Self Realization

                                                         May – Teenager- Gross Body

This is an extension of your adolescence. The only difference is that now you have decidedly grown up, are conscious of your appearance, have developed a more colorful and outgoing personality, and are aware of the strange looks that you get from the opposite sex.

Further, you have completed your schooling and so the uniform is out. Now you can dress up in beautiful clothes, use cosmetics, splash perfume and after shave lotion on you face and body and start thinking seriously about putting your best foot forward.

The silly giggles and titters are passé. You are fast putting on a serious demeanor and itching to become a full fledged adult.

Now recall those who are in this perpetual state of teenage glory.

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Self Realization

                                                    April – Adolescent- Gross Body

After the initial teething troubles during the play school and kinder garden years, you slowly realized that your caring parents have chosen to make something good out of you. As wet clay you are their favorite plaything and they along with your teachers and peers want to mold you lovingly.

It was homework, games, giggles, tantrums, chastisement followed by kisses and caresses, monthly tests, exams, grades, parent teacher meetings, and regular appraisal of your all round performances.

Slowly and steadily you grew up and reach the age of twelve.

Overnight changes happened in you, both physical and otherwise. And you were not alone. Your classmates too began experiencing the same. Some grew hair above their lips, some began talking in a hoarse voice, the girls in you class looked at you strangely, and you started gaining in height.

On the subtle side, you were naturally aware of the change in the atmosphere. Those kids from the opposite sex who you wrestled, and quarreled with on a regular basis, suddenly looked strangely attractive. Some wise guys in your class began talking big.

And to cap it all, invariably all of you in the class went into uncontrollable giggling sprees at each and every silly matter, word or expression.

Your parents, and seniors noticed this but kept to themselves. They had gone through this before and now they realized how childish it all seemed now when they saw you behaving like a kid wearing his father’s shoes or her mother’s perfume.

When you asked your mother if you could use her lipstick, she chided you gently and said that children should not wear it. But when at night you remembered a ghost story that your class mate told you in “Avid Detail” and ran to Momma, she hugged you, listened to you poker faced and then asked you

“Are you a child to believe all this?”

Chaos…you don’t know who is more confused- you or your parents.

Are you a child or not?

Has your mother suddenly stopped loving you?

Would it be better to spend all your time with your classmates who see your side of the picture better?

How can your parents be so indifferent to your feelings?

The truth is that your parents are more protective towards you now than they were a month ago. You have started growing and you need the right combination of cuddling and chiding to guide you at this juncture.

ÝOU ARE AN ADOLESCENT.  

Now recall those you know who have remained in this state perpetually.

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Self Realization

                                                 March – Child- Gross Body

Till yesterday you were a baby. Pampered, protected, appreciated, tolerated, and spoilt.

You were the king or queen in your family- the only baby.

But all this came with a price tag. The over protection stifled you but despite your tantrums, you were not allowed to play in the street. Every now and then your mother picked you up, placed you firmly on her lap and fed you your milk, cereals, greens, boiled vegetables, health tonics etc.

And then one evening your mother took you to the market and purchased new colorful clothes for you. Those around smiled at you, blew kisses and asked your mother what was the occasion.

Your mother proudly said that you- her angel had grown up and that you had got an admission. 

Everyone cheered you up and wished you all the best.

You wondered what all this was all about.

Next morning after you had your glass of milk, your mother bathed you, dressed you up in those colorful clothes, took you to the puja room, made you pray to God, and then fed you your breakfast.

After that she brought the colorful bag with pictures of toys and animals on it, slipped in a couple of equally pretty books, and a small box filled with biscuits and chocolates. She also filled a multicolored bottle with lukewarm water.

Your father came picked you up gave you a big kiss, and carried you along with your bag and bottle to his car.

You were excited. And so when you were jumping on the front seat and staring through the windscreen, you did not see your father put a large cardboard banner at the back:

“CAUTION- BABY ON BOARD.”

And then your father took you on a verrrrrry long drive (Half a kilometer by adult standards).

The car ultimately stopped near a large building.

Your father picked you up and carried you inside. There was a lot of commotion. There were many people, cars, autos, bikes etc.

Inside the building a sweet woman who reminded you of your own momma, received you and asked you your name in a feather soft voice. Then she took charge and took you inside a large room.

And there you were confronted by a bunch of equally colorful, sweet, cuddly, innocent, angels like you.

Imagine your first day in play school.

Now remember people who behave like the child that you were on your first day in play school.

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Self Realization

                                                 February – Baby- Gross Body

In this second stage the infant has at last popped out of its cradle. It no more clings to its mother’s lap during all its waking hours. Instead it crawls on the floor, toddles around, and plays inside the house. The breast feeding has been replaced by feeding bottle, mashed food, and health tonics.

Yes the baby is still pampered and it loves it- but the freedom that it has earned has come with a price tag- Now it has to spend some time with itself while the other members of the family mind their own business. And this makes the baby feel un cared for.  

Instead of making itself clear through endless wails like the infant, the baby starts lisping. Beginning with monosyllables it slowly graduates to endless chatter when its baby talk is celebrated by the elders. The baby finds that the attention that it craves for comes in plenty when it regales its parents and loved ones with its prattle.

However being a baby its is subject to abrupt mood swings. Those around it can’t understand when it will entertain them and when it will crawl back into a cocoon of its own.

But the baby expects everyone to understand why it is what it is. What makes it happy and what hurts it.

The baby wants that it should be the cynosure of all eyes, .the center of all attraction-just like it was not so long ago- as an infant.  

Now study those born in February who you have come across in your respective lives. And you will understand them better.

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Self Realization

                                            January – Infant- Gross Body

Remember that the first stage in a soul’s one cycle of births and deaths begins with infancy.

Imagine a family of adults, say elderly father and mother, their son and their daughter in law. The daughter in law is pregnant.

Everything goes on like any normal household save for some extra special care meted out to the mother to be.

On D-Day she delivers a bonny infant.

 The atmosphere in the household changes immediately.

Now the life in this small family unit revolves around the new arrival.

Everyone is either thinking or talking about the infant.

Neighbors, relatives, friends and well wishers who till now were corresponding through phone or mail, make it a point to visit the family and look at the newborn.

Visits to doctors, medical shops, toy shops, and all places hitherto unknown to the family like shops selling baby food, diapers etc .are frequented by the adults.

The elders visit temples and shrines and pray for the welfare of the newborn.

The elders take turns serving the little angel and enjoying the experience.

Even the family vocabulary changes-   new words for simple things like food, dress, water, bath, sleep, play etc are coined and used generously.

And all through this commotion the angel is blissfully unaware of the beautiful storm it has created in the otherwise sedentary lives of its parents and grandparents.

Now study those born in January who you have come across in your respective lives. And you will understand them better.

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