2020 Dec LP Magazine

www.lifepositive.com
` 100
YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMPANION
WARRIORS OF THE LIGHT
The bravehearts of modern India
PAGE 26
Meet Pradeep Ullal
A mahayogi in jeans
PAGE 18
From untruth to truth
A tale of coming of age
PAGE 54
ISF Report 2020
PAGE 48
December 2020






Heroes of humanity
Dear Reader,
As 2020 comes to a close, we see worldwide upheavals and disturbances. The human race seems to be standing on the brink of unprecedented turbulence, which can lead to a paradigm shift in human lives. I have a feeling that such turmoil is like the mythical churning of the ocean by both good and bad forces, which will eventually lead to the emergence of ambrosia or the dawn of the golden age.
Negative situations carry the seeds of positive outcomes if we decide to rise up to the occasion and do what we are called to do instead of despairing or giving up. When the lockdown was announced in March, thousands got displaced, lost jobs, money, and some, even their life. But there were a few real-life heroes who dashed in to provide help and succour to the affected without giving a second thought to the difficulties they might encounter.
Life Positive has profiled a few of these unsung heroes who, risking their own safety and lives, forged ahead to save the hungry, the lost, and the abandoned at a time when our society desperately needed help. We salute these bravehearts and pray that their stories have a contagious effect on the minds of anyone who reads about them. They have held up the flag of brotherhood, selfless service, love, and empathy, and prevented mankind from falling into despair and hopelessness.
Let’s resolve to enter 2021 with greater commitment towards serving humanity and Mother Earth. Have a happy December.
- Editor
LP mascot: Laughing Buddha
December 2020 Vol. 24  Issue 09
Chairman: Aditya Ahluwalia President: D R Kaarthikeyan Director: V Venkat
Editor: Shivi Verma
EDITORIAL
Assistant Editor: Nikita Mukherjee
Senior Correspondent: Annesha Banerjee Chief Correspondent: Rishi Rathod (Mumbai) Graphic Designer: Sandeep Kumar
MARKETING
Assistant Manager, Ad Sales: Santosh Pandey
PRODUCT MARKETING
Assistant Vice President, Circulation & Subscription:
Dharamveer Singh
SUBSCRIPTION
Executive: Swati, Ankita Sharma, Vikash Prasad
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
Deputy General Manager: Ambika Sharma
Advisors
Parveen Chopra, Suma Varughese, Mark Tully,
Kiran Bedi, M Madhavan Nambiar, SD Saxena, Ameeta Mehra, Manisha Verma, Shruti Nada Poddar, Hamid Ahmed, Shovana Narayan, Ritika Goyal
Editorial & Advertising Office
Delhi: F1/9, First floor, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase - I, New Delhi-110 020
Ph: (011) 49563777 | Fax: (011) 49563773 E-mails: [email protected]
Readers are requested to make appropriate enquiries before sending money, incurring expenses or entering into commitments in relation to any advertisement in this publication.
Life Positive or Life Positive Pvt Ltd do not vouch for any claims made by the advertisers of products and services. The printer, publisher or editor
of Life Positive or any employee of Life Positive Pvt Ltd shall not be held liable for any consequences in the event of such claims not being honoured by the advertisers.
All rights reserved. © Life Positive Pvt. Ltd.
losZ HkoUrq lqf[ku~%] losZlUrq fujke;k%
losZ Hknzkf.k i’;Urq] ekdf’pn~nq%[kHkkd~Hkosr!
May all beings be happy, May all be healthy, May people have the well-being of all in mind, May nobody suffer in any way. — Vedic prayer
Edited by Shivi Verma. Printed and published by
Aditya Ahluwalia on behalf of Life Positive Pvt. Ltd. from F1/9, First floor, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase - I,
New Delhi-110 020
Printed at M.P. Printers, B-220, Phase 2 Noida, 201305 Member, Indian Newspaper Society
4 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020




26
LEAD STORY
Warriors of the Light
Rishi Rathod talks about real life superheroes who took the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to change lives
18
CLOSE ENCOUNTER
The ‘Kevala’ Maha Yogi
Dr Pradeep Ullal talks about Himalayan Kriya Yoga, liberation, and his Kevala Foundation, with
Pradeep Krishnan
15
HEARTSPEAK
It’s all about ‘ME’!
Instead of obsessing over others, take a peek within and know yourselves says K Geethanjali
06 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020
COVER STORY


42
FOOD
Antioxidants to our aid
To keep the seasonal sneezing and sniffles at bay, have antioxidants every day
48
ISF REPORT 2020
Special Report
Life Positive rejoices in the success of its first-ever online International Spiritual Festival and shares the proceedings with its readers
54
YOUR STORY
From untruth to truth
How despondency over the non-payment of a trifling sum led to the realisation of a dream
REGULAR COLUMNS
Response 08 Mandala 10 Yoga 14
Aha Moments 40 Journey 46 Mudra 59
Spirit 63 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
` 100
YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUA
DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
ATTITUDE?
How your attitude shapes your life
PAGE 26
LG
ROWTH COMPANION
November 2020
The goddess
power in humans
PAGE 48
The Zen of good
Living
PAGE 19
Insightful derivations
The article, Life Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita, by Charles Shahar in the November 2020 issue of Life Positive was very enlightening. Even though a foreigner, the way Charles has captured the essence of the Gita is remarkable. He has understood the message of the Gita very well.
Anybody with a doubtful mind can get a lot of peace and clarity by reading this article. The average human being often gets lost and trapped in this dualistic world full of ups and downs, pushes and pulls, sorrows and joys. The Gita teaches him how to transcend these limitations and access his higher Self, which is blissful, perfect, and unattached to the changing scenery of the world. Great article. Rajat Bora, Ranchi
I very much enjoyed Charles Shahar’s excellent article Life Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita in the November 2020 issue of Life Positive. He has captured and offered to the reader, in a clear and powerful way, the essential elements of the
Gita: the Gita as allegory, the inner struggle between a human being’s lower and higher natures, becoming free from attachment to things, attaining freedom through meditation, the indescribable nature of the self, and so on. It is important that the scriptures be interpreted properly so their true meaning shines through. I believe that Shahar has done just that.
The Gita is not mere philosophy. It contains many techniques, encompassed in the paths of meditation, devotion, knowledge, and action, which can be applied in the life of a human being to increase happiness and peace and reduce pain and suffering. As Shahar aptly puts it, “It is a guide to the attainment of higher consciousness. The life lessons it imparts are meant for those seeking freedom from the bondage of their mind and senses, and who wish to ultimately realise the essential nature of their true being.” I find the article to be well written and definitely worth the read.
Glen Kezwer, via email
08 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020
Mail from our readers, online fans and subscribers


Helpful Mudras
I have been suffering from high blood pressure issues for a long time.
The article by Abhay Kumar Shah on controlling BP through the practice of certain mudras in the November 2020 issue of LP was very helpful. Though the duration of practice is long—48 minutes—I am trying to do it once a day to control my BP, which is much better than taking medicines which thin my blood. Thank you, Life Positive, for writing about these non-invasive treatment methods.
Sanjeev Rathi, Chandigarh
A delightful read
The article Protected by the Divine in the September 2020 issue was a delight to read. The writer has narrated the incident of his matchmaking with a lot of wit and astuteness. He brought alive the entire scene before us like a picture. Raju, even though younger than his sister, shows concern for her like an elder
brother. His love for her was so deep that The Mother herself came to assuage his worry in his dream and seal the bond between the bride and the groom with her blessings.
The writer, Lalit Modi, describes his story with great warmth and simplicity.
Sunita Bhatti, via email
Life-changing Life Positive
I read with interest the articles on the change- makers of society in the April 2020 issue.These people are established in their own fields and provide much-needed help to souls seeking answers to questions and helpthem in various ways.
I feel Life Positive, it’s publisher Mr Aditya Ahluwalia, editor, Shivi Verma, ex-editor Suma Varughese, and all the contributors are change-makers too as they are spreading awareness about spirituality, health, and alternative medicine. Kudos to all of you.
Capt. Surender Chaudhry, via email
Response 09


MANDALA
From dust to glory
10
LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020
If you’re in Madhya Pradesh anytime and happen to explore the place, you should check out the Bondri hill
which is located at a distance
of about 180 kilometres, south of Bhopal and is a five-hour drive from the capital city. As a part of the Shahpur division of the forest department, this place used to be
a little more than a
barren mound three
years back, but all that is changed now, thanks to the forest department’s efforts to plant 54,000 saplings in a single day!
The plantation was done under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which aims to promote afforestation and regeneration of the environment. Punit Goyal, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of North Betul division, in which Bondri hill is located, led the effort. He said that the terrain made it very difficult for the plants to survive and the steep slope also made carrying the equipment, supplies, materials, and other necessary tools difficult. For this uphill task, the officer had one deputy forest ranger, two forest guards, and 1,000 labourers, all of whom planted varieties of bamboo and teak. Each labourer planted hundreds of saplings sourced from the social forestry department. Also, it was made sure that the saplings were placed properly, watered, and not damaged or abandoned in the process. “Despite these hurdles, all of us stood firm and finished the planned task. Three years later, we can say the project is a success,” says Mr Goyal.
A dry and barren mound has turned into a lively and green haven
The drive has brought visible ecological and social impact. Ecologically, the soil erosion of the hill has reduced dramatically as the roots hold the soil. Another benefit which has been observed is the retention of rainwater which is being harvested in the ground. Moreover, the green patch serves as a safe stopover for birds to rest
or nest during their migration.
Speaking about the sociological impact, Mr Goyal says that the project has provided livelihood in a remote area to thousands of people under the guidelines of the Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC). “The forest produce, like bamboo, will be sustainably harvested for commercial use by those who live here. Other means of livelihood are also being explored,” he adds.
What used to be a huge barren mound has now turned into a green haven for birds, boasting biodiversity and serving various other ecological needs at the same time. Similarly, if all of us take some inspiration from this drive, we can help our metropolises and surrounding barren lands turn into cleaner and greener spaces, which will not only enhance the beauty of nature (a relief from the skyscrapers) but will also increase our quality of life.


Wrap away your rotten food woes!
How many times has it happened that you got fresh fruits, vegetables, or packaged food from the market and kept it inside the fridge, but after a few days of storage, you got to see green patches of fungus or bacteria on them and, sadly, you had to throw them away without even eating them?
A potentially game-changing innovation has arrived which can address the twin problem of food contamination and plastic waste. The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) announced the development of their Sustainable Antimicrobial Wrapping Material, which they believe will prevent packaged food contamination as well as reduce plastic waste. Headed by Professor Mukesh Doble of the Department of Biotechnology and Puja Kumari, a research scholar in the same department, the wrapping material developed by the team is both biodegradable and reduces bacterial colonies in food by 99.99 per cent when compared with an ordinary wrapper. “We have developed a biodegradable wrapping material
with inbuilt antibacterial activity to prevent bacterial growth in stored food.
The antibacterial compound should be
safe for consumption as it is approved by the authorities and does not cause any toxicity,” says Professor Doble.
The films of the antimicrobial wrapping material developed by IIT-M researchers are made with
polymeric blends containing starch, polyvinyl alcohol, and cyclic beta glucan (CBG).
The quality of the wrapping material also degrades very slowly at various environmental conditions. Hence, they believe, this wrapper can play a major role in plastic waste reduction.
Their antibacterial-coated polymer wrapper was tested on chicken, meat, and paneer. “Our study observed 99.99 per cent reduction in the bacterial colonies in food samples wrapped with our antibacterial wrap and stored at 30 degrees Celsius for 10 days when compared with a plain wrapper. This study also suggests that our antimicrobial wrapper can, to some extent, overcome the problem of reduced availability of cold storage units. Paneer is known to have a very low shelf life (less than seven days) and hence extending its shelf life with our antimicrobial wrapper is a major advantage,” noted Puja Kumari, the research scholar.
Bacterial growth is higher when food is stored at 30 degrees Celsius as compared to storage at 4 degrees Celsius. Thus, in a country like India, where the lack of cold storage is a major concern, the material developed by researchers at IIT-M could prove to be very useful in preventing food
spoilage and wastage.
The Antimicrobial wrapping material prevents bacterial growth in stored food and
reduces plastic waste
Mandala 11


Listening to heal
How can we help others across the world experience positivity and bring a transformation in their life? Is there a simple act of love that can be replicated across the world? A few members were discussing this question with Maitreya Dadashreeji in 2017, a Global Humanitarian and Founder of Maitri Bodh Parivaar. After much discussion, they arrived at a simple conclusion - Passive Listening.
At the base level, all our actions, choices, and decisions are driven by emotion. We do things that make us happy and avoid those resulting in unhappiness. Emotions are meant to be shared and expressed. They consist of dynamic energy that supports and guides us in life. This energy needs to be channelised to its full potential. It needs to be released appropriately, allowing the emotions to flow easily.
A person ‘bursting with joy’ cannot wait to share their joy with others. Whereas, a person feeling sad or lonely wants to share these emotions too but ends up repressing them due to the fear of being judged, ridiculed, and rejected. This can result in physical manifestations
of diseases, stress, and depression. Before we know, these repressed emotions start clouding our thinking and judgement. All these emotions need a safe outlet.
Maitreya Dadashreeji says,
“When a listener completely
empties themself and listens
from the heart (Passive Listening), the speaker gets an opportunity to express their emotional blocks, and in doing so, an automatic release happens.”
According to him, a listener who is trained to practice inner silence can provide this environment to you. A true listener can simply be there for you, without judgement or advice. Through their inner silence, they provide you a space where you can release restless energy, share a personal story, understand the source of emotions, de-clutter the inner world, and re- establish peace inside yourself.
This space removes confusion and brings clarity in thoughts. At “I Listen U” they have a team of trained listeners who practice this inner silence. They offer space to express those emotions completely and witness positive changes.
Dr. Sharad Patel, a physician and lecturer at Kohinoor Hospital and College registered for a listening session. In his own words, he says, “On a recommendation by a close friend, I booked myself for a session with no expectations. The listener, who was assigned to me exhibited calmness. After a small conversation initiated by
the listener, I started speaking. Slowly and steadily without any effort, I noticed myself expressing candidly and painting a picture of my current life scenario with my words. Towards the end, not only did I have clarity about my current problem but also found a solution for it. That’s it, I was able to access that inner space
and help myself.”
To learn more about this FREE service and to book a session, please
visit www.ilistenu.com
12 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


Advertorial


YOGA
The Boat Pose
Kamala Venkat advises Navasana as a great way to strengthen your willpower along with your back and abdominal muscles
One of the most well-known yoga poses for core strength, the Boat Pose, or Navasana (nah- VAHS-uh-nuh), tones the abdominal muscles while strengthening the lower back. The name comes from the Sanskrit words ‘nava’ (meaning ‘boat’) and ‘asana.’ It is a balancing pose that strengthens the abdominal muscles, back and hip flexors, and tones the digestive organs. It also gives strength and flexibility to the hip joints and legs. This pose requires endurance and strong willpower to hold; therefore, its practice helps develop a strong mind. The Boat Pose can warm you up in an instant, especially during winter.
Method:
• Lie on your back with your feet together and arms beside your body.
• Takeinadeepbreath,andasyouexhale,lift your chest and feet off the ground, stretching your arms towards your feet.
• With an exhalation, straighten your legs to a 45-degree angle from the ground, bringing your body into a ‘V’ shape.
• Balance on your sit bones, keeping your spine straight. Take care not to let your lower back sag or chest collapse.
• Feel the tension in your navel area as the abdominal muscles contract.
• Keep breathing deeply and easily while maintaining the pose.
• Stay in the pose for five breaths, gradually
working up to one minute. To release the pose, exhale as you lower your legs and hands to the floor.
Benefits:
• Strengthens the back and abdominal muscles • Tones the leg and arm muscles
• Useful for people with hernia
Contraindications:
• Do not practise this yoga pose if you have low blood pressure, a severe headache, migraine, or if you have suffered from some chronic diseases or spinal disorders in the recent past.
• Asthma and heart patients are advised to avoid this pose.
• Women should avoid this pose during pregnancy and the first two days of the menstrual cycle.
Mrs. Kamala Venkat is a home maker with a great passion for yoga. Inspired by Shri Swami Ramdev of Patanjali, she has been practising it with complete dedication for the last 20 years.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
14 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


HEARTSPEAK
Instead of obsessing over what the ‘other’ is doing, focus on knowing yourself by identifying the subtle messages that you feed your subconscious with, says K Geethanjali
Heartspeak 15


D id the title make you pause and do a to be on ourselves and not on what the other is
double take? Surely, you thought it
seemed very selfish—all this focus on the ‘me’? But the deeper we go within, the more we realise that Life is a big paradox. Life is all about me, and yet it is not! When we focus our attention on the ‘other,’ what the other person is doing or being, we are walking down the path of bondage.
Right from the time we were old enough to think, we have always been told to think about the ‘other person.’ Well, has the world improved all these years because we have followed this advice? Not really. In fact, the reverse is true. The more we have focussed on the other, the more judgemental, discontent, and disturbed we have become.
Take for example all the interest that has been generated in the media because of the recent drug exposé triggered by the death of a young promising star. With COVID-19 in full swing, we are homebound for the most part, and a live soap opera that is unfolding in the media has us all glued to our TV sets. Drugs, lies, a mysterious death, investigations— which movie can be more engrossing? We happily allow ourselves to be sidetracked from managing our own affairs rightly during these challenging COVID times and have immersed ourselves in the affairs of people we have never even met!
Does that mean that we should be ostriches, digging our heads in the sand and not be awake to what is happening in our world? Far from it. We need to be in the know of things but only to the extent to which it affects our lives. Though our lives may appear to be far removed from this world of glamour and illusion, ultimately, it all boils down to emotions and the choices we, as a human race, make. Yet our focus ought
16 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020
up to. Let’s not forget that our life is about our choices. We have our own journey to make. Let us watch the news not with a judgemental eye but just enough to know the state of the world so that we can make informed choices in our own lives.
So that is the secret of life. It is to see whatever is appearing before us as a reflection of some energy in us that is coming up for resolution. It is about stopping, reflecting, and making a new choice. Is this what the masters mean when they say ‘turn inwards’?
When the other insults me, instead of focussing on the insult and what ‘she said,’ I can take it as a good opportunity for me to look within and rethink my idea of myself. Who am I in the face of this insult? Am I a being whose happiness is tied up to the approval of others? Or am I a being who is powerful enough to realise that what the other does is not at all about me but about them?
When I give something to another, do I realise that it is not they who are benefitting from it but my own self? That, in the giving, I am reiterating to my own subconscious mind my own sense of abundance? So, it all comes down to the messages we send to our subconscious mind, which really runs the show called ‘our life.’ These messages get translated into our beliefs, our actions, and, finally, our destiny.
When I lie, I’m hurting only myself and not the person listening to the lie. I am just giving my subconscious the message I cannot be trusted. When I withhold something from another, the message I give myself is that of lack. When I cling to something, the message is that I cannot trust the Universe to give me more. When I harbour a grievance, it’s not the other person


who gets hurt but my own self. Remember, the masters have always been exhorting us to forgive others as a service to ourselves.
When I focus on what the other is doing to me, saying to me, giving me, withholding from me, I am tying myself in knots. And I become a puppet because the other person holds the other end of the rope that ties me up. Instead, if I trace the thread back to myself, I can break it and be free because, now, the power is in my hands. I can decide how to respond to whatever is appearing. Whatever the other does will soon be only a speck of memory in the vastness of my world, but what I do scripts my destiny.
And so it makes sense to stop our focus on the other, which only leads to accumulation of more and more of stuck and heavy energy. If only we realise that the outer situations are nothing but mirrors to help us identify our own beliefs and rewrite them, how different life would be! Seen from this perspective, every moment, person, and situation will seem a blessing, helping us bring our hidden baggage to light, for only when we can see it can we shed it!
And yes. Once we see through the paradox and accept the contradictions inherent in it, we realise that Life is about focussing on how we respond and simultaneously not focussing on gathering and grasping from the world!
“Know thyself,” says an ancient Greek aphorism.
The more we tread this path of knowing ourselves, the more knots we break and the lighter we feel. Sounds like the path to enlightenment?
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Heartspeak 17


CLOSE ENCOUNTER
Pradeep Krishnan speaks to Dr Pradeep Ullal about Kundalini, Himalayan Kriya Yoga, and liberation, and the motivation behind his Kevala Foundation
18 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


The biggest disease is worrying about what others think of us.
The spiritual journey of Dr Pradeep Ullal—the founder of Kevala Foundation, Chikmagalur,
Karnataka—is remarkable. He was born on November 20, 1969, to Shri Rammohan and Smt Vinaya in Bengaluru. His family and social circle were not spiritually inclined, and he had a carefree early life: making friends, enjoying music, and aimlessly roaming around. However, a fortuitous introduction to the teachings of Ramana Maharishi and Osho “seeped into my veins, nerves, and nadis (energy channels) and urged me to take the plunge into the path of surrendering to enlightened awareness within,” he recalls.
After dropping out of college, Pradeep joined the Indian Air Force (IAF). While in service, fascinated by the pull of the Himalayas, several times, he wandered the snowy mountains, often spending days in contemplation in remote caves, receiving glimpses of spiritual life. Feeling utterly dissatisfied, he quit the job after seven years and returned home, got married, and did odd jobs to survive. In 1999, the young couple left for Dubai, where Pradeep got a job. Four years later, when everything looked promising, events unfolded one by one, compelling him to change the course of his life.
Gradually, he started sharing the wisdom of
yoga with seekers and became a popular teacher. After the Yoga Alliance, USA, conferred on him a doctorate in 2006, the drawing room of Dr Pradeep’s house, Shiva-Shakti Kutir, served as a spiritual centre for the next seven years. One day, when he suddenly got the aadesh (direction) from celestial beings to relocate to India, he followed the command, paving the way for the establishment of Kevala Foundation. Since 2014, the foundation has been guiding aspirants by integrating different systems: Vedas, yoga, ayurveda, music, tantra, art, dance, and healing.
When I came to know of Maha Yogi (great spiritual adept) Dr Pradeep Ullal and his distinctive explorations in spirituality, I decided to meet him at Chikmagalur, where he lives with his wife, Vinaya, and 15-year- old daughter, Smrithi. Though dates were scheduled, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic upset our plans, compelling us to conduct the interview online.
On the appointed date and time, while I was eagerly waiting, a clean-shaven young man with a cheerful smile, clad in an ‘Om’-inscribed white T-shirt and blue jeans appeared on my laptop screen, greeting me with a namaste. After the initial exchange of pleasantries, I felt like I was talking to my younger brother.
Close Encounter 19


Soon, Dr Pradeep took me on a virtual tour of the spiritual centre. Located in a remote place in the Western Ghats, surrounded by blue hills, the nine-acre campus is filled with trees and flowers in yellow, red, and blue. The virtual experience of the natural bounty, accompanied by the songs of chirping birds, at once prompted me to remark, “Once the pandemic is over, I would certainly like to visit this place.” With a broad smile, Dr Pradeep Ullal welcomed me to his place.
Our dialogue began with his revelation: “My journey goes on like a river in its perennial flow. I do not question anything. The quest for completion is driving me towards more integration of fragments in this multidimensional existence. Gratitude, love, and compassion remain the theme of my journey as they enable me to experience cosmic grace in abundance.”
Dr Pradeep said that just when humanity felt mighty and powerful, the pandemic issued death warrants, mocking at our illusive power games and obnoxious greed. “To see light at the end of the tunnel, we all have a responsibility to enhance our collective awareness. For this, each one has to plunge deep within to ignite the power within.”
Below are excerpts from the exclusive interview with Pradeep Krishnan.
Q. Please tell us about your early life?
I was born prematurely at Bangalore, with acute scoliosis (abnormal curvature of the spine) and arrhythmic heart palpitations. My mother, though not healthy, had indomitable mental strength and loved everyone. My father was multitalented: He was a scriptwriter, sculptor, painter, singer, and director, all rolled into one. He used to spend time between his job
in a multinational engineering company and the music school, Upasana, which he founded. Because of his encouragement, I became interested in Indian classical music, martial arts, athletics, and boxing. I still vividly remember the early mornings listening to my father’s melodious singing, accompanied by the pleasant tanpura, igniting a deep connection with celestial music.
Q. How was spirituality kindled in you?
I had an ordinary childhood, and though, initially, there was no spiritual quest, I often had the feeling of a mission in life, but without any clue about it. At 16, a chance reading of a book on Kundalini (a dormant, potent force lying coiled at the base of the spine) rekindled my inherent awareness of it in a flash. Later, during a college trip, when a tour-mate got relieved from the excruciating pain of a sprained leg by the mere touch of my palms, I serendipitously discovered that I had healing powers. Subsequently, I realised that the healing happened due to my Kundalini awakening. Meanwhile, I started spending long hours gazing at the starlit sky, immersing deeply in celestial domains, and receiving flashes of energy from cosmic beings. Often, I wondered whether it was possible to create a heaven-on-earth with the coming together of pure, free-spirited, gifted beings. Eventually, I realised that during my past lives, I had lived in the Himalayas performing tapasya (penance), and my present life emerged as ordained by the ascended beings.
Q. Tell us about your experiences of wandering across the Himalayas?
During my IAF days and later, I had strolled the Himalayas several times. It is my cherished home and the place from which great masters still transmit positive vibrations to all those who are ripe and ready. I have received
20 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


It is better to awaken the Life Force than to rely on life support.
phenomenal downloads of positive energy transmissions from ageless yogis and mahatmas (enlightened souls). Once, a mahayogi, after a deep gaze into my eyes, advised me to start teaching yoga, as it was my mission in this life. At that time, as I had no knowledge of yoga, I was baffled. He assured me that if I surrender fully to the Universe, direct knowledge would happen on its own.
On another day, while in meditation in a cave, the much-acclaimed Gorakshanath Babaji imparted the science of Himalayan Kriya Yoga to me. I took a couple of years to perfect this technique and to make it an effective method of practice. I also had the privilege of meeting a 250-year-old Baba (holy person) who told me, “There is nothing more for you to achieve. Just keep your eyes wide open and serve selflessly. You now return to urban life and start imparting the wisdom of the Himalayan yogis.” This stirred something deep within me.
Q. What was the turning point in your life? While in Dubai, when I was 30, karmically destined events started happening one by one. One day, I woke up with severe pain in my lower spine due to scoliosis and had to crawl my way out of bed. Before long, my mother succumbed to ovarian cancer, and within a few days, I lost my job. Without knowing how to proceed further in life, I became confused, restless, and sleepless.
One night, while I was gazing at the vast starlit sky, a deep-seated trust and knowing triggered
within. At once I took a vow to serve the path of awareness and not to engage in a job for a living. I sought the blessings of the ascended masters to support and guide me through the journey of ascension.
The Universe was giving me strong signals to switch my roles. I took the decision to dedicate my life to the yoga of inner exploration. During those days, leading a modest life, my wife and I sustained only on the donations from students, protected and guided at every step. I realised that if one treads the path of spirituality with intent, trust, surrender, and selfless service, everything clicks into gracious alignment.
Thus, in Dubai, began my journey of sharing the wisdom of the Himalayan Masters to friends and relations. Initially, I was reluctant as I had no idea about what to teach and how to teach. I had neither learnt yoga systematically nor had read any of the scriptures. However, I shared the wisdom that flowed through me to all those who approached me.
Q. Tell us about your guru?
As I do not belong to a particular parampara (lineage), I did not have a physical guru. Param Shiva, the energy that brought me to planet Earth, has always been directing, guiding, and protecting me. I consider several souls who have inspired me as my gurus: Sri Krishna, Bhagwan Nityananda, Ramana Maharshi, Ma Anandamayi, Swami Rama, Shirdi Sai Nath, Shiva Bala Yogi, Lahiri Mahasaya, Gorakshanath Babaji, etc. I have
Close Encounter 21


Alignment and grace can register us on the ‘radar’ of the rishis. Alignment is our responsibility. Grace descends and spirit ascends.
also experienced the energies of Sadguru Dattatreya and Sri Satya Sai Baba permeating my body. After 12 years of my first darshan (visitation) of Satya Sai Baba, one day, His energy unlocked every chakra (energy centre), knot, and lock along my Sushumna Nadi (central energy channel), instantly igniting the Kundalini. Later, after several years of sadhana (spiritual practice), Maharshi Vishwamitra too had passed on cosmic golden light to my body.
Q. How did you get the title of Maha Yogi? A true yogi is a state of being that is beyond all title, lineage, tradition, style, and appearance. While in Devprayag, an enlightened master, looking deep into my eyes, uttered ‘Mahaan Avastha,’ thus declaring me a Maha Yogi, confirming the awakening of Maha Prana Kundalini. This stage replaces all the distortions of the ego-self with the power of pure love and selfless serving. It cannot be identified by any pretentious appearance or status that people are familiar with.
Q. What are the aims and activities of Kevala Foundation?
In Sanskrit, ‘kevala’ means ‘unique.’ As this place and space are filled with cosmic healing energies sanctified by the masters, anyone entering the campus would, at once, go into a meditative state. Here, sincere seekers are led through an intensive purification process, enhancing their ability to receive grace in abundance from the galaxy of mystical masters.
The foundation aims at the spiritual upliftment of the individual through several techniques: Himalayan Kriya Yoga, Nada Yoga, transmitting healing gamma waves, and purificationmethods ```, which are based on the Vedas. All the programmes are aimed to awaken one’s body, mind, and intellect to achieve expansion in consciousness, which ultimately leads to inner transformation. Rather than groups, our focus is on helping individuals achieve their highest potential, or paripurnata (completeness). For this, one should definitely be willing to take responsibility for one’s growth. As there are no rigid rules, the aspirants can explore various techniques that are most conducive to their accelerating the spiritual process. As we encourage aspirants to get inspired by the vibrance of Nature, often, they are advised to undertake trekking to remote places in the nearby forests. Our motto is ‘Always be ready to adapt and adopt, as guided by the master flow.’
Our music library, with its emphasis on Nada Yoga, has a large collection of the rarest global music. The free practice videos on the science of Himalayan Kriya Yoga and Kundalini Vidya have reached over 1.8 million people across the globe, and our teachers are active in all the continents. Every year, we host the Kailasaa Music Festival, bringing world-class legendary musicians.
To give aspirants a unique experience of the Himalayas, my spiritual home, every year, we
22 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


organise a journey called ‘Wings to Freedom’ to the holy mountains, giving the traveller the opportunity to explore the peaks in a yogic way and not as a tourist. The highlight of this exploration is the Kriya Yoga practice sessions in high altitudes in extreme cold and the remotest locations.
Our aim is to empower individuals to become responsible, compassionate, and awakened citizens.
Q. What is your core teaching?
The Cosmos is the greatest teacher. Unless one attunes every cell of their body to the cosmic grace, one cannot attain the state of pure bliss and celebration. This state, called ‘enlightenment,’ occurs on its own in pure silence. For this alignment to happen, one must cultivate unconditional love, gratitude, and compassion for their guru as an acquaintance, student, devotee, disciple, and aspirant. In this evolving journey of the being, one has to offer oneself in complete surrender.
The human being, a masterpiece of divine design, has to live in tune with the cosmic
design. For this, one has to rise above the negative pulls and pressures, trusting the Divine. To celebrate unconditional love and the purest compassion, one needs to heighten the expressions of love, creativity, and compassion towards one and all.
Q. What is the way to end human suffering? ‘Suffering’ is the result of ignorance. If one is aware, one can understand that life is neither a blessing nor a curse. Humans are willfully journeying the Earth to express the cosmic design through their life. The mystical design or Prakriti niyama (Nature’s law), follows the principles of karma, leading one from a state of ignorance to awakening. Often, terminal diseases can burn one’s karmic baggage and liberate one from the grip of limitations. Suffering can be viewed either as an awakening process that helps one to rise above one’s limitations or as a preparatory journey towards the final awakening. Unless one kindles the call from within to break free, one would continue to stumble in self-pity. Living in conscious awareness is the simplest and most profound way to reduce the impact of suffering. Those who are aware of the cosmic drama of life, rise
Pradeep Ullal’s students diligently following their guru
Close Encounter 23


above the rigidity of fear, shame, guilt, taboos, conventions, rituals, and rules, and access the inexhaustible cosmic energy to get rid of suffering.
Q. Please explain Himalayan Kriya Yoga? After several years of inner exploration, I could access the techniques of Himalayan Kriya Yoga. On the way, as byproducts, I could discover ways to dissolve pain and to get rid of diseases. It is a profound science of alignment that allows the seeker to have a blissful mind-body-spirit synchronisation. The process helps one to access particular brain portals to receive cosmic transmissions and to sustain the ecstatic ‘divine bliss’ within, eventually leading one towards a disease- and pain-free body. To achieve this, one is taken deeper into the realms of prana (life force), Spanda (primordial vibration), nada (sound), swara (musical notes) and shruti (microtones) through a set of practices. This helps one to access the cosmic grace permeating through the Rishi Mandala mantra. However, one must have the purest intent, gratitude, trust, acceptance, and calibration. The emphasis is on enjoying the yogic flow through our senses while in deep meditation. Every student can vouch for the sense of joy, bliss, and celebration they feel following a session.
Being a compassionate being is a crucial link to devotion and humility.
Q. How are music and spirituality connected? Music is the bridge that connects the soul with higher dimensions of existence. Sangeeta sadhana (the practice of music) not only enhances the brain functions but also facilitates coherence between the left and right brain hemispheres. Studies have proved that music helps the brain to function faster and solve complex problems quickly and effectively. Regular practice of music helps one to create, store, and retrieve memory quickly and efficiently. Through experiments, I have found out that, through music, the alignment of one’s breath, chakras, nadis, portals, and neuron pathways helps one in their spiritual progress. My recently released book, Music: The Divine Ecstasy, offers practical guidance to fine-tune one’s body, breath, nadis, and neuron network through music.
Q. Your message to the readers?
For liberation, divine grace is a must. However, to deserve it, one must keep one’s doorways open with an attitude to love and serve. I welcome all of you to Kevala Foundation to explore and grasp the essence of our unique spiritual teachings.
24
LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]




LEAD STORY
As the world went into lockdown mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some real-life superheroes turned this period into an opportunity for selfless loving, caring, and giving, which impacted thousands of lives, says Rishi Rathod
26 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


Lead Story 27


When faith replaces doubt, when selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass His purposes.
- Thomas S. Monson
A t a time when a monumental calamity has engulfed the planet, we have seen many politicians, entrepreneurs, and celebrities come forward to generously share their wealth and help the common man. Their generosity
is indeed appreciable and was duly covered by the mass media. However, there is also this bunch of common men and women who, by their sheer determination, grit, and hard work, helped countless lives caught in the crossfire of the pandemic, hunger, loneliness, and poverty.
Some got noticed, but many went unrecognised, as they did not care about being in the limelight. For them, true joy and fulfilment come from being of service to others rather than from being in the spotlight. There are hundreds of such real-life heroes walking unsung among us. We connected with a few of them and share their stories here with you.
The medicine man
Like local trains are to Mumbaikars, so is medicine for the ailing. Shyam Gupta, who runs a business of manufacturing biodegradable plates in Delhi, understood this from the beginning of the lockdown. He believes in selfless service as an essential element of a good life. When the government announced a complete shutdown in March 2020, he was involved with helping disabled and autistic people. During this time, many government hospitals which were giving free medicines to the poor stopped doing it completely. Realising how critical this was for the lives of so
28
LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


many people, he decided to provide medicines to the needy. He extended his support to the NGO, Action India by taking medical requests from them and fulfilling them directly with the ailing. The initial medicine supply was under Project Delhi, an initiative of Action for Autism.
Action India works at the grassroots level for women upliftment and has a team of volunteers who are well connected with the slums of north Delhi and other places. As soon as he got ready, his phone number reached all the right people who wanted medicines desperately. During March, April, June, July, and August, his name became so popular that many volunteers and groups started calling him ‘The Medicine Man.’
When asked how many people he had helped get medicines, he says, “I don’t keep a database, but around 700.” Besides, he gave medicines to many old age homes too from where he would simply get a list of medicines not knowing for whom they were meant. Interestingly, he paid for the medicines from his personal account, not taking a penny from anyone, although the Action for Autism group was ready to reimburse the expenses. When asked how he managed to do this, he says, “By God’s grace, I am doing okay in my business. I decided to cut down on my personal and family expenses, which helped me save 50 to 60 thousand rupees every month. I used this money to help those in need. Till now, I have not refused anyone’s request for medicine, and I have paid for them from my own pocket, although many friends wanted to donate for this cause.”
So how was he accomplishing this task? He says that he would get a call from a patient or patient’s relative, after which he would ask them to send an image of the prescription. He
would then ask the person to go to a medical store, order the medicine, and send him the image of the bill, after which he would transfer the funds online to the shopkeeper. He took the help of Health Skool Pharmacy too to supply and distribute medicines. Many times, medicines were distributed through volunteers as well. To know whether the medicines had reached the right person, he would sometimes call and check. Some of them were so poor that, on the phone, they would say that they have medicine but no food. He would then give them rations as well.
He never deviated from providing medicines, as he knew many people were already giving grocery and cooked meals. He himself gave groceries to many families till June and still continues to provide for 20-25 families every month. However, his main focus is medicine. He also partnered with Eternal Energy
I decided to cut down on my personal and family expenses, which helped me save 50 to 60 thousand rupees every month. I used this money to help those in need. Till now, I have not refused anyone’s request for medicine, and I have paid for them from my own pocket, although many friends wanted to donate for this cause.
Lead Story 29


Real life superheroes are angels in disguise who help the poor and the needy
Foundation that feeds fodder to abandoned cows every day. There are around 300 cows that are fed, and Shyam sponsors the fodder for two days every month along with providing other forms of help.
“I don’t think I am doing anything great for the people. In fact, it is our ego which makes us think that we are doing something for someone. Serving gives me joy and a chance to grow internally. I am grateful to God and nature for making me capable of doing it,”says Shyam Gupta.
Sangeeta’s selfless service
While Shyam was actively engaged in helping people with medicines in Delhi NCR, Sangeeta Isvaran was cruising full force with other volunteers to deal with the situation in Tamil Nadu. She says, “I met an old man at the central station who had nothing with him except a body covered in bruises. His employer had beaten him, taken his ID cards, phone, and money to prevent him from leaving the factory. He had somehow made his way to the station. As he stood bewildered amid a crowd of thousands clamouring to get home, our eyes met. When I moved towards him and asked where he wanted to go, he broke down and wept. As the tears rolled down, he showed me the bruises on his body. Looking into his grief-stricken eyes, I just listened, till he got on a bus. I gave him some money, introduced him to other people going to his state, and said in Hindi, ‘Uncle, you are not alone; my heart weeps for you. My heart is filled with love for you. Please call me.’ I cannot tell you the number of times I have said these words after the lockdown was announced.”
Sangeeta, a Bharatanatyam dancer, has been involved in community development work in the field of education, empowerment, and conflict resolution, for over 25 years, using arts as a medium. A week into the lockdown, she was returning from food distribution work in her car, when, on the highway, she saw a sea of people, all migrant workers, with small cloth bags and other belongings, walking to their homes states of UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and MP, some 2000 to 3000 km away. Most of them didn’t have money to travel, food to eat, and water to drink. To make matters worse, most of them were walking barefoot in the severe heat of May along with children.
30 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


The need of the hour is action.’ If that action arises out of anger (against
the system or the situation today) or frustration, then the entire momentum of that action is coloured by that emotional frequency. I am trying hard to centre myself and act from a space of love, so that my action spreads that colour.
Sangeeta could not bear to see their plight and decided to do something about it. She immediately sent her 80-year-old father to her sister’s place in Bangalore and got down to helping people. She first started relief work in the villages of Ranipet and Tiruvannamalai districts in Tamil Nadu, where tribal communities, daily wage earners, and traditional artists lived and who were severely impacted. She then began raising funds for her NGO, Katradi, to help facilitators distribute ration kits and food to hundreds of families.
Sangeeta joined hands with Ravin Carr, the head of the NGO, Feed Chennai, to co-create a volunteer group called ‘Chennai Migrant Taskforce (CMT)’, and for the coming months, she and a handful of volunteers spent hours at Chennai Central Station and different highways, guiding and helping stranded migrants get food, reach shelters, and get onto trains. They translated for the police from Tamil
-Sangeeta Isvaran
to Hindi and prevented potential conflicts when crowds of hundreds would gather at the Central Station to get into overcrowded trains. On hearing stories of starving workers inside trains, the CMT started distributing food kits consisting of bread, jam, chapattis or theplas, and water to the passengers. It was a back- breaking task, but Sangeeta and her team tried maintaining coherence, to some extent, amid chaos.
When you decide to support and help a cause, you do it to your full capacity. Sangeeta swiftly moved in to support the efforts of the police, railways, and shelter home authorities by sharing lists of stranded workers with them, collected through phone helplines and from highways, stations, and shelter homes. She coordinated with multiple volunteer groups and NGOs across India and submitted extensive details to the police and GCC (Greater Chennai Corporation) to help Shramik trains run at full
Lead Story 31


capacity during May, June, and mid-July 2020.
She also rescued bonded labourers with the help of teams of volunteers across India. Her house was open to women who were victims of abuse and sexual violence during the lockdown and in need of a safe place, helping them reach counsellors and doctors where necessary. Her home continues to operate as a haven for women in need.
In and around Chennai, she and other volunteers from the CMT have distributed 30,400 food kits in Shramik trains; 1,02,580 meals to the homeless and stranded; 4,200 grocery kits; 77,000 litres of drinking water; and 4,000 sanitisers to government COVID volunteers. Besides, they helped 5,071 stranded workers get onto trains and 2,360 workers reach shelters. This is apart from the villages and tribal areas she is personally working in with another group of volunteers.
“What I do is nothing special and is just a drop in the ocean. But this thought keeps arising: ‘The need of the hour is action.’ But where does that action arise from? If that action arises out of anger (against the system or the situation today) or frustration, then the entire momentum of that action is coloured by that emotional frequency. I am trying hard to centre myself and act from a space of love, so that my action spreads that colour. It may not change the outcome; it will not solve this enormous pandemic emergency, but this is all I am capable of,” says Sangeeta.
Rajiv saves jobs
The lockdown brought the disaster of unemployment in its wake. The world over, millions lost their jobs and livelihoods, especially those from the lower and middle- income groups.
Rajiv Joshi, with 24 years of experience in digital retail business and e-commerce development and marketing, says, “Within a month of the lockdown, I realised that we were in the midst of unprecedented trying times and the magnitude of job cuts and lay-offs would be unimaginable. While everyone was talking about migrant labourers, there was hardly any voice for retrenched white-collared and blue- collared employees. I thought the conventional way of job-hunting may not be enough as there was no two-way interaction happening on most platforms and physical meetings were out of the question due to COVID. So, I created a WhatsApp group called ‘Lockdown Jobs’ on April 25, 2020.”
What he did was pretty simple. From his known groups, he added HR and other colleagues. The idea was to increase word-of-mouth and reference recruitments through an open, yet focused, and swift interactive medium. The response was encouraging. Rajiv says, “To my surprise, the word spread, and people seemed to like the idea. We crossed the group size limit of 256 people on WhatsApp in a month and a half and then migrated to Telegram group
While everyone was talking about migrant labourers, there was hardly any voice for retrenched white- collared and blue- collared employees.
32 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


Rajiv Joshi gave a new beginning to thousands of white and blue collared people during the pandemic
on June 18, 2020. The number of job posts has increased from 5-6 a day, three months ago, to 50-60 a day now.” Now, jobs are being posted from across the country in multiple disciplines and roles, and they have crossed the 700 mark as members in a group.
The process is simple. Recruiters can post jobs, and job seekers can post what they are looking for by sharing a brief profile such as name, age, location, work experience, current CTC, etc., or a profile link (LinkedIn or Google Drive.) instead of sharing a CV.
Rajiv puts it humbly: “It’s gratifying to see how a simple thought has turned into a movement. Recruiters and job seekers are free to use this platform. While I don’t keep a tab or ask about how many have got jobs through the platform,
my estimate is that five–six per cent have benefitted from this endeavour. I get to know when people post happy smileys after getting jobs.”
According to Rajiv, “It’s the people who have helped the group to grow, and I would not like to take any credit for this initiative. May more people join this initiative and find opportunities for betterment.”
Rahul’s sanitisation drive
One of the most important campaigns an individual could undertake during the pandemic, risking his own life, was maintaining cleanliness by sanitising places. When the sudden outbreak of the pandemic happened, instead of getting panicky and fearful, people like Rahul Bhandarkar, with his volunteer team, took charge of the situation and began sanitising susceptible public places. They cleaned and sanitised public toilets, police stations, banks, bus stops, worship areas, schools, hospitals, and old age homes. At those high-risk public places (especially some hospitals and public toilets) where officials were unwilling to go, these corona warriors led the battle. They sanitised almost 3000 places, free of cost merely on a telephonic request.
Rahul, who was working with Future Group as an Operations Manager realised that the demand for support needed in the region was extensive and there were other things required to do as well. He—with the help of V R Foundation and many willing donors and supporting NGOs, especially Live to Give and Rise Infinity—started a ‘WeTooCare’ campaign. Immediately, a community kitchen was started, through which 100 people were fed everyday, and the
Lead Story 33


From sanitising public places to providing food and important healthcare services to the needy, Rahul Bhandarkar risked his own life during the pandemic to serve humanity
figures reached 2000 people everyday in no time. They started distributing sanitary and hygiene kits to women in the tribal areas of Vasai, Nalasopara, and Virar.
Helping people in these COVID times did not come easy. The volunteers were never allowed in some tribal areas and villages to give help to some senior citizens. He and his team had to submit fitness certificates and other types of proof before they were let in. They wanted to support the health and hygiene of women who were at a higher risk, but the old mindset and customs came in-between. Nevertheless, they were determined, and finally, Team Rahul managed to help more than 1000 families with
sanitary kits for menstrual healthcare.
When asked how he managed to reach far and wide, from Vasai to Virar and the surrounding tribal areas, he says, “When I started, we were only a handful of people. But when others saw us working and helping, they wanted to join us. I received calls from many areas, and many volunteers joined us. Infact, some professors from nearby colleges were ready to make calls on our behalf or do any administration-related work. When your intentions are good and your efforts are pure, people join hands and make things happen.”
Rahul told me about the blind and handicapped
34 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


people colony near Nalasopara. This colony was set up by the government for the disabled, and all the 2000 people of the colony sell stationery items every day at the railway station to earn their living. He says, “Their suffering was one of the worst kind, but after giving them food for a couple of days, they said, ‘Don’t give us food every day; instead, give us rations, and we will manage somehow. We are taking food for free; please see if we can do some kind of work.’ I was speechless.”
The trail of good deeds doesn’t end here. The team also organised food distribution and medical check-ups, and distributed home quarantine kits. “When you are out to help, you know, you don’t say no to anything,” Rahul adds.
Jogesh’s online endeavour
In yet another act of selfless giving, we discover the power of the Internet to bring a difference to the lives of those in need of help.
Jogesh Jain, the founder of JJ School of Employability, India’s biggest online job skills training platform, teamed up with keynote speaker, Brigadier Sushil Bhasin to help 46 new writers from their online tribe co-create three books during the lockdown. Two of these books, Being Employable and Seven Mantras of Organic Success, have already been published worldwide. The third book, Rise and Shine, is about to be published. The 46 writers have decided unanimously that all the revenues from the worldwide sale of print copies as well as Kindle versions of the books would go to the Shri Rajendra Honeycomb Charitable Trust, which runs an orphanage and a home for senior citizens in Bhayander, a suburb of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
My mother was always a source of solace, love, and affection to all who came into her life. To me, she personified the value of unconditional giving. Being a son of such generous and giving parents, how could I pass up such an opportunity to serve.
Jogesh explains the generosity of his tribe: “It gave us a big high to brainstorm, write, edit, and publish our combined literary effort. As new writers, the thrill of seeing our names in print was overwhelming. We had earlier decided to create a joint account, but Brigadier Sushil Bhasin suggested that we donate to a worthy cause. This is when someone suggested that we contribute to Shri Rajendra Honeycomb Charitable Trust during this difficult time. We are happy that every sale on Amazon and Kindle contributes a trickle of money directly to the account of the trust. I believe that we are all part of an eco-system that includes all beings and therefore, even as we seek to grow as individuals, we should also contribute to the upliftment of the world.”
Devendra Singh, the founder of Shri Rajendra Honeycomb Charitable Trust is understandably elated. He says, “I am thankful to Jogesh Jain and Brigadier Bhasin’s gesture
Lead Story 35


and all the contributing writers of these three books. I express gratitude for this initiative on behalf of all the 58 members of our family. While I welcome donations, I have never actively sought them. Big shares of my expenses are met by textbooks that I write for school students. Thanks to these wonderful people, I am now deepening my understanding of how I can use the tools of online commerce to serve my children and the elders. The lockdown has turned into a time of tremendous learning for me. This is huge for me!”
Nara Subramaniam, the founder and owner of Resolve Asia, a training and coaching consultancy based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is one of the contributing writers of the book Seven Mantras of Organic Success. He says that he supported the gesture by all the writers because of the lessons he had learned from his
mother early in life. “My chapter was on the subject of how my parents imparted the basic values that have guided my life, relationships, and career. These values continued to guide my ongoing business practice and way of life. My mother was always a source of solace, love, and affection to all who came into her life. To me, she personified the value of unconditional giving. Being a son of such generous and giving parents, how could I pass up such an opportunity to serve. I am indebted to all who have helped me cross this important milestone in my life. Thanks to them, I am now a published author,” he says.
Shishir and Rimple: Heroes of humanity
In times of tragedy, few feel for the suffering millions and operate on ground zero to mitigate their pain. And fewer are the ones who think in terms of creating a platform through which
36 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020
Shishir Joshi’s NGO, Project Mumbai has been a true beacon of hope to thousands across the country and overseas during the pandemic


people can give their time, money, and energy. Shishir Joshi, the founder of Project Mumbai, and Rimple Dedhia, belong to this category. The commitment, sincerity, and determination of Shishir and Rimple to help people with their army of 2000 volunteers is commendable. Their spirit to selflessly support human beings has made his NGO, Project Mumbai, the go- to institution for citizens, like-minded social institutions, philanthropists, corporates, and local and state governments.
They did everything one expects COVID warriors to do–from providing food grains, grocery kits, meals, and medicines to migrants and poor, housebound senior citizens to providing two lakh PPE kits to doctors with the help of corporates, including 10,000 to the Mumbai Police. They also provided bananas to 1000-4000 migrant and homeless children everyday (till the figures reached 2.5 lakh children across Mumbai) and breakfast, lunch, and dinner to over 1500 doctors from J J, Cama, Cooper, Sion, Navi Mumbai, and KEM hospitals as well as the staff of the COVID control room at Mantralaya, the headquarters of the Maharashtra Government, every day.
But what makes Shishir and Rimple, and their team admirable is their ability to think on their feet. “Initially, there was complete confusion. Most people were not sure what was taking place. The gravity had not impacted people but it was growing. Project Mumbai has always had its ears to the ground, and we felt we needed to reach out to people urgently,” says Mr. Joshi. He adds, “I told our champion volunteers, who are our life and soul, to try and sense the need and pain of the people. All the initiatives we undertook were the result of sensing and acting fast upon the pain of the people.”
He soon realised the importance of having a helpline system where needy people could call and ask for medicines, groceries, or food, especially those with physical disabilities. Rimple took charge without realising the enormity of the task. The response was immediate. They partnered with DMart and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) which sent the helpline number to millions across the city.
Soon Rimple’s phone became a call centre, with at least around 200 calls being received in a day and an equivalent number of messages. This continued for months till the lockdown was eased off. She says, “In April, the helpline was also extended to the disabled who were living alone. We would generally help deliver things within a day, unlike some other online grocery platforms which would even cancel
Shishir realised the importance of having a helpline system where needy people could call and ask for medicines, groceries, or food, especially those with physical disabilities. Rimple took charge without realising the enormity of the task. The response was immediate.
Lead Story 37


The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.
–Barack Obama
orders or half-deliver after making people wait for four-five days.”
Soon Rimple started getting all kinds of calls, including distress calls—not only from Mumbai or India but also from people from the USA, Singapore, Canada, UK, UAE, and Bahrain, who wanted to find out about their parents who were living alone. Many were not prepared for the lockdown, and dealing with its trauma was hard. They would cry out of panic and stress. Rimple did a superb job of just listening to them and slowly helping them calm down. It was a tough job, but, nonetheless, very gratifying.
Taking a cue from phone helplines and how the situation was turning out, Project Mumbai launched a toll-free mental health service with the support of the state government and two separate mental health helplines. As soon as these helplines came into play, they were flooded with calls. They get 350 calls, on an average, every day. There are 35 trained
Rimple Dedhia took charge of Project Mumbai’s helpline services and helped thousands of people in need
38 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


counsellors attending to this helpline. In two months, they have attended to over 4000 calls from 24 states in India.
Rimple says, “Calls were coming in asking for help with the availability of hospital beds too. So we created a dashboard for the non-COVID hospitals of Mumbai, giving out real-time information about facilities available, contact info, and the number of beds available, etc. Overall, I was managing the dashboard.”
The Joshi-led Project Mumbai has been awarded by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Solidarity Action Awards in July 2020 for impactful humanitarian work done for COVID relief. Only 50 have been recognised globally, Project Mumbai being one of them.
The givers never care about what they get in return. All of them say that the happiness and satisfaction they get by helping others
are their own rewards. They are continuing with what they have started, and their attitude is that of gratitude towards the Divine for making them capable enough to serve others.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” said Mahatma Gandhi.
Achieving and getting as much as we can is considered to be the hallmark of success and happiness in our society. However, true happiness is tasted by those who dedicate themselves to helping and serving others. For, in uplifting others, we uplift ourselves.
These COVID heroes have lit the lamp of hope, positivity, faith, and optimism in people and led the way for humanity to walk on. Life Positive salutes these champions and hopes that their actions will inspire many to walk the path of selfless service.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Lead Story 39


AHA-MOMENTS
ITo Lini with love
have a spiritual child. Her wrong. What matters is, is there can I let him know how much I
Megha Bajaj shares an open letter to her spiritual child, offering solace and support based on her own experience of living and loving
name is Linisha, and she peace? Peace keeps relationships
lives in New York. I met so beautiful, and I hope you her about a decade ago, and I preserve yours and help others to
love him?” It’s strange, but when you keep thinking of giving, you end up receiving much more. So beautifully He puts it: “Starvation of love does not cease by receiving but by giving.”
The fourth: It’s under construction. You are a work in progress. He is a work in progress. The ‘we’ you come together to form, too, is a work in progress. Be kind— to yourself. And others. Be accepting—of yourself. And others. Be forgiving—to yourself. And others. It’s a crazy adventure; learn to not take yourself or others too seriously. Allow room for expressions. For agreements and disagreements. For making mistakes and learning from them.
No one gets it all right. No one gets it all wrong.
We just keep trying—to grow in the bliss of love each day.
And so will you. I am with you.
Like a soft cashmere sweater on a snowflake evening.
I love you, Me.
An award-winning author, film- script writer and poet, Megha is an eternal seeker at heart. She also empowers people to write and get published through her online writing workshop. You can read more on www. WonderofWords.org.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
don’t really understand the bond between us or why I see her as my baby, my responsibility, my darling.
I feel so protective of her. I want the best for her. I wish I could keep her with me all the time.
We talk a lot about relationships, and I wish to tell her so many things right now as she is on a very beautiful juncture in her life. I wanted to write this as an email to her for many nights, and then I felt, why not flow here. Who knows? I may discover so much more, and many others may find some answers they are looking for. So here I am. This is a letter to Lini. And to you. And to me.
My darling doll,
I love you so much.
I cannot express how proud I am of you.
Of all the ways in which you are growing.
For all that you are becoming.
I am watching your journey with an awestruck smile, as proud as a mother can be. Here are a few beautiful learnings on relationships that I wish to share with you as you make a decision that will change your life forever.
The first: After a while, it just does not matter who is right or
preserve theirs. A home filled with peace is a divine one. Much after all the day’s chores are done, the battles are won, and the lights are dimmed, laying your heart upon that pillow with a heart silent and at peace really matters. Feeling one with the night, with him, and yourself feels like everything is worth it.
The second: Love is the answer to all the issues that love brings up. While being with another, a difference of opinions, shifts in tempers and temperaments, unique boiling thresholds—it is all going to come up. It is only expected. And yet, if love remains your anchor and every thought, word, and action are deeply rooted in this, you will manage to sail through. Love is not just a soft and tender feeling. It is a force, and it will carry you through the roughest of storms. Hold it tight, Baby Girl!
The third: Discover in yourself an unconditional lover and giver. Relationships can either bring you closer to you, your purpose, and your Divine, or move you away from it. The beautiful Truth is—which side you want to be on depends on you and not the other. Each day, allow the other to bring forth the best in you. Ask yourself, “What more? How else
40 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


Mystic Experiences with Himalayan Masters
Dr Sant S Dharamananda
e
FREE
worth Rs.395
This exciting and fascinating book chronicles
Dr Sant S Dharamananda’s real life experiences with the great Himalayan Masters. Explore the spirituality and ancient wisdom from the perspective of a practicing aspirant.
Santji’s life has been filled with incredible mystic
Mystic
Experiences
with
Himalayan Masters
Rs. xxx
Dr Sant S Dharamananda, PhD
A direct disciple of Sri Swami Rama
FREE worth Rs.620 Free Gift
e
x
p
GIFT 1
OFFER
Year (s) Issues 2 24
1 12
Net Pay 2400 1200
You Pay (`) 1699 899
Mystic Experiences with Himalayan Masters & I Can Defend Myself More Teaching Stories (Color )
eriences that will open your mind to a wider world, and fill you with optimism, love and hope. Few words can sum up such an interesting
and exhilarating life, and you’ll find yourself turning each page in fascination and wonder.
e
x
p
DOMESTIC
Name______________________________________________________Address____________________________________ _____________________Phone No.___________________E-mail____________________________________________
You may send the photocopy of this form “OFFER VALID TILL DECEMBER 31, 2020”
Yes! I would like to subscribe/gift Life Positive for .....................................................Year(s)
All the fields are mandatory to fill in CAPITAL LETTERS
Recipient Name (Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms)__________________________________________ Age__________ Occupation_____________________________________ Address ________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ City____________________________Pin__________________ State____________________ Tel(R)_____________________________________________ (O)________________________ Mobile__________________________________E-mail_________________________________
TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR DOMESTIC SUBSCRIPTIONS
Renewalo Fresho Payment Details:
CH/MO/DD No.___________________ for Rs_________________________ Dated_________________________ Bank__________________________
8527290282
9971088870
Payment by DEMAND DRAFT, MONEY ORDER & CHEQUES only Favouring “LIFE POSITIVE PVT. LTD.”
Standard delivery mode is ordinary post. If you want to receive your copy by courier, please add ` 200, ` 400, ` 600, ` 1000 respectively for 1, 2, 3 and 5 years.
• Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing your subscription request. • Life Positive Pvt. Ltd. reserves all rights to terminate or extend this offer or any part thereof at any time or to accept or reject any or all forms received at their absolute discretion without assigning any reason. • All disputes will be subject to New Delhi jurisdiction only.
F-1/9, 1st Floor, Okhla Industrial (011) 49563777, 49563713 [email protected] Area Phase 1, New Delhi – 110020 08527290282, 09971088870 www.lifepositive.com
` 325


FOOD
Naini Setalvad vouches for the healing touch of antioxidants to keep the seasonal sneezing and sniffles at bay
W inter is coming, but many of us have a love-hate relationship with this season. We love the pleasant crisp air but dread the ailments it carries with it. I, on the other hand, see it as a beckoning to pull cardigans out of safe-keeping, sip on
piping hot beverages, and feast on fresh, delectable produce. Although this season brings along with it coughs and sniffles galore, it also provides us with the solution to our woes. Rest assured that nature’s winter bounty will not only satisfy your palate but also act as your winter armour.
Let me introduce you to the salubrious effects of antioxidants. The following foods have this inconspicuous yet invaluable group of vitamins, minerals, and plant derivatives that act as a healing, immunising shield.
Sweet potato and purple yam: A steamed sweet potato with a hearty vegetable soup is a winter dinner delight. Not only is it delicious but also contains antioxidant vitamins A and C. This combination boosts your immunity and saves you from free radical damage. Purple yam is another great alternative that lends the antioxidant effect of Vitamin C and anthocyanin.
42
LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


Cruciferous vegetables:
With the cessation of the
monsoon and heatwave, winters are the perfect
time to devour crucifers like cauliflower and cabbage. They
contain glucosinolates—phytochemicals that have a strong antioxidant effect which annihilates inflammation.
Winter greens: It
would be silly of me
not to tell you to eat
your greens. Try to
mix in anti-inflammatory
methi (fenugreek) in your cooked vegetables and parathas (Indian flatbread). Lasooni palak (garlic spinach) will not only give
you immense flavour; it is also a storehouse of antioxidants, including vitamins A and C. Sarso (mustard) leaves are rich in the oxidative stress-reducing phytochemicals, vitamins A and C.
Brinjals: Armed
with the purple
colour-producing
phytochemical
anthocyanin, this vegetable
does more than making a delicious bharta (a dish made of brinjals). It is known for putting forth a strong fight against free radical cellular damage.
Tomatoes: This ever so versatile vegetable fits well with every cuisine. Make it a part of your salads, soups, cooked vegetables, and curries, and gift yourself the quadruple cancer-fighting carotenoids—alpha- carotene, beta-carotene,
lycopene, and lutein. The humble tomato is also a good source of vitamins A and C. Bid goodbye to inflammation with this potent vegetable.
Strawberries: Winter is synonymous with
the arrival of this scrumptious berry, packed
with the powerful antioxidants polyphenols, anthocyanins, and vitamin C. They are known for their heart-healthy property of reducing cholesterol.
Amla (Indian gooseberry) and dried figs: The best source of immunity-boosting Vitamin C is our very own amla. Dried figs are a better source of phenolic compounds and antioxidants than fresh figs. They
are also rich in Vitamin A and act as digestive aids. This results in a decrease in inflammation. Have a fresh amla daily to
safeguard your health this winter. Opt
to satisfy sweet
cravings with dried figs.
Food 43


Grains and millets: The mention of sarso is incomplete without its better half—makki
ki roti (corn flatbread). This corn derivative is packed with carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. These have an antioxidant effect which protects the eyes from oxidative damage caused by blue light. Another warming flour to have this season is bajra (pearl millet). Its age-retarding, heart- protective, cancer-preventive nature can
be attributed to antioxidants like phytic acid, tannins, and phenols present in it. Accompany these with a dollop of cow’s ghee for better digestion.
Nuts and seeds: These make for a crunchy snack no one can resist. Peanuts, almonds, walnuts, and seeds are rich in antioxidant Vitamin E, which plays a role in making
the skin a strong barrier against incoming infections.The ‘winter seeds’—sesame seeds—are rich in Vitamin E antioxidant gamma-tocopherol, which protects your heart. Omega-3 in walnuts and flax seeds are your go-to for an anti-inflammatory effect. Nuts and pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, which also has an antioxidant effect.
Green garlic: I await green garlic to arrive with such eagerness. Adding the perfect flavour to my meals, it adds the antibacterial sulphur and the blood pressure- reducing phytochemical, allium. It also exhibits an anti- inflammatory effect.
Fresh turmeric root: This fragrant herb is responsible for adding the golden touch of turmeric powder to our cuisine. The fresh form makes for a delicious pickle, which can be an accompaniment to every meal, to ensure you get a dose of antioxidant curcumin and all its infection-fighting ability.
Whole pulses: It’s the perfect season for
a warm green chana chaat. This chickpea variety is not only high in protein but also a good source of vitamins C and A. Not too far behind are the leguminous fresh green peas that too have an abundance of the antioxidants, vitamins A and C. Include these fibre-rich pulses and incorporate a treasure trove of nutrients in your diet.
44 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


With such an array of antioxidants from the plant kingdom at your disposal, there is no need to fear the winter illnesses. So sit back and enjoy the mouth-watering food coupled with the beautiful weather.
RECIPE:
AMLA HALDI CHUTNEY
Ingredients
250 gm fresh haldi (turmeric), peeled
250 gm amla (Indian gooseberry), deseeded Salt and lemon to taste
Method
1. Wash the haldi and amla.
2. Grind the amla, haldi, salt, and lemon in a grinder and make a paste. 3. Serve as an accompaniment.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Food 45


JOURNEY
A website on the world of spirits catalyses Shivi Verma into realising the value of having a human body
A few days ago, I suicide, thinking that the afterlife a result, they were condemned
chanced upon a site
on the paranormal world on YouTube. Owned by Pulkit Mohan Singla, an interior designer, blogger, and paranormal expert, the videos are a big let-down for anyone searching for spooky material on the Internet. Rather, they are full of knowledge about the world of spirits and how souls reach this
state after dying.
Talking about himself, Pulkit
says that he was blessed with
the ability to see, feel, and sense
spirits since childhood. However,
he did not enjoy it as it disturbed
his normal life. He tried very
hard to get rid of this power, but
could not. So he decided to turn
it into something positive. He
began to interact with spirits to
know more about their condition
and help humans through many
valuable insights, thus gained.
Upon contacting them, what
he has found most is that if the
actions of the deceased have not
been righteous, their souls get
trapped in ghostly incarnations
which are full of suffering and
much longer than the lifespan
in the human body. He says
that humans take their lives and
bodies for granted, not knowing
what invaluable gifts they are
from the Universe. Intimidated lives as human beings, causing
would be better and bearable, which is a huge misconception. If the deceased has taken their own life to escape from suffering, on dying, their pain does not decrease but increases. After passing over, they realise that if they had persisted, a solution was nearby. Besides, the sight of their grieving family members, whom they can see but no longer contact, makes them miserable. They realise the blunder they committed by killing themselves and causing immeasurable grief to their family members.
Furthermore, they have to spend the remaining years of their human life, in a disembodied spirit form which feels all the urges felt by human beings but without the ability to satisfy them. They feel hunger, thirst, and the need for sex and companionship, but all these joys are no longer available to them. They keep hungering for the human body which they had so abruptly cast away. Many even try to attach themselves to human beings with a weak mind to satisfy these urges, which tortures the afflicted and increases the bad karma of the spirit’s soul. In other cases, he found that the ghosts had led very selfish and unrighteous
to spend hundreds of years in ghostly incarnations. They had no free will to change their lives for the better because they had grossly abused the opportunity whenitwasgiventothembythe Divine. Though, Pulkit says that this state is not eternal, and once the karmic scales get balanced and the soul has turned over a new leaf, it is provided with a fresh opportunity to exist in a human body and ascend spiritually.
As someone who is trying to increase her spiritual quotient, these revelations were eye- opening for me. Beset with challenges, I often tend to think how wonderful it would be to pass over and merge with God, rather than continue to fight on this 3-D plane. His videos have made me aware of how misplaced and ungrateful these thoughts are. I have become more grateful to God for giving me this life and each and every blessing which has come with it. My job is to spend it in doing good and realising my life purpose.
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]
by challenges, many commit
humongous pain to others. As
46 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


C
M Y CM MY CY CMY K
` 325/-
` 225
The 7 karma codes give you startling insights to why things happen and what you can do to transform your relationship with yourself and others. Replete with thought provoking insights, easy to-do techniques, diagrams and real life examples, this book shall guide you through the turbulent sea of distressing emotions and complex questions. Be it your career, personal relationships, the search for self-esteem or the relationship with God; the 7 Karma Codes embraces the unending quest for purpose, love, balance, peace, joy and contentment.
The 7 Karma Codes contains secrets every man must know. As you embrace the wisdom of these codes, you will move from confusion to clarity, victimhood to power, and darkness to light. Not only do the 7 Karma Codes teach you how to heal your wounds and reduce your karmic burden, they also show you how to unfold your most powerful destiny. They guide you to think, feel and act in ways that will fulfil your soul’s deepest yearning.
This book is a dialogue every man’s soul wants to have with him.
Eighteen years into an adrenaline-filled career in advertising, Suzy quit her job to focus on her passion and spiritual calling to help heal the personal and collective consciousness. Soon after, she encountered a terrible car crash that caused her near death experience, further accelerating this deep desire. As a therapist and healer, Suzy has extensive clinical
` 195/-
Code: C01
` 195/-
Code: C04
` 275/-
Code: D05
` 250/-
Code: D02
` 295/- Code
` 295/-
Name.................................................................................................................... Mailing Address................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................City..................................................................................State........................................................................ Pin Code..............................................................Tel./Mobile................................................................Email................................................................................................... Payment should be in favour of LIFE POSITIVE PVT. LTD DD/MO/Cheque.........................................................Amount.......................................................................Bank..........................................................................................
Cash on delivery available at extra cost (as applicable) in limited cities or you can order by VPP.
F-1/9, First Floor, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-I, New Delhi-110 020 Ph. (011) 49563777, Dharamveer: 09312191587
Angels_Speak_CoverV02.pdf 1 17/04/17 10:16 AM
7KarmaCodes_FinalCover.pdf
1 31/07/17
4:07 PM
Angels Speak is the irst Indian Oracle book of divine messages, A afirmations and ifteen Archangels channeled illustrations, all infused
with potent divine energy to bring extraordinary transformations. Before the change is an a rmation. Before the a rmation
Wisdom, knowledge and above all - love, pour out of this book and is ready to low into the lives of all who read and experience it. This book is a powerful source of daily divine guidance, as well as an oracle book of guidance for speciic situations of life that may need to be transcended. Angels Speak will help you heal and ind joy, peace and love within and with everyone and everything around you. It awakens you to not just stay positive, but attract positive energies into your life, just as Roshani's channelled prayers, messages and afirmations have done to all who bear testimony in the book.
"Being a great follower of Roshani's accurate Angel Messages, when I heard she was writing a book I could not wait to pick it up as I knew it would be a treasure trove. If you are reading these words, then you must pick up this book too as I truly believe the Universe brings treasures into your hands. Simply recognise them."
- Raageshwari Loomba Swaroop Singer, Actor & Motivational Speaker, London - UK/India
"This is the irst book on Oracles that I have seen from India and each word resonates with a sense of strength and divinity. Treat it as good as divine guidance on a daily basis. A must read for every person who is desirous of positive transformations in their life and making it your permanent partner."
- Abha Maryada Banerjee India's 1st internationally acclaimed Woman Motivational Speaker and Leadership Author
`450 Code: A03
ngels
This book is a dialogue every man’s soul wants to have with him
For the Body, Mind & Spirit www.lifepositive.com
` 450/-
Author photo by experience in multidi2scip2lin5ary/-approaches to
vibrational healing and energy medicine. Her work has helped innumerable people across the globe experience
Shipping ` 40 Per book Total
For the Body, Mind & Spirit
New Books full advt.indd 1
17/01/18
7:35 PM
Qty.
Code: D03
Amount
Code: C03
` 225/-
Order Form
` 195/-
Code: D01
` 195/-
Code: A02
is an insight. Before the insight is a seeking. Beyond the seeking is a struggle. But in the deep dark origins of human pain, perhaps an illness, a helplessness, a self-destructive
despondency, is the singularly unique path forg
own original compassionate energies to help us transcend our most debilitating weaknesses. Further down this path of letting go of our fundamental darkness, we become the lighter beings of light we were always meant to be.
Suma Varughese’s long awaited second volume of life’s insights chronicles a universally human journey into the light. In a world of spiritual hares and tortoises, no one is left behind and the nishing line is an ever-shifting beckoning to rise
to our own incredible potential.
Each of us embodies an emotional baggage of sanskars (personality traits) and karmic accounts not only of this lifetime, but of many births. These are deep rooted rejections, doubts, low self-esteem, insecurities, which we will carry forward with us into our next birth, unless we let go now. Suma’s wisdom and personal experiences touch the soul and help us to start unpacking. She inspires us to start loving ourselves and then letting go becomes easy. Travelling Lighter, in our hands as a book today, will very soon become our natural way of being and living.
sister bk shivani RajyogaMeditationteacherandpresenter of the television programme, Awakening with Brahmakumaris
Suma’s columns are a seeker’s personal diary. The lofty becomes routine. The universal becomes particular. The in nite comes home. Jargon dissolves and a very lived wisdom emerges.
devdutt pattanaik ChiefBeliefO cerofFutureGroupand bestselling author of several books
Your Daily Dose of Divine Love
Roshani
(Shenazz Nadirshah)
The irst Indian Book of Divine Oracle Messages and Afirmations
Foreword by Ruzbeh Bharucha, Author of ‘The Fakir’ Trilogy and many other bestsellers
Code: C0
ed by our
Speak
Have you ever wondered why your life has turned out the way it has? Is there a reason you keep attracting the same patterns repeatedly? Are you struggling with challenges at work and in your relationships? Do negative emotions, stress, exhaustion and loneliness plague you?
Angels Speak
Heal the Storm Within
SUMA VARUGHESE TRAVELLING LIGHTER
Roshani (Shenazz Nadirshah)
Deepak Rai
personal transformations, impr
For the Body, Mind & Spirit www.lifepositive.com
ir
` 390
`
the
overcome depression and rebuild relationships. She also has many
p
ublished articles to her credit.
Heal the Storm Within
7
he
lth, find clarity,
Code: C06
` 390/-
ove
a
Code: C05
Code: A05


ISF REPORT 2020
Life Positive rejoices in the success of its first-ever online International Spiritual Festival and shares the proceedings with its readers
L ife Positive’s first experience with hosting an online International Spiritual Festival was a massive hit.
The sessions began with the participants logging in from their homes and editor Shivi Verma flagging off the festival virtually by giving an inaugural speech over Zoom. In a first at the ISF, acclaimed facilitators presented their modality in a two-hour capsule, making the presentation crisp and succinct. The guests sent their questions via the chat box or unmuted themselves to interact directly with the facilitator. The online version came with many benefits. The participants did not have to select between two workshops as all of them were lined one after another. Even the elderly and people living in remote areas could join, and people could attend as many workshops as they wanted without exerting themselves physically.
The comment section got filled with positive, happy, and encouraging responses from people who found answers to many of their challenging life situations. Usha Rani Soundaryaraj says, “Thank you Life Positive. The workshops are just wow, and I am enjoying them a lot.”
LP writers Nikita Mukherjee and Annesha Banerjee played wonderful hosts and executed the webinar with deftness, professionalism, and alacrity. Below is a glimpse of the online workshops which changed the life of the participants.
48
LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020


DAY 1
How To Shift The Energy Of A Space By Partha Gupta 9.00 a.m.–11.00 a.m.
Our relationship
with life is
dependent on how
we communicate
with it. And breath
is the mode of communication we use to interact with life. Partha Gupta began by calling attention to the power of our breath that not only affects our internal state but also the external space. Indeed, when we feel different emotions, our breathing is affected, and so if we control the pace of our breaths, we will be able to relax ourselves by coming down from extreme emotional dimensions. He demonstrated how words like ‘mother,’ ‘love,’ or ‘expansion,’ through their chemistry, transfer their energies to our breath, helping us shift our chemistry as well. Participants expressed feeling the words inside them and also a shift in the state of mind.
He said,; “When we strip ourselves of our egos, we all become fundamentally the same, and this realisation helps us watch our reactions. You are there where your breath is. The invocation of this intelligence helps us bring awareness in our body and surroundings, empowering us to change our energies as we desire. When we are aware, we become sensitive to the space around us and this brings resonance with life. Stating an example, Partha said, “Every space—our body, home, workplace, relationship—can be changed. As healers, we know that it is a space to provide to the other. This helps change our energy and, thus, the space. All participants agreed with Partha and also felt much calmer after doing various breathing exercises.
The Zen Of Good Writing
By Suma Varughese
11.30 a.m.–1.30 p.m.
Writing is an art: a
way to communicate
to the readers the
writer’s thoughts or message. Suma Varughese shared crisp and helpful principles to help writers write better and perfectly. She began the session with a prayer, followed by a meditation that brought the participants closer to their role-model authors and writers. The first responsibility of a writer, Suma said, is to take the reader with them, so that they get the thoughts of the reader. She emphasised that one must not pressure themself to be perfect in the first attempt and encouraged the participants to let the process flow. She said that being on the spiritual path also works in one’s favour, since the deeper knowledge of the self allows one to experiment and not succumb to fears. The three types of energy that govern our life also govern our writing— tamas, rajas,and sattva.
Through small exercises at intervals, she kept the audiences engaged. Participants, too, enthusiastically responded by sharing their knowledge and experiences. According to Suma, to be a true writer, being vulnerable in one’s writing is important. It bridges the distance between a reader and a writer with a deep connection. Participants extracted value from Suma’s session and left wishing for more.
ISF Report 2020 49


involves doing meditation, reading spiritual books, and following people who have walked the path. Once you realise who you are, you will know responsibility towards all beings, or your true purpose.”
There were questions as to how to explain the karma theory from this perspective. Andrew was honest about a few things he did not know the answer to, but for the rest, he clearly believes that God is imperfect, so are things in the universe, but we are evolving towards creating order.
Evolutionary Enlightenment
By Andrew Cohen 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm
The realm of
spirituality is
fascinating!
Every few years,
a teacher comes
with a newer and more refined perspective on enlightenment. One such teacher is Andrew Cohen, who thinks enlightenment is evolving. Andrew entered the virtual meeting room wearing a white kurta, carrying a gentle smile, and speaking even more gently.
According to him, God is the sum total of everything that exists and doesn’t exist; in other words, He is the sum total of the realms of manifest and unmanifest reality. He explained that before the universe came into existence, there was nothing: just primordial emptiness and perennial peace. Then, the Big Bang happened, and the universe was created. The emergence of light, energy, and matter created a condition for life forms to exist. Before this, God existed in a formless state, and now that the universe is created, He exists in form too.
He explained God is both peace and creativity. Energy and light in our universe created an explosive vortex of creativity. And this creativity is ever-evolving and expanding. The energy is throbbing within us in the form of the biological urge to procreate and co-create—art and music, and other innovations that humans strive for. Finally, Andrew says that we are God in our body. We just have to realise this by keeping our egoes aside and experiencing the oneness. To achieve this, he says, “We must have the thirst to experience God, which
Self-Healing
By Sanjiv Ranjan 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Sanjiv came online
eager to share his
knowledge with his
audience. A healer
and a writer, Sanjiv
Ranjan revealed
many fascinating aspects of self-healing, which, if we inculcate in our daily living, we can live to our full potential.
Sanjiv mentioned that our body has an immense power to heal ourselves. Like happiness, good health is within us, but because of our mental and emotional baggage and lack of trust in ourselves, we get stuck.
According to him, the root cause of our suffering is the deep-rooted fear that we have stored in our subconscious mind since childhood, which governs everything in our life. This fear could be of the unknown, success, the future, or losing loved ones. Most of these fears are imaginary and mental in nature and not real existential fears. These fears, over time, become a pattern which we
50 LifePositive | DECEMBER 2020