www.lifepositive.com
YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMPANION
PAGE 26
PAGE 15
Meet Jaya Kishori: A mentor to millions
PAGE 20
PAGE 56
Subscriber copy
August 2022
SAVE THE EARTH WITH CIRCULAR ECONOMY
JOMO
The Joy of Missing Out
Can money buy happiness?
Dear Reader,
A New Earth
Are you noticing what I have been noticing for some time? That the wheel of destiny has caught unprecedented speed. Not only is falsehood getting rapidly exposed, but the good, too, is fast coming to fruition. Therefore, if you want to do something good for society, this is the time for it. You will see growth in less time and effort. Furthermore, if there has been something you have been working hard for, for a long time, you will see your efforts bearing fruit eventually.
Mother Earth is ready to step up to a higher frequency, and many new, sustainable, and exciting ideas of energy generation, consumption, and interdependent living are fast surfacing. We have covered ‘ethanol economy’ in the past and Life Positive is ready to publish more such articles. This month, the lead story is based on the concept of ‘circular economy.’
There is a new breed of thoughtful innovators who don’t want to leave Mother Earth behind in their quest for success and economic growth. They have come up with the idea of a circular economy, where the waste produced by one factory becomes raw material for another, thus leaving the earth free to breathe and nurture other equally important life forms. Come to think of it, there is nothing revolutionary about this idea. Nature is self-sustaining, and had it not been for the greed and impatience of our predecessors, we would have formulated this system long ago, just by observing how Nature works. However, there is a time for everything, as said earlier, and the time has come for such ideas.
I have often heard that money ceases to bring you happiness after a certain point when you have fulfilled all your desires. But is it really true? Imagine the amount of happiness you can experience if you use that extra money to fund charities, distribute scholarships, finance medical treatment of the underprivileged, and help the cause of Mother Earth and the environment? We have an article on
this correlation of money with happiness, and I hope that it will give you enough food for thought. These and many such enjoyable and thought-provoking articles constitute the August issue of Life Positive. Enjoy it.
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August 2022Vol. 26Issue 05
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losZ HkoUrq lqf[ku~%] losZlUrq fujke;k%
losZ Hknzkf.k i’;Urq] ekdf’pn~nq%[kHkkd~Hkosr!
May all beings be happy, May all be healthy, May people have the well-being of all in mind, May nobody suffer in any way. — Vedic prayer
Edited by Shivi Verma. Printed and published by
Aditya Ahluwalia on behalf of Life Positive Pvt. Ltd. from F1/9, First floor, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase - I,
New Delhi-110020
Printed at M.P. Printers, B-220, Phase 2 Noida, 201305 Member, Indian Newspaper Society
4 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
26
LEAD STORY
The circle of life
The concept of circular economy can solve the mounting waste problem caused by hyper- consumerism
20
CLOSE ENCOUNTER
Mentor to a million
Jaya Kishoriji shares invaluable lessons from the scriptures to enhance our life
15
HEARTSPEAK
The Joy of Missing Out
The author basks in the now without striving to do something
06 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
40
FOOD
It’s teatime folks
An account of healthy herbal teas to keep those sinuses clear this monsoon
48
LIFE
The balancing act
Effective methods to take charge of one’s life and live fully
53
EPIPHANY
The four stages of creative thinking
Chisel your faculty of out-of-the-box thinking
56
CONTEMPLATION
Money and happiness
Wise use of money creates positivity and not mere accumulation of it
Investigation Incubation
Illumination Verification
REGULAR COLUMNS
Response 08 Mandala 10 Yoga 14
Aha-moments Sharing Spirit
46 60 55
Mudra 63 Banyan Tree 65
Cover photo: Adobe Stock, Photo credit: Adobe Stock, Cover design: Sandeep Kumar
Total pages 68, including the cover page and the back cover
Contents 07
RESPONSE
www.lifepositive.com
YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMPANION
THE POWER OF BEING AUTHENTIC
PAGE 26
How to achieve work life balance
PAGE 45
Young YouTubers on a mission
PAGE 57
The ISF 2022 is back
in Coimbatore
PAGE 51
Subscriber copy
July 2022
Shining like the sun
The lead story, The power of Authenticity in the July 2022 issue Life Positive was a delight to read. In the present times, we are incessantly pounded with so much talk on self-help, and motivation that we miss out on being authentic and the challenges that it might bring forth. Authenticity is so fundamental to our spiritual and personal growth yet it doesn’t even occur to most people. There is a black hole of noise all around us and an article on authenticity is like a sun emerging from it for all of us. I request everyone who is interested in self-growth to read this article.
Panneer Selvam, Hosur
Hope floats
Reading about the difficulties overcome by Vishwas, in the article Swimming through life’s challenges in the July 2022 of Life Positive made me optimistic.
He overcame many difficulties and then took up swimming to win the Olympics. This made me realise how we often give up even against small challenges. Thank you Life Positive for letting us know about such amazing people.
Vikram Patel, Hyderabad
The power of right diet
I loved the food column of Naini Setalvad Heal the heartburn in the July issue of Life Positive.
It reminded me of all the seniors in my family who maintained that most things could be set right with a suitable diet depending on one’s state of health. Naini brought out the plus points of many items that are easily available. In an era where most of us rush to the doctor for every little issue, it would help if we could follow the guidelines stated by her in a thorough and meticulous manner to make us gain a holistic understanding of diet.
Sharada Kamat via email
A wonderful article
The balancing act article in July 2022 issue of Life Positive was wonderful to read. I have gone through the episodes of feeling guilty for not giving enough time to my children and having stressful moments with them. Most of us who are working and have no parental support have to face this. I really like the suggestions Archana Raghuraman made in the article. Thank you Life Positive for coming up with this.
Vaishali Mehta, Chennai
The guru’s magic
The article Beyond Science and Spirituality by Kusum Rasala in the July 2022 issue had many insights for all of us. She showed us how following a true guru does result in the manifestation of many spiritual experiences in our life. May all true seekers find their true masters.
Seetalakshmi Narayan, Bangalore
08 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
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India gets a spiritual President
Ideal and rare; India is blessed with a spiritual and strong president
Very often, we think people are just born lucky. The fact is people make themselves an inspiration through their resilience and hard work. One such inspiration is our newly elected president, Draupadi Murmu.
Coming from the Santhal tribal community in Odisha, she has been through many struggles in her life. In a span of just a few years, she lost her husband, two sons, mother and brother. All these happened one and after another and she just did not know what to do, and whom to turn to. However, in such a time, instead of giving up, she became a keen practitioner of meditation, She used the techniques taught
by the Brahma Kumaris, and connected with the Brahma Kumari Sansthan in Mount Abu. People at Mt Abu remember her and are very fond of her as she always connected with the values of the Brahmakumaris.
Slowly but steadily, her relationship with this institution strengthened and she learnt Raja Yoga to relieve stress. She has been part of many programmes of the institute and practises meditation regularly.
Her daughter Itishree, a bank employee, in interviews with media has said that her mother showed “exemplary composure” in the face of challenges. Mostly seen wearing traditional Odia saris in shades of white, she just picked up the threads of her life and returned to work. Her daughter says, she put her sadness behind and was always seen smiling.
She was made governor of Jharkhand in 2015 and continued on the same post till 2021.
Government employees remember her as being fair-minded, soft-spoken and having good understanding of the administration. She did not interfere in general governance, but whenever she observed that the government did not take the right decision, she returned the bill. Draupadi Murmu is a living example of a person who can handle all kinds of challenges and emerge a victor. Being a meditator herself, she knows the spiritual core and strength of India and is likely to take it forward. Kudos to our new President, a woman of great inner strength and character.
10 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
– By Jamuna Rangchari
Brahmarshi becomes one with Brahman
Brahmarshi Patriji merges with the Supreme
I remember seeing Brahmarshi Patriji for the first time at a Life Positive Expo a few years ago. He was playing a flute and watching him, the first thing that came to mind was Lord Krishna.
Brahmarshi Patriji was born in 1947 and left Planet Earth to merge with the Supreme in August 2022. He advised everyone to meditate regularly, preferably in a pyramid, as he considered pyramids to have a lot of energy. He always asked people to remain non-violent and become vegetarians, if they were not already so.
Patriji spoke a lot about the simple Anapanasati Meditation technique, and I can certainly
vouch for the fact that this simple technique of concentrating on one’s breath became a part of many people’s lives (including mine) due to its efficacy. Another thing that I remember clearly is his being approachable to all and being extremely grounded despite being so knowledgeable. For instance, numerous people asked him how the simple concentration on one’s breath could help anyone, but he never failed to respond with patience and even shared his own experience many times. In his reply to a young child, he told her how lucky she was as she had learnt this technique very early in life.
Patriji himself practised various types of meditations, researched their efficacy, and became enlightened in 1979. He then worked hard to awaken and enlighten seekers. As he had found his calling, he resigned from his job in a fertiliser company in 1992 and focussed on uninterrupted service and guidance to all. His efforts, since 1992, have resulted in hundreds of Pyramid Spiritual Societies being established throughout India, especially Andhra Pradesh, the first one being in Kurnool. Being a flautist, he also knew the power of music on one’s mind to turn it towards spirituality.
Seeing Patriji’s dedication and focus on spirituality, many spiritual masters came together to confer the title of ‘Brahmarshi’ on Patriji.
I am certain that though he has left us in the physical plane, his presence and guidance will always remain with us and motivate us to move on the right path. We, at Life Positive, are grateful for being on this planet and being a part of the efforts to make a spiritual difference in the world.
– By Jamuna Rangchari
Mandala 11
Tilling goes hi-tech
Tukaram Sonawane and Sonal Veljali, a couple from Pune, did what we hope all of new India will do. They used their technical skills to set up a company Krishigati to aid Indian farmers, seeing all the difficulties they faced. They found that their engineering and innovative technology skills were not put to use to solve society’s problems. Agriculture was somehow neglected by innovation and technology. Although some innovations were available, they were very expensive.
They sincerely began working in this area. Their inspiration was the whole farming community as well as their parents and family members, who have contributed positively to their efforts. When they started their journey, ironically, the farmers who were facing issues helped them in finding solutions. Their inputs helped the couple manufacture an electric bull, which is now available in the market.
All their team members, who are from a farming background, have faced challenges, but they see every challenge as an opportunity. After numerous
discussions and brainstorming, the team met with success. Both feel that the future is very bright for them as well as the farmers. They are always trying to give the farmers sustainable solutions for each of their problems to help them reduce their operational costs and earn well.
In the future, Tukaram and Sonal plan to bring value-added products to the farmers. In India, as agriculture is the primary source of livelihood, around 58 per cent of the population depends on agriculture, but their contribution to the GDP is only 19.9 per cent, which is less, compared to the population. The duo help to cut down farming operational expenditure by around 20–70 per cent and indirectly contribute to doubling the income of marginal farmers with Krishigati’s mechanisation techniques.
Tukaram and Sonal are in the process of building a network of people from all over India. They wish to help farmers on a national level and are confident that their innovation will help the agriculture sector overcome its problems.
12 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
The powerpack duo from Pune who made the lives of farmers easy
– By Jamuna Rangchari
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YOGA
Legs up!
The Legs-up-the-wall pose, helps the nervous system, improves digestion and prevents varicose veins, says
Kamala Venkat
V iparita Karani is also known as Legs-up- the-wall pose. In Sanskrit Viparita means “inverted” and Karani means “inaction”.
This this pose is exactly opposite to what happens in our body when we sit or stand. Though this pose is
Simple it is hugely beneficial to the body if we perform it.
Method:
• Lie down on a mat, with legs straight, and the whole body in one line and hands by the sides of your thighs. (Place your mat near the wall and lie down in such a way that your toes are facing the wall).
• Slowly lift your both the legs up and try to position yourself in such a way so that your tailbone is pointed at the base of the wall. (Slowly move your hips as close as possible to the wall).
• Slowly start walking your feet up the wall until your body forms an L shape.
• You can adjust your body in this pose till you feel relaxed. You can use a pillow under your head or back. Keep your arms a bit away from your body and place your palms facing the roof.
• You can hold this pose for five to 20 minutes.
• Then slowly fold your both the legs to your stomach, roll to your side and sit with the support
of your palm.
Benefits:
• Smoothens your nervous system.
• Relaxes lower back neck and shoulders.
and standing
• Relaxing pose for professionals
runners • Prevents varicose veins.
• Improves digestion.
Contraindication
Mrs. Kamala Venkat is a homemaker with a great passion for YOGA. Inspired by Shri Swami Ramdev of Patanjali, she has been an ardent yoga lover and has been practising it with complete dedication for the last 20 years. She has done a Yoga Instructors’ course from VYSA(Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana)
14 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
• Avoid practising if you have high blood pressure. • If you have glaucoma or other eye problems you
should avoid the pose.
• Pregnant or menstruating women should avoid
practicing.
HEARTSPEAK
Joy Of Missing Out
Ajay Kalra revels in the joy of just being in the now and not striving to do something
Heartspeak 15
Our alienation from Existence, makes us believe we have to do something to make our life happen. If we did not do something, life would come to a grinding halt. We would waste our time. It is the way our socially conditioned mind keeps itself alive. Constantly propelled by the fear of being a nobody.
S itting here in a mountain village in Dharamshala, I wonder what must be happening back in Mumbai, the city
I have lived in most of my life. People rushing to offices, trains running in quick succession, street vendors shouting to sell their wares, corporate executives grabbing a quick bite between meetings. A normal day in the city.
As I gaze at the mountains covered with a thick forest of pine trees, against the backdrop of a clear blue sky, listening to the twittering sound of birds chirping, inhaling fresh green air, I feel as though time has slowed down. Nowhere to go, nothing to do. Sitting on the veranda of my homestay, I close my eyes, stretch my legs, and soak in the morning sun.
Suddenly, the phone rings. It’s a friend. “I need to do something. I feel I am becoming complacent,” she says, with a tone of dissatisfaction. As I finish the call, I wonder,
Am I being complacent? Shouldn’t I be doing something—arranging workshops, designing retreats, getting my book published, looking for office space? Am I missing out on life? Will I be left behind? Will I run out of money?
These questions make me realise something.
Most of my life has been fuelled by fear. Fear Of Missing Out. FOMO. Missing out on opportunity, success, and pleasure. Something that would enhance me or help me achieve what I wish to do or become.
I cannot recall any moment in my life when my mind was not wanting or imagining some future goal, situation, or relationship that would fulfil it. Always hoping, wishing, fantasising, longing, craving for something: If only this happened, life would be better. Irrespective of what happened in my life, this projecting tendency of the mind always remained.
16 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
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+91-9711112609 or [email protected]
Heartspeak 17
Ambition is a strong desire to do or achieve something. An aim or a plan for the future. It propels us to action, motivates us, gives us a sense of direction. It also makes us anxious, nervous, and depressed, if things do not go as planned.
Intention creates tension.
The tension between ‘what is’ and ‘what should be’ has become an integral part of our life. It is as though our lives are split into two. One life is what is happening in this moment, and the other life is the one we live in our heads—the desired life; the imagined life. We are constantly trying to bridge the gap between reality and imagination. This is the burden of modern-day life. Better, bigger, greater, larger, grander. The hope for future fulfilment. But this never happens. Whenever we reach our goalpost, it moves further away. Our mind is kept alive by the insatiable need to satiate itself.
I remember one of the cherished moments of my boarding school life. All the students participating in the Inter-School Sports Meet were exempted from giving their half-yearly exams. We were to focus on our sporting activity, were given a special diet, and could rest in the afternoon. I was delighted! I no longer had the burden to study and excel. I could just be.
Growing up on a diet of doing, no one teaches us how to be. Just existing. Just breathing. Just present. In our need to be extraordinary, we miss out on the extraordinariness of the ordinary. The silent mountains. The splendid sunset. The joyful breath. The gentle touch. The playful laughter. The cool breeze. The fragrant earth. The pouring rain.
Life is not something that we make for ourselves. Life is something that happens to us.
Our alienation from Existence, makes us believe we have to do something to make our life happen. If we did not do something, life would come to a grinding halt. We would waste our time. It is the way our socially conditioned mind keeps itself alive. Constantly propelled by the fear of being a nobody.
Everything in nature has its dharma. The seed of a banyan tree does not have to try to become a banyan tree; it is in its nature to do so. The koel does not have to try to sing like a koel; it is in its nature to do so. The rose does not have to try to smell like a rose; it is in its nature to do so. Similarly, every human has a natural self- expression. It makes them curious, creative, inspired, and engaged. If we are able to unpeel the layers of social conditioning that compels us to constantly do something, we are likely to stumble upon our swabhava (real nature).
When I go for my evening walk, I often see an old man returning from his walk on the same path. He carries a small backpack out of which juts out a big wooden flute. He happens to stay near my place. Every night when it is silent, I hear the melodious notes of a flute coming from his home.
If we are able to let go of the fear of missing out, we will come across the Joy Of Missing Out. JOMO. Living life without constantly thinking about what to do next. Just being present to life happening now. It’s possible then, in the silent stillness of our existence, that the Universe will produce a natural melody from the empty flute of our Being.
18 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
Doing emanates from Being.
Until that happens, I have decided to just be. Eat. Sleep. Walk. Write. Teach. Just do what comes naturally to me, with the least effort. Even if I am being complacent, I do not mind. After all, I have spent a whole lifetime trying to get somewhere.
Perhaps the time has come to be nowhere.
Now-Here.
Ajay Kalra
Ajay Kalra is a life coach, psychologist, yoga teacher and an author. He teaches principles of mindful living through his monthly online classes, workshops, writing, and YouTube videos.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Heartspeak 19
CLOSE ENCOUNTER
Mentor to a million
Pradeep Krishnan talks to Jaya Kishoriji on the importance of inculcating the invaluable lessons from the scriptures to enhance our life journey
Ashort video clip on WhatsApp caught my attention. A cute, young, fair girl, smiling beatifically, with a small red bindi on her forehead, dark hair tucked neatly at the back with a black band, in a white churidar and saffron-coloured shawl, was giving a talk: ‘I can and I will.’ The intermittent soulful rendering of bhajans invited all-round applause from the audience. She spoke about smart work, tips to overcome failures, and the need for a spiritual orientation in life, and declared that one must have the attitude in life that until one wins, the game is not over. Hearing her mature words at once prompted me to know more about her.
20 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
Born on July 13, 1995, in Kolkata, to Shiv Shankar Sharma and Sonia Sharma, Jaya Sharma imbibed her first lessons in spirituality through the stories from the Puranas and the bhajans that her grandparents sang. At the age of seven, singing Krishna Bhajans, she enthralled the audience on a Vasant Panchami day, and at 10, she started giving public talks on Sundara Kanda from the Ramayana.
Since then, Ms. Jaya Kishori, as she is affectionately addressed, never looked back. Her talks soon extended to the Bhagavata, the Bhagavad Gita, and other scriptures. She is of the view that scriptures like the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, and the Bhagavad Gita are invaluable in our lives. “Each and every person mentioned in the scriptures teaches valuable lessons of life. They facilitate the understanding of the true meaning of life, and the relatable experiences teach us how to handle tough situations. The answers to all our questions lie in the scriptures,” she says.
She has a million followers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. She focusses on nurturing faith and positivity in people and inspires them to lead a peaceful life. Stressing the importance of moulding one’s character, she says that the key to a successful life depends on good parenting so that children grow into competent, successful, and, more importantly, good human beings.
For her outstanding contributions in the spiritual arena, she has won several awards and recognitions: the Samaj Ratan Award from Narayan Sewa Sansthan, Udaipur; the Sanskar Artist of the Year 2013-2014 from the Sanskar Channel, Mumbai; the Adarsh Yuwa Adhyatmik Guru Puruskar, instituted by the Bhartiya Chattra Sansad, Pune, in 2016; the Youth Spiritual Icon by Fame India Magazine;
and the Women’s Era award. Recently, an NGO, Fidatians Helping Hands, bestowed on her the Kanya Kavach honour for her outstanding contributions to women’s empowerment. A large part of her income is spent on various charitable activities.
Listening to some of her talks on YouTube prompted me to register for her session, Spiritual Well-Being, which focussed on a “life that feels good on the inside, not just outside.” During the one-hour interactive programme, narrating the incidents from the scriptures, Jayaji offered practical tips on attaining mental peace and stability, studying the scriptures, knowing one’s duty, moving away from negativity, having absolute faith in the Divine, writing a daily diary, practising detachment, finding a mentor to learn the scriptures, avoiding blaming others, and meditating.
When contacted, Jaya Kishoriji, who lives in Kolkata with her parents and sister Chetna Sharma, promptly consented to an online interview with Life Positive.
Q. Jayaji, how did you come to the spiritual path, and who is your guru?
My spiritual journey started at the tender age of seven. Being born and brought up in a religious environment, my childhood was filled with stories of the Almighty as well as values taught by the elders of my family. This sparked a love for spiritualism in me and inspired me to become a spiritual orator and motivational coach. I have always believed that all that I have achieved till date was not planned but destined to happen, and by God’s grace, it shall keep moving in the same direction.
I consider my parents my first gurus because of the life lessons they have taught me. Every person I meet, every challenge I face, and every
Close encounter 21
Sometimes the problems of your life can be solved by changing yourself instead of changing others.
failure of my life is a source of learning. All my life, I have had several gurus who have helped me in finding the purpose of my life.
Q. Do you often miss the normal life of an ordinary college girl?
Yes, sometimes I do, but at the same time, I love the work I am doing. I have been blessed with so many wonderful opportunities and friends around the world, so the things that I have sacrificed in life do not matter much to me.
Q. At a very young age, you have become a guru, teacher, guide, friend, and motivator to hundreds of people. What do you consider yourself to be?
I do not consider myself a guru, and I request people to not consider me as one. I strongly believe that Lord Krishna is the universal guru, as his teachings are life-changing. I do not give diksha (initiation) or make anyone my student. I feel loved and respected when people consider me as their friend, guide, philosopher, or helper. I am always happy to help people.
Q. How can one achieve one’s purpose in life?
The purpose of human life is to acknowledge the fact that success and failure were never the purpose; the purpose was always to learn and live from the experiences and challenges thrown at us. We have been given the life of human beings to utilise our God-given talents to help the needy, lessen the pain of our fellow human beings, and make the world a better
place for everyone. The purpose of our lives can be achieved if we are dedicated to it; it demands passion, discipline, and patience. By being spiritually strong, the path becomes easier to walk on, as we are in a much more peaceful and calm state of mind.
Q. How are values and virtues important in the present age?
Values and virtues help to enrich our experiences in life. At times, when we are in a dilemma, or when our mind is in conflict regarding a doubt, a strong value system facilitates decision- making. It is very important to know that values may differ from person to person, but principles are universal—they do not change. Values are of different types such as biological values, psychological values, intellectual values, moral values, and cultural values. All these values have their importance and power over our beliefs, character, behaviour, and spirituality. So, a strong value system will definitely lead to a peaceful life.
Q. Do you think that today’s youth are aimless wanderers? Why do they get easily depressed, fall prey to suicide, and become drug and alcoholic addicts?
I don’t consider them aimless wanderers. Rather, our youth are exceptionally intelligent and capable of forging a bright future. However, they lack the proper guidance that they search for due to a lack of true mentors. The system needs to bring a change in the way life lessons and values are taught to the youngsters. Previously, we had the gurukul system of
22 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
Close encounter 23
learning, where each student had a guru who would guide them in all aspects of life till the day the student was ready for the world. But nowadays, learning has become a race. It is not about values or behavioural learning anymore. It is not about how to be a good human being but about inculcating a materialistic mindset in children’s minds, where one who gets the highest marks or earns the most is given importance. Due to this, parents are setting higher goals for their children, not realising how this behaviour is adversely affecting them. This gap, between the expectation of the parent and the capability of the child, needs to be addressed with good parenting so that our children are close to us, share their problems with us, and do not suffer alone in pain when faced with any problem in life. By addressing these issues, we can understand and help each other so that our youth do not fall into any of these self-destructive habits. Listening to each other will always help in overcoming misunderstandings and reducing pain.
Q. In your talks, including motivational sessions, why do you often narrate stories from the scriptures?
The stories contain valuable teachings for all of us to imbibe. Let me share three life teachings from the Mahabharata:
In the company of Shakuni, who poisoned the relationship between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, the latter’s negative emotions— hatred, jealousy, and aggression—towards the Pandavas, grew stronger and stronger. On the other hand, had it been Krishna, he would have guided them to be on the path of righteousness, making them understand the power of love over hatred. So, it is important to be surrounded by friends who always try to lift one up.
Every struggle, failure, or loss in life teaches us a deep lesson. During their years in exile, the Pandavas went through innumerable difficulties, painful experiences, and struggles. The lessons they learnt and the struggles they underwent made them ready for the war and, ultimately, made them victorious on the battlefield. In life, everyone will have to face success and failure as well as stressful situations and happy times. These first-hand experiences play a major role in shaping our lives. When faced with adversity, instead of getting scared and restless with fear, we must try to learn the lesson behind it and control our minds to be ready for the life ahead.
Being human, one must possess feelings like kindness, caring, and attentiveness. However, being too sentimental is a weakness; one is not able to view the thing or the person one is sentimental about in the right perspective, and ultimately, it leads to problems. Dhritarashtra was a good king, a good husband, and a good father, but his extremely blind attachment to his children made him take the wrong decisions that led to the battle of Kurukshetra. Had he paid proper attention to the mistakes of his children and punished them, perhaps, the war could have been avoided. The story teaches that by becoming overly emotional and attached, one tends to neglect the negative traits of the other and thus invites unfavourable life situations.
Q. How can one benefit from the study of the scriptures?
Our scriptures teach us valuable lessons on how to live our lives with peace, patience, love for all, compassion, walking on the path of righteousness, personal growth, and many more. I request everyone to read the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavata and share their experiences. But mere listening or reading will
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not help. One must practise these three things: shravana (hearing with concentration), chintan (comprehending the meaning), and manana (contemplating). I have a video on my channel explaining this topic.
Q. Have you ever felt any limitation as a woman? What is your advice to young women? The media is increasingly reporting atrocities on girls and women. What is the way out?
As a strong, independent woman, I believe it is my duty to stand up for our women. I am forever grateful to my parents for raising me with the respect and freedom that every woman wishes to receive in life. Women empowerment is a very crucial step for all of us to unite together and make a safe working and living environment for us and our future generations.
My advice to young women is to be confident and not let limitations stop them from achieving their goals. The journey is tough, so at moments when you need a ray of sunshine, always remember the powerful women who made history by standing tall and making a mark in the world by not letting the world limit them or decide what they were capable of doing. Learn from the great and become the greatest.
Yes, I too deal with a lot of limitations and
negative people who try to pull me down and not let me fulfil my dreams, but with the support of my family members at every step, I conquer these situations. I would say women are unsafe and treated unfairly on monetary grounds in most parts of the world and not just in India.
Q. Jayaji’s message to the readers, especially the youth?
Inculcate spirituality in your lives. Spirituality is the process of being fully aware of yourself and your surroundings. It is a process to realise the greater purpose of life. Self-realisation is one of the most important aspects of spirituality. In order to comprehend the different situations of our lives from a wider perspective, we need spirituality.
There are certain virtues associated with spirituality, like compassion, empathy, and open-heartedness. Before interacting with people, we must first try to listen to our own thoughts and address them. Here is where spirituality comes into the picture; the path of Self-realisation addresses our fears and provides solutions on how to overcome them.
If we are spiritually strong and we know who we are, only then will we be able to help others and take care of them. The sooner we understand this, the better it is for us.
Pradeep Krishnan
Pradeep Krishnan is a student of consciousness, based in Kerala. A seeker by nature, he is deeply attracted to the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Close encounter 25
LEAD STORY
26 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
The Circle of
Life
A new breed of innovators, who are inspired by nature, is growing across the globe to deal with the mounting waste problem created by present day hyper-consumerism, says Rishi Rathod
Lead story 27
T here is an idea that can improve our life-favouring circumstances. And it’s been
lives and save our planet. And the
idea is not new; it is as ancient as our mother earth or human history. It is that, in naturefrom the microcosm to the macrocosm, everything is connected and circular. It is not linear. The seasons are circular. The course of water over the earth is circular. It evaporates from the sea, condenses to form clouds, then falls from the skies, circulates through the world, nourishing life, and then goes back into the sea. The plant kingdom absorbs CO2 (carbon dioxide) and releases oxygen, which helps sustain animal and human life. And this cycle of creation, sustenance, and destruction (decomposition) continues. It is this incredible intermingling of the same elements (earth, wind, fire, water, and ether) over and over again that creates everything on earth.
This circularity is prevalent all over the planet and has super-intelligence built into it, which creates zero waste in the end. Take pond water that has so many living organisms. The living organisms creates an ecosystem where plants, algae, and photoautotrophic bacteria turn the carbon dioxide present in the water into a usable form. This carbon is then passed from one organism to another during predation. Fish excrete nitrogen, which helps the aquatic plants survive, and in return, the fish get weeds, algae, and plants for their survival. Likewise, bacteria and algae in ponds and soil are responsible for changing nitrogen gas into ammonia, which is used by plants to survive. The ecosystem generates oxygen, promotes the carbon and nitrogen cycle, and releases nutrients that, otherwise, would be locked up in nature. It’s a system that creates everything it needs and doesn’t waste anything. It’s an amazing systemic miracle when you think about it. The ecosystem is a complex mechanism which self-regulates to create
28 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
doing it remarkably well for over three billion years. We must, as humanity, realise that the whole earth is actually one cohesive system where everything is interrelated and self- balancing. Sadly, we humans are disturbing the balance.
Time for a paradigm shift
In our daily lives, we never question exponential economic growth or how the economy works. For most of us, money equals wealth, and wealth equals power. But it’s time for a paradigm shift towards newer ideas that have implications for the economy, finance, and everyday living as well.
Even though we are in the 21st century, we have yet to evolve and mature as humanity. The world works in a linear fashion. We think of the economy as a machine in which we push natural and human resources and which throws out products that, after consumption, end up in landfills. It works marvellously well when the economy is relatively small. It works to go into the forest and chop down a tree once every three years to fuel your fire, but if you continue to cut nonstop, eventually, you won’t have any trees left. So, scale matters. We, at the moment, are at a time in history where the scale is pushing against the limits of the finite planet. And we’ll either reset, or cause irreparable damage to ourselves and the planet. We must remember that we are part of a bigger system—something that we used to know but have forgotten in our quest for modernity.
We have created a system which uses resources to produce items, consumes them, and then discards the remains, which is purely a capitalistic way of living. But changing times are compelling us to re-evaluate this production and consumption model.
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What is a circular economy?
The current system that we follow is a linear economy. This means we make something, sell something, use something, and throw away something. We take, we consume, we dispose of. But in a circular or circularity economy, we try to keep everything in the loop. We don’t throw anything away; there’s no waste. And so, we can reuse the resources for a long time. In this model, we are trying to mimic nature, where there is no waste. In nature, the circulation and reuse of resources are endless. Is it possible that we can do the same with our technical resources?
Himanshu Barola (41), who runs a company called Everything Recycles, believes that the idea of using everything to avoid waste is not new. It has been around the human society and civilization for a long time. Everything was recycled and refurbished; and nothing ever went to waste. As we urbanised and the population increased dramatically, single- use became a huge problem. He says, “In our society, a single piece of cloth that was created would be used till the end. From wiping the
body to cleaning the surfaces, and in many cases filling the cracks of the walls that cloth would be used.”
But the invention of plastic has changed many things in our society. Only nine per cent of plastic is recycled worldwide: OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development).
(https://www.deccanherald.com/ international/only-9-of-plastic-recycled- worldwide-oecd-1084068.html). We and future generations will have to deal with it in the coming times.
He says, “Our system of design, economy, and consumption has to become zero waste for us to save this planet. We create 2000 new chemicals every year whereas over half the natural world is made of just two chemical compounds.” We need to understand that all those single-use materials that we throw away, do not vanish from earth; in reality, there is no such thing as ‘away.’ He further adds, “It’s all Western trash; containers are actually filled with trash
Fashion is one of the biggest polluters and has a huge amount of carbon footprint. It is one of the most environmentally damaging industries in the world. And we are all contributors to this major problem
– Arthur Huang
30 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
material labelled as ‘recycled’, material. Most of our developed countries just ship the trash directly into Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.. Polluting China, Malaysia, and India is the same as polluting Europe. It eventually gets there.”
Rethink fashion
Which is the biggest industry causing landfills? The answer: the fashion industry. Most people don’t bat an eyelid while buying anything, as many cheap fabrics are available across Asia, thanks to the mass production of synthetic materials and fibres. Structural engineer and architect, Arthur Huang, who runs a company that deals with post-consumer recycling technology, says, “Fashion is one of the biggest polluters and has a huge amount of carbon footprint. It is one of the most environmentally damaging industries in the world. And we are all contributors to this major problem.”
According to him, we have to rethink how we create materials in the first place. Most of the fashion industry fabrics or fibre are made from two sources: one is a natural source, a farm source like cotton and wool; the other is synthetic material, like polyesters, nylon, polypropylene, or acrylics. One piece of cloth can have a combination of rayon, cotton, satin, and polyester fibres. It’s impossible to separate these materials. One only needs a tiny bit of different material in the mix and it makes recycling impossible. Because of this, the whole thing will probably end up in landfills. Fifty per cent of all the fabric ever made is now in landfills.
But there is a piece of good news too. Though the scale is small at the moment, the technology has arrived. It is only a matter of time before it picks up. In fashion, one place is iconic for doing things differently. Fifteen per cent of
Lead story 31
The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters of the environment, so it is time to rethink our clothing choices
the clothes recycled in the world are recycled in Prato, Italy. A family-owned firm from this Italian city has perfected a way to process used material—even with mixed fibres. They’re not just creating new material but new beauty. Fabric from Prato is some of the most treasured in the fashion industry.
With smart design, we could avoid creating landfills, and unrecyclable fabric is the first place to start with.
According to Arthur Huang, a circular solution for one of the most mass-produced fabrics has arrived. A Dutch fashion company, C&A, has launched the ‘world’s most sustainable jeans.’ They have designed denim to be fully recyclable, to preserve resources and reduce waste. And they never cause a problem such as landfills because they can dissolve in the ground, in under two weeks, even on a compost
heap at home. Thirty million pairs of jeans are sold every day. Imagine the impact it will have when we manage to manufacture all jeans using the circular solution! (https://www. greenbiz.com/article/dutch-fashion-company- ca-launches-worlds-most-sustainable-jeans)
Rethink agriculture
Waste from agricultural activities, overproduced crops that are dumped to control the prices, and others that remain out of farming and harvesting, can be used to create a biofuel called ethanol, which can easily be mixed with petrol and used for running cars. The wonder of using ethanol is that it adds very little greenhouse gases like CO2 or CO (carbon monoxide) to the atmosphere. It is much cleaner than using only petrol or diesel. Apart from this, a new technology that uses farm waste to create biodegradable packaging to replace plastic bags has surfaced. This
32 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
innovation not only creates sustainable packaging; it has other applications as well, such as creating particle boards and biodegradable disposable cutlery. To incentivise farmers to not burn waste at the end of the harvesting season, the company procures leftover stubble from farms at the cost of Rs 6/kg. (https://thestorywatch.com/ this-company-is-solving-two-major-problems- plastic-packaging-stubble-burning-with-their- innovative-technology)
Rethink competition, rethink collaboration
Janine Benyus, a natural science writer, explains how competition works in nature. She says, “We have this entire misunderstanding of what Darwin really meant when he spoke of ‘survival of the fittest.’ ” This truly means ‘survival of the one who fits best,’ like a puzzle fitting together.”
In ocean reefs, corals share a symbiotic relationship with fish. The corals provide fish with shelter and protection from predators, and the fish help the corals thrive by eating plants such as seaweed, which can destroy corals by occupying the space and light that they require to survive. This partnership creates protected homes for about 4500 species. The natural world is generous. It is full of symbiotic relationships where the skill of one living being perfectly complements the skills and needs of another living being, and they make the most of their habitat.
Similarly, the waste of one company can turn into a resource for another. When we look deeply, they are all interrelated. A network of companies supplying waste to each other as energy resources or raw material.. That’s how we can create an ecosystem of such companies.
In this connection, Himanshu Barola says,
“We don’t have to go and dig all the time for rare earth metals. For example, many electronic wastes have copper, iron, and lead in them and most recycling companies are just reusing these metals for the same or other purposes.” The fashion industry is notorious for waste production, but what if the waste could be something that the car industry pays good money for? Something that otherwise might get made from brand new materials, like insulation in car doors or seats. It’s actually about making connections; building a business partnership that creates wider benefits. For example, Holland uses batteries from electric cars as a power supply in football stadiums. Since they are charged by a solar panel during the day, the place can light up at night. It even pumps spare power back into the grid.
If we want to thrive on this planet, the only system that will work is a circular system of production and consumption. But, unfortunately, the current system is still old- school and tonnes of waste is being generated on daily basis. It is scary to digest the fact that the majority of goods are created only for single use. But many new enterprises are coming up with innovative solutions for end-of-cycle or used products, which completely transform them into new products having larger life cycles. New generation entrepreneurs and innovators are now starting to look at the problem differently owing to the danger it causes to the future generation.
Tyres
Every year, around a billion scrap tyres reach the end of their useful lives globally. Many of these end up clogging landfills, providing breeding grounds for pests and becoming a threat to the environment and sea life. With the help of the latest equipment, tyre shredders, and innovative recycling methods, thrown-
Lead story 33
Coimbatore calling
The Life Positive International Spiritual Festival
is back in Coimbatore. Book your seats NOW!
We have four cutting- edge facilitators, delivering life-changing techniques and tools
Below is the sneak peek.
Dates: August 20 and 21, 2022. | Venue: The Grand Regent Hotel
August 20, 2022
TOVAA (Teacher of Visualisation and Affirmation) by Kalyaann Sir
TOVAA was curated after 11 years of continuous learning, observing, and
experiencing the frequencies of colours, numbers, planets, directions, and space energies.
Our day-to-day lives are affected by vibrations of thoughts, feelings, emotions, and words, and TOVAA will help you use the power of these forces to enhance the quality of your life. In the workshop through number of metaphysical tools, several TOVAA principles will be shown pertaining to energy, frequency, and vibration. Kalyaann Sir is a Consultant, Coach, Trainer, Angel therapist, PLR therapist, & Heal Your Life Teacher. He empowers people by giving them the responsibility of their own freedom, sometimes for the first time. He, in personal capacity, mentors TV and Film stars, politicians and industrialists.
Breathing Abundance In by Partha Gupta
The key to everything you wish to access
is through your own breath. In this session
you will learn to release the mind from
accumulated clutter and make it function with clarity. It will help you see how your inner state creates opportunities and effortlessness in everything you do. You will learn to breath for calmness, raise your charisma, relate with other for perfect relationship, breathe to match the frequency and manifest experience. Partha Gupta is an author and trainer specialising in breath and consciousness, who helps his clients breathe free of all ideas, beliefs, and dogmas which hold them back from being who they truly are. He has
been researching, meditating, and documenting insights on ‘Breath’ to conclude that breath is communication with life.
August 21, 2022
Activate Your Inner Healer through Holotropic Breathwork by
Fr. K C Thomas
In Holotropic Breathwork your ‘inner healer is activated. The facilitator hold a
healing space with the help of music and rhythmic breathing. This activates the inner psychic healer of a participant which makes transformation possible. It is done in pairs where one partner lies down and does guided breathing to focus internally, and another partner looks after the first one. Roles are exchanged in the next session. Due to focused breathing and music, participants enter deep relaxation and higher consciousness. Stress gets released, negative emotions are healed, and many have a spiritual experience. Fr.Thomas has a Masters in philosophy from Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth. He is a certified facilitator of Holotropic Breathwork and has done over 100 workshops across India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, and the US.
Create New Life with Past Life
Regression by Ambika Khanna
Anybody who has undergone past life
regression has never remained the same.
A fresh life ensues. Because it works on the
principle of cause and effect and going to the root cause, profound natural healing takes place automatically. This therapy works simultaneously on the body, mind, emotions, and spirit, and heals at all levels. It will help you heal diseases, understand karmic patterns, remove blocked energies, phobias, and free you from fear of death etc. Mrs Ambika Khanna is an accomplished wellness healer with over 15 years of experience. She has helmed programmes on
Pragya TV for more than four years. She is the co-founder of Soul Setu Wellness Foundation, established in 2019.
34 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
The
International Spiritual Festival
Dates: August 20 and 21, 2022. | Venue: The Grand Regent Hotel REGISTRATION FORM
WORKSHOP
FACILITATOR
Time
Day 1 - August 20, 2022 (Saturday)
Registration - 8:45 am - 9:15 am | Opening Ceremony - 9:15 am - 9:30
Breathing Abundance In
Partha Gupta
9:30 am - 6:00 pm
OR
TOVAA (Teacher of Visualisation and Affirmation)
Kaalyaan Sir
9:30 am - 6:00 pm
Day 2 - August 21, 2022 (Sunday)
Activate Your Inner Healer through Holotropic Breathwork
Fr. K C Thomas
9:30 am - 6:00 pm
OR
Create a New Life with Past Life Regression Therapy
Ambika Khanna
9:30 am - 6:00 pm
Closing Ceremony - 6:00 pm - 6:15 pm
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Lead story 35
away tyres can be turned around into new usable materials. Author Eric Lawson says, “Instead of dumping scrap tyres in landfills or incinerating them, it’s time to start looking at them as a resource. Not only are they ideal for construction applications but also provide an affordable fuel source for a variety of industries. Substituting virgin raw material with recycled tyres offers both economic and environmental benefits.”
(https://www.biobasedpress.eu/2018/04/ recycling-end-of-life-tyres/)
Sanitary pads
Another large heap of waste is caused by sanitary pads. India, where not even 50 per cent of women use disposable sanitary napkins, annually generates around 3.37 lakh tonnes of waste from sanitary napkins and baby diapers. (https://www.wionews.com/india/ india-annually-generates-over-3-lakh-tonnes-
of-waste-from-sanitary-napkins-and-baby- diapers-report-484389). Himanshu Barola says, “Sanitary pads are typically disposed of in two ways: they are either buried in landfills, which takes 500–800 years for them to decompose or are burnt in incinerators that release toxic fumes like dioxins and other carcinogenic compounds into the atmosphere.”
A new start-up has come to the fore to deal with this. An innovator, Ajinkya Dhariya, a mechanical engineer, has created an ATM-size machine that shreds pads into pieces, which then undergo disinfection, decolourisation, and deodorisation before they are finally deactivated. After more processing, they are broken down and separated into cellulose and plastic pellets. Cellulose can be used to make paper, and plastic pellets can be used to manufacture packaging material or construction material. The blood and other bodily fluids are also broken down in the same
36 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
You can imagine a solar manufacturer sitting down with a botanist who knows how photosynthesis works. Someone who wants to make sustainable fibre can collaborate with someone who knows how a spider spins its web.
process and removed through a separate outlet as sewage.
Time to rethink design
In moments of crisis, we look for inspiration and mentors who would lead us out of the mess. Our current situation around the world is somewhat like a crisis. The biggest corporations, the biggest governments, and their handful of billionaires make capital investment decisions that determine the fate of this planet. Clearly, they have failed us. Now the time has come for us to take inspiration from nature. The lion sleeps most of the day and eats only when hungry, and this keeps the ecosystem in balance. If the lion goes on a killing spree of all the deer and antelopes, there would be no food left for the future.
Well, what better model to use to rebuild the world than the model of living systems and how they behave? These are the only systems that we know of that have sustained themselves for long periods. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be there. The fact that they are sustainable is
validated by their very existence.
Janine Benyus, a big-time advocate of circular economy, talks about how we can take inspiration from nature in her book Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. It means to understand first how, in the natural world, what one is trying to resolve has already been solved and then embark upon redesigning the solution.
Janine explains, “You can imagine a solar manufacturer sitting down with a botanist who knows how photosynthesis works. Someone who wants to make sustainable fibre can collaborate with someone who knows how a spider spins its web. You can imagine a shipbuilder wanting to sit with somebody who knows about fishes— tuna or shark—to know how to reduce drag in the shape of a hull.” She further explains her point: “When you look at fireflies, there is bioluminescence. It’s a chemical light, but what’s really interesting is the abdomen of the firefly. If you look very closely, they have these tiled structures. When you put those tiled
Lead story 37
structures on the bulb of an LED, you get 55 per cent more light out of a single LED bulb. Life is always giving us amazing ways to make what we already have even better.”
Janine says that human health is deeply connected to controlling bacteria, and we can use the solution that is already being used by seaweed or algae. There are thousands of different species of algae or seaweed that live in oceans all over the world, and you would expect them to be covered by bacteria; but, in reality, they are not. They, in fact, produce a chemical that keeps bacteria from communicating with each other, which is what they need to do if they are going to colonise the surface. When bacteria can’t communicate, they simply don’t land. We can make that chemical and use it as a cleaning liquid spray that will prevent bacteria from settling. It’s not killing bacteria; it’s just stopping them from colonising a surface. They don’t develop an immunity to it, and that’s why it’s worked in nature for millions of years. It’s a whole new way of dealing with bacteria. (Interview in https://curiositystream.com/ video/4002)
Our ancestors understood the qualities of bacteria and how they can be used to support a healthy life. They developed sandhana kalpana (biomedical fermentation) mentioned in ayurveda, Shushrut Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya, and other literature as well. In earlier times, this was used to support human health, but of late, it is going through a lot of research. Currently, fermented bacteria are generally known as bio-enzymes. Based on the ingredients they use, enzymes are prepared for food and beverages, FMCG products, cosmetics, agriculture, and other activities as well. Using bio-enzymes for cleaning toilets does not harm our sewage system; rather, it prevents water and land pollution. But today,
for the cleaning of surfaces and utensils, most of humanity is using acids, which are propagating harmful bacteria, viruses, and bad odour. And the easiest targets are vulnerable young children. Similarly, bio-enzymes are beneficial in agricultural activities, improving the quality and quantity of the harvest.
According to Janine, circularity is the only hope. This is the only way we can survive. Because that’s the closest that we can mimic how nature operates.
Another lesson nature teaches us is how to make material for various purposes. In the natural world, even though there are 10 million organisms, they share a unity in their biochemistry. It’s this incredible juggling act of the same materials over and over again. How can our economy upcycle and circulate material in the same way that an ecosystem does? Since the industrial revolution, we have been very busy producing hundreds of materials and tens of thousands of chemicals which the world has never seen before. Every time we want to create something, we do a different kind of material. Whereas nature says let’s use the same materials and change its design.
Time to transform
We have designed our society around an economic system which values money. More money is good; less money is bad. There’s no place for love, beauty, or goodness in any economic model. We live as though we are separate from the planet as well as each other. So it’s really the mindset which needs to be blamed. It’s the way we think and see the world that is at the heart of the matter. But, with the changing times, we must shift our focus from mass-producing to fulfil humanity’s endless desires, to harmonising the process of production, consumption, and recycling.
38 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
We buy many things because our senses are bombarded with sensual, emotional, and exciting advertisements all the time. We may or may not need them, but we still buy them because the ads create a desire to own or consume them. The demand for recycled and reused goods is small because we have not yet started creating a desire in that area. It’s about time we consider this. Himanshu Barola says, “At present, the global economy is less than 10 per cent circular, which only means that tonnes of invaluable resources are wasted. But if just 17 per cent of businesses were circular, greenhouse gas emissions would fall to around 40 per cent. That’s huge!”
One of the best transformations a business can make is to reconsider its stand and what it is truly selling. An MRI scanner is one of the most important, expensive machines in medicine. It can look right inside the human body. It is complicated and involves rare and valuable materials. It is expensive and difficult to replace when it gets outdated. So Philips, which makes MRI systems and solutions, has changed how it does business. They supply, maintain, and upgrade the machine so that it can be used for longer. When that’s no more an option, they take it back and refurbish it to give it a second life. It is zero-waste. Every part or material is reused and recycled. The business aims to flourish without making and selling more and more machines because the customer simply wants the best scan for its patients.
We can now easily imagine a future where we never have to buy another fridge, washing
machine, TV, or mobile phone. Instead, we can take out a contract to have one that’ll always work. The company will maintain it, update it, and when we don’t want it anymore, they’ll come to take it back. And then they’ll reuse everything it’s made of. This business model could work for lots of things. Less raw materials will be used, machines will last longer, and businesses will enhance their reputation because they’ll be providing services that we need. In a circular economy, we get to be customers without having to be consumers.
Arthur Huang, one of the foremost proponents of the circular economy, has created a full- fledged hospital in Taiwan using waste material. The hospital is built in such a way that it is going to last for a few decades easily. According to him, it’s not just about being one of the small projects of recycling and reusing. He wanted to show the world that scaling on reuse and recycling is possible when we sit down to think and reinvent.
Looking at the global scenario, I anticipate things will turn around in the coming years. I am sure the MNCs are observing these changing trends. It might challenge their exponential-growth-for-profit mindset. Yet, I think, soon, people are going to evolve and that the demand for the products these MNCs are currently selling us is going to go away. It’s already happening. And then companies will have to do what they have always done: the best ones will adapt, and they will innovate and find ways to solve the real problems facing humanity in the 21st century.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Lead story 39
FOOD
It’s teatime folks!
Try sipping some healthy herbal teas to keep those sinuses clear this monsoon, advises Naini Setalvad
40 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
Food 41
F rom scorching heat to sudden rainfall and being slapped in the face with cool breeze, we are certainly adapting to the monsoon, the rainy season. As we shift from, shorts and tank tops to rain gear, to weather the season,. we also need to alter our diet and choice of
beverages. All types of foods are available to us throughout the year. However, we must eat local and seasonal as much as possible because the nutritional value of non-seasonal fruits and vegetables is significantly lower.
This time, I will focus on some delicious hot and healthy teas you can make in the comfort of your home to keep your immunity strong and your temperature right in this damp weather. Out go the cold beverages and in come the hot ones that include antioxidants and vitamins, which can help fight sickness and infections.
Masala chai: Firstly, in this weather, your partner in crime should be a spicy cup of the trusted masala chai. What an excellent excuse to have a good old ‘cutting chai’! Ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, tulsi, and other Indian spices are used in this concoction. A cup of masala chai will soothe your throat and protect you from germs during the cold and flu season. This tea has a distinct flavour that is sweet with a bit of fire from the spices. Another plus is that it reduces inflammation, contains antioxidants, boosts immunity, aids digestion, prevents certain cancers, and stabilises energy levels. My recommendation is to replace the sugar
with jaggery.
Tulsi tea: Tulsi is a tried-and-true cure for colds and coughs, which are two of the most prevalent illnesses during the rainy season. This miracle leaf aids in the battle against ailments. Tulsi green tea is also beneficial to the digestive and respiratory systems. It’s simple to make: all you need is tulsi and a cup of hot water to steep it in for a few minutes. Try
it and let us know how you like it.
Black tea: Antioxidants, polyphenols,
catechins, flavonoids, and tannins are abundant in plain
old black tea.
Squeeze a dash of
lemon juice to add
that zing and Vitamin C.
Boosting metabolism, protecting the body from hazardous diseases, and maintaining a healthy body temperature are just a few of the many perks of black tea. If the throat is sore, I recommend gargling with black tea.
42 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
Hibiscus tea: Hibiscus tea, commonly known as sour tea, is produced from a blend of dried hibiscus flowers, leaves, and dark red calyces, and has an acidic flavour when consumed. Hibiscus tea contains polyphenols and anthocyanins, which are not only good for your heart and digestion but are
also useful for treating bacterial infections.
Ginger tea: Next on the list is ginger tea. If it’s raining, you must have ginger—end of story. This commonplace spice is a superhero, curing you from the inside out and protecting you from any seasonal ailment. Ginger helps with one of the most common monsoon issues: sluggish digestion. Another essential role that ginger plays this time of year is in the treatment of common colds. It helps to clear the respiratory tract, soothe the throat, and relieve other
allergy symptoms.
Chamomile tea:
Chamomile tea is
your best friend
for reducing
tension and getting
a good night’s
sleep. It possesses
characteristics that aid in
relaxation and the prevention of stress fevers. It is also useful in the treatment of the common cold and improves digestion.
Herbal teas are not only delicious (and trending), but they are also miraculous at healing and soothing the body. So befriend these teas this monsoon, and you will be on your way to strengthening your immunity.
Food 43
CHAI: DIGESTIVE TEA
Chai is a wonderful spicy tea used commonly in the Middle East to settle the stomach and aid digestion after a meal.
Ingredients
1 cup water
1 tbsp grated ginger, fresh
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole peppercorns
4–5 cardamom pods
1⁄4 cup milk
A pinch of nutmeg (optional)
Method
1. In a saucepan, combine the water and the herbs.
2. Cover and allow simmering on low heat for eight to ten minutes.
3. Add the milk and continue simmering for a further eight to ten minutes. 4. Pour into a mug and garnish with nutmeg.
CHAMOMILE CHAI
A twist on the traditional chai recipe, with chamomile and other herbs. The chamomile may be relaxing, but all that fresh ginger will perk you up again.
Ingredients
3 tsp fresh ginger root, grated 1 tsp coriander seeds
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cardamom
2 tsp chamomile
Method
1. Combine everything, except the chamomile, in the water and simmer for 20 minutes. 2. Remove from the heat and add chamomile.
3. Steep for another 10 minutes.
4. Strain out herbs and serve hot.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Naini Setalvad
Naini Setalvad is a nutritionist, specialising in lifestyle and immunity disorders. Her foundation, Health For You, throws light on healthy food habits.
44 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
Food 45
46 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
AHA-MOMENTS
Life lessons from death
Despite the physical loss of her mother’s passing away, Megha Bajaj feels her loving presence more than ever
My mother is my background music. You know, the one that just continues to softly play on as you dine? Or when you enter a shopping arcade? When it’s there, you just feel soothed and, often, don’t even know it’s playing. It’s just there. Perennial. However, if it suddenly stops, you feel uncomfortable. Everything is just the same—yet, something is missing! On June 20, 2022, the brave warrior breathed her last in my arms. And ever since, the sun is rising as always. The cars are zooming past as always. The hands of the clock are moving, and so am I. Breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner.
I am not sad. In fact, I feel a sense of relief, as she was already living her grace period. The body had become a box, containing her butterfly spirit. It needed to be set free. And yet, there is this strange feeling that I am not quite able to put my finger on. I express my best when I write, and today, as I finally have the courage to put words to it, what changed is that the background music which was playing outside me—is suddenly inside me!
It’s an even more intimate experience, but transitions are what transitions are, and I am learning to see mummy not just in that body with that gentle smile and determined look, that cute haircut and soft cheeks, but in every experience. It kind of feels like water evaporated into the air. Here it was, in the earthen cup I was holding delicately in my hands. And suddenly, it is now in the air. In everything. Everywhere.
I have no clue why death is seen as such a terrifying experience. Losing the physical form of one of the most crucial relationships in my life actually feels liberating to me. I am feeling the bliss of a union
that I haven’t known. I am feeling a peace, deeper than the one I knew. A celebration of a life well- lived. Yes, I miss the form, but by some grace (I believe it is of my beloved guru, upon my family), my mind is instantly able to turn within and feel her.
I think these lines somewhat do justice to what I am trying to say:
I cannot see her,
But I feel her.
I cannot hug her,
But the embrace lingers within. I cannot smell her,
But her fragrance hangs in the very air.
She isn’t there before me,
And yet, she is with me—in ways I can’t comprehend.
I have simply been myself during these eleven days. I cry when I feel like it. I laugh when I feel like it. I go into a cocoon of Silence when it feels right. Or I become extroverted. There is no suppression in me. No denial. Like the background music that played for three decades of my life, I play on.
Death has its way of transforming you. I feel blessed to observe the beautiful shifts it is bringing into me, and I wish to share it with you. Who knows!
The first intense learning I have had during this unique phase of my life is that life is to be lived. Every moment has to be lived. There is no scope for taking life for granted, and whether it is that piece that needs to be written or a sunset, whether it is that emotion or a person hugging me, I am feeling the need to breathe it all in. Just live it
to its completion. So often, my beloved guru, Mahatria, would say: “The tragedy of life is not death but living a life like the dead.” Something seems to have shaken within me, and I feel the need to live like I never have before. I want to get that new haircut. I want to travel to that new country. I want to go hug that person. I just want to lay my head every night knowing it was a day lived. Fully. Everything seems heightened, and I am feeling this adrenaline rush to take it all in. To live.
The second thing this phase has taught me is that life is not enough to love. Where is the time for grudges, for judgments, for holding onto stale perceptions? Every moment is moving, and I have to move with it. That petty argument that caused the rift has no value. That hardened judgement of the other is so limiting. This is black, that is white, is of little value when you are lying there, as the last breath leaves you. Something has shifted, and I seemed to have dropped all my biases overnight. I don’t want to live a life of limitations; I want to live one of expansiveness. I want to live a life of love. Of infinite beauty. I want to love like I haven’t ever before. I want to express myself more. I want to hug a lot more. Snuggle to my heart’s content. Say that thank you, say that sorry. Say that I love you, even when it makes me feel vulnerable. Have that argument if I must, but end it feeling closer to the other. I just don’t want to miss a chance—to love a little more.
The third is this conviction that I have a choice. Even in the most seemingly choiceless situation, the fact is, I have a choice. In these moments, I can choose grief or recall just how
much grace has been bestowed upon us and the woman, who should have given up in 2013 when she was diagnosed with Stage 4, Grade 4 cancer, went on to live a full life (sans any medicines, hospitals, or pain) for nine more beautiful years. Either I can miss the form or feel the formless. The person is no more, but the presence is eternal. How I see a situation makes all the difference. To me. And the world. Surrounded by so many beautiful people who have come with tears in their eyes to our home and left with a smile on their lips. And hearts. It’s been about the choices that we as an immediate family have made. Every moment, for the last eleven days, Papa, Nidhi and I have chosen to cherish all that was beautiful: our craziest and happiest memories of Mummy. And oh, what a difference it has made! Close friends visiting home say, “Feeling deep peace, bliss, and love in this home.” She wouldn’t have had it any other way.
I am not sure if it is even okay to say this. But I will say it, nonetheless. That is how she brought us up. To be authentic to ourselves, no matter what the world feels. Life seems a little more beautiful, fragile, happy, loving, and unpredictable, all at once. I often find myself watching the seas dissolve into the skies in absolute wonderment of life for what it is! Beautiful. Fragile. Happy. Loving. Unpredictable. Much like you and me.
I love you, Mummy. Feeling you very intimately. Not even sure if I am writing this or you are, through me. Thank you for being who you are to each one of us.
Megha Bajaj is a bestselling author, film script writer, and poet.
An ardent seeker at heart, she also runs her online writing and healing workshops called WoW. You can read more about her on www.MeghaBajajWoW.com.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Aha-Moments 47
LIFE
The
Balancing
Act
Part 2
48
LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
In the second article of her series on work-life balance, Archana Raghuram shares an effective method of taking charge of your life
A bout 10 years into my career in software The outer circle in this diagram represents
development, I was heading the offshore
delivery of a large client account and handling a team of about 200 engineers working on several software projects. My office was situated 30 km from my home. Every day, it used to be a long commute to the office in heavy traffic. This was followed by a long, stressful day at the office, dealing with calls from onsite, escalations, and tough deadlines. Then it was a long commute back home. By the time I reached home, I was ready to crash. But there used to be things to deal with at home: homework to be completed, dinner not ready, unexpected guests, etc. I remember being so tightly wound and stressed, that people at home used to be afraid of me. Even the smallest thing would set me off. Almost every day, I used to contemplate quitting. Today, I am going to talk to you about the paradigm that helped me overcome this situation and set me on a course for success in my career.
Circle of concern vs circle of influence
I learnt about it in the book 7 habits of highly effective people by Steven Covey. The first habit which Steven Covey describes in the book is called ‘being proactive.’ It is a simple and extremely effective tool for taking control of your life. He explains this with the help of a diagram.
Diagram 1
all the things that affect us. Traffic jams, bad bosses, difficult family members, health, etc. This is our circle of concern. The circle inside represents a subset of our concerns over which we have some influence and control. For example, you can prioritise, manage your time better, maintain a positive attitude, and learn new skills.
Diagram 2
Covey says there are two types of people. He calls them reactive and proactive people. Reactive people focus all their attention and energy on their circle of concern. Their thought process is something like this: If I had a better job, if my boss was more understanding, if my husband was more supportive, if my children were not so demanding, if my mother-in-law was not such a terrible person, then I would succeed. I am failing because of all these circumstances.
Since they are always focussed on their circle of concern, their ability to influence their life keeps decreasing. Just like an unused muscle slowly gets atrophied, their ability to control their life keeps diminishing. Their circle of influence is really small.
Life 49
Diagram 3
Diagram 4
On the other hand, proactive people make it a habit to focus their energy on their circle of influence. The voice in their head goes something like this: How can I improve myself? How can I communicate better? What should I change to make things better for myself? As a result of constantly focussing on their circle of influence, their ability to influence and change their life keeps increasing. Just like a muscle that is well trained, their ability to control their life is strong. As a result, proactive people have a large circle of influence.
Here is an example. Let’s say my concern is that I am overweight. There are some things within my circle of influence which can address this concern. I can stop eating junk food. I can exercise regularly. Let’s say my concern is that I have a really long commute to work. What is within my circle of influence? I can choose to leave home early to beat the traffic.
Steven Covey gives the example of Dr. Viktor Frankl, a Jewish psychiatrist, who almost died in a Nazi concentration camp. He says, even in
There is one thing that no one can take away from you. It is your freedom to choose how to respond to a situation. It is the last freedom that remains with you even after you are stripped of everything else.
50 LifePositive | AUGUST 2022
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