January Issue 2023

www.lifepositive.com
YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMPANION
Subscriber copy January 2023
MESSAGES FROM THE BODY TEMPLE
Plan a Peaceful Retirement
Learn how to interpret them
PAGE 26
Meet Dandapani:
The high priest of
purposeful living
PAGE 19
PAGE 47
PAGE 40
Five Healthy International Foods






The challenge of the new year
Dear Reader,
2022 has gone by and the new year, 2023, has dawned upon us. However, unlike all the past new years where I began the editorial on an optimistic note, I am being sceptical this time.
The Omicron BF.7 had spread its deadly tentacles on the Chinese people with renewed fury, and the death toll is rising alarmingly. All countries, including India, are on high alert, and it’s time we start taking the precautions we had become quite cavalier about in recent times. However, if the experience of past years has taught us well, we will be careful to not let the virus put our lives on hold while ensuring that it does not infect us with the same virulence it did in the past.
Keeping this in mind, I think it’s sagacious to start the new year with deep prayers. Let’s sit together and form prayer groups, asking the Universe to bless us with health, a sense of responsibility, and sincere awareness of our reality. Let’s celebrate, not with gay abandon but with deep gratitude for all that we have, promising to be mindful of how we tread on Planet Earth.
The lead story for January is on developing the ability to communicate with our bodies. Our body is the vessel of our soul and the multi-layered mind. Often, the most persistent and nagging issues of our life get pushed back by our conscious mind. The body, however, keeps the score and throws up unresolved issues in various ways. By training ourselves to listen to it, we can prevent many an ailment and, perhaps, even get insights into the direction our life is going in.
In this issue, we also have an interview with Dandapani, the famous Hindu priest, entrepreneur, speaker, and author. Enjoy it for its clarity, precision, and laser-like focus on truth.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
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- Editor
January 2023Vol. 26Issue 10
Chairman: Aditya Ahluwalia President: D R Kaarthikeyan Director: V Venkat
Editor: Shivi Verma
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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 | JANUARY 2023


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CONTENTS
26
LEAD STORY
Messages from the body temple
Our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well- being depends on our ability to be in tune with our physical self says Rishi Rathod
15
HEARTSPEAK
Coming Home
Ajay Kalra gives new meaning to the adage ‘Home is where the Heart is.’
19
CLOSE ENCOUNTER
The High Priest of Purposeful Living
Dandapani sheds light on finding the purpose of life
06 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023
COVER STORY


40
FOOD
A World of Difference
A List of delicious recipes using some internationally trending foods
47
PLANNING
Ten Commandments for a Peaceful Retirement
The author shares some valuable retirement lessons
53
RENEWAL
Die to the past
The author talks about the power of the present moment
REGULAR COLUMNS
Response 08 Mandala 10 Yoga Column 14
Aha Moments Journey Sharing
46 Spirit 62 52 Mudra 63 59 Banyan Tree 65
Cover photo: Adobe Stock, Photo credit: Adobe Stock, Cover design: Yoshita Monga
Total pages 68, including the cover page and the back cover
Contents 07


RESPONSE
Reaping benefits from trible
wisdom
Apropos of the article Women’s Empowerment Comes To The Forest in the December 2022 issue of Life Positive it was wonderful to read about Ms Manju Vasudevan who is working with indigenous people to help them move forward using their knowledge and skills in the right manner. It is indeed people like her who make forest-dependent communities harvest a range of wild resources and products. There is a lot of confusion about employing the knowledge possessed by forest dwellers.
Tribals are specifically gifted in this area. We need to contribute to the income of fores communities and we definitely need more such people in our country. Kudos to Life Positive for writing about this initiative.
-Sheela Rajendra, Mumbai
Answer to my queries
I always used to wonder how I could contribute in my own way to the world as I am just a housewife. I received the answer in the last issue
of the magazine almost serendipitously. The cover story Intent and Karma in the December 2022 issue of Life Positive issue showed me how all our thoughts are indeed important and we can create a better world with just our thoughts which then become intentions. The people showcased also show us how the universe responds to such thoughts and genuine intent. This does show us the Divine is always listening to us all the time.
-Meera Narain, Bangalore
A lovely ode to Sri Ramanuja
As a South Indian, I have always felt that Sri Ramanujam and his journey needed to be known to all to convey how spirituality and bhakti are the greatest unifiers of all. While most of us are aware of Kabir, the Sikh Gurus, the Buddha, and Mahaveer, very few are aware of the South Indian saints. I am glad that Life Positive has written about this great seer and even about his modern followers. I am surely going to go to his temples and follow his principles of bhakti to the maximum extent possible while also sharing his journey with my friends.
-Seetha Srinivasan, Chennai
08 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023
Mail From Our Readers, Online Fans and Subscribers


Helping those who need aid
We often don’t realise how the uneducated do not know where to go for help and how to avail of it. In the cover story of Life Positive’s December 2022 issue, I was happy to see how Ms Sona Kumar and her NGO extended help to those who needed it. By doing so, they not just earned a lot of good karma but established themselves as conscious and humane citizens. I certainly feel we would be a better nation if we all did the same in the journey of our lives to the maximum extent possible. This would result in an India that shows the path to others.
.-Manoj Tripathi, Mumbai
The genius of Ajay Kalra
A regular reader of Life Positive, I have become a fan of Ajay Kalra who writes every month for the magazine. His insights, deeply reflective pieces, and commendable grasp on the subtle nuances of life make him a seeker, coach, and writer par excellence. The more I read him the more I am able to catch my mind deceiving itself into believing or doing something out of ego, defensiveness, or selfishness. This awareness helps me get in touch with my soul, which is the seat of pure consciousness.
It’s rare to find someone sharing his life with the world with so much honesty and transparency. May he guide more and more people with his wisdom and realisations
.
-Amit Barua, Bhilai
Enjoying the e-mag
When Life Positive closed the publication of the physical magazine I was hugely disappointed. However, such is my fascination for its content that I tried reading the e-magazine which I found quite difficult, considering my age. I am 72. However, my predicament was resolved when the editor made all the articles, audio-enabled. So now, even though I cannot read the magazine on my mobile, I can listen to them and enjoy them as before. My request is to please see if the accent of the voice could be Indianised. I find it difficult to follow the American accent in the English language.
-S D Talukdar, New Delhi
Wonderful information about good samaritans
I really liked the article on Dr Shetty and his yeoman service in helping people resolve all their issues related to the eye.
This article showed me most issues related to the eye can be managed and as this is a preventable issue, we need to at least guide others, especially the underprivileged, to take proper care of their eyes or direct them to people like Dr Shetty who shall do the needful. This is the best way we can remain good citizens and good human beings in this world. Thank you Life Positive for informing us about such individuals.
-Sharanya Gowda, Bangalore
Response 09


MANDALA
Learning to Accept The Difference
Anshoo Srivastava creating a secure place for the LGBTQIA+ in the community
The majority of people are unaware that the LGBTQIA+ community is one of society’s most disregarded and marginalised groups. The only occasions we see them at all are when they are begging at the signals or at someone’s wedding for tips, or meeting in certain groups or locations if they are younger. We don’t know about their traumatic experiences, how they manage their sexual identity, stress, or the physical abuse they endure. The founder and director of the non-profit organisation, Suramya Life, Ms. Anshoo Srivastava, had a natural tendency to help those in need by offering counselling and support. She is attempting to improve the mental, emotional, and physical health of the LGBTQIA community through this NGO.
Anshoo claims that disregarding this community is only one issue; the prejudice and mental abuse they experience go above and
beyond what is expected. Numerous people are learning that their sexual orientation is unique from others and are unsure about how to handle it. To support these people, Suramya Life has a helpline (+91 8090009868) through which it offers free advice and guidance on their concerns.
The efforts that Anshoo and her NGO are making are insufficient, and many problems call for institutional intervention and transformation. This is because an individual cannot battle against social discrimination and marginalisation alone. She says, “To bring about change that is accommodating of those who are traditionally disadvantaged, a significant portion of our mental health activism involves engaging with the government and other commercial institutions and organisations.”
Anshoo is right in saying that raising people’s awareness of the problems faced by a section of our society is the first step towards bringing about change. Because of this, the Social Welfare Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh and Amity University have implemented awareness and sensitisation campaigns about the LGBTQIA+ community. The goal of the organisation is to give the Indian community a secure place where they can talk about their psychological and emotional problems.Anshoo hosts a number of awareness- raising activities in keeping with their aim. They hosted Queer Eve – The Night of a Thousand Rainbows in 2022. Anshoo concludes, “We sincerely think that people can be empowered to overcome their problems if they are provided with sufficient coping mechanisms for stress, rejection, trauma, and failure. An individual who is psychologically healthy is most productive.”
10 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023


The Patron saint oF Hope
Cancer is a great challenge in itself, but
looking for a safe place to stay during the treatment makes it even more daunting for the victim and their family. Mr Nihal Kaviratne from Mumbai and his wife realised this, especially about people from rural areas, in an event he attended. They felt that they needed to do something about it. He says, “I made a promise that I would do something to assist the little ones and their families.”
A beacon of hope for the cancer stricken families
have won the battle against cancer are able to fulfil their potential. This vertical provides timely assistance to their alumni—referred to as Judians—to complete their education, maintain good health, and lead successful lives, thus becoming a role model for others too.
The couple states that this was possible only because of the support they received from people which includes doctors and their partner hospitals who provided guidance and encouragement at every stage, united by the purpose of helping children survive cancer.
To make a difference, Mr Kaviratne and his wife founded St. Jude India ChildCare Centres in 2006 for children suffering from cancer who did not have a clean place to stay in the city. It initially started in Mumbai with eight children. Gradually, people started seeing their work and asked them to start this initiative elsewhere as well. Today, St. Jude provides quality care to more than 492 children and their families at 39 centres in nine cities in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Chennai, Vellore, Guwahati, Delhi, and Varanasi.
Mr Kaviratne and his wife launched a new vertical in 2020 to ensure that children who
They thank the Divine and are grateful to their donors, patrons, and well-wishers who have put their faith in them and supported them through the years, making the struggles of the children easier.
The two good Samaritans are happy to have done their best for these young fighters who need a lot of support and hope from society. The children would earlier struggle with their parents for a clean place to stay, but this has changed due to their efforts. They have shown all of us how to reach out to those who need support by providing all fighters with a loving space to make their fight a wee bit easier.
- By Jamuna Rangachari
Mandala 11


Waltzing Through The Winter of Life
becomes easier since the younger ones assist the older ones in getting the steps.
Line Dancing is done individually: participants stand in lines and move around facing different walls depending on the choreographed routine. There are different kinds of tempos—waltz, salsa, rhumba, and so on. Marita says, “The main advantage of Line Dancing over other styles is that you don’t require a partner. You learn at your own pace and are responsible for your own moves.” Everyone has a good time as she does not expect them to get the steps right. They are told that if they make a mistake, they should tell themselves that they have improved on the choreography, pat themselves on the back, and
T Seniors dancing to the tune of life
here is a common adage, “Dance like nobody is watching you.” This saying comes from the thought that most
people think they can’t dance and become self- conscious when dancing, but Marita Nazareth, a corporate trainer, is altering people’s view with her “Line Dancing for Seniors” programme. We have a large senior population that is expanding year after year. Even though they are no longer leading busy lifestyles, they still have the capacity to give and want to interact with others and be heard. Hence, Marita had the brilliant idea of channelling this energy. “Too little is being done to access the abilities of elders,” she says. “They should be energised, not tranquillised!”
One way to keep seniors energised is to give them an opportunity to dance. Marita began Line Dancing classes for seniors 10 years ago. She now finds that it is much more fun to offer it to all age groups so that the interaction
12 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023
move on. Self-expression is encouraged and not the uniformity that most dance classes expect. Marita adds, “Dancing keeps one focussed and in the present moment since you have to try and remember the steps; so there is no room for worrying about personal problems! Our students claim it’s the best de-stressor they have during the week.” According to her, learning new movements regularly stimulates one’s grey cells and is a fantastic kind of cerebral workout. It is a great physical exercise that may enhance the motor system and help them gain strength, stamina, and flexibility.
In her capacity as a facilitator of workshops, Marita states, “I would love to offer regular edutainment (education and entertainment combined) sessions on topics like Stress Management, Physical and Emotional Well-being, and Creating an Exciting Future. Life begins at 60!”
Marita gives dance classes at Agatsu Foundation in Bandra.Her email ID is maritaofnazareth@ gmail.com


Depression & Anxiety
Career & Business Challenges Relationship Disputes & Conflicts Diseases & Infertility
Achieve better outcomes for your employees & organization with our Motivational Sessions!
M: +91 95060 30459 / 8299378890
www.vandanasrivastava.in


YOGA
Hip Hip Hooray!
Squat to open up your hips and stretch your lower limbs with
Kamala Venkat
Malasana, also known as Garland Pose, is a hip-opener that gives a good stretch to your thighs, legs, and ankles. In Sanskrit, ‘mala’ means ‘garland’ and ‘asana’ means ‘pose.’
Method
• Bend your elbows to bring the palms together in Namaste Mudra and take your arms inside your knees to press your elbows against your inner knees and transfer your body weight to your heels. Hold the pose.
• Keep your spine and neck straight and your shoulders relaxed.
• Stay in this pose for 20 to 30 seconds, inhaling and exhaling deeply.
• Then slowly release your palms, and back to squat and stand up, and relax.
• Repeat the asana.
Benefits
• Tones lower body and improves balance
• Helps in digestion
• Helps in opening the hips and increasing
mobility in the legs and back
• Helps in constipation by putting
pressure on your abdominal muscles
and improves the function of the colon
• Improves concentration and focus
Contraindications
• Weak bone density
• Any surgery or injury to the back, knee,
or ankle
• •
Stand on the mat with your feet wide apart.
Bend your knees and lower your butt to come into a squat position.
14
LifePositive | JANUARY 2023
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)
YOGA


HEARTSPEAK
Coming
HOME
some time, they opened their eyes. I was curious to hear what they would say.
“What I truly want is happiness,” said somebody
“What I truly want is peace of mind,” said another.
“What I truly want is a state of no mind,” said someone else.
Then suddenly, someone asked me, “What are you seeking?” taking me by surprise.
In this article, Ajay Kalra gives new meaning to the adage ‘Home is where the heart is’
Recently, during the middle of a session, I requested the participants, “Take a moment, close your eyes, and ask yourself ‘What am I truly seeking?’ ” There
was silence. I waited while they contemplated what they truly wanted. After
Heartspeak 15


I took a pause. Closed my eyes. Only one word came to mind.
“Home.”
As I said that, I could sense each one could resonate with this single word,
‘home.’
What is home?
A place where we belong. Feel secure. A place that nourishes us. Where we can
be ourself. Express ourself freely. Feel loved. Aren’t we all looking for home?
• Place
Home is a place. Living in the mountains close to nature is home for some. For others, home is a beach house facing the sea or a two-bedroom- hall-kitchen in the city. Whatever it is, it is a space we come back to, to rejuvenate ourself.
A counsellor once asked me, “Does your room nourish you?” I was living with my grandpar- ents at that time. My room had four clocks, three calendars, and paraphernalia that had outlived its usage. My grandparents felt that anything could be needed at any time. Things only came into the house; they never went.
I was fascinated by this question “Does your room nourish you?” It never occurred to me that a room is meant to nourish me. Until then, I thought a room is for living, not nourishment. That question impacted me so much that I moved out and started staying on my own for the first time. My new place had bright cur- tains, big windows opening into a garden, and a goldfish swimming in a glass bowl. This felt like home.
• People
Home is people. They make us feel welcomed and loved. If we are lucky, this could be the fam- ily we are born into. If we are not, then we have to find our family. Family is not blood relations.
Family is people with whom we share a
bond. People who see us for who we are, cherish what is important to us, and hold a non-judge- mental listening space when we need it the most.
I never got a chance to bond with my parents as I was brought up by my grandparents. There was a generational gap between them and me. Most of our conversations were about doing well in studies and getting a good job.
The first time I experienced someone listen- ing to me with complete attention was when I went to a counsellor. After my first session, I felt delighted and sad at the same time. Delighted that, at last, I found someone who could hear me
unconditionally. Sad because I could get that only by paying money.
Over time, I found my tribe: People interested in self-growth. People willing to be authentic. People not shy of sharing their vulnerability. And sometimes, people who have none of the above qualities but are genuinely nice and help- ful.
Whenever I can be myself in the presence of an- other without editing parts of me and the other person can do the same, that feels like home.
• Purpose
Home is purpose. An expression of our natural self. When we are expressing our innate nature, we are not working. We are just being ourself.
A rose does not have to work to smell like a rose. Its fragrance is innate to it. An oak tree does not have to work to be strong like an oak tree. Its strength is innate to it. Similarly, certain ex- pressions are natural to certain people. These expressions are effortless and spontaneous be- cause they have been gifted to us by nature.
16 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023




Unfortunately, we are conditioned to make money, be successful, and do what others are doing. This disconnects us from our innate- ness. Often, people do not know what gives them joy. Even if they do, it is relegated to hob- bies or pastime.
Becoming a chartered accountant was part of my conditioning. Being a teacher and a writer is an expression of my naturalness. In fact, I am not even a ‘teacher’ or a ‘writer.’ I am just being me. These labels come later when people ask, “What do you do?” One day, I will re- spond, “I do not do anything. I am.”
• Presence
Finally, our true home is Presence.
The reason we seek peace of mind or no mind is that being entangled in thoughts does not feel like home. More often than not, we are not using the mind; the mind is using us. Not just using us but abusing us with its unwanted thoughts.
We have no control over the mind. It is churn- ing thoughts from morning to night without our permission. Unwanted, unproductive, dis-
turbing thoughts. We want freedom from the mind because we feel uncomfortable being pushed and shoved around by it. Something in us longs for silence and stillness.
When our mind is silent, we get in touch with a living presence. Pure Existence. Without words, memory, or imagination. We realise we are not the character and the story. The mind has created them by putting together past events. We are. Simply are.
This isness of existence feels like home. Exist- ence is not judging us, telling us
to become someone, or instructing us to do something. It accepts us as we are.
Breathing. Conscious. Alive. Devoid of all our ideas about ourself.
As I sit on my bed next to a big window over- looking the green valley, I close my eyes. My attention gradually withdraws from the racing mind. Thoughts dissolve into silence. I am no longer this or that. I am Silent Awareness watching the play of Existence.
I Am Home.
Ajay Kalra is a teacher of Advaita Vedanta. He endeavours to simplify the understanding, practice and application of the Philosophy of Oneness through his online classes, workshops, writing and videos.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
18 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023


CLOSE-ENCOUNTER
The High Priest of Purposeful Living
Dandapaniji talks with Navni Chawla about finding meaning and purpose to life and living in alignment with it to make the most of our time here on this planet
As I entered the with less noise. He politely
hotel lobby where
Dandapaniji was staying, I saw him coming out. He told me he had just finished another interview. Seeing his enthusiasm, we straight away started looking for a place to conduct his second interview for the day, which was with Life Positive. We went to an outdoor area
• What do you do Dandapaniji?
I was a monk for 10 years after which I left the monastery I was in. I am a Hindu priest now. The biggest difference between a monk and a priest is that as a monk one practises Bhramacharya and does not earn money, but as a Hindu priest, one can get married—which I did. And I have a four-year-old daughter.
asked if I wouldn’t mind doing it on the staircase since it was in the shade and away from people; hence, quieter. I instantly agreed, my heart filled with joy and gratitude to be with this humble yet renowned man who trains world-class athletes, sitting beside me on the staircase, eager to answer my questions.
Close-encounter 19


All answers are inside you
I work as an advisor to entrepreneurs and athletes. I train them to understand how the mind works, how to leverage that understanding, and to focus their mind to get better at what they do.
[I read his book The Power of Unwavering Focus, in which he emphasises the importance of living a purpose-focussed life. Since I was so interested in that subject myself and also thought talking about purpose will resonate with a lot of people, I asked him about it.]
• How does one find their purpose in life, especially if they are lost or clueless?
I would say spend five minutes every day in a
conversation with yourself. Most people don’t know what they want in life because they don’t know themselves. Most people don’t sit down with themselves and ask questions like ‘Am I happy?’ ‘What do I want?’ ‘What am I passionate about?’
Every day, you can set up a meeting with yourself and have a conversation of enquiry (not a meditation). Eventually, you will begin to realise what is important to you, and that will lead you to your purpose in life. Spend five minutes every morning and reflect on ‘Am I really happy where I am today in my life?’ ‘Am I going where I want to go?’ You may not have all the answers right away, but when you ask yourself the same questions every day, more answers will come from within you. No answers are outside you; all answers are inside you. It is a matter of really trying to extract that information. Businesses do this, for instance, when branding companies are hired to brand a company. They go to the company and ask them tons of questions: ‘What is the company culture?’ ‘How do you upgrade?’ ‘What’s your vision?’ ‘What are your core values?’ They keep asking these questions over and over and then they take all this information, distil it down, and come up with a brand, a colour, a font style and size, a logo, and a whole depiction of the company. All this comes after so much enquiry. Essentially, we are branding ourselves when we are trying to find our purpose in life. We need to go through the same process. Some people are patient enough, but most people don’t care enough to take the time to do it.
[As I was super impressed by Dandapaniji’s book, I referred to it again in the form of my next question. I told him that he mentions in his book that intuition comes from the superconscious part of the mind, and it must pass through the subconscious mind for us to perceive it. But a cluttered subconscious would
20 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023


make it difficult for intuition to get through.]
• How can we de-clutter our subconscious so that intuitive information can be downloaded easily into our conscious, sensory, intellectual mind?
I would say that one of the first things is to be very conscious of what we consume. A conscious mind is like a memory bank. Let’s take an analogy: Imagine you have a room in your house that you want to turn into a library. Every day, you put 10 books in the library. You don’t organise, label, or index them. You are just stuffing information in there, and after a year, 3,650 books will be accumulated in your library. Will it be easy to find anything there? In today’s world where we consume so much information, our subconscious is like that room. Instead
of putting high-value books, we are putting a thousand books, podcasts, Instagram reels, YouTube videos, TikTok videos, and whatnot in our subconscious mind, and we think we are learning. But actually, we are not! All we are doing is gathering information. Books and information are useless unless practically applied. After a few years, what happens is that you have a huge amount of clutter in your subconscious and you don’t even know where to begin. So how can you make a decision?
So, from that pile, you have to organise everything one by one. And that’s why when you ask every 18-year-old or 35-year-old “What do you want to do with your life?” they say they have absolutely no idea because their subconscious is so cluttered. We consume content indiscriminately regardless of whether it is harmful to us or serving us. If you keep accumulating trash in your mind throughout the years, there will be no room left for something of value. We think information or knowledge is wisdom, but it is not. The timely application of knowledge is wisdom. If I can apply my knowledge to do something at the right time, then it is useful. People just fill their heads by going to YouTube and listening to what others are saying. While they assume that by doing this they are learning something new, they are doing nothing but just confusing their subconscious. And therefore, it is critical to know what you really want in life. By knowing what you want, you know how to say no and what to say no to! Once you know what you want, you can focus more easily and also see clearly the things that you don’t want.
[This answer shook me and made me introspect: But what if someone doesn’t know what they want; what about them? How will they find their purpose? How will they come out of the meaningless meandering? Which led to my next question.]
• How does someone who lacks focus and
Intution flows through a clutter-free subsconsious mind
LifePositive | JANUARY 2023
Close-encounter 21


The characteristic of intuition is that it tells you only one time; it never repeats itself. It is always concise and precise, brief and clear. It will never tell you again that now you need to be obedient and listen to it. Another indication that you are functioning in the superconscious area of the mind is that you have really good timing; timing is immaculate. Obedience is needed with intuition. When you clearly hear a precise voice in your head just follow it. That’s the rule.
has a hyperactive mind recognise their own voice from all the noise in their head?
I would say two things here: One has to have the desire to know oneself. And this is where 99.999 per cent of people fail. Since they don’t want it badly enough, they never pursue it. Secondly, if someone has too much clutter inside their mind, then I would say find a mentor or a teacher who will help you go from A to B. But how do you identify a real guru from a fake teacher? The right type of teacher should be able to clearly define for you a goal and the steps to reach that goal. A true leader can paint a very clear picture of the vision of your goal or target. The hallmark of a good teacher is that they do not intend to inspire you; they just outline the steps for you to reach your goal and help you whenever you are stuck. [In his book Dandapaniji often refers to the superconscious part of the mind being the purest. I wondered if we could ever tap into that part of us. Wouldn’t that make our lives more illuminated? And so I asked my next question.]
• How can one train their subconscious mind for it to work in harmony with the superconscious mind?
Our superconscious mind is like a wise person. A wise person will go to a library,
look at the right resource, consume it, and use that knowledge to create something. If the superconscious mind has a messy library or subconscious how will it extract the right information to guide us? It can’t. So, for us to be able to access the superconscious mind, it is very important to cleanse our subconscious first. When the subconscious is organised, it is very easy for the superconscious to go in there and say that it needs such-and-such information, grab that information, and then create.
Ultimately, in the deeper understanding, the superconscious doesn’t really need the subconscious to work. When your subconscious is disorganised, you ignore even a flash of intuition. Children should be trained from an early age not to clutter their subconscious mind by stuffing it with unnecessary information. In ancient India, they would not cultivate intellectual learning for women; they would give them basic education, and beyond a certain point, the women would not develop their intellect. Instead, they would send the girls to learn the arts because this discipline works more with the superconscious and intuitive mind. For women, it was important to be in touch with their intuitive self because if they were more intuitive, they could guide the family. If the intellect is overdeveloped, reason
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Close-encounter 22


takes over everything else, and one ignores intuition and never listens to it. In ancient culture, women guided society although men were at the forefront. But women would tell men what to do at home when they fed them. They would tell men some great ideas. The shakti (energy) and stability of a woman bind the household together. The right thing to do flows from the intuitive side of the mind.
And so it is important to cultivate intuition. Reason will not always guide you correctly.
• What would you suggest to, say, a four- year-old to help them develop their intuition early on?
I will teach them about the awareness of their mind. I will tell them about moving the awareness to different areas of the mind, like I tell my own three-year-old daughter. Once her mother was upset about something, and she said “Amma, take your awareness to the happy area of the mind.” And now I am teaching her about the superconscious and how to identify it. Cultivating an interest in the arts also helps, like music and dance. These two are close to
the superconscious but this doesn’t hold true for all music. The first step is to understand how the mind works and know the difference between intuition and intellect. The latter is always reasoning ‘If I do this, this will happen and that will happen’ and so on and so forth.
The characteristic of intuition is that it tells you only one time; it never repeats itself. It is always concise and precise, brief and clear. It will never tell you again that now you need to be obedient and listen to it. Another indication that you are functioning in the superconscious area of the mind is that you have really good timing; timing is immaculate. Obedience is needed with intuition. When you clearly hear a precise voice in your head just follow it. That’s the rule. Shut up and do what it says. It will never ever guide you wrongly.
• What is your view of God?
Hinduism believes there is only one God. There are many angels and great angels, (devas and mahadevas). We have millions of them, but only one God. God is one pure energy (Divinity) permeating everything. How do you
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Humility brings joy in life


get to know God? Have a shrine at home or go to the temple, make an appointment with God, and spend time with him. Every day, spend some time with God, offer a flower, and say “Thank you.” Go to him when everything is fine, not only when you need something. Build a relationship with God. It’s a two-way street. You come half way and God comes half way; you both meet in the middle and that’s where the magic takes place. Talk to your God like you talk to a friend. For me, God is so much of a friend that I want to go to see him.
Once in a while, ask Him, “What can I do for you? How can I serve you?” And then a relationship starts to build between you and God. But you should not have a lazy, passive, and non-responsive approach towards God. Take ownership for your life. God is there to assist you, not to live your life. Open yourself to the possibility of failure or success. Don’t be afraid to fail. Only when you fail, will you succeed. You have to fail many times before you succeed.
• Is there a personal practice that you recommend to someone who seeks your advice?
I always ask “What do you want to achieve?” Your goal defines what practice is good for you.
• What is that one piece of advice for young people who are so distracted by social media and are consuming information off the web?
Consume information only from the people who have real-world success, for example, somebody who has built a company from zero to two billion dollars; the best people in their professions, like the best actors in Bollywood; national cricket team players; best of the athletes; etc. Get rid of all that is not aligned
with your dream. Put all your energy into what you want to create. What inspires you, write it down and remember it over and over again until it becomes your core value.
• How can decision-making be simplified?
Decision-making should be driven by purpose. Once you know your purpose in life, decision- making becomes easy. And also de-cluttering the subconscious mind helps, which we have spoken about earlier.
• How can one enhance their creativity?
Creativity comes by managing your energy appropriately and not allowing it to leak. When you channel your energy and redirect it to the things you want to do, then your creativity will blossom. Don’t waste your time on things that are inconsistent with your goals in life
• How can one improve consistency?
Consistency lies in small steps. Taking small and doable steps every day is the key here. That is the power of a small and sustainable approach in life. Consistency is also driven by love.
On a personal note, this was by far the sweetest interview I conducted. Dandapaniji was patient, kind, and gracious with all his answers. He gave simple answers to all my questions, and I am sure they will be useful and easy to grasp by anyone who reads them. His humility made me realise that it was one of the highest virtues and the hallmark of a high- value man. My personal takeaway was to have a laser-beam focus in life to achieve my goals. Danadpaniji’s gentle demeanour can warm the cockles of anyone’s heart. We hope that our readers benefit the most from his wonderful insights and beautify their lives.
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Close-encounter 24




LEAD STORY
Messages from
the body temple
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Our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being depends on our ability to be in tune with our physical self, which is the vessel of our personal spirit and our connection to the Universe, says Rishi Rathod.
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M ann Mathura dil Dwarka Personally, I have been working on my
kaaya Kashi jaan
Yeh das dwaare ka peenjra ya mein jyot pichhaan”
“Know the mind to be Mathura, the heart, Dwarka
and the body, Kashi
This cage of ten doors
contains the light within”
Paraphrase: The body-mind complex is the most sacred pilgrimage of all and is the true Mathura (birthplace of Lord Krishna), Dwarka (kingdom of Lord Krishna), and Kashi. Know this cage (the body) to be the true temple which contains the light of the soul.
—Sant Kabir
Wonder why Albert Einstein said that his primary process of perceiving was muscular and visual, and Thomas Edison, one of the most prolific inventors known to mankind, said that great ideas originate in the muscles?
It appears that these great minds believed that what we call the brain, although located in the head, is spread throughout the physical body. This body intelligence is what Carl G Jung was pointing towards when he said, “The hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.”
The idea that the body talks, which is the topic for this article, is not a new one, and does not come to us from these relatively recent thinkers alone. It exists in poetry, in mythology, and in the form of ritual, which is but mythology enacted as drama or a series of actions. In recent times, the idea of listening to the body is closely connected to the insight into multiple intelligences, which was introduced by psychologist Howard Gardner in 1983. He, among other things, spoke about the spatial and kinaesthetic intelligence developed in athletes.
breathing for a long time. What I have observed is that apart from a specific body part sending me subtle signals, my breath pattern also sends me signals. Sometimes it becomes shallow, and at other times, the breathing speed accelerates. Even the heat and cold in my breathing would signal something. And as I would sit down and act upon my breath, gradually, healing would take place. For me, now, it’s not just about taking medication when I am sick but also about addressing what’s happening inside my physical form. I understand that I am part of a living system that constantly exchanges information while I am eating, resting, or overdoing everything. This is probably what they call ‘Body intelligence.’
“Body intelligence (BQ) refers to the degree to which a person is aware of their body, what they know about themselves, and what they do for their good. Although body intelligence has only been a topic of discussion in the last two decades, it is not a new concept — in
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Body intelligence depends on the level of our awareness


fact, it has always been central to the work of health, wellness, and, a bit later, fitness professionals. So if you have apps like a plank for 30 days, pedometer, or meditation installed — congratulations, you are taking the first steps in developing your body intelligence, albeit perhaps unconsciously,” says Nadezhda Yushkevich, in her article on Body intelligence published in the ezine Startup Jedi, of which she is the managing editor. (https://startupjedi. vc/content/body-intelligence-what-it-and- how-it-affects-our-lives)
The danger of ignoring what the body has to say has serious ramifications, especially in situations that demand greater effort. Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, a serving officer in the Indian Army and a mountaineer of international repute, with over 40 mountaineering expeditions across seven continents behind him and three successful climbs of Mount Everest, says that not listening to the body can prove to be fatal. Colonel Jamwal was a qualified instructor at the High Altitude Warfare in Gulmarg in 2006. “Both mountaineering and soldering call for uncommon calibration of diet, exercise, and rest that pushes the physique to a point that is breakthrough as well as breakdown, depending on how you look at it. In both cases, it is the mission that one seeks to accomplish, which has to be accomplished at all costs, and the body is only a means to that end. This, however, does not mean that one ignores the demands of the body and numbs the pain. The costs of ignoring what the body is saying go way beyond the loss of one’s life.”
He continues to explain body awareness: “The fall of a soldier or mountaineer increases the burden on his team and endangers the success of the mission itself. Therefore, it is important to heed the body’s cry for help on the battlefield
Altitude climbers need to develop the skill of listening to their bodies
or high up in the mountains. The first sign of snow blindness, a lack of proper hydration, chilblains (small, itchy swellings on the skin that occur as a reaction to cold temperatures), and frostbite, which causes the skin or a limb to turn red followed by purple and then black, are all ever-present dangers that one has to watch out for. These are ever-present dangers that can surprise even experienced hands and push one towards serious injury or even death.” He further explains, “I know this because I lost the little finger of my left hand in one such Indian army mountaineering expedition to Mana in Uttarakhand. It breaks the heart to abort an expedition but the body has its limits, and one may only ignore it at one’s own risk. In mountaineering, in battle, and in life, it is important to know when a strategic retreat is called for. It took the entire team anywhere from three months to half a year to resume ordinary life after varying stays in military hospitals and a lot of quality time with loved ones.”
According to him, anything which helps one develop body wisdom should be welcomed as it
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LifePositive | JANUARY 2023
can be a matter of life and death in battle as well as in life. “It is important to take heed of what the body is saying before it is too late,” says Jamwal, emphasising that developing body wisdom is as important as building muscles, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness.
Starting the journey
All conscious growth begins with self- awareness. The ability to listen to the body —a superpower that one can develop—is no exception. It is only when the other noises are silenced and attention is trained single- pointedly on the body that one begins to hear the whispers of the body’s workings. There are several methods for developing the awareness of our physical selves, but probably no method has aided people in this regard more than Vipassana.
Durgesh Gupta, the head of the department of BA in Multimedia and Mass Communication at Reena Mehta College in Mumbai, remembers his first experience with body awareness.
“In my younger days when I was curious to understand life and its purpose, a friend suggested that I do a 10-day Vipassana camp. After it was over, I knew that I had become a better person intellectually, physically, mentally, and morally. The experience led to a sharpening and deepening of my abilities. Vipassana, in my experience, is the exercise of watching yourself, your body, and your breath. It starts from the watching of breath. Slowly and gradually, you understand that your breath is telling you something about yourself. So when you are in a state of health you breathe in a particular way. When you are in a state of illness or are stressed or angry, you breathe in a different way. These are but responses like anger, sadness, sorrowfulness, or some other
emotion reflected in your breath.”
According to Gupta, as your practice deepens, your concentration becomes more and more focussed, and you become more pointed in observing your body. Your body is constantly talking to you in a language of signs and symbols, in the language of stimuli.
Gupta shares, “I soon realised that you can respond to the stimulus in a way that is conducive to your well-being. As the practice deepens, you become aware of things that you have never noticed because your senses have become sharper, and every small change in the body is now noticeable.” He vividly describes an experience: “On the fourth or fifth day of the practice, when I opened the cap of the toothpaste, the fragrance of mint hit my nostrils with great force. I had been brushing all my life like everyone else since I was a child. I had never smelled mint as strong. There are a thousand such stimuli that our body is capable of receiving every moment but they are too subtle for our dull senses.”
It is true that we ignore many physical sensations in our daily lives. But as we become aware of them and start listening to them, we can notice not just the new sensation in response to an external stimulus but also note the patterns of waves and subsidiary waves. This could be the craving for food, or anger, or the desire for sex, etc. For anyone who wishes to listen to the body, the observation of the breath is a good place to start. Soon, the practice effortlessly expands and one begins noticing movements in the body like heartbeats and visual and other sensory stimuli that the body receives. The way forward is to practise becoming aware of the sensations in the body and not respond or succumb to them. Different approaches


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Spiritual masters say that our body speaks to us and that it is also possible to ask our body and its parts to accomplish important tasks, including asking it to heal itself. However, like all servants, we have to respect its limitations, consider its talents, and ensure that it is nourished, respected, and sufficiently rested. This is not important just for the body but the individual soul as well, seated inside our body.
“Just as the Patanjali Yoga System focusses on taking the mind to a state where it can assume complete command of bodily functions, the Hatha Yoga taught by Baba Gorakshanath places emphasis on cleaning the body and mastering it with a conscious effort to calm the mind. In both the systems, listening to the body is key as it is only with this human body that the four purusharthas—Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha—can be achieved,” says Neelam Gupta a qualified yoga counsellor, founder of Integral Yogic Psychology and author of the forthcoming book Yoga Works! She continues to explain, “This, however, is easier said than done. Most of us have abused
Spiritual masters say that is also possible to ask our
our bodies to such an extent that the body has been sedated to the point where it speaks in faint whispers that are inaudible to our dull senses. The approaching footsteps of sickness, accidents, bad relationships, and death are not heard and, therefore, not heeded at all. By the time tragedy strikes, it is too late.”
According to Yushkevich, our body is always talking to us. She writes, “When you are healthy, you feel good inside. You feel happy, eat well, sleep well, and have a good cheerful disposition. You are able to exercise, travel, meet people, and continue your day-to-day life in the best possible way. But if there is something wrong with your body, even for a day, you will feel listless, uneasy, in pain or discomfort and will not be able to follow your daily routine. The only thing to remember is to stay alert always and listen to your body giving you signals in the form of symptoms.”
Truly, health is the greatest priority for a human being; everything else comes later. It is a privilege to be healthy, and we must always
our body speaks to us and that it
body and its parts to accomplish important tasks, including asking it to heal itself. However, like all servants, we have to respect its limitations, consider
its talents, and ensure that it is nourished, respected, and sufficiently rested.
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be grateful to God for it.
Yushkevich says there are three routes to gathering body intelligence or understanding what the body has to say:
• Breath: Pay attention to how you breathe— quickly or slowly, softly, or is it stiff?
• Muscle tension: Bring your attention to one part of your body (for example, your neck, shoulders, jaw, or forearm) and notice how relaxed or tense your muscles are.
• Hunger: Next time you’re about to eat, notice if you feel physically hungry. Understand whether this desire to eat is physical (for example, rumbling in the stomach, loss of energy) or emotional.
• Posture: How are you sitting or standing now? Is your posture comfortable? Are there any sensations in the body, such as depression, stiffness, or pain, that would indicate that you need to correct your posture?
“Our body speaks to us at every moment, every day. If you are in touch with your body, you will know as soon as there is anything going wrong with it. The first thing when something goes wrong is a symptom. So, what is a symptom? When you have some condition, you will experience something out of the ordinary. For example, if you are going to have a common cold, your nose will start running, you will sneeze a couple of times, and your throat will feel scratchy. We all have experienced that uncomfortable feeling when a cold is about to hit us,” says Dr Anuradha Iyer, a professor and HOD of Physiology at SHKM Govt Medical College, Mewat, India, and the author of five books. Similarly, she explains, “If your stomach is feeling queasy and you don’t feel like eating anything, or if you start passing loose motions, then you know that there is something wrong with your digestive system. More serious disorders like heart disease will present with some serious symptoms like chest
Focussing on muscle tension is a good way to start listening to your body
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Yoga helps us in listening to our body
pain, discomfort in breathing and sweating, or a weird feeling that something is not right. Pain of any kind is a definite indication of damage to the tissue. We are unable to comprehend when we have a condition since we are not aware of the signs of illnesses. One thing to keep in mind is that our bodies will constantly communicate with us; we will undoubtedly sense that something is wrong with us.”
According to Dr Iyer, the breakdown of communication happens only from our side; our body is always giving us signals. If we just remain alert and realise that our body is sending us SOS (save our souls) signals, we will be able to catch the smallest disease and the gravest disorder. So the question of a breakdown of communication arises only if we
are not alert to our body. If we are preoccupied, we will not be able to receive the signals coming from our body. Then the situation may worsen. But if we are alert at that time, we will have an opportunity to respond to our body’s signals. Just reaching out to a medical professional will help things come back on track soon. All these are warning signals and should be heeded immediately.
Naad Yoga Method
Speaking on the subject, Nada Yogi Vibhushri Rivesh Vade, who follows the Nath tradition as expounded by Sant Dnyaneshwar of the Warkari tradition, recommends focussing one’s attention on the sensations in the navel for gathering wisdom not just of the body but just about anything in life. “The navel is the seat of speech, in the sense that it is the most eloquent organ in the body. It is the place of the soul seated in the body and of God. The language of the body is sensation. You can sense what is happening in the body, the mind, and even in the world when you need to take important decisions by merely focussing on the
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The navel is the seat of soul in the body


The breakdown of communication happens only from our side; our body is always giving us signals. If we just remain alert and realise that our body is sending us SOS (save our souls) signals, we will be able to catch the smallest disease and the gravest disorder.
navel and asking it as you would ask a person to guide you.” According to him the navel senses danger, positivity, and negativity, and reads the energies of people you are dealing with. It also keeps a tab of overall mind-body- spirit wellness. He explains that one can also focus on the navel and seek healing. The navel is our umbilical cord to the individual soul, which is inseparable from the universal soul, for which nothing is impossible. Vibhushri’s own spiritual awakening occurred with the forceful activation of the navel:
“Armed with a degree in software engineering, a master’s in management studies from IIT Mumbai, and years of running the corporate rat race, I was a country manager in a reputed company. I was happily married with a child and free from ailments of any sort. Then in 2011, on an official trip, I had a horrible car accident and everything changed. I felt the maximum impact of the crash in my navel. It felt as if a ton of explosives had been set alight in my navel. I learned later that such injuries also tend to stimulate or activate the navel. My shoulder was crushed, and I was admitted to
the ICU. I felt dangerously close to losing my life. I was unconscious for several hours, and the doctors could not predict how it would turn out for me after I was discharged. My company decided that it did not owe me anything. I lost my job, my only source of income. It took me nearly a year to get back on my feet. My wife sold all the family gold. My savings had been exhausted. I was in debt, and my physical condition no longer allowed me to take on a full-time job even if it meant sitting behind a desk.
“However, very strangely, as I was recovering, I felt something shift within me. I not only felt calm and centred, but I also felt something opening up. I now know that it was divine grace, or kripa, that was guiding me. The accident had slowed me down and forced me to cut down on a lot of activity that was part of my normal routine. Somehow, my mind began to veer towards the potential of sound to inspire, uplift, and transform,” says Vibhushree, who clarifies that while he teaches navel activation, body intelligence can also be accessed through other centres in the body.
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Vibhushri Rivesh Vade had a navel awakening after an accident
“The spiritual navel centre, or nabhimula, is situated three finger-spans below the navel scar. The Shaiva and Siddha philosophies of yoga talk about removing impurities (mal) from the three main centres of the body, namely, the mind, the heart, and the navel, which hold back humans from reaching their greatest potential. Mayiya mal (connected to the mind) deludes the perception by keeping it away from the ultimate truth and ensuring that it remains stuck in duality. Anva mal (in the heart) causes feelings of unhappiness and unworthiness. Such a person likes to complain and get stuck in gossip and is convinced that the world is a bad place to live. Karma mal (in the navel centre) leads to decision-making delays and the inability to act, a lack of clarity, instability, fear, and scarcity. The person
remains stuck in pleasure and pain. Marma theory speaks of three centres: Sthipati, Hriday, and Basti. Basti is considered a place where deep thinking takes place. It has the power to carry our awareness from the material world to the very source of creation. Siddha experts work on this centre without touching it,” Vibhushri adds.
Talking back to the body
As one becomes more aware of the body and also grasps what the body is saying, it is also important to talk back to the body and let it know what you want from it.
Shivi Verma, the editor of Life Positive, described an intriguing experience where she was able to converse with her body in addition to listening to it. She had eczema on her forehand for a number of years, and despite taking drugs and undergoing various tests, it would not go away. It would subside for a few months, only to flare up with greater intensity after a considerable gap. When nothing worked, one fine day, she sat down and pondered about her eczema. “I dug further inside myself and understood there was a message it wanted to send me regarding certain issues I was dealing with. I realised that it was my body’s fearful response to a difficult situation I was undergoing. The ailment wasn’t an enemy, but a friend, trying to communicate its concern for my well-being.”
Shivi continues, “I started stroking the area with my other hand very lovingly and, looking at it, said, “I’m alright and safe. There is no reason to be concerned. I am well cared for.” Immediately, the redness vanished. I continued doing this for a few days, and the eczema eventually began to disappear. Finally, it vanished in a month, never to return.”
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Shivi concludes, “Listening to the body might be a terrific method to cure it. It will assist you in comprehending what your body requires, but communicating back to your body to recover is a remarkable experience that most people are unaware of.”
Talking back can also be done in the form of mudras, as was done by many ancient masters. The science of mudras involves hand gestures, systemic breathing, and certain body movements to obtain certain outcomes, like healing a particular part of the body. Mudras are a part of tantric devotional worship too. Mudras use the body to address the body and prepare it for higher purposes. In ritualistic worship, the body is used to transcend the body. Sri Ramakrishna described the devotional process as using the water of the Ganga to worship the Ganga.
Abhay Kumar Shah, an expert on mudras and also a researcher on the subject, explains how an excruciating spinal ache in 1998 brought him to the science of mudras. “I ignored the medical advice to get spinal surgery done
because the procedure was risky. I first tried acupressure with Ketan Shah, which gave me some relief. This opened my eyes to healing systems beyond conventional medicine, and I began to research therapies that would provide me relief. This is how I stumbled upon Mudra Therapy and started reading up on the subject. I tried Mudra Therapy and also attempted to address health issues in my family with my new-found knowledge. In both cases, I saw encouraging progress. I was also fortunate to learn from a tantric who invited me to his WhatsApp group. This is where I first started providing mudra solutions for health problems and went on to start a group on my own, which I stopped after some years to focus on my research.
“I have discovered that the complexity of modern life has impacted the efficacy of some mudras described in traditional texts and that they need a more nuanced approach. The modifications I arrived at proved to be more effective. With time, I have established my own methodology of prescribing mudra solutions for almost every health and psychological
The spiritual navel centre, or nabhimula, is situated three finger-
spans below the navel scar. The Shaiva and Siddha philosophies of yoga talk about removing impurities (mal) from the three main centres of the body, namely, the mind, the heart, and the navel, which hold back humans from reaching their greatest potential
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issue, and my research is far from over,” says Shah, who has documented over 500 mudras, which has been acknowledged as the largest compilation in this field so far. Shah reports that patients with very severe conditions have benefitted from Mudra Therapy.
SL Purohit, an 82-year-old air force retiree based in Mumbai, was in acute pain due to an enlarged prostate. He had great difficulty in passing urine, and the flow was slow, repeated, and excruciatingly painful. Doctors advised surgery but also warned that the situation could worsen further after surgery. Within two weeks of practising the recommended mudras thrice a day, his urine, which had been opaque, became clear, the pain subsided, and his incontinence stopped. He no longer has to wake up at night to visit the bathroom, and he thinks he is almost healed completely. Even as this article is being written, Purohit is practising his mudras and becoming better by the day.
In the Majjhima Nikaya (Sutta 36), the Buddha speaks on the importance of listening to the body:
“If the body is not mastered [by meditation], the mind cannot be mastered. If the body is mastered, the mind is mastered.” In practising mindfulness of the body, it’s your direct experience that’s important, not your judgments about your body, your wishes for what it might be, or your stories about how it came to be as it is.
The last word on the necessity of becoming aware of the body comes from the Armenian master G I Gurdjieff, the author of Meetings with Remarkable Men: “Without self- knowledge, without understanding the working and functions of his machine, man cannot be free, he cannot govern himself, and he will always remain a slave.”
The living and the non-living are sustained by universal energy that nourishes everything and all beings. Mudras are signs to the universal energy to flow into certain parts of the body and pervade the cellular level to begin the healing process. Mudras are like nourishing mothers who do not just feed
us but love us, care for us, and pray that we are nourished thoroughly.
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Body Conversations Through Mudras
• In what way does our body speak to us?
Abhay Shah: The body never forgets and it is in continuous conversation with us. It tells us to behold that it is happy. It also tells us that it is unhappy. We need to be in a state of relaxed motionlessness to hear its faint voice. The few moments before going to sleep is a good time to listen to the body.
• Why can’t most of us not hear anything our bodies tell us till it is too late?
Abhay Shah: The reason for this is we have neither the inclination nor the desire to pause enough to hear what the body has to say. To be in a state of compassion, love, forgiveness, and mercy is to be aligned with universal consciousness, and to live in opposition to these values is to be divorced from these values. The ones who commit crimes against these universal values lose the capacity to listen to the body and the ones who are aligned with these values in thought, word, and deed find it easy to listen to the body and its messages. It is easy to empty an aligned mind because it is in a state of relaxation. In this state of relaxation, the body speaks. This is also called meditation, which is a state of alignment with universal energies.
• In what way can mudras be considered as our message to the body to address some issues, and how do you explain their efficacy?
Abhay Shah: In my opinion, mudras are the biggest gift to suffering humanity. The knowledge of mudras was revealed to our rishis in elevated states of consciousness, in which the hands, feet, and entire body assume mudras and asanas that deliver what is needed for the progress on a particular path. Many such mudras were recorded, and their effect on the body, mind, and emotional states was shared with suffering humanity at large so that they could elevate themselves. Assuming a mudra is your telling your body that you have noted that it requires support and that you are willing to provide it. This puts the body at rest and gives it the required encouragement and energy to heal itself.
The living and the non-living are sustained by universal energy that nourishes everything and all beings. Mudras are signs to the universal energy to flow into certain parts of the body and pervade the cellular level to begin the healing process. Mudras are like nourishing mothers who do not just feed us but love us, care for us, and pray that we are nourished thoroughly. Mudras are like diamonds that are used for cutting glass. They are priceless because their usefulness is not limited to healing, just like the value of a diamond goes beyond its ability to cut glass. Mudras bring great gifts to the mind, intelligence, and emotions, and they also advance our spiritual growth in ways that are too many to list here.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Lead story 39


FOOD
A WORLD OF
DIFFERENCE
Naini Setalvad takes us on an international food tour through her lip- smacking and nutritious recipes
40 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023
It’s a well-known fact that I am a travel enthusiast. The sights, the varied cultures, and the unique activities have always enthralled me. They say that travel is the best teacher, and having travelled since a young age, I have learned a lot. In fact, my first solo flight was at an age, when
cell phones did not exist.


Wisdom 41


My work has taken me to many distant lands, and I have been subject to many exciting experiences. But above all, my favourite part of travelling is the food! Not only do I like savouring local delica- cies, but I also have a keen interest in local produce, its nutritional significance, and how it can be adapted to my own country. With globalisation, foods from different countries are now available everywhere. Below are some internationally trending foods that are not only healthy but also serve as amazing ingredients in recipes.
Sunflower Seeds: The first cultivators of this nutritious seed were the Native Americans. Soon, the Europeans discovered America and took back these seeds to their lands and started growing them there. Presently, Russia and Ukraine are the largest producers of these seeds. Surprising, right? These little pellets are rich sources of vitamin E and selenium, antioxidants that protect the body’s cells from free radicals, which play a role in many diseases. Here is a quick and easy recipe that you can incorporate into your salads, soups, stir-fries, or any meals.
Sunflower Seed Sprinkler Ingredients
5 tbsp sunflower seeds 1⁄2 tsp rock salt
1 tbsp chilli flakes
1 tbsp oregano
1 tsp lemon juice 1 tbsp cow’s ghee
Method
1. Heat 1 tbsp cow’s ghee in a pan.
2. Add sunflower seeds, salt, and lemon juice to the pan and roast till the seeds are dry and golden brown.
3. Add the oregano and chilli flakes and mix well.
4. Remove the pan from the heat and cool.
5. Sprinkle over soups, salads, stir-fries, etc. and enjoy.
Food 42


Hibiscus Tea: The vibrant and lively hibis- cus flower is said to have ancestors in China, Mauritius, Fiji, Hawaii, and Japan. Contain- ing powerful antioxidants, this flower has immense nutritional potential. It is said that these antioxidants not only fight free radicals but may also reduce blood pressure and detox the liver. Brewing the flower is a great way to reap its benefits as well as savour its flavour. The next time you are in the mood for some tea, try this one.
Ingredients
1 cup fresh hibiscus leaves or 1⁄4 cup dry hibiscus leaves
4 cups water
Method
1. Boil water in a pan on high heat.
2. Once boiled, add the hibiscus petals
to the pan until
completely submerged in water.
3. Allow them to steep for 4–5 minutes. 4. Strain out the petals and serve hot.
43 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023 Food
Quinoa: It’s interesting how this ancient seed grain grown by the Incas on the Peruvian, Chil- ean, and Bolivian mountains is still trending in present times. White, red, or black, regardless of colour, this seed grain is high in fibre. It is abundant in nutrients such as magnesium, zinc, and iron. If you are bored with the usual grains, this is a good substitute.
Quinoa Tabouleh Ingredients
1 cup dry quinoa
2 cups water
2 cups finely chopped parsley/coriander
1⁄4 cup chopped fresh mint
1 cup tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped 1 cup finely chopped cucumber
1⁄2 cup finely chopped spring onion
1⁄4 cup olive oil
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Method
1. Take water, quinoa, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a pot and bring to a boil.
2. Lower the heat and cover the pot until all water is absorbed.
3. Remove the pan from the heat, cool for 5 minutes, and fluff up the ingredients with a fork.
4. Once completely cool, mix in
the rest of the ingredients. 5. Serve fresh.


Peppers: It’s all about the spice, spice baby! Unlike in the past, people all over the world are widening their palates and taste buds. The West, which earlier would fear the spice, is now obsessed with hot sauce and chilli pep- pers. This Mexican import is finally getting the limelight it deserves. They are packed with Vitamin C and Vitamin A, which are beneficial in building immunity. Besides adding flavour, they also add the powerful phytochemicals capsaicin and lutein to our food. If you cannot take the heat, try one of the non-spicy varieties.
Bhavnagari Peppers Ingredients
1 cup Bhavnagari peppers (full) 1 tbsp cow’s ghee
1⁄2 tbsp lemon juice
Rock salt to taste
Method
1. Heat the ghee in a pan.
2. Add the Bhavnagari peppers, lemon juice, and
rock salt, and cook on a slow flame.
3. Remove the pan from the heat once the skin begins to crackle.
4. Serve hot.
Try out these recipes, explore these global ingredi- ents, and enhance both flavour and fitness.
Naini Setalvad is a nutritionist, specialising in lifestyle and immunity disorders. Her foundation, Health For You, throws light on healthy food habits.
Food 44
Fresh Turmeric: The golden spice of India, tur- meric powder is obtained by drying and powder- ing the fresh turmeric root. This root is abundant in the antioxidant curcumin, known to give tur- meric its magical benefits. It is available only in winter and comes in a beautiful white and orange colour. You can add it to your vegetables, stir- fries, and salads, or have it my favourite way—as a pickle.
Fresh Turmeric Ginger Pickle Ingredients
2 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and cut into thin roundels
2 tbsp fresh orange turmeric, peeled and cut into roundels
2 tbsp fresh white turmeric, peeled and cut into roundels
1 tbsp finely chopped green chillies
1⁄4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp salt
Method
1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
2. This pickle is ready to serve after 1–2 hours.
3. Store refrigerated in an airtight container or a glass jar for up to a week.




AHA-MOMENTS
Megha Bajaj urges all of us to indulge in more me-time to enable spiritual metamorphosis Every year, I take a couple of Getting away by myself for a few although there is a long way to go,
soul-o-trips. As the spelling
suggests, they end up being extremely soul-fulfilling. Man is a social animal. But man is also given the ability to be alone, to close his eyes, introspect, and connect with the Divine. It is in a balance between being with people and being alone that we find that perfect harmony in life.
With advancing technology, our time with ourselves has taken a real beating. Be honest. What is the first thing you do in the morning? For 9 out of 10 people, the answer is bound to be, “Check WhatsApp or social media.” I was no exception. And yet, these days, I am training my system to believe in who I am, and that gratitude and a little appointment with God are more important than everything outside of me. So, very consciously, the first hour after I wake up, I ensure I don’t touch my mobile. (You should try it; easy as it seems, it isn’t. And yet, when you master it, what a difference it makes!) I felt that even after taking some time out with myself in city life, it wasn’t enough. I wanted to get within myself. Know what is crying. What is in bliss. What needs correction. And what needs celebration. While I am in Mumbai, I play so many roles: I am a wife, a dog mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend. But who am I when I am alone?
days puts me back in touch with my core. And it’s an incredible feeling. Sometimes the core tells me that I am getting something wrong and I need to correct it. And that’s okay. When feedback comes from you to you, there’s no ego. Sometimes the core simply smiles in gratitude and says, Thank you for being who you are. And it makes life feel worth it.
In my time with myself, I get a chance to relive the past. I lost my mother about five months ago, and in my recent soul-o trip, one of those afternoons, all I did was relive some of the most beautiful memories of her. Her hugging me. Her tousling my hair. Our trips together. One would think this would be painful, but I cannot describe the deep peace it gave me. It made me feel she was right there with me, sharing every moment. It was deeply nourishing!
One of those evenings, simply gazing at the sunsets, I relived all my successes. Those moments where I knew my presence had made someone’s life better. Much better. Those awards. Those projects. Those “You go, Girl” moments. And I felt so beautiful. I realised we crave validation from the outside only when we don’t invest enough time in celebrating our success. Simply loving myself, patting myself, and hugging myself in quiet pride made me feel, Wow, you have come far. And
the journey has surely and most certainly begun.
One of those early mornings, while strolling through the gardens, I was just overwhelmed with gratitude. I went down on my knees and thanked life for my relationships and each person for adding what they did.
There were moments of sudden insights—and also a revelation, of a correction I needed to bring to feel like my healthier version.
So much happens on these soul-o trips. Every moment seems laden with meaning. It somehow cleans me up of what needs cleaning. It charges me about who I am becoming and what I need to do. And it makes me recognise how inherently important I am to myself.
And everything outside of me comes later. First, it’s me.
I urge each one of you to go on these soul-o trips. Allow yourself to talk to yourself. Allow yourself to reveal yourself to yourself. I can promise you, you will return lighter, happier, and more ‘You!’ But first, begin with that morning with yourself. Tell me what it does for you!
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]
46 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023
Spirit 46


PLANNING
Ten Commanments
Ten Commanments
For a Peaceful
For a Peaceful
Retirement
Retirement
Being a retired person, Sujatha Rao shares some valuable lessons she has learnt along the way for enjoying the evening of one’s life
Retirement is one of the most important milestones in our lives. More so now, with working hours getting longer, targets getting steeper, and the economy becoming more and more uncertain in an interconnected world where layoffs and job hops are so very common.
Hence, stress is something everyone has to fight with when one is at work, irrespective of the nature of one’s job.
47 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023 Planning 47


Many people hang up their boots much before their actual retirement day. They aspire to opt for early retirement and get into things they always wanted to do. So, when I retired from a full-time career, I was the cynosure of the eyes of youngsters rather than my peer group. Their common refrain was “You are so lucky, Ma’am. I wish I were in your place.”
“Oh my God! Isn’t it odd that you are wishing to be in the shoes of someone so old, at your age?” I would quip in reply with a chuckle, while inwardly telling myself that I don’t blame them. After all, did I not spend the final few years crossing the months off the calendar? Wasn’t it true that this activity gave me greater pleasure than the salary that would get credited into my account every month?
Having said that, if one assumes that work is devoid of any pleasure, one would be gravely mistaken. In addition to granting us financial independence and giving us an opportunity to make lifetime friends, it adds so much value to our life in terms of learning. It is just that the innumerable variables involving work, such as the mismatch between what we want and what we get, the daily commute, the difficult bosses, the unpredictable economic environment around us, etc. make it much more complicated, and this often leads to the stress we undergo. A career, being a marathon of multiple decades and not a sprint of a couple of years, also demands a lot of patience, grit, resilience, and perseverance from each of us.
Having been into my retired life for half a decade now, I feel the following ten important commandments would help us in reaching the milestone with greater success and equanimity. In retrospect, I realise that I missed out on a couple of these, but I am glad that I was on target for most of them.
1. Thou shall start saving early
“I will start saving later. Let me enjoy the hard- earned freedom of spending over things I had craved for all my life,” said Nitin as he ran his hands lovingly over his motorbike that made a 15-lakh-rupee hole in his savings.
There is some justification for what Nitin feels. After all, isn’t youth all about a period free from worries of responsibility? What is the harm if one splurges over one’s desires after having waited to do so for so long? Well, nothing. As long as one puts a limit on such spending, because everything is a trade-off in life. If we don’t start saving early, we would be losing the opportunity to reap the benefits of compounding, and as Einstein once said, noting
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Planning 48


Saving early in life is a virtue
that compounding happens to be the eighth wonder of the world, “He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays for it.”
2. Thou shall not borrow beyond your repayment capacity
“I went in for a big loan. But then, isn’t an EMI (equated monthly installment) as good as savings?” Ashok quipped jocularly. Not only did Ashok take a massive loan for his house, but he also spent a lot of his savings on furnishing it with very expensive items. After all, it was a house where he and his family would live a lifetime, he justified.
An EMI is touted as good savings while paying rent is said to be an avoidable expenditure. While there is some truth in this, going beyond
your repayment capacity will land you in deep trouble. We all know what happened during the subprime crisis.
Secondly, in a scenario where almost all the kids leave once they grow up chasing their own futures, leaving an empty nest behind, it’s time parents think multiple times before spending huge amounts on big houses.
3. Thou shall cover yourself and your family adequately
India is one of the most under-insured countries in the world. In the absence of social security measures like those in the developed nations, the situation behoves us to go in for more insurance than what is required for us and our family, more so if one is the sole breadwinner. As we progress towards our retirement, our focus should shift towards covering ourselves and our spouses with adequate health insurance.
4. Thou shall prioritise your health over everything else
In a career spanning more than three decades, Suraj was used to putting in crazy hours at work. As he focussed on his growth on the corporate ladder, he acted as though nothing else mattered. Whenever someone close to him told him to slow down, he would say, “I will totally relax once I hang up my boots.” However, when that day finally arrived, he had to get busy running around hospitals as he had contracted all the major lifestyle diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac issues.
With the pandemic having shown all of us the importance of health, it’s time we gave top priority to taking care of our physical, mental, and spiritual health right from our youthful days as all is lost if health is lost.
49 LifePositive | JANUARY 2022
Planning 49


5. Thou shall put ‘Family and friends time’ on your calendar
Focused on providing well for the family, Revanth spent all his time growing his business. He had no time for vacations, he told himself. For him, time meant money, and he didn’t want to waste time spending it on friends or family. “All that after I retire,” he would tell his wife whenever she complained about his lack of time for the family. With many an ailment that renders him almost immobile, he has all the time in the world now for regrets during his retirement.
While money is important, equally important are the relationships we build over our lifetime. It takes painstaking efforts to build a comfortable web of family and friends around us, which is extremely important both for our physical and mental health.
6. Thou shall have fun
You shall budget for your kind of fun while you are still working. Many people want to put travel on their bucket lists. Postponing all the travel to the retirement days is not prudent as not all would have the requisite energy levels as they age. Travelling with family members when one is young ensures solidifying of familial ties and creates fond memories.
Life is all about experiential flavours, and travel is one of the best flavours there is in this regard. It also makes one humble by making one realise that whether you are rich or poor, young or old, big or small, the basic things that make human beings human are the same across the world.
7. Thou shall engage yourself in purposeful action
Its important to have fun alonside work
“I want my parents to be constructively engaged. I don’t know how to get them to do that, and I feel guilty about not spending enough time with them,” Srija lamented as she works full time in a very demanding profession.
In a digitalised world, it is extremely important that you pay serious attention to your passions, hobbies, and spiritual pursuits during your youthful days so that you can fall back on them without constantly hankering after external sources to keep you engaged, because doing so
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Planning 50