A Route Back To Wonder
अचम्भे की ओंर वापसी का रास्ता द्वारा फबिअना फोंदेविल्ला
“बिना बादलों के सूर्यास्त का क्या मायने है? एक घेरा जो एक सीधी रेखा को पार करता है “ ये कहना है गविन प्रेटोर पिन्नी का जो Cloud Appreciation Society के संसथापक हैं और जिन्होंने एक मूल प्रकार की सक्रियता को खोजा है, और जिनका घोषणा पत्र कहता है, “हमारा मानना है कि बादलों को बिना वास्तविक कारण के बदनाम किया गया है, और हमारा जीवन उनके बिना अति निर्धन माना जायेगा|“
बादल? क्या बादल भी किसी सक्रियता के प्रेरक हो सकते हैं? प्रथमः दृष्टि में ऐसा होना थोडा अजीब सा कार्य लगता है, कि कोई क्यों अपना पूर्ण जीवन अपने साथी विश्व वासियों को ये बताने में लगा सकता है कि बादलों की ओर देखो और चमत्कार का आनंद लो | ये समझने के लिए हमें सिर्फ अपने बचपन की ओंर देखना है | हम में से किसने, लम्बे समय तक, घास पे लेटे हुए, विभिन्न प्रकार के खरगोश, पहाड़ों, जानवरों के आकर्षक आकार, बादलों में नहीं देखे होंगे? किसे, उन आकारों को प्रतिक्षण, हमारी नज़रों में, बदलते हुए देख, अचम्भा नहीं हुआ होगा? या ज्यादा उपयुक्त प्रश्न होगा: कब से बादलों ने हमें लुभाना बंद कर दिया है? कब से हमने आसमान की ओंर देखना बंद कर दिया है ?
बादल हमेशा अचम्भे के प्रेरणा स्त्रोत रहे हैं: ऐसा यूँ ही नहीं है कि बादल सदियों से कला कृतियों का भाग रहे हैं | पुनर्जागरण आंदोलन से ही बादल दैविक शक्ति के रूपक में भी इस्तेमाल होते रहे हैं | हमें व्यस्क जीवन में बादलों को फिर से क्यूँ देखने की आवश्यकता है? सामान्य बुद्धि से भी देखें तो शायद ये जवाब होगा: बादलों के आकार को देखने से हमें वर्षा एवं मुसलाधार वर्षा का भी अनुमान होता है और शायद ऐसी रिम झिम बारिश का भी पता चलता हैं जिसमे हरी घास (काई) अचम्भे वाली जगहों में उग जाती है | ये एक बहुत अच्छा कारण हो सकता है बादलों को देखने का, परन्तु बादलों को देखने के इससे अधिक उपयुक्त कई कारण हैं |
हम दैवी शक्ति वाले बादलों की ओर मौसम का हाल जानने के लिए नहीं देखते हैं | हम उनकी ओर इसलिए देखते हैं ताकि हम दोबारा स्वप्न देख सकें, और बादलों की जादूई सुन्दरता का अनुभव हम अपने प्रत्येक कदम में कर सकें | हमें उनमे, उस अच्चम्भे की और, वापस जाने का रास्ता खोजना है | एक्सुपेरी के छोटे राजकुमार एंटोनी दे संत का कहना है “हमने गुलाब के पीछे जितना समय बिताया है, उससे गुलाब की महत्वता का आभास होता है“ | आइये, हम अपना समय, इस विश्र में, प्यर बांटने में व्यतीत करें, प्रति दिन, थोडा अधिक, थोडा बेहतर प्यार | हम अपना जीवन सबसे अधिक महत्वपूर्ण कार्य – प्यार - मे बिताएं|
मनन के लिए बीज प्रश्न: आप इस उपदेश से कैसे सम्बद्ध हैं की हम बादलों के माध्यम से अच्चम्भे का रास्ता खोजते हैं ? क्या आप अपनी कोई निजी कहानी साझा कर सकते हैं जिसमे आप इस विश्व के अच्चम्भे में खो गये हों? आपको इस अच्चम्भे में रहने में और उदासीपन में वापस ना जाने में किस चीज़ से सहायता मिलती है ?
Fabiana Fondevila is an author, storyteller, ritual maker, activist, and teacher from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Excerpted from Where Wonder Lives.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the exhortation to find in the clouds a route back into wonder? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to lose yourself in wonder of the world? What helps you retain the capacity to wonder and not give in to cynicism?
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12 Past Reflections
On Jan 29, 2021 Phatma wrote :
The sweetness of toddlers...they cry after crying...they automatically become joyful and exhuberate...the cloud of tears and a little nagging is just at the surface...but deep in the toddlers what you find is joy ...love and tenderness...that gives me strength to retain wonder and refuse to go into cynicism...nature is beautiful...when you allow to look deep into the world...you will never cease to wonder...Thank you so very much Fabiana...this piece is deeply inspiring!...
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On Oct 5, 2020 Bradley wrote :
Often times I'm moved to share a weekly reading with my students. I thought this one might particularly serve the younger generation. After reading it, and reflecting on some things that happened to her this past week, she responded with a poem. I asked her and she said she'd be honored if I shared it with you:
growing up » october 2, 2020
a curious doggy drifts across the vast blue
chasing an old woman with an umbrella?
or maybe it was a witch pursuing a clue.
it’s hard to tell what the white puffs spell,
but we giggle anyway and think they’re true
because the clouds are our own seashells.
until we grow up, grow out of imagination
and the heavens fade to weather stations.
the crisp navy of fresh denim carries a thrill
of feeling the holes close and a chapter begin.
we take cute snaps and flaunt our bills,
proud to wear fashion’s “new big thing.â€
but soon we miss that comfortable drill
of stretchy fabric that seems to mold our skin... [View Full Comment]
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On Oct 1, 2020 Mary wrote :
I was sitting watching a bee the other day,then spotted a butterfly, and moved on to browsing among the flowers in my garden...then a squirrel trying to get some of the bird seed, birds following, a cat, the trees and plants, the blue clue sky, the sun shining while disappearing in and out between the clouds, and the moving clouds puffy puffs obscuring the sun,... and then sensing, with absolute wonder ...that I am living amongst all this...
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On Sep 30, 2020 Evelyn wrote :
Everything about this lifts my spirits. I love to walk and look up at the sky.
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On Sep 29, 2020 Marcia Perryman wrote :
Clouds are really wonderful in Canada at this time of year and I loved the idea of wonder. Wonder requires stillness and silence with no purpose or agenda. Wonder is dreaming for a gentler world and pondering what we can do to support that movement. Wonder is also appreciating the people that comment regularly on these pieces and encourage others to join the conversation.
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On Sep 29, 2020 Deven Shah wrote :
Growing up in India, clouds always have so many positive connotations for me. I appreciate clouds for what they do and bring.
In this article, I loved the connection betweenthe clouds and the magicand dreams and the sense of what is important in my life.
In this article, I loved the connection betweenthe clouds and the magicand dreams and the sense of what is important in my life.
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On Sep 29, 2020 Jill wrote :
My friend sent your newsletter to me this morning because I told her last night that I'd taken my yoga mat and pillow outside. I put it on the grass and lay looking up at the clouds just as I had done as a child. How serendipitous for this to arrive today! Thank you!
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On Sep 29, 2020 Suzannah wrote :
Ever since I was a child, lying on my back in the grass,I would stare up at the clouds and imagine all sorts of wonders. I don't believe I ever stopped and, although I adore a brilliant blue sky, I would not want ever to be without the myriad of always changing shapes in the clouds.
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On Sep 28, 2020 Anilkumar Pandit wrote :
'Cloud' is now even more inspirational, as it can take the form as wished by anyone and such forms can be shared worldwide.
Just upload and download our wish or creations !!
Just upload and download our wish or creations !!
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On Sep 26, 2020 David Doane wrote :
Clouds are not the only place to find a route back into wonder, but clouds are definitely a place. What comes to mind as an outstanding time I lost myself in the wonder of the world was in viewing the Grand Canyon. Also coming to mind is my getting lost in a star-filled sky one night outside Zion National Park. Both experiences occurred a couple years ago and both were awesome and full of wonder for me. In both experiences, my wonder overrode and overwhelmed any cynicism in me. What helps me experience wonder as I am with whoever or whatever is being in the present, having no goal or purpose except to be with and experience, being mindful and giving my full attention. The sense of being one with or part of whoever or whatever is also a part of wonder that I experience.
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On Sep 25, 2020 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
Looking at the clouds floating in the sky is very fascinating to me. I felt this fascination as a child. The sky was a paly house. The clouds of different shapes coming and going were the actors filling my heart with wonder, delight and inspiration.Watching the play of the clouds made me wonder where they are coming from and where they are going. I expressed my wonderment in a poem that I wrote in my mother tongue. " Kon,Vadalanipachalachhupatu?" Whois hiding behind the clouds?" Sadly, our contact with nature has been diminished as we are getting more amd more urbanized. Occasionally we may look at the wonders of nature. Taking time out to see the wonders of nature has been a deeply enriching experiencefor me. I appreciate what Fabiana Fonderila says:"Let'swaste time learning to love the world, everyday, a little bit more and better. Let's waste time on what is truly important."
A few years ago, we were traveling in Colorado. We were on the top of a mo... [View Full Comment]