A Life of Hypnosis

Are we unknowingly in a state of self hypnosis? Not knowing why we do what we do, even though there may be hidden reasons for it. Let us imagine a group of people at a hypnosis session. The hypnotist calls for a volunteer. I raise my hand and am induced into a state of hypnosis. In this state, the hypnotist asks me, "At the count of 1,2,3..,Open your eyes, get up and walk to the window to close it." Which is what I do. I am asked by the other members of the group about why I did what I did. I think, and say because, “it was breezy, it was windy...” But that is not really the case. I have rationalised my behaviour, not knowing the cogs and gears in action as I did what I did.

Similar to this, there are many behaviours we end up justifying, many such actions, emotions, thoughts we rationalise. So aren’t we in a state of self hypnosis. And if that is the case, then don’t we want to come out of it by raising our awareness of the hidden cogs and gears.

Let me search for a more concrete example through my life where I have seen this in action.

As long as I have developed a sense for taste, I remember having a fondness, a special place, for one particular item. Surprisingly, it is not a sweet (they fall in a different category), but rather a dish that most people do not enjoy much -- Baigan ka bharta (or baked and mashed eggplants). Clearly, the English translation does not stoke our appetite; nevertheless, I really enjoy this dish. Whenever I have it, I am transported into to a time and place where everything is peaceful and I feel a certain sense of comfort. For a long time I didn't understand why such a banal sounding dish had such an effect on me. It is only after racking some dusty corners of my memories, with the aid of my mother, that I understood why this dish was so special to me. My mother tells me that when I was about 5-6 years old I had a rather nasty fall and was bruised pretty badly. I actually have a memory of this. I remember my hands were full, and as I took a few steps down from the stairs of the three-ton (The army school bus), the bus driver unknowingly started the bus. With a sudden jerk and a parabolic curve, the next moment I was on the ground with bruises on my elbows and knees. I was in a lot of pain, hurt and feeling very insecure, unsure and unsafe after the event. After the doctor’s visit and the distasteful medicine, when we came back home, my mom lovingly and tenderly fed me the Baigan ka Bharta. I cuddled into her embrace as she consoled and comforted me. And that comfort, security and warmth that I felt in that moment has forever been associated with that dish. So when I have the Baigan ka Bharta, it is not just any dish for me, the subconscious machinery at work brings in a flash flood of all the comfort and love and security that I felt in that moment. I am transported to my mother’s warm embrace.

So when I did not know this, and someone asked me, why I like the baingan bharta so much? I would have just said, I just like the taste, the smoked flavour…However now I know that there is a reason behind it. That experience anchored comfort, love, security with the dish for me.

So how does knowing this make a difference? Well, maybe it doesn’t, but knowing these hidden connections and being able to understand this one in particular, makes me realise there are so many more of these that I am unaware of. So basically I am conditioned through my perceptions, experiences, interactions…so on and so forth. I am living a life of hypnosis. And I would want to shed light on the hidden corners and connections at play.

So, let the unfurling begin…With a curious mind I start to turn the pages of my memory album, in which reside glimpses of recent as well as childhood experiences. I see some simple and some complex cobwebs of subconscious connections waiting to be deciphered like the Da Vinci Code. I try to observe objectively with patience and perseverance. And my mind starts unlocking doors to unknown territories, carving individualised, yet in some ways a shared path, towards self-awareness and perpetual happiness.

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I am reminded of a quote by Swami Vivekananda as we celebrate his Birth Anniversary and the National Youth Day on the 12th of January.

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#Mind #Psychology #Hypnosis #Awareness #Conditioning