An Affair and a Funeral

I had an affair several years ago and my husband forgave me. Should I attend the funeral of my affair partner? My husband is devastated by the thought of my attendance I think you should go! I think you should tell everyone you are going and that you care more about attending your affair partners funeral than your current husband! I hope your husband has the good sense to say goodbye permanently because you are a heartache waiting to happen! I suspect from your question you will not understand this answer!

What are some awesome facts about Hindu mythology?

What are some awesome facts about Hindu mythology? There was a saint Ashtavakra whose body was distorted from 8 places because of his father's curse which he got when he was in his mother's womb. 2. King Janak (Father of Sita) is also known as Videh as he looses the feel of his body whenever he is thinking about God. 3. According to Hindu mythology life of Earth is equal to a day of Brahma. 4. According to Ramcharitmanas, Sita never went to Lanka, only her shadow was there while she was residing in the fire. That's why in the end Agni pariksha was performed to get original Sita back not because lord Rama doubted her. 5. For all the time when Lord Rama was in the forest, his younger brother Bharat used to sleep in a pit under the ground as Lord rama was sleeping on the ground and Bharat can't be equal or above to rama in any manner. 6. Meghnad (Son of Ravana) had a boon that only person who will not sleep for 12 years can kill him, guess what even Rama couldn't kill him but Lakshman did as he did not sleep for the whole time when he was in forest. His sleep was transferred to his wife Urmila by Nidra Devi. 7. According to the boon asked by Ravan, Hanuman was also capable of killing him. He asked that other than humans and monkeys no one could kill him. Given the strength of Hanuman, he was powerful enough to kill Ravana. 8. Lord Rama and Krishna stopped ageing after they became 16. They are kishore (adolescent ). That's why you don't see them with moustache or beard in any photos or tv serials. 9. Parvati (wife of Shiva) did not give birth to any of her children still she is called jagat janani (mother of the world). Jai Shri Ram!!

The Chandrayaan Bollywood script is ready.

The Chandrayaan Bollywood script is ready. The film opens in ISRO headquarters as Chandrayaan 2 is on the verge of reaching its destination. Anupam Kher is the project director. Akshay Kumar is his deputy. They are nearing when suddenly siren starts beeping. All hell breaks lose in command centre. Everyone tries to find the cause. Some scientific jargon thrown in. However the catastrophe can't be prevented and the lander crashes. Everyone breaks down. Anupam Kher is in tears and suddenly has a heart attack. Akshay Kumar somehow holds him and calls for ambulance. Montage of nation grieving. News channel anchor says Chandrayaan par grahan lag gaya. Gajraj Rao is Minister. He is kind hearted and supportive. He meets Akshay Kumar who is a broken man. He asks Akshay not to give up for the sake of Anupam Kher who is like a father to him. Flashback. A young Akshay Kumar is the son of auto driver Pankaj Tripathi. His parents are poor but they want their son to be educated. His mother is Seema Biswas. She cooks kheer and tells her son stories about Chanda Mama. Akshay is in Govt school and is one of the smartest kids in class. Teacher asks him what he wants to be when he grows up. He says he wants to go to moon. All other kids laugh. Teacher tells him hum gareebo ko aise sapne nahi dekhna chahiye. However at home supportive Father Pankaj Tripathi says no dream is impossible if a person works hard. Mother makes kheer and tells Akshay story about Chanda Mama. However one day a teenage Akshay gets a terrible news that his father has been killed in an accident and mother is seriously injured. He goes to hospital. His mother is on her deathbed. Young Akshay asks her not to leave him. She says don't worry your Chanda Mama will take care of you. Camera pans through hospital window to moon in sky which is suddenly covered by black clouds. Sad song. He drops out of school and starts driving his father's auto One day Anupam Kher sits in auto and starts talking to Akshay. He is amazed how well educated the kid is. He finds out about sad story and decides to adopt Akshay. He brings Akshay home. Anupam Kher's wife is Neena Gupta. They decide to give Akshay best education. Uplifting Sukhvinder Singh song. Montage of studying and happy family scenes. Akshay grows up and joins NASA after passing out of Harvard. In the US he is the darling of the desi folks. He dances during Diwali event. Here he meets and falls in love with Radhika Apte (she is South Indian. Listen this is movie on science, so a South Indian character is essential). She has the habit of saying Aiyyo after a flawless Hindi sentence. One day as the couple are walking on a moonlit night, suddenly 5-6 goons surround the couple with an intention to rob them. Akshay realises the danger as they are armed with knives. Suddenly darkness. Moon has gone behind clouds. In the darkness Akshay attacks and neutralises the goons. Moon comes back. Akshay says Mama ne bacha liya. Radhika Apte is perplexed. Akshay says the moon is his guardian angel. (Did I tell you this film has something to do with the moon) One day at NASA they are working on an important project. There is some issue and the racist American boss scolds Akshay and says you Indians know nothing about this field. Basically you Indians are poor and good for nothing. Other white scientists laugh and mock India. Akshay gives them rousing speech about India's technological prowess and resigns. Akshay and Radhika take flight back to India. As flight takes off sun is shining in US, cross-fade to moon and landing in India. Akshay joins ISRO where Anupam Kher is director. They decide to build Chandrayaan. Scientists things shown. Computer. Random numbers flashing on screen, some coding type thing, telescope etc. They go to ask Minister for funding. He says his hands are tied, there's only that much we can spend. Akshay says okay his father told him no dream is impossible if a person works hard. He says we will make this work at a budget less than that of a Hollywood film. More computers. More hardwork. Finally back to where we started. Anupam Kher is now on a wheelchair. He asks Akshay to finish the project. Sad song. Chand chhup gaya badal main types. Racist NASA boss is shown laughing at failure. Told you so types that these Indians can't do it. Akshay stars work. He is joined by Tapasee Pannu, who has also quit NASA. More computer work. Radhika Apte delivers a daughter. Guess what she is named. Chanda. Did I tell you this is a film about the moon? Finally the spacecraft is launched. Heavy anticipation. However project encounters some difficulty. Akshay says he knows a man who can help. Shahrukh Khan cameo as Mohan Bhargav from Swades. Bingo he solves problem. Akshay says thanks. They hug. As lander nears moon, there is a storm. Lots of rocks etc floating around in space. The lander needs to be manually operated from the station. Entire nation prays. Akshay takes control. As he maneuvers lander, we see flashback montage of Pankaj Tripathi and young Akshay driving an auto. Like they maneuvered in traffic, Akshay maneuvers lander and finally it lands. Akshay says Mama hum finally mil gaye. Project is successful. Anupam Kher gets up from wheelchair and hugs Akshay. All clap and cry. Minister applauds. NASA Chief calls Akshay and apologizes. Entire country celebrates. Akshay tells his daughter the story of Chanda Mama that his mother used to tell him

UNFOLDING THE ROSE 🌷

Sharing a poem by 13th Century Sufi poet - Jalaluddin Rumi UNFOLDING THE ROSE 🌷 It is only a tiny rosebud, A flower of God's design; But I cannot unfold the petals With these clumsy hands of mine. The secret of unfolding flowers Is not known to such as I. GOD opens this flower so sweetly, When in my hands they fade and die. 🥀 If I cannot unfold a rosebud, This flower of God's design, Then how can I think I have wisdom To unfold this life of mine? So I'll trust in Him for His leading Each moment of every day. I will look to Him for His guidance Each step of the pilgrim way. The pathway that lies before me, Only my Heavenly Father knows. I'll trust Him to unfold the moments, Just as He unfolds the rose. 🌹 ~ Rumi

What do I do?

My son saw me when I was taking a shower. What do I do? When you're done showering dry off. That's what you do. Then you walk to Your room and get some clothes Instead of your towel. You may pass him in the hall so what, say hi kids see parents naked, And you have already seen your kid naked.

The Hindu.- Wrap

Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. Arrow Open in browser Mail icon More newsletters ‘India is on the Moon’: Chandrayaan-3’s lander module successfully lands on Moon India has become the fourth country to successfully land on the Moon as the Chandrayaan-3’s lander module with the Rover in its belly successfully made a soft landing on the lunar surface on August 23. Precisely at 6.03 p.m. the lander touched the lunar surface and there was euphoric celebrations at the Mission Operations Complex (MOX) at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC), Bengaluru as India joined an elite list of countries like the US, Russia and China to achieve this feat. By achieving this feat India has also become the first nation to touch down on the polar region of the Moon. We have achieved soft landing on the moon, India is on the moon, the ISRO Chairman said. The successful landing on Wednesday has erased the painful memories of failure of the Chandrayaan-2’s Vikram lander in 2019. During the descent the Vikram lander gave up at an altitude of 2.1 km before touchdown and crashed on the lunar surface. It subsequently lost communication with the ground stations. However, this time everything went as per plan. At around 5.44pm, the powered descent of the lander module was initiated and 19 minutes later at 6.04 pm the lander made a safe and soft landing on the Moon. Following the successful landing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation, saying “We have reached where no one has reached in the past. This success is not India’s alone. This success belongs to all of humanity, it will help moon missions of other countries in the future.” India’s solar mission Aditya L1 to be launched soon, mission to Venus also on cards, Modi said. In a few hours from now the Lander will deploy the Rover which will carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface during the course of its mobility. The Lander and the Rover with a mission life of one Lunar day (14 Earth days) have scientific payloads to carry out experiments on the lunar surface. The Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Chandrayaan-3 consists of an indigenous lander module, propulsion module and a Rover with an objective of developing and demonstrating new technologies required for Inter planetary missions. The mission objectives of the mission is to demonstrate Safe and Soft Landing on Lunar Surface, to demonstrate Rover roving on the moon and conduct in-situ scientific experiments. The soft-landing took place days after Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the Moon after spinning out of control.

A #Tamil Scientist #P_VeeraMuthuvel from #TamilNadu:

A #Tamil Scientist #P_VeeraMuthuvel from #TamilNadu: Son of railway technician from Villupuram, brains behind Chandrayaan-3 Dr Veera Muthuvel, the Project Director of #Chandrayaan_3. Dr P Veera Muthuvel, a scientist from Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu, has played a key role in the development of Chandrayaan-3 which will be launched on July 14, 2023, at 2:35 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. He has served as the project director of the Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft. Here are some interesting facts about the Tamil ‘Mastermind’ behind Chandrayaan- 3. Early life He was born in Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu and is the son of Palanivel who worked as a technician in Southern railway. He studied at the Railway School in Villupuram. He then pursued a diploma in mechanical engineering from a private polytechnic college. But his interest in space and the desire to achieve something in that field pushed him away from that job. He joined a private college in Tambaram to complete his engineering studies and then joined IIT Chennai for higher studies and did important research in the aerospace field. Journey in ISRO Veera Muthuvel, who has a keen interest in intricate hardware work, got an opportunity to become a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1989. Muthuvel joined ISRO without letting the opportunity slip away, never looked back at the opportunities that came from many organizations in the country and abroad, and made it his goal to work in ISRO. Acclaimed Research In 2016, a research paper was submitted on a vibration control system in the spacecraft’s electronic package and related experiments were conducted at the U R Rao Satellite Center in Bengaluru. His probe could help land the spacecraft’s lander on the moon and power the rover portion of the spacecraft. ISRO was surprised to see this research paper and showered him with praise. As Chandrayaan 3 Project Director After 30 years of experience working on multiple projects and various responsibilities at ISRO, Scientist Veera Muthuvel was appointed as the Director of the Chandrayaan 3 in 2019

Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram Sri Hanuman Jaya Hanuman Jaya Jaya Hanuman Meaning of the Success Mantra 1) Long live the mighty Rama and the powerful Lakshmana! Long live the King Sugreeva, protected by Rama! 2) I am Hanuma, the destroyer of the army of adversaries and the son of wind-god. I am the servant of Rama, the king of Kosala Kingdom, who is unwearied in action. 3) Even a thousand of Ravanas will not be matching equally with me, who is capable of striking with thousands of rocks and trees in battle. 4) Here, before the eyes of all the demons, I will annihilate the City of Lanka and after offering salutation to Seetha, I will go back after fully completing my task." 5) Those demons became frightened by the clamorous voice of Hanuma cried aloud and saw him to be as high as a twilight rain-cloud. Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram Sri Hanuman Jaya Hanuman Jaya Jaya Hanuman

*Zohnerism*

*Zohnerism* Why we need to *Avoid* watching too much of breaking news & panel discussions on Indian TV news channels now a days!? Because, they all follow *Zohnerism*!!! What is this notorious concept of *Zohnerism*? *Zohnerism* - is all about twisting of simple facts to confuse people! To know more about it, please read this: In 1997, 14 year old Nathan Zohner presented his science fair project to his classmates, seeking to ban a highly toxic chemical from its everyday use. The chemical in question? Dihydrogen monoxide. Throughout his presentation, Zohner provided his audience scientifically correct evidence as to why this chemical should be banned. He explained that dihydrogen monoxide: -----Causes severe burns while it’s in gas form. -----Corrodes and rusts metal. -----Kills countless amounts of people annually. -----Is commonly found in tumors, acid rain etc. -----Causes excessive urination and bloating if consumed. -----Zohner also noted that the chemical is able to kill you if you depend on it and then experience an extended withdrawal. He then asked his classmates if they actually wanted to ban dihydrogen monoxide. And so, 43 out of the 50 children present voted to ban this clearly toxic chemical. However… this chemical isn’t typically considered toxic at all. In fact, dihydrogen monoxide is simply H2O, which is nothing but water. Nathan Zohner’s experiment wasn’t a legitimate attempt to ban water, but instead an experiment to get a representation of how gullible people can really be. Also, all of the points that Zohner used to convey his point were 100% factually correct; he just skewed all of the information in his favour by omitting certain facts. In recognition of his experiment, journalist James K. Glassman coined the term "Zohnerism" to refer to "the use of a true fact to lead a scientifically and mathematically ignorant public to a false conclusion". And this occurs a lot more often than you think, especially when politicians, conspiracy theorists, etc., use proven facts to persuade people into believing false claims. The fact that people can mislead, and be misled so easily, is highly unsettling. *A very meaningful and sensible explanation that applies to today's world more than anytime before.*

Life

From the innocence of childhood to the wisdom of old age, life's journey is a breathtaking tapestry woven with memories, experiences, & growth 👶 Childhood Wonder Innocence, curiosity, & boundless imagination define our early years. Let's cherish the memories of exploring, learning, and building the foundation of who we are today. 🌈 🎒 Youthful Exploration The adventurous spirit of youth leads us to discover passions and talents. We stumble, we rise, and we learn the lessons that shape our character. Embrace the energy and enthusiasm that fuel this phase. 🚀 🤝 Professional Vigor The hustle and ambition of adulthood drive us to conquer challenges, build careers, and make our mark. Each achievement, setback, and lesson molds us into resilient professionals. 🔥 🌅 Golden Years As time mellows our spirit, the golden years offer reflection and fulfillment. It's a time to share wisdom, savor relationships, and find solace in life's simple pleasures. Your legacy becomes an inspiration. 🌻 Let's celebrate life

Question - Gurudev, getting love is painful and not getting it is even more painful, and maintaining love is also painful. So which pain should I choose?

Question - Gurudev, getting love is painful and not getting it is even more painful, and maintaining love is also painful. So which pain should I choose? Gurudev Sri Sri - Choice is yours, blessing is mine. If you want to choose pain, you are most welcome, but I will tell you, choose the bigger pain as the small ones are of no use. Your love for the whole humanity, that's what you should be concerned about. Love for the planets, love for the animals, animal rights (animals do have a right to exist). We have no right to take their life away. You worry about all these things. Look into the eyes of the goats, or even the chicken, cows, dogs. Look into their eyes. This entire creation is filled with love, and how people can slaughter them to fill their little tummy. It is not even healthy. This is unfortunate.

PM

Will Narendra Modi ever lose an election, and if so, under whom's leadership will it happen? Anyone can lose an election .. Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Jayalalithaa had lost an election . They were one of the most popular mass leaders in India’s political history. But unfortunately or fortunately Narendra Modi does not have much time left to lose an election.. Most probably he might fight two more elections.. that too from the current Varanasi Parliamentary constituency.. where he has done unprecedented and unparalleled public work since 2014.. Since then, from world-class infrastructure to express trains, from underground cabling to waste treatment plants, from a cultural convention centre to modern traffic control, from a multimodal terminal to a container depot for perishables, Varanasi has witnessed a transformative revolution in the last nine years. For the first time in India's history, river transport has begun starting with Varanasi to Kolkata. Varanasi today is in the top list of international tourists all over the world..thanks Narendra Modi for making the oldest living city of the world.. the most liveable among the modern cities of the world.. People of Varanasi are getting wireless electricity and piped gas.. it is unthinkable even today in some of the most well planned cities of India. The BJP can lose elections.. and one day BJP in the future will lose elections..that’s the beauty of democracy!! However, Narendra Modi will never lose an election in this life..that kind of political invincibility he has earned through his untiring and honest efforts in public life. There are no leaders in contemporary electoral politics of India.. who can come even close to defeating Narendra Modi from Varanasi..it is just next to impossible.. despite the fact that anything can happens in politics!!

Lord Krishna

If you have faith in Shri Krishna, he not only supports you, but also becomes your charioteer at the right time..!

Why did Lord Krishna have a sudarshana chakra while Lord Rama didn't?

Why did Lord Krishna have a sudarshana chakra while Lord Rama didn't? According to the legends, Ravana got a boon from Lord Shiva that he would not be vanquished by any god. His hubris was such that he didn’t forsee a threat from another man. Thus, the Rama avatar of Vishnu was made as a human and with no access to the divine weapons of gods. Another way to look at this is that Rama was supposed to be the example that humanity should look up to and follow. His struggles were completely human and so were his responses. And that is why he among all the avatars has a whole epic dedicated to him

Gurudev

Q: Dear Gurudev, besides practicing Sadhana, how can we make sure we do not come back again and again, and get liberated? 🪻 *Gurudev Sri Sri RaviShankar ji* : Contentment! Satisfaction! Everything you do, do it happily with contentment. You have done today’s work and you are contented. And whatever work you do tomorrow, do with contentment. Every moment in life, live with contentment, and that brings you liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Breath is a Blessing

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/columnists/breath-is-a--blessing-.html

Chandrayan 2- As received

According to the plan, Vikram was supposed to lose most of its velocity by the time it was 400m from the lunar surface, and should have been hovering above the intended landing site — set to make a soft vertical descent at “walking pace”. But due to its high velocity, it crashed on the Moon’s surface. [23/08, 15:10] +91 98107 44101: At that time, the module was still moving with a vertical velocity of 59 metres per sec (or 212 km/hr) and a horizontal velocity of 48.1 m/sec (or 173 km/hr). The lander was at that point around 1.09 km from its designated landing spot on the Moon. [23/08, 15:10] +91 98107 44101: Among the clutter on tv let me explain the challenge ahead for a smooth landing and critical last 15 mins manouvres to turn vertical from horizontal with correct speed and to boost reverse engines to lower landing speed to almost zero at the right time and what was exact failure of chandrayan 2 barely 500 metres above ground 👇actually 5 km to 500 m What went wrong with Chandrayaan-2? mission’s lander and rover were supposed to make a soft landing on the Moon on September 7. However, according to Isro Chairman S Somanath, three mistakes led to their crash on the lunar surface. What went wrong? Chandrayaan-2, sent to space on July 22, 2019, whose lander, Vikram, and rover, Pragyaan, crashed on the Moon’s surface during the early hours of September What happened on the day of landing of Vikram? The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) lost contact with Vikram on the day of landing when it was barely 335 metres (0.335 km) from the surface of the Moon. The initial data from the space agency’s Telemetry Tracking and Command Centre suggested that the failure occurred in the “Fine braking phase” in the final part of Vikram’s journey (an altitude of 5 km to 400 m), which kicked in when the lander was 5 km from the lunar surface. The giant screens installed at the centre showed that the green line, which represented the lander, began deviating from the time its altitude was just above 2 km, and continued to deviate before stopping at a point that was clearly below 1 km altitude, and somewhere near or below 500m. [23/08, 15:10] +91 98107 44101: The critical technical manoeuvre that the Chandrayaan-3 lander will have to perform on August 23 when it enters the final 15 minutes of its attempt to make a soft landing on the Moon will be to transfer its high-speed horizontal position to a vertical one — in order to facilitate a gentle descent on to the surface. These final 15 minutes on Wednesday evening will determine the success of the mission. In July 2019, after the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aborted the first attempt to launch the Chandrayaan-2 mission, K Sivan, then chairman of India’s space research body, had described this phase as “15 minutes of terror”. Dr Sivan’s description captured the essence of the complexity of the mission’s final phase — the one in which Chandrayaan-2 failed after the Vikram lander did not switch appropriately from the horizontal to the vertical position, and hurtled on to the surface of the Moon when it was entering the “fine braking phase” 7.42 km from the lunar surface. [23/08, 15:10] +91 98107 44101: Among all the clutter on tv at 5:45 most critical manuouvres will be done to turn it vertically from horizontal orbit at the right time and fire booster engines to reduce speed at the right time and descent at the right speed to overcome gravity pull to avoid crashing to almost zero for a soft landing. Due to software glitch earlier chandrayan 2 lost control and carried on drifting with vertical tilt and horizontal high speed According to a failure analysis report submitted to the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), the crash of the spacecraft was caused by a software glitch The Isro lost all contact with the Vikram lander on the day of the landing when it was around 335 metres (0.335 km) from the surface of the moon. The objective of the lunar mission was to make a soft landing on the surface of the moon. The reason behind the crash landing of Vikram lander was that it tilted 410 degre When the lander tilted from its set trajectory, the scientists could do nothing. The velocity of the lander should have slowed down from 6,000 kmph to 0 kmph in four phases, but the space agency lost contact with it minutes before its touchdown. At that time, the module was moving with a vertical velocity of 59 metres per sec (or 212 km/hr) and a horizontal velocity of 48.1 m/sec (or 173 km/hr). The lander was around 1.09 km from its designated landing spot on the moon. [23/08, 15:10] +91 98107 44101: What happened on the day of landing of Vikram? The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) lost contact with Vikram on the day of landing when it was barely 335 metres (0.335 km) from the surface of the Moon. The initial data from the space agency’s Telemetry Tracking and Command Centre suggested that the failure occurred in the “Fine braking phase” in the final part of Vikram’s journey (an altitude of 5 km to 400 m), which kicked in when the lander was 5 km from the lunar surface.

WE JUST TRY

WE JUST TRY My stability came out of my trying to give, not out of demanding that I receive. THE BEST OF BILL, p.46-47 As long as I try, with all my heart and soul, to pass along to others what has been passed along to me, and do not demand anything in return, life is good to me. Before entering this program of Alcoholics Anonymous I was never able to give without demanding something in return. Little did I know that, once I began to give freely of myself, I would begin to receive, without ever expecting or demanding anything at all. What I receive today is the gift of “stability”, as Bill did: stability in my A.A. program; within myself; but most of all, in my relationship with my Higher Power, whom I choose to call God.

GOD SAYS NOW

GOD SAYS NOW Around the Year with Emmet Fox August 21 God's time for your demonstration is now. The time God wants you to be healed is now. The time God wants you to be in your true place is now. The Bible says that the day of salvation is now. God is ready the moment you are. There is nothing to wait for except the changing of your own consciousness. People often make the mistake of saying, "I know my demonstration will come at the right time." But the only time to be harmonious and satisfied is now. The time to be happy is now and the place is here. Did not Jesus say, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand”, and by this he meant close by. Do not keep yourself out of the Kingdom of Heaven by inventing postponements, but change your consciousness now, for it can all happen in a moment. “that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now, is our salvation nearer than when we believed” Romans 13:11

False Pride

False Pride The alarming thing about pride-blindness is the ease with which it is justified. But we need not look far to see that self-justification is a universal destroyer of harmony and of love. It sets man against man, nation against nation. By it, every form of folly and violence; can be made to look right, and even respectable. It would be a product of false pride to claim that A.A. is a cure-all, even for alcoholism. 1. GRAPEVINE, JUNE 1961 2. A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 232

GOD SAYS NOW

GOD SAYS NOW Around the Year with Emmet Fox August 21 God's time for your demonstration is now. The time God wants you to be healed is now. The time God wants you to be in your true place is now. The Bible says that the day of salvation is now. God is ready the moment you are. There is nothing to wait for except the changing of your own consciousness. People often make the mistake of saying, "I know my demonstration will come at the right time." But the only time to be harmonious and satisfied is now. The time to be happy is now and the place is here. Did not Jesus say, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand”, and by this he meant close by. Do not keep yourself out of the Kingdom of Heaven by inventing postponements, but change your consciousness now, for it can all happen in a moment. “that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now, is our salvation nearer than when we believed” Romans 13:11

Permanent Address

Permanent Address*- 😳😳 Our joint family home housed 14 of us from age 5 to 95 years. Today I watch both the houses abandoned and nature taking over the garden my mother used to tend for hours every day. The Jamun, the Drumstick, a few Ashok, Neem and Peepal have survived but all beauty is both transient and fragile and the law of entropy powerful. The lovely flowers of myriad colours are all gone. I wonder what happened to the peacock family that came everyday and ate from my moms hand. The Bulbul, the sparrows, the parrots, spotted flycatchers, Cuckoos, a huge troop of monkeys that once in a month would upset the order of the place. *Once people leave, a home becomes a house*. Initially I didn’t feel like selling and now I don’t feel like going. Time has taken away ten of its fourteen occupants. I walk around our neighbourhood and see similar fate of so many homes once full of life now replaced or lying still. Why do we stretch and stress to build houses? In most cases our next generation won’t need it or worse fight over it. *What is this human folly of attempting permanent ownership in a leased life with an uncertain tenure given by nature.* One day all we have built with love and EMIs will either be demolished, fought over, sold or lie in ruins. *Every time I fill a form that asks for ‘permanent address’ I smile at human folly.* There is a Zen story that an old monk walked into a Kings palace demanding he wanted to spend the night in this Inn and the guards told him, “What Inn, can’t you see its a palace?”. The monk said “I came here a few decades back someone was staying there, a few years later someone else took the throne from him, then someone else. Any place where the occupant keeps changing is an “Inn.” George Carlin says *“house is just a place where you keep your stuff as you go out and get more stuff”.* As houses get bigger families get smaller. *When the house has occupants, we desire privacy and when the nest empties we crave for company.* Birds and Animals must be laughing at us humans that give up living in order to build their dream home and in the end depart the Inn they mistook as a permanent residence. *The real folly of human desire!* *“A Reality of life”* Very well written by unknown.

. The Art of Letting-go: Relish Life to the Fullest

. The Art of Letting-go: Relish Life to the Fullest There once lived a cerebral physicist who taught at an estimable university. He had unravelled several mysteries and riddles pertaining to the origins of universe through sedulous and almost pertinacious investigation and exploration. The professor was decorated with awards and worldwide recognition followed. As he became a celebratory figure, he soon developed a swollen head. His affectation was to become his hubris. Once the sovereign of his field, he lost his equilibrium and was charged with salacious behaviour towards students and some colleagues. As his public image became tarnished and could no longer be ignored, troubles came shooting at the professor like meteors from the skies. Troubles come in threes The government and administration stripped him off all the awards bestowed, and his prepossessing wife deserted him. The esteemed professor was unable to grapple with these misadventures in life. Quite ironically the physicist who had been on the verge of decoding the mysteries of the universe was soon enveloped by tenebrosity. At his tethers end, his edifice of wisdom collapsed, he began dabbling with drugs and alcohol. He became addicted to alcohol and drug abuse and dependence, which had a pernicious impact on his body and interpersonal relationships. Sakhya Muni, Lord Buddha had said, “Be strong, but not rude. Be kind, but not weak. Be humble not shy, be proud but not arrogant.” These aureate words were apparently lost on the once-upon-a-time dynamo mind of the physicist. Baby steps to recovery Some well wishers from his fraternity commiserated with him and were filled with compassion for their once effulgent colleague. The physicist was wheeled into a rehabilitation centre and under a detoxification regimen was slowly weaned off alcohol and drugs. As alternative therapies, the professor underwent meditation and yoga sessions. He also underwent the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living and learnt the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya which provided the ballast for his recovery. The course helped him to eschew dependency on alcohol and drugs. Over a period of time the physicist regained sobriety. Second Innings: Seeking spiritual solace The once extolled and accomplished professor who was condemned by society for his avarice, pomposity and hedonistic lifestyle slowly regained equilibrium, equipoise and equanimity through the twin approaches of medication and meditation. Upon recovery he rediscovered his mojo and attempted to regain his lost sovereignty by unearthing the quintessential truth of the origin of universe. The process of letting go begins “Indeed the sage who’s fully quenched rests at ease in every way, no sense, desires, adheres to him whose fires have evolved, deprived of fuel. All attachments have been severed, the hearts been led away from pain, tranquil, he rests with utmost ease. The mind has found its way to peace,” said the Sakhya Muni, Lord Buddha. The professor though sober now and purged of his hedonistic tendencies was still feeling saturated from within. His soul was yet to feel satiated. He developed a profound interest in the spiritual dimension of life and the universe. After sustained deliberation the professor embarked upon a spiritual sojourn. There was something burning and arid in his self which made him set-off upon this quest. The spiritual peregrination took him halfway around the world till he arrived at a remote village, high in the Himalayas, at the feet of an accomplished master. This suzerain of the sacred texts of different religions had gained remarkable adroitness and virtuosity in Zen Buddhism. The enlightened, holy person dressed in ochre robes and exuding jollity welcomed the professor with a warm embrace. His searching and lustrous eyes scanned the professor. The physicist narrated his story. He concluded by adding that he was now trying to fathom the mysteries hidden in the womb of the universe from the spiritual and scientific points of view. “But this is what you were doing at the university and in your laboratory, is it not professor?” enquired the seer. He felt that the Zen Master could ignite the missing spark from his life and help him expatriate antipathetic thoughts from his mind so that he could upend the pyramid. He had successfully extricated himself from the whirlpool of gloom once and he could see light at the end of the tunnel. Yet there was something amiss in his life…! It was dry like the autumn leaf that drops from the branches of the tree. Time you let loose “So, what new are you attempting to unravel? Ok, let us have a cup of tea,” said the venerated soul. The professor appeared at ease as the perspicacious and sagacious soul poured the tea. Soon the cup began to overflow. Seeing this, the professor exclaimed, “Holy Sir, the cup is overflowing!” “Precisely, and I was examining your reaction,” remarked the Holy One. “Unless you just let go of your haughtiness and self-conceit the way the tea overflowed from the cup, you will never learn anything afresh. This is the secret,” stated the Zen Master in an absolutely matter of fact manner. “Drop all your desires when you approach a Master. Let go of your baggage,” he added. The Zen Master was to further add, “Buddha advocated four concepts- Observe the body (Kayana Paschana) Observe the sensations (Vedananu Paschana) Observe the flow of mind (Chittana Paschana) Observe your true nature (Dhammanu Paschana).” The professor realised that he had forayed into unchartered territories but without understanding his mind. His mind was brimful of demonic and arrogant thoughts and ossified. He was neither simple nor humble or aware. These were the keys for him to let go and be absolutely pristine and lucid. 28. Amazing Power of the Human Mind Realisation and awareness are two unique qualities that shine the light on the amazing power of the human mind. Aeons ago lived, lived an ambitious king named Suddhodhana, chieftain of Sakyan republics. He was captivated by the thought of perpetuating the dynasty. However, his battle-fatigued son Siddhartha was not ensnared by the Mara of trappings and adornment of power, carnal pleasures or family life. Siddhartha eschewed violence, cast away royal clothing and donned ochre robes in the search of quintessential truth. And over a period of seven years of intense and gut-wrenching tapas which transfigured his mind, he metamorphosed from Siddhartha to Gautama and then into the Buddha. It was at Sarnath that he delivered his first sermon on the Four Noble Truths, which was soon followed by the Eight-Fold Path for citizens to pursue. Upon attaining enlightenment, the Compassionate One dissected the bewildering characteristics of the human mind. He was soon to decree in an unostentatious and plain sailing manner that, “We are what we think and our thoughts shape our lives.” A person may be a stock individual, a seeker or a savant; all are governed by this cardinal principle of how the mind operates. In case the mind is bestowed with efficacious thoughts, humans are endowed with the enriching aura of positivity. This eclipses Sisyphean and nugatory thoughts and the persona is encompassed with the stamp of alluring, shimmering jollity. However, if the human mind is cannonaded by antipathetic thoughts, there is depletion in the prana level. The mind is then not resplendent or robust nor suffused with ennobling thoughts. On the contrary it is brim-full of gloom-ridden patterns which are distressing and obstructive. Individuals become mere retainers of negativity. Over a period of time, the mind does not get propelled to become empowered. It will not be able to unyoke itself from its negativity, rendering it unable to take up adultness or responsibility. Ironically, the moment an individual realises the magnetic potential and prowess of the human mind the Universe suddenly becomes magical in its desire to support all efforts. The mind remains an enigma. Our resoluteness and positivity are the lodestars to harness its embryonic ability. This is the key to scale the summit of triumph and glory. Once there was a Good Samaritan, Sudhakar (name changed). He happened to read the maiden effort of a civil servant called ‘Enormous Vistas of Human Mind’ and a few other articles that he had written. This gentleman, with some trepidation became a ‘Facebook friend’ of the mandarin and began persuading him to be interviewed by a few T.V. channels. However, the thought process of the public functionary –a recovered alcoholic- kept misdoubting the sincerity of the ‘Facebook friend’. In disgust, he ‘blocked’ and then again ‘unblocked’ the gentleman, more perhaps to quell the pangs of his own conscience. Finally, in a dawdling manner and in sheer vexation he gave in to the entreaties of the ‘Facebook friend’. Soon an amazing pattern emerged and the government administrator was invited by several media houses and estimable institutions to deliver lectures as to how he combatted and conquered the battle against the bottle. Only much later did he realise that Sudhakar had lost some close relatives to alcoholism and he found succour in espousing the cause of conquest over the disease. The autarchic mind of the bureaucrat was ossified, looking life through the prism of tunnel vision. One day, after a series of interviews, the functionary received a distress call from a lady, who had listened to one of his interviews and was also reading the book penned by him, which captured his triumph over alcoholism. On receiving the call, he could empathise with the woman’s husband who was fighting a grim battle against alcoholism. He silently thanked Sudhakar, who had provided the much-needed platform to address the grievous misadventure of millions of unfortunate souls. There was a sudden transmutation in the mind of the public servant. As tears of gratitude flowed from his eyes, he embarked upon the odyssey to combat this life-threatening disease in all sincerity. Several centuries ago, Gautama Buddha was travelling with a group of disciples. The compassionate one felt thirsty and desired some water to quench his thirst. He asked a disciple to fetch some water from a nearby lake. The enthusiastic disciple rushed to the lake but was horrified to find the water turgid as a farmer had just crossed the lake on his bullock cart. He returned back remorsefully as he could not fulfil the wish of the Holy Master. Buddha was to send the disciple a couple of times to fetch water to quench his thirst. But to the dismay of the tutee on each occasion the water remained dirty and turgid. While the devotees were fidgety and distraught, Buddha remained patient. Eventually, the devotee animatedly brought fresh water from the lake and offered it to the Compassionate One. Buddha smiled and drank the water. He was to say, “You did nothing. The mud settled down and the water was purged of the impurities. Let your mind also settle all the dust accumulated over a period of time.” Make no effort, let the mind settle. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar succinctly says, “Effort is a state of the body and effortlessness is a state of the mind.” This can be achieved through regular and unflinching sadhana of yoga, pranayama, meditation and the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya. Thus, effortlessness is the trailblazing quality of mind. This is the state of total surrender, where the grace of the Guru flows and miracles unfold. Bibliography 1. Knowledge Sheets of H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 2. Patanjali Yoga Sutras (Vol-1) – A Commentary by H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 3. Celebrating Silence by H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 4. Celebrating Love by H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 5. The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali by David Gordon White 6. What Are You Doing With Your Life by J. Krishnamurti 7. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Dr Joseph Murphy 8. Psychology, Textbook for Classes XI and XII, NCERT 9. Peace of Mind by Thich Nhat Hanh 10. Quotations of inspirational personalities from the internet 11. Zen stories from the internet 12. Land of the Seven Rivers by Sanjeev Sanyal 13. The Ocean of Churn by Sanjeev Sanyal 14. Temples of South India by Ambujam Anantharaman 15. History, Textbook for Classes XI and XII, NCERT BACK BLURB “Not all those who wander are lost.”- J.R.R. Tolkien India is a never ending saga and story. This ancient civilization has amazing stories to narrate. Each tale is steeped in rich culture, history and a tapestry which resonates with those delving to discover India. The country is a cradle of several cultures, religions, art, architecture, spirituality and sciences. Several dynasties and kingdom have attempted to be suzerains of this fabled land. But the free-willed, enterprising people have braved several storms and woven extraordinary tales. This book is segmented into four parts, Wanderlust - Discovering India by Train, Wondrous India -Discovering the lesser-known trails, Well-known Personalities, Lesser-known People and lastly Wavering Mind, Wandering Thoughts. Indian history has been fashioned and shaped by both known and lesser-known people all blessed with a robust mindset. Eminent philosophers like Adi Shankara and Buddha in search of peace and the Indian ethos were on a voyage. May readers too discover the ethos of India through this book. Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah - Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions. - Rig Veda

Be Calm and Composed

Be Calm and Composed Aeons ago in ancient China lived an old farmer who had worked on his land for many years. He was blessed with a perspicacious mind. Abruptly, one day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, a motley group of neighbours came to commiserate with him. “Such misfortune, such ill luck,” the agitated group of villagers reacted. “Maybe,” nonchalantly replied the farmer. A few days later the horse returned, accompanied by three wild horses. Another group of villagers made a beeline to the house of agriculturist to sympathise. “Maybe,” was the taciturn reply of the aged farmer. The following day, the farmer’s son tried to mount one of the untamed horses and was thrown off. Consequently, the strapping youngster broke his leg. The overwrought neighbours once again queued up to offer their sympathies at this misadventure. “Maybe,” was the desultory answer yet again. A few days later some military personnel swooped on the village to draft young men. Looking at the incapacitated stripling he was disqualified from being recruited. The exuberant neighbours congratulated the old grazier on the unexpected turn of events. “Maybe,” was the laconic reply yet again. Import of the story What could be the gravity and consequences of this unconventional Zen story? The remarkable ability of the aged farmer to remain unruffled, whatever the unwelcome turn or misadventure one may encounter in life. Second, to remain in the present moment and possess the uncanny ability to accept people and situations as they are. This transmutes and metamorphoses the mind to remain pacific in every situation and maintain equanimity. Aphorism of the Art of Living Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Spiritual Master has succinctly elucidated the significance of the aphorism, ‘to accept people and situations as they are’ in his teachings. Any individual who undertakes the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living is imparted this knowledge. This sutra engineers a radical change in the personality. The 4 Ds of Abnormal Behaviour Abnormal behaviour can be construed as a behaviour which is disturbing (socially unacceptable), distressing, maladaptive (or self-defeating), and often the result of distorted thoughts (cognitions), as per Wikipedia. There are four strains in this abnormal behaviour. These are deviance, dysfunction, distress and danger. Deviant behaviour is usually different, extreme, and unusual and could even include bizarre behavioural patterns. The second in the series is distressing behaviour. People who are related to such individuals feel unpleasant and unsettled in their presence. Dysfunctional behaviour discommodes the patient to such an extent that it acts as a deterrent in his day to day functioning and behaviour and interferes in his range of activities. The individual is no longer constructive to himself or to society at large. They are individuals who are plainly dangerous or even lethal in their behavioural approach. This impacts their lives and the lives of those with whom they get intertwined in some manner. Anxiety disorders and their symptoms There are five specific patterns of anxiety disorders which fall into this category. The first is termed as General Anxiety Disorder. This is a prolonged, vague, quite inexplicable fear having no objective basis, accompanied by hyper vigilance and attached motor tension of the brain. Next is what in quotidian parlance is called Panic Disorder. These are none other than perpetual and frequent anxiety disorders and attacks which are accompanied with psychological symptoms such as breathlessness, palpitations, a trembling feeling, dizziness and even a sense of total loss of control over the self. The individual suffering from such a pestilence could even harbour morbid thoughts. Next in the line of mental disorders are phobias. Humans have irrational phobias such as Acrophobia (fear of heights), Glossophobia (fear of addressing an audience), Claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), Aviophobia (fear of flying). There is yet another phobia which impacts the human mind. This is called OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. In such a situation a human being is preoccupied with a wide range of thoughts, which are normally viewed by sane people as absolutely irrational. Such persons are habituated to inspecting and checking on things in their immediate surroundings, at home or outside, washing clothes in order to be absolutely freshly attired or always found counting things or even money. Last, but no less distressing – on this ill-fated checklist is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These individuals suffer repeated and recurrent nightmares, flashbacks, impaired concentration and emotional numbing which invariably follows traumatic or stressful events. The way out Our country is plagued by three major issues namely, addictions, women’s issues and psychological disorders. A large mass of denizens approach tantriks, babas, and other quacks hoping for a miraculous cure. In all such mephitic issues, it is essential and mandatory to meet a qualified medical practitioner. The first step to recovery is medication under the expert guidance of a doctor. Next, after a period of treatment, it would be prudent to contact self-help groups, which sustain and nourishe the treatment. For instance, undergoing the Happiness Course of the Art of Living, where a person is taught the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar calls the breathing technique as romance with the breath. Human breath has the remarkable potential to expatriate toxins and fears and paves the roadway to recovery. “No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again,” said Gautama Buddha.

Being Compassionate is the Road to Happiness

Being Compassionate is the Road to Happiness A Zen Master assembled his tutees at the Temple of Knowledge. The monks had completed a vigorous session on meditation were suffused with efficacious thoughts. It was time to question their cerebral robustness. “What do you mean by compassion?” he posed. Replies from the disciples varied from love, generosity, affection, care, kindness to liberality. The Zen Master went on to narrate a story. Once near a Temple of Knowledge lived a mendicant. One day an old lady dropped a coin in his begging bowl. A little later a propertied Prince happened to pass by and looking at his pitiable condition dropped in five gold coins and walked away in a haughty manner. Subsequently a small monk who lived within the precincts of the Temple of Knowledge emerged. He was carrying a few coins to buy flowers for a function in the Temple. On his way back, he handed over the bunch of flowers to the mendicant. “So friends, who was the most compassionate of the three?” In unison, the tutees proclaimed that it was the opulent prince since he had parted with five gold coins as alms. The Zen Master shook his head in disagreement and remarked, “The old lady gave a coin as an act of pity, the deep-pocketed prince brazenly displayed his haughtiness, while the young monk was deeply touched at the pitiable condition of the individual and gave the flowers meant for a ritual to be performed in the Temple of Knowledge. He felt a deep empathy within his being and parted the flowers without a degree of hesitation and could invoke a smile on the face of the alms-seeker.” “Compassion springs from the fountain of love, while lust is the bedrock of passion,” exhorted the Zen Master to the assembled disciples. Aeons ago lived a young prince named Siddhartha, belonging to the fearsome Sakyan kingdom, a noteworthy republic of the period. Sage Asita however, forewarned King Suddhodhana that his son Siddhartha would indeed become the emperor of the world, but not in battle fatigues rather by donning ochre robes as compassion was in the very DNA of the child. This forewarning acted on the overwrought Sakyan sovereign. He encircled Siddhartha with a luxuriant life, inciting carnal passion in him, simultaneously goading him to be brawny enough to take part in warfare. The monarch assumed that matrimony and parenthood would veer the mind of the strapping youngster away from monkhood. However, Emperor Suddhodhana could never truly encircle the mind of Siddhartha, as the Prince pined for the quintessential truth. One fine day, without any warning, the young heir abdicated all gross and corporeal things in life and plunged headlong into a life of tapas. The Sakyan prince not only discarded his battle fatigues but also transfigured his mind. The robust and intrepid mind had to sift through the nugatory thoughts of sorrow and happiness, logic and feverishness to become pristine, full of compassion, love and non-violence. The transmutation of his mind and self was an arduous journey of deep introspection. It was not largesse bestowed by the Universe. Non-violence became the springboard to complete the transformation into a compassionate human being. Planet Earth hosts myriad life-forms. It is the only planet which nourishes life, deriving vital prana from the Sun. Degradation of the environment and ecology on account of man’s avarice and rapacious covetousness is torpedoing the very process of living. We are no longer compassionate to ourselves, or to the flora and fauna or even the rivers, seas and farmlands. Humans spewing negativity will soon turn the host of creation into a ghost land. Once, Buddha was in the midst of an assembly. Those present were engrossed in meditation. A raging and wrathful businessman reached the spot. The magnate hailed from an opulent family and was distraught that his wife and children had given up the luxuriant ways of life and spent hours meditating at the conclave. He saw Buddha sporting a beatific and serene smile. Wrenching his fists in vexation, he spat at the compassionate one’s face much to the chagrin of all present before rushing out. But it was a tumultuous night for the entrepreneur, barely snatching a few winks. He recalled that this was the first occasion in his life that a person on whom he spat maintained remarkable poise and equanimity. His body shivered and he felt that there was an earthquake in his mind. Deeply distraught, he reached the conclave the next morning, apologising profusely. “Holy Sire, please forgive me. I did not know what I was doing.” Buddha, maintaining his calm demeanour merely remarked, “I cannot excuse you.” The assembly was taken aback. Buddha looked intensely into the eyes of the industrialist and merely stated, “Why do you ask for pardon? You did nothing counterfactual.” “Holy one! I was the mentally wrecked person who had the temerity to spit on your face.” The businessman added, “And for this wanton act I am devastated.” Buddha parried the question, dexterously stating, “Oh! That individual is no longer in our midst.” In case I ever meet that gentleman, I shall ask him to pardon the person who is currently amidst us. Son, you have done no wrong, remove the heavy stone of repentance from yourself and heart.” Compassion never mushrooms from not pardoning someone or making a person feel the victim or inducing guilt. The act of forgiveness is so subtle that the individual granted clemency is unaware of the charitable act. Compassion stands for lenity which emerges from love, while animosity and tyranny appear from lust and covetousness. Love exudes warmth and embraces all animate and inanimate objects, while lust embarks an individual on the path of sabotage and often self-destruction. “If you want others to be happy practice compassion. If you want to be happy practice compassion,” says the Dalai Lama.

Learn the Art of Forgiveness

Learn the Art of Forgiveness Recall the iconic lines of one of the most celebrated troupers of India- Amitabh Bachchan. In his baritone voice, body punctured with bullets and bleeding profusely, Vijay- as he was addressed in the outstanding movie Deewar – looks intently at the idol of Lord Shiva and says, “Bahut khush hoge tum!” Bachchan, in the movie essayed the role of a contrabandist, who is an atheist. However, eventually in the final stages of his life, he surrenders to the supreme power and seeks absolution for the sins of omission and commission. His mind transfigures and the ossified self-melts when the quintessential truth dawns that holding on to anger only singes the concerned individual. True enlightenment is the art of living in a compassionate manner. The human mind and heart reach a point of inflexion where an act of pardon remains an inescapable reality. The sagacious, blessed with a brawny mind attempts to discover something charitable in all individuals as he/she perceives the image of divinity in them. Such emotionally evolved souls embrace saintly characteristics and traits even in a terrorist or a brigand. The mind of a prosaic individual is unable to separate the chaff from the grain. It is so full of antipathetic thoughts that he cannot transcend the barrier and is unable to exonerate anyone who has inflicted pain or hardship on him, no matter how insignificant. The mind, full of gloom ridden and obstructive thoughts cannot perceive the divinity in others. Consequently, it remains perpetually in a state of conflict. Such an emotionally distraught person would castigate even angelic and divine figures out of callowness. It is ironical that the Mahatma, who was a staunch opponent of capital punishment, was felled by the bullets of an assassin. His last words were Hey Ram. Similarly, Jesus the son of God was to famously implore the Lord to pardon the ones who crucified him as he was convinced that the perpetrators of the act were not conscious of the gravity of their actions. Several organised and structured religions lay prominence on the art of forgiveness. If an individual does not rise to the sublime spheres of compassion and forgiveness, then he gets trapped in the whirlpool of cause and effect. The unabated Karmic cycle continues without any resolution. The pivot is to fortify and protect the human mind to make it robust and compassionate. It attempts to extricate the self from the cause and effect of actions and even non-actions. Action and non-actions of humans indeed leave an indelible impression on the human mind. It would be a perspicacious to pose as to how non-actions are also a kind of Karmic activity and in what manner it impacts the human mind and consciousness. Non-action in a way represents not taking up the gauntlet. The cardinal principle of Christianity is compassion though it is not based on the cause and effect theory. The Church impinges on the faithful to purge negativity from their minds; solicitude and benevolence being the Holy Grail. It is interesting to point out that Christians seek forgiveness of the Almighty while in the oriental religion of Jainism, savants ask for lenience from people at large. During the festival of Kshamavani, followers of the religion can seek quarter from society for mistakes committed consciously or unconsciously. Sage Ashtavakra who authored the treatise Ashtavakra Gita posits a theory that an individual should break the bondage of guilt and anger in order to invoke the grace of remission. It is noteworthy to mention; the singular gift mankind can give to itself and society at large is to train minds to be forgiving and compassionate. This will end the senseless circle of detestation, despondency, anger and violence. We need to be compassionate and calm from within to construct a divine society that eschews violence. There is poignant Zen story which explains the exemplary tenets of compassion and forgiveness. Aeons ago a Zen Master summoned his tutees in a Temple of Knowledge and asked them if they harboured the antipathetic emotion of hatred in their minds. “Yes!” exclaimed the disciples. The Master directed his disciples to place a potato each in their bag and always travel with it as a reminder that despite the practice of meditation and breathing exercises their prana level was not high enough to exterminate and expatriate hatred and inculcate compassion. The number of potatoes was to increase depending on the quantum of anger and would be directly proportional to the antipathy in their minds. Some young monks ended up carrying a bagful of potatoes, which over a period of time became malodorous. In sheer exasperation, the harried disciples sought refuge in the grace of the master to dispense away with the bag. The Zen Master guffawed and chided his students to abandon the negative trait of abhorrence from their minds, lest the malodour of these traits become a burden all through their lives. In order to lead a warm, happy and healthy life individuals should embark upon the path of forgiveness and compassion. This suffuses the mind with immense strength and courage of conviction. There is a marked jump in the emotional and intelligence quotient. It would be insightful for any individual to make positive affirmations, reinforcing love for every animate and inanimate object to build a divine society. Such affirmations would train the mind to remain unruffled and spread the quintessential gospel of forgiveness. Thereby humans would truly embrace fellow beings. If we construe the human mind to be the hardware, compassionate thoughts and forgiveness are part of non-negotiable software.

Efficacy of Mantras

Efficacy of Mantras Truly, the Almighty is all-pervasive and omniscient. Let us take the case of devout Hindus. Each day is dedicated to a deity and a mantra is chanted to invoke divine benediction. Chanting Om Namah Narayana on Sundays, the faithful beseech Lord Vishnu for love, opulence, strength, power and glory. Mondays are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The mantra Om Namah Shivaya helps to banish all attachments and material consciousness. Om Sri Subramunyaya Namaha chanted on Tuesdays is a potent mantra to expatriate evil influences from the human mind. This mantra assists in seeking spiritual victory in all combats. In the Hindu pantheon of Gods, Lord Krishna is all pervasive, with humungous authority. Chanting the mantra Om Namah Bhagavate Vasudevaya on Wednesdays bestows the munificence of Lord Krishna. Indisputably, parents are our first teachers. One can continue to receive the grace of the Guru/teacher by chanting Om Namoh Bhagavate Shivanandaya on Thursdays. The shakti which fuels and propels energy in humans is only through the divine orison of Devi shakti. Goddess Lakshmi provides humans with prosperity, truthfulness, sagacity and perspicacity to strive for the quintessential truth and by chanting Om Sri Mahalakshmiyai Namaha on Fridays the seeker traverses an error-free path. Lord Hanuman makes the mind brawny and provides strength, unparalleled success in devotional activities and helps the human mind attain elevated realisation. Chanting Om Sri Hanumate Namaha on Saturdays unflinchingly assuages frayed nerves and distraught minds. The divine tattva By way of our actions and non-actions, the human body, mind and soul become fragile and enfeebled. Chanting mantras with utmost concentration and purity of thought enables the mind regain vigour and robustness resulting in an alchemical transmutation. Consequently we are able to enhance the Shiva Tattva, Narayana Tattva and Guru Tattva in our selves. This is further buttressed with orison to the Goddess, making the mind aerobicized. Mantra – the bedrock of all organised religious groups The above narrative was regarding Hinduism. However, all religious orders and spiritual organisations endorse chanting of words and syllables. The intent of these words is to silence the mind, helping it move from cacophony to symphony. Among Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs it is the cantillation of Om. Those professing Islam undertake incantations of Qur’anic passages, or the names of Allah. Christians offer praise to the Lord by chanting scriptural texts, especially the Psalms. Jews too chant from the biblical texts (Old Testament). Practitioners of Sudarshan Kriya, a rhythmic breathing technique, inhale and exhale to the syllables So-Ham. The entire exercise is to expatriate negativity. The mantra acts at the subconscious level of the mind and amortises turbulence. Mystery behind the mantra Aeons ago lived a Zen Master who specialised in teaching mantras. The foundation of his teachings was absolute faith in the mantra being chanted. Two young tutees once approached him and expressed a desire to learn a mantra that would help them fly in the sky. The wise Master wanted to know if they were sure that they would carry out his instructions in toto and with absolute faith. The mentees eagerly agreed to do so and regularly practise the mantra. Very soon they began to levitate and over a period of time began to fly like majestic birds and gain momentous heights. Somewhere in the stratosphere one day, the two postulants met and exchanged notes. Said the first novitiate, “Brother, what is the syllable imparted to you by the Holy Master?” “La,” replied the second freshman. “Oh! I was given the mantra ‘Ba’,” remarked the first greenhorn. They surmised that if they were to combine the two mantras, surely their powers would get magnified and they could then circumnavigate the universe. In their minds they thought it extremely unfair on part of the Master to impart only one half of the mantra to each of them. Their energy and enthusiasm doubled, but faith punctured, they chanted the mantra ‘Ba-La’. Much to their surprise they came hurtling down and landed with a big thud. The enlightened master in his percipience had disseminated the sacred words his students. The power of the mantra lay in selfless and unswerving chanting. However, avarice and doubts deflated their faith and led them to make the first wrong move. They were consumed by venomous vipers like in a game of snakes and ladders and their virtuosity dissipated in the sands of time. Upend the pyramid Meanwhile there lived a young boy, whose mother appeared to be on the last leg of her life. His father and the entire family were traumatized and overwrought. The young boy overheard the doctor tell his father that only a miracle could save the patient. In all innocence he rushed to the chemist housed in the hospital and placed all his savings, adding to a few paltry rupees, on the counter. He wanted the magic drug called ‘miracle’ to treat his dying mother. Taking pity on the child, the chemist gave a few vitamin tablets. The child prayed to almighty God and handed over the ‘miracle’ medicine to his father, certain that his mother would now be saved. Much to the amazement of the medical fraternity and the family, the lady of the house regained consciousness and slowly recovered. The ‘wonder drug’ had a placebo effect in the mind of the child and the entire family was subsumed with positivity, which resulted in the startling recovery of the mother, much to the amazement of the medical fraternity. Buddha once famously said, “We are shaped by our thoughts.” Thus, the efficacy of a Mantra is not in merely parroting it but imbibing its intrinsic pristine quality.

HUMANS OF BOMBAY

I’ve always been a homemaker. I’d teach my children and in my free time, experiment with food. My kids’ especially loved the kheer I made and would often say, ‘Maa, sell your kheer! It’s so tasty!’ But I’d brush it off and think, ‘I don’t even have a business degree!’ But when my kids graduated, I had time on my hands. And so, I took up my first job as a school teacher at 45. And honestly, being able to do something for myself was liberating! But one day after work, when I made kheer, my daughter said, ‘Maa, it’s the same flavour since so many years. Try something new for once!’ My ego was bruised and so, I experimented by adding a spoonful of Nutella. And when she had a bite, she said, ‘This is the most delicious kheer!’ My son had a similar reaction and he said, ‘Please start that business!’ I was wary, but I tried new kheer dishes and shared them with friends and family for feedback! They all had one thing to say- we love it! But despite their positive responses, I was afraid of starting a business, I mean I was 50 and had lived half my life! But my kids said, ‘We believe in you. You should too!’ And so I did and in 2017, started ‘La Kheer Deli’. We set up a handcart! But this didn’t sit well with my husband who said, ‘So now you’re starting a thela at 50?’ That made me doubt myself, but so many people had such nice things to say about my kheer, I thought, ‘There has to be something!’ So, I took the plunge and the next day itself, I stood behind the cart with my kids. People stared and wondered why an educated family was selling kheer on the road, but my kids were optimistic. And when I made my first sale, I was over the moon! I’d look at customers' faces to see if they liked my kheer, and when one said, ‘This is tastier than ice-cream’ I was motivated! On the first day, we sold 44 cups. It was a good start! Then on, I’d work in school during the week and sell kheer on the weekends. Within 2 months, I was selling 650 cups a day; I was earning more than what I was making in school. Still I’d think, ‘This is just a honeymoon phase.’ But one day, I woke up to see my thela being featured in the newspaper; I couldn’t believe it! Seeing my progress, my husband came around too. And so, I quit my job and ran my business full time! And a year later, we moved online. Our kheer even made it to hospitals. Once, a doctor told me, ‘I give your kheer to cancer patients, they love it.’ I was touched. I hustled everyday, and within 2 years time, our sales surged over Rs 1 crore! And in 2019, after making kheer in my home kitchen for a year, we moved to a central kitchen! Today, we’ve set up 8 more handcart stalls around the city. Today, at 54, I’m the owner of a business that has a turnover of over 1Cr! Only because my family taught me to believe in myself and I did. So, take that chance, dare to jump, you never know, you might just… fly!” HUMANS OF BOMBAY

Efficacy of the SATSANGS of Sri VSR Moorty

Efficacy of the SATSANGS of Sri VSR Moorty By Ravi Valluri It was a desolate sight to see my nonagenarian grandmother Vemavarapu Ganga Bhavani, fondly referred to as Pedda (the venerable elder one) by my daughter and son. A deeply religious person whose life was dedicated to the Almighty, once the proud owner of Farhat Bagh in then Madras at Mylapore, and now afflicted by Alzheimer’s, she was lying in an incapacitated manner in a small nursing home in Bangalore. There was just a nurse to attend to her needs. Ammamma was vacantly looking at the ceiling. Misty-eyed, I entered the room along with Moorty garu and Kishoreda. She was quite unexpectedly injected with vital prana as she stared at us. “Moorty garu aa,” she uttered loudly, much to the astonishment of the nurse. Grandmother had been barely speaking or eating anything. Ganga Bhavani and Moorty garu were then involved in an animated conversation reminiscing the years of their association. “Nenu, Bala satsangalu ki vastamu,” she exclaimed quite animatedly. As we left, Ammamma looked forlorn and Moorty garu blessed her. That was my final interaction with grandmother and is etched in the alcoves of my mind. A somnolent 94-year-old woman abruptly awakening up upon seeing Shri VSR Moorty, obviously meant that the satsangs he rendered were exemplar. We all were a witness to several satsangs rendered in flawless Telugu and most importantly without any script. There was one rendition on the Narada Bhakti sutras at our Capri Towers house in Hyderabad which is etched in my memory bank where he spoke, extempore as usual, on the traditions of Hinduism. The text details the process of devotion, or Bhakti yoga and is thus of particular importance to many of the Bhakti movements within Hinduism and Moorty garu gave an evocative description of many a seeker. The man has been blessed with a remarkable memory and the ability to speak effectively in any forum with remarkable ease. I have heard Moorty garu speak on religious, spiritual, current affairs, political matters and social problems with consummate ease. His trademark crisp, dhoti-kurta attire and pleasant demeanour add value to the delivery. Hush and shush prevail as he spoke. He invariably speaks for an hour without a break, without fumbling and with absolute clarity. This is without any doubt a gift endowed to him by the celestial beings and the benediction of Bhagwan Sathya Sai Baba. *********************** The year was 2014 and it was a crisp and cool morning in early November. The place was Hyderabad. I was then posted as the Chief Traffic Planning Manager, South Central Railway. As I was poring over files, in walked two gentlemen who have been closely connected with Bhagwan Satya Sai Baba. They were Shri VSR Moorty and Shri G Ramaniah. We exchanged pleasantries and Moorty garu focussed his attention on my computer screen. Pictures of H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar were flipping across the monitor. He looked at Gurudev’s photograph quite intently and in an unfazed manner uttered, “Ravi, I would like to have an interaction with H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.” I was taken aback. Moorty garu added further that the interaction would be recorded by SVBC. I was not aware about SVBC and expressed my ignorance. Moorty garu dispelled my doubt and mentioned that SVBC meant Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel. Millions of devotees of Gurudev wait to have a glimpse of the Master and I had the onerous task of organising an interaction with the Master himself. But that is a challenge for any seeker. Immediately I contacted Shri Kishore Mukherjee, fondly called Kishoreda. He was excited about the proposal and asked me to send a mail to Gurudev directly, marking a copy to him and the secretariat. While these developments were taking place, Moorty garu made a few quick calls to SVBV authorities, their production team among others. I was amazed at the alacrity with which Sri VSR Moorty acted and his supreme confidence about the execution of the project. He then shared, “Ravi, the sankalpa needs to be pure, rest Almighty God will take ensure that things fall in place, Sai Ram.” The two of them soon left my room. I was in a stupefied and exhilarated state and could only say, “Jai Gurudev.” Meanwhile that evening, I received a call from ABC (the media team of the Art of Living foundation) that dates had been fixed for the interaction between H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the spiritual scientist Sri VSR Moorty. Moorty garu, Kumar and Mani Naidu (also members of the Art of Living family) and yours truly made our peregrination to the Bangalore Ashram of the Art of Living. We were soon joined by the SVBC team led by Srinivas. For three days and three nights we were witness to something above normal and absolutely singular. The interaction ranged on a variety of subjects from ancient Hindu practices, various schools of Hindu philosophy to the present day. It is well-nigh impossible to decode the Divine and pen the interaction. My request to the reader would be to view the interaction on SVBC. It is a visual treat, be it a stock individual or a seeker. A senior teacher of Art of Living, Shri Vinod Menon was to tell Moorty garu, “This is the closest one could unravel divinity, you are fortuitous coming so close to the Divine.” In the amphitheatre on my mind the graphic scene of BR Chopra’s Mahabharata, the television serial played out, where Lord Krishna tells Bhishma, “Arjun woh nar hai jo Narayan ke darshan karwayega.” (That is, Arjuna is the person who will reveal the resplendence of Narayana himself). So Moorty garu was the Arjuna, who during the course of his interactions demystified God or Divinity in its pristine form. We, the audience, perhaps like Sanjaya of Mahabharata were a witness to the grand spectacle. Through the television screens, thousands could watch the proceedings across the swathes of the globe. The landscape of Bangalore Ashram is dotted with scenic and sublime spots like Radha Kunj, Gurukul, the Amphitheatre and the Panchakarma centre where Gurudev and Sri VSR Moorty had interactions on esoteric subjects of Hindu philosophy, Lalitha Sahasranamam, Agni Sooktam, various schools of the pristine Hindu thought among others. We were overwhelmed and were a witness to two more such interactions. So, this was satsang … What does one mean by satsang? (I quote Yogapedia to describe satsang) Satsang is a Sanskrit term derived from two roots: sat meaning “true” and sangha meaning community, company or association. It can be translated as “associating with good people” or simply “being in the company of truth”. It refers to the act of gathering with like-minded, uplifting people, especially those on a spiritual path. Satsang may also refer to a group of people engaged in a spiritual dialogue. Although the term is generally used to highlight the importance of community on spiritual growth, by definition satsang can additionally be considered as a lone relationship with truth. Satsang is associated with the inner quality of sattva (goodness or purity), which is one of the three gunas (natural attributes) alongside rajas (passion) and tamas (inactivity). Sattva manifests as thoughtfulness, wisdom, contemplation and a peaceful demeanor. A sattvic person makes a natural satsangi, or “seeker of truth”. Sri VSR Moorty has been now conducting regular satsangs on Bhagwan Satya Sai Baba, other eminent Hindu philosophers and various tenets of Indian philosophy and spiritual leaders for around four decades. I had the fortune of attending to those satsangs on some occasions, especially when I was passing through most woebegone times in my life, when I was addicted to the Bacchus. My grandmother, my mother, my cousins Jaya and Chinna Jaya had on numerous occasions attended the satsangs. My mother recorded as many as 300 cassettes worth of Moorty Garu’s satsangs which she would play and listen to them fervently every day unflinchingly. My grandmother whenever visiting us in Hyderabad would listen to the renditions. Many a times her hearing aid would fall-off and she would get vexed, but soon listen intently to the satsangs. My grandmother would always gift a white or cream Bush shirt to Moorty garu on his birthday. There has been a very intimate bonding between our family and Moorty garu, which goes beyond satsangs. Perhaps we were Gandharvas in our previous birth and mother and grandmother have been King Sagara and Ganga who resuscitated the Valluri and the Vemavarapu families from various misdemeanours committed in life. Moorty garu would always say that, “Amma and Lakshmi used to prepare a concoction of powder, full of nutrition which they gave me out of love and concern.” He is extremely fond of my wife and guided her to recite the 72nd shloka of the Lalitha Sahasranamam which Moorty garu says is extremely efficacious and brawny. Moorty garu has always encouraged me to write and always reads my works with great span of attention. It has been a very profitable and providential association with the spiritual scientist and I am indeed grateful to my parents on making him a part of our extended family. I would recommend people to read his works and delve into his satsangs. Jai Guru Dev

Efficacy of Satsangs

Efficacy of Satsangs It was a desolate sight to see my nonagenarian grandmother. A deeply religious person whose life was dedicated to the almighty afflicted by Alzheimer’s, lying in an incapacitated condition in a small nursing home in Bangalore. There was just a nurse to attend to her needs. Misty-eyed, I entered the room along with two gentlemen. Grandma was quite unexpectedly injected with vital prana as she stared at us. “Moorty garu aa,” she exclaimed, much to the astonishment of the nurse and was involved in an animated conversation with him. As we left, grandmother looked forlorn and her benefactor blessed her. A somnolent 94-year-old woman abruptly awakening up upon seeing Shri VSR Moorty, obviously meant that the satsangs he rendered were exemplar. There was one rendition on the Narada Bhakti sutras at our Capri Towers house in Hyderabad which is etched in my memory bank. *********************** The year was 2014 and it was a crisp and cool morning in early November where I was posted on South Central Railway. As I was poring over files, in walked Shri VSR Moorty. Moorty garu focussed his attention on my computer screen. Pictures of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar were flipping across the monitor. He looked at Gurudev’s photograph quite intently and uttered, “Ravi, I would like to have an interaction with Guruji.” This interaction or Satsang would be recorded by Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel. My jaws fell in astonishment. Millions of devotees of Gurudev wait to have a glimpse of the Master and I had this onerous task of organising an interaction with the Master himself. But that is a challenge for any seeker and I promptly sent a mail to the Master and his secretariat seeking an appointment. He then shared, “Ravi, the sankalpa needs to be pure, rest Almighty God will take ensure that things fall in place, Sai Ram.” I was stunned that evening when, the Secretariat had fixed the appointment at a short notice. We made a peregrination to the Bangalore Ashram of the Art of Living along with the channel. For three days and three nights we were witness to something paranormal. The interaction ranged on a variety of subjects from ancient Hindu practices, various schools of Hindu philosophy to the present day. It is well-nigh impossible to decode the Divine and pen the interaction. A senior teacher of Art of Living, Shri Vinod Menon was to tell Moorty garu, “This is the closest one could unravel divinity, you are fortuitous coming so close to the Divine.” In the amphitheatre on my mind the graphic scene of BR Chopra’s Mahabharata, the television serial played out, where Lord Krishna tells Bhishma, “Arjun woh nar hai jo Narayan ke darshan karwayega.” (That is, Arjuna is the person who will reveal the resplendence of Narayana himself). So, this was satsang … What does one mean by satsang? (I quote Yogapedia to describe satsang) Satsang is a Sanskrit term derived from two roots: sat meaning “true” and sangha meaning community, company, or association. It can be translated as “associating with good people” or simply “being in the company of truth.” It refers to the act of gathering with like-minded, uplifting people, especially those on a spiritual path. Satsang is associated with the inner quality of sattva (goodness or purity), which is one of the three gunas (natural attributes) alongside rajas (passion) and tamas (inactivity). A sattvic person makes a natural satsangi, or “seeker of truth.” So let us all be Satsangi’s in quest of the quintessential truth.

"A Tale of Parallels"?

RAVI VALLURI is an officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service and has worked at several places on different Zonal railways. He has also served in Mil Rail (Army Headquarters), where he was decorated with the Chief of Army Staff award. Currently, he is posted at Chennai as the Principal Chief Commercial Manager, Southern Railway. He is also the author of nine books- “The Matter of the Mind”, “Make the Mind Mt. Kailasa”, “The Infinite Mind” (co-authored with Ankush Garg), “NaMo 303 Words to Victory”, “Indian Stories: Images & Thoughts”, “Heartbreak at Coffee Shop An Array of Tales”, “Divine Whispers 365 Quotes of H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar”, “Magic of the Mind” and “A Tale of Parallels”. His books were unveiled by H. H. Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. His first book “The Matter of the Mind” has been translated into Telugu and is available under the title “Manomoolamidham”. His sixth book “Heartbreak at Coffee Shop An Array of Tales” has been translated into Hindi and “NaMo 303 Word to Victory” has been translated into Kannada. “Divine Whispers” has also been converted into an audio book and is available at audible.com. He is also a faculty of the Art of Living and conducts the Happiness Programme, yoga and meditation sessions of the Art of Living, besides helping counsel addicts and undertaking courses for those dependant on alcohol and drugs. He has had a penchant for theatre, public speaking and writing since his school days and continues to fuel these interests. At present, he contributes to the Free Press Journal and also blogs at https://ravivalluri.wordpress.com. Ravi Valluri has been interviewed by Doordarshan National, Doordarshan Uttar Pradesh and Doordarshan Gorakhpur apart from appearing on Radio FM, Secunderabad and Rainbow FM, Bareilly. The author can be reached at 9618664024(WhatsApp) and at valluri.ravi@gmail.com. 1. What was the most difficult part to write in the book "A Tale of Parallels"? It was a challenge to combat living in the Officer's Rest House at Sterling Road Chennai as my wife and I were holed up while the second wave of the pandemic struck our nation. We were relocated from Prayagraj to Chennai. We were living in a huge building , but the two of us were in one room. So it was a mental battle while living in a room. I had conceived the prompts and several stories were floating in my mind . In many ways , we were living in Agyatvas / exile I reckoned. Somehow , I wanted to draw a parallel from the epic Mahabharata while weaving these stories. Fortunately my son had sent a book on Mahabharata curated by the noted author DevDuttPattnaik ( a Coffee Table Book brimming with illustrations and several stories). This was the magical moment. I would call it divine grace. As I pored over the masterpiece , ideas germinated in my mind. Now came the difficult part of intertwining the tales with the plots in my mind. All these plots and stories were pertaining to current affairs. There was a prompt with me called 6 in 5000 . That was about a family from Mirzapur and Prayagraj in current times. It was indeed a daunting task to draw a parallel with Mahabharata. 6 in 5000 , I could convert into the five Pandavas and Draupadi say 5000 years back and could weave a story of present times in Eastern UP. My wife changed the title to A TALE OF PARALLELS. And interestingly this became the title of the book as well. So yes drawing those parallels of Mahabharata with current day events was challenging and a daunting task but not an insurmountable one. 2. Your previous books are about the positive mindset and positive lifestyle. Can we expect the same in this book ' A Tale of Parallels' as well? I had written a book of fiction - short stories called HeartBreak at Coffee Shop - An Array of Tales. That was not all about positivity. But there were several unexpected twists which led to positive vibes. This collection of short stories is not a self helpbook or on the human mind. It is full of fact , fiction and numerous twists relying heavily on Mahabharata . Since Mahabharata deals with good conquering feindish forces similarly this remains the underlying theme and positivity emerges from several twists , turns and the accompanying mayhem. 3. The book cover looks so unique and insightful, is there any hidden meaning behind the cover image? The cover is indeed quite engaging . And we had to grapple with it with a lot of discussion. My publisher AKS Publishers , our promotion agents Jashn Events , my wife and I worked on it. It took time , but I am happy with the cover. If one looks at the cover closely , at the bottom are the images of the original Pandavas and above are modern day characters . In between are two sets of arrows in which the title is mentioned. So this is a reflection image through the two sets of arrows. Arrows could represent Arjuna vanquishing the Kauravas , or Bhishma lying on the bed of arrows or the macabre situations of today. So through an apocalypse now kind of a situation , the reader stumbles into tranquility and peace. This is what I have attempted and hoped to offer the readers. 4. Have you ever traveled to research for your stories ? I have been posted to several parts of the country. This is the ninth zonal railway I am working at in Chennai. With so many transfers , and staying at places lices like Alllahabad, Guwahati , Bangalore , Hyderabad , Guntakal , Secunderabad , Chennai , Ambala , Bikaner , Jaipur , Delhi ....to name some some I have had the opportunity to interact with a large cross section of people and seen various places . This has provided me with the feel of real India . And thus I do not merely write sitting in an airconditioned room without visiting a place like Bapatla , Chitrakut or Mantralayam . This exposure has helped me immensely in my writings. And Indian Railways is called the Lifeline of the nation which provides an opportunity to discover India. its culture and people who populate the landscape of my stories both fiction and non fiction. 5. What has influenced you the most as a writer? My experiences in life, especially the recovery from alcoholism to sobriety through the Art of Living . The grace of Master H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar metamorphosed my thought process which helped me in writing immensely. Life is the biggest teacher which resonates in my writings and I am sure this is the case with all artists. Next while in school and college I was an active participant in music theatre workshops under the tutelage of eminent personalities , dabbled with writing , public speaking and over the years have learned Hindustani Classical music ( unfortunately have not continued with it in an uninterrupted manner ) contributed to my writing. My mother encouraged me to fuel my passion and my wife has been a merciless editor. So all these factors have contributed me to develop as a person and have also shaped my writings. 6. A Tale of Parallels will be the best read for which age group? Any one who is above 18 years would enjoy reading the book. 7. How many hours a day do you write? What is your favorite time to write, and why? Around two to three hours on weekdays and more on holidays and weekends. But it is not that I am not preparing to write at other times. My mind keeps hunting for plots . Usually I write in the evenings and at times in the mornings. Our work schedule is exceedingly hectic in the Railways , so I find time late in the evenings.

Spirituality and Writing – A Conversation with Author Ravi Valluri

Spirituality and Writing – A Conversation with Author Ravi Valluri Spirituality and Writing have an intrinsic connection. A lot of times books have the ability to change the minds of people. Let us know more about “Spirituality and Writing “. (BIO) Ravi Valluri is the CEO of Chattisgarh East Railway Limited and Chattisgarh East West Railway Limited. He is a multi-faceted personality who doffs several hats. The author is a faculty of Art of Living , conducts Happiness Program of the foundation , apart from conducting Yoga and Meditation sessions. He has been counselling alcoholics and drug addicts through Art of Living programs and his writings so that they can eschew the habit. Ravi Valluri has a penchant for writing both fiction and non-fiction works, theatre , debating , public speaking and has also learned Hindustani classical music ( and rues that he could not pursue this passion with vigor ). These days he is regularly writing a column for the prestigious newspaper The Pioneer, Delhi which is called First Column. His latest books have been Art of War to Art of Living ( which was among top 20 in the spiritual fiction category on Amazon) and A Story of Faith and Miracles ( a true account or his autobiography). Art of War to Art of Living has been recently translated in Hindi as well. All these works are available on Amazon apart from his other works. He can be reached on WhatsApp at 9618564024 and on email – Valluri.ravi@gmai’com. The couple that is the author and his wife Lakshmi Valluri ( also known as Red Pencil Editor) recently launched an online bilingual website called www.rustleofwords.in where published and budding authors can contribute articles , short stories, tales , micro tales, poetry , drabbles , sketches , photographs and paintings . Also along with another writing platform called Towards Literature, the author and Nikita Rajput are working on an anthology about revolutionary freedom fighters who fought for India’s freedom. Entries are welcome to the anthology in English language. So let us talk about spirituality and writing with Shri Ravi Valluri. Q1) Tell us about some books that have lead to your spiritual growth . Ans : One has to be on a spiritual path to gain access to such kind of books which transforms the seeker’s personality. A person has to find a Guru or some say Guru is waiting for you. In either case, one has to be in the presence and aura of a spiritual Master to receive wisdom and to be in Knowledge. It is an interesting paradigm- One is lucky to find a Guru and once you are protected by a Guru then you are lucky and blessed . My spiritual master is Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Thus reading his books like Celebrating Silence , Intimate Notes to a Sincere Seeker , Shiva Suktas , commentary of Yoga Vasishtha , Patanjali Yoga Sutras have enabled to plant the seed of spirituality in me. I have been fortunate that my parents were always in the presence of spiritual masters that the aperture was opened. Some of the books which were an eye opener for me include C Rajagopalchari’s Ramayana and Mahabharata , Romain Ronald’s works on RamaKrishna Paramahamsa , Swami Vivekananda , works of Swami Aurobindo and Mother , our religious texts like Bhagvad Gita and Mahatma Gandhi’s The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Other books include Paramahamsa Yoganada’s “Autobiography of a Yogi” , Man’s Eternal Quest , Divine Romance. Zen stories, Panchatantra and Amar Chitra Katha also played a role in fashioning my personality. Q2) Do you feel books have the ability to change someone’s lives. Ans : These books are steeped in knowledge and are full of wisdom. They are not merely some ordinary Life Coach books. They have a profound impact on the human mind to transform one’s personality. Repeated readings of such texts annihilate woebegone thoughts and demons from our minds and invoke the spirit of valour to become achievers. The story of Ramyana and Mahabharata are not merely templates of triumph of good over evil , but also evolves one’s personality to look at the positive side of life. These tales demonstrate through their narrative as to how even celestials, divine beings faced several misadventures in human birth but overcame obstacles through prayer , devotion and Tapas. The lives of Lord Rama , Pandavas are a pointer in this direction. They were exiled , faced enormous problems whilst in human birth , but came out triumphant. The story of Hanuman , Buddha , Shankaracharya , Jesus , Mahavira , Sikh Gurus are all so inspirational for people who are facing misadventures in life and how to face challenges and overcome obstacles. I will talk about three texts which all readers young and old should read with utmost devotion. Bhagvad Gita , Hanuman Chalisa and Sundara Kanda. Lord Krishna in the song celestial not only awakens a pusillanimous Arjuna to wage the war against fiendish forces( Kauravas) , but has spoken about various Yogas , Kriyas , about the very purpose of life and existence. Both Hanuman Chalisa and Sundara Kanda are classic examples of devotion , surrender and valour of Pavan Putra Hanuman to achieve the impossible when mentally disturbed. Q3 )”Yoga and Kriya.” are two important things in a person’s life. Tell us more about this to the young readers. Ans : The International Yoga Day 21st of June is round the corner so this an appropriate question. The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word Yuj or conjoin. It implies union with the divine. These are not merely set of physical exercises but beyond that to move towards divinity , the cosmos and total relaxation of body and mind. There are several forms of Yoga but the most authentic and unalloyed is the Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Yoga was bestowed to us by Lord Shiva. For mankind this was cognated through Maharishi Patanjali in his treatise Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. First codified by the sage Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras around 400 C.E, the practice was in fact handed down from teacher to student long before this text arose. Originally, this was a one-to-one transmission, but as yoga became popular all over the world we started having group sessions. Meditation and Kriyas are also an integral part of Yoga. To have an insight in these esoteric subjects a seeker or practioner has to necessarily learn it from a Guru , at a Gurukul or a certified Yoga school. Merely doing Asana’s will not help. It has to be accompanied with breathing techniques like Pranayama and even deeper the Kriyas , finally leading to meditation. There are eight limbs to Patanjali Yoga Sutras – These are yama (abstinences), niyama (observances), asana (yoga postures), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption). This is a profound and esoteric subject which only a spiritual master can speak on . We as teachers of Art of Living can bring a student to the spiritual Master. “ One aspect of the Yoga way is to provide us techniques to lead a stress-free life. On the other hand, Yoga is also the greatest wealth of humankind,” says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Q4) What do you feel should be the mantra of one’s life. Ans: The cardinal Mantra of life today should be to have good health and empowering thoughts. We are emerging from a major scourge and several times variants of the Novel Corona virus appears which threatens to rock the boat. The pandemic claimed several thousands of lives, destroyed health care systems, economies and we ended up adding to our lexicon , words such as corona, pandemic, lockdown, social distancing, masks, Bipap machines, ventilator, remdesivir and vaccination to name some. Thus, health to my mind is the most important thing in life. This is the first Mantra. Buddha was to say,” Your body is precious. It is our vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care.” It is a true blessing as advocated. The second Mantra is to have a positive frame of mind, empowering and enabling thoughts. “ If we have positive, loving thoughts, then our reality will be positive and loving. If we have negative, hateful thoughts, then our reality will be negative and hateful.,” Sakhya Munni Buddha was to say. Positive thoughts and health are intertwined. And we can count our blessings if we are able to have both. So, these two are singular Mantra’s in life. Rest would follow. Humans are hankering after money, fame, success, time, to become achievers etc, but without health and equanimity or positive thoughts we end up being physical and mental wrecks. Often we hear celebrities and stock individuals snuffing out their lives in an unexpected manner. Why does it happen? They do not have robust minds or health. Q5) Tell us more about your books and what inspired you to write on this topic. Ans : Well I write both fiction and non-fiction. I have written collection of short stories , full length novels , spiritual fiction , autobiography and on subjects like human mind, yoga , pranayama , meditation , Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and his greatest gift to humanity the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya. My fictional stories are based on our myths like Mahabharata, Panchatantra , Zen Stories with a twist in the present times . And non-fiction have been written on human mind and consciousness as I came out of the cesspool of alcoholism by practicing Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique and was blessed by Guruji to become an Art of Living Teacher. Through my writings I am trying to reach out to people who are suffering from addictions and are unfortunately weak minded. Jai Gurudev- Victory to the Big Mind.