Sonal Mansingh: Life is a bubble
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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)
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