September 2017

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w52w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 Rishikesh is an enigma, seated on the banks of river Ganga. For millions of years this small town has been home to generations of seekers, masters and commoners, giving it its unique character. It is here that you will meet people from all walks of life; right from the Silicon Valley techie to the seeking mystic thronging the by-lanes. A beautiful blend of Indian culture and spirituality, and the magic of Western influence, Rishikesh serves as a gateway to relaxation, rejuvenation and a revival of your inner being. Surrounded by the majestic Himalayan range, Rishikesh is paradise for yoga-enthusiasts and spiritual seekers who want to learn modalities like reiki, pranic healing and meditation. The sight of cool, soothing mist travelling from the mountains and Filled with incredible scenic beauty, spiritual fervour, and exciting cafes by the Ganga, Rishikesh is an eclectic blend of Indian and Western influences, says Nandini Hoon Land of the gods passing over the pure waters of the Ganga leaves the visitors mesmerised. The Ganga serves as a meeting point for seekers, explorers, writers, thinkers and mystics who immerse in her beauty. Rishikesh is also a hub for organic vegetables which lend the rich local cuisine, authentic flavours. Travellers can relax and refresh themselves at the many small eateries, which serve the best of Indian and Western cuisine. Further, the market here offers a variety of fashion choices from traditional to Western wear. A hearty adventure Rishikesh serves as a centre point connecting travellers to destinations like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Harsil, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Uttarkashi, Joshimath, Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Tungnath, Chopta, Hemkund Sahib, Dehradun, including hill stations like Mussoorie, Dhanaulti and others. It is an adventure lover's haven where rafting, paragliding and trekking Spirit travel Rishikesh yatra Horizontal.indd 52 21/08/17 12:56 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w53w are regularly organised. The rafting camps at Kaudilaya and Shivpuri serve delicious food too including vegetable Maggi, a much loved treat by locals and travellers alike. Tucking in warm, freshly cooked lentils soup, rice and vegetables at local dhabas is very nourishing for travellers traversing the long routes to Gangotri and Kunja Puri, in the Himalayas. A quick visit to Tehri Dam or even the shrine of the mother Goddess at Kunjapuri offers nature lovers a treat. The sight of the hills covered in a blanket of mist and fog, cool winds amidst rainfall, rallies of turbaned bikers on their way to Hemkund Sahib, with yellow fluttering flags on their bikes, never fail to mesmerise the onlookers. A trip to the famous Rajaji Tiger Reserve is a must and can be arranged by local travel agents in Rishikesh, Delhi, Dehradun, Chandigarh and Mussoorie. Spot the big cat in the wilderness as well as elephants, panthers, deers and different birds. Devprayag, the meeting point of the ancient rivers of Alakananda and Bhagirathi, is a sight for sore eyes. It is here that you can behold the powerful waters that form the pristine river Ganga and see the rock where, it is said, Lord Rama came to do his penance after killing Ravana, the king of Lanka. Rishikesh is also known for its very popular cafes that serve a wide variety of cuisines. Café by the Ganga is famous for continental, Israeli and Indian food; Café de Goa serves authentic international cuisine; and the famous German Bakery has treats to relish too. Chotiwala is popular for its authentic Indian street food. The range of breads and rolls, local honey and Rhododendron juice available at the cafés are amazing. Rishikesh is divided into Tapovan, where most of the hotels and resorts as well as yoga centres and bustling market are tucked away, and other regions where the ashrams are. Mystics thronging the streets throughout the year while enjoying the late Bob Marley’s music add to the enigma of this land of the Gods. Contemporary treasures After exploring Rishikesh, which is part of Dehradun, the capital of Uttrakhand; Mussoorie, another tourist delight of Dehradun, will bring you back to the present times. Situated in the foothills of Himalayas, it is 76 kilometers away from Rishikesh and great package tours are available to take you there. A drive via the Rishikesh by-pass through rich deciduous forests full of pine trees, grassland, scrubRishikesh yatra Horizontal.indd 53 21/08/17 12:56 PM

w54w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 lands and unpolluted fresh air will delight your senses. Popularly known as the Queen of Hills, the hill station of Mussoorie was discovered and popularised by the British during the Raj, and is famous for its natural landscapes, colonial structures, hotels, eateries and boarding schools. It is a shopper’s paradise and a grand food destination too. Though modern, the place has managed to keep its old world charm alive. It’s a gateway to the potato fields of Dhanualti and home of India's famous storyteller, Ruskin Bond. He lives in Landour, a pocket of Mussoorie and so does veteran actor, Victor Banerjee. Lal Tibba is a region in the vicinity which also showcases the Himalayan glory in all its splendour. There is a series of interesting cafés in Mussoorie, which includes Chic Chocolate, a popular joint known for its banoffee pie, and fish and chips. So what are you waiting for? Start planning and packing for a visit to the land of the gods. Must dos in Rishikesh • A visit to the Beatles Ashram • A rafting expedition across the Ganga river • A view of the vibrant Ganga Aarti • A walk on Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula bridges • A drive to Mussoorie via the Rishikesh by-pass through rich, pollution-free deciduous forests Best time to visit: April to October What to wear? Casuals, summer wear. Don’t forget your sun-blocks, hats and umbrellas. Carry walking shoes because you will explore quite a bit on foot. Transportation: Travel to Rishikesh by train, car or plane via Jolly Grant airport at Dehradun situated 17kms away from the main town. Use local autos and taxis to commute internally. Rishikesh is reachable from Delhi by road in six hours approximately, by train in five hours and by plane in 45 minutes. Trip Organiser: Travel company India Heritage Getaways has its office in New Delhi, in the residential area of Anand Niketan. It has been creating and organising tours for the past 12 years in India and worldwide. 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 Based in New Delhi, Nanidini Hoon is a trained dancer, theatre artist, filmmaker, poet, face reader and an avid travel blogger. Intrepid river rafters have a gala time rafting in the Ganga, in Rishikesh Cafes and bakeries in Rishikesh serve local and continental food Rajaji tiger reserve has a wide variety of animals and birds Rishikesh yatra Horizontal.indd 54 21/08/17 12:56 PM

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w56w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 I lost my mother when I was two. Though this may seem tragic, it was not such a big deal for me. I was too young to remember her and grew up in a joint family (my mother’s family), pampered by everyone around me. But just before my teens, things changed. When I was 12, my grandfather left home and disappeared from our lives. The situation was extremely grim. People started talking about how my grandfather’s depression began after my mother _ who was extremely dear to him _ suffered in her marriage and passed away before her time. I had heard this story earlier too but now it was being repeated more than ever, which affected me. Mentally, I began blaming my father without knowing his side of the story. Ironically, at the same time, I started living with him and his new Many of our lives’ problems, including physical illness, emotional and mental trauma, and spiritual imbalance are because we’ve neglected our inner child. Jamuna Rangachari explores how to accept, love and heal this most fragile part of ourselves Embrace your inner child wife. Though things were not so bad in my new home, I continued to hold a grudge against my father. Life continued but the wound remained. Many of us have suffered childhood trauma and continue to suffer long after we’ve stepped into adulthood. We must understand that how we felt as children was based on our perception of life then and we do not need to continue suffering; for if the seed of suffering is within us, so is the seed of happiness, joy and awakening. It is by learning how to heal the grief of the inner child within us that we can all lead complete, wholesome lives. Our inner child ‘We all have a child in us’ is an oft, lightly made statement. However, it has deeper implications than we realise. The child in us, who we call our inner child, is a fundamental part of our psyche. Our intuitive intelligence, joy, natural self-expression and an overall Mind healing Photo: Thinkstock Inner child.indd 56 19/08/17 6:33 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w57w sense of well-being dwells in our inner child. When our experiences are happy, it results in security, self-esteem and joy. Conversely, when there is a set-back that wounds the inner child, the repercussions can be grave. “When someone has an inner child turmoil, their self is split into a rational adult part and an emotional child part,” says Pulkit Sharma, a psychotherapist from Pondicherry. “Both the parts go on their own separate paths to seek fulfilment and manifest themselves. This creates a series of intense conflicts for the person,” The split happens when the child receives a treatment which is far from loving and accepting by people closest to him. He feels judged, rejected, hurt and unsafe. Since this happens during his formative years, he forms strong negative impressions that continue to form the basis of his future decisions and actions. An adult who has difficulty forming mature, committed relationships may be operating from the belief that it is unsafe to trust others with one's tender feelings. The cause is often rooted in childhood when he was unable to receive care and appreciation from any or both his parents. Baurkha Kaushik, an intuitive healer from Delhi, says,“Our soul is a child. When we undergo a traumatic experience, it gets wounded and separated from the larger whole, and remains separated long after we become adults. It has to be integrated completely for leading a complete life.” Dr Meghana Dikshit, a Mumbai based hypnotherapist seconds the opinion. She says, “We are most vulnerable between the ages of zero to 14 years, when we consider ourselves as not completely accepted due to life’s circumstances or our perceptions about it.” No matter at what stage in life we face trauma, our soul, our inner child, our most fragile part will be affected by it. In my case, the talks in my mother’s family convinced me that something was deeply wrong or awry with my father’s family. I began to feel that I was being looked after out of pity and not love and felt guilty about carrying my father’s genes in my body. To make up for this belief, I ended up becoming a people-pleaser in my adult life. I wanted to win over the love and affection of others to feel whole, and in the attempt agreed with many things I didn’t like or approve of. It wasn’t until I attended a workshop on chakra healing and forgave everyone who I felt had hurt me knowingly or unknowingly that I began to come into my own and began feeling better about myself. Louise Hays, the pioneer of healing through love articulates this well. She says “It doesn’t matter how old you are, there is a little child within you who needs love and acceptance. If you’re a woman, no matter how self-reliant you are, you have a little girl who’s very tender and needs help. If you’re a man, no matter how macho you are, you have a little boy who craves for warmth and affection.” Healing techniques The destination is the same but there are many paths to get there. “There are several ways of communicating with our inner child and I find mirror work to be the most effective,” says Ludhiana based Lakhvinder Babbu Gill, a Heal Your Life Coach, often called Babbu Gill. In it the person holds up a mirror to himself and addresses the wounded child within himself very tenderly, while looking into it. “Talk to your inner child and apologise to it for scolding it, draw events that happened using your non-dominant hand and watch your feelings unfold,” she says. Babbu adds that holding a soft toy like a teddy bear is also a wonderful tool to use while talking to one’s inner child. In addition, she confirms that meditation and affirmations are powerful ways to stay calm and centered. Pulkit Sharma advises to get in touch with our inner child, listen to its voice, and Babbu Gill: Mirror work is an effective technique to heal one's wounded inner child Inner child.indd 57 19/08/17 6:33 PM

w58w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 offer it understanding and unconditional support so that it heals gradually. In this method one has to mentally step back in time, think of the period when one felt wounded and give to oneself all that love that one deserves but couldn’t get at that time. He encourages his clients to motivate their inner child to grow up as one would do with an actual child. Dr Trupti Jayin, Mumbai based famous past life regression therapist, has seen great results using gestalt therapy, an experiential therapy that was designed to enhance awareness and freedom; and facilitating an inner dialogue healing. In her workshops, she facilitates her clients to guide their traumatised inner child to play games to create drama; she uses a family constellation practice to heal parental wounds; and uses art therapy to reprogram left-right brain harmony; which goes a long way in balancing the individual spiritually and emotionally. Baurkha Kaushik uses hypnosis and past life regression in all her healing sessions as she finds these to be most effective. Some therapists even use and recommend Ho'oponopono, a Hawaiian meditation and prayer, which helps to release stress and fear in our lives caused by not forgiving ourselves and/or others in our memories. Whatever the technique, what’s important is to break the pattern. Breaking the pattern Patterns break when people open up to share their experiences. “My clients who opened up their communication channels and learned to share their problems got totally healed of thyroid and are leading completely healthy lives,” says Dr Meghna Dixit. Babbu Gill shares her experience with a lady named Seema during an inner child meditation session. “As a child, Seema used to cry loudly and throw tantrums, which her mother disapproved and was annoyed by. Seema eventually learned to bottle up her feelings but became a sickly child and developed asthama.” The session helped Seema see this pattern and break it. She accepted her past, let go of her fears and anger, showed love to her inner child and allowed herself to express her feelings, which freed her of asthma. Shares Pulkit, “I helped a person who suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks. Together, we discovered that due to some traumatic experiences, his inner child lived in isolation and constant fear. The rest of his personality wanted to suppress and eradicate this part of him because of past conditioning. As a result, his inner child became severely anxious and started expressing this anxiety through crippling panic attacks. Gently, I taught him to listen to and soothe his inner child, and motivate it to grow. Consequently, there was a marked relief in his anxiety.” Multiple sclerosis and our inner child What I’ve found through my association with many who suffer from multiple sclerosis is that they’ve all had difficult childhoods; there have been separations, molestations, child abuse and traumas of various kinds. Though this may have made them ‘tough’ in life, their inner child continues to crave for love and support. Meena (name changed) grew taking care of her sick mother. As the eldest sibling, she took on the responsibility of the entire family. When she got married, her sister-in-law got diagnosed with cancer and Meena took care of her too. Though she refused to let anyone else take up the responsibility, somewhere deep within, she felt that life had forced this upon her. She lived her life with a halo of martyrdom around her head. Even after getting diagnosed with multiple sclerosis she continued playing the same role, refusing any support from anyone else. I’ve met many like Dr Pulki Sharma encourages people to tenderly motivate their inner child to grow up Inner child.indd 58 19/08/17 6:33 PM

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w60w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 Meena who develop such a perception toward life and suffer a great deal. In the process, they also make the people they care for suffer emotionally as there is a lack of love all around. In my case, I resolved my relationship with my father and before he passed away in 2014, we shared a very intimate relationship, making up for all the lost time. Knowing that this had helped me heal, I wrote about my experience in my book on healing from multiple sclerosis. I can truly say that people who learned from my experience, and healed themselves, after reading my book have been the best gifts I could receive as an author. 47 year old Vimi Gupta from Bangalore was a tough, independent woman till she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2001. She was extremely depressed and did not know what to do. Like me, she explored many healing techniques. Around the same time, she realised that she needed to heal emotionally first. When Vimi was a child, her father developed muscular dystrophy. Due to this, she was mocked by many people and her inner child developed self-hatred and hatred towards the situation. Unknowingly, Vimi blamed her father for her negative experience. She recognised this during her healing process and made amends with her father. She asked him for forgiveness using Ho'oponopono, though he had left the physical world by then. Shortly, she was presented with solutions; in 2014, she read about Rachna Chhachhi, a nutritional therapist, and followed her recommended diet and yoga routine. She also came across my book and resonated with the inner child issues mentioned in it. Together, we found an acupuncturist to work on her. Today, she is completely healed physically, emotionally and spiritually. Love, the eternal tonic Though we need, crave and want love and love alone, oftentimes we are unable to get it from people who are supposed to give it to us. Childhood is the most fragile and dependent part of our life. Our primary caregivers often operate from preconceived notions about parenting and raising children. At other times they are consumed with their own issues and challenges, causing them to neglect a child's real emotional needs. Lost time cannot be brought back, but if a person realises that the problems in his life have their origin in his childhood traumas, then through the help of healers, he can access the love, tenderness and care that he lacked in his childhood and shower it upon his adult, disintegrated self. Forgiving your elders and making peace with your past are integral part of this healing process. Dr Jayin has observed in her career that most inner child issues are connected to loving and accepting oneself. In her experience, migraines and backaches happen because of feeling unsupported. Drug addictions have been healed as well after resolving inner child issues. Louise Hays affirms, “Thoughts of forgiveness and love for our inner child will open pathways, and the Universe will support us in our efforts.” We all need to love and forgive ourselves, as well as the people in our past and present lives. An unforgiving nature will hinder our ability to release our pain and heal our wounds. Babbu Gill leaves us with a wonderful mantra, “I love myself totally in the NOW. I embrace my inner child with love.” 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. Dr Meghana Dikshit: Opening up communication channels heals issues like thyroid Inner child.indd 60 19/08/17 6:34 PM

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w62w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 I t had been more than a year that our family of four had got together. The children had moved away to Mumbai and Bhopal for graduation. Their college vacations too had been spent in corporate internships, away from home. “So, it’s time for a break! And retreat we shall, will and must!” said my husband, Sushobhan; firmly overriding my usual protest that there was too much work in the office. Sushobhan is a great salesman. His plan of going to God’s own country for a week, coupled with inviting pictures of amazing retreat places, melted my resistance. The children, who are now freethinking adults, thankfully gave their nod as well. Courtesy Sushobhan’s meticulous planning and quick bookings, we were all set for an adventure through CoimbatoreAlappuzha-Thekkady-Munnar-Athirapally. An initiation in Aum chanting Our first stop was Coimbatore, fondly called Nandini Sarkar enjoys nature’s beauty, idyllic vistas and moments of deep reflection as she traverses through bounty laden lands of Tamilnadu and Kerala in South India Immersed in beauty Kovai by the residents. As we entered the portals of the gorgeous Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) Centre, we were warmly welcomed by an elderly lady volunteer. The delightfully cool wind, blowing at more than 32 kmph, refreshed us and marvelously lifted up our spirits. It was a first for us - this continuous whistling, cool wind! We were immediately offered piping hot coffee and cookies, and a generous invitation to stay for the dinner. The YSS Centre, Coimbatore, is an architectural and aesthetic delight while being completely eco-friendly. The centre-in-charge, Subbu, insisted we stay in the beautiful and clean rooms at the centre but unfortunately, we were already booked in a hotel. As we sat by the lush garden with varieties of trees and flowers, and watched multiple sprinklers spray water over the lush greenery, we were transported to a world of peaceful silence and deep contentment. As we joined the evening energisation exercises and meditation, it felt great to be alive and connected with prakriti in its serene form. Our next stop was Sadhguru’s Isha Yoga centre in Coimbatore. Sadhguru calls the Velliangiri Mountains, the Kailash of the South. And truly so. As we stood in Spirit exploration Nandini Sarkar spends some fun and reflective time with her family in various scenic locales of South India Photo credit: Nandini Sarkar Photography Nandiani strip.indd 62 19/08/17 6:13 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w63w front of the gigantic 112 foot Adiyogi, with the great purple mountains surrounding us from all sides and the same incredible wind whistling through thousands of betel-nut trees, it seemed that we were in heaven. Isha offers free daily classes in Aum Chanting and Isha Kriya, so we decided to stay back and benefit by the teachings. We chanted with hundreds of people in the sacred Dhyanalinga sanctuary; paid reverent homage to the fabulous sculpture of the half-man half-snake form of Maharishi Patanjali, and to the unique and compelling Linga Bhairavi. We then proceeded for the Aum class. Isha centre is so huge that it is easy to lose your way. A kind volunteer led us to the mud hut where the Aum initiation was to happen. In the introductory video, Sadhguru explained that proper chanting of A-U-M can cure all the illnesses, and bring joy and vibrancy to life. The Isha Acharya then taught the technique live and made us all practice it for half-anhour. I was deeply struck by their generosity in offering this liberating Aum teaching for free, that too with so much love and care. Sadhguru states that he has cured thousands of people, including patients of depression, through this Aum initiation. We simply loved it, felt energised and enthusiastic, and promptly downloaded the Isha Aum chanting from YouTube on our return to the hotel. The backwaters From Coimbatore, we travelled through the incredibly green Kerala to our next destination, Kondai Lip! This is a charming backwater resort at the outskirts of Alappuzha, far, far away from the madding crowd. As we honked from one side of the backwater, an elderly boatman in an orange dhoti peeped out from the resort. Within minutes, he was at our side in his boat. Seven pieces of luggage were deftly loaded on it and we were skilfully steered across the backwater. Our gorgeous wood cottage, with hanging ivy, was right there in the backwater, amidst tall coconut trees and hibiscus plants, with an incredible play of nature forming the background. We continuously feasted our eyes on this sight and yet couldn’t get enough of it. The houseboat ride the next day, through the backwaters, proved to be another scintillating experience. We bought fresh prawns on the go from a riverside shop and enjoyed the golden fried delicacy, cooked right there on the houseboat. A walk in the spice garden Our driver pointed out various herbs and flowers on our drive through the densely thick Thekkady forests, which were heavily lined with a unique, pink, drooping wild flower. It looked like an upturned buttercup. Sushobhan named it Unnati since the driver did not know its name. I was reminded of Sadhguru’s description of the gorgeous forest flower that blooms and gives fragrance and beauty to the world, even though it remains unseen and unheralded. Similarly, life calls out to each one of us, to play our parts without seeking attention or craving appreciation. This was a big lesson for me because I am among those who always seekS to be appreciated. The humble forest flower taught me the great spiritual lesson of Nishkama Karma and I treasure this beautiful learning. As we drove through the silent forests, Aum resounded in the atmosphere. For years, I had wrongly assumed that one wouldn’t find a place any greener than the villages of Sonar Bangla (West Bengal), but Kerala proved me completely wrong. I haven’t seen such thick foliage, rich forests and gorgeous blooms anywhere else in India. Truly, Kerala is God’s special dispensation. As we walked through a Thekkady spice plantation and bit into red peppercorns, green cardamom buds and Arabica coffee buds, we felt a new sense of gratitude towards the farmers who toil hard to give us our much loved spices. How we take their efforts for granted and how much we need to think of repaying their debt! My daughter Gorgeous houseboats in the backwaters of Kerala: Therapy for the senses Nandiani strip.indd 63 19/08/17 6:13 PM

w64w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 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] Nandini Sarkar is Co-founder, C-Quel, a management services company. A lover of the spiritual Masters, she is a follower in the Kriya Yoga tradition and can be contacted at [email protected] decided to do her bit by buying kilos and kilos of spices for family and friends. The next attraction lined up for us was an elephant ride as no visit to Thekkady is complete without one. To tell the truth, my gaze was fixed more on the rustic tribal who led our elephant through the forest than the animal itself. As my son and I mounted our elephant, I watched the sunlight dancing on the thick brown locks of our mahant, a local tribal. A sense of pride for our heritage and history enveloped me. I was equally amazed when he asked for my mobile phone and deftly clicked our pictures. We greatly bonded during photo sessions as we all clambered up a tree-house in the forest and took family pictures in various swinging positions, just to prove that we were still fighting fit! The sun shone brightly on this family venture and we all got great shots to go into our various social media profiles! A unique encounter Our next stop was Munnar where we had a unique encounter with Harish Chawda, owner of the Kaivalyam Retreat. Harish is an IT engineer turned yoga and meditation enthusiast. He took vanaprastha with his wife and re-located to the idyllic hill station of Munnar in their forties. On a trip ten years back, this Gujarati couple, who had spent years working abroad, fell in love with the place and ended up buying 10 acres of land here. Their place is a little off-the-track from the regular hotels but is sheer paradise. Frankly, I did not like the hotel we were booked in and wished we had found Kaivalyam earlier. Since they don’t advertise or tie up with online travel sites, you can find Kaivalyam only through word- of- mouth. We found it by sheer chance and I am definitely going back for another retreat! Anyone who loves tall, whispering trees, varieties of flowers, nature walks by a rippling brook, chirping birds, a meditation hall set amidst dense foliage and delicious organic food, eaten right in the middle of the forest, should head straight to Kaivalyam. Harish informed us that a large group of Amma’s devotees from Dubai had recently spent a week at the retreat and the whole place was still reverberating with their chanting. As we climbed the luxurious treehouses in Kaivalyam, accompanied by Harish’s young son and nephew, we complimented him profusely for this engineering marvel, erected right in the middle of the forest. Harish and his wife, Anju, have created absolute magic in the forest and are quite welcoming of yoga and spiritual enthusiasts. Farewell, my friend Still carrying memories of this exquisite forest retreat in our heads, we drove to our last stop, the Athirapally waterfalls. As we waved goodbye to Unnati, the forest wildflower, we sent out deep gratitude to the Creator for entertaining us with this grand show of nature, beauty and spiritual learning. Farewell, grand, gorgeous Kerala; farewell, you great, whistling winds of Coimbatore; farewell YSS, Adiyogi and mighty Velliangiri... till we meet again! Lastly, but not in the least, we were all so grateful to Sushobhan for this spontaneous and idyllic trip to South India. Nandini and her family: Enveloped by the lush greenery of nature Nandiani strip.indd 64 19/08/17 6:13 PM

TRAVELLING LIGHTER ` 225 SUMA VARUGHESE Each of us embodies an emotional baggage of sanskars (personality traits) and karmic accounts not only of this lifetime, but of many births. These are deep rooted rejections, doubts, low self-esteem, insecurities, which we will carry forward with us into our next birth, unless we let go now. Suma’s wisdom and personal experiences touch the soul and help us to start unpacking. She inspires us to start loving ourselves and then letting go becomes easy. Travelling Lighter, in our hands as a book today, will very soon become our natural way of being and living. s i s t e r b k s h i va n i Rajyoga Meditation teacher and presenter of the television programme, Awakening with Brahmakumaris Suma’s columns are a seeker’s personal diary. The lofty becomes routine. The universal becomes particular. The infinite comes home. Jargon dissolves and a very lived wisdom emerges. d e v d u t t pat ta n a i k Chief Belief Officer of Future Group and bestselling author of several books Before the change is an affirmation. Before the affirmation is an insight. Before the insight is a seeking. Beyond the seeking is a struggle. But in the deep dark origins of human pain, perhaps an illness, a helplessness, a self-destructive despondency, is the singularly unique path forged by our own original compassionate energies to help us transcend our most debilitating weaknesses. Further down this path of letting go of our fundamental darkness, we become the lighter beings of light we were always meant to be. Suma Varughese’s long awaited second volume of life’s insights chronicles a universally human journey into the light. In a world of spiritual hares and tortoises, no one is left behind and the finishing line is an ever-shifting beckoning to rise to our own incredible potential. F-1/9, First Floor, Opp. Honda Showroom, Okhla Industrial Area Phase-I, New Delhi-110 020 Ph. (011) 49563777, Abhishek Singh: 09910509678 www.lifepositive.com Available Online ` 195/- Heal the Storm Within Heal the Storm Within ` 390 This book is a dialogue every man’s soul wants to have with him This book is a dialogue every man’s soul wants to have with him For the Body, Mind & Spirit www.lifepositive.com Have you ever wondered why your life has turned out the way it has? Is there a reason you keep attracting the same patterns repeatedly? Are you struggling with challenges at work and in your relationships? Do negative emotions, strass, exhaustion and loneliness plague you? The 7 karma codes give you startling insights to why things happen and what you can do to transform your relationship with yourself and others. Replete with thought provoking insights, easy to-do techniques, diagrams and real life examples, this book shall guide you through the turbulent sea of distressing emotions and complex questions. Be it your career, personal relationships, the search for self-esteem or the relationship with God; the 7 Karma Codes embraces the unending quest for purpose, love, balance, peace, joy and contentment. The 7 Karma Codes contains secrets every man must know. As you embrace the wisdom of these codes, you will move from confusion to clarity, victimhood to power, and darkness to light. Not only do the 7 Karma Codes teach you how to heal your wounds and reduce your karmic burden, they also show you how to unfold your most powerful destiny. They guide you to think, feel and act in ways that will fulfil your soul’s deepest yearning. This book is a dialogue every man’s soul wants to have with him. Eighteen years into an adrenaline-filled career in advertising, Suzy quit her job to focus on her passion and spiritual calling to help heal the personal and collective consciousness. Soon after, she encountered a terrible car crash that caused her near death experience, further accelerating this deep desire. As a therapist and healer, Suzy has extensive clinical experience in multidisciplinary approaches to vibrational healing and energy medicine. Her work has helped innumerable people across the globe experience personal transformations, improve their health, find clarity, overcome depression and rebuild relationships. She has also many published articles to her credit. Author photo by Deepak Rai 7KarmaCodes_FinalCover.pdf 1 12/05/17 10:36 AM ` 390/- ` 225/- Your Daily Dose of Divine Love Angels Speak Angels Speak is the �irst Indian Oracle book of divine messages, af�irmations and �ifteen Archangels channeled illustrations, all infused with potent divine energy to bring extraordinary transformations. Wisdom, knowledge and above all - love, pour out of this book and is ready to �low into the lives of all who read and experience it. This book is a powerful source of daily divine guidance, as well as an oracle book of guidance for speci�ic situations of life that may need to be transcended. Angels Speak will help you heal and �ind joy, peace and love within and with everyone and everything around you. It awakens you to not just stay positive, but attract positive energies into your life, just as Roshani's channelled prayers, messages and af�irmations have done to all who bear testimony in the book. "Being a great follower of Roshani's accurate Angel Messages, when I heard she was writing a book I could not wait to pick it up as I knew it would be a treasure trove. If you are reading these words, then you must pick up this book too as I truly believe the Universe brings treasures into your hands. Simply recognise them." - Raageshwari Loomba Swaroop Singer, Actor & Motivational Speaker, London - UK/India "This is the �irst book on Oracles that I have seen from India and each word resonates with a sense of strength and divinity. Treat it as good as divine guidance on a daily basis. A must read for every person who is desirous of positive transformations in their life and making it your permanent partner." - Abha Maryada Banerjee India's 1st internationally acclaimed Woman Motivational Speaker and Leadership Author Roshani (Shenazz Nadirshah) The �irst Indian Book of Divine Oracle Messages and Af�irmations Foreword by Ruzbeh Bharucha, Author of ‘The Fakir’ Trilogy and many other bestsellers Roshani (Shenazz Nadirshah) Angels Speak `450 For the Body, Mind & Spirit www.lifepositive.com C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Angels_Speak_CoverV02.pdf 1 17/04/17 10:16 AM ` 450/- Free shipping Mystic Experiences with Himalayan Masters Mystic Experiences with Himalayan Masters Dr Sant S Dharamananda, PhD A direct disciple of Sri Swami Rama ` 325 Dr Sant S Dharamananda Rs. xxx This exciting and fascinating book chronicles Dr Sant S Dharamananda’s real life experiences with the great Himalayan Masters. Explore the spirituality and ancient wisdom from the perspective of a practicing aspirant. Santji’s life has been filled with incredible mystic experiences that will open your mind to a wider world, and fill you with optimism, love and hope. Few words can sum up such an interesting and exhilarating life, and you’ll find yourself turning each page in fascination and wonder. ` 325/- ` 295/- ` 195/- ` 275/- ` 250/- ` 295/- ` 225/- ` 195/- ` 195/- For the Body, Mind & Spirit Order Form Name.................................................................................................................... Mailing Address................................................................................................................ ....................................................................................................City..................................................................................State........................................................................ Pin Code..............................................................Tel./Mobile................................................................Email................................................................................................... Payment should be in favour of LIFE POSITIVE PVT. LTD DD/MO/Cheque.........................................................Amount.......................................................................Bank.......................................................................................... Cash on delivery available at extra cost (as applicable) in limited cities or you can order by VPP Code Qty. Amount Total Code: A03 Code: C01 Code: D03 Code: C03 Code: C05 Code: D01 Code: A02 Code: C04 Code: D05 Code: D02 Code: C07 Code: C06 Code: A05 New Books full advt.indd 1 19/07/17 2:26 PM

w66w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 I had a fairly normal life, until one day when a major disaster nearly killed me. I remember the day my body broke down, just like that in one single moment, and I was declared ‘brought dead’ to the hospital. How did it happen and why, makes for an interesting story. It was November 3, 1992. After two years of hard work I had finally started to feel comfortable and settled in life. I thought I had everything a woman could need or hope for. A simple family. Two boys who were doing reasonably well in school. A good, caring husband. A job that I loved. All the simple needs of a good simple life. No worries to bog me down. My husband, an army officer was posted in Asha Uberoy was enjoying a pretty successful life when a sudden, inexplicable illeness sent her in coma, from where she returned fully transformed after four days From darkness to light Delhi. I was working in a scientific institute on an interesting job. My extended family, my mother and brothers were on hand, and life was normal and good. Or so I thought. The sudden jolt It was a beautiful winter day when I had got up one morning, in the month of November. I did feel a little out of sorts but there was nothing much to complain about, no fever or any kind of infection. I decided to take the day off and relax in bed with a good book. I could feel something was amiss but I couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong with me. After breakfast, I reclined in my bed and tried to relax when suddenly my body began to rock and shake violently. So violently that it seemed to break my bones and tear apart my joints. I was jolted with severe unexplained vibraPhoto: Thinkstock Spirit awakening near death.indd 66 19/08/17 12:10 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w67w tions and pain and I began to haemorrhage from my lower abdomen. It happened so suddenly that I could not even react or understand what was happening to me. I only remember that I screamed in extreme pain as I fell back on the bed, and saw my mother rush towards me as I closed my eyes. What happened next is a blur for me. I closed my eyes and was lost to the world. At first, I felt as if I was falling into a deep, dark well which didn’t have a bottom. I just kept falling and falling. I tried to think but only one thought flashed in my mind _ at least the boys are grown enough to look after themselves. I sank into complete oblivion and a deep, comforting darkness enfolded me. I was rushed to the hospital unconscious, where the doctor didn’t find any pulse and wrote ‘brought dead’ on my chit. But on further prodding they did find life in me and pumped every life saving drug available before they started their investigations. I had slipped into a coma and I woke up only after four days. When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying in a hospital room on a vibrating bed and somebody was trying to jab a big needle in the lower part of my spine. I got up with a start and started to scream. "What are you doing to me? Where am I ? What is wrong with me?” The nurse looked up with startled eyes. She didn’t expect me to get up so suddenly. Back home and puzzled All these days the doctors had been working on me, but the investigations had drawn a blank. My family had hovered around me unable to comprehend what was happening as I hovered between life and death. Once I opened my eyes, I recovered fast enough and soon the doctors said I could go home. But the shock of the sudden illness and my inability to read the signs of it coming puzzled me a lot. Back home, we consulted a few more doctors but they were equally baffled. All the medical tests had shown normal results. Then what had happened to me? I pondered over it seriously. I discussed it with everyone and anyone who would listen _ medically, spiritually, logically, illogically and then slowly, realisation dawned. My body had been actually sending me signals over the past few years but I had ignored them; I just didn’t listen. What had happened was a kind of breakdown but it was not just a physical one, it was as if my very soul had broken down. Actually, physical symptoms are just manifestations of our hidden emotions. As I began to put the jigzaw puzzle together, I saw the whole picture and in one instant I understood what had happened. My early life My early life had been very fractured. For years I had lived through a very unhappy childhood with lot of tensions and abuse in the family. There were serious marital conflicts between my parents. Finally, my father just got up, abandoned us and disappeared. We didn’t know where he had gone. It was a total shock. We knew he was unhappy but we never expected him to run away like this. My mother fell into depression and suffered a nervous breakdown. She started suffering from fits which left her unconscious for hours. As the eldest child in the family, at age 13, I had to suddenly grow up and take control of the situation. I couldn’t show any outward sign of the trauma. I had two younger brothers who had to be protected from the pain and insult. On top of that, my mother had become an invalid and needed a lot of attention. My maternal grandparents took us into their house and we tried to live a normal life. I suppressed the powerful feelings of pain, anger, frustration and sadness that engulfed me. Time passed swiftly enough after my father’s exit from our lives. There was no time for private tears and grieving. The pent up feelings had to be put on the back shelf as life caught up with me. School, college, a job and then finally marriage. All in the proper order. And then, just when life was becoming normal this sudden collapse happened. Life had turned 360 degrees and brought me back to the same point again. The pieces come together I would ponder over it for hours. I began to meet up people to discuss similar situations, and even alternative methods of medicine. I looked around and realised that everyone was working too hard, not getting enough sleep and burying/masking their feelings of frustrations, sadness and turmoil. These feelings were getting buried in their genes and cells, and hardening into serious diseases in later life. Gradually, the understanding of what had happened to me was dawning on me. It had all started when I had begun to have terrible At first I felt as if I was falling into a deep, dark well which didn’t have a bottom. I just kept falling and falling. I sank into complete oblivion, and a deep, comforting darkness enfolded me near death.indd 67 19/08/17 12:10 PM

w68w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 mood swings a few months ahead of my sickness. Sometimes I wanted to cry for no reason. Sometimes I wanted to laugh and sing. It was as if my inner self was trying to throw out some buried emotions and getting cleansed out. I felt happy and sad at the same time. On one hand I was grateful for the life I was living with my family and on the other hand I felt a great heaviness in my heart for missing out on a father’s love. All my life I had suppressed upsetting emotions because I was afraid they would attract scorn, pity, or even rejection from people. I never felt safe, loved or accepted. However, in society I was a very different person. I was upbeat, effervescent and helpful, almost the court jester at gatherings. But it was only a false front. Inside, I was slowly crumbling. I felt I didn’t deserve anything. My family, my friends, not even fine clothes or good food. I was unable to even pray or meditate. In fact I was constantly criticising myself and putting myself down. Meeting the Divine I also wanted to know where had I gone when I was in the coma? I tried to recall the whole experience over and over again. I remember I felt as if I had entered a huge place without any beginning and end. There were no doors, windows, or walls even. There were no limitations, no dearth of love that is so palpable here. I seemed to be in a space of soothing energy, a light that made me feel very happy. I had no pains, no uneasiness, just an unexplained joy. It was as if the universe was a very vast space filled with peace and joy. I suddenly saw myself engulfed in a cloud of unconditional love. Where I didn’t have to be beautiful or talented or successful to be loved. I was a part of the Divine. A greater world opened to me as I realised there was a bigger purpose to my life. For instance, I had been brought up to accept that women were lesser human beings and deserved a second rate life. They should be submissive and not look for more opportunities in life. But here I felt like a queen, could walk like a queen, and behave like a queen. Secondly, I had been taught to believe that I was not spiritual enough to be worthy of God’s grace or blessings. I didn’t pray enough. I didn’t go to temples or keep fasts. And I was told I could never achieve money, or success or any position in life. The transformation After going into coma and coming back after touching the Divine, those feelings of inadequacy changed. I began to love myself for myself. I wanted to follow my heart, I wanted to live the life I enjoyed. I wanted to be free. The coma had destroyed the negative person I had been and I felt as if I had awakened from a bad dream. All the unpleasantness and fears of my childhood were erased. I began to feel worthy of love and care. I realised I deserved to wear good clothes and eat my favourite foods. I was a magnificent soul just like all others around me and I also deserved to be happy. I deduced some important realisations from this incident: • Listen to your body. It is always trying to tell you something. Don’t ignore the warning signs. • Forgive and forget your past. This means forgiving yourself first of all. Then your parents and siblings. And then other people who have hurt you. Holding on to hurts is a major cause of illness. • Love yourself first. Your body is a sacred temple, a gift from the Divine and you must treat it with the utmost respect and wisdom. Do not abuse it with The coma destroyed Asha's old self and she felt as though she had awakened from a bad dream Photo: Thinkstock near death.indd 68 19/08/17 12:10 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w69w wrong food, wrong habits and wrong deeds. • To keep the body healthy, we need simple healthy food, invigorating physical activities and happy positive thoughts. • Spend time in nature. Nature uplifts, heals and reconnects you with your inner divinity. Final understanding Along this journey, I met many people who had made their own voyages into good health. I studied so many success stories that convinced me that many illnesses can be avoided and controlled through your own thoughts. Every person has his own unique blueprint of his physical body. It is an elaborate network of physical and emotional processes which make up your life. Your behaviour and actions are all indicators of the patterns inside you. There are rhythms within you which actually resonate for sometime before any external manifestations begin to appear. People who live in abusive homes or have had traumatic childhoods can harbour anger or resentment in their body cells. This can manifest as ovarian cysts or other tumours. Speaking with patients and resolving emotional issues is a very important part of treating a sickness. To overcome these issues it emerges that to forgive and forget is the only way out. Life is too short to hold on to grievances. A new field of medicine called Neuro-immunology is studying the connection between our innermost thoughts and how they affect our health. It is seen that forgiveness actually produces endorphins which relax the body. It becomes important to open up, relax and be at ease. You can nourish your body with good thoughts, good food and exercise 'before' illness happens. All this reinforces the fact that strong emotions and feelings must not be suppressed and stored in the body. Once I understood this, I began to connect the dots of my life. My coma, I realised, was the result of a long standing fear and sorrow in my heart. My life had been a game of survival all along. A gargantuan effort to stay afloat. I rushed here and there to various appointments. I celebrated birthdays and anniversaries. I played games and socialised a lot. I was a superwoman. No wonder I could only complain of too little time, too little energy, too many obligations. I never took the time to pause or to reflect. I never cultivated any practices (like meditation or yoga) to calm, soothe and protect myself. I realised that some religious routine is also good to keep you on the spiritual path. It is something which unwinds you and maintains a focus on your determination and wisdom in life. The permanent changes In my younger days, I was never a spiritual person. My family was not very religious and we didn’t have many ceremonies at home. Also, as I was a dedicated science student, spirituality was far from my mind. The change came after my own brush with death. As I lay in the hospital bed, all alone with severe hemorrhaging and bleeding, I knew I was very close to death. But the strange thing was that none of the doctors understood what was happening with me. Nobody could tell why I had collapsed like a house of cards. At night I found myself calling into the darkness asking heavens for help but I didn’t know if anyone could hear me. A great change came over me as I finally understood the mystery of life and death through my own experience of it. When I came back from hospital I began to read all kinds of spiritual books. On Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity... anything that came my way. Soon I noticed another remarkable change in me. I began to feel calmer and less afraid of life or death, or illness. I felt stronger somehow. All the fears and panic attacks of childhood began to die down. I felt I had found all the answers. The thought of forgiving the past had never occurred to me. Nobody guided me either. I needed to move out of the insults and hurts. I had to forgive my parents, the environment, the situations and myself. The one thing that emerged from this stint is that we all need love. You have to love yourself, love your work, love everyone around you. You have to create a harmonious balance which keeps your body healthy, no matter where you are in the natural cycle of life. There is a poem about the heart: If you love yourself And those around you You will find perfect health If you are happy and healthy You will be at peace If you are at peace You will find purpose and success Luck and prosperity Will come to you. 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] A repository of knowledge and expertise in the world of print media Asha Uberoy is Advisor Editor at Turning Point Publishers. near death.indd 69 19/08/17 12:10 PM

w70w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 The hardest challenge on the spiritual path is to disassociate with the mind. The mind is so all-pervasive that even the thought of disassociating with it can seem like a chimera. How can you disassociate with something that is an intimate part of your every moment? It notes, it remembers, it interprets, it plans, it fantasises, it feels. In short, it orchestrates our life. And yet at the same time, it is responsible for every iota of misery we have ever experienced. It takes everything personally; it schemes, manipulates, registers hurt, anger, envy and malice; it loops you into thoughts that hark back on the past or fastforward to the future; and it builds up a self-image (ego) based on what people tell us we are, how we show up in life, or our psychological need. It oscillates compulsively between resistance of the unpleasant and craving for the pleasant. It is the crucible of desires that wrenches us from the path of growth and goodness. It is the constant buzz of thoughts, feelings and resistance to them that keeps us from making contact with who we actually are _ a soul drenched in peace and joy, immune to the mayhem and madness of the mind. Well, I rest my case. And yet the task is far from easy. Constant sadhana of whatever nature, will slowly distance us from the cacophony and bring us within sniffing distance of the Higher Self. The task is to take on the role of a witness, being aware of the mind’s antics without being sucked into it. I have come to understand that if I want real self-control, I have to vacate the mind. If I take its fears and reactions seriously, I will inevitably take its temptations seriously. It has to be all or nothing. Spirit column Not minding the mind Slowly and gradually through constant practise, the Higher Self is gaining control over the capricious mind, says Suma Varughese I am far from being there, but I have been slowly learning to take the mind less seriously, to pay less heed to the constant worry and anxiety that hums in the background, to ignore the many temptations it whispers in my ears, to turn a deaf ear to the constant buzz of thoughts. I reiterate my constant commitment to being in the moment and to focus on the happiness of the other. The result is definitely a greater self-control. I am no longer given to fulfilling the mind’s every whim, whether it is watching TV while having lunch, or having tempting morsel of forbidden food. Equally, I am also learning to quail less over the fears it drums up and to be less affected by its reactions and resistances. I am learning to take its moods less seriously and to be less pulled into its unending loops of thoughts. When a notification for a Whatsapp message comes, I am less tempted to check it. I no longer buy all the doomridden scenarios it flashes into my mind. There are moments when I automatically connect with my navel and breathe from there, which instantly seems to connect me with the Higher Self. Moreover, the mindstuff itself is becoming more ephemeral, less substantial. More like wisps of cloud rather than the blanket cover one earlier. I have no idea how it will be to be free of the mind stuff. To wake up one morning and be met with the pristine Higher Self. To have the lower mind muted and ineffective. To be fully in control over oneself and one’s actions. I can’t wait to get there! 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] The task is to take on the role of a witness, being aware of the mind’s antics without being sucked into it Suma Varughese is a thinker, writer, and former Editor-in-Chief of Life Positive. She also holds writer's workshops. Write to her at [email protected] spirit.indd 70 11/08/17 3:50 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w71w Positive Focus S ince its inception in 2007, the Global Congress of Spiritual Scientists (GCSS) has been a platform for seekers to have a direct rendezvous with renowned global spiritual masters and speakers. Over the years, these international spiritual masters have shared their remarkable wisdom with seekers in India. Their experiential knowledge has been enthusiastically welcomed by lightworkers and therapists alike. Now, a decade later, GCSS has evolved into the Global Festival of Spiritual Sciences (GFSS), and is set to become a platform for like-minded souls to celebrate and reaffirm their spirituality. Shreans Daga, Vice Chairman of Pyramid Valley International which hosts the GFSS, says, “Over the years, this event has become a fertile ground and a field of potentialities for inspiration, inter-connection and education. This being the 10th year seemed like the perfect time for a name change and for making it even more inclusive.” The 10th edition of the festival, being held in Pyramid Valley, Bengaluru, from 30th September to 4th October this year, will witness talks by experts in the fields of Voice Movement Therapy, Past Life Regression Therapy, Extraterrestrial Contact Programmes, Emotional Freedom Technique as well as Chakra Healing. Along with the empowering talks by Masters, few doses of celebration and joy have been added to this new avatar of GCSS. Sessions for Power Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Pilates and Creative Dance Movements therapy as well as spiritual concerts will shape up the celebratory aspect of the festival. Apart from these sessions, Pyramid Valley is also opening the door of its wellequipped laboratory of Quantum Energy devices - Medlab - to the visitors. To further the inclusivity of the festival, a host of workshops for children will be organised; encouraging parents to bring their children along for the festival. “While the inner playful spirit of each guest at the festival will find resonance in the spiritual dance concerts and physical meditative activities, the talks by Masters will encourage and empower them to push their spiritual boundaries to the next level,” adds Shreans. His own spiritual transformation was catalysed by his meeting with Brahmarshi Subhash Patri at a critical juncture in life. Shreans discovered meditation which completely transformed all aspects of his life and gave him an extraordinary outlook. Having learned to self-heal with meditation, it became his life purpose to teach meditation. It being almost impossible for him to do it single-handedly, he prefers to be the backbone for international masters who are doing a yeoman service. This indeed is the genesis of GFSS. With Brahmarshi Subhash Patri and renowned Past Life Regression expert Dr Newton Kondaveti as the guiding force, Shreans and like-minded trustees of Pyramid Valley International started GCSS nine years ago. Shreans is also witness to the alchemy of lifealtering experiences at GFSS. Many of the lightworkers are regular visitors and having found their calling here, become Masters in their own right. “Life-long bonds are also created when peers meet and they nurture the relationship even after the event. This inter-connectedness spreads out further to encompass a community of like-minded seekers, healers, therapists, teachers and masters,” he says. Celebration of the human spirit positive focus.indd 71 19/08/17 10:22 AM

w72w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 Power of BEMER I ndian culture often stresses upon the significance of directions during performance of daily activities. Yogic practices like meditation and surya namaskar are performed while facing the East. Sleeping with your head facing the North is prohibited. Vastu Shastra, the Vedic system of architecture, is based on layouting space while keeping in mind the directions. These practices are based on the effect of earth’s directional magnetic forces on the human body. Researchers claim that exposing a person to a magnetic field could reduce their risk of a heart attack by streamlining the flow of blood around their body. “While hunting for food, humans would walk barefoot on the earth and draw energy from its magnetic field. Their cells would get charged and their bodies stayed robust. With the sedentary lifestyle choices of today, we can no longer derive this energy. Thus, you see an increase in ailments,” says Chitvan Malik, CEO, BEMER India. But how does one get realigned with the earth’s magnetic forces and reap its benefits in today’s fast paced life? The answer, Chitvan says, is BEMER. It is a physical vascular therapy device that generates an electromagnetic field around the body to promote blood flow even in the smallest of the blood vessels. This improves cell performance, which in turn favours the body's own self-healing powers. “A doctor or a plaster cast does not heal a broken bone, but merely supports the body’s own healing process, through immobilisation. Similarly, BEMER therapy does not cure diseases; it supports the body’s own healing processes. The root cause for most diseases is lack of oxygen and improper blood flow. This therapy helps increase blood flow by up to 29 percent,” she adds. Talking about her own experience with this therapy, Chitvan says, “I had a keen interest in holistic wellness for as long as I can remember. But what pushed me towards BEMER was my son’s dyslexia as he struggled with reading. I tried all kinds of vision therapies but nothing made a significant difference. A naturopathy doctor recommended BEMER and within three weeks of using it I got a call from my son’s school teacher asking who his new tutor was. His improvement was significant.” BEMER therapy facilitates treatment for ailments like arthritis, asthma, osteoporosis, stroke rehabilitation, open wounds and peripheral neuropathy among others. Apart from these, BEMER can also be used as strategic healthcare to improve body’s efficiency, especially for sportspersons. The therapy works well as preventative medication too and also promotes a general sense of well being, resulting in a higher quality of life. Capt. Alok Chandola, a retired army official talks about his experience with the BEMER therapy. “As a young man, I was an active mountaineer, which left me with quite a few injuries and ailments. I suffered six slipped discs, spinal degeneration, muscle atrophy and multiple sclerosis; I was almost immobile. With the use of BEMER therapy, I got my mobility back. I can not cover longer distances but the freedom to walk around has returned. Regaining control of your body helps boost your confidence as well as provides you with a general sense of well being.” With more people seeking alternative methods of healing, Chitvan hopes to make BEMER therapy a household name in India. For more information about BEMER therapy, call at +919560267037 or visit www.bemerindia.com positive focus.indd 72 19/08/17 10:22 AM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w73w Light and sound meditation by Damian Healey Future life progression by Dr Ritu Singh L ight and sound underpins the whole of creation, as reiterated by masters and mystics time and again. These two elements are the very fabric of spirituality upon which a seeker meditates. Lights and sounds of varied frequencies make significant changes in a meditators’ awareness, which increases one's potential to know enlightenment. Enlightenment is mankind’s goal; a state of consciousness that transcends all other states. It has become quite imperative, today, that a large number of people gain spiritual knowledge to bring about peace and harmony. Beings whom we refer to as Spiritual Hierarchy at the ‘light and sound meditation’ have contacted a number of enlightened teachers and urged them to send their energies to people across the globe. This is done by a simple ‘initiation’ through a special touch from an enlightened teacher. Light and Sound Meditation differs in one simple way; we freely give access to an inner energy that offers the same transforming power that masters and wisdom seekers discovered for themselves or received from their teachers. This is a powerful inner energy with crucial purpose of service and inner illumination. The initiation is available to everyone regardless of their background. At present, we have meditators in 26 countries and over 200 people have attained enlightenment. We have no leader; each of our teachers follows a set of core principles and takes directives and guidance from the Hierarchy. We have adopted a no charge, ‘pay it forward’ principle. Author is a USA based enlightened spiritual guide who will conducte initiations in Mumbai and Delhi on 23rd and 24th September, 2017, respectively. For registrations, call at +91 9867408194, www.lightandsoundmeditation.com Many people are anxious about their future or remain intrigued with past lives. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that our current life speaks volumes about our past lives and our future life is a fully germinated seed of what we are sowing today. A few conditioning sessions under hypnosis is a great start to conducting a future life progression. Many individuals have reaped benefits, after having experienced PLR sessions and ‘in between life’ sessions, thus, leading to a knowledge of current and future life purposes. Life unravels itself before us at every moment. If we practice alertness towards this unraveling, any step taken in awareness and self-realisation in a moment can change all that which was created by us until now. Future life progression can be used to actualise many beneficial scenarios. A lot of young adults these days are unclear about their life’s purpose due to an inefficient education system, conditioning of the society, parental pressure and lack of motivation. This holistic approach can revolutionise the way one perceives one’s life purpose. The whole philosophy is deeply rooted into the age-old wisdom of living a life of awareness, contribution and inclusion. Hypnosis provides us an ideal medium that propels us towards realisation and dharma - the rightful action, thus, creating a more progressive future. A glimps of the same is seen in a future life progression. Author is a Clinical Hypnotherapy and ThetaHealing instructor. For more information, email at healing_ [email protected], www.chi-delhi.com/ www.ritutanishi.com, +91 9811908833 positive focus.indd 73 19/08/17 10:22 AM

w74w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 Libra (Sept 23 _ Oct 22) Archangel Jophiel: A very important relationship is about to enter or has recently entered in the last few months. Enjoy and love what you have, so that you attract that which you love. Be an empty vessel in which the heavens can pour their love and abundance into. Scorpio (Oct 23 _ Nov 21) Archangels Jeremiel and Gabriel: Angels signal bridging all gaps and spending more time with family, doing things together or even making extra efforts for short family holidays or outings. There are chances of seeming miscommunication/ misunderstanding which can be avoided with the help of angels. Sagittarius (Nov 22 _ Dec 21) Archangel Raguel: It shall take some more time for all the pieces to fall in place and require complete faith from your end. Keep doing your bit and pursuing your goals. Your support may be needed in career and work related matters of a loved one. Step up to be there for them. Capricorn (Dec 22 _ Jan 19) Archangels Azrael and Ariel: You shall begin positively in the direction of your career and it shall open the door to your life purpose. See the blessings in the smallest of things the Universe does for you. Bring more gratitude into your life. Aquarius (Jan 20 _ Feb 18) Archangel Uriel: Your partner could bring you great insights for your professional life. Some may even start a venture together. Some important relationships shall propel you towards a career change, new home, new beginning, or sealing a commitment. Be open and trustful. Pisces (Feb 19 _ Mar 20) Archangels Sandalphon and Gabriel: Part of living a successful life is to take care of yourself – be it emotional, mental or physical health. Pay attention and do not take health for granted. Some important career decisions would need to be taken that shall propel you to greater heights. Aries (March 21 _ April 19) Archangel Ariel: Talk about your feelings honestly with loved ones without suppressing them. Work on your self-confidence, and faith in others and life at large. A great time for manifesting your dreams if you pay attention to details and do your guided human actions. Taurus (April 20 _ May 20) Archangels Chamuel and Ariel: Focus on forgiving those you are holding resentment against for years. Make peace with the flow of life. Old wounds are creating barriers in your money and relationship matters. Health needs attention. Gemini (May 21 _ June 20) Archangels Zadkiel and Gabriel: Keep the candle of faith burning and expect a miraculous turnaround in some matters. Open your heart to receive the good that is waiting in the wings. Important tie-ups, collaboration and partnerships done in recent past, shall be fruitful in the long term. Cancer (June 21 _ July 22) Archangel Gabriel: Weigh your options, and see how you can convert your talents into a passionate career. The more you push your potential, the better fruits you shall yield. Elders may need health care. Leo (July 23 _ Aug 22) Archangel Raziel: A great positive change is in store. At first it may seem overwhelming but angels assure that this is simply a part of the nurturing process. Stay optimistic as something that you have long wanted or waited for is going to turn around. Virgo (Aug 23 _ Sept 22) Archangels Metatron and Ariel: If you have been running too fast and neglecting your health then it’s time to slow down a bit. Be watchful, take positive actions right away. Listen to your gut feeling and intuitions about health matters or important decisions. Zodiac sign based guidance from your angel friends, for the month of September Roshani Shenazz is an internationally acclaimed spiritual guide, mentor, coach and best-selling author of Angels Speak. For more info or to get in touch, email: [email protected] Angel guidance angels message.indd 74 11/08/17 3:51 PM

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w78w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 T an-mayo mayapramata - one who consists of the mind perceives duality. Kshemaraja is saying that the primary locus of identity of any maya-perceiver (mayapramata) is the mind. Another way of saying the same thing is that it is the mind that perceives duality. Therefore, anyone who is mind-identified will naturally be a duality-perceiver. This is one of many such extended explanations in this rigorous, yet easy-to-understand work. It is both a commentary and a simple introduction to the Pratyabhijna-hrdaya, the 1,000 year-old original Sanskrit treatise written by Rajanaka Kshemaraja, which means ‘the essence of the recognition philosophy’. This original Sanskrit treatise explains the essential philosophy of the Kashmir stream of tantric yoga. Kshemaraja was a renowned scholar and tantric masterteacher. Even in his days, tantric yoga was considered to be a difficult philosophy for anyone to understand. Kshemaraja composed this text, which runs to about 50 pages in the original Sanskrit, to make it understandable for ordinary people. It is one of the primary references for the study and practice of nondual tantric yoga, and it has never been properly translated or fully explained until now. The author, Christopher Wallis, holds a Ph.D on the traditions of Shaiva Tantra, one of the many schools of tantra. He teaches meditation, yoga darshana (philosophy), tantric philosophy and Sanskrit. He has been familiar with Indian spirituality and the practice of yogic meditation from the age of 16. Wallis has received traditional education at yoga ashrams in New York and India in meditation, mantra-science and karmayoga. His first book, Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition, was published in 2011. In this book, Wallis explores Kshemaraja’s brief treatise in great depth. He begins by providing a literal translation of the 20 main sutras of the Pratyabhijna-hrdaya from Sanskrit to English. Then he offers his own explanations, providing an easy-to-grasp context with modern analogies, including ideas from contemporary science and dayto-day experiences. He suggests that the reader can choose to approach this work, not merely as a scholarly investigation, but as a direct route to spiritual enlightenment. As he puts it, “Let these teachings be the ‘acid bath’ to dissolve the calcified structures of your identity and your conditioned ideas about reality...” It is up to each reader to respond to this generous invitation in his or her own way! Even if you are just plain curious about tantric yoga, this may well be the first step in your journey to finding out more about the revelations of our master teachers. - T A Balasubramaniam Recognising the essence of reality The Recognition Sutras Illuminating a 1,000 year-old Spiritual Masterpiece by Christopher D Wallis Mattamayura Press Paperback ` 1922; pages 515 Revelations books revelations.indd 78 19/08/17 11:50 AM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w79w E xploring the healing ground in the ancient Tamil Siddha tradition, Stephen R Grisson author of Rivulets of the Absolute, thoroughly distills the essence of spirituality. Siddhas, the masters of pure consciousness, preserve their knowledge by a tradition of secrecy and pass it on to students orally. The book is one of the first written attempts which talks about Tamil Siddhas and their spiritual disciplines and arts. Divided into 14 detailed chapters, the book describes the author’s spiritual journey that commenced in Arunachala, the holy hill at Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. The content revolves around the masterstudent relationship between Stephen Grissom and his guru, Siddha healer Pal Pandian. Being an outsider on the Indian soil, Grissom closely critiques the masters’ teachings in disciplines like Varma healing, Siddha tantra and Siddha yoga. Each chapter unfolds a new aspect of this arcane wisdom and impresses upon the significance of realigning the self with the primordial higher self. The books is distinct in that it talks about simplifying the ethos governing human life through a knowledge system which is considered secretive, complex and domain of a select few. The verses taught are coded messages carrying universal secrets, which can only be understood and mastered by a devout student. Yet the underlying principle is that prana, chi, or shakti is the functional force required for each body organ to work. Grissom further contrasts the modern definition of health with the traditional. Traditional Varma healing does not limit health to curing illnesses physically but also focuses on being whole spiritually and mentally. It treats the physical energy and the consciousness of the being by restoring the ability of the body to heal itself. By highlighting the real essence of tantra, Grissom rids this spiritual tradition of all the misconceptions surrounding its rituals and practises. Apart from this, the book delves deep into understanding the male and female psyche and their union. For a novice in the world of spirituality, this book is an enriching read that succeeds at putting life into a holistic perspective by explaining it at an elemental level. - Muskaan Sharma Ancient route to absolution Rivulets of the Absolute Healing Ground in the Ancient Tamil Siddha Tradition by Stephen R Grissom Siddha Varma Healing, LLC Paperback ` 1,517; pages 416 revelations.indd 79 19/08/17 11:50 AM

w80w LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 ♦ The nourishment of body is food, while the nourishment of the soul is feeding others. ♦ A wise man always has something to say, where as a fool always needs to say something. ♦ Courtesy costs nothing, but buys everything. ♦ Beware of jealousy for it destroys your character just as fire destroys wood. ♦ Most of your sins are because of your tongue. ♦ Don’t hate what you don’t know, for the greater part of knowledge consists what you don’t know. ♦ Spend in charity and do not count, for then God will also keep count in giving you provision. ♦ The strongest among you is the one who controls his anger. ♦ There are two ways to live a pleasant life; either in someone’s heart or in someone’s prayer. ♦ It is easier to turn a mountain into dust than to create love in a heart that is filled with hatred. ♦ The disease of the heart is worse than the disease of the body. ♦ When proven wrong, the wise corrects himself and the ignorant argues. This, I know Hazarat Ali teaching story Thou art that As part of a festival, a play was being organised at the king’s court. The play needed a five year old girl for a small part. The queen thought, “Let's dress up the prince as princess. He is of the right age and nobody will know.” After the play, the queen was so awed by the prince's cuteness as a girl that she asked an artist to paint a picture of the prince. After many years when the prince was about 20 years of age, in one of the store rooms he found the picture of a little girl. On reading the date on the painting, he realised she must be of his own age. Day and night he fantasised about the princess, imagining how she should look now. The wise old minister realised that the prince was smitten by love. “My prince, what is the matter? Please, tell me. I might be of some help,” he asked. Said the prince after some reluctance, “There is a girl I am in love with.” “What is her name?” “I don't know,” answered the prince. “Who is her father? “I don't know,” again said the prince. “Where did you see her?” The minister tried to help. The prince took the minister to the old store room and showed him the picture of the princess. The minister looked at the picture closely, and remembered everything. "Oh my lord, thou are that," exclaimed the minister. He explained everything about the picture to the prince, and suddenly all his desire for the princess vanished. When we realise that we are the spirit, which is everything we desire, every experience we experience, it sets us free of desires permanently. just for laughs Saviour swami A young woman to a preacher: "You say that being arrogant and proud is a sin. But everytime I look in the mirror, I get filled with pride on seeing my beauty. What should I do swamiji?" Preacher: "Having a misgiving is not a sin child." ◊ ◊ ◊ Two monks On the terrace of a monastery high in the mountains, an old Zen Buddhist monk stood next to a much younger monk while they both contemplated the great Void of misty space out yonder. The old monk at one point gently declared: “Ah, my son, one day all of this (Void) will be yours.” banyan tree Punya system copy.indd 80 18/08/17 5:00 PM

LIFE POSITIVE wSEPTEMBER 2017 w81w I met God in the morning When the day was at its best And His presence came like sunrise Like a glory within my breast. All day long the presence lingered All day long He stayed with me And we sailed in perfect calmness Over a very troubled sea. Other ships were blown and battered Other ships were sore distressed But the winds that seemed to drive them Brought to us a peace and rest. Then I thought of other mornings With a keen remorse of mind When I too had lost the mornings With His presence left behind. So I think I know the secret Learned from many a troubled way You must seek God in the morning If you want Him through the day. -Ralph Spaulding Cushman The master always maintained that nothing should be taken too seriously, not even his own teachings. To his disciples, he would say, “My very first disciple was so weak that the exercises killed him. My second disciple drove himself crazy from his earnest practice of the exercises I gave him. My third disciple dulled his intellect through too much contemplation. But the fourth managed to keep his sanity.” “Why was that?” someone would invariably ask. “Possibly because he was the only one who refused to do the exercises.” -Anthony de Mello inspiration one-minute wisdom I met God in the morning Nothing too serious quote “Choose being kind over being right, and you’ll be right every time.” —Richard Carlson banyan tree Punya system copy.indd 81 18/08/17 5:00 PM

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