of the process of Self-realisation, which, essentially, is a journey from ignorance to enlightenment through Self-knowledge by which Ram would become Lord Ram. So, the job cut out for Ram is to search for Sita and free her from Ravan’s clutches, a task seemingly impossible and beyond average comprehension.
The role of Sri Hanuman begins here. Sri Hanuman represents mental strength (mind). Hanuman has been blessed with all the powers under the sun. There is nothing in the world that he cannot do. However, as
the story goes, after engulfing the sun as a child, he was cursed by a furious Maharishi Matang to forget all his powers. However, Rishi Matang mellowed after the demigods pleaded with him to take back his curse. He agreed that though Hanuman would retain his powers he would not remember that he has them. Only when reminded, would he be able to use his powers to their full glory. This is
impossible, like crossing the thousand-miles long, demon-infested sea, entering the gates of Lanka and killing many demons, burning down the city of Lanka and coming back with detailed information on the whereabouts of Sita. Similarly, our mind is bestowed with the strength needed to achieve whatever we want. There is nothing that one cannot do when one is aware of the glorious power of one’s mind.
Victory over self
Having reclaimed Sita from the clutches of Ravan, Sri Ram happily returns to Ayodhya, where he is coronated as King. This implies that when you have annihilated the adharma within you, your antahkaran regains its purity, and you are ready to rule your life as the lord of your senses.
Diwali, therefore, essentially is a festival indicating the finish line of the journey to Self-realisation. It’s a celebration of man’s realisation of his own glory. “God forgetful of his own glory is man, and man awakened to his own glory is God,” the Bhagavad Gita declares. Therefore, Ram is revered as Lord Ram and enjoys the status of Godhood in the Hindu minds and psyche.
Let us resolve to eventually move from symbolism and ritualism to Self-realisation. Let us uncover the real significance and purpose of both, the life of Lord Ram and the festival of Diwali, and celebrate Diwali in its real sense. Happy Diwali to all.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
a n
exact
characterisation of our mind.
Hanuman manages to undertake many herculean tasks that seem
Celebration 51
AHA-MOMENTS
Spiritual fence
Through years of sadhana, Megha Bajaj finds herself encircled by a ‘spiritual fence’—a highly potent positive energy which perpetually protects her
I have observed a strange pattern Like this, so often, I can remember Meditation has innumerable
in my life. Ever since I was an adolescent and have wanted to do something ‘wrong’—something that seemed against my value system—there was something to stop me. Or someone would suddenly show up and admonish me. Or situations would play themselves out in such a way that, try as I might, I wouldn’t be able to indulge.
I remember one of those occasions at the threshold of my teens, where everyone my age was experimenting with their first few sips of alcohol or drags of cigarettes. I was out on a trip with my family, and my elder cousins took me along with them for a ‘private chat.’ Little did I know that this was a code word for smoking, and my cousin, about eight years older than me, said to me, “Try it! Everyone does. It’s like a kick; you just need to get it out of your system by doing it once.” I so admired this cousin. And yet, as I looked at that little white and brown stub, something within said, “No, this is not for me.” However, I didn’t have the courage to say it aloud. Wondering how to get out of the situation, I just sent out a quiet prayer. Out of nowhere, a few wild dogs started barking and advancing towards us, and we all had to move back home where none of them got a chance to offer it to me again.
being on the brink of doing something which would have left me feeling guilty or unhappy and somehow being saved in the nick of time.
I used to wonder what this invisible boundary around me was. It seemed like certain things just couldn’t get past it, regardless of whether it was someone else trying it or even me, myself. It was almost like my personal ‘Lakshman Rekha’ or protective boundary, keeping me safe. I would slip but never fall hard enough to not be able to get back on my feet.
It was only when I went for my first spiritual retreat with my beloved guru did I understand what this was. It was, as He so beautifully explained, a ‘spiritual fence.’ Since meditation had enticed me from a very young age, as had love, God, and faith, some kind of energy had accumulated around me, which acted as a fence. This allowed all the good to get in and magnify but kept the bad out.
My guru explained that one of the most wonderful aspects of being a seeker and having a living master was the ability to constantly find oneself inside a spiritual fence. This accumulation of extremely potent positive energy protects one from most malicious attacks—on the tangible as well as intangible fronts.
benefits, and I wish every person would choose it at the youngest age possible as it becomes the North Star of our lives. However, a benefit I didn’t know of—and one that was so powerful—was this spiritual fence.
Who doesn’t like the feeling of being protected? With this fence itself, we have to go through a journey which is adventurous enough. So then, why would we venture out without it? What a feeling of deep protective love it is to know that wherever you go, whatever you do, there is something protecting you and that this protection can be found through the regular sadhana of meditation and through surrender to a guru!
This spiritual fence has been taking care of me for years. I feel safe. Secure. Like a little one in the womb. It’s a feeling I wouldn’t trade off for anything in the world.
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]
52 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
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This exclusive, life transforming, residential and most cost effective retreat is open only to 24 participants from all over India on a first come first serve basis.
This is a spiritual voyage of your life based on the mind - body & heart - soul connection based on the Love Yourself, Heal Your Life philosophy developed by Louise L Hay.
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Retreat ends on:
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9) But I have done the 2 HYL workshops. What's the use ? 10) Will I get any takeaways from the 10 day retreat ?
Your retreat includes daily internal transportation inside this huge tea estate to various locations and the ONE DAY Coonoor Local Market Exploration plus local sightseeing points on the same day (10am to 6pm)
www.kalyaankumarjain.com | [email protected]
ISF REPORT
A TREASURE TROVE OF POSSIBILITIES
The Life Positive International Spiritual Festivals are a cornucopia of fascinating discoveries, ground-breaking insights, and an effusion of unbridled joy for the participants. This was observed, once again, at the Life Positive ISF in Coimbatore, held in August this year at the Grand Regent. Four brand new facilitators had the ISF revving up with energy, vitality, curiosity, and exciting self-discoveries.
The day before the festival was spent on spiritual tourism. The Life Positive team, along with the facilitators, visited the famous Isha centre of Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev, a few miles away from Coimbatore. The centre, spread across acres of land was a sight for sore eyes. Tall coconut trees growing in straight lines one behind the other made for a fascinating picture.
54 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
The fifth Life Positive International Spiritual Festival in Coimbatore opened up a new world of exciting revelations for the participants says Annesha Banerjee
A few meters away was a magnificent man-made waterfall under which people bathed before getting ready for meditation inside the Dhyan Lingam dome. Ahead of it were dainty looking shops that sold spiritual and environmentally friendly products like yoga mats, books, CDs, organic foods, beads, bags, and whatnot. The café alongside it was the epitome of cleanliness and order, and healthy and reasonably priced foods could be bought off the counter. We also visited the majestic statue of Adi Yogi built by Sadguru, which stood tall and proud against the vast blue skies, symbolising the pervasiveness of Divine Consciousness in all of Creation. It truly was a mesmerising sight, creating the right mood to flag off the festival the next day.
ISF Report 55
DAY 1
The Power of Gratitude by Manoj Lekhi
What do we do when things start going south in our lives? We complain. But according to Manoj Lekhi, we should start counting our blessings! “Being grateful opens our eyes to the positive side of life. We start rediscovering ways which enable us to change our situations and, in the process, we attract abundance and prosperity,” he said. His workshop started weaving its magic from the very beginning of the day. The vibrant smile and laughing personality nestled everyone in their comfort zones and the jolly people of Coimbatore were ready to embrace the beauty in every little thing.
Divided into three parts, Manoj began the first session by calling up a participant to play a flute with blocked holes. Upon the obvious outcome of no sound from the instrument, he compared our lives with the flute, saying that the emotional blockages and baggage we carry disable us from fully living our lives, and forgiveness is the way ahead. Participants were asked to form pairs and share the resentment they felt towards people in their lives while loud music played in the background to allow privacy. Through this exercise, attendants were able to release the hurt they were carrying unconsciously. To enhance and experience the impact of the meditation, Manoj asked everyone to contact the people they meditated upon. Rohit Shah, (a participant) shared his experience of a major breakthrough with his friend (who he had lost contact with), as a result of the meditation. The positive energy of forgiveness and gratitude was palpable in the room and everyone was rejoicing in that.
Throughout the day, various interactive sessions, reading activities, and small acts demonstrated by Manoj asserted that the Universal Father responds to those who are grateful. “Practising saying the four mantras—I love you. Thank you. I am sorry. Please forgive me—to ourselves can shift our thoughts from that of complaining to being thankful,” said Manoj. Sharing his personal experiences of the things the power of gratitude can manifest, he said that The Law of Attraction is ruled only by our thoughts. By the end of the workshop, the sparkle of gratitude in the eyes of the participants was evident, and they were profoundly thankful of themselves, each other, their families, Manoj and of course, Life Positive.
56 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
Decoding Abundance by Raman Suri
Rarely do you get a facilitator who is a bundle of high energy and inexhaustible enthusiasm.
Raman Suri’s joie de vivre and passionate intensity rubbed off on each and every person present at the workshop on decoding abundance. She started off with deconstructing the idea of abundance for all of us. She said that abundance was mostly understood in financial terms, but a truly abundant life covered all the aspects such as health, relationships, career, finances, self-development, and emotional well-being. She then drew a chart of all these aspects and asked participants to rate on a scale of one to 10 where they ranked themselves on each of these aspects. After that, she told people to pick up the area to which they had given the lowest numbers.
As people observed that area (money, career, health, etc.) she asked them to search within themselves as to what beliefs they held about those aspects since our limiting beliefs and self-talk determine where and how we ourselves are blocking the flow of abundance. Raman took people through beautiful exercises such as aping the partner’s dance moves, looking into each other’s eyes without judgment and total acceptance, releasing blocked emotions by screaming at the top of our lungs, and giving each other soft massages.
The session was rounded up by a deep meditation session where all of us got a clear picture of where our hearts were pointing towards and in which direction we wanted to move. Said R Sarvanan (a participant), “I removed my money-related blockage from my mind and after the meditation session got over, I found that a person who owed me Rs.10,000 had deposited it in my account. I am very happy to see the law of attraction working in my favour.”
ISF Report 57
DAY 2
Mudra Healing by Abhaykumar Shah
Though all of us are special children of God, some of us are chosen ones.
Mudra scientist Abhaykumar can easily belong to the second category, for he has unearthed and revived the elusive but highly effective and ancient science of mudra therapy, which can work wonders for anyone practising it.
He shared that mudras got revealed to mankind in the highest stages of sadhana. Not only could mudras heal the most difficult ailments, but they also had the capacity to take one to transcendental spiritual experiences.
Abhaykumar started by explaining how the mudras worked. He said that our five fingers represent the five elements our body is composed of. The thumb represents fire; the index finger, air; the middle finger denotes the space element; the ring finger, the earth element; and the little finger stands for the water element in the body. These five elements also correspond to the five senses present in the human form.
The human body consists of 72 per cent water, 12 per cent earth, six per cent air, six per cent space, and four per cent fire. Each of these elements facilitated several functions of the body. Fire created the urge to eat, drink, caused the food to digest, and maintained body temperature. Air caused the movement of fluids, breathing, and oxygenation of cells. The space element created space and passage for food, air, and blood to pass and circulate in the body. The earth element gave rootedness, stability, structure, form, and cell regeneration every six months.
Any disease was a result of an imbalance in any of the five elements in the body, and by using a combination of various hand mudras one could achieve great miracles. Mr Shishir Kumar, a patient of acute acidity and weight loss, felt great relief from his suffering after practising the mudras. “Mudras have done for me what most doctors have failed at. I am greatly thankful to Mr Abhaykumar for rediscovering the magic of mudras.”
58 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
Alchemy Sound Healing by Sonia Wadhwa
“Sound moves around us. Sounds don’t hear each other; we hear them, so we are always at the centre of the sound. We hear sounds and give meanings to them, but they are simply sounds. Words, letters, alphabets are only sounds with codes, and we decipher them in a cultural context,” began Sonia in a calm voice that intrigued the participants settled in a circular arrangement. Sonia’s workshop was like going back to elementary school where we learn everything from the basics—a process of going from the knowing to the ‘not knowing,’ and finally, to knowing it anew.
The first thing participants discovered was the sound of the five elements (earth, water, air, fire, and ether) in the names of each other. The awareness in the room was heightened through close observation of various kinds of sounds inside. A trance-like state was induced in the room as the participants swayed their bodies to the meditative sounds, creating a free-flowing energy around. Usha Rani Saundaryaraj, a resident of Coimbatore who has been a regular participant of ISF, said after the meditation, “I feel as light as air, even after standing and swaying for more than 30 minutes. Any other day my back would start to ache, but the heavenly music seeped deep within me and I felt like I could go on doing this for a long time.”
Stating that life itself bloomed out of sound which is the very element of our being, Ms Wadhwa took everyone on a journey of sound through a guided meditation where the mind rested and the soul awakened. Nostalgia, ecstasy, devotion, melancholy, anxiety, and liberation were a few of the profound emotions the participants felt and delved within to reach the deep recesses of the Self. The sound bath in the final session was a blissful experience where Sonia played the crystal sound bowls. One of the participants exclaimed saying, “I felt complete and hollow as a flute, through which God can play melodious tunes. And it felt as if the sounds were showering their blessings on me.” Needless to say, little miracles happened through the workshop.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
ISF Report 59
JOURNEY
Friends come and go—even the best of them. But the Divine is, and will always be, your closest companion, realised Shivi Verma
I am a bit of a loner. There is and decisions. What mattered And suddenly, like a flash, the
My best friend
nothing more that I look forward to than being alone in my own company. After a hard day’s work, the privacy of my bedroom and the warmth of my comfort zone attracts me the most. I like to unwind and relax in my space, with only silence and breath for company. Though I know many people, I prefer having a deep bond with a few select ones to having many shallow relationships. So in a way I am an introvert.
But this temperament has its downside too. Relying only on a few for company and being averse to having a large circle of friends can also leave you feeling lonely, if, for some reason, dear friendships fall apart.
Something similar happened to me a few months ago. A childhood friend was like a soul-sister to me. We grew up together and had never had any fights worth remembering. No matter how much physically apart we were, we knew that we were always there for each other. There is great warmth and comfort in knowing that you have someone who has absolute faith in you and does not judge you for your beliefs
most was the unconditional acceptance both of us had for each other—a space where we could relax and be ourselves without any fears. And even though our values differed, we made up for it by understanding the other’s perspective. Relationships like this happen and cannot be wilfully created. Yet, as my father says, “Relationships come with their own expiry date,” and my bond with her too met its culmination. Our dissimilar values came to a head, and despite all attempts, the boat of our friendship sank and could not be salvaged.
I was faced with the scenario of being in this world without an emotional anchor, a close- confidante, and a friend-for-life. I thought of many options but none appealed to me. I realised that I cannot create the same level of trust that I shared with her, with anyone else, although I could always increase my circle of friends. Yet, a strange silence within me told me that it was over. Both of us needed to be on our own to take stock of our lives and were not on the same frequency as before. But I had still not arrived at an answer regarding having a best friend.
epiphany happened! The only best friend who would never abandon me or outgrow me was the Divine. How could I miss noticing this fact! I could not believe that I had overlooked the biggest reality of my life! How, in the greatest confusions and turmoil of my life, I had turned to Him for company, guidance, and advice, and He had never failed me. He had held my hand in every moment of life, making me see the larger picture and do the right thing. He knew about my inner world much more than I did. He knew when I was paying heed to his prodding and when I was getting lost in the labyrinth of my own inimical mind, and how He created circumstances that compelled me to understand His messages. Suddenly, my concerns fell away and an ineffable joy replaced them. I was not alone. I had never been alone, and none of us can ever be alone if we recognise who our best friend is, lifetime after lifetime.
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]
60 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
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Nirvana through the Net
The bond between online seekers and their gurus is getting deeper with every new leap in social media innovation, discovers Rishi Rathod
62 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
Afamiliar ting from his android support them, and to teach and spread love. phone brings a smile on the face
of the head of social media of a prominent spiritual organisation. He is pleased that the phone has been communicating intense activity on his Facebook page all morning. He is not alone in his willingness to embrace the potential of social media to connect, educate, and enlighten seekers separated by geographical boundaries and barriers of language, race, and religion. 36-year-old Rupali Mane, a team leader with J P Morgan, Mumbai, is among those on the other side of social media who are consuming spiritual knowledge available through books, periodicals, and videos on various online platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. “I am grateful for those who upload meaningful content, which brings sadhu sangha (the company of noble souls) to my mobile phone every day,” says Rupali.
Millions of working-class people all over the world, battling life’s pressures compounded by the increasing paucity of time, find solace in reading, connecting, and interacting with like-minded spiritual people online. The boundaries of the online New Age sangha (community) are expanding even as you read these lines, and people across confines of caste, creed, and nationality are coming to discuss their life’s pains and pleasures, to find solutions, mentors, and teachers who are providing that much-needed clarity to deal with life. The World Wide Web is neutral.
Technology content creators
We found out from a few mentors, teachers, and gurus what their digital media strategies are. The answers are varied. There is no one right formula but a consistent urge of all teachers to speak the truth, to engage with people and
I found out from Maria Wirth, 69, an author and blogger on Sanatana Dharma, how she managed to get almost 72,000 followers on Twitter and 23,000 followers on Quora, who look for the answers she provides. She has an amazing grip over the tenets of Sanatana Dharma, that lets her write on the subject with immense clarity.
“I was not tech-savvy. A gentleman got impressed with one of my articles and created a blogging site for me. I kept writing and, gradually, hundreds of people started visiting my blogs and appreciating what I wrote,” she says. Then came in the new Twitter trend. She was not sure how to cope with this new format. She mentions, “Some years back, I asked one of my friends who had 600 people following her on Twitter: ‘How do you manage to get so many people to read what you write?’ Soon, I too started writing my thoughts on Twitter, and today, I have almost 72,000 people read and retweet what I tweet, and the numbers are only increasing.”
For her, it is not about the numbers but something else. She adds, “Social Media technology has given me a voice. Otherwise, I don’t know how so many people would enhance their knowledge of culture and faith in today’s times.” Interestingly, she doesn’t spend hours on Twitter or other platforms—just about 40 minutes a day of writing and reading. However, she dedicates a whole day to writing articles. She feels satisfied that social media platforms have helped her spread the knowledge of Sanatana Dharma and the message of peace to thousands of people across the globe from her home in Dehradun.
Trend 63
Swami Swatmananda, who is the head of the national youth wing, Chinmaya Mission, has a different perspective and experience to share on the use of the internet as a place of spiritual assembly or satsang. He says, “Social media platforms help us to keep the seekers or followers engaged. For today’s generation, there are too many distractions that can get them swayed easily. These technology platforms have helped us give them direction and keep them engaged on the path. It also helps us to converse with different age groups simultaneously.” Now they even have online courses to teach young children as well as leadership programs for teenagers and adults.
Technology platforms have benefited followers so much that it has become their mainstream activity now. Besides this, he informed me that for a spiritual organisation like theirs where funds are scarce, it is super cost-effective, considering the present-day cost of marketing and publicity. He adds “Technology platforms have provided us with a window to see what is going on in the minds of our current generation and also what is trending with them. Based on this understanding, we curate spiritual programmes, messages, and courses to support them and connect with them. This gives us a great sense of flexibility and freedom.”
There are other spiritual organisations using social media to reach out in this manner. One of the finest examples of this seva (service) is presented by the Art of Living Foundation volunteers. They are a 30,000-strong army of seekers who volunteer to perform seva. The entire organisation and coordination of programmes are done by using social media platforms.
Prasanna Prabhu, Trustee, Art of Living, Bangalore, says, “Whether it is teaching Art
Of Living courses or managing our 563 free schools and 80,000 students, we do it with the support of social media technology. In fact, we mobilise our team of volunteers during emergency situations like floods and other calamities.”
Ignorance is not bliss anymore; it is rather more of an incessant pain. People are seeking clarity. They are seeking knowledge that will equip them to deal with life. At the Art Of Living, just by following this simple principle of dissemination of knowledge through their social media channels, they have managed to garner the interest of about 13 million followers combined on the Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram accounts of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji and Art Of Living foundation combined.
Prasanna says, “In my experience, when the knowledge is passed on to millions of devotees and seekers, it never lets them sit on it. It enables them to take positive actions for their spiritual journey as well as others’, with some kind of seva or sadhana. ” He adds, “The most beautiful part of social media for millions of devotees is that whichever part of the world our Gurudev is in, he takes time out every evening to come online and answer the questions of seekers. Not only that; wherever in the world he is conducting a satang, we turn it into a live webinar for his devotees globally. Millions come online to listen to him, and I think this is the most beautiful part of using technology.”
However, not everyone on the spiritual path is looking to dive headlong into a guru-shishya (teacher-student) relationship. Many seekers prefer to look for opportunities to connect with like-minded people. Such seekers often look for spiritual clarity outside institutional frameworks, on subjects like rituals, traditions, and culture. Such netizens seek fellow beings
64 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
Trend 65
Advertorial
who can mentor them as equals. Many young and dynamic people have come to the forefront to educate the new breed of tech-savvy individuals. Be it creating the Bible app, Koran app, a yoga app, Wicca app, or deciphering Vedic knowledge, there are New Age dynamic leaders who have started mobilising their followers positively. One such young leader is Sanjeev Newar, Data Scientist, IIT-IIM, who is the founder of Agniveer Organisation. His whole effort is to educate people through books, lectures, tweets, posts, and YouTube videos about Vedic knowledge. Doing this for almost the past 10 years, he and his committed team have now managed to impact the lives of at least a million people. Collectively, their social media has 320 thousand followers across India. They have over a million weekly impressions, which is considered to be a great achievement in terms of technological reach.
They are also engaged in grass-roots level problem-solving activities, inspiring young minds to act rather than just speak. On an everyday basis, they post on their site a message or tweet, or upload a picture of what they are doing for dharmic renaissance. Sanjeev says, “Our social media policy is simple and clear. We post one real action we have taken at the ground level to help someone in need every day. Besides this, we regularly post Vedic perspectives on various issues.” This two- pronged approach of using digital technology has created lakhs of followers, who look up to them. Sanjeev further adds, “Thanks to technology, we are reaching places where we wouldn’t have reached physically. For example, we got a call from some interior part of Kerala where they have started a gurukul (traditional residential school for students) and are now looking for students who would be interested in learning the Vedas.”
Sanjeev narrates an important story: “In 2011, Sumit Dhariwal (name changed to safeguard identity), 21 years old, had decided to commit suicide as he was unable to deal with his life issues. Just before he was going to finish himself, he was browsing the Internet for the last time and came across the Agniveer website. He was so touched by the message that he changed his decision and became a volunteer, now leading a satisfying life.”
“Shubham Rajput from Fatehpur, UP, came across us through social media and decided to start a chapter in his area. He goes to surrounding areas and preaches the tenets of Vedic knowledge, irrespective of caste and creed.”
Another innovative use of technology has turned around how Christians read the Bible. Technocrats have come up with a Bible app called YouVersion, which has been installed more than 260 million times worldwide since its launch in 2008. It speaks a lot about how technology is impacting Christians and Christianity—the largest religion in the world. Clearly, the ‘mobile phone Bible’ is now replacing the ‘book Bible.’ (http:// www.bbc.com/future/story/20170222-how- smartphones-and-social-media-are-changing- religion) Similarly, popular apps exist for the Torah and the Koran.
Pete Phillip, who is the director of the Codec Research Centre for Digital Theology at Durham University in the UK, says, “A new kind of mutated Christianity for a digital age is appearing. Not only is this shaping religious people themselves but also changing their behaviour for good.”
Christians reading the Bible on their smartphone and sharing verses on social media
66 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
frequently are those who are secular and inclusive in nature rather than dogmatic. They connect more with the verses which help them deal with personal struggles or with anxiety rather than those which only talk about the glory of God. Sharing verses on social media lets worshippers find their own readings of the Bible rather than sitting through the ones chosen by a priest every Sunday.
Technology content users
We have seen how mentors, teachers, and gurus are making optimal use of technology to serve and help millions. It is relevant to see how those who are using such messages are impacted. We know that a number of followers are stacking up every passing day. But what are their personal growth stories or experiences of using social media?
Trend 67
Many seekers prefer to look for opportunities to connect with like-minded people. Such seekers often look for spiritual clarity outside institutional frameworks, on subjects like rituals, traditions, and culture. Such netizens seek fellow beings who can mentor them as equals. Many young and dynamic people have come to the forefront to educate the new breed of tech-savvy individuals.
Manish, 32, a teacher in a school from Mumbai, who mostly follows Gopal Gaur Das of ISKCON on YouTube and Twitter, says, “The spiritual path, at times, becomes very arduous. I follow him because I get a continuous source of inspiration to remain on the path. It keeps me in check if I am on the right track all the time.” He adds, “There is a bombardment of information and knowledge that, instead of solving my problems, makes me even more confused. This way, I remain motivated and centred in my dharma.”
Preeti Khare, 36, a travel entrepreneur from Pune, is a follower of Hingoriji. Her consumption of social media is frugal. Hingoriji never gives darshan or does a live satsang but still has a great number of disciples. He is available only through social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and Instagram. She says, “Social media has changed my spiritual journey for good. I get to know the happenings or sacred wisdom now from the comfort of my home. The spiritual seekers of past have travelled miles to just have a glimpse of their guru, but today, I can connect with mine from the comfort of my home.”
She further says, “Besides this, I get to know other seekers on the path who are as confused as I am. It gives me tremendous confidence
that I am not alone on this journey, making mistakes.” Preeti notices that there are times when she is unclear about something, that thoughts are lingering at the edge of her consciousness. It sounds uncanny, but quite often, she receives from her guru a sudden message which completely resolves her confusion.
Dr Been B. Chandora, who regularly reads from the Angiveer website, says, “It has really opened my eyes. I can see clearly and think openly for years to come. I want to really thank Sanjeev ji for providing this much-needed clarity of mind and removing the distracted thinking patterns forever.”
Numbers speak
Until 2009, only 25.6 per cent of the world’s population was using the Internet, whereas, in 2019, it is 57 per cent (https://www. internetworldstats.com/emarketing.htm). More than half of the world’s population is engaged online in some activities of buying- selling, teaching-learning, or chatting- connecting with like-minded people. For our purpose, we only talk about how significantly a large number of teachers, mentors, influencers, and gurus are using this innovation to connect and impact their followers.
68 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
Campaign starting period
Guru/Foundation
Facebook
YouTube
Twitter
Instagram
2008
Sadguru
4.8 million
3.2 million
2.1 million
1.8 million
2008
Isha Foundation
1.17 million
763 thousand
229.4 thousand
328 thousand
2010
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
4.5 million
630 thousand
4.1 million
443 thousand
2010
Art of living
2.28 million
400 thousand
117 thousand
166 thousand
2009
Swami Ramdev
10 million
2.7 million
1.9 million
726 thousand
2014
Patanjali Ayurveda
788 thousand
386 thousand
12.7 thousand
385 thousand
2014
Brahma Kumaris
2.7 million
110 thousand
20.7 thousand
2017
BK Shivani
2.7 million
1.5 million
4,858
379 thousand
2009
Mata Amritanandamayi
1.6 million
500 thousand
21,700
6,390
2010
Transcendental Meditation
630 thousand
850 thousand
73.5 thousand
75.6 thousand
The much-deserved credit goes to the tech visionaries who have facilitated this coming together of humanity across the world and have given impetus to the New Age movement.
To Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Bill Gates (Microsoft), the founders of Twitter, the founders of Instagram, the founders of YouTube, Evan Thomas Spiegel (Snapchat) and to many who are unknown and unnamed, we offer our respectful obeisance.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Trend 69
MUDRAS
Aakash Mudra: The ultimate detoxi er
Being one of the Five Elements, Aakash (space) plays a vital role in the human body. Our body has many hollow parts: the heart, the sinuses, the thin space between the brain and the skull, the lungs, the mouth, all the tubular apparatus like the veins and the wind and food pipes, both the intestines, the liver, the rectum, the ears, and many others.
Our 72000 billion cells also have space within the walls of each cell. Keeping hollowness in all these parts is very essential. The heart has to be emptied with every pumping action for the incoming blood to be purified. So also, the lungs for taking in the oxygen. Waste matter in the intestines turns
toxic if not eliminated in a timely manner
and makes us diseased. Sinuses filled with
phlegm cause much discomfort, and the air
clogged in the gap under the skull can cause
heavy headache. The Aakash Element is connected with the sense of sound, and thus with the ear. Balancing this Element can keep all these organs healthy by removing the blockages and emptying the spaces within for their proper functioning. This can be achieved with the help of Aakash Mudra.
How to form this mudra: Connect the tips of the middle finger and the thumb. Keep the remaining three fingers comfortably straight and rest your hands on the knees or on the thighs.
Aakash Mudra works slowly but steadily and surely. It takes about 15 days to manifest its results.
Benefits:
• It detoxifies the body by eliminating waste. Our metabolic waste is thrown out through sweat, breath, urine, and stools.
• Heaviness and discomfort caused by overeating can be overcome with Aakash Mudra.
• Sinusitis can be treated.
• Headache due to migraine or sinusitis can be
cleared.
Abhaykumar Shah explains how Aakash Mudra treats various ailments by balancing the space within our body, thereby facilitating its proper functioning
• Any congestion in the chest, even due to asthma or infection can be eliminated.
• Ear ailments like infection and tinnitus are treatable with Aakash Mudra.
• Pulse and blood pressure can be regulated.
• Chest pain related to angina pectoris can be
relieved.
• Calcium levels in the body can be elevated, thus
making the bones and teeth strong.
• The side effects of steroid intake can be reduced. • Toothache can be relieved.
• Vertigo can be treated.
• The sense of space is increased.
• Our body balances well while walking and climbing up and down.
Spiritual benefits of Aakash Mudra:
• Improves the quality of meditation.
• Increases one-pointedness.
• Reduces worldly desires and drives the meditator
towards positive, noble thoughts.
• Improves the power of intuition and increases
alertness.
• Eliminates waste from our mind and purifies
emotions and thoughts.
• With regular and sufficient practice of Aakash
Mudra, one can feel vibrations at the Sahasrara (Crown) Chakra and divine white light at the Ajna (Third Eye) Chakra.
Caution: Aakash Mudra increases alertness. Thus it is advised not to practice it at night. It disturbs sleep. The best time to practice Aakash Mudra is at dawn.
Abhaykumar Shah is a mechanical engineer, who has learnt Mudra Shastra from experts and established his own method of using this science correctly, and in the modern context. [email protected]
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
70 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
HEALING
72 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
When Mother Earth gets stressed
Rashmi Rawat explains the concept of geopathic stress, how it affects us, and what we can do to deal with it
E ver wondered why you cannot sleep well in a particular room in your house? Or why most people in a certain house are always ill? Or why an employee sitting in a certain cabin is either unable to deliver or leaves
the organisation prematurely? Feeling the vibe of a place is a common human experience. There are places which do not give us a positive vibe. People tend to label such places as ‘unlucky,’ ‘ill-fated,’ or ‘jinxed,’ depending on the recurrence of a certain type of problem in the lives of people inhabiting that area.
Dhara Bhatt, a cosmic healer and the founder of the three-dimensional healing concept, recalls the case of a house infamously known as ‘the divorce house.’ Every three years, the house used to be put on sale after the couple that stayed there would file for divorce. It was the same for 17 years until Vignesh, a newlywed, bought it and shifted in with his family. He came to Dhara to seek help after the outbreak of sudden disharmony in his family.
While working on it, Dhara detected, right in the centre of their house, an energy whirl caused by the radiation emitted by a huge transformer just outside their bedroom. The radiation affected the energy of the earth in that area and caused stress, technically known as geopathic stress. Eventually, implementation of the right knowledge and tools by Dhara saved the family.
What is geopathic stress?
Scientifically, our planet has a rhythm. This rhythm governs the evolution of life on earth. The earth has protective fields and gases around it that shield us from harmful foreign elements. One such field is the electromagnetic field, which is very important for our survival.
In 1954, a German physicist, Winfried Otto Schumann, identified 7.83Hz as a frequency of the earth’s magnetic field that falls within the range of natural
Healing 73
human alpha brain waves, which is an optimum state for well-being and healing, and named them Schumann waves. So, according to many scientists and Vastu specialists, any changes in this frequency creates a stress zone, and this phenomenon is termed as ‘geopathic stress.’
The word geopathic is derived from the word ‘geo,’ meaning earth, and ‘pathos,’ meaning disease or suffering. So, geopathic stress is a disrupted electromagnetic field of the earth which adversely affects human beings and the environment. Areas affected by geopathic stress are called geopathic stress zones and can affect anything that falls within that space.
What causes geopathic stress?
Mr Manoj Juyal, an astrologer and Vastu specialist, says, “There are many natural and man-made reasons that cause geopathic stress. The primary causes of geopathic stress are thousands of underground streams that flow beneath the surface of the earth; certain mineral deposits such as coal, oil, and iron; and geological faults, cavities, and underground caverns. Apart from natural disruptions, man- made structures such as railways, motorway cuttings, embankments, bridges, quarries, tunnels, mines, steel pilings, metal fence posts, and road sign stakes, as well as buried gas, electricity, and water mains and sewers are also responsible for disrupting the earth’s natural energy field, causing harmful radiation to emanate from the earth’s surface.”
Signs of geopathic stress
As mentioned earlier, any disruption in the earth’s natural frequency catalyses the emanation of pernicious radiations, harmful to human well-being. There are certain symptoms through which one can recognise if one is suffering from geopathic stress:
• A sense of tiredness after waking up in the morning.
• Sudden and unexplained headaches, chronic body pain, sudden signs of physical ageing, behavioural problems, irritability, and persistent low-level illness
• You get better sleep in other places rather than the place you usually sleep in.
• Suffering from disturbed sleep.
• Having frequent nightmares.
• A history of serious diseases or deaths over
the lifetime of a resident.
• Miscarriages and infertility.
• Suicidal attempts and divorces.
• No improvement even after prolonged
treatments.
• Suffering from chronic fatigue.
• A grey ‘unwashed’ pallor and, often, very
lifeless hair.
• Neurological disabilities in children.
• Persistent bedwetting in children and crying
in babies as they are more sensitive than
grownups.
• A sense of weariness during the daytime,
only at a particular location in the office. • Difficulty in concentrating.
• Grinding teeth while sleeping at night.
• Any symptoms without a cause.
• Symptoms that do not respond to therapy and suffering from autonomic disturbances.
• Mould (a fungal growth) in your house
• Lichen or moss growing on the roof, walls, or
lawn as they like geopathic stress.
• Any cracks in walls, driveways, paving stones, cornerstones, and roads may also be caused
due to geopathic stress.
Adding to it, if you feel that your own health or the overall well-being of the family (be it mental, physical, or emotional) has deteriorated, then this could be an indicator that geopathic stress is present in that particular area.
74 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
Effect of geopathic stress
In a full-length research paper, The Effect of Geopathic Stress and its Correction on the Human Body and Machinery Breakdown, Ajay Poddar, Managing Director, Syenergy Environics Limited, writes, “Geopathic stress is considered a cause of ill-health and has always been ignored because most people are unaware of its existence and its subsequent harmful effects. But it can adversely affect an area, human beings, animals, and plants.” Talking about its effect on human beings, he continues, “Prolonged exposure to a geopathic zone weakens one’s immune system, eventually making the person vulnerable to many diseases. Cardiovascular problems, neurological disorders, chronic fatigue, asthma, cramps, insomnia, and hypertension are a few problems that a person faces if exposed to a geopathic zone.”
Brendon Murphy, a dowser (a person who detects underground water and minerals with the help of a dowsing tool), in one of the documentaries on geopathic stress, claimed that cancer, in particular, can be dramatically reduced by avoiding geopathic stress caused by harmful waves emanating from underground.
He also said that concentrated geopathic stress disturbs signals so strongly that the flow of information to the cells, glands, and organs stops, causing an adverse effect on the body. It meddles with the functioning of the lymphatic system (the network of vessels through which lymph drains from the tissues into the blood). If the lymphatic system is not healthy, it cannot destroy foreign cells, thus enabling the cancer cells to grow and multiply.
Gustav Freiherr von Pohl, a German scientist and one of Germany’s most talented dowsers,
proved to the Central Committee for Cancer Research in Berlin, almost 60 years ago, that one was unlikely to get cancer unless one spent some time in geopathically stressed places (mainly while sleeping).
Effect on area: Not only does geopathic stress make people sick, but it can also lead to a ‘Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).’ The World Health Organisation estimates that 30 per cent of offices, hotels, institutions, and industrial premises have SBS, causing headaches, tension between staff, lethargy, respiratory infection, dry skin and throat, eye symptoms, loss of concentration, depression, and stress and fatigue, leading to a high rate of absenteeism, increased staff turnover, and lowered morale. If people in a particular area, society, or housing colony fall sick frequently or have aggressive tendencies, or if there is a lot of absenteeism in a company, then geopathic stress can be prevalent in that area. High rates of divorces, people falling seriously ill, and even unnatural deaths are all strong indicators of the presence of geopathic stress.
Effect on animals and plants: Different animal species are sensitive to geopathic stress in their environment in different ways. Horses, cows, pigs, and dogs fail to thrive when restrained in a geopathically stressed zone, whereas animals like cats, owls, and snakes are attracted to geopathic stress (a cat’s favourite place). Therefore, if your cat sleeps on your lap only when you are at a particular location, it may, in fact, be soaking up the negative energies in that spot. Bacteria, parasites, moulds, and viruses prosper in geopathically stressed areas.
Paige Amor, a passionate Australian geomancer, writes in her blog, “In plants, physical signs of geopathic stress include unusual growth, e.g., stunted growth, sick
Healing 75
Any disruption in the earth’s natural frequency of 7.83Hz generates harmful radiations detrimental to the health of human beings
plants, fruit trees that do not bear fruit, cancerous growth on tree trunks, and twisted, knotty, and awkward growth which is not the norm. Patches where plants don’t grow or die easily within a garden or even gaps in hedges are also an indication of a geopathic zone.”
Ways to detect geopathic stress
Detection is the foremost step in the process of getting rid of geopathic stress. There are several ways of detecting this stress. An ancient, valuable, and low-cost method for detecting geopathic stress is dowsing (also known as diving). A Y-shaped twig or rod, or two L-shaped ones (individually called a dowsing rod or divining rod) helps in identifying many stressed locations with the help of an expert.
The Lecher antenna is widely used by Vastu experts in detecting the geopathic zone. It was developed by an Austrian physicist, Ernst Lecher, and detects and measures various radiations present in a building or environment and identifies radiation based on their wavelengths.
Dealing with geopathic stress
There are many ways to deal with geopathic stress. Moving out of the stress zone, neutralising the disturbed energy, and strengthening your own energy are a few things that one can do to correct the effects of geopathic stress.
Repositioning or getting away from a geopathic zone: Getting away from the geopathic zone focuses on changing your
76 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
location of sleep. Talking about this, Dhara says, “The first and most practical solution is to reposition your furniture. If your bed, your desk, or your living room furniture (where you tend to spend a lot of time) happens to be in a geopathic stress area, you need to reposition it. If this is not possible or if the geopathic stress area is too big and covers most of your house, you must explore other solutions.”
Neutralising the energy of the area: There are many instruments available in the market that clear a home or an office from harmful vibrations. Geopathic tools such as space harmonisers, pyramids, energy plates, geo- resonators, and even devices that employ laser beams are used to protect the energy of a home. Crystals like kunzite, which is a highly protective crystal and helps deflect negative radiation; lepidolite, which has special properties to clear up electromagnetic smog, especially when placed close to electronic devices; and agate, a crystal that balances the positive and negative energies in the environment and helps maintain equilibrium, are also beneficial.
Earth acupuncture: Comparing earth acupuncture with human needling, Alanna Moore, an Australian master dowser with over 30 years of experience, says, “The idea of earth acupuncture is to detect as to where the Earth’s life force is either dammed up, excessive, stagnant, or deficient, and then the Earth acupuncture ‘needles’ such as metal stakes or pipes are inserted vertically into the ground. Special paramagnetic and other types of stones, amethyst crystal clusters, and copper coils can also be placed within the geopathic zone, which can harmonise the flow of energy.”
Personal strengthening: In today’s technologically advanced world, it has become almost impossible for us to escape the web of radiation. Thus, by keeping in mind a few things, one can lessen the exposure to electromagnetic radiation:
• The EMF fields weaken with distance from the source; therefore, before sleeping at night, make sure you keep your phone at least three ft away from your bed. Or if you have a choice, locate your home office as far as possible from your bedroom.
• Try not to use your cell phones in cars, planes, and elevators. Cell phones draw more power and emit more radiation in enclosed metal spaces.
• Choose high-quality EMF protection devices for your home or office. There are many EMF protection products on the market. Do your research and go for EMF protection products that are right for you.
There are also a wide variety of personal energy tools to help strengthen your energy and protect you from geopathic stress (as well as EMF radiation). These tools are made by using various types of technologies, materials, and designs. Most of the geopathic stress personal protection tools come as pendants made with crystals, silver, or gold. Some look very attractive and can be worn as jewellery, whereas some are worn unnoticed.
In the end, it is always great to get in touch with an expert and get this sorted professionally and effectively. We never know how many divorces, premature deaths, and illnesses can be avoided and relationships saved, just by detecting this stress.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Healing 77
SPIRIT
First things rst
Prioritise life over the economy, urges Suma Varughese There once was a time when we considered crucial? Because unless and fragmentary perspective that
had fresh air and water, when the food we ate was not poisoned, and we could trust that the products we bought would not give us death or disease. Today, the air we breathe is so polluted that millions are dying or falling ill, and not only is our water running out, but what we have is also heavily doctored. We are eating food laced with poisonous pesticides and fertilisers, buying packaged foods filled with dangerous chemicals, eating chickens pumped with hormones, and drinking milk similarly juiced up.
Our air conditioners and refrigerators are endangering the ozone layer, microwaves are shifting the molecular structure of the food we eat, and mobiles and Internet connectivity are causing grave damage, not just to us users but to the environment in general. We are destroying ourselves, our environment, all the animal species we share the planet with, and finally, Planet Earth itself.
How has this happened? Maybe it was something as basic as not knowing what matters and what does not.
there are enough jobs, no one will have the money to buy the goods and services on sale, which would mean a vicious cycle of spiralling job losses and factory closures. A serious issue, no doubt. But can it compare with the death of so many species? Or the devastation of the environment? Or the destruction of our Mother Planet?
India has been a spiritual culture since recorded history. Its civilization has lasted for over 5000years.Consideringthatour way of life has survived the long term, how about comparing the consumerist philosophy with our own?
All spiritual texts and masters, whether from Vedanta, Buddhism, Jainism, or Sikhism will tell you that desire is the root of evil and that our primary focus should be on reducing the hold of desire. The consumerist philosophy, on the contrary, encourages us to give in more and more to desire.
While Vedanta affirms that the less our desires, the greater our happiness, the consumerist philosophy points to the fulfilment of endless desires as the pathway to happiness.
And finally, while spirituality testifies that Oneness is the central truth of life, and, therefore, only a holistic perspective of life will ensure the welfare of the Whole, the consumerist philosophy
sees Nature as only a resource and mankind as labour.
Common sense will also tell you that you cannot have a model of infinite growth premised on a planet with finite resources. The consumerist philosophy ignores this entirely, except to retort that once this planet is used up, we can always shift to a new one!
Consumerism’s two guiding principles—spend, don’t save, and use and throw—are ethically and spiritually unsound. Spending without limits brings ruin and degradation in its wake, while using and throwing has converted the Planet into a giant garbage bin.
The writing on the wall is loud and clear. We need to wake up. We need to stop. We need to turn back. We need to be willing to let our jobs go. To let the economy tank. We will all suffer for a while. Maybe even a long while. But maybe we will eventually get back our water, our air, our soil, our wholesome food, and our animal and plant brothers and sisters. Letting go of our obsession with the economy may actually augur the spiritual age that alone can deliver us.
Suma Varughese is a thinker, writer, and former Editor-in- Chief of Life Positive. She also holds writer’s workshops. Write to her at sumavarughese@ hotmail.com.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
What matters most of all? Surely
life? By this, I mean life in general:
our lives, the lives of our animal,
plant, and mineral co-habitants
and the life of the Planet. Ask
economists and politicians the
same question, and they will say
that the most important thing is
the economy. Why is the economy embraces an extremely narrow
78 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
` 195/-
Bestselling author and Indiaʼs legendary Wiccan High Priestess
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What do tales speak about when they talk?
Is it of wishing spells,
or the way dinosaurs walk? What falls out
when you turn a page? Is it dwarf's wisdom,
or a giant's rage?
Pick up the book,
and hear it speak. Maybe it has answers that you seek.
About the Author
Bharat Shekhar lives in New Delhi.
He tries to write when he can, and doodles when he can't.
Hauntings
Reincarnation
True stories from recent times
Spirit Communication Possession A woman in Delhi remembers the hell which surrounded her at
an old sacred site in Kedarnath.
A radio in a Kolkata apartment reaches out and contacts spirits.
A murdered courtesan from centuries ago appears in a mirror at a Jaipur hotel.
These and many more stories delve into the deepest parts of man and spirit, bringing together science and the supernatural with legend and lore.
Other Stories
For the Body, Mind & Spirit www.lifepositive.com
` 195
Author Photo by Srabasti
For the Body, Mind & Spirit www.lifepositive.com
Psychic researcher and lawyer, Deepta is the daughter of Indiaʼs best known Wiccan Ipsita Roy Chakraverti. Deepta holds a first degree in Mathematics from the University of Delhi and a degree in law from Kingʼs College London. She is working in a legal capacity with an oil and energy major in India and is also General Secretary of The Wiccan Brigade. Deepta is the author of Bhangarh to Bedlam: Haunted Encounters.
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Code: E05
Cursed at Kedarnath & other Stories
Foreword by
Ipsita Roy Chakraverti
Cursed At Kedarnath &
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jsdh dh bl fo'odks'k tSlh foLr`r iqLrd esa] fo'o fo[;kr jsdh v/;kid vfuy HkVukxj us jsdh ls lacaf/kr lHkh egŸoiw.kZ fo’k;ksa ij ppkZ dh gS] tSls jsdh dh bl ;k=k dks dSls vkjaHk djsa] jsdh ds izkjafHkd vuqHko dSls yxrs gSa] gkFk dh gj ^iksft'ku* dSls dke djrh gS] bldk iz;ksx 150 ls Hkh vf/kd chekfj;ksa ds HkkoukRed dkj.k le>us o mudk mipkj djus ds fy, dSls fd;k tk ldrk gS vkSj dSls vki vius vkgkj vFkok igys ls py jgh vU; i)fr;ksa ds bykt dks jsdh fpfdRlk&i)fr ds lkFk lekosf'kr dj ldrs gSaA
oSKkfud izo`fr j[kus okys vfuy HkVukxj tks fdlh Hkh ckr ij vklkuh ls fo”okl ugha djrs] mudk Lo;a jsdh i)fr esa vkxeu cgqr lkjs la'k;ksa ds lkFk gqvk FkkA bl rjg bZekunkj lokyksa ds bZekunkj tokc [kkstrh mudh ;gh ryk'k mUgsa jsdh ds jgL;ksa dh xgjkbZ esa ys xbZA ;gh dkj.k gS fd mUgksaus iqLrd ds vkjaHk esa vius gh tSls oSKkfud lksp j[kus okys la'k;h ikBdksa ds fy, 30 ls Hkh vf/kd la'k;;qDr iz”uksa dk mrj fn;k gS rkfd tc os bls viuk,a] rks muds ikl ,slk djus ds fy, lgh dkj.k gksa vkSj muds fo'okl dh tM+sa ,d xgu oSKkfud le> esa n`<+rk ls lqjf{kr jgdj mUgsa vkthou izsfjr djrh jgsaA
ys[kd ds ckjs esa
vkbZvkbZVh fnYyh ls xzstq,V vfuy HkVukxj ,d vuqHkoh jsdh f”k{kd] ys[kd vkSj lkS ls Hkh vf/kd futh] cgqjk’Vah; ,oa lkoZtfud {ks=ksa dh daifu;ksa ds tkus&ekus dkWikZsjsV Vasuj gSaA blds vykok] og dbZ izca/ku laLFkkuksa esa ^foft+fVax QSdYVh* Hkh gSaA
vfuy HkVukxj ds “kCnksa vkSj rduhdksa esa Mk;ukekbV dh “kfDr gSA muds “kCnksa esa fufgr Kku]
tquwu vkSj Li’Vrk ftl rjg ls vkidh Lo&vkjksfir lhekvksa dks foLQksfVr djrs gq, ijr&nj&ijr vkids vanj ds lks, gq, “ksj dks txkrh gS& ml ij vki [kqn viuh vka[kksa ls ns[ks fcuk fo”okl ugha dj ik,axsA mudh fdlh Hkh dk;Z”kkyk esa Hkkx ysus ds ckn vki vius thou dks ml rjg ugha th ik,axs] tSls vc rd thrs vk, gSaA ;g yxHkx r; gSA
vR;f/kd fcØh okyh fdrkc ^fc;kWUM nh lhØsV* dh ysf[kdk czsUMk ckuZch us viuh bl iqLrd esa mUgsa 19 fo”oLrjh; vk/;kfRed ys[kdksa ds chp LFkku fn;k gSA O;kogkfjd mRd`’Vrk vkSj ÅtkZ fpfdRlk ds {ks= esa vius dk;Z vkSj ;ksxnku ds cy ij mUgsa bu fo’k;ksa ds varjkZ’Vah; ukeksa] tSls vk;jk psysQ] VkWe xhxsDl] MkW- fofy;e dkWVfjaxj] MkW- czk;u lhxy vkSj MkW- fØLVhvku ukWFkZji dh vksj ls cgqr ls iz”kalk i= izkIr gq, gSaA
og ^VkbEl vkWQ bf.M;k* esa LraHkdkj gSa vkSj Vsyhfot+u ds jk’Vah; usVodZ pSuy ij ^bZofuax ykbo “kks* esa O;kogkfjd eqÌksa ij ,d fo”ks’kK ds rkSj ij dbZ ckj vkeaf=r fd;s tk pqds gSaA blds vfrfjDr ^Vhe bUVsfytUl* ds vkfo’dkjd ds :i eas og vesfjdk esa dbZ ^oschukj* dj pqds gSaA
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POSITIVE FOCUS
Art and Science of Understanding Myself
It had been a tiring, stressful week at work. Meetings, deadlines and deliverables had left me fatigued – physically and mentally. As I drove towards the venue for a two-day spiritual retreat organised by Mahagathe foundation, I had conflicting thoughts in my mind. Do I really need to attend this two-day program on self-actualisation? There are so many things to do over the weekend. I need to catch up on sleep too. I remembered the motivational model that I had learnt as a part of my MBA curriculum - Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, ranging from basic physiological needs to social and esteem needs. At the top of the pyramid lay “self-actualisation”, a desire to become everything one can become. Back then I had found it an esoteric concept. “Let me fulfill the needs at the lower level first. Let me get rich first. Then I would think about self-actualisation”, I had said to myself. More
than self-actualisation, it was my urge to learn meditation that had made me enroll for the two- day programme.
The retreat started on a Friday evening in the presence of our venerable Mahamuni, Sritha Mahagatha, introducing “SAY” to all participants. This was followed by prayers, chanting and meditation. By the time I opened my eyes after the session, I had started to feel lighter already and so had other participants. Such was the power of Gurudev’s presence around us.
Over the course of the next two days, Gurudev combined the ancient wisdom of the Vedas with tools and techniques of modern psychology that helped me in understanding the essence of “Self-actualisation,” at a deeper, metaphysical level. Days were packed with sessions that included a blend of theoretical concepts and practical techniques. What I particularly liked were the deep dive sessions to gain awareness of your own Self, and in that process, learn new concepts and unlearn the irrelevant ones. These sessions were interspersed with meditative tips and techniques that I had personally never experienced before. One of these was Samatha Kriya, an extraordinary technique to bring back one pointed awareness and unwavering attention in a matter of few seconds. Combining the power of the breath with hatha Yoga, Samatha Kriya harmonises the body and mind instantly.
Yet, the uniqueness of the two-day retreat lies in “Dhyanbari” meditation, a unique practice with its roots in ancient Hinduism, taught by the Master himself. Focusing predominantly on the seven chakras ranging from Muladhara to Sahasrara chakra, this powerful practice is
80 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
designed to awaken the different chakras in our body. As I chanted and meditated in the presence of Gurudev, I experienced energy (kundalini) rising within my body, from the base of my spine to my forehead. It was a unique, indescribable experience. The constant chatter that surrounded me had transcended into a deeper silence.
It has been a year since I attended SAY as a participant. I practise Dhyanbari mediation every day in the morning and it keeps me going through the day. SAY has helped me in different ways. I feel less stressed and fatigued at work. On the personal front, it has helped me heal and overcome the anxiety that I had been experiencing because of a recent surgery. It has made me a more relaxed person. Most importantly, SAY has also helped me understand Self-actualisation. Self-actualisation is not for the poor or the rich. It is not even a goal to be reached. It is the fundamental tendency of every organism to actualise its whole potential. And who would not want to achieve that?
In the course of the last one year, I have also been involved in other programms that Mahagathe Foundation offers. This includes the Bala Chetana programme designed specifically for children in the age group of 11 to 17 years and introduces them to Sanatana Dharma in a fun filled, interactive environment. Children spend
a day with facilitators trained by Gurudev and are introduced to concepts like God, prayer and religion through engaging activities like dumb charades and treasure hunt. The programme also introduces some simple yoga techniques that the children can practise at their homes.
Apart from the flagship programmes of SAY and Bala Chetana that are currently offered in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, Mahagathe Foundation also offers volunteering opportunities in Bengaluru and Nepal to serve different sections of society. Under the Adhyaya programme that intends to provide basic education to children of the poor and underprivileged, Mahagathe foundation is sponsoring wages of four additional teachers at schools for underprivileged children in Rupandehi district of Nepal. These schools are located in close vicinity of Mahagathe Ashram situated in Sisahaniya village - a small hamlet around 18 kilometers from Butwal, the provincial capital and around 18 kilometers from Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.
To know more about our activities, to participate and to volunteer and donate, you can visit the website of Mahagathe foundation at http://www.mahagathe.org/.
Samatha. Aum Mahagathe Sohum.
Positive Focus 81
This dates back to two-three years when I was attending a training session at Pune. It was a residential training programme and I was provided accommodation with two other candidates. One of them was from Rajkot and soon we got talking. She began revealing her life to me. Usually, I offer solutions to people, but here I had nothing to offer as her problem was totally different. After three days when the training was over, we separated with a promise to stay in touch.
In the same month I came across some information on candle work and began my experiments with it. I was then transferred to a new department at work. The lights, the place, everything appeared clean and good. However, I always felt a strange fear in that place. I experimented with candle work to remove this fear from my mind and I succeeded. The breakthrough was empowering, and I felt elated and accomplished.
On one occasion I visited my mother who is normally upset with everything around her. I tried some new candle work techniques on her and observed her behaviour become positive instantly.
Again, during my initial days of experimenting, I had tried to heal my uncle, who has a drinking problem. I was happy after the success of the first 15 days, but his addiction relapsed, after 15th days, I experimented again with a different geometric design and spacing of candles but his addiction aggravated almost immediately, and I had to undo the effect the same day.
This proved to me that changes happen at the energy level and that the results are instant in candle therapy. This also made me aware of the power of the elements of nature, which have the capacity to create or destroy the entire existence. This unlimited energy can be harnessed by creating connections with these elements. This is the reason why we observe certain rituals in the
Hindu religion, where we pray to Mother Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Space.
In candle healing, our main focus is on vibrations and intent. Every matter is composed of energy vibrating at a particular frequency. Whenever there is a disturbance in this energy the matter is also disturbed. Through the candle healing technique, we can heal this energy and thereby the matter. We harness the unique property of fire to consume everything it comes into contact with, while healing through candle work.
Any person suffering from depression, stress, fear, anger, worry, trauma, grief, or anxiety can be cured quickly by technically lighting the candle. It’s that easy! Even a normally healthy person practising this technique will start feeling peaceful, joyful and elated. This method enables a person to reach his highest potential and maintain it with regular practice.
Life has become a wonderful journey for me after entering the world of candle healing. I am more in control of myself, my self-awareness has increased, and my understanding has changed with respect to life and its equations. This technique also helped me heal my relationship with my family members and colleagues, and take it to the next level.
The course is divided into three levels. First is of Self-healing, where all negative energies are released, and positivity is conserved. The release happens instantaneously, making this technique very effective. The second level is of healing others like your near and dear ones. If they are disturbed, or stressed they create disturbance in the rest of the family making it essential to heal them. The third level is of manifestations. It is a ritualistic level where we integrate all the elements of nature to manifest our desires.
Candle Therapy
Sanjana Chavan • Contact: 9967111150
82
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REVELATIONS
Psychology meets spirituality
When the soul heals
Author: Pulkit Sharma Publisher: Auro Publications Pages:205
275
Annesha Banerjee
Many a time, our emotions take control of us and rule our actions. Anger, doubt, sadness, jealousy, fear, and other strong emotions deter us from changing our lives for the better. One notices that despite having a wealthier, more secure, and technologically advanced lifestyle, there is widespread discontent. The
human psychology of perceiving things has transformed over the decades, and so has the study itself. When the soul heals outlines the current scenario of modern psychology and explores its spiritual aspect.
Pulkit Sharma, a clinical psychologist and spiritual counsellor, has compiled this book based on his personal observations and years of experience. It offers readers an insight into their own minds and possible underlying explanations for their behaviour. He has analysed the role of spirituality in psychology, using perspectives from Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Judaism, Baha’ism, Zoroastrianism, and the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, along with the revelations of various other spiritual masters. Divided into eleven parts, the book delves into prevalent issues such as stress, anger, addictions, depression, beauty obsessions, anxiety, grief, and caregiver burden. In each part, the book
carefully analyses the current understanding of the given problem and then goes on to inspect the spiritual pathway to heal.
Pulkit has quoted various researches in the field of psychology and how they have paved new ways through discoveries and revelations. When the soul heals discusses the causes of stress from a broader perspective, where materialistic possessions create a feeling of constant dissatisfaction. Overreaction, low tolerance levels, and narcissism are a few factors that increase the level of stress in the masses.
One of the most beneficial messages the book tries to convey is that one should learn to detach oneself from superficial endeavours. Real- life inspirational stories, step- by-step strategies, and guided meditations are provided to help readers experience self- transformation in its truest sense.
86 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
When Life Cartwheels:
Tumultuous Love Story of a Sannyasi
Author: Raj Supe Publisher: Platinum Press Pages: 366
349
Rishi Rathod
Raj Supe’s novel opens with the sannyasi (renunciate) protagonist, Shaman, expressing his view of Jaydev—the 12th- century poet known for his devotional masterpiece Geet Govindam. Shaman believes that Jaydev is not a man of spiritual merit, let alone one of towering spiritual accomplishments, as considered by many. He may be considered a man of letters who had a way with sexual metaphors that are used to describe
transcendental realities, but he is definitely not a man who has anything of value to teach to a monk or a celibate anchorite who has renounced all desires.
Shaman reminds the reader of the old Sufi proverb: ‘We become that which we mock.’ He, who has been a favourite disciple of the Guru—an evolved sannyasi, a champion in articulating subtle spiritual concepts and experiences, a devout sadhak (spiritual aspirant), and chief- to-be of the ashram—falls in love with a girl much younger than him, leaves the ashram, gets married to her, and loses her. The story is structured as a conversation between two friends. It is about the heartbreaking journey and the struggles of a monk who believes that he has overcome desires and attachment. But, when life shows the mirror, he realises who he is and how arduous the journey is.
In quite a dramatic way, we see how the circle of life completes for a sannyasi. First, Shaman feels that he is torn apart between his duties, the spiritual vows, and the desire to be with the young girl, Shambhavi. Feeling
confused, frustrated, and guilt- ridden, he hurts her and accuses her of seducing him.
In due course, however realisation hits him like a sledgehammer. He concedes that he is in love with her but has stubbornly refused to see it for what it is. The union lasts for only a few months and, finally, we see the pain of separation that he has to bear. For the first time, he feels the bottomless depth of pain which he never experienced before. But, in the end, the guru’s grace prevails.
There are interesting moments of sheer confusion, anger, frustration, guilt, and clarity, which I lived while absorbing his story, and my heart sank when he was enduring the pain of separation. The only concern I have is that the book should have been two-thirds of what it is now.
If a profound understanding of the inherent struggle between maya (the snare that keeps us entangled in the world) and Ram (the transcendental reality beyond) is what you seek, then this is one book you have to read.
But the esh is weak
Revelations 87
BANYAN TREE
TEACHING STORY
A POSITIVE DISPOSITION
A little girl walked daily to and from school. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trip to school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning.
The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and feared that the electrical storm might harm her child. On hearing the roar of thunder and lightning through the sky and full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child’s school. As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile. Subsequent flashes were to follow quickly, each with the little girl stopping, looking up, and smiling.
Finally, the mother called over to her child and asked, “What are you doing?”
The child answered, smiling, “God just keeps taking pictures of me.”
ROY T. BENNET
THIS, I KNOW
• Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make, makes you. Choose wisely.
• Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.
• Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.
• More smiling, less worrying. More compassion, less judgment. More blessed, less stressed. More love, less hate.
• Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams according to your vision and purpose instead of the expectations and opinions of others.
• Life becomes easier and more beautiful when we can see the good in other people.
QUOTE
The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and the acceptance of love.
—Marianne Williamson
88 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
INSPIRATION
LIFE’S TEST
Life is just a testing time
While we are here on Earth
The pain and grief, the obstacles Are all to try our worth
It’s very hard not to succumb When things are getting tough But you must fight and overcome Just coping is not enough
For living is really wonderful The good times and the bad Who’d appreciate the happy days
ONE-MINUTE WISDOM
A CHOICE
If they’d never known the bad Listen to the birds at dawn Or watch a rose unfurl Gaze on a baby’s sleeping face Or touch a tiny curl So when you’re feeling down and out Your spirit is depressed Just look around at everything With which you have been blessed —Anonymous
Once a beggar asked Ibrahim ibn Al Adham for charity, but instead, Ibrahim offered him a job with a trusted merchant and asked him to travel and sell some merchandise in another city.
A few days later, Ibrahim found the beggar still in a miserable condition. Surprised, he asked him about the matter. The beggar informed him: “While travelling, I found a blind eagle in the desert, and I was very curious how it got food though it was blind. I observed it for some time, and, to my big surprise, another eagle came and fed it. Thus, I said to myself: ‘The one who took care of that blind eagle in this desert will also take care of me!’ I returned to the city and gave the merchant back his goods.
Ibrahim, after reflection, asked him, “But tell me, why did you choose to be the blind eagle and not the other one who could fly, chase, and take care of others?”
JUST FOR LAUGHS
COMMANDMENTS
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five- and six-year-olds. After explaining the commandment to “honour thy father and thy mother,” she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, “Thou shall not kill.”
Banyan Tree
89
Jamuna Rangachari
Former assistant editor of Life Positive, Jamuna Rangachari has authored two books for children, and compiled and interpreted Teaching Stories-I and II for Life Positive
Naini Setalvad
Naini Setalvad is a nutritionist specialising in lifestyle
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Uma Valluri
Uma Valluri is a travel, driving, reading and cycling enthusiast. She likes to
share the spiritual and psychological tools for a happy living through her blog and coaching sessions
Gurjas Kaur Chahal
Gurjas Kaur Chahal is a voracious reader and a writer by hobby. She enjoys reading the works of renowned authors, children’s books, fables, scriptures and non- fiction. Her other interests are travelling, playing guitar and keeping fit
Pradeep Krishnan
Pradeep Krishnan is a
seeker based in Trivandrum, Kerala. He is a student of consciousness, and is deeply attracted to the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
Anupam Srivastava
Anupam Srivastava, director of Insight Life Coaching Services, is a UK-based social worker and a counselling practitioner. Working extensively over 33 years in child protection and fostering with thousands of damaged children and adults, he has mastered the science of transforming them into fully functional individuals
90 LifePositive | OCTOBER 2019
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