Pattern

Most people (and that included me too) think of ‘pattern’ as something repetitive and unchanging.

Let us try and understand what does ‘pattern’ mean and how can this help to see things from a different perspective? Chief characteristics of ‘pattern’, as I have felt can be stated as –

(1)    An interdependent relationship of discrete or separate events or situations. Simply means, an event in the present may have certain tendencies from the past and such tendencies may also pass on to the future. This means, the present needs to be seen as a continuum of certain relationships or tendencies or cause – effect forces operating for a longer period of time. Environment, culture, collective consciousnesses demonstrate these patterns. Or history, memory, feelings, sustenance, gratitude, religion, formless spirit  - all constitute a pattern that evolves, transforms, changes, modifies with Time.

(2)    Wholesomeness – No phenomenon is separate. In order to understand the nature of the phenomenon, it is required to understand ALL variables that affect the phenomenon. Hence, this leads to the aspect of wholesome thinking, rather than being fragmented in thought and actions. Can one therefore consider a ‘tree’, ‘elephant’, ‘person’, ‘situation’ from this idea of wholesomeness? In other words – ecosystem.

(3)    Patterns, therefore, include everyone and they keep changing. There are conflicts, negotiations, hierarchies, power structures, resolutions, sustenance and so on – as modifiers to patterns that get expressed.

(4)    Our thoughts also represent pattern. They lead to actions and actions lead to products/ situations/ manifestations. The cycle continues.

(5)    This leads us to following questions – what is it that we can therefore hope to control? If we can’t seem to control our thoughts, then what are we expecting from the environment around us?! OR, should we submit our free will to the ‘Pattern’ that includes all Creations?

(6)    Point (5) is a very difficult question to respond. It is the duality that we are now forced to address – are ‘we’ separate or is the idea of separateness just a notion that we have constructed for ourselves? In pondering over this question multiple times, it may dawn on us to let go off our tendencies to hold on to thoughts (as a reality to be controlled) and just try to go with the flow of thoughts. We fear our own unpredictable nature of thoughts – and what they might lead us to do! Of course, thoughts require control – control of the pattern that gets manifested eventually and for which we are partly responsible and partly, it is circumstantial.

(7)    This is the existential conflict or the compulsions of expressing the construct of body-mind phenomenon. We try to catch some kind of a vision or a ghost but seem unable to do so. The very unsettling nature of the space that is present in us, is the cause of the constant need to express our own selves.

(8)    The solution to above turmoil is to observe the buoyant nature of thoughts. As we observe the nature of thoughts – patterns get revealed and these in turn help us to understand situations around us. With this, comes the attitude of responding to the given world which is in a constant state of change and impermanence.

(9)    Traditionally, this was what was personified as God in the form of a ‘human’, having 4 hands and some extraordinary characteristics. Einstein expresses God as Theory of Relativity. Others may express God as Bhakti Bhaav, yet others may see God in being honest with one’s work.

(10)In all above examples, there dawns on us, the need to surrender to uncertainty and to embrace it. It dawns on us, that the Present is the only reality to live 100% and there is no use clinging to anything that is not contained in the present moment. By not clinging to thoughts, we don’t cling to good or bad or power or prestige or anything that is a result of a social construct. We, therefore, become ‘free’ of our own selves.