕಿದರೂ ಆ ಅನುಭವವನ್ನು ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.  ಇದೇನು ಹೇಳಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಂತಹ ವಿಶೇಷವಾದ ಸಂಗತಿಯಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಅನಿಸಬಹುದು.   ಇನ್ನೊಬ್ಬರಿಗೆ ಹೇಗೆ  ಅನುಭವಕ್ಕೆ ಬರುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿಯದು.  ನನಗಂತೂ ಸಾಧಾರಣ ದಿನಗಳಂತೆ ಅನಿಸುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಬಹಳ ವಿಶೇಷವೆನಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ.  ಮನೆಗೆ ಬಂದು ಕನ್ನಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ಮುಖ ಹೊಳೆಯುತಿತ್ತು. ದಿನವಿಡೀ ಆ ಬೆಳಕಿನ ದರ್ಶನಕ್ಕೆ ಅವಾಕ್ಕಾಗಿದ್ದೆ.   ಇಡೀ ದಿನ ಕ್ಷಣ ಕ್ಷಣದದ ರಸಾನುಭವದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿಂದು ಹೋದೆ. 

ಅನೇಕ ಸಲ ನಾನು ಧ್ಯಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಕುಳಿತಾಗ ದೇಹದ ಪರಿವೇ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ ಎಲ್ಲೋ ತೇಲಿಹೋಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ಅನುಭವವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಆದರೆ ಹೀಗೆ ಜಾಗೃತಾವಸ್ಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಆದ ಆನಂದದ ಅನುಭವ ಅವರ್ಣನೀಯ.  ಇದೇ ರೀತಿಯ ಅನುಭವ ಐದು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ  ಆಗಿದ್ದರ ನೆನಪಿದೆ,  ಆದರೆ ಆಗ ಬೆಳಕು ಕಾಣಿಸಿದ್ದು ಒಂದು ದೀರ್ಘ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆಯ ನಂತರ. ಅಂದು ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಜಾವ ಸುಮಾರು ಐದು ಗಂಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅರ್ಧ ನಿದ್ರಾವಸ್ಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಾಗ ದೇಹಕ್ಕೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ ಸರಪಳಿಗಳೆಲ್ಲಾ ಬಿಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಂತಹ ಅನುಭವವಾಯಿತು, ದೇಹದ ಪ್ರತಿ ಭಾಗವೂ ಒಂದು ರೀತಿ ಬಂಧಮಕ್ತವಾದಂತೆ ಭಾಸವಾಯಿತು, ಪೂರ್ಣ ಎಚ್ಚರಗೊಂಡಾಗ ಕಣ್ಣ ಮುಂದೆ ಬಹು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಬೆಳಕು ಕಂಡೆ, ಆ ಬೆಳಕು ಸುಮಾರು ಒಂದೂವರೆ ತಾಸು ಆನಂದದಲ್ಲಿ ತೇಲಿಸಿತ್ತು.  ಅಂದು ಇದೇ ರೀತಿ ಕ್ರೀಡಾಂಗಣಕ್ಕೆ ವ್ಯಾಯಾಮಕ್ಕೆಂದು ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೆ. ಹೇಳಲಾರದ ತಾಳಲಾರದ ಆನಂದದಲ್ಲಿ ಚಲಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವಂತಿತ್ತು.  ಅದಾದ ನಂತರ ನನ್ನಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಅನಿಶ್ಚಿತತೆ, ಅಭದ್ರತೆ, ಆಲಸ್ಯಗಳೆಲ್ಲಾ ದೂರವಾಗಿ ಹೊಸ ಜೀವನವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಆಯಿತು. ಮನಸ್ಸು, ಮಾತು, ಕಾರ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ  ಉತ್ಸಾಹ ಚಿಮ್ಮಿತ್ತು.

ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಧರ್ಮವೇ ಆನಂದ. ಚಿಂತೆ, ನೋವು, ತೊಂದರೆ, ಕಷ್ಟ, ಕಲ್ಮಶ ಇವುಗಳನ್ನು ನಾವು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದು. ಆದರೆ ವಿಧಿಯಿಲ್ಲ. ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳ ಹಾಗು ಸಂಸಾರದ ಏಳು ಬೀಳುಗಳಿಗೆ ಸ್ಪಂಧಿಸುವದು ಅವಶ್ಯಕ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಾಜದ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯ ಗಳನ್ನು ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸಿ ಹಲವಾರು  ವಿಷಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಲೇ ಬೇಕಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಜೀವನದ ಹರಿವಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ತೇಲಿ ಹೋಗುತ್ತೇವೆ. ದುಃಖ, ಸಂತೋಷ, ನೋವು, ಅಸೂಯೆ, ಹಂಬಲ, ಆಸೆ ನಿರಾಸೆಗಳು ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಆವರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತವೆ. ಹಾಗೆ ಸ್ಥಿತಪ್ರಜ್ಞರಂತೆಯಾಗಲೀ, ಆನಂದಾವಸ್ಥೆಯಲ್ಲಾಗಲೀ ಇರುವುದು ಕಷ್ಟಸಾಧ್ಯ.   ಆಗ ತಾನೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ ಮಗು ಹೇಗಿರಬಹುದು? ಮಗುವಿನ ಮನಸ್ಸು  ಆನಂದದ ಬೆಳಕಿನಲ್ಲಿರಬಹುದೇನೋ ತಿಳಿಯದು. ಆದರೆ ಸಂಸಾರಕ್ಕಿಳಿದ ನಂತರ ನಮಗಾಗುವ ಅನುಭವ ಕಲಿಕೆ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಬೇರೊಂದು ದಿಕ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕರೆದೊಯ್ಯತ್ತದೆ. ಮತ್ತೆ ಆ ಮಗುವಿನ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಪಡೆಯುವುದು ಸಾದುವಲ್ಲದ್ದು, ಹಾಗಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ ಅಪರಿಮಿತ ಆನಂದದಲ್ಲಿ ಜಗತ್ತೇ ಮುಳುಗಿರುತಿತ್ತು.   ಈ ಜಿಜ್ಞಾಸೆಗಳು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು.  ನಾನು ಅಂತಹ ಜ್ಞಾನಿಯೂ ಅಲ್ಲ, ದಾರ್ಶನಿಕಳೂ ಅಲ್ಲ ಸಂನ್ಯಾಸಿಯೂ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಎಲ್ಲರಂತೆ ಇಂತಹ ಜೀವನ ಪ್ರವಾಹದ ಹರಿವನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಲುಕಿದವಳು. ಆದರೆ ಇಂತಹ ಒಂದು ಅಪರೂಪದ ಅನುಭವವಾದದ್ದು ನಿಜ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ನಾನು ಧನ್ಯಳಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ.  ಇದೇ ಅನಂತ ಆನಂದದಲ್ಲಿ ಇರ ಬಯಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.  ಆದರೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನ ಪಥ ಹೀಗೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಲಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ದಿನನಿತ್ಯದ ಬವಣೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮುಳುಗುತ್ತೇವೆ.  ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಆನಂದ ಧರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಮರೆಯುತ್ತೇವೆ.  ಮರೆಯದ ಅನುಭವ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಆಗಲಿ, ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿರಲಿ  ಎಂಬುದು ನನ್ನ ಆಶಯ.

The Play of Power Distances!

College admissions were on.  I was the campus head of an institution.  Parents came with their wards to my room before the admission process was completed.  I stood up to invite one of them who entered my room.  As they entered in, they asked at what time the senior official is expected, this question was raised despite the board being displayed on my cabin as dean.  There is still a taboo among people that certain attributes like gender, age, dressing and material things give power to a person disregarding the expertise, knowledge and position.  The humbler one is they are perceived to be powerless. People have a tendency to complete their perception circle by judging on the basis of traits and appearances.

 I had problems with collections from my vendors.  I told my accountant to persuade the clients by writing a mail which is 'firm and friendly' for the collection of outstanding dues.  Instead the accountant pushed me to talk to the vendor and her suggestion was to convince the vendor by telling that my husband will not tolerate this delay.  I asked her where does my husband appear in my business.  She believes that men can be used as a shield to create a fear in the mind of the client. This is not the first time, women themselves try to play the fear of husband card to get things done.   Even a school kid feels a mother is meant for certain chores and can be handled easily and a father is meant for working outside who is very strict and unapproachable.  Mothers create fear of the father in the child to get things done from them.  The same manifests and people start believing powers based on gender.

It also happened when I was the chairperson of a committee to visit colleges. I opted to commute with my private vehicle arrangement.   When we reached colleges, at every place the members who went in the official car were honored with bouquets and treated with great fear and respect.   However, that was not my concern as it was only an official visit. What I meant to say is the perception of people to regard people as powerless based on possessions and tangibles.  

I have also observed students from rural backgrounds with hesitation to speak in English and take a backseat in expressing themselves in the classrooms.  I really appreciate the confidence with which Japanese who are Non-English speaking are able to transcend the barriers and be successful in communicating even if they are slow and not Grammarly. The current system of education has failed to teach our children the power of inner strength. Indian Children are so inhibited by the power showered to people by the British.

This is not a complaining story, it is just an attempt how the perceptions are set in the society.  How people perceive power based on countless things rather than the intrinsic value of people. Is there a way that we start teaching children what matters most in life and how these differences are created in our minds and not there at a level beyond these perceptions? Can we attempt to create a world with no differences of power play?

Ego is Limitless and Expansive!

We often use the word ‘’ego’’, ‘’egoistic’’ to tell about a person who is more self-centric.  Ego is more often less understood.  It is no doubt the concept or a construct  of the self.  Self of an individual does it mean the individual alone?  If we talk about EGO of an individual we are making a mistake of assuming EGO as fixed and static.  In reality EGO is dynamic and expansive in nature.  It is not limited to an individual alone. When we present our ideas about our family, our society or our nation we are trying to bring these broad understandings to our identity that is to ourself.  So EGO is not an individual alone.  It could be the self-concept embracing  either an individual or the whole world or even the entire universe.   It is neither narrow nor broad.  It is dynamic and is expandable as per the understanding and perception of an  individual. The maha-upanishad verse “vasudhaiva kutumbakam” which is ‘Vasudha eva kutumbakam’ reflects that is ‘’Ego’’ is expansive.  It is understanding that “Earth is indeed a Family’’.

Self itself is not a confined concept because the inner self or the ‘atma’ of an individual is a part of the bigger energy or the paramatma, or the atma (Self) can  manifest as the paramatma as per ‘’Aham brahmasmi”.    So self does not have a restrictive connotation or a boundary.  It embraces a bigger whole.  It is dynamic as per the understanding and the experience of an individual. 

Empathy, trying to feel the other person is just expanding the ego to the other person.  Feeling of oneness in the family is expanding ego to the family.  Loving the environment, the trees, the birds and the animals is expanding ego to the nature. Patriotism is expanding ego to the nation.  Kuvempu's concept of “Vishwamanava” is expanding the ego to the world or the universe. 

As we recognize the expansiveness of Ego, we feel limitless and the social compartments would disappear.

Realizing the Power of Oneness

From the dawn of life, we observe that everything has a method, a process, a system, a structure.  The Universe has a pattern of functioning.  The computations of the astronomical science prove these.  But behind these systems, there is a force which has given a direction and guided every existence and movement of either something which is lifeless or that which has a life. 

We are all a part of this Universe and are also embraced by the law of nature.   Plants, trees, animals, birds, water bodies, land, mountains, forests, rain, sun, moon, earth, all celestial bodies everything is a part of this universe.  The force of the universe operates in everything, everywhere and all the time.  Being a part of the universe which is guided by one single force. To think as one single force is for most of us an unimaginable phenomenon. 

Individualism in the way of Oneness

We are all born as individuals on this earth, life teaches us individuality.  It makes us think as isolated entities in the universe. We become so individualistic that the wholesomeness is disintegrated.   As social beings life teaches us to live with people of our families and those with whom we interact. In reality, we are a part of the big whole.  

The society brings us together and the economy keeps us apart.  The universe brings us together but our thinking keeps us apart.  Our thought processes act as the biggest blocks to feel unified with the whole.  It is not as easy as said.  Accepting the wholesome phenomenon is not that easy.  Many questions arise to accept this because of the material facts.  We have to make a living.  We have to earn for ourselves and our family.  We need protection, we need a house.  One can’t be judgmental saying that it is not the right thing to do.  It is a way of life.  But if we want our dreams to be realized we have to understand things won’t work in isolation.  The more we accept oneness, the easier it is to achieve our dreams.

Thoughts and Oneness

If one attempts to map the mind it becomes difficult as the thought flow is not continuous. A Thought on something is interrupted by a number of other thoughts, the thread does not continue to be with one thought.  As the sense organs are open, every stimulus in every split second stimulates responses. Even when one closes all the sense organs to stimulus, the mind does not stop.  In fact, the mind moves faster than the speed of light and sound.  But all these thoughts which appear to be random may have strong impacts on many instances in life.  Many a time, I have observed random thoughts have become realities.  A number of times highly structured thoughts have just reached cold storage and have not realized.  When subtle thoughts of some frequency have the ability to come true, there must be something underlying this phenomenon to become a reality.  We put in great efforts in making a plan, a long-term and a short-term plan, write down the plan, set the targets and also attempt to reach them, but when  you have a look backward you see many things have happened which were not in the written plan, but it has enabled you to achieve your desires.

The mind is very well networked and connected.   When you are connected to energy at a very subtle level, that makes you realize the dream. This is because energy is one. All individuals are a part of this one energy.  It is like with the same electricity flowing in the wires there are lights, fans, and several electrical devices connected. All of these will function with the same energy.  Superficially, it appears to be disconnected. In reality, it is one electrical energy performing various functions.

Achieving  dreams with Oneness

Many times we observe conscious efforts would not have helped in achieving the goal but some thought which was random and just passed our mind has been realized. Naturally, the argument could possibly happen sometimes and not all times. However the truth is that it happens all times, but as individuals, we do not associate importance to these random thoughts and we are also unaware of the frequency of the thought.  We generally mix our conscious thoughts with this low-frequency thought and we do not track what is realized and what is not.  A clear understanding of how the mind networks and makes things happen is what is needed.  When we read the law of attraction, we experiment to check whether all the thoughts have become things.  Mostly, yes, but those thoughts of the conscious mind, which are more structured would have failed the test.

The thoughts which flash when we are in complete silence, which are random, which is highly influenced by the heart will turn to reality be it a negative or a positive thought.

For instance, we consider meeting new people as stray incidents.  Does it have any relevance for our lives? People come and go, what are we to do with it?  We meet so many of them in a day. We don’t realize that meeting and interacting with every individual will have a strong message and a meaning.  Once we start thinking in this direction, every incident of our life finds a meaning.  We often think in a discrete and disintegrated manner and lose the track of oneness.

The concept of oneness seems unexplainable as it is only experiential.   There is a force within each one of us which is energized when the logical mind stops its interference.  This force is the life force which is making things happen.  If the force is only within how can externalities happen according to our minds’ wish?  The force is that which exists out there and also within us which is connected.  This in the recent past has been experimented and proven by a number of spiritual practitioners.  It is not a new science, it has been from the day when the universe came into existence.  Einstein’s universal truth “Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another” reiterates the truth that the energy is already there and is a whole.  It is the same energy which is omnipresent and omnipotent. 

ಹೊಸ ಜೀವನ!

ಮತ್ತೆ ಚಿಗುರುವ ಮಾವು,
ಮತ್ತೆ ಕರೆಯುವ ಕೋಗಿಲೆ,
ಮತ್ತೆ ಸುರಿವ ಮಳೆ,
ಮತ್ತೆ ಮೂಡುವ ಮಳೆಬಿಲ್ಲು,
ಮತ್ತೆ ಮುಂಜಾನೆಯ ಮಂಜು,
ಮತ್ತೆ ಚಳಿಯ ಕಚಗುಳಿ,
ಋತುಚಕ್ರದ ರಸನಿಮಿಷಗಳು
ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮರಳಿ,
ಅಂತರಾತ್ಮದ ಬಯಕೆಗಳ,
ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ತಣಿಸಿ,
ತಲ್ಲಣಿಸುವ ಮನ ಮೌನವಾಗಿ
ಕ್ಷಣ-ಕ್ಷಣ ಆನಂದದಲಿ ಮಿಂದು,
ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ-ದ್ವಂದ್ವಗಳು ನಿಶಬ್ದವಾಗಿ,
ಅನಂತತೆಯ ಶೂನ್ಯದಲಿ ಲೀನ,
ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಹೊಸ ಜೀವನ.

ಮನಸೇ!

ಮನಸೇ! ಓ ಹರಿವ ನದಿಯೇ!
ನಿರಂತರ ನಿರಾಕಾರ ಗಾಮಿನಿಯೇ!
ಅರಿಯೆ ನೀನು ಸುಂದರ ಸರಳ!
ಕಲ್ಲು-ಬಂಡೆಗಳು,
ಇಳಿಜಾರುಗಳು,
ಮುಳ್ಳು ಪೊದೆಗಳು,
ಬೆಟ್ಟ-ಗುಡ್ಡಗಳು,
ಎಡವಿ ತಡವಿ, ನೀನು ನಿರ್ಮಲ!
ರಭಸವಾಗಿ ಭೋರ್ಗೆರದು,
ಗುಡುಗಿ ಘೂಂಕರಿಸಿ,
ಕದಡಿ ಕಲುಷಿತವಾಗಿ,
ವಿರಳವಾಗಿ, ಶಾಂತವಾಗಿ,
ತಿಳಿಯಾಗಿ ನೀನು ಸುಜಲ!
ಓಡುತ-ಓಲಾಡುತ,
ಕುಲುಕುತ ಬಳುಕುತ,
ಹಾರುತ ಬೀಳುತ,
ಕಣ್ಮನ ಸೆಳೆಯುತ,
ತಣಿಸುವ ನೀನು ಚಂಚಲ!
ಒತ್ತಡವ ಒಗೆದು,
ಜಡತೆಯನು ಜಡಿದು,
ಶಿವನ ಜಟೆಯಿಂದ ಪುಟಿದು,
ಸಂಸ್ಕರಿಸಿ, ಉದ್ಧರಿಸಿ,
ಶಮನಗೊಳಿಸುವ ಶ್ಯಾಮಲ!

You are in me!

When the ceaseless water floods my way,
When the storm forcibly sweeps away;
When the earth shakes and shatters life,
When the mind gets into a constant strife;
When the heart trembles and the beat frails,
When the breath battles and pulse fails,
When the body faints and memory trails;
Oh god, my spirit, my love; inspire me thee,
To hold on, to remember  you dwell in me!

Life Cycle of a Teacher

Being in teaching for close to 30 years I put my journey in these stages. I have avoided decline stage as I am still one in the profession. I felt teachers have a great ego at all stages expressed in different forms.  The relationship between students and teachers keep altering, the classroom dynamics and power distance change over a period of time;  the teacher learns finally to discover oneself.

Introduction Stage: First few years is about reading content from text books and reproducing in class, students want to have great fun in class, you try to be strict and autocratic as the age difference between you and your students is marginal, you keep showing off in class as unapproachable, outside class you be very friendly and talking without filters to students. Interested in stories of students, yet you complain that students are not good.

Growth Stage: Next few years, you have understood content quite well, showing off that you have more knowledge, as if you are a magician doing magic at finger tips, just because it’s all repetitive teaching.  Trying to be friendly and democratic but students respect for content and regard you as knowledgeable.  Outside class you maintain some distance by not revealing your personal matters to students and conceit expert power.  An ego built around that you are the ‘teacher’

Extended Growth: Peak of the career, content is substantiated with more examples and real-time illustrations make class more interesting, content clubbed with things that students can relate to and making classroom environment better by adding humor in the class.  You command more respect from students but you still attempt to be friendly.  A few students approach for career questions thinking that ‘you know the world’. Power dynamics play and your claim is that you are the best.

Saturation: You find yourself more different from others; you have explored many things through research, attempt to club content and research;  to teach one class you take hours of preparation to make each class an experience for the students. Text books become immaterial.  Students keep you at a higher position; however you are not everyone’s person. You can’t teach too many hours and find it difficult to compete with others in the profession.  You realize the trend is different and you are dispensable.

Extended Saturation: You have one or two students who understand your philosophy others sleep, some don’t understand; classes become a platform to share experiences and connect knowledge. As a teacher you realize you should not talk but only listen to what others say. You realize that others perspective is important.  One or two words here and there, one or two close conversations. However, you find some contentment as someone has regarded you as a teacher who inspired.