In every song, I ask help from God: AR Rahman

June 16, 2013

What a beautiful interview with AR Rahman!

In this interview, I found so many linkages to Śrī Kṛṣṇa's teaching in the Bhagavad Geeta. In the quote below, you can see shades of शरणागति (sharaNaagati - seeking refuge in or surrendering to the Lord). As the popular saying goes, "Let go and let God.."

Q. While music excites you, what makes you feel low?
Every time I sit for a song, I feel I am finished. It's like a beggar sitting waiting for God to fill your bowl with the right thought. In every song, I ask help from Him. Everybody around is so good, so to create music that will connect with so many people is not humanly possible without inspiration.

He hints at the difference between ज्ञान / विज्ञान, knowledge & wisdom when he says:

Q. Did you grudge her (his mother who adopted him) the decision of making you quit studying?
At that time, from society's point of view, if you were not educated, you didn't have a life. You would probably become a taxi or rickshaw driver without education. So naturally, I was torn at that time. And I thought that after a couple of years when I earn money, I would go back to finishing my education. But little did I know that education is about learning from life and putting you in a situation teaches you more than getting educated in a college. Not that studies is bad, but it's the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom comes from within. Knowledge is acquired and can sometimes put a screen on your wisdom.

Just goes to show the right person, can make even a Times of India interview a revealing, insightful one.

Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

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