Imperativeness of Learning Classical Music

In the "good old days" as it used to be called , the sound of music being practiced by children, was wafted along the streets of all cultivated homes, both east & west. Who can forget that music was one of the mandatory accomplishments of a lady or gentleman, in Regency England, as shown in Jane Austen's "Sense & Sensibility."? Especially in south India, learning music was "de rigeur" for marriageable young girls.

The coming of the radio, was in a way, the beginning of the end of music being performed in the home. The radio & later TV made learning music redundant by piping music into the home. The final nail in the coffin was driven by the so-called female education, which pushed girls into schools & colleges, not to get educated, but alas, eventually convert them into economically productive units. "Lakshmi" was the adored female deity not "Saraswati"!

William Congreve, in his 1697 play "The Mourning Bride", wrote "Music hath charms to sooth the savage breast." Now these lines assume ominous overtones as the fringe elements professing a religion, which is said to be against music, especially instrumental, as it is supposed to be "haram" (forbidden), are indulging in violent acts which exhibit their "savage breast". It is another matter that many internationally celebrated Indian instrumentalists, following the same religion, have brought renown to the nation, one even going as far as to say "Swar hi Ishwar hai." (Music is God).

Even China, which during their ill-advised "cultural revolution" destroyed musical instruments, have come to their senses & producing world-class virtuosi now.

Pioneering Children's Novels

"The Legend of Lucy Whipple" (1849) is written by Karen Cushman. In this, the mother, after losing her husband, moves to the west, to make her living by providing a boarding house to the miners, with her children. But her eldest, Lucy is reluctant & is fond of books & reading. But she reluctantly goes along & helps her mother. When her mother decides to remarry an itinerant preacher & missionary & decides to move to Sandwich Islands, Lucy decides to stay back & start a library to educate the miners' children, continuing the work of Benjamin Franklin who started circulating libraries in USA in 1731.

"The Little House in the Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1932). In this novel, set in the 1870's in Wisconsin, Laura & her family, consisting of her parents & two sisters,  settled in the wilderness, where they had to be completely self-sufficient. Bears & wolves were always prowling around & Laura learned to handle guns while still very young. They lived by hunting & limited agriculture. The arrival of a hired mechanical horse-operated thresher was an event. How the family cheerfully thrived under these harsh conditions is described in detail in the book. It was followed by numerous sequels.

The Seven Stages of Spiritual Progress according to Sri Ramakrishna & St.Teresa of Avila

In "The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna", it is stated that on October 28, 1882, Sri Ramakrishna said that the Vedas speak of seven planes where the mind dwells. When the mind is immersed in  worldliness, it dwells in the three lower planes, the navel, the organ of generation & the organ of evacuation. The fourth plane is the heart. Here one has the first glimpse of spiritual consciousness. One sees light all around. The fifth plane is at the throat. The person only likes to hear & talk about God. The sixth plane is at the forehead. The aspirant sees the form of God day & night. The seventh plane is at the top of the head. When the mind rises there, the person goes into Samadhi (spiritual trance) & directly perceives God.

St.Teresa of Avila, the 16th Century Spanish mystic wrote "The Interior Castle" which comprises of seven "mansions". Each representing a stage of spiritual progress.

The first "mansion's" door is accessed through prayer. Only souls in a state of grace (who can free themselves from sin) can access it. The second mansion is attained by souls, who although they may fall into sin, are closer to God & can hear his call better. The third mansion is attained by souls, who do not retreat & are seperated from the world in all humility. The fourth mansion is inhabited by those who pray of stillness & love much. The fifth mansion's is occupied by souls incipient in union with God. The sixth mansion deepens the union but with very hard labours. The seventh (last) mansion celebrates the spiritual marriage with God & the soul becomes one with God.