The Joy of being a Rasikā
The artwork on right is one of my abstract ink works from couple decades ago but recently found a piece of wood that resonated with that artworks so I tried to compare it. In this case the art developed my taste to enjoying the aoristic visuals in natural elements.
Rasika is a term I formally learned in my college days but has been planted in me since childhood days at home.
I feel lucky to be seeded with this concept for as I grew, the Rasikā grew in myself.
So what is Rasik (noun)/ Rasikā (English version)
Its a Sanskrit term with multiple meanings and relative in various forms.
As per- Sanskrit Dictionary online
As per- wikipedia
As per me- Rasika is a person who can savor the taste of everything, viz- Arts/ food/ beauty in nature/ experiences of life. One who is capable of enjoying the artistic pleasures. I would simply put it as a Lover of beauty in its purest forms.
It is obvious to develop a taste for Aesthetics if one is trained in disiplines of Arts, but it need not be the privilege for a select few, everyone can be a Rasik. A bit of training would help. fine tuning our senses to the perception of world around us.
There are many implications to developing the Rasikā within us. It starts with opening our minds. When someone points at the beauty are we open to looking at it? and we might not like what’s seen but are we ready to learn different ways of looking? Thats the ‘Begginer’s Mind’
Also its not just different angles but finer ways of looking. This entails cleansing out sense perceptions to understand the deeper layers of its existence. It need not be a deep philosophy but exposing ourselves to the the interesting nuances happening around, giving attention to the various sensory perceptions like sounds and sights and tastes and touch might do wonders..
This is possible with diverting our attention (from negative thoughts) to the joyful feelings or calming our minds or challenging our intellect with brain games, these all foster a receptive mind that affects our senses too. Isn’t it all interconnected? Is it possible to see differently? so we can feel differently. that might result in thinking Newly?
These Q’s can be addressed in Designing talks.. As I ponder on tomorrow's 'Puzzle Day' meet, maybe we can focus on nourishing our innovative mind. To explore possibilities of lateral thinking. Isn’t that what puzzles are about? A challenge not a problem, to be solved! Puzzles challenging our minds for innovative, creative thinking that builds our ability to think laterally. The more we create possibilities for lateral thinking, the more possibilities we create to create solutions. And not to mention the fun of being engaged in finding creative solutions. And then theres a hidden possibility of AWE to happen.
Frank Llyod Write’s ‘The Falling Waters’ is a piece of beauty mist the serene mountains. The architect must be a true Rasika to perceive the existing beauty and add, not destroy it.
Training our senses and opening our minds is a process worth going through. For it can enhance our perceptions and therefore our lifestyles. Let's explore together the many possibilities of nurturing the Rasika in us. Join us for your views, suggestions and advice.