A Coaching Power Tool created by Mohana Kotian
(Transformational Coaching, INDIA)
A Sanskrit prayer
Om asato ma sadgamaya
tamaso ma jyotirgamaya
mrtyorma amrtam gamaya
The meaning of the prayer
Om, Lead us from the Unreality (of Transitory Existence) to the Reality (of Self),
Lead us from the Darkness (of Ignorance)
to the Light (of Spiritual Knowledge),
Lead us from the Fear of Death
to the Knowledge of Immortality.(Taken from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad — I.iii.28)
Introduction
The above prayer forms the basis for my Power Tool – Light Vs Dark OR simply put, from darkness towards light.
When we say the word, “light”, numerous images flash before our eyes – the Sun, a bulb, a stream of light through the clouds, light shimmering on the water….every image having a unique connection with some experience that we have gone through.
Yet the “light” that I refer to in this Power Tool is the inner light of knowledge, potential, understanding … a desire that leads to awareness and helps discover the answers that lie within.
When we are children, this inner light shines brilliantly through our curiousity, our questions and our ability to always be in and enjoy the moment.
As we grow, our cultural upbringing, environment, beliefs, inhibit this light from shining through and thus our curiousity and questioning and process of constant discovery gets hampered.
Thus, over a period of time, there are “dark” places / spaces within us caused by our ignorance and our reluctance to explore our true potential. The reluctance could be on account of our limiting beliefs, our fears or our perspectives or our constant self doubts.
Light = knowledge = acceptance + understanding
Dark = ignorance = reluctance + misunderstanding
Self Application
Most of us go through life as a series of actions that we need to take day in and day out. We get so engrossed and absorbed in these actions, that we get into a comfortable space that is safe and nice and cozy.
We believe that this is our potential and so the saying, “ignorance is bliss” applies.
Until, one day, we reach a tipping point and are faced with some really difficult questions – maybe with respect to our life, our job, our relationships.
Case Study
Anita had just finished her graduation in Engineering and had joined a course for training. This course was sponsored by the Company that wanted to recruit her. While Anita was happy to be one of the few who had secured a job, she was constantly assailed by self doubts.