A ROCK FOUNDATION

Good Morning!!! A ROCK FOUNDATION Around the Year with Emmet Fox July 22 Read Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” Matthew 7:24 One of the oldest symbols for the human soul is that of a building, sometimes a dwelling house, and sometimes a temple. The first thing that has to be done by the builder of a house is to select a sound foundation. On the shifting sands of the desert it is impossible to build anything at all, and so, when the desert dweller intends to put up a permanent structure he looks about for a rock. Now the Rock is one of the Bible terms for God, and the implication is very obvious. God’s word is the one and only foundation upon which we can build the temple of the regenerated soul with safety. As long as we are depending upon something less than that Rock— upon will power, upon so-called material security, upon the good will of others, or upon our own personal resources— we are building upon sand, and great will be our fall.

*The Guest House*

🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿 *The Guest House* *This being human is a guest house* *Every morning, a new arrival* *A joy, a depression, a meanness,* *Some momentary awareness comes* *as an unexpected visitor.* *Welcome and entertain them all !* *Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,* *who violently sweep your house* *empty of its furniture,* *still, treat each guest honourably.* *He may be clearing you out for some new delight.* *The dark thought, the shame, the malice,* *meet them at the door, laughing and invite them in.* *Be grateful for whatever comes.* *Because each has been sent* *as a guide from beyond.* *Jelaluddin Rumi.*

Did Arjuna also possess Narayanastra, Bhargavastra and Vaishnavastra?

Did Arjuna also possess Narayanastra, Bhargavastra and Vaishnavastra? Let's look at Arjuna's arsenal of astras first. During the Rangabhoomi arena. He showed the following astras. He created fire with an agneya weapon. He created water with a varuna weapon. He created winds with a vayavya weapon. He created rain with a parjanya weapon. He entered the ground with a bhoumya weapon. He created mountains with a parvata weapon. He made everything disappear with an antardhana weapon. Source: Jatugriha-daha Parva Chapter 125 critical edition. After obtaining a boon from Mahadeva, he has the following weapons! On your words, the mighty-armed one went out for weapons. Partha has obtained from Rudra a great and unrivalled weapon. It is known as Brahmashira and Rudra obtained it after great austerities. That terrible weapon arose with the ambrosia and Savyasachi has now obtained it, together with the mantras for withdrawing, repulsing and releasing it. O Yudhishthira! O descendant of the Kuru lineage! The infinitely powerful Partha has obtained other divine weapons too—like vajra and danda—from Yama, Kubera, Varuna and Indra. So it's clear that Arjuna possessed a large number of astras, including Vishnu weapons. Agneyastra Varunaastra Vayavya astra Parjanya astra Bhoumya astra Parvata astra Antardhana astra Indra's Vajra yudh Yama’s staff. Kubera’s astra Varuna’s moose Gandharva aatra Vishoshanastra Adityastra Jyotiskastra Aindra missile Samohana aastra Brahmastra Brahmashira And Pasupata( these two have interchangeable names in the epic. But I have still put them as separate astras). But did he possess the Narayanastra? Nope! He had no idea about the astra when Ashvathma used it. That weapon basically made Ashvathma unvanquishable on the battlefield. Bhagdatta’s Vaishnava astra also made him invincible, also that was because of the boon he had not exactly because of the astra. But Arjuna most likely didn't possess it. As for Bhargava Astra. Listen to what Arjuna himself stated: At this, Kunti’s son, Dhananjaya, spoke to Vasudeva. ‘Behold the extremely terrible bhargava weapon. O Krishna! O mighty-armed one! Behold the valour of the bhargava weapon. There is no means of countering that weapon in a battle. O Krishna! Behold the angry son of a suta in the great battle. The brave one is like Yama and has performed a terrible deed. He is repeatedly casting extremely terrible glances towards me. I do not see any means of running away from Karna in this battle. If a man remains alive in a battle, there may be victory, or there may be defeat. O Hrishikesha! For the sake of victory, how can one be victorious if one is dead?’ O venerable one! Janardana wished to leave to see Yudhishthira and thought that Karna would be overcome with exhaustion in the battle.560 venerable one! Janardana wished to leave to see Yudhishthira and thought that Karna would be overcome with exhaustion in the battle. If he had the weapon, then he would have countered it or atleast wouldn't said such terms. Some people think that Arjuna had stronger weapons like Brahmashira or Pashupata, so isn't that a contradiction? Not really! What Arjuna meant was that he had no other weapon to counter the astra other than higher level Trimurti weapons. He had no lower level or even medium or high level weapons which can neutralise the astra. Even Indra’s Vajra wasn't enough to subdue the astra. So although Arjuna probably could have neutralised it, he would have harmed his own army and probably even himself if he used the Brahmashira or Pashupata! Arjuna definitely did not possess all the astras in the known age. But, overall, Arjuna possess the highest number of astras, more than any other warrior in Mahabharata.( other than Shree Krishna ofcourse).

TAKING MATERIAL STEPS

Good Morning!!! TAKING MATERIAL STEPS Around the Year with Emmet Fox July 25 When you set out to solve a problem by means of prayer, you should take all the ordinary normal steps in addition. Do not simply pray and then sit down and wait for something dramatic to happen. For instance, if you are praying for a position, you should pray for it as well as you know how each day, and then go out and visit agencies or prospective employers, write applications, or insert advertisements in suitable periodicals. If you want a healing, treat about it in whatever way you usually find to be best and, in addition, take whatever material steps seem to be appropriate. If your business is not prospering, have a checkup to discover if you are managing it efficiently. If you find weak points, as you almost certainly will, you must correct them forthwith. We certainly cannot expect to go on breaking the laws of the plane on which we live, and expect prayer to compensate for this foolishness. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” Ecclesiastes 9:10

Who was the most notorious drug kingpin of all time?

Who was the most notorious drug kingpin of all time? You might think it was Pablo Escobar, or maybe El Chapo—but you’d be wrong. More than 100 year's before those guys were born, there was an incredibly powerful woman who controlled a drug empire so vast and so unimaginably lucrative that it made Escobar and El Chapo look like low-level street dealer's. She also didn’t have to conceal her ill-gotten gains from the government tax collector's, because the proceeds from her drug operation were funding the entire country. She was Queen Victoria, and she was running the British Empire. Queen Victoria was only 18 when she ascended the throne, and she routinely enjoyed using a wide variety of drugs. Opium was one of her favourites—but she didn’t smoke it in a pipe. In 19 th- century Britain, the more fashionable way to ingest opium was to drink it in the form of laudanum. This heady one-two punch of opium and alcohol was widely used to knock out pain or discomfort, whatever the cause. It was sort of like aspirin before there was aspirin—respectable doctor's even recommended it for toddlers who were teething. Queen Victoria drank a big swig of laudanum every morning. Cocaine was another of her darling's. It wasn’t illegal; it was brand-new, and Europeans were just starting to experiment with it. There were plenty of fun and exciting ways to consume cocaine back in the 1800's, but Queen Victoria’s personal preferences were chewing gum and wine. Cocaine chewing gum was perfect for a powerful blast of self-confidence, which was great if you were a young, inexperienced queen trying hard to project a strong, assertive image. She used a few other drugs, too. The queen sipped a liquid form of cannabis to relieve her monthly menstrual symptoms. And to cope with the agonizing pain of childbirth, Victoria enthusiastically embraced chloroform. She held a soaked handkerchief to her face for 53 minutes and described the experience as “delightful beyond measure”. From the moment she was crowned in 1837, the young queen inherited a king-size problem: British people drank too much tea. It wouldn’t have been a problem, except the tea was coming from China. The average London household was spending 5 % of it's income on Chinese tea, but Britain didn’t have anything to trade to China in return. China was getting rich, and Britain was growing resentful. The Brits were desperate to find something—anything—that Chinese people craved. Opium ticked all the boxes. The Brits had tons of it because it grew abundantly in India, which was under British control thanks to the powerful East India Company’s domination of the Indian economy. It was an amazingly effective painkiller, which meant the Chinese were willing to pay insanely high prices for it. And most important, it was super addictive; people who used opium got hooked almost immediately, which meant the Brits could jack up the price even more. Britain had been shipping opium to China for year's, but the amount grew exponentially once Queen Victoria assumed the throne. Thanks to the miracle of opium, the trade imbalance was reversed overnight. China was forced to return all the silver the British had spent on tea, plus a great deal more. Now it was China, not Britain, that was racking up ruinous trade deficits. China tried desperately to halt the opium trade. Opium was already illegal in China, but the law's were rarely enforced, so now the Chinese government started cracking down severely. The emperor of China assigned his top man to the job. The guy’s name was Lin Zexu, and he was a Scholar, Philosopher, Viceroy, and all-around teacher’s pet. His mission was to stop the flow of opium at all costs. He tried diplomacy, but it didn’t work...? He wrote a letter to Queen Victoria, politely pointing out the immorality of what she was doing: China was shipping goods to Britain that were beneficial and useful, such as tea, silk, and pottery—so why was Britain responding by sending China poisonous drugs that were turning millions of innocent people into opium addicts...? But the British Empire wasn’t ready to give up it's lucrative drug operation. Because now, opium sales were responsible for 15 to 20% of the British Empire’s entire annual revenue. The queen didn’t bother to read the letter. This meant the doggedly persistent Lin Zexu needed to find another way to get her attention—so, in the spring of 1839, he intercepted a fleet of British ship's, seized a massive shipment of opium, and ordered his soldiers to dump it all into the South China Sea...? This time, the queen noticed. Remember, she was only 20 year's old and was used to things going her way. So when Lin Zexu and his men dumped 2.5 million pounds of British opium into the sea, she reacted like any all-powerful imperial teenager would: She declared war on China, known as the "First Opium War". British forces laid waste to the Chinese army and slaughtered tens of thousands of Chinese citizen's. The emperor had no choice but to capitulate. He signed a blatantly one-sided so-called peace treaty that handed over Hong Kong to the British, opened up even more ports for opium to flood into the country, and granted immunity to British citizen's who were living in China. Even worse, the whole world watched it happen. The Chinese empire had long been regarded as fearsome and indomitable, but not anymore. A petulant teenage queen had demonstrated to the world that China could be defeated, and fairly easily. Thus began the period referred to in textbooks as China’s “Century of humiliation”. That’s how a bullying teenager brought an esteemed ancient civilization to it's knees. To the young queen, it was fine with her if untold numbers of foreigner's halfway around the world died, so long as silver kept flowing. It was this ruthless, unabashed self-interest that made her the most successful drug kingpin of all time. Though, because she genuinely believed that cocaine was a safe, healthy energy booster with no ill effects, Queen Victoria refused to sell it to the Chinese. She was happy to sell them all the opium in the world—whether they wanted it or not—but they’d better not touch her cocaine. From HUMAN HISTORY ON DRUG'S: An Utterly Scandalous but Entirely Truthful Look at History Under the Influence by Sam Kelly, published by Plume, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group.

*Some english puns*

*Some english puns* She fell in love with a banker but he showed no interest. She fell in love with an astronaut but he wanted space. She fell in love with a gym trainer, but it didn't work out. She fell in love with a librarian, but his time was always booked. She fell in love with an electrician but for him there was no spark. She fell in love with a cardiologist but he broke her heart. She fell in love with a geologist, but the relationship was too rocky. She fell in love with an economist but he couldn’t supply her demands She fell in love with a violinist but he said, "No strings attached." She fell in love with the linguist but he left her speechless She fell in love with a seismologist, but he was always finding fault. She fell in love with a cook, but he left her on the back burner She fell in love with a mathematician but she couldn't count on him. She fell in love with a scuba diver--on the surface everything seemed to be fine, but deep down she knew something fishy was going on ... She fell in love with a fisherman, but he wasn't a good catch. She fell in love with a mason but they never built a strong foundation. She fell in love with a teacher, but he had no class! She fell in love with a tennis player but love meant nothing to him. She fell in love with the magician but he kept turning tricks. She fell in love with a thief but she couldn’t steal his heart. She fell in love with a fireman but he threw cold water on her passion. She fell in love with a bartender but he wasn’t intoxicated by her charms. 😆🤣😆🤣

Pun, Pun, Pun, that is the question ❓

Pun, Pun, Pun, that is the question ❓ Be kind to dentists. They have fillings too, you know. All the toilets in the NYPD headquarters have been stolen. The police apparently have nothing to go on. I did a theatrical performance about puns. It was really just a play on words. Why did the can crusher quit her job? It was soda-pressing. What do you call a broken can opener? A can’t opener. Why do people love switzerland? Well, the flag is a big plus. Unlike Canada’s, which I could take or leaf. Becoming vegetarian was a huge missed steak. I was was going to tell a joke about a dead parrot, but it was way too Macawbre. How do trees feel in the Spring? Releaved. Why do defense lawyers go out for Mexican food when they’re feeling down? To get some case-ideas! Did you hear about the sale on paddles? It was quite the oar-deal. If a Wizard uses magic to hold up a camera and take a picture of himself, is that a Spellfie? Did you hear that the Devil is going bald? Yeah, there’s gonna be hell toupee. Why is Peter Pan always flying? He Neverlands. (Sorry, but that joke never grows old). What language do bridges speak? Span-ish. If a kid won’t take a nap, is that “resisting a rest”? What do you call a dog magician? A Labracadabrador Retriever. How many ears does Captain Kirk have? Three, the right, the left, and the final front ear. A king, wanting to host an elaborate wedding for his daughter, raised taxes on all citizens of the kingdom by thirty pieces of gold. Everybody paid, except for one young count. The king sent a tax collector, but the count refused. “This is unfair, and I shall not pay!” The king sent the sheriff, but the count refused. “I will not support the king’s new tax!” Finally, the king had the count arrested, and thrown in the dungeon. He explained to the count that failure to pay was treason, and he would be executed, yet still, the count refused. So, the king had him brought to the top of the tower, and neck on the block, with the executioner’s axe raised. The king asked the count to pay. He defiantly shouted, “Never!” Then, as the executioner’s axe began to fall, the count shouted “OK! I’ll pay!”. But it was too late, the executioner couldn’t stop the heavy axe, and the count was killed. The moral of this story? Don’t hatchet your counts before they chicken. Straws are for suckers. What do you call a lawyer who can cook? A sue chef Did you hear about the World War I soldier who survived both pepper spray and mustard gas? He was a seasoned veteran. Why do Buddhist monks avoid sending word documents? They’re supposed to avoid attachments. Why do teenage girls travel in odd numbered groups? Because they just can’t even. This girl said she recognized me from the vegetarian club, but I’d never met herbivore. I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can’t put it down. I stayed up all night to see where the sun went. Then it dawned on me. Broken pencils are pointless

**A Thought-Provoking Topic: The Decline of Friendship**

**A Thought-Provoking Topic: The Decline of Friendship** I recently read an article in the February issue of *Harvard Business Review* that deeply resonated with me. It discusses how the *“Friendship Recession,”* or the declining trend of meaningful friendships, is slowly taking root in our lives. According to the *American Perspectives Survey*, the number of American adults who say they have *“no close friends”* has quadrupled since 1990, reaching 12%. Meanwhile, the number of people with *“10 or more close friends”* has decreased by one-third. I believe a similar trend is emerging in urban areas of India—while acquaintances are increasing, deep friendships are becoming rarer. In the past, people would easily strike up conversations with strangers at cafés or bars. Now, people sit alone, disconnected from the crowd. In the U.S., the number of people dining alone has risen by 29% in the last two years. Stanford University has even introduced a course called *“Design for Healthy Friendships,”* highlighting that forming and maintaining friendships now requires learning and effort. *This is not just a social issue but a cultural crisis.* Making time for friendship should no longer be a luxury but a priority. Loneliness is no longer a choice; it’s becoming a habit. If we don’t consciously prioritize friendship, not only will making new friends become difficult, but we’ll also lose old connections. Religious gatherings, clubs, sports, and volunteer organizations, which once fostered friendships, are declining. We’ve become confined to social media, family responsibilities, and even pets. Yes, some friends don’t meet because their pets can’t be left alone! Today, friendship is no longer a part of daily life; it happens only when other responsibilities are fulfilled. Yet, research emphasizes the importance of friendship. In Bonnie Ware’s book *The Top Five Regrets of the Dying*, one poignant regret stands out: *“I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends…”* Research shows: - Social isolation increases the risk of heart disease, dementia, and mortality. - It’s as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. - Friendships improve mental, physical, and emotional health. - *Harvard’s 80-year study* found that the greatest source of happiness and health in life is not wealth or career, but close relationships. True friendship is like an investment—forgive, call, make memories, and spend time together. As *Mirza Ghalib* beautifully said: *“O God, grant me the chance to live with my friends…* *…for I can stay with You even after death.”*

Subject: Thank goodness for the Brits. Gotta love their play on words.

Subject: Thank goodness for the Brits. Gotta love their play on words. In the UK, some supermarkets have admitted there is horse meat in their home cooked burgers. Even places like Burger King have had to admit that there are "small amounts" of horse meat in their burgers. Tesco is a big supermarket chain in the UK. Within hours of the news that Tesco's 'all beef hamburgers' contained 30% horse meat, the following quips hit the Internet: I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse. I guess Tesco just listened! Does anyone want a burger from Tesco? Yay or neigh? Not entirely sure how Tesco is going to get over this hurdle. Had some burgers from Tesco for supper last night. I still have a bit between my teeth. A woman has been taken into hospital after eating horse meat burgers from Tesco. Her condition is listed as stable. Tesco are now testing all their vegetarian burgers for traces of unicorn. "I've just checked the Tesco burgers in my freezer ... "AND THEY'RE OFF!" Tesco is now forced to deny the presence of zebra in burgers, as shoppers confuse barcodes for serving suggestions. I said to my spouse, "These Tesco burgers give me the trots...” "To beef or not to beef, that is equestrian".....” I hear the smaller version of those Tesco burgers make great horse d'oeuvres. These Tesco burger jokes are going on a bit. Talk about flogging a dead horse. Since they're selling the meat wrapped in plastic, is that technically a "Trojan Horse?" Instead of choosing "rare, medium or well done, it's now Win, Place or Show” At first, I thought, "Oh great, I've been saddled with another email to forward, but something spurred me to do it.

The greatest gift

The greatest gift you can give someone is your time because when you give your time ,you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back. Once you have matured, you will realize that silence is more important than proving a point. We generate fears while we sit; we overcome them by action. Fear makes us forget our goals. For true success, ask yourself these four questions: Why? Why not? Why not me? Why not now? Lesser the traffic of thoughts in your mind, easier is the journey of life.

Emotional Sobriety

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* July 24, 202​5 HELPING OTHERS "Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20 Self-centeredness was my problem. All my life people had been doing things for me and I not only expected it, but I was ungrateful and resentful they didn't do more. Why should I help others, when they were supposed to help me? If others had troubles, didn't they deserve them? I was filled with self-pity, anger and resentment. Then I learned that by helping others, with no thought of return, I could overcome this obsession with selfishness, and if I understood humility, I would know peace and serenity. No longer do I need to drink. *************************************************** Behind Our Excuses As excuse-makers and rationalizers, we drunks are champions. It is the business of the psychiatrist to find the deeper causes for our conduct. Though uninstructed in psychiatry, we can, after a little time in A.A., see that our motives have not been what we thought they were, and that we have been motivated by forces previously unknown to us. Therefore, we ought to look, with the deepest respect, interest, and profit, upon the example set us by psychiatry. "Spiritual growth through the practice of A.A.’s Twelve Steps, plus, the aid of a good sponsor, can usually reveal most of the deeper reasons for our character defects, at least to a degree that meets our practical needs. Nevertheless, we should be grateful that our friends in psychiatry have so strongly emphasized the necessity to search for false and often unconscious motivations." 1. A.A. Comes of Age, p.236 2. Letter, 1966 As Bill Sees It, p.267 *~*~*~*~*~*~* "It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark." –Howard Ruff Voices we prefer to ignore may speak words we need to hear. –Don Deal ~*~*~*~ Emotional Sobriety "Self-centeredness is a poison to my emotional system. It frustrates my every effort toward a comfortable and happy existence. A terrible chain reaction begins. Fear sets in. Anger, resentment, and self-pity become my guiding forces. My only escape is to put this awful selfishness aside and become involved with the world around me." December 1979 "The Root of Our Troubles," Emotional Sobriety David Madden

WORSHIP MEANS VICTORY

Good Morning!!! WORSHIP MEANS VICTORY Around the Year with Emmet Fox July 24 “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” Psalm 29:2 God is bigger than any problem. God in you is greater than any difficulty that you have to meet. God cares for you more than it is possible for any human being to realize. God can help you in proportion to the degree in which you worship Him. You worship God by really putting your trust in Him instead of in outer conditions, or in fear, or in depression, or in seeming dangers, and so forth. You worship God by recognizing His presence everywhere, in all people and conditions that you meet; and by praying regularly. You pray well when you pray with joy. “Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord” Psalm 105:3

Kanchipuram,

Kanchipuram, a town in Tamil Nadu, has remarkably surged to claim the top spot for extra-marital affairs across India, surpassing major urban centers like Delhi and Mumbai, according to new user data for June 2025 released by Ashley Madison, the global dating platform primarily marketed for individuals seeking extra-marital relationships. The platform's latest figures reveal Kanchipuram's significant leap from 17th place in 2024 to the number one position in just one year. While Ashley Madison did not provide a specific explanation for this sharp rise, it aligns with a broader trend showing the app's increasing penetration into tier-2 and tier-3 cities, even as some metro areas fall behind, News 18 reported. Notably, Central Delhi secured the second spot on the list of top 20 Indian districts by Ashley Madison signups. The Delhi-NCR region overall demonstrated a strong presence, accounting for nine locations within the top 20. This includes six Delhi districts—Central Delhi, South West Delhi, East Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi, and North West Delhi—along with neighboring cities Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida).

*NVIDIA CEO: “I’D STUDY PHYSICS, NOT SOFTWARE” IF I WERE 20 TODAY.*

*NVIDIA CEO: “I’D STUDY PHYSICS, NOT SOFTWARE” IF I WERE 20 TODAY.* Jensen says if he were graduating college in 2025, he’d skip coding bootcamps and major in physical sciences like physics or chemistry. During a trip to Beijing on Wednesday, Huang was asked by a journalist: “If you are a 22-year-old version of Jensen [who] just graduated today in 2025 but with the same ambition, what would you focus on?” To that, the Nvidia CEO said: “For the young, 20-year-old Jensen, that’s graduated now, he probably would have chosen ... more of the physical sciences than the software sciences,” adding that he actually graduated two years early from college, at age 20. Why? Because the next frontier isn’t just chatbots - it’s #AI that understands gravity, inertia, friction, and cause and effect. He calls it Physical AI: robots that don’t just generate images or code, but grip, move, and predict real-world outcomes - like not crushing your coffee mug. “When you put that physical AI into a physical object called a robot, you get robotics." And yes, he said this in Beijing, while leading the first $4 trillion company in history.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Often, you don’t know what you want. Once there is clarity about what you want, the next step is believing you can achieve it. Without that belief, it’s just wishful thinking. Nothing manifests from wishful thinking. Meditation helps bring clarity about what you want and cultivates the energy to make it happen.

You are Just Human

TRUE STORY... At the prodding of my friends I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Honor. I am a former elementary school Music Teacher from Des Moines, Iowa. I have always supplemented my income by Teaching Piano Lessons... Something I have done for over 30 years. During those years, I found that Children have many levels of musical ability, and even though I have never had the prodigy, I have taught some very talented students. However, I have also had my share of what I call 'Musically Challenged Pupils. One such Pupil being Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his Mother (a Single Mom) dropped him off for his first Piano Lesson. I prefer that Students (especially Boys) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his Mother's Dream to hear him play the Piano, so I took him as a Student. At the end of each weekly Lesson he would always say 'My Mom's going to hear me Play someday.' But to me, it seemed hopeless, he just did not have any Inborn Ability. I only knew his Mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged Car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled, but never dropped in; Then one day Robby stopped coming for his Lessons. I thought about calling him, but Assumed that because of his lack of Ability he had decided to pursue something else. I was also glad that he had stopped coming. He was a Bad Advertisement for my Teaching! Several Weeks later I mailed a flyer recital to the Students' homes. To my surprise, Robby (who had received a flyer) asked if he could be in the Recital. I told him that the Recital was for current Pupils and that because he had dropped out, he really did not Qualify. He told me that his Mother had been Sick and Unable to take him to his piano lessons, but that he had been practicing. 'Please Miss Honor, I've just got to Play,' he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the Recital - perhaps it was his insistence or maybe something inside of me saying that it would be all right; The night of the Recital came and the high school gymnasium was packed with Parents, Relatives and Friends. I put Robby last in the Program, just before I was to come up and thank all the Students and Play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he might do would come at the end of the Program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my 'Curtain Closer'. Well, the Recital went off without a Hitch, the Students had been Practicing and it Showed. Then Robby came up on the stage. His Clothes were Wrinkled and his Hair looked as though he had run an egg beater through it. 'Why wasn't he dressed up like the other Students?' I thought. 'Why didn't his Mother at least make him Comb his Hair for this Special Night?' Robby pulled out the Piano bench, and I was Surprised when he announced that he had chosen to play Mozart's Concerto No.21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the Ivories. He went from Pianissimo to Fortissimo, from Allegro to Virtuoso; his Suspended Chords that Mozart demands were Magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by anyone his age. After six and a half minutes, he ended in a Grand Crescendo, and everyone was on their feet in Wild Applause!!! Overcome and in Tears, I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in Joy; 'I have never heard you Play like that Robby, how did you do it?' Through the Microphone Robby explained: 'Well, Miss Honor, Remember I told you that my Mom was sick? Well, she actually had Cancer and Passed Away this Morning. And well... she was Born Deaf, so tonight was the first time she had ever heard me Play, and I wanted to make it Special., There wasn't a Dry Eye in the house that evening. As People from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed in to Foster Care, I noticed that even their Eyes were red and Puffy. I thought to myself then how much Richer my Life had been for taking Robby as my Pupil. No, I have never had a Prodigy, but that night I became a Prodigy... of Robby. He was the Teacher and I was the Pupil, for he had taught me the meaning of Perseverance and Love and Believing in Yourself, and may be even taking a chance on someone and you didn't know why. Robby was Killed years later in the Senseless Bombing of the Alfred P. Murray Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April, 1995. If God didn't have a Purpose for us, we wouldn't be here! Live Simply. Love Generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly. If you had cried, you are just human.

UNREMITTING VIGILANCE

Good Morning!!! UNREMITTING VIGILANCE Around the Year with Emmet Fox July 21 Read Matthew 7:21-23 We are all willing to do God's will sometimes and, in some things, but until there is a complete dedication of one's whole self, there cannot be a complete demonstration. "There is no home for the soul in which there dwells the shadow of an untruth," said George Meredith. Never is it truer than in the life of the soul that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. We must not allow any consideration whatever, any institution, any organization, any book, or any man or woman, to come between us and our direct seeking for God. Centers, churches, schools, all fill a useful purpose in providing the physical framework for the distribution of right knowledge, but the actual work must be done by the individual. “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” Matthew 7:21

On Our Anglo-Indians.

On Our Anglo-Indians. This was a speech given by a senior Anglo-Indian army veteran at a dinner dance in Sydney a few years ago. “Good Evening Ladies & Gentleman. Welcome to this special evening. I'm attempting to condense over 300 years of Anglo-Indian history in to 10 minutes. The British Empire once held absolute power in over 52 countries. About two-fifths of the world. But there was only one jewel in the crown - India. The first European settlers in India were the Portuguese in 1498 about 100 years before the British. The Dutch, French and the British followed. They were all here for the duration. The inevitable happened and a new mixed race community emerged. Even though the British came in peacefully as merchants and traders they soon colonized the sub-continent of India. But the British needed allies to protect the jewel in the crown and so began a deliberate policy, encouraging British males to marry Indian women to create the first Anglo-Indians. The East India Company paid 15 silver rupees for each child born to an Indian mother and a European father, as family allowance.These children were amalgamated into the growing Anglo-Indian community, forming a defensive structure for the British Raj. This was a deliberate act of self preservation by the English. This unique hybrid individual was ethnically engineered by the occupying British so much so that the Anglo-Indians were the only micro-minority community ever defined in a Constitution. Article-366 of the Indian Constitution states. An Anglo-Indian means a person whose father or any of whose male ancestors in the male line is or was of European descent but who is domiciled within the territory of India and is or was born within such territory of parents habitually resident there-in and not established there for temporary purposes only. So you can see we were intended to be a permanent micro-minority. In 1830, the British Parliament described the Anglo-Indian as those who have been English educated, are entirely European in their habits and feelings, dress and language. They were more "Anglo" than "Indian". Their mother-tongue was English, they were Catholic or Anglican and their customs and traditions were English. While most of them married within their own circle, many continued to marry expatriate Englishmen. Very few married Indians. Without Anglo-Indian support British rule would have collapsed. RAILWAYS We ran the railways, post and telegraph, police and customs, education, export and import, shipping, tea, coffee and tobacco plantations, the coal and gold fields. We became teachers, nurses, priests and doctors. If it had any value the British made sure we ran it. And when it came to secretarial duties no one could touch our Anglo-Indian girls - the best stenographers in the world and with beauty to match. Were we favored? Yes, the English trusted us. After all we were blood related. We worked hard. We became indispensable. We lived comfortably and were protected by the British raj. Like the British we had servants to do all our domestic work. The average Anglo-Indian home could afford at least three full time servants - a cook, a bearer and the indispensable nanny (ayah). Part time servants included a gardener, cleaner and laundry man (dhobi). Of course we learned to speak Hindi to be able to argue, give orders, bargain, accuse and terminate employment and throw in a dozen Hindi expletives. Imagine our horror when we were later to migrate to England, Canada and Australia and we no longer had servants to do our domestic chores. Who can remember looking at our first toilet brush and asking 'what do we do with this?' We had to learn to cook, clean, garden, do the laundry and take the garbage out and look after the kids. CHRISTMAS CAKE The tradition of making your own Christmas cake was a sacred Anglo-Indian custom. Each family had a secret cake recipe, handed down from our grandparents. About a week before Christmas, the local baker was contacted. He would turn up to your home with two very large terracotta bowls that looked more like satellite dishes. One for the egg whites and one for mixing. Mum would dish out the ingredients. This was all mixed together under her watchful eye and distributed in to about dozen or so cake tins and labeled with your name on it. This labeling was all important. We did not want him to return that evening with someone else's cake recipe. Heaven forbid. MUSIC/DANCE Music, movies and socializing were high on the agenda. We loved a dance. Afternoon dance jam sessions were a magnet for the teenagers where we jived, jitterbugged, tango'd or just fox trotted. Many a lasting liaison was forged on the dance floor and today many of us are celebrating 40-year plus marriages. Our mums sat around gossiping and seldom took their eyes off their darling daughters. I know I speak from experience. I met my wife at one such event and now 44 years later I still fancy her. The Anglo-Indian railway and cantonment towns that sprung up around the major cities cultivated a unique social and industrial blend with a heartbeat. Their dances were legendary. At the drop of a hat, the city cousins would jump on a train and travel for anything up to six hours to get to that up-country dance. Many of our lives revolved around the biggest and best railway system in the world. And the trains ran on time! Today, the Indian Railways transports over 5 billion passengers each year employing more than 1.6 million personnel. Between 1853 and 1947 we built and managed 42 rail systems. This was a legacy we can be proud of. CONTRIBUTIONS During World War 1 about 8000 Anglo-Indians fought in Mesopotamia, East Africa, and in the European theatre - Eleven Anglo-Indians were awarded Victoria Crosses. In World War II they fought at Dunkirk and flew in the battle of Britain - Guy Gibson of the Dam Busters was one such Anglo-Indian, and we were in North Africa, Malaya and the fall of Singapore. Actress Vivien Leigh, actor Boris Karloff, actor Ben Kingsley, actress Merle Oberon, writer Rudyard Kipling, dancer Juliet Prowse, singer Cliff Richard, singer Engelbert Humperdinck, singer Tony Brent, Ex Beatle Pete Best, track & field star Sebastian Coe, hockey player Leslie Claudius, cricketer Roger Binny, billiards player Wilson Jones, stand up comedian Russell Peters, are all Anglo-Indians The Anglo-Indians took India to Olympic hockey glory. From 1928, India won five consecutive Olympic hockey gold medals. In fact, when India faced Australia in the semi-finals of the 1960 Olympics in Rome, it was a unique occasion. The captains who came face to face were both Anglo-Indians - Leslie Claudius and Kevin Carton. EDUCATION English education played a major role amongst the Anglo-Indians. Anglo-Indian schools numbered close to 300 and were prized. They stretched from Bangalore in the south to the cooler northern hill stations of Darjeeling in the foothills of the Himalayas. Each was modeled on the posh English Public school system. We ran them as teachers and principals and to this day these schools are coveted across the sub-continent. IDENTITY DILEMMA The Anglo-Indian has always faced an identity dilemma because of our mixed origins. Europeans said they were Indians with some European blood; Indians said they were Europeans with some Indian blood. The world of Anglo-India vanished on August 15th 1947, when India became the largest independent democracy in the world. The British packed and went home. Over 300,000 Anglo-Indians remained. We felt apprehensive and abandoned. So we too packed our bags and began to migrate to Australia, Britain, Canada, the U.S.A. and New Zealand! Many of you will remember the dreaded Income Tax Clearance document you need to leave the country and further faced the strict Indian foreign exchange regulations that allowed you only 10 pounds each. Imagine starting life in a new country with 10 quid in your pocket. Some had to leave behind their savings; others simply resorted to the risky black market losing a 30% of your savings. IDENTITY The Anglo-Indian identity is disappearing. We have found new lives and merged into the mainstream. Our generation, sitting here tonight, who were born in India, growing up in the 40s thru to 60s, are possibly the last true Anglo-Indians. Look around you. Where is the next generation? Most of our children were born abroad and their connection to Anglo-India is very fragile. They have married Aussies, English, Canadian or other Anglo-Indians born outside India. They prefer to be regarded as English, Australian or Canadian. Our grandchildren will assimilate and forge a new identity based on their country of birth. Putting aside history I believe we could regard ourselves as an exotic cocktail that had its origins over 300 years ago. We have matured and become a unique aromatic spirit, generously flavored and very stimulating. We were a force to be reckoned with. The Anglos.

Katharine Hepburn, in her own words:

Katharine Hepburn, in her own words: "Once, when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus. Finally, there was only one family between us and the ticket counter. That family made a lasting impression on me. There were eight children, all under the age of 12. From the way they were dressed, you could tell they didn’t have much money, but their clothes were clean, very clean. The children were well-behaved, standing in pairs behind their parents, holding hands. They were so excited about the clowns, the animals, and all the acts they would see that night. From their excitement, you could tell they had never been to a circus before. It was going to be a highlight of their lives. The father and mother stood proudly at the front of their little group. The mother was holding her husband’s hand, looking at him as if to say, 'You’re my knight in shining armor.' He was smiling, enjoying seeing his family happy. The ticket lady asked how many tickets he wanted, and he proudly responded, 'I want eight children’s tickets and two adult tickets.' Then she announced the price. The wife let go of her husband’s hand, her head dropped, and the man’s lip began to quiver. He leaned in closer and asked, 'How much did you say?' The ticket lady repeated the price. He didn’t have enough money. How was he supposed to turn around and tell his eight kids that he couldn’t afford to take them to the circus? Seeing what was happening, my dad reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill, and dropped it on the ground. We weren’t rich by any means. My father bent down, picked up the $20 bill, tapped the man on the shoulder, and said, 'Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket.' The man understood what was happening. He wasn’t being handed charity, but he gratefully accepted the help in his desperate, heartbreaking, and embarrassing situation. He looked straight into my father’s eyes, took my dad’s hand in both of his, squeezed the bill tightly, and with trembling lips and a tear streaming down his cheek, he replied, 'Thank you, sir. This really means so much to me and my family.' My father and I went back to our car and drove home. The $20 my dad gave away was what we had planned to use for our own tickets. Although we didn’t see the circus that night, we felt a joy inside us that was far greater than seeing the circus. That day, I learned the true value of giving. The Giver is greater than the Receiver. If you want to be great, greater than life itself, learn to give. Love has nothing to do with what you expect to get, only with what you expect to give—everything. The importance of giving and blessing others cannot be overstated because there is always joy in giving. Learn to make someone happy through acts of giving." ~Katharine Hepburn

*BETWEEN TRUST & BELIEF*

🙏🏼 Good Morning 🌞 A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE *BETWEEN TRUST & BELIEF* 🚩🙏🏻 _A Person started to Walk on a Rope tied between Two Tall Towers. He was Walking Slowly, Balancing a Long Stick in his Hands. He had his Son sitting on his Shoulders._ _Every one on the ground was watching him in Bated Breath and was very Tense. When he slowly reached the Second Tower, every one Clapped, Whistled and Welcomed him. They Shook Hands and Took Selfies._ _He asked the Crowd “Do you all think I can Walk Back on the same rope now from this side to that side?”_ _Crowed shouted in one Voice “Yes, Yes, you can.."_ _Do you Trust me, he asked? They said Yes, Yes, we are ready to Bet on you._ _He said okay, can any one of you give your Child to sit on my Shoulder; I will take the child to the other side Safely.._ _There was Stunned Silence. Every one became Quiet._ _Belief is different. Trust is different. For Trust you need to Surrender Totally._ _This is what we lack towards God in today’s World._ _We believe in Almighty. But do we Trust Him? Good morning and have a wonderful Sunday.

1.6 Billion Dollars satellite. ISRO and NASA joint project.

1.6 Billion Dollars satellite. ISRO and NASA joint project. AI created content: Here's a breakdown of what makes NISAR so significant: Dual-Frequency Radar Technology: NISAR will be the first satellite mission to use two different radar frequencies, L-band (24 cm wavelength, provided by NASA) and S-band (9 cm wavelength, provided by ISRO), simultaneously. This allows it to penetrate clouds and dense vegetation, capturing high-resolution images of the Earth's surface regardless of weather conditions or time of day. High-Resolution Imaging and 3D View: Utilizing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, NISAR will produce extremely high-resolution images, capturing movements as small as a centimeter. It will also provide a detailed three-dimensional view of Earth's surface, enhancing our understanding of its dynamic features. Comprehensive Earth Monitoring: NISAR is designed to systematically map the entire globe, observing Earth's land and ice-covered surfaces with a 12-day regularity. It will monitor various aspects of Earth's ecosystems and dynamic surfaces, providing data on biomass, natural hazards (like earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides), sea level rise, and groundwater fluctuations. Applications and Benefits: The data gathered by NISAR will be crucial for various applications, including disaster management and response, agricultural monitoring and management, infrastructure assessment, and understanding and combating climate change impacts. Open Data Policy: All NISAR science data will be freely available to the public, fostering global collaboration and empowering researchers, governments, and communities worldwide with critical information. Launch and Mission Duration: The satellite is scheduled for launch from India's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota no earlier than late July 2025. It will have a minimum mission life of three years, with enough onboard consumables for up to five years of operation. In essence, NISAR is poised to become a game-changer in Earth observation, offering an unprecedented view of our planet and enabling scientists to address some of the most pressing environmental and societal challenges of our time

22. Importance of doing Sadhana in a Scientific Way

22. Importance of doing Sadhana in a Scientific Way Sudarshan Kriya is a unique rhythmic breathing technique which has been cognated by H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. This breathing technique when practised properly and unfailingly brings back rhythm in the life of the practitioner. Everything in life has a rhythm. The sun rises at a particular time and sets at a particular time. Birds leave the sanctuary of their nests and return back at a set time. Imagine listening to a guitar which is not strung properly. Such music would not resonate in our mind, instead it would be cacophony. The seeker has to necessarily follow a laid-down routine which would enhance the quality of sadhana. The first step is to loosen up the body and follow a strict yogic regimen to derive maximum benefit from the practice. Surya Namaskar – Sun Salutation The Sun God grants us the vital energy and radiance which provides us with enormous abundance in life. This illuminating star suffuses our lives with heat and light and consequently energizes our mind, body and souls. Ayurveda extols the virtues of the Sun as the provider of health. Hence the worship of the Sun assumes tremendous significance. The worship is performed through mantra, japa, Surya Namaskar and pranayama. Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskar is more than a mere physical exercise. It exorcises fear from our mind. As per the Ramayana, Lord Rama was imparted this esoteric knowledge by the sages Vashistha and Vishwamitra. As a result he attained the necessary strength to vanquish Ravana. A practitioner needs to be in total harmony with his breath (prana), sound and the physical movement while performing the Sun Salutation. Regular practice of the Sun Salutation increases our intuitive ability. The focus is on all parts of the body but particularly the solar plexus. The solar plexus which is normally the size of an almond enlarges to assume the size of a human palm through methodical and faithful practice. The physical exercise is an obeisance to the Sun and takes the form of twelve yogic postures, which are performed in a sequential manner of movements and flow. Breath and sound simultaneously flow rhythmically while performing this yogic practice and the practitioner receives bountiful cosmic energy. The practice should not be associated with any religion or a ritual. It has a deep spiritual connect with the cosmos and opens up frontiers of profound dimensions of awareness and mindfulness. Meticulous and punctilious practice has a salutary effect on the human mind and body which results in startling benefits and changes us from within and without. A fifteen to twenty minute practice of the Sun Salutation augments the vitality and beauty of the yogic practitioner and makes him joyous and radiant. Most importantly it enhances bliss, compassion and love in the individual and leads one to discover the eternal truth. However it should be remembered that this is more than a mere physical exercise. It is a sadhana to the life giver of this planet. Normally six to twelve sets of Surya Namaskars strengthen the body, mind and build our intuitive abilities. This is followed by the practice of Padmasadhana (a sequence of yogic postures in Ujjayi breath (or the breath of victory). As per the Agama tradition, it is believed that the Devi (Goddess) is seated on a five-layered seat or asana. The base of this seat is a tortoise, which represents stability. However stability is not sufficient. The sadhak needs awareness as well to delve deep inside. Thus the second layer is the snake, which represents awareness. Awareness propels activity in the mind. Now above the snake is perched the lion, which symbolizes grace. And seated atop the lion is the Siddha, the perfect sage. Finally, above the perfect sage is the lotus, which is symbolic of absolute blossoming. When the yoga postures have all the five qualities that is stability, awareness, grace, perfection and full blossoming, only then does divinity dawn on the seeker and that is the quest of Padma Sadhana. This particular sequence ought to be made an integral part of our daily morning and evening yoga practice to unlock the inner energy. Upon completion of these yogic practices, the sadhak or practitioner has to practise Sudarshan Kriya. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also extols virtues of ‘group’ sadhana as positive energy pervades in abundance and the mind is tranquil and robust to go about our daily routine, to become enlightened citizens and to undertake selfless service to society. This is a complete package of performing sadhana in a scientific manner. 23. 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. 24. 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. 25. 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. 26. 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.

21. Sri Sri Yoga

21. Sri Sri Yoga Sri Sri Yoga has been developed by coined after the contemporary yoga and spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. It is a form of Hatha Yoga that has an emphasis on the overall well-being of the body while nurturing the mind and spirit of the seeker. It goes beyond toning muscles, reducing flab and possessing a washboard abdomen. The bedrock of this yogic technique is strongly based on the traditional eight limbs of yoga as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras and other ancient yoga scriptures like Hatha Yoga, Pradapika and Gherand Samhita. Sri Sri Yoga ensures the wisdom and techniques of yoga are brought to the practitioner in a joyous manner. These are 10 prepossessing quotes on yoga by H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar which helps one to appreciate the depth of yoga and leave one wonderstruck. 1. “Like a flower bud, human life has the potential to blossom fully. Blossoming of human potential to fullness is yoga.” Sri Sri Yoga is a discipline that is both gentle and powerful for uniting body, breath and mind in awareness. It integrates elements from all the different paths of yoga where in you get glimpse of Raj Yoga (Sahaj Yoga), Ashtang or Hatha Yoga (eightfold yoga), Karma Yoga (selfless service), Bhakti Yoga (path of devotion with soulful chanting and singing) as well Gnana Yoga (yogic wisdom), making the yoga experience wholesome and complete. It is a beautiful combination of disciplined practices, wisdom and fun leading to blossoming of full human potential. 2. “Yoga brings knowledge, passion and action together.” Yoga is not just doing some body-twisting postures – it is experiencing the union of the body, mind and breath – and Sri Sri Yoga gives that experience. Sri Sri Yoga is taught globally by certified teachers of the Art of Living Foundation (registered under Yoga Alliance), who have chosen to teach and promote yoga wisdom as a passion and selfless service to humanity across the world. 3. “Yoga is a study of life, study of your body, breath, mind, intellect, memory, and ego; study of your inner faculties.” The practice of yoga has been known for centuries to produce benefits in the areas of health, mental clarity and spiritual connection. It is designed in such a way that the practice of Sri Sri Yoga touches all levels of your existence – the body, breath, emotions, intellect, memory, ego and self. Thus it expands to benefit not just the outer most or gross physical existence but the inner most faculties are also sharpened. This helps tremendously to integrate the yoga wisdom to day-to-day living. 4. “Withdraw your senses from the object to its source, then the union happens, then the yoga happens.” During a Sri Sri Yoga Retreat, one learns the correct way of doing asanas and pranayama, one learns to stretch yet relax in asanas, one learns to harmonize breath with asanas. One also learns precautions to be observed and common errors that are likely while doing asanas and pranayama. Ultimately one learns how to let go and delve deeper into the practice to experience that “union” which yoga promises. 5. “Peace is our very nature, and yoga leads you to inner peace.” Sri Sri Yoga teaches one how to pay attention to what one experiences inside, what the state of mind is while practicing rather than how much the body can bend. While off the yoga mat, life seems to be constant struggle, here one learns how to become effortless to experience that inner peace which is our real nature. 6. “The purpose of yoga is to stop suffering even before it arises.” Sri Sri Yoga is a holistic way of energizing and integrating mind, body and spirit. This ancient knowledge made applicable for modern times can be easily added to the daily routine resulting in a lasting experience of true inner power and overall well-being. Its regular practice has helped thousands to prevent sufferings. 7. “Yoga is not just weight-loss programme; it is a science to make one feel lighter. It helps to lose the mental stuff of anger, jealousy, hatred, greed, etc.” During the Sri Sri Yoga basic program that is taught in 10 to 12 hours at the Art of Living Retreat, certified teachers help to experience the real depth of yoga that brings benefits not just at physical level but at the mental, emotional and spiritual level too. A complete experience, Sri Sri Yoga will leave one feeling rejuvenated inside and out. 8. “One of the rules of yoga is to cultivate the practice of being happy.” Everybody ultimately wants to be happy. But what is real happiness? Wise say shifting gears from pursuit of happiness to being happy, making happiness a journey rather than destination is the key. How to unlock the gates to happiness with this key? Consistent and disciplined practice of Sri Sri Yoga facilitates a happier approach to life and a healthier lifestyle. 9. “The wisdom of yoga transforms one from arrogance to self-confidence; meekness to humility; from dependence to a realization of interdependence.” One may wonder if yoga a self-help program. Taught in two different programs – Sri Sri Yoga Level 1 and Level 2, the programmes bring one in touch with the ancient yoga wisdom which nourishes one’s inner beauty as a human being. 10. “The wisdom of yoga transforms one from craving freedom to recognition of the ‘unboundedness’, from limited ownership to oneness with the whole.” Does it seem incredulous? But yes, this is indeed the real potential of yoga. Simple yoga postures, rejuvenating breathing techniques, blissful meditations integrated with invaluable ancient wisdom of yoga put one definitely on the path of life transformation. As a yoga explorer with over a decade and a half of experience, I invite my fellow explorers to dive deeper and experience what it takes to be real yogi (or yogini).

20. Shirshasana- Sovereign among Asanas

20. Shirshasana- Sovereign among Asanas On the 21st June, Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, for five years in a row now, millions across the globe have assembled in schools, parks, offices, educational and scientific institutions, various establishments. In unison they have performed yoga. It is truly a momentous occasion where it seemed that all of humanity had gathered under one roof – the sky – and followed the universal protocol to perform different yogic techniques and to merge with the cosmic splendour through the powerful technique of meditation. The United Nations has not only endorsed observing International Yoga Day, but given a major thumbs-up to this ancient Indian practice and has taken up popularising it across the universe. Greece to Gujarat, Iceland to Istanbul, spanning all the seven continents, humans performed yoga. Achievement enough for Indians to well up with pride. A symphony synchronizing the body, mind and soul As a music lover, one fondly recalls the iconic lyrics of ‘Across the Universe’ by the Beatles. Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup They slither wildly as they slip away across the Universe Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my opened mind Possessing and caressing me Jai Guru Deva, Om Nothing’s going to change my world Nothing’s going to change my world Nothing’s going to change my world Nothing’s going to change my world ‘Jai Guru Deva’ implies victory of the big mind. ‘Om’, when fragmented into three syllables – ‘AAA’ (the hubbub that emanates from the abdomen), ‘UUU’ (the reverberation emerging from the chest region) and ‘MMM’ (the resonance materialising from the head region) expatriates all Sisyphean and nugatory emotions and suffuses the mind with efficacious thoughts. Yoga is a kind of exercise in which a practitioner locomotes the human body into several distinct and diverse positions in order to attain physical fitness and flexibility. While performing yogic exercises the sadhak has to invariably pay attention to the breath. It is always rewarding to take in deep ujjayi (breath of victory) breaths while performing the asanas. To attain maximal benefits, the practitioner ought to inhale while moving upwards or backwards and exhale in locomotion downwards or stretching forward. Metaphysical demeanour The root of the word yoga lies in the Sanskrit word – yuj – authentically meaning to conjoin. It is not merely a set of somatic exercises but a union with the Divine. While Lord Shiva is believed to be the original progenitor of this ancient science, Maharishi Patanjali revealed to humanity the intricacies of yogic science through the much vaunted Patanjali Yoga Sutras. An insight into Shirshasana The asana basically involves inverting the body, with hands, neck and shoulders bearing the entire weight of the body. The first step is the Vajrasana. Through a series of fluid steps to be executed in slow, measured pace, the practitioner moves from Vajrasana to the final pose where the legs are held straight up, toes pointing upwards and the arms cradling the head, with the elbows bent at right angles for further support. As a practitioner holds the pose, it works against the pressure of gravity, assisting in draining impure blood from the lower limbs and also enhancing blood flow to the head and neck regions. Moving out the asana has also to be done at the same measured pace in order to prevent injuries. This involves literally tracing all the steps backwards until one moves into Shishuasana. It is advisable to rest the body in Shavasana following this asana. Regular practitioners can remain in the position for as long as 30 minutes without any encumbrance, while beginners are advised to start with as little as 3 minutes. My astrophysicist cousin in Canada practices this asana unflinchingly for 3 to 5 minutes. This is preeminent time which is vanilla for general health. Novitiates are advised to practice Shirshasana at the end of their yogic asana programme while advanced practitioners can perform it either at the beginning or the end of a yogic session. As mentioned earlier a brief session of Shirshasana should invariably follow a session of Shavasana. It may be mentioned that the asana is very brawny to awaken the Sahasrara chakra, which is responsible for the lofty position this sovereign among asanas enjoys. Shirshasana enhances the blood supply to the brain and pituitary gland, and in the process revitalises the entire body and mind. Regular practice disgorges perturbation and other psychological intrusions which often become the bedrock of numerous disabilities. The asana is therefore, recommended for the prevention of asthma, hay fever, diabetes and menopausal imbalance. It also assists to rectify several forms of nervous and glandular disorders, especially those related to the reproductive system. A note of caution Shirshasana is contra-indicated for those individuals suffering with high blood pressure, heart disease, thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, chronic catarrh (excessive build-up of mucus in the nose or throat), chronic constipation, kidney problems, impure blood, severe near-sightedness, weak eye blood vessels, conjunctivitis, and chronic glaucoma, inflammation of the ears, any form of haemorrhage in the head. It should neither be practiced during pregnancy nor during menstruation. While it is recommended as a preventative measure for headache or migraine, it should not be practiced while suffering from the ailment. It goes without saying that the tutee should learn the craft under the careful guidance and supervision of a trained yoga instructor and practice for some time under the grace of a Guru.

19. Sleep Well to Live Well

19. Sleep Well to Live Well The Universe, by virtue of the laws of nature, has provided all humans four sources of energy; namely food, breath, sleep or deep rest and a meditative state of mind. A Guru or an accomplished teacher unravels these secrets in any reputed wellness programme or course. Our bodies and minds get resuscitated to execute the work on hand in a systematic and proficient manner. Happiness programme Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has delineated all these sources of energy for the benefit of humanity with consummate ease and dexterity, which enables a person to recharge his batteries and feel rejuvenated and reinvigorated to enhance their inner potential. Stuck with our unhealthy quotidian patterns, our mind and body become enervated and sapped and performance levels get amortized. However, by practising the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya humans are able to remain in the present moment and give their hundred per cent. But then this breathing technique is to be practised unflinchingly every day. The practitioner needs to attend the weekly follow-up without fail in order to achieve maximal results. In his impish manner, Gurudev says, “Practising Sudarshan Kriya is like romance with breath.” Tale of a luxuriant family Raghav (name changed) is pursuing engineering from an estimable institute and older sibling Rohan (name changed) works as a strategic manager in a multi-national organisation. Their parents are highly proficient troupers who run a theatre academy and are perpetually on the move. It is reckoned the quartet hadn’t had a meal together for aeons. When the father was wheeled into the ICU for myocardial infarction a few days back, some relatives hesitatingly ventured that the family were so busy, stressed and burnt out that many had feared that something calamitous as this was waiting to happen. In their quest for perfection, the family neglected their health. Apart from poor dietary habits, they hardly exercised and rarely gave their bodies any rest. The perspicacious medical practitioner attending on the father ordered a battery of tests on the family members too. The actress mother and the two sons were suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Soon, they were directed to break the glass ceiling of being too busy by drastically modifying their dietary habits, to ensure a modicum of exercise and to take adequate rest apart from medication. What is sleep? As per Wikipedia, “Sleep is a condition of body and mind which typically recurs for several hours every night, in which the nervous system is inactive, the eyes are closed, the postural muscles relaxed, and consciousness gets practically suspended.” An Art of Living teacher subsumed with energy and exuding radiance, purveyed the participants and asked, “How would a person feel the following morning after sleeping for fourteen hours a day?” In unison, the participants replied, “phlegmatic and sluggish.” His next question was what if the individual sleeps for barely a few hours a night. The answer, in unison was, “The individual would feel restless and irritable.” In either situation, the performance of the individuals would be below par. Quantum of snooze A baby between the ages of two weeks and two months sleeps anywhere between 15.5 hours to 17 hours during a day, while a normal and healthy adult ought to sleep between 7 to 9 hours to feel refreshed and recharged. As children we have no option, but to follow the principles laid down by nature. However, as adults, as we lose our innocence. Humans of their own volition violate the rules of the game and end up suffering from various disorders and maladies. Humans lack the sagacity or perspicacity to compute or quantify the repository of energy or the full potential within their selves. The nature of a human being is akin to that of an atom. The nucleus of an atom is positive, while negatively charged particles are smeared on the circumference. Antipathetic and Sisyphean thoughts and actions are not an integral part of human nature; it merely resides on the circumference. An individual who appreciates that the Divine lives within becomes calm, steady and radiant. Such a human being automatically becomes a magnet for other people. Abhorrence and violence are verily not an integral part of human nature, it is potentially indicative of violation at the subterranean and the domain level of a human being. Silence and siesta It is noteworthy to mention that a person suffering from any ailment is prescribed several medicines to recuperate. But sleep is the wonder tonic which expatriates all the toxins accumulated in the body. Adequate rest and sleep are an integral part of our healing process. It is paramount for a human to eschew violence and ferity, even if it is in thought. It is important to rediscover the inner potential and become peaceful. Peace dawns on the human mind when there is innocence and what better way to cocoon the mind with efficacious thoughts than to remove the swathes of cobwebs. Humans need to observe the mind, the thoughts which cannonade it and the noise it generates. This noise is often generated in pursuit of accumulation and at the cost of fulfilment. Aggregating and acquisition of fame, recognition and wealth by offering sacrifices at the altar of humanism is certainly not the sign of a wise person. The seminal British painter, poet and print maker William Blake who was virtually anonymous during his lifetime put it succinctly, “Think in the morning and act in the noon. Eat in the evening, sleep in the night.”

18. Meditation: Its Importance and Benefits

18. Meditation: Its Importance and Benefits Dispassion is the key to meditation. In such a state the mind is not hankering after materialistic goals or objectives. When the human mind drops all desires it reaches a state of true jollity; it is sanguine and tranquil. In this state of stillness and quietude the mind is no longer manipulative or strategising. There is no feeling of restlessness. As Lord Krishna said, “An authentic yogi is one who drops all desires and hankerings and reposes in the self.” This is meditation. Question-answer session “O, Monarch of Zen, I have been privileged to listen to your erudite lectures for several years,” a mentee remarked during the question-answer time following an intense discourse, “however I am not perspicacious enough to imbibe the nuggets of wisdom that you have imparted thus far. Therefore, I would be truly beholden if you can encapsulate the essence of Buddhism in a single sentence.” This irreproachable comment provoked uproarious scenes among the other monks and novitiates at the Temple of Knowledge. However, the Zen Master cogitated on this comment, and soon a resounding silence descended on the monastery following the uproar. Finally, in an earnest and grave tone he said the quintessential truth of life is that everything is undergoing constant transformation and transmutation and therefore everything in life is impermanent. With that he signalled that he was ready to field other questions from the assembled gathering. Impermanence is an integral part of life Among the various aphorisms of Buddhism is the singular hypothesis that everything in life is impermanent. The Zen Master deftly and tactfully referred to the concept of impermanence by stating that “everything in life is ever changing.” This percipient teaching is the bedrock of Sakya Muni Buddha’s teachings and leads one to unearth the secrets of meditation. An individual could contemplate and muse upon this truth for hours together and yet be unable to grasp the pivotal and cardinal tenets of impermanence. It is a striking feature of all aspects of one’s life. An individual is impermanent, his / her emotions and feelings are transient, the family that he belongs to is evanescent, the dwelling place is momentary, even the majestic universe is not enduring. This is a formational aspect of life as it teaches us the art of detachment. In such a state one learns to become a witness or a spectator to the events unfolding around us without getting emotionally involved. The mind is at deep rest and ripe to meditate. If however an individual clasps on to the platitudinous platform of permanence it leads to statis in life, where it is not evolving and consequently melancholia and dolour set in. Thus an authentic seeker assimilates this exemplary and prototypical knowledge and is discerning enough to treasure the value of impermanence. The practice of mindfulness and awareness are twin techniques to remain unattached to events, people, situations, possessions and emotions. The triad of awareness, mindfulness and detachment are the pivots from which emerges the ballast for an individual to meditate. So what is meditation after all? His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the spiritual Guru, incisively captures the phenomenon and practice of meditation. The Spiritual Master has elucidated that effort is an act of the body, while meditation is essentially a state of no-mind, an act where there is no striving or assay by an individual. It is singular to state that through vigorous meditation human’s repose in themselves, reaching a state of deep rest. It is primarily an act of doing nothing. Benefits of Vipassana The skill of being able to consciously relax by unflinching practice of the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya, Kriya Yoga, Sahaj Samadhi meditation or Vipassana helps one to slip into deep meditation. In such a state of jollity there is seemingly an umbilical cord with the Divine. Such a communion is the singular objective of meditation. This can verily be termed the Gangotri from where the Ganges of self realisation flows. Regular meditation helps in mastery of various subjects as it improves the concentration levels of the mediators. It must be appreciated that meditation is not concentration, but is primarily an act of de-concentration. As demonic thoughts and cobwebs get purged, the mind becomes unsmoked and unblemished. It is interesting to note that while awareness and mindfulness help in enhancing the quality of meditation, paradoxically the reverse of this is true too. Quotidian practice of meditation helps an individual to develop greater awareness and mindfulness. With enhanced awareness comes the ability to discover oneself and improve interpersonal relationship. Through the techniques of cogitation and introspection, individuals become benignant and clement to one another. We begin to see a mirror image of ourselves in fellow human beings. This enables us to metamorphose from animal instincts to more genteel ones. Authentic meditation teaches us compassion. It has been scientifically proven that meditation helps in assuaging frayed nerves and enhances physical and mental well-being of an individual. Studies have shown that meditation also helps in managing cholesterol levels by reducing LDL levels and increasing HDL levels. Regular meditation helps in reducing blood pressure and various coronary ailments too. Over a period of time through unflinching practice of meditation, individuals are endowed with humungous clarity of thought and perspicacity. The human mind attains the 3Es, of equilibrium, equipoise and equanimity. In such a state, it is not agitated and is always sanguine. Efficacious thoughts spring to the mind. With high levels of intuition, open mindedness, clear channels in our system, gargantuan mental diminution and composure, we are able to enhance our aura. This amplifies into unprecedented happenings. This is essentially grace bestowed on us by the divine cosmic energy. Buddha was once questioned as to how he had profited from meditation. He replied, “I have gained nothing!” However, Buddha went on to say, “Let me tell you what I lost: anger, anxiety, depression, insecurity, fear of old age and death.”