Author Archives: Story Practices

Could you elaborate on Attention Theory?

Creation is intelligent design, even a blade of grass is intelligently designed. There has to be an intelligent being who is doing it all – absolute intelligence in a capable force.

That intelligent being became from one to many. That was one of us. We are considering him as Kal, time, he asked for a boon and it was given. Only then, time starts.

Could you talk about how this pans out?

We are talking about CO-AIM Theory and Practice.

A – Attention

I – Information

M – Material

Co – Correlation

CO-AIM is correlating attention, information and material.

The attention is constant, while information and material are variables.

CO-AIM is a theory and practice. It is a philosophy. This attention is representing the holding of consciousness. Once you understand the words, ‘totality of consciousness’ it gives a wider spectrum. This is region we have talked about belongs to a region where time and material don’t exist.

Could you talk about attention?

The attention is continuously blinking on material issues of the world – related to time and material of this body in which we are, going out downward and outwards into the world through the senses of the body, from the timeless zone to the domain of time – one of us created time, the other created the material. In my system, this is known as Kal created Maya.

Time begins – one of us Kal starts creating.

Higgs boson, originally called the God Damn particle, when the intelligent behaviour of the particle was seen, corelating the creative intelligence as one of the parts of the absolute, fragmented from one to many.

From timelessness to the field of time.

We are now seeing this creative intelligence creating time and material as Higgs Boson explained by CERN in Switzerland as the God damn particle. The publisher asks to remove the word damn and it was known as the god particle. The book was published and it was a success. The ability of this Higgs Boson (god particle) is the ability to attract which is related to gravitation and magnetic energy.

On the nature of creation?

Two items were attracted together-electron and proton and created the first atom as Hydrogen. This is the postulate of the philosophy. It is allowed to have a postulate. It has to be approved by the philosophers.

Then two hydrogen atoms were attracted to create that one at helium. By attracting further hydrogen and helium together, it created that galaxy of suns burning hydrogen and helium. And in the scriptures of mine the knowledge was first given to the sun god. The suns were created first. They said the knowledge was first given to the sun god. This phenomenon was converted into a story explaining the sun god and the first knowledge was given to the sun god. To prove this phenomenon, we could know through scientific study of the cosmos at 22 places now. Two suns are creating the remaining elements which are 100 and odd.

Could you talk about Attention Theory?

How it really all starts. Attention is the outer expressing of the creative intelligence. that remains connected to its source known as absolute intelligence in a capable force which is the totality of consciousness, all knowing, all pervading. That is the attention which remains connected to its source.

In Indian scriptures we call it Ek Aham Bahu Shyam. The god was one and alone and it was in bliss. In the stride of bliss. It felt like loving. And to love it became from one to many and the sound emerged. All those many are connected through this sound. Perennially connected to this sound.

What is this sound called?

Sabd

Anahat

It is called The Word in the Bible

It is called Kalma in the Koran

many words for it.

Bange Asmani is what the Koran called it.

Omniscient, omnipresent, this attention is representing the totality of consciousness.

Could you continue with the story of Attention Theory?

This is how it became from one to many. One part of this is known as Kal in my scriptures. Kal means time. The origin is in timelessness and the time starts now. One of us is known as time.

There is a story behind it. The story is like this – since it became from one to many. It asked for a boon to make a time bound material creation. As it is timeless, and it wanted to make a time bound material creation. We are creators. We are part of the absolute. He was given that boon to start. Here I punctuate with a sentence – it is a scientifically corroborated Indian Knowledge System correlating this phenomenon of attention with particle and wave theory in modern science. Attention is the outer expression of creative intelligence. Particle behaves intelligently in what science proved in a double slit experiment.

What was the double slit experiment?

The double slit experiment – if the particle applied is fixed with a single slit it forms a pattern at the background. If we put a double slit then the particle divides itself into two and passes through the double slit. The experiment further proved that it can become a wave or a particle, anytime, anywhere. And thus, the behaviour of the particle was evaluated as intelligent behaviour.

(To be continued…)

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• The nature of meaning in a performance
• What is duality and what is Advaita?
• The three conditions of Rasa
• The traditions that inform

The nature of meaning in a performance

Meaning making in a performance needs story immersiveness and the ability to connect with the audience. To make a story your story you must live it and breathe it. And that is what Geeta Ramanujam does in this performance. The story of Krishna is also her story the story of the Bhakta. The leela of Krishna is enacted and embodied in an ancient traditional manner by the greatest living storyteller. Meaning making and the collective retentive memory of India is important to this performance. The memory of Sattvic stories, a collection of tales that connect us to the mystical and sacred selves, an understanding of the Atman and Paramatman.

What is duality and what is Advaita?

Geeta Ramanujam’s performance is on the nature of reality, the nature of duality of Prakriti which Krishna transcends through his playful maya-leelas. Advaita is the moral in all these traditional stories. But here Advaita is experienced, it is manifested through the act of a storyteller who is at once committed to the story and modes of storytelling. The jnana, the knower of the jnana and the enacter of the jnana become one in this splendid performance.

The three conditions of Rasa

Rasa and the discovery of delight in the performing arts is the subject matter of the Natyashastra. The three conditions of rasa are the oneness of audience, the story and experience of the story. The audience here is mesmerised by the calming and soothing performance that takes us to a world beyond the grasp of the mind and the senses. The story in itself is the timeless eternal story of Krishna. The experience of the story through the lens of Geeta Ramanujam’s serenity and wisdom.

The traditions that inform

Any performance needs a tradition, even if you are a contemporary performer there are traditions that inform you. The tradition that informs Geeta Ramanujam’s wise performance is that of the Indian Natyashastra. This tradition speaks of the need of creating rasa in the mind of the audience. She is also transmitting to us through this performance the great Bhagvata tradition. Indian storytelling has its roots in the HariKathas and this performance is also in the HariKatha tradition.

“1000 Names, One Truth – The magical healing power of Vishnu SahasraNama – Finally Decoded” by Dr. Mrinalini J Singh is a book on faith and chanting and the power of faith and chanting through the agency of a text the Vishnu Sahasranamam which is part and parcel of the great Indian war epic The Mahabharatha about the triumph of the Sattvic Pandavas over the Matsarya-alankrit (or Jealousy adorned) Kauravas. The book “1000 Names, One Truth – The magical healing power of Vishnu SahasraNama – Finally Decoded” by Dr. Mrinalini J Singh is a work of contemplative reflection and rejoicing at the power of chanting, and specifically chanting the 1000 names of the Vishnu Sahasranamam, a powerful liturgy of the names of the protector of the universe Vishnu. Vishnu, the name, is a reference to that Great God of Sattva or the Great God of the guna or quality of goodness, clarity and altertness. The context to the Vishnu Sahasranamam is set in this book and its goals of calming the mind and senses by turning them away from the world of agitation and distraction are delineated. The Vishnu Sahasranamam is a text of magical and medicinal properties is the conclusion of this original and unique book.

Could you talk about the goals of Töölö?

The goals are to build a neighbourhood library in the country. The goal is to build 1000 libraries in neighbourhoods across the country. Töölö started in Bangalore. The focus is on tier 2 and tier 3 cities. In tier 3 cities the acceptance of children in reading is faster and better. We have currently 50 libraries across the country. In the next few years, we hope to reach the 100 number much faster than we have been growing in the past 5 years.

Could you talk about the storytelling events organised by Töölö? How did you create the unique Toolo brand imprint?

Storytelling is an important aspect of the exposure to books, to make children love reading. Storytelling is a form of education for children. We have partnered with Kathalaya for many many storytellers. Storytelling for us, is where the brand is. We created the brand right at the very beginning and stuck to it. We created the brand platform by templating everything. The templates are replicated everywhere, creating consistency. We operate in a template model. That has been our modus operandi in many ways for branding.

Could you talk about your favourite Töölö storytelling?

All storytelling is special for me. Everytime with every storytelling, children’s eyes go wide, wider and widest. All storytellers are special – all of them.

Could you talk about your work in Preschools?

Along with the neighbourhood model, preschools is another focus area. We have noticed from the libraries that we are not able to convert non readers into readers. That is where the preschools come in. To create readers we have to start in preschools. In our work with preschoolers – we have a reader setting up the central library and also putting together the reading program. It makes a difference when you read to children regularly every day. Through reading and storytelling we started a program to help parents nurture readers at home. We also train teachers with helping children become readers in schools. Reading is a long and secluded journey. We built a rewards and recognition system. This is a three legged program we take to preschools

1. Library – Setting up the library
2. Programs for a. Children b. Parents c. Teachers
3. Rewards and recognition program

Could you talk about your own journey while building Töölö?

It has been an exciting journey for me. It has been exciting to be part of this space. There has been a lot of learning for me. It is a supportive space.

On a personal note – I had been reading to my son since the very beginning, but for my daughter who was the second child I started reading late after 2 years. With regular reading, she started using long words and started by herself reading words from T-Shirts. She was featured in video using really complex words.

Sometime back, I had not been well and a friend came from Jaipur and started reading to me. I still hold on to special memories where we read aloud.

Could you talk about your favourite books?

I used to read a lot – Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl etc. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl taught me about the adventure and fun that existed in reading. With the authors that are there for children today, there are new worlds for children to explore. I love picture books, which are profound and relevant for adults.

Could you talk about your favourite picture book?

Gruffalo is my favourite. It is a popular book. Most people know about this book. Why I like the book is that it is a profound standpoint on how our fears are. We see little bits of the bigger picture. It is about turning our fears around. I think the storytelling in the book is interesting. The mouse is fed with looking at fears in the beginning. The more it decides to overcome the fear, that is what happens. The book teaches about how you can face fear head on. To realise that ‘I was scared at nothing’ keeps coming back to my own life. Gruffalo is an adventure story of profound meaning.

Could you talk about your journey in Storytelling and as the Founder of Töölö?

My career in Töölö started 5 years ago. I was a voracious reader myself. When I had my first child I wanted him to help him become a reader. Books were encouraged at home and my son became a reader. When we moved to the United States my son was 7 years old and my daughter was three years old, they were both readers and liked being read to. We got exposure to public libraries in the United States. These public libraries made access to books super convenient and easy. My children were getting more motivation to read. When we moved back to India, this exposure to US libraries gave me the inspiration to build Töölö library. I wanted to give India a similar experience. I began Töölö Library by starting in my own apartment. It soon became a full-fledged revenue model.

Could you talk about the 2 Readalouds of children‘s picture books done by you in the Töölö Youtube Channel?

I do like to do readalouds myself. Have done readalouds for my own children. This is something I enjoy doing. Have been telling stories in schools for the marginalised. I love reading and do this a lot in Töölö and Töölö Library.

Could you talk about building India’s no. 1 cloud library?

There are a lot of libraries in India. After studying the library market in India, I do know that libraries spring up very quickly and they also disappear very quickly. I needed to build a model that will be scalable – to be able to build a library with what is available. The whole idea here is to use the capacity of books we have in our houses, to use our spaces in the house, the time of women who have the time but can’t be on a job etc. Could turn it into a model – to such capacity for our children who will be able to access and use it. It is a model for work from home where you can use the entire space in the home store the books and build a living.

Could you talk about your building a model to enable women to be entrepreneurs?

My own journey is that I took a break from the work force for my own children. Building such an entrepreneurial model for women was very close to my own heart. The goal is to help women build libraries and help them scale up sooner than later.