Greening And Creative Expression

‘O Bandhu re….!’ This is a cry from the heart to constituents of nature, says SHRI SHRI ANANDAMURTI, speaking of the importance of environment in creative human expression There are different expressions in human existence. Nandana vijnaana — what is called ‘aesthetic science’ in English — is the science which has for its basis the joy derived from expressions of the mind at different stages.Or from the various ways in which the mind becomes concentrated in its different expressions. The darkness like what one experiences on a new moon night heightens perception of the static properties that surround us. Similarly, every expression of life,every existential vibration, is dependent on the environment. Birbhum,Bankura,Manbhum — they constitute the red soil of Rarhbhum. There one finds layers of undulating red soil stretching for miles.There is no big river, only small hills. With the end of winter and the onset of spring, the storms blow over the land of this red soil, and clouds of red dust swirl from one horizon to the other. In such surroundings, the mind is overwhelmed with pathos and excitement. Along with the shedding of leaves,the mind sheds itself and feels like rushing to the other end of the horizon in a veritable dance.At that time, the expression of the mind is not like that of a normal person. It is the expression of a batul,a Sanskrit term that refers to a state of ‘semi-insanity’. The Bengali word,baul,is derived from this batul.Hence, baul songs have their origin in the land of Rarh. What is kirtana? There is the reverberation of leaves and trees.Water and leaves and the sky — are all dancing with joy. In such an environment, the mind of a spiritualist tends to dance, to rush ahead. On the one side, there is the fertile land of the Gangetic plain, and on the other side, lies the dry terrain of Rarh. This environment of complex diversity is conducive for kirtana. That is why the low-lying areas of Birbhum,the landmass that stretches towards the river Bhagirathi, is the birth place of kirtana. Because the very environment is so conducive to it. Environment has a tremendous impact on every human expression.The River Padma is racing ahead. Neither side of it can be seen. One is overtaken by the feeling that the unfamiliar environment surrounding me is verily my friend. Because there is no other friend around.There is no one else by my side.Then, whom do I find as my friend? Yes, I find the ‘unknown environment’ to be my only friend. Hence addressing this unknown environment, I sing out, ‘Bandhu re!’ — ‘O,my friend’, prolonging, in particular the re sound so that this elongated ‘re’ sound, while floating along with the sonic vibrations of nature, merges with the unknown friend. This is the speciality of bhatiyali songs. What is the speciality of this aesthetic science? When does aesthetic science become sweet and fascinating? It becomes so when internal psychic expressions move towards the suprasensuous. Humanity, in its all-out quest for this aesthetic science, attains spirituality. ¦ Follow Shri Shri Anandamurti at speakingtree.in