May LP E-magazine 2022

www.lifepositive.com
YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMPANION
SPACES THAT TALK TO YOU
(Holistic architecture)
PAGE 18
The power of gratitude
PAGE 26
The concept of Karma
PAGE 40
Insights into the
opposite sex
PAGE 54
Subscriber copy
May 2022






Dear Reader,
What we can do
The world, as I know it, was never a peaceful place. Right from the time I gained awareness—if I am to believe the media—the nation was in a state of turmoil. I remember the Khalistani movement, the assassination of PM Indira Gandhi and PM Rajiv Gandhi, the horrendous Bhopal gas tragedy, the LTTE problem, and the anti- reservation agitation, all happening in a matter of just seven years while I was growing up.
Yet, somehow, ordinary life seemed unaffected by these developments. Life moved on at its own slow and gentle pace as we went to school, played with friends, read storybooks, socialised with relatives, celebrated festivals, enjoyed family life, watched TV and movies, went on holidays and outings, and wove bright dreams of our future. The sun brought in yet another day full of cheer and possibilities, and the nights lulled us to peaceful sleep. Life was stable, predictable, and beautifully prosaic.
However, tension was building up gradually and going to invade the humdrum of our daily lives sooner or later. In 2020, the pandemic caused by the coronavirus gripped each of us in its tentacles, and life as we knew it was gone for good. Global warming, wars, diseases, instability, uncertainty, and unrest have infiltrated our everyday life, compelling us to look for solutions.
In such times, even small acts of goodness, faith, and selfless service performed by each one of us have the power to shift the collective energy radically. Plant a tree, feed the homeless and helpless, lend a shoulder, assist the needy and elderly, and show your care for Mother Earth by respecting her resources and children. Gift water, hand towels, and flowers to random people, and bring a smile to their faces. Most of all, treat the immediate people in your lives with greater care and thoughtfulness, including your maid, cook, driver, or garbage collector. And last but not the least, pray earnestly for
world peace, either alone or in groups. Sincere prayers have the power to invoke higher energies that orchestrate desirable outcomes and restore peace and bonhomie.
Enjoy the May issue of Life Positive and do write back to us.
LP mascot: Laughing Buddha
- Editor
May 2022Vol. 26Issue 02
Chairman: Aditya Ahluwalia President: D R Kaarthikeyan Director: V Venkat
Editor: Shivi Verma
EDITORIAL
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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
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4 LifePositive | MAY 2022


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This practical and essential guidebook contains lessons that will help you navigate through the pitfalls and minefields of life. They will infuse you with hope and inspiration. They will enable you to make the right choices. They will support you to build better relationships, starting with yourself. They will help you to understand life.
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SUMA VARUGHESE is the former editor of Life Posi ve and Society magazines. She is the author of Travelling Light and Travelling Lighter. She is also the founder-facilitator of the Zen of Good Wri ng course which imparts the principles of good wri ng to aspiring writers.
A passionate spiritual votary, she has devoted her life to the pursuit of self-transforma on and crea ng awareness of a higher and be er way of life. Happily single, she resides in Mumbai.
www.hayhouse.co.in


26
LEAD STORY
Thank God
Jamuna Rangachari says that our ability to be grateful can fill our lives with abundance and positivity.
18
CLOSE ENCOUNTER
Spatial Vibes
Architect Raman Vig discloses the formula to achieve health, happiness, and harmony using space design.
15
HEARTSPEAK
Opening Up to Love
By surrendering to the present, Jyoti Marianne discovered the love that always existed between her and her ‘uncaring’ father.
06 LifePositive | MAY 2022


40
VEDANTA
Karta, Karma, and Kriya
The author explains the origin, development, and expansion of the karma theory from Vedas, Upanishads, to Bhagavad Gita
45
FOOD
Beat the Heat
This May, be a cool cucumber by chilling with your favourite summer drinks.
50
INFIDELITY
Insights into Infidelity
The ten spears that destroy marriages, compelling partners to cheat on each other
54
INSIGHTS
Understanding your Other Half
To gain better understanding a couple should go deeper into each other’s language, inner world, and psyche.
REGULAR COLUMNS
Response 08 Mandala 10 Yoga 14
Journey Aha-moments Spirit
24 Sharing 60 44 Mudra Column 62 49 Banyan Tree 64
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
DEEP-CLEANSING TRAUMA
PAGE 26
50 life lessons from
Suma Varughese
Subscriber copy
April 2022
PAGE 18
Healing in the hills
(Life Positive Spiritual Festival 2022)
PAGE 40
Why partners cheat
Insight into infidelity
PAGE 51
Humanity still exists
Mail from our readers, online fans and subscribers
“The sole meaning of life is to serve Humanity” —Leo Tolstoy
A quote often quoted, yet seldom put into practice.
Apropos of the article A Rupee Goes a Long Way in the April 2022 edition of Life Positive, Dr Shankar Ramchandani has proved that humanity still exists in this world. He and his wife have rendered yeoman service to society.
Thank you, Life Positive, for sharing this inspiring story. A salute to their selfless service. Sapna Martin, Bengaluru
Inspirational farming
The article Spreading Innovation through the Grapevine in the April 2022 issue of Life Positive is a nice read about Mr Bhausaheb Kanchan, a farmer, who is reviving organic farming. In doing this, he is inspiring others to explore this less-trodden path of farming through his success.
Vikram Kapoor, Mumbai
LP helps nurture well-being
I have been reading Life Positive for a few months now. I realise that health plays a pivotal role in one’s life, especially mental health. If you have a healthy mind, you can have a healthy body, and if you have a healthy body, many things become easy in day- to-day life. It is rightly said that health does not only depend on what you eat but also what you consume through the mobile (games, TikTok, Twitter, etc.) and news media, which impacts your thought process.
08 LifePositive | MAY 2022


Reading Life Positive keeps me in good shape mentally and physically. Every month I get refreshing perspectives to view life beautifully. Thank you Team Life Positive.
Arun Velayutham, Bengaluru
Healing article raises awareness
The lead story, Healing from The Holocaust, in the April 2022 issue of Life Positive is such a heart-warming and enlightening article. I was never aware that trauma, pain, and grief could be carried forward into the next birth in the form of cellular memory. Forgiveness and letting go of such experiences were the only tools I was aware of.
After reading this piece, I realised that past life regression can be such a great therapy to come out of deep-rooted past trauma. I feel, with this therapy, we can completely, or to a major extent, avoid visiting psychotherapists and popping pills to help ourselves deal with physical and mental agony. I appreciate that the issue was viewed from many perspectives and the solution was discussed in depth.
Mansheen Kaur, Kashmir
Finding Faith provides answers
I read the article Finding Faith by Ajay Kalra in the April 2022 issue of Life Positive, which I felt was special for me. Many things happen in our lives at the right time and the right moment. Only those who are aware of this can understand it. I was personally struggling with faith, looking for answers, when this article providently appeared before me.
Without delving deeper, I would like to say that it gave me much-needed clarity in my spiritual journey. I resonate with author Ajay Kalra when he says, “Faith is like mental oxygen, without which the mind is anguished. The only antidote to fear is faith.” Neerti Singh, Nainital
LP: Simple and relevant
I have been reading the digital version of Life Positive for the last six months now. I am not a great reader, yet I look forward to your magazine every month. It gives me immense hope and positivity in my everyday living. The articles and subjects you cover in your magazine are so apt for the current times. I also like the simple language used in your articles and appreciate what your team is doing. Thank you, Life Positive.
Kantilal Solanki, Mumbai
Response 09


MANDALA
Paving the way
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LifePositive | MAY 2022
Jasmine Khanna:the braveheart
Pavements are commonplace, but when they are not built with care, they can almost be like a battlefield: a few steps could mean jumping over all kinds of barriers. While constructing them, one needs to cater to various types of people, including those with challenges, pregnant ladies, and old people. Only when all types of challenges are addressed can society become a better place to live in. A prime example is that of Jasmine, who turned her challenge into an opportunity to create a better world.
Jasmine Khanna from Mumbai had battled against cerebral palsy for many years. She
combatted it successfully, educated herself, and is now an engineer employed with an MNC. Still, she saw that simple things like going out were a challenge, as the pavements were so unfriendly to all, not just those with challenges. She realised something needed to be done and began an NGO aptly called Access to Hope. She began this with her physiotherapist, Sanket Khadilkar, who had grappled with addressing the accessibility challenges of many who had come to him for help. He had seen that such barriers were deterring them from participating fully in society and felt that his focus as a physiotherapist shouldn’t just be on what he does at the clinic but also on working towards accessibility and a barrier-free environment.
The two of them desired to ensure that people with disabilities become independent in their day-to- day activities and improve their social interaction. For this, they work towards making Mumbai city accessible for people with all kinds of disabilities. They ensure proper education for such children through inclusive schools, provide rehabilitation services to them as well as adults (especially those belonging to the low socioeconomic background), and provide peer-to-peer counselling to motivate them to become self-reliant. Self-esteem comes with self-reliance, and this is possible only by providing an inclusive environment for all.
Above all, their mission is to make society more friendly for all, including the disabled. Towards his end, they found that pavements are one of the important areas that need to be addressed. This task may not be accomplished in a day, but with each step, there is a small improvement, be it in the smile of a child attending a class or enjoying a walk, or an adult enjoying the joys of nature in an accessible environment.
– By Jamuna Rangchari


Serving others to serve yourself
Me Sona Kumar: an angel for slum children
Ms Sona Kumar from Mumbai took voluntary retirement from the Reserve Bank of India, only to get into depression due to marital issues. To address this, she went to a homeopath. The doctor suggested she begin getting involved in social work.
She did this with others for a while and then started her own trust and began teaching slum children in Mumbai. She started holding classes in temples, mandaps, and other places that served as suitable venues. This was not easy, as during festivals and functions, she had to stop the classes. They had a challenge when Anand Nagar Slum was declared a Red Zone during the lockdown. They organised a five-day medical camp to detect positive cases. Within three days, 18 people were admitted to hospital and their families were given rations at their doorstep. They also started
distributing homeopathic medicines to the residents.
On a personal note, she says that a girl once told her that when she laughs in school, she is punished; when she laughs at home, she is slapped. She likes to come to their class as this was the only place where she was allowed to laugh. This brought tears to Sona’s eyes.
There were good and great moments too, of course. In 2017, they were invited to the Hindi Diwas Competition by the Union Bank of India, Andheri West branch. Books and snacks were arranged for all, but the place was very congested for 25 children. At the end of the function, the chief manager complimented the children’s behaviour, saying that they had expected a tug of war for food and gifts. Instead, they witnessed a wonderful sight where children passed on food and gifts till the last child got their share.
The trust also started supporting sportspeople from backward classes of villages in Maharashtra—who would run in torn shoes and sleep on footpaths before the race as they could not afford to book a room in a nearby hotel—by giving them new shoes, accessories, travel fare, and booking a room for them before the race. Five girls from Nashik were chosen to play for The 6th Senior National Tennis Cricket Championship, which was held in Mathura, UP, in October 2021. They sponsored the expenses of four girls who were poor and were overwhelmed by the fact that they won medals.
Sona proudly declares: “Believe me, now I feel that I am the happiest person on this earth,” and suggests that every depressed person gets involved in social work to address the blues.
– By Jamuna Rangchari
Mandala 11


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LifePositive | MAY 2022
The future of farming
People often think farming is a lowly kind of job but, in reality, it is an extremely challenging job and rewarding too when the long-awaited results are achieved. For this reason, even films eulogise farmers for being our saviours and providers. There is hope for the farming community if new and innovative techniques are adopted to yield quality produce.
Rahul Rasal from Ahmednagar is showing us a new way to approach farming. He is a modern- day farmer who started farming in 2006. He found that his land had saline soil and very small amounts of organic matter present in it. He knew about the region and so was aware that the soil composition was naturally saline, and years of using chemical fertilisers had worsened it. This was a serious issue that resulted in many people giving up the profession, as it entails a lot of work and the results are uncertain. Due to this, people take up even blue-collar jobs instead of tilling the soil, especially in regions with challenges. This is also the reason for the despair of many farmers in that region, while some, like Rahul, work hard on
resolving the issues.
Although tradition has its relevance, scientific approaches too prove to be useful. Rahul set up an RO plant, used cow urine, buttermilk, and all kinds of scientific and traditional approaches. He knew that this was necessary if the entire situation was to be turned around. Today, the reality is completely different: he grows residue-free crops for exports, earning him lakhs of rupees.
We often give rewards and accolades in several areas. Surely, farming too needs to be given importance, and due credit needs to be given to people who work on making the situation better in this area despite the challenges they face. Matters will improve only when we do this. Along with ‘Player of the Year’ and ‘Scientist of the Year,’ we can surely introduce ‘Farmer of the year.’
The resolution of problems, as we all know, needs determination and hard work, which is what Rahul had. We need more Rahuls in modern India to revive Mother Earth. Kudos, Rahul!
Rahul Rasal: the doctor of soil
– By Jamuna Rangchari


India - the Global Center for Traditional Medicine
India is wearing yet another hat to encourage and strengthen the indigenous traditional medicinal system’s ability to heal the world. The Ministry of Ayush has signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the World Health Organization (WHO) to create the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India in Jamnagar, Gujarat, with an interim office at the Gujarat Institute of Training and Research in ayurveda. While Jamnagar will serve as the hub, the new centre is intended to engage and benefit people from all over the world.
On March 25th, Prime Minister Modi tweeted that India has the honour to become home to a cutting-edge WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine. This center will help to make the world a healthier place by leveraging our resources.
According to WHO around 80 per cent of the world’s population is estimated to use traditional medicine. To date, 170 of the 194 WHO member states have reported the use of traditional medicine, and their governments have asked for WHO’s support in creating a body of reliable evidence and data on traditional medicine practices and products.
Who can best be suited for this role other than India which has healing systems in place since antiquity? To take this initiative forward India will invest in this institute INR 1900 crores.
Traditional medicine is also increasingly becoming prominent in the world of modern science. As per WHO some 40 per cent of approved pharmaceutical products in use today are derivded from natural substances, highlighting the vital importance of conserving biodiversity and sustainability. For example, the discovery of aspirin drew on traditional medicine formulations using the bark of the willow tree; the contraceptive pill was developed from the roots of wild yam plants and child cancer treatments have been based on the rosy periwinkle.
There has been a rapid modernisation of the ways traditional medicine is being studied. Artificial intelligence is now used to map evidence and trends in traditional medicine. Functional magnetic resonance imaging is used to study brain activity and the relaxation response that is part of traditional therapies such as meditation and yoga, are increasingly drawn on for mental health and wellbeing in stressful times.
Mandala 13


YOGA
Yoga Vasistha
Improve overall strength and confidence with the Side Plank Pose, demonstrated by
Kamala Venkat
Vasisthasana is commonly known as the Side Plank Pose. In Sanskrit, ‘vasistha’ means ‘wealthy’ and ‘asana’ means ‘pose.’ Practising this asana regularly will make you feel abundant in power and confidence as it requires strong mental focus and balance. Vasisthasana is a powerful arm-balancing pose.
Method
• We can start this pose with the Downward Facing Dog Pose (Parvatasana). Once you are balanced in this pose, slowly exhale and come to the Plank Pose by spreading your fingers and pressing your palms with your arms. Try to keep your head, hips, and torso in a straight line. (Your shoulders should be aligned with your wrist.) Gaze down and breathe normally.
• Then slowly, when you are balanced, roll both the heels of your feet to the leftside so that the outer edge of the left foot is lying on the floor. Place the right foot on top of the left foot, and ensure that your legs are straightened out. (If you are not able to keep your right foot on the left foot, you can place the right foot on the mat just in front of the left foot.)
• Keep your core engaged and shift the weight of your body on your left arm and lift the right arm upwards. Also, turn your neck towards the ceiling or gaze at your right fingers. Ensure that your spine is straight from the top to the tailbone. Also, align your tailbone with your feet to keep your back straight.
Click below to watch the video
14 LifePositive | MAY 2022
• Hold this position for four to five breaths. Then slowly exhale and try to place your right hand on the mat and twist your body parallel to the mat and come back to the plank pose. Take rest in the Child Pose and repeat the same with the other side also.
Benefits
• Strengthens and tones your arms and shoulders • Helps in improving focus and concentration
• Improves your core strength Contraindications
• Any surgery or injuries in your wrist, elbow, or shoulders
• High blood pressure
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)


HEARTSPEAK
By surrendering to the present, Jyoti Marianne Bahri peeled away the layers of childhood memories to reveal the love that existed between her and her ‘uncaring’ father
Heartspeak 15


Ialways thought that my father did not radiant smile, enveloping me with all his love.
care about me throughout my childhood.
I felt he preferred my brilliant elder brother and my other four siblings. He was busy with the hard work on the farm and his duties in the factory. The whims and wishes of his parents, living with us in Germany, had a tight grip on him. When my youngest sister was two years old, she was scared of my father’s huge, rough hands. He made an effort to win her trust and often brought sweets, which she had to pick from his hands. Besides this, there was not much display or sign of love around. Grandfather hated all expressions of emotions and forced everyone to restrict themselves. When I was six, I was very sick and was admitted to a paediatric hospital. Parents were not allowed inside, and I could see my father behind the glass with tears uncontrollably flowing down his cheeks. It was the only time I ever saw him cry.
Dad reaches out
Many years later, my mother called me in India and asked me to return to Germany as soon as possible. She said: “Your father is very unwell; he is calling out for you in his sleep and semiconscious state. Please come. He needs you.” That time, I realised that I did mean something to him. Despite all my other siblings close by, he called out for me. I flew immediately to be with him.
When I reached, I was devastated to see my father’s condition. He had lost his speech, and there was a massive hole in his left foot instead of his toes. He was in a semiconscious state, and there seemed to be no way to communicate with him. I sobbed unendingly, and when the tears dried up, I took his humongous cold, swollen hand and held it with both of my hands. He opened his eyes, and he recognised me. The frown on his face eased into a terrific
16 LifePositive | MAY 2022
He closed his eyes with a glow on his face and lightly pressed my hands, acknowledging my presence. I felt his love but was internally blocked and could not fully receive it. Many misunderstandings, a heavy load from the past, unfulfilled expectations, and a deep sense of lack of recognition and appreciation stood in the way of love.
To see him in this state choked everything in me and got me into an inner freeze so as not to drown in the upwelling flood of emotions. Whenever his end seemed to draw near, he panicked, the entire body shaking and his chest shrinking, convulsing, gasping for air.
Healing the hurt
A friend offered help with a healing method she had learned. She came with a beautiful aroma lamp which she lit, and the scent filled the air. She had a beautiful way of bowing down to him in reverence. She moved her hands over my father’s body without touching him, caressing him, moving the stuck energies beautifully, gently, and swiftly out of his body in such a caring and loving way, in the act of self-giving and surrender.
I was watching this miraculous way of healing. Deeply touched, I opened up my frozen heart slowly and released the caged, bottled-up pain, the incapacity to give and receive love. I melted away with tears streaming down my face.
From this day onwards, I lit the aroma lamp she had left behind every day and played some soothing music, creating a sacred atmosphere. I sat with my father for hours, holding his hand. We were diving into each other, sharing visions and memories, expressing our love for each other without eyes and words. A love deeper than the ocean and more comprehensive than


He closed his eyes with a glow on his face and lightly pressed my hands, acknowledging my presence. I felt his love but was internally blocked and could not fully receive it. Many misunderstandings, a heavy load from the past, unfulfilled expectations, and a deep sense of lack of recognition and appreciation stood in the way of love.
the vast sky emerged—a sense of merging, becoming one with each other. I sat for weeks at his bedside, diving into him and encouraging my mother and my siblings to spend time with him in the same way.
Weeks passed, and my commitments in India forced me to return. Before I left, I practised with my mother and siblings to join hands with our father and create an energy circle around him, sing, pray, or sit in silence to calm him, assisting him to cross over into the other world.
Love conquers all
Back in India, I sat with him every day, and whenever I stretched out my hand, I found his hand joining mine in a profound union of love and care. Weeks later, my father’s crossover time had come, and each of the siblings
managed to reach in time. They sat around our father, holding hands in a circle, encouraging him to let go, praying for him. I joined them from my meditation seat in India, taking my place in the ring of support. My son assisted me, and we recited the Gayatri Mantra. By the end of the eleventh mala round, I could feel the shift in my heart and knew he had gone. The phone rang a few minutes later, and my brother confirmed it. I advised him to sit as long as possible and send out love to our father as a last farewell. They sat in the circle surrounding our father in the dim light of dawn, still holding hands, crying, and sharing their loving. All of a sudden, a streak of the rising sun struck his head, illuminating his face and entire body, filling the whole space with golden light—a gift, a triumph of love over death.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Heartspeak 17


CLOSE ENCOUNTER
Spatial vibes
Architect Raman Vig explains to Rishi Rathod the underlying principles of achieving health, happiness, and harmony through architecture and space design.
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LifePositive | MAY 2022


R aman Vig is based out of New Delhi. And there is no rationale to it. It is likely that,
During the past 25 years, his role has
morphed from being a student (at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi) to being a practising architect (1996- 2008), an associate director at RSP design consultants (2008-2015), Design Principal with Lotus Design Studio (2015-2017), and a visiting lecturer of design at various architectural colleges.
This journey saw him designing and executing a diverse range of architectural and master- planning projects pan India (including IT buildings, commercial projects, group housings, and many prominent institutional buildings). He has handled over 20 million sq. ft of projects as an independent consultant or in association with international and domestic architectural design firms.
Currently, he is a guest lecturer at IIT-Roorkee and other institutes, and a certified Vaastu Visharad from the Aayadi Vaastu system. He is also a founder of Bio-energetic Architecture, New Delhi.
He is the author of the book, Architecture for Well Being.
Q. Most people, while building or buying their houses, give importance to the tangible and sensory aspects rather than the intangible and extra-sensory ones. Please explain this phenomenon.
My experience is otherwise, and possibly, you would have come across this category of people. Let’s say there is a young couple who is scouting for a house. They move into a place where everything seems perfect: the address, the distance to the school, the cost, the society, etc., but suddenly, the lady says, “Kutch theek nahi lag raha hai (Something is not okay here).”
sometimes, even a male can sense this. But, it is not about male or female. Essentially, it is because we are not just a physical body. Understand that we are energy fields, and we extend beyond the body.
Nowadays, we have cameras which show this phenomenon. We call this an ‘aura,’ and the Western world refers to it as a ‘biofield.’ The Westerners have realised that it cannot be understood under the purview of the four fundamental forces that we know: electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force, weak nuclear force, and gravitational force. There is something more happening, and that’s got to do with the life form. People can send thoughts, get an intuition, have telepathy, and so much more. So now, having done their research, they too acknowledge it. But in our tradition, this knowledge has always existed. People who are not aware of these forces yet are still making decisions based on the a uric input. They are not able to pinpoint anything because they are ill-informed. We think that everything is intellectual and judgement- based, but this is not the case.
Q. Your book says the unseen subtle energy governs the gross energy and has more consequences than the latter. Can you explain this?
Let me explain this to you from the physics perspective that everybody is aware of. Science has come to accept that electrons exist both as particles and as waveforms. One of the professors I know has put forth this particle theory beautifully. He said that since it is difficult for human beings, to give words to a phenomenon, they call it a particle. When we talk about the quantum world, there are attributes which are associated with energy
Close encounter 19


and those which are associated with what we call ‘mass.’ The famous equation E=mc2 says that there is a mechanism through which mass can be converted or gets converted into energy. That’s what happens in a nuclear reaction. So, now you can understand that when energy is condensed, it becomes mass and vice versa. This is classical physics.
All of the above is just to explain the concept of energy. We see it all around us in the universe, prevailing in many forms, but we only attribute it to electricity or some light energy. When it comes to human beings, the same energy is called a biofield or life-energy. And when it is in water, we call it potential energy or kinetic energy. We have all experienced this when we say “I feel low on energy.” Sometimes, we meet someone for 10 minutes and feel positive vibes from that person. The next day, we still remember how delighted we had felt. Not only that, but we are also sensitive to these vibrations within our own body, and so are others when we send positive vibes.
Energy is something that we are experiencing day in, day out. Once you clearly see that you are just an energy field, a big change starts happening. Suddenly, you realise that your physical and emotional well-being is deeply connected to your energetic well-being. Some people achieve this understanding through meditation, and others, by experiencing it. Whenever your auric field is clear, clean, and energetic, it will positively reflect in your body and your mind. Even your thought is nothing but an impulse of energy which has certain information attached to it. We are continuously shaped by these subtle energies.
Q. Your book talks about achieving health, happiness, and harmony with the help of nine precepts you discovered over the years.
How do you use them to achieve what you claim for your clients?
The whole idea is to facilitate health, happiness, and harmony through space design—a pursuit I am trying to learn and share. The nine precepts in short are the five elements (earth, fire, water, air, and space), materials and surfaces, Aayadi Vaastu, Shape Science and Ubuntu. The first six have to do with physical qualities and remaining three deal with energy. To know more about them, please refer to the book Architecture for Well Being.
I was a practising architect for the past 20–25 years. When I began my career, there was a lot of curiosity and zest to do something interesting, but eventually, I got stuck in a routine which overshadowed my desire to discover and create something new. Besides this, I was awestruck by Winston Churchill’s statement that first, we shape our buildings, and then, they shape us. In our Vedic Vaastu, also, they say, “Yat pinde, tat bramhande” (As the microcosm, so the macrocosm). Regarding the macrocosm being the next layer, our soul has its body as a layer, and this body resides in a house, which is the next layer. These are the enveloping layers. That is where my journey started. I wanted to get to the root of it. I wanted to do something that made sense to me, without anyone telling me to believe what they have found out. I had this all-important question: can there be an architecture for well-being? How can I use my knowledge of architecture as an instrument to bring health, happiness, and harmony?
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. So, first, I started experimenting and investigating things on my own. When I started learning the deeper realms of Vedic Vaastu and building biology, I started applying this knowledge to various projects. During this journey, I knew I needed to have some instrumentation to
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figure out the impact. To this end, I developed a psychometric chart which had 36 questions. Before doing any intervention in the house to evaluate the present condition, I would use this chart. This included the clients’ centeredness, emotional states, relationships, positivity, happiness, health, sleeping patterns, etc., besides measuring the auric field of the people and keeping a record of how it developed. I would give each of my clients this questionnaire, which they had to evaluate on each parameter on a scale of one to ten. I would keep taking the measures and keep the record every month, for a couple of months. Without my telling them anything and with their own inputs, their graph of well-being would gradually go up. The effect on the body, thoughts, and physical well-being takes two to three months to manifest. When the people you work for come and share how their lives changed, you then say, “Wow! It’s working.”
Q. So, if buildings communicate with us and our body, then what is that mode of communication?
You’d probably remember a physics lab experiment during your school days: When you put a tuning fork into a jar, it would vibrate. Then when you brought another fork of the same size or its multiple next to the one which was vibrating, the other one would start vibrating too. That is how we understood that both are in resonance. So, fundamentally, we understood that size and dimension are of importance in creating a vibration. This is exactly what happens with string instruments, like the guitar and the sitar, as well. We change the length of the string, whereby its frequency changes. So, we are aware that dimension and vibration are correlated.
In my talks, I demonstrate many experiments from the field of cymatics, which show how
patterns and vibrations are talking. We also talk about how we human beings have got patterns and vibrations around us. We understand that our thoughts are also energy patterns, as mentioned earlier. Hence, it is not difficult to understand that when we are living in a dimensional reality, it is likely to impact us because it creates and transmutes the energy around us.
When we create an enclosure in an open space, the vibration created therein changes the characteristics of the space. If it is in sync with my fundamental harmonic, I am happy, and that’s what Aayadi Vaastu is. It is based on the nakshatra that we are born under. Nakshatra is the star constellation whose influence is predominant at the time of your birth. This lends you a frequency which is unique to you, and can be termed as your signature frequency. Nakshatra is nothing but the value of your signature frequency. When we use Vaastu for your house project, we work on collective signature values. We check your and your wife’s signature values and figure out those dimensions which would be conducive for the two of you. When I design a building and make a grid on which the basic layout has to be made, that dimension is a multiple of frequencies of the people who are going to stay there. I just used a very simple analogy of the tuning forks to tell you that there is a correlation between dimensional reality and energy. So that is one way that buildings talk to us. But there are so many other ways too: the energy that is coming from the Earth, and the water and the material we use. All these are various ways in which we are communicating with the built environment around us.
You know what is the best part of Bio- Energetic Architecture (BEA) as compared to other means of promoting well-being? In every
Close encounter 21


other means, whether it is yoga, ayurveda, or exercise, you must do something. With BEA, you just have to be there and lead your life.
Q. Your role seems to be like that of a Vaastu consultant, but you are going far beyond to promote well-being. How do you feel about it?
Well, I want to give due credit to Vaastu consultants because some of them have been my teachers. I agree that this domain has undergone a lot of changes in the last 30 years. Many people from varied backgrounds have jumped in, so it is difficult for me to give any categorical statement. The fact is that holism is something that I want to share. I want to tell people that their house is not as per Vaastu, but that’s okay. It is not the only thing to be considered; many other things can also bring balance. Vaastu works, but we must also remove fear from people’s minds. The idea here is to bring wholesome knowledge to the building and design fraternity.
Q. According to your book, societies in the olden days followed the Earth’s grid for city planning. And around 100 years ago, that system changed. How does this impact people? One of the new cities planned by not following the grid is Chandigarh. What’s your observation?
To answer your question, I need not even do a guesstimate as to what has happened due to this. It doesn’t matter whether it is Chandigarh or New York or Gurgaon. Look at the happiness and well-being quotient that we experience today as a society. The answer lies there! That somewhere, we have made a mistake, even though we have spent a huge amount of money in building bungalows.
Vaastu was one of the sciences offered to us by our saints for us to realise our connection with the cosmos. Simply put, as mentioned earlier, when a human transceiver is in sync with the cosmos, spontaneous bliss is experienced all around. It has nothing to do with material riches. Understand that the material aspect played a very basic role in our lives, but being able to know the purpose of life, contribute, and connect with the universe was central to our Indian subcontinent. Using this science, our ancestors have built structures where, regardless of where you come from or which belief system you follow, you cannot remain unaffected when you enter them. You are bound to feel serenity and peace.
Q. From your explanation above, I get a sense that you seem to be touching the spiritual dimension in the end. Do you agree?
The spiritual dimension is the only dimension we exist in. We don’t acknowledge it, or we are not trained to look at it that way. Like I said in the beginning, when you take care of the subtle, you take care of the energy, and the matter will take care of itself.
For similar reasons, we use these devices and methods. At the end of the day, you and I are, here and now, enjoying each other, and life is happening. I always suggest that, for me, architecture is not just about building a space; it’s also about the people within that space knowing how to make the most of it. We have something called ‘grounding.’ It means touching the earth with your feet. There is a lot of science behind this, which is empowering and healthy for us. But if you wear rubber or leather shoes throughout the day in the house, then even if your house is well-designed, you are not connecting and reaping the benefits.
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Raman Vig is a Delhi based architect, building biologist, aayadi vaastukar and author of the book Architecture for Well Being: 9 Precepts of Bioenergetic Architecture.
He has designed more than 20 million sq ft. of diverse architectural and master- planning projects which include IT buildings, commercial projects, group housings, and many prominent institutional buildings in a career spanning more than 25 years.
In 2019, Raman founded the domain of ‘Bio-energetic Architecture’: a unique dimension of space design that integrates the knowledge of ‘subtle energies of space and human bio-fields as an important layer of architectural design with the objective to facilitate health, happiness, and harmony in the lives of people.
Currently, he designs homes, resorts, schools and institutions for clients across India who seek to live and work in energetically harmonious spaces. He also mentors design teams in designing spaces for the holistic well-being of the residents and offers talks and workshops.
He is a visiting professor at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and an honorary professor at the Sri Sri University; Cuttack. He is also a meditator and a nature lover.
He has designed more than 20 million sq fts. of diverse architectural and master- planning projects which include IT buildings, commercial projects, group housings and many prominent institutional buildings in a career spanning more than 25 years.
In 2019, Raman founded the domain of ‘Bio-energetic Architecture’: a unique dimension of space design that integrates the knowledge of ‘subtle energies of space and human bio-fields’ as an important layer of architectural design with the objective to facilitate health, happiness and harmony in the lives of people.
Currently, he designs homes, resorts, schools and institutions for clients across India who seek to live and work in energetically hamonious spaces. He also mentors design teams in designing spaces for holistic well being of the residents and offers talks and workshops.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
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JOURNEY
The price of happiness
Shivi Verma believes that in matters of the heart, toeing the line could end in disaster. You could stub your toes badly!
A friend of mine was trying hard to get married. He was 43, never married and was in a hurry to settle down as he felt he didn’t have much
time left.
All his past affairs had ended in break-ups, and he was betting on arranged marriage to find a suitable partner.
Although he was in a relationship with a woman he loved and admired, he had decided not to put a ring to it, simply because he feared that it would meet the same fate as the rest, since they came from different communities.
It was evident that he didn’t want to ruffle any feathers and wanted to take the easy route which would keep everyone happy, including himself.
He did finally manage to find a match and get married. The girl came from his community and region, spoke the same language, shared the same culture, and was educated and self-employed— she ticked all the boxes. As far as love was concerned, he was pretty sure that it would happen with time. I was amazed at his ability to use his mind in matters of the heart and discard his feelings for someone he truly loved. Just because he did not wish to court any trouble!
However, four months after the
marriage, I came to know that it had fallen apart. The girl had packed her bags and left because she could not connect with him emotionally, mentally, or physically. My friend’s efforts to reconcile with her failed as she refused to come to the negotiation table, and now he is faced with an impending divorce. He tried going back to his ex, but it was too late: she had moved on.
Shocked at the outcome, I wondered why things went south in his case. It dawned upon me that although a refined and evolved being from within, who loved truth and spirituality, he found it daunting to listen to the voice of his soul, which ached for growth and expansion. (According to him, he had never met someone like his former girlfriend who was genuine, caring, and deeply spiritual.) Listening to his heart and soul (i.e., marrying her) would have forced him to make some tough choices—upset family members and face ostracism and shaming from his community—all of which he was not willing to go through. He used his mind to suppress the call of his soul and go for something which got him the approval of his people. He did not place any premium on love. Sadly, things didn’t work out for him, and now he is back to square one.
Pondering over this incident, I realised that freedom, joy, and happiness are all attributes of the soul, but most people find them elusive because they come at a price. And the price is listening to the voice of truth within you and taking suitable action.
The world’s design is inimical to the soul’s yearning; each time you take a step in your soul’s favour, you meet with resistance and hostility. Only those who have the courage to stand by the truth, get to taste the ambrosial nectar of bliss, freedom, and happiness. Secondly, I also realised that love cannot be taken for granted when it comes into one’s life. It’s a gift from the Divine, and if you discard it out of ignorance, you might have to repent later on.
I have lived my life on this principle and was able to break many stereotypes, simply because I did not care what the world thought of me, as long as my soul was in consonance with my actions. Undoubtedly, the journey has been extremely rewarding.
Editor of Life Positive, Shivi Verma is a devotee who found all her answers in loving God passionately.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
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LEAD STORY
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Thank God
We have been blessed with the ability to be grateful. So let us have the wisdom to appreciate it and be thankful for small mercies (as well as big ones) to fill our lives with abundance and positivity, says Jamuna Rangachari
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T he famous author Dr Wayne Dyer Challenges vanish with an attitude of
says, “Give yourself a gift of five
minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles around you. This five-minute-a-day regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe.”
We all have something in life to be grateful for and something to feel depressed about. The more we focus on all that we have to be grateful for, the more it is bound to increase in the journey of our lives. It is time we work to make it a part of our very being.
I often think of my late mother-in-law whenever I think of the virtue of gratitude. All through her life, with the health and family challenges of bringing up her nine children, she always began and ended each day with a shloka of gratitude wherever she was. Due to this attitude, she was known as a lady sharing smiles wherever she went. She was in awe of every new thing she came across, so much so that most children preferred to be with her than with other ‘boring’ adults. She truly was one of a kind, and this is how she is remembered today.
The fact is that none of us can change the cards that are dealt to us by the Universe. However, we can certainly play them well. Playing our cards well is much easier when we are grateful for all that we have, no matter how little we may think it to be. With this mindset, we also begin to attract like-minded people who are also grateful for all that they have in life. We share the stories of some such people with you here.
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gratitude
Satish Sharma is a former government officer from Delhi, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and underwent surgery, chemo, and radiation. However, bringing in lifestyle changes through the study of natural therapy, he has kept himself healthy and disease-free for the past 17 years. Today, he is a health coach who guides many. He says, “You have to look into the abyss where people are at the bottom in their lives, and there are many of them— more than 90 per cent in the world. I have to be grateful that I am at least in the 10 per cent of the fortunate ones despite my complaints and grouses in life.” Undeniably, it is this attitude of gratitude that has contributed to his becoming a health coach from a cancer victim.
We also need to be grateful to the Universe itself. As Ravi Valluri, a senior railway officer, now in Chennai, says, “Gratefulness and gratitude imply being appreciative or thankful to someone or an event, but then this is duality. If so, then there is a separation between us. Can’t we just be ever thankful to the Creator/ God/Universe?” His own experience is that of overcoming alcoholism through the prayers of all his well-wishers. “In my case, it was through the effort of my wife, mother, and grandmother that I could extricate myself from the cesspool of the disease. They fervently prayed to Raghavendraya Swamy of Mantralayam, read Hanuman Chalisa, Sundar Kanda, and Vayu Stuti, which planted the seeds of my recovery.”
While he was posted at Bikaner as a senior divisional operations manager and totally ruined by alcohol, a stranger advised his


Whenever one experiences emotions of fear—which include sadness, loneliness, and anger—one unknowingly attracts more of what one doesn’t want. Conversely, when one expresses love, joy, appreciation, and gratitude, one transmits higher vibrations.
father that Ravi ought to attend the Part 1 programme of the Art of Living. Later, when Ravi was posted at Jaipur, his wife enrolled him for the course, and he attended it. She used to drive him in chilly winters every day for the course and bring him back. He learnt the unique breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya. However, he was still drinking though he was faithfully practising the technique.
He did various Art of Living courses and became part of the faculty. He found great happiness in conducting courses for alcoholics and drug addicts, as he could empathise with them. Having received a copy of my book Dancing With Life from his uncle Vasudeva Rao, he contacted me through him. Soon, he started writing for Life Positive, and before long, those articles were noticed by Ketan Tana of The Free Press Journal, for whom he began to write. He happened to show these articles to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who asked him to keep writing and mentioned that his books would be published. Over the last six years, he
has written both fiction and non-fiction, and has contributed to anthologies. He is indeed grateful and indebted to divinity.
Healers and the attitude of gratitude
Everyone benefits from incorporating gratitude in their lives, especially healers, as they know that the absence of this virtue leads to many pitfalls in the journey of life. It is for us to choose this attitude for our wellness. However, unfortunately, most of us choose the wrong attitude. The result—illness and chaos.
Manoj Lekhi, a healer and workshop facilitator from Mumbai, says, “When we make gratitude the basis of our thoughts, feelings, speech, and action, we trigger an inner and outer vibration of prosperity and well-being. There are two types of emotions man goes through: fear and love.”
He knows from experience that whenever one experiences emotions of fear—which include sadness, loneliness, and anger—one
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unknowingly attracts more of what one doesn’t want. Conversely, when one expresses love, joy, appreciation, and gratitude, one transmits higher vibrations.
He continues, “As per the age-old saying, we reap what we sow. So when we remain in gratitude, irrespective of a favourable or unfavourable situation, person, or health status, we find a dramatic shift in our well-being. We experience a wholesome improvement in our body, mind, spirit, health, business performance, income, social interactions, and our environment too. A single thought, word, or act of gratitude has an ever-growing ripple effect. This creates and sends far-reaching energy circles, infusing feelings of life fulfilment and increased overall happiness.
“Having travelled for the last 25 years,
staying with about 500 odd families of loving meditators, I have noticed that most people find several things disturbing. They get disturbed if
it is too hot
it is too cold
it rains heavily
it does not rain heavily
the helper doesn’t come
the newspaper or milkman doesn’t come
their pay cheque doesn’t come on time
their customers don’t make payments on time the food is not as per their preference
there is less salt or the absence of it in their food
they end up being late for a meeting
they are too ahead of time
a pick-up vehicle like a bus, train, or plane is not on time
The attitude of gratitude makes us patient and optimistic about even those situations that used to make us angry or frustrated
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This approach of being in gratitude not only brings about a transformation in one’s mindset but, over time, results in a change of heart, and very soon, we overflow with love, compassion, and forgiveness towards every situation in our life. This is the power of incorporating the simple attitude of gratitude.
someone gets in front of them standing in a line
“This list can go on and on. We find faults or complain about how things are not going the way we want them to and how they should be other than what they are. At such a time, my suggestion is to convert the complaint into gratitude towards that situation, person, or event in your life, and you will experience a huge shift in your desired result.
“Whenever I get disturbed I now see it as a message from the Universe to me.
I am then thankful to this existence for giving me an opportunity to grow in silence, love, and compassion. My alertness and awareness increase in this situation, and I start to enjoy this cosmic play.
“In a relationship, if someone is disturbed, I immediately start feeling compassion for that person. Why do I feel compassion? Because whenever one is disturbed, it is not their fault.
They are disturbed because of some deep troubles they may have gone through in the past or may be going through in the present.
“If I get disturbed because of poor health—a cough, body pain, back pain, or stomach pain, etc.—I realise I have taken that part for granted and have not given enough thanks to that part. I then thank the Universe for giving me an opportunity to be more loving towards that part which is diseased. Whenever I do so, that part is healed and I am perfectly healthy within no time!
“If I get disturbed due to financial problems, e.g., if money is not sufficient for projects I have taken up, I go into silence and thank the Universe for giving me an opportunity to be more silent and to see this whole money thing as a cosmic exchange of energy.”
He sees this as an opportunity to give even more of his services to everyone. He has seen with this practice that, miraculously, all the funds
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he requires just flow in towards the project.
“We conduct workshops on precisely this simple and effective virtue of gratitude. Many of our participants come with the question “How can we be grateful?” when they are facing what they consider serious challenges in any area of their life. Sometimes I am surprised that we have to teach them to actually think ‘thank you,’ say ‘thank you,’ feel ‘thank you,’ and most importantly, live ‘thank you’ in their life!
“We impart knowledge about the principles of being grateful and have devised applicable techniques and self-awareness tools which can
be applied daily. Many of our participants have consistently practised these and have experienced tremendous benefits from this simple approach to life of simply being thankful. We also follow a daily sadhana of verbalising and, thereby, emotionalising the virtue of gratitude, so that this ‘habit’ becomes second nature. This is done by way of repeating affirmations for our entire well-being and being in gratitude towards physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, personal, professional, and social aspects of our life as well as our food, nature, world, and the Universe. The magic starts when we start by saying each affirmation with a THANK YOU!
A woman client of Manoj Lekhi was able to get pregnant simply by practising gratitude after medical interventions failed.
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If I get disturbed because of poor health—a cough, body pain, back pain, or stomach pain, etc.—I realise I have taken that part for granted and have not given enough thanks to that part. I then thank the Universe for giving me an opportunity to be more loving towards that part which is diseased.
“This approach of being in gratitude not only brings about a transformation in one’s mindset but, over time, results in a change of heart, and very soon, we overflow with love, compassion, and forgiveness towards every situation in our life. This is the power of incorporating the simple attitude of gratitude.”
He shares the remarkable experiences of people in his workshops. “One of our meditators, Bijal, and her husband were married for five years and were keen to become parents. After several medical treatments and consultations, she was still unable to conceive. In exasperation, she approached me for guidance. She attended our Magic of Gratitude workshop and—with the focussed practice of remaining in gratitude towards her body, her family, her relationship, and other specific aspects of her life—she experienced a life-changing inner shift. I further gave her verbal affirmations which were to be said with the prefix “Thank You.” Within three months, she gave us the great
news of embracing parenthood, and today, she is the joyous mother of a healthy seven-year- young!”
With a plethora of such experiences, he knows that gratitude alone can transform lives. He avers, “We often underestimate the power of these words—THANK YOU.
It is a simple, quick mantra to transport ourselves from complaint mode to gratitude zone, opening up immense possibilities in our lives.”
Another healer who understands the power of this virtue is Pervez Daruwala from Mumbai. He says, “Saying thank you was part of my upbringing, manners, and etiquette.” He shares that he truly understood the meaning of gratitude when he learnt reiki for the first time. Reiki instilled in him the attitude of gratitude. This was much more than just saying thank you as being part of good manners. He learnt to actually look for things, people, situations, etc.
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in life to be grateful for. As he worked more with the attitude of gratitude, he realised it is a powerful way to be and not just behave.
Gratitude has played an important role in his deep interest in healing and transformation. He realised that an attitude of gratitude creates a space for grace in one’s life almost magically. It helped him see things from a larger perspective. He began making a list of everything to be grateful for and expanded his horizons regarding how much there is for him to appreciate and be thankful for. The most important learning was to be grateful even for the challenges and difficulties of life, as those stretched one’s resilience and brought one closer to the Divine.
Gratitude for growth
The attitude of gratitude is a pill of well-being and growth for almost everyone. When we see
this being practised by others, we automatically like to incorporate it into our life too. Anasuya Devi from Mumbai shares her experience with her mathematics teacher who inspired her to become a maths teacher herself. She shares how Mr Sriram Murthy, by just being who he was, taught her the alchemy of teaching, turning lead to gold with his knowledge and experience, and adds that the morals imparted by him will remain permanently entrenched in her.
She recalls the day she first met him with her father. “As soon as we entered his house, a tall, bronzed man in his late fifties with broad shoulders received us in the verandah and spoke very gently to my father, enquiring about my grandparents. Finally, after a round of coffee, he said he had stopped taking classes because of failing health and politely refused my father’s request to tutor me even after
When we are grateful to our teachers we imbibe our lessons a lot better
Lead Story 35


repeated pleas. After a while, disappointedly, we got up to go home. At the last minute, almost before crossing the main door, he asked my name. “Anasuya Devi,” I replied. He was very happy to hear this as it was his mother’s name and immediately agreed to teach me. That was the first time in my life that I felt proud of my name (and I have been proud of it ever since), as I always thought it sounded very old fashioned.”
That is how her journey with mathematics began. Mr Murthy’s classes were always a mix of fun and knowledge, and they eventually became the highlights of her week. She was always greeted cheerfully with “Amma, please come.” He would call out to his wife and ask for two coffees, one for her and one for him. Time flew past and, suddenly, two hours would be up. He kept her engaged by discussing current events in India or sometimes sharing his experiences teaching underprivileged kids
or his recollection of the time he won the Best Teacher national award. He had a great sense of humour, and he made good use of it to explain every difficult question to make it easier for his students. He always believed in her and said she would be a topper and showed no surprise when she, indeed, became the district topper. During the examination time, he would ensure that the school was open till late in the evening, with the lights and fans on for all the kids who did not have power at home, being from economically backward families. He never judged any student on the basis of caste, creed, or religion and treated them all as equals.
Anasuya concludes by saying, “Decades had passed, and I went to meet ‘Sir’ with my kids. He was so happy and showered them with gifts and compliments. I can never forget his expression when he asked the name of my son and my son answered “Sriram.”
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Including gratitude in the journey of life
• Appreciate the beauty around you
• Be grateful for the joy every moment gives or the lesson it teaches you • Begin and end each day with a chant of gratitude
• Make gratitude a part of your personality
• Live with an attitude of gratitude
• Never worry about the future or live negatively in the past
• Don’t compare with those who have more but with those who have less • Say thank you to all for every little thing they do to you with a smile
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In another zone of learning, Nithya Rajendran, founder of the music institute Music Vruksh and a parent from Mumbai, found her path opening up by understanding gratitude. She says, “I found that the real lasting way to happiness is to be grateful for what is and move forward to an even better place from there. I found a powerful analogy in music. When we do riyaaz (practice) on single notes, each note is celebrated for its unique place. When different equally unique and beautiful notes come together it becomes a magical piece of art. A song! From completion to more completion. From beauty to more beauty. This is the only way. And the only way to happiness is from gratitude to more gratitude.”
Speaking on parenting, she adds, “Parenting is unconditional love yet pretty thankless at the same time. Nevertheless, a parent is always a parent. So, to genuinely enjoy parenting is to be grateful for small milestones, small achievements.”
She summarises her view on gratitude by saying, “For me, gratitude is the only way to find happiness in life here and now.”
We all are malleable and, if we take the right steps with the right ingredients, can surely become gold in the journey of life. Here,
gratitude is certainly a key ingredient that adds contentment, happiness, and joy to our life. It is not that difficult as there are so many things we can be grateful for in this wonderful universe. Let us make our lives awesome, making gratitude a part of who we are.
Teaching story: Being grateful amidst danger
One day, while walking in the wild, a woman came across a tiger. The woman fled, but soon she came to the edge of a high cliff. To protect herself, she climbed down a vine and dangled over the fatal precipice. The tiger swiped down with its claws, barely missing her hands. Concurrently, two mice also appeared from a hole in the cliff and began gnawing on the vine.
She then noticed a plump wild strawberry on the vine and consumed it with delight.
It was incredibly delicious and she enjoyed it.
This Zen fable has a clear message:
The woman wasn’t caught up in what was behind her or worrying about what was yet to come. She was in the moment and able to notice the juicy, delicious strawberry right in front of her face. This shows us that gratitude finds us when we are fully open to all that life throws at us and embrace life’s inevitable challenges, impossibilities, setbacks, and struggles.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
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VEDANTA
Karta, Karma, and Kriya
Vanitha Vaidyalingam explains how the karma theory originated in the Vedas, was developed in the Upanishads, and subsequently was expanded on in the Bhagavad Gita
40
LifePositive | MAY 2022


T he karma theory defines the interplay perform they must because action is integral
between the three concepts of karta,
karma, and kriya—the doer, the result, and the action. But did this theory, as we understand it today, emerge in the Upanishads? Yes and no. A detailed study of the Upanishads will show that the rudimentary form of the theory existed in the Vedas and the Upanishads. It was refined and given the present form and public face in the Bhagavad Gita and other later texts.
Vedic concept of karma
The Vedas define karma in terms of ‘ritual action’ and ‘spiritual action.’ The section of the Vedas that describes ritual action is known as Karma Kanda. The section that speaks of yoga, meditation, etc. (spiritual action) is labelled as Jnana Kanda.
The Vedas clearly stipulate that ritualistic action is essential for those who seek to obtain merit in this life. Merit can be obtained by performing oblations to the gods. Yagnas, poojas, etc. are part of the daily activities of the householder. In the later parts of the Vedic texts, ritual is described as an end in itself. Performance of rituals is said to invoke a cosmic law that acts in favour of or against the individual actor in accordance with the intent behind the action. This gradual expansion of the idea finds fruition in the Upanishads.
The Upanishads and karma
The Upanishads seed the idea that God is the source of all action. He is the karta, the kriya, and the karma. He performed an act of sacrifice (yagna) while creating this world.
Human life mimics this sacrifice in procreating, preserving, and disciplining everything around human beings. The yagna performed by humans can be ritualistic or spiritual. But
to human existence. It cannot be avoided. However, unlike God, humans are attached to the action and the results thereof. The extent of attachment defines the method of performance, and this results in good and bad action. The nature of the action then becomes the measure of the punyam (merit) or papam (sin) accruing to the performer in the current worldly existence and the afterlife.
The Upanishads categorically aver that those who follow the ritualistic path will depart from this world via the path of the moon to their ancestral heaven and derive the benefits of their good karma, or punyam. From there, they will return to the earth or go forward to higher heavens in accordance with the nature of their actions here on earth. But those who sever all ties with worldly life and follow the path of jnana and sacrifice their life in search of truth—those who cease to be attached to the fruits of action—will ascend to heaven via the path of the Sun and merge with Brahman, the source of all action.
Para Vidya and Apara Vidya (Higher and lower knowledge)
This distinction between ritualistic action and spiritual action, over time, resulted in the relegation of ritualistic practices to a lower status and spiritual practices to a higher one. All practices that involved ritualistic worship came to be regarded as Apara Vidya, or lower knowledge, and all spiritual practices for purification of the soul came to be regarded as Para Vidya, or higher knowledge. In fact, it is stated in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad that the performance of rituals without awareness of the Self is useless. The Katha Upanishad and the Isa Upanishad decry the vanity of those who practise superficial rituality.
Vedanta 41


The Bhagavad Gita further expands on this idea and urges everyone to perform action with complete awareness of the Self, without desire and to eschew the results of actions. Renunciation, defined herein, not only includes the renunciation of worldly life but also the renunciation of the fruits of all action performed in this world.
Karma as a form of maya (illusion)
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.6.1) declares karma to be one of the three causes of diversity in the illusory world, the other two being name and form. Diversity in name arises from speech, and diversity in form emerges from vision. The body manifests diversity of action. It is the controller of all three types of diversity because the mind, speech, breath, the organs of action, and the organs of perception are all controlled by the body. They (except the breath) receive their food or energy from the body and they are unreliable in the struggle to overcome the impurities and evil that infests the body in form of the six avagunas (evil tendencies): kama (desire), lobha (greed), krodha (anger), mada (arrogance), moha (delusion), and matsarya (miserliness). The breath is autonomous and untouched by the six evil tendencies. In other words, ritualistic actions performed with the help of the body and its aspects (mind, intellect, sense organs, etc.) cannot guarantee protection against evil nor can it negate the effects of sinful karma. Only by controlling the breath can one reach the true Self that is immutable and untouched by the evils of the body.
This thought was later elaborated and extended by the later texts like the Bhagavad Gita, and the karma theory avers that the mind and body must be restrained with the help of controlled breathing, withdrawal of the senses, and righteous conduct. The mind must be
stabilised and centred on the Self within. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali gave shape and form to this seeded thought in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.
Karma and Dharma
In Vedic theology, dharma and karma are two dimensions of human existence. Vedic texts declare that dharma is obligatory action and does not, in any way, create karma, or results of action. Dharma enforces positive action for the welfare of the self, family, society, nation, etc. and must be performed in accordance with the enjoined duties of the community. The Upanishads go a step further and declare that dharma performed with a moral and ethical attitude is good karma and those who use dharma to promote themselves and their family or community with selfish intent are actually doing bad karma.
However, the Upanishads state that an individual can divest the self of all dharma by renouncing the world and worldly desires. But one can never divest oneself off karma under any circumstances. It is integral to the body and mind, and action will be performed consciously or unconsciously. Therefore, to get good karma, action must be performed without attachment to the fruits thereof.
Many of the post-Upanishadic texts picked up this thought and exalted detached, ethical dharmic action over renunciation and described a Jeevan Mukta as one who performs all worldly dharmic actions with detachment.
Karma as secret knowledge
Interestingly, the concept of karma and its impact on the soul was considered to be secret knowledge in the Upanishads. It was not taught to everyone. While ritualistic actions were performed in the full glare of the public for their
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In Vedic theology, dharma and karma are two dimensions of human existence. Vedic texts declare that dharma is obligatory action and does not, in any way, create karma, or results of action. Dharma enforces positive action for the welfare of the self, family, society, nation, etc. and must be performed in accordance with the enjoined duties of the community.
benefit, the concept of karma was never publicly discussed. It was passed on from teacher to student by a Brahmagyani (Self-realised master). A glimpse into the tradition of secrecy can be had from the conversation between Jaratkarava Artabhagah and Yajnavalkya in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Jaratkarava asks Yajnavalkya “Which part of a person survives death?” and Yajnavalkya responds by taking his hand in silence and leading him out to a private place for discussion. It is mentioned that the two talked about actions and praised good actions over bad actions and the impact of these actions. In the sixth chapter of the same Upanishad, Pravahana Jaivali is said to possess the knowledge of karma. Gautama and his son Svetaketu, though great scholars, were unaware of this knowledge and sought out Pravahana for this information. In context, they requested him to take them as his disciples and to teach them the knowledge of karma and
its impact on the cycle of birth and death. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna that he is going to impart to him knowledge that is a guarded secret and then goes on to explain the law of karma and elaborates upon the cycle of birth and death.
To sum up, the concept of karta, karma, and kriya developed in the early Vedic texts and gradually assumed a form and shape in the Upanishads as secret knowledge to be imparted only to a chosen few by teachers belonging to a specific tradition. Students had to seek these teachers and serve as their disciples if they wanted to acquire this guarded secret knowledge. However, the theory as we know it today came into being and gained a public face with the Bhagavad Gita. Post-Upanishadic texts do not show any hesitation in discussing this theory or debating upon it.
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AHA-MOMENTS
Attracting Abundance
Think positive, and Life will reciprocate lavishly, shares Megha Bajaj
W hat if I told you that it have got it all right? We believe have been able to break out of my
is possible to be happy
and successful? And have beautiful relationships? And feel healthy? Would you look at me in doubt or disbelief? Would you embrace the above with a big YES or ridicule it? Truth is, it is possible. Because, if a few can experience it, everyone can. My own life is an example of growing holistic abundance. So it’s not about a video I have watched or a book I have read. It is a truth that
I am living.
We bought into some lies, some myths, and we no longer even know when it started. But it seeped in so deep, and into so many, that we believed it to be true. It’s like this: I visit the Taj Mahal and say it is beautiful. I tell many more. Many more tell many more. Over the years, anyone who goes to the Taj Mahal believes it is beautiful. Even before they enter, they have bought into the belief that it is so. Likewise, unfortunately, too many of us have bought into the belief that life is supposed to be a struggle. Life is supposed to be scarce. Good patches will follow bad patches, and so on. We deepened this belief and passed it on generation after generation, and, today, most of the world believes it.
Yet, how is it that some people broke free? How is it that we all know of a few people who seem to
it is luck, destiny, or karma for lack of a better understanding. However, there is something these people have got right that we need to do as well. Its thoughts and feelings. And no, I am not going to tell you what The Secret did years ago. I wish to go a little deeper and more experiential on this.
We believe that thinking the right thoughts is what it takes to get there. And yet, why is it that so many of our lives continue to not go right despite us trying to think right? It’s because it’s not just about you thinking right; it’s also about you ensuring that the wrong thoughts or vibes (could be from the world or even your own family) don’t enter you. Your inner world is almost like your most sacred treasure— and what goes in, comes out. If you process thoughts of holistic abundance, wonderment, and beauty all day, that is what your life will become. If you process news (which continues to remain dominantly negative), other people’s misbeliefs, and thoughts of your deprivations, then that’s what you attract more of.
Watching thoughts and changing thoughts is a practice. An art. Mindfulness is nothing but watching yourself, seeing what loops you get into, and ensuring you avoid them. One of the ways I
unhealthy patterns is by creating a new pattern. For instance, while writing was always my forte, speaking has now become as effortless only in the last two years. Previously, I had realised that whenever I had to face a crowd, I would clam up; my stomach would go into knots and the predominant thought would be, Will I do okay? As I noticed this, I changed it to, I am going to rock this! I will go and love people listening to me! I will be me! And in two years I have addressed some of the most premium institutes, and the crowd is still growing. I can literally see my own transformation in this area.
Thoughts, supported by deep feelings of abundance, attract almost everything, and I somehow feel I have much more to share. Catch you, on the same subject, next month, with insights and incidents that may cause the hair at the nape of your neck to rise. For now, wishing you a holistic abundant month!
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]
44 LifePositive | MAY 2022


FOOD
Beat the heat
This May, be a cool cucumber by chilling with Naini Setalvad’s favourite summer drinks
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T he bright sun, golden haze, and warm air have me overjoyed! It’s time for me to restart my daily swims and gorge on everyone’s favourite fruit—mango. It is also the best time
for the various summer pickles. The gourd vegetables are available in plenty and make for delicious stir-fries. Summer is truly a joyous time. Once summer vacation for the kids begins, we adults too get into holiday mode. However, I have only one complaint about this season: the heat kills my appetite. But don’t worry if you too are feeling the same. I have just the cure! Ditch the ice-creams and colas, and have the following cooling drinks instead:
Lemonade: My first choice is this simple concoction which is rich in Vitamin C due to the concentrated amount
of lemon in it. The rock
salt and roasted cumin
seeds powder used work as
excellent electrolyte stabilisers. Toss in some mint leaves, and you will get a better cooling effect. It is a no-fuss summer drink and will help you say bye to the heat.
Jaljeera: A favourite in all households across India, jaljeera is a drink that replenishes your body with natural salt and micronutrients which are lost through sweat during the summer. I make this with roasted cumin seed powder, mint leaves, and fennel seed powder to cool me
down.
Buttermilk: One of my favourite summer drinks, it’s what I call ‘gujju beer.’ You want to keep having more and more of it. This probiotic cooler, available across the country, is amazing for your digestive system and will make your body sing with joy. Add roasted cumin powder to enhance its digestive power.
Coconut water: Coconut water is undoubtedly counted as a wonder drink. It is essentially purified water which has been stored in a sterile environment for over nine months. It is one of the highest sources of natural electrolytes known
to man. Coconut water is a solution for my complaints about the stifling summer heat as it is the next best thing to water and may help counteract any feeling of dizziness. I refer to this as the elixir of life, and I thank God that
I live in a country where it is abundantly available. It is also instantaneously refreshing and contains minerals that are excellent for the hair and skin. Sip on this biodegradable drink to your heart’s content.
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Summers make us run for cooling drinks. Here are seven sugar-free drinks that replenish your body without making you gain weight.
Cucumber-infused water: Cucumber has many benefits. It contains antioxidants and is very hydrating. Cucumber-infused water can help soothe your skin from the inside out while staying hydrated. It helps your body to flush out toxins and maintain a healthy complexion. In this sweltering heat, I often tell my clients to choose cucumber-infused water over sugar-filled beverages.
Coriander-mint water: My favourite chaat (savoury) to eat during this season is the mouth-watering pani puri. Though I don’t recommend you indulge in fried puris, the coriander-mint water is a must-have. This tonic is enriched with antioxidants, lemon juice, green chilli, and rock salt. Coriander helps relieve indigestion,
constipation, and stomach spasms.
Aloe vera: My aloe vera plant is in full bloom during this season.
I pick out the fresh leaves every morning
to extract the pulp and
take a shot of its juice.
The electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals rejuvenate me and also relieve constipation. Take a shot in the morning, and you will thank me.
Enjoy your summer with plenty of sunshine, fresh seasonal foods, and these coolers, which will ensure you feel energetic and active.
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HOMEMADE JALJEERA RECIPE
Ingredients
For the tamarind (imli) paste 1⁄4 cup hot water
1 tbsp tightly packed tamarind. For a more pronounced sourness, you can add 1⁄2 tbsp more
For the jaljeera
1⁄2 cup mint leaves, loosely packed
1.5 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp fennel seeds (saunf)
1⁄2 tsp whole black pepper
1 pinch asafoetida (hing) (optional)
1 black cardamom, seeds removed and kept (optional) 1 tsp dried mango powder (amchur)
1 tsp chaat masala powder (optional)
Rock salt as required
1.5 cups water
Method
• Soak tightly packed tamarind in 1⁄4 cup of hot water for about 20 minutes.
• Rinse mint leaves well with water. Drain all the water. Put the mint leaves in a small grinder jar.
• Add the soaked tamarind along with its water. Make sure there are no seeds in the tamarind.
• Add cumin seeds, fennel seeds, black pepper, and black cardamom seeds.
• Next, add amchur, chaat masala, asafoetida, and black salt as required.
• Grind to a smooth chutney. If you want, you can even strain the chutney using a tea strainer.
• Take the jaljeera chutney in a bowl and add 1.5 cups of water.
• Mix very well. Check the taste of jaljeera and add more salt and dried mango powder if required. You can also add some lemon juice if you want.
• Serve chilled with a sprinkle of mint leaves.
48 LifePositive | MAY 2022
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SPIRIT
On God’s side
Of late, I have found myself aligning myself more smoothly with the Universe, and in consequence, life is becoming easier.
A couple of weeks ago, when in Thane to visit my niece, I promised one of her helpers that I would buy a nightie for her. I had bought a nightie for the other helper six months back when an impromptu walk along the by-lanes of a lower-middle-class locality had helped me identify a pretty pink kaftan. I had never been there since, and I wondered if I would find my way to it. I breathed a quick prayer to guide me safely and effortlessly, and stepped into an auto.
As we entered that area, I asked the auto driver to take a large spacious road on my left. Alas, it was flanked by tall, elegant buildings on either side. I explained to the auto driver that I wanted to go to a more down-to-earth zone. In moments, the driver had grasped my intent. “You want to go to MHADA,” he explained, quickly turning his vehicle around, and entered a small lane to the left. A few more right and left turns later, I was in my familiar lane. And hello, to my left was a shop selling nighties and a smiling lady nodding her welcome! In less than half an hour, nightie triumphantly in hand, I was zooming back home.
Recently, once again, I was off to shop. My friend Usha and I were hosting our mutual friend Geetha for lunch, and we wanted to buy her a sari. Usha was busy, so the onus was on me. Once again, I breathed a quick prayer that I be guided smoothly and effortlessly, and entered the shop. On her own, the shop assistant led me to one section of the shop
Suma Varughese is finding it easier to align with the Universe and allow it to function without her interference
and pulled out some silk cotton Banarasi saris.
A striking sari of orange, pink, and red in geometric shades with a gold border and pallav called out to me. I sent Usha a photo of it and, on my own, decided that this was it. I had just finished buying it and was walking away with the booty when Usha signalled her approval. The whole thing had taken me only 15 minutes.
Yesterday, I had to go to my dentist to fill up a cavity. She had only an evening slot available, and as I sat there enduring the uncomfortable task, for a fleeting moment, I worried about the traffic that was bound to have congested the major artery road by which her clinic was located. Then I put aside that thought and decided to leave it to the Universe. Amazingly, there was no traffic on the road, and in 10 minutes, I had reached home.
So what exactly is happening?
The main thing is that my mind is no longer playing ducks and drakes with me. I can put aside its whining and worrying when I want to. And I can do that because I am much more in acceptance of all that shows up in the mind space.
And because of that, it is easier for me to get into a space of what I want, rather than protest about what I don’t want. This is enabling me to surrender to the Universe and allow it to function without interference.
Now that I see what’s going on, I plan to do more of this and save myself considerable time, trouble, and angst. Thank you, God!
Suma Varughese is a thinker, writer, and former Editor-in-Chief of Life Positive. She also holds writer’s workshops. Write to her at [email protected].
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Spirit 49


RELATIONSHIPS
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