Life Positive August 2021

www.lifepositive.com ` 100

YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMPANION August 2021

HAS THE PANDEMIC
MADE US A BETTER

PERSON?

PAGE 26

Meditate to
know its magic

PAGE 46

Meet Sri Anish

PAGE 18

The will to WIN
PAGE 15





August 2021 Vol. 25  Issue 05 Life is beautiful

Chairman: Aditya Ahluwalia Dear Reader,
President: D R Kaarthikeyan I used to be an atheist long before I became a theist. I see a distinct
Director: V Venkat difference in my attitude towards life as a result of this. As an
Editor: Shivi Verma atheist, I confused being negative with being real and rational,
and being positive with being silly and impractical. However,
EDITORIAL spirituality cleared these misconceptions.
The more I meditate and stay attuned to my higher Self, the
Correspondent: Navni Chawla more positive and optimistic I stay despite numerous hurdles and
Chief Correspondent: Rishi Rathod (Mumbai) challenges. I feel that they too are a part of the divine plan, and I
Graphic Designer: Sandeep Kumar simply have to do what I need to, to overcome them. They do not
indicate that life is set against me.
MARKETING The higher Self has a way of keeping your vision straight and clear,
which your lower mind is incapable of. The veil of illusion, which
Assistant Manager, Ad Sales: Santosh Pandey otherwise seems so real and convincing, gets shredded by the sword
of truth and illumination in no time. This, I suppose, is the real
PRODUCT MARKETING elixir of life. To look for light when all is dark, to keep hope lit
when despair rules, to keep faith alive when all seems uphill, to
Assistant Vice President, Circulation & Subscription: keep moving even when the path is not clear.
Dharamveer Singh What would life be without the trials that chisel a person’s character
and create a masterpiece out of them? Without the fires that burn
SUBSCRIPTION and purify the soul, making it radiate from the personality? Life
in its totality is beautiful if we learn to embrace the hardships and
Executive: Swati Mishra, Tanya Singh, challenges it throws at us. There is no life without its shares of
Vikash Prasad roadblocks, pains, and troubles. But the mark of a successful person
is how much more loving, compassionate, brave, empathetic,
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION mellow, and wise they have become after undergoing these trials.
Those who become angry, bitter, toxic, and critical as a result of
Deputy General Manager: Ambika Sharma what they had to suffer are the ones who failed to see the beauty and
the purpose of these difficulties and did not use them to become
Advisors better, intelligent, and stronger. Looked at in this way, nothing in
life is bad, ugly, or undesirable, and perhaps our biggest opponents
Parveen Chopra, Suma Varughese, Mark Tully,
Kiran Bedi, M Madhavan Nambiar, SD Saxena, are our greatest friends, as they create the turning points
Ameeta Mehra, Manisha Verma, Shruti Nada Poddar, through which we access higher dimensions of ourselves.
Hamid Ahmed, Shovana Narayan, Ritika Goyal Isn’t the realisation heartening?
Have a happy August.
Editorial & Advertising Office
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Life Positive or Life Positive Pvt Ltd do not vouch for any claims made by
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of Life Positive or any employee of Life Positive Pvt Ltd shall not be held
liable for any consequences in the event of such claims not being honoured
by the advertisers.
All rights reserved. © Life Positive Pvt. Ltd.

losZ HkoUrq lqf[ku~%] losZlUrq fujke;k%
losZ Hknzkf.k i’;Urq] ekdf’pn~nq%[kHkkd~Hkosr!

May all beings be happy, May all be healthy,
May people have the well-being of all in mind,
May nobody suffer in any way. — Vedic prayer

Edited by Shivi Verma. Printed and published by
Aditya Ahluwalia on behalf of Life Positive Pvt. Ltd. from
F1/9, First floor, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase - I,
New Delhi-110020
Printed at M.P. Printers, B-220, Phase 2 Noida, 201305
Member, Indian Newspaper Society

4 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

Cancertame: Ayurvedic Cancer Care

What is Cancertame?

Cancertame is an ayurvedic formulation that helps to fight the growth
of cancer as well as helps to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy
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Support Team: Toll Free Number: 1800-419-5444 Doctors Team:
[email protected] www.cancertame.in [email protected]

COVER STORY26

LEAD STORY
The COVID classroom
Using exemplary instances of altruism, Jamuna
Rangachari shows that we can create a better
world for ourselves if we approach adversities as
opportunities to learn and grow from

18
CLOSE ENCOUNTER
“You will see an awakening”
The pandemic may have been the single most
disruptive phenomenon anyone living on the planet
has ever experienced, but it is also compelling us to
wake up, says Sri Anish

14
HEARTSPEAK
Queen of her empire
Jyoti Marianne Bahri’s battle with the devastating
effects of COVID thrusts her into the lap of the Divine
Mother, where she truly belongs

06 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

42

FOOD

Go loco over Cocoa

Ttry a helping of cocoa the next time you want to
indulge and stay healthy

46

SELF-GROWTH

Meditation: More practical than you think!

How meditation can benefit us immensely in our
everyday life

51

INNERVIEW

Energy rules the world

Rishidev Narendraji helps spiritual seekers identify
the root cause of their sufferings, and heals them
holistically with missionary zeal

REGULAR COLUMNS Revelations 24 Mudras 58
Journey 60
Response 08 Aha-moments 40 Spirit 63
Mandala 10
Yoga 12 Banyan Tree 64

Cover photo: Adobe Stock, Photo credit: Adobe Stock, Cover design: Sandeep Kumar Total pages 68, including the cover page and the back cover

Contents 07

RESPONSE

www.lifepositive.com `100 Mail from our readers,

YOUR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMPANION July2021 online fans and subscribers

THE AURA OF Dear Ashok,
FLORA AND It is very good to hear from you and am glad to see
FAUNA

How animal and
plant vibrations
affect human lives

PAGE 26

Coping with you respond to my article. First of all, I am very
grief happy to know that you have had a smooth and

PAGE 52

Ozone Therapy: quick recovery from COVID. God be praised.
a potent weapon
Now as far as your critique of my article is concerned,
against covid the thing to keep in mind is that destiny does not
equate with helplessness. Destiny is the unfolding of
PAGE 46 our lives according to our karma, or if you want to

Guruspeak:
Sri Aurobindo

PAGE 25

Destiny matters see it from another point of view, according to the

Apropos of the column Staying sane in Covid times will of God. Now this does not mean that you should
in the June 2021 issue of Life Positive author not do anything about it. You have to do everything
Suma Varughese has provided very useful you can about it. But when you keep in mind that
advice on how to preserve our sanity during unless you are decreed to die from this ailment, you
these dreadful times. However, I felt a tone of will not do so, you will be freed from unnecessary
helplessness in her description of the situation. I fear and anxiety and can focus on combatting the
am 77 years old and I have recently had COVID ailment.
but I did not let helplessness overcome me. I
just did practical things: consulted a physician As far as you are concerned, it was your destiny to
promptly, got certain tests done and took the heal from COVID, which is why you did. It was
your destiny to have supportive circumstances, like
your own dynamic nature and the loving support of
medicines as prescribed. I am glad to say that I your daughter and brother. Were you not destined
made a quick recovery.  It’s not one’s destiny to to live, maybe these favourable circumstances would

get COVID or die of it. A lot depends on one’s not have existed. Even if they did exist, you may

actions. Lack of discipline in using a mask, not have made it. We all know that life and death

washing hands, and safe distancing can invite is not in our hands. Sometimes, no matter how hard
the patient, the doctors and family members strive,
COVID. Correct  action on the other hand can life slips away. And it is also equally true that not
save one’s life. everyone gets COVID and everyone does not die of it
even if they get it. What makes the difference? I would
 God too sends help. My daughter, staying  in the say it is destiny. Life works out the way it is meant to
neighbourhood, sent me lunch, and my brother, work out. This knowledge is not helplessness, but in
whose house is behind mine, handed me dinner fact the essence of Advaita. Ramesh Balsekar used
packets over the boundary wall everyday. 

I wish Sumaji had mentioned the usefulness of to say that his teaching could be summed up in four

yoga and pranayama in raising one’s immunity. words: Thy will be done.

COVID affects the lungs, so pranayama can I do hope I have made myself clear.

help in avoiding  the illness.  Warm regards,

Ashok Tiwari via email Suma Varughese

08 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

Fortunate disciple of Dadashreeji Ahead of times

Roopa Rani’s article Living with the Master in Life Positive magazine is ahead of its time as the
the June 2021 issue of Life Positive made for very essence of life is shared very well in it. I enjoyed
interesting reading. She is fortunate to have reading; Raise your sattvic quotient and Living
met him in person and attended his retreat. with the Master in the June 2021 issue. The cover
What is most magnificent is that now she feels article- The Rise of the new panthiest sheds light
the protective and guiding presence of Shri on the huge shift in our paradigm when it comes
Dadashreeji in all her activities and is able to to following religion. Clearly gone are the days
seek his help for people in distress. when people followed only that religion they
were born into. A Hindu by birth, I find deep joy
At a Life Positive retreat at Zorba: the Buddha in following Buddhism too. I enjoyed reading
resort, I had the good fortune of attending the articles; From pain to perfection, A journey
a session conducted by the disciples of in yoga and The power of surrender. Each time I
Dadashreeji. In the positive ambiance created have read Life Positive, it has affirmed that my
by them they conducted a meditation and inner peace is the most precious thing as it gives
then transmitted energy from Dadashreeji to me the faith and courage to take life head on.
each person. I wonder if I can regard that as Annie, via WhatsApp
an  initiation into Dadashreeji’s teachings.
However, I appreciate their emphasis on love A moving article
for fellow human beings as well as all creatures.
This powerful emotion can definitely transform A dog’s tale by Nikita Mukherjee in the May 2021
a person into a very positive personality and issue was very impressive. Infact it made me cry
make society a better place gradually, and while reading it. It was a wonderful teaching
our lives more peaceful and contented. story.

Ashok Tiwari via email Raghav, via email

Corrigendum

In the article Ozone therapy: the gentle healer, Dr Mili Shah has been wrongly referred to as the vice
president of the Ozone Forum of India. She is the President of the organisation. The error is regretted.

-Editor

Response 09

MANDALA

We all have witnessed and Team Listening Hearts is doing a yeoman’s
felt the collective pain of service to help the grieving people
people suffering from a
very severe second wave They have created an easy
of COVID during the and efficient system for
past few months. The people to reach out to
situation aggravated them for help through
with a national crisis Google forms, whose
of shortage of resources link is https://forms.gle/
like oxygen cylinders, HzfhTb8psDLxDRZ7A.
beds in hospitals, essential They had decided that there was
medicines, and whatnot. It not going to be an exchange of any
was heartbreaking to see many sort between the listener and ‘healee’—
people lose their lives and the grief not even a gift can be offered. They respond
of family members and friends who within 24 hours of receiving the query, and once
couldn’t even be there in the last moments of their someone has attended a session, a check is kept
loved ones to bid their final goodbyes. Anyone on them via emails and messages, to assure them
who has been in this place knows the excruciating that Listening Hearts is always there for them.
pain of loss, remorse, helplessness, and the regrets More sessions are offered too, and in some serious
of not being able to save the life of a dear one. cases, they refer people to psychotherapists,
psychologists, and counsellors.
During such tormenting times, a team of 11 gentle
and kind volunteers, who are trained professional Today, the sessions aren’t just limited to pandemic-
Life and Executive coaches, came together to set related woes but are also extended to anyone who
up a free online listening support group called feels the need to be heard, seen, and comforted.
‘Listening Hearts’ for anyone affected by the Everyone is welcome to come and seek healing
pandemic. COVID warriors, patients, caregivers, with Listening Hearts. In fact, they are a team of
families struggling with loss and grief, or anyone 15 now.
who might be feeling isolated, sad, fearful, or
anxious are provided with non-judgmental and [email protected].
empathetic listening sessions which give them a
safe space for sharing and grieving.

10 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

“I consulted Mr Pathak in 2008. At that time, According to him, the golden rule in homeopathy
I was suffering from eczema in both hands. is to nail the art of selecting a ‘bang on’ medicine
I had been trying to get it treated through for a particular problem and also understanding
conventional medicine, but nothing was helping the holism of each medicine. He says “Studying
me. Fortunately, someone recommended Mr homoeopathy is a lifelong process of learning,
Nitya Prakash Pathak to me. He prescribed growing, and discovering new things in it. I
homeopathic medicines which were potent and strongly believe that homeopathy can treat an
effective. A very chronic problem was healed ailment to its core and eradicate all its traces from
within 2–3 months. After this, not only me but the body, unlike allopathic medicines which treat
my entire family became regular clients of Mr symptoms that return once the medicines are
Pathak. He does not charge any money for his stopped.”
prescriptions and does this work as a form of seva
(social service),” says Mahima Chugh, a regular One can easily say that Mr Pathak is a mystic
visitor at Mr Pathak’s. healer in his own right, who has a gift for freeing
others from their sufferings. He is extremely
Living in Gorakhpur, (UP) Mr Pathak is truly a rooted, and kind, and honest about whatever
hidden gem. He does not advertise his work and medicines he prescribes. What motivates him
treats people from his house instead of clinic. to keep doing this noble work is the inner
Calling it a hobby, his journey with homeopathy satisfaction and bliss that he feels after relieving
started with his love for reading. Although he his visitors of their ailments. The efficacy of his
is an electrical engineering diploma holder by work spreads by word of mouth through all those
qualification, he was also an avid reader of novels, who have benefitted from his prescriptions.
storybooks, drama, and thrillers. When he had
exhausted the bank of books from these genres, At the age of 63, juggling his job as an electrical
he moved on to read some books on engineer and his passion to heal others,
homeopathy. He was captivated he continues to selflessly serve
by its holistic foundation, and others. He prefers to meet his
soon, he had mastered it. His patients in person so that he
breakthrough happened can gauge their condition
when he was able to catch better.
the pulse of medicine
combinations for various Mr N P Pathak
problems in homeopathy. Ph: 9452402808

Selflessly serving humanity

Mandala 11

YOGA

Fine for your spine

The Locust Pose benefits your back as well as tones up your entire system, says Kamala Venkat

The yoga pose Salabhasana is extremely
beneficial for strengthening the lower
back. It is also called ‘Locust Pose’ because
the legs are raised in the final position to
imitate the tail of a locust. ‘Salabhasana’
comes from the Sanskrit word ‘salabha,’
meaning ‘locust’ or ‘grasshopper,’ and
‘asana,’ which means ‘posture’ or ‘seat.’

Method
• Lie prone on the ground.
• Keep your legs straight with the feet together.
• Place your arms on either side of the legs or under them.
• Touch your chin to the ground throughout the practice.
• Relax the whole body.
• Inhale, raising both legs as high as you can while keeping them straight together.
• Maintain the position as long as you can.
• Exhale, bringing your legs down.
• Do 2–3 rounds.

Benefits
• Stimulates the whole body and the internal organs by enhancing blood circulation.
• Tones and strengthens the spine and the back.
• Boosts mental concentration.
• Clears the bowels when practised regularly.
• Strengthens the hip bones and reduces excessive thigh muscles.

Contraindications
• Migraines or headaches.
• Spinal or neck injuries.
• Pregnancy or menstruation.
• Serious back injuries, spondylolisthesis, or knee and hip injuries.
• High blood pressure or glaucoma.
• Hernia or potbelly.
• Recent surgery.

Mrs. Kamala Venkat is a home maker with a great passion for Yoga. Inspired by Shri Swami Ramdev of Patanjali,
she has been practising it with complete dedication for the last 20 years. She is a certified yoga instructor from VYSA
(Vivekananda Yog Anusandhan Sansthan)

12 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021



HEARTSPEAK

Queen of her empire

Jyoti Marianne Bahri’s battle with the devastating effects of COVID thrusts her
into the lap of the Divine Mother, where she truly belongs

R ecently, I was down with fever and severe pains, and I was hanging in there somehow,

trying to cope. I just wanted to be left alone, not being bothered to eat or take medicines.

Some days before this, I had started feeling very impatient, edgy, and

irritable with everyone around me, including myself. Day by day, I grew

more vulnerable, moody, and offended just by the tone of a voice. I

felt as if some venom had penetrated my entire being. I had to

rein in my tongue tightly to restrain myself from spewing

out this ‘poison.’ I was wondering what was happening

to me—I was not my usual self.

Finally, I found myself bulldozed down
entirely, and I had no strength to counteract.
I just wanted to sink in and not be disturbed,
and be done with it. I felt overshadowed by a
dark cloud or an entity. It had taken away not
only my strength but even the will to live—
the urge to fight, the drive to expand the

restricted room in

14 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

my chest. I just accepted the decreasing space forcefully into my lungs. I crawled back into
in my lungs, breathed shallowly, and allowed bed, exhausted but not despairing anymore.
the sensitive pinned area to increase. Something in me got kindled to live. I
continued with the exercises despite the fever
Was I going to die? and the pain. Slowly, the chest started opening
My husband tried to push me to change up. 
position, sit up, drink, eat, steam, gargle, and
do some basic breathing exercises. The fever I refused the prescribed allopathic medicine
increased, and the oximeter readings fell day and asked my friend, an experienced
by day. Smell and appetite had gone, and homoeopath and gifted therapist, to guide
whatever I ate, I couldn’t digest. When the me. I trusted in myself and my own self-
COVID-19 test result came in as positive, I healing ability, in whose service she had placed
was gasping for breath: I was gasping for life in herself. Skilfully, she tested what my body
every inch of my chest. I was losing the space needed to take the next step towards recovery,
to breathe. like increased supplements, especially zinc
and amino acids, and energised water. She sent
As I was trying to sleep at night, my pulse shot me a specific tattoo that I had to draw on my
up. The nervous system sent out tremors, and arm. Gradually, the fever reduced. 
the chest and heart were vibrating vigorously.
Thoughts streamed in like dark clouds, and A positive outlook
fear-loaded emotions erupted. Am I in danger? Being isolated from everybody, I felt very
Am I going to die? All the possible ifs and buts lonely till I realised that this was my long-
appeared, and I got overwhelmed listening to awaited retreat. I had my separate room with
all the voices in the head, warning me, telling an attached bathroom. Food and everything
me what to do. I needed were kept in the passage. There was
nothing to do, no needs of others to be fulfilled,
Suddenly, in the middle of the night, I realised no household work, no writing, no to-do lists
that all this was part of the illness. It was an to be worked on. The entire focus was on
invasion, and I just allowed it to happen myself and my recovery, well-being, and ways
without any resistance. It had almost driven to come to terms with my life and become that
me out of my kingdom. I sat up, and I called luminous self I longed to be.
upon my inner female warrior. If I have to die,
let me do it gracefully and bravely. I sat up and I increased my steaming and breathing
started my breathing exercises, ready to regain exercises. I listened to online Vedanta classes
every breath, with the thought that I am the and guided meditations, even though it was
queen of my empire and nothing can defeat difficult to hold the concentration. Every day, I
me.  attended group healing and prayer sessions. In
the night when I couldn’t sleep, I sat up, and
The fight begins using my mala (prayer beads), recited my
When I began, it was painful to take a deep mantras. Still, one part of my mind was busy
breath or inhale with the steamer. My head repeating mechanically, while the other part
was spinning, a severe churning assaulted went on entertaining thoughts.
my abdomen, and fine needles were pressing

Heartspeak 15

Finally, I dedicated a mantra to friends in need overwhelmed by the news streaming in about
and many other COVID patients in the city dear ones battling for life or having passed
and all over the country. While reciting the away. 
mantra, I guided it through my own body right
into the affected parts of my lungs, spleen, and I allowed myself to grieve and indulge in the
pancreas. I visualised the healing vibration crying, and did not try to suppress but rather
of the mantra reaching everyone else’s body observed what was deeply below the surface
along with my breath. In this way, I engaged and vent it out by writing. What showed
mindfully. I calmed down and could find up was an accumulated sense of loss and
restful sleep.  unpredictability, helplessness, and a sense of
being doomed by an unknown force. Fear of
The fever subsided. Physically, I felt more the unknown, of death, crept up, and I felt that
robust, but emotionally, I was very worn out. I had lost my way home—my deep connection
I had grown over-sensitive and vulnerable. with the Divine within me.
I could not bear unsettling news and finally
had to keep myself away from phone calls In the morning, I listened to a powerful Shiva
and social media. Nevertheless, I was flooded mantra to counteract the panic attacks, reduce
with thoughts and fearful emotions. Crying fear and anxiety, and balance emotions. The
episodes increased, and I would sit there and beautiful voice invited me to chant along.
bawl for no rhyme or reason, or by just being I tried, accompanied by coughing and the

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16 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

clearing of my throat. Slowly, day by day, the higher plan. Every calamity, every crisis, holds
hoarse voice and loaded lungs started clearing out a gift. Recognise it and receive it.” 
up, and the sound of the mantra opened up the
tight rings around my chest, filling me with Now, a few weeks later, I am almost free of
bliss.  COVID. I still have slight congestion in my
  chest and carry on with steaming, pranayama
The lap of the Divine Mother (yogic breathing), and chanting. My physical
To find rest and peace, I remembered my inner stamina is limited, and I am learning how to
connection. Instead of worrying, I curled up harness my energy, expanding it gradually.
and placed myself in the lap of the Divine Despite all that, I feel much more alive, as
Mother. She caressed me and enveloped me in if I have received a boost. I am grateful for
her sweet love, whispering into my ears: “You the experience that has come as a blessing in
are precious in the eyes of the Divine. Just disguise. It has deepened my inner connection
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Heartspeak 17

CLOSE ENCOUNTER

Awakening with Anishji

The pandemic may have been the single most disruptive phenomenon anyone has
ever experienced, but it is also compelling us to wake up, says

Sri Anish, a Dharamsala-based spiritual teacher committed to the task of raising
human consciousness, in an interview with Suma Varughese

18 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

I first came in touch with Sri Anish humanity. “We only have another 10–12 years
sometime in 2018. I got a call from a to change ourselves. After that, it will be too
pleasant-sounding person who introduced late,” he said soberly.
himself as a spiritual teacher visiting Mumbai
to hold a satsang (spiritual gathering). He Recently, in a freewheeling Zoom conversation
requested a meeting with me regarding a that linked him in Dharamsala and me
forthcoming book of his. I asked him if he was in distant Mumbai, we touched upon the
willing to come over to distant Malad. To my pandemic and what the future held for us,
surprise, he said yes! before exploring the fascinating spiritual
journey that the Divine put him through. At
Dressed in kurta-pyjama, with a dome of a head, the end of the one-hour interview, I was left
long flowing beard, and a genial, good-looking feeling uplifted and optimistic, for as long as
face, Sri Anish looked every inch a spiritual there are people like Sri Anish (and there are
teacher. But he stood out in many ways. There thousands of them across the globe), there is
was a refreshing informality about him. And a hope for humanity.
lightness with which he carried himself. Unlike
the patriarchal guru figure who places himself Q. Why do you think the pandemic has
above his followers, Sri Anish was content to erupted at this point in time?
refer to them as his friends. The Hindus talk about karma, and the Buddha
talks about the Great Law of Cause and Effect.
We talked about various aspects of spirituality, Either way, it can be said that the pandemic is
and I resonated with many of his viewpoints. He the effect of a cause that we human beings have
was passionate about the need to raise human collectively created. We have created it through
consciousness, to free oneself from the shackles our excessive greed. By not being able to relate
of separatist thought and recognise the truth to Nature or have gratitude for it. By wanting
of oneness. The present-day economic model the economy to grow at nine per cent annually
and the subsequent ecological crisis concerned for decades and centuries. How can we have
both of us, and he told me how he had started unlimited growth with limited resources? It
organic farming in a small way in Dharamshala is unsustainable. Because of this, look at the
where he lived. We were both also passionate suffering we have caused to plant, marine,
about our great Indian heritage. “Primarily, and animal life. Where will the suffering go?
India has been the land of sages, seers, scholars, Nothing goes anywhere. Only the form will
and scientists who laid down the foundational change. So, I think we humans have sown some
systems on how to lead an evolutionary human bad seeds, and the seeds are sprouting.
life. They showed the ways to live, which takes
care, nourishes, and helps evolve the collective Q. How many people are even considering
human consciousness through the principle of this possibility? Judging from the papers, it
co-existence with all life forms in nature.” appears that business people are only waiting
for the pandemic to go, to get back to business
The pandemic had confirmed his worst as usual.
fears of the destruction caused by mankind’s It can never be business as usual. That is the
heedless obsession with materialism. And all hope for humanity. I am hopeful about the
his energies are now focussed on awakening situation. I would divide people into three

Close encounter 19

sections: The first would be the awakened meditators, people on the spiritual path, and
ones who are making conscious choices. These even those who are novices. All of a sudden,
people are becoming more awakened. If on a my work has rapidly expanded. It is as if the
scale of one to 10 they were at five, they are tree of my being was ready, and the roots have
now at seven. The second section consists expanded much deeper and wider.
of the large majority of people. They are
essentially sensitive but have been led by their I was initially apprehensive about going online.
uncontrolled desires. This section is really Can we create an energy pool when thousands
shaken up. Earlier they were semi-awake. of miles apart? I am now convinced that energy
Now they are awake. I have great hope for is not dependent on any media. The form
this section. The third segment was in deep does not matter for the formless to work. On
slumber before the pandemic. Some of them a few online sessions, some of us were in tears
may still be in the same state. These are the because of the depth of the heart that we were
people who have been selling Remdesivir able to touch. The work has probably impacted
in the black market for profit. But even they a few thousand people, and it is making the
have progressed. If they were at a minus level world a little more enlightened.
earlier, today, they are closer to zero.
The pandemic is an extremely potent
The pandemic has enabled progression. transformation period in human consciousness.
Common people are out on the road, trying to A couple of thousands of years down the line,
help each other with their limited resources. looking at the journey of human evolution, we
Large organisations have gone out of their would be able to put a date to it: pre-2020 and
way to support their employees. Some Tata post-2020. However, it is not without pain. For
companies are actually continuing to give to transformation to happen, a period of intense
the families of those who died of COVID, the suffering, dukkah, is almost unavoidable. Look
equivalent of their last-drawn salaries until at the labour pain a woman goes through
they would have turned 60. These things are because of the massive transformation in the
unheard of in India. You would not expect life form.
common people to come out and express their
goodness to the world, but they are. The effects Q. True. I am so glad you brought this up. It
will come. You will see an awakening. is not that we are insensitive to the suffering
that is part of the transformation. What we
Q. In what ways are you responding to the saw in the last one-and-a-half months in
pandemic? Mumbai and Delhi was gruelling.
Like most others, my work too has moved Yes, it was just horrible. I think none of us
online. And the positive side to it is that I living has ever experienced suffering on this
was able to reach people I could not have scale. No Indian family I have spoken to has
met physically. Earlier, the maximum I was been spared. They have either lost someone
able to achieve was an annual trip to Europe in the family or known network, or suffered
and a trip to Mumbai or Delhi once in two in some other way. Over a billion people have
months. Because of the pandemic, I am witnessed this suffering. But the good thing
conducting sessions every week and reaching is that it was a collective suffering. We were
out to all sections of society, ranging from deep all together in this. It is not as if something

20 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

is happening in Mumbai and people in Delhi This means your heart is tremendously more
don’t care about it. I think this then becomes powerful than the brain, even physically. The
another seed because, somehow, we all have heart is the only centre that will enable us to
been connected with each other. feel for each other, to connect with each other,
which the mind cannot. During the pandemic,
Q. You are so right, Anishji. And it is not just especially in India, the heart centre got
India; it has impacted the whole world! activated. We were feeling the bhava (emotion)
Exactly. This has been unprecedented in human of mass suffering. And we all wanted to do
history. The Spanish flu we keep talking about something about it. It has proven beyond doubt
did not impact the whole world. Today, for the that the heart is powerful, and it can do a lot
very first time in recorded human history, the of good in terms of spreading hope, positivity,
whole earth has been affected. This coming and light. It does not tire. The mind tires, but
together has a beauty; it has a possibility. It is never the heart. No one will ever say, I got so
our work to make that possibility a reality. tired of loving that I have stopped loving.

Q. In one of your talks, you had mentioned Since education is not focussing on it, we need
that to develop resilience, we must activate to learn how to activate the heart. Creativity
the heart. Could you elaborate on that? is a great way to awaken the heart centre.
India has always been the seat of wisdom. That Every child who comes into the world must
is our contribution to the world. Where is the spend plenty of time in creativity. It could be
seed of wisdom in the human system? It is in painting, writing, poetry, thinking, woodwork,
the heart. You may know that you must not put or farming. It is one of the ways to create an
your finger in an electric socket because your enlightened humanity. Education is key to
mother told you that as a child. However, only creating an evolved society.
if you actually put your finger in the socket
and get a shock will that knowledge become Q. Would you say that the pandemic is
wisdom. If ever you had to talk about it, you moving us towards Satyug?
wouldn’t need to think from your information We are entering a new phase of human
database. You already know what an electric consciousness. The word for it is evolution.
shock feels like. So wisdom is that which stays It means we carry with us the wisdom of the
in your heart forever and cannot be taken away past and combine it with the reality of today.
from you. I tend to believe that even when So, in future, we will be an evolutionarily wise
you change form from one life to another, the species, where we will integrate the past with
wisdom stays. Unfortunately, most education the present to create a glorious future for all of
only fuels the mind. I am referring to the us. It is a future of collaboration, co-operation,
education systems that we inherited from co-existence—not of competition. The current
the West. The right education is that which economic system which is based on material
includes the application of the head, hands, growth will go away. We will have a new
and heart. When learning combines all three, economic system based on sharing and caring.
only then are you walking the path of wisdom. The current phase is not sustainable; it will kill
the Earth. If the Earth is gone, we are gone.
Do you know that the biomagnetic field of the
heart is 5000 times stronger than the head? Q. Tell that to the capitalists, and they will

Close encounter 21

tell you that the solution is to transition to a darshan zone (where you pay your respects), I
new planet. What do you have to say to that? looked at him and he looked at me, and at that
(Laughs) Nature will not allow it. Elon Musk moment, the line stopped for a few seconds. I
and a lot of other people are trying to do that. was in tears. My father could not understand
All the best to them because I love explorers. it.
But I have my serious doubts. Such an outlook
is not right. We need to mend our ways instead In my adolescence, I was passionate, ambitious,
of destroying more planets. We will be the virus and a motorcycle rider. Later, I did my MBA
then. We will be the pandemic. But I know that and became a serial entrepreneur. One fine
human beings are made of light. And we will day, at the peak of my career, all my past came
change. back with such force that I had to let my career,
ambition, and material success go. It was as if
Q. Let’s move to something more personal. someone woke me up and said, “It’s time for
Who were you before you became Sri Anish? you to do the things that you are here for.” I
During childhood, a lot of mystical things was told that my real work would begin when
happened to me. Neither I nor my parents I turned 40.
noticed them because we were not trained to.
For instance, when I was three, my grandmother Q. How old were you? And were you married?
took me to Rishikesh and made me take the I was about 29 or 30. And yes, I was married.
traditional dip in the Ganges. The water was Our son was three years old at that time.
not deep, so during the dip, I picked up a small Fortunately, my wife accepted my decision. I
black Shivalinga. It was the only friend I had. told her if she came with me, I would make
The stone had the energy of Shiva and would sure there is a purposeful life waiting for us.
talk to me. I had a special place under my bed She was also a career woman who had seen me
for Shiva. When my mother would scold me, I as a CEO and enjoyed a lavish life. I promised
would go under the bed and spend hours with her that we would not die of poverty. She agreed
Shiva. with me, and we moved to the Himalayas in
Dharamsala. That period of 10 years was not
Four years later, when I was about seven, the easy for her. I was largely in solitude, with very
Buddha came into my system and a lot of little social contact. I would take off into the
mysterious breathwork happened, including mountains for two weeks at a stretch. But she
anapana sati. I would be playing with friends, and my son supported me.
and in between, I would stop breathing. I could
hold my breath. I was led into the meditation Exactly as predicted, when I turned 40, the
of breath. message came that I was to move from the
mountains and start to travel. That was five
At around the same time, my parents took years ago. I spent the first three years travelling
me to an amazingly beautiful guru—my within India to understand the current
first meeting with an enlightened being. He spiritual fabric of this nation. I also travelled
was Charan Singhji Maharaj of the Radha a lot in Europe, absorbing its spiritual fabric.
Soami movement. For the next two years, I Something tells me that India needs to forge
remembered the satsang and everything he a strong spiritual connection with the USA,
said, word for word. When we were in the and I would be going there shortly. Over the

22 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

last two years, spiritual teaching has been the 10-year phase, and a deep connection was
happening. I have a sense of where we are as a formed with him. From there, I was introduced
collective humanity and the steps which have to yoga and a deep, ancient connection with
to be taken. Patanjali emerged. As for Swami Vivekananda,
I feel as if he were a brother from another
Q. Could you share the essence of your mother. It was as if an elder brother has done
transformational journey? some work and has left some of it for me to do.
It was strange. I was led from one school of These are strange things to say, but this is what
spirituality to another very systematically. I I experienced. In addition, there was also a
have already mentioned Shiva and the Buddha. beautiful phase of Krishna bhakti which I went
When my transition from the corporate world through. I felt that I was being put through a
happened, I was plunged into bhakti (devotion). kind of preparation.
There was a strong pull towards Guru Nanak
who taught me the essence of bhakti. From Q. What is the next step for you?
there, I was led to Ramana Maharshi and I am convinced that the leadership of this
Vedanta philosophy, which was followed by nation has to be enlightened. I am referring
Ramakrishna Paramahansa. I got introduced to primarily to business leadership. Business
Osho because he used to speak about all schools impacts politics and also affects all of us at
of spirituality. He was the door-opener. Each of the ground level. My future work will be with
these phases would come with such force that, leaders from all segments of life: business,
for instance, for eight to nine months, it would social work, administration, politics, and
only be Ramakrishna Paramahansa. I could education as well. If you look at it from the
not think of Shiva at that time. My thoughts, Maslow hierarchy of needs, these leaders have
my tears, my dreams, sleep, waking hours, the fulfilled their primary needs and even the need
books that would appear would all be about for ambition and success. Now they are ready
Ramakrishna. to embrace the light of consciousness.

After the 10 years were over, I was travelling to Q. What exactly is the work you do at Saadho
London, and I took a five-day halt in Turkey. I Sangha?
was led to a place called Konya, where Rumi’s It is a foundation we have created to organise
tomb stands. And something phenomenal my public talks. A lot of corporates are now
happened there. A group of strangers came up inviting me to speak on spirituality. I will be
to me and said, “We have been waiting for you.” speaking at the IIMs shortly. We also hold
They took me to Rumi’s tomb where magical regular sessions on yoga and work a lot with
things happened. That was my exposure to sound. Sound has a big role to play in raising
Sufism. human consciousness. India has done a lot of
exploration through ragas (Indian classical
I even spent a period with Jesus Christ during scales). This is the time to utilise that science.

We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article.
Mail us at [email protected]

Close encounter 23

REVELATIONS

Seeking the highest

Book: The Divine Connect with removing all obstacles. Life She wanted to experience the
Maitreya Dadashreeji becomes music, a symphony unconditional love emanating
Pages: 124 and dance, weaving its magic from his eyes. Suddenly, she
Publisher: Bluerose Publishers into the everyday tapestry of received a subliminal message
Pvt. Ltd human existence. that he would fulfil her wish.
Price: 223 An ardent seeker, Roopa Right then, a white country
Author: Maitreyi Roopa always wanted to find a living dog appeared from nowhere
master and experience the bliss and began accompanying the
Shivi Verma felt by the disciples of Sai Baba trekkers. She felt a strong urge
and Ramkrishna Paramhansa. to look into the eyes of the
When the mirror of the heart is This wish was fulfilled in the dog, and as soon as she did it,
untainted by the smudges of the year 2012 when she met her a strong electrifying current
mind, Nature leans forward to guru Maitreya Dadashreeji in sent a shiver through her body,
reveal its glories to the seeker. his ashram (spiritual retreat) submerging her in an ocean of
Maitreyi Roopa, the author at Karjat, near Mumbai. She divine love. She immediately
of The Divine Connect with recognised her spiritual mentor understood that the dog was
Maitreya Dadashreeji, is a immediately and forged a none other than Mahavatar
lady whose heart beats for the deep and unbreakable bond Babaji himself, who had come
Divine and whose eyes seek his with him. After this, her life to fulfill her wish.
presence in every aspect of her became a song of unceasing These and many other gripping
life. divine communion. At each tales of divine intervention
Needless to say, such a life is and every juncture of her life, in the big and small moments
blessed, as it gets to know the she experienced the guidance, of life make this book
finest experiences bestowed love, and care provided by her unputdownable. If you wish to
upon human beings. A life master, even when he was not be assailed by a sweet sense of
constantly touched by the physically present with her. being unconditionally loved,
loving hands of God, making the Though the book is filled protected, and guided by an
devotee feel that he is around, with innumerable thrilling unseen force, do get this book.
listening, caring, loving, and experiences of being divinely Every chapter fills you with
guided, one incident is freshness, newness, vigour, and
particularly fascinating to a shining hope that magic and
read. While on a trip to the miracles are possible if you
Dronagiri mountain range believe in them.
with her guru and fellow
disciples, Roopa felt a strong
desire to see Mahavatar Babaji.

24 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

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LEAD STORY
26 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

Using exemplary instances of altruism, Jamuna Rangachari shows that we can
create a better world for ourselves if we approach adversities as opportunities to

learn and grow in all areas of life—synergistically.

Lead Story 27

It was the best of times, it was the worst of
times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age
of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was
the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of
Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the

spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
—Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.

L ast month, we lost my husband’s sister, ensure that we meet physically and virtually as
61-year-old Shanti, a teacher, to the often as we can. This has made us much closer
pandemic. Shanti was a pillar of support to each other, and we all remember Shanti
and strength to everyone in our family. Family often in the process.
events would have Shanti in the midst of all
the activities. Earlier, we could not meet very The tragedy taught me the important lesson
often due to being in different places. But even of not losing touch with my family members,
after coming to Bangalore where we both lived, because of being busy or occupied with other
we did not meet as often as we should have. matters.

So the news of she contracting COVID came as It is said that people who don’t learn readily,
a shock to us. need a pinch, often given through a crisis. Has
COVID come to teach us something? We see
During the period she was in hospital, we tried people coming together, helping each other,
to do as much as we could for her family but and respecting the planet now, more than ever
missed her terribly as we were not allowed into before. This is indeed a new era when people
the ICU. are changing their perspectives.

After she passed away, I experienced the While on the one hand, media was replete with
emptiness which was caused by her demise. stories of humanity sinking to horrible lows
I was reminded of the uncertainty of life and as the pandemic struck its deadly blow on the
how we so often take it for granted. people of India, there were equal if not more
number of people going out of their way to
I vowed to myself that we would never neglect help the struggling and the suffering.
meeting our family as far as possible. Now, we

28 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

This thought made me research on this topic Shobha Raghavan
and I discovered many Good Samaritans who
lit the lamp of goodness during very difficult time to reciprocate in someone’s hour of need.
times and other innovative works which have She was quite good at tailoring, and thought
happened during this period. of putting it to good use. She started making
masks from bits of pieces the tailor nearby
Bridging the divide between humans would discard. She then donated them to an
One of the most important things that have orphanage nearby. With all this, she definitely
happened as a result of the pademic is that feels she has become a better person through
it made people kinder and more helpful to the pandemic.
others. Stories abound of how neighbours and
even strangers came forward to lend a helping Shobha also shares how she has become
hand to others during their times of distress. much closer to her husband now. She learnt
many life lessons in this period. Above all, it
In my apartment block, our security guard and is seeing the good in the other person, which
his family contracted COVID. Immediately, she says she had not bothered to do all these
everyone came together and got them an years. Another lesson she shares is that with
oximeter and basic medicines. We connected so many of her friends, near and dear, passing
with spiritual organisations that provided away one after another without a note or
food for COVID patients keeping nutrition in warning, one realises that nothing is eternal.
mind. People prayed, counselled, and guided She also says that not going out, not dressing
them. After two weeks, when they recovered, up for occasions, not eating out, not spending
the whole building celebrated collectively. money on shopping and lavish food, but living
I wonder if this would have been possible
without people wanting to help one another.

Shobha Raghavan, a retired bank employee
from Bangalore, shares, “We have a domestic
help who is a migrant. She comes in on a daily
basis and helps us with the domestic chores.
There is little or no interaction between us
because of the language barrier. Despite the
lockdown, seeing me struggle with old parents
and trying to do all the work, she offered to come
in early and clean the compound and water the
plants. The arrangement was very convenient.
She would finish and reach back home before
the lockdown started.” She continues, “It was
then that I understood that language need
not be a mode of communication. It was the
mindset to help.”

Being kind and caring, Shobha felt it was

Lead Story 29

We keep complaining about others,
especially the government, instead of
thinking about what we can do. People
like Ameen show us how we can truly
be a part of the solution and not the

problem in the journey of life.

in constant fear about the safety of family, and recommends it to others as well. After the
friends, and relatives has made her realise that COVID attack, she learnt to be conscious of
money is not everything in life. It is only love, others around her more than ever before.
hope, and faith in each other and bonding with
one’s family that is certain and concrete. Community service
Some people face a problem and then forget
In Delhi, a family came closer as a result of the about it once it is resolved. Others, like thirty-
pandemic. Lakshmi Ramaswami, a 67-year-old nine-year-old Ameen Mudassar, are different.
from Delhi, went to South India on a personal An entrepreneur who provides career
visit. When she returned, she found that many guidance, he tested COVID-19 positive in July
in her colony had been afflicted with COVID. 10, 2020, in the first wave in Bangalore. Even
She and her family went for a COVID test and at that time, there was a lot of confusion in the
found that all of them (her sister, mother-in- city. He got admitted to Shifa Hospital. Once
law, and husband) were COVID positive. They there, he started reflecting on many things
were not that close in all matters earlier, but and resolved that he did not want anyone to
this changed radically. suffer for logistical or financial reasons. He
started working on a plan, after which things
She immediately consulted her friends who started falling in place. He created a website to
were doctors, and with their guidance, all provide relevant information to those affected
of them were completely normal within one by the pandemic.
week. Having become completely well, she
asks everyone to not succumb to fear but work The idea was shared on a WhatsApp group
on themselves to become completely alright. emergency response team (Bangalore), of
She follows a proper diet and fitness routine which he was a member. It was liked by a

30 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

few members and friends, and the next day,
Sunday, July 12, 2020, the domain www.
covidhelplinebangalore.com was registered.
Immediately, a team was created for content
sourcing, content curation, design, and
development of the website. In just five days,
www.covidhelplinebangalore.com was set up,
and it went live on Friday, July 17, 2020. It’s a
team effort involving his friends and staff, and
a selection of concerned individuals and IT
Professionals who belong to different NGOs
and groups in Bangalore.

Ameen has also been recognised by the
Karnataka government. In a video they released
for COVID awareness, they put a link to his
site in August 2020, for he ensures his website
remains current mentioning all the steps one
needs to take. When the second wave struck,
more details regarding free oxygen cylinders,

Ameen Mudassar

Lead Story 31

free medical consultation, ambulance services, ensured that she never felt alone. They took
burial services, government notification, and over the entire situation, and she cannot thank
so on were updated and published. them enough for their help. People ranging
from the underprivileged to the privileged
Ameen says, “Let’s remember that we should speak highly of their work all the time.
do what we can, from where we are, and with
what we have.” We keep complaining about others, especially
the government, instead of thinking about
Supriya DeCosta, a dance and yoga teacher, who what we can do. People like Ameen show us
got divorced recently was a direct beneficiary how we can truly be a part of the solution and
of Ameen’s website. She was distraught not not the problem in the journey of life.
knowing where to go when her mother was
diagnosed with COVID in May 2021. She did In Chennai, Ramaa Parthasarathy, 61, started
not have money or friends who could help her; doing seva for COVID patients. She says,“With
as at that time the fear of COVID was at its the lockdown in place and with the hotels shut
peak in Karnataka. It was then that her friend down, many people were suffering without
from Mumbai guided her to contact Ameen. food.” She decided to supply homely meals to
Apart from arranging for a hospital, his team COVID patients.
counselled a distraught Supriya too, and

People are taking greater care of their physical health after the seond wave of the pandemic
32 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

“When people called us up to say that their Darryl D’ Souza
family members were happy to eat the home
food I cook, it gave me immense satisfaction Darryl D’Souza from Goa, a wellness
and fulfilled the purpose of living at my age professional, has become even busier now
of 60 plus. Though I have been cooking since conducting workshops and guiding people
I was 10 and love doing it, the comments from all the time. He suggests the following health
COVID patients gave me wings. I refined my routine:
skills and got the right consistency every day.”
She also minimised the use of spices as spicy • H ave dinner at 8 p.m., so that you can go to
food is hard to digest for COVID patients. bed by 10 p.m. and wake up without an alarm
at 6 a.m. when all of nature wakes up too.
All this made her not only a better cook but These are the rhythms for optimal health.
also a better person and has brought about the
understanding that consistency and health are • A t 7 a.m., do the following exercises (in
very important. At another level, we know of 3 point below) for building lung strength
gurudwaras in Delhi providing oxygen langars and heart strength, and raising the level of
(free community service) and COVID-19 care oxygen in the blood. If you have a cough
centres, medicines, ambulance services, and or cold, this exercise routine will make it
food to patients. These gurudwaras are working disappear within 5–7 days if you do it twice a
round-the-clock to alleviate the sufferings of day. If you have a sore throat in the morning,
people. do warm sea salt water gargling.

Well-being and immunity • D o 10–15 chest push-ups against the edge
Health and immunity often get ignored in our of a table, bed, or veranda railing. Next, sit
pursuit of things we consider important like down on a chair and keep your eyes closed.
money, pleasure and taste. Do 20 in and out breaths, only through your

We take too many things, including ourselves,
for granted. This pandemic has resulted in a
change of perspective, with people following a
routine and trying to keep themselves healthy.
High immunity is the only thing that is keeping
people safe in this pandemic. But who has high
immunity? Most people in the world do not
have even 50 per cent of their natural immunity
available to maintain high energy levels,
and fight harmful microorganisms, because
their immune systems are overwhelmed just
managing the bad choices they make. This
concerns both the food and the routine that
our body needs.

Lead Story 33

nose, with good force and full lung capacity. • An hour before lunch, have a 200 ml green
Next, while keeping your eyes still closed, smoothie which could be a blend of cucumber,
roll a spiked acupressure ball for one minute tomato, carrot, capsicum, avocado, leaves
on both hands, especially over the points for of mint or parsley or curry leaves, celery,
the liver, lungs, and thymus. If you don’t spinach, bok choy, or coriander. You can use
have the ball, see an acupressure hand chart rock salt, ginger, clove, or organic jaggery to
and press these points with the pointed tip add some taste. Avoid this green smoothie if
of your thumb or index finger. Do two more you have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or
sets of these three exercises. After a week, if are underweight. For lunch, you could have
they make you feel more energised, you can semi-polished rice with a curry and cooked
increase the count for push-ups and breaths. vegetables. Half an hour after lunch, have a
Avoid these exercises if you experience probiotic.
breathlessness or your oxygen saturation
level on the oximeter is below 93 per cent or • H ave a tulsi, ginger, lemongrass, or traditional
if you’re a weak heart patient. kahwah tea in the evening with a handful
of nuts. You may repeat the morning lung
• At 7.30 a.m., sunbathe for 20 minutes on exercise if you like before the tea. If you feel
the front side of your body, standing up, tired during the day, drink a glass of Electral
barefoot, with minimal clothing. After 20 (electrolytes) or tender coconut water.
minutes, turn around and let the sun rays fall
on your back. You may do sun gazing, tai chi, • H ave a light dinner. If you suffer from
or chakra meditation during this time. Then, insomnia, don’t have a raw salad or smoothie
come indoors, cool down for 10 minutes, for dinner.
have a tulsi, lemongrass, or ginger tea or a
traditional kahwah (herbal concoction) and • Avoid animal’s milk and all its products
then have a bath if you feel like it. like cheese, paneer (Indian cottage cheese),
ice cream, softies, smoothies, cheesecake,
• Walk barefoot on earth to get its negative curd, lassi, milk sweets, chocolates, biscuits
ions into your body and bloodstream; they containing milk solids, pizzas with cheese,
reduce internal inflammation and increase etc. because they cause chronic cough and
body immunity. Or have your breakfast and cold, sinusitis, a tendency towards asthma,
evening tea on a table in your garden and pneumonia and bronchitis, acidity, arthritis,
keep your bare feet on earth for 20 minutes obesity, diabetes, hormonal imbalance,
at a time. polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), fibroids,
bulky uterus, infertility, cataract, glaucoma,
• Have a good quantity of a seasonal fruit for and more. Have nut milk instead; cheeses,
breakfast. Keep changing the fruit daily or cakes, and ice creams can be made from
after three days at least. If you feel hungry, them as well.
have a small breakfast one hour later of
whole millet grain with a cooked vegetable. • D o not have cold drinks, sour foods, foods
(Always soak the millets overnight in water that have too much vinegar and sour pickles,
and throw the water out, then cook.) as they cause coughs and colds and sicken the
lungs. Avoid an air-conditioned draught on

34 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

your face and chest when sleeping at night. Sujok therapy
Have 10 tulsi extract concentrate drops first Sunita Sohel, a Sujok practitioner from Delhi,
thing in the morning and last thing before also recommends making our immunity and
sleeping at night if you have a cough, cold, or mind strong. She suggests stimulating some
lung congestion. Sujok points (Diagram 1 below) for warding
off fear as the first step and for immunity and
• Do not have soft drinks, and do not eat strengthening the lungs.
things that have refined sugar in them. Keep
fried food to a minimum. Bake, boil, roast, or Diagram 1: Sujok points on the left hand for
steam food instead. Do not eat food that has alleviating fear
been cooked or warmed in a microwave. Stimulating certain correspondence points
related to the respiratory system on the thumbs
• D uring the day, when in a public place, do and the area immediately below the thumb
not touch your face or allow anyone else to (Diagram 2 below) by massaging with the
touch it. Step away from someone who is thumb of the other hand or by applying seeds
sneezing. Wash your hands with soap when to the most painful points with a paper tape
you come home or when you reach your could help.
workplace after travelling.
Diagram 2: Correspondences of the
• When you get home in the evening, do steam respiratory system on the hands
inhalation with eucalyptus, mint leaves, or Similarly, the correspondence points of the
ajwain (carom seeds) oil if it makes your medulla oblongata and hypothalamus gland
breathing better. If your sinuses get clogged on all the fingers and toes (Diagram 3 below)
during the day, do it once again in the need to be stimulated.
daytime. Do warm sea salt water gargling
before going to bed at night. Sleep on your
chest for a while doing deep breathing, as it
helps fill the lungs with more air than usual
and oxygen levels in the blood go up.

• D o herbal cleanses for the kidney, liver,
stomach, intestine, and colon because they
knock out the toxins and rejuvenate these
organs to give you better immunity and
younger looks as well.

• H ave a herbal multivitamin; herbal
zinc, Vitamin C, iodine, and magnesium
supplements; and Vitamin D supplements if
you’re not sunbathing. Check your Vitamin
B12 level, and if it is low, take a supplement
for it.

Lead Story 35

What we can do to become holistically better
• U nderstand Mother Nature and know we are an integral part of her
• C onnect with all your loved ones regularly as we don’t know who may require assistance in

these uncertain times
• E xtend help to whatever extent possible to people who need it
• K now all about your local governance, for this could help all, including yourself
• K now the people doing good work in this area and guide everyone to the right place
• D o not get stressed by watching too much negative news
• U se the current pandemic as an opportunity to build yourself physically, emotionally, and

spiritually
• M editate and pray
• E ducate the next generation about the environment and on keeping themselves healthy

with the right choices

Most people in the world do not have even
50 per cent of their natural immunity

available to maintain high energy levels,
and fight harmful microorganisms,
because their immune systems are
overwhelmed just managing the bad
choices they make.

36 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

Diagram 3: Correspondence points of the
medulla oblongata and hypothalamus
What everyone needs to always keep in mind
is that we cannot afford to live a mindless
life as we might have been doing in the pre-
COVID-19 period.

Sunita’s lesson from the COVID pandemic
is that we need to develop and maintain a
careful mental outlook about ourselves and
our surroundings without letting ourselves be
afflicted with fear. We should stay connected
with family and friends to remain cheerful.

Innovation using technology
People from all areas of life are trying to
do their best to help tackle the pandemic.
Engineers have been working seriously on how

Lead Story 37

Human meddling has caused Mother Earth to lose her green cover

to handle the situation in a better way. For process. To address this, IIT Kanpur, under
instance, Prof. Nachiketa Tiwari, Department the guidance of Profs. Manindra Agrawal and
of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Kanpur, and Deepu Philip, has successfully implemented
Prof. Devendra Gupta, in-charge, COVID-19 a low-cost rapid disinfecting process for
ICU, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute outsiders coming to their campus. The process
of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), have developed aims to achieve a high rate of personnel
a working prototype of a Positive Pressure disinfection within two minutes. This proposal
Respirator System (PPRS), which addresses focuses on innovatively combining two
the problem of the acute global scarcity of N95 common disinfection approaches followed
respirators, a critical component of PPE Kits. across the world to achieve a new and cost-
It is a safer alternative to the N95 respirator effective disinfection process that is safe for
as it provides uncontaminated air and protects human beings.
health professionals from exposure to the virus.
Another example of technology-based
Most of the existing approaches to the individual innovation is ambulances fitted with devices to
disinfection process focus on exposing human aid respiration.
touch surfaces, like fingers and hands, to soap-
based solutions and covering faces with masks Post-COVID, engineers and doctors have
to prevent the spreading of droplets. However, learnt to work in tandem, and this, for sure, is
residual germs reside on clothes, sleeves, one of the many lessons learnt. Everyone has
masks, etc., which are not eliminated by this now realised the interconnectedness of life.

38 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

Climate change, ecosystems, and COVID This applies to all areas all over the world, for
In recent years, conversations about climate we must understand we have only one planet.
change have become increasingly urgent as Bhargavi S Rao, the director of Centre for
governments and organisations around the Financial Accountability and a trustee of the
world have gained a deeper understanding Environment Support Group in Bangalore,
of the significant and irreversible negative agrees this is definitely a wake-up call. She
impact that human activity is having on the shares, “We have not learnt from the plague
planet. In Thrissur, India, River Research of 1894, which pushed Bengaluru to redesign
Center (RRC), views the river basin as itself. Post-independence, the expansion of the
the basic geographic, cultural, social, and city, horizontally and vertically, has ghettoised
ecological unit for any development. “The communities and made even high-end enclaves
chapters on rivers in our textbooks and study set up for disasters, with enclosed spaces for
material in schools are sadly incomplete and the virus to prance and proliferate. We are at
one-dimensional. Everything stops at the a turning point now to reorganise our cities,
idea of building dams across rivers and using towns, and villages. According to estimates,
them as a source of energy generation,” said about 70 per cent of the global population will
an environmentalist and coordinator of the be in cities by 2050, and this is certainly not
Schools for River. Involving school children the last pandemic. All efforts must start with
in conservational activities like riparian steps to first cater to the most vulnerable.”
planting, which invariably lead to overall
ecological conservation, the Schools for River We can see that we can grow in all areas as a
project conducts workshops and awareness result of the pandemic. Let us, therefore, aim to
sessions for kids to help them understand the make the creator proud of his creation through
importance of free-flowing rivers and the utter the steps we take. More than anything else, we
necessity to safeguard them. The students are need to understand we do have the power to
also taken on guided river walks and field trips bring in positive changes, both for ourselves
to ecologically sensitive areas with scientists, and the planet. Ultimately, it is only love for
researchers, and environmentalists. ourselves, others, and the planet that keeps the
world going.

We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article.
Mail us at [email protected]

Lead Story 39

AHA-MOMENTS

Love thy self as thyself Megha Bajaj has found joy in loving herself
unconditionally. Wanna give it a try?

I love myself. it. lazy days. And mean days. And once the reason dissolves? I love
I really love myself. simply awful days. And yet, myself—just like that. Because I
There! I have said through it all, I love myself. If I am. A tiny bit of God in this form
Without a shy giggle or an don’t accept myself as I am, who and frame. This role and name.
else will? And which aspect of Experiencing life through my
awkward smile. Without shame life is flawless? By design, we are fingers, my hair, my entire being,
what we are. Straight. Crooked. in every moment.
or embarrassment. Without And everything in between.
I love myself.
trying to make a joke out of it or I love myself—for my past and
my future. Of course, I have Just.
trying to imply that I don’t mean made mistakes. Got it wrong.
Fallen. Dusted myself and got Like.
it. With a sense of wonder, with up yet again. I love my past for
all that went right, and wrong, That.
awe—I accept. because the one who stands
before you got created by every I love myself.
I love myself. experience. I bear my successes
and failures with a proud smile. I really love myself.
I really love myself. They created me and I am not
embarrassed by them. I love I feel no guilt in saying this.
What is love which does not myself for what the future holds Neither am I afraid of the
begin with the self? How can one for me. Oh, there will always be judgments. Self-love is the best
ever love another, until their own a few reasons to complain, and gift anyone can give themselves.
cup is brimming, overflowing, yet, there will also be a million, It all begins here. With me. With
flooding? to smile and feel grateful. And I this breath, this heartbeat, this
trust myself, to choose the latter, me—right now, right here. I
I love myself, I realise, not because as often as I can. I am waiting for watch the girl in the mirror with
I have arrived. But because I am the future me with excitement her blazing eyes and dreams that
‘me.’ I am no longer measuring because I love and trust the past shine so bright and tell her once
myself up to another’s life, and present me. more: “Hey beautiful, I love you.”
journey, or destination; rather,
I am standing and watching my I love myself—just like that. Not Megha Bajaj is a bestselling
own with a half-smile, wondering: because I did it right. Or didn’t author, film script writer and
wow, did all this really happen to fumble this time. Not because poet.
me and through me? you love me or he said I am great. An ardent seeker at heart, she
Not because of the trophies or the also runs her online writing and
I love myself—with my flaws. accolades. For if I love myself for healing workshops called WoW.
With the hair that refuses to a reason, what will I be left with You can read more about her on
listen and the smile that pops www.MeghaBajajWoW.com.
up in the strangest of situations.
With the nails that chip so easily We welcome your comments and suggestions on
and the height and breadth that this article. Mail us at [email protected]
is so me. I don’t always think
the right thoughts, but I strive.
I don’t always feel alright, but I
get it right often enough. I have

40 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

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FOOD

GO LOCO OVER COCOA

Naini Setalvad urges you to try a helping of cocoa the next time you
want to indulge and stay healthy

42 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

M any people probably think that the risk of various diseases such as diabetes,
either electricity, the wheel, or the hypertension, and atherosclerosis.
computer is the greatest invention
of all time, but I beg to differ. In my opinion, Another important benefit of cocoa beans that
it has to be chocolate. Chocolate has been a can’t be overlooked is their anti-inflammatory
part of our lives since 3000 BC. The ancient properties. Cocoa contains catechins, a
Mayans and Aztecs extracted cocoa beans from compound most popularly associated with
cocoa trees, roasted them, added spices to this the health benefits of green tea. The catechins
paste, and mixed them into water. The result present in the beans induce anti-inflammatory
was an intoxicating drink that was consumed actions and prevent chronic inflammation.
on religious occasions, for medicinal use, and Other than this, the limitation of inflammation
by the elite circles. It even began to be used as reduces the risk of arthritis, psoriasis, and other
currency. Clearly, they understood that there heart diseases. A certain level of inflammation
is nothing that is as tantalising, sinful, and is always necessary for the body to protect
satisfying as chocolate. itself from injuries and infections. However,
inflammation beyond a certain point can
There is one key ingredient, a powerhouse result in other related diseases and can start
of antioxidants, that makes chocolate damaging healthy body tissue and cells.
irresistible—cocoa. Extracted from cocoa
beans, this main component of chocolate adds Did you know that cocoa beans help maintain
a bitter-sweet flavour to food items. These healthy cholesterol levels? Certain properties
beans not only taste good but also have several of the beans reduce low-density lipoprotein
health benefits that we may not even be aware (LDL) levels and increase high-density
of. Now, before you make a beeline for the lipoprotein (HDL) levels, lowering the risk of
refrigerator to grab your favourite candy bar, heart disease and stroke.
let me tell you that to reap any significant
benefit of cocoa, you would have to consume One of the major issues faced in diabetes is poor
over a thousand calories of chocolate, most of blood flow. Cocoa has shown to improve blood
which would comprise sugar and fat. Hence, it circulation, reducing the risk of amputation
is best recommended to have cocoa in its most and cataracts.
natural form. I prefer to keep organic roasted
cocoa beans or powder in my pantry, and here As you may know, obesity is a widely spreading
is why you should too. disorder that involves extremely high levels
of body fat and can bring along many other
Free radicals are electrons that can damage related problems too. Cocoa beans help in
the cells in an organism. Oxidation is a lipid metabolism, which prevents excessive fat
process that leads to the production of free storage. The husk of the beans is an effective
radicals, and antioxidants are the little way of curing chronic constipation and
soldiers that prevent this process of oxidation promotes bowel movement.
from occurring. Cocoa beans contain a large
number of natural antioxidants known as Who knew such a delicious ingredient had so
flavonoids. The presence of these flavonoids many benefits for our body? Do make the most
fights oxidative stress, consequently reducing of this bitter-sweet bean.

Food 43

Banana chikoo cocoa smoothie

Ingredients
1 chikoo
½ banana
½ tbsp cocoa powder
3-4 ice cubes

Method
1. Chop the banana and chikoo into small pieces.
2. P lace the chopped banana and chikoo in a blender, along with the ice cubes and the cocoa powder,

and blend.
3. Serve chilled with a pinch of cocoa for garnish.

Ragi chocolate pudding

Ingredients
2 tbsp nachni (ragi) flour
½ -1 tsp stevia
½ tbsp cocoa powder, unsweetened
½ cup coconut milk
½ cup water

Method
• C ombine the coconut milk and water in a vessel and set aside. This is your wet mixture.
• Take the nachni (ragi) flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, and stevia in a pan.
• Whisk it well to combine. This is your dry mixture.
• T o the above dry mixture, gradually whisk in the wet mixture.
• Once mixed well, keep the stove on the lowest flame and place the pan with the mixture over the

stove.
• K eep whisking the mixture till it starts to thicken. It will take about 10-12 minutes to come

together and be fully cooked. Add more water if necessary.
• Switch off the stove once the mixture is glossy and thick.
• L ightly coat the inside of the heat-safe serving bowls with water.
• Pour the pudding mixture in it, cover, and refrigerate till firm.
• While serving, garnish with cocoa nibs and serve chilled.

We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article.
Mail us at [email protected]

44 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

The World Of Cards

Since time immemorial, various kinds of In the last few decades, Tarot has made a
cards have been used across kingdoms and grand and powerful entry among the masses
cultures as games for entertainment, tools of this planet. Not only Tarot cards, but
of divination, magic, spells, introspection Oracle Cards, Angel cards and many other
and validation.  different cards have been channelled by
spiritual teachers and mentors all over the
Ancient Greeks and Romans would world for creating an alignment of this
approach the Oracle for guidance before energetic field through various hotspots of
going to war. In India, depending on the powerful transformative vortexes. 
kuls and communities, various jagrut
ishta devis, kul devis and gram devtaas India, already a spiritual and ancient
were approached and venerated before all civilization, has welcomed this opportunity
auspicious occasions. Farishtay (Angelic of moving into the next dimension of
beings) Peers, Sufi saints were popular in evolution through the acceptance and
Mohammedan sultanates and Angels and approval of such practices. Astrology,
Archangels were invoked and prayed to in Vaastu, Energy Healing, etc are already
almost all Biblical countries, societies and hugely practiced and widely accepted in
households. day to day life. And now Angel Cards, Angel
Tarot Cards and other types of Oracle Cards
As awareness of a higher power within their are providing guidance to people in India
ownself began reducing due to slavery, like never before.
superstitions and illiteracy of the times,
humans gradually became less connected All these types of cards help the person in
and drawn towards supernatural beings, one way or the other. Some provide simple
mystical entities and mysterious elementals. Yes and No answers while others offer
Those having visions and the ones who guidance on complicated issues like settling
heard divine voices were either tortured, abroad, partnership, divorce, marriage, legal
burnt alive at the stakes or simply killed for disputes, etc. Whatever situation the person
being different. seeking guidance is in, these Cards offer a
road map and tools which can be enhanced
All this persecution led to these rare and by his free will and the power to choose.
beautiful arts and practices being hidden,
sought secretly or a few of them getting lost That is why I prefer calling Card Readings as
forever. Fortunately, one of them - Tarot - *Healing of the known (humans) through
survived and was shrouded in mystery. Guidance from the Unknown (Angels).*

WhatsApp Kalyaan Kumar Jain on 09320010301
or log on www.angelacaademy.com

for a personal reading session & to participate in a workshop or training.

SELF-GROWTH
46 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

In this illuminating article, Charles Shahar shows us that meditation is
far from being an idealistic abstraction; it can benefit us immensely in

our everyday life

I have often heard people talk about the projects on the surface, it is accompanied by
benefits of meditation in an abstract a depth and centeredness that feels settling
way, as a means of expanding the mind and comforting for others. People will wish to
and gaining knowledge of one’s inner Self. connect to the serene space of the meditator.
But people also often ask how meditation can In fact, the meditator will bring out the best
benefit them in the world. Will it improve the tendencies in people generally; because others
quality of their lives? Will it make them wiser see the best parts of themselves reflected in the
in their dealings with people or more efficient meditator.
at work? Are there tangible benefits for their
health? This fact cannot be emphasised enough. People
often sense when someone is centred. They
I have been teaching meditation for nineteen respect such an individual and will reflect such
years, and I have come to the conclusion that qualities back to the person. I have often dealt
meditation is not about some airy-fairy reality, with bank tellers or supermarket cashiers who
far removed from the activities of modern life. seemed to be having a hugely bad day but who,
Ironically, meditation will make you more alert within a few seconds, would start to lighten up,
in the world and more sensitive to people and only because that was the attitude I presented
places. This is because meditation makes you to them. If I reflected their frustration and
more open to what is happening around you. anger, our interactions would have taken a
In that sense, meditation is a very practical much more negative tone.
activity.
If you remain generally steady and calm, just
Calming influence about every facet of your social and work life
Most people will notice something different will benefit. My experience is that people will
about an individual who meditates on a want to be around you, will want to get your
regular basis. Whatever personality the latter attention and approval. They will simply like

Self-growth 47

your space. Space is a nebulous word, but it practising meditation for an extended period.
can signify your ‘personal atmosphere,’ your One looks at them in a different light. There
‘vibe.’ There may be exceptions: people who is much joy to be derived from the world. But
prefer conflictual relationships, but these may when one connects to the joy within, they realise
be individuals whom you would want to avoid that they can tap into it any time, regardless of
anyway. what the world has to offer. A meditator will
often radiate joy for no obvious reason, except
Joyful living that it is a natural state for them.
The practitioner of meditation does not have to
forsake any worldly pleasures or pursuits just Balance of wealth and wisdom
because they meditate. They actually come What about business and money? One should
to appreciate the abundance of life. Living is not underestimate the importance of being
about joy, not struggle. When one experiences financially secure. If an individual is worried
the remarkable serenity and bliss of meditation, about their basic survival, this can present a
struggling becomes an unacceptable state of distraction for meditation. Financial security
being. The meditator does not need to practise represents freedom on a worldly level. People
abstinence or denial. They apply an inner make the mistake of divorcing spirituality from
discipline that comes from a sense of freedom materiality. Money will open opportunities:
rather than obligation. one becomes less dependent on others, and
their time is more their own.
My experience is that the world and its
pleasures take on a different meaning after However, whether practising meditation

Meditators often have a very light energy, making it a pleasure to interact with them
48 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021

My experience is that the world and its
pleasures take on a different meaning after
practising meditation for an extended period.
One looks at them in a different light. There
is much joy to be derived from the world. But
when one connects to the joy within, they realise
that they can tap into it any time, regardless of

what the world has to offer.

means you will increase your wealth is and find it difficult to pursue a balanced life,
another question. Some people have a talent which is the purpose of meditation in the first
for accumulating money, but they may not be place.
inclined to want to grow as a person. Others
have their attention on more lofty goals but Body–mind connection
are constantly struggling to make ends meet. We have not looked at the benefits of
My experience is that those who are sincerely meditation for the body. In some ways, we
engaged in self-growth by actively practising get more in touch with our body through
meditation will generally find that they enter meditation. Without the body’s cooperation,
a kind of ‘flow’ where they find a path of least meditation is not possible; so if we feel tired
resistance. This attitude has the effect of or ill, it will be difficult to experience a sense
making things seem much less problematic or of comfort or ease necessary for focussing our
insurmountable. attention. The meditator, at a very deep level,
feels physical imbalances that result from
This means that less energy will be expended certain overindulgences. I know that if I lose
holding on to any emotions or thinking that will sleep or overeat, my meditations tend to be
make a person feel oppressed or encumbered, heavy and superficial.
such as worry, doubt, insecurity, or anxiety. So
much energy is expended perpetuating these The specific benefits of meditation for the
states of struggle; it is like the person is doing physical organism have been well-documented
battle with themself. So energy gets freed up. and include relaxing the muscles, regulating
Whatever you focus on gets your maximum the blood pressure, lowering the heart rate,
attention, and the full force of your will can decreasing the metabolism, and facilitating
then be applied. Will that make money for you? sleep. But what is remarkable is the interaction
Perhaps. But if you get too caught up in the of body and mind during meditation. I find
pursuit of wealth, you might lose perspective that when the body gets calm, the mind will

Self-growth 49

also follow suit and vice versa. For instance, if There is no fundamental change in a person’s
I perform deep breathing during meditation, consciousness. In the case of meditation, all
not only does the body relax, but I notice that of the qualities mentioned above (being more
thoughts begin to recede. open, centred, joyful, and calm) begin to
dominate the personality.
This has important implications for one’s
life. It means that any negative thought can Sharp and serene
have a significant impact on a physical level; Meditation can be thought of as a state of
something that psychologists have been saying alertness and calmness, both occurring at
for many decades. It also means that if the the same time and in perfect balance. This is
body is tense, the thoughts will also be affected, a difficult state to apply. For instance, many
perhaps becoming more frenetic, unfocussed, people who meditate for the first time will
or obsessive, depending on the type of stress either fall asleep because their body needs it or
involved. will be fidgety and restless, not being able to sit
still for more than a couple of minutes. After
What if you could nip negative thinking in the some practice, they will develop the capacity
bud? I have never met someone who meditates to sit calmly, yet, at the same time, maintain a
regularly and is overcome by negativity or certain alertness.
bitterness. I think meditation trains the mind
in a certain fashion. The thoughts begin to This state is really the defining quality of
have less dominance over one’s psyche. It is the meditative experience. If you can carry
true that meditation results in a brighter and this state of serenity-alertness into your day-
more optimistic outlook on life, and that is to-day life, which happens if you meditate
because it frees you from burdensome types regularly, then you will apply lucidity and
of thoughts. The thoughts themselves literally also detachment. It means you can act, but you
become lighter, without the emotional charge don’t have to react to every emotional stimulus
that can make them wearing and troublesome. or provocation. You can see things clearly and
evaluate the situation without getting caught
A friend of mine once said that he didn’t up in it. This affords a tremendous advantage.
need to meditate because he got enough sleep It means you can make decisions with clarity
in his life. However, there is a fundamental and execute them in a fashion that requires
difference between meditation and sleep. With minimal effort, without being encumbered by
the latter, once you wake up, all the worries worry or second-guessing due to insecurity. If
and preoccupations will come flooding back. that is not practical, I don’t know what is.

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50 LifePositive | AUGUST 2021