Emotions

Emotions

Today I wish to explore the universe of emotions and their role in guiding us to lead a life in love enjoying the resplendent beauty of creation.

When I read the available literature on emotions (or feelings) I find them to be a product of the rational part of the mind. This part is circumscribed by the boundaries of the social, cultural, ethnic and political system in which we live. It has to be correct according to the dictates of the people in power of the system. The rational thought is thus essentially enslaved, even though it may flaunt itself as free, emancipated and liberal. This thought is dualistic and subjective. It is based on comparative studies and is thus regulated by the chosen benchmark.

I find it to be quite funny. Take for example the difference made out between head and heart. Head is supposed to be the seat of intellect the instrument of thinking. Heart on the other hand is the seat of emotions. The scientifically oriented change the words head and heart into the left and right side of the brain. Both treat these as if they are independent organs at war with each other. The whole body and persona is divided using the same logic into warring factions. Isn’t that funny, when all sensible observations indicate that we have one beautifully coordinated body? The scary part is the conclusions, the learned theories on which the strategies of living and relating are worked out. These force me to speak in defense of the holiness (wholeness) of life.

All created beings have a body and a soul (or spirit). The body is the manifested soul. The soul is the seed of the body. The two continually communicate with each other. The virtual medium through which they communicate is the mind. The body informs the soul about the outside world as experienced by it. The body of the world appears as physical sensations like hard-soft, hot-cold and so on. The soul of the outside world appears as emotions. The soul informs the body about the appropriate response, again in terms of physical sensations or emotions. Physical sensations call for action and the body is activated accordingly. This requires a surge of energy, which is provided by emotions activating appropriate glands (valves regulating the flow of energy). Emotions and thoughts appear together. If we read them together we would know what action is to be taken, what is to be its intensity and duration and where it is to be applied. Sometimes it is to be applied to the outside world, but most of the time it is to be applied to oneself. If the response is to be spiritual (as is the case most often) no response is called for. We allow the status quo to continue and continue to observe and enjoy life as it is unfolding. This is what sages do often, not because they don’t care but because they see no need to intervene in the divine manifestations.

For this system to work efficiently we have to keep the body, mind and soul clean Over time sages have evolved practices to keep them clean. They are essentially simple rituals which when performed produce immediate results of beauty, clarity and joy. If we slip in the practice for any reason they start appearing difficult and cumbersome. Take for example the practice of getting up before sun rise and going outdoors to be part of the awakening. This is a part of all our residential programs. Initially the participants grumble a lot and a lot of gentle cajoling is needed to get them out of their beds and rooms. However, once the process is begun and the results begin to flow in, they begin to do it with enthusiasm and conviction. We have many other elements in our program, which have the same effect. The breaking of old unhealthy habits is the real problem.

Emotions are an experience. They need to be experienced fully before doing any thing further. They do not have to be expressed. In any case how do we express an emotion? Do we do it in words? If so, in which language? Then language ability would tie it down. This leads to the notion that illiterate people do not feel. This is then extended to animals and plants. Isn’t that a dangerous hypothesis? In any case the important thing is not that people around understand how one is feeling, but the person himself/herself. No language is required for this understanding. What is needed is just staying with the experience. Even in the case of a person with another body, mind and soul, understanding comes by being fully with the other. One word in English for this is EMPATHY. In Sanskrit it is called sahaanubhooti, shared experience. We are so busy trying to get somewhere, trying to become somebody that we find it difficult just to be. That is seen as a passive state and in the present milieu we have to be constantly active, if not we would be lost. In fact the opposite is true. We are lost because we are in a state of perpetual motion.

Try staying still and silent to realize the value of this presentation. Just be and enjoy life as it unfolds.

May all be happy.

Ganoba