Jain Spirit 2003 06 No 15

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 36

ART & LITERATURE
DANCING AT THE CROSSROADS
Dancer Madhvi Dalal elucidates the connections she sees between identity, spirituality and her art form
ROSSROADS. IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, ONE always finds oneself at a mental crossroads. Always
choosing which road to take and which path to follow. The mind constantly asks questions, and the same mind makes decisions by way of answering these questions. Hereby, one may be able to fathom and imagine the consequences it will have on the self.
However, seldom does one's soul ask these frequent questions. Perhaps it is because the immediate corollary of karma is not instantly apparent. Jainism teaches us to think about the soul and about karma. It teaches us to imagine the soul laden with karmic matter throughout its beginningless and perhaps endless existence, keeping the soul constantly vibrating. The soul has no hands to draw, nor body to hold the karmic matter. Our karmic bondage and the respective consequences of karma are not clearly evident to us immediately and that is why one is hardly ever aware when the soul is at a crossroads.
It is important to unify the soul and the mind, the spirit and the body, in order to be able to make correct and appropriate decisions. One must be constantly cognizant of the consequent actions and deeds (karma) that blemish the soul.
Occasionally, I do reflect on my soul. I do consider the importance karma has on my being in this life and many more to come. At the crossroads I try to follow the path that will free me from karmic bondage and consequently lead me to a higher stage of spiritual attainment. It is difficult to keep this frame of mind all the time, living as we do in a worldly environment. However, it is essential to be always aware of karma and to train the mind, the body and the speech organ to act or react in a virtuous way. It is important to acknowledge and recognise
when the soul is at a crossroads and hence choose an appropriate path.
I like the word 'crossroads'. It tells me a lot about human nature, spirit and moral fibre. It also reveals much about the questions we have concerning identity, ethnicity, culture, religion, tradition, upbringing, society and humanity. Often I stand at these crossroads, eyes wide shut,
contemplating my identity. I have brown skin, I speak Gujarati, I have an Indian surname. Does that make me Asian? However, I was born in Kenya, brought up there and I speak Swahili. Does that make me African? Then again, I now live in the UK, I work here, I speak English. Does that make me European? So, what am I? Who am I?
I know that many Indians of my generation, especially those living in the West, have similar questions about their identity. These arise because of the diverse backgrounds they have been brought up in. It is difficult to separate these varied cultures, customs and traditions. Yet we have to retain a particular identity for the society that we live in. We seem confused in our
multi-ethnic world of conflicting cultural issues and beliefs.
With this in mind, I decided to create a show which many individuals can relate to. Being a Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer, I thought it apt to put on a performance that both the older and the younger generation could relate to. It is not aimed at answering any questions, but creating awareness within our multi-ethnic society. It clarifies and explains that the answer to a simple question like "Who are you?" can be very complicated and blurry for
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Jain Spirit · June - August 2003
PHOTOS: MANOHAR GANGAN