Swanwick Star Issue Nr. 11 (2018)
The Bird in the Verandah (part VI)
CS – I’ve been thinking about the longing and regret common to most humans that seems so hard to shed and shake off like a snake-skin; the longing for the future and regret for the past.
It seems to hover around us, to surround us, to follow us everywhere like a shadow.
What is it, that we don’t seem to be able to drop it?
It holds us captive like the bird in the birdcage that won’t fly away, even though the door is open.
Is it fear of the unknown?
Is it to do with the perception of life as a continuum – a continuous series of events – and our reluctance to drop that “theory” even for a moment?
Are we just like jaded scientists ? – our theory fits someof the data, so we’ll stick to it.
We’re not open to something new and unexpected.
In fact, we’re not even ready for love which blasts the continuum to smithereens..
In Sufi poetry, the theme “to be free means to be free of sensuality” comes up over and over again.
AA – I like to call it “sensism”, as sensuality includes all that brings joy and beauty in life also.
CS – I have really used the word “sensuality” in a provocative way. I mean a perception of life that is limited to the senses. So “my anger”, “my lust”, “my passion” carries enormous weight and I continuously give it validation.
AA – Yes, that is true.
CS – “My” violence is justified…but, “yours” is not! My wanting must be fulfilled and my anger is righteous.
I just do not consider that there may be something beyond my emotions.
AA – On the other hand, an idea like “non-violence” is equally dangerous.
CS – Just as is the idea of sensual repression or suppression.
AA – Indian theology is an interesting study in that regard – the polarization of Vedanta and Tantra. Two extremes.
CS – Perhaps, both are products of excessive cerebration!
AA – Indeed, the Buddha was sorely misunderstood by the scholars. He never preached eradication of the self.
Freedom is something that must be discovered anew by each generation.
It cannot be accumulated like knowledge: wisdom is not transferrable.
CS – Then, what can one do?
AA – As Confucius said, “Light a candle in a dark room”.
[These are personal impressions of dialogues with Professor Allan W. Anderson printed with his permission given on May 23, 2010; in no way does Chanda Siddoo-Atwal (CS) purport that these are verbatim discussions, but only excerpts recalled after conversations in which she has tried to “pluck out” their essence from her notes taken during these talks. It is being serialized in its entirety as a tribute to his life and work in these issues of The Swanwick Star. This is the sixth serial instalment from a compilation called “The Bird in the Verandah”, from September 2001].
