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Hand-drawn art by Rupali Bhuva
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मेरा अपना चलचित्र , जो चैबीस घंटे चलता रहता है | द्वारा कृष्णा दस

कृपा की बारिश से हमें क्या अलग रखता है | ये मैं , मेरा और हमारा से , हमारा चौबीस घंटे का असीमित लगाव है | हम सवेरे उठते के साथ अपना "खुद का चलचित्र " लिखना शुरू कर देते हैं | आज मैं क्या करने वाला हूँ? आज मैं कहाँ जाने वाला हूँ? मैं वहां कैसे पहुंचूंगा?क्या इतना ठीक है? क्या ये बहुत ज्यादा है? क्या होने वाला है?मैं क्या पहनूंगा? मैं कैसा लगता हूँ? क्या वो मुझको पसंद करता है? क्यों नहीं? पूरे दिन भर | हमारा अपना चल चित्र | हम लेखक भी खुद हैं, निर्देशक भी खुद हैं, निर्माता भी खुद हैं, एवं कलाकार भी खुद हैं | हम खुद ही उसपे समीक्षा लिखते हैं, फिर उसे पढ़ते हैं और हतोत्साहित हो जाते हैं | फिर हम सो जाते हैं और फिर दूसरे दिन यही प्रक्रिया शुरू कर देते हैं| मैंने कितनी दफा ये देखा है | फिर भी जब भी ये TV खोलता हूँ तो सामने मैं, मेरा , हमारा, ही होता है |

धीरे धीरे ( मुख्य शब्द) एवं निसंदेह ( दूसरा मुख्य शब्द) , भजन जैसे आत्मिक अभ्यास , जीवन के चेतना प्रारूप को हटाते हैं, और ये ऐसा हमारे अपने आप के मोह को , जो हमें दूसरों से जुदा रखता है, और जो हमें हमारे ह्रदय की ख़ुशी देखने नहीं देता , को धीरे धीरे भंग करके करते हैं | हम जीवन में जो भी करते हैं, वो सभी से और सब चीज़ों से जुड़ा होता है पर चूँकि हम अपनी दुनिया में ही खोये होते हैं, इसलिए जब हम दूसरों को छूने के लिए बढ़ते हैं, तो हम सिर्फ उनमे ,अपने प्रारूप को ही, छू पाते हैं, और वे भी हम में अपने प्रारूप को ही छू पाते हैं| हम शायद ही कभी " वास्तविक" एक दुसरे को छू पाते हैं |

१९९७ में , जब मैंने लोगों के साथ, भजन के लिए, यात्रा शुरू करी , तो एक मित्र ने टक्सन, एरिज़ोना , के एक मध्य पूर्वी भोजनालय, कारवां, में, मेरे द्वारा कीर्तन का आयोजन किया | मुझे उस जगह पे बैठ के कीर्तन करना था, जो उस भोजनालय का छोटा सा प्रतीक्षा स्थल था | दूसरी और भोजनालय का रसोई घर था | मैं जमीन पे अपने मित्र बॉब के साथ बैठा था, और साथ में आठ नौ व्यक्ति जो कीर्तन करने आये थे, भोजनालय को जाने वाले रास्ते में , जिसे ग्राहक और वेटर , इस्तेमाल करते हैं, कुर्सियों पे बैठे थे

ग्राहक हमें उत्सुकता भरी निगाहों से देख रहे थे: खाना अंदर बाहर हो रहा था : बर्तन धुल रहे थे : एक्सप्रेसो कॉफ़ी बन रही थी: और मैं भजन कर रहा था और सोच रहा था कि इससे ख़राब क्या हो सकता है, पर मैं शायद गलत था | जैसे ही मैं रात्रि का अंतिम भजन "नमः शिवाय" गाने वाला था , तभी दो मूल अमरीकी। जो छे फुट से भी अधिक लम्बे थे, जिनका वजन १५० किलो होगा, ने शराब के नशे में झूमते हुए प्रवेश किया,| वे मेरे सामने की कुर्सी पे बैठ गए और भाव शुन्य दृष्टि से मुझे देेखते रहे | मुझे लगा की मैं शायद गा नहीं पाऊंगा और कीर्तन समाप्त होने से पहले ही मर जाऊँगा |

मैंने और बॉब ने भजन शुरू किया, और बहुत ही दिल से गाया और भजन को एक लम्बे ॐ से समाप्त किया | उसके बाद सब थोड़ा सा शांत हो गया था, सिर्फ रसोई घर की आवाज़ों के | मैं अपनी आँखें बंद करके बैठा था और मुझे लगा कि उनमे से एक, खड़े होके, मेरी तरफ घूर रहा था | मुझे लगा की ये पहाड़ जैसा मनुष्य है| मैंने मन ही मन कहा " प्रभु जी अब क्या, अब मेरे साथ क्या कराने वाले हो | उस व्यक्ति ने कहा " मैं मूल अमरीकी हूँ," "मैं वियतनाम में था", और "जब मैं सुनता हूँ तो मुझे सही भजन का अनुभव होता है , और आप में ये कला है "| ऐसे कहके वो धीरे से चला गया और उसके बाद मेरी सांस में सांस आयी |

मैं अपने ही दिमागी चलचित्र में इतना खो गया था - मेरा अपना प्रोग्राम , किस से और किस चीज़ से मैं भय भीत हूँ, की मुझ में ये देखने की गुंजाइश नहीं रही की वास्तविक रूप में ये व्यक्ति कौन है| और मेरे लिए यह बहुत ही नम्र करने वाला अनुभव था की पूरी रात के कीर्तन के बाद भी , मै अपनी दुनिया के प्रारूप में ही घिरा हुआ था | हम सभी , कुछ हद तक, अपनी दुनिया में ही खोए रहते हैं | हमें जागरूक होना होगा की कैसे हमारे दिमाग के प्रोग्राम चलते रहते हैं, और कैसे ये प्रोग्राम हमारे जीवन को प्रभावित करते हैं, और कैसे ये हमें लोगो के सही स्वरुप से दूर करदेते हैं, और कैसे हम शायद, उन्हें अपने ,अंदरूनी घेरे के बाहर, से ही देखते हैं | प्रत्येक व्यक्ति अपने भूतकाल को साथ लाता है, और अपने भविष्य को भी हर घडी साथ रखता है | हमें लगता है हम इस दुनिया के सबसे महत्वपूर्ण इंसान हैं , और बाकि सभी हमारे सन्दर्भ से ही होते हैं | मैं आपको देखता हूँ, आपके कपड़ों को देखता हूँ आपके बाल देखता हूँ, और अपने आप में , आपके बारे में, एक अचेत धारणा बना लेता हूँ | ये शायद आप नहीं हो, परन्तु आपके बारे में मेरी धारणा है | सभी इंसान यही करते हैं | बुद्ध भगवान् ने कहा था की दूसरों से तुलना , अंतिम आदत है जो हमें छोड़ती है | हर वक़्त हम तुलना कर रहे होते हैं: ये मेरे से ऊँची है, ये वो है, ये वैसे है। पूरे दिन हम अपने आपको को दूसरों की नज़र से ही देख रहे होते हैं|


मनन के लिए बीज़ प्रश्न : ये बात आपके लिए क्या मायने रखती है कि " जब आप किसी को छूने के लिए आगे बढ़ते हैं , तो आप सिर्फ उस व्यक्ति के प्रति आपकी धारणा को ही छू पाते हैं ,, और वो भी आपके प्रति उनकी धारणा को ही छू पाते हैं ? किसी ऐसी निजी कहानी को साझा करे जब आप , एक समय , किसी अन्य के प्रति अपने प्रक्षेपण को देख पाए हों? आपको तुलना करने से मुक्त करने में किस चीज़ से सहायता मिलती है ?

Seed Questions for Reflection

What do you make of the notion that 'when we reach out to touch another person, all we touch is our version of the other person, and all they touch is their version of us'? Can you share a personal story of a time you became aware of your own projections? What helps you let go of comparing?

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Add Your Reflection

14 Past Reflections
AB
Sep 17, 2020
I was wearing a skirt, a colorful one, too, I think. In my obviously male body, this can be a bit unusual, but I wear skirts so often that I usually forget about the fact. I was in the line to catch the car ferry going to Seattle, standing next to my car when a middle aged white guy with a big belly, baseball cap, dressed in boots, Levis, big belt buckle and a t-shirt under a dirty jacket approached me with a clear intention of talking to me. I flashed on how I was dressed and internally steeled myself for some kind of attack. "Great game yesterday, wasn't it!" "It was awesome! Best game I've watched in years! And the Seahawks even won it!!" I had forgotten I was wearing a Seahawks cap. I was really moved that what this person noticed about me was our commonality, while what I perceived was difference. His reach was from enthusiasm and kindness. My withdrawal was from projection and fear. I think of myself as an extememely kind person, yet here I exhibited b... View full comment
JE
Jackie Ehlers
Sep 15, 2020
It is difficult to share this story, because I still cringe at my stupidity in letting a simple difference in culture cause such a great mis-judgement in my view of another human being! In Zambia, we made friends with a food scientist who made wonderful, nourishing foods from local plants and trees. His wife seemed to be a simple, quiet homebody who prayed five times a day, cared for their two children, and cooked wonderful vegetarian dishes. Our children played together, and she taught me how to make banana flower cutlets. Our conversations always seemed to center aroundhome and children. A number of years after we returned to the US, we got a letter from hersaying that she was coming to America and would love to visit us in Detroit. It turned out that the reason for her visit was that she was going to speak to the United Nations assembly. This "simple homebody" had a Masters degree in Urdu literature,was now a Member of Parliament in Bangladesh, and had recently become the ... View full comment
LI
LilaH Sep 16, 2020
Thank you for sharing this. Its a potent reminder to us all to look at our assumptions in the midst of our 'enlightened' state (as we believe it to be).
AB
Alan Brisley Sep 17, 2020
Jackie,

Thank you for the story. I, too, just wrote a personal story and reflection.

Yours was the first in a list of ten other responses. I got so excited to read the rest!

I have also now read them (well, skimmed actually.) I began skimming them because they had no stories!!!!! They were all about the philosophy or the lesson. Shocking, considering the reflective instructions . . . . . . . . Thank you for your story and your reflection. I will remember your story. I have already forgotten your reflection . . . . .
DD
David Doane Sep 19, 2020
I thank you too, Jackie, for your personal story about how we miss important things due to our assumptions. I appreciate the reminder.
MA
matangi Oct 6, 2020
I have a story about how I judge book by cover famous verse however from conversation above it seems it's a common scenario. I teach yoga and Art of living classes .one 80 yr old enrolled in class and was happy with instructions etc I happen to speak same native language so made her more communicative with me . Initially my reaction was how is she going to manage all instructions but to my surprise she not only managed virtual class and later revealed to me she has a master in education was principal of school and was vigilant with mahatma Gandhi non violence movement of her time . I recognize how narrow my judgement was inspite of teaching how interconnected we are !
My take away is change your lance become conscious of unconscious
Namaste
JF
Jennifer Faith
Sep 15, 2020
Just moments ago, on this sharing site, I read the incredibly beautiful story of en enlightened man who suffered and survived Auschwitz as a child. Right away, his story related to the one I am currently writing, in an effort to understand this Godliness on earth. I often ask myself why am I writing this? Who am I to write these stories and in this case, why did I decide to share the self referential connection? The question posed has helped me with some answers. These are the stories to be told and shared, of our collective human experience, now mute than ever. We are all one and everything relates, if we would only remember this and forgive our human flaws to become more God-like. thank you for this site, these posting, these questions and these comments.
VC
Sep 15, 2020
Thank you for sharing this. It's a beautiful piece. I can so relate.... "Even after he had chanted for hours he still found himself getting caught in his own projections, the 'movie of me'- his own program of who and what he was afraid of."
PA
Sep 15, 2020
It’s all part of “belonging” — simply sit with it, hold it, then let it hold you. }:- a.m. “en Christo” #TUC
JS
Jaya Sarkar
Sep 15, 2020
This is such an eye opening revelation. Read it a few times to hold it within. Feels to be a step closer to the universal self....
PS
Priya Shukla
Sep 14, 2020
I can tesonate with the story. The story of "Me' id always playing and we form judgements about others based on looks, style of dressing, personality etc. I am working on myself to not to judge others. My Buddhist practice, self work, being with people who practice it is helping me in that direction. I have realizes through experience that higher education doesn't necessarily means being more flexible or open minded and being more wealthy doesn't always translate it generosity.
SG
Sep 13, 2020
Even before we actually meet another person ,we form a mental perception of that person , which may be based on theirexternal appearanceand it is most of the time coloredwith our prejudicesand is also based on what movie is playing, in our head, at that time . Our perception about others also gets affected whether we see them from a space of fear or whether we see from a space of love.
This happens throughout the day as we are caught up in our movie "about me " all the time. We are constanly thinking about our past and what we are going to do next.
Meditation or chanting helps us in breaking that pattern and makes us calm . This calmnessbrings us back to the present moment and and with this awareness t we can meet another person without our prejudices and we would be able to see the other person, as to who he actually is, rather than our projection about him. In the calm and aware state we can see the real " him".
JP
Sep 11, 2020
Clear version is created by clear vision. As I was growing up, I learned many valuable lessons of life from my father, by his words and by his actions. I remember one wise saying he used to say, " Yahtadristi, tatha sristi". As is my vision so is my world. If my vision is colored by my prejudices, judgments, assumptions, and expectations, I am going to create my mental, emotional and behavioral world by my vision. The same way the other person relates to me by his vision. Our versions of each other is created by our vision.Clear versionis created by theclarity of my vision. My mother used to say that when your eyes are affected by jaundice, you see everything yellowish. Buddha uses the word sati for clarity with no clouds of prejudice or selfishness floating in the mind.It is difficult to be free from prejudiceand judgments whichhave slipped into our unconscious mind. As a result as Krishna Das says. we"create the movie of me...we write it, direct it, produce it, and sta... View full comment
DD
Sep 11, 2020
My perspective is that all is one, and I am part of the one. From my side,when I see and touch the other, all I see and touch is me and my version of the other. All I a little bit know is me. What the other feels in my touching him or her, I don't know. I assume all this is the same for 'the other' who touches me. I started to become aware of my projections in my early 20s, during the same time that I began psychotherapy. I'm not sure which came first -- I am sure they affected and enhanced one another. This was also the beginning of the seeds of what became my spirituality. My awareness grew that I look out and see me, or at least see my thinking including my assumptions, expectations, prejudices, judgments. When I let go of comparing, what helps me let go of it is that it's not good for me. If I compare me to be better or worse than the other, above or below the other, I'm separating myself from the other, which is false, negative and harmful for me and for th... View full comment