SUDARSHAN KRIYA: GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS

SUDARSHAN KRIYA: GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS 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 the Master H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya I am sober. The devotee connected me to an estimable psychiatrist and soon along with two other faculty members, we began conducting courses for alcoholics and drug addicts at a rehab centre. They were around 40 and we were three. Some looked menacing, others disenchanted, a few enveloped by ennui. But in our arsenal was the potent cassette of Sudarshan Kriya and enveloped with the divine benediction of Gurudev. We began with gentle warm ups. This was followed by pranayams and finally Sudarshan Kriya. A few hardened addicts attempted to derail the Kriya. But the febrile minds gradually settled as the rhythms of ‘SOHAM’ resonated the dingy hall. Meaning of Sudarshan Kriya The unique breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya is the fulcrum of the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living. “Su” means proper, “Darshan” implies vision and “Kriya” is a purifying action. Through the actions of our breath, we appreciate a proper vision of who we really are. It is momentous to understand that nature runs on a rhythm. For instance the sun rises and sets at a particular time, similarly seasons arrive and exit at predetermined times. Humans feel hungry or sleepy at certain times. Our emotions, feelings, thoughts are all cast in the symphony of rhythm. We are unable to distinguish between cacophony and symphony in this frenetic pace of life which is cannonaded by innumerable thoughts, continuous action and noise. When sounds are harmonised by the syllable of SOHAM we can term it as magical music. Enlightenment is not accruing anything providential but harmonizing 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 H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar after being in silence for a period of 10 days on the banks of Bhadravati River at Shimoga, a small town in Karnataka. Cassandra’s of doubt and prophets of doom have questioned the salutatory benefit of the course and the breathing technique. Researchers at NIMHANS and AIIMS have zeroed on the impact of the breathing technique, which improves the heart rate, benefits cognition, improves breathing pattern, restores calmness in the mind and body, arrests Alzheimer’s affliction, works positively on the endocrine system, all of which increase energy (or prana) levels in the human body. . This technique has been used successfully used on victims of trauma, on terrorists and naxalites. This wonderful knowledge and wisdom has triggered humanness to blossom. Every cell and article of the body overflows with jollity and life is abundant with the glow of love and the body becomes the wick. Love and belongingness becomes a natural process of our inner being if practised unflinchingly and unfailingly. Several practitioners feel they can practice the breathing technique at home. But that is only walking half the path. It is indispensible and paramount that one must practice the technique daily and attend the follow up once a week, where a certified Art of Living teacher plays the chant of SOHAM in Guruji’s voice as it reinvigorates the body and mind. One should also be wary of imitations available on You Tube these days. The Sudarshan Kriya cassette or i-pod is given only to qualified Art of Living teachers. 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. THE X-FACTOR TO ANYONE, WHO IS agitated, apprehensive or discomposed I would recommend reading the Bhagwad Gita over and over again. As they pore into this masterpiece surely and certainly, they will find answers to their innumerable queries. A peerless and invaluable conversation had taken place between Krishna and Arjuna aeons ago. The Song Celestial is a potent message as relevant today as it was prior to the battle of Kurukshetra. Lord Krishna deftly assuages the foggy and shadowy mind of his sakha Arjuna, so that the latter could discern between pusillanimity and alacrity and seize the opportunity to make his mind robust and brawny and thus fulfil his dharma, overcoming his personal feelings. Today the minds of youngsters are cannonaded with innumerable choices. Presented with too many choices on the platter, many find they are unable to make the correct decision; be it the choice of career or their soulmate. Further the mind is constantly fusilladed by social media that they become addicted to gizmos and unduly smitten by the razzmatazz. In the process rationality in their choices is the first casualty. This has become an endemic problem spanning across generations. Technology and alternatives have changed the paradigm and the ability to make rational decisions. The human mind is a victim of continuous bombardment and is never in the present moment to view things from the prism of objectivity. The febrile and wavering mind which is never in the present moment and perpetually swinging like a pendulum between the past and the present is struck by certain feelings and emotions; feelings of attachment, entanglements, lust and obsession, greed and jealousy, anger and arrogance. Apart from this the mind is gripped by the fear of the unknown. “What would happen to me? “I am not feeling well,” “How long will it take for me to recuperate,” “Will I perform well in the examinations,” “How will I fare in the interview” “Am I ready to make a pointed presentation which would impress the management and the customers,” “Am I looking presentable to impress the girl next door,” and so on… The list is endless. The mind is cannonaded by such thoughts. It does not provide the aperture to accept efficacious and positive thoughts. The contributory reasons for negative thoughts are our low prana, qui or energy levels and lack of self-confidence. It is like Lionel Messi, Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo in the cauldron, where rambunctious crowds are rooting for them, and they miss a spot kick much to the consternation of the maniacal crowds and his team mates. Why does the mind freeze? Individuals are unable to perform. This could be due to lack of self-belief, overconfidence or just being unable to cope with the enormous pressure. In various Art of Living programmes, participants bow down to the angels of East, South, West and North to overcome emotions like attachments, entanglements, lust, obsessions, greed, jealousy, anger and arrogance. In the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living, a precise and a spesh “Hum” technique is taught where in the individual releases fearful feelings and perturbation by literally screaming, “Hum”. This releases all pent up emotions. As per Gurudev, the Mother Goddess had slain the asuras (demons) by bellowing “Hum”. So when an individual’s mind is gripped by fear, it would be propitious to exercise the “Hum” technique rather than swallowing an anti-anxiety pill like Zapiz or Prozac. Sudarshan Kriya, the unique rhythmic breathing technique brings the mind to the present moment. This brings awareness and mindfulness in an individual. Now before practising Sudarshan Kriya, the seeker expresses gratitude to parents (our first teachers), ancestors (because of whom we are on this planet), to Mother Earth (which nourishes and sustains us), to the Sun God (which provides us light and energy) and finally to the Masters of the past, present and future who have imparted this repository of knowledge. Those who practice Sudarshan Kriya express their deep gratitude to H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who has gifted humanity with this unique breathing technique and the profound knowledge. Thus Guru is the X –factor, the embodiment of Supreme Knowledge which metamorphoses and transfigures the mind. The Guru Tattva encompasses the Shiva Tattva and Narayana Tattva. Aeons ago the Kaurava and Pandava armies braced themselves for the battle of Kurukshetra, to decide who would be the rightful heirs to the throne of Hastinapur. The conceited and hubristic Duryodhana egged on by his uncle Shakuni and brother Dushasana refused to enter into any treaty with their estranged cousins, the Pandavas. Thus battling it out to don the prized crown was the only method to settle the contentious issue. As the armies faced each other, before the conch was blown to signal the commencement of war, the ace archer, Arjuna quite inexplicably requested his charioteer, Lord Krishna, to take him closer to the enemy army so that he could have a close sight of his rivals. The opponents consisted of the venerable Bhishma, his Gurus Dronacharya and Kripacharya and a hundred cousins. Beholding the sight, Arjuna’s mind was stricken with grief, remorse and guilt and he lay down his fabled arms and was of the opinion that it would be iniquitous to gain the lost kingdom by slaying his kinsmen. So much so he opined that the act could be termed as sinful and impious. As if struck by a seizure, Arjuna was mentally distraught and willing to be annihilated rather than embark upon the voyage of bloodshed to avenge the ignominy of exile, the disrobing of Draupadi and the machinations of the evil Shakuni to usurp their kingdom. Such was the fragmented condition of Arjuna’s mind. Lord Krishna rebukes Arjuna for such a pusillanimous attitude and thoughts. There upon he exhorts Arjuna to raise the cudgels and embark upon the battle, as his mind ought to focus only on “doing the action, which was worthy of a Kshatriya” and not delve upon the purported consequences. A true Yogi is one who is blessed with a brawny and robust mind, focussed with steely determination to execute the task on hand fearless of the consequences. But herein lies the catch. A resolute and authentic Yogi is one who is the sovereign of his mind. He does not get ensnared by cravings, lustful thoughts, unwelcome desires, and fearful thoughts but conquers his mind, attitudes and attains three inestimable qualities that is equilibrium, equipoise and equanimity. Lord Krishna thereupon reveals the secrets of life and death. The soul is indestructible and incombustible. The physical form which animate bodies assume is verily ephemeral. It is the soul which transmigrates from an individual to another. The human mind which is so precious should discern and grasp this aspect. In fact Lord Krishna chastises valorous Arjuna for not adhering to the tenets of Karma Yoga instead succumbing to filial ties. He added that “there is no purpose in grieving for the dead and the gates of heaven would welcome you with open arms.” The Lord further mentioned that even if Arjuna did not vanquish his adversaries, defeat would be equally glorious as he would have performed a deed befitting a warrior. An intrepid mind, a warrior is one who takes up challenges and responsibilities and does not shirk from them. Taking up responsibility empowers an individual. This is true of anyone who is in pursuit of truth. It is a weak and meek mind whose thoughts get obfuscated by the clouds of doubt. Non–action is an act of cowardice too. Thus it is essential for humans to act. For this purpose it is essential that the human mind is trained to respond to various situations and not get stuck in the cesspool of inactivity. A sagacious person, a true Karma Yogi discovers Divine peace in actions performed and is not bothered with the fruits of the action. The mind of such a person is pristine and the Yogi dwells in the body as a pure as the mind. The Bhagwad Gita is the Song Celestial, running into 18 chapters; a memorable dialogue between Narayana and Nara (Arjuna). The Lord revealed his splendorous, luminous and radiant form to Arjuna which encompassed the entire creation and destruction of the Universe. It is believed that Oppenheimer, the noted German physicist had similar visions when the first trial atomic test had taken place in the USA. More importantly, the sheer ferocity of the Vishwaroop Darshan of the Lord dispelled all doubts in the mind of Arjuna who was a transformed personality. His mind was at peace and all the cobwebs and demonic thoughts were torpedoed. He blew his conch “Devadutta” and strung the fabled “Gandiva” which sent shivers down the spine of his adversaries. The mind of the bowman was truly awakened, aware and rejoiced with joy as he was prepared for the battle. It is noteworthy to point out that the intrepid combatant had won from both within and without. In our most impenetrable situations it is only pristine knowledge which provides succour. The hallmark of a true Karma Yogi is to steadfastly remain in the state of this knowledge. Only an authentic and genuine seeker, whose mind is hollow and empty bereft with all prejudices and preconceived notions is able to accept this knowledge and act upon it. Thus Guru is the X-factor who imparts knowledge to a genuine seeker at his feet. Jai Guru Dev! Victory to the Big Mind. “In the infinity of life where I am, All is perfect, whole, and complete. I believe in a power far greater than I am That flows through me every moment of every day. I open myself to the wisdom within, Knowing that there is only One Intelligence in this Universe. Out of this One Intelligence comes all the answers, All the solutions, all the healings, all the new creations. I trust this Power and Intelligence, Knowing that whatever I need to know is revealed to me In the right time, space and sequence. All is well in my world,” wrote Louise L Hay. Her book “You can Heal Your Life” has metamorphosed lives of millions of people across the globe. - LOUIS HAY

Maharashtra De-Addiction Program

Maharashtra De-Addiction Program DESPITE THE PERILS OF substance and alcohol abuse why do humans get addicted to these stimulants? The answer is always the same - a weak mind. The individual who is dependent on alcohol, drugs and other derivatives lives in a state of self-denial, dejection, self deprecation, feeling of absolute loss, loneliness and is looking for compassion, comfort and love. “Addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences. The two properties that characterize all addictive stimuli are that they are reinforcing (i.e., they increase the likelihood that a person will seek repeated exposure to them) and intrinsically rewarding (i.e., they are perceived as being inherently positive, desirable, and pleasurable).” - Wikipedia As per Hindu mythology, during the great churning process or Amrit Manthan, several jewels mushroomed (14 to be exact). Among them was Varuni – the Goddess of Wine. Further, consumption of cannabis was known in India since 2000 B.C. It is associated with Lord Shiva, the Adi Yogi. But he was a mendicant who had mastered all the senses and was the suzerain of his mind. But the hapless addicts and alcoholics are victims of this deadly pestilence, succumbing to its ill effects. It has been proven statistically that nearly 15% of individuals who consume alcohol develop a dependency and in the bargain become alcoholics. This is a major health problem, afflicting rich and poor alike. Further dependency on alcohol is associated with acute social stigma. There is nothing macho or brawny about it. This fatal attraction to alcohol deranges families and alcoholics get lost in the byzantine labyrinth of antipathetic thought process. Very often, they are discarded by loved ones and lead a life of ignominy. The major categories of drugs which swamp the minds of addicts include - alcohol, nicotine, tobacco, depressants like barbiturates and benzodiazepines, stimulants like amphetamines and cocaine, marijuana as well as opioids like morphine, heroin and methadone. Primarily such kind of addictions arise on account of peer pressure, poverty, impulsivity, relationship problems, family problems, poor coping skills among others. Shri Venkatesh Manglaram, a senior faculty of the Art of Living has been an inspirational figure in weaning away addicts from this lethal pestilence through some landmark work and contribution. Venkateshji opines that most of the participants gravitated towards such drugs on the assumption it might provide some handy solutions and some relief which triggers the human mind into obfuscating immediate problems, without realizing the immense damage it can cause to the human system. Venkateshji put it succinctly, “When someone drinks alcohol or takes drugs and becomes dependent on it; their family suffers; the surrounding suffers and it overall affects the society. Since I am a part of the society I feel responsible for the same.” The triumvirate of Venkatesh Manglaram, Nitin Pradhan and Ganshyam Gohile have conducted 23 Prana courses together which has upended the pyramid of around 330 addicts in the arid region of Vidharbha in Maharashtra. The fulcrum of the Prana course is to stress on absolute detoxification; de addiction is carried out with a holistic approach. The course is a unique combination of physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual practices such as yoga, meditation and imparting the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya. The course has had a stunning and astonishing strike rate, with as many as 80% participants eschewing dependency on alcohol and drugs. The mind of an alcoholic or a drug addict swings like a pendulum. On one hand is the immediate feeling of euphoria and at the other end is an extremely enfeebled mind which is not robust enough to eschew the dependency. Thus registration of individuals becomes a gargantuan task, the biggest stumbling block. Once they complete the course the results are there to see; radiant faces and minds suffused with jollity. One such participant was Shrirang Jagtap, a resident of Amravati who was trained to be a civil engineer. However he was tragically caught in the vortex of alcohol consumption. In sheer desperation, the gentleman attempted various de-addiction courses at several places and was admitted at different rehabilitation centers but ended up only drinking, with no aperture of hope in sight. Eventually, he attended a Prana course and it has been more than two and a half years now that he is sober and clean. Yet another participant was Amol, a bus conductor in Yavatmal. He began consuming alcohol on account of certain family problems but ended up losing his job due to excessive drinking. The course has benefitted him in such a remarkable manner that presently he has been sober, without touching a drop for more than a year and a half. The duration of the course is such that the participants and teachers strike a chord and are able to empathize with each other. The afflicted can reach out to the teachers whenever they are desirous of giving vent to their feelings. Upon completion of the course it is mandatory to conduct follow up sessions and Satsangs, so that the recovered souls do not hurtle once again towards alcoholism or drug addiction. The success rate of abstinence has been as high as 80%, no mean achievement! In order to construct a ‘NO ALCOHOL’ society, it is imperative that tools of education and large scale awareness about the perils of alcoholism and addiction should be imparted. Venkatesh and his team are working towards this lofty mission. Physical and Mental Rehabilation of Alcoholics This is a riposte to a show about the banning of alcohol in some states of the country.’ We The People’ a popular programme of NDTV anchored by Barkha Dutt deliberated the issue on the 17th of April 2016 . Without getting in to the merits of the issue a simple question arises in my mind – can we ban thoughts? The mind is cannonaded by approximately 50 to 60,000 thoughts in a day. And an alcoholic’s mind is extraordinarily sharp despite suffering from this medical malady. An alcoholic will employ all possible means at his disposal to acquire the prized possession. Like fish is to water an alcoholic is to liquor.The cause of alcoholism is the negative and destructive pattern of thinking and a deranged thought process. The problem can be addressed by getting an alcoholic admitted into a rehabilitation programme, joining the Alcoholics Anonymous, a self-help group, undertaking the Happiness Programme of The Art of Living( where the unique breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya is imparted) or undergoing the Vipassana breathing technique. These techniques can be of help only when the alcoholic acknowledges the problem , and does not live in the world of self-denial besides submits to a power which is much superior to him or her. Through the grave indulgence of Bacchus and reckless drinking , alcoholics wreck immense damage to all the organs of human body. This is no rocket science and is known to the afflicted. To begin with stomach, pancreas, liver, esophagus, the small and large intestine get adversely damaged.Once the gut is effected it has a debilitating impact on the circulatory and nervous systems. Alcoholics develop heart ailments, problems pertaining to blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis among others. One organ after the other starts collapsing and eventually an alcoholic becomes a vegetable. The alcoholic finally lands up in the ICU or is in the grave. The cause of alcoholism is the negative and destructive pattern of thinking. And in the amphitheater of mind nothing can be banned. This is an advisory for all alcoholics and recovering alcoholics( those who have turned sober through the gift of the Divine) regarding their eating and drinking patterns. Those who get admitted to a rehab or an Ayurvedic clinic fortuitously will be served a regulated diet for proper resuscitation. But there are a large unfortunate numbers who are caught in the vortex of drinking or continue to suffer from relapses. They should begin the day with several glasses of warm lime water laced with honey and not with a cup of coffee / tea. It goes without saying , SAY a firm NO to drink. Lime water with honey assists in detoxifying the system . Eating of fresh fruits for breakfast and not leftovers of the night helps in digestion. It is guaranteed that most alcoholics suffer from an irritable bowel syndrome and associated disorders. The fruit should be partaken as an entire meal and should not merely be a supplement. Tamasik and Rajasic intake of food invariably trigger the desire to consume alcohol. However consumption of Sattvik food will certainly enable to rectify the imbalances present in the body and diminish the craving for alcohol. There is a tremendous weakening of the immune system of the body of an alcoholic as precious minerals and vitamins get drained out. The resistance levels need to be enhanced through proper intake of nutritious food. The propensity of an alcoholic falling prey to opportunistic ailments is extortionate. This medical problem can be addressed only by a qualified medical practitioner. And what about the mental problem? Louise L Hay , in ‘ You Can Heal Your Life’ has identified the probable cause of alcoholism as negative thought processes such as – ‘ What’s the use ?’ Feeling of futility ,guilt, inadequacy and Self Rejection. And according to her the renewed thought pattern should be – I live in now. Each moment is new. I choose to see my self-worth.I love and approve of myself.

The Alcoholics Anonymous Path

The Alcoholics Anonymous Path ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, a self help group established in 1932, have upended the pyramid of the lives of millions of addicts. They commence every single meeting by faithfully and unflinchingly reciting the Serenity Prayer; this is the starting point of their 12 step recovery programme. The critical element in the recovery of any alcoholic lies in admitting to the fact that he or she needs help. The alcoholic has to emerge from the world of self denial, the belief that everything is hunky dory and he/ she is not affected by the perils of alcoholism. There are several triggers which engineer addiction. However one can safely conclude that it is the recalcitrant mind and low prana levels which are the endemic to the craving, the compulsion and eventual enslavement to the Bacchus. In the swathes of the ether maniac’s cobweb filled mind the power of discrimination and discernment seem lost in the darkness of an endless tunnel. The Serenity Prayer provides immense succour to make a paradigm shift and a 360 degree change in an addict’s life; leading up to a complete turnaround and eventually to eschew dependency on alcohol. The first and the only step they have to initiate are to singularly submit to a superior power and admit their powerlessness over the Bacchus. Once this first step is taken the process of recovery begins. The Art of Living Way I TOO WAS AN ALCOHOLIC 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 1course of the Art of Living while I was posted at Jaipur. Winter had set 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 and picked me from the centre for seven days where I had undertaken the course. Like a zombie I used to attend the course. I was in a state of haze every morning after endless drinking the previous night, sparring with my wife and petrified children. It was nothing but Divine grace that I could undertake the course and indeed I am most grateful to my feisty wife who ungrudgingly escorted me for the course. There I learnt the unique rhythmic breathing technique of “Sudarshan Kriya”, cognated by the spiritual master H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Today, by the grace of the Master and through the breathing technique I am sober for over a decade. As a faculty of the Art of Living I have been able to conduct courses for alcoholics and drug addicts. In the final analysis when a person hits rock bottom, it is the grace of almighty God which can extricate him from the cesspool of addiction. There are millions of alcoholics suffering from this pestilence who cannot remain without the spirit. By participating in various programmes of the Art of Living, I am sober today. There are several unfortunate ones who are struggling to rediscover their way from this lethal ailment. They need to upend the pyramid, detoxify their minds and bodies and once again discover love in their lives. It is paramount that they discard the 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. Do they have it in them to stay half an hour without alcohol? How many people are appreciative, or even cognizant of the fact that the Art of Living is helping around 200 students who could not clear their SSLC examinations in Karnataka and were consequently placed in the supplementary category? These young minds are being imparted training to cope with stress and the harrying feeling of appearing for the examination. Coercion is being combated through various relaxation and meditation techniques. Such craftsmanship and techniques are encompassed in the Pragna programme of the Art of Living and is providing succour to students. 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. The vast gamut includes children, through what is now popularly known as the Intuition Programme and youth through Art Excel and Yes Plus courses. A person could be a stock individual, a home maker, a seeker or even an addict, through variegated Art of Living programmes help is always at hand. Meanwhile the year was 2017, the month, early November. The place was Gorakhpur. A devotee of the Art of Living happened to read my maiden effort “The Matter of the Mind” and passed on the copy to a psychiatrist. The doctor read the book and was taken aback at my recovery from alcoholism and the fact that I was sober for over ten years after undertaking the Art of Living courses. He quickly connected me with a rehab centre to provide alternative therapy in addition to allopathic treatment. This was a wonderful gesture on part of the psychiatrist. Soon I found myself at the rehabilitation centre along with two other teachers of Art of Living to ameliorate the pitiable state of the inmates. I could easily establish a connection with those in the centre as I too had once been a victim of this lethal disease. Alcoholism is essentially running away from the self. A person living in constant fear; unable to express or appreciate authentic love. Such an individual is unable to discover his/ her inner potential and really carouse in life. Gorakhpur is situated in a region steeped in vibrant history. The place is esteemed for the Gorakhnath Temple, of the Nath monastic tradition. It is also the birthplace of the mystic seer Paramahamsa Yogananda who had cognated Kriya Yoga. Strains of Buddhism can also be felt in the air at Gorakhpur. Several historical Buddhist sites are to be found in the vicinity of Gorakhpur. Not far away is Sarnath (the twin city of ancient Benares), where Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon to humanity upon attaining enlightenment. Lumbini (in present day Nepal), Shravasti and Kushinagar are other places in the vicinity of Gorakhpur. Gorakhpur is also intertwined with modern Indian history, literature and philosophical schools. Eminent writers and poets like Firaq Gorakhpuri and Shrilal Shukla hail from this town, known for its widespread railway establishment which once was the headquarters of the North Eastern and North Eastern Frontier Railway. Chauri Chaura of the famous Chauri Chaura killings is also located in Gorakhpur district. Not far away is the world’s largest opium factory at Ghazipur; opium being the raw material for pharmaceutical products. It is believed that monkeys of this town are in a state of euphoria after partaking opium! Given this background of a rich historical, cultural and religious tradition, I could not but wonder at the high rate of addiction in the region. The strapping youngsters, quite like the monkeys of Ghazipur did not possess a resolute and determined mind and easily succumbed to alcohol and drugs. How does one conduct the course for hardened alcoholics and drug addicts, who are in a perpetual state of self denial? They looked at us in the most disgusted manner possible, with disbelief writ large on their faces. The three of us received sneering looks from the inmates. Some refused to do the course, others boycotted the course midway. We nevertheless persisted and as the course proceeded, several participants triggered into hysterical bouts of laughter. This was their attempt to distract us and derail the course. But we remained resolute and hardy in our effort and continued with the programme. Bowing down to the photograph of Pujya Gurudev, we sought his Divine benediction and played the cassette of “Sudarshan Kriya.” As the syntax of “ SOHAM” gathered momentum and the rhythm of the breathing technique permeated each cell of their body and soul, and soon the hysterical laughter gave way to tears of gratitude and silence prevailed. Cacophony gave way to symphony. Following this course we had regular courses of Art of Living for the addicts and follow up sessions. The breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya and the knowledge points of Gurudev began to unfold, with a salutary impact on the minds of the addicts. They were slowly revealing the determination to metamorphose and transfigure their lives and eschew dependency on the substance. My heart bled for them as I too was one of them. The Guru Dakshina that we asked of them was to seek pardon from those that they had hurt and secondly to regularly practice the technique of Sudarshan Kriya. What really touched the core of my heart and being was when an addict broke down and said, “Sir. aap humko chod kar jaoge toh nahin?”(Sir, you will not forsake us.) Another person remarked, “Sir, aap roz aoge na?”(Sir, will you come and meet us every day?). I recalled the gloomy but riveting movie, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, how the inmates lodged in a mental asylum for treatment of insanity had reached a state where they were determined to break the bondage and run away. Similarly these youth and middle aged persons with families and children back home yearned for love and affection and pined to be with their loved ones and were 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 was a new day, a harbinger of hope and the addicts realised their self-worth and the “Power of Love and Acceptance” and began giving themselves positive strokes. The concepts of the Power of Now or the Present Moment have been postulated by several masters of the past both 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 and polymorph sing the human mind to remain in the present moment to combat various challenging situations in life. The rehab centre was opened by a doughty lady whose husband too was once 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. To this day they remain connected with me through WhatsApp and express their gratitude to H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living Foundation for providing immense assistance in the recovery of those afflicted from this lethal disease to combat it. The inmates 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. This is possible only through surrender to the higher power / the supreme intelligence of the Universe.

Transformation of an insensitive addict

Transformation of an insensitive addict Raja began his day with Bacchus and ended it with Bacchus. During the day too he consumed Bacchus. One particular night in a sozzled state, he went to a parish in the neighborhood and broke down. The priest consoled him and narrated his own story. Apparently the savant of God was once addicted to morphine and snake bites. Raja’s body chilled and he remained transfixed, gazing at the cross and hoping for redemption . But this insensitive person , hosting an insensitive mind over a period of time had become an insensitive addict. Next morning once again in a state of stupor, he landed at the doorstep of Satya Sai Baba’s temple. The priest was performing Puja and was taken aback at the entry of this unwelcome visitor and admonished him for the aberration. He asked him to pray to Baba for grace and a speedy recovery. The insensitive mind again acted as a barrier for blessings to flow. Raja’s behavior did not transfigure and he continued with the consumption of alcohol. It had taken a severe toll of his system. He suffered from a bout of jaundice. On recuperation, he continued with the habit. His drinking had become quotidian n and there seem to be no light at the end of the tunnel. He had become alcohol dependent and there seemed no respite from the malady. Alcoholism is a defining moment in the life of an addict . It is a debilitating ailment which needs to be appreciated by the family and society and every addict needs treatment to combat this illness. The healing apart from being mere physical necessarily needs to be spiritual and metaphysical. There were fights, repeated squabbles and altercations within the family. His children were petrified and in a s constant state of anxiety and tension , while encountering their father. The mother ceaselessly and incessantly cursed the day she was married to the ungrateful and insensitive person. Raja began selling the silverware of the family and even dipping into his provident fund, to procure the daily quota of alcohol . The couple had minimal interaction. Sex with Raja was a tormenting affair and torturous to her body and soul. Her mind was scarred by endless abuse by her stone-hearted obdurate and inconsiderate husband. However, she bore the brunt with remarkable fortitude . Her life appeared dark and gloomy. But , she prayed for the recovery of her husband to Lord Hanuman and recited Hanuman Chalisa unfailingly apart from fervently praying to the Vishistadvaita mystic Sri Raghavendra Swami of Mantralayam . This was on the valuable advice and guidance offered by Raja’s grandmother. Prayer provided her with some mental comfort and succor and she had a space to declutter an overloaded mind which was teeming with negative thoughts and was brimful of a gloomy disposition. Who is an addict? A person who is addicted to any particular substance, say an illegal drug or alcohol ! What is addiction? A physical or psychological need of a habit forming substance, such as a drug or alcohol. In physical addiction , the body adapts to the substance being used and over a period of time requires increased amounts to reproduce the effects originally produced by smaller doses, without which the addict has withdrawal symptoms “Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic , be alcohol or morphine or idealism” wrote Carl Jung. An addict lives in a constant state of denial and becomes highly ego-centric and self centred individual. They can be termed as chronic self centredness or selfishness. Their monkey minds only crave for that additional stuff! Such individuals are obsessed with only their own selves and that is the centerpiece of their nightmarish and macabre existence. How does one bring about a 360 degree change in their lifestyles? They need to seek professional help under the aegis of a psychiatrist or get admitted to a rehab to rejig their lives. It is binding on the addict to surrender to a Divine Power and surrender without any strings attached and can seek the help of professional bodies like Alcoholic Anonymous. It is imperative on the part of the family and friends( if they still care) to make the addicts realise that their self centred behavior is hurtling them down the precipice of hubris. Practice of Yoga and Pranayama too have a salutary effect on the mind and bodies of the addict. Further the addict can undertake a course in the ancient Buddhist technique of Vipassana or join the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living. Most importantly , the addict should not live like a recluse and remain cloistered in the dark confines of their unlighted and unilluminated minds. He should be made to think about the problems faced by the society and emerge as a welfare oriented citizen. The idea and spirit of performing service / Seva to the society would channelize energies towards a positive direction. The problems encountered by the addict should appear smaller than those of the society. The addict should begin sharing his joys like toys and not merely sorrows . It is law of nature that what gets shared enlarges and magnifies . Incase joy and moments of happiness are shared , such thoughts get magnified. Such acts have a salutary effect on the mind and the addict begins to feel happy and make an attempt to get out of the hole. Then the million dollar realization dawns that there is life beyond the watering hole. The addict needs to live in the present moment and lift his level of Prana / Chi. Breathing technique like Sudarshan Kriya , has a palliative effect and bring about the awareness in the individual to start living in the present moment and he makes amends with himself, the family and society. Raja , is sober today and recovered with the abundance of love and blessings he received from several masters and by undertaking the Art of Living course. There are several people like Raja who are in dire straits who require immediate attention. They need to traverse the path from the present insensitive state to becoming sensitive to the needs of their selves, family and society. As the talismanic Barrak Obama says,” Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for the change we seek.” Overcome Addictions Through Sudarshan Kriya Harilal Gandhi was addicted to alcohol. He tried in vain to give up drinking but could never kick the habit and eventually succumbed to the lethal disease called alcoholism . He became quotidian smoker. Gandhiji’s son was also said to have committed adultery and for a brief while converted to Islam and was known as Abdullah Gandhi , much to the chagrin of his illustrious parents. ” I had very little opportunity to be very close to him,but the little time I spent with him convinced me that he was not a bad man. I regard him to be the most intelligent of the four sons of Bapuji. He was very humorous,very generous and very hospitable ; yet he was given to drinking . Why?Who is to be blamed?” writes Saraswati K Gandhi ( Harilal’s daughter-in -law). Perhaps it was the troubled relationship with the Mahatma that derailed Harilal’s life, the pent up anger and frustration in his mind. Tobacco and excessive consumption of alcohol lead to severe physical and psychological disorders . It has a deleterious and debilitating effect on the human body. Any individual can be addicted to sex, substance, food (bulimia), cinema, television or even social media. Such addictions weaken our resolve and diminish our aura. It depletes our physical and mental energy. Talking of smoking , our parliamentarians came up with outlandish theories stating that there is inadequate Indian evidence to correlate tobacco and cancer . WHO estimates that tobacco caused 6.4 million deaths in 2014 and 100 million deaths over the course of the 20th century. Similarly , the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes tobacco as “the single most important preventable risk to human health in developed countries and important cause of premature death worldwide.” Smoking is a major risk factor for heart attacks,strokes,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) including emphysema and chronic-bronchitis and cancer(particularly lung cancer , cancers of larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer).Cigarettes sold in underdeveloped countries tend to have higher tar content , and are less likely to be filtered ,potentially increasing vulnerability to tobacco smoking related diseases in these regions. Given this grim scenario how does one quit smoking and or those addicted to Bacchus, give up drinking? With my wretched experience, with unrelented smoking and drinking , I would recommend the courses of Art Of Living as a palliative for these addictions. We need to breathe properly to overcome these vices. The pivot of the Art Of Living Courses is the unique breathing technique called the Sudarshan Kriya. Sudarshan Kriya harmonises the rhythms of the body and emotions and puts them back in tune with the rhythms of nature. Being in sync , we feel positive about ourselves ,love flows naturally in all relationships( say what was lacking between MK Gandhi and Harilal Gandhi). Sudarshan Kriya technique enables us to skilfully use the breath to change the way we feel , and start having a say over our emotions . It reinforces the default rhythm within an individual and negative emotions of discomfort , discontent , unhappiness get purged. Regular practice of Sudarshan Kriya , pranayama , yoga and meditation brings about a 360 degree change in the personality of an addict or a person who is only looking back in anger . A renowned cardiologist from Hyderabad Dr Ramachandra of Sri Sri Holistic Hospitals recommends Sudarshan Kriya to all his patients for a quick rehab . Further he opines this breathing technique is almost like hyperventilation and relaxes an individual tremendously . Regular practice of this breathing technique infuses energy, optimism and puts a person in an auto mode (default mode of nature). We are cannonaded with almost 50000 thousand thoughts a day . Most of them are negative in nature . Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says breath is like a string and your mind is like a kite . Proper breathing ensures you float and not crash land in the journey of our lives. So let us breathe our problems away. The Serenity Prayer The abridged version of the Serenity Prayer which has been adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous is as follows: God grant me The Serenity to Accept the things I cannot change Courage to change The things I can AND Wisdom to know The Difference

An addict should never leave hope

An addict should never leave hope For years addicts believed in a punishing the nature , Universe , humanity, their near and dear ones for the mounting miseries in life And continue to in an unabated manner blaming the Divine for all the accumulated misfortunes They incessantly keep drinking in a quotidian manner The tunnel appears plunged in darkness and there seems to be no bright spot in life Finally they have are left with no option. It is then the Universe intervenes and a realization dawns which compels the addict to surrender to the Divine will and starngely enough as if through providence lays down their misguided “weapons” and armory of self defense And then begins the process of resuscitating their lives, minds, bodies and souls by picking up certain “tools” which nature offers in myriad forms such as the Vipassana technique, the Art of Living Programme or adopting the Alcoholic Anonymous programme Once the addict enrolls for these programmes then life does not remain an affray as these are verily Divine benedictions And which addict would wrestle in receiving gifts Nevertheless if the addict does indeed spars with life on different occasions It is because the human mind keeps hanging on to the patterns and impressions of the past and some fixated ideas which the it has not been able to dissolve Consequently there is little progress made in the recovery of an alcoholic It is imperative that the addict realises that human life is a seraphic bestowal which should not be squandered And once again resolutely tread the path chosen The upshot would indeed be a positive outcome An addict should never leave hope As Thy will be done

Addictions - How to overcome them?

Addictions - How to overcome them? “ We are addicted to our thoughts . We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking, “ writes Santosh Kalwar. Addiction is actually a physical or a psychological need for a habit forming substance, could be drugs, alcohol, food, sex , even shopping or even excessive physical exercise. No wonder the term gym rat has been added to our usage. In all these cases the initial engagement is pleasurable , but a stage develops when ingestion of the substance say alcohol becomes compulsive in nature and it interferes in normal routine working. Anais Nin ( an artiste) says, “ This day is my kief , hashish and opium pipe. This is my day and my vice.” Gail Carniger yet another artiste , exults that,” I suspect it may be like the difference between a drinker and an alcoholic; the one merely reads books , the other needs books to make it through the day.” Addiction is an unpleasant physical activity , yet the human body and mind demand another dose be it alcohol or drugs every a few hours. The addict throws up and consumes yet again . It is nothing but mental bulimia. The afflicted person refuses to acknowledge the state and lives in a state of denial and not to accepting it as a malady or a disorder . Addictions can strike anyone and is not class specific. Alcoholism or drug addiction is not a malady of the rich and it easily encompasses the hoi-polloi. But I focus on celebrities and wonder as to how noted writers , artistes , musicians , celebrities fall for various addictions despite being aware of the perils associated with the addiction. To begin with it impairs their performance , quality of life and contribution to the art world and society . In a drunken or stoned state addicts abuse their bodies and those of others . Pavement dwellers get maimed for life or worse, killed due to reckless driving by such celebrities ( it could be a commoner too) in that state of high. Such stars may resort to crime or harbour criminals or ultras. Subsequently they plead innocence before the judiciary and walk free from imprisonment . It could be because of lack of evidence, compromised investigation, exchange of money at high places or simply owing to their celebratory status. These are gifted individuals and nature has endowed them with exceptional skills , which need to be explored but addiction distracts them from honing their talent. Even the society enjoys such actions with pure voyeuristic pleasure and provides the television viewer with some cheap entertainment. The biggest promoters of this voyeurism are our 24*7 TV channels for whom only TRPs matters. After years of travails , tribulations , physical and mental suffering an addict becomes aware of the problem. The intellect awakens only through an inexplicable experiential phenomenon. It is when we realise our bodies and minds are sacred that the addict can take the first step. This can happen only through grace of the Divine or a Guru. “ Take the first step in faith . You don’t have to see the whole staircase , just take the first step ‘’ said Martin Luther King Junior. The addict needs to take one day at a time . One should not plan for unrealistic long term goals . What ever be the provocation , the afflicted should remain positive , engage in hobbies , divert the mind , keep harmonious company and engage in physical activity. Look for an environmental change . For instance do not take the same road back home from office ,just drive past a bar or a wine shop or that group of associates who can pull the wrong trigger. There are several anonymous groups like AA, Smokers Anonymous, Sex Anonymous etc who help to wean away the addict from their programmes. Addicts are medically treated in rehabs to detoxify the system . Psychiatrists are providing special service to treat such patients. But in countries like India , the patient lives in a state of denial and does not seek medical attention. There is both lack of awareness and secondly one feels that he would be ostracised thus does not approach a doctor for help. Besides these self –help groups , families , friends have a pivotal role to play and convince the addict to seek medical help at the earliest .This has to be done with love , care and compassion and not with a whip. It would be indeed beneficial to take up Art Of Living Courses , which has now offers a special programme to overcome addictions and detoxification. Breathing techniques like Sudarshan Kriya,meditation techniques, practice of Yoga and Pranayama( alternate nostril breathing) infuse fresh energy or prana into the mind and body of an individual to remain calm and detoxify the self. As Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says ,” When you consider life to be sacred , Nature waits on you.” And when nature waits on you miracles happen.

*Happy Senior Citizens Week!*

*Happy Senior Citizens Week!* What should you reduce? 1. Salt 2. Sugar 3. White flour 4. Dairy products 5. Processed foods 6. Arguments 7. Unnecessary disputes What should you eat? 1. Vegetables 2. Lentils 3. Peanuts/Legumes 4. Dry fruits 5. Cold-pressed oils (olive, coconut) 6. Fruits 7. Anything bitter from nature 8. Swallow your sorrows and move forward Try to forget these things: 1. Your age 2. Your past 3. Your complaints 4. The hurts caused by relatives and friends. Take special care of these: 1. Your family 2. Your friends 3. Your positive thoughts 4. A clean and happy home 5. Saving enough resources for possible tough times ahead Adopt these habits: 1. Always keep smiling 2. Exercise regularly 3. Maintain your weight 4. Even if your tongue is not sweet, learn to speak sweetly 5. Develop the habit of listening to others Six lifestyle habits to follow: 1. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty — drink water regularly 2. Don’t wait until you’re exhausted — rest on time 3. Don’t wait until you fall sick — get regular check-ups 4. Don’t wait for miracles 5. Believe in yourself 6. Always stay positive and think of a bright future 7. Don’t sit in one place for too long Do you have friends aged 53 to 90? Then make sure to send them this message! “Happy Senior Citizens Week! Wishing every Senior Citizen in this group a healthy and joyful life!”

*Happy Senior Citizens Week!*

*Happy Senior Citizens Week!* What should you reduce? 1. Salt 2. Sugar 3. White flour 4. Dairy products 5. Processed foods 6. Arguments 7. Unnecessary disputes What should you eat? 1. Vegetables 2. Lentils 3. Peanuts/Legumes 4. Dry fruits 5. Cold-pressed oils (olive, coconut) 6. Fruits 7. Anything bitter from nature 8. Swallow your sorrows and move forward Try to forget these things: 1. Your age 2. Your past 3. Your complaints 4. The hurts caused by relatives and friends. Take special care of these: 1. Your family 2. Your friends 3. Your positive thoughts 4. A clean and happy home 5. Saving enough resources for possible tough times ahead Adopt these habits: 1. Always keep smiling 2. Exercise regularly 3. Maintain your weight 4. Even if your tongue is not sweet, learn to speak sweetly 5. Develop the habit of listening to others Six lifestyle habits to follow: 1. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty — drink water regularly 2. Don’t wait until you’re exhausted — rest on time 3. Don’t wait until you fall sick — get regular check-ups 4. Don’t wait for miracles 5. Believe in yourself 6. Always stay positive and think of a bright future 7. Don’t sit in one place for too long Do you have friends aged 53 to 90? Then make sure to send them this message! “Happy Senior Citizens Week! Wishing every Senior Citizen in this group a healthy and joyful life!”

Who destroyed the Kashi Vishwanath Temple?

Who destroyed the Kashi Vishwanath Temple? The Kashi Vishwanath Temple has been existing since Ramayana and Mahabharata. Vishwanath means lord of the universe. It has been demolished and rebuilt many times. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The timeline of the demolition is: 1194- demolished by Qutubbudin Aibak. After the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan and Jaichand, Aibak became the Sultan of Delhi. Aibak to demolished many temples in Northern India in which the famous Vishwanath temple was also included. It was rebuilt by some local devotees. 1490- demolished by Sikandar Lodi. It was rebuilt by Man Singh and Pandit Ram Narayana Bhatt under Todarmal from Akbar’s approval. 1669- Aurangzeb ordered to demolish this temple. It was rebuilt in 1780 by the queen of Indore, Ahilyabai Holkar and inaugurated by Narendra Modi in 2021.

Have you had an affair in the past and ended up living with your husband happily?

Have you had an affair in the past and ended up living with your husband happily? I am writing from a Husband’s perspective. Yes, my wife had an affair and it was revealed to me two years ago. Filed for divorce and within two years found that she had been cheating, for the last ten years, at her workplace. A Trust deficit in marriage, is non negotiable. No happy endings, for both the couples if one of them indulge in extra marital affair

"Don’t worry, son — Sam is ours."

"Don’t worry, son — Sam is ours." This happened back in 2002 — twenty-two years ago now. I had been posted in Mumbai, and one day I received a special order in my hand. When I opened and read it, I was stunned with surprise and overwhelmed with joy. It said: “You are appointed as the Security Officer during the visit of India’s greatest soldier — Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw — to Mumbai.” I was deeply moved by the trust my seniors had placed in me. Soon, the weight of responsibility dawned on me, and I gathered myself. I called up Field Marshal Manekshaw’s office to get details of his itinerary. He was scheduled to arrive in Mumbai soon. The Parsi community had arranged a felicitation event for him. For two whole days, I was assigned to escort the legendary Sam Bahadur in his car and during all his engagements. It was a dream come true — an experience of a lifetime. At that time, his charisma was unmatched — his personality magnetic. I had met him briefly before; our conversations often touched on World War II, the 1971 War, the valor of the Rajputana Rifles, and the Gorkha Regiment. Now, I was eagerly awaiting his arrival in Mumbai. The day arrived. He landed at Mumbai Airport. I gave him a crisp salute and took on the responsibility for his security. Sitting beside him in the car was an unforgettable feeling — my eyes were scanning everywhere, one hand resting on the pistol holstered at my waist. That evening, the Parsi community had organized a grand event at NCPA, Nariman Point, where India’s Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was to be honored. We reached the venue. The outer area was crowded. I carefully escorted him through the crowd into the hall. Inside too, the auditorium was packed, buzzing with cheers and Parsi songs. Someone was already speaking on stage. As soon as we entered, the announcer stopped and declared the arrival of Sam Bahadur. The hall fell silent for a moment — then erupted in thunderous applause. Everyone rose to their feet, chanting “Sam! Sam!” in unison. A welcome song began, sung by the entire gathering. He was led to the chair placed at the center. People began crowding around him — trying to touch him, to shake his hand, to speak a word or two with love and respect. Among them were some of the most eminent Parsi families of India. I was acutely aware of my duty — gently but firmly requesting people to move back, trying to create space around him. And then… I witnessed something extraordinary. A tall, graceful man — over six feet — came forward. He quickly knelt down on one knee on the floor, held Sam’s hand lovingly in both of his, touched it to his head and lips, and began speaking softly, humbly, seated right at the Field Marshal’s feet. I politely asked the man to move aside, but he looked up at me kindly and said with quiet assurance, "Don’t worry, son. Sam is ours. We will take care of him." His eyes were filled with compassion, respect, love, and confidence. Even his gaze conveyed honor toward the uniform I wore. I stepped back instantly and replied, “Yes, sir.” I looked around the hall — the audience was filled with legendary families: Godrej, Wadia, Poonawalla, Bhabha, Mistry… It struck me what a remarkable community this was — what immense contributions they had made to our nation’s greatness. *The smallest of minorities — yet from business to defense, from social work to science — their service to India was unparalleled. Without reservations or expectations from the government, they had given so much to the country.* Then I wondered — where was the jewel of this Parsi community? Where was the head of the Tata family? And at that very moment, it struck me. My eyes welled up. My posture straightened unconsciously — spine erect, chest forward, feet together — and from my heart, I offered a crisp salute. *The man kneeling at the feet of India’s greatest soldier, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, was none other than Ratan Tata himself!* Yes — the great Ratan Tata — one of India’s richest and most respected industrialists. His eyes overflowed with reverence for the Field Marshal. *It was a moment where the emperor of Indian industry saluted the emperor of the Indian Army — a tribute of pure respect and humility.* That moment remains the most inspiring of my life. Though Ratan Tata and Sam Bahadur never met again, both remain forever at the highest peak of my memories. Even today, I can still see that reassuring gaze and hear that gentle voice echoing in my ears: *"Don’t worry, son. Sam is ours. We will take care of him."* *A humble tribute on the first remembrance day of the late Ratan Tata....* — Major General Vijay Jagtap

I have cheated on my husband but successfully ended the affair.

I have cheated on my husband but successfully ended the affair. I feel guilty whenever I see my husband, should I come clean to him? It goes without saying, but it is entirely a matter for you. However, some statistics, which may assist in your decision making. Couples where there has been a voluntary disclosure have a 57% chance of still being together 5 years later. Whereas, perhaps surprisingly, those who keep it a secret or it remains a hidden truth, have only a 20 % survival rate . 84.6 % of men who commited adultery remain married ,as opposed to 68% of women when they were the guilty partner. Therefore it is clear that men are less forgiving of adultery than women. Fully absorb and remember that. However the attrition rate within 5 years is very high. Despite the high percentage of couples who remain together following adultery, only 15%–25% achieve true “emotional healing”, which equates to long term thriving, true and meaningful reconciliation, restored trust and happiness. This outcome can only be achieved by professional help, full disclosure and accountability. I fervently wish people would consider the devastation adultery causes. Whether you choose to confess or not , I would counsel you to search your soul and honestly determine the reasons for your betrayal of your husband and marriage vows. Once this is complete,do all within your power to remedy the issues. If you decide to confess, carefully consider the effect on your husband, choose the location and time with great care. For the person one trusts and loves more than anyone else in the world, to commit the ultimate betrayal is devastating. Consider the possibility of him ending his own life.

I have cheated on my husband but successfully ended the affair.

I have cheated on my husband but successfully ended the affair. I feel guilty whenever I see my husband, should I come clean to him? It goes without saying, but it is entirely a matter for you. However, some statistics, which may assist in your decision making. Couples where there has been a voluntary disclosure have a 57% chance of still being together 5 years later. Whereas, perhaps surprisingly, those who keep it a secret or it remains a hidden truth, have only a 20 % survival rate . 84.6 % of men who commited adultery remain married ,as opposed to 68% of women when they were the guilty partner. Therefore it is clear that men are less forgiving of adultery than women. Fully absorb and remember that. However the attrition rate within 5 years is very high. Despite the high percentage of couples who remain together following adultery, only 15%–25% achieve true “emotional healing”, which equates to long term thriving, true and meaningful reconciliation, restored trust and happiness. This outcome can only be achieved by professional help, full disclosure and accountability. I fervently wish people would consider the devastation adultery causes. Whether you choose to confess or not , I would counsel you to search your soul and honestly determine the reasons for your betrayal of your husband and marriage vows. Once this is complete,do all within your power to remedy the issues. If you decide to confess, carefully consider the effect on your husband, choose the location and time with great care. For the person one trusts and loves more than anyone else in the world, to commit the ultimate betrayal is devastating. Consider the possibility of him ending his own life.

Why did Adi Shankaracharya targeted Jain temples and converted them with Shiva Lingams?

Why did Adi Shankaracharya targeted Jain temples and converted them with Shiva Lingams? Why did Adi Shankaracharya targeted Jain temples and converted them with Shiva Lingams? “ chittasya SuddhayE karma “ - AdiSankaracharya. Means any action should result in purification of one's mind. That action is real action and one should do only such actions. Vivekanand said “ I tell only the greatness of my religion. I will not criticize other religions. Because my religion is the mother of all other religions “. Vivekanand followed the philosophy of AdiSankaracharya. Is it believable that AdiSankaracharya targeted Jainism and Jain temples?. Where is the time for him to do such acts?. For a building or religion, the foundation must be strong. Then only it will remain for longer time. It's not difficult for anyone to find reason for the downfall of those religions. AdiSankaracharya is a visionary. He correctly imagined how we would be in 21st century. We have no time even to chant a nama 108 times, read a sloka or hear some discourse. We are busy with our livelihood. Unless we work hard for 10–12 hours per day, we cannot have a comfortable life. Under these conditions, whether it is possible to do rituals like fire Homams daily for long hours?. This what AdiSankaracharya thought. Vedas proposed mainly two paths for Moksha - karma kanda and Jnana kanda. Karma kanda is about fire rituals etc which are time-consuming and expensive. Jnana kanda is reading and listening to Puranas, chanting some namas or Slokas etc. AdiSankaracharya thought, in later years, people will be busy with livelihood and may not find time for rituals. So he preferred Jnana kanda and spread it through out the country. In AdiSankaracharya time, karma kanda was in full swing and vedic scholars like kumarilabhaT, Mandana Misra and others who believed only in Karma kanda spread the rituals. AdiSankaracharya travelled through out the country for 3 times by walk, argued with all eminent scholars that Jnana kanda will be better for future generations, convinced them and defeated them. To spread this Jnana kanda, he gave several texts and Slokas by way of Soundaryalahari, Sivanandalahati, narayana stotram, pancharatnas, ashtakas and so on. He wrote detailed explanation for Vishnu Sahasranamam and Brahma sutras. Because of his hard work, we are all spending peaceful and comfortable life just by chanting some namas daily without worrying much about fire rituals etc. Let us be grateful to that Great Visionary who reestablished Sanatanadharma. Because of him only, though country was under slavery for 1000 years, nothing happened to Sanatanadharma. Subhamastu

The Cosmic Dance The Cosmic Dance The Cosmic Dance

The Cosmic Dance Last year on Navami at the Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore, fifty thousand devotees rose in divine delirium and joined the chorus as Padma Shri Ananda Shankar Jayant and her troupe danced to the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram. The atmosphere reverberated with ecstasy and was surcharged with drama and emotion as the ensemble choreographed by Dr Ananda was performed at the sanctum sanctorum where Navaratri Pujas had taken place. To my mind this is the place where Shiva (the auspicious) performs. Shiva performs the Tandava, a vigorous dance that is the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution. In a way it mirrored the life of the protagonist. I marveled at the thought that this was a rambunctious performance by a colleague who conquered mammary cancer and was perhaps in the midst of what can be termed as a concert of a lifetime. “I have not been afraid to take risks and I have not been afraid to follow a dream. That is the essence of who I am”, once remarked Ananda. Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant, believes in freeing the mind and spreading the wings to achieve what is not possible. She invests a lot in the power of the mind to think positively and being grateful and counting our blessings. To her it is imperative to transmit positive signals to the universe so that in return, the cosmos bestows us with abundance. The cycle is incomplete if we are not grateful. So the trajectory is, “Law of Attraction “, followed by “Law of Gratefulness”. All this leads to a spiraling effect which Daren Hardy terms “The Compound Effect”. Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant, an Indian Railway Traffic Service Officer learnt dance under the tutelage of Rukmini Devi Arundale when only 11 at Kalakshetra. Ananda is a multi-faceted personality, donning several hats- prolific dancer, choreographer, leading a talented ensemble, Artistic Director of Shankarand Kalakshetra, poet, writer, championing women’s issues, inspiring figure for youth and students, delivering lectures to the corporate world and a TED talker. She is a post graduate in Ancient Indian History, an MPhil in Art History and holds a doctorate in tourism. Her body of work in Kuchipudi and BharatNatyam, earned her the Padma Shri. She is also a recipient of the much acclaimed Sangeet Natak Akademi Puruskar. But then, strange are the vicissitudes of life. It is packed with peaks and valleys. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2008. But for her, cancer was merely a zodiac sign and not a serious malady. For a performer, such an affliction may seem to be the end of the road, an abyss .The mind gets clogged by negativity and fear. Fear to her was one of the Navarasas to be portrayed in a show and not something to live with. The malignant lump became a part of her physical and mental self. The Bold and Beautiful overnight transformed into Beautiful and Bald. An affable personality became enfeebled by pain and agony and the mental chatter was depression. But she was a woman of substance who was mentally strong to combat the challenge. In such a scenario only faith can perform miracles. Faith is confidence or trust in a person. She trusted husband Jayant (her pillar of strength), chemotherapy and dance talent. This was the imagery to overcome the crisis of lifetime. Martin Luther King writes, “Faith is the taking first step even when you do not see the whole staircase.” From dancing three hours at a stretch, Ananda could barely climb a flight of steps. Such was the debilitating impact of the disease. By her own admission, she believes in the power of positive thinking and has used it not only to overcome the disease but opened new avenues in form of writing and inspirational talks. Statistics reveal that 1 in 22 urban Indian women suffer from this malady. Through her motivational TED talks the danseuse is spreading awareness about the affliction and encouraging people not to be subsumed by the illness but be proactive in life and focus on positive aspects of life.

MIND and HEALING

MIND and HEALING My Mother “The rain drop from the sky: if it is caught in hands, it is pure enough for drinking. If it falls in a gutter, its value drops so much that it can’t be used even for washing the feet. If it falls on 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 Krishnamurthy Mahesh Yogi and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar . Not to forget her association with Mother’s International, Mother Teressa , CBCI and CARITAS. She wanted to pursue medicine but life did not take that trajectory. ” Faith plus action becomes unstoppable” writes Jonathan Lockwood Hue . So she upend the pyramid and became a qualified medical social worker and worked diligently at the Rajan Babu TB Hospital , Delhi . Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says,” Open your hands and 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 sh Pathak of Delhi School of Social Work, Shri AVK Chaitanya a Trade Union leader and confidante of Shri George Fernandes , Bibi Altussalam a 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 RB TB Hospital became the melting pot of all religions to forge hands and assist in the mammoth task of rehabilitation of the afflicted . The TB Hospital became a unique template for the methods adopted by doctors, para-medic staff , social workers , government bodies and NGO’s 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 says.” The only permanent thing in life is impermanence.” The lofty objectives were not approved by a new set of hospital administrators and the beacon of hope collapsed . This was 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 heart beat 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 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 , and see a miracle happens” says Osho. She has retired now but continues with her Sadhana unfailingly. Senior citizens , those in pain and agony and even the able bodied should undertake the courses mentioned. Swami Vivekananda took Yoga to America and spread the Ramakrishna Mission. He was the Arjuna of Shri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa. This article is a tribute to Swamiji and also to my mother both born on 12th of January. My mother imbibed the trait of service to mankind by reading extensively about Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda.

The Old Farmer

The Old Farmer That life is not easy , is something we can all agree upon. It provides us with numerous challenges and along with that problems and disappointments. Who helps us in such inhospitable and adverse situations? Who provides succor during our trials and tribulations? Our families, friends and loved ones! Most importantly it is the faith in the Guru and Divine that bails us out from refractory situations. It is the unflinching faith and surrender to the supreme power which acts as a lifeboat during our inexpedient moments. Guru and Divine impart us immense knowledge and little realizations to circumvent trying circumstances. Humans can fortify themselves by practicing the Art of Detachment during obstreperous situations . Once lived an old farmer who had a horse. One day the horse ran away. His neighbors and other villagers commiserated the loss. The farmer laconically replied’ May Be’. Next day, villagers were astonished when the horse brought along with it three other wild horses.Villagers and neighbors congratulated the farmer. The farmer replied simply.’ May Be’. It so happened , the enterprising son of the farmer mounted one of the wild horses…. Unfortunately he could not reign in the horse and thus happened to break his leg. The retinue of villagers and neighbors expressed their sorrow and grief about the incident to the farmer. The farmer remained detached and merely remarked.’ May Be’. Shortly some army officials visited the village to draft strapping youngsters to the forces. But the differently able son of the farmer was not recruited. Congratulatory messages poured in from the villagers and neighbors. ‘ How fortuitous you and your son are’ , they claimed. Once again the farmer replied ‘ May Be’. The old farmer remained stoic and unruffled in all situations and maintained Zen like cool and was detached to the events which were unfolding. Instead of becoming cranky as he grew older , he was shielded by optimism , peace and detachment. Buddha says,’ Believe nothing , no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your reason and your own common sense.’ The old farmer imbibed this enlightened quote of the Buddha. Buddha expects humans to learn from personal experiences and not from the reviews ( read villagers and neighbors) of others. What suits one person may not

*Woody Allen's sense of humour is a class apart!*

*Woody Allen's sense of humour is a class apart!* "In my next life I want to live my life backwards. You start out dead and get that out of the way. Then you wake up in an old people's home feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on your first day. You work for 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, then you are ready for high school. You then go to primary school, you become a kid, you play. You have no responsibilities, you become a baby until you are born. And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa-like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day and then Voila! You finish off as an orgasm!" Brilliant Woody Alle

From X:

From X: South Korea has played really smart with India. FDI Comparison- Korea total investment in Vietnam is 13-14 times higher than in India. Vietnam economy is only 1/10th India's size. Samsung alone exports $54 billion a year from Vietnam. India has huge market but gets less factories and jobs. Vietnam got the real manufacturing boom. Even Recently Samsung going to build new factory there in Vietnam, in case of china we know the problem but in case of South Korea they do business under Radar, even this is bigger than i Imagine How South Korea Used free trade deal with India is just a Case study - when yu read it in detail yu will get it. Korea got a free trade deal (CEPA) in 2010. Under that deal, Korean goods entered India at zero or low duties. Samsung, Hyundai, LG used this to sell massively into India - phones, cars, appliances. India's imports from Korea went from $10B to $21B. India's exports to Korea actually fell - from $8B (FY22) to $5.8B (FY25). The trade deficit tripled from $5B to $15.2B. But selling wasn't the only play. The real play was value extraction: Hyundai - Paid itself a ₹10,782 crore special dividend (7.2x its normal payout), then did India largest IPO - 100% offer-for-sale. Every rupee of the $3.3B IPO went to the Korean parent. Then raised royalty rates from 2.5% to 3.5% per car. Three moves, one after another, all designed to drain cash from the Indian subsidiary to Seoul. LG - Same template. 100% offer-for-sale IPO, $1.4B to the Korean parent. The Indian subsidiary now trades at $12.5B market cap - higher than the Korean parent itself. LG used Indian investors money to value an Indian business that it still controls and still pulls dividends from. Samsung - Royalties paid to Korea jumped 50% to ₹3,322 crore in one year. After Korea changed its tax law in 2023 (no tax on foreign dividends coming home), Samsung pulled ₹22B worth of dividends from all overseas units in 9 months. India was one of the biggest sources. Combined - Hyundai + LG alone pulled $4.7B out of India in 12 months. All legal under CEPA. Best way to fuck RBI stricter Foreign Outflow What Korea did in Vietnam (same period) Korea put $92B of FDI into Vietnam. India got $6.7B. India economy is 10x Vietnam size. Samsung alone runs 6 plants in Vietnam, employs 100,000 people, exports $54B/year from there - that's 13% of Vietnam's entire exports. Vietnam got factories + jobs + exports. India got imports + deficit + cash extraction. Why Delhi stayed quiet for 15 years Diplomatic politeness. Also, during 2010–2020, India negotiating leverage was weaker. India needed Korean investment, Korean tech, Korean defence platforms. So the imbalance was a known problem that time but that time of dealmaker didn't think of long term MEA Secretary Kumaran publicly named the $15.2B deficit before President Lee landed. Commerce Minister Goyal called the 2010 CEPA irrational and lopsided. This was intentional signaling. What India wants in CEPA 2.0 - Four things: Services access - Indian IT exports to Korea are only $200M (vs $200B globally). India wants visa quotas for Indian engineers in Korean semiconductor/AI projects, and recognition of Indian professional qualifications. Pharma access - Indian generic drug exports to Korea are just $167M. Korea has rules that kill generic price advantage. India wants those removed. Forced local content - Like what Vietnam and Indonesia did. India wants 50% local value-addition by year 5, 70% by year 10. If you want to sell in India, build in India. Reciprocal sourcing - For every $1B defence/steel/shipbuilding contract India gives Korea, Korea must buy equivalent value of Indian services, pharma, components.

A real story shared by A ola Driver of Kolkatta ...

*Just read it*👇 A real story shared by A ola Driver of Kolkatta ... I drive for Ola. I mostly work night shifts. Last week, around 11 PM, I picked up an elderly gentleman. White kurta and dhoti, tired eyes—but a strange firmness in his voice. As soon as he sat in the car, he said: “Tonight, you’ll have to take me to five places. I’ll pay you ₹5000. Cash. But don’t ask the reason until the end.” He handed me a piece of paper with five addresses written on it. First stop— An old house in South Kolkata. I stopped the car. He didn’t get down. Just lowered the window and kept looking at the house… for ten minutes. Tears kept flowing from his eyes, silently. “Let’s go… next.” Second stop— A primary school. The gate was locked. The playground inside was dark. He got down, slowly walked to a swing, sat on it, and gently started swinging. After twenty minutes, he came back and said— “I taught here. For 43 years. The best time of my life.” Third stop— A small old coffee house. He went inside, ordered a cup of tea, and sat alone at a corner table. He didn’t even touch the tea. Just looked around. After fifteen minutes, he returned with a faint smile— “This is where I first met Mitali… my wife. In 1969.” Fourth stop— Nimtala cremation ground. He got down, stood near a memorial, and softly said something I couldn’t hear. After half an hour, he came back. His eyes were red. “It’s been three years since she passed away.” Fifth stop— A large government hospital. He asked me to park. Then looked at me and said— “Now I’ll tell you the reason. I have stage four cancer. The doctor said… a few weeks… maybe just days. Tonight, I wanted to see my entire life one last time.” I put my head on the steering wheel and started crying. He said— “That house—where I raised my children. That school—where I found my purpose. That coffee house—where I found love. That cremation ground—where I said my final goodbye. And this hospital—where I will now be admitted. There will be no return home.” He placed ₹5000 in my hand. “Thank you. You took me through my life once again. My last stranger… who treated me with kindness.” I said— “I can’t take this.” He replied— “Take it. I have no one left to give it to. My children have grown so distant, they don’t even talk anymore. Friends are all gone, one by one. You gave me three hours—three hours of humanity. That is worth more than money.” He picked up his small suitcase and went inside. The next day, I went to the hospital. I asked— “Mr. Aniruddha Mukherjee. Cabin 412.” I went in with flowers. He smiled when he saw me— “You came?” “I couldn’t just leave you like that.” We talked for two hours—about Mitali Devi, his students, his estranged children. I started visiting him every day. I would bring tea, read the newspaper to him, or just sit quietly. One day, he said— “I thought I would die alone. But you are here. In my final moments, a stranger became my family. You have my blessings.” I held his hand— “You are not alone.” On Tuesday, at 3:17 AM, he passed away. I was sitting there, holding his hand. His last words were— “Tell everyone… look at strangers. Truly look at them. We are all going somewhere—some fast, some slow. Show kindness along the way. You did. You made my last days worth living.” The monitor turned into a straight line. At his cremation, there were only six people: Me, three nurses, a lawyer, and one former student. *43 years of teaching.* *52 years of marriage*. *81 years of life.* & *Six people*. I said— “Mr. Aniruddha taught me— Every stranger is someone’s entire world. Every passenger is a story. Every human being is living, dying, waiting… for someone to truly see them.” He gave me ₹5000 to drive on the road of life. But what he taught me… is worth far more than money. “Humanity is not an extra thing. It is everything.” Even today, those ₹5000 remain in my glove box. I have never spent them. Because every passenger might be on their last journey. Every stranger might be saying their final goodbye. So now, I drive differently. I ask. I listen. I truly see people. Because one elderly teacher once asked for a gentle night— and a stranger chose to stay. *Silent moments, unspoken truths.*

Dr. Abraham, a well known cancer specialist,

Dr. Abraham, a well known cancer specialist, was once on his way to an important conference in another city where he was going to receive an award in the field of medical research. He was excited about the award and so boarded a plane to the venue. However, two hours after the plane took off, it made an emergency landing at the nearest airport due to a technical problem. Afraid that he would not make it in time to the conference, he immediately went to the reception to make enquiries. He found out that he would have to wait ten hours for the next flight to his destination! He rented a car and drove himself to the conference city which was four hours away. Soon after he left, the weather changed and a heavy storm began. The downpour made it difficult for him to see so he missed a turn he was supposed to take. Driving in the heavy rain on a deserted road, feeling hungry and tired, he frantically began to look for any sign of civilization. He came across a small tattered house and knocked on the door. A beautiful lady opened the door. He explained his situation and wanted to use the lady's telephone but she had no telephone. She however asked him to come inside and wait till the weather improved. The doctor who was hungry and exhausted accepted the offer. The lady offered him something to eat and drink. She asked him to join her in prayers but he declined. According to him, he believed in hard work, not in prayers! Sitting at the table and sipping his tea, the doctor watched the woman pray many times beside a baby's crib. Feeling that the woman might be in need of help, the doctor asked her what exactly she needed from God and asked if God ever listened to her prayers. When he inquired of the child in the crib, the woman explained that her son was down with cancer. And they had been advised to see a doctor named Abraham who could cure him but she did not have enough money to afford his fees. She said that God had not yet answered her prayers but said that God would create some way out one day. She added that she would not allow her fears to overcome her faith! Stunned and speechless, Dr. Abraham began to weep! He was forced to say out loud, "GOD IS GREAT" and recollected to the woman, all the sequence of bad events: malfunction on the plane, a thunderstorm and how he lost his way. All of which had happened because God answers prayers, wanted to give him a chance to come out of his bondage of materialistic career pursuit and give some time to a poor, helpless woman who had nothing but rich prayers! Oh! What a God! *God may not answer your prayers YOUR WAY but he will always answer HIS way.* _*Behind the scenes, he will move men, the weather, events, circumstances, etc. in order to work out the best for you!_* Do not stop trusting! Do not stop hoping! God is busy planning your dancing this year! Hold on! Hold out! Look up daily! This touched and still touches me. I hope it touches you too,

In 1951, a 14-year-old Australian boy named James Harrison

In 1951, a 14-year-old Australian boy named James Harrison woke up in a hospital bed with 100 stitches across his chest. Doctors had just removed one of his lungs. To survive, he needed 13 units of donated blood from complete strangers—people whose names he would never know. His father, Reg, sat beside him and said something that changed his life: "You're only alive because people donated blood." Right there, James made a promise. The moment he turned 18, he would donate blood. He would pay back the gift that saved him. There was just one problem. James was terrified of needles. But in 1954, the day he became eligible, he walked into a blood donation center anyway. He sat in the chair, looked at the ceiling, and let the nurse insert the needle. He never watched. Not once. Not in 64 years. What James didn't know was that his blood was different. After a few donations, doctors discovered something extraordinary. His plasma contained an incredibly rare antibody—likely developed from all those transfusions he received as a boy. This antibody could prevent a deadly condition called Rhesus disease. Before this discovery, thousands of Australian babies were dying every year. When a pregnant woman with Rh-negative blood carried an Rh-positive baby, her body would attack the child's blood cells. Miscarriages. Stillbirths. Brain damage. James's blood held the answer. Doctors asked if he would switch to plasma donation. It meant longer sessions—90 minutes instead of 20. It meant coming in every few weeks for the rest of his life. James thought about his fear. Then he thought about the babies. He said yes. For 64 years, James Harrison never missed an appointment. He donated through joy and heartbreak. He donated while working as a railway clerk. He donated after retiring. He continued even after his wife Barbara passed away in 2005—what he called his "darkest days." Every single time—all 1,173 donations—he looked at the ceiling. He chatted with nurses. He studied the walls. Anything to avoid watching the needle. The fear never left him. But he showed up anyway. In a beautiful twist, his own daughter needed the very medication created from his blood when she became pregnant. His grandson Scott exists because of the choice his grandfather made decades earlier. In May 2018, at age 81, Australian law required James to make his final donation. The room was filled with mothers holding healthy babies—living proof of his quiet heroism. They thanked him through tears. James sat in the chair one last time, looked away from his arm one last time, and gave his 1,173rd donation. Over 3 million doses of Anti-D medication containing his blood have been issued since 1967. Scientists estimate his contributions helped save approximately 2.4 million babies in Australia alone. When people called him a hero, he shrugged it off. "I'm in a safe room, donating blood," he said. "They give me a cup of coffee and something to nibble on. And then I just go on my way. No problem, no hardship." James Harrison died peacefully in his sleep on February 17, 2025. He was 88 years old. We often search for heroes in movies or history books—people with superpowers, wealth, or fame. But sometimes a hero is just someone who keeps a quiet promise for 64 years. Someone who feels fear—deep, trembling fear—and does the right thing anyway. Millions of people are alive today because one man decided his fear mattered less than their lives. What small act of courage could you commit to, even when it scares you. Hats off to this great and humble personality.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

70 years back, Gurudev sri Sri Ravi Shankar

70 years back, Gurudev came to this planet under the auspicious “ardra” nakshatra. It coincided with both Shankara Jayanthi and Ramanuja Jayanthi. Love, wisdom, joy and grace consolidated and manifested for the benefit of all of humanity. What a blessing for all of us! In the early years, Maharishi ji once took Gurudev with him to meet Anandmayi Maa in Rishikesh. When she saw him she proclaimed, “You have brought me the Ganga!” The Ganga washes away the sins of everyone who comes to her. in response Maharishi ji said, “ The sun( Ravi) has risen and there will be light everywhere!” And Shankara is the one whose very presence bestows peace. Today, we bow in infinite gratitude to Gurudev, our beloved Master whose presence shines the light of wisdom and anchors us in absolute peace and joy; whose words and silence bring serenity and tranquility to our mind; whose glance fills our heart with absolute bliss; whose benevolence showers the nectar of grace every moment; whose smile makes our life a celebration! He is the sacred essence of life! And we are so blessed and grateful that it flows in such abundance in ours. Millions of lives continue to blossom in their smiles with his blessings and grace. Thank you Gurudev for this wonderful and precious life! Jai Guru Dev -Smt Bhanumati Narasimhan (Gurudev's Sister)

I am having an affair and don't want my husband to find out. What do I do?

I am having an affair and don't want my husband to find out. What do I do? Im conflicted. Because you know that ole adage, what's done in the dark blah blah blah. So here goes your only 2 options: Leave your husband to find the woman who will truly love and honor him. Cause let's face it, you've proven not to be her. Stop having the affair. Now see the thing about this choice is that it dont guarantee he wont find out. You of all people should have realized by now, and ESPECIALLY based on your own actions, that people and their actions CANNOT BE CONTROLLED. (You never know a person til you live with them - in your case you never know a person until you share a secret with them. And the thang bout secrets is that the person with the least to lose holds the power. Make of that what you will but I hope you saw something deep in that sentence. Now. It would be remiss not advise of a third option. But given your behavior, I doubt that you would be brave or honorable to do it. Let alone the sincerity and accountability one would take if this option was chosen. Respect him enough to tell him the truth and accept his response/choice. Sure the respect comes too little too late but at the very least, it could show that you sincerely are out of the business of causing further harm. Its not an easy thing to do. But trust me, that level of accountability is LIFE CHANGING.

My wife had a secret affair with a man for 5 years

My wife had a secret affair with a man for 5 years before I found out. Can she really stop seeing him again? Very unlikely. I’ve been in an affair for a very long time (longer than your wife’s). I have even left him for long stretches of time, he has tried to leave me to “work on his marriage”. We always end up back together. This is painful now. I’m sure it’s excruciating. However, you’ll later see all the ways you weren’t compatible that are difficult to analyze now because of the shock. It’s very hard to accept that a person you love deeply is capable of hurting you in such a deliberate manner- at first. Take care of yourself and don’t swear off love for life because of her. Someone out there will love you the way you should be loved.