Life Positive May Issue

www.lifepositive.com
` 100
YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMPANION
May 2020
Be Quarantine Happy
Make the most of your isolation
COVID-19:
Mother Nature’s message to mankind
PAGE 23
Guruspeak:
Sister BK Shivani
PAGE 36
PAGE 57
Contemplative
devotion:
A path which merges bhakti with jnana
PAGE 12




No free will;only divine will
Dear Reader,
We are in the midst of extraordinary times. Who would have thought that 2020 would usher in unprecedented circumstances, bringing even the giants of this world to their knees! The novel coronavirus scare, gripping the entire globe, has turned all the equations on their head, suspending all the mega-plans and operations of mankind, as it gapes helplessly before the might of Nature.
It’s ironic that only two months ago, in my Editspeak, I had bemoaned the state of Nature as ruined by man. And lo and behold, it has taken back its power from us in quick rapid moves. In a way, it is humbling to see that a greater power commands the fate of human beings, who had begun to consider themselves as owners of Mother Earth. As humanity reels under this challenge and looks for ways to overcome it, it is heartening to see that its best too is surfacing with equal zeal and vigour in these trying times. Doctors, nurses, and paramedics are working round the clock to ensure that the contagion is contained and the affected are cured. People are coming forward to donate or to help the needy in their own way. For the first time, money, commerce, and self-interests have taken a backseat in people’s dealings, and the sacred duty to help humanity, as well as animals, is taking centre stage. Since the enemy does not have a face, situations often spin out of control, but the collective will of the people to stay united against the challenge is giving a tough fight to the contagion.
Nations are forgetting their differences and rallying in support of each other to battle the invisible enemy. Meanwhile, Mother Earth is healing and recouping. The skies, water, and air have never been clearer, and her animal children are breathing a sigh of relief as human meddling in their lives has stopped. While we have enough to worry about in terms of
our future as well as the present, if we could see the levelling hand of the Divine in all this, we will know that we are in safe hands.
Have a happy May!
LP mascot: Laughing Buddha
- Editor
Edit 3
May 2020 Vol. 24  Issue 02  Price ` 100
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Editor: Shivi Verma
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losZ HkoUrq lqf[ku~%] losZlUrq fujke;k%
losZ Hknzkf.k i’;Urq] ekdf’pn~nq%[kHkkd~Hkosr!
May all beings be happy, May all be healthy, May people have the well-being of all in mind, May nobody suffer in any way. — Vedic prayer
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Member, Indian Newspaper Society


23
LEAD STORY
COVID-19: Mother Nature’s Messenger
Rishi Rathod explores the spiritual significance of the arrival of the coronavirus and the wisdom it brings to the human race
12
HEARTSPEAK
Contemplative devotion
The paths of devotion and knowledge can be amalgamated to reach the Divine, says Badal Suchak
17
CLOSE ENCOUNTER
Doctor Divine
Dr Chandrasekhara Udupa is providing spiritual succour to humanity through Vivekananda’s teachings and guidance
37
FOOD
Build the fighter in you
Overcome the onslaughts of virulent pathogens through an immunity-building diet
04 LifePositive | MAY 2020
COVER STORY


40
ISF REPORT
Music, laughter, love, and healing
Life Positive ISF 2020 was a magical mix of eclectic workshops and engaging sessions lead by dynamic facilitators
49
DISCOVERY
The Maitreya arrives
The author shares his experience of inner fulfillment and the much-needed transformation in the presence of Maitreya Dadashreeji
57
FREEDOM
Cash in on your Quarantine
Intelligent tips and tricks on how to make the most of our quarantine days
REGULAR COLUMNS
Response Mandala Guruspeak Aha-moments
07 Journey 09 Mudra 36 Sharing
56 Positive Focus 68 61 Revelations 69 63 Banyan Tree 71 66
48
Spirit
Cover photo: Adobe Stock, Photo credit: Adobe Stock, Cover design: Sandeep Kumar
Total pages 75, including the cover page and the back cover
Contents 05


Life Posi ve covers the expanse of spirituality, personal growth, posi ve thinking, holis c health and alterna ve systems of healing. Life Posi ve is packaged in such a way that keeps in mind the reader’s bene t in day-to-day life
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YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMPANION
THE POWER OF SMALL
14 faces driving social change in India
How smaller sanghas are unleashing a tidal wave of positive changes across the country
` 100
April 2020
OUR ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
Alterna ve therapies refer to a list of holis c (mind-body-spirit) healing therapies such as energy healing, meta-physical prac ces (Tarot, Astrology, etc.), spiritual growth prac ces, and alterna ve medicine prac ces (Ayurveda, Naturopathy, etc.). The word “alterna ve therapies” implies that these prac ces are a natural alterna ve to tradi onal allopathic prac ces.
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RESPONSE
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YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMPANION
THE POWER OF SMALL
14 faces driving social change in India
How smaller sanghas are unleashing a tidal wave of positive changes across the country
` 100
April 2020
Moved by Suma’s SPIRIT
Mail from our readers, online fans and subscribers
I was overwhelmed reading Suma Varughese’s column in the March 2020 issue of Life Positive. I feel that unless the metaphysical dimension is made available to a person, they will squander their energy in the material dimension, which includes sensory pleasure and gratification. We should also endeavour to make spiritual knowledge a part of the school curriculum (irrespective of religion).
Life Positive is splendidly serving society by integrating all spiritual paths in their publication. Rajnish Kumar Gunjan
Empathy for Alzheimer’s patients
During my visit to India, I read the article Love conquers Alzheimer’s in your January 2020 issue. (It was my first exposure to LifePositive.) It’s a beautiful, sentimental article. Being in the healthcare industry, I know how difficult it is to be a patient as well as a caregiver, especially of terminally ill patients and people suffering from a devastating condition like Alzheimer’s. It takes an emotional and physical toll on everyone.
I would like to give thanks and kudos to Ms Aruna Joshi for being so patiently understanding with her mother-in-law. Also, I would like to mention that everyone is not so lucky like her mother-in-law to have the entire family’s support. Many people don’t even have a family member to look after them. They are at an institution at the caregiver’s mercy, and sadly, they don’t even recognise it. Om healing.
Uma Bagadia, MT(ASCP), MBA, CCA Certified Clinical Aromatherapist
Response 07


Anniversary issue inspires!
The April 2020 Anniversary issue was simply fabulous. I read the digital version of it and was pleased to know about so many real-life heroes doing great work to uplift humanity and mitigate human suffering. People like Rishabh Turakhiya, Nnaumrata Aurora Singh,Naini Setalvad, and Nirmala Mehendale testify that to do good, one simply has to listen to one’s heart and do its bidding.
Each and every article was inspirational and deeply motivational to read.
For the past many years, I have been thinking of starting a community kitchen to serve the needy in my area, but the idea gets postponed due to a lack of self-belief, doubts, and inertia. What I realise by reading these articles is that one must not think too much after getting an idea but start work on it as soon as possible, no matter how small.
I hope to put my idea into practice with no further delays. Many thanks to Life Positive for coming up with a brilliant anniversary idea.
Ramanand Khetan svia email
Being more responsible as a community
I was deeply touched to read the cover story Small sangha,big support by Shivi Verma in the April 2020 Anniversary issue. How true it is that, as a community, we believe more in others doing their bit to fit in the structure created by us, rather than focussing on how much the community can do to serve its members. We do need to rethink our idea of a community and make it more accepting and positive.
I was touched to read her personal account of benefitting from an intentional community at a time when she needed the support of empathetic people. I feel if we judge less and understand more, we can create a much healthier society.
We also need to be more mindful of what we talk about with each other while interacting. Our negative beliefs catch on fast, entrenching them in people’s minds, which often result in deep biases and prejudices about others.
Sumana Rathod via email.
08
LifePositive | MAY 2020


MANDALA
Sanitising the thoughts
Living through a pandemic is difficult and stressful. Most
of us are quarantined, managing our activities
from home, staying out
of the virus’s way, and
keeping our health safe.
It isn’t just our physical
health that needs to be
looked after but also
our mental health. Our
mind feeds on thoughts
and guides our actions
throughout the day. With
limited exposure to the outside
world, one tends to be consumed by
the worrisome news filtering into their life through various channels, plunging them into a world of uncertainty and restlessness. It is easy for one to fall prey to anxiety and despair during this time.
The WHO has released guidelines for people to maintain a healthy mental and psychological condition:
• Follow a healthy diet: Since our immune system is our best defence against the virus, it is imperative that all of us follow a healthy diet plan including all the micro- and macronutrients.
• Maintain a sense of routine: Follow the familiar routines or create new ones. Exercise daily as it has a direct impact on your mental well-being, and indulge in fun and creative things apart from working and watching TV.
Maintain a healthy mental and psychological condition for yourself and others
• Limit your news intake: A near-constant stream of news reports about an outbreak cancauseanyonetofeel anxious or distressed. It is important to seek information and updates at specific times from health professionals, but one should avoid following or spreading unverified updates. Read about the positive news—feed your
mind good thoughts.
• Be kind to yourself and others: Don’t judge yourself if you feel unsettled, lonely, or frustrated.Add micro-lifts in your routine to do something that generates a sense of achievement.
• Move away from your screens: Whether you are working or enjoying a game or a movie, don’t spend long hours sitting in front of screens and using your smartphone devices. The blue light from them can disrupt your sleep and overall well-being.
• Stay connected: Be in touch with your friends and family. Seek and extend help. We are all in this together.
• Explore the present moment: Notice your breathing as well as your surroundings. Look around and notice what you see, hear, touch, and smell. Right now. Be grateful for all that you have right now.
Mandala 09


Dadi Janki leaves for her heavenly abode
“When there is a change in you, others are inspired to bring a change in themselves,” said Dadi Janki, who herself changed thousands of lives through her enigmatic presence and wise words at the Brahma Kumari centre. Sadly, the magnificent soul left for her heavenly abode on March 27, 2020 at 2 a.m. in Mount Abu, India. She was 104 years old.
One was enamoured by her powerful and authoritative voice which diligently rang out with three ‘Om Shantis.’ Dadi was a tireless server who guided people from all walks of life to realise the ‘soul’ purpose of human existence and work together towards a collective consciousness and world transformation. She dedicated her whole life to serving humanity as a companion of God.
Born on 1 January 1916, in the northern Indian province of Sindh, now in Pakistan, Dadi Janki was spiritually inclined since her childhood. She used to listen to Ramcharitmanas recited by her father and uncle and learnt about Sukhmani Sahib from one of her neighbours. When she was a teenager, she got to know about Brahma Baba who was the founder of Brahma Kumaris. Dadi was motivated to go on the path of spirituality, but her family resisted
her decision. Later, she took a bold decision of leaving her marriage and joining
the Brahma Kumaris
to serve society. After
Dada Lekhraj’s (fondly remembered as Brahma
Baba) and Brahma Kumari Mateshwari’s
(Dadi Janki’s spiritual mentor) death, the huge responsibility of running the organisation and continuing its
legacy fell upon Dadi’s shoulders, along with other elderly Brahma Kumaris. She became the chief administrator and spiritual head of the organisation in 2007.
According to people who knew her closely, Dadi was like an electrician who knew how to connect the wires to the right place to let the current flow. When Dadi was with someone, she made them feel special and nobody else mattered in that moment. She always asked her followers to consider three questions; “Who am I?”, “Who do I belong to?”, and “What is the task of this time?”
She spread the philosophy of the Brahma Kumaris known on a global scale by taking its spiritual services to the West. Somewhere around 1974, she inaugurated the first overseas Brahma Kumari centre in London. Today, the Brahma Kumaris Spiritual Organisation has more than 8,500 established centres in over 130 countries, and the credit largely goes to Rajyogini Dadi Janki. She can also be attributed for being a key figure in establishing the Brahma Kumaris as the world’s largest
women-run spiritual organisation. In 1978, scientists at the Medical and Science Research Institute at the University of Texas, USA, declared her as the ‘most stable mind in the world’ based on the brain wave pattern she projected. She was also appointed as the brand ambassador of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious project
‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.’
Dadi Janki dedicated her whole life to serving humanity as a companion of God
10 LifePositive | MAY 2020


Mind Mastery Breakthrough
Our life is our own manifestation: the achievements, the problems, the good and the bad days have all been attracted to us by our thoughts and beliefs. The affirmations that we crowd our mind with, unknowingly, on a daily basis, bring us the desired or undesired things in life. Career, money, relationships—all the roadblocks that we encounter in these aspects and others have their roots in the subconscious mind.
Nitin Mohan Lal, an author, NLP coach, motivational speaker, and reiki grandmaster, says, “Consciously, we are all aware of the things we need to do to maintain a healthy body, to improve our social and professional life, but we still don’t follow through these things. The reason lies in the fact that the knowledge of our conscious hasn’t been absorbed by our subconscious.” Speaking to the participants in his workshop, Mind Mastery Breakthrough, he compared the human body to an organisation where the conscious and the subconscious mind act as two departments of the
same company. He says, “It is of utmost importance that the two departments communicate smoothly
for the growth and betterment of the organisation. But most of the time,
our conscious and subconscious are
in conflict, leading
to a confusion in the signals and vibrations that we send out to the Universe.”
We experience our lives through our audio, visual, olfactory, and kinaesthetic powers. Owing to our past experiences, we distort events in our minds, thereby creating a new event different from the first one. It is in the second event where our pains, fears, phobias, beliefs, and memories come into play. Nitin says, “We fluctuate from positive and negative states all through our lives through the series of events that occur in our lives. And these fluctuations are caused by our thoughts and perceptions. Recognising the unhappy state and knowing how to transition from there to the happy state is the key.”
According to Nitin, our diseases are a reaction to these states our mind fluctuates between. Science researchers say that an average person releases the same amount of adrenaline when faced with a lion as one would on receiving a Facebook notification. So, when our blood pressure fluctuates, there is nothing wrong with our body; it is a mere reaction to a situation that
has triggered us in some way. Therefore, it is not the disease that needs to be treated but the thought, the thing that is being triggered so that there is nothing left
to trigger.
Everything indeed originates in our minds. So let’s guard our thoughts.
Nitin Mohan Lal is an author, NLP coach, motivational speaker, and reiki
grandmaster
Mandala 11


HEARTSPEAK
Contemplative devotion
Badal Suchak’s exploration of the paths of devotion and knowledge brings him to the understanding that, in reality, both the paths are not exclusive of each other
12 LifePositive | MAY 2020


Akha Bhagat describes bhakti as a bird whose two wings are wisdom and renunciation. This bird flies in the sky of consciousness when she sees with the vision provided by the Sadhguru.
W hat are you doing here? You are a man from the Bhakti Marg, the path of devotion?” To my surprise, the assistant teacher at the meditation retreat questioned me thus after having interacted with me for a few days. I was a bit stunned at the unexpected remark, as I was enjoying the silent meditation retreat. It came like the blow of a Zen master’s keisaku stick. I heard him out and decided to allow myself time to understand
my path.
On another occasion, a cousin had invited me to attend a satsang (spiritual gathering) on Shrimad Bhagavatam. I sat there, silently enjoying the spiritual discourse and joined in singing the chorus of the kirtan (devotional songs). At the end of the satsang, my cousin came up to me and said, “You seemed to be meditating, sitting quietly during the satsang!”
Dichotomy
It made me wonder: “When I visit a meditation centre, I am told that I look like I am from the bhakti marg, and when I go for bhakti-based satsang, I am told that I seem to be meditating, following the path of knowledge, the Gyan Marg!
Being a novice on the spiritual path in my early twenties, I’d hear out people’s comments and continue my explorations. I enjoy contemplating in meditative silence and also love joining in the devotional chanting. I wondered, are these two, the path of knowledge and the path of devotion, separate paths? I decided to ask my meditation teacher on my next retreat.
She said, “Choose one path. Don’t mix up both. Practise meditation in the morning and practise bhakti in the evening. Eventually, the practice which is good for you will stay with you and the other one will drop.”
I started practising as per her instructions and gave myself enough time while continuing my spiritual explorations.
Collapsing polarities
Visiting my grandmother was always a lovely experience, imbibing her age-old wisdom and soaking in her gentle love. She had turned almost blind with advancing age. Every morning, after getting ready, I’d notice her sitting quietly on the sofa for half an hour. Curious, I asked her one day what she was
Heartspeak 13


Malgamated to reach the Divine. True bhakti does lead
to jnana (spiritual knowledge), and all jnana is incomplete without bhakti.
doing, sitting in silence every day. Happily, she shared, “Since I am unable to
see clearly now, I cannot light a diya (lamp) and incense at the altar and practise the daily ritual in service of God. So, I have devised my own way to do my daily rituals. In my imagination, I have created a beautiful temple of Radha Krishna. Every morning, while sitting on the sofa, I imagine myself going to this temple with a thali (metal tray) of pooja (ritual worship) offering for Radha and Krishna. Every day I dress up Radha and Krishna in different- coloured ensembles. Then I adorn them with different types of jewellery and offer them prasad (sweet offering) of a variety of sweets. I mentally light a lamp and perform the aarti (ritual worship). This is my daily mental worship.”
Convergence
What a wonderful combination of wisdom and devotion!
I also came across a devotional hymn, Shiv Manas Pooja, which is a mental worship of Shiva.
I sense that the paths of wisdom and devotion can converge at some point and one can have a practice which blends both in some way. Tulsidasji in Ramcharit Manas sings the glory of Hanumanji, praising him as a Gyani- Bhakt, a wise devotee.
Ancient philosophy
My explorations led me to the schools of thought in Vedanta philosophy. The sutras or aphorisms of Vyasa are the basis of Vedantic philosophy. These sutras have been variously explained by different commentators. From these interpretations have arisen several schools of philosophy, viz., the Kevala Advaita philosophyofSriSankaracharya,thephilosophy of Qualified Monism or Visishtadvaita of Sri Ramanujacharya, the Dvaita philosophy of Sri Madhvacharya, the Bhedabheda philosophy of Sri Nimbarkacharya, the Suddha Advaita philosophy of Sri Vallabhacharya, the Achintya Bhedabheda philosophy of Sri Chaitanya, and the Siddhanta philosophy of Sri Meykandar.
These are very deep and complex philosophies which I find difficult to grasp, and I am still in the process of understanding them. Sri Nimbarkacharya’s philosophy of Bhedabheda Dvaitadvaita or dualistic non-dualism is what I intuitively connect with as he supports the Path of Devotion leading to Self-surrender and also speaks of salvation that can be attained by gaining true knowledge.
The Divine Bird
Complex teachings can be made simple only by the grace of one’s guru. My guru quoted a couplet in Gujarati by Akha Bhagat, whose seeking led to poetic expression, clearing all my doubts:
“Bhai, Bhakti jehevipankhni, jehne Gyan Vairagya be pankhche,
14 LifePositive | MAY 2020


Bhakti is like a bird flying in the sky of consciousness, whose two wings are wisdom and renunciation
ChidakashmahetejUde, jehne Sadguru rupi ankh che.”
Akha Bhagat describes bhakti as a bird whose two wings are wisdom and renunciation. This bird flies in the sky of consciousness when she sees with the vision provided by the Sadhguru.
Akha Bhagat was a goldsmith by profession. For me, he is an alchemist who transformed the darkness of my doubts into luminous clarity
by showing me the Path of Contemplative Devotion with the analogy of this divine bird.
I’ve concluded that there is no set path to the Divine. Rather, a variety of ways can be employed or even amalgamated to reach the Divine. True bhakti does lead to jnana (spiritual knowledge), and all jnana is incomplete without bhakti. A real devotee can worship at the altar, as well as do deep meditation or contemplation simultaneously.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Heartspeak 15


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CLOSE ENCOUNTER
Doctor divine
Pradeep Krishnan
introduces us to
Dr Chandrasekhara Udupa, who, through his devotion to Swami Vivekananda, has provided spiritual succour to humanity
17 LifePositive | MAY 2020


S ince my initiation into spirituality in Swami Vivekananda as Guruji, he did intense
1990 by Swami Tapasyananda of Sri
Ramakrishna Math, in the course of my travels, I always make it a point to visit the local Sri Ramakrishna Ashram, not only as a mark of respect to the Guru Parampara (lineage of gurus) but also to spend some quality time in meditation. During a visit to the Sri Krishna Temple in Udupi, Karnataka, in 2019, when I came to know that Dr Chandrasekhara Udupa (a physician by profession), has established the Divine Park, a centre dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, Ma Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda, in Saligrama, a village about 20 Km north of Udupi, I decided to visit the place.
On reaching the spot, I was welcomed and taken around the campus by Sri Srinivas, a naturopath and a disciple of Dr Udupa. After paying obeisance to the several deities housed in the campus, I meditated for sometime in front of the statues of Sri Ramakrishna and Ma Sarada in the spacious Dhyana Mandir. Later, I was taken to the nearby house cum clinic of Dr Udupa, where he lives with his family. Sitting in his modest consultation room, adorned by a huge portrait of Swami Vivekananda, he talked about his unique spiritual journey.
Born on 15 March 1951 to Sri Krishna Udupa and Smt Yamuna, right from the age of 10, he showed an intense desire to know God. Later, while studying for MBBS at Government Medical College, Mysore, thanks to his close acquaintance with Swami Jagadatmananada of Ramakrishna Mission, the young Chandrasekhar developed an intense love for Swami Vivekananda. After initiation by Swami Vireshwarananda (the then global president of the math), on September 12 1970, revering
tapasya (penance), yearning for His darshan (grace through His presence), which he finally received in the form of a vision.
This incident completely transformed the young Udupa, and he frequently started getting Guruji’s visions, providing answers to spiritual and mundane queries. After completing the course, though he wanted to join the Ramakrishna Math as a monk, on Guruji’s advice to follow the pravritti marga (the path of grihastha) in a vision, he became a householder, practising his profession.
Soon, people started coming to Dr Udupa, seeking solutions to their spiritual and material matters. He put all these questions to Guruji during meditation, and the answers received were communicated to the needy. “When the number of such people increased day by day, I had to spend most of my time in meditation, seeking solutions from Guruji,” he said.
As instructed by Guruji, the Divine Park was consecrated on Makar Sankranti, 14 January 1986, as a spiritual laboratory to help earnest individuals in their sadhana (spiritual practice). It now has 110 branches, named Divine Sparks, in India, and also in Singapore, London, and Muscat. Dr D Vereendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala righty praised its role: “Swami Vivekananda is alive in the Divine Park and the service of the Divine Park, in striving for a spiritual revival of the world, is unique.”
What follows is an exclusive interview Pradeep Krishnan had with Dr Chandrasekhara Udupa for Life Positive:
Close Encounter 18


Q. Doctorji, kindly tell us about your spiritual journey. What was the turning point in your life?
From the age of 10, I was curious about God: Why do people worship a deaf, dumb, and blind idol? Why is God not preventing anyaya (injustice), asatya (untruth), adharma (non- righteousness)? What is the test that God is Sarvantharayami (omnipresent)? These questions troubled me a lot. A few months after joining the MBBS course, in a speech in September 1970, Swami Jagdatmananda said, “Swami Vivekananda is alive even today. He will affectionately guide all those who are simple, sincere, and surrender completely to Him with devotion and faith.” These words gave me goosebumps, triggering my spiritual adventure. Like Ekalayva of the Mahabharata, looking upon Swami Vivekananda as Guruji, I did intense sadhana of japa (chanting) and meditation in front of a portrait of Swamiji hanging in my room, longing for His darshan. With tears trickling down my cheeks, I said, ‘O Guruji, you are my father, mother and everything else. It is my intense desire to see you- Wouldn’t you grant me your darsan?’ Soon I fell asleep. After a while, there seemed a flash of a dozen lights- my heart beat fiercely and my breath became swifter and swifter. A strange thrill caught my spirit and when I opened my eyes, I saw Guruji peeping into my mosquito net. My whole body went into a divine shock. A sense of fulfillment gripped me. It was not an illusion; I had had the vision of my Guruji and it completely altered my life.
Over time, I realised that people worship God mechanically, craving for material benefits: wealth, name, fame, position, possession, etc. The life force within the jeeva (body) is the God (Aathma),the Almighty, who gives, guards, and guides. The Pancha Boothas (the five elements
of the universe) are the five CCTVs (Closely Capturing Transcendental Vision) through which God perceives the coherence between feelings, thoughts, words, and deeds.
Q. Could you please share with us the experience of having darshan of Swami Vivekananda and your spiritual enlightenment?
The darshan of Swami Vivekananda made my whole body tremble as if receiving an electric shock. Though I wanted to say something, words did not come out. But before I could utter anything, Guruji said, ‘Walk on fire, fly in the air; I am here, why do you fear, oh my dear, make it clear, be with cheer!” That day, I was convinced that Guruji would offer a helping hand to anyone who sincerely aspires for it. This realisation filled me with a unique sense of fulfilment. Immediately, I prostrated before Him and said, “I am always yours; kindly lead me on.” When I got up and looked, Guruji had vanished. Since then, for the past 49 years, I have been regularly getting Guruji’s visions and messages on all days and have been guiding people in their spiritual and mundane matters.
Q. Please tell us about getting visions of Swami Vivekananda and Swamiji writing answers through you?
I have been doing my intense sadhana for several years and have been frequently getting His darshan. From 1976, people started coming to me seeking solutions to all types of problems. During meditation, when I put these questions to Guruji, I started getting precise answers as a sweet voice in my inner ears. Later, since 1981, at the instance of Guruji, I devised a planchette* to receive messages from Him. When I put across people’s questions, problems,
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etc., Guruji gives me clear answers through the planchette. For the past four decades, I have been receiving about 200 letters every day from all over the world. So far, by His grace, I have had several visions of Sri Guruji, and I am sure that anyone can have His vision if he has 100 per cent faith, devotion, and yearning with 100 per cent intimacy and gratefulness. For this, one has to prepare oneself with constant sadhana, as it is said that one’s Chosen Deity reveals Himself to an ardent devotee. Guruji continues to deliver messages to me on selected days, through the planchette.
* [A planchette is an instrument designed for one to communicate with the spirit world. It’s a heart-shaped horizontal plank in which a pen is fixed so that it can scribble on the paper beneath when it moves on the wheels when touched by the medium.]
Q. What paved the way for the establishment of the Divine Park? What are its aims and objectives?
In January 1984, for several consecutive days, Sri Guruji came in my dreams and instructed me to build a unique institution for guiding people in their sadhana. When this dream got repeated continuously, I took it as a challenge, and the Divine Park was formally inaugurated on 14 January 1986. The name itself was given by Guruji and indicated that the place would be a park overflowing with divinity. It is meant to be a spiritual laboratory where every individual, irrespective of his religion, caste, or sex is given training in various aspects of spirituality to enable them to ascend from animality to divinity, through humanity. Anyone who comes here, a Muslim, Christian, or Hindu, would naturally become a better human being.
The centre houses 30 consecrated deities, including Allah, Buddha, Christ, etc., and aims for one’s Atmashakti Jagriti (upliftment of the Self) through the path of practical Vedanta and the dynamic spirituality of Swami Vivekananda. Every year, we organise a number of camps with the motto of ‘Man-Making and Nation-Building.’ I advise families to attend our programmes together so that each one in the family gets a spiritual orientation in their day-to-day activities, finally leading them to a higher level of evolution. The attainment of ultimate destiny through Self-realisation and Self-identification with God Himself is being realised here by following various kinds of sadhana. Participants get refined and rejuvenated with real Aathmashakti.
Q. What is the role of sadhana in one’s life?
One’s sadhana should be an intimate nivedya (offering) to the Lord, placing all of one’s karmic stock at the lotus feet of God with gratitude, so that the sadhak (practitioner) becomes pure, perfect, prompt, noble, and able. It is the easiest way to bring the Atmashakti to the fore! I advise every householder to spare atleast 24 minutes daily with faith, devotion, and surrender. Rather than the hours of meditation, what is important is how deep one has meditated. Dwelling deep into the ‘I’ consciousness would help dig deep into the ego. By sincere and regular sadhana, life becomes cheerful, hopeful, fruitful, and wonderful!
Q. What do you mean by Self-realisation? How can one achieve it?
When one continuously observes the heart- mind complex through meditation, in due course, they get cent per cent convinced of the illuminating soul or Aathmashakthi. This is called Self-realisation. To achieve that, one
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must inculcate Guru Bhakti (devotion to the guru), conquer anger, suspicion, and jealousy, have selfless love, and practise meditation. Also, one must control material wants, live in the present, and work for the unity and integrity of mankind.
Q. Please explain the Dynamic Spirituality that you advocate?
Dynamic Spirituality is to offer the ‘I’ to God and thereby open the inner eyes of wisdom and dispassion. For this, one must live with five C’s and five A’s: Character, Compassion, Cleanliness, Cleverness and Cheerfulness and always Admit, Accept, Appreciate, Analyse, and Adjust. Forget the past, never trust the future, and live in the present. Constantly
remember that you are the creator of your own destiny. Think twice before you talk, think thrice before you take, and think all the time about your track. Forever be humble and never grumble about anything. For such a seeker, Guruji has assured, “I am here, why do you fear.”
Q. What ought to be the purpose of human life? How can one achieve it?
Everything in Nature has a purpose. The goal of a human being must be to evolve into an ultra-human being or a divine being. Human life gets fulfilled when it is refined and revived to attain spiritual excellence. To attain divinity, one has to acquire the divine virtues of selflessness, love, dutifulness, patience, and
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Dr Chandrasekhara Udupa’s Divine Park


forgiveness. In addition to carrying out the functions of life as a biological entity, one has to evolve into a spiritually perfect being— the transformation of Nara to Hara, Jeeva to Shiva, Manava to Madhava, Vyakthi to Shakthi (man to God).
Q. What is your concept of God?
God exists as an integral part of Nature. He is one with the air, water, and light and is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. He is the writer, director, and the spectator of the great screenplay of LIFE. God dwelling in the body carries on the spectrum of metabolic activities, including thinking and blinking. Every minute, God pumps the heart 72 times and the lungs 22 times, makes the eyelids blink, and swallows the saliva. Thus, He responds every minute from the womb to the tomb.
Q. How can we overcome human sufferings, both material and spiritual?
All difficulties and problems in life are the result of one’s own karma (as you sow, so you reap), given to fortify dedication (nishtha) and to inculcate godly qualities. Overcoming sufferings absolutely depends on God’s will (Daivecche) and God’s play (Daivaleele). One can overcome all the troubles with the blessings of the Guru and with self-effort. The remedy lies in getting up early and doing sadhana daily. One has to be optimistic with an open mind, do daily japa, and meditate atleast 10 mins on the Ishta Mantra or devata. I also suggest reading at least 10 pages of a holy book before going to sleep.
Constantly remember that you are the creator of your own destiny. Think twice before you talk, think thrice before you take, and think all the time about your track. Forever be humble and never grumble about anything.
Q. What should one do to get peace of mind?
To get milk, one should go to the milkman. Similarly, to get peace one should approach the owner or ocean of peace—God—the only ultimate master of peace and bliss. If one approaches God with sincere sadhana, peace will descend on him. If one practises meditation and lives a life of contentment, yearning only for God’s grace, one will certainly get everlasting peace of mind.
Q. Doctorji’s message to the readers?
I urge all to conquer anger, selfishness, rudeness, and short temper; eliminate lust, greed, passion, pride, jealousy, and ego; practise yoga and be calm and cool under all circumstances. At all times, be humble and honest and develop devotion to God. Enjoy the company of Nature, and shy away from adharma and anyaya, and move away from bad friends and vices. Success will surely beck on the one who leads a simple, sincere, and sweet life.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
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LEAD STORY
COVID-19: Mother Nature’s Messenger
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Humanity has been stopped in its
tracks from overdoing everything that it does. Rishi Rathod explores the spiritual significance (as well as the medical, economic, and environmental angles) of the arrival of the coronavirus and the wisdom it brings to the human race
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COVID-19. A mysterious malady, the business of life. Most of us never thought
which, till a few months ago, was
limited to a small Chinese province, has suddenly snowballed into a hydra-headed monster, rapidly swallowing up one country after another in its deadly jaws. The biggest of powers have been left bewildered, and collectively, the human race seems to be on the brink of devastation, both economically as well as physically.
The medical fraternity is grappling to understand the temperament of a tiny virus which attacks humans indiscriminately while sparing all animals. The contagion travels via the saliva, phlegm, or droplets of sneeze or cough of the infected, making it super easy for it to spread its tentacles.
More than a hundred thousand people have died worldwide and 18 hundred thousand have been infected, with the count still rising. Governments all over the globe are resorting to indefinite lockdowns to break the virus’s cycle, focusing only on the present, as our collective future hangs in suspension.
Suddenly, nothing is important to us anymore. We don’t need to shop, travel, hoard, party, gossip, splurge, indulge in addictions, fight, or make loads of money. Locked inside our homes, we are realising the value of all that which really matters to us. Our life, health, loved ones, basic food, and clean air and water.
Since this is a situation which affects all and spares none, entire mankind has been forced into introspection, reflection, and analysis of what Nature wishes to communicate to her human children through this pandemic. If we connect the dots, we would realise that Mother Nature is telling all of us to sit back, reflect, and ruminate over the way we go about
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that a virus could cause enormous human suffering, destroy the world economy, and rip apart the very fabric of our daily life. We have to contemplate upon the way we grow and consume food, use resources, build new towns, travel, work, and do business. We never thought that the day would come in our lives when we would be forced to stop our ceaseless pursuit of happiness in the outside world. Today, despite all our material progress and advancement, Mother Nature is showing us as to who is in charge. In the words of Bill Gates, “It is reminding us that this Earth is sick. It is reminding us that we need to look at the rate of deforestation just as urgently as we look at the speed at which toilet rolls are disappearing off the shelves. We are sick because our home is sick.”
As far as the physical emergence of the coronavirus is concerned, many theories abound. According to one, it was lab-created as a weapon of mass-destruction, while another states that 5G radiations may be the cause of it. However, a growing chorus of critics is focussed specifically on the wet markets. Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently said that the pandemic was the “direct result” of the conditions found at the wet markets. “It boggles my mind how, when we have so many diseases that emanate out of that unusual human-animal interface, we don’t just shut it down,” he says. However, the issue is less of hygiene and more of the existence of a place where the mass killing of animals is allowed for the sake of food. This mindless eating and abuse of birds and animals started in China during the great famine from 1959 to 1961 when the Chinese went to the forests to catch and eat anything for their survival. Surprisingly, between 1800 and 1900,


under the British rule, India too suffered nine famines where millions of Indians lost their lives, but Indians never resorted to killing wild animals for their survival.
Is there a spiritual angle to the malady? How do people on the spiritual path, as well as teachers and gurus perceive this pandemic?
Acharya Prashant, a spiritual teacher rooted in Advait Vedanta asserts, “My opinion might sound controversial, but the disease is coming from a land where all kinds of spiritual practices are banned. Had there been a temple, it would have taught people not to kill whatever animal they get, in order to fill their stomachs. I am not saying that if there were temples viruses wouldn’t be there. A person can argue saying that there are temples where animal sacrifices happen. Try and grasp the deeper meaning of my words. Temples and dharma teach compassion, and where there is compassion there is lesser violence and torture of animals.” He further adds, “Without dharma, there is no difference between man and animal. Infact, man becomes more dangerous than an animal without the light of dharma.”
The lack of dharma reflects in various atrocities committed by humans on others. It could result in the eating of live animals and birds, mass destruction of our flora and fauna, and extreme selfishness in our actions.
Jaina Desai, director and teacher at Art of Living says, “Every incident in life has a higher spiritual purpose which makes us go within, grow as people, and become better and more caring. Perhaps, humanity needed a wake-up call to step away from the rat race, to take a collective deep breath, and take greater care of itself, the planet, and the environment.”
Nature is showing us its power. It is balancing itself and pushing people towards a mass- awakening. When people have been snatched from their daily running around, eventually, they will question everything. True love will prevail and save us all.
The progress and development of the past 50 years had led us to believe that humans could dominate nature, and that technology and science can resolve most of our challenges. To an extent, it is true, but we have also encroached upon the habitats of other species and taken advantage of the patience and tolerance of Mother Earth. Vindya, a magnified healer from Chennai, says, “It is not just the killing of animals but the overall mindless greed and selfishness of humans which has brought us to this brink. Nature is showing us its power. It is balancing itself and pushing people towards a mass-awakening. When people have been snatched from their daily running around, eventually, they will question everything. True love will prevail and save us all.”
Nivedita Tiwari, a seeker and actor from Mumbai, says, “From a dharmic perspective, a pandemic or ‘mahamari’ is usually the form of Kali, who comes to balance the maternal forces
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Mother Earth is realigning us with the universal laws of nature to make us co-exist peacefully with other living beings on the planet
of nature which have been violated by human greed through the indiscriminate exploitation of her resources. Even from a scientific perspective, nothing exists in a vacuum. The pandemic is a result of human action. Whether one believes that the virus was ‘created’ in a lab in China or that humans ate animals which carried the virus, the truth is that we cannot escape the responsibility of having generated this disease. Though the empath in me wouldn’t want to blame an entire nation, yet the Chinese politico-economic system is undeniably the most rapacious in the modern world. They are an irresponsible power. America’s rabid capitalism is atleast held accountable by the democratic forces in the country. But China isn’t a democracy, and hence their policies go unchecked.”
Lessons from the malady
Although we are facing an unpleasant crisis, Nature is actually playing the role of a compassionate teacher. Quarantined in our
homes, we need to learn important lessons and rethink how we are going to lead our lives post the coronavirus era. Now is the time to realign ourselves with the universal laws and move forward in harmony with other beings.
Dr Anuradha Iyer, professor and HOD at a government medical college, asserts, “As a doctor, I feel that disease is the time to look at the human being in their entirety. A human being is body, mind, and soul. A disease can harm the body and mind but never the soul. So it is a test for all. If one has focussed on the soul, one is safe. A doctor can only treat the disease. It is the individual’s responsibility to be focussed inwards, as only that can save him.”
Bill Gates has made some very humbling yet enlightening observations regarding the coronavirus pandemic. He says:
“It is reminding us that we are all equal,
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regardless of our culture, religion, occupation, financial situation or how famous we are. This disease treats us all equally; perhaps we should too. If you don’t believe me, just ask Tom Hanks.
“It is reminding us that we are all connected and something that affects one person has an effect on another. It is reminding us, by oppressing us for a short time, of those in this world whose whole life is spent in oppression.
“It is reminding us of the shortness of life and of what is most important for us to do, which is to help each other, especially those who are old or sick.
“It is reminding us of how important our family and home life is and how much we have neglected this. It is forcing us back into our houses so we can rebuild them into homes and strengthen our family unit.
“It is reminding us to keep our egos in check. It is reminding us that no matter how great we think we are or how great others think we are, a virus can bring our world to a standstill.
“It is reminding us that this can be a time of reflection and understanding, where we learn from our mistakes or it can be the start of a cycle which will continue until we finally learn the lesson we are meant to.
“It is reminding us that after every difficulty, there is always ease. Life is cyclical, and this is just a phase in this great cycle. We do not need to panic; this too shall pass.”
The pandemic is reminding us that we are small, that our knowledge is limited, and that we are not the masters of this world. We can clearly see that God can topple our greatest of cities and civilisations with a tiny, invisible
The pandemic is reminding us that we are small, that our knowledge is limited, and that we are not the masters of this world. This is not to undermine the value of science and technology, and the progress brought about by them, but to realise that there is a higher power which is running the actual show and which needs to be listened to.
virus. This is not to undermine the value of science and technology, and the progress brought about by them, but to realise that there is a higher power which is running the actual show and which needs to be listened to. COVID-19 reminds us that we are vulnerable and permeable, and inextricably tied to one another.
Saiswaroopa Iyer, an author and venture capitalist, says, “At a societal level, it is time for us to review our practices, especially those that have a direct bearing on community hygiene. Our habits as consumers too come under this. One stark thing that I have noticed is about how the neighbourhood shops have played the saviour as against the multinational or even pan-national supermarkets, whose supply chain has become vulnerable at this juncture. As a civilisation, we have survived for millennia, as we were an entrepreneurial society with conscious customers playing the guard. We must view this pandemic as an
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It is an opportunity to spend time with your own self. How often do we do that, especially in urban societies? Sadhguru says that sitting alone is the most difficult thing in the world. One has to stand the test of one’s own intelligence. And that is why it is so important to sit alone periodically.
opportunity to cut down risks of future dangers that might occur due to our callousness. As a family, we must rediscover ways to function as a team, share responsibilities, and support each other. It is also time to realise the value of things we used to subconsciously take for granted. At a personal level, we must rediscover and reconnect with our own inner self.”
I believe that we have got a break from the mad rush of multitasking and juggling, which had no pause button. Our addiction to high- speed Internet, chatting, dating, and online shopping, and gaming apps have come to a halt. Now, we can relearn patience and slowness. Slowing down can make us see aspects of our existence that we took for granted, such as our own self, our work-life balance, relationships, our children, spouse, and elders. Interesting things happen when we are immersed in our actions without rushing. Nivedita Tiwari, an actor from Mumbai, realises something similar: “It is not just an opportunity to spend
time with your family. It is an opportunity to spend time with your own self. How often do we do that, especially in urban societies? Sadhguru says that sitting alone is the most difficult thing in the world. One has to stand the test of one’s own intelligence. And that is why it is so important to sit alone periodically. For me, this is a great time to make myself more pleasant by strengthening my sadhana (spiritual practice). If I am pleasant, those around me will also feel pleasant.
“I am reading, painting, doing my sadhana, doing household chores, reaching out to those I haven’t interacted with for a long time, and reflecting. It is a good time to reflect that a slow life isn’t so bad after all. Also, humans have a great capacity to adapt. We learn how to live with the resources we have. This crisis has also shown us our capacity to give and give deeply.”
Finally, this lockdown and quarantine are telling us what the sages have been telling us since long: don’t take things for granted, be it your job, health, food, relations, or economy. Appreciate and love whatever you have because you never know when you might lose them. Freedom is fragile.
Do alternative remedies work?
The conventional mode of medicine is struggling hard to find a cure or a vaccine for COVID-19. Meanwhile, all sorts of combinations are being experimented with to see if anything can help in combating the disease.
Many alternative therapists and healers have come forward to suggest that their remedies can be of some help in battling COVID-19. Chinese traditional medicine as well as Indian ayurvedic and Siddha medicines are claiming to have some impact in arresting the spread
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of this virus. Most of these medicines are immunity boosters, which don’t work directly on the virus or prohibit its spread but build immunity which neutralises its mutation.
There is plenty of data supporting the efficacy of herbs in treating the contagion. Chinese researches had initially obtained some promising results from their clinical observation. The southern province of Guangdong and coastal Zhejiang area of China had some of the highest numbers of patients after Hubei. These patients were given herbal drinks to relieve their symptoms even before they were tested.
Guangdong reported a mortality rate of just 0.1 per cent of the infected people compared to Wuhan’s rate of 2.6 per cent, and none of the 1155 confirmed patients in Zhejiang died.
23 coronavirus patients were discharged from hospital after treatment with both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine according to the report published by Stephen Chen on South China Morning Post website.
Subodh Gupta, a yoga and holistic health consultant who operates in India and the UK, received a 74-year-old patient with the symptoms of coronavirus such as very high fever, severe dry cough, breathing difficulty, pneumonia, water in the lungs, body ache, joint pain, and diarrhoea. He managed to recover the patient only on the basis of natural remedies. Subodh says, “I have researched and discovered a nine-step strategy to fight and cure any disease, but at the moment, the focus is on curing coronavirus patients.” He has created a special combination of natural ingredients in a specific proportion which can fight any virus or bacteria by boosting your immunity.
With the help of paracetamol to control the fever and the combination of these Indian natural herbs, he managed to save the life of the 74-year-old man. Now the patient is fine, and all his reports and parameters are normal. Gupta has even posted a few of the blood reports on his blog www.subodhgupta. com titled Coronavirus cure is possible by natural remedies.
Dr Thanikasalam Veni of Rathna Siddha hospital, Chennai, with 25 years of experience in the field of Siddha and ayurvedic medicine, says, “We have formulated a medicine from an extract of herbs. It is very effective to cure any type of viral fever. So far, coronavirus has no medicinal cure, but I am confident that our medicine will be very effective.” Dr Veni claims that the medicine formulated by him along with his team treats infections caused by any virus within 24 to 40 hours. In this given time frame, when he treated the dengue virus with his special herbal medicine, many patients with reduced platelet count, acute liver failure, immunity deficiency, and low white blood cells saw positive results.
In the name of coronavirus, there is a lot of fear and panic floating around. Herbalist and researcher in functional nutrition, Shikha Sharma says that the coronavirus can be an opportunity to create wellness for yourself and your loved ones.
She suggests consuming herbs, vegetables, and fruits that we generally have in our kitchen and some exercise to fight the infection and virus. She lists the following must do’s to raise your chances against COVID-19:
• Get adequate amount of oxygen and sunshine
Spending time outdoors away from crowds would ensure that you get sufficient sunlight
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for 30 to 40 minutes at least. You would also be oxygenating your blood, which will increase your chances of fighting any infection. If you cannot be outdoors, by all means, be out on your balcony to get a good amount of sun exposure, preferably on your back if it is during midday.
• Ensure a healthy gut
More than half your battle is won if you have a good balance of healthy bacteria in the gut. Buying a probiotic supplement can be difficult during the lockdown, but you can make lassi (sweet curd-based Indian drink) or buttermilk at home for a fraction of the price. Probiotic concoctions abound in the traditional Indian diet. Kanji (rice porridge) made with purple carrot or beetroot is great for daily consumption. Panta Bhat (a rice-based dish), a preparation consumed by Bengalis and Oriyas, is another method of getting a healthy supply of gut bacteria.
• Drink green tea
With one tea bag, you can make up to a litre of tea. To get maximum benefit, soak the tea bag in about a litre of water (preferably overnight/10-12 hours) and then heat it to make a full-bodied tea. Aim to get three to four cups of this tea. You may add honey, if the tea is lukewarm, or else use jaggery.
• Reduce the digestive load
Eat smaller meals. Have fresh lemon or lime in your salads. They’ll ensure your vitamin C levels are up and working; also, you’ll have a good supply of digestive enzymes to properly breakdown and metabolise your food. Amla (Indian gooseberry) is loaded with antioxidants, and you’ll have an army working up your defences.
• Early signs of cold and cough or the flu
If you have a throat or body ache and you feel
that you are coming down with the flu, give this herbal remedy a try before rushing to pop a Crocin or Tylenol. Brew turmeric, black peppercorns, and ginger into a mild black or green tea. After the water reduces a little, add 1/2 to 1 tsp ghee and drink it. Two to three glasses a day are sufficient to break an early infection. Honey and fresh amla juice (squeezed from 1-2 amlas) can be had once or twice a day to further boost the immune system.
• For sore throat and pneumonia-like symptoms
If you have developed full pneumonia-like symptoms and you cannot rush to a doctor and have to be in home quarantine with or without medications, then you may try the following procedure to get relief: Boil some eucalyptus leaves in water and do steam inhalation. Keep a peppercorn in your mouth if the coughing is persistent and dry. The peppercorn will help to expectorate the phlegm and open the airways.
If you can get Ocem 5 from the pharmacy or fresh tulsi (Holy basil) leaves, use either with ginger tea. Crush two to three leaves per cup and let them steep into a freshly made tea. Drink upto three cups a day.
The future of working from home
Now is the time to re-imagine the future. The pandemic has forced many employers to send their millions of employees to work from home. This can be considered as an opportunity as we have the technological facilities in place to facilitate this idea. With the help of the Internet, software, smartphones, and other related tools, more than 50 per cent of the workforce can work from home. Though it might not be possible for all the sectors, in industries like IT, automation, and telecommunication, it can easily be done. There will be an overall saving of time, money,
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Green tea is a good antioxidant which helps in reducing the digestive load on the body
and energy by adopting the work-from-home policy. Indians spend more time in their daily office commute than most countries in the world, with more than two hours on the road every day, as per the report by office commute platform MoveInSync Technology Solutions. Calculated on a monthly basis, the time spent in traffic is between 40 to 60 hours per month, which induces stress, irrespective of whether you are in a car, metro, train, or bus. This further negatively impacts the productivity of the employees.
If working from home becomes the norm, it will have a trickledown effect on everything. The elimination of the daily commute will enable a relaxed lifestyle for many, resulting in a better, while at the same time, ease up the load on the transport network. People can balance home and work life more easily, resulting in overall job satisfaction. Satisfied employees don’t change jobs that frequently, thus reducing the attrition cost of employers. To better understand the
efficacy of remoteworking, Airtasker surveyed 1,004 full-time employees throughout the US—505 of whom were remote employees— about their work habits and productivity. According to author Sean Peek’s online article ‘Communication Technology and Inclusion Will Shape the Future of RemoteWork,’ the results indicate that remote workers are actually more productive than their office-based counterparts.
The work-from-home policy will further help in reducing the overall consumption of fossil fuel, which is a big reason for global warming and noise pollution caused by honking vehicles. Additionally, it will cut down on travel and fuel-related expenses of a householder, helping them save more money.
Currently, real estate prices are exorbitantly high everywhere in the world, making it impossible even for large corporations to open offices at multiple locations. Providing
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The work-from-home policy has reduced the overall consumption of fossil fuel thereby cutting down global warming
a work-from-home facility circumvents such investments without having to compromise on business and enterprise.
The good news is that companies are realising the value of working from home. They allow employees to work from home once, twice, or thrice a week if the latter can not move out for a few days due to domestic reasons.
“KPMG India allows employees to work from anywhere, be it a client location or home, provided that the role can be executed virtually and productivity, performance, and timelines are not hampered,” said Shalini Pillai, head of People, Performance, and Culture.
Another example is of Bangalore’s SAP Labs where they don’t monitor entry and exit timings. Employees decide when to go to work and leave. SAP allows employees to work from home too once a week. “It’s about output and not how many hours the employees spend on work,” a spokesperson for SAP Labs said.
Rohitashwar Poddar, MD, Poddar Housing, says, “As far as working from home is concerned, we have already started making the provision by means of creating a multipurpose hall in most of our residential complexes that we build. Now the society can come together and decide to start an office set-up or business centre for people who are working from home.”
Gandhian idea of self-sufficiency
We must revisit the beautiful Gandhian ideal of self-sufficient villages. If we can start depending on the local market in about a 100-metre diameter of our residence for our food, clothing, and other necessities, we would do immense service to the farmers, local artisans, ecology, and economy at a macro level. Our bodies are much more attuned to local food, clothing, and shelter materials which we use to make our homes with. We can still look global but remain grounded in what is local.
“Definitely, this Gandhian ideal is worth revisiting. I am all in favour of encouraging
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the neighbourhood cottage industries to whatever extent we can,” says Saiswaroopa Iyer, an author, “but there is no reversal from globalisation and connectivity. We must get along with the rest of the world, but an increased sense of caution and responsibility is a must in our interactions and exchanges. I would prefer the government coming up with a risk index for each country (or zone) depending upon food habits, manufacturing ethics, style of governance, and then deciding the level of interaction or relationship with that country.”
Satish Purohit, a writer and student of Tantra, says, “Vishnu is the all-pervader. His shakti Bagalamukhi is one of the 10 great wisdom goddesses of Tantra. She holds the power to stun everything into stillness. Anyone who strays too far from the laws of the Universe is halted forcefully by her great power. An epidemic that stops the world in its tracks is a display of Mother Bagala’s great power, reminding us that we have abandoned dharma or the path of righteousness. What we are witnessing is a powerful reminder that we have lost the centre—the dharma or the Tao— and need to retrace our steps. Bagalamukhi is closely connected with Bhudevi or Mother Earth. Both enjoy a conjugal relationship with Vishnu, the preserver.”
To summarise, these times are a grim reminder of how we humans have taken over the earth. We have encroached on the territory of other living beings. We have destroyed habitats, killed animals, and overused resources. We do not own this planet; we share the world with other living beings. Our lives are as much about cohabitation as about survival of the fittest.
There is a lot of fear, sadness, and anxiety around the world. The virus has caused havoc, but there are positives too. Let us, for a moment, rewind our lives. Can we see that plenty of things have changed in just a matter of days and weeks? Malls, theatres, restaurants, and institutions have closed down. Public spaces are empty. There are fewer cars on the road, pollution levels have come down, tourist spots and beaches are empty. Waterbodies are cleaner because most people are at home with their families. This coronavirus pandemic has pushed a reset button on a lot of things. We have begun to appreciate simple things in life, but the most important lesson that we are learning is that of coexistence. Since humans have begun retracting from public spaces, nature has begun reclaiming its space. Dolphins have been spotted in Mumbai’s coast; the Malabar civet cat, a critically endangered mammal not seen until 1990, has resurfaced; deer were seen in Nangloi, Delhi; and the nilgai was seen in Noida. Our revered rivers Ganga and Yamuna are much cleaner today.
The sky from my window looks like a picturesque frame. Now, parrots and sparrows come each morning to wake me up as well as in the evening to say goodbye. These delightful days remind me of the lines from the Louis Armstrong song What a wonderful world:
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night And I think to myself: What a wonderful world.
The truth is staring us in the face. Mother Nature has spoken. Mankind better mend its ways for its own sake and for the sake of all beings who are equally her children.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
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Enlightening Souls across the globe


GURUSPEAK
Emotional immunity
Cleansing your mind of negative energies is as important as detoxing your body, says Sister Shivani
habits put together shape our scene with peace, love, and
Y ou return home after a tiring day and tell your family “I’m exhausted. I have another two hours of work tonight.” Your spouse reacts, “Don’t even get me started on how bad my day was. I too have carried work home.” Your child is quietly watching a familiar scene once again. He has started believing stress, competition, and anger to be normal, instead of peace,
happiness, and harmony.
You go for a body detox regularly to rejuvenate physically. But what about detoxing your mind for building emotional immunity? Your mind needs to release anger, stress, confusion, fear, pain, and insecurity. The less cluttered your mind, the lighter you remain emotionally.
Emotional immunity needs
to be built from the level of
thoughts. Thoughts are the
energy we create because of the
information (emotional nutrition)
we consume. Every thought of
ours is followed by a feeling.
Feelings, over a period, develop
our attitude. Attitude comes
out into action. Any action done
repeatedly becomes a habit. All 7. Consciously respond to every
personality. Our personality radiates and creates our destiny. Hence, the simple connection: Content consumed influences personality and destiny.
So intake of pure and powerful information will improve your emotional immunity. Experiment with these simple practices for three months to be emotionally resilient:
1. Shun gadgets, media, and work communication, at least for one hour upon waking up. Make this a daily discipline.
2. The first thought upon waking should be of gratitude to God. Next, thank your mind and body, people in your life, and the objects you use.
3. Create affirmations and visualise everything in your life as being perfect, making manifestation easier.
acceptance till they become a habit.
8. Pause for a minute after every hour to check your thoughts. If there is any negativity, change it gently.
9. Do not consume slander or gossip. Delete negative messages on social media.
10. Set clear work-home boundaries. Once at home, switch off your mind from work and spend time with the family.
11. Satvik food should be prepared and consumed in a pure state of mind with gratitude. Avoid gadgets and negative conversations at mealtime.
12. Money is not just currency; it carries energies of your ethics. Money earned should have the blessings of your employer, co- workers, or clients.
13. Sleep early to wake up early. Avoid gadgets or emotionally stimulating content an hour beforebedtime.Spend20minutes reading positive messages as the last thoughts for the day.
Sister Shivani is a teacher at the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University and a senior Rajyoga teacher living in Gurugram. She is known for the popular programme ‘Awakening with Brahma Kumaris’ which started in 2007.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
4. Meditate and imbibe self- improvement messages for 30 minutes to generate right thinking.
5. Engage in exercises, yoga, and pranayama. Pay attention to your breath; inhale strengths and exhale emotional toxins.
6. People and situations are not responsible for the way you feel— but your responses are.
36 LifePositive | MAY 2020


FOOD
Build the fighter in you
Naini Setalvad urges us to try her immunity-building diet to overcome the onslaughts of virulent pathogens
Food 37


We all know about the disease Certain spices like ginger, garlic, and turmeric
COVID-19 and how it has taken
over the lives of every human being on this planet. Yes, the virus (SARS-CoV 2) is spreading like wildfire and it can have its chain broken by social distancing and staying at home. However, I have to share with you that we can also add a few foods to our diet, which will help us build a stronger immune system.
I firmly believe that having a solid immune system will allow you and your family to withstand this virus as well as any other virus. Let me impart, the ways by which this can be done daily, very easily.
The first and most important thing that I want you to keep in mind is water. Our bodies are made up mostly of water, so the more water we give it, the easier it is for us to fight off any virus. Please make sure to sip on plenty of warm water throughout the day as it will really help you. You can also add hot fluids like soups, rasam (spicy South Indian soup), or herbal teas. These will keep you hydrated, help mucus to flow, and keep the throat moist, thus flushing out toxins from your body. Throughout the day, gargle with hot water containing natural salts and turmeric powder to keep the throat bacteria-free.
Another important nutrient that helps the body to fight off infections or viruses is vitamin C. Vitamin C strengthens white blood cells, which are essential for fighting any infection. I insist that you should have as much lemon as you can during the day as it is one of the best natural sources of vitamin C. You can add lemon to your water or simply squeeze lemon juice and take a lemon shot. It is very easy to incorporate lemon into your daily food. Just squeeze lemon on all your food before eating it.
38 LifePositive | MAY 2020
are essential for the smooth functioning of the body on a day-to-day basis. I fondly refer to this combination as GGT and please don’t mistake it for GST! However, as essential as GST is for the economy to work, so is GGT for the body. This trinity allows the body to prevent, retard, and reverse all kinds of inflammations, virus infections, and diseases. They are your most powerful little soldiers that fight diseases and boost your immunity. Simply add these to your food daily, not just for their benefits but also for the taste!
Ghee (clarified butter) acts as a natural balm for your throat as it eases throat pain. So, in a glass of warm water, add some turmeric along with a few drops of ghee and sip on this concoction. The high melting point of this fat makes it a great free-radical-damage fighter and is thus ideal for Indian cooking. If it is possible, choose cow’s ghee, as the benefits override those of any other type of ghee.
Certain foods contain antioxidants, which are essential to fight off any illnesses. Leafy greens like coriander, neem, and tulsi (the last two being medicinal herbs) are small in size but big on antioxidants. All you have to do is sprinkle some coriander on top of any dish, and you can reap the benefits it has to offer. Add curry leaves to your food. ‘Neem’ translates to ‘healer and illness-reliever’ whereas ‘Tulsi’ de-stresses you and is used in a lot of traditional Indian medicines. So chew on some fresh tulsi leaves daily.
I strongly believe that fruits are your natural source of instant energy and fibre. They contain very little sugar and help your body to flush out any toxin or possible infections that might be present. Just add a fruit—raw mango and ripe mango are an excellent option


Our immunity is built stronger by the food we consume and it is important that our platter includes variety of fruits and vegetables
as both are rich in Vitamin C—to your daily diet. For breakfast, you can switch to a ripe mango, or use raw mango as a garnish on your evening snack by cutting it into pieces. Just watch how adding fruits uplifts your energy levels daily. Keep in mind to stick to seasonal and local fruits, as those are the ones packed with the most benefits. You can choose from watermelon, melon, pineapple, phalsa, ice apple, and jamun (black plum) too!
All vegetables have phytochemicals, which are your immunity boosters. When you sit down to eat, you should ensure that at least half your plate is filled with vegetables. Don’t just stick only to the greens. I say that the more varied the colours of vegetables, the more the antioxidants. I like to tell people that the more the vegetables, the merrier you will be. In India, we are truly spoilt for choice!
Make sure that you always include grains in your diet because they give you energy, fibre, and satiate you. Your grains contain a lot of lignin precursors and are rich in Viamin B, which give you fibre and energy. Be it jowar
(sorghum), bajra (pearl millet), barley, nachni (finger millet), brown rice, or whole wheat grains, remember to add cow’s ghee to any grain to ease digestion. Combine this with vegetables, pulses, and daals (lentils), especially at lunchtime, and you will get an immunity- boosting plate.
I always tell my clients that the smallest change they can make in their life which will have the biggest effect on their immunity is to eat real food. Real food means organic food, as it is—without chemicals, pesticides, artificial colours, growth hormones, etc.—which is grown in the local areas, is seasonal, and is eaten fresh. Just following these simple steps regarding your fruits, vegetables, and grains will really turn your life around as they are rich in essential minerals and antioxidants.
All in all, fighting off any virus comes down to having a strong immune system. All you need to do is incorporate the above foods into your diet and watch how you feel stronger and more energetic as the days pass.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected]
Food 39


ISF REPORT
Music, laughter, love, and healing
The ISF 2020 held in February was a magical mix of eclectic workshops and fascinating sessions by new and dynamic facilitators, say Annesha Banerjee, Nikita Mukherjee, and Rishi Rathod.
40
LifePositive | MAY 2020


Dr Meelu Verma, enthralling the audience with her melodious renditions
T he annual Life Positive International Spiritual Festival got off to a flying start on February 29, 2020, at Zorba the Buddha, New Delhi. As the sun rose, splashing shades of crimson and bright orange across the horizon, the birds began to announce their happiness from treetops,
chirping and warbling noisily from within their dense foliage. Team Life Positive, dazzling in their traditional attire, was all geared up to welcome the guests as they began to pour in to participate in one of the most awaited events on their calendar.
The mild winter chill, combined with the cheer of a bright sunny morning, filled everybody with delight, and people began to file into the Shiva Shakti hall to participate in the inaugural ceremony. Mr DR Kaarthikeyan delivered the inaugural speech, and former editor Suma Varughese lighted the lamp along with the chairman, Aditya Ahluwalia, and the director, Mr Venkat. Post that, Dr Meelu Verma took the stage along with her musicians Khalid and Aadilto enthral the audience with her spiritual and devotional songs.
Below is the report on the two-day celebration of spirit.
Day 1
Divine chanting by Dr Meelu Verma
To harness the divine power and fill the atmosphere with positive energies, Life Positive invited Dr Meelu Verma, an exponent of Indian classical ragas and ghazals and an A-grade performer with the All India Radio, New Delhi. After the lamp-lighting ceremony, Meelu’s melodious voice encapsulated the participants, who enjoyed her soulful renditions with their eyes closed. Meelu, with her musicians, created a high-vibration ambience in which the listeners completely surrendered to the Divine, singing along with her the shabad (holy hymn), morning prayers, and the bhajans (devotional songs) of Krishna and Meera. The programme was a beautiful combination of soulful music and zealous energy, and marked a stunning opening for the two-day International Spiritual Festival. People came out for the tea break raving about Meelu’s performance, looking forward to the day ahead.
ISF REPORT 41


Vandana Srivastava had everyone spellbound with her power-packed performance
Make the Law of Attraction work for you by Vandana Srivastava
“Everything you want for yourself exists in this Universe and is waiting for you to ask for it,” said Vandana Srivastava. The jolly and upbeat energy that she brought into the room was quite evident as Vandana interacted and laughed with the participants all through her workshop. She confronted and challenged their mind- traps, beliefs, and ideas about life, desires, success, and relationships (with themselves and others). She said, “Different frequencies and vibrations make us who we are and most of our lives, we live in the lower frequencies of regret, guilt, and doubt, bringing us similar situations and creating a pattern in our lives.” Citing various examples, Vandana explained to the participants that it is only our perspective that makes the world appear different to each one of us. Hence, it is in our hands to change our world by altering our thoughts, beliefs, and feelings and by being ingratitude, which is the divine route to abundance.
In an activity, the participants were handed a thread from which dangled a coin and asked to direct its movement by commanding it with their thoughts. Amazingly, the coins obeyed the mental commands. Clockwise, anti-clockwise,
swinging left and right, moving back and forth! This displayed the power of our thoughts and how focussing on what we have instead of the lack can reverse all the negative things in life. With her confident and quirky personality, she engaged the audience in a merry dance which helped them deep-cleanse their mental cobwebs. Hers was a high-energy workshop where she urged the participants to rightfully demand from the Universe what they wanted and act accordingly. Participants left the workshop smiling and motivated, concluding it to be one of the best workshops they had attended so far.
Mudras for total wellness by Abhaykumar Shah
Life on earth is enveloped with diseases all around. With the recent coronavirus spreading its deadly wings over the planet, it seems like we have slipped into dystopia with masked faces, empty lanes, closed shops, and a collective, universal hope for all this to end soon. Usually, in cases of such medical emergencies, people rush to hospitals and clinics to get themselves cured. But what if we could regulate our health through simple and naturally effective measures without burning a hole in our pockets? What if we could do certain things so that diseases don’t catch up with us?
42 LifePositive | MAY 2020


The participants could not have enough of Abhaykumar Shah’s practical knowledge of Mudras
Abhay Kumar Shah’s workshop on mudras focused on the science of Mudra Shastra, which optimises the physical, mental, and emotional health of people through simple hand gestures. It was an enlightening and informative workshop where he imparted profound knowledge related to Mudra Shastra for leading a healthy life.
Conducted in the beautiful Lao Tzu hall, the session started with the chanting of Om. After this, Mr Shah explained the importance of the five tattvas, also called the five elements of nature, which include Agni (fire), Jal (water), Vayu (air), Dharti (earth) and Aakash (sky). He discussed how the five tattvas make up our body, and for a healthy body, mind, and soul, people should know how to manipulate and control the five elements according to their needs and desires. “Mudras have the power to make us feel complete. If done properly, they can work wonders for our body, mind, and psyche, and most importantly, our souls,” said Mr Shah.
Furthermore, he went on to explain the role of each finger of our hands and how they can be used for obtaining and manipulating the five elements to heal major diseases and maintain good health. He discussed the representation of each finger withrespect to the five elements:
the thumb represents fire; the index finger, air; the middle finger or the ‘Anamika,’ earth; the little finger, water; and the ring finger, sky. He also stressed upon the role of the pituitary gland in the development of an individual’s overall personality and how mudras help in activating it.
The workshop concluded with the facilitator teaching some important mudras to the participants and wishing them good health with the newly acquired knowledge to lead a healthy and happy life.
Day 2
HasyaYoga by JitenKohi
Just like yoga is good for physical health, so is laughter for reducing the stress and tension induced by modern life. With our current hectic lifestyle, spending 20-30 minutes every day for laughter is almost impossible. Wouldn’t it be interesting if one could reap the benefit of both yoga and laughter at the same time? This is what Jiten Kohi has been propagating and doing for the last 15 years with thousands of people who swear by his unique methods. A master of his craft, he is also known as the HasyaYoga guru. Within five minutes of taking the stage, he managed to connect and engage
ISF REPORT 43


Jiten Kohi had everybody in splits with his fun-filled asanas and techniques
with the audience, sending them into peals of uproarious laughter. Kohi’s style and delivery were so infectious that many who had difficulty laughing initially, started to burst into joy and laughter in no time. Interestingly, Kohi has developed 10 to 15 primary yogaasanas which, when combined with laughter yoga, not only work on your leg, chest, back, spine, and head but also release laughter from deep within your belly. You start laughing and become like an innocent child again. In those 30 minutes, the participants became children again and experienced the complete lack of unwanted thoughts and worries. People flowed in the river of blissful energy and forgot their individual identities, as their combined laughter reverberated through the hall. After the session was over, my entire abdomen was almost sore and muscles ached. I asked Jiten Kohi about the pain. He said that it was because I had not been laughing enough prior to his session. If I kept doing it for a few days, the pain would vanish, and I would laugh like a child again.
Holistic Medicine for anti-ageing by Dr (Prof) R K Tuli
Ageing is inevitable, but it doesn’t necessarily
mean that we should become old and disease- ridden. Dr Tuli started his workshop by saying, “Anti-ageing means that you must be healthy, happy, feel good, look good, and be productive till the end.” We should start taking care of our mind, body, and soul from an early age, but it so happens that only after encountering serious health issues do we start taking proper care of ourselves.
Acknowledging his background in modern medicine, Dr Tuli admitted that its negative aspects are far greater than its benefits, and hence, integrating it with holistic medicine is the only way to move forward. He established that humans are not just matter but much more, because of which their ailments cannot be cured only by chemicals. The blanks of modern medicine should be filled with the drug-free modalities of alternative medicine for complete health. He also highlighted the major issues that stress poses to our health, causing people to live a disrupted lifestyle. It should be understood that anti-ageing is not just about reversing the visible signs of ageing but maintaining and living a balanced life to be able to enjoy life till the last breath. Our body is a part of nature, and we should live in harmony with it. It is like a machine that
44 LifePositive | MAY 2020


Dr R K Tuli holding forth on the secret to staying young and healthy all your life
needs to be taken care of and be insured with good investments (food, thoughts, beliefs). Only then will we live a life that is truly free of the conditioning that we regard as ageing. The workshop was extremely informative and left the participants contemplating the changes they need to incorporate in their current lifestyle.
Soul Work through META- Health by Anu Mehta
“The soul is the truth of who we are.” — Marianne Williamson
In the mundaneness of our materialistic existence and the humdrum of life, we have lost track of our souls and its purpose. One thing leads to another, and we get caught in the vicious cycle of survival. Honestly, nobody lives anymore. Anu’s workshop was dedicated to reconnecting the participants with the lost parts of their souls. Held in the dimly lit Lao Tzu hall, Anu Mehta’s session started with treating the participants to a mild sound therapy by her colleague Aarti before entering the hall. The participants were then made to lie down on mattresses and Anu and Aarti started playing sound instruments such as the gong
and cymbal to deep cleanse them at the soul level. After receiving the soulful sound bath, the colour on the faces of each participant turned into a radiant pink, and they had a genuine smile on their faces as though they were reborn.
“I had a really bad lower back pain. It just magically vanished after I let myself loose and went along with the soothing sounds being played by Anu,” said Malvika Kaura. Similarly, another participant had an out-of- body experience where he felt himself floating out of his body and looking at himself from the outside.
By conducting engaging activities for the participants such as crayon drawing, sand art, and pairing them up to enact a conversation between a mother and a child, the whole workshop centred around deep-rooted emotional issues in human beings and how the unconventional techniques of META-Health can heal them. Anu said that the META approach towards healing an individual is above the paradigm of health. She also highlighted that emotional crises have a direct effect on our physical health, and the best way to cure these physical ailments is by finding the root cause
ISF REPORT 45


Dr Anu Mehta held a powerfully healing and empowering workshop for the participants
of every emotional distress and heal them from within. “When a soul is happy, the body is also at its best,” remarked Anu.
She discussed everyday problems like careers and jobs, family life, money, status, the society, and much more, just like a friend does. During the mother-child relationship activity, a participant was finally able to forgive her mother with whom she had a very strained
relationship for long. In the sand art activity, a participant, who held a lot of grudges, was finally able to let go of his past and start afresh.
The workshop concluded with the delegates being once again treated to a deeply healing, soulful sound bath by Anu and Aarti. Everyone left feeling transformed from within and with a new perception of life. Fortunately, the pink colour on their faces was still intact!
46 LifePositive | MAY 2020
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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
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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
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overcome depression and rebuild relationships. She also has many
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AHA-MOMENTS
Flow away from fear
Megha Bajaj asks us to consider that life gives us only three options. Knowing that, throw away all fear and keep marching.
I f you really think what we ask for; either we will get
of what I can receive
I do not become egoistical about what I can give
I just do what I must
I flow.
The prayers
the adulation touches me not
The dirt
the filth
touches me not
I just do what I must I flow.
And watching her
for just a moment
I close my eyes
and I flow
Oblivious of my past Unperturbed by my future
so infinitely present in the moment Oh yes, I flow.
Flow is the antidote to fear. Notwithstanding whatever it is that is stopping you from living the life you dream for yourself, in whatever area it may be—health, wealth, bliss, love, or spiritual alignment—the important thing is to keep flowing.
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]
about it, all that we are
asking from life can be divided into these three words: Yes, maybe, or no. Will I have a baby? Yes, maybe, or no. Will I remain healthy? Yes, maybe, or no. Will I become a billionaire? Yes, maybe, or no. Will I attain a state of spiritual alignment? Yes,
maybe, or no.
All of life encompasses these three answers.
Now that we know it can only be a yes, maybe, or no, why not drop something from our life called fear? One of the biggest things that stop us from living life to the fullest and achieving all that we wish to is fear.
We are so anxious, so worried, so concerned about changing the status quo because we just don’t know what will happen next. Somehow, it’s been a revolutionary discovery for me to recognise that for every move I make, life will only respond in three ways. Either she will say a huge, resounding ‘YES’and give me what I ask for or more than that. Or she will say ‘Maybe’—which could be a ‘Yes’or a ‘No.’ Or she will say ‘No’—so I won’t get what I want, or I may even get the opposite of what I want. My beloved guru so beautifully draws up a model saying there are only four possibilities to everything in life: Either we will get more than what we ask for, or we will get
less than what we ask for, or we will get the opposite of what we ask for.
That’s it.
That’s just it.
Is it that bad? Not really, right? And yet, our mind conjures up so much as though there are possibilities beyond this.
One of the worst things that fear does is, it paralyses you into inaction. It stagnates you. It stalls you. Life is supposed to be a flow. If not this, that. If not that, there. Keep trying, keep growing, keep flowing; that is the only truth of life.
I remember one beautiful morning by the Ganges. As the sun rose upon her swelling bosom, I wondered to myself, “How is she so pure, so abundant, so ever- flowing?” And the answer came in the form of this poem that made me realise that when everything about life is just a yes, no, or maybe, why would I ever stop:
As I sit at her bank
At sunrise
I ask her
How, oh beautiful one, do you stay so calm
so untouched so pure
so divine.
And Ganga whispers I do not think
48 LifePositive | MAY 2020


DISCOVERY
The Maitreya arrives!
49 LifePositive | MAY 2020
Mitr Sut’s spiritual journey led him to experience the grace of Maitreya Dadashreeji, who transformed him like no other


Whenever there is decay of righteousness,
O Bharat, and there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I, Myself, come forth; For the protection of the good, for the destruction of evil-doers, For the sake of firmly establishing righteousness, I am born from age to age.
Bhagavad Gita 4.7 & 4.8
I t was in December 2011, that I stood with my friends, one early morning, for an aarti (ritual) of Shyam Sunder
(Lord Krishna) at the well-known Vrindavan temple. This particular temple had the samadhis (tombs) of many saints around the main garbhgriha or sanctum sanctorum. As the aarti got over and I sat down and stared into the eyes of Shyam Sunder, I went into a different realm, as if my soul was pulled out and the Lord seemed to be sitting right in front of me. I prayed to Shyam Sunder,“There is so much pain and suffering in the world. When will YOU come? How can YOU allow so much pain and misery to continue?”
I was still and had no idea how long I sat there, but when my friend touched me to get up to leave, I realised I was in tears and in inexplicable bliss, feeling as if the various saints in the samadhis had come alive. I had no idea what was happening, and as my mind became active, I just prostrated in front of the idol and we left.
I continued exploring Vedantic philosophy, which I had been pursuing for more than 10
years. In January 2013, I was invited by my friend to attend a spiritual programme called Bodh, conducted by Maitreya Dadashreeji, founder visionary of the MaitriBodh Parivaar, in ShantiKshetra Premgiri Ashram, at Karjat, near Mumbai, India. It was a reluctant trip, as I had visited many spiritual masters before and having read innumerable texts, I saw nothing beyond the path of Vedanta. But there had been an internal struggle to know more, to experience at least something of what I read and understood with the grace of my previous guru. This, coupled with my scientific and questioning mindset, I journeyed to the ashram.
Dadashreeji’s answer to a question put forth to Him during an interview with Life Positive had influenced me greatly:
Q: Are you enlightened?
Dadashreeji: If I say I am enlightened, then that ‘I’ still exists! I do not possess any sense of the ego in human terms.
That was it. What a profound answer! This statement reflects the humility of the Master, and at the same time, his level of knowledge.
Discovery 50