MIND YOUR MUNCHING – KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN CHEW

MIND MATTERS AN OVERVIEW MIND YOUR MUNCHING – KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN CHEW “ Seeing to this , neglecting that , once the mind stops setting one things against the other, it is no longer craves pleasure,”- Sage Ashtavakra My dear friends, what is the difference between PK and PIKU. Two alphabet. I and U.Assume I is us( protagonist Amitabh Bachchan essaying the role of Bhaskor in PIKU) and U are them (an extra-terrestrial Aamir Khan playing a pivotal role as PK in the eochmaking film which scorched multiplexes). There; CPU is cerebral. And our CPU is at the level of abdomen. Or say for vast multitudes the focus is at the midriff. It would be quite captivating watching the main primemovers PK and Bhaskor sharing their thoughts and respective metabolisms in a spaceship. We ignore at our peril that food ( which includes liquids too) has a prodigious impact on our system. Humans do not quite comprehend this vital aspect of our existence. Improper diet first takes a toll on the metabolism and then attacks other organs of the body. Simply put intake of toxic foods generates repugnant thoughts and results in a weak mind and body. The chamber of our stomach consists of three parts of which a third is meant for solids , one third for water/liquids and the remaining third for air. Wellness of body and mind lies in consumption of superfoods. They consist of seasonal fruits and salads which get digested within 30 to 45 minues. A normal vegetarian diet which is not too spicy or sweet is absorbed by the system in about 6 to 7 hours. Non vegetarian fare normally takes around 72 hours to assimilate. And during this period toxins accumulate and this affects the mind and body. Liquids should certainly not included aerated drinks , drinks laced with drugs or alcohol . These psychedelic substances blurs the thought process apart from wreaking havoc on the mind and body. I remember the remarkable lines by from the master piece movie, “ Chakra” that Zindagi mein keval do hi chakker hein , ek pet ka aur ek uske neeche ka . Yes our thoughts are the baser levels. Ofcourse, there are sages,philosophers and the enlightened ones who transcend this level and attain a super conscious state . Imagine people suffering from mental disorders? Why does it happen? Pressure! Other reasons could be heavy drinking and smoking, improper diet, lack of exercise and basically a drive to excel at any cost. Rhonda Byrne, the noted writer of The Secret, Magic and Power among others says” You are the most powerful magnet in the universe. You contain a magnetic power within you that is more powerful than anything in this world, and this unfathomable magnetic force is emitted through your thoughts.” Human mind is an enigma and a reservoir of potential. But the moot question is as to how do we tap this potential? The mind is a movie theatre where we script and enact innumerable movies and soap operas. Some funny, a few mysterious, others idealistic and sheer tear jerkers . The mind is constantly on the move. It is hyperactive. It needs a relaxation room, wherein an individual can dump the garbage, declutter it and achieve something useful for the self and the society. “The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind.” opines Wayne W Dwyer. The generation today is a product of SMAC, not SMACK. Smac is an acronym for software, mobiles, apps and cloud. Technology alone cannot be a substitute for the enormous potential of mind. It needs to be cultured, harnessed and harmonized with the needs and wants. Talent, energy and thoughts have to be channelized to become achievers. We need to focus on goals and objectives. Technology when misused can make people mental wrecks. A person can become addicted to watching porn, he could become a hacker or even a terrorist. We need to distinguish brain from the mind. The brain is an organ that serves as the centre of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. Only a few invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, adult sea squirts and starfish do not have a brain, diffuse or localized nerve nets are present instead. The brain is located in the head, usually close to the primary sensory organs for such senses as vision, hearing, balance, taste and smell. It is the most complex organ in a vertebrate’s body. Mind on the other hand is the faculty of consciousness and thoughts. It is an individual’s intellect or memory or his attention span or will. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has captured it very succinctly. He says, “Mind is like the sky and thoughts are like clouds.” Your thoughts make or mar the progress and development of the mind. In fact he further elaborates by saying that, “ Mind is like a kite and breath is like the string which can control the mind.” Through the practice of breathing techniques like Sudarshan Kriya, Pranayama and meditation among other techniques an individual can harness this enormous realm of possibility. Primarily, we need to quiten or silence the mind. We intend to live in harmony with ourselves and our environment. Or do we wish to listen to the endless chatter and cacophony of the mind? I reckon anyone would prefer symphony to cacophony or be silent. MIND – MAKE IT HAPPY To be happy in life and calm the obdurate and recalcitrant mind, human beings should be aware of certain intrinsic laws of nature. That is Law of Attraction and the Law of Acceptance. Further we need to train our minds to keep reminding ourselves that we are blessed, we are grateful and have abundance in our lives. Life is full of valleys and peaks. It can never be a rising curve or a straight line indefinitely. There are constant changes in life and we have to accept this reality without any strings. We may apparently like some peers and friends today and tomorrow move on with another group. It is inevitable and a natural process. As Buddha says, “The only permanent aspect in life is its impermanent nature.” So we need to move in life with equilibrium, equipoise and equanimity. Law Of Attraction simply states that if a person is joyful and happy the individual would attract such people and thoughts which are joyful in nature. Such a person is positive in nature and begets positivity. The reverse is also true. If the mind focusses on lack it would only attract lack. Therefore we need to be constantly reminding ourselves that we are blessed, be grateful with whatever we have and feel we have abundance. In such a situation we attract only positive energy or prana from the universe. In fact to such people universe conspires to provide more. The Bible says that if we are grateful for what we have, we will be given more and if we are not grateful and happy, all that was given would be taken away from us. The human mind vacillates between the past and the future. In the past, the mind is regretful and if it is in future it is anxious. In either case the mind is not at peace or in the present moment and so remains unhappy. Eckhart Tolle puts it, “Nothing ever happened in the past; it happened in the Now. Nothing will ever happen in the future; it will happen in the Now”. As we sweep our house, we need to declutter our mind. Sweep our mind from negative thoughts. Virendra Sehwag comes to my mind as a cricketer whose mind was not filled with cobwebs. With absolute panache he could score runs. Yes he could score a triple century and also got out on zero. But apparently it did not affect his mind. Unlike a Marcus Trescothik , who could not survive mentally on foreign tours . He suffered from multiple phobias. This leads us to various types of personalities. Personality is derived from the latin word “Persona”. The mask used by actors in Roman theatre for changing their makeup. Personality refers to our characteristic ways of responding to individuals and situations. Human mind is temperamental in nature and action. It has several attributes, different dispositions, moods and reacts and responds in a variegated manner. The mind can be our greatest friend or enemy and like a chameleon acquires various colors, characters, characteristics and keeps acquiring various patterns. Noted Psychologists, Paula Costa and Robert McCrae have developed a five factor model to elaborate various psychological traits of human personality. a) Open to experience- Those who score high on this factor are imaginative, curious and open to new ideas. b) Extraversion- People who are socially active, assertive, outgoing and fun loving as compared to those who are shy and introverts. c) Agreeableness- Essentially cooperative, caring and friendly people. Those opposite to this trait are hostile and self centred. d) Neuroticism- These are emotionally unstable people, irritable in nature and are hypersensitive. Those opposite to this trait are centred and well adjusted. And finally e) Conscientiousness- Those who score high on this attribute are dependable, responsible, hardworking and achievement oriented. Those on the opposite scale are impulsive in nature. So in which quadrant would we place our minds and personalities. WHY ARE WE SO STRESSFUL? OR WHY ARE WE STRESSED OUT? Are we running after a chimera? Or like Rama and Lakshman are we running after a non existent golden deer? Or like the Pandavas, save Yuddhistara we partake water from a poisonous lake. In all situations our mind is fully aware that what we are attempting is incorrect and inchoate, yet we undertake that activity. There are a couple of reasons for this hara-kiri or running after the hubris. We are not wakeful enough, neither are we listening to our gut feeling and or we have a woeful sense of time management. A) We are not wakeful (not sleepy in a literal sense) as we are not focused or centred. We cannot differentiate and distinguish between choices. Consequently we are gobbled by the snake in the game of snakes and ladders. B) Our mind and thoughts (a human mind on an average receives 50k thoughts a day) batter us endlessly . Now the company we keep and the food we partake has a significant impact on the human mind and body. Negative company drains a person and toxic food and drink totally enervates and debilitates our system. I was a victim and patient of alcoholism and realise the suffering one goes through it and following the techniques of Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayama overcame the disease. There is a deep connect between the stomach and mind. That is why it is called the gut feeling or the sixth sense. Our solar plexus keeps sending us signals. It depends as to whether we are conscious and wakeful enough to listen to those signals. Yoga is the latest buzzword. With regular practice of Yoga, especially Surya namaskar and pranayama our solar plexus develop to receive and transmit important signals. C) Tools for effective Time Management- a) The POSEC METHOD – That is to prioritise by organizing, streamlining, economizing and then effectively contributing. b) Do a SWOT analysis and become winners. c) Learn to work in groups and Art of delegation. d) Attempt all hard tasks first e) Build in flexibility in your schedules or else one would suffer from psychosomatic disorders. f) Develop hobbies, read creative books and self help books. g) Every morning and night while being grateful make an inventory of do’s and dont’s and must Do lists. h) Learn to say NO. Also learn to say YES. An oxymoron kind of a situation. However a Yes mind makes an individual take up responsibility. And taking up responsibility only can empower a person. Imagine a situation where you could have shouldered responsibility but evaded or shied away or a situation where you took up responsibility. Which box would you like to be in? i) Live life king size and learn to celebrate. We can celebrate only if we are able to quiten our minds. These are some ways to quiten our mind and develop a relaxation room or space in our minds. For that we can the following: Go for long walks, talk out our problems, hug a person ( perhaps someone whom you do not like), write down all our botherations, be in sync with our breath and movement, pursue a passion, be a daredevil, get out of our comfort zone, exercise vigorously( positive endorphins get released which have a soothing affect on the mind and body), have cold water baths to conquer passion and carnal instincts( they can be a distraction especially during examination times). Despite practicing all techniques, we may not be able to find our place in the sun. So what does one do? Just surrender to the immense power within ourselves and learn to accept. Realise that “Aham Brahmasmi-“ I am the infinite reality.”as written in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad . Our mind has that immense power. It needs to harnessed and realized. We just need to declutter our minds. “Your mind is aninstrument . It is there to be used for a specific task, and when the task is completed, you lay it down. As it is , I would say about 80% to 90% of most people’s thinking is not only repetitive and useless , but because of its dysfunctional and often negative nature , much of it is harmful . Observe your mind and you find this is to be true. It causes a serious leakage of vital energy.” writes Echart Tolle. Today he is a great philosopher. At the age of 29 he was about to commit suicide. There are several ways to channelize this energy. There may be some who may practice meditation, breathing techniques and observe silence to quiten minds. There may be others who remain focused by playing a game of tennis and sweating it out or pursue other passions. You have to choose the path that suits your personality. But the ultimate aim is to be in the present and lead a happy life. Feel blessed, feel grateful and feel abundance. Let your mind not be judgemental and complain and cling on to negativities. Willy nilly we provide the hook to hang the coat of negativity. Isn’t it? As Alice Walker said, “Look closely at the present you are constructing; it should look like the future you are dreaming.” In the pages that follow is a collection of articles on various facets of human life which is intrinsically connected with the mind.

The Amazing Power of the Human Mind

The Amazing Power of the Human Mind Realisation and awareness are two iconic qualities that shine the light on the amazing power of the human mind. Aeons ago lived, lived an ambitious king named Suddhodhana, chieftain of Sakyan republics. He was captivated with the thought of perpetuating the dynasty. However, his battle fatigued son Siddhartha, was not ensnared by the Mara of trappings and adornment of power, carnal pleasures and family life. Siddhartha eschewed violence, cast away royal clothing and adorned ochre robes in the search of quintessential truth. And over a period of seven years of intense and gut-wrenching tapas which transfigured his mind, he metamorphosed from Siddhartha to Gautama and then into the Buddha. It was at Sarnath that he delivered his first sermon on the Four Noble Truths, which was soon followed by the Eight-Fold Path for citizens to pursue. Upon attaining enlightenment, the Compassionate One dissected the bewildering characteristics of the human mind. He was soon to quantify, and in an unostentatious and plain sailing manner decree that. “We are what we think and our thoughts shape our lives.” A person may be a stock individual or a personality clouded and crowded with quotidian thoughts and practices, a seeker or a savant; all are governed by this cardinal principle of how the mind operates. In case the mind is bestowed with efficacious thoughts, humans are endowed with the enriching aura of positivity. This eclipses Sisyphean and nugatory thoughts and the persona is encompassed with the stamp of shimmering jollity which is alluring and attractive. However, if the human mind is cannonaded by antipathetic thoughts, there is depletion in the prana level. The mind is then not resplendent or robust nor suffused with ennobling thoughts. On the contrary the human mind is brim-full of gloom-ridden patterns which are distressing and obstructive. Individuals become mere retainers of negativity. Over a period of time, the mind that does not get propelled or fuelled to become empowered will not be able to unyoke itself from its negativity, rendering it unable to take up adultness and responsibility. Ironically, the moment an individual realises the magnetic potential and prowess of the human mind the Universe suddenly becomes magical in its desire to support all efforts. The mind remains an enigma. Our resoluteness and positivity are the lodestars to harness its embryonic ability. This is the key to scale the summit of triumph and glory. Once there was a Good Samaritan, Sudhakar (name changed). He happened to read the maiden effort of a civil servant called ‘Enormous Vistas of Human Mind’ and a few other articles that he had written. This gentleman, with some trepidation became a ‘Facebook friend’ of the mandarin and began persuading him to be interviewed by a few T.V. channels. However, the thought process of the public functionary- who was a recovered alcoholic- kept misdoubting and disbelieving the sincerity of the Facebook friend. In disgust, he ‘blocked’ and then ‘unblocked’ the gentleman, perhaps more to quell the pangs of his own conscience. Finally, in a dawdling manner and in sheer vexation he gave in to the entreaties of the ‘Facebook friend’. Soon an amazing pattern emerged and the government administrator was invited by several media houses and estimable institutions to deliver lectures as to how he combated and conquered the battle against the bottle. Only much later did he realise that Sudhakar had lost some close relatives to the perils of alcoholism, and that he found succour in espousing the cause of conquest over the disease. The autarchic mind of the bureaucrat was ossified and looking life through the prism of tunnel vision. One day, after a series of interviews, the functionary received a distress call from a lady, who had happened to listen to one of his interviews and was also reading the book penned by the bureaucrat, which captured his triumph over alcoholism. On receiving the call, he could empathise with the woman’s husband who was fighting a grim battle against alcoholism. He silently thanked his benefactor Sudhakar, who had provided the much-needed platform to address the grievous misadventure of millions of unfortunate souls. There was a sudden transmutation in the mind of the public servant. As tears of gratitude flowed from his eyes, he embarked upon the odyssey to combat this life-threatening disease in all sincerity. Realisation and awareness are two iconic qualities that shine the light on the amazing power of the human mind. Several centuries ago, Gautama Buddha was travelling with a group of disciples. The compassionate one felt thirsty and desired some water to quench his thirst. He asked a disciple to fetch some water from a nearby lake. The enthusiastic disciple rushed to the lake but was horrified to find the water turgid as a farmer had just crossed the lake on his bullock cart. He returned back remorsefully as he could not fulfil the wish of the holy Master. Buddha was to send the disciple a couple of times to fetch water to quench his thirst. But to the dismay of the tutee on each occasion the water remained dirty and turgid. While the devotees were fidgety and distraught, Buddha remained patient. Eventually, the devotee animatedly brought fresh water from the lake and offered it to the compassionate one. Buddha smiled and drank the water. He was to say, “You did nothing. The mud settled down and the water was purged of the impurities. Let your mind also settle all the dust accumulated over a period of time.” Make no effort, let the mind settle. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar succinctly says, “Effort is a state of the body and effortlessness is a state of the mind.” This can be achieved through regular and unflinching sadhana of yoga, pranayama, meditation and the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya. Thus, effortlessness is the trailblazing quality of mind. This is the state of total surrender, where the grace of Guru flows and miracles unfold.

Idea, Ikea and Intelligence: Knowledge and Wisdom

Idea, Ikea and Intelligence: Knowledge and Wisdom Two thousand five hundred years ago, a prince from the formidable Sakya dynasty, in the quest of reality and truth, discarded his monarchical apparel to adorn ochre robes, and went on to become to become Gautama the monk. He and his mind incessantly wandered till the attainment of truth and insight. Upon attaining enlightenment after performing arduous tapas, Gautama the monk became Buddha the Enlightened and Compassionate One. The mind of the prince turned Bhikkhu had become hollow and empty from within and without to realise the pristine verisimilitude. There is also the story of Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. Once a young evangelist who cast away the traditions and rituals of the Catholic order, only to serve the poor and infirm (particularly those afflicted by leprosy), she was first to become a sister, then Mother Teresa, after rendering selfless yeoman service to the populace of Kolkata (then Calcutta) and humanity at large. She was the fourth Indian to be canonised on September 4, 2016 and was set in stone as St. Teresa of Calcutta by Pope Francis for the phenomenal work and the miracles which have taken place. Buddha and St. Teresa were not confined to monasteries and convents respectively to live their lives as ascetics in contemplation, meditation, chastity, and poverty. Both were prototypical individuals who transcended boundaries to carve a niche for themselves by providing an alternative ideology. Meanwhile way back in the year 1943 a young Swedish national, Ingvar Kampard set up a company called IKEA. IKEA is an acronym for Ingvar Kampard Elmtaryd at Agunnaryd. Today it is one of the largest ready to assemble furniture companies in the world. These are individuals, who with their mettlesome moves hold the ordinary traveller’s gaze in askance. What differentiates them from the rest of the pack? It is not the opacity of their thought process, but looking for out-of-the-box solutions. While IKEA sets up furniture in our households, and Jio and WhatsApp provide the necessary seamless connectivity in communication, it is intriguing to decipher the letters of the acronym IKW. I stand’s for Intelligence, K signifies Knowledge and W represents Wisdom. Intelligence, Knowledge, and Wisdom need to be harnessed by humans in ample measure to metamorphose our minds and lives to become true achievers. In the wired world today, we are girdled with a far superior technology in comparison to a few decades ago, and are surrounded by a plethora of gizmos at our disposal. The product and service should necessarily be flexible, adaptable, and positively meant for public good. Only in such a scenario will the longevity of the article in question be ensured and assured. Siddhartha with his superior intelligence grasped that he was encumbered by misery and suffering; he gained knowledge through the various techniques of pranayama and meditation and ultimately wisdom dawned on him in the form of enlightenment. And today a seeker without living in the monastic order, living like any ordinary individual could attain and experience bliss and enlightenment by practicing the technique of Vipassana. Similarly, in the Art of Living, through the regular practice of the Sudarshan Kriya a seeker can live in the present moment by banishing antipathetic thoughts. St. Teresa of Kolkata too possessed enormous intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom to establish the order of the Missionaries of Charity to serve the distressed sections of humanity. The human mind should be developed into a sacred place, which is malleable to embrace positivity and confidence to harness the skills of intelligence and knowledge, so that the Gods bestow us with a bounty of wisdom.

Temples of South India

Temples of South India A temple is essentially a building devoted and dedicated to the worship of a god or a pantheon of gods. “I am a believer of all religions. I will happily visit a temple, a mosque and a church. I do not differentiate between religions,” once remarked the talented trouper, Rishi Kapoor. Nevertheless, temples in South India stand out as wondrous architectural expressions of religion, learning and spirituality that globetrotters and the devout throng in humungous numbers to explore their sheer majesty, gargantuan size and the wisdom imparted. The incantation of ancient Vedic mantras in the agama style of rendition suffuses the mind with efficacious thoughts. These chanting wade through the swathes of the human mind where antipathetic and Sisyphean thoughts get purged and humans are filled with radiance and jollity. A mind that is stretched by new experiences can never go back to its old dimensions; thus, it is with the peregrination to a temple or any place of worship. Tourists from across the globe display immense interest in exploring the intricately carved and aesthetically designed temples of South India. These temples form an integral part of the rich cultural heritage of the region. Temples in Kerala It is noteworthy to mention that the testimony to the variegated legacy left behind by the kings of era bygone is graphically captured in the temples of Kerala. The construction of these temples has been singularly influenced by the tropical climate of the region. The temples of the state are characterized by steep and pointed roofs which are enveloped with copper sheets. The popular and most famous of temples in Kerala, the Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple and the Mannaarshala near Thiruvananthapuram, the grandiose Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayur and the Vadakkunnathar Temple at Thrissur, are architectural gems. Millions of followers and tourists seeking redemption pay obeisance at these places of worship. Others marvel at the massive scale on which these temples were conceived and the science behind their construction. Temples in Karnataka Standing the test of time, the temples of Karnataka are exalted and acclaimed for their sheer architectural beauty. The rock -cut temples and temples constructed in Dravidian style are the pre-eminent attractions. These impressive shrines were built by the Chalukya dynasty. The temples built by the Hoysalas are characterized by the usage of a star shaped platform as the base of the temple. The monolithic pillars and sculptural motifs of these fabled temples distinguish them from other temples in South India. Some of the august and remarkable temples in Karnataka are the following: • The Chennakesava Temple situated at Hassan • The Virupaksha and Hemakuta Temples of Hampi • The Cave and Jain Temple embellished at Badami • The ISKCON Temple located at Bangalore (this last one is of course a very recent addition to the landscape of Karnataka) Temples in Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu is an abode of the most alluring and prepossessing temples of India. The glorious historical records of the era bygone indicate that the temples of the state were built by the potentates of Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Nayak and Vijaynagara dynasties. Carved out of rocks; these temples exhibit various architectural designs. Some are characterized by gigantic and mammoth halls and massive gopurams. A gopuram is the rising tower at the entrance of a temple which is embellished with intricate carvings and painted with a variety of mythological themes. The must-see list temples in Tamil Nadu includes several preeminent ones. The Meenakshi Temple was constructed in the honour of Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati and is situated in Madurai; the history of the temple dates back to the 18th century. The 12 stunning, towering gopurams of the temple are absolutely majestic and draw the attention of pilgrims and sightseers alike. The Rameswaram Temple is noteworthy for the longest corridor in the country and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Other captivating temples are the Kapileshwar Temple, the Shore Temple, the Sarangapani Temple, Sri Adhikesava Perumal Temple, the Brihadeshwara Temple and the Kanyakumari Amman Temple which attract pilgrims, architects and trippers in large numbers. Temples in Pondicherry The Union Territory of Pondicherry is home to around 350 temples which have been built in an impressive manner. The Varadaraja Temple and Villenour’s Thyirukameswarar Temple were constructed in the 12th century and to date, hold their own with their old-world charm. The Tiruvandar Siva temple, the Bahur temple and the Manakula Vinayakar temple are the other attractive temples where the faithful throng to seek divine benediction. Temples of Andhra Pradesh The state of Andhra Pradesh is dramatic in the assortment of historical monuments, architectural beauty, natural attractions and several holy temples that it houses. Among the exemplar temples of Andhra Pradesh are the Tirumala Temple at Tirupati, the Diguva Mangalagiri Temple and the temple at Srisailam, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Temples of Telangana Geographically, Telangana lies in the Deccan plateau. It has several places of tourist attraction, several heritage sites, historical monuments and ancient temples. The celebrated temples in Telangana region include the Yadagirigutta Temple, the Bhadrachalam Temple, the Birla Mandir at Hyderabad, the Thousand Pillar Temple, the Bhadrakali Temple and the Meenakshi Agasteeshwara Swami Temple. It is said that there are around three thousand temples in South India and it is worth every penny to visit these places of worship.

Harnessing Inner Potential

Harnessing Inner Potential HIS ALCOHOLISM BECAME A quotidian habit. Dharmendra was making a last-ditch effort as he boarded a flight from Jaipur to the Art of Living Ashram at Bangalore. Fortuitously, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had given him an appointment at 4pm that evening. Stinking of liquor, reeking of stale cigarettes, with an unsteady gait he landed at Bangalore airport. He needed a physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional, parachute. Only a ‘Master’ through grace could provide such a life support system. For some time, my friend was trying to seek redemption from the lethal disease of alcoholism. My inventory list was prepared: join a rehab, attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and undertake the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living. This was my road to sobriety. Gurudev, advanced the appointment to 11am, and on one glance asked my friend to get admitted to the Ayurveda Hospital in the Ashram for a complete detoxification of body, mind and soul, and after a 15-day rehab to undergo the Happiness Programme. T Harvekar, a psychologist writes, “If we challenge our minds and ourselves and make our container larger, we will watch the universe rush in to fill in the space.” The Guru had scripted a change in the life of Dharmendra, it was for his mind to grab the opportunity. But the monkey mind invented an excuse and Dharmendra left the Ayurveda Hospital and once again indulged in brinkmanship. He could not draw the redlines or flag the issues confronting his mind and succumbed to temptation. This typifies a weak and a fragmented mind. While the brain is an organ that serves as the centre of the nervous system, the mind is the faculty of consciousness and thoughts. It is an individual’s intellect, memory or the attention span and will, whose potential needs to be enhanced. It is said that vultures feed on the carcass of history. Similarly, my friend was not living in the present moment rather he was feeding on the past with no window of opportunity to escape the conundrum. Buddha further said, “Do not dwell in the past and do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” Such individuals are unable to break the patterns and barriers of the comfort zone. Their prana levels are exceedingly low. low and the pendulum of their mind’s swings to the past. They carry the burden of the past and attempt a course correction without any professional help (Guru) displaying false bravado in their imaginary worlds. They unfailingly try to also change the behavioural patterns of those close to them, essentially to market their point of view. Such minds invariably resort to short cuts in life, trying to please everyone without any success. Ignoring the larger picture, this is a cunning and selfish mind, which does not trust anyone: basically, short of confidence and haunted by fear. The human mind is an enigma. It has enormous

Sadhana in a Scientific Way

Sadhana in a Scientific Way Sudarshan Kriya is a unique rhythmic breathing technique which has been cognated by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. This breathing technique when practised properly brings back rhythm in the life of the practitioner. Everything in life has a rhythm. The sun rises at a particular time and sets at a particular time. Birds leave the sanctuary of their nests and return at a set time. Imagine listening to a guitar which is not strung properly. The seeker must necessarily follow a laid-down routine which enhances the quality of sadhana. The first step is to loosen the body and follow a strict yogic regimen to derive maximum benefit from the practice. Surya Namaskar – Sun Salutation The Sun God grants us the vital energy and radiance which provides us with enormous abundance in life. This illuminating star suffuses our lives with heat and light and consequently energizes our mind, body, and souls. Ayurveda extols the virtues of the Sun as the provider of health. Hence the worship of the Sun assumes tremendous significance. Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskar is more than a mere physical exercise. It exorcises fear from our mind. As per the Ramayana, Lord Rama was imparted this esoteric knowledge by the sages like Vashistha and Vishwamitra. A practitioner needs to be in total harmony with his breath (prana), sound and the physical movement while performing the Sun Salutation. Regular practice of the Sun Salutation increases our intuitive ability. The focus is on all parts of the body but particularly the solar plexus. The solar plexus which is normally the size of an almond enlarges to assume the size of a human palm through methodical and faithful practice. The physical exercise is an obeisance to the Sun and takes the form of twelve yogic postures, which are performed in a sequential manner of movements and flow. The practice should not be associated with any religion or a ritual. It has a deep spiritual connect with the cosmos and opens frontiers of profound dimensions of awareness and mindfulness. A fifteen-to-twenty-minute practice of the Sun Salutation augments the vitality and beauty of the yogic practitioner and makes him radiant. However, it should be remembered that this is more than a mere physical exercise. It is a sadhana to the life giver of this planet. Normally six to twelve sets of Surya Namaskars strengthen the body, mind, and build our intuitive abilities. This is followed by the practice of Padmasadhana (a sequence of yogic postures in Ujjayi breath (or the breath of victory). As per the Agama tradition, it is believed that the Devi (Goddess) is seated on a five-layered seat or asana. The base of this seat is a tortoise, which represents stability. The sadhak needs awareness as well to delve deep inside. Thus, the second layer is the snake, which represents awareness. Awareness propels activity in the mind. Now above the snake is perched the lion, which symbolizes grace. And seated atop the lion is the Siddha, the perfect sage. Finally, above the perfect sage is the lotus, which is symbolic of absolute blossoming. When the yoga postures have all the five qualities that is stability, awareness, grace, perfection, and full blossoming, only then does divinity dawn on the seeker and that is the quest of Padma Sadhana. This sequence ought to be made an integral part of our daily morning and evening yoga practice to unlock the inner energy. Upon completion of these yogic practices, the sadhak or practitioner must practise Sudarshan Kriya. This is a complete package of performing sadhana in a scientific manner.

Transforming the Mind

Transforming the Mind Recently I received a message on my cell," I am the son of Lord Krishna, I keep visiting Tirumala, yet I take drugs, why do I suffer, kindly help me?" My response was," Meet a psychiatrist, undergo counselling, and undertake a holistic programme of wellness. But the caller remained unsatisfied and kept pestering me with a flurry of such messages. This person was positively in a state of misery and fear. His crutch and life boat were Lord Krishna. The mind of the caller was both fragmented and deeply disturbed. He appeared to be in a state of imbalance Patanjali Yoga Sutras have identified the following as root causes of miseries in life- Avidya, Asmita, Raga, Dwesha and Abhinivesha. 1) Avidya- This is nothing but lack of knowledge or ignorance. Everything around us keeps changing constantly. It could be our cells, blood, stomach linings, hair to name some. But we are oblivious of the change. 2) Asmita- Is our intellect and our self. We get stubbornly stuck to our opinions. Like the caller was fixated with the idea that he was the child of Lord Krishna and stay put at Tirumala. Yet he was partaking drugs. 3) Raga- This is nothing but craving. Normally craving arises out of certain pleasurable experiences of the past. It has deep imprint on the mind. But such impressions only aggravate our wants and misery 4) Dwesha- Is nothing but hatred. Hatred is antithetical to craving. Though it arises out of craving, the premise is an unpleasant experience. This could be because of certain tragic moments in the past or unrealistic expectations which do not materialize. 5) Abhivivesha- This is fear of the unknown. An emotion which affects all of us. Only a clairvoyant sage through penance and austerity overcomes this barrier. The caller proclaiming to be the son of Lord Krishna was in obvious pain and agony. He could experience ecstasy only through scientific help that is, consulting a psychiatrist, taking proper medication a wellness programme. The troubled individual’s mind could have undergone say the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living or Vipassana to combat fear. But he remained an escapist by not attending them. This is how a how a fragmented and an escapist mind reacts. The caller continued to escape and obviate the inevitable. It keeps hunting for excuses, alternatives. Invariably the cloak of negativity and ignorance shrouds the mind from combating the problem. Exercising all love, caution, and care, I asked him to chant " OM NAMAHA SHIVAYA" - 108 times thrice a day to purge his mind from all negative thoughts and by making positive affirmations through writing" I AM HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL". This task was also to be done thrice daily 108 times; and the Tapas to be continued for 41 days. In case a day is missed for some reason, to repeat the process again for 41 days. Such signals to the mind are extremely useful and powerful. The mind then responds to positivity and discards negative feelings and emotions. He has not contacted me thus far. Presumably, he has embarked on the journey of Tapas and hopefully has found support and a beacon of light in the dark tunnel. His Ishta Devata, Lord Krishna wielded Sudarshan Chakra wading through negativity and impurity. Sudarshan Kriya, Pranayama, Yoga and Meditation will certainly swathe through the cobwebs of his troubled mind and increase his Prana, Chi, or energy to obliterate the negativity. I am waiting for the 41 days to end so that he can be happy, healthy, and peaceful and lead a purposeful life.