The jungle will tell you

Image: Polonnaruwa. The National Archives UK

The jungle will tell you

that there is no need for kings,

that the world is anarchy

and although rules are beautiful systems

everything succumbs to consequences.

The jungle will tell you

that words are unnecessary, like temples.

—things erected to mean the things that are too big to be said.

Pointless iterations of the divine

that’s freely available to every mind.

The jungle will tell you that

life always finds a way.

It will assure you that

it’s nothing personal,

purely just survival.

It’ll show you in its slow, gentle crawl

that time is the only law

because everything has an equal and opposite reaction

just like you are a product of your time

part of the ecosystem threading existence together.

The jungle will tell you to never fear,

because everything eventually gets taken

whether by a predator, a parasite, the government, the bank, life, or children.

It’s the way of the jungle.

Everything will return to sacred disorder

—it’s the only law worth abiding.

Reading list, November 2023

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Renowned music producer Rick Rubin's minimalist philosophy in music production and mentorship, artist Olafur Eliasson's immersive installations, filmmaker Christopher Nolan's intricate storytelling, Victorian-era genre of sage writing, Yoda and Mr. Miyagi; designer Dieter Rams, Patagonia and TED Talks.

This month’s reading list delves into diverse manifestations of the Sage archetype in Veeram rasa, exploring artistic expressions, published ideas, and characters across various domains.

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Archetype → Sage

Rasa → Veeram

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November 2023

Artistic expressions channelling archetype in rasa

• Rick Rubin is known for his minimalist approach to music production. He often encourages artists to strip down their sound to its essential elements, allowing the raw, authentic qualities of the music to shine. He is known for his mentorship role with artists. His collaborative approach involves providing guidance and insight to help musicians discover their true artistic voices.

• Olafur Eliasson (b. 1967): Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson is known for his immersive installations that often engage with nature, light, and perception. His work encourages viewers to contemplate their relationship with the environment, demonstrating a thoughtful and reflective approach.

• Christopher Nolan is known for his intricate and cerebral storytelling, his films often explore complex concepts of time, memory, and human nature. Works like "Inception" and "Interstellar" showcase a deep intellectual engagement with the narrative and cinematic form.

Published ideas of archetype in rasa

• Sage writing was a genre of creative nonfiction popular in the Victorian era. It was a development from ancient wisdom literature in which the writer chastises and instructs the reader about contemporary social issues, often utilising discourses of philosophy, history, politics, and economics in non-technical ways. Prominent examples of the genre include writings by Thomas Carlyle, Matthew Arnold, John Ruskin, and Henry David Thoreau. Some 20th-century writers, such as Joan Didion and New Journalists such as Norman Mailer and Tom Wolfe, can also serve as examples of contemporary sage writing.

• Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, first published in 2005. Levitt and Dubner apply economic principles to examine a wide range of unconventional topics, revealing unexpected connections and insights. The book challenges readers to question assumptions and think differently about the world around them.

• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life" by Mark Manson (2016): Manson challenges conventional self-help advice and explores the pursuit of a meaningful life. He offers candid insights into values, priorities, and the importance of embracing life's challenges.

Characters channelling archetype in rasa

• Yoda, the iconic character from Star Wars, is often seen as embodying the Sage archetype. He serves as a mentor and guide to the Jedi. Sages often transcend the ordinary world and possess a deeper understanding of the universe. Yoda, being a Jedi Master, has a profound connection to the Force, allowing him to transcend the limitations of the physical world. His resilience and determination in the face of adversity align with the heroic aspects of the Veeram rasa.

• Mr. Miyagi is a martial arts master and mentor in the Karate Kid film series. He imparts not only physical skills but also life lessons to his protégé, Daniel.

• Gandalf is a wizard and a mentor figure in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy series. He guides and supports the protagonists in their quest, offering wisdom and magical assistance.

Channelling the archetype in rasa for business

• Dieter Rams, the German industrial designer famous for his work at Braun and the "Ten Principles of Good Design," crafted products marked by simplicity, functionality, and a user-centric focus. By prioritizing essential functions and eliminating unnecessary elements, Rams created user-friendly and visually appealing Braun products, contributing to their broad appeal. His emphasis on functionality ensured the longevity and reliability of Braun's offerings. Instead of chasing trends, Rams aimed to design timeless and enduring products, maintaining Braun's relevance and contributing to its sustained success. This commitment to consistency not only reinforced the brand identity but also fostered consumer trust and recognition.

• TED Talks embody the Sage archetype by providing a platform for individuals to share valuable insights and knowledge. The emphasis is on education, inspiration, and the exchange of ideas. The platform has a reputation for distilling complex ideas into accessible and engaging presentations, allowing for a clear and straightforward understanding of often intricate subjects. It serves as an ideal example of a business who’s aim is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and societal progress. The heroic element lies in the potential for these talks to inspire viewers to take action and contribute to positive societal transformation.

• Patagonia, renowned for its environmental commitment, initiated the Worn Wear campaign, urging customers to buy used gear and promoting a message of longevity and reduced environmental impact. The company's sustainability and activism involve wise manufacturing choices to minimize its ecological footprint. With transparency about its supply chain and environmental impact, Patagonia plays the role of a steward for the environment, demonstrating heroism through efforts to protect natural spaces and inspire positive change in the industry. Beyond product sales, the company educates consumers about environmental issues through campaigns, blog posts, and documentaries.

Tell us how these stories made you feel, and where they lead your thinking. We’d love to know.

Creativity is a wild bird

Illustration based on a photograph of young Laki Senanayake from Laki's Book of Owls, 2013

It was 2012, and the world still hadn’t collapsed, and Diyabubula had not yet become a resort. It was simply the house of the master creator, Laki Senanayake. No furniture, no walls—no standard way to live, no boundaries fearing the wild… It was simply Laki. Birds flew in to eat the treats Laki kept on his balcony lounge; the monkeys were only shooed away if they got too close to Laki's computer. The way nature flew in and out of Laki’s unwalled house, making it thick with experiences, reminded us how life flits in and out of the creator’s open mind, making it a fertile bed for creative harvest.

It was the first time he met us, but our presence didn’t even stir a molecule out of Laki’s true self. He sat on the balcony with us, bare-chested, in a pyjama sarong, chatting; just as he would with a wild bird using a whistle that perfectly matched its call. Laki had a way with whistling. He whistled to himself—old Sinhala songs and impromptu tunes—he whistled in response to birds, to call someone over; sometimes he seemed to whistle for the jungle, at the sky, for life, for no reason in particular… 

Wild tortoise came by to eat leftover pieces of vegetables from his kitchen; the freshwater fish in the pond were fed from minute scraps left behind; nothing was wasted, everything had its place in the mind of the creator.

‘What kind of music do you listen to?’ was one of the first things he asked us. Although we didn’t realize it at the time, for Laki, music was a road to meet someone in a personal sanctuary—where they were bare, free and themselves. Laki himself used music as a vehicle to transport himself to other worlds. 

After quietly watching a red sun fall into the black jungle in a spectacular descent, Laki politely said that it was time to listen to his ‘weird music’. It was a ritual time to return to that inner place where all artists feel compelled to retreat. One by one, lamps lit Laki’s jungle in fleeting glimpses of his sculptures, moving leaf and water. As hypnotically bizarre music echoed from speakers scattering the wild, theatrics fed from nature, sound and our imaginations unravelled. His music was a curious mix that reminded us of sound poetry and Dadaist meditations; it transformed everything—living and nonliving— into animated extensions of the jungle. Bathed in that furiously wild music and cinematically placed lights, his metal sculptures seemed to flick, bob and twitch from the corners of our eyes. Even Laki’s pond fish came out to gracefully circle the surface in time with the music or our fancy—we can never be sure. For hours no one spoke.

We realized that we just got a rare entry into the secret place where Laki’s genius was let loose to run free. We’re not sure when he returned from that strange place at all that night. He simply seemed to fade into it, leaving the world behind.

Long after we left Laki in his jungle, the lesson he gave us remains. This lesson on what it means to live a creative life—like all lessons given by great masters—was not taught in words or actions. It was something that penetrated us from his being. From Laki, we learnt that creativity is a wild bird. You may analyze its habitat, build charts about its behaviour, and write books about its biology; but to know the wild bird, you must simply visit the jungle. You have to return to the wilderness again and again; and, to have it come perch on your shoulder, you must become as wild and as unlearned as the jungle. Laki taught us that creativity is the most natural thing that there is. It’s the way of the world that recycles life and death; it’s the way of the jungle that’s far stranger than fiction. Yes, creativity is a wild bird. It permanently altered our very perceptions about what it means to inhabit this world as creators.

This is why when we think of what it means to live a creative life,  we like to remember Laki on his balcony, whistling with a bird. He knew that creativity was not a secret, but simply naked nature—wild, practical, genius. 

Rest wild Laki; thanks for pointing to us where the wild birds live.

Listen to this playlist that captures the emotions and moods that Laki inspired in us.