There's no one but Donald J. Trump himself to blame for the unfolding monumental Iran fiasco.

There's no one but Donald J. Trump himself to blame for the unfolding monumental Iran fiasco. And, of course, his mostly feckless clique. A New York Times report on what transpired in the White House Situation Room. 𝟲 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽’𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘢𝘩𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘳. By 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣 and 𝙅𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙎𝙬𝙖𝙣 April 7, 2026 In the two and a half weeks before the United States began a major military campaign against Iran, a small circle of advisers gathered in the White House Situation Room for a series of pivotal meetings. Previously undisclosed details of that period drawn from reporting for a forthcoming book, 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦: 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱, show how President Trump’s alignment with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and a lack of sustained opposition from all but one member of the president’s inner circle put the United States on a course to war. 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗵𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺. Sitting across from Mr. Trump in the Situation Room—a venue rarely used for in-person sessions with foreign leaders—Mr. Netanyahu made an hourlong presentation to the president and his top aides on Feb. 11. He argued that Iran was ripe for regime change and that a joint U.S.-Israeli campaign could bring down the Islamic Republic. At one point, he played a video that included a montage of figures who could lead Iran if the theocratic government fell. Among them was Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah. The Israeli leader and his advisers laid out what they portrayed as near-certain victory: Iran’s missile program destroyed in weeks, the Strait of Hormuz kept open and minimal retaliation against American interests. Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, could help foment an uprising inside Iran to finish the job. Mr. Trump’s response was swift and appeared approving to most in the room. Sounds good to me, he told the prime minister. 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗵𝘂’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗺𝗲-𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀 “𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹.” U.S. analysts scrambled overnight to assess what Mr. Netanyahu had presented. Their conclusions, delivered the next day in another Situation Room meeting, were blunt. The first two objectives laid out in the Israeli pitch—killing the ayatollah and crippling Iran’s ability to threaten its neighbors—were achievable, U.S. intelligence officials concluded. The second two goals presented by Mr. Netanyahu and his team—a popular uprising inside Iran and the replacement of the Islamic government by a new secular leader—were not. The CIA director, John Ratcliffe, used a single word to describe the regime-change scenarios: “farcical.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio translated, “In other words, it’s bullshit.” Mr. Trump absorbed the assessment—and moved past it. Regime change, he said, would be “their problem.” His interest in killing Iran’s top leaders and dismantling its military remained undimmed. 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗝𝗗 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘁. Of everyone in Mr. Trump’s inner circle, Mr. JD Vance did the most to try to stop the march toward war. He had built his political career opposing precisely this kind of military adventurism, and he told colleagues that a regime-change war with Iran would be a disaster. In front of the president and his other advisers, Mr. Vance warned that the conflict could cause regional chaos and untold casualties, break apart the president’s political coalition, and be seen as a betrayal by voters who had supported the promise of no new wars. He stressed the depletion of U.S. munitions and the risk of outsized and unpredictable retaliation given that the regime’s survival was at stake. He also warned about the Strait of Hormuz and the likelihood of soaring gasoline prices. His preference was for no strikes at all. But knowing Mr. Trump was likely to act, Mr. Vance tried to steer him toward more limited options. When that failed, he argued for overwhelming force to end things quickly. At the final meeting on Feb. 26, his message to the president was blunt: You know I think this is a bad idea, but if you want to do it, I’ll support you. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁. The positions in the inner circle fell along a spectrum, but with one thing in common: Nobody other than Mr. Vance mounted a forceful argument to change Mr. Trump’s mind. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was the most enthusiastic. We’re going to have to take care of the Iranians eventually, so we might as well do it now, he told the group on Feb. 26, the day before Mr. Trump gave his final order. Mr. Rubio was more ambivalent—his preference was for continued maximum pressure rather than full-scale war—but he did not try to talk the president out of it. Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, worried about the United States being dragged into a conflict in the Middle East on the eve of midterm elections but did not see it as her role to share her concerns about a military decision in a large group setting with the president. Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had serious concerns about the war and persistently flagged risks: weapons depletion, closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the difficulty of predicting Iran’s response. But he was so careful not to take a stand, repeating that it was not his role to tell the president what to do, that he could appear to some to argue all sides simultaneously. Mr. Trump, in turn, would often seem to hear only what he wanted to hear. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗮𝗿, 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘇𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗮. The president’s confidence that a conflict with Iran would be brief and decisive was deep-rooted and largely impervious to contrary evidence. He had been emboldened by Iran’s muted response to his bombing of its nuclear facilities in June and by the spectacular commando raid that had captured the Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his compound on Jan. 3, in which no American lives were lost. The Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro being escorted from a helicopter to be taken to the federal courthouse in Manhattan in January. Mr. Trump had been emboldened by the spectacular commando raid that had captured Mr. Maduro. When advisers raised the possibility that Iran could shut down the Strait of Hormuz—a choke point for vast quantities of global oil and gas—Mr. Trump dismissed the possibility, assuming the regime would capitulate before it came to that. When told the campaign would significantly deplete American weapons stockpiles, including missile interceptors already strained by years of support for Ukraine and Israel, Mr. Trump appeared to weigh the warning against a more appealing data point: The United States had an essentially unlimited supply of cheap, precision-guided bombs. When the anti-interventionist commentator Tucker Carlson privately asked Mr. Trump how he could be so sure everything would be OK, the president replied, “Because it always is.” 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽, 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝘂𝘁-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺. Mr. Trump’s decision to take the country to war was not driven by intelligence assessments or a strategic consensus among his advisers, which did not exist. It was driven by instinct—the same instinct his team had watched produce improbable results again and again. Unlike his first-term team, many of whom regarded him as a danger to be managed or obstructed, Mr. Trump in his second term is surrounded by advisers who view him as a great man of history. After his improbable comeback in 2024, after indictments and assassination attempts, and after ordering the flawless operation that captured Mr. Maduro in Venezuela, the people around Mr. Trump had developed an almost superstitious faith in his destiny and instincts, and in his power to will new realities into existence. In making this high-stakes and high-risk decision, almost everyone deferred to the president’s gut. Surrounded by people trying to execute on Mr. Trump’s desires, and with so much having gone his way to that point, almost nothing stood between the instinct and the act.

The wheels within wheels: (from Shanaka substack)

The wheels within wheels: (from Shanaka substack) BREAKING: The NYT just reported that Iran accepted the ceasefire following a last-minute intervention by China asking Tehran to show some flexibility. Every headline framed this as Beijing playing peacemaker. Read it again through the lens of what China actually gets from the pause, and a different architecture emerges. Before this ceasefire, 1.22 million barrels per day of Iranian crude were flowing to Chinese teapot refineries in Shandong province via 26 ghost fleet tankers operating with transponders dark, settling in yuan through CIPS, which hit 928 billion renminbi in daily volume by March 9th. Those teapot refineries, roughly 250 independent plants processing 25 percent of China’s total refining capacity, were buying Iranian crude at a discount that had flipped to a premium during the war but still arrived cheaper than spot Brent because the ghost fleet avoids Western insurance, Western brokers, and Western currency. The ceasefire does not disrupt any of that. It preserves it. Hormuz reopens for two weeks under Iranian military coordination. The ghost fleet continues to operate. The yuan toll infrastructure remains in place. The CIPS settlement architecture is not dismantled. The 206 million barrels of Iranian crude already stockpiled in Shandong onshore tanks are not returned. The teapot refineries that processed 80 to 90 percent of Iran’s wartime exports continue running at 54 percent utilization with no change in their supply chain. What the ceasefire removes is the risk that President Trump’s Power Plant Day would escalate the war to a level where Iranian crude exports ceased entirely, Chinese ghost fleet tankers were interdicted, or the conflict spilled into a regional conflagration that disrupted Chinese trade routes across the Indian Ocean. China intervened not to save Iran. China intervened to save the infrastructure it spent two decades building inside the crisis. Trump understood this dynamic. His ceasefire announcement credited Pakistani mediation explicitly, naming Prime Minister Sharif and Field Marshal Munir, while saying nothing about Beijing’s role. The omission is strategic. Acknowledging Chinese pressure would position Beijing as a co-equal broker in a war that America prosecuted and America is now settling. By crediting Pakistan, Trump preserves the frame that the United States drove the outcome while using a trusted intermediary, and keeps China’s role invisible to the domestic audience that would interpret it as weakness. The molecule thesis clarifies what the ceasefire changes and what it does not. The ceasefire reopens the strait. It does not rebuild the crackers. The ceasefire eases oil prices. It does not restore petrochemical production. The ceasefire pauses the bombing. It does not reverse the 85 percent destruction of Iran’s weapons-chemistry capacity that the IDF confirmed. And the ceasefire does not touch the parallel infrastructure that China built during the war: the ghost fleet logistics, the yuan toll framework, the CIPS settlement volumes, or the teapot refinery supply chains that now operate as a permanent non-dollar energy corridor between the Persian Gulf and Shandong. The war destroyed Iran’s petrochemical capacity. The ceasefire preserved China’s shadow energy architecture. The first outcome was the American objective. The second outcome was the Chinese objective. Both were achieved simultaneously, and the two-week pause is the mechanism that locks both.

*HTDO*

*HTDO* Manoj, a hotshot Sales Manager, on a Sunday evening, was in the parking lot of a shopping mall. The parking lot was packed. Cars were crawling with anxious drivers looking for that one vacant slot. Manoj, sharp & aggressive as he was known to be, spotted a vacant space ahead & quickly zoomed in. He could see another car trying to reverse into the same slot, but Manoj was determined to beat the other man to it. And he did! Manoj felt jubilant, as we all sometimes do with life's little victories. The old man driving the car was disappointed. He looked Manoj in the eye & continued his search for another parking slot. Two days later, Manoj was preparing for one of the biggest moments of his career. He was close to winning a big contract for his company. All that was left now was the formal handshake meeting with the client's CEO. As Manoj walked into the client's office & saw the CEO, he felt a sudden sense of discomfort. Yes! It was the same man from whom he had snatched the parking slot on Sunday. _And you can guess what happened thereafter._ *Alas! If only Manoj had grown up with the HTDO habit!* *SO WHAT IS HTDO?* It has probably happened to you before.As you walk towards the door of an office or a hotel, the person walking in front holds the door open for you. Remember how good it made you feel, if only for that moment. Isn't it surprising that although we all feel good when someone holds the door open for us, we seldom do the same for others! How come? It's probably because we are all preoccupied with ourselves & obsessed with getting ahead.Here then is a life-changing lesson that they don't teach you in any B school. *'Hold The Door Open'*. The world can be divided into two types of people. Those who push open a door, walk through & let it slam behind them.That's 98% of the population. And there's the 2% who hold it open to allow the next person to walk through. Learn to do that & you too could join the select 2% club. *HTDO doesn't merely make other people feel good. It makes you feel good too. HTDO translates into a behaviour of helping & caring._* *Winning in life is less about naked ambition & more about helping other people win.* *Someone once said, _"It's nice to be important. But it's more important to be nice"_* Make a beginning... *Hold The Door Open!* Have an awesome & Happy day

12. Overcoming Grief and Bereavement

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

11. My Mother, A Woman of Substance - Bala Sriram

11. My Mother, A Woman of Substance - Bala Sriram “The rain drops from the sky: if it is caught in hands, it is pure enough for drinking. If it falls in a gutter, its value drops so much that it can’t be used even for washing the feet. If it falls on hot surface, it perishes. If it falls on lotus leaf, it shines like a pearl and finally, if it falls on oyster, it becomes a pearl. The drop is same, but its existence & worth depend on with whom it associates.” Always be associated with people who are good at heart. This is what Swami Vivekananda said. My mother shares her birthday with Swami Vivekananda (12th January). Association and satsang have been her strong points. She nurtured strong bonding with all religious faiths and spiritually inclined people. I recall her association with Satya Sai Baba, Ganapathi Sachchidanda Swamiji, Raghavendra Swami Mutt, Swami Chinmayananda, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Mahesh Yogi and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Not to forget her association with Mother’s International, Mother Teresa, CBCI and CARITAS. She wanted to pursue medicine but life did not take that trajectory. “Faith plus action becomes unstoppable” writes Jonathan Lockwood Hue. So, she upended the pyramid and became a qualified medical social worker and worked diligently at the Rajan Babu TB (RBTB) Hospital, Delhi. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, “Open your hands and sky is in your hands.” Inorder to combat and challenge the disease of tuberculosis she initiated several rehabilitation projects. This included creche for the children of those afflicted with this malady, Stitching Centre, candle and match making units. She used to tell patients and their children that “Fear is only as deep as the mind allows”. Thus, patients afflicted with TB, but not bed ridden participated in the projects. This was what she called “Diversionary Therapy”. The patient’s mind was diverted from the disease and recovery rate was rapid. In these endeavors she was extended tremendous support from eminent people like Shri A. Rama Rao of Khadi and Village Industries, Professor Shankar Pathak of Delhi School of Social Work, Shri A.V.K. Chaitanya a Trade Union leader and confidante of Shri George Fernandes, Bibi Amtus Salam, veteran Congress leader, Shri Dhanraj Ojha a RSS leader and Bishop Remegius and Bishop Rego of the Catholic Church (CBCI and CARITAS). The mission was to serve. And religious barriers did not pose any problems. As the objective and goal were so lofty the universal energy ensured that the left, right and centre all collaborated with certitude. “Mind is not a dustbin to keep anger, hatred and jealousy. But it is the treasure box to keep love, happiness and sweet memories.” said Swami Vivekananda. Thus, RBTB Hospital became the melting pot of all religions to forge hands and assist in the mammoth task of rehabilitation of the afflicted. The hospital became a unique template for the methods adopted by doctors, para-medic staff, social workers, government bodies and NGOs all to contribute in the rehabilitation of the patients. Climate changes, civilizations collapse, government change, political affiliations alter and even the best possible model collapses. This is inevitable. As Buddha said, “The only permanent thing in life is impermanence.” The lofty objectives were not approved by a new set of hospital administrators and the beacon of hope collapsed. This was extremely traumatic for my mother and she became a patient of Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia (PAT). This is a type of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). Paroxysmal means that the episode of arrhythmia originates and terminates abruptly. Atrial implies the arrhythmia starts with atria or in the upper chambers of the heart. The tachycardia results in significant increase in the heart beat per minute. It abnormally increases the pace, like an athlete on a treadmill. PAT significantly increases the heartbeat of an adult from the normal 60 to 100 to 130 to 230 and among infants and children it shoots up from 100 to 130 to 220 beats per minute. It is accompanied with severe sweating, dizziness, palpitations, angina and acute breathlessness. Normally a patient suffers from such a condition owing to emotional upheavals, physical exhaustion, deep anxiety, consumption of caffeine or alcohol. I saw my mother suffering from this condition on several occasions and being admitted to the ICU. It was a distressing and disturbing sight. While it is not life-threatening affliction, it certainly disorients the psychology and attitudes of the patient. During her suffering we saw her clutching on to her rosary as a life saver, while we prayed fervently for her recovery. She was administered medication but it worked only to an extent. The real help came in form of a pentagon shaped talisman. That is through Siddha Healing, Pranic Healing, the 10-day Vipassana Course and the Part1 and Part2 Art of Living courses. This is the infinitesimal power and scientific power of breath. Breathing techniques, meditation, medication and proper diet changed the trajectory of the life of the patient and brought back the mojo in her life. “When you take the breath in, let become your meditation that all the suffering of all the beings in the world is riding on that incoming breath and reaching your heart. Absorb all that suffering, pain and misery in your heart, and see a miracle happen,” said Osho. She has retired now but continues with her sadhana unfailingly. Senior citizens, those in pain and agony and even the able bodied should undertake the courses mentioned. Swami Vivekananda took yoga to America and spread the Ramakrishna Mission. He was the Arjuna of Shri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa. This article is a tribute to Swamiji and also to my mother. My mother imbibed the trait of service to mankind by reading extensively about Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda. The year 2020 A virulent virus which is assumed to have originated in the dragon land of China assumed monstrous proportions and spread like a pandemic across the swathes of the globe. India and Prayagraj too were not spared by the lethal pestilence. The robust lady, a woman of substance contracted the disease on the 23rd of December, a day after I was detected positive with the pestilence. Six days prior to when she would have celebrated her eighty-fourth birthday, and in spite of testing negative for Covid, life was snuffed out and she entered the empyrean. She was on the ventilator, something my mother would have abhorred as the lethal virus had entered her lungs. Strangely at 7:30 a.m. that morning, though enfeebled by the pernicious disease, I was performing Sudarshan Kriya and had a premonition that my mother had entered vaikuntha. The previous night belts hung in my cupboard kept falling repeatedly for no particular reason. Was it an indication that the soul was precariously swinging between the Zion and earth where mortals dwell? A few minutes later my wife knocked on the door and with misty eyes and a choked voice conveyed the news. My sister was soon connected through WhatsApp call and the news was broken. Uma. my sister was devastated hearing about cataclysmic tragedy… We are yet to recover from the body blow. There is profound silence in her room where some belongings are kept… along with the photograph of H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Hanumanji. I visit the room every day and feel her presence. I would attribute the tranquility in the room to her sadhana. Mother used to get up at twelve in the night and follow a strict regime which included Vipassana meditation, Pranic Healing, Siddha Healing, Mudra Pranayama and then Sudarshan Kriya. This lasted for almost six hours. She was also religious in taking her short walks …. Not the proverbial 10,000 steps but reasonable for her age. So how did she contract the disease and leave for heavenly abode. Destiny, Karmic Cycle? These are perhaps rationalization by the human mind. Death by Khalil Gibran This a poignant tome on life and death as I gather my thoughts in melancholia. Then Almitra spoke, saying, we would ask now of Death. And he said: You would know the secret of death. But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life? The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light. If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life. For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one. In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond; And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring. Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity. Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour. Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king? Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling? For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered? Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

9. The Pandemic Continues

9. The Pandemic Continues First up, we brace with some cold numbers. Towards the end of December, 2020 as many as 75 million humans were afflicted by the dreaded novel Corona virus or COVID-19, accounting for 1.6 million deaths. One of the most highly developed nations in the world, the USA lead the pack in terms of those afflicted as the inauguration of Joe Biden took place amidst extraordinary political, public health, economic, and national security crises, including the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic and former President Donald Trump’s ugly and brazen attempt to overturn the Presidential results amidst storming of the Capitol Hill by a rampaging mob. Erudite scientist, Stephen Hawking had advanced the argument that man would need a new planet to inhabit as they would have to counter nuclear warfare, climate change and biological warfare in the near future. Did the English cricketer Jofra Archer in his prescient tweets predict the pandemic or was it mere coincidence? But certainly, there are early references to pandemics in the Bible and treatises like the Yoga Vasishta. As per the Old Testament, as man was overcome with avarice and practised idolatry, he earned the wrath of God. As a result, ancient Egypt was afflicted with plague during the times of Moses. Yoga Vasishta is a dialogue between sage Vasishta and Lord Rama, while Rama was a tutee of the sagacious sage. Apparently, there was a female demon (rakshasi) who survived high in the Himalayas. Through rigorous penance she obtained a boon from the creator, Lord Brahma, to be able to metamorphose into the form of a needle. This needle or suchika afflicted humans in the heart, pulmonary tract and the spleen and normally survived in filth. Today, as India has opened up after a series of lockdowns and initially the frontline workers and senior citizens are being inoculated with the two vaccines available. India has managed to unleash two vaccines in form of COVISHIELD and COVAXIN, which should keep naysayers and predictors of doomsday at bay. AN ODE TO MY PARENTS 10. My Father, An Erudite Pluralist- V. Sriram The date was 27 February, 2018. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar travelled from Varanasi to Lucknow and thence to Gorakhpur on a Rail Yatra, similar to the one he had undertaken in Andhra Pradesh in 2014. That evening he came to our house. While ecstatic devotees were waiting to have his glimpse and seek his blessings, “Gurudev” as he is called by legions of his followers walked up to my ailing father, Valluri Sriram, garlanded him and uttered, “I have come to see you.” Exactly a year later, 27 February, 2019 the mortal remains of my father, whom my younger sister Uma and I addressed as Appa would be consigned to flames. Appa passed away last evening, after his fourth hospitalisation at Prayagraj, succumbing to multiple organ failure. He was stricken with complications of the heart, COPD (he was not a smoker), Parkinson’s and finally brain atrophy. Witnessing the organs of a nonagenarian capitulating is a dreadful sight. It is quite like a forlorn parrot in a cage seeking freedom. There is an intense battle between the body, the spirit, the mind and the soul. Ultimately it only proves that despite modern technology at human disposal we are mere mortals. Appa seemed to have lost the will to continue once his elder brother Valluri Kameshwar Rao (ICS retd.) passed away in November 2018 at the grand age of 104. Confined as he was to the wheelchair, Appa could not attend the last rites of his dear brother, something that devastated him enormously. The youngest of six siblings, my father was born on June 10 in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh in 1927. Despite being born into an orthodox Brahmin family he had chartered a separate path altogether. He joined the non-vegetarian mess in Andhra University where he was a tutee of economics. After completing his M Phil, he migrated to Delhi University to pursue his doctorate under the towering Dr V.K.R.V. Rao. Here he was to rub academic shoulders with such intellectual giants as Dr K.N. Raj, Dr Amartya Sen, Dr Sukhomoy Chakroborty and none other than Dr Man Mohan Singh. He was always in pursuit of perfection and excellence and thus often missed the wood for the trees. He was unable to complete his thesis, though he wrote several papers on Macro and Micro Economics. Pandit Nehru was singularly impressed with my father’s intellectual prowess and Appa went on to be a member of a team that visited China in 1955 and interacted with eminent Chinese leaders like Chou En-Lai and Mao Tse-Tung. Appa used to narrate in an animated manner about the growth in China and the Great Wall of China, the only man-made structure thought to be visible from Earth’s satellite moon. Appa had several friends and associates. Late Shri P.H. Vaishnav, a sterling bureaucrat of the Punjab cadre was one among them. My father and Vaishnav Uncle, both avid Wodehouse fans would often recall snippets from Wodehouse and the house resonated with laughter. The turning point in my father’s life was the birth of my sister Uma. She was his talisman and soon he was to work in FICCI, followed by ASSOCHAM and finally as secretary to Shri Hari Shankar Singhania. Shri Valluri Sriram was a socialist by heart and ideological training. He shared a close association with several socialist stalwarts including Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, Shri Jai Prakash Narayan, Shri George Fernandes, Shri Chandrashekar, Shri Madhu Dandavate and the popular Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Appa was part of the committee which drafted the manifesto of the Janata Party in 1977. I fondly recall when Telugu Desam was the principal opposition party, Shri Madhav Reddy, leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Shri P. Upendra would visit our house seeking advice on a broad spectrum of economic issues. Professor S.H. Pathak of the Delhi School of Social Work was his close friend. It was at Pathak Uncle’s house that we would meet eminent theatre and film personalities like Girish Kasarvalli, B.V. Karanth and Girish Karnad among others, which fuelled my deep interest in dramatics. However, Appa was deeply distressed during the 1984 riots and the dismantling of the disputed structure at Ayodhya which reflected his pluralistic nature, a trait he continued to deeply cherish till his demise. Certainly, he was neither religious nor spiritual by nature. He was cast more in the mould of an agnostic attempting to unravel the mysteries of the universe through the prism of Nehruvian thinking and his training in economics. Whilst his elder siblings had unflinching faith in Sathya Sai Baba and I am ardent follower of H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar my father attempted to discover the virtuosity of nature by his readings of Stephen Hawking, Jim Holt, Steve Jobs, Carl Sagan among others. Obviously, the logical side of his brain was developed immensely, always demanding proof. In this pursuit, he found robust companions in my children Siddhartha and Tejala, both of who are highly sceptical of “gurus”. My parents in particular have been highly catholic by temperament and I was educated at St Xavier’s School, Delhi and my sibling at the Presentation Convent. We were also closely associated with the church through priests like Bishop Rego and Bishop Remegius and also Mother Teresa. This certainly opened several vistas to my thought process. Among the myriad experiences I have had in life was the visit of Shri Sundar Lal Bahuguna, the noted environmentalist to our home because of my father’s association with FICCI and ASSOCHAM. Appa always rued the fact that he could not complete his doctorate nor join the Indian Administrative Service, a cross he bore all his life. It was ironical that last evening as we stepped out of the hospital, it began to pour. Even the Gods in the empyrean had tears to shed and would be getting ready to welcome Appa (a copy of his favorite Economist magazine in hand). Today his mortal remains lie in the mortuary at the Central Railway Hospital before being consigned to flames in the evening. But when he was physically fit, he flitted between dargah, church and temple in search of the quintessential truth owing allegiance only to financial and intellectual truth. May, his soul rest in eternal peace. For sure, he would now have the chance to discover the eternal truth. “How’s the josh?” the doc asked Father, who mumbled something incomprehensible. Sodium and other electrolytes appeared to be low and the nonagenarian could not distinguish between day and night, between tenebrosity and luminosity, between sanity and insanity. This was the fourth occasion that he was admitted into the ICCU in the last few months. The doctor persisted. Father looked askance; a glazed look in his eyes. He had slumped in bed that afternoon, with BP and pulse not registering. And the oxygen monitor read an ominous zero. For the first time, I saw a flushed look on my mother's face. It was red, not radiant. As devout Hindus, she, my wife and my sister who had come over from Boston switched on the Hanuman Chalisa, the Rudram and the Lalita Sahasranamam in quick succession. The Gods were invoked on the pretentious gizmos to resuscitate a person who appeared to be choked. “How’s the josh?” the doctor enquired once again. Prana levels were ebbing. The patient’s josh was revived partially with the help of a saline drip. With repeated pestilence there was atrophy of veins. But perhaps Almighty God, my unflinching faith in H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the resonance of the mantras conjured a Mandrake like magic and he was wheeled in an ambulance to Heartline. “How’s the josh?” Father had recovered partially and a feeble smile played on his emaciated face. Father was administered the Holter Monitor test and the doctor was of the opinion that he would be discharged the next day. “How’s the josh?” Our josh was spirited and we felt relieved. I placed a photograph of the Gods below his pillow beseeching them to be his guardian angels. But the following day the frail body was inflicted by septicaemia. Blisters had formed on his feet as they were exposed to high temperatures when a hot water bag was placed to alleviate pain. Father in the hazy and muggy state felt that a patient on the adjacent bed was his brother who refused to engage in a conversation. My uncle had cracked a century four years back and cast his mortal remains just a few months back. This perhaps had had a deleterious effect on Father’s mind and body. How did our fabled Rishis live for hundreds of years? Pranayama, diet, meditation and no antipathetic or Sisyphean thoughts. That was their josh and the elixir of their lives. Gandhiji once famously said that he would live up to 125 years. That was his josh - his diet, Kriya Yoga learnt from Paramahamsa Yogananda and daily evening satsangs. His Holy Grail of course was non-violence. “How’s the josh?” the doctor asked Father to bolster his courage and conviction. But soon the entourage of specialist doctors recommended a CT scan. The nonagenarian was wheeled out from the hospital to a CT scan centre. That is the state of medicare in the country. Fortuitously the CT scan report suggested atrophy and nothing worse. The result was slowed down reflexes and an inability to swallow food orally. He is now being fed through a nasal pipe. The stripling youngster serving Father is quite distraught that this is the only way to feed him. Father remains incoherent, with an unchanging distant and forlorn look in his eyes. Life in the ICCU for the patient is pathetic and for the kith and kin who attend to him is depressing. We are keeping a vigil outside the hospital, with prayers on our lips and trying to fortify our josh. “How’s the josh?” Well, we attempt to keep it unflagging for optimism is the only key to overcome any misadventure in life.

8. Life in times of Pandemic

8. Life in times of Pandemic There was once Bubonic plague and then it was followed by the Spanish Flu aeons later, which claimed millions of lives across the globe. In fact, Spanish Flu resulted in loss of more human lives than the two World Wars put together. Such was the cataclysmic catastrophe which left humanity numbed. In 2019 an invisible microorganism which apparently originated from Wuhan in China locked down nations. Lives have been lost and by the day numbers are spiraling. Further, economic activity hit rock bottom. Is it apocalypse? A pandemic swept across the swathes of the globe, and afflicted people in every corner. In a globalised, inter-connected world, humans wear masks, have now to resort to social distancing and several worked from home; isn’t this the ultimate irony? This is the price humanity pays as COVID – 19 takes over. Indians like rest of the world went through a series of lockdowns and gradually opened up various sectors of economic activity. Even now several educational institutions are functioning virtually impinged with large scale uncertainties. Economic wheels are slowly churning back in the faint hope of a revival as the process of vaccination has finally begun. Origin of lockdown in India The technique of lockdown involving the masses was also employed by the Mahatma during the Civil Disobedience movement. It was an absolute shut down across swathes of the land when Satyagraha, prayer and non-violence and non-cooperation were deployed as tools against fiendish forces represented by the British. The novel method shook the very foundations of the British suzerainty. These were political stratagems to combat the demonic powers of foreign occupation. Today humans through self-imposed home-exile and social-distancing developed a stratagem to grapple with this vicious and virulent virus which assumed an octopus-like grip over humanity, as finally vaccine visible on the horizon. But yet we need to maintain social distancing and not lower our guard against the disease as several new mutations emerge. Plagues and other epidemics have struck humanity with ferocity in the past as well; the Great Plague in Europe and parts of Central Asia in the 14th century and the small pox epidemic in Mexico in 1520 being two well-known examples and of course the Spanish Flu. In these times of adversity for human beings, nature is finally getting a chance to breathe freely. When the pandemic broke out it was reported that that streams in Venice witnessed large numbers of dolphins, fish and swans, species which had all but vanished. The airport at Tel Aviv was a testimony to Egyptian birds walk across like mannequin airhostesses, baboons in Singapore were found straddling the streets and seem to obeying the regimented laws of the city state. This ought to teach us to live in harmony with other species. But this is possible only if humans are not caught in the vortex of self-aggrandizement and acquisition. The silk-stocking and upmarket individuals necessarily need to eschew their habit of avarice and contribute towards sharing, caring and expressing unalloyed love. The USA had reduced funding to WHO, but the ultra-rich across the globe can contribute towards poverty alleviation, medical services, protecting the environment and reducing pollution levels through tempering their wants and desires. As we slowly begin to operate from the sanctuary of our dwelling places, humans need to differentiate between loneliness and solitude. Loneliness will make us mental wrecks. We will not be joyous and loving but grumble, and develop antagonistic attitudes. This loneliness needs to be transfigured and metamorphosed into solitude. Solitude is a state of becoming antarmukhi; a state of being in harmony with the outer world while looking deep within in order to suffuse the mind with efficacious thoughts and draw on our inner reservoirs of energy. Spending time at home, humans were required to develop their immune system and several had given this an immediate priority. There are solutions aplenty. Eschew white sugar totally. Apparently even one table spoon reduces immunity levels by half. To remain fit one can, tend to the greenery in our balconies or garden, do plenty of yoga (what about 108 sets of Suryanamaskars), spot jogging etc. This is the time to pray, fast and meditate. Pranayama and deep breathing techniques help expel toxins from the body and act as immunity boosters. When the country first shut down to combat the ailment on 22 March, people re-discovered yoga, pranayama and observe deep silence. In that silence Indians cogitated on the sound of the Universe, the Soham Swarup of this majestic creation and a state of “thoughtlessness”. So in the times of this pandemic savour the solitude. Take deep breaths and clear your mind of the shroud of cacophonous fear. Wherever you are, just relax, relax, relax, rejuvenate your minds and bodies, connect with your families, learn new skill sets and crafts … and discover the YOU in the silence.

C WITH CORONA

C WITH CORONA 7. Looking Back at 2020 Life is brimful of peaks and valleys. There are highpoints and then one hurtles into a precipice. Human life is akin to a synodic curve. There are moments of extraordinary achievements, celebrations and then the unexpected occurs. As Buddha says, “The only permanent thing in life is impermanence.” This is so apt in the rapidly changing environment. In 2016, I had published two books, conducting Art of Living Courses, learning Hindustani Classical music, but was not professionally satisfied. I yearned for a challenging posting in the Indian Railway Traffic Service. And then the wheels of fortunes altered and I was posted as the Chief Operations Manager, North Eastern Railway, Gorakhpur. From the proverbial loop line of the railway, I was in the mainline. And within a year, I was posted as the Principal Chief Operations Manager, North Central Railway Allahabad (now referred to as Prayagraj). This is one of the most demanding and exacting position on Indian Railways handling freight and passenger traffic. The world saw Corona in 2020 and during the lockdown and several periods of work from home, I could author three books, two translations and wrote for two anthologies. Creativity was as its peak. The last four years have seen me write with gusto and also perform with credit professionally, but was to lose my parents – my father in 2019 and mother in 2020. I was distraught with the tragedies and am still to overcome the grief of bereavement. In December 2020, I contracted COVID-19 and so did my mother, and I bear this cross, with my mind always cannonaded with the thought as to whether I transmitted the infection to her. The thought of lighting the funeral pyres of my parents have deeply impacted my mind and feel the house to be to be desolate and forlorn. In particular, consigning my mother to flames at the electric crematorium wearing the PPE suite as I was still recovering from Corona haunts me to this day. For me writing is a passion and a therapeutic exercise. We worked on a novel, which has been put on the pause button for certain inexplicable reasons. This again is indicative of recurring changes which take place at the subterranean levels about which the gross mind is absolutely unaware of. Only the subtle mind and energies can perhaps fathom the reasons. Meanwhile, to fuel the passion and to calm my frayed nerves, I pulled out a bunch of articles which I am sure readers would connect. It is my journey and voyage of several others ……an attempt to make a paradigm shift from negativity to positive mindset. While, maintaining strict protocols, a Swami, a seeker and a novitiate settled down to their sadhana unmindful of woebegone news which spread across the globe. They loosened up after an early morning bath, followed by Suryanamaskars (Sun Salutations), Padmasadhana (a set of yogic exercises), followed it performing Sudarshan Kriya and meditating for a while and then went about their daily routine of performing seva/service Later in the day, they participated in meditation programmes conducted by the Master himself. This has provided ballast and robustness to their existence. Seva is an integral part of Art of Living and, the group have been conducting in a quotidian manner an online breathing and meditation programme which has provided succour to thousands. A year back Hong Kong and Shenzhen are the twin cities in the magnificent Pearl Estuary of China. As the crimson red sun sank for the final time on 31st December in South China Sea a group of batch mates from an estimable management institute in India landed at the Hong Kong International airport. They caroused at the voguish beaches and market places of Hong Kong and then drove to Shenzhen the gleaming tech park city of China whose landscape is dotted with skyscrapers and marked opulence. Amidst all the revelry and ho-hum the group also ventured to discover tranquillity and hush and sush at the preeminent Phoenix Mountain Temple and the Dragon Temple which is nestled in exotic mountains. Some of them marvelled the architecture and others paid obeisance to Lord Buddha. No sooner were they back to Hong Kong that news of a virus which had flu like symptoms spread like wild fire. Very soon information filtered that the virus emanated from the Wuhan province of China with speculations rife that it either emanated in a laboratory on account of an accident, or through nocturnal mammals like bats or from some filthy places. However, the great firewall of the government blanked out the information. And soon the opulent Indians beat a hasty retreat back home. The oldest alive Kane Tanaka the 117 years old Japanese is the oldest surviving person on planet earth who was a witness to the outbreak of the scourge of Spanish Flu. She celebrated her most recent birthday in a nursing home in Fukuoka, Japan with pieces of delectable cake. Kane revels to keep her mind active, and on a normal day at the nursing home, she wakes up at 6 a.m. and in the afternoon often studies subjects such as maths. One of Kane’s favourite pastimes is a game of Othello and she’s become an expert at the classic board game, often beating the staff. And like several Japanese she practices Zazen breathing and meditation practice which explains her longevity. T-20 The year gone by has rolled like the tumultuous and breathtaking game of the faster version of the game of cricket unlike the riveting test match cricket which has twists and turns. 20-20 bludgeons its way to the rambunctious crowds and deep pockets of the numerous stakeholders. We have witnessed in this clamourous T-20 of our lives in the form of Covid Pandemic which has accounted for a 1.7 million deaths, Joe Biden worsted Donald Trump to assume the august office of Presidency, the racial riots in United States of America following the inhuman elimination of a black man George Floyd in Minneapolis by brute power of the state police, China emerging as a singular economic power through the predatory tactics of a wolf, tanking of the oil prices across the globe and the biggest migration of labour in India. Amidst all this despondency as in Twenty-Twenty (T-20) emerged a super over. The super over for the world today is the vaccine to combat the lethal virus is the vaccine which will act as a protective shield for swathes of population across the world There are primarily three vaccine candidates which need the approval of WHO-EUL/PQ authorisation. Way back in 1995 New Year’s was a grand celebration...like every other day. All those present were in a state of Divine reverie and Sri Sri was astonishingly radiant and sparkling with joy. Guruji merely uttered, “Joy is dissolving...losing your identity. Rest is dissolving...losing your identity.” The message for 1996, Sri Sri said is- Just BE Relax and Just BE A curious devout asked Guruji – What is the nectar of Life? Sri Sri replied – Infinity and Divinity. Optimism Sun will sink again on the 31st of December and luminosity will eclipse tenebrosity as humanity will survive another day with hope payer and Sri Sri’s message for 1996- JUST BE.

6. Keys to De-addiction

6. Keys to De-addiction Do those dependent on alcohol have it in them to stay half-an-hour without alcohol? Alcoholism is a pestilence and I was afflicted by it for several years. The disease impacted me immensely. It was only my wife and parents who stood by me, offering support in my most trying moments. My wife enrolled me for the Part 1 course of the Art of Living while I was posted at Jaipur. Winter had arrived in Jaipur and the weather was chilly. Any stock individual would have preferred the warm climes of a quilt. Yet my wife faithfully dropped me to the centre and picked me up from there for seven days when I had undertaken the course. Like a zombie I used to attend the course. Addicts need to upend the pyramid, detoxify their minds and bodies and once again discover love in their lives. It is paramount that they discard feelings and emotions of futility, guilt, inadequacy and self-rejection. They have to strengthen their minds and make it robust to eschew dependency on alcohol. Such craftsmanship and techniques are encompassed in the Pragna programme of the Art of Living and is providing succour to addicts. Various Art of Living programmes address different sections of society to provide alternative and holistic therapies to ameliorate the physical and mental conditions of overwrought people. How does one conduct the course for hardened alcoholics and drug addicts, who are in a perpetual state of self-denial? They look at the teacher in the most disgusted manner possible, with disbelief writ large on their faces. Courses of the Art of Living for addicts need to be supplemented with regular follow-up sessions. The breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya and the knowledge points of Gurudev begin to unfold, with a salutary impact on the minds of the addicts. Slowly, the determination to metamorphose and transfigure their lives and eschew dependency on the substance begins to develop. What really touches the heart is when an addict takes the first step. They break down as they seek help. “Sir, aap humko chod kar jaoge toh nahin?” (Sir, you will not forsake us?) “Sir, aap roz aoge na?” (Sir, will you come and meet us every day?) is the common refrain, as they develop a bond with the teacher. One recalls the gloomy but riveting movie, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest; how the inmates lodged in a mental asylum had reached a state where they were determined to break the bondage and run away. Similarly, the youth and middle-aged persons with families and children back home yearn for love and affection and pine to be with their loved ones. The addict becomes determined to break the four walls of the rehab centre. Normally the mind of an alcoholic borders on futility, guilt, a gargantuan burden of inadequacy, self-rejection, self-depravation and self-dejection. After the initial treatment at the rehabilitation centre and subsequent exposure to the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya they began to believe in the “Power of Now”, the efficacy of “Living in the Present Moment”. Every day is a new day, a harbinger of hope and the addicts realise their self-worth and the “Power of Love and Acceptance” and begin giving themselves positive strokes. The concepts of the “Power of Now” or the “Present Moment” have been postulated by several masters of the past, in the oriental and occidental world. In India, Maharishi Patanjali, Gautama Buddha, the Advaita saint Adi Shankara have written and spoken about it extensively. In present times the quintessential rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya transmogrifies the human mind to the present. Authors like Eckhart Tolle, Robin Sharma, Deepak Chopra and Louise Hay too have emphasised on reengineering the human mind to remain in the present moment to combat various challenging situations in life. In Gorakhpur is a centre run by a doughty lady whose husband was an alcoholic. As a goodwill gesture the couple inaugurated the centre and have made it their mission to provide shelter and comfort to those suffering from alcoholism. The inmates of the centre could remain half-an-hour without alcohol, can you? This is the question that resonates in my mind, the question I pose to any addict. The answer is simple; it is possible only through surrender to a higher power, the supreme intelligence of the Universe. “If you keep on drinking rum, the world will soon be quit of a very dirty scoundrel,” wrote Robert Louis Stevenson.

5. Efficacy of Sudarshan Kriya

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

4. Magic of Mudra Pranayama

4. Magic of Mudra Pranayama Pranayama is the fourth principle of Ashtanga Yoga as delineated by Maharishi Patanjali. Pranayama should be coupled with mindful eating and breathing. Yogic science of mudras Lord Krishna in the Bhagvad Gita says, “there is nothing as sacred as knowledge”. Knowledge can be acquired by the human mind through the 5 Ds- dedication, determination, dynamism, devotion and discipline and one H- Humility. The human mind can harness this potential only if it is in the present moment and not in a fragmented state. By practicing proper breathing techniques, like Sudarshan Kriya and Nadi Shodhan Pranayama and through regular meditation the mind becomes wakeful and alert to delve deep into this knowledge. It is indeed salutary and efficacious to learn about mudras. Practice of mudras is not just in the domain of dancers, painters and artistes, even stock individuals who have nothing to do with the art world ought to learn about mudras. The science of mudras, is intrinsically related to the esoteric knowledge of yoga and which can be further segregated into the five elements, the five life forces (or subtle forces of energy called the pranas) and the three doshas. The five elements are namely – Akash (ether or space), Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Jal (water) and Prithvi (earth), and the five life forces or pranas are Prana, Udana, Samana, Apana and Vyana and the three doshas are vata, kapha and pitta. Humans unconsciously practice mudras. For instance, the Namaste Mudra or a young child begins learning to walk with his thumbs raised which is called the Meru Dand Mudra. An infant in a deep slumber, his index finger would involuntarily touch the thumb and the other three fingers are on the base of the palm (Chinmaya Mudra). The universe in its auto-mode conjures these processes to take place about which we are totally oblivious to the occurrence. Some other mudras which need to be practised are: (a) Jnana mudra This is performed to increase brain power, improves memory and for the removal of negative thoughts and thereby one attains peace and bliss. (b) Prithvi mudra This helps in balancing the five sense organs, improves blood circulation and enhances our energy levels. Practicing of this mudra assists in increasing our alertness. (c) Apana mudra This facilitates in an improved elimination process, revitalising the digestive system, improving the gums and strengthens immunity. (d) Prana mudra This mudra addresses the problem of fatigue; it also provides essential vitamins to the body besides increasing stamina and vigour to the human body. It also helps in maintenance of the health of our eyes. (e) Dhyana mudra Essentially, this mudra helps in making us mindful and wakeful and we are at peace with ourselves. Over a period of time, we attain peace of mind. (f) Shunya Vayu mudra Practice of this mudra helps in combating problems of flatulence and gastric ailments. The gut houses our solar plexus, which is also referred to as the second brain. We need to take adequate care of our abdomen as a majority of human ailments arise from this part of the body. Therefore, there is enormous merit in the adage, ‘Health is in your hands’.

3. Power of Pranayama

3. Power of Pranayama India and the world are combating a lethal microorganism. The novel Corona virus has afflicted millions of people across the globe and some cold statistics stare us in the face. Across continents many have contracted the pestilence. Of those, unfortunately several have capitulated and precious lives have been snuffed out. The virus strafes the lungs first and thereafter could go on to affect other parts of the body too. Therefore, it is paramount to strengthen and bolster the immunity to ward off the malady. The immune system is a complex network of cells and proteins that defends the body against infections. It makes sense to keep this system well-tuned. Wearing of masks, maintaining social distance, consuming plenty of warm water preferably laced with honey and lime are standard recommendations. We need to add breathing exercises, yogic practices, a nourishing diet and meditation (to keep the mind calm in such stressful conditions) to the above list. Need for pranayama The word pranayama can be broadly shivered into two segments. Prana implies the vital source of energy (the subtle life force) and yama is the control or extension or expansion. Therefore, pranayama can be enlarged as the extension of this dimension of prana. When our energy/prana or chi levels are low, we feel enervated. This invariably occurs when we eat in gargantuan proportions rather than partake of smaller more suitable quantities, either sleep excessively or do not have adequate rest. In all such cases there is a significant expenditure of the vital life force. In these testing times, replenishing doses of energy is paramount. Energy can be restocked through the regular practice of pranayama, yoga and meditation. This fortifies the flow of prana through the nadis or energy channels in the human body to support our immune system. Depletion of energy takes place on account of disruption in our life style, dietary indiscretions, emotional upheavals, or lack of physical exercise besides the human mind undergoing unnecessary stress, as it is relentlessly cannonaded with information about the spike in the cases of COVID-19. By nature, humans who do not live in the present moment latch on to the coattails of Sisyphean and antipathetic thoughts. The human body becomes weak and depleted of energy when we compromise on the four vital sources of energy. These are essentially food, breath, rest and a calm and meditative state of mind. Negligence on our part leads to excessive pressure on the body and mind and thereby the immunity system of the body is enfeebled. When the human mind is not in the present moment it oscillates like a pendulum between the past and the future and invariably feels distressed and distraught. Consequently, our breathing pattern becomes rapid and shallow. Proper breathing acts like a tonic in manifold ways. It strengthens the immunity system, recharges our depleted batteries and assuages an overwrought mind and helps to live in the present moment. Thus, there is a deep and subtle connecting between the breath, body and mind. Effective and rhythmic breathing ensures that we live in the present, thus the mind is calm, collected and in a meditative state. In such a state, positive endorphins are released and the body is healthy and robust to be able to combat disease. Now through regular practice of pranayama and breathing techniques like the Sudarshan Kriya, the mind gets entrenched in the present moment. The human body is powered by five primordial elements. These are earth, water, fire, air and space. These are all extremely important, interwoven and interrelated but it is vayu (air) that sustains our life. We can be without food or water for a few days but cannot survive without breathing. Our rishis have succinctly opined that pranayama is nothing but the worship of Vayu Devata or the Wind God. The powers of vayu are immense and were known to our ancestors and the rishis. No wonder we pray to Lord Hanuman during our trials and tribulations. He is the closest to Narayana, nourishes and sustains us and strengthens our bodies physically and mentally. Yoga is a much-misunderstood word. It is assumed to be merely a set of physical exercises. That is an incorrect perception. Yoga in Sanskrit actually means yuj (that is the union with the self and divine). Yoga transcends to the metaphysical and is not merely confined to the realm of mere physical plane. These are keys to balanced physical and mental health. Fortuitously the generation today is verily being exposed to the secrets of breath and this is a positive development. “Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment,” says the spiritual master and writer Thich Nhat Hanh.

2. Breath is a Blessing

2. Breath is a Blessing What is the very first act upon being born? No rocket science here, we inhale! Our very last act is to exhale. All masters have at length deliberated on the subject. Yet we need to develop the habit of being mindful of our breathing patterns and style. From our first breath on, every minute of our lives, we continue to breathe, taking this miraculous ability for granted because our body’s autonomous system does the job so masterfully – and yet, we can control the breath and in doing so change our state of being. We tend to think that only food provides us with the energy to survive. This is an incorrect assumption. Essentially, there are four sources of energy that sustains us. These are food, breath, rest and a calm and meditative state of mind. The quantity of food partaken is also very significant. As per Ayurveda there are three containments in the stomach. One- third meant for food, one-third for air and one-third for liquids. If we cup our palms together, it gives us an idea of the quantity of food we need to consume. Prior to every meal, a glance at cupped palms might remind us to be mindful of what we consume. We have neglected this essential aspect of life. There are innumerable bonuses to be had by practicing conscious breathing or the ability to observe the breath, not necessarily control it. 1. Physically, we can be aware as to how our breathing pattern provides oxygen to our organs. To stimulate the body’s relaxation response, we need to focus on long, deep Ujjayi breaths. In this technique, practitioners should experience a sensation in the throat region. Ujjayi breaths help in elongating the breath, making it fine, smooth and also helps in the practice of yoga. Each yogic posture we undertake can be held for a longer duration to reap maximal benefit. In fact, we barely use thirty percent of our lung capacity. Through mindful breathing we can also expel ninety percent of toxins. There are several on-line classes being conducted by the faculty of the Art of Living under the tutelage of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar from which individuals can learn and appreciate the magical, therapeutic prowess of pranayama. We can undertake pain management through proper breathing exercises. If a certain part of body is aching, one can draw all the attention to that part and observe the breath. This coupled with Mudra Pranayama works as a tonic in mitigation of pain. “As a fire blazes brightly when the covering of ash over it is scattered by the wind, the divine fire within the body shines in all its majesty when the ashes of desire are scattered by the practice of pranayama,” wrote the polymath Yogic Guru Shri B.K.S Iyengar. 2. The human mind keeps oscillating between the past and the future, never remaining in the present. Willy-nilly this results in emotional upheaval in our system. The mind can be brought to the present moment through the unfailing practice of the rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, “Mind is like the kite and the breath is like a string.” This string can be effectively used to calm the mind through mindful breathing. 3. We can practice meditation by beginning with Nadi Shodan pranayama. This relaxes the body, muscles and nerves and we seamlessly slip into meditation. Meditation is an act of de-concentration where we strive to embrace all thoughts, never resisting any thought or emotion. The reality in life is that whatever we resist actually persists. Meditation eventually leads to mental sharpness and clarity and increases levels of concentration. 4. Human minds are cannonaded by innumerable thoughts. This leads to a state of perennial mental chatter. For a moment let us draw our attention to animals chewing cud, the process of regurgitation. This is exactly how we humans keep feeding on our negative thoughts and fears, re-living them every moment. Through mindful breathing we can arrest this tendency and reduce the mental chatter, bringing our minds to the present moment. “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves,” said Buddha. Profound silence dawns on us through mindful breathing and over a period of time antipathetic thoughts and fears in the mind dissolve, as we learn to be in the present moment, connecting to our inner self; living in harmony with our environment and our existence. Spiritually, conscious breathing helps to remind us that energy is constantly moving. As Einstein famously said, “Nothing happens until something moves.” Well, since energy is always in motion (vibration), then change is a constant in our lives! This is a truth which cannot be ignored. Let us all practice mindful breathing from this very instant!

STRETCHING INTO INFINITY

STRETCHING INTO INFINITY 1. Shirshasana — Sovereign among Asanas Shirshasana enhances the blood supply to the brain and pituitary gland, and in the process revitalizes the entire body and mind. Regular practice disgorges perturbation and other psychological intrusions which often become the bedrock of numerous disabilities. On the 21st of June, Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, for three 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 splendor 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. Physical countenance of yoga Yoga is a kind of exercise in which a practitioner locomote 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. Its metaphysical demeanor 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 yoga 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 Shirshana 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.

For defence experts

For defence experts The F-15E was shot down on April 3 in Dehdasht (Kohgiluyeh province), in southwestern Iran. The regional governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province was the one who issued a public bounty for the crew. The distance from Iran's Persian Gulf coast to Dehdasht is some 100-130 km. The distance from Kuwait's Gulf Islands to Dehdasht is some 250 km. The C-130s were found destroyed in Isfahan, in central Iran, located along the eastern foothills of the Zagros Mountains. Kohgiluyeh and Isfahan do share a border. But the distance from the area where the F15 was shot down (Dehdasht) to the place where the charred remains of C-130s and helicopters were found is approximately 220 km, as the crow flies. So roughly this is the distance between the extraction point and the air strip where C-130s landed. Can anyone explain to me how this was pulled off? I understand that the so-called abandoned air strip in Isfahan could have been used as a staging ground/forward base. From there to the extraction point in Kohgiluyeh, US troops would have flown in a helicopter ? (the highly respected colonel was seriously injured, according to trump). But if the distance from Kuwait, which can never say No to America, to the crash site is some 250 km. Then why did the US move dozens of troops to Isfahan first, set up a temp staging ground deep inside enemy territory, and then move special forces further to Kohgiluyeh in helicopters, find the airman, fly back to Isfahan and then fly out of Iran? In the process, they lost multiple aircraft, helicopters and drones. Can anyone fill me up? This is for a deeper understanding of what happened, not to spin conspiracy theories.

Long ago, high in the mountains,

Long ago, high in the mountains, a deep rushing stream ran fiercely through narrow rocks. To cross it, there was only a single old tree trunk laid across the water — a tiny, shaky bridge hanging over the current. 🌿 One morning, two goats approached the bridge from opposite sides. A black goat came from one bank, and a white goat came from the other. When they reached the middle, both stopped. The trunk was too narrow. There was no space for two large animals to pass each other. Beneath them, the water roared violently. One wrong step, and either one could be swept away in an instant. For a moment, the air turned tense. Goats are known for being stubborn and proud. Under different circumstances, they might have lowered their horns and charged at each other, each determined to go first. And if they had done that on such a narrow bridge, both would likely have fallen into the raging water below. But this time, wisdom spoke first. ✨ The white goat looked down at the wild stream, then into the fierce eyes of the black goat. In that moment, it understood something important: “If I refuse to bend, we may both be lost. If I make room, we may both keep moving forward.” So, the white goat spoke gently: “My friend, this bridge is too narrow. If we fight, neither of us will reach the other side. I will lie down. Please step carefully over my back.” Hearing those words, the black goat’s aggression melted away. With gratitude, it nodded and replied: “You are truly generous. I will step as gently as I can, so I do not hurt you.” So, the white goat lowered itself quietly onto the tree trunk. The black goat carefully lifted one hoof at a time and stepped over its companion as gently as possible. Once the black goat had reached a safer part of the bridge, the white goat slowly stood up again. Before continuing their separate journeys, both goats turned back, nodded to each other with deep respect, and moved on. 🌤️ 💡 Reflection This simple story carries a powerful truth: Stepping back is not always weakness. Sometimes, it is the clearest sign of wisdom. In life, yielding does not mean losing your worth. It often means seeing farther than pride can see. A calm heart understands what ego cannot: not every moment must become a contest. There are times when protecting peace matters more than proving power. There are moments when letting go of “me first” is the very thing that saves what matters most. True strength is not found in forcing your way through others. True strength is found in having the humility to lower yourself, so everyone can move forward safely. The strongest person is not the one who rises by pushing others down — but the one who knows when grace is greater than pride.

What are some facts about Mahabharata?

What are some facts about Mahabharata? Do you know that "the dogs having sex in public unlike other animals, in secluded place has something to do with Draupadhi curse in Mahabharatha?" One version of Mahabharata says …. An agreement was made between the Pandavs that if Draupadi is with one of the Pandavas others must not sneak into their bedroom. And a pair of slippers kept outside the bedroom will be the indication for the presence of a Pandav. Arjun was in a fix for some reason and had to enter the bedroom for getting his Gandiv Danush. Asserting that no one was inside, since slippers weren't there outside he entered. But to his shock he found Yudhishtir, the eldest of Pandav, along with Draupadhi and was ashamed of his act. It was found later that a dog had taken away the slippers. This was the reason behind Arjun entering and had to go on Vanavasa for certain period of time punishing himself for the act. Draupadi cursed all the dogs on whole that “entire dog race will copulate in public”

THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON GOLD

Good Morning!!! THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON GOLD Around the Year with Emmet Fox April 6 We know that the spiritual consciousness which we are all engaged in building is spoken of in the Bible as the Temple of Solomon. The name Solomon means peaceful, and symbolizes wisdom. This is logical, for peace of mind is the foundation of all spiritual building, the hallmark of understanding. The Bible states that five things were to be found around the temple. “For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks” 1 Kings 10:22 This is the Scriptural manner of telling us that there are five principal temptations that may come to the soul that is striving to build the spiritual temple. The particular form that each temptation takes will vary according to the temperament and circumstances of the subject, but in principle will be the same. First comes the gold, and this stands for desire for personal power over other people, the desire to regulate their lives, to make them toe the line—our line, naturally—and even to make use of them. Many people on the spiritual path have given way to this temptation. They must dominate other people's souls. They tell themselves that it is done for the good of the victims, of course, but it is really a craving for personal power and glorification. It is not an ignoble sin like that connected with the silver, but for that very reason it is far more dangerous, far-reaching, and enduring. The thing that gold symbolizes when rightly understood is the omnipresence of God; and of course, religious tyranny is a denial of this. You should do all you can to help, to enlighten, and to inspire others, as far as your own understanding will permit, but you must never try to dictate their convictions; or to hold to your own opinions. Religious tyranny is poisonous to the victims; but it is absolutely mortal to the tyrant.

On Christmas Eve 1969,

On Christmas Eve 1969, deep beneath the freezing waters of the North Sea, drillers struck black gold. The Ekofisk field — one of the largest offshore oil discoveries in history — had just been found. A small, quiet nation of fishermen and farmers was about to become unimaginably rich. What Norway did next is either the greatest financial decision in modern history… or the most boring story ever told. They did almost nothing. No victory parades. No palaces. No sudden checks raining down on citizens. While the oil money began pouring in, Norwegian politicians did something almost no government in history has managed: they resisted temptation. They had watched what happened to other oil-rich nations — Nigeria, Venezuela, Libya. They saw the “resource curse” in real time: easy money that brought corruption, inflation, inequality, and eventual collapse. Norway decided it would not become another cautionary tale. In 1990, the Norwegian Parliament passed a simple but revolutionary law. Every single krone of oil profit would go into a new Government Petroleum Fund — now known as the Oil Fund. The rules were strict and almost painfully disciplined: - All oil revenue goes into the fund. - The government can spend only a tiny percentage of the returns each year. - The rest stays invested. Forever. The first deposit in 1996 was modest, almost symbolic. Then came the hardest part: they kept the rules. Year after year, election after election, crisis after crisis, politicians who promised to raid the fund lost. Those who protected it won. For over three decades, across governments of every political stripe, one principle held firm: this money belongs to Norwegians who haven’t been born yet. The fund bought small stakes in thousands of companies worldwide — Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nestlé, and countless others. It invested in real estate in Manhattan, London, Paris, and Tokyo. It didn’t gamble on hot trends. It simply bought a quiet piece of the global economy and waited. The waiting paid off beyond anyone’s imagination. Today, Norway’s Oil Fund is worth nearly $2 trillion. For a country of just 5.6 million people, that’s roughly $340,000 for every man, woman, and child. No checks are mailed. The money belongs as much to future generations as to the present one. Here’s what truly stops people cold: more than half of that wealth no longer comes from oil. It comes from investment returns. The fund now earns more from its global portfolio than Norway makes pumping oil out of the North Sea. They turned a finite resource into something close to infinite. And while the world wasn’t watching, Norway quietly became one of the largest investors on Earth — owning approximately 1.5% of every publicly traded company on the planet. Every time a major global business makes a profit, a tiny fraction quietly flows back to Norway’s children. The oil will eventually run out. Geologists give it 30 to 50 years, maybe more. It doesn’t matter. By then, the fund’s returns alone are projected to cover healthcare, education, and pensions — perhaps forever. Norway didn’t discover more oil than anyone else. They didn’t have superior geology or technology. They had one thing most nations lack: the courage to say no. No to easy money. No to short-term thinking. No to politicians who swore they’d only spend “just this once.” No to a generation that could have lived richer today — at the expense of every generation that follows. Most countries can’t do it. Most people can’t do it. We’re wired for now, not for later. Norway looked human nature — greedy, impatient, shortsighted — squarely in the eye and built a system specifically designed to defeat it. In 1969, they found oil. In 1990, they built the fund. In 1996, they made the first deposit. Today, they own a piece of the world. And the politicians who made that decision in 1990? Most of them are gone now. They never saw the trillion-dollar result. They built it for strangers — for grandchildren who wouldn’t be born for decades. That’s not economics. That’s wisdom. Informatify Always adore the Scandinavian Socialism! Though abhorred by the US Capitalists.

*A Letter from an Orthopedic Doctor to All Senior Citizens (Aged 50-100 and Above)*

*A Letter from an Orthopedic Doctor to All Senior Citizens (Aged 50-100 and Above)* I no longer recommend bone density tests because senior citizens are bound to experience osteoporosis. As age increases, osteoporosis inevitably worsens, and the risk of fractures naturally rises. Here’s a formula: Risk of fractures = External impact force / Bone density Seniors are more prone to fractures because the denominator (bone density) decreases, thus increasing the risk. The most critical step for seniors to prevent fractures is to do everything possible to avoid accidental injuries. *How to Reduce Accidental Injuries?* I have summarized it into seven secret words: “Be careful, be cautious, be vigilant!” *Specific precautions include:-* 1. *Never stand on chairs or stools to reach for something* , even low stools. 2. *Avoid going out on rainy days if possible* . 3. *Be cautious while bathing or using the restroom* to prevent slips. 5. *When using the restroom* , ensure the floor is dry and not slippery. Use a seated toilet and install handrails to support yourself when getting up. Use a bath stool if showering while seated. 6. *Clear the floor of clutter before bedtime* and be extra careful when the floor is wet. 7. *If waking up in the middle of the night* , sit on the bed for 3–4 minutes before standing up, turn on the light first, and then get up. 8. *Do not lock the bathroom door from the inside* , especially at night or even during the day. If possible, install an emergency bell in the bathroom to call for help if needed. 9. *Always sit on a chair or bed to wear pants* , etc. 10. *If you fall,* use your hands to support yourself. It is better to suffer a wrist or forearm fracture than to break the neck of the femur at the hip joint. 11. *Exercise regularly,* at least walking as much as you can. 12. *For women* , maintaining body weight within permissible limits is critical. Diet control is key. Avoid eating leftovers. Instead, give them to stray animals. Keeping your weight in check should always be a priority. “It’s better to stop eating when half full than to eat until completely full.” 13. To improve bone mass, I recommend *dietary supplements* like *dairy products, soy-based foods, and high-calcium fruits like bananas*, rather than medical supplements. 14. *Spend time outdoors* to expose yourself to sunlight (under UV rays), which converts cholesterol in the skin to Vitamin D. This promotes calcium absorption and slows down osteoporosis. Pay close attention to keeping bathroom floors slip-resistant. Use handrails when climbing stairs, and avoid falling. Take care of yourself. *Therefore, seniors must focus on anti-slip and anti-fall measures* . A single fall can cost ten years of life, as all bones and muscles may get damaged. So, be cautious. *Avoid standing for long periods.* This message might seem lengthy, but it is worth reading, especially for seniors and caregivers of senior citizens.

Three Robbers

Three Robbers entered a house. They said to the lady, we don't want to spoil the order of your house and we don't want to harm you, so we are sitting here on the sofa, bring whatever cash and jewelry you have here. The lady brought cash and jewellery. The leader of the robbers said, "Where is the diamond ring that your husband gave as a gift on your wedding anniversary?" She kept silent and brought the ring and gave it to them. Bring the watch that your sister sent from Dubai. She had tears in her eyes while handing over the gift given by her sister. Now we will drink instant coffee of "Nescafé" with your permission. After drinking coffee, the head of the Robbers said, "Now bring the leftover pineapple cake from yesterday." When all the goods had been taken by the Robbers, the woman hesitated and said, *"You guys are very professional and ethical robbers. How did you know about the things inside our house?"* *The leader of the Robbers fixed the mask on his face and said, Madam, we are your "Facebook friends".* We regularly read your posts. We also check your status.

In the spring of 1955, a 67-year-old grandmother from Ohio told her children she was going for a walk.

In the spring of 1955, a 67-year-old grandmother from Ohio told her children she was going for a walk. She didn’t say how far. She didn’t say why. She simply kissed them goodbye, packed a cloth bag with the barest essentials, and vanished into the Georgia wilderness. Her name was Emma Rowena Gatewood — and she was about to do something no woman had ever done before. For three decades, Emma had endured unspeakable violence in her Ohio farmhouse. Beatings that broke her ribs, blackened her eyes, and nearly broke her spirit. She had raised eleven children on that farm. She had finally escaped her husband in 1941, but the invisible scars ran deeper than any wound. Then one quiet afternoon, she read an article in National Geographic about the Appalachian Trail — more than 2,000 miles of rugged paths stretching from Georgia to Maine. The writer made it sound peaceful. Achievable. Beautiful. Emma thought: If men can walk it, so can I. But she knew what would happen if she told anyone. Her children would worry. Friends would call her foolish. A grandmother, alone in the wilderness? Impossible. Dangerous. So she kept her plan silent as a prayer. She sewed a simple denim bag and filled it with the absolute basics: a blanket, a plastic shower curtain, a first-aid kit, bouillon cubes. No tent. No sleeping bag. No proper hiking boots — just a pair of Keds sneakers and a cotton dress. On May 3, 1955, she boarded a bus to Georgia and began walking north from Mount Oglethorpe. Alone. The trail was nothing like the magazine promised. It was merciless. Roots caught her feet. Rocks sliced through her thin shoes. Rain turned the path to mud. Insects swarmed relentlessly. At night, she slept on bare ground in abandoned shelters, sometimes shivering too violently to rest. She got lost. She fell, twisting her ankle so severely she could barely stand. Sitting on that rock, pain shooting through her leg, she wondered if this was where her journey would end. But after catching her breath, she wrapped her ankle tight and kept moving. Always moving. Hikers who passed her didn’t know what to make of the small, gray-haired woman in a dress and sneakers, carrying a homemade sack. Some thought she was lost. Others assumed she was crazy. A few offered food or shelter. She thanked them graciously, then continued on. When strangers asked why she was walking, she’d smile softly and say she wanted to see the country. But anyone who looked into her eyes could see something deeper burning there. This wasn’t recreation. This was reclamation. Every mile was a mile farther from the life that had tried to destroy her. Every step was proof she was still here, still strong, still capable of extraordinary things. Weeks became months. Her feet bled. Her back ached. The sun burned her skin raw. But she never stopped. On September 25, 1955, Emma Gatewood stood on the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine. She had walked 2,168 miles in 146 days. She was the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone in a single season. When word spread, reporters flooded in. Newspapers nationwide ran her story. Overnight, she became “Grandma Gatewood,” a household name. Everyone wanted to know how a 67-year-old woman with no training and minimal gear had accomplished what seasoned hikers failed to do. Emma smiled and said it wasn’t that complicated. She mentioned the trail needed better maintenance — too many rocks, not enough signs. She spoke as casually as if discussing her garden, not surviving one of America’s most grueling challenges. But she wasn’t finished. In 1957, she walked the trail again. Then in 1964, at 76 years old, she became the first person ever — man or woman — to complete the Appalachian Trail three times. Each journey with almost nothing. Each journey proving that true strength doesn’t come from equipment or training. It comes from refusing to surrender. Her accomplishment transformed the trail itself. Before Emma, it was considered territory for young men and hardcore outdoorsmen. After her, families, seniors, and everyday people realized: if Grandma Gatewood could do it, maybe they could too. Emma kept hiking well into her seventies — the Oregon Trail, mountains across the country, always moving, never settling too long. When asked why, she said simply: “I like feeling free.” She passed away in 1973 at 85, but her legacy lives on every day. Thousands now hike the Appalachian Trail annually, many carrying light packs inspired by the woman who walked it in canvas sneakers and a handmade bag. For anyone who’s ever felt trapped, who’s carried pain too heavy to name, who’s needed to walk away from something just to survive — Emma’s story isn’t just history. It’s permission. She didn’t hike for fame or recognition. She hiked because moving forward was the only path to healing. Sometimes the longest journey is the one that finally brings us home to ourselves. @informatify