www.lifepositive.com
YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMPANION
Meditation for the modern man
PAGE 18
Glowing and lovely
(Tips for amazing skin)
PAGE 26
A museum of Indian saints
PAGE 36
Eight steps to enlightenment
(International Yoga Day special)
PAGE 39
Subscriber copy June 2022
Dear Reader,
Point to ponder
On May 16, I had the good fortune of meeting my guru after a gap of more than a year. The event was Buddha Purnima, and he was trying to enlighten us about the inner state of the Buddha.
The highlight of his sermon was that the Buddha was so calm and still from within that no external trigger could disturb his inner quietude. This was reflected in the way he slept in one position all night, without turning even once. Not even his subconscious was active while sleeping.
This sermon was being telecast live on Shraddha Channel as well as YouTube. However, no sooner had he taken his seat than the mic went off. Many attempts were made to fix the problem but the issue kept recurring. (Honestly, in my guru’s place, I would have felt flustered and embarrassed. After all, the sermon was being telecast live, and thousands were watching these mortifying glitches.) But there was not a single frown on my master’s face. He was full of cheer and joviality, and was taking everything in good humour. Each time the mic’s connection was resumed, he greeted his audience, not hesitating to repeat this gesture when the connection snapped again, only to be fixed once more.
This demeanour of his got imprinted on my mind more than his words. The state of supreme confidence, surrender, equanimity, inner peace, and balance was exemplary. The Buddhas come into our life to lead by example, to take us out of suffering and misery, but very few attempt to actually emulate them. We prefer to worship them, to receive boons and blessings, rather than focus on what they stand for.
This inner state is far more valuable than any material achievement we may aspire for. This is not to say that we must not work to actualise our dreams, but it is equally important to realise the transient nature of temporal reality. To be okay even if we lose our possessions. This balance is not easy to achieve, but who said that anything on earth is easy to come by? If we can toil to fulfil our worldly goals, we can also work to know the real cause of suffering and the method through
which it can truly be overcome. For happiness is the ultimate pursuit of human beings, and who best to follow than the enlightened, to know where it exists and how it can be accessed?
Wishing you a happy June.
LP mascot: Laughing Buddha
- Editor
June 2022Vol. 26Issue 03
Chairman: Aditya Ahluwalia President: D R Kaarthikeyan Director: V Venkat
Editor: Shivi Verma
EDITORIAL
Chief Correspondent: Rishi Rathod (Mumbai) Correspondent: Navni Chawla
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losZ HkoUrq lqf[ku~%] losZlUrq fujke;k%
losZ Hknzkf.k i’;Urq] ekdf’pn~nq%[kHkkd~Hkosr!
May all beings be happy, May all be healthy, May people have the well-being of all in mind, May nobody suffer in any way. — Vedic prayer
Edited by Shivi Verma. Printed and published by
Aditya Ahluwalia on behalf of Life Positive Pvt. Ltd. from F1/9, First floor, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase - I,
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Printed at M.P. Printers, B-220, Phase 2 Noida, 201305 Member, Indian Newspaper Society
4 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
26
SKIN CARE
Know how to glow
Skincare is more than just skin deep.
Jamuna Rangachari shares the opinion of experts to make us healthy inside out.
18
BALANCE
Meditation for Modern Man
Charles Shahar offers the possibility of interweaving meditation with your work and family life.
15
HEARTSPEAK
Am I worthy enough?
Chasing goals endlessly does not define your self worth.
32
SATORI
How I found my God
The author became an ardent believer overnight when she experienced His grace in a moment of crisis.
06 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
36
HISTORY
Museum of Indian Saints
A museum in Germany that houses the relics of Indian saints, collected by, Swami Vishwananda.
39
SPECIAL FEATURE
Eight steps to enlightenment
Yoga is a way of life and a means to achieving ultimate peace.
44
ENVIRONMENT
Let’s be (eco) logical
Some sound advice on how to befriend the Earth
49
FESTIVAL REPORT
Nurtured by nature
A report on the Healing in the Hills retreat recently held at Ramgarh.
55
DHARMA
The purpose of living
Living selflessly to benefit others is the true purpose of life
REGULAR COLUMNS
Response 08 Mandala 10 Yoga 14
Aha-moments 43 Spirit 48 Sharing 60
Mudra Column 62 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
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
Simple solutions for complex problems
In the May 2022 issue of Life Positive, the article Opening Up to Love was very warm and heartening to read. Although I have a great relationship with my father, I could connect with the author. We all are carrying the load of childhood memories of lack of love or care from our parents. Over time, this becomes inner clutter in our being, and most of us don’t know how to deal with it.
Jyoti Marianne Bahri has given simple solutions to unburden ourselves of this accumulated baggage. You don’t realise you are carrying the burden until someone along the way hand-holds you to show you how simple it is to become light again. I love Life Positive for the simple solutions it brings to my family’s life.
Sonali Pal, Bangalore
Back to the womb
I really loved the article Understanding Your Other Half in the May 2022 issue of Life Positive. The fact that it was so comprehensive, whole, simple-worded, interesting, and real, made it such an endearing read for me.
Often times, I read columns and articles printed by many contemporary leading publishing houses, but this article had an innocent charm to it. There was no trying to stand out or be fancy, yet it said everything that needed to be said.
I strongly recommend reading Life Positive to everyone for the softness, beauty, creativity, and love it carries in its womb.
Aashli Gupta, Hyderabad
Interview touches inner space
In the May 2022 issue of Life Positive, the Close Encounter interview with Raman Vig, Spatial Vibes, about the system and precepts for creating happy and joyful spaces, is deeply enlightening. I am aware of Vaastu and its rules for creating spaces, but this article went beyond the normal understanding and touched deeper realms, in fact, the spiritual realm. The article was deeply helpful in expanding my understanding of our ancient systems. I truly want to congratulate Raman Vig and Life Positive for spreading the knowledge.
Balachandra Iyer, Bengaluru
08 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
Mail from our readers, online fans and subscribers
Wisdom in a nutshell
It was amazing to read the May 2022 issue of Life Positive. I truly appreciate the articles you carried such as Opening Up to Love, Close Encounter Spatial Vibes, and Karta, Karma, and Kriya. All the articles were full of wisdom, yet explained with simplicity. The knowledge and wisdom discussed by Vanitha Vaidyalingam were subtle and yet had clarity. If I were to read the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, it would take a long time to decipher what I got from reading just one article. Thank you so much, team Life Positive.
Rohit Dave, Mumbai
Opening up to Life Positive
Thank you for yet another great issue (May
2022) of Life Positive. I especially liked the article, Opening Up to Love, by Jyoti Marianne Bahri. It takes courage to realise that one has shut oneself off from the love of a dear one. The description of the aroma lamp and holding hands in a circle gives a glimpse into the beautiful methods of healing.
Many times, our hearts turn to ice, either caused by misunderstandings or by holding on to grudges. The article tells us that there is always time to open up to love, and despite the pain we may have to go through, we are the ones to gain.
Looking forward to more inspiring issues of Life Positive.
Anasuya Prasad, via email
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Response 09
MANDALA
Cow dung is ‘cool’
10
LifePositive | JUNE 2022
We often reject traditional wisdom without realising its benefits. But some embrace it. “Concrete is one of the major contributors to climate change and generates a significant carbon footprint,” says Dr Shivdarshan Malik, from Haryana, who completed his PhD from Rohtak University in chemistry and joined as a professor at Murthal University, Sonipat.
However, he felt that this was not his calling and wanted to contribute to Mother Earth. So he quit his job and started working as a consultant. He came across a village that had stacks of cow dung going to waste. They were emitting methane and greenhouse gases. He then found out that the villagers had given up the traditional practice of
plastering their houses with cow dung because they believed that it was better to live in concrete houses. They had forgotten the wisdom of cow dung plastering, which keeps homes cool during summers and works as insulation during winters.
Later, reversing the trend, he made his first home using cow dung, which he named after his mother, as she had always taught him to respect Mother Earth. During a visit to the USA, he found that houses there were made from board sheets and did not use massive amounts of concrete. He observed an increasing trend of using hempcrete, a product prepared by blending natural materials with hemp, which has environment-friendly qualities. This incident pushed him to derive an environment-friendly product from cow dung.
After some research, he prepared Vedic Plaster in 2006. This can replace the conventional layer used in concrete structures for smooth walls. It is made from cow dung, soil, clay, neem leaves, gypsum, cluster beans, limestone, and other eco- friendly materials. It works by allowing people to breathe healthy air, as it is similar to traditional plastering found in rural India. He adds that the unique plaster can be used on existing modern concrete houses too. About 20,000 homes across India now use this plaster. His mission is to make more people adopt his innovative solution to fight climate change.
“People should care not just about the cost but also about the damage they are causing to the environment,” he says, while showing the path to all.
Kudos to this eco-friendly builder and scientist.
– By Jamuna Rangchari
Doctor, thy name is hope
It is wonderful to see skilled, compassionate, and ethical doctors, who are next to God.
Mr Sharma (name changed) was depressed when his sister was diagnosed with spindle cell cancer in March 2020. He had almost lost all hope, as most allopaths had given up on her, and he could see the tumour growing. He went to various hospitals, but they only suggested more and more tests, scans, and chemotherapy, which he wanted to avoid as their results are uncertain. To his luck, someone told him about Dr Sudhir Tomar, a homeopath who has healed a lot of people. Mr Sharma immediately consulted him. Due to the COVID pandemic, the clinic was closed, so all the guidance was given telephonically.
In just seven days, Mr Sharma could see the difference in his sister’s condition. She is completely okay now, with all the test results showing negative. This is something that even the allopaths were astounded by. Mr Sharma cannot thank the doctor enough.
This is the only payment Dr Sudhir takes— gratitude. He does not accept money for cancer treatment. For other medical issues, he shares advice on Facebook for a nominal fee.
His account of good karma must be growing continuously! Would it not be great if such doctors become the trend rather than the exception? Dr Sudhir guides people on various ailments and is a messiah of hope. He has healed many from COVID too.
In an era where people are exploitative, it is wonderful to see people like him who make use of their skills to help and guide others. His objective is to help as many people as he can and, to this end, he works tirelessly. He tells his followers on his Facebook and YouTube channels to never lose hope, which makes people throng to him.
He is truly a vaid (physician) of the highest order, a rare breed in today’s world. He is someone whom both Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, and Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy, would be proud of.
Contact him on 98106 16917 or 9818456066
– By Jamuna Rangchari
Mandala 11
12
LifePositive | JUNE 2022
Tending the tiny ones
Many of us keep talking about how the Earth has changed but do nothing about it. Fortunately, some are different, like Mr Edwin Joseph. 72-year-old Edwin from Bangalore has shown that we all can indeed make a difference. He loves birds and does all that he can for them. For many years now, he has been waking up to the chirping of sparrows at his window. They are a part of his life as much as he is a part of theirs. Indeed, they are his family, for he takes very good care of them after knowing their needs.
To ensure optimum consumption of the grains he keeps for them, he keeps feeders, and shelves where they can sit. These simple devices have been made by him with the help of others, including schoolchildren. He is well- known in his area as the sparrow man and a
compassionate human being.
He loves birds and asks everyone to understand their importance for a green Earth. “People only remember the sparrow on certain days like the International Sparrow Day. However, I feel we should always remember and take care of them,” he says. Just like him, we need to make care and compassion a part of our lives.
Sparrows are diminishing in numbers, and we can all take a leaf from his book. Strangely, people come to his house to show sparrows to their children! The more we create a space for sparrows to feed and breed, the more we can see their twittering presence around us. Kudos to him for doing all that he can for the sparrow and for showing everyone that little steps matter.
– By Jamuna Rangchari
A bright future for girls
On May 7, 2022, the Om Shanti Retreat Centre in Gurugram launched a campaign— Empowerment of the Girl Child. The event began with a peaceful guided meditation by one of the Brahma Kumaris (BK) sisters. The Brahma Kumaris gave a platform to girls who excelled in different fields like bike riding, music who shared their journeys with the audience. This was followed by a melodious classical music performance. At this event, Dr Mahendra Munjapara, Minister of State for AYUSH as well as for Woman and Child Development; celebrity Shehnaaz Gill, the brand ambassador of the Brahma Kumaris; BK Chakradhari, the chairperson of Women’s Wing of Brahma Kumaris; Sister BK Shivani; Ms Parul Srivastav, the joint director of the National Institute of Public Cooperation & Child Development; Ms Sheela Kakde, the president of AIWC; and Mr Ravindra Upadhyay, playback singer and composer, were present as distinguished guests.
The goal of this campaign is to focus on the girl child and empower her with skills, knowledge, and resources to enable her to make independent choices and, thus, build a progressive value-driven society. This campaign covers many edifying workshops and personal mentoring sessions for women and girls in remote and rural areas as
well. It also aims to bring about a change at the grassroots level.
Sister BK Shivani said, “It is important for teachers and parents to reward children for their goodness and moral values in the same way that they are acknowledged for getting good grades at school. This will instil in them good character, strong inner values, and a higher conscience. The need of the hour is to highlight the quality of having a pure heart and mind in children.”
Dr Mahendra Munjapara, who was felicitated with a tulsi plant, said, “I wanted to be a paediatrician to be able to work closely with children. By being associated with this campaign, I have realised that dream of mine, and it gives me utmost happiness to contribute to the mental, physical, and spiritual welfare of the girl child.”
This event also included many stunning dance performances, keynote speeches by the board of directors at Om Shanti Retreat Centre, and the launch of a melodious music track dedicated to the campaign, ‘Shusanskaroki Dharohar Bharat ki Betiya,’ sung by Mr Ravindra Upadhyay. It conveys a beautiful message: when millions of girls and women come together, they can create history through the power of collective consciousness.
Mandala 13
YOGA
Wheelpower
Start with the Half Wheel Pose before you attempt the full bends, advises Kamala Venkat
A rdha Chakrasana is also known as Half Wheel Pose. It is an intermediate pose that helps to prepare our body and mind
for the deeper back-bending postures. In Sanskrit, ‘ardha’ means ‘half,’ ‘chakra’ means ‘wheel,’ and ‘asana’ means ‘posture.’ The final position of this pose looks like a half wheel.
Method
• Start by standing straight on the mat, leaving a slight gap between the legs. Try to distribute the whole body weight equally between both legs. Keep your palms by the side of your thighs.
• Then, slowly, take a deep inhalation, raise your hands straight up, and bend backwards. (You can place your hands on your hips also if you are not able to balance yourself.)
• When you are bending backwards, it’s important not to bend your knees and to keep your elbows straight. Stay in this pose for a few seconds. (Continue breathing normally in this position.)
• Then exhale, slowly come back to the standing position, and take your arms back to the starting position.
• Repeat the same three to five times.
Benefits
• Tones shoulders, thighs, and waist • Helps to stretch abdominal muscles
• Helps in relieving shoulder and neck pain • Helps to cure respiratory disorders
• Improves lung capacity
Contraindications
• Injury in your neck or spine • Hypertension
• Vertigo or migraine
Mrs. Kamala Venkat is a homemaker with a great passion for YOGA. Inspired by Shri Swami Ramdev of Patanjali, she has been an ardent yoga lover and has been practising it with complete dedication for the last 20 years. She has done a Yoga Instructors’ course from VYSA(Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana)
14 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
HEARTSPEAK Am I worthy enough?
Pursuing goals endlessly does not define your self-worth. Knowing and abiding in your natural state of being does, says Ajay Kalra
Heartspeak 15
Most of us have grown up on a Transformation
diet of achievement, ambition,
and success. We were rewarded for coming first. Recognised for getting the highest marks. Celebrated for outdoing others. The conditioning that our worth is based on the trophy in our hands and what others think of us has been ingrained in us since childhood.
As a child, I don’t remember anyone asking me “How was your day?” “What do you like to do?” “How do you wish to spend your time?”
Being a part of the system—family, school, community, corporation—we are mostly told what we must do. We are made to believe that if we do what we are told, we will be successful. And it is assumed that once we are successful, we will be happy. We tend to follow this dictum without questioning its validity. Because no one wants to be a loser. So we try hard to fit into the system. We sing a song that is not our own. And in doing so, we lose touch with our natural rhythm.
The purpose of life becomes the pursuit of success—defined by numbers, salary, clients, followers, turnover, profit, participants, subscribers, votes, views, and ‘likes.’ Our mind keeps racing to achieve one goal after the other, pushing ourself to outdo our expectations. But the race never ends. It keeps going on, fuelled by our anxiety about being left behind. If we are successful, we feel admired, loved, and wanted. We feel powerful. Success becomes a drug; it gives us a temporary high. Once the effect is over, we want the next hit.
We believe others are watching us, assessing how successful we are, and evaluating our worth. But are they? The others seem to be busy pursuing their worth in the eyes of others. The ‘others’ is mostly a projection of our mind.
16 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
Even though we may see the fallacy of seeking self-worth through success, few amongst us opt out of the system willingly. We are often forced to re-examine our life due to a job loss, health crisis, emotional breakdown, mental illness, or relationship breakup. When we are alone, we are forced to confront our fear of being worthless.
At such a time, we question our old belief that the purpose of life is to pursue success. After much introspection, some of us redefine success by switching from achieving a measurable goal, to experiencing a feeling. The words inspiration, joy, connection, freedom, authenticity, contentment, and service enter our vocabulary. WE SEEK FULFILMENT.
We may not know what will fulfil us. But having pursued success, we have at least come to know that it cannot satisfy the longing of our soul. What do we do now? The success template that we had imbibed in our childhood, at least told us what to do. It gave us some direction. It kept us climbing, even if it was not the ladder of our choice. Without any belief, we are lost. We don’t know what to do. This is a vulnerable period. The old has gone; the new has not yet arrived. This is the twilight phase of self- transformation. All our fears of worthlessness rise to the surface. With nothing to do and nowhere to go, we end up feeling what we have tried to avoid all our life—being a loser.
Now if I have to sound romantic and idealistic, I would say, “When you face your fears, you will realise you are much bigger than your fears. When you start listening to your heart, it will guide you to your true calling. Once you realise your calling, you will find the true meaning and purpose of your life.”
Unfortunately, I cannot give you that hope. Life is neither romantic nor idealistic. It is what it is. Having undergone this journey, I can say from experience that I have found my voice—my natural expression as a mindfulness teacher. But there is no ‘happily ever after.’
Life is still uncertain. I have no idea how the future will unfold, but something interesting is happening. I am becoming more aware of this habit of the mind to project a rosy future and seek security in it. I am realising that life often does not turn out the way my mind imagines it. And that is the nature of life. Not just for me but for everyone.
Self-worth
Self-worth cannot be attained by doing something or becoming someone. It comes from realising our true essence. The wave cannot become worthy by becoming bigger than other waves. It becomes worthy by realising it is not a wave but water. In that realisation, the pursuit of self-worth disappears.
When we reside in our naturalness, simply being, we experience Oneness. It is blissful. We feel high. Only this time, our high is not dependent on what we do or who we are but on our own self. It cannot be taken away from us.
Ajay Kalra
It is the fragrance of our Being.
We are no longer driven to do something or become someone to validate our worth. Our actions are an expression of fullness. An expression of creativity. An outburst of joy. They seek no results. Because our actions do not add or subtract anything from who we are. Our knowledge of ourself is no longer a mental image based on outcomes and opinions. It stems from the realisation that we are Life itself.
“Yes, all this sounds nice and rosy, but how do I realise that I am Life itself?” you ask.
By dropping the notion that ‘you can realise it.’ When one realises the futility of seeking self-worth through success, the mind tends to project another self-image for fulfilment. An image of a spiritually enlightened being. Now it starts pursuing this image.
When the pointlessness of all pursuit is realised, the mind stops. There is nothing to do. Nowhere to go. It becomes silent. In that Silence, fulfilment is found. A fulfilment that seeks no reward, no recognition, no appreciation. The Self has found its worth.
In Itself.
Ajay Kalra is a life coach, psychologist, yoga teacher and an author. He teaches principles of mindful living through his monthly online classes, workshops, writing and YouTube videos.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Heartspeak 17
BALANCE
Meditation for the
modern man
In this article, Charles Shahar offers the possibility of interweaving meditation with your work and family life
18 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
N ot every person can join an ashram conducive for travelling inward. The vibrations
or withdraw into a life of spiritual
seclusion. Many adults have obligations related to family and work. How is it possible to juggle these demands with the regular practice of meditation? If you are in this situation, how can you find time on a daily basis when the children are romping around the house or the job involves working late and you are too tired for a sitting? Even if you sit, you may find it difficult not to keel over as you struggle to remain awake.
Meditation and work life
A job can sap your energy in many ways. If all you want to do when you get home is slump in front of a television set for the rest of the evening, too tired to meditate because the job is so draining, perhaps some adjustments should be made to your lifestyle or occupation. Consider that your nervous system may be too sensitive to handle this type of strain. Alternatives may include working fewer hours or simply taking quiet breaks during the course of the day.
If it is possible to meditate in the morning for ten minutes, consider this an excellent start to the day. Even this brief time in silence will set a calming tone. You will notice the difference because when you walk into the work environment, you will have less of a sense of urgency and agitation. If you can’t meditate at home, you might want to spend a few minutes in silence in the office. Just close the door. If people can take coffee or cigarette breaks, why not make time for a dip into the sublime?
The office atmosphere is not the most
there are wired; there is a buzz created by the din and by busy minds at work. Some days are more unsettled than others. If the office space is too hectic, or if you don’t even have an office, find a spot in a local park or temple during lunchtime.
Try to find people at work who will meditate with you. Once you start practising meditation, you will attract people with similar vibrations. You can find a place that is quiet, perhaps someone’s office, or reserve a boardroom. You may want to play a mantra or chanting tape, or light a candle to clear the atmosphere. There is no need for anyone to lead the meditation, although you may want to say a few words to ease everyone into the space.
For the working person, it is very beneficial to meditate in the middle of the day. You will then float through the afternoon. To do without a quiet break for the entire day means that a lot of tension will accumulate in your body. When you are finally sitting in meditation at home in the late afternoon or evening, it may take a while for the nervous system to settle. This may be the cause of some frustration, but keep in mind that it is also a normal reaction, given the pace most people maintain in their life. It is difficult to shift gears after experiencing a frenetic workday
People who merge their spiritual practice with their work are truly blessed. Those who teach yoga and meditation, and are able to support themselves financially through this activity, are living very favourable karma. Those who have enough money and do not need to work
Balance 19
at all are, likewise, fortunate but only if they spend their time wisely in uplifting pursuits. There are many wealthy people who have not necessarily pursued deeper, more meaningful lives, although it is difficult to generalise in this respect. The bottom line is that having money can free up your time and eliminate financial struggles or exposure to stressful work conditions, but it does not guarantee that you will make spiritual expansion an important focus of your attention.
As a further reflection on the demands of work, consider that some spiritual souls who are currently incarnating here are not used to the pace and intensity of Western life. They have spent previous lifetimes in the East where the rhythm had been more gentle and serene.
If this is the case, they will likely feel out of place, longing for a quieter existence, and even suffering imbalance or illness as a result.
Their souls may be reeling from the shock of such a displacement, and they will likely not have a choice but to search for spiritual succour in this lifetime. A desire to visit the East, or to feel some strong connection with an Eastern religion or people, is often indicative of this situation. Often spiritual souls incarnate in the West not to be encumbered by difficult material conditions, such as lacking the basic necessities of life. Ironically, the demands of their work life may also turn out to be a burden for them.
Of course, not all work is burdensome. Many
20 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
It is possible to find time and space for meditation even in office if one is keen enough
Try to find people at work who will meditate with you. Once you start practising meditation, you will attract people with similar vibrations. You can find a place that is quiet, perhaps someone’s office, or reserve a boardroom. You may want to play a mantra or chanting tape, or light a candle to clear the atmosphere.
people find their occupation interesting and enjoyable. They may be helping others or simply finding challenges through their jobs. The point is to have a well-rounded lifestyle and to pursue the inward journey as well. I have never known a meditator to pass through a midlife crisis or depression. There is too much richness in the quality of their experience to feel any lack in or remorse about what they have done or where they are headed.
Meditation and family life
Aside from work, raising a family can have a different set of obligations that are no less demanding. If you decide to incorporate meditation into your lifestyle, there is no doubt that it will benefit everyone around you: not just close family but friends and relatives as well. For those who are most immediately in your aura, subtle changes will take place in them, whether they themselves meditate or not. The presence of a meditator in their life will always be uplifting if they are open to it.
A particularly desirable situation is when both partners in a relationship are meditators. They can provide strong support for one another. Their practice will become more focussed, and the relationship itself will develop in ways that transcend the limited bounds of two interacting personalities. The vibrations in the home of such a couple will have a quality of softness and serenity, which visitors will immediately remark on.
If only one of the partners meditates, the situation is still favourable provided there is an attitude of mutual respect and cooperation. For instance, one partner may be engaged in the working world but will come home each evening to a meditative atmosphere that has been created by the spouse. This is a karmic arrangement where the meditator provides a connection or bridge to the meditative space, while the partner provides material security. Ultimately, those who engage in worldly occupations must assume the practice for
Balance 21
A different situation occurs when one of the partners has difficulty accepting the spiritual practice of the other. Some people may consider it foreign to their culture or religion, while others are simply resisting change in their partner, perhaps due to their own insecurities.
themselves if they are to find that inner peace which meditation brings.
A different situation occurs when one of the partners has difficulty accepting the spiritual practice of the other. Some people may consider it foreign to their culture or religion, while others are simply resisting change in their partner, perhaps due to their own insecurities. There is still room for reconciliation if trust and respect come to the forefront. Otherwise, strains may begin to leave a mark on the relationship. Such a situation may be difficult because the two parties may be headed in very different directions. A relationship should represent a dynamic rather than a static arrangement. If one person feels held back, frustrations and tensions will ultimately result.
Sometimes, both partners discover their spirituality at the same time but choose different ways to express it, perhaps joining different groups or adopting different practices. The consequences depend very much on the maturity of the individuals. Those with greater awareness will make every effort to maintain
harmony but not at the expense of their dignity or peace of mind. It is unfortunate that such situations lead to strain, but it is likely that the differences between them would have eventually surfaced, perhaps in another context.
One thing to keep in mind is that meditators should not force their ideas on anyone. This may be difficult when they first get excited about their meditation experience. Sometimes, it is harder for the people closest to us to recognise our spirituality. There is a certain familiarity based on the interaction of personalities, rather than a deeper connection of two souls. Patience may be required, because as one partner sees positive changes in the other, they may eventually follow their lead or at least accept the latter’s spiritual direction.
It is appropriate to say that the strongest relationships are spiritual ones where the recognition is on the soul level. The meditator develops a respect for the inherent greatness of all beings, but the partner is the person with whom they have decided to travel hand-
22 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
in-hand along life’s path. If there is mutual encouragement, the relationship is worth maintaining and becomes an important source of support and inspiration.
Two spouses or partners meditating together is likely the best quality time they could spend with one another. In such a situation, there
is a oneness felt that cannot be achieved on a physical or emotional plane. On the one hand, it represents a detachment from worldly or physical existence, but on the other, it also represents a shared peak experience. To dive into the deepest silence with someone is a special experience, representing a spiritual bond that touches both at the deepest levels.
Charles Shahar
Charles Shahar is a teacher of yoga and meditation for the last 17 years. A resident of Canada, he is currently based in the Kullu Valley, India.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Balance 23
JOURNEY
By her guru’s grace, Shivi Verma has become increasingly more trusting of humans, a path she hopes will lead to unconditional love
Oneness is the way
F or the longest time I heart was broken countless
to get me. This isn’t to say that I have given up on my instincts, which help in judging people and situations. Rather, they have got more heightened. This sense of feeling one with the world, with complete strangers, trusting their intentions, and relating to them, is ineffable. It also instils in me a lot of humility, as I am unable to see much difference between myself and others.
Still, I am sure that greater lessons lie in wait for me. To love even when I am hurt, betrayed, and cheated upon. This is the unconditional love which is the key to liberation from worldly attachments. And last but not the least, to love myself even if I have failed, made mistakes, and committed errors of judgement. This is still a long way off, and sometimes, I shudder to think in these terms. But with my guru as my shepherd, I hope that I will not falter as I move forward in my spiritual journey.
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]
had been hearing that
love has a lot of power. However, it took me a long time to understand what it actually meant. As I had mostly heard this in movies, I associated it with romantic love and felt that people did pretty crazy things (like hurting or challenging others— as shown in Bollywood movies— just because they were convinced beyond doubt that their bond was eternal). Needless to say, I felt that the statement was nothing more than sentimental tosh.
Nevertheless, my first brush with spirituality opened my eyes to this reality. When the Divine showered Her love on me, I was drenched from head to toe. Such was the intensity of this connection that I saw a firm resolve rising in me to never let it fade away. I was committed to walking the path shown by the Divine, come hell or high water. I had the first-hand experience of the power of love.
times. Consequently, I became suspicious of new people. And since I carried this subconscious belief—while God can be trusted, Her children cannot—it replayed itself over and over again.
And then one day, my guru, Maitreya Dadashreeji, entered my life. I was living alone in Mumbai at that time and was fearful of drawing unsolicited attention from men. I expressed this to him. He promised me that he and Mahavatar Babaji would always protect me and that I had nothing to worry about. True to his words, I could feel an invisible shield around me wherever I went.
It’s been nine years now, and I have not suffered any unwanted advance or attention from anyone. All forms of disconcerting and difficult relationships have vanished from my personal life too. This fills me with unprecedented confidence and faith in God, as well as people. I can easily trust people and strangers now, and relate to them as my own. I derive joy in connecting with others as fellow humans, rather
However, many lessons awaited
me. I still feared and distrusted
people, and wasn’t sure if my
love would be received guilelessly
by them. In an attempt to love
them, I got scalded, and my than probable enemies trying
24 LifePositive | June 2022
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SKINCARE
Know how to glow
Skincare is more than just skin deep. Jamuna Rangachari shares the opinion of experts to make us healthy inside out
26 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
My late ninety-year-old grandmother Balanced diet
used to denounce all skincare creams
and tell everyone that switching off the lights when the sun goes down was the best way for getting great skin, citing herself as an example. She certainly had glowing skin, following nothing but a disciplined routine till the end of her life. All of us in the extended family called her ‘the Cleopatra of the family’ as she used to be immaculately dressed and very particular about her health routine too.
I am sure most of us have witnessed the older generation having such a disciplined attitude. The fact is that skin, like everything else, responds to what we do, think, and eat. This is something we do know, but we often fall into the trap of fancy creams and brands that are being advertised profusely.
Towards a healthy, beautiful skin
I met Sonali Gaur when my husband joined the national defence college course for senior officers. When I saw her for the first time, I could not believe she was middle-aged as she looked so young and glowing. I learned that she was a yoga aficionado and requested her to conduct a class for all of us. I soon joined the yoga class she conducted and learned many things from her. Not just yoga, but attitude too. We can stop depending on external things and work on aspects which are within our self. “External packs may bring about a temporary change, but internal change is permanent and full of benefits,” she says. Sonali suggests we all do the following:
Regular exercises
Exercises such as Pilates, aerobics, swimming, walking, swimming, and running, done wholeheartedly for 45 minutes to one hour, are useful.
Our meals should consist of salads, buttermilk (chaas) or curd, dal, and vegetables, along with healthy whole wheat or multigrain chapatis. Minimise the intake of spices, ghee, salt, and sugar. Avoid fine flour, like maida.
Water intake
An intake of 8 to 10 glasses of water a day at regular intervals cleans our guts and keeps us disease-free and healthy by detoxifying our body.
Fruit and vegetable intake
Fresh fruits, homemade juices, and seasonal vegetables are beneficial. Avoid aerated drinks as well as adding salt and sugar to juices.
Yoga
Asanas such as Trikonasana, Paschmottanasana, and Cobra Pose relax and naturally tone the skin, increase oxygen flow, improve complexion, flush out toxins, and reduce wrinkles.
Breathing exercises
We humans pay less heed to our breathing than we should. Consciously breathe from the belly, expanding it during inhalation and contracting it during exhalation. Unconsciously, we take shallow breaths, which creates tension in our body and leads to stress and disease. Observe the correct breathing technique constantly at regular intervals.
The introduction of pranayama practice into our daily routine is an added advantage.
Meditation
Sit on a chair or the floor in Padmasana, with the spine straight and palms open. Close your eyes and observe the inhalation and exhalation for a few minutes. Slowly increase the duration
Skincare 27
of practice. This technique makes us feel light and calm, and improves our focus and sleep pattern also.
Consistency is more important than doing intense exercises for good results. Keep the doctors and medicines away by following these techniques and maintaining a disciplined regime. Stay calm and don’t get stressed to keep yourself and your skin healthy.
A similar routine is recommended by others too. Dr Ameya Devikar is the chief medical officer at Nisargopchar Ashram, Urulikanchan. She says we need to make sure that we include a handful of nuts and a teaspoon of mixed seeds— pumpkin, sunflower, and chia—every day. Apart from that, she recommends foods rich in Vitamin C and E like oranges, sweet lime, guava, lemon, avocado, bell peppers, and berries. Our diet should also include at least one serving of salads, comprising carrots, beetroots, and greens, as they are considered superfoods for the skin.
The packs she suggests are
• Aloe vera pack for dry skin
Take a teaspoon of aloe vera with a pinch of turmeric and honey and apply the mixture to the face and neck.
• Green gram pack for oily skin
A teaspoon of finely ground green gram, a pinch of turmeric, and two tablespoons of rose water can be mixed, left for 15 minutes on the face and neck, and washed off with lukewarm water.
• Oats pack for combination skin
Take a teaspoon of finely ground oats, add a teaspoon of curd or honey, and a pinch of turmeric. Apply on the face and neck, and wash after 15–20 minutes with lukewarm water.
• Protection from the sun
Protecting the skin from harmful UV rays helps prevent dark spots and premature ageing of the skin. Make sure that you wear natural sunscreen like shea butter, almond oil, coconut oil, and a mixture of glycerine and rosewater. Also, it is important to protect your face with physical barriers like sunglasses and hats. In fact, avoid facing direct sunlight if possible.
She summarises that using home remedies like potato and papaya peels, and lemon juice are a few of the best and most affordable ways of getting flawless skin.
Luke Coutinho, a holistic nutrition, lifestyle, and medicine coach, is clear that as far as skincare is concerned, simplicity works. In his opinion and experience, good skin health doesn’t come from expensive supplements, serums, face masks, and fancy treatments. He feels that the quality of your skin is a reflection of your inner environment. Skin health requires an inside-out approach, he says. The kind of nutrition going in your system, the quality of your thoughts, the number of toxins in your body, the oxygenation level of your body, the level of your physical activity, and the quality of your sleep—all these determine your skin health.
He adds that there are plenty of simple home remedies that have worked well for his clients across the world who are suffering from skin conditions ranging from pigmentation and blemishes to psoriasis and eczema patches.
• Raw potato peels/juice
While there is a root cause underlying hyperpigmentation, which we would encourage you to address, this remedy works great for under-eye dark circles or for reducing the darkening of the skin. All you need to do
28 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
is grate the potato and squeeze out the juice or slice raw potatoes and rub it on the pigmented area.
• Coldwater splash or ice cube treatment
Puffy face and eyes? Want to look fresh before a party? Splash your face with icy water or rub ice cubes. The cold temperature helps depuff the face and closes pores, giving your skin a tight and supple appearance.
• Crushed sabja seeds
Besides addressing the root cause behind autoimmune skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, this remedy always helps unless it doesn’t suit the individual. One needs to take two tablespoons of sabja seeds or basil seeds and crush them with a pestle into a powder. Then take four tablespoons of cold-pressed coconut oil, add it to the powder, and heat it on a low
flame for a minute. Cool the mixture and apply it to the affected area every day for 15 minutes, followed by washing with plain water. After washing, we need to apply raw potato juice to the area and let it stay for around half an hour. It will form a crust, after which we can gently wash it off with plain water.
Exfoliating face mask for smooth and silky skin
1 tbsp besan (ground gram flour)
1⁄4 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp A2 milk yoghurt
Method: Mix and apply on your face. Massage
gently. It works like the ancient ubtan.
• Smart fasting
Fasting is something that requires nothing but loads of discipline and consistency. Just by
Masks made of naturally available ingredients are the best of skin health
Skincare 29
giving your body and digestive system a break, and allowing it time and energy to perform the basics like detoxification, repair, rejuvenation, and regeneration, people have reported better and brighter skin, lighter dark circles and scars, lesser acne, and overall happy skin. This speaks so much about the intelligence of our body that we are already born with but gets masked in a world of complexity and faulty lifestyle. Fasting also activates longevity genes, which can help slow down the ageing process of the skin. This is a principle that most traditions follow and recommend to everyone from the young to the old, for our lifestyle is indeed who we are.
Dr Siddhant Bhargava, a fitness and nutritional scientist and the co-founder of Food Darzee says, “Nourishment to your skin starts from within. Nutritionally rich food as per the body’s requirement provides all the essential elements needed to help your skin stay soft, supple, and blemish-free. Treat your skin with care, and optimise your nutrition by eating a healthy and balanced diet. This is what our older generation has been telling us.
We can see that we are returning to our roots for complete, holistic health. The internal and external go together always. We, in India, are lucky to have traditional guidance from our elders along with a well-modulated lifestyle handed down to us. Of course, the weather also matters, so one needs to keep the skin
cool in summer and avoid dryness in winter by using natural packs and washing ourselves as frequently as possible.”
Dr Mugdha Jhamwar Dagdia, MD, DNB, a dermatologist at Dr Hedgewar Hospital, says, “There is a saying: Invest in your skin as it is going to represent you for a long time to come. Not often do we realise that twenty-five per cent of our body is made of skin, which needs care. As a protector of our body, the skin is an ambassador of overall physical health that needs our attention.” She asks people to first understand one’s skin type and proceed accordingly.
The skin is one of the first organs that cries out aloud when stressed or when one faces relationship problems. This can be set right by following the right principles of life and not comparing ourselves with others in any area.
The fact is that our skin is the first thing that usually reflects any disorder. To keep it completely healthy, we need to take care of it both externally, with a regular lifestyle, and internally, by giving ourselves the peace and calm we deserve. It is not all that difficult. Our attitude is, after all, totally in our control. With this, we shall indeed glow like gods or goddesses all our lives. This is certainly something we all owe ourselves. Holistic wellness within us reflects outside naturally, unlike an artificial mask that keeps falling off every now and then.
Jamuna Rangachari
Former assistant editor of Life Positive, Jamuna Rangachari has authored two books for children, and compiled and interpreted Teaching Stories-I and II for Life Positive.
30 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
SATORI
How I found my God
Dr Bijal Maroo, who was pussyfooting with God all along, became an ardent believer overnight when she experienced His omnipotence in a moment of crisis
32
LifePositive | JUNE 2022
A s a kid, I did not understand much was too naïve, and I thought that she might not
about prayers or temples—or even
God— but I remember going on a pilgrimage as an 11-year-old. I eagerly waited outside the temple door, but not for darshan (worship), as one would imagine; it was to relish the curd being sold outside! Some of my relatives responded to this by calling me a nastik, which means an atheist or a non- believer in God.
I also have a childhood memory of how I tried to bribe God by offering him five rupees and a coconut if he helped me achieve the desired score in my final exams. My mom very patiently explained to me that, as a Jain, we believe in karma. So if you put in the effort to study, you make the grade; else, you don’t. However, it was not okay to bribe God to curry favour. An important lesson learnt there.
As a teenager, I needed to find my identity and be different from the herd, so I chose to tell the world that I was an atheist. It helped me get some much-needed attention. Also, maybe it was my way of rebelling. I told my friends that I visited the temple only to appreciate its architectural beauty and had no leanings towards religion.
Love and God
Later, while growing up, out of sheer habit, I became deeply identified with this belief. Funnily, I had chosen it without giving it any serious thought. Then, along came my first brush with love. It turned out to be totally one- sided, and it shattered me completely. I had nobody to turn to, to unburden myself. I could not confide in my parents, as I did not want them to worry about me. My younger sister
understand. My one-sided love also happened to be my best friend, which left me friendless and helpless. Who do you think I turned to? None other than God Himself, the exact, same God who I believed to be non-existent. As I cried every single night, sleep too had deserted me. In my darkest hour, I called upon God to somehow take away my pain. God was the only oasis of solace, helping me to recover from the abyss I had sunk into. This was my first experience of a helping and benevolent God. It converted me, and I was now a believer.
However, it was a blow-hot-and-cold kind of faith; it was more often absent than present. Every time things went wrong, I questioned whether God was present in my life. I needed a blanket insurance that only good things would happen to me, as I was a believer in the Almighty. It was a very conditional kind of faith.
The turning point
However, in 2017, an experience firmly cemented my unequivocal faith in God. My sister and I undertook our first Himalayan trek to the valley of flowers. It is a very arduous trek, as it is held in the monsoon season. The promo pictures were really enticing, and my sister and I were looking forward to this adventure. Anyway, we got much more than we had bargained for. We got off at the Dehradun airport, only to realise that one of our suitcases had gone missing! We would now have to make do with just half of our warm clothes. Luckily, the backpacks, trekking shoes, and the rain gear were on our person. So, we decided to brave it and continued onwards.
Satori 33
On the trek to the valley, my sister suffered a really bad bout of altitude sickness. Also, we encountered terrible weather and thunderstorms. Having hardly seen about five per cent of the valley, we had to start our descent. My sister was really unsteady on her feet. The sight of the sheer drop into the valley, that day, still makes my heart shudder. Even a single misstep could have been fatal, and the valley of flowers would have become the valley of death for us. Thankfully, two of the group members appeared out of nowhere. As they joined us in the descent, their help was a godsend. We were very grateful for their help, and nothing untoward happened. Finally, we made it back safely to the hotel.
Later, as we drove back to Rishikesh, a huge landslide blocked our path. We were informed
that it would take 8–10 hours to clear it up. This had eaten into the buffer time that we had before the return flight home. Now it would be a race against time if we were to make it.
Surrendering to God
Stuck in the middle of nowhere, we took refuge in a gurdwara (Sikh temple) dormitory. By then, I was feeling totally defeated and drained by this roller coaster chain of events. On entering the gurdwara, I started a conversation with God Though it was nothing like the Amitabh Bachan-Deewar scene, I told God, “Listen, I really don’t know what to pray for. I don’t know whether making this flight or missing it a good thing. Maybe you are protecting us from something far worse by making us miss this flight. So I leave it all to you. Just do as you please.” Thus, I ended my
34 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
Bijal surrendered to God in only to be helped and supported by Him
I told God, “Listen, I really don’t know what to pray for. I don’t know whether making this flight or missing it is a good thing. Maybe you are protecting us from something far worse by making us miss the flight. So I leave it all to you. Just do as you please.
tete-a-tete with the Maker. I just sat there as a sense of calm washed all over me, in a way I had never experienced before: a golden light enveloped me completely. I don’t know how long I continued sitting there. When I left the gurdwara, I was a totally different person.
On our way back, the driver drove the Volvo like one possessed, as if it was a fighter jet. At the airport, we never stopped running past the ticket check, the security, and the baggage scans. We literally snatched our lost suitcase from the Jet Airways office, and the flight manager flagged us through for an Indigo flight. We entered just as the gates were
closing. Slumping into our seats, we offered profuse thanks to God. WE HAD MADE IT! Also, as a bonus, my English improved a few notches. I had experienced the meaning of phrases like ‘by a hair’s breadth’ and ‘by the skin of my teeth.’
That day, I learned the immense power of surrender. His timing was perfect—down to the last microsecond. The truth was staring me in the face. Who else could have carried us through! That flight brought me back home, literally and figuratively. I had finally found my God.
Dr Bijal Maroo
Dr Bijal Maroo is a homeopathic consultant, counsellor and health psychologist and also an Arts based Therapy Practitioner. She loves to reflect on life and explore her gifts as a writer, poet and singer.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Satori 35
HISTORY
Museum of Indian Saints
Rashme Sehgal describes a museum in Germany that houses the relics of Indian saints, collected by its head, Swami Vishwananda. A treat indeed for ardent seekers!
ocated in the beautiful German countryside of Springen is a rare museum devoted to Indian saints. Most of these thousand saints
infused with the energy of the saint, and it does not diminish with time. A saint is an individual who has transcended material reality. Everything he holds or uses becomes divine,” explains Swami Vishwananda, who has spent several years putting this collection together.
“Indian saints have given a rich culture to the world. Hindu traditions are based on knowledge given to us by our saints. The richness in our lives comes from them. Sadly, little is known about their lives. When a saint passes away, their relics are often not kept properly,’ says Swami Vishwananda.
Lwhose relics are displayed in the museum are little known outside India. Swami Vishwananda, heading the Bhakti Marga museum, has painstakingly collected their relics, whether they be objects of their day-to-day use or prayer, and displayed them along with photographs and a short biographical sketch, to provide western devotees an insight into their extraordinary lives.
Divine touch
“Everything that a saint has touched or used is
36 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
An example of this is when Sant Gyaneshwar appeared to Sant Eknath in a dream informing him that the root of an anjana tree was choking him and that he should remove it. Sant Eknath spent two weeks searching for his samadhi shrine. When he finally located the shrine in Alandi, overrun with thick vegetation, he lovingly removed the root of the anjana tree with his hands.
Swami Vishwananda has made several trips to Alandi where the anjana tree grows to this day. Bark from this tree has been displayed in the museum along with a painting of the saint.
Swami Nityananda, one of the greatest saints of the twentieth century, was born in Kerala. He moved to the village of Ganeshpuri in Maharashtra around 1936 and spent the rest of his life there devoting himself to the upliftment of the villagers. Along with his photograph and brief biographical sketch, the museum displays the last asana (seat) Bhagwan Nityananda sat on before he took samadhi (left the body) in August 1961.
“Our culture is so rich. We have a saint in every street,’ says Swami Vishwananda with a great sense of pride.
Sri Ramanuja Acharya was born in the village of Perumbudur, about twenty-five miles west of Chennai. As he grew up, he was deeply moved by the devotion of the Alvar poet-saints and devoted his life to God. As is the practice with several Indian saints, the body of Ramanuja Acharya is preserved in the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam since the time of his death in 1137 AD. Sandalwood paste and saffron are used to preserve the body without the use of chemicals. At the Bhakti Marga museum, the dhoti used to wrap the body of Ramanuja Acharya has been displayed, along with an original painting of him.
Miraculous workings
Women saints enjoy equal prominence. A brief
biography of Mira Bai is complemented by a beautiful painting of her playing the tanpura. There is an interesting story of how Swami Vishwananda was given the Girdhari murti (idol) worshipped by Mira Bai from her childhood. Some years ago, Swami Vishwananda was travelling with a group of devotees when he stopped outside the Brij Nath temple in Nurpur Fort near Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. The priest of the temple, Srinivas Acharya, came outside and handed him the murti with the words “I have been waiting to give this to you.”
It is an eclectic mix on display. Baba Jaan, who followed neither Islam nor Sufism is the pre- eminent saint of Pune. Born in Balochistan, she travelled to Pune and lived there for several years till her death in 1931. The museum displays a cloth she used and also a piece of the neem tree under which she sat for several years.
Swami Vishwananda received the relics of Anandmayi Ma from her ashram (hermitage) located in Dehra Dun in a very mysterious manner. He visited Anandmayi’s ashram in November 2018, where he was informed they no longer had any relics of Ma since these had been distributed amongst her devotees. The workings of divinity are mysterious. While he was praying inside her personal room, Ma revealed to him that strands of her hair were kept in one corner of the room which, indeed, turned out to be the case. As he stepped outside her room, the manager of the ashram came up to him and informed him that his wife had a sari gifted to her by Ma, and she would be happy to present it to him.
Maharashtrian bhakti
There is a special focus on Maharashtrian Varkari saints, with relics belonging to Tukaram, Eknath, and Namdev on display. Swami Vishwananda believes, “In Maharashtra, God came and lived with the saints. He worked with them and helped them in their day-to-day lives. In no other tradition
History 37
does God come and live with his devotees. When Sant Eknath’s son Kanhaiya departed, God came to him in the form of a boy and served him for many years. It was the same with the case of Janabai and many others,” explains Swami Vishwananda.
Janabai lived in the final quarter of the thirteenth century and the first half of the fourteenth century.
Throughout her life, she worked as a kitchen maid in the house of Namdev, but it was to her that Vithala appeared, helping her with her day-to-day chores.
These relics have been carefully catalogued and preserved here and should prove to be a beacon of hope for believers in the years to come.
Saints leave a transcendal legacy behind which turns into devotion for many.
Rashme Sehgal
Rashme Sehgal is a senior writer-journalist who writes on social and political issues. She has worked in several newspapers including The Times of India, The Asian Age, The Telegraph and The Independent
38 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
SPECIAL FEATURE
Eight steps
to
enlightenment
Sri Anish explains that there is much more to yoga than performing a series of contorted poses. It is a way of life and a means to achieving ultimate peace.
Special feature 39
I ndia is the cradle of human civilisation. duality. It is described as Purush and Prakriti,
This land has given many gifts and has
contributed much towards human well- being and, undoubtedly, the science of yoga is one of the greatest gifts from India to the whole of humanity. It is a matter of great pride that, in December 2014, the UN proclaimed June 21 as International Day of Yoga.
But there are a few questions that we must ask ourselves. Do we know what yoga really is? Do we know about the tremendous power of yoga? Are we harnessing it well? Are we integrating yoga into our daily lives? Do we see it in its totality or just one part of it? Is yoga transformational for us? Do we see it as an activity or as a lifestyle?
If you do a Google search for the word ‘yoga,’ you’ll find that the first few hundred or thousand images that Google throws up will be of people in all kinds of complex body postures called ‘asanas.’ To most, this is yoga—the ability and flexibility to move and maintain your body in complex postures. But is yoga only about postures? You may be surprised to know that asanas form just one small aspect of yoga.
Yoga was introduced over 3,000 years ago when Maharishi Patanjali compiled the Yoga Sutras. He wrote 196 sutras (rules), and compiled them into four padas (chapters): Samadhi Pada, Sadhana Pada, Vibhuti Pada, and Kaivalya Pada. And, out of these 196 sutras, there are only three on asanas!
I’m not sharing these facts to dilute the importance of asanas but to expand your perception of the transformational power of yoga.
‘Yoga’ means ‘to unite’
This world of multiplicity is made up of
40 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
Shiva and Shakti, masculine & feminine, or yin and yang. These are polar opposites, typical examples being white and black, light and darkness, and knowledge and ignorance. This world, including us, is made up of these polarities. We are ignorant about a few things and knowledgeable about others, but we feel as ‘one’ being. Our days are full of light, and nights, full of darkness, but we call it ‘one day.’ So, there is ‘oneness’ hidden behind these apparent dualities.
Yoga is a way of life, a science, a mystery, and a step-by-step practice to integrate all polarities and unite all opposites into oneness.
Yoga is about joining knowledge with ignorance and darkness with light. Yes, ignorance is like darkness, and knowledge is light. What happens when you join both of them? Simple. When you join darkness with light, darkness is no more. Only light remains! And light means knowledge— illumination of the mind.
Yoga in practical life
Yoga is not a philosophy nor a religion. Yoga is practical, and it has a deep impact on our day-to-day life. Let’s look at yoga from this perspective. No matter what stage of our life we are at, all of us want to accomplish, acquire, and experience certain things in life. We all have certain aspirations, and we all want to experience life in its fullness through their fulfilment.
These aspirations can be
• Physical (of the body—shape, wellness,
strength, endurance. etc.)
• Mental or emotional (of the intellect—
clarity, focus, confidence, positivity, etc.)
• Financial (career, earning, possessions,
security, etc.)
• Social (status, relationships, sense of contribution, etc.)
• Spiritual (love, peace, happiness, moksha (liberation) etc.)
Let’s take an example of a working woman who has an aspiration to become the CEO of her company. She keeps thinking about it. But will it happen only by wishful thinking? Or let’s say you are sitting in Delhi and you want to go to New York. Will it happen just by wishful thinking? No. We would need to follow a certain process: apply for a visa, state the purpose of travel and convince the authorities, and prepare a whole lot of documentation. Likewise, everything in life requires preparation.
You must be thinking, We were talking about yoga, so, what is the role of yoga in this?
As I said earlier, yoga is practical, and it can enhance our day-to-day life experience. Thousands of years ago, when sage Patanjali propounded the knowledge of yoga for the well- being of humans, he created eight steps of yoga, known as Ashtanga Yoga. If we follow these eight steps, we can achieve anything we want in life. In fact, they act like an inner preparation to empower and tune ourself to our life’s highest purpose. With yoga, nothing remains as wishful thinking; everything becomes achievable. And the higher we go in yoga, the more liberated, expanded, and blissful we start to become.
Now, let’s take another practical scenario. Let’s say you want to start getting up at 5 a.m. to go to the gym. Although you want it to happen, your mind throws a hundred tantrums every morning. So, what’s really happening? Your mind is not listening to you. While you want to build a daily morning schedule, your mind just doesn’t listen. It seems that the mind has its
own agenda; it is not in control or in absolute sync with you. There are very few people who can claim that their minds are in their total control. If your mind is not in control, will you be able to put all your attention and energy into something that you want to achieve? Forget achieving anything, this untamed mind doesn’t even allow you to experience life fully. Even when you go to your favourite restaurant to eat your choicest meal, while you are eating, your mind is engaged in random thoughts or conversation. It constantly distracts you, and in that process, you only taste the first few bites and the rest becomes mechanical. This is the nature of an untamed mind—to dwell in distractions and confusion.
Here, Patanjali comes to our rescue. He gave us these eight steps to tame the mind and experience life in its absolute abundance. Look at these eight steps carefully, and as you start to practise them, your sense of purpose, mental clarity, energy levels, confidence, self-will, physical and emotional well-being, happiness quotient, and spiritual wisdom will start to expand.
1. Yama (Value codes of life)
Yama comprises some basic yet very essential value codes of life. It allows us to develop right understanding and behavioural conduct, and teaches us how to treat others and the world around us. There are five yamas: I will not hurt anybody unnecessarily, I will be truthful in all my conducts, I will not take anything that doesn’t belong to me, I will hold my desires, and I will not possess more than what is needed.
2. Niyama (Self-discipline)
Niyama is a set of self-disciplinary codes that help in building a strong daily foundation. There are five niyamas: keeping the body clean and pure, being content, building endurance,
Special feature 41
self-study, and developing dedication.
to one-pointed attention.
3. Asana (Stabilising the body to bring mental equilibrium)
Asana deals with developing bodily stability, flexibility, strength, and balance. This allows us to be in total control of our body and create excellent body-mind harmony.
4. Pranayama (Breath control and focus)
Every thought and emotion can be controlled if we know how to work with our breath, and Pranayama helps us build this control. It also enhances our ability to focus on the breath.
5. Pratyahara (Withdrawal of senses)
Most of the time, our senses are not in our control. Giving in to our senses weakens our mental capacities and will power. Pratyahara teaches us to restrain and withdraw our senses. It is a great step towards building enhanced mental strength.
6. Dharana (To keep an object in your focus)
Dharana helps in developing single-pointed focus, which builds sharpness of mind. It is an essential practice to bring the scattered mind
Sri Anish
7. Dhyana (Meditation)
Dhyana is an essential practice to declutter the mind. It helps by silencing all noises in the mind and creates a peaceful inner space. The mind becomes powerfully intuitive with the regular practice of meditation.
8. Samadhi (Breaking the barrier)
Samadhi is the last stage where one is able to break all barriers of mental noise and conditioning. Where there are no more illusions, the truth of life reveals itself, and one is firmly established in deep peace.
This is complete yoga, which removes all physical and mental suffering and conditioning, and expands the boundaries of all perceptions. Anyone who follows these eight steps of yoga as taught by Maharishi Patanjali becomes empowered to experience life in its fullness. All aspirations become achievable to the one whose mind is tamed with yoga.
May we all be established in this highest yoga. Om Tat Sat.
Sri Anish is a visionary spiritual teacher, mentor, author and public speaker. After spending many years as a CEO and an entrepreneur in the corporate world, he moved to the Himalayas in search of Higher realities. After over a decade of sadhana, he is now committed to raising the collective human consciousness. Sri Anish is also the author of the book, Let the Mud Settle. You can read more about him and get in touch at www.saadho.org
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
42 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
AHA-MOMENTS
The right to be right
Relationships would work out much better if we try to understand where each one is coming from, feels Megha Bajaj
But why can’t he at Arun. He said, “Everyone up in homes where abuse was the
understand what I am
going through!” said my friend, in tears, as we were having tea on the verandah of my house. Around the same time, her husband told Arun, my best friend for life, “If only she could see things from my perspective!” Our friends were going through a rough patch and were considering a separation. The four of us go back a long way, and we had invited them over for dinner in the hope of easing things for them. They trusted us, and we loved them.
The dinner was pleasant enough, and so was the conversation when all four of us were together. But the undercurrents of distress, distrust, and despair hung like heavy clouds. It pained me to watch two people I loved go through this, especially because both are fantastic, extremely intelligent, and doing very well in their respective fields.
Arun, somehow, has this capability of taking everything in his stride and was happily talking about the food, as we retired for the day after bidding them goodbye. But I was not at ease. I simply could not fathom why two such beautiful people had been brought to a brink like this. Seeing me fretting, Arun just smiled and said, “It’s so simple. And yet, it’s not simple!” I looked
believes they are right. If they only allowed the other to be right too, things wouldn’t be as messed up. Everyone has a right to be right.” He yawned and fell asleep.
I was churning. I started pacing around. How true! The wife was completely convinced about her point of view, and the husband, his. In so many ways, their perspectives were born from their backgrounds and experiences, and both were right. For a girl born in an affluent home, spending the way she did didn’t seem wrong; wanting a good lifestyle seemed reasonable. For the husband who was from a lower-middle-class family, everything seemed extravagant and superficial. Both were right.
I realised that, sometimes, in relationships, you reach a point where all that matters is proving yourself right. In fact, if you close your eyes and introspect, I am sure you can think of one such relationship. I could. I suddenly thought of everything from the other person’s perspective, and it was like a bell going off in my head. The person whom I had believed was so wrong, with a shift in my perspective (acknowledging her right to be right), seemed completely justified.
People we see as criminals grew
norm. People we see as nasty had nasty backgrounds. People we see as benevolent saw benevolence as a trait in their homes or, somehow, realised that’s the way to be. Each person has the right to be right.
I realised that it wasn’t big conflicts that the world is fighting but the small ones. By holding on to their rights so strong and so long, at one point, they even lose focus of what actually matters: the bliss of love in the relationship. If we could just allow ourselves to be right, and the other too, and find mid- grounds, possibly, relationships would feel a lot easier to handle. Even pleasurable! If even one of the two is willing to put love above their need to be right, so much would become possible!
I finally felt at ease. I wasn’t sure how much my friends would listen to and act upon. But the insight made a smile blossom on my lips as I slept, knowing I would be a lot more tolerant of the other’s right.
Megha Bajaj is a bestselling author, film script writer, and poet.
An ardent seeker at heart, she also runs her online writing and healing workshops called WoW. You can read more about her on www.MeghaBajajWoW.com.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Aha-Moments 43
ENVIRONMENT
Let’s be (eco) logical
Naini Setalvad gives some sound advice on how to befriend the Earth
44 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
W e live in a crazy time when people who make food choices that are healthy and compassionate are often considered odd, while those whose food choices promote disease and environmental degradation are considered normal. It is time to change
our ways and take notice of how environmental destruction, our nutritional needs, and lifestyle diseases are interconnected.
What the Fish!
Who doesn’t like fresh sushi or a spicy fish curry? But what if the same seafood fare that we enjoy is the cause of
iseases? Industrial effluents and carcinogenic chemicals find their way into waterbodies. These chemicals are absorbed into the tissues of the fish from the polluted water and, subsequently, make their way to our dinner table. Keeping water clean and unpolluted is not only aesthetic but
also good for your health.
•
d
• Water warning
The fact that water is the
elixir of life cannot be
denied. However, due to
the ongoing climate change,
it might be causing us more
harm than good. Because of the effect of greenhouse gases, the temperature of the Earth is rising, and so is that of the waterbodies. The warmer the waterbodies, the more the growth of infection-causing germs. To make water safe, sanitation efforts like chlorination are required. Chlorinated water has been linked to excessive inflammation in the body. This paves the way for many health issues, including cancer.
• Plastic is passé
The production of plastic
releases greenhouse gases into the environment, which negatively impacts the climate and contributes to global warming. The use of plastic products like utensils and food storage containers allows phthalates to seep into our food and beverages. Phthalates, which are believed to be toxic, are also linked to the worsening symptoms of polycystic ovary
syndrome (POS).
• Can the colours
Colourful things are
attractive but not
necessarily safe. The
consumption of food dyes
has increased by 500 per cent
recent times and, concurrently, so has its production. When food industries discharge these dyes into the water, it reduces the transparency of waterbodies, allowing less light to penetrate the seaweed and other marine plants. This impacts the lives of all aquatic flora and fauna. Food dyes have also been linked to mental disorders such as autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
i n
Environment 45
• Keep a check on the CO2
Rising carbon dioxide levels not only impact respiratory health but also
have a massive impact on the nutritional quality of food. It is said that if the CO2 levels continue to rise, there will be a 5–15 per cent decrease in iron, zinc, and protein levels in rice, wheat, corn, and soy. These nutrients are integral to the human diet. Adequate iron levels are necessary for respiration and blood circulation; zinc, an antioxidant, works at the DNA level; and protein is required for all the enzymes,
hormones, and muscles in the body.
• Save the soil
Heavy metals are waste
products from manufacturing
and chemical plants that find
their way into the soil and
affect its quality. The agricultural
produce that grows in this soil absorbs these heavy metals. This, in turn, is consumed by humans and animals. Accumulation of heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, lead, and cadmium in the body can lead to the growth of cancerous tissue.
• Secure the soil
Plant-based produce is
essential to our dietary needs.
In the absence of soil cover,
plants can’t grow, and so we
miss out on disease-preventing
nutrients. There is no replacement for plant- based fibre, and a diet deficient in it is an invitation to gastric and intestinal cancers. To prevent soil erosion, one needs forest cover. Cutting down forest lands for industrial and residential use has a big impact on our food system. It also increases CO2 levels in the atmosphere, further worsening climate change.
• Eat seasonal
To maintain a healthy,
disease-free lifestyle, one needs to consume fibre- packed plant produce such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and lentils. However, this food, although nutritious, can also be poisonous, as it is heavily laced with pesticides and fertilisers, and hence it is not so beneficial. In fact, it can be a carrier of toxic chemicals like DDT, ethylene oxide, etc. It is practically impossible to always eat organic, but, by ensuring that you eat seasonal and local produce, there is a smaller chance of
there being pesticides and fertilisers in it.
So, the next time you disregard the environment and opt for unsustainable ways, do keep this in mind:
Man did not weave the web of life; he is simply a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.
46 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
Raw Mango Rice
Ingredients
• 1 raw green mango
• chopped ginger, 1 piece • 2 green chillies
• 1 cup rice
• salt to taste
Seasoning
• 2 tsp ghee
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• fresh curry leaves (optional)
• 1/4 cup peanuts
• garnish: 1 cup chopped coriander
Method:
1. Cook the rice so that each grain is separate, and let it cool.
2. Peel and grate the raw mango.
3. Heat the oil in a pan and add the seasoning. Fry for a minute and then add ginger, green chillies, and shredded mangoes. Keep stirring for a few minutes till the mango gets cooked. Take care that the mango does not lose its colour.
4. Mix it with rice, garnish with chopped coriander, and serve hot or cold.
Naini Setalvad
Naini Setalvad is a nutritionist, specialising in lifestyle and immunity disorders. Her foundation, Health For You, throws light on healthy food habits.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Environment 47
SPIRIT
The fact of suffering
My dear sister Sheela passed into the light The tears swept away something, and I found
Life is suffering, said the Buddha. Suma Varughese confronted her resistance to suffering and is learning to cope with it
on April 13 this year after a prolonged
and agonising battle with cancer. It was excruciating for us family members to witness her suffering, and it brought to light my discomfort with physical suffering, both mine and others’.
Even though I am firmly convinced that everything that happens to us is an opportunity for growth and that growth is the purpose of human existence, I viewed physical suffering, particularly that which overcomes the vulnerable human body during old age and death, with great trepidation. At 64, I was far from reconciled to what awaited me during my twilight period.
Sheela’s suffering forced me to confront this because I was having a very hard time accepting her agony. I prayed to God for either relief or release for her, but neither was forthcoming. Around that time, a parrot began to perch on the grill of my bedroom window, which is just a mere two feet from where I sit all day in front of my computer. Its frontal feathers around the chest region had all fallen off, leaving its skin bare, which must have been hard on it because the weather was cold in early February. Half of one of its claws was also missing. To see this beautiful bird so maimed upset me hugely, and once again, I prayed for either relief or release for it. The coincidence of this happening at the very time I was facing Sheela’s terminal cancer was not lost on me. I knew both these situations were there to teach me a vital lesson. One day, soon after the parrot had paid its visit, I could feel frozen grief somewhere near my throat region. I got in touch with it, and for the next 15 minutes, I wept my heart out. What I was weeping about was not entirely clear, but I knew it revolved around loss—loss of heath, loss of life, and loss of a sister.
myself better able to accept the inevitable. I stopped praying that Sheela be released from her suffering and learnt to move towards acceptance. After all, suffering too was part of life, and I could not wish it away. I now saw the parrot not as diseased or dying but as a warrior. She wasn’t resisting what was happening; she was still chirping and chirruping, and leading her life as normally as she could. I was full of admiration for the little creature. When it came to Sheela, I was able to push aside my resistance to what she was going through and focus on her needs. And I found myself better able to accept the possibility of my own suffering. I no longer view old age with dread. In the fullness of life, all experiences have their place. Freed of the fear, I am more able to be in the present moment, which is surely the only sanctuary we have.
As if to drive home the lesson, the Universe recently tested me with a couple of experiences of pain. First, while on holiday in Kerala in the second week of May, a large abscess formed on my left little finger, which soon spread to the whole finger and the palm as well. Back home, a surgeon excised and drained it, and I was asked to keep my hand elevated until it healed, leaving me with only one active hand. There was pain and discomfort, but I was not in resistance to it. To make matters worse, in the midst of this issue came an arthritic attack on the wrist of the same left hand. This time, I was a bit thrown, for the pain was intense and I could do nothing with my left hand. Even so, I could see that the problem was not the immediate situation but the fear painted by a lively imagination of the attack spreading to other joints. Once I reined in my imagination, I was able to accept the immediate pain and put my complete attention on healing. I am learning to recognise, as the masters say, that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.
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]
48 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
FESTIVAL REPORT
Nurtured by nature
Navni Chawla reports on the Healing in the Hills retreat recently held at Ramgarh
Festival reports 49
The Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Hills residential retreat was divided into three
Madhuban, at Ramgarh, Nainital,
is a paradise in the true sense of the word, built in the loving memory of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh and the Mother (formerly known as Mirra Alfassa). The beautiful valleys, flowers, insects, bees, birds, sunrise, sunset, and crisp mountain air are so inviting that anyone who visits this place has trouble leaving. The atmosphere of Madhuban is filled with love and inspiration. No wonder, many writers and poets penned their seminal compositions over here. When Editor Shivi Verma told me to moderate Healing in the Hills—a residential healing retreat—in Ramgarh, I felt super excited and happy. I couldn’t have been more grateful to her for this opportunity. Although we had a smaller group of participants for this event, the contentment and happiness on their faces was unmistakable.
Eventhe facilitators felt that they could have not chosen a better venue to conduct their sessions. Such is the charm of this place that, once, even Rabindranath Tagore chose Madhuban as his writing haven. The seven-day Healing in the
workshops, two days dedicated to each.
I inaugurated the festival by introducing the facilitators and announcing the first workshop (EFT), which was followed by a light-humoured welcome note delivered by Mr S D Saxena, a senior advisor with Life Positive.
Workshop 1
Emotional Wellness with Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) by Sunny Etimaal and Meetu Sehgal
Both Sunny and Meetu are warm and friendly trainers who have the knack for captivating their audience. They divided their workshop into the following categories:
• Knowing one’s emotions well • What is EFT
• Why use EFT
• Tapping points
• Group tapping and demonstration
• Stepwise process of intensive tapping
• Use of affirmations and combining them
with tapping
50 LifePositive | JUNE 2022
Sunny Etimaal and Meetu Sehgal having undivided attention of the participants
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