Quintessence of Life
“Life can be absolutely phenomenal, and it should be, and it will be.� - Bob Proctor
o9 Introduction
15 CONTENTS
Research and Analysis
28 Design Process
44 Rendition
A Content design Project
INTRODUCTION
Everyone has their favorites This semester the module began with selection of a word from which we had to brainstorm by making a word map. From the word map we had to choose the important words and further research on those words. Based on the analysis of the research we had to choose a final topic by identifying the Target Audience and the most appropriate medium of communication. Then we had to develop a concept for the communication based on the target audience profiling. And the concept further led us to developing the proper content for our chosen topic. According to the brief that we got the word that I selected was ‘Meditation’. I chose Mediation because nowadays people are so busy thinking about their past and future that they are not able to “let go”. And Meditation is a technique through which we train our minds not to cling to our past or future and just enjoy the essence of the beautifully designed life .
9
Meditation Meditation is a practice which is used to attain balance in our different life structures. Broadly there are two types of meditation Insight meditation or Vipasana and Concentration meditation. Meditation helps us to purify our mind of the mental factors that cause distress and pain. The complete term for insight meditation is vipassana-bhavana. “Bhavana” means a system of We practice vipassana meditation in order to see the mind, to know it rather than control it, as Bhikkhu Sopako Bodhi says.” To see your own mind clearly is to see ultimate reality.” mental training that cultivates wisdom or concentration. All meditation techniques can be classified into two types: insight meditation (vipassana-bhavana), and tranquility meditation, or concentration (samathabhavana). In tranquility practice you fix the attention on a single object until the mind enters a deep, trance-like stillness. You develop enough concentration to quiet the mind and suppress mental impurities such as anger. When you stop meditating,
10
11
however, the negative emotions eventually return. The practice of insight, on the other hand, cultivates wisdom. The student develops systematic mindfulness in order to see the real characteristics of existence: unsatisfactoriness, impermanence, and impersonality. All the activities of daily life can be objects of mindfulness and tranquility.
Creating new knowledge
Research and Analysis
Vipassana - Bhavana Many of us find excuses to avoid cultivating the mind. There is the familiar objection, “I don’t have enough concentration to meditate.” But strong concentration, is not a requirement for insight meditation. Ask yourself this: does a sick person need a special aptitude to take penicillin? No— he takes it because he is ill. Like medicine, The Buddha said that all of us suffer from the mental sickness of desire, aversion and delusion. But anyone— repeat, anyone— can achieve mental health and happiness by “taking” vipassana. meditation is not something for which one needs an aptitude, but a prescription for illness; and the worse it tastes, the more it’s likely needed. The Buddha said that all of us suffer from the mental sickness of desire, aversion and delusion. But anyone— repeat, anyone— can achieve mental health and happiness by “taking” vipassana. Vipassana practice cultivates mindfulness. Mindfulness in insight meditation refers to bare awareness of the physical and mental phenomena occurring in
14
15
the present moment. These phenomena include the movements of your body, sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations of touch, pain or pleasant feeling, thoughts, etc. The present moment refers to the initial instant that a phenomenon (called an “object”) such as a sound, sight or movement makes contact with consciousness. Think of a match striking the side of the box, resulting in flame. That’s what the contact of the present moment is like. The mind is one thing, the object another. When they strike together, a moment of experience happens: a moment of hearing, seeing, smelling, moving, touching, tasting or thinking.
CONVENTIONAL TRUTH VERSUS The Buddha distinguished between conventional and ultimate truth. The former refers to the names and concepts by which we interpret our experience. Conventional truth is relative and conceptual. It changes from person to person. But ultimate truth is the same for all. It is true in the absolute sense. “Nama” means mind. The mind is comprised of two things: 1) consciousness, and 2) mental phenomena or mental factors such as intention, feeling, desire, mindfulness, and so on.
A name is a concept; it isn’t ultimately real. It is only a convention we impose on something. Remembering the name of a thing, whether we are referring to a sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, feeling or some other form, is not the same as directly experiencing it.
“Learn to let go.” - Buddha
“Rupa” means matter. Practically speaking, rupa refers to bare sense-impressions: color, sound, taste, scent and tactile sensation (tactile sensation is experienced as temperature, pressure, and motion).
Ultimate reality refers to the raw sense-data of moment-to-moment experience: the actual instances of color, sound waves, tactile sensation, fragrance, and so on, that the brain continually registers. These sensations exist whether or not we think about them. They are not affected by the names or associations given to them. Most cultures have a name for the phenomenon called “thunder” in English. Brazilians say “trueno,” the French, “tonerre.” Although the names differ, the phenomenon doesn’t. The event denoted by “thunder” is the same thing no matter what we call it. Truly speaking, it is impossible to hear thunder. What we actually hear is sound. Although a particular sound can be called by many names, sound waves themselves have the same properties, and follow the same physical laws, in all cultures. Insight meditation is only concerned with ultimate reality, not conventional truth. Ultimate reality has two components: nama and rupa.
ULTIMATE REALITY 16
17
SOAP BUBBLES Imagine a bottle of children’s soap bubbles. Before you blow into the plastic wand, no bubble exists. As soon as you blow into it, however, something begins to form. A thin film balloons into a pouch and forms a bubble that breaks free— an independent, floating sphere. A form has appeared that had not existed a few seconds before. You have seen it “being born.”
SOAP BUBBLES AND THE JUGGLER
Then before your eyes the bubble bursts. Now it no longer exists. You can’t find any trace of it. But during this process you witnessed the entire “existence” of the bubble, from its birth to its death. That is the general concept of watching an object in vipassana.
Interesting examples of vipassana meditation.
THE JUGGLER The way of focusing on objects in vipassana meditation differs from that of tranquility (samatha) practice. Imagine a juggler. A juggler’s focus is touch-andgo. The same is true in insight meditation. “Focus and forget it” is the motto. The student has to apply both halves of the maxim if he wants to get maximum benefit from practice. The juggler has to focus in order to catch the ball. He has to know where to put his attention, and then keep his mind on that spot. While the next ball is coming toward him, he can’t think about the last one. He’ll fail if he’s distracted by a noise or his gaze drifts away. The meditator, too, has to keep his attention in the present moment or he’ll drop the ball— that is, become distracted from the meditation object.
18
19
THE FIVE SENSES When you catch the sensation before the name appears, there won’t be a feeling
THE SEN5ES
that it’s good or bad. All formations will be regarded as essentially equal : neutral and without meaning, with no essential difference
“As phenomena are seen, heard, thought of, or known, just let them be as they are seen, heard, thought of, or known at that moment. When you see, just see; when you hear, just hear; when you think, just think; and when you know, just know” (“knowing” includes smelling, tasting and touching). To let these phenomena be as they are “at that moment” means not to identify or describe them in any way. As soon as you see, hear, smell, taste, touch, think or know something, just be aware of the bare sensation. Don’t add your good or bad mental description. And don’t continue to think about the sight or sound after the initial moment of contact. New contacts from sense-objects keep occurring all the time. If you hang on to a past sensation you can’t attend to the one happening in the present moment, since the mind can know only one object at a time.
between a sound, feeling, or thought. That is the reality.
When mindfulness and insight are strong they will be able, so to speak, to cut off the mental stream at a very early level. To see things as they are “at that moment” means to see them as they are prior to the act of naming them. Strong mindfulness can stop the mental flow at the point of receiving a bare phenomenon, before the mind tags the object with a name.
21
STOP THE WHEEL
STOP THE WHEEL
In the ultimate sense, mindfulness is practiced with an eye toward improving, and eventually preventing, future lives. Buddhism teaches that every being is reborn over and over again into various realms according to his actions. Until a person’s mind is completely purified there is no end to the cycle. The ultimate goal of the Buddhist, and of vipassana practice, is release from this cycle of birth and death, release from the round of conditioned existence, called “samsara.” It is possible for that release, called “Nibbana,” to occur in the present lifetime if we can develop mindfulness and wisdom to a sufficient degree. “External events are
The Buddha taught that birth and death (and the time in between) always entail some degree of dukkha, unsatisfactoriness. Although we might be relatively happy now, existence is tainted at the most basic level because its components, mind and matter, are unstable and impermanent, continually arising and vanishing.
not the real causes of sorrow. They are just the branches. The root lies within us. The purpose
Any satisfaction we might gain from them is temporary and tinged with fear about its loss. Even at its best, mundane happiness is a mix of pleasure and anxiety. Happiness and unhappiness are inseparable, just as the head of a coin is inseparable from the tail. As the Player King in Hamlet said, “Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament.”
of vipassana practice is to eliminate the root cause of suffering, not merely to make us feel good temporarily.”
23
Target Audience Profile
Research Analysis
Target Audience
While researching on meditation, the just idea of being in the “here and now” consumed me. People are always busy thinking about their past and their future, so much that they forget “why they do what they do”. And they always keep thinking that how the circumstances around them influence their different life structures.
Demographics Age group - 25 - 35 years Psychographics Fearful Anxiety Restless Energetic Hardworking Futuristic Inferiority Complex Doubting the future Curious Ambitious Confident Low self worth Willing to Learn
And its really interesting how a simple idea like being still and something as simple as observing your breath can get rid of all the negative thoughts that enter into our minds in our day to day lives. It is this idea of absolute clarity and calm which can help people to get rid of all the circumstances which they call ‘good or bad’. And the irony is people do not completely understand the meaning of meditation and its importance. So the aim of the project is to communicate how meditation can change their lives and how it can transform the world into something completely new and different.
24
25
Do Good
Design Process
DESIGN APPROACH SMART BOOK The basic structure of the book would be same for everyone whereas it will have simple interactive exercises so that people can modify and personalize their books according to them. Hence it will be more like an individual extension of the person. APPLICATION An application for meditation which tells people different benefits and advantages of inculcating the habits of meditation into their day to day lives.
SPACE DESIGN
SPACE DESIGN A space where people will go through different emotions that enter into their day to day lives hence learning the benefits of meditation. POST STAMPS To create post stamps on the theme of meditation. FILM To make a film using typography which communicates the simple benefits of meditation using anamorphic and different types of typography.
FINAL APPROACH SPACE DESIGN
28
29
CONCEPT NOTE “For the things which I greatly feared has come upon me and that which I was afraid of has come unto Me.” – Bible
“If you think you can or you think you cannot, either way you are right.” – Henry Ford
30
INTRODUCTION Meditation or Bhavana, which was a common practice among ascetics, is the tool used to search for enlightenment and attain balance in our different life structures. You may receive an insight; feel a sense of overwhelming peace all of which are byproducts of meditation. The point is that we don’t practice meditation simply to relax or become peaceful although that will occur. The ultimate purpose of meditation is to be completely in the here and now and enjoy the essence of the beautifully designed life. In the current scenario people are so busy thinking about the past and the future that they forget the only thing that matters is the PRESENT. They don’t understand their WHY’s. The don’t understand “why they do, what they do”. They get easily driven by ego, competition, jealousy, anxiety, anger, fear, insecurities and desires which further affects their daily lives, behaviors and relationships. This further diminishes their success and growth rate. And further leading to destructive patterns like addictions and hence the growth rate of all the diseases goes up, diabetes and heart rate increases leading to hypertension and hence have an adverse impact on their lives.
31
OBJECTIVE So the aim of the project is to design a space for the masses where they can understand the importance of peace and tranquility in their day-to-day lives. The space will be designed in the form of a journey where people will go through different types of emotions, which they experience in their lives. The space will not force the practice of meditation to people it will just communicate simple effects and benefits that meditation can have in their lives. The basic idea is to tell people how a simple ten minutes of mindfulness (insight meditation) can help you in your different life structures. The space will be designed using typography, iconic representation, interactive media and simple play of sound and lights.
EXPLORATIONS Meditation was definitely not an easy topic to work on. As I started researching more about meditation I came across a buffet of meditation techniques. And it was so confusing at that point of time because I did not wanted, to force the practice of meditation. The pure intention of the project was that people realize the power of simple meditation techniques.
I am OK You are OK. And there were times when researching and working on the topic became so difficult that i did not even understand what benefit will it actually bring to the society. But then suddenly I came across an application called “Headspace” which teaches basic meditation techniques. It inspired me so much that I started meditation. I practiced meditation for about a month. Probably I cannot explain you the feeling as of now. But one thing that I am sure about is, “meditation is not just a technique it is a feeling”, a feeling beyond words or visuals. One thing that I definitely understood was it kept me
32
But how can we survive in the world while staying in the present to such a degree? In order to function in everyday life, of course, we have to plan and remember. We have to evaluate sights and sounds. Most of the time we have to use language and abstract thinking. In that case we cannot stay precisely in the present moment, although we can use general mindfulness and clear comprehension to be more aware of our activities and thoughts.
In silence, there are fewer thoughts and your mind settles down. Most of the time when we chatter, our mind also keeps chattering. Our senses are busy collecting information and bombarding us with so many thoughts and emotions.
Exploring the space definitely gave me a better understanding of perspectives.
We can separate our self from the show of sensation that is continually arising and passing away. By doing this we protect the mind from suffering. It becomes apparent that thoughts, emotions and feelings are not in fact parts of the knower. Since they are actually impersonal objects, not the subject, we can turn the beam of awareness around and look at them as if they were “outside� of you. And during meditation it is possible to make any phenomenon into an object of mindfulness with it.
35
38
39
Looking Back I could not connect the dots while I was exploring different design options for my space. Nothing made sense, but now when I look back everything makes sense. Yes, I agree working first time in a three dimensional space was difficult but the experience was worth it.
Its very interesting that how a space can communicate in such a subtle way that the user does not even realize the amount of detailing that goes into designing a space. There were times when everything I did just got rejected but i guess it was the rejection that made me work even harder.
While doing my explorations and research for meditation I understood about different units of measurements and how precise one has to be while building a space. I got an understanding of the technical drawings and the role of graphic design in a space. And how simple shapes like a circle or a square can make a whole lot of a difference.
41
HERE AND NOW
RENDITION
Final Outcome The intention of the project is to motivate people, inspire them and communicate that how simple things like helping someone, trusting people you work with and thinking positive can help you in your life affairs. Its to shake of this erroneous notion that life is limited and we just have to live in it, in fact life is much more bigger and better and we just have to embrace it and love it. People will understand that “we are not machines, we are men�, we don’t hate only the unloved hate. We have the love of humanity. And hence realize the importance of true freedom, peace and love.
44
45
Master Plan The Space is designed in the form of a journey where people will experience the basic essence of peace and clarity. Moreover they will understand that how important it is, to trust someone or help someone and how a little appreciation for the things we have can change our lives drastically. It is to shake of the notion that life is limited and we just have to live in it, in fact life is much more bigger and we just have to embrace it and enjoy it.
47
Master Plan
48
49
Reception The reception of the space is designed in a way so that, as people enter the space they experience an essence of peace and beauty. The reception is designed using the Fibonacci series and very subtle and soothing colors .
51
52
53
Graphics This is a graphic representation of a sunflower derived using the Fibonacci experience. This graphic will be formed on a wooden panel so that light can seep through it which evokes the feelings of warmth and happiness. In addition, the sunflower is often associated with adoration and longevity.
54
55
Wall Texture The wall texture was designed keeping in mind the soothingness and calmness of the place which ads a dept to the entire look and feel of the space.
56
57
Heartbeat Heart beat in itself is a very strong symbol which represents life and our various different life structures. And its very interesting that how our heartbeat flickers corresponding to the chatter that keeps on taking place in our mind. The basic idea behind using heartbeat was to make people realize that throughout our day to day life how our different moods and emotions influence our heartbeat. It is a very fascinating that how our heart keeps beating 24*7 and we do not even realize it.
58
59
60
61
Anamorphic Typography It is really interesting that how just a simple “thank you” or a “smile” can make a difference to your day to day life. Its this feeling of immense happiness which can actually bring about a change in our different life structures.
63
64
65
66
67
Interactive Screen The basic idea behind this simple wall was appreciation. We often forget to appreciate the things we already posses in our lives. And realizing the things that make us happy is just one simple way through which a person can appreciate their lives be happy.
what makes you Happy? ADD YOUR ANSWERS TO THE LIST
68
69
Light and Sound Show SCRIPT I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone - if possible. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness - not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, and has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. We have become clever, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.... The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men - cries out for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world - millions of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a corrupt system. To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and we all will once again live in a world of our dreams. Don’t be like unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! We are not machines! We are not cattle! We are men! We have the love of humanity in our hearts! We don’t hate! Only the unloved hate - the unloved and the unnatural People! Don’t fight! Seek freedom! Seek love! Seek peace!
“the Kingdom of God is within man” - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In us! We, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! We, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill that promise. They never will.
70
71
Story Board
“We are not machines, we are men. The kingdom of god is within us.”
72
73
3D Model
74
75
Reflective note I could not connect the dots while I was exploring different design options for my space. Nothing made sense, but now when I look back everything makes sense. Yes, I agree working first time in a three dimensional space was difficult but the experience was worth it. Content design not only taught me how to design a space but it taught me “life�. In this module I understood the importance of working independently and how the industry actually functions. I would seriously like to thank my mentors for their constant support as well as constant motivation. I understood the basic principles of design and how design is not just about making a good design but it is actually about doing good.
77
Acknowledgement “It is not possible to prepare a project without the assistance and guidance of other people. My project is certainly no exception.� On the very outset of this documentation of my project I would like to extend my gratitude and obligation towards all the personages who have helped me in this endeavor. Without their active guidance, help, cooperation and encouragement, I would not have made headway in the project. I am extremely thankful and pay my gratitude to all my faculties, Manas Barua and Lolita Dutta for there valuable guidance and constant support. I would also like to thank my college Pearl Academy, New Delhi for all the resources and for the exposure through various and intresting workshops. I also acknowledge with a deep sense of reverence, my gratitude towards my parents and members of my family, who have always supported me morally as well as economically. At last but not the least I would also like to acknowledge my friends who have supported me directly or indirectly in completing the projects. Vidit Gupta
79
Refrences http://www.shelterarchitecture.com/residential/ asid-award-2012-meditation-room http://designdautore.blogspot.it/2014/04/the-z-baris-first-full-scale-organic.html#.VGvp44tN3lI https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=P0tLbl5LrJ8#t=18 http://www.asdswow.com/product_detail_galaxy. php?id=61. http://www.lm3labs.com/museum/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdcXKrpbnrM http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/meditation/ meditation-for-you/discover-your-skills http://www.buddhapadipa.org/buddhism/ buddhism-today/ http://www.vipassanadhura.com/whatis.htm http://www.how-to-meditate.org/transformingmeditations.htm/
81