The language of the body We are taught from childhood to use words for our thoughts. But we can also use words not just for the thoughts we have, but for the sensations we have. We can do this in an immersive way, not merely for a minute or a few seconds to label a particular sensation, but to live in the sensation, for a…
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A dog called Blacky
When I think of Blacky, I think of the wide, big eyes that looked curiously at me, asking if I love him. I think of his growls. He growled when he was happy being petted, he growled when he was angry at Jumbo, the other male dog around, for entering his area. He growled when happily following me along with Whitey on a walk in…
Rani and Bagheera
Rani is a brown dog who lives outside my house. She is about 7 years old. I made friends with Rani when I moved to this neighbourhood three years ago. She was scared at first, watching me warily as I made ‘tch tch tch’ sounds at her, but we were friends soon. It is not difficult to make friends with a dog. Smile at the…
Psychotherapy as a political practice
For any idea to mean something substantial for a human being, it must be rooted in a deeply and honestly felt emotional experience in the present moment. Else, the idea is only an intellectual entity that doesn’t touch anything at the core of us, even if it may provide us the gratification of exercising our cognitive functions and engaging in debates. Often, we are willing…
The art of listening
Unlike what some may consider a quality of effective writing, the purpose of this post is not to grab your attention. Often what our attention is offered exists on a spectrum from boring to grabbing, and the more it veers to the latter, the better it is considered. This applies to the gripping film, the grabbing social media post, the ‘unputdownable’ book, and to much…
The mystery of human relationship
This article was originally posted on this blog on 25 October 2021. It was lost because of a technical error, and hence I am posting it again. Kirti is a 51-year old woman. She sits on the sofa, looking forward, towards you. She is fair, thin, with curly hair. Her eyes and face reveal a tenseness, as if they are perpetually in motion, jittery, unsettled….
Everyday life
As you begin to read this post, let us start with a small exercise. Bring your attention to the quality of light on the screen, which is generated by an electrical process. Now, bring your attention to the quality of light in the room you are in. This may also be created by electricity, or it may be light from outdoors. Notice the difference. Is…
Space
Let us undertake an inquiry into the spaces we inhabit. Take a look at the space you are sitting in. Look at the walls, if you are indoors. Look at their adamantine quality – how strong, impermeable they are. See how they enclose you from the space outside. See the light that comes in from the window, how different it is from the light that…
Presence and absence in the body
Dear reader, As you sit and read this article, let us practice a few things with our bodies. Let us not be looking, for a bit, for a meaning, or an idea, that this article will propose. Feel deeply into your body. Be aware of how your lungs fill up when they take in fresh air, and then contract when they release air. You are…
Connecting in an over-connected world
As you look at these words, you have probably scrolled down here from somewhere else, and may be on your way to scroll further ahead to another set of words. Or perhaps a click has opened up this window for you, and the mind is partly edging towards where to go next. I request you to pause for a few moments and imagine. Imagine holding…