The cosmic dance called life…

The cosmic dance called life…

FPJ BureauUpdated: Saturday, June 01, 2019, 01:42 AM IST
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Overflowing peace and esoteric ecstasy are to be found in this perfect equilibrium in the vision of the infinite amidst finitude as per divine design, says RUBY LILAOWALA.

Today, science affirms that the atom and its constituents are forever engaged in an interplay (cosmic dance?), which is responsible for the myriad forms around us. And in the end, there’s nothing but the eternal dance of the cosmic forces.

I’ve just finished reading, Fritjof Capra’s latest edition of ‘Tao of Physics’, which has sold more than two million copies worldwide. And, I was amazed at what Capra had to say on the dance of Lord Nataraja in purely scientific terms, which in turn, tallies completely with the views of Hindu philosophy of this great cosmic power.

Capra writes, “I was sitting by the ocean one late summer afternoon, watching the role of waves, and feeling the rhythm of breathing – this ‘feeling the rhythm of breathing’, we know as ‘Vasi-Upasana’. I suddenly became acutely aware of my whole environment as being engaged in a gigantic cosmic dance. Being a physicist, I knew that the sand, rock, water, air, etc. are all vibrating molecules and atoms, and there is constant interaction with the bombardment on to the Earth of cosmic rays showered with the chain of multiple collisions.”

“As I sat down on the beach, I saw the cascades of energy coming down from outer space, in which the particles were born, created and destroyed in rhythmic pulse. I saw the atoms of elements and those of my body participating in this cosmic dance of energy. I felt the rhythm and I heard it’s sound (perhaps Capra is referring to Naad-Brahma, which we can hear only if we block all external sound by plugging the ears with our fingers during meditation). In a moment I knew that this was the dance of Nataraja (Shiva, the Lord of dancers), and I felt the movement of Life and its rhythmic flow.”

Capra may have impressed Western readers, but we Indians may well ask, “So, what’s new?” Our innumerable sages, rishis, and munis have known this through the ages and recorded it for posterity on palm leaves and rocks. You can experience this divinity even today on any dance platform, wherein the dance is performed as per tradition in its purest form (for instance, in Hema Malini’s performances). You visit the temples all over India and your mind gets connected instantly to the higher level of spiritual energy, which brings supreme peace and tranquillity that defies description in any language.

We’re all part of this gigantic cosmic dance, even as we dip into the potpourri of uncertain pleasures and unexpected sorrows, which we call Life. Anyone of us can live an ‘inner life’ totally detached from our outward wealth and circumstances. But are we willing?

The Upanishads say that the entire creation an endless game of the Creator intended to afford sheer joy in purposeless playfulness. Any myopic view of the fragments of creation invariably misses the beauty of the mixture of opposites evenly balanced in it. Overflowing peace and esoteric ecstasy are to be found in this perfect equilibrium in the vision of the infinite amidst finitude as per divine design.

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