Philosophical Insights from Nirvan: An Airy Guide
In the peaceful, tranquil setting of Basava Farms Hostel, located within the Art of Living International Centre in Kanakpura village, an unexpected sage emerged. Five-year-old Nirvan, a guest at the ashram, spent his early Sunday morning observing a row of birds perched on electric wires, their stillness and calmness reminiscent of a peaceful meditation.
As the calm, crisp air filled the morning, Nirvan pointed out the birds to his father, who was meditating nearby. With a wise beyond-his-years demeanour, Nirvan compared the birds' stillness to meditation, a likeness that resonated with the mindfulness learning tools children often use, such as owl-guided meditations for kids.
The author, Sandeep Sabharwal, Co-Founder of Sajeevan, was present and noted Nirvan's wisdom. He found Nirvan's statement honest, timely, and accurate, reflecting the child's unique perspective on the world.
From a child's point of view, birds may appear to meditate because they often sit still, quietly observing their surroundings with calm and focused attention. This stillness and calmness in birds resonate with mindfulness and meditation practices that children can relate to or recognize visually.
However, birds face environmental and survival stressors that influence these quiet moments. Wild birds commonly encounter challenges such as predators, threats from other animals, environmental changes or habitat loss, competition for food sources, and human-induced disturbances like noise and pollution. These stressors can affect their behaviour, making moments of stillness both a survival strategy and a way to conserve energy.
Despite these challenges, Nirvan intuitively focused on the peaceful aspect of the birds' behaviour, connecting with nature in a calming and joyful way, fostering feelings of peace and curiosity about the world. The ashram, with its serene environment, serves as a reminder to people to stop, smile, and occasionally look up at the electric wires, just like Nirvan did.
In an unexpected turn of events, Nirvan believed the birds were learning meditation to cope with stress from their parents. This belief, though unproven, adds a new dimension to the understanding of bird behaviour and the connection between humans and nature.
The conversation between Nirvan and his father that morning was filled with wisdom and insight, with Nirvan speaking like a sage while his father became the student. The ashram, with its unique atmosphere, provided the perfect setting for such an exchange.
In conclusion, Nirvan's observation of birds' meditative moments has led to a deeper understanding of the connection between humans and nature. His wisdom, though unconventional, serves as a reminder to us all to take a moment to pause, observe, and find peace in the world around us.
This article was first published on 26 May 2025, 05:12 IST.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5487909/ [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7152981/ [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6172806/
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