Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Commonness about the uncommon

“Common” and “uncommon” are labels, leveled and levied (as is the case!), by our perspectives. Hence, difficult is to agree...difficult to arrive at a common ground, grounded, as we are, in our perspectives, and more importantly, in our minds. The mind, though, finds it is easier to accept as common that which is prevalent, as the mind is not ambivalent in the wake of the prevalence. Rather, the visible and the frequently visible, is what the mind dotes on, knowing not, till it does, that the antidote to all our perceived troubles, lies in going beyond the mind, going beyond that which is visible, going beyond the belief: visibility is the proof of truth.

Yet, it is the ambivalence of the mind that brings this piece into being—or rather, the response to it! It is the mind that cooks and serves the dualities, as it finds difficult to stay hooked to, till it does, to singularity of source.

Still, one wonders, how the mind perceives “uncommonness” in one domain of life as desirable, while, in the other, deplorable.

Wondering what is being alluded to? Hold the wanderings of your mind! Here it is...

When we choose to “have” something—purchase—we, commonly (prevalent-ly), opt for the uncommon—finding beauty in the rarity. At the same time, owning something uncommon gives a smug satisfaction, a star, a symbol of status. Move on to human beings, interactions with the uncommon, and the very uncommonness, become repulsive. The uncommon, that one vies for, in the domain of “things,” when it comes to “beings,” when one interacts with, reacts, perceiving it as queerness, madness, defiance...denying to acknowledge the beauty in the rarity, in this domain! The uncommonness of and in beings, commonly, isn’t looked at as uniqueness, but as a difference that needs to be decimated, that needs to be forced to change...to sing the tune of the common. Lest it change everything? Or, is it because uncommon beings have their own unique voices, and can reply back, while the “commodities,” comply?

Whatever, is the reason, comes into the periphery and centre of vision, this very common treatment, discriminatory, to uncommonness, as changes the domain of its residence.... 

Sushmita Mukherjee,
January 29, 2014