If you could have bought stock in Microsoft at its opening price in 1986 of $21, would you? Such is Vishuddha Das.
At only 26, Vishuddha Das shines like a diamond ring, all while showing you how a turquoise one is just as valuable. - and we understand it.
I became acquainted with this innocuous, gentle, young man while searching the internet for 'root chakra'. His eyes glistened with the mirror of the camera while his easy voice drew me in.
Vishudda Das is among a plethora of vloggers, bloggers, and content makers. So what is different about him?
Let me count the ways for you.
I poured over his videos, trying to find a catch or a hole in what he was "selling". Since the dawn of thought, everyone tries to sell us something, right?
He is not selling us anything. While you can be a paetron supporting him in his world traveling work, he does not shove any 'thing", any teaching, or any shiny new object down your throat. In fact, it was difficult to decipher just what or who he stood for. Hindu? Buddhism? Lord Krishna?
Put a pin in that thought.
This is his third incarnation; from Jackson Daniel, to Koi Fresco, resting firmly in Vishuddha Das. He tells us his guru donned him with this name. In Indian it means "very pure spirit".
My psychotherapeutic mind begged me to view these different names as an escape from himself. But try as I might, this is not the case. Instead, one can truly see how it's not an escape from a former self as much as it is him growing in to what he is to become.
I gleaned what this guy was all about in his video called 'How to Be Happy'. As his friends explained what happiness looks like to them, I could not keep my eyes off his reaction. His eyes playfully danced as he smiles looking upon them. He brings his hand to his chin and twists his young, brillo beard with the nervous excitement of a proud and loving mother.
So back to where we 'put a pin in it'.
Who and what does he stand for? As corny as this sounds, he stands for you and me. The 'what' is happiness.
Vishuddha Das stands unapologetically as an experiencer of life to show us what he has learned, as innocent and pure as a kindergartner.
So thinking upon the meaning of the name Vishuddha Das, I can't help but concur with Swami Saradevananda. Vishuddha Das translates as very pure servant. He exudes pureness. That is not to say he is pure, as he will readily tell you. (You can read about his struggles in 'A (not so) Enlightened Youth'. ) To me, he is pure in the way that we all want to become. Pure in intention, without an ounce of self-conscious. Pure as in love for all. Pure as in no judgement. All inclusive. He grabs our attention with our own desire to learn. I believe that is what we are all looking for; something good and true to hold on to, especially an era of turmoil, half truths, and mauled on morality.
If the 'steel' wool is being pulled over our eyes, we welcome it because the end result is a beautiful way to live. The end result is love. And love can change the world.
*Photo from screen grab of YouTube video: "My New Name... the end of Koi Fresco" and is used here not for profit and for educational purpose only.
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