Shovana Narayan collaborates with Grammy award-winning Buddhist monks to demonstrate the life-changing experiences of King Ashoka and other disciples of Buddha. The danseuse chats with Karan Bhardwaj on why we need to let go of ego and desire
While conflicts and false egos seem to have taken over the human conscience, the message of peace, unity and enlightenment inevitably become the order of the day. Shovana Narayan’s production Shunyata, to be staged today at Kamani Auditorium, highlights the contemporary conflict by orchestrating the historic moments from the past. Set in four acts, the production is a journey through the experiences of lord Buddha’s disciples and Buddhism followers like Emperor Ashoka, Kisa and Sujata. The performances will reflect the Ashoka’s transformation after seeing thousands of corpses in Kalinga, lord Buddha attainment of enlightenment and how he revised life of millions of his followers.
For the special act, Narayan has collaborated with the Grammy award-winning Buddhist monks of Palpung Sherabling Monastery in Bir, Himachal Pradesh. “It’s coming together of two different traditions, who have originated from the same source and have same philosophies. It’s an interpretative dialogue. There will be meditation, Kathak, abhinaya, interlaced with Vajra dance,” informs the classical danseuse.
The production will reflect what we human beings continue to go through. What role do egos, sufferings and pains play in life and why we fail to let go of themIJ “We will demonstrate what made Buddha give up everything and adopt a new path altogether. The world is full of miseries and pain yet we do not accept anything. We always feel why the negative shadows come to our lives while it is okay if they affect others. I think we need to cope up with every part of life and empty ourselves of our ego and desire,” she says.
In terms of projection, “the production goes into what’s happening around us and highlight the darker elements of the society. When ego gets better of us, we face bloodshed, violence but what do we gain out of thisIJ” Narayan asks.
Shunyata will open with monks chanting on stage. After the peaceful presentation, the dancers will take over the stage who embrace their egos and corner the monks. The next act shows the story of Kisa, who refused to accept death of her child. “The lady couldn’t fathom sudden demise of her baby. She asks Buddha to cure her child. In return, the saint asks her to collect some mustard seeds from town but on one condition. She must get seeds from a house in which no one has died. After trying hard, she comes failed. The Buddha reminded Kisa that plants grow in the spring, flower in the summer, and die in the winter, and that new plants grow the following year. Similarly, people are born and eventually die. Kisa now understood that was just how things are. Talking to Buddha and listening to his kind words helped Kisa. That very evening she decided to become one of his followers,” Narayan informs.
The final episode is of Sujata, who had fed kheer to Buddha and became his first disciple. The act begins with Buddha himself reaching Bodh Gaya and achieving enlightenment. In an entire one hour episode, there will also be a 10-minute poem recital.