*The Strait of Hormuz may be the America’s end.*

*The Strait of Hormuz may be the America’s end.* *Ray Dalio* , a researcher of 500 years of imperial history and a manager of billions of dollars, published an article today. One sentence in it sums up everything: “Losing control of the Strait of Hormuz for America could be like Britain losing control of the Suez Canal in 1956.” Before you understand this sentence, I need to talk about 1956. Because what happened then may happen again today. ⸻ 1956: The End of Britain For 200 years, Britain was the world’s superpower. The British pound was the world’s currency, and its navy controlled the oceans. The key to its power: the Suez Canal A large portion of global trade passed through this canal. Whoever controlled it controlled global trade. In 1956, Egypt nationalized the canal, saying: “It’s ours now.” Britain threatened: “Reopen it or we’ll come.” Egypt refused. Britain, along with France and Israel, launched an attack. But then something happened. America said: “Enough.” The Soviets said: “Enough.” The United Nations said: “Enough.” Britain was forced to retreat. On that day, the world saw something: Britain was no longer a superpower. What happened next? The pound collapsed. Allies distanced themselves. Colonies began declaring independence. Capital fled Britain. Within 20 years, Britain became an ordinary country. A 200-year empire ended because of one canal. But not just a canal—it ended because of a perception: “This country is no longer strong.” The moment that perception took hold, money fled, allies withdrew, and the system unraveled. Dalio says the same could happen to America now. ⸻ Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important? 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through it. Oil from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq all flows through this narrow passage. What happens if it’s blocked? Oil prices surge. The global economy stalls. Gulf countries can’t export. Europe faces an energy crisis. Asian factories shut down. Imagine it like this: There is only one tunnel on a highway. All trucks pass through it—food, fuel, raw materials—everything. Someone sits at the entrance and says: “No one passes without my permission.” That’s what Iran is doing now. Dalio says: if America cannot reopen that tunnel, everything changes. ⸻ Dalio’s Historical Formula Dalio studied 500 years of history and found a pattern: It always ends the same way. A superpower controls global money and trade routes. Everyone trusts it. Then a smaller power challenges it at a critical trade route. The superpower threatens: “Open it, or I will force it open.” The world watches. If the superpower succeeds, trust strengthens. Money flows in. The system continues. If it fails, everything flips. Trust collapses. Allies withdraw. Capital flees. Debt crises begin. The empire falls. This is how Portugal fell. The Netherlands fell. Britain fell. Dalio says: “When great powers are heavily indebted and show declining military and financial control, watch how they lose the confidence of allies and creditors, lose reserve currency status, and see their currency weaken—especially against gold.” Read that again. Now look at America. ⸻ America’s Situation Debt: $38 trillion Interest payments: over $1 trillion annually—about a quarter of tax revenue goes to interest. It lost in Vietnam. Withdrew from Afghanistan. Spent 20 years in Iraq, leaving chaos behind. The world increasingly believes America is no longer as strong. Now it confronts Iran. What did Trump say? “If mines are laid and not removed immediately, the military consequences will be unprecedented.” What does Dalio say? “I often hear senior politicians in other countries say privately: ‘Trump speaks forcefully—but when it comes to real conflict, can he fight and win?’” ⸻ The Critical Point Dalio’s key insight: In war, your ability to endure pain matters more than your ability to inflict it. ⸻ What are the Iranians doing? They are trying to prolong the conflict and escalate gradually. Why? Because they believe the American public and leadership have limited tolerance for prolonged pain and long wars. Iran’s strategy is simple: extend the war, make it painful enough—and America will withdraw. That’s what happened in Vietnam. That’s what happened in Afghanistan. For Iran, this is existential—a matter of honor, revenge, and survival. For Americans? Fuel prices. Midterm elections. This imbalance deeply concerns Dalio. ⸻ Is a deal possible? Dalio’s answer: No. “Everyone knows that not reaching a deal won’t end this conflict.” Whether Iran keeps control of the Strait or loses it, the coming period will be the worst phase of the conflict. Iran has stated: “All oil, economic, and energy facilities in the region linked to or cooperating with the United States will be immediately destroyed and turned to ashes.” This final war is approaching. Dalio says its outcome will reshape history—not just the Middle East, but the entire world. Trade flows will change. Capital flows will shift. China, Russia, North Korea, Europe, India, and Japan will all be affected. ⸻ If America wins: Confidence in the dollar rises. Demand for bonds increases. Allies align more closely. Trump’s power strengthens. U.S. dominance continues. ⸻ If America loses: The dollar collapses. Bonds are sold off. Gold skyrockets. Alliances fracture. BRICS strengthens. China’s rise accelerates. Dalio’s lesson from 500 years: Money and power always flow to the winner—and flee from the loser. ⸻ Conclusion Ray Dalio says clearly: The Strait of Hormuz is America’s final test. If it wins, its dominance continues. The dollar strengthens. Trump’s power grows. If it loses, a “1956 Britain” scenario begins: dollar collapse, gold surge, alliance breakdown, and the end of the American era. Five hundred years of history tell the same story: Empires end when they lose control of critical trade routes. Portugal fell. The Netherlands fell. Britain fell. *_Is it America’s turn?_* *_The answer lies in Hormuz._*

👆🏿An anthropologist

👆🏿An anthropologist once devised a simple game for children in an African tribe. He placed a basket of fruit beneath a tree and told them that whoever reached it first would win all the sweet rewards. When he gave the signal to run, the children didn’t race against each other. Instead, they joined hands, ran together, and reached the tree as one. Then they sat down and shared the fruit happily. Surprised, the anthropologist asked why none of them tried to win for themselves. The children replied, “Ubuntu—how can one of us be happy if the others are sad?” In their culture, Ubuntu means: I am because we are. Perhaps they understand something many modern societies have forgotten—that true happiness is found not in individual gain, but in shared joy.

Overcoming grief and loss He was a nonagenarian and had led a life full of vicissitudes. There had been high noons and some cathartic moments too. But he was a contented person as his children and grandchildren were ‘settled’ in their respective fields. However, impermanence is a fact of life and he succumbed to multiple organ failure. Today only his memories linger in his son’s house, residing in a framed photograph. Ill-health prevented him from meeting his older brother, (a centurion himself), who had departed for his heavenly abode sometime earlier. This had rankled considerably and he never quite recovered. By the time life was snuffed out of his body he was absolutely emaciated, with glazed and haunted eyes which perhaps saw impending death, and a parched mouth, wide open. The entire body was bruised and punctured with innumerable needles. The vital prana or the subtle life force which provides human existence and energy was quenched away by the mandarins of death. That night the mortal remains were kept in the hospital mortuary. One reckons his soul would have been meandering, hoping for redemption when the body would be consigned to flames. It is said that parents are our first teachers. Parents act as cicerones for their children, urging them to take baby steps into the world and to eventually take decisions and face various challenges in life. Once in adulthood, children still look to their parents for percipient advice as they navigate their lives. ‘Children’ feel mentally at ease that their parents, though in the winter of their lives, are around to provide succour. But the demise of elders, relatives and in particular parents, shears the concealment of protection. What does one do when a dear one ceases to exist? “Time will take care of it. Definitely, if someone you love crosses over, grief overtakes you. But see it from a broader angle — we all have to go one day, someone has taken an earlier flight and we have to take a later flight. When you see the impermanence of everything, you will gain the strength to overcome the grief. Again and again you have to put your attention on the impermanence of everything,” says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Mindfulness and grief At the core of Buddhism is the concept of mindfulness, and it is inexplicably connected with impermanence. Impermanence is a Buddhist concept that has brought comfort to several people once they lose close ones. When humans value permanence they focus towards the future obsessively or dwell on the past. However, if the mind is convinced about impermanence humans begin living in the present moment. Sages from the ancient times – with enormous perspicacity- have developed palliative techniques to overcome cataclysmic situations. These include chanting of mantras, listening to religious texts, meditation, pranayama, Vispassana and the rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya. Mindfulness can act as a centrifugal force in life; a state in which one becomes aware of the present; of thoughts and feelings, various physical experiences, and the world around us. Once humans begin to accept the unalloyed truth that there is no permanence, they can examine the present and overcome every situation. How do mindfulness and acceptance of impermanence act as a sword to combat grief and the sense of bereavement? There are two common ways many of us cope with grief – either one is completely subsumed by the thought and feels entrapped like a bird in a cage. Or the mind is channelled by the techniques mentioned to become robust and mettlesome to grapple with ill disposed thoughts and is aware of an alternative paradigm to move on with life despite adversity. A question does plague the mind as to whether humans can conquer the devastation of grief in its entirety? The truth is perhaps that that does not occur. But it does help in altering the trajectory, intensity, the shape and form of the aftermath. Mindfulness, awareness and acceptance of impermanence assist in arresting the trend of obfuscation of mind by demons of gloom. This sets in the motion the acceptance of the reality of bereavement. It is said that time is a great healer to overcome grief and bereavement. Perhaps a few notches above that is performing Seva (service to the society) and surrender to the vast universe and the Almighty to combat grief. “The only permanent thing in life is impermance,” said Buddha.

Overcoming grief and loss He was a nonagenarian and had led a life full of vicissitudes. There had been high noons and some cathartic moments too. But he was a contented person as his children and grandchildren were ‘settled’ in their respective fields. However, impermanence is a fact of life and he succumbed to multiple organ failure. Today only his memories linger in his son’s house, residing in a framed photograph. Ill-health prevented him from meeting his older brother, (a centurion himself), who had departed for his heavenly abode sometime earlier. This had rankled considerably and he never quite recovered. By the time life was snuffed out of his body he was absolutely emaciated, with glazed and haunted eyes which perhaps saw impending death, and a parched mouth, wide open. The entire body was bruised and punctured with innumerable needles. The vital prana or the subtle life force which provides human existence and energy was quenched away by the mandarins of death. That night the mortal remains were kept in the hospital mortuary. One reckons his soul would have been meandering, hoping for redemption when the body would be consigned to flames. It is said that parents are our first teachers. Parents act as cicerones for their children, urging them to take baby steps into the world and to eventually take decisions and face various challenges in life. Once in adulthood, children still look to their parents for percipient advice as they navigate their lives. ‘Children’ feel mentally at ease that their parents, though in the winter of their lives, are around to provide succour. But the demise of elders, relatives and in particular parents, shears the concealment of protection. What does one do when a dear one ceases to exist? “Time will take care of it. Definitely, if someone you love crosses over, grief overtakes you. But see it from a broader angle — we all have to go one day, someone has taken an earlier flight and we have to take a later flight. When you see the impermanence of everything, you will gain the strength to overcome the grief. Again and again you have to put your attention on the impermanence of everything,” says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Mindfulness and grief At the core of Buddhism is the concept of mindfulness, and it is inexplicably connected with impermanence. Impermanence is a Buddhist concept that has brought comfort to several people once they lose close ones. When humans value permanence they focus towards the future obsessively or dwell on the past. However, if the mind is convinced about impermanence humans begin living in the present moment. Sages from the ancient times – with enormous perspicacity- have developed palliative techniques to overcome cataclysmic situations. These include chanting of mantras, listening to religious texts, meditation, pranayama, Vispassana and the rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya. Mindfulness can act as a centrifugal force in life; a state in which one becomes aware of the present; of thoughts and feelings, various physical experiences, and the world around us. Once humans begin to accept the unalloyed truth that there is no permanence, they can examine the present and overcome every situation. How do mindfulness and acceptance of impermanence act as a sword to combat grief and the sense of bereavement? There are two common ways many of us cope with grief – either one is completely subsumed by the thought and feels entrapped like a bird in a cage. Or the mind is channelled by the techniques mentioned to become robust and mettlesome to grapple with ill disposed thoughts and is aware of an alternative paradigm to move on with life despite adversity. A question does plague the mind as to whether humans can conquer the devastation of grief in its entirety? The truth is perhaps that that does not occur. But it does help in altering the trajectory, intensity, the shape and form of the aftermath. Mindfulness, awareness and acceptance of impermanence assist in arresting the trend of obfuscation of mind by demons of gloom. This sets in the motion the acceptance of the reality of bereavement. It is said that time is a great healer to overcome grief and bereavement. Perhaps a few notches above that is performing Seva (service to the society) and surrender to the vast universe and the Almighty to combat grief. “The only permanent thing in life is impermance,” said Buddha. The secret behind marvellous miracles The time was 11 am when my personal assistant pressed the buzzer and mentioned that someone from Britannia Industries wanted to meet me. The gentleman was planning a trip to Tirupati and sought help for an emergency quota by train. During the course of our conversation, I mentioned that in 2005, I had worked on Guntakal Division of South Central Railway. The town itself does not have much to offer, but the division houses several important religious, spiritual and historical spots. Tirupati, Pannipakam, Sri Kalahasti, Mantralayam are significant places which attract the faithful in large numbers. Adjoining Guntakal Division is the Bangalore Division of South Western Railway. The division is home to Prashanti Nilayam, abode of Satya Sai Baba and the Art of Living International Centre of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Thus, there are a large number of places of spiritual importance located in the vicinity of Guntakal. Broadly recalling the importance of these significant places, the visitor mentioned a famous Hanuman Temple at Guntakal, which had slipped my mind. Thereafter our conversation veered to Mantralayam. Mantralayam is where Shri Raghavendra Swami entered Tejaroopa (spirit) in 1671 AD. This is where he was interned in a tomb upon attaining Samadhi. The faithful believe that Raghavendra Swami would be in the state of Tejaroopa for a period of 700 years. Raghavendra Swami succeeded his Guru, Sudheendra Teertha as the head of the Mutt and propounded the Dwaita philosophy. He is also believed to be an incarnation of Bhakta Prahalad. Following this discussion, the gentleman left. No sooner had he left, than someone else came to my room, with the prasadam of Raghavendra Swami. This was inexplicable! A miracle is an extraordinary and a welcome event, inexplicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to divine legacy. Osho said, ‘Be realistic. Plan for a miracle.’ Can we plan for a miracle? This happens through Positive Thinking, the Law of Attraction, the Law of Gratitude, the Law of Spiralling Effect and what Darren Hardy calls the ‘Compound Effect’. For things to materialise, we need to develop a highly positive intent. This positive intent sends signals to the universe and in return the universe conspires to provide us with what we really need. However, for the cycle to continue, humans need to be extremely grateful. This is no rocket science. It is not so distant from our inner self. This is an intuitive ability which we need to develop and harness. Our ancient Rishis realised this potential practice of yoga, meditation, pranayama and adopting a proper diet. Several years ago, while still at Guntakal, I was a confirmed alcoholic. Along with my maternal aunts, I went to the Raghavendra Swami Mutt at Mantralayam. I smuggled a bottle of liquor in that state of arrogance. My mind was fixated on the bottle and was conspiring to circumnavigate the rules of Brindavan. This is the character of the monkey mind. Brindavan is the place where Raghavendra Swami is in a state of Samadhi. There was an unbearable stench in my room. To my amazement, the bottle had cracked and liquor had leaked out; the seal was not broken. Everything was drenched with liquor except my puja material and the notes of Art of Living Part 1 course. Satan cannot affect what is pure and divine. This too was a miracle. ‘It is our faith that activates the power of God,’ said Joel Osteen. However, the human mind ignores and rubbishes such claims. Years later, while travelling by a special train, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar smiled in his inimitable manner and gave me Mantralayam prasadam as we crossed Kurnool district, where Mantralayam is located. Yet another miracle had occurred, I realised. Faith is an integral part of any miracle. Faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something. It is a strong belief in the doctrines of a religion based on spiritual conviction than proof. ‘Faithless is he that says farewell when road darkens,’ says J.R.R. Tolkien. When the tunnel is really dark and our mind is plagued by fear, we deeply pray for a miracle to happen so that we do not get subsumed by the vortex of antipathetic thoughts. While thinking negatively, we transmit negative signals to the universe. In return we get shrouded by unfortunate events. Thus prayer, faith and miracles are all intertwined. For this to happen, human intent needs to be extraordinary. Power of healing through the mind Winter was quite chilly in Delhi and to keep himself warm, a middle-aged obese man had a swig of Old Monk rum. He felt warmer and chewed a piece of chicken with great relish. Soon, however, he started perspiring and feeling nauseous. His facial muscles began twitching and he felt a real thud in his chest region. The anxious homemaker rushed to the neighbours seeking help. The neighbours called for an ambulance and rang up the doctor. It was a state of emergency. Visiting the neighbours was an Art of Living teacher, who immediately rushed to the aid of the patient. He advised the patient to adopt a posture called the ‘Sanjivini Mudra’ and take deep breaths. The ‘mudra’ entails fixing the index finger on the base of the thumb and middle and ring finger touch the tip of the thumb, while the little finger is spread apart. While adopting the ‘mudra’ the individual needs to take deep ‘Ujjayi’ (victory) breaths. While inhaling ‘Ujjayi’ breaths, an individual feels the stimulation in the throat region. The duration of each breath increases and becomes finer, too. The patient afflicted with the heart attack surrendered to his saviour and continued with this breathing technique, till he was hospitalised. The ECG did not reveal any great damage to the heart and the medical team grudgingly accepted the intrinsic and therapeutic values of the ‘Sanjivini Mudra’. Along with the breath, the mind was relaxed during those tense moments as the patient was wheeled into the ICU. On recovering completely, the gentleman undertook courses of the Art of Living, which detoxified his system and cured him of the craving for alcohol. This helped him stage both a physical and mental recovery. ‘Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes a matter of great opportunity,’ said Hippocrates. This window of opportunity is provided by the opening in the human mind. If we feel that we are sick and chronically ill, then the healing process gets thwarted and impaired. The mind plays a pivotal role in the healing process of an individual. When we get up every morning, we should take a few deep breaths and feel grateful and blessed about whatever has been provided by nature and our Universe. This augurs well for the body and the mind. It would be a worthwhile exercise to scan the body and check our levels of freshness; are we suffering from any stiffness or soreness, headache, etc. to maximise the vitality of our system. The mind remains an enigma, with a reservoir of potential which we fail to tap. If exploited to optimum level, it can help in destroying carcinogenic cells, eliminating toxins, combating infections, fighting foreign bodies and enhancing self-repair mechanisms. The placebo effect also plays a major role in recovery. The mind has also been called an ‘amygdala’ which may harbour negative thoughts and wrong beliefs such as financial woes, relationship problems, work stress, general pessimism and feelings of threat. These attributes act as a roadblock to attaining good health. Stress at the workplace often results in various illnesses. A woman suffered from what is called Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia (PAT). In such a condition, the heart beats with great rapidity and the patient suffers from excessive sweating and perforce needs to be hospitalised till the condition normalises. The lady surrendered to the will of Lord, while reciting a deep and sincere prayer. Later in life, when her son turned an alcoholic, she once again developed a similar heart condition. She had to steel herself and became mentally adept and strong enough to undertake courses in Vipassana, the Art of Living, Siddha and Pranic healing. These courses had an immense therapeutic impact on the mind and body which enabled her to recover both physically and mentally. An Art of Living teacher taught her ‘Mudra Pranayams’, which have helped to fortify her system. The breath and the mind have a deep relationship. By simply observing the breath, toxins are expelled from the system and there is great mental clarity to view life in its totality. These processes clear the mind of several cobwebs and the thought process becomes positive. A power of discrimination dawns on the individual and he/she can focus on what the body really needs, the quantum of exercise to performed, exact intake of food required, the amount of medication needed, whether the job or living conditions are irksome and if any changes are required to be made and take necessary steps in that direction. An architect imagines a building, conceives a blue print and designs a beautiful home. Similarly, a dancer or a painter through mental imagery visualises a piece of art which is appealing and becomes the cynosure of all eyes. Soulful singers conjure melody and symphony which strike right notes and chords in our hearts and we are transported to an ethereal world. All this creation is the magic of the mind. Similarly, the middle aged man (who suffered the heart attack), the woman who was a long time sufferer of PAT, and the alcoholic son, surrendered their physical and mental unwelcome situations to a superior power and adopted various techniques and strategies of self-healing. However, the success of the therapies lies in the orientation of the mind. The mind has to be necessarily a YES MIND, believing that success is guaranteed, and their lives would be transformed with the power of mind injecting positive affirmations such as ‘I am transformed’, ‘I am healed’ and ‘I am feeling wonderful’. Why you must enhance Sattva and how to do it Sattva, the balancing force is associated with purity, intelligence, awareness, alertness, harmony, balance and equipoise. The quality is to remain extremely light in the mind, writes RAVI VALLURI Mahanama despaired at his spiritual anguish and the distraught state of his mind. Buddha analysed the pangs of his cousin and devotee’s problem and attributed it to the latter’s unfulfilled sexual desires and his struggle with sensuality. Lust and obsession, attachments and entanglements play havoc with the mental state of many a human and correspondingly the levels of ‘Sattva’ drop several notches. These act as a roadblock in the path of a layman or a seeker in search of bliss or the truth. Let us imagine or visualise an individual with a resplendent, radiant face, a bright pair of eyes, sporting a beatific smile, thick black mane, and in absolute harmony and sync with his self and nature. The visualisation is probably akin to observing a rainbow in the sky, snow-capped mountain peaks or perhaps a tranquil river or lake. Such evocative images impact the human mind or chitta, enveloping it with robust positivity. This adumbration conjures a positive disposition and increases the aura. Individuals possessing these unblemished qualities act as magnets to attract people. Usually we associate such dynamic qualities with only elevated souls perhaps dressed in saffron or whites, who exude enormous serenity and calm. It is not essential that only sages or spiritual masters possess these quintessential pristine qualities. Any individual has the potential to enhance these characteristics. ‘All actions of “Sattva”, a modification of Prakriti, characterised by light and happiness, is for the soul. When ‘Sattva’ is free from egoism and illuminated with pure intelligence of Purusha, it is called the self-centred one because in that state it becomes independent of all relations’, said Swami Vivekananda. As per the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy, there are three gunas or traits present in humans and the creation -‘Sattva’, ‘Rajas’ and ‘Tamas’. ‘Sattva’ is associated with purity, intelligence, awareness, alertness, harmony, balance and equipoise. The quality is to remain extremely light in the mind. This is the hallmark of the awakening of the soul, a springboard of spiritual awakening. ‘Rajas’ denotes that energy which invariably causes imbalances. It represents change, constant activity, restlessness, passion, disequilibrium resulting in the fragmentation in the thought process of an individual. ‘Tamas’ is the attribute which reflects dullness, darkness, despondency, inertia, lack of awareness, decay, disintegration and long periods of sleep in the individual. The colour white, associated with purity and harmony, represents ‘Sattva’, while red is symbolic of excessive action and passion which is a metaphor for ‘Rajas’. ‘Tamas’ is delineated by black which also exemplifies darkness accompanied with disintegration. A ‘Sattvik’ individual is unwavering in his dealings and does not engage in mental chatter. Such individuals are vigilant, adept in quick decision making and are circumspect by nature. But they are truly joyous and radiant. For them life is a celebration. Persons with predominant ‘Rajasik’ qualities are lustful, full of passion, constantly attached to activity and get intertwined with various attachments and entanglements. ‘Tamasik’ individuals exhibit emotions and actions of anger, disruption, pride, putrefaction and ruination. But it is well-nigh impossible for everyone in the universe to be of ‘Sattvik’ disposition as the Gods like variety. They do not eat only Okra. If there is a Buddha, Mara would also be lurking in the corner. It would be discernment on part of individuals to constantly grow in ‘Sattva’, than to begin in the winters of their lives. Humans can then harness their true potential and develop the qualities of equilibrium, equanimity and equipoise. The Swadishtan Chakra entails and exhibits the qualities of both lust and creativity. We will gain by expanding our consciousness and focussing on the attributes of creativity than be merely lustful in nature. The human mind is immensely impacted by the food we consume, the company we keep, events which take place in our lives, places we visit among others. We have to live with some ‘Karma’ but can obliterate malefic effects of certain actions by practising holistic techniques. To begin with, humans should concentrate on the food consumed. Occasional indulges apart; it is sagacious to partake of ‘Sattvik’ vegetarian food which is easily digestible and reduces craving and avarice in our minds. Breathing practices like Vipassana and Sudarshan Kriya expatriate toxins from the body make it vibrant and oozing energy. Further it is always profitable to practice yoga, pranayama and meditation. The human mind is cannonaded by innumerable thoughts. We make it even more miserable by clinging on to gizmos, becoming prisoners of technology. Our sacred space has been destroyed and occupied. This space has to be reclaimed. Man is always known by the company he keeps. To increase and buttress our ‘Sattva’ we should attend satsangs and undertake selfless ‘seva’. By actively working on these areas humans can mitigate negative influences, ebb the ‘Karmic’ bondage and uplift the level of ‘Sattva’.

Sudarshan Kriya - key to peaceful life

Sudarshan Kriya - key to peaceful life Some years ago, while I was posted at Gorakhpur, an Art of Living devotee happened to read my maiden book, The Matter of the Mind, wherein I narrated the efficacy of the Sudarshan Kriya technique and how it extricated me from the cesspool of alcoholism. It seemed aeons ago, when my mind was subsumed by tenebrosity and hurtling down the hubristic path on account of excessive drinking. My wife in sheer desperation enrolled me for the Part 1 course (now called the Happiness Programme). Today by the grace of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya I am sober. The devotee connected me to an estimable psychiatrist and soon along with two other faculty members, we began conducting courses for alcoholics and drug addicts at a rehab centre. They were around 40 and we were three. Some looked menacing, others disenchanted, a few enveloped by ennui. But in our arsenal was the potent cassette of Sudarshan Kriya and enveloped with the divine benediction of Gurudev. We began with gentle warm ups. This was followed by pranayams and finally Sudarshan Kriya. A few hardened addicts attempted to derail the Kriya. But the febrile minds gradually settled as the rhythms of Soham resonated the dingy hall. Meaning of Sudarshan Kriya The unique breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya is the fulcrum of the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living. Su means proper, Darshan implies vision and Kriya is a purifying action. Through the actions of our breath, we appreciate a proper vision of who we really are. It is momentous to understand that nature runs on a rhythm. For instance the sun rises and sets at a particular time, similarly seasons arrive and exit at predetermined times. Humans feel hungry or sleepy at certain times. Our emotions, feelings, thoughts are all cast in the symphony of rhythm. We are unable to distinguish between cacophony and symphony in this frenetic pace of life which is cannonaded by innumerable thoughts, continuous action and noise. When sounds are harmonised by the syllable of Soham we can term it as magical music. Enlightenment is not accruing anything providential but harmonising our whole being rhythmically. During the breathing process participants feel varied sensations, emotions, tingling sensations, laughter, weeping among others. But the objective is to keep breathing to the syllable of Soham in (chanted in Gurudev’s voice). Eventually all the accumulated stress is extricated and a person is thoroughly relaxed. One can experience this entire process only by undertaking the course. The breathing technique was cognated by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar after being in silence for a period of 10 days on the banks of Bhadravati River at Shimoga, a small town in Karnataka. Cassandra’s of doubt and prophets of doom have questioned the salutatory benefit of the course and the breathing technique. Researchers at NIMHANS and AIIMS have zeroed on the impact of the breathing technique, which improves the heart rate, benefits cognition, improves breathing pattern, restores calmness in the mind and body, arrests Alzheimer’s affliction, works positively on the endocrine system, all of which increase energy (or prana) levels in the human body. This technique has been used successfully used on victims of trauma, on terrorists and naxalites. This wonderful knowledge and wisdom has triggered humanness to blossom. Every cell and article of the body overflows with jollity and life is abundant with the glow of love and the body becomes the wick. Love and belongingness becomes a natural process of our inner being if practised unflinchingly and unfailingly. Several practitioners feel they can practice the breathing technique at home. But that is only walking half the path. It is indispensible and paramount that one must practice the technique daily and attend the follow up once a week, where a certified Art of Living teacher plays the chant of Soham in Guruji’s voice as it reinvigorates the body and mind. One should also be wary of imitations available on YouTube these days. Breath is the very kernel of our very existence. Therefore it is essential to breath to the correct technique. A person will gain more spiritually and physically by traversing on this journey by taking part in the bouquet of courses offered by the foundation.

How to motivate the mind to excel

How to motivate the mind to excel Do the words micro-management or detail-orientated ring a bell or strike a chord in our minds? The geometry of the febrile minds of seekers, be it spiritual masters, 24×7 politicians, emblematic thespians, writers, painters, architects, achievers or unswerving and unwavering sportspersons, get cogitated to scale the summit. A passionate and zealous mind, perhaps to the annoyance of both his contemporaries and adversaries gets to the rub and kernel, addressing the focal point. This is the quintessential trait of a motivated mind. The celebrated and talismanic trouper Aamir Khan is a perfectionist, known for gargantuan and Brobdingnagian experimentation while essaying canonical roles. His robust and resolute mind is continually and perpetually engaged to embrace what may appear impertinent ideas on the surface, but at the subterranean level is alive and kicking to deliver something prodigious and colossal. A saturnine looking, rotund and oleaginous 24×7 politician – whose snigger and smile appear almost similar- who has a penchant for playing chess and pouring into Kautilya’s Arthashastra, is brimful of ideas. His mere gaze sends shivers down the spine of foes and friends alike. This incredible gentleman has expanded the base of the political party of which he is the President across the swathes of the land. His legendary skills are what psychologists would term as detail-oriented. Sunita, a demure looking girl who hails from a bijou town of Bihar was raised in refractory and obstreperous conditions. However, undeterred she burnt the midnight oil and toiled to break into the estimable Civil Services of the country. Her motivation being the fact that bureaucrats are revered like celestial beings, virtually immortalized in Bihar and neighboring Uttar Pradesh. Hemant Sharma, an army sepoy lost his limbs in a dastardly terror attack while patrolling the border in strife stricken Jammu and Kashmir. Despite his prosthetic limbs, the former soldier is determined to take part in an expedition to Mount Kailasa and is training extensively for the spiritual sojourn. He sports a beaming smile which camouflages and conceals the enduring pain and agony. The mind is suffused with jollity and has demolished all antipathetic and demonic thoughts. The former army personnel’s son Aman is a tutee in a college and doubles up as a waiter in an eatery. The strapping youngster is saving every penny to spring for his illustrious father’s expedition. They are all blessed individuals, who are indoctrinated with high levels of motivation to achieve excellence in their chosen field. Such individuals are self-propelled and goal driven. They have broken the false glass ceilings of frustration and cultural influences to attain their dreams and ambitions. Motivation is derived from the Latin word ‘movere’. Essentially, it refers to movement of activity. The bedrock of motivation lies in what is termed by eminent psychoanalysts and psychologists as motivation cycle. The trigger is a need which translates itself into a drive, that driver translates into arousal of thought process, which further results in goal-directed behavior. Consequently, the ecstatic human mind dives into achievement and eventually culminates in the reduction of the arousal of the need. Invariably deficit or extreme desire dispatch signals to the human mind. This flushed state leads to a condition of drive. It is an arousal state in the mind which results in tension and energizes the mind to engage in what is termed as random activity in psychological parlance. Sequentially, this leads random activities to achieve the desired objective, target or goal. Once the target is accomplished the excited and emotional mind is at peace and attains tranquility. But this state of hush and repose is not a settled issue. Once again, the motivational cycle that operates, Need-Drive-Arousal-Goal Oriented Behavior- Achievement- Reduction of arousal. It has been hypothesised by psychologists that our daily lives are governed by two kinds of motives. The first one is physiological, while the other is psychological. Physiological motives focus on causes such as hormonal balances, neurotransmitters, brain structures such as hypothalamus, limbic system. These result in our daily requirements like satiating our hunger, quenching human thirst and sexual motives. Hunger is triggered by stimuli for hunger. The motivation to quench thirst arises from depletion of water from cells and reduction of blood volume. Humans and animals covet sex because release of hormones. Sexual gratification is also predetermined by cultural factors and the company we keep. Today social media, technology has further fuelled the imagination of humans to explore that which was perhaps earlier cloaked under the garb of respectability. The underlying factors which contribute towards psychological motivation include the focus on psychological, social and environmental factors. An impenetrable and inviolable desire to be successful, recognised by the society at large, need for affiliation, requirement for unbridled power, sheer curiosity, exploring the unknown and self-actualisation are other psychological triggers. The motivational cycle certainly challenges the mind to achieve even that which seems impossible. However, an individual gets ensnared in the vortex of this motivational cycle which causes stress on the mind. Success feeds success; but over a period, success also begins to feed stress. So, the question is can human beings break free from the cauldron of motivational cycle? Sage Ashtavakra has extensively deliberated on the concept of the state of stillness of the human mind. The realisation that all acts arise, suffer, change and pass away and in no manner, should it disturb our mental equilibrium assuages a stressed mind. The path to salvation lies in being able to calm the mind through the practice of wakefulness or mindfulness. We feel light as a feather and experience jollity and bliss, when we neither grieve misfortune nor carouse in success. Thus nature has bestowed upon us the mechanism and springboard to motivate the mind to excel. However, we are often subsumed by avarice and greed as results appear startling. But these are merely illusory like the electricity produced by sensual pleasures. It is then that mindful awareness and a state of detached attachment acts as our lifeboat. Sudarshan Kriya - key to peaceful life Some years ago, while I was posted at Gorakhpur, an Art of Living devotee happened to read my maiden book, The Matter of the Mind, wherein I narrated the efficacy of the Sudarshan Kriya technique and how it extricated me from the cesspool of alcoholism. It seemed aeons ago, when my mind was subsumed by tenebrosity and hurtling down the hubristic path on account of excessive drinking. My wife in sheer desperation enrolled me for the Part 1 course (now called the Happiness Programme). Today by the grace of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya I am sober. The devotee connected me to an estimable psychiatrist and soon along with two other faculty members, we began conducting courses for alcoholics and drug addicts at a rehab centre. They were around 40 and we were three. Some looked menacing, others disenchanted, a few enveloped by ennui. But in our arsenal was the potent cassette of Sudarshan Kriya and enveloped with the divine benediction of Gurudev. We began with gentle warm ups. This was followed by pranayams and finally Sudarshan Kriya. A few hardened addicts attempted to derail the Kriya. But the febrile minds gradually settled as the rhythms of Soham resonated the dingy hall. Meaning of Sudarshan Kriya The unique breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya is the fulcrum of the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living. Su means proper, Darshan implies vision and Kriya is a purifying action. Through the actions of our breath, we appreciate a proper vision of who we really are. It is momentous to understand that nature runs on a rhythm. For instance the sun rises and sets at a particular time, similarly seasons arrive and exit at predetermined times. Humans feel hungry or sleepy at certain times. Our emotions, feelings, thoughts are all cast in the symphony of rhythm. We are unable to distinguish between cacophony and symphony in this frenetic pace of life which is cannonaded by innumerable thoughts, continuous action and noise. When sounds are harmonised by the syllable of Soham we can term it as magical music. Enlightenment is not accruing anything providential but harmonising our whole being rhythmically. During the breathing process participants feel varied sensations, emotions, tingling sensations, laughter, weeping among others. But the objective is to keep breathing to the syllable of Soham in (chanted in Gurudev’s voice). Eventually all the accumulated stress is extricated and a person is thoroughly relaxed. One can experience this entire process only by undertaking the course. The breathing technique was cognated by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar after being in silence for a period of 10 days on the banks of Bhadravati River at Shimoga, a small town in Karnataka. Cassandra’s of doubt and prophets of doom have questioned the salutatory benefit of the course and the breathing technique. Researchers at NIMHANS and AIIMS have zeroed on the impact of the breathing technique, which improves the heart rate, benefits cognition, improves breathing pattern, restores calmness in the mind and body, arrests Alzheimer’s affliction, works positively on the endocrine system, all of which increase energy (or prana) levels in the human body. This technique has been used successfully used on victims of trauma, on terrorists and naxalites. This wonderful knowledge and wisdom has triggered humanness to blossom. Every cell and article of the body overflows with jollity and life is abundant with the glow of love and the body becomes the wick. Love and belongingness becomes a natural process of our inner being if practised unflinchingly and unfailingly. Several practitioners feel they can practice the breathing technique at home. But that is only walking half the path. It is indispensible and paramount that one must practice the technique daily and attend the follow up once a week, where a certified Art of Living teacher plays the chant of Soham in Guruji’s voice as it reinvigorates the body and mind. One should also be wary of imitations available on YouTube these days. Breath is the very kernel of our very existence. Therefore it is essential to breath to the correct technique. A person will gain more spiritually and physically by traversing on this

How to motivate the mind to excel

How to motivate the mind to excel Do the words micro-management or detail-orientated ring a bell or strike a chord in our minds? The geometry of the febrile minds of seekers, be it spiritual masters, 24×7 politicians, emblematic thespians, writers, painters, architects, achievers or unswerving and unwavering sportspersons, get cogitated to scale the summit. A passionate and zealous mind, perhaps to the annoyance of both his contemporaries and adversaries gets to the rub and kernel, addressing the focal point. This is the quintessential trait of a motivated mind. The celebrated and talismanic trouper Aamir Khan is a perfectionist, known for gargantuan and Brobdingnagian experimentation while essaying canonical roles. His robust and resolute mind is continually and perpetually engaged to embrace what may appear impertinent ideas on the surface, but at the subterranean level is alive and kicking to deliver something prodigious and colossal. A saturnine looking, rotund and oleaginous 24×7 politician – whose snigger and smile appear almost similar- who has a penchant for playing chess and pouring into Kautilya’s Arthashastra, is brimful of ideas. His mere gaze sends shivers down the spine of foes and friends alike. This incredible gentleman has expanded the base of the political party of which he is the President across the swathes of the land. His legendary skills are what psychologists would term as detail-oriented. Sunita, a demure looking girl who hails from a bijou town of Bihar was raised in refractory and obstreperous conditions. However, undeterred she burnt the midnight oil and toiled to break into the estimable Civil Services of the country. Her motivation being the fact that bureaucrats are revered like celestial beings, virtually immortalized in Bihar and neighboring Uttar Pradesh. Hemant Sharma, an army sepoy lost his limbs in a dastardly terror attack while patrolling the border in strife stricken Jammu and Kashmir. Despite his prosthetic limbs, the former soldier is determined to take part in an expedition to Mount Kailasa and is training extensively for the spiritual sojourn. He sports a beaming smile which camouflages and conceals the enduring pain and agony. The mind is suffused with jollity and has demolished all antipathetic and demonic thoughts. The former army personnel’s son Aman is a tutee in a college and doubles up as a waiter in an eatery. The strapping youngster is saving every penny to spring for his illustrious father’s expedition. They are all blessed individuals, who are indoctrinated with high levels of motivation to achieve excellence in their chosen field. Such individuals are self-propelled and goal driven. They have broken the false glass ceilings of frustration and cultural influences to attain their dreams and ambitions. Motivation is derived from the Latin word ‘movere’. Essentially, it refers to movement of activity. The bedrock of motivation lies in what is termed by eminent psychoanalysts and psychologists as motivation cycle. The trigger is a need which translates itself into a drive, that driver translates into arousal of thought process, which further results in goal-directed behavior. Consequently, the ecstatic human mind dives into achievement and eventually culminates in the reduction of the arousal of the need. Invariably deficit or extreme desire dispatch signals to the human mind. This flushed state leads to a condition of drive. It is an arousal state in the mind which results in tension and energizes the mind to engage in what is termed as random activity in psychological parlance. Sequentially, this leads random activities to achieve the desired objective, target or goal. Once the target is accomplished the excited and emotional mind is at peace and attains tranquility. But this state of hush and repose is not a settled issue. Once again, the motivational cycle that operates, Need-Drive-Arousal-Goal Oriented Behavior- Achievement- Reduction of arousal. It has been hypothesised by psychologists that our daily lives are governed by two kinds of motives. The first one is physiological, while the other is psychological. Physiological motives focus on causes such as hormonal balances, neurotransmitters, brain structures such as hypothalamus, limbic system. These result in our daily requirements like satiating our hunger, quenching human thirst and sexual motives. Hunger is triggered by stimuli for hunger. The motivation to quench thirst arises from depletion of water from cells and reduction of blood volume. Humans and animals covet sex because release of hormones. Sexual gratification is also predetermined by cultural factors and the company we keep. Today social media, technology has further fuelled the imagination of humans to explore that which was perhaps earlier cloaked under the garb of respectability. The underlying factors which contribute towards psychological motivation include the focus on psychological, social and environmental factors. An impenetrable and inviolable desire to be successful, recognised by the society at large, need for affiliation, requirement for unbridled power, sheer curiosity, exploring the unknown and self-actualisation are other psychological triggers. The motivational cycle certainly challenges the mind to achieve even that which seems impossible. However, an individual gets ensnared in the vortex of this motivational cycle which causes stress on the mind. Success feeds success; but over a period, success also begins to feed stress. So, the question is can human beings break free from the cauldron of motivational cycle? Sage Ashtavakra has extensively deliberated on the concept of the state of stillness of the human mind. The realisation that all acts arise, suffer, change and pass away and in no manner, should it disturb our mental equilibrium assuages a stressed mind. The path to salvation lies in being able to calm the mind through the practice of wakefulness or mindfulness. We feel light as a feather and experience jollity and bliss, when we neither grieve misfortune nor carouse in success. Thus nature has bestowed upon us the mechanism and springboard to motivate the mind to excel. However, we are often subsumed by avarice and greed as results appear startling. But these are merely illusory like the electricity produced by sensual pleasures. It is then that mindful awareness and a state of detached attachment acts as our lifeboat.

Channel anxiety the right way

Channel anxiety the right way Rambunctious crowds in the cauldron, millions riveted to the idiot box, and a zillion other connected through social media, with a bated breath follow an India- Pakistan cricket match. It seems eons ago that hockey was our national game and our pride. India were tipped to defeat arch rivals Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games. But the home team was vanquished by the neighbors from across the border, 7-1. Gloom prevailed in the Indian contingent and the nation was ashen-faced as Pakistanis celebrated with euphoria. Meanwhile Kapil’s Devils, befuddling all cricketing pundits, forestalled the West Indians’ attempt to triumph in the Prudential Cup for the third consecutive time. Cricket was soon to replace hockey as our national passion and obsession. More than three decades later two crucial games were being played in the land of our former colonial masters, England, on 18th of June this year. India worsted Pakistan 7-1 in hockey (a similar score line when we lost in the year 1982). However, millions of hearts were broken as India suffered the ignominy of losing by 180 runs in the Champions Trophy. Did Virat Kohli err by opting to field, instead of relying on our famed batting potential? Were Indians petrified to face the breakneck pace of Pakistani fast bowlers? These are secrets which will perhaps forever remain in the closet. Sameer, was armed with a degree in management from an estimable institute. Having specialised in the field of marketing management, he was well versed with the 4Ps of marketing. The young trainee fantasised at this juncture of his life about joining a FMCG company, earning a Falstaffian salary and over a period acquire an opulent property in the up-market area of the town. But there was an element of hesitation in his mind about successfully crossing the final hurdle – the interview. As the mind was not in the present moment and fixated on the future it remained anxious and continuously agitated. Thus, it was not in a state of equilibrium, equipoise and equanimity. Meanwhile, Siddhartha his school mate majored in architecture and apprenticed at celebrated architectural firm in the city. Siddhartha however, was not content in designing buildings. He possessed a febrile mind which ached to pursue a greenfield area called entertainment design. The stripling self-taught himself and acquired ultra-modern and newfangled skill sets. Fortified with the newly acquired knowledge he launched to prepare a portfolio consisting of visionary and ingenious graphics, sketches and paintings. Yet, mentally he was anxious, tense and strained as to what lay in future. It is a normal human tendency to be apprehensive prior to anxious situations as it is not in the present moment. Several individuals become splenetic and waspish. Invariably there is a churning in the abdomen region and the mind is subsumed with anxiety. Arjuna, in possession of a lethal arsenal was benumbed seeing the mammoth army of the Kauravas. This, even though Lord Krishna was his charioteer. At zero hour prior to the showdown at Kurukshetra he lay down his weaponry. The consummate warrior could not distinguish between righteousness and malevolence. The demons in his mind were eventually dispelled through Vishwarupa Darshan of Lord Krishna and the song celestial- The Bhagvad Gita. It may be pertinent to mention that an element of anxiety is paramount to act as a trigger. It motivates the mind to accomplish the task on hand and excel to produce high octane stuff. However, if the level of fear and anxiety exceeds an optimum level, it acts as an impediment in optimizing performance and achieving the goals envisaged. The nervous system of an overwrought and flurried individual becomes highly stressed resulting in a below par performance. Psychologists have advanced a two-pronged strategy to combat such inhospitable states, firstly by closely monitoring the piquant state and taking prompt and effective action and second, by avoiding and blunting the situation. Monitoring involves taking several proactive steps. Advanced and well-rehearsed preparation prior to a significant event; this is tapasya and no one can relax on this ground. The mind should be resolute and robust to incessantly practice like the celebrated archer Arjuna. Another step is continuous rehearsals primarily involve the concept of visualisation. Creating conditions of a mock run of the event within the amphitheater of the mind is a time-tested strategy. In the process, the individual de-clutters the mind and gets rid of the baggage of anxiety and fear. The Inoculation technique is another effective strategy. An individual insulates the self against the perils of stress through constant exposure to rehearsals and role playing. This mentally toughens up the candidate to be prepared for the scrutiny and appraisal with utmost confidence and credence. Further, adopting a positive dispensation is invaluable. It would be sagacious for an individual to make an inventory of possible deficiencies and the ways and means to overcome them through efficacious thoughts. Finally, seeking the help of family members, peer groups, friends, reading motivational literature to suffuse the mind with affirmative and propitious thoughts. In addition, there are blunting tactics and strategies which help to augment the above. It is perspicacious and canny to drown in physical activity. It could be going for long walks, swimming, hitting the gym, taking up a sport or learning yogic techniques to destress. These activities release endorphins which assuage the mind. Simultaneously, an individual will appear chiseled and smart. There are other ways to remain happy. For instance, join the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living to learn the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya which calms the body and mind. Lean pranayama and various techniques of meditation to remain in the present moment. For only when a human being is in the present moment which is inevitable is he insulated from anxiety and manages inexpedient and onerous situations.