so today the title of my talk is in the space of the immeasurable so what are
space of the immeasurable so what are
space of the immeasurable so what are the words that come to mind when one
the words that come to mind when one
the words that come to mind when one speaks of the immeasurable infinity
speaks of the immeasurable infinity
speaks of the immeasurable infinity eternity feelings emotions intuition
eternity feelings emotions intuition
eternity feelings emotions intuition imagination spontaneity creativity
dreams memories peace harmony love and
dreams memories peace harmony love and so on and so for the list is endless now
so on and so for the list is endless now
so on and so for the list is endless now we know of the five elements in the
we know of the five elements in the
we know of the five elements in the indian scriptures the first element
indian scriptures the first element
indian scriptures the first element being space often understood with use of
being space often understood with use of
being space often understood with use of words like ether ether spirit sky from
words like ether ether spirit sky from
words like ether ether spirit sky from the times of the Puranas Plato Aristotle
the times of the Puranas Plato Aristotle
the times of the Puranas Plato Aristotle Einstein Newton Rudolf Steiner three
Einstein Newton Rudolf Steiner three
Einstein Newton Rudolf Steiner three Aurobindo and in more recent times
Aurobindo and in more recent times
Aurobindo and in more recent times Laszlo and many philosophers thinkers
Laszlo and many philosophers thinkers
Laszlo and many philosophers thinkers scientists have dwelled upon this
scientists have dwelled upon this
scientists have dwelled upon this element which came to be called the
element which came to be called the
element which came to be called the fifth element which we believed was the
fifth element which we believed was the
fifth element which we believed was the first which was the source of the next
first which was the source of the next
first which was the source of the next four elements a fire water earth how do
four elements a fire water earth how do
four elements a fire water earth how do we see these playing out in our lives we
we see these playing out in our lives we
we see these playing out in our lives we know that we can be as connected as the
know that we can be as connected as the
know that we can be as connected as the air or we can rage like a fire or be
air or we can rage like a fire or be
air or we can rage like a fire or be flowing with our ideas and thoughts like
flowing with our ideas and thoughts like
flowing with our ideas and thoughts like water or be has rooted and yet in motion
water or be has rooted and yet in motion
water or be has rooted and yet in motion like the earth but when it comes to
like the earth but when it comes to
like the earth but when it comes to space this infinite undefinable
space this infinite undefinable
space this infinite undefinable unquantifiable element what is it that
unquantifiable element what is it that
unquantifiable element what is it that actually manifests itself
actually manifests itself
actually manifests itself in our lives and often have grappled
in our lives and often have grappled
in our lives and often have grappled with this question what is it that is
with this question what is it that is
with this question what is it that is immeasurable within each one of us
immeasurable within each one of us
immeasurable within each one of us within me there is a joy I experience
within me there is a joy I experience
within me there is a joy I experience when I sing when I perform and that to
when I sing when I perform and that to
when I sing when I perform and that to me is immeasurable just as joy is
me is immeasurable just as joy is
me is immeasurable just as joy is immeasurable I find pain to immeasurable
immeasurable I find pain to immeasurable
immeasurable I find pain to immeasurable now I’m not talking of physical pain
now I’m not talking of physical pain
now I’m not talking of physical pain we’ve managed to measure that but when
we’ve managed to measure that but when
we’ve managed to measure that but when it comes to feelings and emotions how
it comes to feelings and emotions how
it comes to feelings and emotions how does one measure that I remember I lost
does one measure that I remember I lost
does one measure that I remember I lost my parents and I lost them to death I
my parents and I lost them to death I
my parents and I lost them to death I lost another very dear person my friend
lost another very dear person my friend
lost another very dear person my friend philosopher guide and much more to death
philosopher guide and much more to death
philosopher guide and much more to death and then it was in a court of law
and then it was in a court of law
and then it was in a court of law in an ugly court battle that I was to be
in an ugly court battle that I was to be
in an ugly court battle that I was to be separated from my sons and that void
separated from my sons and that void
separated from my sons and that void that it left in my children’s lives
that it left in my children’s lives
that it left in my children’s lives I cannot imagine the magnitude of that
I cannot imagine the magnitude of that
I cannot imagine the magnitude of that how does one measure the width of
how does one measure the width of
how does one measure the width of unsheathe years how does one calculate
unsheathe years how does one calculate
unsheathe years how does one calculate the sorrow that is carried in tears
the sorrow that is carried in tears
the sorrow that is carried in tears well I myself roamed around with a
well I myself roamed around with a
well I myself roamed around with a bottomless pit hollow in my heart and
bottomless pit hollow in my heart and
bottomless pit hollow in my heart and mind for a long time and often I would
mind for a long time and often I would
mind for a long time and often I would have people say to me oh my god we’d be
have people say to me oh my god we’d be
have people say to me oh my god we’d be dead if we had to go through half of
dead if we had to go through half of
dead if we had to go through half of what you went through and I would wish I
what you went through and I would wish I
what you went through and I would wish I was actually sometimes and yet I seem to
was actually sometimes and yet I seem to
was actually sometimes and yet I seem to go on I seem to survive and I wondered
go on I seem to survive and I wondered
go on I seem to survive and I wondered where that was coming from where was
where that was coming from where was
where that was coming from where was this faith in the universe that some
this faith in the universe that some
this faith in the universe that some grace of the universe will prevail where
grace of the universe will prevail where
grace of the universe will prevail where was this coming from because that hollow
was this coming from because that hollow
was this coming from because that hollow that seemed to swallow every hope every
that seemed to swallow every hope every
that seemed to swallow every hope every joy every strength of mine now seemed to
joy every strength of mine now seemed to
joy every strength of mine now seemed to hold all of my inner strength and that I
hold all of my inner strength and that I
hold all of my inner strength and that I think is there in each one of us
think is there in each one of us
think is there in each one of us every child but I come in touch with
every child but I come in touch with
every child but I come in touch with through my work through theater through
through my work through theater through
through my work through theater through film and I think that is what is
film and I think that is what is
film and I think that is what is prevailing most of the time in our most
prevailing most of the time in our most
prevailing most of the time in our most vulnerable moments that is where our
vulnerable moments that is where our
vulnerable moments that is where our inner strength Springs out of and it was
inner strength Springs out of and it was
inner strength Springs out of and it was a bad time that I felt that this is
a bad time that I felt that this is
a bad time that I felt that this is where it is seeded it is seeded in that
where it is seeded it is seeded in that
where it is seeded it is seeded in that fifth element in that sky within what is
fifth element in that sky within what is
fifth element in that sky within what is seeded is that thought the seed of the
seeded is that thought the seed of the
seeded is that thought the seed of the thought dwells there the origin of
thought dwells there the origin of
thought dwells there the origin of intuition that strength that inner
intuition that strength that inner
intuition that strength that inner strength and it exists with a quality of
strength and it exists with a quality of
strength and it exists with a quality of diversity that diversity which we find
diversity that diversity which we find
diversity that diversity which we find all around us in nature you go take a
all around us in nature you go take a
all around us in nature you go take a look at a garden you don’t have a go to
look at a garden you don’t have a go to
look at a garden you don’t have a go to garden go look at a pot or look at some
garden go look at a pot or look at some
garden go look at a pot or look at some modern a pot it holds the power to give
modern a pot it holds the power to give
modern a pot it holds the power to give birth to nurture growth to make
birth to nurture growth to make
birth to nurture growth to make something blossom and that exists in
something blossom and that exists in
something blossom and that exists in each one of us in every child
each one of us in every child
each one of us in every child monoculture is not the way nature
monoculture is not the way nature
monoculture is not the way nature survives or sustains itself and yet we
survives or sustains itself and yet we
survives or sustains itself and yet we seem to buy into that idea whether it is
seem to buy into that idea whether it is
seem to buy into that idea whether it is in our agricultural systems or whether
in our agricultural systems or whether
in our agricultural systems or whether it is in our educational systems we seem
it is in our educational systems we seem
it is in our educational systems we seem to buy into the idea of mono perfection
to buy into the idea of mono perfection
to buy into the idea of mono perfection we want our children to be just one
we want our children to be just one
we want our children to be just one thing and we tailor our educational
thing and we tailor our educational
thing and we tailor our educational systems to do just that why
systems to do just that why
systems to do just that why and in the process learning becomes so
and in the process learning becomes so
and in the process learning becomes so much of a pressure and hardly a pressure
much of a pressure and hardly a pressure
much of a pressure and hardly a pressure as recently as January 6 The Times of
as recently as January 6 The Times of
as recently as January 6 The Times of India carried an article which said
India carried an article which said
India carried an article which said Karnataka lost one student every day to
Karnataka lost one student every day to
Karnataka lost one student every day to suicide 1.47 to be precise and cover now
suicide 1.47 to be precise and cover now
suicide 1.47 to be precise and cover now to top the list with 2.68
to top the list with 2.68
to top the list with 2.68 how much is 0.47 of a child
how much is 0.47 of a child
how much is 0.47 of a child how much is 0.68 of a child numbers
how much is 0.68 of a child numbers
how much is 0.68 of a child numbers candy
candy
candy human eyes surely they do and yet we
human eyes surely they do and yet we
human eyes surely they do and yet we allow it we buy into that idea we
allow it we buy into that idea we
allow it we buy into that idea we endorse it we encourage it
endorse it we encourage it
endorse it we encourage it we even enforce it in the lives of our
we even enforce it in the lives of our
we even enforce it in the lives of our children in classrooms numbers matter in
children in classrooms numbers matter in
children in classrooms numbers matter in schools numbers matter to a child marks
schools numbers matter to a child marks
schools numbers matter to a child marks begin to matter more than they’re worth
begin to matter more than they’re worth
begin to matter more than they’re worth it’s all around us
it’s all around us
it’s all around us in entertainment eyeballs matter in
in entertainment eyeballs matter in
in entertainment eyeballs matter in shopping malls foot falls matter where
shopping malls foot falls matter where
shopping malls foot falls matter where does the individual matter it is in the
does the individual matter it is in the
does the individual matter it is in the arts and crafts it is informing that the
arts and crafts it is informing that the
arts and crafts it is informing that the individual and the larger context the
individual and the larger context the
individual and the larger context the micro and the macro both matter and now
micro and the macro both matter and now
micro and the macro both matter and now that brings me to that immeasurable part
that brings me to that immeasurable part
that brings me to that immeasurable part of the performer in every child you know
of the performer in every child you know
of the performer in every child you know there is the measured part of the
there is the measured part of the
there is the measured part of the performance of course which can be
performance of course which can be
performance of course which can be reduced to number of seats occupied
reduced to number of seats occupied
reduced to number of seats occupied tickets sold but I’m talking about the
tickets sold but I’m talking about the
tickets sold but I’m talking about the experience the Rosanna Brava as it’s
experience the Rosanna Brava as it’s
experience the Rosanna Brava as it’s called that shared synergy that bond
called that shared synergy that bond
called that shared synergy that bond between the performer and the audience
between the performer and the audience
between the performer and the audience that immeasurable response that shared
that immeasurable response that shared
that immeasurable response that shared gaze between the two it could be through
gaze between the two it could be through
gaze between the two it could be through laughter it could be through applause it
laughter it could be through applause it
laughter it could be through applause it would be through did a nervous cough or
would be through did a nervous cough or
would be through did a nervous cough or it could be through just a silent ear or
it could be through just a silent ear or
it could be through just a silent ear or plane silence and this resonant hug is
plane silence and this resonant hug is
plane silence and this resonant hug is available to the child remember the
available to the child remember the
available to the child remember the times when as a child we played you
times when as a child we played you
times when as a child we played you played things like house house under a
played things like house house under a
played things like house house under a bed the cot itself became the roof of
bed the cot itself became the roof of
bed the cot itself became the roof of the house and you played out rules of
the house and you played out rules of
the house and you played out rules of people who were part of your life people
people who were part of your life people
people who were part of your life people you’d met or people you’d seen from a
you’d met or people you’d seen from a
you’d met or people you’d seen from a distance and it was just for the fun of
distance and it was just for the fun of
distance and it was just for the fun of it not to win not to gain points and
it not to win not to gain points and
it not to win not to gain points and there was something happening there we
there was something happening there we
there was something happening there we were learning of life and
were learning of life and
were learning of life and doesn’t seem to happen in the classroom
doesn’t seem to happen in the classroom
doesn’t seem to happen in the classroom because there seems to be more
because there seems to be more
because there seems to be more competition than collaboration in the
competition than collaboration in the
competition than collaboration in the classroom in theatres we are very
classroom in theatres we are very
classroom in theatres we are very vulnerable as actors very often we are
vulnerable as actors very often we are
vulnerable as actors very often we are falling physically flat on our faces or
falling physically flat on our faces or
falling physically flat on our faces or even figuratively and that’s the worst
even figuratively and that’s the worst
even figuratively and that’s the worst because those cars don’t show on the
because those cars don’t show on the
because those cars don’t show on the outside but my god they really hurt and
outside but my god they really hurt and
outside but my god they really hurt and here in the classroom that very thing is
here in the classroom that very thing is
here in the classroom that very thing is happening but there’s no room for the
happening but there’s no room for the
happening but there’s no room for the expression of love of true heartfelt
expression of love of true heartfelt
expression of love of true heartfelt hand-holding for empathy for sympathy
hand-holding for empathy for sympathy
hand-holding for empathy for sympathy for compassion numbers it’s a number
for compassion numbers it’s a number
for compassion numbers it’s a number game you can’t have 30 kids in a class
game you can’t have 30 kids in a class
game you can’t have 30 kids in a class going and sitting and hugging each other
going and sitting and hugging each other
going and sitting and hugging each other out of sympathy so it doesn’t happen but
out of sympathy so it doesn’t happen but
out of sympathy so it doesn’t happen but in theatre it’s possible it’s happening
in theatre it’s possible it’s happening
in theatre it’s possible it’s happening all the while and often we fall on our
all the while and often we fall on our
all the while and often we fall on our faces and the situation demands that you
faces and the situation demands that you
faces and the situation demands that you get up on your own dust your bottom and
get up on your own dust your bottom and
get up on your own dust your bottom and get on with it but there is somewhere
get on with it but there is somewhere
get on with it but there is somewhere this knowledge of being in the same boat
this knowledge of being in the same boat
this knowledge of being in the same boat of being together of knowing that one is
of being together of knowing that one is
of being together of knowing that one is not alone and in that just developing
not alone and in that just developing
not alone and in that just developing that inner strength that sky within that
that inner strength that sky within that
that inner strength that sky within that space within which allows you the
space within which allows you the
space within which allows you the freedom to make mistakes to learn easily
freedom to make mistakes to learn easily
freedom to make mistakes to learn easily and effortlessly from someone else’s
and effortlessly from someone else’s
and effortlessly from someone else’s mistakes and your own and in that the
mistakes and your own and in that the
mistakes and your own and in that the learning gets internalized it is it all
learning gets internalized it is it all
learning gets internalized it is it all happens in a very free manner and that
happens in a very free manner and that
happens in a very free manner and that is what happens in farming you throw a
is what happens in farming you throw a
is what happens in farming you throw a seed if a child gets to throw a seed and
seed if a child gets to throw a seed and
seed if a child gets to throw a seed and watch something grow the child learns of
watch something grow the child learns of
watch something grow the child learns of life’s processes right from birth to
life’s processes right from birth to
life’s processes right from birth to death and everything in between
death and everything in between
death and everything in between without anything being repressed or
without anything being repressed or
without anything being repressed or suppressed learning is not disjointed
suppressed learning is not disjointed
suppressed learning is not disjointed but in our classrooms we seem to box our
but in our classrooms we seem to box our
but in our classrooms we seem to box our children into rooms and then we do that
children into rooms and then we do that
children into rooms and then we do that for years and later on in life we are
for years and later on in life we are
for years and later on in life we are telling them to think out of the box as
telling them to think out of the box as
telling them to think out of the box as Aurobindo said the first principle of
Aurobindo said the first principle of
Aurobindo said the first principle of truth
truth
truth thing is that nothing can be taught
thing is that nothing can be taught
thing is that nothing can be taught there was an actor who came and we were
there was an actor who came and we were
there was an actor who came and we were doing the plane we were workshopping and
doing the plane we were workshopping and
doing the plane we were workshopping and he had to play hide and seek and it was
he had to play hide and seek and it was
he had to play hide and seek and it was his turn to take the dents so gladly he
his turn to take the dents so gladly he
his turn to take the dents so gladly he did and he started counting but he stood
did and he started counting but he stood
did and he started counting but he stood in the middle of the room with his eyes
in the middle of the room with his eyes
in the middle of the room with his eyes open and started counting so he said no
open and started counting so he said no
open and started counting so he said no you have to close your eyes and then
you have to close your eyes and then
you have to close your eyes and then counts so he stood right there and
counts so he stood right there and
counts so he stood right there and closed his eyes and started counting and
closed his eyes and started counting and
closed his eyes and started counting and we said no you have to go to a wall at
we said no you have to go to a wall at
we said no you have to go to a wall at the side and then count so he goes to
the side and then count so he goes to
the side and then count so he goes to this wall but he’s still standing in the
this wall but he’s still standing in the
this wall but he’s still standing in the center of the wall and facing us and he
center of the wall and facing us and he
center of the wall and facing us and he said we hide with you facing us even if
said we hide with you facing us even if
said we hide with you facing us even if your eyes are closed and I was excited
your eyes are closed and I was excited
your eyes are closed and I was excited by then and I said come on haven’t you
by then and I said come on haven’t you
by then and I said come on haven’t you ever played hide-and-seek before don’t
ever played hide-and-seek before don’t
ever played hide-and-seek before don’t you know how to play it back came the
you know how to play it back came the
you know how to play it back came the answer in a feeble tone no he said I
answer in a feeble tone no he said I
answer in a feeble tone no he said I played structured games we played tennis
played structured games we played tennis
played structured games we played tennis basketball football badminton and such
basketball football badminton and such
basketball football badminton and such games we just stood there shocked but
games we just stood there shocked but
games we just stood there shocked but after that we played hide and seek every
after that we played hide and seek every
after that we played hide and seek every day now if this this was an actor who
day now if this this was an actor who
day now if this this was an actor who knew all the techniques he had them all
knew all the techniques he had them all
knew all the techniques he had them all at his beck and call he knew them he had
at his beck and call he knew them he had
at his beck and call he knew them he had learned them but it wasn’t available to
learned them but it wasn’t available to
learned them but it wasn’t available to him when it came to actually expressing
him when it came to actually expressing
him when it came to actually expressing himself of finding the child with him I
himself of finding the child with him I
himself of finding the child with him I Steiner says we can find nature outside
Steiner says we can find nature outside
Steiner says we can find nature outside of us only when we had first learned to
of us only when we had first learned to
of us only when we had first learned to know her within us what is akin to her
know her within us what is akin to her
know her within us what is akin to her within us must be our guide this marks
within us must be our guide this marks
within us must be our guide this marks our path of enquiry and we played
our path of enquiry and we played
our path of enquiry and we played hide-and-seek every day after that for
hide-and-seek every day after that for
hide-and-seek every day after that for quite some time to come and something
quite some time to come and something
quite some time to come and something happened something immeasurable
happened something immeasurable
happened something immeasurable something I cannot quantify for you but
something I cannot quantify for you but
something I cannot quantify for you but something happened and he found it this
something happened and he found it this
something happened and he found it this actor was able to do what was required
actor was able to do what was required
actor was able to do what was required he had found the child with him and this
he had found the child with him and this
he had found the child with him and this is what we are hoping will happen in
is what we are hoping will happen in
is what we are hoping will happen in education
education
education because we seem to be losing out on our
because we seem to be losing out on our
because we seem to be losing out on our traditional learning systems we seem to
traditional learning systems we seem to
traditional learning systems we seem to be losing out on the wealth that is
be losing out on the wealth that is
be losing out on the wealth that is possible for us through those we’re
possible for us through those we’re
possible for us through those we’re losing out on our lullabies mothers are
losing out on our lullabies mothers are
losing out on our lullabies mothers are hardly singing the lullaby to their
hardly singing the lullaby to their
hardly singing the lullaby to their children and I believe the lullaby holds
children and I believe the lullaby holds
children and I believe the lullaby holds people’s songs
people’s songs
people’s songs yes but people’s stories the song of the
yes but people’s stories the song of the
yes but people’s stories the song of the heart the dance of emotions that is what
heart the dance of emotions that is what
heart the dance of emotions that is what the lullaby holds and we seem to be
the lullaby holds and we seem to be
the lullaby holds and we seem to be losing that we find even in the crafts
losing that we find even in the crafts
losing that we find even in the crafts people are forgetting how to make those
people are forgetting how to make those
people are forgetting how to make those knots they know the steps in between but
knots they know the steps in between but
knots they know the steps in between but they’re forgetting how to begin a piece
they’re forgetting how to begin a piece
they’re forgetting how to begin a piece and how to end it even a simple thing
and how to end it even a simple thing
and how to end it even a simple thing like a Gojira we don’t know how to begin
like a Gojira we don’t know how to begin
like a Gojira we don’t know how to begin it and ended we know that got lots in
it and ended we know that got lots in
it and ended we know that got lots in between but we don’t know how to tie it
between but we don’t know how to tie it
between but we don’t know how to tie it up and that is very precious because if
up and that is very precious because if
up and that is very precious because if we lose what is precious in the hands if
we lose what is precious in the hands if
we lose what is precious in the hands if we lose dexterity then we’re losing
we lose dexterity then we’re losing
we lose dexterity then we’re losing something immeasurable in our hearts and
something immeasurable in our hearts and
something immeasurable in our hearts and minds something that allows us to
minds something that allows us to
minds something that allows us to construct deconstruct and reconstruct
construct deconstruct and reconstruct
construct deconstruct and reconstruct this can happen through farming natural
this can happen through farming natural
this can happen through farming natural farming arts and crafts so the points I
farming arts and crafts so the points I
farming arts and crafts so the points I make in conclusion are open the sky
make in conclusion are open the sky
make in conclusion are open the sky within to the sky without include
within to the sky without include
within to the sky without include natural farming arts and crafts in
natural farming arts and crafts in
natural farming arts and crafts in education nurture traditional and
education nurture traditional and
education nurture traditional and contemporary knowledge systems imagine a
contemporary knowledge systems imagine a
contemporary knowledge systems imagine a child making a film on the flora and
child making a film on the flora and
child making a film on the flora and fauna in his village or a child making
fauna in his village or a child making
fauna in his village or a child making an a theatre piece or an animation film
an a theatre piece or an animation film
an a theatre piece or an animation film on a weave that is peculiar to her
on a weave that is peculiar to her
on a weave that is peculiar to her village that would be priceless and we
village that would be priceless and we
village that would be priceless and we need to do this with no grading let us
need to do this with no grading let us
need to do this with no grading let us value rather than evaluate for us to be
value rather than evaluate for us to be
value rather than evaluate for us to be able to draw from our hearts all that is
able to draw from our hearts all that is
able to draw from our hearts all that is precious from the sky within to the sky
precious from the sky within to the sky
precious from the sky within to the sky without
you
you [Applause]
”
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