Clown

On World Theatre Day, Kala Academy Goa played host to Liberty Theatre - Georgia’s ‘The life of a clown!’ It was an unique and fascinating performance that combined physical comedy, improvisation and audience interaction.  

Besides applying makeup, wigs and costumes to transform into the clown character, the actors built connections with the audience, through slapstick humour, pranks and playful teasing. In the end, they threw smashed fruits and water at the audience.

 

Audience response to clowns can vary greatly, ranging from delight and laughter to aggression and hostility. Cultural background and media frenzy

can influence audience perceptions and reactions. Clowns who are overly aggressive, loud, or physical may provoke negative reactions.

 

Audience needs to be open minded to accept the clowning as a creative performance. Otherwise it will stifle the life of the clown and in turn be death knell for laughter, humour and expression. We must learn from the clown who starts with laughing first at himself.   

learn to laugh with glee,

at the clown’s silly spree.

laugh at self in time,

find joy in life's rhyme.

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

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Patience

The schedule to be in space for Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore was only for eight days. But they were stranded for over nine months… just waiting in the void of space, sans natural air, food or other living conditions. No definite possibilities as to when (or even if) they would make it back.

 

Their incredible story teaches us powerful lessons of resilience, determination, adaptability… the willingness to wait for the team to work on their return back home… of patience when plans don’t work!

 

So often, so many of us keep losing our patience when we are forced to wait due to delay of a few minutes or a few days. We get distressed over things we have no or little control of. We refuse to accept and stay calm in the situation of uncertainty. We get impatient!

 

We notice lack of patience in queues or in traffic jams or even in delayed responses to our communication. It gets worse when we see delays, roadblocks and thwarting of our plans. Interestingly, our predicament may be miniscule to that of the two astronauts. 

 

Next time, when we are stopped in our tracks and have to endure unexpected delays, let’s remember that we are not stranded in space. Let’s learn from the two astronauts to be positively patient and survive successfully.

wait with your grin while goals come in

no panic or fear, only patience sublime!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

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Often

On the birth anniversary of my friend, Ravi Sirsat, I am reminded of his mantra to lose weight. Besides keeping off carbohydrates and doing regular exercise, he advised to eat more often. Instead of few heavy meals, he recommended to have small meals at regular intervals. 

This strategy to eat small portions of food throughout the day is called ‘grazing’. Benefits include improved digestion, boosted metabolism, reduced cravings and prevention of overeating. Everyone's nutritional needs are different and the best eating strategy may depend on individual needs.

 

Interestingly, this mantra works in other situations too. We tend to devote our attention and action in a single focus areas. We tend to lead lives with fewer priorities and end up blocking major portions of our time for fewer things. And in a tight schedule we end up not having time for other priorities. 

For instance, we find it difficult to see the time to devote to our hobbies or relationships or organisations. Else we end up giving too much time and often we end up feeling the strain of over participation. But, we can choose to allot smaller sets of time… on a regular basis!

Like overeating, overdoing anything can lead to strain, stress and a breakdown. Instead of fewer bursts of commitment, we must choose to indulge and involve more often in regular small sets of time… whether it is food, an organisation, a hobby or a relationship! 

Eat less but more often 
Strain will surely soften! 

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

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Eco-choice

The popular festival of colours, Holi marks the beginning of spring and end of winter. The commercial market offers an abundance of chemical-based colours which bring along health issues as well as contaminate our water and soil causing damage to the biodiversity of insects and plants.   

For over a decade, to truly double the joy and excitement of Holi, Suryakant Gaonkar creates colours using local leaves and flowers and other natural ingredients. Suryakant promotes the use of natural colour powders as an alternative that is slowly but surely becoming an eco-choice for Goans.

 

Eco-choice is a term that refers to the practice of making environmentally friendly decisions in our daily lives. It is about making use of products that reduce their environmental footprint. It includes options that are sustainable, compostable and biodegradable.

 

Eco-choice is a philosophy that encourages individuals and businesses to make environmentally conscious choices. By choosing eco-friendly products, we can reduce our impact on the planet and create a more sustainable future.

 

Overall, eco-choices are transformational ideas that encourage us to think about the environmental impact of our daily choices. By making eco-friendly choices, we can create a more sustainable future for ourselves, our planet and future generations.

 

Commit to eco-choices all the time,

Our carbon footprint has to decline.

 

-       Pravin Sabnis 

 

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Resoluteness

Alexander Graham Bell’s mother was deaf, and this had a profound impact on his life's work. His early education was marked by struggles, and he was labelled as ‘not academically inclined.’ However, his curiosity and passion for learning drove him to pursue his interests in science and technology.

 

His fascination with communication and speech led him to work on a device that could transmit the human voice over wires. He experimented, tested and refined his ideas, often facing disappointment and failure. His contemporaries ridiculed his ideas, but he never gave up.

 

His invention of the telephone transformed the world. It enabled real-time communication across distances, connecting people and facilitating global communication. 

 

His story is one of resoluteness and perseverance. His willingness to take risks led to his ground-breaking invention. He once said, ‘When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us’. 

 

Resoluteness is the spark that ignites the fire of success. By cultivating inner strength, individuals overcome obstacles, stay focused, build confidence and achieve goals. Resoluteness is not an innate trait; it can be developed and strengthened through practice, self-reflection and intentional habits.

 

Resoluteness will make you shine

As you face every test in due time!

 

-       Pravin Sabnis 

 

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Be together

In an Aesop fable, three bulls grazing in a meadow, were keenly watched by a Lion, who longed to eat them. However, whenever he came near, the three bulls turned their tails to one another, so that whichever way he approached them he was met by the horns of one of them. 

The lion began by spreading rumours to cause distrust among them. This method worked. The bulls grew cold and unfriendly towards each other. Finally they began to avoid each other and grazed in isolation. Sensing his opportunity, the Lion attacked them one by one and devoured all three.

 

The moral of the story is simple. The quarrels of friends are the opportunities of foes. A friendship that was built over a period of time could be undone by flimsy reasons. It takes considerable time and effort to build a friendship but it is so easy to undo the bond.

 

We allow frivolous talk to trigger the collapse of a relationship that took time to build. The very relationship, that united us to positively impact our lives, is prone to disruption because we stop continuous communication and actions for maintaining the bonding. 

 

Relationships thrive on the constant communication and belief in the bond. They are undone when distance creeps in the connection. Hence, it is important to keep in touch and ‘be together’ like the three bulls did to thwart the lion.

 

Be together for mutual gain

May the bond never strain! 

 

-       Pravin Sabnis 

 

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Dying with dignity

When he was born on 17 February 1930 in Calicut, Kerala, the astrologers refused to cast a horoscope for him. They predicted that he would die soon. But Basava Premanand went on to live an inspirational life of 80 years.

He started moved around India explaining tricks behind miracles. He founded FIRA: Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations. He authored 36 books & edited monthly ‘Indian Skeptic’ with articles on the scientific investigation of paranormal occurrences.

In 2006, he was diagnosed of extreme cancer of the stomach. Doctors insisted on an emergency operation, but he went off instead to search for a contractor to build his dream project - a museum on Method of Science. 

 

He handed over the money and came back for an operation that was unable to negate the shadow of death. Yet, his enthusiasm never diminished and the project was inaugurated on 5 March 2009 in Podnur.

‘Dying with one's boots on’ or ‘dying with dignity’ is used to describe persons who live life on their own terms, pursuing their passions and dreams until the very end. It's a mindset that embodies resilience, determination and an unwavering commitment to one's values and aspirations.

 

When we refuse to give up on our dreams, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities. This unyielding spirit inspires others too. When we stay true to our values and passions, we can leave a lasting impact on the world, inspiring future generations to follow in our footsteps.

 

Dying with dignity, living with purpose 

Like Premanand live life to the fullest!

-       Pravin Sabnis 

 

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CAUCASIAN CIRCLE

On the day of Bertolt Brecht’s birth anniversary, here’s is a muse based on the playwright’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Brecht uses the device of ‘a play within a play’.

 

It is set in the Soviet Union around the end of WW2. It shows a dispute between the Collective Fruit Farm Galinsk fruit growing commune and the Collective Goat Farmers, over who is to own and manage an area of farm land after the Nazis have retreated from a village and left it abandoned. 

 

An old folk tale, is played out. A peasant girl who rescues a baby, becomes a better mother than the baby's wealthy biological parents. In the trial, the baby is placed on a circle and both ‘mothers’ are asked to pull it to their side, but the peasant girl refuses to do anything that will hurt the child. The true mother is obvious!

 

The circle teaches us the connection between the individual characters and the larger community, highlighting the importance of collective action and solidarity. We must understand the importance of collective action and the struggle for justice and equality. 

 

In the folk tale we learn that love overrides different truths which are after all just spins of perception and positioning. The circle of humanity should engulf all other circles, connected or not connected. Nothing is greater than justice born of sensitivity and sensibility.

 

In Caucassian Circle, truth is spun

Justice needs humanity to be won!

 

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Caution

In Greek mythology, a brilliant inventor, Daedalus and his son Icarus were imprisoned on an island. Daedalus built wings using feathers and wax. As they set out to fly, Daedalus warned Icarus to follow his path and not to fly too close to the sun, as the heat would melt the wax.  

However, Icarus, filled with excitement and a sense of invincibility, ignored his father's warnings and soared higher and higher. His wings melted and he plummeted down. Daedalus, devastated by his son's death, continued to fly, using his grief as motivation to reach safety.

 

Icarus' story serves as a warning about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of balancing boldness with caution. Daedalus' ability to cope with his son's death and continue on his journey demonstrates the importance of resilience in the face of adversity.

 

Being adventurous makes one step out of limiting beliefs but prudence calls for heeding obvious caution. And when on the right track, we must not allow any setback to set us back from what we set out to do. We must maintain clarity and consistency in our actions. 

 

Resilience is consistent clarity of action

Boldness must be balanced with caution!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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Addiction

Addiction is a complex issue and contributing factors include family beliefs and peer groups that encourage addiction. Repeated use of addictive substances alter the brain's pleasure centres, leading to physical dependence. 

De-addiction is a process that helps individuals overcome addiction. It includes professional help, support from loved ones and a willingness to change. With the right support and treatment, individuals can overcome addiction and achieve a healthier, happier life.

 

Recognizing signs and symptoms of addiction is crucial in seeking help. These include increased tolerance (needing larger doses to achieve the same effect), withdrawal symptoms, loss of control and neglecting personal and professional responsibilities

 

De-addiction has challenges like relapse, mental health issues and even physical health consequences. Overcoming addiction requires a comprehensive approach that involves medical treatment, therapy, counselling and support groups.

 

Addiction can be overcome by a resolve to accept that it's okay to ask for help. The immediate family and friends must also accept that the addicted individual requires help and support. We must understand the gravity of addiction afflicting people around and also ourselves.

 

It is a great pain to be chained by addiction 

Love, help and care can repair the situation!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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Angels

The second edition of VAA (Vivekananda Angel Awards) is being organised by Ethernet Xpress Foundation on Tuesday 21 January, at Thomas Stephens Konkani Kendr, Porvorim, Goa. The occasion is birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda as per Hindu calendar. These awards are given to those who are angels who help and support the underserved.  

The angels include Durgadas Parab for providing scholarships to needy students; Victor Hugo Gomes for nurturing and empowering artisans towards sustainability; Naman Sawant Dhawaskar for her work with children of Vanarmare tribe; and Sandeep Parab who rehabilitates the destitute.

 

People who help others in need are angels in deed. They may not have wings or halos, but they possess a kind heart, a willingness to listen and a generosity of spirit. They invest their time, money and effort in a single minded purpose to serve the underserved.

 

These angels may not be aware of the profound impact they have on others' lives. Their selfless acts, kind words, and compassionate presence brighten up lives, provides hope in difficult times and create a ripple effect of kindness by inspiring others to carry it forward.

 

Let's acknowledge and appreciate these everyday angels who make a difference in the lives of the underserved. They make a positive contribution to improve the situation for those in difficult times. We must join their cause and increase the number of human angels in the real world.

 

Be like these angels with hearts grand…

Brightening up lives with helping hands!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

MONDAY MUSE is now into the 22nd year, written by Goa based Experiential Coach, Pravin K. Sabnis, since the first Monday of 2004. Send your feedback to 8698672080 or 9422640141 or unlearning.unlimited@gmail.com

 

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Arise Awake

‘Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached’ is a slogan made popular  by India’s Youth Icon, Swami Vivekananda. He took inspiration from a shloka of the Katha Upanishad where Yama advises Nachiketa. 

The English translation of the Sanskrit Shloka is ‘Arise! Awake! Approach the great and learn. Like the sharp edge of a razor is that path, so the wise say – hard to tread and difficult to cross. 

 

In normal situation of sleep, we awaken first and arise next. But in the realm of mindfulness, it is important to arise first… to step out of the comfort zone. Awake here is to open up the closed mind to learn and to understand. Such initiative and understanding needs to be backed by consistent commitment. 

 

Swami Vivekananda urged his audience to take initiative and involve in progressive action, to approach knowledgeable persons with an open mind to learn and to persist without pause till the desired destination is reached.

 

Arise, awake, don't stop or slow

Rest not till your goal will glow!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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Four Freedoms

The Four Freedoms speech was delivered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 6 January 1941. He outlined four essential human rights that should be universally protected: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear.

Roosevelt's speech was to urge Americans to support the country's involvement in World War II. He argued that the four freedoms were fundamental to democracy and should be defended at all costs. The speech was a pivotal moment in history, inspiring a generation of Americans.

 

The speech had a lasting impact on international relations. It influenced the creation of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted in 1948. The speech's ideals continue to inspire human rights movements around the world.

 

The speech referred to in the question appears to encompass key concepts related to individual rights, freedoms, and the role of government in upholding these. The speech emphasizes the importance of the nation's commitment to safeguarding the freedom and happiness of its people. 

 

It involves, among other things, ensuring the protection of human rights and democracy and maintaining a balance of power in the world. The speech delves into the grey area of government involvement and interference in the lives of citizens and how this affects individual freedom and liberties.

 

Roosevelt spoke of four freedoms, an apt chant

Of Speech, of worship, from fear and from want!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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