September 2017

September 2017 www.lifepositive.com ` 60 YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO PERSONAL GROWTH In the world of wonder Pg 24 Heal your inner child Fascinating Pg 56 Farmers' Market Pg 36 LP Cover September 17.indd 1 16/08/17 4:11 PM

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Dear Reader, Come September and Indians starts preparing for the advent of gods on their sacred soil. The festivals of Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam, Navratri, and Dussehra create a special fervour among the masses. Suddenly the clouds of despondency and banality lift, and life gets showered by excitement and hope. As the gods descend on earth to mingle with human beings, the air acquires a special liveliness. There is buoyancy, gratitude and a sense of fulfilment as people taste the ambrosia of interacting with Divinity. This brush with the Divine replenishes our depleting reservoirs and gives us enough strength to pull through the remaining year. What a wonderful understanding between the two planes of existence?! And this brings me to our cover story for September which is on the sense of wonder. Life can be magic, exploration, and fun, only if we are able to rediscover the lost sense of wonder. Remember as children how we looked wonderstruck at everything around us? It filled us with a sense of wide-eyed amazement and thrill; and undiluted joy coursed through veins. The sense of wonder opens the portals to higher awakening and makes us sensitive to every sentient being co-existing with us on earth. Let us rediscover this magic key once again through this very engrossing article. Inspired by people’s interest in organic farming and eating, organic farmer’s market are sprouting in almost all the major cities of India. They serve to showcase and sell, not only organic food but also the techniques which are being invented to recycle and upcycle discarded material and waste. We have an article on it. We have two fascinating articles on spiritual travel too, this month. So take a break from contemplative reading and go on tour of different locations that are high on spiritual energy. Enjoy a festive September! The touch of Divine Editspeak LP mascot: Laughing Buddha September 2017 Vol. 21 Issue 6 Price ` 60 Chairman: Aditya Ahluwalia President: D R Kaarthikeyan Director: V Venkat Editor: Shivi Verma Editorial Associate Editor: Punya Srivastava Correspondent: Melissa Nazareth (Mumbai), Muskaan Sharma Senior Graphic Designer: Vijaypal Singh Gusain Marketing Manager, Ad Sales: Ajit Singh Asst. Manager, Ad Sales: Santosh Pandey Asst. Manager, Marketing: Issac Chettiar (Mumbai) Product Marketing Manager, Circulation: Dharamveer Singh Assistant Manager, Circulation : P Murali (Bangalore) Senior Executive, Marketing: Krishan Kumar Senior Executive, Circulation : Dhananjay Singh Senior Executive, Circulation : Ganesh Suke (Mumbai) Subscription Manager: Abhishek Singh Senior Executive: Urmila Verma Executive: Ginny Gupta, Harsha, Shweta Devrukhkar (Mumbai) Manager, Production: Kamal K Saini Finance & Administration Deputy General Manager: Ambika Sharma Executive: Jyoti Khatri Advisors Parveen Chopra, Mark Tully, Kiran Bedi, M Madhavan Nambiar, SD Saxena, Ameeta Mehra, Manisha Verma, Shruti Nada Poddar, Hamid Ahmed, Shovana Narayan, Ritika Goyal Editorial & Advertising Offices Delhi: F1/9, First floor, Opp. Honda Showroom, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase - I, New Delhi-110 020 Ph: (011) 49563777 Fax: (011) 49563773 Mumbai: 411, 4th floor, Pearl Plaza, Opp Andheri Station, Andheri (W), Mumbai-400058, Ph: (022) 69002081 E-mails: [email protected] U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: Lifepositive.com, Inc. P.O. Box 65, Colts Neck, NJ 07722, USA; e-mail: [email protected] Readers are requested to make appropriate enquiries before sending money, incurring expenses or entering into commitments in relation to any advertisement in this publication. Life Positive or Life Positive Pvt Ltd do not vouch for any claims made by the advertisers of products and services. The printer, publisher or editor of Life Positive or any employee of Life Positive Pvt Ltd shall not be held liable for any consequences in the event of such claims not being honoured by the advertisers. All rights reserved. © Life Positive Pvt. Ltd. losZ HkoUrq lqf[ku~%] losZlUrq fujke;k% losZ Hknzkf.k i’;Urq] ekdf’pn~nq%[kHkkd~Hkosr! May all beings be happy, May all be healthy, May people have the well-being of all in mind, May nobody suffer in any way. — Vedic prayer Edited by Shivi Verma. Printed and published by Aditya Ahluwalia on behalf of Life Positive Pvt. Ltd. from F1/9, First floor, Opp. Honda Showroom, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase - I, New Delhi-110 020 Member, Indian Newspaper Society Printed at M.P. Printers, B-220, Phase 2 Noida, 201305 edit (shivi verma's conflicted copy 2017-08-10).indd 4 11/08/17 12:48 PM

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w6w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 Heartspeak Spice girl Vidya Murlidhar realises that her true role as a mother is to help her adolescent daughter discover her own identity Close encounter The centenarian saint Cover Photo: Thinkstock Cover Design: Vijaypal Singh Gusain Pradeep Krishnan talks to the world’s first centenarian bishop about his views on God, spirituality and the true essence of human life BODY Wholesome fasting food Relish delicious, balanced meals packed with nutrients to keep you satiated and energised Nature in your basket Organic markets are mushrooming all over India, supporting rural farmers to counter environmental instabilities caused by harmful practices Lead story In the world of wonder Our ability to wonder is the magic key that unlocks the thrilling world of discovery, invention, knowledge, play and finally self-realisation, says Purnima Coontoor 24 36 16 24 16 20 32 36 Contents contant (vijay gusain gusain's conflicted copy 2017-08-10).indd 6 21/08/17 9:53 AM

w7w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 MIND Sailing through transition Change is inevitable and needs to be embraced rather than resisted Embrace your inner child The writer explores how to accept, love and heal our inner child SPIRIT A star is born Hridayeshwar Singh Bhati overcame a debilitating condition to break many records in scientific innovation Land of the gods Rishikesh’s eclectic blend of Indian and Western influences give it a distinct spiritual flavour Immersed in beauty Kerala and Tamil Nadu provide glimpses of nature’s serenity, idyllic vistas and Total pages 84, including the cover page and the back cover REGULAR COLUMNS moments of deep reflection From darkness to light The writer reveals how a near death experience radically transformed her life 46 66 46 56 56 40 52 62 66 Response 09 Body column 10 Mandala 12 Megha column 44 Shivi column 50 Suma column 70 Positive focus 71 Angel guidance 74 Revelations 78 Banyan tree 80 contant (vijay gusain gusain's conflicted copy 2017-08-10).indd 7 21/08/17 9:53 AM

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LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w9w Insightful issue I am quite fond of Suma Varughese’s thought-provoking columns. Her column Yes, I can! in the August 2017 issue of Life Positive carried significant insight, especially for the youth. I believe that a ‘can’ mindset can do wonders in life. According to me, the ‘can’ mindset attributes to 50 percent while karma attributes to the other 50 percent in a person’s success. In fact, the real journey of life commences when one leaves the comfort zone. I also liked Megha Bajaj’s column, My four legged teacher. What a blissful, joyful and soulful life it will be sans conditions, where there is nothing except limpid and unconditional love. The cover story by Punya Srivastava, The eternal healer, was a great read. Nature is a great nurturer and nourisher. For it to take care of us, we need to take care of it today. We need to honour our mother nature. It has tremendous healing powers. We need to learn to live in harmony with nature to stay happy and healthy _ the only way towards lasting peace and happiness. Ashok Aggarwal, Sahibabad A great mission The article, God in the Vedas, published in the July 2017 issue was an engaging one. The beauty of our Vedic philosophy is that it holds space for everyone, regardless of his or her spiritual evolution. Hence, many energies are venerated in human forms; and many paths are pursued in the pursuit of spiritual evolution. It is simply wonderful! Moreover, I found Shivi Verma’s editorial published in the same issue to be quite interesting. I have read almost all the articles written by her and I am sure that she will successfully carry out the mission of taking the magazine forward. Yes, publishing a magazine like Life Positive, which brings cheer, hope and solace to a society suffering from a multitude of problems, is a great mission. A S Dandekar, Mumbai Congratulations I congratulate Shivi Verma for taking over the ‘sacred responsibility’ of editing Life Positive magazine. I am definitely going to miss Suma Varughese deeply as she was synonymous to LP. The beautiful way in which she discharged her duties made her seem Godsent to the readers. Shivi Verma too is attuned to the purpose of Life Positive. I wish success and expansion to the magazine. Suman Sharma, Bhiwadi Response Mail from our readers, online fans and subscribers To read this online and post your comments, go to http://www.lifepositive.com/articles/news. Send letters to [email protected] Letter of the Month Deeply resonating I am an 88 year old retired IAS officer. Nandini Sarkar’s article Check you motivation published in the June 2017 issue of Life Positive deeply resonated with me and left me enthralled. It was akin to reading about my own ideology and way of living. My tenure gave me immense opportunities to serve many poor, helpless beings. It was my higher self that guided me, and always stood by me against the might of the corrupt politicians. Thank you once again for this inspiring and motivating article. Blessed are those who serve the poor and helpless. Hope to see many more similar articles from the writer. Ramachander Homma via email response.indd 9 18/08/17 1:00 PM

w10w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 down. Just a glimpse of this experience helps us understand the power of yoga. Only when we taste this quietness, can our conviction grow. It is like tasting a mango; no matter how much I describe the taste to you, unless you taste it, you will never know. Method Try this practice for calming the body and mind with the breath. Choose a lying (supine) posture with legs bent or legs raised on a stool. Lower back, neck, and shoulders should be in relaxed position. Bring your focus to the natural breath. Just start observing your breath in your belly, the gentle movement of the abdomen. Next step is to start exhaling slowly by engaging the lower abdomen. Gently draw the lower abdomen in and up while relaxing the chest. Keep lengthening the exhalation, starting from three seconds to maximum; each time focussing on lower abdomen movement, relaxing the chest and regulating the breath at the throat. Let the sound in the throat be very smooth and subtle. The longer and more subtle the breath, the quieter the mind. Pause for two seconds after exhalation and inhalation, which by now, should have become longer and deeper. Stay with each breath from the beginning to the end, fully and completely paying attention to it, notice how each exhalation allows better inhalation. Mastering this technique of breathing, to calm the mind and body will help handle pain situations very well. Even though pain pushes us to seek remedy, learning these techniques when in severe pain maybe difficult for most people. We cannot practice weapons at the time of war! Spend time breathing out slowly everyday, make the breath very quiet and effortless, the breath will take care of the rest. We work a lot with people with pain conditions; from general aches and pains to chronic neck, lower-back and arthritic conditions. When there is intense pain, it can hamper our ability to cope with daily life, causing emotional disturbance, anxiety and even depression. When the mind is disturbed, it interferes with the healing and recovery of the body. We become more and more attached to the very pain we want to get rid of. As yoga therapists, the very first tool we engage with is the breath. Conscious breathing, especially slow and gentle exhalation, will: • relax the muscles and ease the pain • calm the mind, for a quiet mind steps out of the way for the body to heal, regulate itself. So, one of the effects of a good therapeutic practice is that the person feels immediate relief in pain and disturbances of the mind. When one tastes the state of calmness and comfort, even if temporary, it helps one to commit to regular practice. We experientially understand that even simple practices can work wonders! Healing is holistic It is important to understand that the body is constantly changing and getting impacted by so many factors both within and without. We don’t have an ideal lifestyle. We are not able to follow food discipline. And even if we are very good with all these, we have the mind to deal with! Without bringing any change in the mind, we cannot hope to progress much with just taking care of the body. And for reaching and working with the mind, breath is such a fine tool! The goal of yoga is citta vrtti nirodha, which means to achieve a quiet mind that can reflect the reality to us as it is. When our perception is free from distortions, when the mind is quiet, the body settles Saraswathi Vasudevan is a yoga therapist trainer in the tradition of Sri T Krishnamacharya. She specialises in adapting yoga to the individual. (www.yogavahini.com). Pain relief through yoga Body column To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http:// www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/September2017. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] Conscious breathing is a powerful tool to minimise pain and take the mind’s focus away from it, so that the body’s natural recovery process can take over, says Saraswathi Vasudevan body column.indd 10 11/08/17 10:48 AM

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w12w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 Mandala S ri Mrinalini Mata, one of the foremost disciples of Paramahansa Yogananda and the President and Sanghamata of Yogananda’s Self-Realisation Fellowship (SRF) and Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) of India, peacefully passed away on August 3 in Los Angeles, USA. She was 86. Prior to assuming the presidency, she served as SRF vice president for 45 years, closely assisting her predecessor, Sri Daya Mata, in aiding the growth of Yogananda’s work in India and the West. Mrinalini Mata, known in her premonastic life as Merna Brown, was a deeply religious child. Merna first met Yogananda when she was 14 years old and he took a deep interest in her future almost instantly. Out of a sense of loyalty to the church, she had been reluctant to attend services of another religion. Upon seeing Yogananda for the first time, she later recounted, she was filled with ‘a tremendous feeling of peace’ and a sense of ‘something anciently familiar.’ From the very beginning of her life in the ashram, Yogananda spoke to the other disciples about the role he envisioned for her. He chose for her the monastic name ‘Mrinalini’, signifying the purity of the lotus flower, an ancient symbol of spiritual unfoldment. Through daily association during the years that followed, he devoted close attention to her spiritual training, providing her with personal instructions on how to edit his manuscripts for publication after his passing. Many works of Yogananda have been published under her direction, including his critically acclaimed commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, the Gospels, and several volumes of his poetry and writings. Mrinalini Mata’s many decades of selfless and divinely attuned service earned her the loving reverence and gratitude of her disciples all over the world. Her legacy can be encapsulated in her profound words of wisdom and compassion. “No matter what experiences you go through externally, or what lessons you are learning through those experiences, let the consciousness always be centered on that one Reality, the one thing that will never fail you, that will never change, that is eternal _ God, and your relationship with Him.” Adieu, Mrinalini Mata Sri Mrinalini Mata was the torch bearer of Yogananda's inspirational teachings mandala.indd 12 19/08/17 6:24 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w13w While the body benefits from movement, the mind benefits from stillness. An amalgamation of meditation and yoga is a great way to take care of both these aspects. And while traditional methods of practising mindfulness are aplenty, technology is making its presence felt in the sphere of holistic wellness too. The newest way of practising mindfulness is through the meditation apps for smartphones. If you are looking for short guided meditation sessions then, ‘Aura’ app is the one for you. The sessions are designed for specific moods, and the app speaks to you through music; very soothing to ears, and a voice that fills you with positivity. It apparently improves your energy level. If you do not wish to follow the instructions, you may meditate on your own using the ‘sounds of nature’ feature sans the speech. The app also features mindful breather, daily reminders and a gratitude journal. If you are a visual learner and animations attract you then ‘Headspace’ would befit you. This visually engaging app has 10 free introductory sessions with reminders and customisable content. Sessions can be downloaded and used offline. It is a family-oriented app with features like ‘Headspace for kids’.‘Calm’ app is the tool that will help you meditate, relax, focus and sleep better. The app offers you a variety of meditations to choose from. It has body scan, walking meditation, sessions on topics like loving, kindness and forgiveness, and bedtime stories to help you fall asleep quickly. The social butterflies might prefer the ‘Insight Timer’, a facebook like platform for meditators. In here, you can create a profile with a photo, brief bio, and update your recent meditation activities. The app lets you form or join groups to connect with meditators and teachers. There are sessions on yoga, tai-chi, healing, chanting, walking and praying. Users can have personalised presets with polyphonic bells and various mesmerising ambient sounds. You can find a number of similar apps available on playstore to suit your approach. _ Zahabiya Ali Mindfulness, an app away Smartphone applications, like 'Calm', are the latest way to approach holistic wellness mandala.indd 13 19/08/17 6:24 PM

w14w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 Cat Cafe Studio _ a Mumbai based cafe has opened its doors to a number of stray felines. The cafe is home to around 40 cats which people visit to have brownies and coffee not with their dates, but with the cats! The cafe was started by cinematographer Mriidu Khosla in 2010 and coexists with Zcyphher Studios, her main enterprise. The idea is to facilitate the adoption of stray cats. “My aim is to create a community of artists and animal lovers,” says she. Till date, close to 200 adoptions have taken place. It is being observed that a pet prescription can remedy all sorts of problems. Enjoying the company of a therapy dog, or even playing with your pet cat can be beneficial to your overall wellbeing. Scientific evidence proves that petting dogs is an effective means of relieving anxiety, hypertension, loneliness and stress. It increases the release of feel-good hormones in animals and humans, reducing the pulse rate and blood pressure. People feel more comfortable being themselves around animals. Also, animals often aid therapy in hospitals and nursing homes. The cafe only keep cats who have been rescued by them or their friends, and does proper investigation before any adoption. The staff, which has fallen in love with these little angels, take utmost care of them. “I consider myself lucky to work in a place where you can go and take a nap with a cat; they help you unwind and brace up for things as they come,” says Manil, one of the staff at the cafe. He adds, “I have observed a significant growth in myself. While working at the cafe, my love and understanding of animals has increased.” On a mission to rescue injured and ill strays, a veterinary doctor, Dr Swali has been visiting the studio regularly for the last five years. The group also hold spay drives for strays every second week. They also work to create awareness about basic animal care which they say is low in the country. “I believe all of us go through phases of insecurities, no matter how great our lives may be. And like most people, I too face this phase from time to time. But when I was surrounded with people who care for creatures other than themselves, I believe, I was in the presence of ‘true love,” writes a visitor Sidhant Bakshi about his visit, on the cafe’s Facebook page. Isn't it true for the whole humanity? _ Zahabiya Ali A pet prescription Cafe Cafe Studio is a place to indulge in some PDA with over 40 feline kids (Inset: Mriidu Khosla) mandala.indd 14 19/08/17 6:24 PM

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w16w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 I stood outside my teenage daughter’s room, livid. Bang! Maya slammed the door shut on my face. Even though at that moment every cell in my body felt rage, my sharp mind, that could use the choicest of words in retaliation, froze. I was too confused, too tired to voice my anger. From inside the room I heard Maya say, “I hate you Mom. You are so mean. Go away.” I stood there trying to comprehend the situation. What was happening to us? Of late, our fights were a regular occurrencesteadfast as the sunrise. Each time, Maya made it quite clear that I was the prickly thorn in her otherwise rosy life. Every day Maya came to me with demands that she deemed essential but which I found ludicrous. Yesterday we fought because I had refused to let her get her nose pierced. For God’s sake, why would anyone let a Struggling to make sense of the dramatic changes occurring in her pubescent daughter, Vidya Murlidhar is comforted by the realisation that they were nothing but her attempts to discover her true identity, and as a mother her job was to let her be Spice girl loved one go through the pain of getting additional piercings? Weren’t regular visits to the dentist to get her braces painful enough? Another time I did not give her permission to let her get her hair coloured. How could I let those beautiful black tresses be colored blue or pink? She could do all that she wanted to when she was forty. (Or maybe never.) Today we fought because I could not afford to buy Maya the ridiculously expensive skirt she had seen on the online fashion site. When the kids were born, I had decided to be a stay at home mom as I did not want to ever reach a point where I would have to decide whether a meeting at work was more important than taking the kids to the park. The responsibility of a job and the thrill of moving up the corporate ladder came with the consequence of sacrificing a few moments with the family. In my heart, I thought that I would make up for materialistic luxuries or exotic vacations by being a calm, nurturing Photo: Thinkstock Heartspeak heartspeak.indd 16 19/08/17 2:21 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w17w and stoic presence in their lives. Staying at home would free up precious time to make beautiful memories in their impressionable and formative years. That was true until Maya turned 11. My living doll’s transformation from a baby that lived in the world of Pooh, to a dainty girl who encompassed every quality of a Disney princess, to a moody pre-teen and finally to a rebellious, loudmouthed teen happened in the blink of an eye. How easily Goth had replaced pink. The books lining her shelves changed worlds from fairyland to dystopia. It seemed like yesterday when I had held her close as we read from The Magic Treehouse together, when she had refused to leave my hand on her first day to school, when I could walk into her room and scoop that bundle of love and exuberance into my arms. When I was her age As my hand furiously pounded on the closed door, my heart hoped to walk once more into a world of flowers, butterflies and fairy dust. Instead all I heard were angry, loud shrieks heavy with accusations. I wondered how she would react when we reached the discussion on boys, sex, driving, college and life! The coming years were bound to be tsunamic. Gloom descended on me like dense grey fog on a cold, wintry morning. I turned away from her room, stepping down the stairs that led to the kitchen, a place where I had come to spend most of my time to feed growing bodies with ravenous appetites. I had to eat chocolate cake and drink coffee. These foods fed my soul. I turned on some music too. As I measured the ingredients to bake the cake, my thoughts wandered to my childhood days. I started to think about how my mother had raised her brood. Had we, as teenagers, ever made her feel as inadequate as I felt right now? How I wish I could talk to her but she was miles away at the other end of the world, probably in deep slumber. Mom always knew what to say to soothe my nerves. So often, just by the my tone of voice when I said “Hello” she could tell how rough my day had been. Would Maya ever look up to me the way I looked up to mom? As the aroma of the cake wafted across the house, I vividly recalled a few instances when I, along with my buddies, had ruffled a few feathers. Once mom had to face the embarrassing flurry of accusations from a neighbour, Mr Chaddha, when he found out that I was the one calling him up every heartspeak.indd 17 19/08/17 2:22 PM

w18w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 Vidya Murlidhar lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband, two children and father-in-law. When she is not writing, she spends her time dancing, baking and learning about Reiki and energy healing. evening to order 12 frilly chaddhiyas (underwear in Hindi). The absence of caller ID made it easy for us to play such pranks. Or the time when, on a dare, I got caught in a local Hallmark store trying to steal a birthday card. Or another time when I had spent all night with my friends making silly posters and sticking them all over the neighborhood just to spite people. What were we thinking? Allowing the space for transition I smiled to myself. The journey had been eventful. From those carefree teenage days, to a young wide-eyed girl with big dreams, to a bride who yearned for unconditional acceptance, to a new mother who realised that life was bigger than herself, and finally to a woman in her forties who had learnt that the only person she had to accept was herself. Even though at every major intersection in life my mother had given me words of advice, she had let me make my own decisions. The joy of learning and growing as a person only came when I had experienced it myself. And yes, I had not always listened. I had fumbled and faltered. Yet every fall had only made me stronger. Every time my heart told me to take a risk, I had leapt simply because deep within I had the faith that the safety net of my parents' love would cushion my fall. It was time I let Maya go. Her defiance was an attempt to find her own place in the world, akin to a butterfly trying to break open its cocoon. She was ready to soar, yet here I was ready to cut short her flight each time. I nipped her wings to keep her close to myself and protect her from getting hurt. One day she would be capable of making her own decisions. One fine day she would look into the mirror and love herself completely in spite of the bruises and scars that marked her journey. But only if I gave her the permission, the ticket to ride the roller coaster of life. Ting! The cake was ready to come out of the oven. I felt good already. As I sat on the kitchen table ready to dig into a big chunk of divinity, my daughter came into the kitchen. The chocolate cake had beckoned her. “This is so yum, Mom!” she said as she helped herself to the cake. The silly girl had already forgotten all the nasty words she had spoken earlier and eagerly started to narrate an incident that had happened earlier in school. As I looked into Maya’s beautiful eyes, I saw the reflection of the unsure, naive girl I once used to be. The transition to the eyes I saw in the mirror had been a fun filled one. I could just hope Maya’s journey would be as remarkable. I hugged her, and as we continued to chatter, the song Patakha Guddi from the film Highway played in the background. What an apt title for any young girl! Maya would always be my doll, my Guddi, but until the time she learnt to unconditionally love and accept herself, she would be akin to a Patakha (a fire- cracker) ready to emotionally explode. And all I had to do was just take a step back to watch her blossom into a beautiful woman she is destined to be. To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http:// www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/September2017. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at editor@ lifepositive.net Photo: Thinkstock Parenting teenagers is all about letting them learn from their own mistakes while being there for them heartspeak.indd 18 19/08/17 2:22 PM

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w20w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 On April 27 this year, Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan (rank given to the senior most bishop), the senior most bishop of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian church, celebrated his 100th birthday. Serving for over 63 years, he is the longest-serving bishop in India and the first bishop worldwide to reach the age of 100. Born as Philip Oommen to K E Oommen and Sosamma in 1917, Mar Chrysostom became a priest in 1944 after his graduation, and a bishop on May 23, 1953. On October 23, 1999, Mar Chrysostom was appointed as supreme head of the Mar Thoma Church but in 2007, he relinquished his post. Today, Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan, the world’s first centenarian bishop, talks to Pradeep Krishnan about his views on God, spirituality and the true essence of human life The centenarian saint he is ‘Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan’ and continues to travel extensively and share his wisdom as part of his calling. An outstanding personality, he is known for his brilliant ideas and sense of humour. A strong refuge for those in distress, Thirumeni's (a title of respect given to Mar Chrysostom) deep concern for the socially and economically backward is noteworthy. Well-known for his modern views, Mar Chrysostom has a warm personality and his presence is sought not only at church gatherings but also various other religious and cultural events. He is particularly famous among Keralites for his witty sermons and has a specific reason for opting to use humour. “There is no need to be more serious than necessary,” he says. “I realised that when I used humour, people regarded me as a friend and felt free to come and talk to me.” Close encounter close encounter.indd 20 18/08/17 3:34 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w21w I reached the Bishop’s residence, Jubilee Home in Maramon in Kerala situated on the banks of the quietly flowing river, Pamba. As I waited in his spacious drawing room, I noticed different pictures of Jesus Christ adorning the room. I was amazed to see an idol of Sri Krishna playing flute in an adjacent room. After about an hour, a smiling Valiya Metropolitan walked in with his usual calmness and charm. I rushed to touch his feet in reverence and he immediately hugged me. He kindly asked me if I had had my lunch and enquired how my journey from Trivandrum had been. Even after I told him I had had my lunch, he instructed his attendant to serve me coffee and snacks. The excerpts from the exclusive interview. Tell us about your spiritual journey. How did you choose this path? Ours was a priestly family; my father and his brother were priests. That paved the way for me becoming a priest. In 1940, when the church authorities were looking for someone to work in Ankola, Karnataka, I decided to join and worked there till 1942. What ought to be the purpose of human life? Man is not a solitary being. It’s only when you live in harmony with others that you become human. While it’s good to move away from the crowd occasionally, you must not completely cut off from society. Sometimes, misused relationships result in disappointment, anger, frustration and other problems but it is only when you love the one you dislike or whose ways you can’t accept, do you become human. That makes life dynamic and beautiful. What according to you is true spirituality? True spirituality is accepting the other as he or she is. Living for your friends and others is true spirituality. What is your concept of God? God is man in perfection. The Bible says, God created man in His own image, but I say that man created God in his image. I am of the view that man can rise to God’s level; that consciousness is not impossible to attain. In all religions, God has become human and therefore man can definitely become God; just like the Indian concept of avatars, various incarnations. When God becomes man, without giving up His godliness, you can see God in your neighbour. Then you will realise that everything is God, God is everything. What is your understanding of Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ is God. He has not done anything which a human being cannot do. He was man in perfection and goodness. I do not accept the saying ‘to err is human and to forgive is divine’ because it is possible for man to not do wrong. We can all become like Gandhiji. Years ago, when Mohandas was born in Porbandar, nobody ever thought that one day he would become Gandhiji. When he did the unthinkable, he became Gandhiji. That is true of you and me as well because we all have the inherent potential. Usually Marthoma Church: History Jawaharlal Nehru in his ‘Glimpses of World History’ (1934) wrote, “You may be surprised to learn that Christianity came to India long before it went to England or Western Europe, and when even in Rome it was a despised and proscribed sect. Within 100 years or so of the death of Jesus, Christian missionaries came to South India by sea. They were received courteously and permitted to preach their new faith. They converted a large number of people, and their descendants have lived there, with varying fortune, to this day. Most of them belong to old Christian sects which have ceased to exist in Europe.” The Christians of Malabar lived peacefully with the natives for quite a long time. However, the advent of the Portuguese in India with the coming of Vasco De Gama in AD 1498, had far reaching effects of the missionary adventures of the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church wanted to bring the Church in Malabar under the supremacy of Rome. In the synod held at Udayamperoor in 1599, the representatives, the Syrian Christians of Malabar (the Malankara Church), were forcibly made part of the Roman Catholic Church under the Pope. For half a century, the Malankara Church was under Roman yoke. After 54 years of withstanding the oppression, in AD 1653, with the ‘Oath of Coonen Cross,’ the Church in Malabar that wanted to remain loyal to their ancient faith and traditions, declared their independence and subsequently, in 1665, the title of ‘Mar Thoma,’ conferred, paving way for the establishment of Mar Thoma Church. The reformation movements within the Mar Thoma Church finally made it an independent Church. The Bible says, God created man in His own image, but I say that man created God in his image. I am of the view that man can rise to God's level: that consciousness is not impossible to attain close encounter.indd 21 18/08/17 3:34 PM

w22w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 we do not see the goodness in others. When our opinions differ, we say we are right and the other is wrong. It’s important to understand that there is always some truth in what others say and when we discover this truth for ourselves, one which we have not experienced so far, we become god like. All Christians follow the same God and holy book. Why then do different sections in Christianity exist? Different schools of thought, sects, religions, etc, are part of nature. Nature has designed human beings to co-exist with different ideologies. Look around and see how many different varieties of flowers, trees, fruits there are. Understand that the universe is a beautiful combination of different species. Do you believe that one can attain liberation only through Jesus Christ i.e. an individual who hasn’t been baptised can never attain God? I will never say that all should become Christians. We should accept Christ who is within everyone. I do not agree with those who say that Christianity is the only right and true path. Even among Christians, nobody is living the way Christ wanted them to live. I am a Bishop in the church and I am not living the way Christ wanted me to live. You must live as Christ lived, depending on your own understanding of Him. Different religions have different concepts about God. Hinduism doesn’t cloud Christ, rather wholeheartedly accepts Him. There is Krishna and Rama within me and I will become a true Christian only when I discover the Krishna within me. Likewise, you will become a true Hindu only when you discover the Christ within you. We must understand that even if we address God by different names, there is only one reality and that is God. Do you think there is growing intolerance in India? Intolerance is not a new phenomenon and has been around since time immemorial. In Christianity, different sections are quarrelling among each other for supremacy. The reason for intolerance is because I do not like the ways of others and want others to like me and follow my ways. It’s important to understand other’s opinions. Instead of insisting that others follow our ideas, we must be willing to learn from them. What are your views on religious conversions? Forcing one to adopt another religion is bad. Conversion must happen within everyone. What is the secret behind your enthusiasm and charm even at this age? I feel that God controls the whole universe. I realise that I cannot control anything in this world. While I am travelling in an aircraft, my role should only be to enjoy the journey. as the pilot knows how to drive the plane to the destination. Discard selfishness. Share your things with others. If someone steals, understand that we have made him a robber. Make others happy. Live for others and you will always be remembered. 100 year-old Thirumeni is an evolved saint who has risen above religious dogmas and preaches love and faith close encounter.indd 22 18/08/17 3:34 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w23w Do you believe in reincarnation? I believe that one’s life will not end by death. Death is only an event in one’s life. Man lives and overcomes death. Our life is like a tree, even when one branch is cut off, it still bears fruit. How to end human suffering? Good or bad, accept it fully. A mother undergoes a painful process to give birth to a child, but seeing the baby she rejoices. Likewise, suffering draws one closer to God. All suffering is because of one’s attitude toward life. Change the attitude and feel blissful for what God has given to you. What values have you imbibed from Indian culture? In India, everybody, rich or poor, believes in God. Here, even the uneducated masses have volumes of wisdom to share. Moral concepts like living for others, sharing your belongings with others and atithi devobhava (Guest is God) are unique to our glorious culture. Are we born as sinners? I do not think that we are born as sinners. You become a sinner when you do not accept others. Any message that you’d like to share with our readers? We should always help others. Discard selfishness. Live for others and you will always be remembered. Make others happy. Strive to provide basic amenities to all; education, dwelling and health. Share your things with others. If someone steals, understand that we have made him a robber. As we reached the end of our interview, I held the great bishop’s hands while bidding good bye and said, “I feel I am blessed.” True to his humble character, Mar Chrysostom replied, “I am also blessed.” To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http://www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/September2017. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] Pradeep Krishnan, a seeker based in Trivandrum, is deeply attracted to the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj For Better Relationship, Finance, Personal Growth & Sound Health Testimonials After Listening to WellnessVibe’s PowerBrain CD’s: TM Tracks brought tremendous change in terms of Health, Career and Relations - Dr. Rashmi. My finance improved. Major health issue of my mother got healed - Satish Desai My scores improved after listening to frequency tracks - Durga Naik There is peace and harmony in my house - Neha Phatak To Order : 08080808455 / 09960551929 www.wellnessvibe.com/shop TM PowerBrain Technology is the combination of in-depth study of Brainwave, Isochronic frequency music and latest technology that is soothing to ears, designed by highly qualified experts. Do You Know.. Just by listening to PowerBrain Frequency tracks TM you can change your life..?? Rivesh Vade IIT Bombay NadaYogi & Sound Expert Buy All 12 Sound Tracks in SD Card And Get This MP3 player Free!! (Headphone Not Required) TIMES GROUP SPEAKING TREE AWARD WINNER close encounter.indd 23 18/08/17 3:34 PM

Lead story Our ability to wonder is the magic key that unlocks the scintillating world of discovery, invention, knowledge, play, and finally self-realisation, says Purnima Coontoor In the world of wonder Photo: Thinkstock w24w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 cover story.indd 24 18/08/17 3:41 PM

One morning, a man started playing the violin standing outside a metro station in Washington DC. He played six famous masterpieces of great composers for about 45 minutes. It being the rush hour, hundreds of people went through the station. But barring a few who slowed down to listen for a while and throw a few coins into his hat, people hurried on their way to their destinations. Among the only attentive audience were children, who, tagging along their parents, stopped to listen to the violinist. But they were invariably forced to move along by the adults who were clearly in a hurry. The children kept looking back at him and straining to listen even as they were dragged away. In all, the violinist collected 32 dollars in 45 minutes, and when he stopped there was just one who walked up and spoke to him. The violinist, apparently, was celebrated musician Joshua Bell, whose concert was sold out just three days earlier in a Boston theatre at approximately $100 a seat. This experiment in social behavior was set up by Washington Post to assess the perception, taste and priorities of people in contemporary times. I read aloud this Whatsapp forward at the breakfast table that morning, and went on to list the implications of this experiment, most obviously the lack of time and inclination among most of us to recognise and appreciate beauty in commonplace situations. “So?” remarked my software engineer son dismissively, “Which idiot would expect a celebrity to perform incognito at a metro station, when people have a million things on their minds? There should be a time and place for everything. I hope this was one inference that was derived from this exercise.” My husband grunted in agreement, both left for work in a flurry of activity as I sighed in resignation. That afternoon, I visited a handicrafts sale with a friend, and was smitten by the vibrant colours, fabrics and artifacts on sale. As I lingered admiringly over an intricate hand-woven basket, the salesman at the counter called out to me in exasperation, “Madamji, lena hai to jaldi lelo, nahin toh aage bado. Yeh museum thodi na hain…” (Buy it if you want, else leave. This isn’t a museum). Embarrassed, I mumbled a ‘sorry’ and left. I doubt if one is allowed to linger even in a museum these days, I fumed, the whole world seems to be in such a hurry all the time. “Time is of essence. Practicality and efficiency are the premium qualities of a successful person in contemporary times, my dear,” said my friend. Sure, but ‘What is life, if full of care, there is no time to stand and stare?’ This was poet Davies anguished cry in his celebrated poem Leisure way back in 1911, so this malady seemed to be an old one with the human race. I sighed again. Twinkle twinkle little star Determined to shake off the general feeling of despondence and disappointment with humanity that was dogging me through the day, I sat in my little patch of garden that night to enjoy the breeze and quiet and darkness. “Shut off the TV and come out and sit here for a while,” I called out to my husband, “It’s lovely out here.” No response was forthcoming, so I settled back deeply into my favourite chair and stared at the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are! My mind drifted to my childhood days when the entire family would often gather on the terrace, eat curd rice doled out by mother into our cupped palms, and count stars. Does anyone wonder about you anymore, little star? Do you matter at all in this smartphone age of apps and Google maps? Don’t you get bored with your life, like we humans do? Have you ever taken your twinkling for granted, like we have? How I wonder what you are, whoever you are! What’s your name, little star? Tara sounds good. How long have you been around, Tara? Will you talk to me or should I just Google you, huh? As random thoughts went round and round in my head, my eyes grew heavy, the words died down and I was drifting away to sleep _ when I noticed that the star had grown larger. I sat up warily, and even as I watched in amazement, the star smiled at me. “Did you call?” she asked. I was totally flustered. “I did, but it was just idle wonder, you know… are you real?” “Well, seek, and ye shall find,” she said, “yad bhavam, tad bhavati _ as you think, so it shall be. If you wonder, you land up in Wonderland. Welcome, my dear.” Wait a minute! Wonderland? Sounded fake, and so did a smiling and talking star. Most likely I was dreaming but it was too childish a fantasy for a grown-up me. “Men grow too old for love, my love Men grow too old for wine But I shall not grow too old to see Unearthly daylight shine…” recited the star from Chesterton’s A Second Childhood with a broad grin! Now I was fully awake. “Who are you?” “You just gave me a name, didn’t you. I am Tara.” She sounded very much real, and I was intrigued. “Interesting. I didn’t expect you to ‘talk’. Have you always been able to do that?” “To the one who wonders, everything in the universe will talk.” “Oh, like that is it!” I was getting comfortLIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w25w cover story.indd 25 18/08/17 3:41 PM

w26w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 twinkling eyes, “that’s not the way to look.” “No?” I was startled by the earnestness in her voice. “No. ‘He who is certain that he knows the ending of things when he is only beginning them is either extremely wise or extremely foolish; no matter which is true, he is certainly an unhappy man, for he has put a knife in the heart of wonder’. Someone wise from your world said that. Do you know who?” Deciding I was the ‘extremely wise’ one, I reached for the smartphone in the pocket of my dress and Googled for the info immediately. “Tad Williams, American author, TV and film personality. He apparently writes comic books as well. By the way, this place has excellent wifi connection. I didn’t know I’d get the signal here. Thanks,” I added, impressed. “Why not, when a million satellites are up here?” “A million?!” I cried, “No way. It’s more like…” I started to reach for my smartphone again. “1300, and counting” said Tara. “See how you don’t allow yourselves to wonder and dwell on things anymore? Everything is reduced to facts and data, supplied instantly by...” “Swami Googleananda. Yes, we do that quite a lot.” “Thereby putting a knife in the heart of wonder, like Williams puts it so well.” I was mortified, but ventured to defend myself somewhat. “But it is stupid not to make use of technology when it is so easily available these days. Why waste time and energy in reinventing the wheel?” “Agreed, but what do you do with all that extra time and energy you are left with?” What indeed? I had no sensible answer, except to say that people spent lots of time on Whatsapp and Facebook, but I didn’t dare. “So you are allowing your mind to become dull, lazy and rust away by not allowing for the natural process of greasing and polishing of the mind and intellect, isn’t it?” Wonder, not worry I sighed yet again, for the nth time that day. “You are right. We are all buried in excessive technology these days. People are losing basic skills and instincts, take simple pleasures for granted, and get bored easily. able and chatty now. “Wonderland, hmm? Thank you for your gracious invitation. Do you get many visitors? Is entry free? How long may one stay over here? Can one stand and stare? And what do you have here in your Wonderland?” “Everything one has ever wondered about, and everyone who has ever wondered,” she said, and swept her hand in a flourish. A strange, ethereal world, sprinkled with stardust, appeared in front of me. The filter of human mind “Looks like a set straight out of Disneyland to me, or like Devlok, where I come from,” I said cheekily, looking around, “But much better.” “Hmm. But then you wouldn’t know any better. How could you?” “What do you mean?” “I mean that you have been so used to giving a name and label to everything around you, that you cease to see anything beyond it. So the mystery eludes you completely,” explained Tara kindly, “You were quick to give me a name as well, rather unimaginative if I may say so.” I was stung, but Tara didn’t give me any time to recover. “Right now you are looking at Wonderland through the filter of your mind which has impressions of the depiction of those places by some people in your world. But,” she looked at me intensely with When perceived with a raised awareness, this very world comes across as an ethreal wonderland Photo: Thinkstock cover story.indd 26 18/08/17 3:41 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w27 w And because they get bored they immediately immerse themselves in their virtual world. We are forgetting how to be alone, to be silent, to relax, to wonder… Kids can’t do basic math anymore, nor find their way about the neighbourhood by themselves. There will come a time when they will start using GPS to find their way from their bedroom to the din - ing room.” I was horrified by the imagined future. “We are staring at a world full of people with dull eyes and droopy shoulders, all bent over their smart - phones and sleepwalking through life. It’s a wonder that anything gets done at all in their lives!” I added bleakly, “I think you’ll have to shut down Wonderland for lack of visitors, Tara. You’ll be out of a job soon!” “On the contrary, I’ll probably become a corporate trainer and train people in their workplaces to prac - tice wonderment,” laughed Tara, “Or open my own Wonder Academy; foundation course over four weeks via Whatsapp! How does that sound?” “Awful.” “But why not? I thought online courses were a boom - ing business down there. It’s wonderful, actually.” She was right. With technology, education has become a lot more accessible in the world today. “Don’t lose any opportunity to marvel at any and everything. Then you’ll always find a silver lining in every dark cloud. That, by the way, is the first lesson in the proposed course.” Tara said with a twinkle in her eye. “Your parents looked at wonder from their terraces when an airplane passed overhead. You got inside it and looked around in wonder. A tech geek of today would get into the cockpit and look at the control panel in wonder… so every generation won - ders, and not necessarily at the same things that you wondered about. Simple evolution.” “Yes. Technology is wonderful, but we abuse it rather than use it, like we do with all other resourc - es on earth,” I persisted, “you implied it yourself.” “I only pointed out the obvious so that you could rectify it. So relax, you are in Wonderland, not Worryland! Second lesson - to wonder is ‘to marvel’ and not ‘to worry’. Wonder keeps you rooted in the present, worry takes you to an imaginary future. Worry is destructive, wonder is constructive. Take care of the present and the future will take care of itself. Take care of yourself and the world will take care of itself. So don’t forget to wonder today to build a green world for tomorrow. Ting-tong…” she ended in a sing song voice, as if she were in an ad. “Very funny,” I said, “but seriously, wonder and build a green world?!” “Oh, wondering is very much environment friend - ly! The more people wonder about the universe, the more they will have the desire to understand it, and the less inclined they will be to destroy it. Thus, it’s wonder that makes the present exciting and the future secure. Can you see that?” Mysterious, the source of discovery cover story.indd 27 18/08/17 3:41 PM

w28w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 I did indeed. “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious; it is the source of all true art and science,” said Einstein. Newton wondered about a falling apple, Fleming about bacteria, and the world was never the same again! What if Copernicus hadn’t wondered, or Columbus, wandered? What if Archimedes hadn’t had the Eureka moment? The world would be much poorer if Shakespeare hadn’t exclaimed, “O, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is!” and let his imagination flow! It was wonder that transformed an illiterate simpleton into the great 5th century writer and dramatist of Sanskrit literature, Kalidasa, who, wonderstruck on beholding the beautiful form of Goddess Kali, spontaneously broke out in praise of her in lyrical Sanskrit. Philosophers wondered about God and theologies were born. Sages wondered about the universe and the scriptures were born. When asked by the Yaksha, ‘What is the greatest wonder?’ The Pandava Yudhishthira said he marveled at the foolishness of man who, though saw people die everyday, wished to live forever! Thus, for one who cares to pause and wonder, every being, every thought, every act and everything in the world is an object of wonder, a mystery to unravel, a puzzle to crack. Any path breaking invention, discovery or creative expression could only be a result of wonderment. Artists and scientists, doctors and magicians, technologists and industrialists, mystics and philosophers, kings and leaders _ all of them wondered _ and helped the world go round a little more merrily! But these were extraordinary visionaries, and I, an idle wonderer without enough steam to erupt in creativity. Did I count in the cosmic scheme of things? Wonder is for all “Every generation has two sets of people _ the movers and shakers, and the rest. It’s not necessary for everyone to be a mover and shaker, but it’s imperative for everyone to be moved and shaken often, to get a broader perspective on everything and, thereby, become a little less selfcentered _ lesson three” said Tara. “And just being willing to be overwhelmed will make you count in the cosmic scheme of things; the creator has gone to great lengths to create this world. She would love to be acknowledged and appreciated now and then,” she smiled, “Now, tell me when was the last time the breath was knocked out of you.” That was easy. When I had gone Bungee Jumping. An experience I would never forget. I could still relive the terror I was gripped with as my feet had lost touch with the ground and I plummeted down into a bottomless pit. As the air was sucked out of my lungs, with blood pounding in my ears and the heart thudding furiously, my mind had stopped working completely. Yet, I had to admit grudgingly, there was a heightened sense of awareness that had made me feel intensely alive. But I wasn’t keen on being overwhelmed in that manner again, no ma’am! “It’s all very well to be zapped now and then, but isn’t it rather strenuous to be in that state all the time? It’s kind of difficult to go around one’s business feeling like that on a regular basis!” Tara laughed prettily. “Delightfully put. Yes, Bungee Jumping can be a traumatic experience.” she said kindly, “But it’s exhilarating too, isn’t it? Didn’t you feel refreshed and more alive after that?” It is imperative for everyone to be overwhelmed by Creation once in a while, to get a broader perspective and drop self-centeredness Photo: Thinkstock cover story.indd 28 18/08/17 3:41 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w29 w Oh yes I did, for days on end after that. “But…” “But you can’t depend on adventure sports to get your daily dose of wonder, right?” “You said it.” “The idea is not to depend on extreme physical stimuli to be struck with wonder. That would be ridiculous, not to mention fatal.” I was relieved. “Then what does an ordinary mor - tal need to do to reboot and refresh regularly?” “That’s lesson four of my course _ develop an atti - tude of wonder. Learn to look at everything differ - ently. Look with the eyes of a child, as if you were looking at it for the first time. Or look as if it were for the last time. Wouldn’t you look differently, then? Try that, and you might even find the Divine behind the mundane, just like all those scientists, poets and philosophers did.” As I paused to take in the import of that extraor - dinary statement, the cryptic lines of William Blake’s Auguries of Innocence came to my mind… To see a world in a grain of sand And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour. Nature is wonderful To see everything as if I had never seen it before _ the proposition sounded fantastic, but quite outside the realm of my imagination; rather difficult and impractical too. How on earth can I look at a tooth - brush with wonder, for example? “I sincerely request you not to start with the toothbrush, unless you wish to sabotage your won - der project before it can take off,” reprimanded Tara severely. “Start with nature. The sunrise. The sea. The mountains. Your garden. Isn’t it easier to feel overwhelmed by nature, no matter how often you look at it? Nature, my dear, has done 99 percent of the work, to complete the experience you only need to add that one percent _ merely achieve a shift in awareness.” I couldn’t agree more. Even on an overcrowded beach, the expanse of the ocean can still the mind. Even in the marketplace, the fragrance of jasmine blooms can refresh the senses. Even in sweltering heat, a light breeze can cool the body. The founda - tion of the path of devotion or bhakti was to refer to these forces of nature as God and look upon them with reverence and devotion. Only one steeped in bhakti and wonder could see Lord Shiva in an ice block and worship a mountain cave as his abode! I still remember how dwarfed and insignificant I felt when I stood in the lap of nature at the height of 13,000 ft, at the holy shrine of Amarnath a couple of years ago. Surrounded by the looming ice-capped mountains and enveloped in unearthly silence, none of my thoughts had mattered, none of me had mat - tered. It was sheer wonder just to be standing there, cover story.indd 29 18/08/17 3:41 PM

w30w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 truth to myself again. As it sunk in, I felt excitement mounting in me; it thrilled me to the core. “Existence reveals itself to the one who wonders.” I pronounced in awe, “It is forever ready and willing to share its secrets with one who approaches it unconditionally and humbly, devoid of all acquired knowledge, willing to be surprised, nay, knocked out. That is how the secrets of the phenomenal world were discovered by scientists through the ages!” “And the magic never ceases even after you discover how it works. That is why an Einstein could still exult over a ray of light, because as he remarked, we still do not know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us.” “And that is why one will never again take two plus two for granted, because it expresses a thought of God, as it did to 'the man who knew infinity' _ Srinivasa Ramanujan.” As Tara and I excitedly exchanged notes like little children in shared wonder, the toothbrush loomed over my Himalayas to bring me down to earth with a thud. “But Tara, the identification with the bodymind complex is far too strong. How can one dissolve the identity once and for all, and see the Divine behind the mundane everywhere? How can one abide in awe all the time? Is it even possible?” “Aha, now you’re asking the right questions! And not a moment too soon. The creator Herself is waiting in readiness for you at the final chapter of the course, to reveal the secret of existence,” said Tara, very solemnly, “It’s not only possible, but it’s the very purpose of human life to abide forever in awe and bliss. The outer world can only take you thus far, but the inner world takes you to infinity itself. You’ll surely find the answer in the depths of your being.” I closed my eyes and stayed that way for what seemed like eternity. Then I heard the soft strains of the verses from the Kena Upanishad, which I used to chant along with my father as a young girl, from afar. Kena in Sanskrit means ‘by whom’. The very first verse wondered about the most appropriate questions that God, say the sages, was waiting to hear: Directed by whom does the mind go towards objects? Commanded by whom does the life force move? At whose will do men utter words? What power directs the eyes and ears? The sage of Kena seemed to be addressing me directly – to see the Himalayas with wonder was the beginning, to wonder ‘who’ is seeing the Himalayas is soaking it all up. How did this wonder phenomenon work, after all? Wonder causes self-discovery “Lesson five, and you answered that yourself _ it worked because you didn’t matter. The phenomenon is of absence, not presence, as Osho would put it. Up there, amid the magnificence of the towering Himalayas, you, with your expectations and prejudices, desires and fears, attachments and repulsions, were absent. You, with your open mind and heart and entire being, were present. The past and future ceased to be; you were jerked into the present. In that eternal moment the mind was incapable of going on with its constant chatter of remembering, recording, analyzing, judging, explaining and verbalising. Your usually fragmented senses integrated to create an intense awareness and experience.” “You are right! In fact, I felt the separation between me and the mountains melt away. I felt as if I was an organic part of the whole scene, I guess like a mountain lion _ I totally belonged there, you know!” Tara laughed, “Which brings us to the sixth lesson _ when one comes face to face with something that is unexpected, extraordinary and inexplicable, the mind stops, the identification with the body-mind complex ceases, and that’s the reason you feel one with the Universe.” I paused, and repeated this extraordinary The expanse and beauty of nature is enough in itself to cause wonderment in people Photo: Thinkstock cover story.indd 30 18/08/17 3:41 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w31w beginning of wisdom. To wonder about the Himalayas was fine, but to ask ‘who’ wonders is the crux of it. Who is the one throwing light on the Himalayas so that it can be perceived? By whose grace do the eyes perceive its beauty? Who, who, who… I found my answers, said the sage, but each individual needs to find the Eureka moment of self-realisation for oneself. “Shine the torch of wonder inwards and ask the mother of all questions - Who Am I?” said Ramana Maharshi. When one persistently and unrelentingly engages in self-enquiry, the body-mind complex will be dissolved forever, leaving behind the universe itself, and an awareness of existence that is ever wonderful, blissful _ Sat-Chit-Ananda. Tingling all over, I opened my eyes to find myself back in my garden chair. The same garden now seemed extraordinary to my eyes. The sky was clearer, the stars shone brighter, the shrubs glowed with an ethereal light. The whole of existence was in utter harmony, like it has always been for millennia, ever at work but ever fresh. One just needed that shift in awareness to perceive the wonder of it all! The faint sound of TV in the background was in harmony as well, a part of the world around me. I heard my husband call out, “Hey, come and watch Mega Builders on Discovery channel. You know what amazing technology has gone into building this ship? It’s mind blowing!” Yes, he was in wonder. My son drifted in, browsing on his mobile. “Mom, you were staring at that star up there to the right, isn’t it? Well, it is called Deneb. It’s the most distant star from earth but you can see it with naked eyes as it’s the most luminous. Look, he held his iPhone to my Tara, and she came into sharp focus on the screen, “With this app you can map the stars and constellations and know a lot more about them. Wonderful, isn’t it?” Yes, he was in wonder too! How could it be otherwise? For, vismayo yoga bhumika, says the Shiva Sutra. Wonder is the foundation of yoga, the divine harmony of creation. The entire cosmos was thus poised in constant wonderment! I looked up again at Deneb, and Tara winked back. The magic, I discovered to my delight, never stopped working indeed! To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http://www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/September2017. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] Purnima Coontoor is a freelance writer, editor, translator and lecturer of Mass Communication, now a full time seeker! cover story.indd 31 18/08/17 3:41 PM

w32w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 Navratri or ‘nine nights’ is a time of fasting as well as colours, music and dance. It is the celebration of good overcoming evil; Lord Ram’s fierce battle and victory against Ravana. During this time, the three forms of Goddess – Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati – are also invoked; and people pray, fast and abstain from certain foods. In Hinduism, ‘Upvas’ (fasting) literally means ‘to get closer to God’ and it’s a sentiment resonating with most Indians. These nine days are a reminder to be a good sadhak (seeker), and do sadhna (practice), seva (service), and satsang (listening about the glories of God). Fasting not only enhances self-discipline and self-control but also improves health, re-energises the body and re-enfores positive vibes in our Relish delicious, balanced meals packed with nutrients to keep you satiated and energised this Navratri, says Naini Setalvad Body superfood Wholesome fasting food being. Stomach, intestine, liver and kidney, which are important organs, are given a rest. In short, fasting is a real cleansing device; a process for overhauling and purification. Though fasting foods were intelligently chosen by our ancestors to prevent hunger pangs, overtime, the style of fasting has been further improvised and modified in order to make it more sustainable and less austere. The changes have been made keeping in mind that all nutrients needed by the body including proteins, fats and carbohydrates as part of the diet. Whether you’re a student, housewife, working professional or senior citizen, it is very easy to fast these days. Today, people fast by consuming fruits, dry fruits, select roots, condiments and vegetables such as ginger, bottle gourd, lemon, cucumber and mint. Grains have been substituted with potato, sago, sweet potato, raw banana, yam, amaranth (rajgira), waterchestnut flour (singhada atta), barnyard millet (sama), and buck wheat (kuttu). As lentils and pulses food.indd 32 19/08/17 6:16 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w33w Baked sweet potato patties Ingredients 250 grams sweet potatoes 1 tsp ginger-chilli paste 1 or 2 tbsp water chestnut flour (singhada atta) 1 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp roasted cumin powder ½ tsp chilli powder Rock salt to taste 3 tsp cow’s ghee Method • Roast the sweet potato in the oven till they are soft and peel the skin. • Mash it well. • Add all the ingredients except the ghee and make small patties. • Pan-fry the tikkis with ghee till both the sides are brown. • Serve with cucumber salad, bottle gourd soup, mint chutney and buttermilk. food.indd 33 19/08/17 6:16 PM

w34w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 are not permitted, proteins can be obtained from nuts, milk, curd and paneer. The medium of cooking is ghee made from cow’s milk. For taste and tempering, cumin seeds and rock salt are used. Let’s look at the properties of a few of the fasting grain substitutes: rajgira is a good source of calcium and protein, curtails hunger, and has a low glycemic index. Kuttu is a natural cleanser of the digestive track due to its fibre content, making it a natural detoxifying agent. Sweet potatoes are easily available, inexpensive, delicious, mood-boosters and a great source of vitamins including A, B5, B6, thiamine, niacin and riboflin as well as carotenoids. Sama is an amazing rice replacement, safe for diabetics as it does not spike up blood sugar levels. Sabudana is a good source of carbohydrates even if eaten in small amounts, and energises you for a longer time. Sadly, today, fasting has lost its essence. Some of us use it as a tool to achieve body goals like weight loss and many have made it a feasting experience by overeating unhealthy food options and combinations. If well planned, Navratri diets can be a wonderful balance of all nutrients, keeping you satiated and rejuvenated. Ditch fried and sweet foods this Navratri and try out the menu and recipe that I’ve designed, given below. Like Goddess Durga, who fights against evils and always comes out victorious, we too need to adapt to a healthier fast and remove unhealthy foods from our diet. • Morning wake up _ water. • Breakfast between 8am and 12 noon _ fresh fruits and dry fruits like dates, figs and raisins. You could sip on herbal infusions in between or have a cup of tea/coffee with less milk. If still hungry, add a few nuts. • Lunch between noon to 1pm _ salad made of cucumber, a permissible vegetable (often white gourd or pumpkin) with rajgira or singhada roti, along with buttermilk/ curd/paneer. • In between 4pm to 6pm _ snack on nuts and if needed, sip on a herbal infusion or green tea. • Dinner between 7pm to 8pm _ vegetable soup made of bottle gourd, a small quantity of potato or sweet potato/ kuttu atta/ sama/ sago tempered with cow’s ghee, ginger, cumin and rock salt. This can be accompanied with mint chutney. To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http://www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/September2017. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] Naini Setalvad is a nutritionist, specialising in lifestyle and immunity disorders. Her foundation, Health For You, throws light on healthy food habits. 5HDGLQVSLUHGERRNVE\5R\(XJHQH'DYLV $GLUHFWGLVFLSOHRI3DUDPDKDQVD<RJDQDQGD $W0RWLODO%DQDUVLGDVVERRNVWRUHVLQ'HOKL3DWQD3XQH 9DUDQDVL&DOFXWWD&KHQQDL%DQJDORUHDQG0XPEDL $OVRDWRWKHUÀQHERRNVWRUHV :HEVLWHPOEGFRP )5((/LVWHQWR0U'DYLV·YLGHRDQGDXGLRWDONVUHDG 7UXWK-RXUQDOPDJD]LQHDQGVHHXSGDWHGQHZVDERXW KLV.UL\D<RJDWUDGLWLRQZZZFVDGDYLVRUJ Rajgira or amaranth is a good source of calcium and protein food.indd 34 19/08/17 6:16 PM

PLUS receive FREE Energized Gifts from our healers EVERY DAY of the call! So Sign up NOW and Start your Transformation! www.FHTJOY.com Thousands Of People Have Discovered How To Live A Life Of Health, Wealth, And Unconditional Love. Will You Be Next? 1. Mantra for Immediate Debt Removal 2. New Vibration of Wealth 3. Chakra Clearing Meditation 4. Clearing for Past and Lineage 5. Manifesting - Using Bell Rock Vortex of Sedona Experience Instant Soul's Transformation! Sign Up NOW! www.FHTJOY.com The Amazing Secrets That Successful People Use To Eliminate Limiting Beliefs, Heal Illness, And Fulfill Their Divine Destinies Clear your blocks, and take your energetic 'vibration' to a higher level. Hear from 50+ highly sought after healers, teachers and thought leaders. There is NO WAY you won't create meaningful change in your life by listening to our daily calls! C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Full page advt August 2017.pdf 1 12/07/17 3:15 PM full page.indd 4 15/07/17 11:23 AM

w36w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 S anjay Pawar has been practising organic farming for the past 15 years. He switched from conventional farming because he couldn’t meet the production costs and afford the low profits associated with it. Moreover, he realised that if he wanted to pass down a fertile land to his future generations, he must stop using chemical fertilisers and pesticides. “Though organic farming improved the quality of land and produce, lack of suitable marketing platforms was a big challenge,” says Sanjay. “We grow fruits and vegetables in our localities but how do we sell these to people in, say, Mumbai city?” That’s when he approached Kavita Economic and environmental instabilities caused by harmful agricultural practices are universal problems and demand attention. Eco-nutritionist, Kavita Mukhi’s pioneering efforts have inspired numerous organic markets all over India that are supporting rural farmers, Melissa Nazareth finds out Nature in your basket Mukhi, Founder of The Farmers’ Market in Mumbai, eight years ago. “It is a great platform that connects local organic farmers directly with consumers. I manage a cooperative of certified organic farmers and we have been participating right from the first season.” Sanjay goes on to share that the farmers’ economic stability has improved ever since. “We decide the prices for our produce, which allows us to cover costs while keeping a reasonable mark up.” Sunday fun day The Farmers’ Market is hosted every Sunday, throughout the year, at D’Monte Park in Bandra, Mumbai. It’s a lively space with stalls selling a variety of items including organic fruits and vegetables and earth-friendly, manufactured or packaged products. Body trend Photo: Thinkstock Farmaer's market vertical.indd 36 21/08/17 10:42 AM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w37w Everything about the venue shouts ‘clean and green.’ Happy consumers walking about clad in organic fabrics and carrying up-cycled bags made from newspaper; refreshing concoctions sold in glass bottles that you can return after you’ve finished drinking, in exchange for a small refund of the price you paid; cooked food being served in recyclable paper plates with wooden spoons instead of plastic ones, give the environment a very special feel. I particularly enjoyed the red rice idli served with a delicious garlic and chilli chutney. Tree Wear _ Ecological Living, the eco-lifestyle brand founded by brothers, Mishal and Mikail Pardiwala, had made its debut at the Market. They, along with Kavita, co-organised ‘Trade for Trees’, a project to fund tree plantation by selling up-cycled and good-to- use, second-hand products. Driven by 'only natural raw materials' and 'zero-waste materials' policies, they highlight the importance of upcycling and recycling. For instance, the scraps from the t-shirts they manufacture are used to make bath mats. The carefully curated range of slightly used or unused lifestyle products included photo frames, books, clothes and other knick-knacks, all priced at `500 or below. Their brand’s offerings are priced between `500 to 2,000. “All our proceeds go towards forestation and reforestation projects in India,” says Mikail, adding that funds generated from their debut participation in the Market will support tree planting at Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai. Price peeve Most people shy away from organic markets because of the ‘high prices’. For instance, a bottle of fresh juice is priced between `100 to `150; similarly, a plate of idli and chutney is priced around the same range. Fresh fruits and vegetables are slightly more expensive compared to regular markets’ offerings. In addition to higher organic production costs, farmers add transportation costs to the final price because they travel from their localities to the Market. For instance, a kilo of onions will cost `30 in a mandi but `50 at The Farmers’ Market. It’s worth mentioning that these farmers maintain fixed prices all year round. So, even if regular market prices shoot up to `80 a kilo, The Farmers’ Market would still sell it at `50. The premium you pay for organic produce is worth it because you’re assured of healthy and safe food, and not something that’s laden with harmful chemicals. You also get access to local varieties of fruits like karvanda and vegetables such as laal maat and chill. Besides, the premium directly benefits the farmers and not the middle men. When farmers sell to middle men, they, more often than not, get poor deals. For instance, currently farmers will get around seven rupees for a kilo of onions which is being sold in the market at `30; middle men usually add a very LIFE is waiting to amaze you!!! know your #TRUTH from your mind... EKAA INTEGRATED CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPY FOUNDATION Your rst step towards Healed LIFE & a career as a Clinical Hypnotherapist To Learn Hypnotherapy Call EKAA Admin - Nirmal Kaur +919833402653 / 55 Visit www.ekaa.co.in to know about the curriculum #LearnHypnotherapy #BeYourOwnGuru #AmazingLife Hypnotherapy Diary: (Case Sharing) Clinical Hypnotherapy is known to address and resolve many psycho-somatic and hard core emotional disturbance cases since past couple of decades in India. It's now widely used by health care and medical professionals including psychotherapists in their practices. Here we would like to present one such case resolved by Prof. Dr. Manju Agrawal, a Researcher, Author and Renowned Psychotherapist Heading the department of Behavioral Sciences at Amity University, Lucknow She treated a client with BiPolar disorder who was on heavy medication since 1992. His medications were increasing over the years. Dr. Manju treated him with Emotional Freedom Technique to begin with and went on to apply other therapeutic techniques she learnt with EKAA Foundation to deal with different issues of his life. With issues existing at multiple layers the client responded well with continuous work and persistence by Dr. Manju as it resulted in to success after working with Past Life Regression to a life of an American soldier in Germany (during world war II) and he always feared to be killed during the war that was rescripted and resolved! With about 8 - 9 sessions done over 3 months he is now free from all kinds of guilt and negative behaviour his nightmares of blood & war have stopped completely, his wife has also accepted his behavior and behaving much better... He also has been less dependent on his psychiatric medications & showing drastic improvements! To r e a d c o m p l e t e c a s e d e t a i l s visit http://ekaafoundation.blogspot.in/ Farmaer's market vertical.indd 37 21/08/17 10:42 AM

w38w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 high mark up – anything from 30 percent or more – that the consumer ends up paying while farmers continue to get the shorter end of the stick. “We don’t charge local farmers for the stalls,” says Kavita. Moreover, the Market offers a consistent platform for sales, which means consistent income. She adds that a group of farmers who are regulars at the market have, thanks to increased monthly incomes, been able to build water tanks, buy vehicles and fly to farmer meets. Currently, Kavita’s Market supports over 100 rural farmers living in and around Mumbai alone. “What has been fantastic,” says Kavita, “is the fact that our Market has given rise to numerous such markets all over India including Goa, Bangalore, Delhi and some smaller towns. So much so that the government decided to call their newly opened markets also by a Western name i.e. The Farmers’ Market based on our little market. Sadly, their farmers are mostly not following organic practices. Some of the newer private ones in Mumbai too are not necessarily organic markets and most do not even support rural farmers but are supported by city folk with large farm holdings. Ours is for the rural Why organic farming is expensive • Higher labour costs: There is no use of chemical pesticides, so more labour is required for handweeding. Besides the mandatory segregation of organic and inorganic produce post production, especially for processing and handling, is expensive. • Expensive fertilisers: The transportation of organic fertilisers like compost and animal manure is usually more expensive than that of chemical ones. • Crop-rotation: Organic farmers usually alternate the type of crops grown in order to maintain soil health. This reduces the frequency with which they can grow profitable crops. Besides, there is no scope for large scale production of crops because of this. The percentage of farm lands under organic farming too, is much less than those under conventional farming. • Crops grow slowly: Organic crops grow more slowly as no chemical treatments are administered to artificially grow them. • Certifications: Organic certifications are usually expensive. Typical prices at The Farmers’ Market Onion, Potato, Tomato – `50 a kilo Indian vegetables like Bitter gourd, Bottle gourd, Brinjal, Cauliflower, Cabbage – `70 a kilo Leafy vegetables – `20 a bunch Exotic vegetables – `200 a kilo A healthy living primer from Kavita Mukhi With your own cooking style, you only need to switch to whole and organic ingredients to make your food work for you. This is how: • Use organic saindhav namak (rock salt) and whole sea salt. • Use organic ghani oil (cold pressed) or kardi (safflower), peanut, seasame, coconut, sunflower and mustard oil and organic ghee and milk. • Use organic whole unpolished red and brown rice. • Use organic wheat bread or better still, Indian rotis and organic millets. • Use organic jaggery and unrefined sugar. • Use organic dals, spices, herbs, tea, coffee, honey. • And of course organic fruits and vegetables from The Farmers’ Market! • Absorb sunshine, be active, be productive, be loving and be happy • Feed your staff the same and be even happier. If more people buy organic produce, more farmers will be encouraged to follow organic farming, consequently making organic produce accessible to more consumers Kavita Mukhi: The brain behind the uplifting initiative of The Farmers' Market Farmaer's market vertical.indd 38 21/08/17 10:42 AM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w39w farmer and is the original, only certified organic market in town.” Community effort Kavita confirms that though the Market has been successful, it still caters to a small audience in Mumbai. If more people were to buy organic produce, more farmers will be encouraged to boycott harmful practices. Consequently, the area of land under organic farming will rise eventually lowering prices and making organic produce accessible to more consumers. Further, more people will be encouraged to pursue careers in agriculture when they find it lucrative. Organic Farmer and Naturopath, Vilas Ghag, fondly remembers spending his summer holidays at his grandmother’s in Ratnagiri. “I used to spend most of my time there working in the fields,” he says. “Seeing my passion, my grandmother encouraged me to pursue a career in agriculture. I joined a local college, after finishing 12th grade, where I learned all about farming.” Vilas was introduced to the benefits of organic farming in the 1990s after he read a book by holistic health practitioner and raw food advocate, Ann Wigmore. He started growing organic wheatgrass and other organic vegetables in his farms. The highlight of Vilas’ career was when he decided to pursue a course in naturopathy. Inspired by it, he decided to go the natural way in farming too; he started using cow’s urine sprays (it can be used as fertilisers and pesticides), jivamrut (an amalgamation of cow’s urine and dung which is used as a fertiliser or cooling drink for plants) and adhyatmic practices like aum chanting, agnihotra homa (a healing fire that purifies air and water, nourishes plants, neutralises harmful radiation and pathogenic bacteria, and harmonises functioning of prana or life energy) and vanaspati sanskar (talking to plants). Vilas has been participating in The Farmers’ Market since 2014. In order to encourage more famers to go organic, he suggests creating more certified organic farmers’ communities and stronger, direct marketing networks like The Farmers’ Market. The future of farming ‘The future of our food system determines the future of mankind,’ highlights awardwinning documentary film Sustainable. Our bodies utilise what we eat to regenerate new cells. Eating organic will ensure a healthy body and by extension a healthy mind and spirit. Kavita calls it God food – food that is produced the way it’s supposed to and tastes like it’s supposed to. The Farmers’ Market has quite a few surprises in store this year. Come October, there will be many new additions to the market. Says Kavita, “We will be sharing tips on organic living, one tip a week, which can help anyone experience a healthy lifestyle in 52 weeks, leaving old ailments and emotions behind. Organic khadi will soon become available; we intend to buy it from Karnataka-based weavers and sell it at the Market.” Ditch lazing around this weekend! Enjoy a productive (pun intended) Sunday morning at The Farmers’ Market and revel in the treasures of earth! To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http://www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/September2017. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] Sanjay Pawar selling his produce at The Farmers' Market Farmaer's market vertical.indd 39 21/08/17 10:42 AM

w40w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 Hridayeshwar Singh Bhati, 15, from Jaipur is wheelchairbound as he suffers from duchenne muscular dystrophy, a motor neuron disease. Despite this, he believes that the only disability one can suffer from is a low selfesteem. Hearty, as his loved ones rightly call him owing to his high spirited personality, doesn’t want his parents to feel sad about his condition. He knows that all they want is his happiness and so he works hard for it. Having successfully transformed his life with his positive attitude, Hearty confirms, “Miracles are not found up in the heavens but within us. Those who cannot walk can fly with their attitude.” Innovator and inventor Hearty loves to create things, and has designed a low cost wheelchair and modified car with a ramp, for the disabled. Aptly called the mini Stephen Hawkins of India, Hridayeshwar Singh Bhati overcame a debilitating condition to break many records in creativity and scientific innovation, says Jamuna Rangachari A star is born Recounting the farewell ceremony of cricket maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, he says, “I noticed that his mother and coach were not brought to the stadium in proper power wheelchair accessible vehicles. It was surprising and sad to see that even rich and successful people suffer due to a lack of accessibility.” Hearty strongly believes that the problem of accessibility to such gadgets in India can only be solved by innovating. “You can either suffer or innovate,” he says, adding that he has opted for the latter and aspires to help millions across the nation with his innovations. So much so that he wants to gift two power wheel chair accessible vehicles to Sachin Tendulkar, one for his mother and another for his coach. Hearty cannot play outdoors and so he plays indoor games. Once, when nine year old Hearty was playing chess with his father, his friends from the building came over. He wanted them to join the game but realised that chess could accommodate just two players. He decided to create a circular board for multiple players and with his father’s help succeeded in just Spirit braveheart Hridyeshwar, or Hearty, with his self-created circular chess boards, which have won him awards and recognition A star is born.indd 40 11/08/17 3:39 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w41w six months. The beauty of these innovative chess variants is that they follow traditional chess rules. Hearty firmly believes that any chess variant must follow traditional chess rules for two reasons: firstly, chess was invented in our country and secondly, the new variants must be traditional chess-friendly. India ranks first as far as circular chess variants are concerned, leaving Japan, known to be a leader in the field of chess variants’ inventions, behind. Having patented his creation, Hearty is currently the youngest patent-holder in India and the youngest disabled patent-holder in the world. He is also the winner of the CavinKare Ability Special Recognition Award and the Sri Balaji Society's Child Innovator Award. Since then he has designed and received patents for twelve- and sixtyplayer boards capable of 100 unique variants in all. Further, Hearty has begun work on 6x16 SUDOKU and is trying his best to find the algorithm for a higher version of the game. A nature lover Hearty deeply admires the British physicist, Stephen Hawking and dreams to emulate his never -say -die attitude. In fact, he has rightly been referred to by many as the ‘mini Stephen Hawking of India’. In the wake of the calamities that have befallen our world, Hearty dreams of a peaceful and happy planet for all. He has finished working on a project, ‘Disaster-free World’, and hopes to submit it to the United Nations. He is sure that if his ideas are implemented then the earth will be a happier place. He urges everyone to stop blaming nature for the harm caused due to our greed. “We have cut down forests and mowed down grasslands to build our own homes,” he says. “The weather patterns have changed affecting rainfall as well. When floods come, we look to the skies and curse Mother Nature without realising we’re part of the problem.” Hearty is not comfortable with air conditioners. “The term ‘A.C.’ is faulty as air conditioners only condition the temperature of the air and not the air itself,” he says. “True air conditioners must give out air that is healthy and heals. I am working on an air conditioner concept that will consume the least amount of energy, be environmentally friendly and give customised healing based on the needs of people. When my idea materialises, I will need the support of Baba Ramdev for its application.” Seeing Hearty’s tenacity and unrelenting spirit, I’m sure he will succeed. Long after I had spoken to Hearty, his belief that differently able individuals are not necessarily disabled kept echoing in my mind. After all, his journey through hardships to the stars is proof that he is a supremely abled person. I hope that all his dreams come true and look forward to hearing more about his achievements. To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http://www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/September2017. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] Jamuna Rangachari is a writer who has authored two books for children, and compiled and interpreted Teaching Stories-I and II for Life Positive. Hearty's indomitable spirit is a lesson in living a purposeful life despite all odds Hridyeshwar, or Hearty, with his self-created circular chess boards, which have won him awards and recognition A star is born.indd 41 11/08/17 3:39 PM

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w44w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 happier, more fulfilling lives. Giving them some key responsibilities such as of grandchildren or home, and acknowledging and appreciating their contribution makes them feel that their life has meaning. Love blossoms between spouses when both have a need for each other, which is fulfilled time and again. Even though individuality is an integral part of relationships, it needs to be balanced with needing each other; a balance between independence and inter-dependence. Even in an organisation, I feel the best of an employee comes forth when he knows that the organisation needs him as much as he needs the organisation. Creating this integral and valuable nexus between the two is very healthy for long-sustained relationships. And finally, I come to God. I love the way my guru recently said, “Between two children – the one who feels he can do everything, and the other who is naive and needs help, for whom do you think will the parent be there more? Obviously the second. Because he makes the parent feel needed and they feel more protective towards that child. Similar is your relationship with the Divine. Stand before Him as a child, egoless, in a state of surrender and absolute innocence and see if He doesn’t stand by you.” Although in the Divine there may not be a need to be needed, when I feel vulnerably surrendered to Him, a profound combination, He fills me with the light I seek. Love is beautiful. I am enjoying these little nuances of love in my life. The need to be needed is an integral part of this experience. As Zen lied in my arms, and the last bit of sunset faded away from the skies, I felt more rested than I had in days. I t had been an intense month at work. It had taken a lot from me to get a certain project executed to excellence. Although I was very happy about it, I also felt physically and emotionally drained. I needed some time away from people, just in order to relax and unwind. It was a Wednesday and I had planned to spend the entire day at a shopping hub. I had one meeting in the morning which I completed, and went home hoping to eat a quick lunch before leaving for my much deserved retail therapy. As I entered my house, my puppy lunged at me as if his very life depended on being in my arms. Zen, my shihtzu, adores me and is always excited when I come home. He usually expresses himself with some licks and wags and then goes back to doing what he was doing. Never before had he planted himself so firmly in my lap and clung to my neck with his little paws like he did that day. That’s when my maid informed me that he was not feeling well. To say I was flooded with a feeling of love and tenderness would be an understatement. To know that this little puppy was waiting to be near his mumma to feel better, that he needed me, filled me with an inexplicable sense of warmth and wonder. Even though there were other caretakers, I instantly ditched my plans and just sat with him through the day – hugging him, cuddling him, tickling him, monitoring his food and water intake. He responded by not leaving my side even for a second and ensuring that one of his paws was constantly on me. I felt so needed, so required. On that day that I realised how each of us has this need to be needed. I have always seen that grandparents who are made to feel needed and not just treated as accessories in a home, tend to live much healthier, An award winning author, film-script writer and poet, Megha is an eternal seeker at heart. She also empowers people to write and get published through her online writing workshop. You can read more on www.WonderofWords.org The need to be needed Demonstrating that we need the people in our lives is a very healthy way of strengthening our core relationships, says Megha Bajaj Aha-moments To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http://www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/September2017. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] Stand before God as a child, egoless, in a state of surrender and absolute innocence, and see if He doesn’t stand by you Megha.indd 44 11/08/17 3:40 PM

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w46w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 I came to Mumbai only in January this year. Not only have I had to adapt to the city’s lifestyle, which is less comfortable than that of my previous base in the Middle East, but also to my new role as a wife and homemaker. It has been tough juggling work and home, and there have been times when I have felt that I end up doing most of the chores. Leaving a successful career behind and starting from scratch has been the toughest. After months of battling despondency and frustration, I decided that I didn’t want to continue living like a victim. That was when I took responsibility for my situation. I started focussing on my blessings – I have had to lay the foundation to my career in a new city but at least I have a job; I miss my parents dearly but at least I have my husband for companionship. Change is inevitable and can be physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually draining. Melissa Nazareth explores ways to embrace it and grow with it rather than resist and fight it Sailing through transition I am still reeling from the relocation and there are moments when I feel low even today. That said, I’ve found ways to keep going; I am a result-oriented person and so, make a checklist for the day, and commend myself for every task accomplished. Food comforts me and so, my husband and I cook together or call in our favourite dishes every now and then. We’ve even cleverly divided the housework between us. Even though we love our comfort zones, it’s a known fact that nothing ever grows over there. Change is the unchangeable law of life, often putting us through many difficulties and challenges. And though we would rather not have them, they inevitably help us grow stronger, wiser and more capable. Only after we have persisted, and gone through the long haul that we realise the gifts hidden within the unwanted changes that came our way. Yet, unwelcome changes can be very hard to cope with. During these times, having a spiritual, more Spirit learning Photo: Thinkstock Sailing through transition.indd 46 11/08/17 3:42 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w47w broader perspective can help a person sail through transitions. So often these transitions alone are the cause that trigger a spiritual inquiry in a person. Radical changes in life Monisha Kumar Gumber, a popular name in Indian children’s literature is the author of Sick of Being Healthy, a cult-book among India’s youth, and Dying to Live. She addresses pertinent issues like the challenges of teenage and suicides by young people in her books. Recalling her journey from being a sceptic to a believer, the former ‘sought-after sales and marketing pro’ says that it’s the many changes in her life that have helped her evolve and become spiritual. “In 2001, I quit my job at one of India’s biggest IT training companies to get married,” says Monisha. She had her first baby during this time and moved to Bahrain with her husband. Even though she enjoyed being a homemaker, within months she began feeling restless and in 2005, took up a job with a well-known global IT company. “It was great to return to the corporate world but I felt guilty to leave behind my two and half-year old for work.” Monisha desperately prayed for a reason to stay at home. That’s when she got her ‘excuse’, albeit temporary. “I became pregnant for the second time and decided take a break once again till my son turned two.” Monisha describes those two years as the happiest of her life. “My world revolved around my children, especially my son. He was funny and clever, and I had a gut feeling that he would radically transform my life.” Which he did, but in ways never thought by Monisha. Her son didn’t speak until he was two years old, which worried her. When she took him to a speech therapist, she found out that he had a disorder. “He wasn’t just a late talker but also had trouble comprehending languages.” Monisha’s high hopes came crashing down. She slipped into a spiral of anger, helplessness, frustration, confusion and sadness. “I was completely disoriented and unprepared to handle this problem. Moreover, it was almost time for me to resume work at my previous company.” Jay Mehta, a single mother and math teacher living in Mumbai, dated her ex-husband for six years before they tied the knot and moved to the USA. Though she had her reservations about some of his habits, she believed things would change once they got married. “I was around 20 years old, and like most people that age, immature,” she recalls. “When our daughter was one year old, I realised we were not compatible but didn’t have the courage to go through a divorce.” Jay didn’t want her daughter to miss her father and strongly believed that a child needs both parents while growing up. “I didn’t realise that living with unhappy parents was affecting her. I was confused and unable to make decisions with clarity of thought and purity of heart. I was constantly bored, fatigued, angry, bitter and unhappy,” she recalls. The turning point Both Monisha and Jay had come to a breaking point. Life ahead was full of major transitions. It required both of them to develop new spiritual muscle and skill-sets to adapt to and overcome the challenges before them. It took Jay nine years to begin making the transition; to fully prepare her body, mind and soul to end her marriage. Ultimately spirituality came to her rescue. Jay’s parents had been writing to Pujyashri Gurudev Rakeshbhai Jhaveri, head of Srimad Rajchandra Mission, in Gujarat, about her Dealing with transitions courageously helped Monisha reach her highest potential Change is the unchangeable law of life, often putting us through many difficulties and challenges. And though we would rather not have them, they inevitably help us grow stronger, wiser and more capable. Sailing through transition.indd 47 11/08/17 3:42 PM

w48w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 strained relationship with her husband. “I was deeply touched by Guruji’s discourse on ‘wisdom for cooling the flames of anger’ and immediately wrote to him expressing my desire to be his disciple. He graciously accepted my request and that was the next step of my transition phase. I became peaceful and, hence, more powerful to take charge of my life. Through deep introspection I realised that a mutually consented separation would be best for all three of us.” Jay not only separated from her husband on good terms but also, some years later, introduced her friend, who was divorced, to her ex-husband. Today, they are happily married and share good relations with both, Jay and her daughter. “Regular satsangs and monthly retreats under the grace of my Guruji empowered and elevated me. Ever since, I’ve been religiously practicing modalities including meditation, affirmations and mirror work as well as regular introspection, gratitude and forgiveness, which have been instrumental in my transformation. For Monisha, her love for her son became the driving force of her major life decisions. And once she made up her mind and squared her shoulders, there was no looking back. Monisha, realised that her destiny didn’t lie in a nine to five job but rather at home with her son. “I became his full time, exclusive speech therapist and read extensively about his disorder. Around the same time, I developed an interest in alternative healing practices and got introduced to homeopathy and Reiki. I learnt whatever I could about these modalities and even met my health guru, Mariette. I trusted her to do the right thing for my family and from there began my healing journey, rather our healing journey together (my son’s and mine).” She also did a course with the Art of Living community in Bahrain and was deeply drawn towards spirituality, which she believes greatly helped her sail through the transition. Shedding further light on how she transformed from a sceptic to a believer, Monisha says, “I used to be cynical about most things even if they were perfectly logical. For instance, I didn’t believe in homeopathy even though I had experienced relief from common colds through the practice. I thought Art of Living was a waste of time and resisted it.” Today, having experienced healing from serious health issues that modern medicine couldn’t cure, she truly believes that homeopathy is the most scientific, rational and superior form of medicine. Further, she has witnessed positive transformations in her life through the learning she received at the Art of Living course. New destinations This transformation led Monisha to new horizons. She used to customise booklets for her son in order to teach him to read when he was two and a half and that’s when she got interested in children’s literature. “My husband was at my back to pursue writing but I didn’t take it seriously enough. Although I was at that time working for my husband’s firm somewhere deep down I felt that I wasn’t doing anything concrete. My daughter was in her pre-teens by then and I decided to write a story for teen girls.” Through Sick of Being Healthy, Monisha wanted to pen down the many things she wanted to tell her daughter without sounding preachy. One thing led to another and she ended up writing a sequel too. Not only are both the books bestsellers of their categories but also have a fan following of a whopping 90,000 on Facebook! She is also working on a third part of the teen book series and will soon be releasing her first adult fiction book. Bridges' transition model Anyone who has taken birth has to go through transitions in life. Some cope with them practically and optimistically, while others complain and resist. Wouldn't it be great to have a user manual on dealing Jay was able to overcome the challenges in her personal life with the help of Guruji Rakeshbhai Sailing through transition.indd 48 11/08/17 3:42 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w49w with transitions, to help people navigate through the choppy waters of life? American author, speaker, and organisational consultant, William Bridges, has analysed this phase threadbare to facilitate greater understanding of this phenomena. He emphasised the importance of understanding transitions as fundamental for organisations to succeed in making changes. He believed transitions are the psychological process of adapting to change. Bridge’s Transition Model cuts out three phases: letting go of the past, the neutral zone where the past is gone but the new isn't fully present, and making the new beginning. Bridges adds that people go through each stage at their own pace. Let’s analyse this model from the viewpoint of personal transitions. Letting go of the past: This stage stage is often marked with resistance and common emotions including denial, anger, sadness, disorientation, frustration, uncertainty and a sense of loss. It’s important at this stage to accept that a particular phase of your life is ending before you prepare yourself for the new phase. Try not to judge yourself for feeling a particular way. Rather be kind to yourself; remember, you’re doing the best you can. Talking to family and friends helps and may even give you an objective, better still, optimistic, view of the situation. Neutral zone: The second stage is a bridge where you’re attached to the old while trying to adapt to the new. Common emotions include resentment to the new, low morale and productivity, anxiety and scepticism. Again, be gentle with yourself. Set realistic, short term goals and pat yourself on the back or reward yourself when you achieve them. Sometimes, you may feel that not much progress is being made. Don’t let that dampen your morale. Pause often. When you find that you’re tired of running, walk; and when you’re tired of walking, crawl; but don’t stop and always remind yourself why you began in the first place. Making a new beginning: The final stage is all about continuing and sustaining the change. It’s a challenge but high energy, openness to new possibilities and renewed commitment will keep you in check. At least that’s what Zahabiya Ali, student of mass media in Mumbai, experienced when she moved to the city to pursue higher education. “It took me no less than three months to begin settling in,” she says. Zahabiya rented a small apartment with a few girls from her hometown but it was not easy because she was used to staying in a bungalow back home. Moreover, travelling was a challenge because she was used to going around in cars but now had to use public transportation. Food was another issue and Zahabiya terribly missed home cooked meals. “I was homesick, constantly crying and had almost decided to return to Indore. But then, I accepted what I couldn’t change and focussed on the possibilities. As time passed by, things began to fall in place. I found new roommates and made some friends in college, and no longer felt lonely. We got a good tiffin service and divided household chores, which further eased my situation. I eventually adapted to travelling by buses and trains too. Additionally, I kept myself busy with college projects and fests. I went back to painting, my hobby, and even joined a social service club in college.” English author HG Wells rightly said, “Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative.” We usually resist change because we see it as an end rather than a new beginning. That is why we suffer more than benefit from it. We forget that all good things come to an end for better things. Many a time, those better things are packaged as painful transitions but if we persist till the end of the tunnel, we will definitely see light. To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http://www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/September2017. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] William Bridges considers transitions as keys to making significant changes in life Sailing through transition.indd 49 11/08/17 3:42 PM

w50w LIFE POSITIVE w SEPTEMBER 2017 S ince a very young age I was extremely fond of reading and contemplation. The sight of printed words on a sheet of paper used to pull me irresistibly. Movies which were arty in nature or raised serious questions about the state of human affairs, society or the government used to be my favourite. They made me think and wonder about the irony of human life. And even though my father was proud of this habit of mine, he didn’t know that it was the cause of my many inner turmoils.The more I read the philosophers, great authors and intellectuals, the more I was perplexed. Great plays, books, and works of art were often tragedies. Newspaper columns of reputed journalists mostly painted a bleak picture of the governance and society. The weak were pitted against a powerful system that exploited them, the lovers couldn’t meet, the society discriminated, relationships used and betrayed, and failures and sorrows abound. There didn’t seem any light coming from anywhere. Based on their interpretation and my own observation, I felt that life was hard, dark, and riddled with injustices and complexities. Questions of all kind haunted me day and night and I often wondered what was the purpose of this life on earth and if God existed why did He have to make life so difficult and painful for everyone? What did He gain from all this? The search for meaning of life finally culminated into meditation, and from there slowly light began to enter my consciousness. Through constant communion with the Divine, there came a time when the agitations of the mind began to quieten. And then the truth about the strange state of the world tumbled out. I realised that God was not at all interested in making life a trial, or suffering for people on earth. Infact real life was peaceful, harmonious, and filled with love and joy. The complicaJourney column The reality of reality Through constant communion with the Divine, Shivi Verma was finally able to discern why the world was the way it was tions that were visible everywhere were caused by the complex thoughts and beliefs of people and subsequently the society. And this complexity arose because of the lack of experiential knowledge of our oneness with the Divine and everything else. The egoic self which considers itself as separate from others, fears dying and is only interested in its propagation. And to accomplish that it can go to any lengths. It could divide, snatch, subdue, dominate, play victim, create enemies, scheme, and create a gloomy picture, if these in any way helped in furthering its own interests. Even great intellectuals who portray the grim realities of the world were not free of this affliction. They stopped at a certain point and didn’t explore further. The world was nothing but a creation of our thoughts and beliefs. The same thoughts become karma, which go on playing lifetime after lifetime. So if one changed one’s beliefs, one’s reality too would change. How relieving this idea was! As I implemented it I saw real changes happening in my life. My own outer world changed as I changed my thoughts. A time came when thoughts stopped to interfere in my perception of reality. They came and went like wisps of clouds without impacting the clear sky of my awareness. Although the world at large still remains a difficult place to exist, I can atleast affect my immediate surrounding on the basis of my inner environment. Positivity is infectious and I feel happy to see that people catch it very fast. And wherever I cannot go, I send deep sincere prayers. They have a way of getting heard. And yet developing a sense of detachment always helps. It is after all God’s world and His business, not mine. And He knows what I don’t know. The world is nothing but a creation of our thoughts and beliefs. The same thoughts become karma, which go on playing lifetime after lifetime Editor of Life Positive, Shivi Verma is a devotee who found all her answers in loving God passionately. To read these articles online and post your comments, go to http://www.lifepositive.com/Magazine/September2017. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at [email protected] shivi.indd 50 11/08/17 4:12 PM