November 2016

Shaastra is inevitable for the learning of any art form. However, it is also true that it is almost impossible to ‘teach’ an art. Any learning that can develop only through experience cannot be ‘taught’ using external means.  This can be better appreciated when seen from the perspective of Vedanta and Brahmaanubhava (the experience of the Brahman – the non-dual entity, Bliss in essence). We can use shaastra as a tool to kindle the artistic...
ಈಚೆಗಷ್ಟೇ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನಗಲಿದ ಬಾಲಮುರಳೀಕೃಷ್ಣ ಅವರ ಪ್ರತಿಭೆ ಮತ್ತು ಪಾಂಡಿತ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ನೆನೆದಾಗ, ಮತ್ತು ಅವರ ಸಾಧನೆ ಮತ್ತು ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವಗಳನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿದಾಗ, ಊಹಿಸಲಾಗದ ಒಂದು ದಂತಕಥೆಯೇ ನಮ್ಮ ಮುಂದೆ ಸರಿದುಹೋದಂತೆ ಭಾಸವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಅವರ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ ಎಷ್ಟು ವಿಲಕ್ಷಣವೋ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟವೋ ಆಕರ್ಷಕವೋ ಅದಕ್ಕಿಂತಲೂ ತುಂಬ ಮಿಗಿಲಾದದ್ದು, ಲೋಕಾಕರ್ಷಕವಾದದ್ದು ಮತ್ತು ಚಿಂತನೆಗೆ ಅರ್ಹವಾದಂಥದ್ದು ಅವರ ಕಲೆ. ಒಂದು ಮಾತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳುವುದಾದರೆ, ಸಂಗೀತವನ್ನು ಸರ್ವಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿ, ಸರ್ವಜನಮನೋಭಿರಾಮವಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿದವರು ಬಾಲಮುರಳಿ ಎಂದರೆ ಅತಿಶಯವಲ್ಲ. ಮತ್ತೂ ಮುಂದುವರೆದು...
5 If we leave out what was described above as 'survival values', there is the important distinction between empirical or secular and spiritual values. The latter, to express them in modern terminology, are threefold—truth, goodness and perfection; and of these, the last, which is the highest, may be designated as absolute value. A detailed consideration of these several values and of their interrelation is what will occupy us in the sequel....
Change is of two kinds – external and internal. Only when there is a harmonious balance between external and internal changes, activities associated with it can have a smooth flow. If one changes at a rate much higher than the other and if the two lose sync with each other, the whole system will face the danger of failure. Harmony will be lost and will lead to chaos. In most cases, such accelerated changes occur only on the external parameters,...
Read the first part of this series The scope, scale and expanse of enjoyment of both worldly life and that of the realm of emotions can be seen in the fabled descriptions, for example, by foreign travelers to Vijayanagara. Apart from the familiar descriptions of the bazaars of Hampi which sold precious stones and metals by the heap, we can turn to some enriching details about how they constructed their houses to begin with. Epicurean Homes Even...
4 We have hitherto spoken of the different values using, for the most part, modern terminology. The Indian terms for them are not precisely their equivalents: but there is a general correspondence between the two, the extent and significance of which we shall have to consider later. It will do for the present to specify the several values, with their Sanskrit names, and indicate the principle underlying their recognition. Since, according to our...
ಅಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮ ಎಂದರೆ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಗೊಂಡಿರುವ ಚೆಲುವು, ಬದುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂತರ್ಗವಾಗಿರುವ ಚೆಲುವು, ಒಲವು ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ರಾಗ ಭಾವಗಳಿಗೆಲ್ಲ ವಿಮುಖವಾಗಿ ಧ್ಯಾನ-ತಪಸ್ಸುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರತರಾಗಿ, ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಮೋಕ್ಷಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸುವುದು ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ.  ಬದುಕಿನ ಜಂಜಡಗಳಿಂದ ಜರ್ಜರಿತವಾದ ಮಾನವ ಚೇತನವನ್ನು ಉನ್ನತ ಸ್ತರಕ್ಕೆ ಏರಿಸಿ ಈ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿನ ವ್ಯಕ್ತ ಮತ್ತು ಅವ್ಯಕ್ತ ಚಲುವನ್ನು , ಇದರ ಹಿಂದಿರುವ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಕರ್ತನ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಚೆಲುವು-ಚೈತನ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಅರಗಳಿಗೆಯಾದರೂ ಸಾಕ್ಷಾತ್ಕರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗುವ ರಸದೃಷ್ಟಿಯನ್ನು ಜಾಗೃತಗೊಳಿಸುವ...
Some years ago, a reader wrote to me with an experience that he said vexed him. The relevant portion of his email is produced below: …during a talk with a liberal friend of mine, regarding the MF Hussain episode…friend talked on the lines of what liberals usually speak i.e. Kamasutra, Khajuraho…But…his explanation that Brahma marrying his creation (daughter) Saraswati amounted to incest which according to him means Hinduism sanctifies such...
The word ‘Shaastra’ means ‘to rule’ or ‘to govern’ and is derived from the root ‘शासु-अनुशिष्टौ’. ‘To govern’ means to protect like a king, and to keep everything that comes within his purview under control. However, this does not mean that shaastra is dictatorial, rigid and restrictive. Just like a forest protects a lion and the lion in turn protects the forest (popularly known as ‘vana-simha-nyaaya’), the shaastra and all the aspects that come...
Dr R. Ganesh's scholarly opinion on the oft-discussed topic - Carnatic or Karnatak or Karnataka Music?