Sonal Mansingh: Life is a bubbleSpirituality

In the shastras, materialism has always been equivalent to leading a good life - partaking of good food, wearing expensive silks and jewellery. It's all about opulence. Aesthetics and beauty have been imposed upon us since ages. Look at our temples, churches and places of worship. Aren't they opulent? But they are a balance of magnificence and aesthetics. For me, aesthetics is an integral part of spirituality. I firmly believe that materialism and spirituality can co-exist ; you don't need to leave worldly pleasures and go in pursuit of spirituality. Take, for example, the Pope - he is the head of a religious sect, but look at his opulence! He is adorned with gold, precious gems, fur and velvet. The mansion he lives is nothing less than a palace. Osho is yet another example of good life. He had a fleet of Rolls Royce and a private jet too. It is their opulence and lavish lifestyle that the world sees, but the spiritual enlightenment these people achieved is seldom sensed by the common man. They are surrounded by luxury, yet they manage to connect to the Almighty. If you break the word Sanyasa, nyasa means foundation. When you are grounded and balanced from within, everything falls in place and you remain spiritual in spite of your material pursuit.

In a 24-hour day, every human being, including the most materialistic ones, has moments that are beyond immediate manoeuverings. This is the time one connects with the forces and converses with them, questions them. This point for me is the awakening of spirituality in us, and if we are able to capture these moments and prolong them, the spiritual phase stays with us for a longer period.

I feel spiritual and connected to Him when I do my daily riyaaz. When I dance, I become a spiritual being. I don't believe one can practise spirituality. It's a state of being. It's there around you; you just have to be aware of it and absorb it. Surrender yourself to the forces without questioning. Let your inner being bask in a state of complete silence. Then you'll learn to enjoy inner peace.

I'd like to narrate an incident — I met with a near fatal accident in Germany in 1974, which took away with it the vibrancy and charisma of my youth. It reduced me to a vegetable. I couldn't even move on my own. The condition was so bad, that doctors in Germany (where I was undergoing treatment) said, 'Leave aside dance, there are slim chances that I would be able to walk'. The news was in the media and Dr Pierre Gravel, who had seen my dance performance earlier, happened to read it. The good doctor decided to take up my case. A couple of weeks later after he started treatment, he said, "I am afraid Sonal..." and paused. I howled. Completing his sentence he said, "you will be able to dance again". For me, his was the voice of God. I followed his advice to the T and within months, I was performing on stage. Moreover, the doctor didn't charge a single penny from me. The whole experience changed my outlook towards life. I became more humane.

I realised that life is a bubble that can burst anytime, yet we live thinking that the bubble will last till eternity. Live your life God size.

(Dr Sonal Mansingh is a noted Odissi and Bharatnatyam dancer)