SC Musings for Nitya Gurukula

Redirect, Harmonize: Contd

March 8, 2024

Dear Readers, Welcome to SC Musings, Blog 6

February was a full month in Nitya Gurukula, with our 23rd Board Meeting and NG Sangam 2024. When we redirect our focus and attention from routines, we tend to experience time as full and intense. Often quoted Taichi slogan (Lam, 2015.p.187)

"Yield- Absorb- Redirect-Harmonise"
was explored in-depth this Sangam.

Here I present NG Sangam 2024 as a case study, to demonstrate the operationalisation of Redirecting and Harmonising, with glimpses of them in action.

Now, for a peek into NG Sangam - its history and creation. Conceived and offered about 15 years ago, NG Sangam is a confluence of NG clients, coachees, mentorees, trainees, workshop participants and well-wishers. We gather to learn, share and experience oneness and ‘be-ness’ (Yati, 1987.p.369, 374) in diversity. Nitya Gurukula members congregate in this specially curated event, at a chosen venue, experiencing the theme chosen yearly. The structure, processes and flow of Sangam evolves based on the participants' emerging needs.

A hybrid session, with 24 participants, a combo of members mentioned earlier and NG resources, NG Sangam ’24 was held in the Training Room, on the Berne floor of Devi-Durai. Beginning with lighting the lamp on Saturday, the 24th morning at 10 am, Sangam ‘24 culminated at 5 pm on Sunday, the 25th February. Exploration of Self-Relationships and Context using the theme was facilitated over 6 sessions; the final 2 sessions consisted of consolidation and life and professional goal settings, followed by winding down and closing.

Here is a brief about the 3 stages of exploration of Self-Other-Context.

In stage 1, participants explored their internal and external practices of Yielding-Absorbing-Redirecting-Harmonising. It was experienced as ‘automatic’, without intention. Many poured out, a few shared their experiences of being:

'stuck,
nerve racking,
struggle,
numb'.

Body, mind connections were made as participants became aware of the multitudinous happenings in their body and mind.

Relationships exploration in Stage 2 began with naming, followed by categorising relationships as:

Private-Personal
Professional
Organisational
Other

‘Deep emotions’ were stirred in this process which were described as:

Stage 3 experiences were about how the environment impacts us and how we impact the environment.

While Yielding and Absorbing are internal processes, Redirecting connects internal with the external world, through behaviours, communications and relationships; Harmonising is the culmination of this dynamic cycle, which we propose to be called the Y-A-R-H Life Cycle.

Y-A-R-H Life Cycle, depicted in Figure 6.1 is explained as follows: The Taichi Slogan Y-A-R-H maybe applied to view our life processes. Innumerable stimuli, both from within us, from others and the environment continue to impinge on us, tirelesslessly, seemingly endless, from birth to our last breath. These enter through our senses, and are relentless. Based on our ‘conditioning’, (Yati,2013.p.305) our internalised patterns and knowledge, we receive these stimuli and react/interact with them.

Redirecting is an intentional and mindful action, beginning within, which selects, attends to and then responds to incoming stimuli. This internal action when founded on our values, drawn by our life goals and fuelled by the different layers and dimensions within us, culminates in behaviours which grow our energy and contributes to joy and harmony. Compassion and ethics become blended into the redirecting process and harmonising ensues.

I had the privilege to be a participant and witness to this profound process in Sangam 2024. Yielding to the diverse needs, expressions, outpourings, searches and yearnings of the participants as a facilitator, also meant the process of absorbing followed closely. Grounding in the values expounded by ITAA World namely: Dignity, Self-Determination, Health, Security and Mutuality (ITAA World), through application, reflection has become a way of life for me, both personally and professionally. NG Vision of ‘The Guru Within’ provided the goal of Sangam, which guided me to Redirect the stimuli from participants, by guiding them to leave behind some conditioned patterns, and take with them life enhancing life-goals and energies. This was done symbolically by receiving the unwanted, redirecting it to the earth, and blessing the participants' goals and energies. Each participant was a recipient of blessings from me and the other participants.

A demon dance in the end, a speciality of Nitya Gurukula, followed by a free flowing movement accompanied by music brought the curtains down on NG Sangam 2024, harmonising the people, place and goals.

Writing this blog brought memories of Sangam 2024 participants' experiences, with a nostalgic blend of international colours and flavours.

A tiny tip, do attend to your breath for 2 minutes daily and note down your sensations.

Dear readers, Connecting with you in this space induces me to step back and reflect, meaningfully. We will meet in Blog 7 with psycho-social boundaries and the movement which emerged in NG Sangam 2024 to redirect and harmonise.

References

International Transactional Analysis Association. (2014). Code of Ethical Conduct and Ethics Procedures Manual. Retrieved from: https://www.itaaworld.org/sites/default/files/itaa-pdfs/gov-admin-docs/12-5-14 Revised Ethics_0.pdf

Yati, G.N.C. (1987). The Psychology of Darsanamala. New Delhi: D. K. Printworld.

Yati, G. N. C. (2013). (original work published 2003).That alone, the core of wisdom: A commentary on atmopadesa satakam, the one hundred verses of self-instruction of Narayana Guru.