Numerology by Seema Midha In this workshop, you will learn to decode your date of birth to determine the timing of various events in your life. And since we cannot change the date of birth, Seema Midha will help you change the other numbers in your life Ȩsuch as name, signature, car number, house number, mobile numberȩ to help you achieve your goals. Radiant Health through Healthy Habits by Nandini Gulati Nandini Gulati, a health coach, public speaker and corporate trainer will teach you simple strategies for building habits that will support your health goals and lead you to radiant health. In this workshop, you will learn how to incorporate nutritional habits to heal and support your health. Forgiveness: Path to freedom by GL Sampoorna GL Sampoorna, a veteran psychologist and therapist will take you on a powerful journey of letting go in order to move ahead into health and happiness. The methods used in the workshop are tried and tested. The workshop itself has been running for over a decade with tremendous success, steady, yet evolving all the time. Transgenerational Healing by Anuradha Ramesh The transgenerational healing workshop will heal the events that have impacted your family systems like early deaths, miscarriages, stillbirths and abortions, murders, tragic and accidental deaths, sudden loss of partnerɋspouse, adoptions, broken engagements and divorce, war experiences, victims and perpetrators of crime and injustice, family secrets, individuals who have been forced out of a family or disowned. Vastu Shastra by Manoj K Juyal The Vastu Shastra workshop will help you gain more knowledge about this intriguing vedic science of architecture which helps the occupants of a home derive maximum benefits from the five basic elements of the universe Ȥ fire, water, wind, earth and sky. This workshop will help you change the vastu of your homesɋoffices with minimal adjustments. Organic Kitchen Gardening by Shammi Nanda The workshop will talk of the țwhyȜ of organic farming, and the joy of having access to natural foods in a city. Shammi Nanda will focus on how to do it by sharing practical processes to initiate organic gardening that will help you grow your own kitchen gardens over time. He will also focus on building a connection with nature through the spirit of oneness. Shakti Pravaah by Dr Santosh Gupta | Maitreyi Sulata șShaktiPravaahș is a profound process given and blessed for the current time and age by ȚDivine Friend DadashreejiȚ. Shakti Pravaah is an experiential meditation process that will awaken your inner divine. This workshop will list the basic cause of human suffering along with its solutions. FINAL AD.indd 46 12/14/2017 1:44:20 PM
Ȁ. Complete residential package - Rs. ȁȀ,ǿǿǿɋThis package includes stay for Ȃ nights at Zorba The Buddha on a doubleɋtriple sharing basis ȨCheck-in:ȀȄth March ȁǿȀȇ, ȅ:ǿǿ pm Check out: Ȁȇth March ȁǿȀȇ, ȃ:ǿǿ pmȩ, all meals and workshops. ȁ. Single day residential package - Rs. ȇ,ǿǿǿɋThis package includes stay for one night at Zorba The Buddha on a doubleɋtriple sharing basis, all meals and workshops for a single day. Ȃ. Complete Workshop Package - Rs. Ȉ,ǿǿǿɋThis package includes workshops, lunches, teaɋcoffee with morning and evening snacks on all Ȃ days. ȃ. Single day workshop package - Rs. ȃ,ǿǿǿɋThis package includes workshop, lunch, teaɋcoffee with morning and evening snacks on a single day. To book online visit www.lifepositive.org or call us to help you make your reservation on +ȈȀ-ȈȇȁȀȆȆȈȃȃȆ ȨMalvikaȩ, +ȈȀ-ȈȇȁȀȈǿȄȂȆǿ ȨAwnishȩ, ǿȀȀ- ȃȈȄȅȂȆȆȆ. You can also write to us at infoȳlifepositive.net PACKAGES STARTING FROM RS. ȃ,ǿǿǿɋ- INCLUSIVE OF ALL TAXES PER PERSON Day Ȁ - Ȁȅth March, ȁǿȀȇ Ȩ SELECT ANY ONE WORKSHOP ȩ Day ȁ - ȀȆth March, ȁǿȀȇ ȨSELECT ANY ONE FULL DAY WORKSHOP OR TWO HALF DAY WORKSHOPS ȩ Day Ȃ - Ȁȇth March, ȁǿȀȇ ȨCHOOSE BETWEEN ONE FULL DAY WORKSHOP OR TWO HALF DAY WORKSHOPS ȩ Inaugural address by Sister Shivani ȨFREEȩ Ȁǿ:ǿǿ am - Ȁȁ:ǿǿ pm ȁ:ǿǿ pm - Ȅ:Ȃǿ pm ȁ:ǿǿ pm - Ȅ:Ȃǿ pm ȁ:ǿǿ pm - Ȅ:Ȃǿ pm ȁ:ǿǿ pm - Ȅ:Ȃǿ pm Ȉ:Ȃǿ am - Ȅ:Ȃǿ pm Ȉ:Ȃǿ am - Ȅ:Ȃǿ pm Ȉ:Ȃǿ am - Ȁ:ǿǿ pm Ȉ:Ȃǿ am - Ȁ:ǿǿ pm ȁ:ǿǿ pm - Ȅ:Ȃǿ pm ȁ:ǿǿ pm - Ȅ:Ȃǿ pm ȅ:ǿǿ pm - Ȇ:ǿǿ pm Ȉ:Ȃǿ am - Ȅ:Ȃǿ pm Ȉ:Ȃǿ am - Ȅ:Ȃǿ pm Ȉ:Ȃǿ am - Ȅ:Ȃǿ pm Ȉ:Ȃǿ am - Ȁ:ǿǿ pm ȁ:ǿǿ pm - Ȅ:Ȃǿ pm Pyramid Meditation by Dhara Bhatt Forgiveness: Path to freedom by GL Sampoorna Vibrational Healing by Shruti Nada Poddar Relationships - Rising in Love by Jacqueline Maria Longstaff Naturopathy by Jayank Bokadia Shakti Pravaah by Dr. Santosh Gupta Ǿ Maitreyi Sulata Transgenerational Healing by Anuradha Ramesh Colour Therapy by Ajay Mishra Numerology by Seema Midha Vastu Shastra by Manoj Juyal Organic Kitchen Gardening by Shammi Nanda Understanding your Karmic Cycles through Past Life Regression by Trupti Jayin Ayurveda by Dr Partap Chauhan Radiant Health through Healthy Habits by Nandini Gulati All the Worldșs a Stage by Rashi Bunny Spiritual Music Ǿ Chanting PROGRAM SCHEDULE ȮPlease ensure to fill the form printed at the back of the program schedule FINAL AD.indd 47 12/14/2017 1:44:21 PM
Name: __________________________ Age: _________ Gender: _________________________ Designation: ________________________ Occupation: _______________ Contact no._____________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________ Pin code: _____________________________ Email: ___________________________________ Price per delegate :____________________ Deduct ȀȄɈ Discount : _______________ ȨFor VIP Club Members onlyȩ Membership No.______________ Mode of Payment: ChequeɋCashɋ DD No._________________Dated______________ Bank _____________ For online booking visit: www.lifepositive.org, Email: infoȳlifepositive.net. ȧ Each delegate must fill up one form. Photocopy of this form is valid. ȧ All payments must be drawn on Life Positive Foundation. ȧ Funds are eligible for income tax deduction Uɋs ȇǿG ȨȄȩ Ȩviȩ of Income Tax Act ȀȈȅȀ. ȧ Workshops will be allotted on first come-first serve basis. Limited seats available. Rush your entries now ȧ Please fill this form and send it to LIFE POSITIVE FOUNDATION. F-ȀɋȈ, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-Ȁ, New Delhi-ȀȀǿ ǿȁǿ. Ph: ȨǿȀȀȩ ȃȈȄȅȂȆȆȆ. FOR INQUIRIES New Delhi : Malvika : ǿȈȇȁȀȆȆȈȃȃȆ | Awnish : ǿȈȇȁȀȈǿȄȂȆǿ | Tel : ȨǿȀȀȩ ȃȈȄȅȂȆȆȆ www.lifepositive.org | www.lifepositive.com Presented by Sponsored by INTERNATIONAL SPIRITUAL FESTIVAL ȁǿȀȇ ȀȅTH - ȀȇTHMarch ȁǿȀȇ, New Delhi The event is being higly promoted by Life Positive in the print and electronic medium Regular ȁȄ sq ft. space - ` ȂȄ,ȃǿǿ Ȩ inclusive of taxesȩ Ȅ feet wide and Ȅ feet deep. inclusive of two tables, two chairs For booking stalls contact: Ajit Singh : +ȈȀ ȇȇȁȅȃȅȅȀȂȁ | Santosh Pandey : +ȈȀ ȈȈȄȂȈȁȈǿȈȂ | Tel : ȨǿȀȀȩ ȃȈȄȅȂȆȆȆ Email: expoȳlifepositive.net | www.lifepositive.org FINAL AD.indd 48 12/14/2017 1:44:30 PM
w54w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 I read Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda for the first time, 20 years ago. I was so overwhelmed by it that I made it the Bible of my life, reading it repeatedly. The author’s vivid description of Calcutta, painted in my mind’s eye, a picture of Dakshineshwar, Kalighat, Serampore, Garpar Road, and many other places in the city. Needless to say, I follow the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda till today and have taken his kriya yoga diksha. I have visited the ashram at Ranchi but have not had the good fortune of visiting the ashram at Dakshineshwar. This year, my Bengali friend invited me to visit Calcutta, especially Dakshineshwar, since her parents have a three-storey house there, a stone’s throw from the ashram. My joy Ketaki Jayakar, a follower of Paramhansa Yogananda, shares her experience of solitarily exploring Calcutta, the abode of her guru and home to some of the most well-known temples When the Goddess beckons knew no bounds when I found out that she had booked me in the ashram for three days and the rest of my stay would be with her parents. I was all geared up to visit the city of my joy; the city where my Master grew up, took the most rigorous training from a very strict but benevolent guru, meditated endlessly, and was blessed with the divine vision of Goddess Kali in the precincts ofthe Dakshineshwar temple. Unfortunately, just two days before leaving for Calcutta, my friend rang me up and apologised profusely, expressing her inability to accompany me due to an emergency. I could not cancel my programme at such short notice, so I requested her to get me an extension of stay at the ashram, which she willingly did. She also arranged for a car to pick me up from the airport and take me to the ashram. In one’s spiritual quest, one must travel alone; ekla chalo re (walk alone). I had only five days in Calcutta and decided to make the most of it. Spirit exploration Treval.indd 54 15/12/17 8:12 PM
LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 w55 w Dakshineshwar ashram: A divine haven The day I landed, I first visited Dakshineshwar. The ashram’s gates open to a divine world. Sprawling across a wide area, overlooking the Ganges, the main building is a grand, old haveli, probably owned by a Bengali zamindar. It has a huge hall with pillars and two upper floors. The parlour behind the pillared hall is used for meditation. One can see the Ganges flowing gently, with big sailboats silently gliding past, from the pillared hall. It is indeed a scene from the Bollywood film Amar Prem. The trees in the garden bow down with the weight of their flowers, spreading fragrance with the cool breeze—mogra, champa, naag champa, bakul; the fragrances vie with each other to soothe the senses. At the corner of the garden is a small temple-like pavilion where you can sit and meditate whilst concentrating on the sound of the waves lapping the compound wall of the ashram. The living quarters, office, reading room, and dining hall are all up to international standards. The vegetarian food served is tastier than anything I’ve eaten at a top-class restaurant. In the centre of the ashram is a lovely lotus pond, surrounded by huge trees. The whole atmosphere is so serene that you can actually feel your body, mind, and soul recharging. When I went to Dakshineshwar temple, I discovered that the queue was longer than the one you’d usually find outside Siddhivinayak temple, but I was determined to have a darshan of the Divine Mother, who had blessed my Master in a vision. I stood in the scorching afternoon heat—barefoot, waiting for the temple doors to open, as the queue inched forward. Suddenly, a priest came out of the temple and beckoned me to enter through the side entrance. No money was demanded for this favour. I went inside and stood in front of Kali of Dakshineshwar, the black idol with big eyes and a red protruding tongue. I was stunned into silence. I had made a long list of favours to ask but seeing her with my own eyes at such close quarters was so overwhelming that I just stood there, taking it all in. I humbly thanked my Master for this experience. Belur Math The Dakshineshwar temple is a huge precinct with a cluster of other smaller temples. Beyond the temple flows the Ganges. There is a small ghat (a set of steps leading down to a river) outside the temple from where boats ply across to Belur Math, home to the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. I sat in a small boat, a lonely traveller amidst unknown faces. The journey in the boat was idyllic, with the Ganges gently spraying me with her sacred waters. It took about half an hour to cross over. From the jetty, Belur Math is hardly a five-minute walk. I went and saw the beautiful gardens as well as the temple of Shree Ramakrishna Paramhansa. The Dakshineshwar temple Belur Math Ramakrishna Mission Treval.indd 55 15/12/17 8:12 PM
w56w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 statue of Thakur, as Ramkrishna Paramhansa is lovingly called, was a poem in marble, sitting serenely in a lotus pose. I was told by one of the monks of the Ramakrishna Mission that Paramhansa Yogananda’s paramguru (his guru’s guru), Mahavatar Babaji, had been instrumental in giving Ramakrishna Paramhansa, kriya yoga diksha. No wonder, I had been drawn to Ramakrishna Paramhansa; kriya yoga was a common link! I returned to the ashram for the evening meditation. Shiva temple of Tarakeshwar The next morning, I took a taxi to the very ancient Shiva temple of Tarakeshwar, which is about 57 kms from the ashram. The road leading to Tarakeshwar is lined with huge trees on both sides, bordering huge green fields growing potatoes and other vegetables. There are small ponds all along the road, providing fish to the locals. The tranquility all around, an abundance of crops and flowers, and the cool breeze, brought to my mind the verses of Vande Mataram by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. There was music everywhere, in the rustling of the trees, in the chirping of the birds, in the waters flowing by, and even in the croaking of the frogs. I think luminaries of the likes of S D Burman, Hemant Kumar, Juthika Roy, Geeta Dutt, and visionaries like Sri Aurobindo Ghose, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Rabindranath Tagore, as well as my Master Paramhansa Yogananda, had a common ingredient for success—the artistic bent of a Bengali. Tarakeshwar Temple is an ancient temple with the Shiv Linga looking more like a round hat box. There is a small pond outside the temple where people bathe before entering. I too dipped my feet in it before entering for darshan. However, it was too dark in the garbha (inner sanctum of a temple) to see anything. My Master never paid obeisance at this temple as he believed the Divine is within us, and so, there is no need to venerate external forms of divinity. Eventually, his journey became too tedious for him to complete on his own. Fortunately he met a noble soul who helped him realise that it was his inflated ego that wasn’t allowing him to see the Divinity within him as the same that appeared without; that each seeker on the spiritual path felt that his was the only correct path to God-realisation. When he realised his mistake, he returned to Tarakeshwar and did sashtang namaskar (full-body prostration) before the Shiv Linga, after which he got the Cosmic darshan—he has mentioned this in his autobiography. I had come so far to see the temple but was not satisfied with the darshan which was a mere groping of the Shiv Linga in the dark. I decided to do a second round. Suddenly, there appeared a bright light in the garbha griha and I finally saw the Shiv Linga in all its glory. Before I could click a photograph, it was dark again. I believe that my Master had taken good care to arrange that brief moment of light for me. From there I traveled to Serampore, to the ashram of my Master’s guru, Sri Yukteshwar Giri. This was the place where my Master had been trained for his role in America. This was the place where both guru and shishya had performed great austerities and had been blessed with the vision of the Divine Mother. I met an aged devotee there who told me that this was indeed a power spot full of strong vibrations. I am so grateful to have experienced the vibrations of that ashram. I remember just sitting there and taking in the energy of the ongoing spiritual activities. My Master’s abode My next halt was at Master Paramhansa Yogananda’s residence at Garpar Road, in Maniktala. Master’s family still resides there and receives visitors who come on this pilgrimage to see the home. I saw every room described by him in his autobiography; I saw the bedroom where he was blessed with the vision of the Divine Mother, the same room where Mahavatar Babaji came to bless him before he left for America. Then, I saw the little attic that has also been vividly described in the book. I had carried mangoes as an offering since I knew that Master loved mangoes. I left them in front of his photograph in the attic. The peacefully divine atmosphere of the bedroom and attic beckoned me to sit and meditate, and I did. I was travelling alone and felt free to spend as much time as I wished in the room. Visiting Master’s home and prostrating myself before his spiritual presence in the attic and bedroom has been my heart’s deepest desire. I couldn’t ask for anything I stood shaking like a leaf, face to face with the Kali of Kalighat. The statue, with three eyes wide open, a big, golden tongue protruding, and black hair free from all bonds, stunned me into silence. I could not bear to absorb the energy pouring out of those lustrous, fiery eyes! Tears of joy rolled down my cheeks. Treval.indd 56 15/12/17 8:12 PM
LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 w57w more, now that I have been blessed to have this wish fulfilled. Kali of Kalighat I had decided to go to Kalighat the next morning. Considering Calcutta’s traffic, my driver had advised me to leave early, so I reached there by seven am. It was crowded, but I could manage to enter the temple premises. The floor of the inner sanctum was wet and slippery. Holding a flower basket and my purse, I tiptoed in, trying my best not to slip. I had been advised to be wary of the feistily cheeky pandas (priests) who have a reputation for cheating visitors. The sanctum sanctorum was very small, barricaded by the daan peti (offertory box), and beyond it stood a sea of devotees in the sweltering Calcutta heat, pushing and jostling to catch a glimpse of the three-eyed Goddess Kali. Again, by a quirk of faith, I got a chance to enter the inner sanctum despite the milling crowd. I stood there, shaking like a leaf, face to face with the world-renowned Kali of Kalighat. The statue with three eyes wide open, a big golden tongue protruding, and black hair free from all bonds, stunned me into silence. I could not bear to absorb the energy pouring out of those lustrous, fiery eyes! I shut my eyes tight and felt tears rolling down my cheeks. They were tears of sheer joy. I hardly realised how five days passed by, and soon, it was time for me to return to my world. On the last day, a Sunday, I attended the satsang (prayer gathering) at the ashram. That was indeed a fitting grand finale to my pilgrimage. The spiritual discourse by the swamiji uplifted my spirits as did listening to him sing the guru stotra to the drone of the tanpura, whilst the Ganges flowed by gently, echoing the sentiments of the guru stotra. I recalled having seen the Ganges gush forth in all her youthful fury at the Gangotri. It was enthralling to see the same Ganges flowing peacefully; a vast expanse of water, assimilating within itself all the sins of the people living off it, lapping the feet of the inhabitants residing on its banks, yet remaining the pure Ganges revered by humanity. I cherish this unique experience of stepping off the grid and observing nature, divinity, and humanity! To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http:// www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/January 2018. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] Taraknath temple, Tarakeshwar Paramhansa Yogananda's house at Garpar Road Photo: www.path2yoga.net A follower of Shri Paramhansa Yogananda, Ketaki Rajan Jayakar practices family law and is an avid reader of Louise Hay's books. She hopes to publish the many cases she has solved through Hay’s philosophy. Goddess Kali of Kalighat Treval.indd 57 15/12/17 8:12 PM
w58w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 On October 10, 2017, five days after The New York Times published an article about sexual misconduct by a film producer, a reader posted a comment in the follow-up section inviting women who had been asked to trade sexual favours in their line of work to come forward and say, “Me Too.” Social activist and community organiser, Tarana Burke, had created the phrase for a campaign in 2006. She was inspired to coin it after being unable to respond to a 13-year-old girl who had confided in her that she had been sexually assaulted. Burke later wished she had simply told the girl, “Me Too.” The hashtag went viral with posts not just about sexual abuse at work but, in general, including child abuse. By the 15th of October, ‘#MeToo’ was used two lakh times and tweeted more than five lakh times by the In light of an increasing number of children falling prey to sexual abuse across the world, mental health professional, Mahalakshmi Rajagopal, shares a guideline to help parents safeguard their children from this heinous crime Safeguard your child 16th of October. It was posted by more than 47 lakh people across 12 lakh Facebook updates during the first 24 hours. Many regional alternative hashtags were also created, and the online movement received a massive global response. Not just women, even men who had been abused came out. India joined the movement as well and our social media home pages were flooded with #MeToo posts. Such is the extent of this unpardonable act! In India, even though we refuse to freely discuss the issue due to conservative social norms and unawareness, we can no longer afford to duck our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich and ignore the enormity of the situation. The incidents of child-sex abuse are getting more and more rampant if reports in the media are anything to go by. Yet, instead of despairing, let’s take a responsible, pro-active, and aware stance to protect our children from harm and preserve their innocence. Look out for the signs The first step towards protecting your child is to be Special report Photo: Adobe Stock Child sex abuse.indd 58 15/12/17 8:23 PM
LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 w59w aware of the possible dangers and being receptive to any signals from your child. Many a time, we may take all the precautions, but they may still be vulnerable. An abuser may not always be a stranger. He or she can also be someone we are quick to trust. Signs that an adult is using their relationship with a child for sexual reasons may not be obvious, but you may feel uncomfortable about the way they play with the child, always seem to favour the child, or make excuses to be alone with the child. When you feel something is fishy, even though the general tendency is to ignore your gut feeling, believe that you’re overreacting, or that the person in question doesn’t really mean what they’re saying or doing, don’t write off those questionable comments and behaviour. Rather, talk about it and probe further. In order to watch out for abusive behaviour, we must first know what it is; any sexual activity with a child by an adult or adolescent including sexual touching, i.e., touching a person’s penis or vagina, oral sex, intercourse, as well as non-touch sexual behaviour (that which doesn’t include touching) like peeping, flashing, or showing pornography to a child. It’s important to not only build a fortress of protection around children but also instil a sense of security within them. Most Asian cultures are conditioned to obey and carry out the orders of elders even if people are not comfortable with it. However, a child has the right to say ‘no’. For instance, if your child is not comfortable sitting in the lap of a certain adult or older sibling; or if your child doesn’t want to hug or kiss a certain adult goodbye, his or her feelings must be respected. As a parent, you must intervene and explain to the adult that you’re not okay with your child sitting on their lap or that you’d prefer if your child only shakes hands and says good bye. If you can’t do it for any reason, ask another adult member of the family to intervene. Finding out or suspecting that your child has been sexually abused can be traumatising and stressful for parents and the entire family. It’s important though not to be judgmental of your child. Always listen to and believe your child without a doubt; otherwise, the first time they tell you may be the only time. Parents often have a tendency to think about society and family in such situations, but it’s important to understand that nothing is more important than your own child. Find a way to manage your feelings, so you can focus on creating for your child a safe environment that is free from harm, judgment, and blame. It is imperative that when your child discloses to you, you continue to repeat the following messages through both your words and actions: “I love you. What happened is not your fault. I will do everything I can to keep you safe.” Mental health professionals including counsellors, therapists, or social workers can help you and your family to cope with reactions, thoughts, and feelings about the abuse. Remember to conduct a background check before agreeing to work with one. If the situation demands, don’t hesitate to seek legal help. Empowering your child A sexually abused child goes through much, emotionally and physically. It takes a lot of courage to open up to an adult because most abusers will manipulate the child into believing that they’re better off keeping this a secret or that it is not abuse but love. As a result, the child initially feels trapped and helpless. It fears that no one will believe the disclosure of the abuse, leading to Photo: Adobe Stock Apart from safeguarding them physically, it's important to build a sense of security within children Child sex abuse.indd 59 15/12/17 8:23 PM
w60w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 accommodative behaviour on part of the child. If the child does disclose, failure on the part of family and professionals to protect and support the child adequately may augment the child’s distress, leading to retraction of the disclosure. While it’s important to support your child if he or she has been sexually abused, it’s equally important to avoid situations of abuse. For this, we need to raise our children with transparency. Imagine this _ your family is sitting together, watching a movie, and suddenly a sex scene plays. The common tendency is to switch channels. Or, if during an ad break, there is an advertisement showing condoms or sanitary napkins, again, the tendency is to switch channels. We need to stop shushing about topics that are perfectly natural. Speak openly to your children about their bodies. They must know that their bodies are sacred and their own, and no one else has a right to touch them without permission. They must know that certain parts of their bodies are private; they must know what is and what is not appropriate to show and do in public, in private, and with others. They must know how to respect the bodies of other people. Raise your children with virtues such as purity, dignity, self-possession (responsibility towards self) and self-control. Teach them how to say ‘no’ and when to say ‘yes’. Guide them to trust their instinct, conscience, values, and heart. Help your children recognise when others do not act in right, true, pure, and honouring ways. Most importantly, assure them that being sexually abused is not their fault. Celebrity talk show host, Oprah Winfrey, was abused at the tender age of nine. She blamed herself for it until she was 40. Eventually, she overcame the guilt but not without a struggle. Remember, the effects of abuse are long term. Satyameva Jayate, the popular show hosted by Bollywood star Amir Khan, also highlighted the malady and extent of child sexual abuse. In addition to busting myths associated with it and addressing general unawareness about the issue, the show also conducted a workshop where children were taught what to do to stop abuse, how to escape abuse and what to do after abuse takes place. They were asked to first shout loudly, then run to a safe place, and lastly, immediately call the person they trust the most—their ‘bodyguard’. Abuser psychology As our child’s bodyguard, we must be aware as to who has access to our child and who his or her friends are. Monitor your child’s playtime. Establish firm guidelines around the use of technology, keep interactions as public as possible and model safe behaviour. This applies to websites, email, instant messaging, social networking, and cell phones. Be aware of and limit sexual messages received through the media, and don’t consider porn as being isolated from sexuality. Instead, address your child’s moral feelings towards sex and porn as a part of that. Encourage open discussions about sex, pornography, and body parts, including genitals. Most abusers have a charming personality and win parents’ and children’s trust quickly. They are also very strategic. They might convince the child that he or she must care for him or her in some way. Children must be taught to recognise abusers’ behaviour and warned that sexual abuse can happen even by someone they love and trust. Handling teens can be even more challenging as they’re more prone to experimenting. Many a time, this tendency leads them to turn into sexual abusers themselves. It is common for teenagers and adolescents to sexually Typical habits of children who are being sexually abused (Any one sign doesn't mean that a child was or is being sexually abused, but the presence of several suggests that you should begin to ask questions and consider seeking help.) • Acting out in an inappropriate sexual way with toys or objects. • Nightmares or sleeping problems. • Aches or illnesses with no identifiable cause. • Becoming withdrawn or very clingy. • Becoming unusually secretive. • Sudden unexplained personality changes, mood swings, and seeming insecure. • Regressing to early childhood behaviour like bedwetting and soiling that are unrelated to toilet training. • Unaccountable fear of particular places or people. • Outburst of anger. • Changes in eating habits. • Knowledge and use of new adult words for body parts and no obvious source. • Feelings of repulsion about the body and thinking of it as dirty or bad. • Talk of a new, older friend and unexplained money or gifts. • Self-harm (cutting, burning, or other harmful activities). • Physical signs, such as unexplained soreness or bruises around genitals or mouth. • Running away—especially not wanting to be alone with a particular child or young person. • Resistance in removing clothes during a bath, using the toilet or even, in cases of very young children, changing the diaper. Child sex abuse.indd 60 15/12/17 8:23 PM
LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 w61w abuse younger siblings and juniors in school and the neighbourhood, and/or watch pornography with an objective ‘to learn about sex and sexuality’. Simple ways to guide our teens include a healthy psycho-education on gender, sex, and sexuality by a responsible, caring adult, parent, or teacher; honestly answering all ‘uncomfortable questions’ posed by them; refraining from categorising acts as ‘right and wrong’, rather, guiding them to differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate, acceptable and unacceptable, healthy and unhealthy acts to satiate their curiosity; training them to be a crusader in their own right against this social evil; encouraging them to stand up against bullying and any form of abuse in school by reporting to higher authorities, rather than taking the law in their own hands; avoiding moral policing; strictly refraining from emotional threats; channelising their energies in creative activities, and enabling them to experience self-discovery and self-evolvement. Legal recourse A 2007 survey by the Ministry of Women and Child Development showed that 53 per cent of children in India had been sexually abused. India’s legal laws against child sexual abuse have been weak and virtually non-existent, but on November 14, 2012, a day dedicated to children, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) came into effect. Here are some important features: The Act defines: • What is child sexual abuse? • The role of others such as police and media. • Protection of a child’s/ adolescent’s rights, state of mind, and identity. • The punishment to be given to the abusers. When is somebody liable for punishment? • Sexual abuse occurs (touch, non-touch, revealing or showing body parts, actions/words, photo/ video, threatening, trying to abuse). • If someone reveals the identity of a child. • If the child is under 16, the accused is guilty until proven innocent. • False information about abuse is spread to embarrass or question the dignity/respect of the child. • More severe punishment if the child/adolescent is injured severely (physically or emotionally) or if someone who is supposed to protect the child/ adolescent has abused. • If the person to whom the child/adolescent tells about abuse does not inform within six months. Steps to make the process of investigation friendly and not frightening: • A Support team is available to help the child during the investigation and make a child protection plan. • Statement of the child/adolescent has to be taken by a woman officer at home/safe place, without uniform, and in the absence of the abuser. • The child/adolescent cannot be detained at night for a statement. • Medical examination in the presence of whom the child/adolescent trusts and in the presence of a woman officer as well. Photo: Adobe Stock Children must be taught to recognise abusive behaviour and made aware that abuse can be done even by loved ones Child sex abuse.indd 61 15/12/17 8:23 PM
w62w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 Non-touch sexually abusive behaviour to watch out for: • Making uncomfortable phone calls or remarks. • Sending unacceptable adult mobile text messages or emails. • Forcing a child to watch an uncomfortable act or movie or pornography. • Persistently intruding on a child’s privacy. (Parents must also respect their child’s privacy, especially that of adolescents and teenagers. For instance, knock before you enter their room). • Teasing or causing the child to have uncomfortable feelings about their body or certain clothes. • Calling a child by inappropriate names like terms of endearment or those with sexual connotations. Other types of inappropriate behaviour by adults or adolescents towards your child: • Refusing to allow a child sufficient privacy or to make their own decisions on personal matters. • Insisting on physical affection such as kissing, hugging or wrestling even when the child clearly does not want it. • Being overly interested in the sexual development of a child or teenager. • Insisting on spending time alone with a child without interruptions. • Spending most of their spare time with children and having little interest in spending time with people their own age. • Regularly offering to baby-sit children for free or taking children on overnight outings. • Buying children expensive gifts or giving them money for no apparent reason. • Frequently walking in on children / teenagers in the bathroom. • Treating a particular child as a favourite and making them feel ‘special’ compared with others in the family • Picking on a particular child. • The Special Court can determine the amount of compensation to be paid to a child so that this money can be used for the child’s medical treatment and counselling. • The Special Court has been set up such that it has to take the decision within one year of the case registration. To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http:// www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/January 2018. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] Mahalakshmi Rajagopal, Founder of Delhi based Sahayam Intervention Centre, is a mental health professional with practical experience for over 20 years. She helps individuals and communities through holistic interventions. Myths vs facts Here is a list of myths which are floating around, in the absence of proper factual information. Myth: Only men/ boys abuse children. Fact: Women also abuse girls and boys. Myth: Children get abused because of the way they dress. Fact: Sexual abuse does not depend on the way children dress. Myth: Children have to obey others and cannot say ‘no’ even if others’ behaviour makes them uncomfortable. This is Eastern culture. Fact: Any child who is not comfortable with a touch or show of love has the right to say ‘no’. Myth: Children can get over it and forget it in due course of time. Fact: Sexual abuse mostly has long lasting impact on the individual's personal and professional life. Myth: If the child is not saying no to abuse, then it is not abuse. Fact: Children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults/children/adolescents. Myth: After sexual abuse happens, nothing can be done. Fact: There is a lot that can be done like consulting counsellors; approaching the legal system; taking help from teachers, trusted adults and family members; seeking the services of NGOs, etc. Myth: Girls are victims of sexual abuse and not boys. Fact: Boys are also abused. They are also less likely to disclose about the abuse than females. I am hopeful that the readers would feel informed as well as empowered by the facts presented in this article and put them to good use to protect their wards from damage and injury. Although the malaise is reflective of a deeper problem in the society, yet till the time we are fully and collectively healed as a race, it is best to ensure that our children do not pay for our follies and carelessness. Child sex abuse.indd 62 15/12/17 8:23 PM
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w64w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 There is a widespread misconception among the Indian masses that we are passing through Kali Yuga, the period of lowest consciousness in human history. Whenever we come across particularly disturbing news about human cruelty or apathy, we often blame it on Kali Yuga. It is said that we have crossed mere 5000 years of Kali Yuga and have 4,27,000 years more to go. Which explains the mass belief that the period of miseries has only begun, and things will get far worse before they begin to get better. So entrenched is this idea in people’s minds that they often overlook the tides of positive changes sweeping the world and dismiss any progress as temporary or superficial. However, this is far from the truth. The latest findings in astronomy and an impartial observation of the current trends indisputably indicate that the human race is in the ascending phase of Dwapara Yuga, says Quanto Shivo Welcome to Dwapara Yuga Sprouting of optimism Our own experience of life defies this notion of Kali Yuga. Almost all parameters of life seem to be getting better for the past 100 years. We have seen the fruits of industrial revolution spurring the economy and helping the masses enjoy a far more luxurious lifestyle. While kings and nobles lived in an oasis of luxuries just a few centuries ago, the masses reeled in abject poverty. Today, average human life expectancy has crossed 70 years and is moving up consistently. This is in stark contrast to the fact that in 15th-century Europe, a person was expected to live only till the age of 29. Even though democracy has its own share of evils, it is far more dignified and empowering than the autocratic rule of kings. With the spread of education, many social evils like untouchability, sati tradition, as well as inequality based on caste and gender have been largely eliminated or are on the wane. In general, it does not appear that things are getting worse. Mind analysis Photo: Adobe Stock Dwapar yuga (H).indd 64 16/12/17 11:41 AM
LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 w65w A mystic’s declaration In 1895, Sri Yukteswara Giri, one of the greatest spiritual masters/astrologers and guru of Sri Paramhansa Yogananda (author of Autobiography of a Yogi), declared in his book The Holy Sciences that the Kali Yuga is over and the Dwapara Yuga has already begun. He suggested an astronomical model as the probable cause for changes in yugas. Even though that model was invalidated later, it aroused immense curiosity among astronomers about the phenomenon of yuga cycles. With an explosion of astronomical knowledge in the past few decades, the yuga cycles are being validated based on a certain astronomical phenomenon. Astronomical evidence generated in the recent past is indicating that we are already in Dwapara Yuga. Even though this is not yet part of mainstream astronomy, it is expected that with more evidence flowing in, yuga cycles will be scientifically validated. Mechanism of yuga cycles Classic Hindu texts mention the existence of yuga cycles of 24,000 years which are divided into two halves of descending and ascending yugas of equal duration. Each of these 12,000-year cycles is further divided into four periods of Sat Yuga (4800 years), Treta Yuga (3600 years), Dwapara Yuga (2400 years) and finally, Kali Yuga (1200 years). It is also mentioned that in Sat Yuga, dharma stands on four legs; in TretaYuga, three legs; in Dwapara Yuga, two legs; and in Kali Yuga, just one leg. Which means that consciousness goes on decreasing through the descending order of the yuga cycle. The consciousness we experience in Kali Yuga is just one fourth of that experienced in Sat Yuga. Once the descending phase of the yuga cycle is over, the ascending phase begins with consciousness rising through Kali Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, Treta Yuga and finally peaking to Sat Yuga. Consciousness is nothing but electromagnetic field (EMF) Recent scientific theories like Quantum Mechanics explain consciousness as an electromagnetic field. We all have our individual EMF, also called soul in spiritual terms, which leaves us at the time of death. Similarly, the all-pervading EMF across the cosmos has been termed as God. When individual EMF vibes in harmony with cosmic EMF, it becomes the phenomenon of merging with God. Dwapar yuga (H).indd 65 16/12/17 11:41 AM
w66w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 Astronomical evidence now suggest that one yuga cycle comprising 24,000 years is nothing but the cycle of consciousness. Probably the EMF as experienced on earth varies in the ratio of 1:4 over this period of yuga cycles. This is just a brief overview of the phenomenon. The Sun-Sirius cycle Most of the time cycles such as the lunar month or year have their foundation in some or the other astronomical cycle, e.g., the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun constitutes a year, which causes variations in the form of seasons. Similarly, there exists an astronomical phenomenon behind the yuga cycles too. Over time, it is becoming evident that the sun is not stationary as believed previously but moves in a cycle with its binary partner, the star system called Sirius. And this cycle lasts 24,000 years. During this cycle, for half of the period, the sun and Sirius come closer forming the ascending phase; during the other half, the sun and Sirius move farther from each other forming the descending phase of the yuga cycle. During Sat Yuga, both these stars are closest to each other and during Kali Yuga, they are at the farthest. Ascending yuga—Sun and Sirius getting closer We are already in the ascending phase of the yuga cycle. Compelling evidence for this is being provided by the Doppler effect. According to it, stars moving away from the earth appear red in colour and those moving closer appear blue. Most of the stars in the night sky appear red because the expanding universe causes them to move away from the earth. However, currently, Sirius is the brightest blue star in the sky, which means that it is coming closer to the earth, making us part of the ascending yuga cycle. Famous astronomer, Claudius Ptolemy in his famous astronomy textbook Almagest, written almost 2000 years ago, described Sirius as reddish in colour. That means, 2000 years ago, Sirius was moving away from the earth and we were in a descending yuga cycle back then. Multiple Chinese and Arabic texts written around the seventh century describe Sirius as white in hue. It means that Sirius was almost stationary in motion, which happens at the bottom of the cycle. This is in tune with Sri Yukteswara’s proclamation that Kali Yuga hit bottom sometime in the sixth century AD. Sirius C—vast EMF influencer Now the important question is: Why the varying distance between the sun and Sirius should cause fluctuations in consciousness or electro-magnetic field? Let’s look into the EMF details of Sirius comprising three stars - Sirius A, Sirius B, and Sirius C. Sirius A has magnetic fields of around 50 G (gauss), which is almost in the range of the sun’s EMF of five to 20 G and the earth’s surface EMF of around one gauss. Sirius B is a star classified as ‘white dwarf’, with EMF in the range of one million gauss. Even though such an EMF is quite huge in comparison to that of the sun and the earth, it cannot make a huge difference to the earth’s EMF, from the distance of around 8.6 light years. Even though Sirius C has never been spotted, evidence of its existence is provided by the massive influence it has on the orbital characteristics of Sirius A and B. Chances are that it is a neutron star, which is extremely small, having a diameter of around 10 km and a mass of one and a half times that of the sun. These stars are also extremely dark, almost like black holes, and hence are impossible to spot. The typical EMF of a neutron star is around one trillion gauss, which is simply huge, and can cause substantial variations on the earth, even from such a vast distance. If the farthest distance between the sun and Sirius is double that of their closest distance, then the EMF experienced because of Sirius will vary four times, as EMF is inversely proportional to the square of the distance. Hence, it can be understood that a variation of the distance between the sun and Sirius, over a period of the yuga cycle of 24,000 years, will cause huge swings in the electro-magnetic fields, resulting in a variation in consciousness. Consciousness—the force of oneness During the time of high consciousness, there is a Each of the 12,000-year cycle is divided into four periods of Sat Yuga (4800 years), Treta Yuga (3600 years), Dwapara Yuga (2400 years) and Kali Yuga (1200 years) Dwapar yuga (H).indd 66 16/12/17 11:41 AM
LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 w67w To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http:// www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/January 2018. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] Quanto Shivo is founder of Quanto Life, a unique spiritual path that integrates scientific insights of quantum mechanics with ancient metaphysical insights. strong sense of oneness between all entities, including humans, nature, animals, and even the divine beings. Hence, there is a deep harmony. When consciousness begins to deteriorate, beings begin to feel a separation from each other which causes all kinds of conflicts. In times of higher consciousness, humans care for each other deeply and operate from creative motivations. Even divine beings feel close to highly conscious humans and operate almost in partnership. Nature manifests its divine aspect; hence disasters are almost absent. Humans value love over outer possessions, making the society largely peaceful and happy. Sat Yuga is known to be a time of perfect harmony and goodwill. Nature produced enough food for everyone. No one had to toil hard for survival, and work was as enjoyable as play. Humans could easily make sense of the world; hence no wonder the Upanishads— the most insightful and mysterious of all spiritual texts—were written during this period. By the dawn of Treta Yuga, the experience of Divinity did not remain so easy. Yet, one could concentrate and still experience the creative aspect of the Divine. The Vedas were written during this period and Brahma (the Creator) was the most worshipped deity. In Dwapara Yuga, consciousness deteriorated further, and evil forces began to snatch the power from conscious beings. That is why Sri Krishna— the highest manifestation of preserver Lord Vishnu—incarnated in those times, to ensure the victory of good over evil. Then came Kali Yuga, the times of ebbing consciousness. Buddha, the ninth incarnation of Vishnu, descended to impart the message that conscious people should just escape the world and focus on cleaning themselves of their karma. During Kali Yuga, evil was so powerful, that it was not possible for conscious forces to resist them, and the best way to survive was to minimise your role in the world. It was during Kali Yuga that the subconscious mind became far more powerful than the conscious mind. That is why Rudra, the fierce form of Shiva, became the most worshipped deity, as only he could ensure survival in such tough times by helping conscious people cultivate awareness to keep control over evil forces. The era of new creation Currently, whatever we know of the human history, almost totally belongs to the descending phase. Since consciousness consistently deteriorates with time, in descending yuga, the past is always better than future. Hence the focus is on preserving ancient and traditional values. On the contrary, during the ascending yuga cycle, consciousness is consistently rising, making the future always brighter than the past. No wonder, as we enter the ascending yuga, we witness a clash between the new and the old. Past institutions of religion, governance, society, family, and education were created during descending yugas, and their core purpose was to help us survive the tough times. With the dawn of ascending yugas, we no longer want to remain tied to our past and the new is longing to be born. Such a shift of focus is indeed chaotic, as we are witnessing around us. Yet, this chaos is not bad; it is rather a harbinger of much better times ahead. Ascending Dwapara Yuga Indians deeply associate the Dwapara Yuga with Lord Krishna. Hence, whenever the arrival of the Dwapara Yuga is mentioned, many tend to think that it is going to be very similar to the one in which Krishna was born and the epic war of Mahabharata was fought. However, such an assumption could be misleading. Even though there are a few similarities, there are many contrasts in ascending and descending Dwapara Yugas. The key feature of both the Dwapara Yugas is the struggle between good and evil, through which the good finally emerges victorious. However, the nature of the struggle is quite different in both of them. The biggest difference between both these eras is that there was hardly any sub-conscious conditioning to deal with during descension. But in ascension, humanity faces the colossal challenge of a highly conditioned individual as well as a collective subconscious generated over the long period of Kali Yuga. During ascending consciousness, the future is always better than the past; hence, the conscious forces long to create something new rather than holding on to the past. Therefore, ascending Dwapara Yuga will witness an emergence of utopian spiritual, social, and family institutions which will facilitate the unleashing of individual and collective creative potential. No wonder, with the beginning of the ascending yuga cycle, we are witnessing this conflict between traditional forces utopian. Currently, even though traditional forces appear very strong, we will witness that utopian forces will gradually emerge victorious in this illustrious period of ascending Dwapara Yuga. Dwapar yuga (H).indd 67 16/12/17 11:41 AM
w68w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 My search for the meaning of life started very early in a rather strange way. I was 10 when my family moved from a big city, Sarajevo, to the small Bosnian town of Bijeljina. I was very small and found myself schooling in a new class where I was the youngest, the smallest, and one of the poorest students. My new classmates were mischievous and mistreated me. Everything around me looked very ugly; I was desperate for help. My father was in the military and rarely at home. My mother, too occupied with domestic chores concerning my father and us four children, had little time to spare. So, my parents weren’t of much help. If I were to look at the teachers for support, the children, on getting to know this, would treat me far worse. I used to cry a lot over this when suddenly one day, a voice seemed to tell me: “You are all alone between the earth and the sky. Only you can help yourself.” It was like a soft whisper from a loving friend (guardian Dr Spomenka Mujovich battled extreme hardships to become a medical doctor, but found solace and answers only after entering the path of spirituality A scientist’s search for meaning angel?). “How can I help myself?” was my question; to which came the prompt reply: “Become the best pupil in your class and later, at the college level.” After that, everything fell into place. I asked the professor-in-charge to let me occupy the first bench, just next to the teacher's desk, so that no one could disturb me during the lectures. I made use of two libraries (military and municipal) to broaden my knowledge beyond the curriculum. Within three months, I became the best pupil in my class; and by the next year, I got the highest grades. I started helping my classmates wholeheartedly with their math, grammar, physics, chemistry, and Latin, and won their respect. At 18, as the best pupil of my batch, I entered the medical faculty at Belgrade University. When I got my M.D. degree after five years, I was already married and expecting my first child. I think I had been doing the work of three average working women. Yet all along, my forays into medicine, science, philosophy, or religion were not giving me satisfactory answers to my ever-persistent question: “What is this life all about?” Neither evolutionary theory, nor religious dogmas could fill this ‘black hole’ in my soul. I have been practicing Hatha Yoga since my second Spirit ascension Dr Spomenka Mujovich (first from left), taking a class on alternative healing Scientists.indd 68 14/12/17 7:23 PM
LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 w69w year at medical school; one of our famous ballerinas had started yoga classes in 1962, and that helped me ‘survive’ studying anatomy. Soon I found myself in a group of people, spanning different ages and professions, who were reading rare spiritual books. A new world opens While reading them I came across books by Swami Sivananda Saraswati of Rishikesh who immediately won my love and respect. But he was not alive, and even if he was, I could not have gone to India—I had too many family and work obligations. Incidentally my husband got an NIH fellowship to do his postdoctorate at the Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, USA, and I too got permission to attend it from our medical school in Belgrade. The next two years were spent over there with my family. While attending Basic Science Research in my second year at Tulane, I came across a Reader’s-Digest-book biography of Jiddoo Krishnamurti, whose teaching appealed to my scientific mind. Subsequently, I participated in yoga seminars held by Swami Satyananda Saraswati (one of the chief disciples of Swami Sivananda) in Switzerland and Slovenia. Later, I practised Zen Buddhism with masters Roshi Philip Kapleau (Japanese Zen) and Seung Sahn from South Korea. I had the good fortune of hosting Master Seung Sahn for three days at my Belgrade home. Though I’ve never met the adorable Sri Ramana Maharshi, but, for years, I carried his picture in my wallet, keeping in mind his main teaching: ‘Who am I?’ Finally, this year in February, I visited his ashram in Tiruvannamalai and enjoyed the beauty of the holy hill, Arunachala. I have known about Sathya Sai Baba for decades but visited his Prasanthi Nilayam Ashram only in 2013 and this year. He too taught, “Siva is everywhere.” I have always felt that ‘Divine energy’ (the source) is eternally everywhere with no name and form. It is very clear to me that our human mind is too limited to grasp such a profound reality. Teaching the teachings I have been practising Vipassana meditation as taught by the late Satya Narayan Goenka, since 1995 and it remains my main spiritual practice. I strongly recommend that everyone should do at least one 10-day course. I have participated in about 28 basic, 10-day courses, organised in India and Europe. I also completed a teacher’s course at Dhamma Giri, Igatpuri; along with several such courses organised in Jaipur, France, England and the USA respectively. Now I conduct a 10-day course every year (as Goenkaji advised, to refresh practice). In this tradition, Vipassana is taught only on the basis of donation. All the teachers have to earn money through other means. They teach to further their own spiritual practice which I love. I was a contact person for organising courses in Serbia and was very surprised to get an invitation to participate in the Vesak Day celebrations in Bangkok, 2007 by King Bhumihol on his 80th birthday. My good karma, I guess! As a medical doctor and a scientist, I value preventive medicine and rehabilitation because of which I search for effective but low-cost or free medicine. I also give lectures called ‘Joyous Holistic Health Workshops’, which teach people free and easy techniques for maintaining good health. I have given interviews for health journals, and sometimes, appear on some TV programmes in Belgrade and elsewhere. To sum up, I have found that there are four main ways to keep our health and life in order—awareness and changing the attitudes towards life; breathing exercises and laughter; physical activities like Hatha yoga; and healthy food. Knowing that we are all lazy people, I suggest doing ‘Take-away’ yoga to people—doing everything mindfully during the day with a smile on our faces, becoming aware of the breath and body, and unifying our body, mind, and soul. Lastly, I got some ‘final’ answers from my ‘celestial friends’—you need not ask superficial questions about God, the genesis of this planet, or our human life because our human mind cannot grasp anything outside time and space; ask your heart more than your mind how to solve human problems; respect without a trace of fear, love, and enjoy the obvious omnipresence of a creator who people call God; be happy! Enjoy, celebrate life, sing, dance, meditate, be hardworking, and courageous. Joy and happiness are the best protectors from all the evils of all the worlds. I have experienced the ‘celestial sound of silence’ and eversince lost all fear of death. I observe in my mind and heart, how much love, peace, and joy I have from moment to moment. I really feel there’s enough work ahead for me—for the next thousands of lives! I will finish this story with Goenkaji’s chant at the end of each Vipassana session: “Bhavatu Sabba Mangalam.” (May all beings be happy.) At 73, Prof. Dr Spomenka Mujovich is a retired professor with three grandchildren. After a demanding university career, she spent two years in the USA for obtaining higher education and has published scientific papers in domestic as well as international journals. To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http://www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/January 2018. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] Scientists.indd 69 14/12/17 7:23 PM
w70w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 Of late, it has been hitting me more sharply than ever before that the ego is behind every conflict, big or small, that we go through—both, within ourselves and without. There was a time, more than a couple of decades back, when I had been granted the understanding that true happiness lay in the happiness of the other. That one insight helped me lead an almost magical life for one year. By simply chanting “It is the other’s happiness and not mine,” I was able to spring out of my ego self and get to a place where I was no more attached to my feelings, thoughts, and points of view than I was to that of others. Thus, I was able to arbitrate between others and myself with flawless objectivity. Even more, I was able to prioritise the other’s welfare over mine. If someone wanted to read a book that I wanted to, it gave me real joy to have them read it. If someone chose to differ with me, I joyfully allowed them that liberty. I loved to do things that would make people happy, and doing them kept me in almost a delirious high of happiness. I remember going to Lonavla, to a friend’s bungalow, with a group of friends and offering to wash up everyone’s dishes because it would give me joy to do it! My friends laughed at me and piled on all the dirty dishes they could find. And I did it exuberantly. What I most remember about those days was the absence of conflict. There was nothing that annoyed me or got my goat. My mother had just come from Vizag to live with me, and in my beatific state, all was sunshine and roses between us. After several months, I was upset with her about something, and I remember her telling my maid with the greatest of amazement, “Suma lost her temper today!” And that was said about someone who was perennially angry, and who by the way, after that magical year, went right back to being angry! Spirit column The end of conflict The less importance you give to your ego’s whims and fancies, the more it is likely to loosen its grip on you, says Suma Varughese Because I was focussed on others’ happiness, nothing they said or did upset me. Or if they did, I took responsibility for my feelings and cleaned them up from within. If someone seemed better than me at something or was given more importance than me on an occasion, I was just too happy for them, to mind it. If someone put me down or tried to pick a fight with me, I never took what they said personally, and was able to resolve issues beautifully. In fact, it was then that I learnt that if one resolved differences effectively, they could actually bring you closer. In short, there was just nothing between me and the other, and that nothing was the absence of the ego. In contrast, I watch myself these days and wince at the number of times the ego shows up, particularly as hurt. Someone gets more attention than I do, and immediately the ego gets despondent. Someone speaks to me less respectfully than I would like, and the ego goes up in flames. Someone jostles me in the train and irritation stokes up. The printer at the shop tells me it will take him four hours to complete my work, and the ego gets very offended by the delay. The ego sees a grumpy face and immediately there is a movement of aversion and a judgement about that person. I know that as long as the ego continues to dictate my thoughts and feelings, conflict is never going to leave my life, drama will continue to ensnare my time and attention, and the relationship between me and the other will swoop and dip like a rollercoaster. But there is nothing I can do to evict this unwanted guest, except, perhaps, to ignore its antics increasingly and completely annihilate its importance in my scheme of things. After all, nothing is relevant but others’ happiness, so should I really bother about the ego’s petty needs and grievances? Now that’s a thought! To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http://www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/January2018. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] Suma Varughese is a thinker, writer, and former Editor-in-Chief of Life Positive. She also holds writers' workshops. Write to her at [email protected] If someone seemed better than me at something or was given more importance than me on an occasion, I was just too happy for them, to mind it. spirit.indd 70 14/12/17 7:24 PM
LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 w71w Positive Focus Mopping the mind by Rita Soman According to psychiatry, a lot of mental disorders are due to chemical imbalances. It is true that when you are struggling emotionally, your body generates chemical imbalances. It is a ‘what came first, the chicken or the egg?’ question. Do you have chemical imbalances that make you bipolar, or are your chemical imbalances created by your emotional instability? People who are bipolar have three main major mood upheavals. They go through phases of depression, elation, and anger or irritation, which are cyclical in nature. Someone who is depressed has underlying issues with guilt, shame, low selfesteem, and abandonment. People who are irritable also have issues that can be traced back to their formative years where they faced shame, neglect, or guilt. Hence, their thoughts usually trigger a manic, agitated state, interspersed with a euphoric, elated state. They may also carry within themselves a deeply embedded sense of superiority over others and perhaps, narcissistic self-entitlement. The solution “The secret to life is ‘belief’. Our beliefs, and not our genes, control our lives. PSYCH-K® is a set of simple, self-empowering techniques to change your beliefs and perceptions that impact your life at a cellular level,” says Bruce Lipton, PhD, Cellular Biologist. PSYCH-K®, developed by psychotherapist Robert M Williams, is a popular and effective system for creating changes at the subconscious level. PSYCH-K® goes deep down to the root of all embedded labels and messages that cause people to flip into these different states. It is a simple, direct, and verifiable process. It utilises the mind and body interface of muscle testing (kinesiology), to access the self-limiting files of the subconscious mind and changes negative self-definitions of past traumas. It takes permission from the superconscious mind to ensure that the person’s stated goals are safe and appropriate. This process takes you right to the source of the problem in the subconscious mind, which generates 95 to 99 percent of involuntary behavioural and biological activities. When you use PSYCH-K®, you go back to the core and build your selfesteem as well as eliminate any traumas and abandonment issues from your childhood. When you neutralise the charge at such a deep level, the debris of your past clears away, and you operate from a stable emotional level. The PSYCH-K® process creates a ‘wholebrain’ state, which allows people to tap into their core self-definitions and change them. This is done with a series of new suggestions and definitions. These are similar to post hypnotic suggestions where new definitions replace the old ones. This process aligns people’s subconscious mind with their conscious desire to succeed in life and be happy. PSYCH-K® is a way to cut through all the stuff that therapy and medication can’t reach. It is an energising experience. In a matter of just a few sessions, people can begin to permanently eliminate old programming that holds them back and keeps them stuck in illness. The author is an internationally certified PSYCH-K® instructor and facilitator based in Oregon, USA. Email her at rita.soman@ gmail.com or visit www.ritasoman.com A positive focus.indd 71 18/12/17 5:49 PM
w72w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 Quantum Energy Conclave2 : The future of energy medicine T he Universe is much more than we can ever know. In fact, Quantum Theory, which fascinates both philosophers and physicists alike, states that by the very act of watching, the observer affects the observed reality. Media all over the world is now focussing on energy medicine scientists _ because they are applying quantum physics mechanics to healing techniques. Medicine is now integrative, vibrational and holistic. Energy medicine has evolved and the lines between traditional and alternative medicine are finally blurring,” says Shreans Daga, the Vice Chairman of Pyramid Valley International, the organisation that is hosting the Quantum Energy Conclave2 (QEC2) in Pyramid Vally, Bangalore, from January 26-28, 2018. It aims to pioneer the bridging of science with alternative medicine, as well as allopathic medicine in India. Shreans, who is also the founder of the Mumbai Pyramid Spiritual Society, has always found the subject of alternative healing very fascinating. His spiritual journey has taken him around the world, to Russia and Germany among other countries. “It was fascinating to go behind-the-scenes and meet the scientists who’ve engineered these innovative devices using cutting-edge technology that informs Quantum Energy Medicine today,” Shreans says. “It was exhilarating to watch these devices create what can only be called ‘miracles’ in healing,” he adds. Quantum Energy Conclave2 (QEC2) is the brainchild of Thriive Art & Soul _ India’s largest global directory of alternative health and wellness therapists and Pyramid Valley International _ India’s largest pyramid meditation center. It is touted to be India’s only conference where the greatest global minds in energy medicine share the latest developments in the cutting edge world of Quantum Energy Medicine. Physical presence and distance, according to Shreans, are no longer a barrier to receiving relief from ailments. He refers to Quantum Energy Medicine as cyber medicine. “One of the most unique traits of Quantum Energy Medicine, is that it propagates self-healing. This is because the therapist employing this technique on the patient receives healing in turn,” he observes. “The speakers at the conclave are the creators and inventors who have engineered these amazing Quantum Energy Medicine devices. There have been huge strides taking place in this field, and we are the pioneers of creating awareness about it in India through this event,” says Pinky Daga, CEO of Thriive Art & Soul. Some of the foremost global experts on energy medicine will share their wisdom about the future of energy medicine at the conclave. The star speaker is Dr. Fred Alan Wolf, who is also called Dr. Quantum for the immense research he has conducted on the relationship of quantum physics and consciousness. He is an awardwinning author, has written more than 14 books and has appeared on many popular radio and television programmes. He will be delivering a lecture on the topic ‘Discovering Your True Nature: A Quantum Magical Mystery Tour of You’. Apart from global experts, every morning at the conclave will begin with a melodious flute meditation by Brahmarshi Patriji, the founder of Pyramid Spiritual Societies Movement (PSSM). Along with him, spiritual development coach, Ilona Selke’s meditation sessions will help people discover the power to co-create reality. For alternative therapists and delegates, the conclave is the perfect opportunity to update their knowledge of energy healing that can help them in providing more effective solutions to their patients. For more details about QEC2 visit: http:// qec.thriive.in/ or call on +917506424584. A positive focus.indd 72 18/12/17 5:49 PM
LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 w73w Setbacks are to set us free T he soul rejoices and soars to freedom Freedom from entanglements to enlightenment Freedom from repetitive cycles of Name and fame, gloom and doom Jolting with series of setbacks We prefer to hide until found again Only to be set free, by our soul Setbacks are to set us free, from our own Limitations, blockages, chaos and confusion We ought to be grateful To those who abandoned us, when we needed them the most Who were silent, when they were supposed to speak, Refused to look into our Pleading eyes and bleeding hearts Who turned the tables for their own benefits Who exist, as if nothing is wrong With total apathy and not a bit of empathy But, my Masters taught the toughest lessons Without them, I wouldn't have known that Setbacks are to set us free, from Our own limitations and blockages, and Our tormentors are our true mentors! Without them, I wouldn't have known My inner strength, capabilities and courage I learnt to walk out with dignity To soar into freedom from bondages To greater heights, where I could see The bigger picture and the roles we play I learnt not to blame anyone To take back and own my power Not to be a victim, neither an abuser Life is larger than it seems To be committed to life and all that has life Life runs through everything as a string I found life at last, to realise that Life found me, so that I am not Lost in the ocean of creation But, Alas! I was fast asleep! Out of surging love, It shook me up from great slumber The ones who would do a perfect job Were sent in various guises Got many bad names from me for causing pain But they stuck to the mission of waking me up Life is thrilled to see me awake at last Who else can be honoured, other than my Tormentors who were my true mentors! I learnt to be grateful for their presence Who alone pushed me to break the barriers, Walk the path with a nonchalant heart In challenging times; surf through Tidal waves and reach the stars; Be the bringer of dawn after the tempest Be a cause of brightening the world To soar high because of setbacks To create fortunes out of misfortunes I have become my own fortune teller when I am grateful To those who hurt me I salute them for the audacity they displayed To enact the divine play I bless and release them From all blame game As the purpose is served and I am awake I set them free on their journey May they find their mentors Who shall set them free too, and May they also wake up from The great cosmic dream Sri............08939051308, email: [email protected] A positive focus.indd 73 18/12/17 5:49 PM
w74w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 22) Archangel Jophiel: Goodness never fails, even if you face challenging situations that may seem unfair. A matter which has been pending for long may be resolved. Release all hurt and try to forgive. A big reward is on the way for some Librans. Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Archangels Jeremiel and Gabriel: Stop being afraid of your own potential. Do not allow your mind to deviate from your path to greatness. Angels ask you to continue doing good. Irrespective of whether anyone is acknowledging your efforts or not, know that God is watching you. Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Archangel Raguel: Take care of your elders. An old misunderstanding will get cleared. Someone from the heavens is sending you blessings of love. A new project, purpose, or revelation will be disclosed this month. Await a surprise. Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) Archangels Azrael and Ariel: Move away from all your insecurities. Know that what is yours shall never leave you. It might be kept away for a while, if your vibrations do not match the frequencies of your highest good, but will be brought back to you when your vibrations are in alignment. A new you is born this month. Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) Archangel Uriel: Reflect upon your life and acknowledge the people whose efforts might have gone unnoticed. Approach them with love. Resolve differences and start afresh. Supporting a vision with a cause is on the cards. Step up and share. Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20) Archangels Sandalphon and Gabriel: Visit a nutritionist;look into your diet and habits. Adopt ways which are of service to others. An old friend may connect again. Be open and welcoming. Release restricting emotions. This is a great month to channelise your energies through your hobbies. Aries (March 21 - April 19) Archangel Ariel: This month, work with your angels to receive divine and earthly help. Be open to receiving from people around you. By doing so, you bless them with the opportunity to give. Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Archangels Chamuel and Ariel: Irrespective of where you currently are, this month is a great time to take a leap and be where you want to be. Work towards your goals, and let the universe show you the results. Good news is around. Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Archangels Zadkiel and Gabriel: Seek help from your guardian angels to move away from any toxic situations or occurrences. Unprocessed emotions manifest as anger and addictions. Know that you are truly worthy. Expect bigger responsibility if you are in the field of serving the world. Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Archangel Gabriel: Let go of any old pain that is restricting you. The longer you hold on to it, the more it grips you. This month is the time to reflect upon your life. Exercise discretion while making decisions about what to keep and what to let go of in your life. Monitor your health. Leo (July 23 - Aug 22) Archangel Raziel: Do not feel disheartened when you do not have answers to impending issues. Trust that answers shall come when you are ready to receive and implement them. Work patiently on everything that is close to your heart. Virgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22) Archangels Metatron and Ariel: Ego is your enemy. There is no harm in reaching out to people for help. Try to understand other people’s point of view and see the reason behind it. Do not shut people out. Open your heart. Zodiac based guidance from your angel friends for the month of January Roshani Shenazz is an internationally acclaimed spiritual guide, mentor, coach and best-selling author of Angels Speak. For more info or to get in touch, email: [email protected] Angel messages angels message.indd 74 14/12/17 7:27 PM
Dr. Monica Nagpal Agnihotri Founder, HLT (Harmonic Life Therapy) Harmonic Life Therapy (HLT) Schedule Jan. 2018 Visit: www.thzthehealingzone.com Email: [email protected] Call: 011-49404359, 9711871059 Whatsapp: 9654413577, 8826361967 Course Date THZ DNA Activation (Golden) Soulmate Meditation Series (Week-4) THZ Chakra Healing Level - 1 & 2 THZ DNA Activation (Platinum) Karmic Resonance Meditation (Week-2) Divine Healing Cards Instructors THZ DNA Activation (Ultimate) 05th to 07th Jan. 08th - 14th Jan. 12th - 13th Jan 12th - 14th Jan. 15th - 21st Jan. 26th - 28th Jan. 29th - 31st Jan. DISPLAY ADS Display ads feb 2017.indd 75 16/12/17 5:40 PM
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(011) 49563777, Dharamveer: 09312191587 vfuy HkVukxj jsdh ‘kj.ke~xPNkfe vfuy HkVukxj jsdh ‘kj.ke~xPNkfe ` 350 vfuy HkVukxj jsdh ds egÙo] bfrgkl] jgL;] n'kZu ,oa vH;kl dks le>kus okyh ,d vR;ar gh nqyZHk iqLrdA jsdh ,d vR;ar gh ljy ,oa izHkko'kkyh tkikuh Li'kZ fpfdRlk i)fr gSA bl xgu le> ds lkFk fd lHkh ekuoh; leL;k,a ,oa chekfj;ka vyxkookn ls gh tUe ysrh gSa] jsdh gekjk laca/k vk/;kfRed /kkxs esa fijks;s gq, bl czkgk.M ls Bhd oSls gh iqu%LFkkfir dj nsrh gS] tSls dksbZ ,d gkj ls fxjs gq, iq"i dks okfil mlesa fijks nsrk gSA jsdh dh bl fo'odks'k tSlh foLr`r iqLrd esa] fo'o fo[;kr jsdh v/;kid vfuy HkVukxj us jsdh ls lacaf/kr lHkh egŸoiw.kZ fo’k;ksa ij ppkZ dh gS] tSls jsdh dh bl ;k=k dks dSls vkjaHk djsa] jsdh ds izkjafHkd vuqHko dSls yxrs gSa] gkFk dh gj ^iksft'ku* dSls dke djrh gS] bldk iz;ksx 150 ls Hkh vf/kd chekfj;ksa ds HkkoukRed dkj.k le>us o mudk mipkj djus ds fy, dSls fd;k tk ldrk gS vkSj dSls vki vius vkgkj vFkok igys ls py jgh vU; i)fr;ksa ds bykt dks jsdh fpfdRlk&i)fr ds lkFk lekosf'kr dj ldrs gSaA oSKkfud izo`fr j[kus okys vfuy HkVukxj tks fdlh Hkh ckr ij vklkuh ls fo”okl ugha djrs] mudk Lo;a jsdh i)fr esa vkxeu cgqr lkjs la'k;ksa ds lkFk gqvk FkkA bl rjg bZekunkj lokyksa ds bZekunkj tokc [kkstrh mudh ;gh ryk'k mUgsa jsdh ds jgL;ksa dh xgjkbZ esa ys xbZA ;gh dkj.k gS fd mUgksaus iqLrd ds vkjaHk esa vius gh tSls oSKkfud lksp j[kus okys la'k;h ikBdksa ds fy, 30 ls Hkh vf/kd la'k;;qDr iz”uksa dk mrj fn;k gS rkfd tc os bls viuk,a] rks muds ikl ,slk djus ds fy, lgh dkj.k gksa vkSj muds fo'okl dh tM+sa ,d xgu oSKkfud le> esa n`<+rk ls lqjf{kr jgdj mUgsa vkthou izsfjr djrh jgsaA ys[kd ds ckjs esa vkbZvkbZVh fnYyh ls xzstq,V vfuy HkVukxj ,d vuqHkoh jsdh f”k{kd] ys[kd vkSj lkS ls Hkh vf/kd futh] cgqjk’Vªh; ,oa lkoZtfud {ks=ksa dh daifu;ksa ds tkus&ekus dkWikZsjsV Vªsuj gSaA blds vykok] og dbZ izca/ku laLFkkuksa esa ^foft+fVax QSdYVh* Hkh gSaA vfuy HkVukxj ds “kCnksa vkSj rduhdksa esa Mk;ukekbV dh “kfDr gSA muds “kCnksa esa fufgr Kku] tquwu vkSj Li’Vrk ftl rjg ls vkidh Lo&vkjksfir lhekvksa dks foLQksfVr djrs gq, ijr&nj&ijr vkids vanj ds lks, gq, “ksj dks txkrh gS& ml ij vki [kqn viuh vka[kksa ls ns[ks fcuk fo”okl ugha dj ik,axsA mudh fdlh Hkh dk;Z”kkyk esa Hkkx ysus ds ckn vki vius thou dks ml rjg ugha th ik,axs] tSls vc rd thrs vk, gSaA ;g yxHkx r; gSA vR;f/kd fcØh okyh fdrkc ^fc;kWUM nh lhØsV* dh ysf[kdk czsUMk ckuZch us viuh bl iqLrd esa mUgsa 19 fo”oLrjh; vk/;kfRed ys[kdksa ds chp LFkku fn;k gSA O;kogkfjd mRd`’Vrk vkSj ÅtkZ fpfdRlk ds {ks= esa vius dk;Z vkSj ;ksxnku ds cy ij mUgsa bu fo’k;ksa ds varjkZ’Vªh; ukeksa] tSls vk;jk psysQ] VkWe xhxsDl] MkW- fofy;e dkWVfjaxj] MkW- czk;u lhxy vkSj MkW- fØLVhvku ukWFkZji dh vksj ls cgqr ls iz”kalk i= izkIr gq, gSaA og ^VkbEl vkWQ bf.M;k* esa LraHkdkj gSa vkSj Vsyhfot+u ds jk’Vªh; usVodZ pSuy ij ^bZofuax ykbo “kks* esa O;kogkfjd eqÌksa ij ,d fo”ks’kK ds rkSj ij dbZ ckj vkeaf=r fd;s tk pqds gSaA blds vfrfjDr ^Vhe bUVsfytUl* ds vkfo’dkjd ds :i eas og vesfjdk esa dbZ ^oschukj* dj pqds gSaA jsdh ‘kj.ke~ xPNkfe C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Riki cover.pdf 1 21/10/16 10:16 AM ` 295/- ` 225/- ` 299/- ` 150/- ` 295/- ` 350/- ` 225/- ` 495/- ` 295/- For the Body, Mind & Spirit Order Form Name.................................................................................................................... Mailing Address................................................................................................................ ....................................................................................................City..................................................................................State........................................................................ Pin Code..............................................................Tel./Mobile................................................................Email................................................................................................... Payment should be in favour of LIFE POSITIVE PVT. LTD DD/MO/Cheque.........................................................Amount.......................................................................Bank.......................................................................................... Cash on delivery available at extra cost (as applicable) in limited cities or you can order by VPP. Code Qty. Amount Shipping ` 40 Per book Total ` 195/- Code: E04 Code: F01 Code: D06 Code: D04 Code: C02 Code: B03 Code: F02 Code: C08-H Code: B01 Code: B02 ` 99/- Code: E02 About the Author Bharat Shekhar lives in New Delhi. He tries to write when he can, and doodles when he can't. What do tales speak about when they talk? Is it of wishing spells, or the way dinosaurs walk? What falls out when you turn a page? Is it dwarf's wisdom, or a giant's rage? Pick up the book, and hear it speak. Maybe it has answers that you seek. For the Body, Mind & Spirit www.lifepositive.com ` 195 Talking.Tales.v05C.pdf 1 28/03/17 3:07 PM ` 195/- Code: E05 Cursed at Kedarnath & other Stories Foreword by Ipsita Roy Chakraverti Bestselling author and Indiaʼs legendary Wiccan High Priestess Other Stories Cursed At Kedarnath & A woman in Delhi remembers the hell which surrounded her at an old sacred site in Kedarnath. A radio in a Kolkata apartment reaches out and contacts spirits. A murdered courtesan from centuries ago appears in a mirror at a Jaipur hotel. These and many more stories delve into the deepest parts of man and spirit, bringing together science and the supernatural with legend and lore. Psychic researcher and lawyer, Deepta is the daughter of Indiaʼs best known Wiccan Ipsita Roy Chakraverti. Deepta holds a first degree in Mathematics from the University of Delhi and a degree in law from Kingʼs College London. She is working in a legal capacity with an oil and energy major in India and is also General Secretary of The Wiccan Brigade. Deepta is the author of Bhangarh to Bedlam: Haunted Encounters. Hauntings Spirit Communication Possession Reincarnation True stories from recent times Author Photo by Srabasti ` 225 For the Body, Mind & Spirit www.lifepositive.com Cursed_at_Kedarnath_Cover.pdf 1 23/03/17 2:12 PM ` 225/- Code: B04 New Books full advt.indd 2 09/12/17 11:30 AM
w78w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 Revelations books All the characters and events in this book have been inspired by people and interactions at real workplaces, though exaggerations have been made for humorous effect. The opinions expressed are solely the author’s and arise from her extreme bias and prejudice towards corporates. The author’s own workplace, however, is exceptional. She has the best co-workers on the planet!" reads the disclaimer at the beginning of Disha Chhabra’s book Corporate Avatars. A self-help guide to navigating your way through any corporate workplace, the book brings the best of business and humour together. As an IIM alumnus, Disha has worked with corporate giants like Paytm.com, Yatra.com, and is currently a senior leader with Amazon India. The book is packed with her experiences with co-workers and employers during her own decade long career. In it, she mentions over 50 unique personalities we are bound to come across in the course of our professional lives. Her witty oneliners and tongue-in-cheek humour make this book an entertaining read. She view’s everyday workplace issues through the prism of humour, to be able to deal with them in an effective way. The book is filled with instances of problems faced by workers in any organisation and smart ways to tackle them. It rids misconceptions, addresses fears, and provides practical tips to get out of almost all sticky situations at work. Whether it is a workaholic boss or a free-rider teammate, a lazy co-worker or a micromanaging team leader, Corporate Avatars decodes all these quirky personality types. Each one of them is presented with a short story describing their workplace quirks, with tips on how to manoeuvre your way around them. Cheekily, Disha gives these avatars names like Mr Rondu, Mr Gadhaa Prasad, and Mr Aalsi Lal, which make these characters quite relatable to the reader. Apart from this, her descriptions of these colourful personalities will help you identify your own self at the workplace. It can be quite difficult to understand one’s own negative quirks, like negative interactions, constant sulking and free riding, especially in the workplace. These seemingly insignificant traits can cause problems with colleagues. The book is a revelation for not only seasoned professionals but also for freshers who can use Disha’s learnings and observations to understand the nuances of any professional environment. Filled with experiential advice, the book is vital to understanding the corporate structure in any organisation. The idiosyncrasies of bosses and colleagues mentioned in the book can be easily witnessed in daily life. Keeping these in mind, the book tackles serious issues like workaholism and office politics that trouble each and every one of us. A humorous take on day-to-day professional life, Corporate Avatars is a genius attempt at spreading positivity by highlighting and solving almost all workplace-related problems. A must read for every office-goer. -Muskaan Sharma Quirky corporate characters Corporate Avatars by Disha Chhabra Jaico Books, Paperback, Rs 299; pages 200 revelations (Punya's conflicted copy 2017-12-14).indd 78 15/12/17 8:24 PM
LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 w79w T he power of the human mind is incredible. It can dominate you with a firm iron clasp if you let it, and can be the most servile servant if you tame it. Yogis of yore were known to perform austerities to master their mind and set themselves further on the path of sadhana. Today, science, still at a nascent stage as compared to ancient wisdom, has started acknowledging the power of mind over matter. One such scientifically endorsed meditation technique is the Wim Hof Method developed by Dutch miracle man, Wim Hof, who is taking the western world by storm. At 58, Hof has around 26 world records to his credit due to his immense capability to withstand extreme cold. He is known to have broken his own record of having the longest ice bath several times. He has climbed Mt. Everest and Mt. Kilimanjaro wearing nothing but shorts and shoes. Known by the moniker, the ‘Iceman’, Hof has found a way to ‘up his body’s thermostat’ by an inventive breathing technique. “I found out a scientifically endorsed way which shows that we are capable of going deep within our bodies, touch our autonomic nervous system (a control system that acts largely unconsciously and regulates bodily functions) which is related to the immune system, and find ways to free ourselves of diseases [sic],” he says, in one of his videos. The Wim Hof Method is a mix of physical exercises, breathing exercises, visualisation exercises, meditation, and cold exercises, which progressively get more difficult each week. Hof, over the years, has taught his methods to a good many people. His website is replete with testimonies by people who successfully achieved healthier bodies and minds by applying his techniques. His YouTube channel has a number of e-learning videos in which he shares the fundamentals of his breathing techniques and fascinating insights on the power of mind and breath. The channel also features a string of his podcasts and interviews. In one such interview, Hof explains how he developed this method, from the breathing exercises he used to do, while doing his daily round of pushups. Hof has been a subject of many scientific researches to establish the significance of mind-power and breathing techniques in activating the endocrine-immune system. In 2011, the University Medical Center, Radboud, Nijmegen, in the Netherlands, ran several tests on Hof and concluded that he could voluntarily influence his autonomic nervous system. Though Hof’s technique might come as a surprise to the patrons of science, practitioners of many Oriental spiritual traditions have been known to perform similar feats. Tummo, a similar technique in the Tibetan Vajrayana school of Buddhism, uses tantric meditation to generate body heat in extremely cold conditions. In Sanskrit, this technique was referred to as Chandali Yoga. Hof, on his part, has validated these ancient esoteric practices by scientifically proving the efficacy of his methods. I am sure that it is going to be the coveted link that bridges the gap between science and spirituality. -Punya Srivastava The Iceman cometh The Wim Hof Method YouTube channel - Wim Hof YouTube link - www.youtube. com/user/wimhof1/ revelations (Punya's conflicted copy 2017-12-14).indd 79 15/12/17 8:24 PM
w80w LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 • Let us always meet each other with a smile, for a smile is the beginning of love. • God is the friend of silence. See how trees, flowers and grass grow in silence. See how the stars, the moon, and the sun move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls. • Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. • Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty. • Joy is prayer; joy is strength; joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. • I have discovered the paradox that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt—only more love. • We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked, and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty. • Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. • If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. This I know Mother Teresa teaching story The elephant and the fly A disciple once asked his teacher, “Why are most people’s mind restless and why do only few possess a calm mind? What can one do to still the mind?” The teacher looked at the disciple, smiled, and said, “Once, an elephant was picking leaves from a tree. A small fly came by flying and buzzing near its ear. The elephant drove it away with its long ears. Then the fly came again, and the elephant drove it away once more. When this repeatedly happened several times, the elephant asked the fly, “Why are you so restless and noisy? Why can’t you stay just for a while in one place?” The fly replied, “I am attracted to whatever I see, hear, or smell. My five senses, and everything that happens around me, pull me constantly in all directions, and I cannot resist them. What is your secret? How can you stay so calm and still?” The elephant stopped eating and said, “My five senses do not rule my attention. I am in control of my attention, and I can direct it wherever I want. This helps me to get immersed in whatever I do and therefore, keep my mind focused and calm. I control my attention; it’s not the other way around, and this helps me stay peaceful.” Upon hearing these words, the disciple's eyes opened wide and a smile appeared on his face. - Remez Sasson Meditation Two men meet on the street. “How are you?” asks one. The other replies, “I’m fine, thanks.” “And how’s your son? Is he still unemployed?” “Yes, he is. But he is meditating now.” “Meditating? What’s that?” “I don’t know. But it’s better than sitting around doing nothing!” A prayer for the day Dear God, so far today, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, and I haven’t lost my temper. I haven’t been grumpy, nasty, or selfish, and I’m really glad for that. But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed. From then on, I’m probably going to need a lot of help. Thank you! just for laughs banyan tree.indd 80 16/12/17 11:42 AM
LIFE POSITIVE wJANUARY 2018 w81w Forget each kindness that you do As soon as you have done it. Forget the praise that falls on you The moment you have won it. Forget the slander that you hear Before you can repeat it. Forget each slight, each spite, each sheer Wherever you may meet it. Remember every kindness done To you, whate'er its measure. Remember praise by others won And pass it on with pleasure. Remember every promise made And keep it to the letter. Remember those who lend you aid And be a grateful debtor. Remember all the happiness That comes your way in living. Forget each worry and distress; Be hopeful and forgiving. Remember good, remember truth, Remember Heaven’s above you, And you will find, through age and youth, True joys and hearts to love you. - Priscilla Leonard The Master once remarked, “See how the fish keep darting about as they please. That’s what they really enjoy.” A stranger overhearing that remark said, “How do you know what fish enjoy? You’re not a fish.” The disciples gasped at what they took for impudence. The Master smiled at what he recognised as a fearless spirit of enquiry. He replied affably, “And how do you know I am not a fish, my friend? Are you not I?” The disciples laughed, taking this to be a welldeserved rebuff. Only the stranger was struck by its depth. All day he pondered over it, then came to the monastery to say, “Maybe you are not as different from the fish as I thought. Or I from you.” - Anthony de Mello inspiration one-minute wisdom Outlook quote It is through gratitude for the present moment that the spiritual dimension of life opens up. - Eckhart Tolle Distinction banyan tree.indd 81 16/12/17 11:42 AM
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RNI No. 63438/96 Postal Regn.No.DL(S)-01/3174/2015-17 Licenced to Post Without Pre-payment U(SE)-49/2015-2017 Published on 20th of every month Posted at ND PSO ND- 01 on 24th and 25th of advance month Cover 4 July 2017.indd 1 13/06/17 4:18 PM