Where Do we Live ?

We don’t live in bungalows, duplexes or flats. We live in our minds.  

Yes, that’s our permanent residence. And there are no constraints of square-feet there. It’s a vast space with unlimited area. And you know what! No matter how well-organized your rooms, balconies, garages and verandas are, life is good only when things are sorted there – in your mind.

And that’s where we keep things messy – regrets piling up in one corner, expectations stuffed in a closet, secrets under the carpet, worries littered everywhere, comparisons spilt on the table, complexes leaking from an old bottle...

Be aware. For this ‘real home’ of yours, you can’t outsource housekeeping. You got to do it yourself.

Inside The Mind of a Successful Person- Free Press Journal Mumbai

http://www.freepressjournal.in/weekend/inside-the-mind-of-a-successful-person/1385130

Vedic Mathematics — learn The Art of Living Way

During the last century (1884–1960), Sri Krishna Thirtha Maharaj reintroduced the Vedic Mathematics through relentless research work with the available information at Shringeri mutt between 1911–1913. He was a renowned scholar with several records against his name and was indeed prodigiously talented. He was the  Sankaracharya at Saradha Peeth  during 1921–1925 and once again adorned the position at Gowardhan Peeth during 1925–1960.

This  remarkable repository of knowledge combines 16 sutras, 13 upa-sutras and Vinkulam besides an  efficient mechanism of  COMBO operations. The Vedic Mathematics is known for  its simplicity and speed. It takes merely one line to arrive at the ultimate result without any botheration of  intermediate results. The veracity of the result too is checked with alacrity and authenticity.

This knowledge  can be a boon and a luxury to enhance  the performance and efficiency  of the  central processing unit of a  computer that  has apparently witnessed an element of saturation  and stagnation since the beginning of this century. This ancient knowledge can  be complimentary to contemporary mathematics which is  imparted to young minds  at schools.

Of late, several  research papers have been  tabled and the subject has been analysed threadbare  at various international Engineering and Computer conferences. The  ‘role of Vedic Mathematics is to speed up the computer’ and to  focus on  the power and importance of Vedic Mathematics in the contemporary world of numbers are fascinating areas  and are igniting the minds of both the  traditionalists and scientists alike. After all, this was the country which gave the world the concept of zero. So we know our numbers.

Vedic Mathematics can help students in numerous ways:

–      It is complementary to the existing pedagogy of imparting the knowledge of mathematics.

–     Studies indicate that students find it simple, quick and intelligent tool to understand and grasp the mystery of arithmetic.

–    The pedagogy with the emphasis on speed is truly Godsend during competitive exams which have  quantitative aptitude questions.

–    Those learning the skill excel in grasping the power of  ‘numbers’.

–    Most importantly this technique dispels  the ‘fear’ of Maths.

–  The remarkable  independent result verification technique enforces  to confirm the authenticity and  correctness of the results.

–      Significantly, the simple one  line mental solution is a real gift to the learner.

–      There are two hemispheres in the brain. The left and the right. While the left side focuses on logic and sciences, the right hemisphere enhances our artistic abilities. A student who learns Vedic Mathematics can  holistically  develop both the hemispheres of the brain as it simultaneously  activates both the sides.

–    Most importantly, the mind is cultivated and cultured to be in the present moment through heightened  awareness levels. Gurudev always emphasizes to be in the present moment as the present moment is inevitable.

In the present moment, the mind does not oscillate between the past and future. The past is brimful of regrets and the future hangs on to the coattails of anxiety and worry. Sudarshan Kriya the unique breathing rhythmic breathing technique brings our mind to the present.

Therefore, students enroll for this unique course on Vedic Mathematics are  imparted Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique  by the Art of Living

Intuition Process of Art of Living

The Art of Living Intuition Process is a two-day programme which has been  introduced for kids and teenagers between 6–18 years of age, with startling results.

We all are born with a natural ability to perceive beyond our senses. This is especially visible in children whose minds are still fresh, less obsessive and more in tune with nature. They are truly childlike and not childish.

This Process helps them to tap into the intuitive abilities of their minds which is demonstrated by them seeing colours, reading texts and also identifying pictures with their eyes closed!

The  workshop has been  designed by HH Sri Sri Ravishankar  which will radically change their approach to imbibing skills, learning processes and education in a seamless and wonderful way. The process harbingers an uncluttered mind and a bright future.

Guruji  indicated that this workshop would  enable kids and teens to ‘get the right thought at the right time’.

Some of the startling benefits of the Intuition Process are listed below:

v  Improves intuition

v  Enhances sensory abilities

v  Improves awareness and foresight

v  Increases confidence

v  Removes fear of the unknown

v  Increases creativity and intelligence                                                                                                                              

Children are like flowers. Their thoughts, emotions and feelings are fresh like dew on petals. As Buddha says, ‘When you like a flower, you pluck it. But when you love a flower, you water it daily.’  This is what the Intuition Process will do to children. Parents and teachers need to love their children for them to flower and blossom.

Entering the Pyramid through the ‘Happiness Programme’

Radha’s (name changed)  palms were sweaty and her  face was twitching with trepidation. She was subsumed by a panic attack while  entering  the examination hall. The performance was below par for which she shed copious tears in solitude. Why me? she thought. Yet, there were no answers forthcoming.

Later in life,  her mind was filled with several demons and cobwebs. She could never dress  properly and always remained inelegant  as she suffered from spectrophobia (phobia of mirrors). The problem confounded further and Radha began suffering from  gamophobia (fear of marriage). .
Her father was a leading lawyer, a successful businessman and an emerging politician. With all  the power at his command and disposal, the girl was compelled to marry much against her wishes. But she had no choice. As it turned out   Radha could not conceive  as she suffered from metrophobia (phobia of motherhood).

The  marriage did not get consummated for two reasons. One, the mental condition of the girl and two, her husband turned out to be gay. This was known to the parents of Radha and her husband.  However, their will prevailed. Two lives were torpedoed by inconsiderate acts of  parents who thought things would become ‘normal’ once the wedding took place. Soon, Radha was sent back to her parental house and became an object of ridicule. The girl was suffering and her mother remained distressed. Did the family make an attempt to appreciate   what was going on Radha’s mind? The overbearing father did not have the patience and time to deal with his daughter. Does our patriarchal society permit fathers to delve deep into the problems confronting the ‘girl child’? The problems of the terror stricken and horrified girl were unending. She could see only a dark tunnel, with no hope for any redemption. Orthodoxy, social taboos and a traditional approach act as barriers, preventing parents from seeking the help of a trained psychiatrist or counsellor.

 To begin with, it was a mere urinary infection. Unfortunately, it assumed gargantuan proportions. Timely medical help and psychiatric treatment  would have addressed the issue. Sadly, women in this country have to bear the brunt of many injustices and suffer needlessly.

Her prayers remained unanswered. Skeptics see this as an evidence that prayers do not work. The human minds, such as those of Radha, are unable to differentiate the chaff from the grain and chimera from true contentment.

The mind focuses only on negativity. The layers of mind receive signals such as: ‘Things are getting worse, I have no refuge, I will never find any answer, the situation is hopeless, my mind is cannonaded by everything wrong, I have no where to go’. Prayers such as ‘I hope that I recover, I hope that I will be healed’, do not work because these prayers at a sub-lateral level of the human mind are filled with only doubts and disbelief.

The Bible says, ‘Whatever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.’ This is the Law of Universe.
The afflicted should acknowledge that there is a problem, turn the problem to the subconscious mind and develop a deep conviction that thy will be done. It is then that the human mind starts receiving positive signals and  starts to function in a  productive manner.  Ignorance of the power of mind and spiritual powers act as a roadblock in resolving the issue.

Fortuitously a ‘Happiness Programme’ of the Art of Living was scheduled in her neighbourhood and she enrolled for the programme courtesy her maternal aunt, who benefited immensely by getting rid of a debilitating asthmatic condition and treating diabetes through the course. This a personality development programme which hinges on a unique breathing technique  called the Sudarshan Kriya. Apart from learning the breathing technique, Radha also learnt Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation.

This opened a whole new vista in her life. She could overcome anxiety, panic attacks, depression and hypertension. She also developed the confidence to seek medical help for her urinary tract infection and consulted a psychiatrist to deal with the remaining demons in her mind.

She went on to undertake the Advanced Meditation Course and Divya  Samaj Nirman (DSN) course offered by the Art of Living. It has transformed her life and she could upend the pyramid.
The limbering, fearful Radha has now become an intrepid Seva warrior. She is serving people and the society by being a selfless volunteer of the Art of Living. JGD

Suvarnaprashanam —An Ayurvedic Treatment for Children

Sri Sri Ayurveda conducts a therapy that in Ayurvedic parlance is commonly  referred  to  as Suvarnaprashanam. This medical treatment is a holistic one which immunizes children immensely. It is a  safe Ayurvedic mechanism  which is beneficial for the normal growth and  development of children. As per the cardinal principles of  Ayurveda, the  medicine is to be  administered  on the day of Pushya Nakshatra of every month to enhance its efficacy.
There are remarkable benefits which accrue in the following forms:

•  The  immunity of  the child gets augmented.
• It has been observed that the levels of  intelligence, sharpness and alacrity among children get  enhanced.
• The treatment  helps in the  maintenance of balanced  health and arrests the common recurrence of  infections  such as asthma and other allergic conditions.
•  The  span of attention, especially the concentration of the child and also the learning ability increases  significantly.
• In particular, it helps those children who  suffer from perennial wetting of the bed and other psychosomatic disorders.
• The treatment aids  in the  improvement of  speech, hearing and other visual activity among children.
• This  treatment helps in the improvement of digestion and enhances the lustre of their skin and makes them attractive.

Sri Sri Suvarnaprashanam is regularly administered to children from the time of  birth till the age of 10 years with remarkable physical and mental benefits.
‘It is said that destiny belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams and have the courage to pursue it. Don’t stop when you are tired, stop when you are done,’ says HH  Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Unveiling of The Infinite Mind by H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessed, very grateful and privileged that H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was kind enough to unveil

'The Infinite Mind' at the Art of Living International Ashram, Bangalore on 18 October, 2018. This is my third book and is co-authored with Ankush Garg.

The book is available on Flipkart, Amazon.in, Amazon.com, Notionpress store, Amazon.co.uk infibeam.com, Amazon kindle and GooglePlay. It is also available at the following stores:

The Art of Living International Ashram, Bangalore 

The Precious Gift of Life

http://epaper.freepressjournal.in/1809766/Free-Press-Mumbai-Edition/09-Sep-2018#page/15/1

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. Sanjivini Mudra entails fixing the index finger on the base of the thumb and middle and ring finger touch 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. This duration of the 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 recovery from myocardial infraction, the middle-aged person undertook courses of the Art of Living and learned the unique breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya, which detoxified his system and craving for drinking and helped him stage both a physical and a 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 provided 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 the reservoir of potential which we fail to tap. If exploited to optimum level, it can help in destroying cariogenic cells, eliminating toxins, combating infections, fighting foreign bodies and enhancing self-repair mechanisms. The placebo effect of the human mind plays a major role in the recovery of a patient.

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. ‘Ask and it shall be given you; and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.’ — MATT 7:7

Later in life, when her son turned an alcoholic, she once again developed  a similar heart condition. She had to steel herself and become mentally adept and strong enough to undertake courses in Vipassana, the Art of Living Courses, 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 Pranayamas, which have helped to fortify her system.

The breath and the mind have a deep relationship. By simply observing the breath, toxins are purged from the system and there is great mental clarity to view life in its totality.

Meditation and breathing techniques such Nadi Shodhan Pranayama (alternate nostril breathing), Sudarshan Kriya,  Mudra Pranayama, etc. act as shields to ward off illnesses. These processes clear the mind of several cobwebs and the individual 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.

There is a chilling story of an alcoholic who met with nine near-fatal accidents. He lost his memory for a period of time. He attributes his recovery to the Alcoholic Anonymous.

In order to quit his worship of Bacchus, he used to go on the 41-day Ayyappa pilgrimage which of course was a temporary measure because upon the completion of the pilgrimage, he hit the bottle again.

The mind was fixated with the bottle and he could not conquer those baser instincts. As Bob Marley has sung, ‘Herb is the healing of the nation; alcohol is the destruction.’

Finally, the battle against the bottle was won in the mind after a spiritual awakening that there is a superior power which governs our lives. Surrender to the superior power and accepting the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous enabled the individual to regain sobriety.

An architect imagines a building and conceives a blue print and designs a beautiful home. Similarly, a dancer or a painter through their mental imagery visualise a piece of art which appeals to the eye of the cynosure. 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 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’. This auto suggestion mechanism of the human mind begets positivity all around.

Feasting and Fasting

‘It always depresses me when people moan about how commercial Christmas is. I love everything about it. The tradition of having this big feast, slap bang in the middle of winter, is an essential thing to look forward to at the end of the year,’ writes Richard E. Grant.

India is a pluralistic country practicing multiple faiths; Holi and Ram Navami are Hindu festivals interspersed with Good Friday and Easter. I have several Christian friends and my maternal uncle is married to a Christian, so I will be partaking Easter cake (without eggs). My maternal uncle has been informed about the choice of cake. This will be followed by Muslim friends celebrating Eid and we savor Sevayian (a delicacy). The list is endless. Festivals follow festivals and our stomachs seldom get the time to relax. Then there is party time, family togetherness, picnics, office staff celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. We are not anti-social people so keep attending marriage festivities and innumerable birthdays bashes. A relative drops in from the US and there is a customary family get together. The company achieves certain corporate objectives and there is all-round celebration. All of us should feel grateful for the abundance that nature has provided us with; but do we pause to think about our abdominal region.

Ayurveda has imparted this quintessential knowledge what we partake determines our health and quality of life. The ancient seer Sushrut says, ‘Food builds and supports the body, improves complexion and general appearance.’

Overeating causes heaviness in the body and makes us sluggish and uncomfortable. Over a period of time, our metabolic rate gets disturbed and the process of elimination gets disrupted and warped.

Taittareya Upanishad succinctly puts it — ‘Food is the cause of creation, preservation and destruction. Therefore food is all in all — Anna Brahma. It is life itself. It is God’.
Yet, do we care in this age of junk and packaged food? Do humans care about a wholesome diet? A wholesome diet is one that provides energy (prana) and helps in the restoration of balance. It does not clog the channels (Nadis). Two harmful substances consumed are excessive salt and sugar. Any doctor will vouchsafe this aspect about of food.

The human body is a sublime gift of God, it sends us the important signals — when to fast after feasting!
Amas or toxins are to be necessarily released by the system. And this can be done through the method of fasting. Our seers and Rishis advocated fasting ( say during certain festivals, Ekadashi) to provide adequate space for digestion. Fasting is nature’s method of cleansing the system . It detoxifies the body by throwing out all waste matter and impurities which get accumulated through heavy splurging, improper  eating patterns and adopting harmful lifestyles (lack of exercise, smoking and drinking). The body gets diseased through the accumulation of toxic substances and acids. It invades the digestive process.

Fasting once in 15 days is indeed a  therapeutic measure as it cleanses our blood and replenishes the depleted vitamins and other important reserves to be stored in the body.
To purge the body from all things negative and toxins, it would be worthwhile to have plenty of liquids like lime juice and other juices. Also, to be on a fruit diet so that the stomach can regain its digestive power.

Good health is man’s inherent nature — ‘A sound body with a sound mind!’ Gandhiji used to take immense care of his body through regular fasting. Of course, in a lighter vein, Sarojini Naidu used to say that it cost a fortune to keep Gandhiji in poverty.

Along with fasting, one needs to maintain a schedule of exercise. Long walks, Yoga, Pranayama and breathing practices like Sudarshan Kriya help in the restoration of balance in the system.

Battling Cancer

The grandparents were in possession of a ten year visa for their annual trips to Europe and  they were undergoing  a   medical check-up  to be insured.

An inconsolable mother rang up her sons in England and Holland to communicate that their father was suffering from cancer. The sons to rushed assuage the emotionally distraught parents.  But where is the visa to combat cancer?

The father is currently   undergoing chemotherapy and braving radiation therapy. The mother has been impacted psychologically and is a victim of innumerable ailments such as hypertension, high sugar levels, intermittent cough and has become a virtual nervous wreck.

Why me? Any patient will ask this question and it is gut-wrenching for the family to break the news.

Cancer, also known as a malignant tumour or malignant neoplasm, is a group of diseases involving abnormal growth with the propensity to spread and ingress to other parts of the human body. The sun sign becomes an ailment!

February 4 is observed as the World Cancer Day. Today, the largest contributor of  deaths is cardiac arrest or cardiopulmonary arrest. WHO posits that  cancer will outdistance cardiac arrests by 2025.

The Geneva-based Union for International Cancer and Control, has around 800 members spread over 155 countries. The body emphatically alludes that early detection of the disease and  palliative measures can challenge the  sickness. Notably,  their theme till the year would be WE CAN, I CAN, DEFEAT CANCER. This springs from optimism.

‘Cancer can take away all of my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul,’ writes Jim Valdor.

WHO has analysed  that  there are around 7 lac cancer deaths in India and around 10 lac people contract the disease every year. Among women, claim oncologists breast cancer, cervical and ovarian cancer is extremely prevalent.  Consumption of tobacco,  smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol  are  other  contributory factors which are leading to widespread increase in cancer.

The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention describes tobacco use as ‘the single most important preventable risk to human health in developed countries and an important cause of premature death worldwide’. Several countries have adopted stringent measures to control the consumption of tobacco with the usage and sale restrictions as well as bold warning messages printed on the packaging.

Smoking causes cancers of the larynx and the mouth and hypertension, besides polluting the environment. Secondary smoking is equally debilitating for the passive smoker. WHO argues that cigarettes sold in underdeveloped countries tend to have higher tar content and are less likely to be filtered, potentially increasing the vulnerability of tobacco and smoking-related diseases. Despite the inherent perils, people continue to chew tobacco, smoke and drink.

An anxious patient prays and hopes that the growth is benign. Sometimes, however, they  are misplaced and the tumour is malignant. How is the news to be broken to the patient? It requires enormous skill and dexterity to reveal the truth to the patient and the family since both are under tremendous distress.

Dr Ranjana Shrivastava, an oncologist from Australia, belabours that the news should be broken with extreme care, caution and a human touch. She also suggests workshops for patients and the traumatised family.

Apart from early detection and early cure, a change in lifestyle is fundamental in tackling this lethal disease.

Doctors arguably say no to smoking and advise the patient to refrain from alcohol. Individuals  need to draw up a schedule of diet and exercise. Exercise releases endorphins thay have an analgesic effect on the human body and mind.

Practise of yoga (under a qualified practitioner), pranayama and breathing techniques such as Sudarshan Kriya help in detoxifying the human body.

Whether diseased (hopefully not) or healthy, man should be surrounded by positive company and thoughts. Managing the mind to remain calm and contented provides roots to be mentally strong and sturdy. Reading inspiring literature of cancer survivors and their life stories acts as a  parachute for those afflicted with cancer.

‘Time is shortening. But every day that I challenge this cancer, is a victory for me,’ said the talismanic  actress Ingrid Bergman.

My Mother

‘The rain drop from the sky: if it is caught in hands, it is pure enough for drinking. If it falls in a gutter, its value drops so much that it can’t be used even for washing the feet. If it falls on a hot surface, it perishes. If it falls on a lotus leaf, it shines like a pearl, and finally, if it falls on an oyster, it becomes a pearl. The drop is thesame, but its existence and worth depend on with whom it associates’.

Always be associated with people who are good at heart. This is what Swami Vivekananda said.

My mother shares her birthday with Swami Vivekananda (12 January).

Association, Sangha  and Satsang have been her  strong points. She nurtured strong bonding with all religious faiths and spiritually inclined people. I recall her association with Sathya Sai Baba, Ganapathi Sachchidanda Swamiji, Raghavendra Swami Mutt, Swami Chinmayananda, Jiddu Krishnamurthy, Mahesh Yogi and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. She was also associated with Mother’s International, Mother Teressa, CBCI and CARITAS.

She wanted to pursue medicine but life did not take that trajectory.  ‘Faith plus action becomes unstoppable,’ writes Jonathan Lockwood Hue.  So she became a qualified medical social worker and worked diligently at the Rajan Babu TB Hospital, Delhi.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar  says, ‘Open your hands and the sky is in your hands.’ In order to combat and challenge the disease of tuberculosis, she initiated several rehabilitation projects. This included a creche for the children of those afflicted with this malady, a clothes stitching centre, and candle and match-making units.

She used to tell patients and their children, ‘Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.’ Thus, patients afflicted with TB, but not bed-ridden, participated in the projects. This was what she called ‘Diversionary Therapy’. The patient’s mind was diverted from the disease and recovery rate was rapid. In these endeavours, she received tremendous support from eminent people like  Shri A. Rama Rao of Khadi and Village Industries, Professor Pathak of Delhi School of Social Work, Shri A.V.K. Chaitanya,  a Trade Union leader and confidante of Shri George Fernandes, Bibi Altussalam, a veteran Congress leader, Shri Dhanraj Ojha, an RSS leader, and Bishop Remegius and Bishop Rego of the Catholic Church (CBCI and CARITAS). The mission was to serve. Religious barriers did not pose any problems. As the objective and goal were so lofty, the Universal energy ensured that those belonging to ideologies be it the left, right and centre, all collaborated with certitude.

‘The mind is not a dustbin to keep anger, hatred and jealousy in. It is the treasure box to keep love, happiness and sweet memories,’ said Swami Vivekananda. Thus, RB TB Hospital became the melting pot of all religions to forge hands and assist in the mammoth task of rehabilitation of the afflicted. The TB Hospital became a unique template for the methods adopted by doctors, para-medic staff, social workers, government bodies and NGOs, all to contribute in the rehabilitation of the patients.

Climate changes, civilizations collapse, government change and political affiliations alter and even the best possible model collapses. This is inevitable. As Buddha says, ‘The only permanent thing in life is impermanence.’ The lofty objectives were not approved by a new set of hospital administrators and the beacon of hope collapsed.

This was an  extremely traumatic for my mother and she became a patient of paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia (PAT). This is a type of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). Paroxysmal means that the episode of arrhythmia originates and terminates abruptly. Atrial implies the arrhythmia starts with the atria or in the upper chambers of the heart. The tachycardia results in significant increase in the heart beat per minute. It abnormally increases the pace, like in an athlete on a treadmill. PAT significantly increases the heartbeat of an adult from the normal 60 to 100 to 130 to 230 and among infants and children it shoots up from 100 to 130 to 220 beats per minute.

It is accompanied with severe sweating, dizziness, palpitations, angina and acute breathlessness. Normally, a patient suffers from such a condition owing to emotional upheavals, physical exhaustion, deep anxiety, consumption of caffeine or alcohol.

I saw my mother suffering from this condition on several  occasions and being admitted to the ICU. It was a distressing and disturbing sight. While it is not a life-threatening affliction, it certainly disorients the psychology and attitudes of the patient. During her suffering we saw her clutching on to her rosary as a life saver, while we prayed fervently for her recovery.

She was administered medication but it worked only to an extent. The real help came in the form of a pentagon-shaped talisman. That is through Siddha Healing, Pranic Healing, the ten-day Vipassana Course and the Part 1 and Part 2 of the Art of Living courses.

This is the  unique, amazing  and scientific power of the  breath. Breathing techniques, meditation, medication and proper diet changed the trajectory ofthe life of the patient and brought back the mojo in her life.

‘When you take a breath in, let it become your meditation that all the suffering of all the beings in the world is riding on that incoming breath and reaching your heart, and see a miracle happen,’ says Osho.

She has retired now but continues with her Sadhana unfailingly. Senior citizens, those in pain and agony and even the able-bodied should undertake the  courses mentioned.

Swami Vivekananda took Yoga to America and spread the Ramakrishna Mission. He was the Arjuna of Shri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa. My mother imbibed the trait of service to mankind by reading extensively about Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda and almighty God blessed her with a  robust and an intrepid mind.