Guest column: Become a source of joy, a message for Gen Alpha
Every seventh person in the world is a child of the new millennia or Gen Alpha. They grow up with technology with information at their fingertips. As we lean towards AI artificial intelligence and the digital world, our natural intelligence is becoming redundant. We become good in HMI – Human to Machine Interface but we become disabled in HHI – Human to Human Interface. We connect well with people on social media, but we don’t know how to talk to our neighbors or colleagues.
This led to a lost connection within and we forgot how to smile. Our natural smile has disappeared and is replaced with insomnia, anxiety, uncertainty and stress. Nowadays, hardly anyone looks at others in public places. Everyone has their head down and is busy scrolling through their electronic gadgets. Neck and shoulder pain has become common because of this. New generation of children are growing up with earplugs. The WHO recommends a total of 40 hours of weekly exposure to a volume level of no more than 80 dB on personal listening devices. But in reality the actual numbers are much higher. Our Gen Alpha faces hearing and vision loss at an early age.
Mudras are non-verbal means of communication. If our Gen Alpha grows up with neck, shoulder, ear, eye problems and mental health issues, it conveys a message of Generation of Ailment instead of Generation Alpha. Using our natural intelligence, we can change this message to Generation of Abundance.
Mudam dadati iti mudra – What brings joy to our lives, or imparting what brings joy to our life, is a mudra. We go to a temple to create joy and comfort by looking at the altar. Mudras are widely used in temple architecture. The altar conveys the messages to us through mudras. We draw joy and messages by looking at the feet, hands, eyes or other parts of the altar. Most altars are in human form so we can relate to them.
The altars in the temples tell that if these stones or spiritual statues can give so much joy, why can’t a sensible person give joy to others? We don’t need to speak to convey the message. We can also convey messages through gestures in the eyes, face, lips, legs, hands and body movements.
Mudras are not only used as a healing technique but also widely used in spiritual and temple worship. Prithvi, jnana, akasha, Varuna, prana, vyana, apana, shanka, linga, Surya mudra, etc. is one of the hand mudras used to heal ourselves.
Chin, dhyana, anjali, shanka, chakra, gada, padma, garuda mudra are some of the adyatma mudras which hands are used in spiritual sadhana (practice).
Using the organs of knowledge, mudras are done to calm the mind and this is also called mana mudra. Using the eyes shambhavi and akashi mudras are done. The use of the tongue khechari and kaki mudras is done. Shanmukhi mudra is done with the help of organs of knowledge.
Mudras are done through the body called kaya mudra in the form of vipareeta karini, manduki, yoga mudra etc.
The ultimate goal of doing all mudras is to gain and share happiness in life. Mudras are widely used in Indian classical dances like Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Kathakali, Yakshagana, etc.
The face is an index of the mind. Your face radiates your inner feeling. The scriptures say that a smile and glow on the face are the outward indications that yoga has penetrated that person. People should derive joy and inspiration from looking at your face and actions. This should be your mudra. When this happens, you will become like a walking temple.
By understanding the concepts of mudra, you will be able to transform your life by closing the gap between the ideal self and the real self.
(The author is the Melbourne-based founder of Vasudeva Kriya Yoga. Opinions expressed are personal.)
