tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371084621387638502024-03-14T00:10:58.678+08:00Dasi Dance & Dravidian ArtsA cultural blog for spiritualist and humanists. Where History, Identity, Movement and Prayer intersect in critical new ways.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-41067626064485219862011-04-13T04:56:00.003+08:002011-04-13T05:18:16.494+08:00Jane GoodallToday I had the fortune of listening to Jane Goodall. I wanted to be in her physical presence as I suspect that she had a radiance about her. And I was indeed right. In a room packed with developmental economists and other NGO professions she spoke passionately about her mother. How her mother believed in her from the time she was 1.5 years old and took earthworms to bed with her. Instead of getting upset her mother nurtured her love for animals. <br /><br />Jane she was born between the two world wars she was very poor - her family could not even afford a bicycle. But her mother bought her Tarzan and other great books about the natural world. At 11 years old Jane had a dream that she will be working with animals she said and writing about them. And when she shared this dream everyone except her mom laughed at her. Her mom told her to work hard and focus on her dreams. Finally she saved enough money to buy a ticket on a boat to Africa and set sail on a new adventure. She knew she wanted to be a naturalist in Africa. And this to her was the starting point. Getting there. Of course once she was there there were other obstacles. In particular no one would take responsibility for a young single woman to roam the forests unaccompanied. So her mother came along with her. And when Jane was starting to lose heart - feeling that she was not learning anything spectacular about chimps her mother refuted it. Her mom told her that Jane was learning alot about how they feed, what they feed on and other daily habits. And encouraged Jane to record all of it. And her breakthough finally came when she saw a chimp using a stick as a tool. Her mother also created incredibly trust and goodwill among the local Kenyan people by setting up a "clinic" in the village where they were. She used epson salts, bandages, aspirin and other simple medicine to treat the ailments of the villagers. In turn the villagers came to revere her as a white witch doctor and allowed Jane much access and shared their wisdom with her. <br /><br />When she finally presented her findings to professors in Cambridge they said that she was wrong. Animals have no emotions and it was wrong of her to name her animals. They must be numbered. She said instinctively she knew her professors were wrong. From a very young age her dog had taught her that animals have many emotions and this in turn became the basis of her work. I was deeply inspired by her story and her radiant story telling. She spoke to us from her heart. No script. No slides. With vivid animal hoots and chimp like gestures she shared her intimate knowledge of her chimps with love, honesty and compassion.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-16319057807824169392011-04-11T09:36:00.004+08:002011-04-11T09:48:08.331+08:00Bill Cunningham<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NYqiLJBXbss" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Today I went to see a beautiful documentary-movie of a street fashion photographer Bill Cunninham. I was mesmerized and profoundly affected. First Bill's sense of wonder and awe had such an innocent childish quality about it. Secondly he had manners - he sought to protect his subjects that he was photographing. He was not interested in celebrities. He was interested in the ordinary person making bold and creative use of fashion. People who felt compelled to express themselves. In defending fashion he said fashion is like an armor that helps one get through the day. Without fashion life would be so dreary. And unimaginative. What a refreshing take on fashion which often has been confused with vanity and excess. As opposed to a possible avenue for beauty, inspiration and self-knowledge. I also loved the fact that he did the work he did out of love. He worked in the early days in the "establishment" - meaning a newspaper. And at night he did all his creative work up till 4am in the morning. He clearly had amazing energy or maybe it was the work that gave him the energy. But at 82 being able to look back at his life and smile the way he does. And talk with so much passion about his work is a real source of joy. His fluency in French and how he says he comes to Paris every 6 months like a student to educate his eyes. That was an amazing insight. When accepting an award from the French he almost broke down when he says He who seeks beauty shall find it.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-7314525602328554992011-04-01T00:09:00.001+08:002011-04-01T00:09:30.602+08:00Why Emotions Make Better Decisions<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1wup_K2WN0I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-35735314513995370242011-03-21T04:55:00.001+08:002011-03-21T04:57:28.444+08:00<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/h3Gt-E3YqKI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-76534046330330220722011-03-18T19:30:00.003+08:002011-03-18T19:37:53.165+08:00Respecting First Emotional ResponseToday I heard a wonderful interview at BBC by Francoise Barbe-Gail who says that we must respect our first emotional response to a work. She explains that we are often very shy and frightened when we look at a painting. We always have a first impression. It is important to trust this first impression. If it disgusts you, you might want to go further and explore why. She says when you do this it enables you to get in touch with the painter's instincts and it gives clues to his life. Going beyond this first impression is also important (without negating the first impression). How do you trust your own impression while also trusting the instincts of the painter? She goes onto say that in many ways seeing a painting is like meeting a new person. <br /><br />To train you eye you cannot begin with academic art history. If you do so it clouds your feelings and impression. I think what se is really saying is that you need to see art from the heart. Not from the head. To formulate your own view and determine your own values. It is important to be aware of what the images are actively conveying to us. <br /><br />Her views have inspired me to buy her book How to Look at a Painting.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-37549964469567957962011-03-11T10:15:00.007+08:002011-03-12T05:34:03.671+08:00Malavika Takes Abhinaya to New HeightsFor old school critics of Malavika who dismiss Malakiva's Abhinaya, they are missing the point entirely. I just finished watching Malavika's performance at the Kennedy Center in DC. I was floored. There were tears in my eyes. A standing ovation was all I could muster at the end of an intensely moving show. Last night it occurred to me that Malavika's concept of abhinaya was a contemporary one. Unlike the old school gurus her abhinaya was not merely confined to her face. It is in every mudra, every adavus, every note and most importantly in the total environment that she creates for her audience. The paintings that she used for her set design. The single note of the temple bell that punctuated and signaled the end of a piece. This is how Malavika subtly infuses her modern spirit into the rigorous classical space of Bharatanatyam. It easy to do fusion - to tinker on the edges of a classical art form. But to dissect each adavu and koraivai and modify it. And then to add another layer of sound and light to amplify her movements was a stroke of brillance. Malavika is firmly in that league of great masters who have transcended technique. Let me give you a few concrete examples. Malavika used a rectangle, a square and a circle to create distinct dark and light spaces on the stage floor. She often stood on the edge of these shapes as opposed to the center. Her ability to play with light and shadow infused her movements with a meditative aura. This transformed the mystery and beauty of the sculptural qualities she brought to the art form. She curated herself within the light/dark spaces with impecabble rhythm. Similarly, she used classical temple instruments like the temple bell and the conch to add a layer of authenticity to her piece. These pieces although often used in a temple are seldom part of the classical Bharatanatyam orchastra. Her pieces on Durga and Shiva were indeed very classical choices. Yet these characters felt raw, fresh and alive when she danced them to life at the Kennedy Center. Finally the way she punctuated her adavus was striking. Bharatanatyam dancers are often subject to rigid rules as to how to execute certain movements. Malavika followed all the rules but surprised the audience with the delivery of it. The trembling of her fingers to represent fire transformed a simple mudra into a fiery ball of fire. To decode Malavika one has to watch her really closely. On the surface she may appear very classical and almost traditional. But she is far from it. From her frequent use of back to the audience - which is traditional dance schools is frowned upon as being vulgar - to her exquisite marriage of lights, music and voice to bring the stories to live, Malavika has redefined Bharata Natyam and made it a universal language. For those seeking to copy Malaviak I say watch her dance. Malavika seldom gives interviews and I have found her interviews very disappointing. I realized that her primary vocabulary is movement. Not words. Words cannot convey the essence of what she is trying to do. Watching her might give a sense. Malavika is authentic because she owns her style and is honest about what works for her. She does not take shortcuts and I have never seen her resort to cheap tricks. Every show I have seen of hers have been original - she has a strong concept and works around it faithfully. She is disciplined too. She does not bring too many elements into her show. She is committed to evolving as an artist and that truly sets her apart from many of her peers who seem more interested in the performance dimension as opposed to the creative dimension.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-49477863391780256092011-03-11T04:25:00.010+08:002011-03-24T09:32:47.714+08:00David Brooks - The Social Animal<object width="446" height="326"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/DavidBrooks_2011-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/DavidBrooks-2011.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=1094&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=david_brooks_the_social_animal;year=2011;theme=a_taste_of_ted2011;theme=how_the_mind_works;theme=new_on_ted_com;event=TED2011;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="446" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/DavidBrooks_2011-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/DavidBrooks-2011.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=1094&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=david_brooks_the_social_animal;year=2011;theme=a_taste_of_ted2011;theme=how_the_mind_works;theme=new_on_ted_com;event=TED2011;"></embed></object><br /><br />In a cab ride to a lunchtime event I heard a snapshot of a great interview. The interviewee said something that deeply resonated. <br /><br /><em>"There is a gigantic bias in our (american) culture towards hard measurable things. We need that. But I am also for music, art and playtime. The real key to our wisdom is how to educate our emotions... We educate our emotions by art, literature by movie character and by surrounding ourselves with certain kinds of people and not other kinds of people. That is how our emotions get smarter. Why do kids stay in high-school? Mainly due to ABC - atheletics, band and cheerleeding. This gives them meaning and keeps them in school. The art and atheletics keeps kids emotionally connected to school</em> <br /><br />Whoever this guy was - he was summing up my life !!! It was all my dancing and creative stuff that kept me happy, fulfilled and engaged throughout my school years. I remember in Law School that in one year my grades suffered as I had cut down all my creative activities and focused only on law. The final year I went back to dancing and creating and I thrived and got the top prize for a very complex legal subject. It taught me a very important lesson - that my brain is wired in a certain way and that it functions better with a certain mix of activities. <br /><br />He also gave me an insight into the psyche of American men brought up in suburbia. He said that they don't feel that they are equipped to express emotions or how to deal with it. He pointed out that there is indeed a cultural norm in America that one should be self sufficient and should not express emotions. As a result American men develop a phobia towards emotions and tend to withdraw when they are confronted with certain emotions.<br /><br />Finally he spoke about how different cultures see things differently. For example, Americans he said looked at the Mona Lisa and looked mainly at her eyes and her mouth. Other cultures look at things all around the Mona Lisa. I definitely fell into the latter category - ie context mattered alot more for me in the total appreciation of the work. He cited another fascinating experiment -how when you place a tank of gold fish in front of Americans and Chinese you get very different reactions. The Americans immediately focussed on the biggest fish and the details that it presented. The Chinese looked at everything around the fish including the fish. <br /><br />Finally I found it really funny that he said that Washington DC, where he lives, is the most emotionally avoidant city on Earth. When I jumped out of the cab I looked up the author and his new book - The Social Animal - The Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-79439758238555957372011-03-10T00:44:00.016+08:002011-03-10T01:42:34.256+08:00Daksha SethLast night I got a free ticket to watch Daksha Seth's company at the Kennedy Center. I was reluctant to go. I had watched their troupe before and it was not my cup of tea. Their work always struck me as a vulgar mix of acrobatics and indian martial arts carefully packed in a design conscious manner to appeal to the western palette. For those unfamiliar with the indian dance world, Indian contemporary dance is a very recent phenomenon. Indian dancers are struggling to find a meaningful voice and identity within the larger contemporary dance world. And that is a worthy struggle and one which should be pursued with vision, courage and passion. But Indians artists should not delude themselves as to where they are in this process. Or more importantly attempt to hoodwink their audience. <br /><br />Daksha always manages to use intelligent light design, set design and a zen-like aesthetics to package her dance offerings. But the movement vocabulary remained static and predictable. When you strip it down to the core - what is the defining aspects of Seth's work? Aerial acrobatics mixed in with karma sutra-like movements? Is shock factor the main thrust of Seth's work? Is her work largely a rebellious response to Indian modesty and love for ornamentation and color? Does something become indian contemporary dance merely because it is from India or performed by Indians? Or are there certain emotional, physical and spiritual markers that set indian contemporary dance apart from other contemporary dance forms? What is that singular thread that holds indian arts forms together and that merit inclusion in the Maximum Indian festival at the Kennedy Center? Or is there no such thread? Seth would probably argue that these are precisely the questions that her performance seeks to provoke. Yes, a clever answer but an evasive one. <br /><br />The point is that the show did not have a conceptual underpinning. This was painfully apparent at various points and in particular when Seth twirled around in a gaudy golden outfit in the middle of the piece. If it was designed as a purely abstract piece it would have been fine. But the attempt to link the entire performance to the motif of the snake struck me as an after thought. An afterthought that diluted the virtuostic display of aerial dance and martial arts. A weak concept does not elevate the show into a higher intellectual realm. It only adds more noise. These shortcuts are dangerous not just for Seth and her company of dancers. But also in developing a meaningful response to the larger question of how indian contemporary artists are responding to India's evolving identity, politics and arts.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-6102532337504914762011-01-01T09:24:00.006+08:002011-01-01T09:36:12.383+08:00Chinua AchebeRecently in an interview Chinua Achebe said that it was intolerable for any man to stand up and claim that his Ibo dialect is better than another Ibo dialect. Or Achebe added to claim that his dialect is the only one. This statement transported me to a dance conference in India ten years ago when all the major dance gurus in Chennai were caught up in a debate as to which bhani or school of Bharatanatyam was superior. As Achebe says this is the wrong question to debate about. Different schools of bharatanatyam have evolved over time corresponding to the different gurus and their stylistic choices. Ultimately they are all a celebration of a beautiful classical dance form from Tamil Nadu. These various styles attest to the enduring beauty and grace of that artform. The diversity within the form enriches it and allows for customization to fit the dancer's temperament and preferences. As Achebe says this is a celebration of the people and their identity. Applying this to Bharata Natyam this is a celebration of what is happening today - there are multiple schools of dance and the dancer and the dance gurus need to celebrate this. So even though the bharatanatyam world maybe searching for new ways to grow and preserve the rigor of the classical form, dancers within the space would do well to take Achebe's advice and celebrate the present vibrant state of the art. To dance with great joy, freedom and ownership is one of the most beautiful gifts one can share with the world.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-65704090018818130942010-10-11T18:36:00.020+08:002010-10-13T20:33:24.689+08:00Grace and Beauty in Nepal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKGGt41bt_tzkwlXnS9IpXfGhoFKfTTmzyZNRga7f2Ek0fpeLPraEW18jpQ8cBX22ezdNS2-_QTo6KgOkBmxabE1i88u4eGjiLKzmLSbohDkR5O8Qg1nn32pGugK0a5qB0OeSB-a_XCc/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKGGt41bt_tzkwlXnS9IpXfGhoFKfTTmzyZNRga7f2Ek0fpeLPraEW18jpQ8cBX22ezdNS2-_QTo6KgOkBmxabE1i88u4eGjiLKzmLSbohDkR5O8Qg1nn32pGugK0a5qB0OeSB-a_XCc/s320/IMG_0031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527507754572707074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkUQy9idwwUcWx2VTyRI66V0LK_qfm7DfvLQlG1ViNvpRbZaDN3beFqO1-x3cdCU58lKPIRkdNJIAbndegGkvoMLBJIm7JidY3PKEuJeGbjMheNmJLHhC79l-KuntM52t46fqaQ7Qet8/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkUQy9idwwUcWx2VTyRI66V0LK_qfm7DfvLQlG1ViNvpRbZaDN3beFqO1-x3cdCU58lKPIRkdNJIAbndegGkvoMLBJIm7JidY3PKEuJeGbjMheNmJLHhC79l-KuntM52t46fqaQ7Qet8/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526762819725837186" /></a><br />A few days ago I returned from Nepal. Kathmandu far exceeded my expectations. Sometimes going to a new city with no expectations is a good thing. It leaves you open to embrace new perspectives, untainted by guidebooks written by foreigners. The greatest joy was the people, their history and their way of live. Yes, the city was chaotic. The roads were filled with pot holes. There were frequent power failures and blackouts. But these are easy distractions. One needs to be able to look beyond this to the essence of the place and its people. <br /><br />The Nepalese were eager to ensure that as visitors I had a good time. They often enquired whether I was enjoying my stay and if I could come back to visit again. This is the essence of true hospitality. The genuine concern for a visitor's well being and happiness. The deep desire for the Nepalese to ensure that we visitors leave their country with great memories was touching. <br /><br />Today international travel has become casual, impersonal and transactional. With the proliferation of internet travel sites, budget airlines and a large business travel segment, alot of the romance in travel seems to be lost. The hotel staff in many countries don't seem to have time to linger and chat with you or enquire about your well being. If they did, it would be in a highly scripted fashion and as part of their job description towards "client satisfaction." As a business traveller I often tend to be equally abrupt as I am anxious to get things "done." However, the Nepalese transported me to a time where civility and graciousness matters. They were impeccable hosts - they treated me like a revered guest in their home. And I reciprocated by slowing down and smiling from my heart. <br /><br />My time in Nepal reminded me that hospitality is such an integral part of Asian culture - where Guest is God. Tips are received with gratitude not with an attitude (as in the US). At my friend's golf club we had wanted to go for a walk and I was in heels. One of the staff took off her sandals and told me to wear them on the walk. It was a spontaneous and a simple gesture of taking care of one's guest. It struck me as a reflection and extension of the Nepali's people's culture, spiritual values and inherent warmth. <br /><br />Of course there were a few local Nepalese who were ashamed of their "backward" country, culture and people. They were anxious to get onto the Western bandwangon and become "modern." One of them told me how about certain barbaric temple rituals that were performed during the upcoming Navarathri. For a country teaming with NGOs and pockets of fly by night expats who prescribe all sorts of western medicine to tackle all sorts of local problems in Nepal - being caught between cultures can be a tough and very confusing thing. One could easily lose their cultural and spiritual anchor in the midst of incessant talk about economic "progress." But for me it has also reminded me to dig deeper to defend the symbolism inherent in many ancient rituals. And to look beneath the surface for truths that inform people's choices and way of life.<br /><br />The Nepalese struck me as strong and proud people who had deep respect for their majestic Himalaya, their great Gurkka regiment and their beautiful stupas and temples filled with ornate handcarvings. A few of the Nepali elite I met were sophisticated, clear headed and visionary. They saw not only the potential in their country but also its problems. They were not impressed with the Westerners or their simple "upgrade" ideology. A few Sherpas who has scaled Mount Everest and were incredibly well travelled also shared some keen insights with us. They talked about the essential difference between the Western climbers and the Sherpas. And how as Sherpas he only enjoyed climbers who climbed with a heart and with a love for the mountain. As opposed to personal glory which they said often seem to inspire Western climbing expeditions. <br /><br />A colleaague of mine pointed out the people here although poor had a quiet sense of dignity. They were not anxious to impress or to exploit the tourists. They wanted to share their history, culture and identity. And they did so with simple joy and a sense of ownership. It reminded me of my time in rural South India where even the taxi drivers were incredibly poetic and deeply knowledgeable about every tree, river and roadside store and its history and mythology. So this trip once again reminded me that the world is a rich and complex place. And if I traveled with the right spirit and remained alert to the nuances of a place and its people, I will be richly rewarded.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-66658304080580835642010-09-13T01:42:00.000+08:002010-09-13T01:43:21.919+08:00Craft, Color & Confidence<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CMVeFDBQb3s?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CMVeFDBQb3s?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-3503859342335858842010-09-09T02:03:00.003+08:002010-09-09T02:21:02.889+08:00Calligraphy & Apple Fonts<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UF8uR6Z6KLc?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UF8uR6Z6KLc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />A powerful talk by Steve Jobs on how to connect the dots in life. For example how his learning calligraphy as a school drop out informed the fonts for Apple computers. And subsequently raised the bar on all computer fonts. And this was ten years later after he picked up calligraphy. At the time he was doing calligraphy it seemed like a pointless indulgence. It did not feed him or pay his rent. He had to sleep on the floor of a friend's dorm and walk to Hare Krishna temple for one free meal a day. But yet he continued to study what inspired him. Not what was prescribed (ie formal schooling). But at that time when he was learning calligraphy he did not know how the ancient art infused with subtle beauty would inform his fonts at Apple. But it did. Ten years after when he founded he reached back to this experience. So he urges us to have faith and follow your heart. And to keep in mind that you can only connect the dots LOOKING backward. But not looking forward. <br /><br />Similarly when at 30 he was fired from his job, he realized later that that freed him into one of the MOST creative periods of his life. He was after 10 years after founding Apple and then getting ousted, a beginner again. He had immense freedom and he went back to doing what he loved - computing and founded Next and Pixar. Again the firing only made sense looking backward - as it freed him into his next phase of creative growth. At that time it happened he said it was a public humiliation. And it was awful and he tried very hard to get his job back.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-2312048651329213742010-09-06T23:06:00.001+08:002010-09-07T04:48:13.434+08:00Mao's Last Dancer<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kro5tRdKq0Q?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kro5tRdKq0Q?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />When I saw the ad for this I thought it was gonna be just another dance movie. But this interview convinced me otherwise. Maos Last Dancer is a true story of this brilliant man and his long and complex journey from a remote village in China to the glamorous world of ballet in the US. In particular his descriptions of how poor his family was that they often went to bed hungry and how his mother stoically encouraged him to leave her for a better life was particularly moving. The movie did not disappoint. It is a story that seems to have kept very close to the voice of the author. The dancing was brilliant at many parts. But it did not take away the deeper suffering, anxieties and sacrifices that a person makes when trapped between two opposing ideological masters. One who represents your past. The other who represents your future. Ultimately Li Cunxin follows his heart and stands up for what he feels is true to his craft. That dancing ballet in the US makes him feel more free.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-70013799741115740472010-08-06T08:34:00.004+08:002010-08-06T08:47:12.824+08:00Rediscovering Ben Okri<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gqNmhxiJF5I&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gqNmhxiJF5I&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />I first stumbled onto Ben Okri when I was on vacation in Malacca. I remember I was staying at a beautiful resort built into the sea inspired by traditional Malay huts/kelongs. I remember very clearly that there was a poetry book in that resort room and a beautiful poem by Mr Okri touched me. I remember i had read it over and over again. It was so beautiful. So moving. And I remember making a mental note that I will read more of his works. Till today that had not happened. But a recent radio session on great Nigerian writers brought him back to my consciousness. And in this short reading cum interview Ben Okri speaks about his mother's stories and how his mother's stories were always hidden lessons on morality. Lessons he did not get when she told them. But stories that he kept alive in his head and whose lessons he pondered on for many years. And then finally got sometimes after 20 years. He also talks about how his mother taught him to ask questions while his father taught him to answer them. In one short anecdote he captures the yin-yang duality beautifully and how as a greater writer he was able to access and use the duality. He also talks about the stories in our collective consciousness and how in some cultures there is a belief that there is a story among the stars waiting to be told. And when a writer connects the dots and writes this story magic is born. He says some call it inspiration. But he finds that materialistic. He rather see it from a more poetic plane.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-14755888495177596102010-05-01T23:21:00.009+08:002010-05-02T00:20:43.345+08:00Shen Wei<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OmKjOeejvWM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OmKjOeejvWM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />Last night I went to the Kennedy Center to watch Shen Wei dance theatre. It was a moving experience. Shen Wei seems to have successfully done what very few intercultural artists have achieved - a seamless fusion of the aesthetics of east and west. I tend to be somewhat skeptical of intercultural work which many times tend to be 90% western with 10% eastern accents via costumes or some adornment. Not true intergration. <br /><br />From Shen Wei's work it was not clear where the ballet movements ended and where the eastern meditative elements began. The dancers were predominantly westerners and all have a certain aura/energy to them - individually and collectively. They were not your traditional ballerinas - neither were they your karma sprouting western spiritualists. They like the performance defied classification. They all seem to have like Shen Wei the choreographer lived in multiple cultures and have used that experience to inform their dance and movement work. <br /><br />Shen Wei used his travels through Cambodia and the Silk Route to inform and inspire his work. Its funny - how I never saw the transformation of identify pre-travel and post-travel. The person you after you had visited a country with a rich history or a complex past is not the same person who started the trip. The way he used his photography as background projections to the choreography was harmonious and true to the energies and moods he was seeking to capture and convey. I felt transported and mesmerized. I was not looking at the dancers per se - it was such an integrated experience - where music, lights, design, costume and movement came together in a beautiful whole while comingling eastern and western energies. The piece that really moved me was the final piece with the topless dancers - the dancers were so unselfconscious. They exuded a sense of purity. And through their very slow movements eventually seem to evolve in sculptures. At a certain point I felt like I was looking at a painting from the classical period. I felt like I was in a museum studying a huge painting in front of me which was slowly drying into deep stillness. After I went home I kept thinking about it. And today I realized that I had experienced something deeply resonant. An artist who had so deeply integrated two cultures within himself and then is able to reach into this point of integration to create his works of art. I feel like I was at the cusp of a new movement. In thinking. In analyzing. A new paradigm that has managed through art to recaliberate a new equilibrium and a new paradigm on what it is to be global.<blockquote></blockquote>Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-41417519157532692222010-04-26T09:01:00.007+08:002010-04-26T09:24:27.769+08:00Crafting An American Beauty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEL52cD1SNTs7B8ak_PwliIA7IhoCBLJ3l4i4iAimhhSNd4VRYh6X2rjso7S6w7AJD7qn1A9SquKwu5mmQ0DdjTPk_VUvdUHOenMNVc-GCojLwb0uHLmLlCHENK0eGNBEe74suY6Voxw/s1600/e5081bd5-1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEL52cD1SNTs7B8ak_PwliIA7IhoCBLJ3l4i4iAimhhSNd4VRYh6X2rjso7S6w7AJD7qn1A9SquKwu5mmQ0DdjTPk_VUvdUHOenMNVc-GCojLwb0uHLmLlCHENK0eGNBEe74suY6Voxw/s320/e5081bd5-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464250173496226162" /></a><br />The Smithsonian Craft Show was on this weekend. I caught it today - the last day of the show. And my was I glad I went. I have great respect for craftsmen and artisans who can produce amazing works of art with their hands inspired by unique visions in their head. With the arrival of machines and artificial means of production I always wondered how little one man artisans like jewelers, furniture makers and dress makers survived. How do they market their amazing work? How do they retain creative control and a sense of ownership in how their work is marketed and to whom it is sold? After today's show I still don't have answers to these questions. But I was deeply inspired by the crafts that I saw and the artists who I had met. The first stop was at a hatter's display. It was full of beautiful handmade straw hats in very unique shapes. They were exquisitely designed and had an integrity and originality to their form that I had seldom encountered. It was wonderful to touch, feel and wear some of these hats and chat with the artist who made them. I also met two jewelers who were working with very interesting materials and finding ways to create wearable art. I bought three pairs of earrings after having a great chat with each of these jewelers. Attending the crafts exhibition also showed the depth of American crafts tradition in its diversity. And how many of these artists seem to be inspired by the rugged Americna landscapes that they inhabit. One of the artist told me that the lake near his home was a constant source of inspiration for his design. It struck me that these were original thinkers who were not pandering to mainstream media or magazines on fashion, design or architecture as a way to build their clientele. Many of them seem intent of finding their market through more innovative outlets like the crafts show. The Crafts show was also curated like an intimate private party in someone's house - someone who had amassed great artists and then invited his friends over for tea to celebrate their work. For those who ask if Americas have any culture - don't be fooled by the mainstream media. Shows like this are proof that the pioneering spirit and unique vision of American artists is alive and very well.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-53260169759442277182010-04-18T00:36:00.007+08:002010-05-02T08:38:09.544+08:00Early Morning Spring Walk<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vrukYMnPiNY2qNtORI-4-UGJyeh4NJ1mHVsPRvURDkCn2ZrXy92EZcjpzs6Y3MVKTpBGRA-BVW3v7g6JBCIupbVXTYTovTlMreNPGjijIvn4sj4nAo3_UlRAARNplEsWlWhvvh1y2JE/s1600/IMG_3295.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vrukYMnPiNY2qNtORI-4-UGJyeh4NJ1mHVsPRvURDkCn2ZrXy92EZcjpzs6Y3MVKTpBGRA-BVW3v7g6JBCIupbVXTYTovTlMreNPGjijIvn4sj4nAo3_UlRAARNplEsWlWhvvh1y2JE/s320/IMG_3295.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461154593335038914" /></a><br />Today I woke up feeling I had to go out for a walk. Nature was beckoning. Indoor exercising has never been my thing. But I was forced to do it during winter. But running or walking outdoors has always refreshed my spirit and my body in a profound way. I responded to this call before my lazy mind crept in with excuses - its a bit chilly outside, its a bit too early (630am), you might not make it back in time for your breakfast meeting etc. I resolutely bounded down the steps and ran outside before the list of excuses grew any longer and trapped me inside my home. And God - it was a beautiful spring morning. I felt indeed like I had run out into a temple of God's best creation. The sun had just risen and it was still low and mellow in the sky. The birds were chirping. I had missed the birdsong terribly during winter. I walked briskly up to my favorite area filled with old row houses all immaculately conserved and cared for. All the owners had planted beautiful flowers and plants outside their homes. The treelined street had a quiet beauty and integrity. As I walked I could almost feel myself blossoming alongside the flowers and birds. I had missed the green of the trees, the green of the grass, the green of lush vines creeping up the brickstone. And I did not realize how bleak the winter had been and what a surge of relief I had felt when the trees turned emerald green and vast stretches of brown earth came alive with grass. This was something I had taken completely for granted having lived in a very green Singapore a big part of my life. <br /><br />My best friend had given me a beautiful pink Ishuffle sometime ago and I had downloaded the most moving and spiritually infused music into it from my vast and rather chaotic music collection. And walking thru the quiet streets of georgetown with this music felt like taking a walk with my special friend. Another good friend of mine - Sita Jameson - a powerful chanter/singer had also given me her music. And listening to it while walking also brought me closer to her energy - her strong Shiva voice in her little lithe feminine frame. It also invoked in me the mountain energy of Santa Fe. In one short crisp Spring morning walk the different threads of my past came together. A harmonious convergence of the energy of true friends, sacred mountains, lush foliage and angelic chanting via a nifty pink device. I think I just experienced the most perfect Saturday morning in Georgetown.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-60150370232695712722010-02-21T04:47:00.005+08:002010-02-21T05:52:01.510+08:00A Tree Looking for A Home Meets a Artist Looking for A TreeFrom the first time I saw my new apartment, its high loft like ceilings with strong angular ceilings inspired me. It felt like a cross between a church and a modern museum. I felt inspired to reach up to the sky in this space. But I also realized having such a space was quite alien to me and to a degree that intimidated me. To do justice to a beautiful interior space with high ceilings I knew needed something majestic. The image of a tree kept appearing in my mind. Its strong brown branches - like powerful tentacles seemed to call out to me. But I did not know where to shop for this tree/branch structure. Or how to transport it into my home. But practicality has never really stopped me from pursuing something. So I kept the vision firmly in my head. And a corner in my house empty for this sculptural beauty. <br /><br />Today morning I went for a walk in my neighborhood. It was a beautiful morning - at the perfect temperature of 7 degrees celcius. A bright sunshine, birdsong and a crisp clear blue sky greeted me. Just a week ago it has been too cold and the side walks filled with snow and ice. Walking or driving had become quite dangerous. But much of the snow had since melted and I could stroll around and inspect my neighborhood. The snow blizzard had wrecked havoc among the trees. Many tree branches had fallen. These fallen branches had been swept to the side and were waiting to be cleared away by the city's trash removal company. When I looked at these discarded trees I felt sorry for them. Like victims of the snow storm - separated from their mother tree with whom they had until recently been a proud family. Maybe I could offer them a home? Along the canal near my home I caught sight of what I thought would be the perfect fallen tree branch. A sizable chunk of branches from a tree had broken off. <br /><br />I got hold of a workman and got him to haul the huge structure to my home. This piece of beauty was over 3 meters high with beautiful tentacles all spread out. I did not want to break or saw off any of the branches. I worked with two guys to orientate it up a few flights of stairs and into the narrow door of my house. It was such an energizing act of creation. I loved every minute of it. Eventually we had to saw two of its branches so that it could balance on its own without being nailed or tied with strings to the wall. The whole energy of the space in my house has changed since its arrival this morning. I am curious to see how this tree evolves into a element of controlled wilderness in my home.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-50870152787001547402010-02-11T20:36:00.018+08:002010-02-13T00:34:15.416+08:00Writing in a Single Breadth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQqGamkJGhVrOgSnfwS69vB5Wrj4Nz9RxdiQ1yrg0JF0x5PeWf-0dMWzYG9q1VdZsUO9OibVPuyMFYKBNHI0Pznain4-gHbupj0MRQtJLlWJ0Al02296cz6ETtLHxJUUlWFwB06xCuZY/s1600-h/IMG_3203.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQqGamkJGhVrOgSnfwS69vB5Wrj4Nz9RxdiQ1yrg0JF0x5PeWf-0dMWzYG9q1VdZsUO9OibVPuyMFYKBNHI0Pznain4-gHbupj0MRQtJLlWJ0Al02296cz6ETtLHxJUUlWFwB06xCuZY/s320/IMG_3203.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436975916536771842" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday marked three months since I moved to DC. It also happened to be the first birthday I was celebrating in snowy DC. DC was experiencing its worst snow blizzard in many decades. There was a snow storm warning from morning till 10pm last night. I had woken up with mixed feelings - the idea of staying indoors and watching the snow pile up for another day in a row was not exactly my cup of tea. The city had shut down for the past three days and I was beginning to feel restless. <br /><br />In some ways the snow storm brought back childhood fears of thunder storms which would make me run to my mom's room and snuggle up to her. This memory helped me handle my irritation at myself - related to this gnawing feeling of anxiety. An anxiety that pervaded my day and made me unproductive. <br /><br />Before the storm I had planned birthday drinks with a group of friends. But the weather Gods unilaterally cancelled it. However, throughout the day I was inundated with calls, emails, facebook wishes and skype conferences. From London, Singapore, Australia, Santa Fe and New York the wishes flowed in ceaselessly. It was sheer joy to see my friends on skype and to hear the energy in their voice. My birthday became a time to celebrate all my friendships and recollect my global adventures. <br /><br />The day also presented a beautiful opportunity for reconciliation and reconnection with friends I had drifted away from. Friends who used this day to reach out. It was wonderful to reconnect and refresh a bond that once had meant so much to both of us. And to remind oneself that life is short and differences, petty or otherwise, should be treated with a generous spirit. In the course of speaking with one such friend I had mentioned how I always committed to writing a blog entry quickly - typically under 2 min. Not overthink it. Not overdraft it. I felt that when you redo things the essence of the first instinct is lost. So until and unless I feel ready I don't write a blog. My friend on hearing this said this is the zen way. My method was similar to the calligraphy masters who did their piece of calligraphy in a single breath and single sitting. No matter how big a canvas they were working on. <br /><br />My neighbor realizing I was "stuck" at home assured me we can still have drinks. Just that it would be at my place. He came over with a bottle of wine, got the fire in the fireplace going and handed me an envelop. His calm gestures were strangely comforting. The envelop contained a jigsaw puzzle of alphabets. The alphabets once arranged coherently will reveal my birthday present he said. How imaginative !!! I struggled to put the words in some order - my mind was all foggy from being cooped up at home. The words after much help from him eventually read The New York Review of Books. He had gotten me a one year subscription to this beautiful literary supplement. I was THRILLED !!! And touched. My birthday turned out exactly how I had hoped for - the warmth of great friendships, love and laughter in the midst of a raging snow storm.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-82510961187076370092010-02-08T03:20:00.013+08:002010-02-09T00:16:50.510+08:00Snow White<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjXloNMzKa9lMQ3ao2t_cmzlqTa5wS7rzhnjx48gEkJ1OQKbE6yiTToksLGZ6cCUksIn0wXsOUq2MBcCXc5fzm8ApNxkIgoaiKFquI28A_wDLleN4Cj8V03TuEDiDVG3UolXKA9ezrio/s1600-h/IMG_0084.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjXloNMzKa9lMQ3ao2t_cmzlqTa5wS7rzhnjx48gEkJ1OQKbE6yiTToksLGZ6cCUksIn0wXsOUq2MBcCXc5fzm8ApNxkIgoaiKFquI28A_wDLleN4Cj8V03TuEDiDVG3UolXKA9ezrio/s320/IMG_0084.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435586996581673186" /></a><br />There have been many changes in my life since I last wrote. Some on the physical plane while others were on an intellectual and spiritual plane. But the most profound change was experiencing snow. Not as a tourist would. Not as an outsider looking in would. But as a resident who sees how the rhythm and tension of city changes when it snows. DC has been experiencing historic amounts of snow this winter. We had 22 inches during Christmas and a blizzard yesterday which dumped over 27inches in various parts. Traffic came to a standstill and the airport shut down. The media whipped up a frenzy with snow warnings. This led to empty shelves in grocery stores as people stocked up on food. <br /><br />The few times it had snowed in DC I had waited for it eagerly - like a woman waiting to be reunited with a lover. And I had always planned an early morning walk so that I and the snow filled city could share an intimate moment. Before the city stirred. Before the shops opened. Before the powdery white snow turned to slush. Seeing everything covered in snow and breathing in the crisp clear winter air always left me invigorated. Inspired. And in some strange way I always felt courageous - for walking out in the snow on an early morning before any of the snow has been shoveled away. Today morning I sat in the only cafe that was open in Georgetown looking out the large windows. A stranger came up and asked me whether I was enjoying the view. I was surprised by his question. I was so engrossed looking out of the window that I hardly realized the intense expression I worn on my face. I was mesmerized by the sight of folks running in the snow. Every time it snows extreme sports enthusiasts seem inspired to run outdoors. This time a pack of 7 runners almost identically attired - in blue and black lycra - were running in the middle of the empty road on a thin layer of snow. I saw the exhilaration in their faces. I admired their firm long strides on a harsh terrain. I felt the joy of their run. It was like a beautifully choreographed dance by a pack of elegant long limbed men. Putting up a joyous performance for us ordinary mortals. Mortals who could only manage to nurse their steaming lattes in the arms of a beautiful french cafe. While silently cheering the runners on.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-23667468618034713952009-10-25T10:30:00.007+08:002009-10-27T10:41:20.711+08:00Sacred Art on Sacred Grounds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQm9WdN0Al72EDWUl5JTWCsnzBgP-KhbtjrtfTji5AHo3kj6TJKNY1gUjdML9pXAWyleYbo-lgP8yIO4FBchkXhv-2QaLHrsdvpZCX5aO-09J4IPak4BFD924iDgZURwJIHevMQrRqXE/s1600-h/mudra.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQm9WdN0Al72EDWUl5JTWCsnzBgP-KhbtjrtfTji5AHo3kj6TJKNY1gUjdML9pXAWyleYbo-lgP8yIO4FBchkXhv-2QaLHrsdvpZCX5aO-09J4IPak4BFD924iDgZURwJIHevMQrRqXE/s320/mudra.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396360712407490450" /></a><br />23rd October was a magical morning. Two days ago my friend had responded to a random musing of mine - that I wanted someone to take photos of me in my favorite temple. The Kali Temple in Serangoon. Marcel, a very creative and intuitive soul from Holland jumped at the opportunity. Little India is a magical oasis in the early morning - before the crowds flood in and the shops open. It is deeply quiet and if you are able to get there for the morning puja - quite magical. We managed to get there early. Something about the light that morning (not too harsh sunlight) and the energy of the temple blew both of us away. The moment we stepped over into the temple from the street - we felt enfolded in the arms of the divine. I could see Marcel felt what I felt. He knew how to photograph without asking questions. He knew there were things that lie beyond words. Feelings and energetic vibrations that need to be felt and maybe captured in a creative work of art. One of the photos captured the essence of our experience. Among the priests and a small handful of devotees it felt natural to be dancing for the divine. As opposed to posing for a photographer.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-74514464459724432392009-10-24T10:48:00.004+08:002009-10-24T11:16:52.309+08:00Half Man- Half Woman<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxwWXlbb1ywoIxinxpW4_cb_fuCelUAooS2E0DdItZvF0ALjkQzlygzrEtOCIQP0fpIEAhsns2kTYX7xXCIbTO6SX6UUvHYcLh4kSzGDwhtmgoqy_N0CvZesPRx3d4Q95NsKec7BLRhg/s1600-h/IMG_1484.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxwWXlbb1ywoIxinxpW4_cb_fuCelUAooS2E0DdItZvF0ALjkQzlygzrEtOCIQP0fpIEAhsns2kTYX7xXCIbTO6SX6UUvHYcLh4kSzGDwhtmgoqy_N0CvZesPRx3d4Q95NsKec7BLRhg/s320/IMG_1484.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395998130476302354" /></a><br />Yin Yang. Masculine-Feminine. Thandava-Lasya. Active-Passive. Many ways to describe the concept of duality. To me the most profound and intense manifestation of this is in the figure of the Ardanariswara. I first fell in love with this image in the great Chola temple of Gangaikondacholapuram. The inherent beauty in the half-male and half female form struck me. It was truly harmonious. Unlike the split personality or half-man/half woman mime artists that you see. I acquired a beautiful chola bronze sculpture of the Ardanariswara a few weeks ago. However, I still did not know the mythology behind the figure. And how it came about. Rama, one of elders in my family and a deeply spiritual being had come to visit me. He took one look at my sculpture and said that it is a very profound piece. It encapsulates a deep and important philosophy in Hinduism. But he was unable to break it down for me beyond affirming my choice.<br /><br />A few days after that I was in the Ceylon Road temple in Singapore. It was a few days before Deepavali. While buying my archana I saw a little write up about the Kethara-Gowery Nonbu. A fast that Goddess Parvathi had observed for 21 days for her Lord Shiva. According to the poorana, the Goddess did not want to be separated from her husband. Ever. He approached a great saint who advised her to fast for 21 days. At the end of the 21st day, Lord Siva shown his grand appearance and accepted her prayers. He gave her half portion of his appearance and that was the birth of the Artha Nareeiswarer. The temple had organized for its female devotees to fast for 21 days before Deepavali and to break the fast on Deepavali at the temple with a Linga Puja. Beautiful !!! Although I did not partake in the fast I went to the temple on Deepavali to partake in the linga puja and to see Lord Shiva and Parvathi take a procession around the temple decked out in the finest. <br /><br />The story also explains the power of fasting. Fasting is a central feature of Hinduism. My mom is vegetarian (a form of fasting from meat) on two days of the week - Fridays and Sat. This has been consistently doing this for over 50 years. Nothing drastic like turning vegetarian over night. But something steady - like giving up meat and rich foods twice a week in honor of the divine. Many of my other relatives fast regularly for various Hindu festivals and events - like Navarathri, Kanda Shasti and Karthigai - special occasions on the Tamil calender. I never understood why. <br /><br />It seems that the glory of fasting is splendid. Prayer combined with fasting brings long life to husband and wife. Family bonding will be enhanced. It brings good wealth and health too. I suspect that fasting helps one focus on the reasons why one is fasting. The wish that one had placed before God. The constant reminder throughout the day reinforces the positive intent and affirms the goals you are seeking to accomplish. Today these are called positive thinking and the "Secret."Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-2905272363736627732009-10-22T10:21:00.003+08:002009-10-24T09:56:43.266+08:00The Power of Time Off<object width="446" height="326"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/StefanSagmeister_2009G-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/StefanSagmeister-2009G.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=649&introDuration=16500&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=2000&adKeys=talk=stefan_sagmeister_the_power_of_time_off;year=2009;theme=what_makes_us_happy;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=tales_of_invention;theme=art_unusual;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=not_business_as_usual;theme=unconventional_explanations;theme=speaking_at_tedglobal2009;event=TEDGlobal+2009;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="446" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/StefanSagmeister_2009G-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/StefanSagmeister-2009G.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=649&introDuration=16500&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=2000&adKeys=talk=stefan_sagmeister_the_power_of_time_off;year=2009;theme=what_makes_us_happy;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=tales_of_invention;theme=art_unusual;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=not_business_as_usual;theme=unconventional_explanations;theme=speaking_at_tedglobal2009;event=TEDGlobal+2009;"></embed></object><br /><br />I have taken a few sabbaticals in my life. One was a one year sabbatical where I went to India to train and to reach the next level in my dance under the revered KJ Sarasa. The next one I spent it in the mountains in Santa Fe. For me these sabbaticals have been invaluable source of insight, inspiration and experimentation. I felt and sensed tremendous growth during these sabbaticals. But never could quite articulate the value of taking time off. Hence, I was delighted when I heard this talk - it affirmed my choices and articulated alot of the benefits one receives from a sabbatical. Issues like how do you structure a sabbatical? Where do you go for a sabbatical? How do you not get trapped in some retreat where someone else's agenda (as opposed to yours) prevails? These are some critical questions to ask before you start your sabbatical. Otherwise a sabbatical becomes more of an escape. An escape from the "real" world. A chance to recover from a corporate burnout. Not that these are not legitimate reasons for a time off. But I am not sure if that translates into a sabbatical. A sabbatical for me has been about getting to the next level. About reclaiming one's deeper connection and love for one's passion. Sometimes when you do that it does not translate so well into real world profits. But it gives you a sense of clarity and renewed energy. And that in turn may help you make some gradual changes in your "real" life so that you make better choices.<br /><br />What I really liked about this talk was that Stefan took time off to play and be creative. This creativity was apart from his commercial work but ultimately he knew how to channel his sabbatical findings into his work post-sabbatical. This is the true beauty of a sabbatical - to create a bridge between your passion and your vocation.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-3573674681021536532009-10-19T10:29:00.004+08:002009-10-24T09:41:46.505+08:00The Danger of a Single Story<object width="446" height="326"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/ChimamandaAdichie_2009G-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/ChimamandaAdichie-2009G.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=652&introDuration=16500&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=2000&adKeys=talk=chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story;year=2009;theme=speaking_at_tedglobal2009;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=words_about_words;theme=master_storytellers;event=TEDGlobal+2009;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="446" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/ChimamandaAdichie_2009G-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/ChimamandaAdichie-2009G.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=652&introDuration=16500&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=2000&adKeys=talk=chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story;year=2009;theme=speaking_at_tedglobal2009;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=words_about_words;theme=master_storytellers;event=TEDGlobal+2009;"></embed></object><br /><br />An amazing discussion on the power of the Western media and the challenges of claiming one's authentic voice outside the Western media. The author chronicles her artistic journey and shifts in mental attitude. How she overcame and fought African bias that was perpetuated by the Western media. For example her first interaction with an American student was laden with patronizing assumptions. How the American students were sorry for her even before they met her. An outgrowth of the limited range of stories being told about Africans in the Western media. No possibility of a connection as human equals. No possibility of any complex emotion beyond pity. <br /><br />She traces the popular images to stories told by white literature. There is a tradition of telling African stories in the West which is equated with darkness, barbarism, poverty and senseless wars. How African "authenticity" was equated to these negatives. This is the danger of a single story. Not that these negatives are untrue No, but these negatives per se do not define a country and its people. <br /><br />Because of America's economic power there were many stories of America and American landscape. As such there is lesser risk of one stereotype becoming associated with America. That is not the case with Africa. One way to disempower a culture is to tell a single story as the definitive story. The problem with steoreotypes is not that it is untrue but that it is too narrow. It robs people of dignity. It makes people (both within and outside Africa) focus on the negatives without the benefit of the positives. The beauty of the African landscape, its art and poetry. <br /><br />The same dangerous trend seems to be happening with popular Indian culture. Increasingly Bollywood is becoming synonymous with India, Indians and Indian culture. Mumbai is but one state in India. Hindi is but one of the 20 Indian languages recognized in India. Bollywood like Hollywood is a machine with a certain aesthetic and commercial pressures. There are many people outside this machinery who tell wonderful stories and showcase artistic brilliance and diversity. <br /><br />Stories can break people but can also repair a broken people. When you reject the temptations of a single story you regain a sense of power. Freedom to tell new stories which can heal and empower people. And preserve their dignity and heritage.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237108462138763850.post-27930177878991529722009-10-19T09:58:00.002+08:002009-10-19T10:28:55.074+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSfuN5hTW0qyeXTvHbH8WGl9NIZt7JOtFfIr9pgc1pyoV2SMBmX8PBndu3PlHc6HtwzlWHhtBnG0FjAImSZU1T9eJ4-ZKE27v379MuQE-F_NGjZfNKhH2an64HMqAevJgRa_9TelYee8/s1600-h/IMG_3083.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSfuN5hTW0qyeXTvHbH8WGl9NIZt7JOtFfIr9pgc1pyoV2SMBmX8PBndu3PlHc6HtwzlWHhtBnG0FjAImSZU1T9eJ4-ZKE27v379MuQE-F_NGjZfNKhH2an64HMqAevJgRa_9TelYee8/s320/IMG_3083.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394132435633039074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezHwZyTu9X7er8p4V1CNKXqIu2vZiKRNw-AjCsi_BvmIe5mPnsK_fmR8L-ZqYIhGlAxJP7jJyWyXcGY1dj5uj-7oAFyz4z7nYK-ixBcL6FTJxEM_TpxS8QhugfiEV1Ie_A9821AkZktI/s1600-h/IMG_3088.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezHwZyTu9X7er8p4V1CNKXqIu2vZiKRNw-AjCsi_BvmIe5mPnsK_fmR8L-ZqYIhGlAxJP7jJyWyXcGY1dj5uj-7oAFyz4z7nYK-ixBcL6FTJxEM_TpxS8QhugfiEV1Ie_A9821AkZktI/s320/IMG_3088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394132427263003298" /></a><br />On 22 Sept I did an abhishegam for Goddess Durga. My favorite goddess who resides in the Kali temple at Serangoon Road. It so happened that the day I chose also coincided with Navarathri. And for Navarathri the temple was doing a "special puja" for the Goddess of Courage. Navarathri always has a special place in my heart. My first dance performance as a little girl of 4 was at an Amman temple during Navarathri. Also as dancers we always honored our gurus on the 10th day of Navarathri. <br /><br />The "special puja" turned out to be a massive yagna (a fire sacrifice) as well as a Maha Mehru puja. It seems the Srichakra in three dimension form is inspired by the mythical Mount Mehru - a sacred mountain. And Durga resides at the apex of this great mountain. Hence, there were many senior priests all chanting with intense devotion at the time I arrived at the puja. The vibration at the puja was intense as the yagna had been lit and stoked with ghee and had already received many sacrifices. Many devotees were also sitting with their scriptures and chanting the verses for the puja. The head priest has observed serious austerities in preparation of this puja. He was on a silent fast and ate only one meal a day without salt or any sauces. The goal is to cleanse yourself and deepen one's focus on the divine. <br /><br />I bought a tray of sari and offerings for the Goddess which was then thrown into the yagna. The abhisegham was also conducted in my family name at the end of the Maha Mehru puja. It was a moving event to observe and participate it. I had always felt a strong affinity to Mountains. And this event married the Mountain with the Goddess who resides at the apex. Mountains have such strong spiritual energies and have always moved me. The first time I felt the amazing power of mountains was on the ancient tribal Navaho lands in the American Southwest. At that time I did not know about the Hindu connection to the mountain and how it is regarded as a focal point of cosmic powers. Another time when the power of mountains inspired me was in 2007 when I spent a few months in Santa Fe. This time I not only found the mountains inspiring but also deeply healing and restorative to my tired soul. Sitting at the Maha Mehru puja that day helped me recall and meditate on the power of these mountains.Arul Ramiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076936860847661169noreply@blogger.com0