Back on a journey to Wayanad. Not expecting anything. In the bus, around Mysore, I experienced an intense sense of lightness. A text to Bijoy read -
"Man, I'm experiencing an intense and overwhelming sense of happiness. Something has entered. Its like time, fear, longing, sorrow are things of the past. Like being a quiet observer. Wish we were in it together seeing and learning, not judging. Wow. Feels great. Paradigm shift in its most basic sense."
It was quite something. And listening to Reich, reading some JK. Spot on. All connected. Like a rewiring of the brain. I think this maybe what I have been looking for all my life. Jiji picked me up from Mananthawadi. It was like we were meeting a day later. True, sort of, kinship. He told no one at the shop about my arrival. Lovely to surprise Jamesettan, Benny and Gautam. They were so happy. Felt like a homecoming, laughing, govoreeting. Such a lovely energy in this wonderful town. Its funny no one from the city seems so real, so unpolluted, so real to themselves. JK's words ring true here. Live examples of his teachings. God is great. Thanks to him I am now walking the visceral path.
Thoughts saved in my phone:
"Food, clothing, shelter" - A set of films about people from the Hinterland like Benny, Josettan, Jamesettan. Happy. Content with what they have, the basic food, clothing, shelter. Could be an interesting juxtaposition to the materialistic tendencies of the middle - upper middle class.
Do not renew thought, cancel all subscriptions now.
Muthuraj
At the shop, I finally met and spoke to Muthu, the drinker (thinker!). He had just downed a pint of rum, a regular activity behind the opposite bank. He spoke of his rather unfortunate existence. Over 50, unmarried, abandoned from his parents and siblings in Trivandrum living in an abject state of poverty, but having enough to buy a bottle of cheap booze daily. And over the years, it doesn't hit him anymore, intoxication and such things of the past. He told us about his strange experiences with a hypnotic pickpocketer who twice picked his wallet by making him go to sleep. He also spoke about not having had a single friend or anyone to talk to sincerely for over 8 years. Living in the absolutes of silence and alcohol, disconnected from everything. Strange. Asked him if I could film him and he said he wasn't special and didnt have anything special to say. I took some photos of him which will one day go into my book - "The Quiet Observer".
Back in the serenity of the house on the hill, Jiji and me opened a few beers. I sent some x-genome. Blast-off. We spoke of so many things from the lack of soul in most people to commitment. A lot of fun. Earlier, we went to meet the mad Paris Mohan at his place closeby. He is too caught up in himself, its hard to be around people like him. I always have the urge to tell him "a good man is a great listener". We spoke of his pretty maid, who has been unlucky, stuck with a drunkard. Very sophisticated but alas. What would life have been if she was married to a cultured, real human being. Hmm...
6/8
So, Jiji and me decided to go to the One-teacher Alternative school in the hill. Mathanchettan joined us. It was quite stunning, this small structure set against a marvellous mountain backdrop. Something bit Jiji's feet. Mathanchettan walked into some bushes and plucked some turmeric that Jiji pasted onto the bite. People of the earth, really. "Inspiring, something I would have no clue of", my cityhead realises as I quietly observe. The kids were a bit nervous, at first, to see us, the people from the otherworld. As soon as I got the camera out, it was a whole different scene as everyone wanted to be in it, laughing, jumping, pushing. Very refreshing to see this innocence, still uncorrupt by the commercial world. Took lots of photos (which will go into the book?), and filmed them eating their kanji and payar. There were two striking girls. One seemed like Bhagawati, one like Kali. Two faces of the same person. Both such beautiful faces. Wonder what it is that makes one child smile and laugh and another frown. Could be an interesting study, eh?
7/8
Nature is the essence and the landscape of the heart.
Its truth, its oneness is its harmony with the trees, the birds, the rivers, the lakes, the sea, the sky, the clouds, the stars. Over time as one is influenced and preconditioned by the two pillars of society, ie parents and teachers, the poor vulnerable heart gradually loses all sense of realism. The heart then, controlled by the mind, is taught to dissolve into an infinite grid of the second-grade, of monotony, of the dullness of acquisition, of the expanses of greed, of wanting to be this and that - to compete. The mind now begins to think like a machine, not questioning, not probing, not asking. It quietly works within a mechanical pattern and follows presets. This pattern eventually kills that landscape.
When will all pre-existant, pre-conditioned, preset thought end? When will the real observation begin, when will the real meditation begin, when will the real introspection begin? When? In time, now is the only choice you have. The landscape is waiting to be discovered.
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Visited Mathanchettans gorgeous 10-acre property nestled right in the heart of the forest. Quiet, real quiet. The apt place for "Hinterland". So Jiji and me made a business plan to propose to "we dont know who". And a secret voice inside me tells me to give up all motive, give up the silly pursuit of these things. But, no, hinterland is special, its important. Its my responsibility to the next generation, our only link to the future. All JK-inspired.
8/8
Funny how Gautambhai heard my "Vertigo" ringtone and immediately felt it was the Koyaanisqatsi theme. Classical music, basically. Bernard Herrman vs Philip Glass. Hmm...
