Critical Appreciation

Amrita Shergil is regarded one of the greatest avant-garde women of the 20^th century and a pioneer in Indian modern art. At age 18, she wrote to her mother, ‘I have painted a few paintings. Everyone says that I have improved immensely; even that person whose criticism is most important to me: myself!’

Amrita rose to a path breaking legacy as she could note the positive transformations in her paintings at a young age of 18 years. She was able to create great works before she made an early exit at 28 years.

It is good to be one’s own critic. Through self-criticism one evaluates oneself. In psychology, it is typically treated as a negative personality trait which often leads to unhappiness and depression. But the critic must also be appreciative.

Too often, so many of us are over critical of our capacities and our capabilities. The quest for perfection in success, makes us judge ourselves harshly. We allow dark clouds of doubt and distress hover over our path.

Self-observation is a great thing when it does not eclipse the positives, even the smaller ones. In critical appreciation, the intent is to appreciate and the approach is critical. The focus is to see the positive by noting and working on the negative.  

Critical Appreciation: two words that define positive transformation
The first word spells the method, the second defines the intention!

- Pravin K Sabnis

#mondaymuse20thYear #pravinsabnis #since2004 #motivation

Unheard

Over the years, interaction with the visually impaired, hearing impaired and physically challenged, brought along understanding, empathy and also inspiration to rise above the challenges.

 With the hearing impaired, I noticed that most of them looked much younger than their age. I also found them to be cheerful and smiling most of the time. Despite the disadvantage, they seemed to be happier than the rest of us. I wondered why.

 Their deficiency had a collateral benefit. They had not heard negative hurtful comments by others as well as disturbing sound distractions of the world. The distressful diversions were unheard by them.

 Things we hear disturb us in many ways. The background noise and din causes great irritation. Judgemental words and tones bring along pain, anger or sadness. Our minds are disturbed by listening to malicious gossip and unwanted conversations.

 When negativity is unheard, positivity is free to flourish. With the absence of sound, we see things with new meaning. A quieter world is a peaceful one. Most importantly, the inability to hear aids ability to be attentive with focussed observation.

 We must learn unhearing. We must shut out negative words by avoiding hearing them. We must learn to listen by observing beyond the noise. We must choose to savour the silence as much as we can. It will be a struggle, not easy but it will lead to happiness.

when the hurtful negative is unheard
anger, pain and sadness is unstirred!

- Pravin K Sabnis

Practice

A Zen story tells of a singer, overwhelmed by frustration. His strict teacher insisted that he rehearse the same passage from the same song, day after day, month after month. He ran off from his singing classes.

When he went to another teacher to learn, he was asked to demonstrate his singing skill. He sang the passage that he knew so well. His new teacher was impressed, ‘you are already a master. There is nothing that I can teach you.’

He practiced so much that it became a part of him. We spread ourselves too thin by trying to do too many things at once. But mastering one thing at a time creates a solid foundation. A singular developed skill gives us the confidence to tackle other skills.

The ability to practice is not only challenging and tiring, but mentally, can be very taxing. The rich Indian musical tradition has shown that ‘riyaz’, not only helps develop skill; it empowers mind control in terms of patience, tolerance, endurance and focus.

However, just practicing isn't enough – it depends on what we practice, how we practice! Our heart must be into what we are doing. Perseverance must combine with conscious improvement while taking our abilities one step further.

By falling again and again, the drop hollows the boulder
Practice helps to be better at rising above the shoulder!

- Pravin K Sabnis

#mondaymuse20thYear #pravinsabnis #since2004 #motivation

Tanha

Pedro’s mother would prepare idlis on alternate Sundays. Pedro hated idlis but his younger brother loved idlis. As a compromise, Pedro would be ready to eat maximum two idlis but his brother wanted to eat ten.

Pedro’s mother wants both her sons to eat the same number of idlis: six each! Surely, both the sons would be unhappy as they were being forced to accept something ranged against their cravings.

 Tanha is a Buddhist concept typically translated as craving, and is of three types: kama-taṇha (craving for sensual pleasures), bhava-taṇha (craving for existence), and vibhava-taṇha (craving for non-existence).

 Tanha arises with or exists together with ‘dukkha’ (dissatisfaction, distress, pain). In the above example, the mother as well as her sons would be unhappy as they could not fully get what at they want.

 But imagine a scenario where everyone adapts to the situation by breaking the chains of personal cravings. They could sit and eat together with none forcing the other to eat. Each could eat maybe lesser than the need and share it with someone who is hungry.

 Tanha is not the first cause nor the only cause of dukkha, but it is the principal one. When we escape the trap of Tanha, we will be liberated of overwhelming cravings and find satisfaction that comes from aligning to the common good.

 Tanha is a trap, don’t let cravings hold you down…

The common good will remove the unhappy frown!

 - Pravin K Sabnis

 

Resolution

‘I make no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and moulding my life, is too much of a DAILY event for me!’ - Anais Nin

As the calendar moves to a New Year, a familiar ritual makes its annual appearance in our lives – the ritual of making New Year resolutions. The most popular resolutions range from breaking of flawed habits to the pledge to inculcate desirable habits…

Resolutions range from putting the bulge in to bringing the biceps out, from vows of self improvement to socio-centric commitments, from pledges to grow your enterprise or your assets, from committing to sustainable environment to serving the underserved…

Though born of sincere intent, many resolutions remain unfulfilled or abandoned by the very minds that invoke them. Oft the process is just a mechanical ritual that will not complete its path. We need to re-invent our approach to a well-meaning exercise.

A resolution isn't realised the day it's made, nor is it realised the day we reach our goal. It is accomplished in small wins along the way. So it is not wise to only wait for occasions to make and work on resolutions.

Simply put, every moment that flags off the journey to fulfil a worthy resolve, heralds the beginning of a New Year in our lives. Like Anais Nin says, resolutions must be a daily thing. And we can choose to make each day bring along a new year in our lives.

Don’t wait for an occasion for action

Today is good to begin a resolution!

- Pravin K Sabnis

#mondaymuse20thYear #pravinsabnis #since2004 #motivation