  Spiritual
This week: The Singer Who Begs Edited by: THANKFUL SONALI Library Class!  
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I've met Arpita Gaidhane just once -- and was mesmerised by her singing.
My Dad and I contributed to her trip to Japan, by putting money in her begging bowl after her performance.
I'm not going to say more by way of introduction, except that she's twenty-eight years old.
Now, I'll let her words speak for themselves. |
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Dear Reader,
Presenting: An online interview with Arpita Gaidhane.
1. What has been your spiritual journey?
What does this mean - spiritual journey? How is it different from life? Life, as I see it, is a synthesis of all experience undergone by the body, mind, emotions and spirit, so one cannot isolate this aspect of the spirit as a separate thread from the interwoven whole. I was born into an upper middle class family, that was not at all religious, but followed the basic practices of Hinduism and lived by a strong moral and ethical code. My grandmother has always had great faith in the divine and this was one of the first teachings in surrender that I received. I lived a more-or-less regular life, which took me across a few countries because of my father’s job. This diversity of experience with people of different cultures, colours, classes, occupations, religions, geographies was an invaluable education that reflected humanity to me in a way that was indelible. Academically, these experiences led me towards the humanities, to work towards understanding people and cultures. Ultimately, this quest led to a bachelor’s degree in ancient Indian culture and a master’s in the study of religions with a focus on hinduism. During this last phase, there was a focus on the study of kashmir shaivism, a medieval philosophy from Kashmir that understands all existence to be a manifestation of Lord Shiva and Shakti as consciousness and energy. This was also part of the discussion of quantum physics at the time and I found the overlaps interesting. At some point, though, I realised that academics and practice are not at all the same, and non-immersive study would not be transformative. To understand why education did not imply transformation, I explored alternative education, facilitation and art, always probing at ways in which one could deepen experience and connect to the deepest self within. I found my answer with Baul, an ancient tradition from Bengal. The performative aspect of this tradition involves singing and dancing devotional poetry along with three instruments - ektara, duggi and ghunguru. The absolute immersion that this practice requires is meditative and transformative, designed by the masters of old in a way that the performance cannot be separate from life itself. In exploring the depths of Baul, while still at the surface of this tradition, I have found a path for my journey to take, under the guidance of my Guru, Parvathy Baul.
2. How important is it to tell people what you need, and ask for their help? What does this involve, and what are the benefits to both?
Through an exploration of life comes the understanding that people, all persons, are not just individuals as senses invite us to believe, as does society. A simple experiment of really looking at oneself in a single moment can show how the body is ever-changing matter, dependent on diet, breathing, exercise and so on, the mind constantly affected by the diet of what we read, watch, whom we interact with etc. Seeing ourselves as individuals is one way of simplifying and decoding life experience, but the larger perspective is that we all belong in a social web, constantly pushing and pulling at each other’s threads. Long before materialistic and capitalistic trends in society, people understood this, and society upheld individuals together. A well-known African word for such interbeing is ‘Ubuntu’.
Whether we realise this interdependence or not, it is always at play. Whether to ask for help or not, within this larger framework, is a question of context, and every moment as such can only be realised according to the factors of that moment. My madhukori (performance*) was a practice guided by my Guru to find a way to serve her when we are in Japan, and more importantly, to learn the ancient practice of my Masters, of sacred begging. Keeping oneself as lower than the other is a practice in destroying the ego that is always so obsessed with I and me. Even when this idea of universal interdependence may be intellectually absorbed, it is in the living actions of begging that one can see oneself transform and undone, amazed that the bounty available to us if only we could see past our own limited egos.
* Madhukori - It is a performance and offering for the Divine, but not for audiences. It's about being completely natural and dedicating oneself in that moment to the presence of the present.
3. How important is it to have a Guru, or teacher, while on the spiritual path?
I have often heard my Master as well as other great Masters say that the Guru is within ourselves, and I have also heard them add, almost immediately, but don’t fall in the trap of assuming that you may assign yourself as your own Guru. A Guru is a guide, someone walking on the same path further ahead, who can point the pitfalls and traps that life has to offer. By surrendering ourselves to another, we surrender our ‘I know best attitude’, creating space to learn and become empty, and we learn to see perfection in what may otherwise seem imperfect. When we accept another human being as our master, there are bound to be differences and disagreements, but in learning to accept their guidance irrevocably, we learn to transform our own judgments into clarity.
There is of course, always an essential awareness required that one does not follow blindly, and there be trust maintained between the master and disciple. A true Master will always work for the benefit of the disciple and never demand anything untoward. A true disciple will offer surrender and determination to absorb the path so they may in turn become upholders of the path someday. It is a dynamic relationship with pure love at its core.
4. What are some of the highest highs, and if you don't mind sharing, the lowest lows?
Of what?
(Editor's note: This was her first answer, so I left it that way instead of clarifying further!)
5. How important is it to travel to other states / countries, for personal or spiritual growth?
This is an answer that one can only give oneself. Everyone has a different path, and we can never say that what is true for one person may be true for another. Similarly, on the same path, different answers emerge according to the time and space. There was a time for me when I travelled extensively for a couple of years, seeking answers and ways of being beyond those that I had previously been exposed to. It was this exploration that ultimately led me to the path that I have chosen today.
Now, however, it is time to remain in a place and practice, go deep into the sadhana, and travel only when it offers some meaning for my path. Given that I have a Guru who travels, meeting her automatically involves traveling. Other than that, however, my current practice involves remaining at home and regular in all aspects of my practice.
6. Anything else whatsoever that you would like to add.
Nothing
Thank you, Arpita!
Thanks, reader, for reading to the end!
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"Jessica's Happiness Box Project!" didn't generate any responses here -- I'm hoping that's because all of you ran off to make your own Happiness Box and forgot to post about it!! 
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Spiritual: August 29, 2018 Issue [#9069]
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