大象传媒

Writer and Musician, Jahnavi Harrison:

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Recently I was talking to a friend about what it means to 鈥榖e yourself鈥�.听 It鈥檚 a phrase that I hear so often that I鈥檓 not sure the meaning even sinks in anymore.

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I guess we talk about it so much because for centuries, human beings have grappled with it. The famous poet 鈥� E.E. Cummings, said

听鈥� To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.鈥�

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I wonder why it has to be such a fight? The fear of what other people will think, or the need to be liked, can drive so many choices and create much anxiety. I grew up as part of a Hare Krishna temple community in Hertfordshire - the place that George Harrison donated a long time back. I went to school at the temple and my parents both worked there too, so much of life was immersed in that cultural environment. When I started regular secondary school I suddenly had to explain over and over again why I was a white girl with an Indian name, why I was vegetarian, why did my accent sound funny鈥� it took me a long time to feel comfortable with who I am.

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Eventually I understood that I really can鈥檛 be anyone but myself. The results of trying to be otherwise are never good, sometimes even disastrous.

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But it can be complex. 鈥業 have to be myself鈥� can also be an excuse for being insensitive, or careless or plain rude. The Bhagavad Gita teaches that we can get to know ourselves mentally, emotionally and physically, but beyond the body and mind, there鈥檚 a deeper spiritual self. It describes that self as being forever fearless, joyful, peaceful and confident. What鈥檚 more, that after the temporary body is discarded, that self still exists, and continues onward.

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At least once a day, I try to connect through meditation with this deeper self; and for the rest of the time try to at least be honest about my faults, open about my beliefs, and unapologetic about occasionally dancing in the supermarket when no one鈥檚 looking鈥�