प्रभु मेरो ए कैसो है बंधन,

आगेना जाऊ मैं पीछे ना जाऊ,

पार करो मेरा ये भव बंधन…..प्रभु मेरो

खटीया छोड मोहे कैसो सुलयो,

गंगा जलसे स्नान करयो,

आग लगी बीच आंगन…..प्रभु मेरो

कास्ट चन्दनसे बांध जलायो,

धृत डालकर और बढायो,

जल जल पिघला मेरा सब तन…..प्रभु मेरो

तूने दयानिधी पवन फुंकायो,

कण कण मेरो खूब उडायो,

जूग्नू टुटा बिखरे तेजन…..प्रभु मेरो

जैसो आयो वैसो समयो,

“साज” समज फिर क्यों पछतायो,

गाता रहे तू अलख निरंजन…..प्रभु मेरो.

राग – चन्द्रकौन्श

"TARANGINI" - THE WAVE THEORY OF IMMORTALITY IS MY PERSONAL TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER, SHRI.REBBAPRAGADA.SURYANARAYANA MURTHY.

Ripples are undulating movements on the surface of water.

HOW CAN A MAN SURVIVE AFTER HIS DEATH  ?

This is not a discussion about “Afterlife” or “Hereafter”. This is not a discussion about death, resurrection and “Everlasting Life”. This is not a discussion about man’s historical legacy, his enduring fame after death, or about his perpetual existence in a Heavenly Mansion after his physical death. This is also not a discussion about transmigration or reincarnation of the human soul. The concept of immortality describes deathlessness or the idea of “Lasting forever”. In the material realm, everything that is born must die. The fleeting experience of human existence is often compared to the existence of an air bubble on the surface of a Lotus leaf. The material body cannot enter the immaterial realm. Only a “TARANG” or a Wave that is not attached to any physical or material entity, a Wave that is set free and remains in motion, could make the transition and journey into the immortal realm.

‘TARANG’ – ABOUT RIPPLES, WAVES, AND WAVE MOTION  :

Ripples are little waves or undulating movements on the surface of water when the surface is stirred or ruffled by a breeze. We can also cause ripples by dropping a pebble into standing or still waters. Ripple suggests movement and is the result of a disturbance in the prevailing calm. The word ‘wave’ also describes a ridge or swell moving along the surface of a lquid or body of water as a result of disturbance, as by wind. In Physics, a wave is defined as a periodic motion or disturbance consisting of a series of many oscillations that propagate through a medium or space, as in the propagation of sound or light. Hence waves should be understood not only as the result of a disturbance such as the motion of an object, but also as a change in an electrical current, or an alteration of an electromagnetic field. The disturbance is transported from one point to another by a wave, but the medium through which it travels does not undergo a net displacement. Wave Mechanics is the branch of Physics that describes the motion of particles, as atoms, and elementary or fundamental particles, by wave motion. In Physics, waves are typically described in terms of their frequency or wave length; the distance measured in the direction of progression of a wave, from any given point to the next point characterized by the same phase. In colloquial usage, the term wave length is used to describe a way of thinking, understanding etc., The commonly used phrase of being ‘on the same wave length’ describes a state of mutual understanding or accord.

WHAT ARE ‘THOUGHT WAVES’  OR  ’MENTAL WAVES’  ?

THE GENERATION OF THOUGHTS AND THE PROPAGATION OF THOUGHT

BRAIN AREAS - GENERATION OF THOUGHT - VOCALIZATION OF THOUGHT.

The word ‘idea’ describes something a person thinks, a thought, a mental conception or image. The word ‘concept’ refers to something conceived in the mind. But, ideas and concepts must be vocalized by the brain and otherwise, their existence would remain unknown. Brain has to generate thoughts and also express them or communicate them in a manner that permits others to understand the contents of those thoughts. A brain at rest, calm or tranquil could be visualized like a pond of water which is still with no ripples and waves  seen. ‘Thought’ arrives like a disturbance and stirs up the resting brain. Thoughts arrive in waves and each represents movement of negatively charged ions or electrical activity and movement of electrical signals or nerve impulses between different areas of the brain. Just like in Wave Mechanics described in Physics, ‘thought waves’ have to move by wave motion, a series of electrical discharges before they find their physical expression.

THOUGHT IS A BRAIN’S CHILD  :

A thought that is conceived in the brain of a thinker could have an existence of its own. The thinker has to sever the connection between himself and his thought. A child is born, is set free to lead an independent and free existence when the cord that connects the mother and the child is severed. A ‘thought wave’ which is no longer attached to the thinker exists with an identity of its own.

“TARANGINI” – THE WAVE THEORY OF IMMORTALITY  :

I would like to draw an analogy between the Fluidity that manifests as a Flowing Stream and the Fluidity of a Mind that lets a 'thought wave' to propagate.

SHANKARA - IS HE DEAD OR ALIVE ? "ManO Buddhyahamkaara,Chittaani Na aHam;Na Karnam, Na Jihvaa, Na cha Ghraana, Neytrey;Na cha Vyoma, Bhumir, Na TejO, Na VaayuH;Chidaananda RuupaH; ShivO aHam, ShivO aHam."

SHANKARA  -  IS HE DEAD OR ALIVE  ?

Adi Shankaracharya has expressed his identity as that of SHIVA and that of SHIVA alone. He had excluded mind, intellect, ego, and conscience from his identity. His identity is not related to human knowledge, and the human brain that exists in this physical universe. He had excluded the sensory organs of hearing, taste, smell, and vision from his identity.His identity is not related to the human knowledge that is derived from sensory organs, or sense perceptions. He had excluded Sky( Ether ), Earth, Fire, and Air from his identity. His identity goes beyond the limits of the physical universe and his identity transcends the ‘Immanent’ Realm. However, he has not excluded his ‘thought wave’ from the description of his identity. His ‘thought wave’ is the bearer of his identity. His thought, the mental wave or ‘TARANG’ identifies itself as a State of True Knowledge of Bliss which is personified and identifed as ’SHIVA’. This ‘thought wave’ that is set into motion is still flowing and this “TARANGINI” is still alive and it describes the quality of Immortality. Shankara is alive as long as the mental concept of “SHIVO AHAM” continues to create mental vibrations and causes electrical discharges in the nerve cells of human brains and these invisible oscillations gain physical expression and is vocalized as the thought to describe the identity of the individual as “I AM SHIVA”, and “I AM SHIVA” and this alone is my ‘TRUE IDENTITY’. Next time, when you look at a Running or Flowing Stream or River, let that ‘TARANGINI’ connect you ‘The Wave Theory of Immortality’.

River Ganga meandering through the Shivalik ranges near Rishikesh symbolizes my WAVE THEORY OF IMMORTALITY. Man always exists in constant relationship with his physical environment. Immortality is not about perpetual residence in a Heavenly Mansion. Immortality is associated with the idea of Ultimate Reality which is represented by SAT+CHIT+ANANDA. In this physical world, the Indian Identity is immortalized by the flowing River adoringly described as Mother Ganges.

A ‘thought wave’ which took its birth in a human mind begins an existence of its own and when the thought is expressed or vocalized it begins a journey of its own. The mortal human body just belongs to the physical realm. A ‘thought wave’ or TARANG that contains the True Knowledge of Blissful existence travels beyond the limits of materialistic realm and enters the transcendental realm. Its identity with a person described as Shiva makes it deathless or immortal.

http://tarangini.wordpress.com

All ancient texts aspire for rising above one’s self.  Often, during the course of evolution, literature and art have questioned the values thus created. The liberated mind arrived at the very conclusions through logical process, it started by questioning. Today we are reduced to feeling purged if there appears a single action that appreciates, however superficially, one of the so-contemplated “eternal values”. The solution is sought in individual initiative while obviating the negative aspect of the larger system.

How many of us realize or remember that we belong to a culture that held, “apne gun gaye, gunee na kahaaye” (Dr. Lalmani Misra’s Sameshwari, sung by Dr. Laxmi Ganesh Tewari — self praise grants no excellence). Today, at all levels, it is mandatory to advertise oneself. Public institutions highlight trivialities instead of their philosophy. Policies — local, regional or national — are formulated with greater deference to cosmetic than to cosmic.

From a society of silent faith we are fast changing into one of hoarse loudness. Parents push their children into slavery and bondage — they have become weapons of the system against their own progeny out of their greed and insecurity.  It is not enough to occasionally practice what we perceive to be morally “good” but to incorporate a viable system of values (stable at least through a major part of our life). To keep it intact, one has often to recede from many positions and activities. It seems that “ivory tower” is not merely an imagined exaltation, it is a truth in every man’s life as the standards around drop so low that his humble platform appears to be towering over the rest.

Scholars agree that appreciation is the sole answer to present cacophony of mixed desires and conflicting value-systems. It can unite mind with matter in the best possible manner.

Films4debate and AATMA shall hold an appreciation event at EMRC  DAVV, Indore, at 1:45 p.m. on 22nd August, 2009.

After screening of Hollow Cylinder, a film by Nandan Saxena and Kavita Bahl, discussion on following lines would be encouraged:

• Clarity of Message
• Message Integrity
• Communicative Intensity
• Appeal – Visual, Aural, Emotional, Intellectual

Read a critique of the event by Shruti Tiwari at madhukali.

આ દુનિયામા હર કોઇને ગમતી વસ્તુ નથી મળતી.
મળવા ખાતર મળી જાય છે બધુ,મન ને શાંતિ નથી મળતી.

કોઇક એવુ હોય છે જેને પામવા મન સતત અધીરુ હોય છે,
પણ મનની અધીરાઇ સમજી સકે તેવી વ્યકિત નથી મળતી.

જેને શોધતા હોય છે નયન તેવી છબી નથી મળતી.
મનમા અવિરત તરવરતી હોય છે, એ આક્રુતિ નથી મળતી.

પ્રેમમાં મળી તો જતા હોય છે મન,પણ નસીબની રેખા નથી મળતી.
ચાલી નીકળે છે બધા પ્રેમના માર્ગે પણ, દરેકને મંજીલ નથી મળતી.

- aatma

કોક દી ફુરસત મળે તો લે ખબર
દીલ ઉપર વીતે છે શુ તારા વગર

પાનખરમા પણ બહાર આવી ગઇ
પ્રેમ ગીતોની અનોખી છે અસર

આખમાં તુજ યાદના આસુ ના હો
એક પણ વીતી નથી એવી પ્રહર

એજ છે રજની દીવાનો જોઇ લો
ગાય છે ગીતો ઉષાના દરબદર

- aatma

First and foremost, let me clarify that unlike most people think, Hinduism is not a religion in strict sense. It is more of a culture than a religion.

So what is the difference between a culture and a religion?

Religion centers around the God. Where as a culture centers around the way of living. Which is why you find in India for instance Chrisitian or Muslims following the Hindu culture! Even in Bangladesh you can find hindu cultures in muslim life! Chrisitians of Velankani in Tamilnadu follow the hindu culture. Velankanni is a Christian pilgrimage center, here Mother Mary is worshipped by Puja like how hindus do, Chariots are pulled like in hindu temples, there is the concept of prasadam (divine food) in the church like how Hindus give prasadam in the hindu temples.. etc

All other major religions of the world have a propounder, a person who founded the religion. Hinduism has none! Which is why it is called Sanaathana Dharma meaning eternal religion! No debate is blasphemous in Hinduism! Customs can be questioned any time! It does not dictate terms to people saying what woman or men should wear as dress etc. It is always open to debates. There has never been a ‘holy war’ in Hinduism in the name of God! The very existence of God can be debated in Hinduism. Many ancient Indian Hindu texts contain such debates!

Coming back to the concept of God in Hinduism, unlike other religions like Christianity or Islam, it does not talk about a God who stays outside the universe and creates/destroys this universe. Instead here Universe itself is the God! Universe is a self aware Paramaatma (the universal soul) and everything else in the universe is a part of this God! We are all Aatma (souls) whose goal is to realize and unite with this Paramaatma (Universal Soul). Even quantum mechanical physicists like Bohr,Heisenberg, Shcrodinger etc got interested in Vedic texts and Hinduism when they saw that quantum level consciousness of particles was already explained in Hinduism!! For more details read the books like The Dancing Wu Li Masters, The Tao of Physics etc

The Vedas compare creation to a spider’s web, that the spider creates and then lies within. God is both the container of the universe and what is contained in it.

Which is why the sacred vedic texts of Hinduism say ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ which means I am God. This is because I, you and all are a part of this Universal God! Which is also the reason why you find 33 crore Gods in hinduism!! Since Universe itself is the God, everything else and everybody else in the Universe is also a form of God! Which is why Hindus worship water, rain, thunder, earth, moon, sun, stars, sky, humans, trees, plants, animals, air, father, mother, elders, light, wealth, knowledge, anything and everything that you find in this universe as God!

Which is also the reason why a Hindu if by accident happens to touch an animal or a person or a book etc by feet accidentally, then immediately he/she will do a symbolic gesture by hand asking to be forgiven for having shown disrespect to the God in that animal/person/book or whatever by accident…

The hindu prayer that has to be recited every day early morning as soon as one gets up ends saying “…paadasparsham kshamasva me” which means “Oh Mother Earth, Please forgive me for I will be touching you with my feet for the rest of the day!”. Such a nice concept. Can a culture get any more beautiful than this?

Now comes an even more beautiful part of the Hindu Concept of God. The sacred Vedic texts say “Ekam Satya Vipro Bahuda Vadanthi” which means “God is one. Learned scholars call him/her with different names”. This simple yet so wonderful concept makes it unique among all religions! You cannot be a Christian and say I will worship Vishnu or Allah! Christianity doesn’t allow that. You cannot be a Muslim and say I will worship Shiva or Jesus!! Islam doesn’t allow that.

But you can be a Hindu and still say that I will worship Jesus or Allah! Hinduism has no objection. In fact it says you can worship God in any name! Which is why you can find Hindus in India going to Churches, Jain temples, Buddhist temples, Sikh Gurudwaras etc. If all religions were as open minded as Hinduism there would have been no religious fanaticism or religious hatred on this planet and Earth would have been a better place to live in! There would have been no terrorism either!

Which is also the reason why unlike other religions you will find no missionaries or evangelists in Hinduism who promote Hinduism and want to convert entire world into Hinduism! Hinduism does not believe in religious conversions either by force or by bribing or by appeasement. You can be a Hindu and still be a Christian or Mulsim at the same time! You can even be a Christian or Muslim and say that you dont believe in Hinduism, and still Hinduism looks at you as a great soul! It does not say that you will be punished or sent to hell or will become a sinner for not believing in Hindu God! You can even be an atheist! You can say that you don’t want to call the Universal soul as a God! In fact Atheism is like a subclass of Hinduism! Charvaka who lived in 600 BCE was an atheist and pioneered a materialistic movement within Hinduism and even Madhavacharya (he was a 14th century philosopher who wrote a wonderful book Sarva darshana sangraha with a lot of material on atheism, dont confuse him with Madhvacharya of udupi) etc were Atheists and still followed the Hindu Culture!

Infact, the sacred Hindu texts, the Vedas talk more about humans and life than about God! They say, ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ which means ‘The entire world is a single huge family’! Look at the beauty, they don’t differentiate between people of this religion or that religion, entire Earth is a single family! The vedas also say ‘Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu’ which means ‘May all the people live happily’. Again here all humans are considered equal, there is no differentiation between Hindus and others!!

God if exists, is after all one and the same. You call a Rose by any name, and still it continues to be a Rose. Why should we fight for the name? It doesn’t make any real sense, does it?

By the way, if you are interested, you can also read about the role and status of women in the ancient Indian vedic culture here.

Snake and Ladder is an ancient Indian game which was brought to west by the British in 1892. It was called Mokshapath meaning Path to Salvation. In sanskrit Moksh=Salvation and Path=Path !!

Let us understand its basics.

The vedic (hindu) belief about life and death is of rebirth. One life form might be reborn as any form of life after its death. A human in this birth might be reborn as an insect in his next birth. A frog in this birth might be reborn as a human in its next birth!

This cycle of life and death and rebirth continues, which is why the vedas say that ’soul never dies’! Depending on how well a soul spends its life doing good things, it can be freed from this cycle of life, death and rebirth and attain Moksha (Probably enter heaven and live happily ever after!).

So the aim of life is to attain this Moksha or Nirvana! Vedas say that it is extremely lucky to be born as a human and that one should not miss this opportunity to get the most out of it. One has to use this to get Moksha where a normal soul (Aatma) gets united with the Universal soul (Paramaatma) and is freed from the cycle of birth and death! There are stories in vedas where even other life forms like animals attained Moksha by their good deeds! So its not limited to humans alone!

Well, these things interest me from a point of enquiry as to what we really are? Where did we come from? What is all that is going on here

In kannada there is a poem which says
‘Allide Nammane Illi bande Summane’
which means ‘My house is out there, I came here just for some time pass’

Well, another kannada poem says
‘Niddegomme Nitya Marana Edda Sala Naveena Janana’
which means, ‘A daily death every night we sleep, a new birth every morning we get up’! What a wonderful thought!

Coming back to the original topic of Snake and Ladder, this game originated in ancient India and was called ‘Mokshapath’ which means the path of salvation. The ultimate goal of the game was to achieve salvation by reaching the top. Every time a person does a bad deed, he ends up at the snake’s mouth and is demoted in the game of attaining salvation.

Every time a person does a good deed, he ends up at the ladder’s bottom and is promoted upwards in the game of attaining salvation.! The aim of this game was to teach children the basic tenets of hindiusm that lies in the vedas. Good deeds we move up in life. Bad deeds and we move down in life. The ladders represented virtues and snakes vices.

The game was drawn out on a cloth divided into blocks called houses, each representing emotions. For ex: the snake at hinsa (violence) would take one down to mahanarak (great hell) while ladder at Vidyabhyas (education) would take one up to the Shastras (knowledge). The game was played with dices and cowrie-shells.

In the original game, these were the squares where ladder was found to move upwards.

• 12 was faith
• 51 was Reliability
• 57 was Generosity
• 76 was Knowledge
• 78 was Asceticism.

Snakes were found at the following squares.

• 41 was for Disobedience
• 44 for Arrogance
• 49 for Vulgarity
• 52 for Theft
• 58 for Lying
• 62 for Drunkenness
• 69 for Debt
• 73 for Murder
• 84 for Anger
• 92 for Greed
• 95 for Pride
• 99 for Lust

1oo was the square of Moksha or Nirvana! The ultimate goal of the game. You win when you reach the 100th square!

The british took this game to England from India in 1892 and called it “snakes and ladders” (which I feel is a rather very uninteresting name, compared to Mokshapath – Path of Nirvana )

Na Mrityur, na Shankaa, na mey Jaati BheydaH; Pitaa naiva, mey naiva Maataa, na Janma, na Bandhur, na Mitram, Gurur naiva SishyaH, Chidaananda RuupaH ShivO aHam, ShivO aHam.

 

ManO bhudhyahamkaara Chittaani na aHam,

Na Karnam, na Jihvaa, na cha Ghraana Netram,

Na cha Vyoma Bhumir na Tejo na VaayuH,

Chidaananda RuupaH  ShivO aHam, ShivO aHam.

 WHAT IS INDIVIDUALISM ?

 The word individual is derived from Latin,’Individualis’-that which is not divided-an individual.Individualism can be defined as follows:1.a belief that stresses the primary importance and worth of each person and in the virtues of self-reliance and personal independence. 2.the principle or practice of maintaining individuality or independence of the individual. 3.the principle or habit of or belief in independent thought or action. 4.the conception that all values,rights and duties originate in individuals. 5.a doctrine that the interests of the individual are or ought to be ethically paramount. 6.the pursuit of individual rather than common or collective interests.A doctrine holding that the interests of the individual should take precedence over the interests of the State or Social Group.

Indian Culture views human existence in absolute individualistic terms and the legacy of Indian Culture could be described as ‘INDIVIDUALISM’

THE FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUALISM:

Bhagavad Gita, Sankhya Yoga, Chapter II, Eternal Reality of Soul's Immortality, Verse 12: Na tv evaham jatu nasam, na tvam neme JanadhipaH; Na chaiva na bhavisyamaH, Sarve vayam ataH param.

Bhagavad Gita,chapter 2, verse 39,claims that the analytical knowledge derived from Samkhya philosophy gives the description of the nature of individual and individuality.Chapter 2, of the Bhagavad Gita explains this philosophy in several verses.Verse 11 claims that those who are wise lament neither for the living nor the dead.In verse 12,Lord Krishna states that there was never a time when He did not exist,nor Arjuna,nor all others in the battle field,and in the future there will never be a time when any of them cease to exist.Lord Krishna(The Supreme Individual Person) and also all other individuals are eternal persons.They existed as individuals in the past and they will continue to exist as individuals in the future.Their individuality existed in the past and their individuality will continue in the future without interruption.Lord Krishna clearly states that the individuality of all others will continue eternally.Hence,Indians do not accept the bodily conception of the living entities.Living entity is an individual soul and even though the body changes every moment,the soul does not undergo any change.Verse 13,claims that the embodied soul continually passes,in this body,from boyhood to youth,and then to old age;similarly,the soul also passes into another body at death.By nature the human body is ever changing,and the soul is eternal.Verse 24 states that this individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble.He is everlasting,unchangeable,immovable,and eternally the same.Finally,verse 27 establishes the foundation for ‘Individualism’ by stressing that ” For one who has taken his birth,death is certain;and for one who is dead,birth is certain.

THE SUPREMACY OF INDIVIDUAL:

The primary importance of the individual is established by the Vedic statement ” AHAM BRAHMASMI “.The following verse supports the idea that the individual is totally identical with the perfect,Supreme Being:

Om,purna mada,purna midam,purnaat purna mudachyate

Purnasya purna maadaya,purna meva vasishtyate.

The human entity is virtually trapped in a repeated cycle of birth,death and rebirth.The ultimate purpose of human existence is to achieve ‘MOKSHA’(LIBERATION) or MUKTI(RELEASE) from this cycle that is referred to as ‘ SAMSARA ‘.

THE PRACTICE OF INDIVIDUALISM:

Individualism is built upon the value attached to knowing oneself.We are encouraged to look inwards and to reflect upon the nature of ‘SELF’.Self-Knowledge is considered to be more valuable than gaining knowledge of the material world.The following prayer which is known as ‘GAYATRI MANTRA’ is one such example of motivating individuals to look inwards.

Om Bhur Bhuva Suvah,Om tatsa vitur vareynyam

Bhargo Devasya dhee mahi dheeyo yo nah prachodayaat.

The individual while firmly establishing his individuality also takes complete responsibility for his actions.The individual bears the burden for his own actions.

THE JOURNEY TO ULTIMATE INDIVIDUALISM:

The individual strives for self-reliance,learns to minimize the importance of all external relationships and concentrates upon developing an intimate relationship with his personal God.The following prayer is one such example of an individual’s journey on the path of devotion(BHAKTI).

Tva meva maata cha pitaa tva meva, Tva meva bandhu cha sakha tva meva,

Tva meva vidya, dravinam tva meva, Tva meva sarvam mama Deva Deva.

Devotion to God practically takes over,replaces and consumes the need for any other kind of external relationship.

THE GOAL OF ABSOLUTE INDIVIDUALISM:

For the individual to win the battle of ‘SAMSARA’,to gain freedom from the cycle of birth and death,to declare victory over death and to finally reach the shore and complete the long and tiresome swim across the uncharted ocean,he is required to disentangle himself from the cobweb of relationships and set himself free.The following prayer known as ‘MAHA MRITYUN JAYA MANTRAM’ illustrates the point:

Om,Triyam bakam,Yaja mahe sughandhim pushti vardhanam,

Urvaaru kamiva bhandha naa mrutyor muksheeya amrutaat.

Such liberated individual who had freed himself from all external relationships would be able to proclaim his true identity and the following verse written by Shri Shankaracharya is an example of an individual who had reached the Goal Of Absolute Individualism:

Na Mrityur, na Shankaa, na mey Jaati bheydaH,

Pitaa naiva, mey naiva Maataa, na Janma,

Na Bandhur,na Mitram, Gurur naiva  SishyaH,

Chidaananda RupaH  ShivO aHam, ShivO aHam.

Thus Indian Identity is none other than the identity of “SHIVA” whose Individualistic Identity is described as Sat+Chit+Ananda.

In the Epic Poem of Ramayana, each principal character behaves as an Individual and each decides upon a course of action to uphold the principles of Satya and Dharma.

In the Epic Poem of Ramayana, the concept of Individualism is vividly portrayed. Rama alone was required to live in the forest. He could have just refused to do so. No force upon earth could have moved Him but He made His own choice. Lakshmana made His own choice and had accompanied His brother for a life in the forest.Rama made no decision about Seeta. He did not want that She must accompany Him into the forest. Seeta had made Her own decision. All of them express their own personal independence in unique manners.