Dr. Pal Manickam is an Indian American board-certified gastroenterologist who uses medical comedy to educate millions about gut health and disease prevention. With 5.4 million social media followers across YouTube and Instagram, he makes complex medical topics accessible while donating proceeds to palliative care in India.

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Dr. Palaniappan Manickam

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">DR. PALANIAPPAN MANICKAM in conversation with PURNIMA RAMAKRISHNAN on happiness and its influence on health. Dr. Pal is a gastroenterologist and public health advocate known for making complex medical topics accessible.</h4>PR: How does gut health influence mental well-being, and can practices like meditation actively support a healthier digestive system?PM: The gut is often called the second brain because it has over 500 million neurons that constantly talk to the brain through the vagus nerve. When the gut is inflamed or the microbiome is disturbed, it can affect mood, focus, and even lead to anxiety or depression. On the flip side, when you practice a <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/on-meditation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">meditation</a> such as Heartfulness, you reduce stress hormones like cortisol, which directly calms your gut and allows healthy bacteria to flourish. So yes, a peaceful mind really does translate into a healthier gut.PR:&nbsp;Intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating have gained popularity. From a gastroenterological perspective, what are the benefits of these practices, and are there any misconceptions about them?PM:&nbsp;I’m a huge propagator of intermittent fasting and practice it myself. It works because it gives the gut time to rest and repair. It improves insulin sensitivity, reduces inflammation, and even encourages the growth of good bacteria. But one big misconception is that fasting “detoxes” your body. That’s not true. Your liver and kidneys are already doing that job daily. Fasting is simply a tool, not a cure-all. It works best when combined with a balanced diet—not as a shortcut.PR:&nbsp;Ayurveda and yoga have long emphasized digestion as the key to overall health. How does modern gastroenterology view this concept? &nbsp;PM:&nbsp;<a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/mental-well-being-and-ayurveda" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ayurveda and yoga</a> always viewed digestion as central to health. Modern gastroenterology agrees that digestion is linked to the heart, brain, and even immunity. Research is validating many of these age-old ideas with scientific data.PR:&nbsp;With the rise of gut microbiome research, there’s a larger focus on personalized nutrition. Do you see a future where gut health advice is tailored to individuals based on their microbiome?PM:&nbsp;The future of gastroenterology is personalization. With microbiome research, we’re learning that each person has a unique bacterial fingerprint. Soon, instead of generic diet advice, we’ll have customized nutrition plans based on your microbiome, genetics, and lifestyle. It’s not science fiction; research is being done on that. Right now, personalized nutrition based on gut microbiome isn’t that accurate, but with studies showing that <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/gut-health-immunity-and-the-power-of-selfcare" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">gut health</a> is the foundation of your overall health, the future is moving towards truly individualized gut care.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/happiness_guthealth2_dd3e78f444.webp" alt="happiness-guthealth2.webp"></figure>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">A joyful mindset doesn’t just make life better;&nbsp; it literally makes your gut healthier.</h4><hr>&nbsp;PR:&nbsp;You blend humor with education in your social media presence. How do you think laughter, joy, and a positive mindset contribute to gut health?&nbsp;PM:&nbsp;When you laugh, your stress hormones drop, blood circulation improves, and your gut muscles relax. A positive mood actually improves digestion and even pain tolerance. Laughter is medicine: That’s why I mix humor with education online. A joyful mindset doesn’t just make life better; it literally makes your gut healthier.PR:&nbsp;Thank you, Dr. Pal!

Happiness and Gut Health

DR. R.S. Bhogal

Rollin is a scientist, psychophysiologist, Executive Vice President and Director of Research at HeartMath Institute, member of the Global Coherence Steering committee, and project coordinator of GCI's Global Coherence Monitoring System. He is a professor at Florida Atlantic University.

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Dr. Rollin McCraty

<hr><h4>In December 2022, DR. ROLLIN McCRATY, Director of Research at the Heart Math Institute, gave an online presentation at the international Heartfulness conference, “An Integrative Approach to Health and Well-being,” at Kanha Shanti Vanam. Here we share some highlights from his talk.</h4><hr><h4>What Is coherence?</h4>Most people have an intuitive understanding of coherence, but in the scientific community it’s a term and a concept used in every branch of science, from the macro to the micro scale. We use it to describe the behavior of the parts of a complex system. In a coherent system, those parts have to be communicating and talking to each other so there’s connectedness. It’s inherent to the concept of coherence, and it’s really a measure of the harmonious order of how all the parts of a system are working together.A coherent system implies stability and energy efficiency. Another key concept of coherence is that in any system – whether it’s a human being, or any other scale we want to look at– there’s a greater wholeness than you can derive from the sum of the parts. This is why we chose to use this term in our research so many years ago.Our research focuses on three primary domains: personal, social, and global. For the personal, we have spent many years looking at the coherence within our bodies, especially between the heart and brain. Socially, we can define the coherence of a group, whether that’s a family, a work team, a leadership team, or even a community. I won’t have a lot of time to go into global coherence, but I’ll give you a teaser.<h4>The heart profoundly affects brain function</h4>It probably isn’t a surprise to you that the heart sends far more information to the brain than the brain sends to the heart, but it is a big surprise for a lot of people in our medical communities in the Western world. It is not a new finding – it has been known since the late 1800s: in fact it’s basic anatomy.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/science_heart_coherence2_901cc64c37.jpg" alt="the-science-of-heart-coherence">&nbsp;<hr><hr><h4>There are neural channels by which the heart and brain communicate,&nbsp; but the heart also communicates with the brain hormonally, energetically,&nbsp; through the pressure waves it generates that affect every cell&nbsp; and synchronizes all the cells in the body.</h4><hr><hr>In the 1970s, there were some major discoveries that really shifted the paradigm in the field of psychophysiology. It was discovered that the neural traffic that the heart sends to the brain has profound effects on brain function. Two terms were introduced back then. The first is “cortical inhibition,” where the cortex or higher parts of the brain are inhibited when the heart is sending certain types of messages. The other term is “cortical facilitation,” which was introduced to describe the global effects that the activity of the heart has on the brain. Since then, we have a much deeper understanding of the mechanisms and how this all works.The activity of the heart also has a lot to do with creating our emotional experience. The brain is largely interpreting the message that’s being sent to it from the heart, and I think that is why we intuitively and innately know when we fall in love with someone. We don’t say, “I love you with all of my brain,” right? We say, “I love you with all of my heart,” and there’s a deep physiological reason for that.<hr><hr><h4>The activity of the heart has a lot to do with creating our emotional experience.&nbsp; The brain is largely interpreting the message that’s being sent to it from the heart.</h4><hr><hr>What they didn’t know back then was that the heart has its own intrinsic nervous system, which has been nicknamed “the heart brain” in the field of neural cardiology. The neural structures in the heart have now been proven to have short-term memory, long-term memory, neuroplasticity, neurogenesis – all of the functions of a functional brain. There are neural channels by which the heart and brain communicate, so the heart also communicates with the brain hormonally, and energetically, through the pressure and electromagnetic waves it generates that affects every cell and synchronizes all the cells in the body.Zeroing in on the primary neural pathways, we have the vagus nerves, which are the two nerves that travel up through the front of the body. They are the primary pathways of the para sympathitic branch of the autonomic nervous system. They are very large nerves, with thousands of neural fibers, and 90% of those fibers are carrying information from the body to the brain. The majority of those afferent or ascending neural pathways are coming from the heart and the cardiovascular system, far more than any other system in the body. There are also ascending (afferent) neural pathways in the sympathetic branch, so it’s a very complex two-way traffic between the heart and the brain.All of the neural connections coming down from the brain connect into the intrinsic cardiac nervous system, the heart brain, and then within the heart there are another 40,000 to 50,000 sensory neurons that are sensing things like rhythm, pressure, and about 80% of these neurons are sensing biochemistry.If you were going to put in a system to detect what’s going on in the blood, to monitor hormones, neurotransmitters and so on, where would you put it? The heart makes obvious sense, so that all of the information is fed into the heart brain, and then up to the brain in different neural patterns.The intrinsic cardiac nervous system can and does override the neural signals coming down from the brain, and at a functional level a heart has its own type of intelligence. In fact, in the papers from the 70s and 80s, people were talking about the heart as though it had a mind of its own before they knew about the intrinsic cardiac nervous system.<h4>Heart rate variability</h4>One of the tools that gives us a window into the dynamic communication between the heart and brain, and the activity within our autonomic nervous system, is heart rate variability. At a high level, we can measure the amount of variability a person has, and it reflects their health status, their capacity to self-regulate, and self-regulate thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.Our ability to adapt is directly tied to our heartrate variability (HRV). Too little variability reflects a deep depletion within the nervous system. One of the leading reasons for that is chronic stress, and the second leading cause is pathology, e.g. diabetes, metabolic syndrome, etc. It also reflects inadequate function of the various levels of our self-regulatory system.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/science_heart_coherence3_fc25af5621.jpg" alt="the-science-of-heart-coherence">&nbsp;<hr><hr><h4>The intrinsic cardiac nervous system can and does override&nbsp; the neural signals coming down from the brain,&nbsp; and at a functional level a heart has its own type of intelligence.</h4><hr><hr>So people who have behavioral management issues such as anger issues or panic attacks, often have low HRV. The time intervals between each consecutive pair of heartbeats is always changing. A small amount of variability is not a condition we want to see because it reflects system depletion, and is highly predictive of future health problems. In fact, low HRV for our age shows up oftentimes several years before the onset of cancer, diabetes, and so on, so it has a huge use in clinical assessment.I want to go a little bit deeper. This graph is from a paper we published in the American Journal of Cardiology back in the mid 90s that was the first to show that the most reflective measure of our emotional state is the pattern of our heart rhythms, our heart rate variability. So on the left side we can see a jagged, chaotic rhythm, which is the rhythm that we have when we’re experiencing feelings like impatience, frustration, worry, or anxiety. If we get angry it’s way more chaotic. This quite literally reflects a desynchronization in the neural activity in our higher brain systems and within our nervous system. This is actually the type of a rhythm or pattern that’s been associated with cortical inhibition, where the brain doesn’t work very well.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/science_heart_coherence4_ver2_700x343_d71cddd0af.jpg" alt="the-science-of-heart-coherence">The graph on the right shows the same person after they used a technique called heart-focused breathing (we’ve developed various different techniques to shift into that coherent rhythm).This rhythm naturally emerges when people experience heartfelt feelings like appreciation, gratitude, compassion, love. These types of emotions naturally shift us into what we now call coherent rhythm and that’s associated with cortical facilitation.There’s a lot going on in that coherent state within our body, and it is a measure of the increasing synchronization in our higher brain and within our nervous system. It has a lot of benefits. Coherence is not the same thing as relaxation. When we’re in a coherent state (and more than 400 independent studies have confirmed this), there area broad range of health benefits like lower blood pressure, increased hormonal balance, faster recovery from <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/the-hidden-impact-of-vitamin-b12-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">heart disease</a> and diabetes, better outcomes in education, and the list goes on.We can teach people how to shift into that state very quickly, and we especially want to create those shifts in the moments when people are in challenging situations and want their mental faculties to work well.To be continued.To watch the full talk, go to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm6MDe_ZwFc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm6MDe_ZwFc</a>.<hr><hr><h4>Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4><hr><hr>

The science of heart coherence

<hr><h4>DR. ROLLIN McCRATY, Director of Research at the HeartMath Institute, gave an online presentation to the Heartfulness international conference, “An Integrative Approach to Health and Well-being,” at Kanha Shanti Vanam in December 2022. In part 2, he shares more about coherence at the individual, group, and global levels.</h4><hr><h4>Heart to brain to body</h4>It took many years for us to sort out why our heart rhythms have such a profound influence on brain function, but at the end of the day it’s pretty simple.As I mentioned in “<a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/the-science-of-heart-coherence/">The Science of Heart Coherence</a>,” we have neural traffic coming up through the afferent or ascending pathways to the brain, and once it comes to the brainstem there are strong direct neural connections to every major brain center. The one I’m going to focus on is the thalamus, which is at the very core of our brain.The thalamus has many roles and functions, but one key function is to globally synchronize the electrical activity of the neural systems in the entire brain. In fact, it’s the brain’s ability to synchronize its own electrical activity that allows us to be awake and conscious. These neural loops between the thalamus and cortex, called the thalamocortical loops, are critical to be awake and conscious. If those loops are damaged, like in a head injury, and they get severed, those people are in a coma. They can’t wake up because the brain can’t organize and synchronize its electrical activity.When we’re in an emotional state that desynchronizes our system, like when we feel frustration or anger, that neural pattern of activity goes directly to the thalamus. It interferes with and inhibits the thalamus’ ability to globally synchronize the activity in the entire brain. It’s easy to measure in things like reaction times, coordination tasks, visual fields, etc.The most important parts of the brain that are affected are the frontal and prefrontal cortex areas. These frontal systems of the brain give us foresight, the ability to understand how our actions and behaviors in the now affect the future. That’s very different from memory of the past, hindsight. These neural structures have to be well synchronized to perform optimally, and that’s why when we’re angry or anxious or feeling overwhelmed – the states that desynchronize us –those systems are taken offline. It’s why when we get angry we can often say or do things we later regret, that we probably didn’t even mean. It’s why emotions like anger and frustration lead to us making inefficient choices, make us stupid. Whereas when we’re able to shift to a coherent rhythm, it actually facilitates global synchronization above and beyond our normal walking around states. So we have more options available, we can take that inner pause, and listen to the messages our deeper heart is sending us, and so on.<hr><hr><h4>When we’re able to shift to a coherent rhythm,&nbsp; it actually facilitates global synchronization&nbsp; above and beyond our normal walking around states.&nbsp; So we have more options available,&nbsp; we can take that inner pause,&nbsp; and listen to the messages our deeper&nbsp; heart is sending us, and so on.</h4><hr><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/we_truly_connected2_1_231596bf4a.jpg"><hr>There are also many other neural pathways, e.g. to the amygdala, so the pattern of the rhythms has a lot to do with creating our emotional experience, and so on. This synchronization is something we can measure. We developed processes for literally measuring how synchronized the heart and brain are. All of the neural rhythms of the brain, e.g. alpha rhythm, theta rhythm, and so on, are to various degrees naturally synchronized to the heart, to the cardiac cycle.<h4>How to perform optimally</h4>To really perform optimally, it really boils down to getting the heart and brain synchronized. That’s something we can teach, and over 400 studies have been done on health out comes. In terms of brain function, coherence training and increased synchronization is related to our ability to self-regulate, to really make better choices, long-term memory, short-term memory, focus, and faster reaction times.We work a lot with Olympic athletes and professional athletes, because of the faster reaction times. Higher test scores in children in schools, and improved ability to learn are also directly associated with increased coherence.Twelve thousand healthcare workers in our larger hospital systems in the United States went through our training to learn how to become more coherent throughout the day. After just six weeks we saw big reductions in exhaustion, tiredness, depression, anxiety, anger, and annoyance. Those results are sustainable. It’s called a baseline shift, where getting our system in sync becomes a new automatic, because we’ve retrained the brain and nervous system so that coherence is a familiar state, which then allows us to self-regulate better.Shifting gears, we have heard from thousands of people after learning the self-regulation techniques that their intuition is radically increased. Also, that they’ve come to expect synchronicities. So we embarked on a few years of rigorous laboratory-based research to see if we could measure what I now call “non-local intuition,” and the results are summarized in this this one statement. The heart is the first to receive the intuitive information, before we can measure any other changes in the body or the brain. The heart sends a measurably different neural signal to the brain, and we trace that ascending information both in location and in time, how it travels through the different areas to the brain. We can clearly see in these studies that the heart first sends a different neural message to the brain, and then there is a body response. So the gut gets the credit oftentimes, but the real flow of information is heart, brain, body, then it becomes a conscious or felt feeling.<hr><hr><h4>What we feel inside doesn’t stop at the skin.&nbsp; We are constantly broadcasting, and it has&nbsp; measurable impacts on those around us.&nbsp; When we’re in a coherent state,&nbsp; it helps to lift others into a more coherent and balanced, centered state.&nbsp; We can’t force people, but we create a field environment&nbsp; that helps lift people into a more balanced state.</h4><hr><hr><h4>The heart’s wisdom</h4>When I first published these studies back in the late 90s, I said that the heart appears to have access to a field of information outside the boundaries of time and space. I’ve come out of the closet even more since then: what are we talking about when we think of a field of information that’s not bound by time and space? The term I like is the energetic heart. It’s been called the spiritual heart for thousands of years. This is something we can now measure, and these studies are supporting what the world’s great religions have all said all along, that the heart is the access point to greater wisdom, intuition, courage, and deeper understanding.We can now measure in very rigorous lab-based studies that as we become more coherent it opens that channel to our larger self (that’s what we call it here at HeartMath); we can call it the soul, spirit, higher self. It doesn’t really matter what language we use, we’re talking about that energetic part of ourselves that we can’t put under a microscope. It’s very real. We can’t put a thought or an emotion or an intuition under a microscope, but we all experience them, we know they’re real. We can measure how they manifest in our brain and nervous system and heart.So we call this heart intelligence at HeartMath, and here is a quote from our founder:“Picture heart intelligence as the flow of awareness, understanding, and intuitive guidance we experience when the mind and emotions are brought into coherent alignment with the energetic heart. This intelligence steps down the power of love from universal source into our life’s interactions in practical, approachable ways which inform us to a straighter path to our fulfillment.” —Doc Childre<h4>The heart’s magnetic field</h4>Another thing that people find compelling in our research relates to magnetic fields. When we use ECG and EEG machines, what is being measured by the electrodes is the flow of current, but whenever we have a flow of electrical current we also generate a magnetic field. Electrodes don’t measure that, so we use another device called a magnetometer.One of the qualities of magnetic fields is they easily go through skin and they easily radiate externally into the environment. This is why cell phones work – it’s the magnetic component of the field that goes through walls so that our phones work indoors. It’s something we can measure; we can take a magnetometer and measure the heart’s field many feet from the body. The actual shape of the field is toroidal, a doughnut-shaped field, like you see below.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/we_truly_connected3_9cde575837.jpg"><hr>Gerhard Baule and Richard McFee actually demonstrated this field and got the shape right in 1863. So this has been known for a long time.I was a communication engineer in my previous career, so I could use the same techniques I used to decode information being carried by a radio transmitter. We can think of this quite literally as a personal field environment that we radiate. When we look at the information being carried by the heart’s field, we can see that it actually directly relates back to our heart rhythm patterns. Vibrational information patterns being carried by the field look very different depending upon our emotional state. We can now measure the field external to the body using these magnetometer probes, with about 75% accuracy of what somebody’s feeling, their emotional state. When we’re in a coherent state, which is associated with appreciation and love, we radiate a more coherent signal into the environment versus incoherent states associated with anger and frustration. We can now measure this information.The next step was to ask the question: are our nervous systems like big antennas that are sensitive to this information? Are we detecting it and responding to it? The answer is clearly yes.A number of studies have been published on this. In one of the earlier studies, forty people were divided into groups of four sitting around a table, and their physiology was monitored. One of the participants was naive to the real purpose of the experiment and the other three were trained to shift into coherence. The study was well done and there are many steps to the protocol. When the other three were signaled to shift into a coherent state, even though the naive person didn’t know what was going on, there was a highly significant measurable lift in the coherence of the naïve person.This study demonstrated that what we feel inside doesn’t stop at the skin. We are constantly broadcasting, and it has measurable impacts on those around us. When we’re in a coherent state, ithelps to lift others into a more coherent and balanced, centered state. We can’t force people, but we create a field environment that helps lift people into a more balanced state.It’s amazing when we learn these techniques and practice them in group settings. We often see and feel the difference that occurs when we’re broadcasting more love and appreciation into the field environment.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/we_truly_connected4_1_da89f2e5c7.jpg"><hr><h4>Global coherence</h4>We also take this to the global level, which is another branch of our research called the Global Coherence Initiative. This is a science-based project with a lot of collaborators around the world. While it has a very rigorous scientific side, it’s also about uniting people to radiate heart-focused love and compassion with the intention of facilitating the shift in global consciousness from the current instability and discord we see on the planet to more compassion, care, cooperation, and peace. That’s really what this is all about.As part of it, we have put magnetometers to measure the Earth’s magnetic field, the resonant frequencies, the vibrating field lines of the Earth, in various sites around the world. A study we published recently had groups of people in California, Lithuania, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and England wearing recorders that reported heart rate variability 24 hours a day for 15 days, and one of the aspects we were able to measure was how synchronized people’s heart rhythms were with the resonant frequencies in the Earth’s field. As it turns out, there’s an exact overlap of one of the primary field line resonances of the Earth. It’s exactly the same as the rhythms of our hearts when we’re in that coherent rhythm.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/we_truly_connected6_538fcbdbb7.jpg"><hr>The green vertical bars rising above all the others is the day when all the people in the groups around the world participated in a 15-minute heart meditation, we call it a “heart lock-in,” where they shifted into that coherent rhythm and then radiated love and appreciation in this case to each other. What these data are showing us is that while they were in that coherent state we measured their coherence, and we saw a significantly increased heart-to-heart synchronization among all the group members.That’s pretty cool to begin with, but the big surprise came when we looked at the next 24-hour period, and these green bars are showing us that every single group registered a significant increase in being in sync with the fields of the Earth when they were in that heartful state for fifteen minutes.It’s easy to understand why it’s a good thing to be in sync with each other on Earth, but now more and more studies are emerging that show how and why that’s so important for our own health, our connectivity to others, how we get along with others, and so on. This is really new science; we’re beginning to understand the importance of and the depth of synchronization that we have. I can’t tell you how many times I have said, “Well, on some level we’re all connected,” and science is now starting to show how we are fundamentally synchronized with the Earth.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/we_truly_connected5_1732f15f45.jpg"><hr>So let’s all help co-create a world of deeper care and kindness. With the Heartfulness practices and Heart Coherence practices we can establish a new baseline for the creation of a new culture of deeper care, kindness, connection, and more cooperation. It’s up to each of us to take responsibility for what we’re feeding the field, our personal field and how that connects to the global field. It’s our choice and I hope you will all join us adding more love and compassion to the planetary field.<hr><hr>To watch the full talk, go to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm6MDe_ZwFc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm6MDe_ZwFc</a>.<hr><hr><hr><h4>Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4><hr><hr>

We truly are all connected

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">DR. ROLLIN MCCRATY shares the science of the synchronicity between the heart and mind and, when they are in sync, how the love that is created can positively connect us to each other and everything in the world.</h4>&nbsp;It’s a great honor to be here. I’m not going to stand here and try to tell you anything you haven’t already heard or that you don’t already know, but I am going to tell you the same thing in a different language, the language of science.&nbsp;I have been a long-term meditator myself, and I learned about the heart. But if I’m really honest, it was more like a metaphor for emotions; for me it was all about the brain. I even got a degree in Consciousness Studies. Then I had the great fortune to meet the Founder of HeartMath, Doc Childre, and I was introduced to the real Heart, the deeper heart, which it is really all about.&nbsp;I was fortunate to help him found The HeartMath Institute, and a few years later he invited me to found The HeartMath Research Center. He said we have to do rigorous scientific research. The language of science is the new language for many people in the world, and if we’re going to introduce them to getting their hearts and brains in sync, we need that work.&nbsp;So, over the last 30 years, we made a lot of scientific discoveries that validate what we already believed to be true. We started by looking at how emotions affect the body, the physiology. We were measuring brainwaves and hearts in the lab. And what we found back when we started this (at that time, nobody was looking at what happens in our bodies when we love, when we appreciate, it was all about stress, depression, and anxiety), was that when people had heartfelt feelings of love, compassion, kindness, something magical happened. Their heartbeats, the rhythms of the heart, dramatically changed.Today we know this as an optimal state, a state where the mind, emotions, the heart all come into synchronization. We call it heart coherence. There are over 500 studies that show when people are in a heart coherent state, it lifts and benefits almost everything: our health, our performance in sports, etc., but especially our ability to access our inner intuitive guidance.&nbsp;The beautiful thing about the heart and heart coherence is it’s neutral. It’s something we all have. And whenever we’re feeling love, compassion, and kindness, we shift into a heart coherent state. It doesn’t matter how we get there, what technique or practice we do. It increases the measurable synchronization between the rhythms of the brain and the rhythms of the heart.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/time_for_love_to_go_viral2_cc837f4577.webp" alt="time-for-love-to-go-viral2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_time_for_love_to_go_viral2_cc837f4577.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_time_for_love_to_go_viral2_cc837f4577.webp 554w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/time_for_love_to_go_viral2_cc837f4577.webp 554w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">The big gift is access to our intuition, our inner guidance.</h4><hr>The big gift is access to our intuition, our inner guidance. This is something we have tested in the lab, and even we were surprised. The takeaway is that the heart can know the future; it all starts in the heart. The heart is the first to get the information. It sends a measurably different signal to the brain, and then there is a brain response, and only then is there a body response to felt emotion.&nbsp;The heart has access to a field of information that is not bound by time and space. I would suggest we have two hearts: the physical heart and the energetic heart, which has been called the spiritual heart in so many spiritual and religious traditions. The energetic heart is the bridge that connects the larger part of our self—our soul, our spirit. It translates that down into the physical world of our bodies. The energetic heart is how we connect with our larger self, our higher self. That’s the real us. As we learn to become more heart coherent, that pathway opens. Becoming more heart-coherent can facilitate anything we do, and any practice we want to take up.&nbsp;The next adventure in our research was to understand scientifically how the heart connects us with others. Our heart doesn’t just stop at the skin. We are broadcasting radiating fields, magnetic fields produced by the heart. We were able to show that those fields carry information about how we feel. When we’re in a coherent state, which we get into naturally when we’re loving and appreciative, it connects us with others in a measurable way. Hearts literally synchronize when we come together in the heart.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">When we’re in a coherent state, which we get into naturally when we’re loving and appreciative, it connects us with others in a measurable way.&nbsp;</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/time_for_love_to_go_viral3_f939f2f819.webp" alt="time-for-love-to-go-viral3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_time_for_love_to_go_viral3_f939f2f819.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_time_for_love_to_go_viral3_f939f2f819.webp 554w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/time_for_love_to_go_viral3_f939f2f819.webp 554w," sizes="100vw"></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/time_for_love_to_go_viral4_359bf0fa71.webp" alt="time-for-love-to-go-viral4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_time_for_love_to_go_viral4_359bf0fa71.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_time_for_love_to_go_viral4_359bf0fa71.webp 554w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/time_for_love_to_go_viral4_359bf0fa71.webp 554w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;And that opens a new type of communication where we hear each other deeply. Even when we don’t agree, we still have the heart level connection. It’s the key to how we build social coherence, how we learn to get along with others, even when our minds might not disagree.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">The heart really is what is connecting us across dimensions, with the higher self, with others, and with yourself.</h4><hr>The next major step in the research path was understanding how our hearts not only connect us with our higher self and with others, but with the Earth itself. When we measured the heart-coherent rhythm, a rhythm of about ten seconds (we have new technologies that can measure it), we started asking questions like, “How do mothers know their children are in harm’s way when they’re on the other side of the planet?” “What’s connecting us? There has to be something making that connection.”&nbsp;We all live within the magnetic fields of the Earth, the North Pole, the South Pole, the fields of Earth. We discovered that the fields vibrate at the same frequency as the coherent human heart rhythm. When we’re in that heart coherent state, through resonance we connect with the fields of the Earth. We’re all connected too. We’re finding that the interconnected fields of the Earth not only connect us to each other, but with nature, with trees and animals. The heart really is what is connecting us across dimensions, with the higher self, with others, and with yourself.&nbsp;Once we really understood that, we said, “How can we teach this to others? How can we make coherence easy?” So we developed technologies to help us do that. They are inexpensive technologies that allow you to see your heart rhythm in real time. I’m thrilled to say they are being introduced into many schools in the US and other countries, allowing kids to learn this at an early age. I personally think there is no greater gift we can give our children than learning how to sync our hearts and brains so they have that skill for life.&nbsp;When we look at the global field, we have new technologies that can measure it. When we come together at events like this, we get into that coherent state. In other words, we add love and compassion, and we intentionally radiate that into the field environment, the Earth. Love is by far the most powerful energy or frequency bringing coherence into the planetary field. We can measure this. And I’m honored to say that the Heartfulness Institute is one of our partners on this project. We have a lot of these devices here, now, measuring what we’re doing to affect the field.&nbsp;I hope it has been useful to share some science with you. What does this all point to? My parting invitation is: it’s time for love to go viral. It’s what is going to shift the frequency of the planet, it’s what is going to lift the baseline of humanity into our next level of consciousness, where the heart and brain are truly in sync, in a joint partnership.From a talk given at the Global Spirituality Mahotsav, March 14 to 17, 2024, at Kanha Shanti Vanam<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4><hr>

It’s time for love to go viral 

Dr. Roxanne M. St. Clair is an award-winning leadership strategist, author, creator of The Value In You® cards, trustee and mentor. She guides individuals and leaders to embrace their unique gifts, fostering confidence, connection, and heart-centered growth worldwide.

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Dr. Roxanne M. St. Clair

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">DR. ROXANNE M. ST. CLAIR on seeing the&nbsp;value in you—and in others—and making it a daily practice.</h4>What if, each time you encountered someone, you sensed their real value—and they yours?In this 8.2-billion-piece jigsaw called life, every piece is significant. Some are big, some small, and there are a variety of shapes and tones. That is the beauty of the puzzle; having a complete picture requires all of the pieces. In times such as these, when self-comparison keeps our joy from growing, it is mindful to remember that you were born with your own unique gifts and talents. Yes, you may have similarities to someone else, but there is an element of you that is your special contribution to humankind.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">The Heart of Value</h4>When I created The Value In You® cards, it was with a single intention: to remind people of their innate worth. Too often, we are conditioned to measure value by external standards, titles, possessions, achievements, likes, or followers. Although recognition and concepts of success have their place, they are not the true essence of who we are.Value is not something you earn; it is something you embody. It lives in the quiet moments of kindness, the listening ear, the creative spark, the unshakable resilience you didn’t even know you had until life made it necessary.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Value is not something you earn;&nbsp; it is something you embody.&nbsp; It lives in the quiet moments of kindness,&nbsp; the listening ear, the creative spark,&nbsp; the unshakable resilience you didn’t even know you had&nbsp; until life made it necessary.</h4><hr>&nbsp;I remember a conversation with a leader who was exhausted from carrying the weight of responsibility. She felt overlooked and undervalued, despite her consistent contributions. I invited her to reflect on one key question from the cards: “What is the gift that I bring to others”? Her response was not about her role or her status; it was about her ability to bring calm in times of chaos. She realised that this quality, often overlooked by her, was what others relied on. That shift in perspective did more than renew her energy; it gave her permission to see herself differently and, in turn, to treat herself with more compassion. It also boosted her confidence.This is the heart of value. It’s not found outside of you. It’s a part of you that just needs you to own it.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Health, Wealth, and Relationships: The Three Pillars of Value</h4>When we truly embrace our value, it transforms the way that we live. It flows into every aspect of our lives, shaping how we relate to our health, wealth, and relationships.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Health:</h4>“Taking care of your health, mind, body, and spirit, is the best way that you can serve yourself and others.”&nbsp;-The Value In You®Our bodies are the vehicles through which we experience life. Yet, how often do we keep pushing them, skipping rest, numbing pain, and neglecting nourishment because we forget to value ourselves and prioritize our well-being? When you know your value, you treat your body as a sacred vessel, not an afterthought. Self-care becomes non-negotiable. Acknowledging your worth in this way helps you make choices that strengthen and sustain you, so you can be and give more. You give your best.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/embracing_value_within2_13db1714bd.webp" alt="embracing-value-within2.webp"></figure>&nbsp;Wealth:“Your wealth goes far beyond your finances; your knowledge and the people in your life are all part of your wealth, for they contribute to the experiences that enrich you.”&nbsp;—The Value In You®Wealth is often reduced to numbers in a bank account. But true wealth is rooted in gratitude, resourcefulness, and the ability to use what we have for meaningful impact. When you recognise your value, you stop chasing worth through material comparison and instead find fulfilment by doing and being a part of things that bring you joy.I have seen people who do not have much still live a full life because they know the value of community, kindness, and creativity. And on the other hand, I have seen some with financial abundance live in scarcity and loneliness because they do not believe that they are enough. Wealth without value feels empty; wealth aligned with value feels expansive.Relationships:“The quality of your relationship is a reflection of the effort put in by both parties… A relationship is a two-way medium that requires conscious input.”&nbsp;—The Value In You®&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/embracing_value_within3_8ab9be86df.webp" alt="embracing-value-within3.webp"></figure>&nbsp;At its core, value is about awareness, not just of self, but of others. Relationships flourish when we see the humanity, the gifts, and the worth of the person in front of us. Imagine the transformation in families, workplaces, and communities if, before every conversation, we silently reminded ourselves: This person has value, just like me.This simple shift changes the tone of the interaction, softens or avoids conflict, and opens the heart to compassion. It moves us from judgment to curiosity, from competition to collaboration. After all, every jigsaw piece connects to another. Without those connections, the picture remains incomplete.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Starting Your Day&nbsp;</h4>How, then, do we remember to own our value in the rush of daily life? This is where mindfulness and Heartfulness come in. I have found that one of the most powerful ways to do this is to set the tone for your day, rather than letting the day set the tone for you. Imagine beginning each morning not with your phone or thinking about your to-do list, but with a few minutes of silent gratitude. My first thought on waking is, “Thank you for the grace of a new day!” This is a reminder to me that I still have a difference to make in the world, so even if it is something small, I can still make a difference today. Quite often, it might just be smiling at a stranger on the way to the station.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">During the Day</h4>Throughout the day, notice the “lens” through which you see life. Consider, “Am I judging, criticising, comparing, or am I appreciating, learning, and looking for the lesson?” Shifting from judgment to appreciation softens the heart and reconnects you with value, both your own and others’.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">End of the Day Reflection</h4>To decompress from the day, before going to sleep, take a few minutes to journal. Some questions that you can consider are:<ol><li style="text-align:justify;">How did I honor my value today?</li><li style="text-align:justify;">How did I recognize the value in others?</li><li style="text-align:justify;">What difference did I make today?</li><li style="text-align:justify;">What will I carry forward into tomorrow?</li></ol>This gentle reflection closes the day with awareness, gratitude, and peace.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/embracing_value_within4_a0f1f945bf.webp" alt="embracing-value-within4.webp"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">I have found that one of the most powerful ways&nbsp; to do this is to set the tone for your day,&nbsp; rather than letting the day set the tone for you.&nbsp; Imagine beginning each morning not with your phone&nbsp; or thinking about your to-do list,&nbsp; but with a few minutes of silent gratitude.&nbsp;</h4><hr>

Embracing the Value Within

Sara is an Associate Researcher in the Psychiatry Department at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School. The focus of her research is on the neural mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of yoga and meditation, both in clinical settings and in healthy individuals.

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Dr. Sara Lazar

&nbsp;<h4>Dr. SARA LAZAR is an Associate Researcher in the Psychiatry Department at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School. The focus of her research is on the neural mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of yoga and meditation, both in clinical settings and in healthy individuals. Here she speaks about how meditation impacts the brain.</h4>I want to start with a definition of Mindfulness, derived by Jon Kabat-Zinn: purposely paying attention to experiences in the present moment in a non-judgmental way. There is a cartoon that describes it beautifully – one woman is walking in nature, completely oblivious to what’s around her. She’s thinking about the bills, meals, kids, chores, and is not at all aware of her present experience. Another woman is completely tuned in to her surroundings, noticing the trees, the sunlight, perhaps the feel of the warmth of the sun on her face. That’s what Mindfulness is – awareness of the present moment. Neither one of them is meditating. Mindfulness can be done anytime, anywhere.Anyone can kick a ball. If I ask you to kick a ball down a field and put it through the goalposts, you can do that. But if I put you on that same field with some professional soccer players, and tell you, “Okay, kick the ball down the field into the posts,” that’s much more difficult.The same thing is true with Mindfulness – anyone can do it, but it’s hard to remember to do it when you’re in the middle of stuff. Just as professional athletes practice their sport so they can play more effectively, we meditate so that we can be more mindful throughout the day. We build that skill.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Mindfulness is purposely paying attention&nbsp; to experiences in the present moment&nbsp; in a non-judgmental way… Mindfulness can be done anytime, anywhere.</h4><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/neuroscience_meditation2_0a207a5139.jpg">&nbsp;People have difficulty with the last part of the definition – the non-judgmental. I prefer the word equanimity, because we’re not saying, “Oh, yeah, whatever.” It’s not indifference. We care but we’re not reactive.There have been thousands of studies demonstrating the benefits of <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/indras-net" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">meditation</a>, both for self-reported stress and for biomarkers of stress, like cortisol and inflammation. I’d like to focus on how effective meditation is in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, pain, and insomnia. They are standalone conditions, and they are also associated with many other conditions. If someone has a history of heart disease, diabetes, or a stroke, they’ll often have depression, anxiety, pain, or insomnia too.Importantly, as the Buddha taught, the first goal is spiritual transformation, but there’s more and more evidence that meditation’s good for both reducing symptoms and increasing well-being. People report being happier and more satisfied with life. There are many clinical programs now based on <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/healing-journeys" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">meditation</a>; and the people who do them say, “This practice has changed my life.” That’s what happened to me. I had a sports injury, and started doing yoga as a form of physical therapy. After a few weeks, it completely changed me; I was more relaxed, no longer bothered by the little things that affected me before. My brain had changed. That’s why I started doing this research, to try to understand how yoga and meditation work.<h4>Reduction in Stress</h4>We took people who were going through an eight week secular <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/an-experience-in-meditation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">meditation course</a> called Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction. Compared to the controls, the people in the meditation group had more gray matter in several brain regions after just eight weeks of practice. Those regions were the posterior cingulate, the supra marginal gyrus, and the hippocampus. The posterior cingulate is involved in self-related processes, “How is this relevant to me?” The supra marginal gyrus is involved in perspective taking, and it’s a key component of empathy and directing attention–“Do I pay attention to the inner world or the outer world?” The hippocampus is involved in memory.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/neuroscience_meditation3_478c8127db.jpg"><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Just as professional athletes practice their sport&nbsp; so they can play more effectively,&nbsp; we meditate so that we can be more mindful&nbsp; throughout the day. We build that skill.</h4><hr>These three regions together make up the Default Mode Network. “Default” because if you put someone in an MRI scanner and they’re not doing anything in particular, these regions reliably always turn on, along with two others. When you ask the person to do a task, these three regions turn off. The ideas they put together create the sense of self. These regions were altered by meditation practice.The posterior cingulate and the hippocampus are destroyed with Alzheimer’s disease. With Alzheimer’s you forget your life and who you are, where as in meditation you’re very present and centered. And these are the regions in which we find changes with just eight weeks of meditation.Another region that changed was the brainstem, which is involved in regulating the release of neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine, which are very important for mood. These changes correlated with changes in well-being: the more this region changed, the happier and more satisfied people felt. People reported that they were more satisfied with their job, their neighbors, their home, their family, etc. It suggests that there was a change in how they perceived the world.The amygdala also changed; the amygdala is involved in fear and anxiety, and negative emotions in general. We found that this region became smaller, and the more it decreased, the more stress reduction people reported in just eight weeks. There wasn’t a lot changing in these people’s lives, and yet they were reporting less stress. The neurobiological reason why stress reduced was because the parts of the brain involved in stress were changing.<h4>Pain</h4>There are two components to pain – one is the actual physical sensation of burning, stabbing, pulsing, throbbing, tingling, and the other is the emotional component, “Ouch, that hurts, I don’t like it.” They are controlled by two different parts of the brain that are independent of one another. We also know that there are a lot of ways to control pain, including distraction, expectation, and placebo. All three look more or less the same in the brain.Normally, when you stub your toe or burn your finger, the signal goes to the spinal cord, and up the spinal cord to the brain. Then the network that includes the insula and the sensory cortex evaluates the sensory component of it. The emotional component is then activated to say, “I don’t like it.” For these three forms of pain control, the front of the brain, the executive control, shuts down the signal – the signal comes in, but it doesn’t go up, so you don’t feel the sensations. If you have chronic pain, but you watch a good movie, or you have a good conversation, you forget your pain. That’s what happens with distraction, you simply don’t feel the pain. But once that interesting conversation or the movie ends, pow, your pain is back. It’s amazing what the brain can do to shut down the system and stop the signal from coming up.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/neuroscience_meditation4_81dc54fde7.jpg">&nbsp;Now, the question we asked was: what about meditation? We recruited a few long-term meditation practitioners and some people who had never meditated for the control group. We put them in the MRI scanner, and applied a very mild electric shock to their hand for forty seconds. We did this in a normal phase and then in a mindful phase. They would be randomly shocked a few times without knowing when it was going to happen. At the end, the subjects had to rate both the intensity and the unpleasantness of their experience. For the control group, there was no difference in intensity between the normal phase and the meditation phase, and this was also true for the Mindfulness practitioners. With unpleasantness, the control group experienced no difference, but there was a very significant decrease in unpleasantness for the Mindfulness practitioners. Although it was just as intense, it didn’t bother them. They were really feeling it, open to it; they were not shutting it down. They were paying attention to it. We see here, neurobiologically, a really beautiful example of equanimity.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/neuroscience_meditation5_ea90672913.jpg">&nbsp;After that study, several other researchers did similar studies. They found that the connections between the front of the brain and the sensory cortex were less coupled in the meditation practitioners than the control groups, so that they were better able to decouple their reaction to the pain from the intensity of the pain.Also, very importantly, that uncoupling was related to the number of years of meditation practice. The more they had practiced, the better they were at separating the “I don’t like it, make it stop” region from the throbbing, painful stabbing, burning sensation. They could separate their emotions from the physical sensations.This demonstrates how meditation works – it’s a slow, gradual process that changes the brain. This has long lasting consequences for how we experience the world.Sylvia Boorstein once said, “Life is painful, suffering is optional.” It’s true that we’ll all experience pain at some point in our life, but we can control how we respond to that pain.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">“Meditation is not evasion,&nbsp; it is a serene encounter with reality.” —Thich Nhat Hahn</h4><hr>From a talk given at the international Heartfulness conference, “An Integrative Approach to Health and Well-being,” at Kanha Shanti Vanam on December 16, 2022.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4><hr>&nbsp;

The neuroscience of meditation

Dr. Snehal is a developmental therapist who owns and leads SNEH, an institution dedicated to improving the quality of life of children and their families. She is passionate about spiritual well-being and actively drives the Heartfulness CME initiative for healthcare professionals across India.

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Dr. Snehal Deshpande

<h4>DR. SNEHAL DESHPANDE is a Developmental Therapist and Certified Life Coach from Mumbai. She leads SNEH, an institution dedicated to improving people’s quality of life, and actively drives the Heartfulness CME initiative for healthcare professionals across India. Here, she shares some tips on what we can do to keep ourselves healthy.</h4><hr><h4>What does health and wellness mean?</h4>According to the UN, health is a complete state of being –physical, mental, emotional, social, occupational, and spiritual well-being. And health is a fundamental right of every human being.For me, wellness is a state of oneness that you can feel; a feeling of joy whenever you’re doing something. My definition of wellness is to give yourself to the task at hand completely, with joy and an awareness of what’s happening.<h4>What are the different aspects of oneness?</h4>My career centers around children. Where I live, I will often see a little child playing with a toy, or outside on the grass, or talking with their mother. They are simply one with what they are doing. They are not concerned&nbsp; with anything else in the world. It’s so natural.We are all endowed with that natural state, but we disturb the cycle by our own doings. Wellness is the journey of returning back to that state of naturalness, the state of ease; from doing things because the world expects them of us, to doing them with the heart.We have gone against nature and built our own little worlds. We have created mini universes within, when we actually have a macro universal complete nature. And it has its own rhythm. Our body cells vibrate at the natural frequency of the vibrations of the universe, but we have moved away from that original vibration or state of existence.<h4>How to choose a lifestyle of oneness?</h4>First, find moments to “unplug” yourself. Like our mobiles, we run out of battery and need to recharge. We think our batteries are never going to run out and go on abusing ourselves. We must find a way to take care of our body and our inner self – because that battery is within us. We don’t need to look for it elsewhere. We can derive so much energy from that.To keep naturalness alive, it helps to be very soft and subtle from within, so that this energy can show itself in our life. Instead, we are so caught up that we are “holding on” in order not to feel lost.Second, let go and feel one with nature. It’s fun to let go and see what happens. Letting go is very important. It is something that kids do. They may like a toy, but the moment they see something else they forget about it. They don’t hang on to things.&nbsp;Third, make time for human connection. Across the globe, loneliness is becoming a big problem. It’s because we don’t connect honestly. We need to communicate not because of some artificial need to connect, but because there is a need to be together.<hr><hr><h4>We must find a way to take care of our body and our inner self – because&nbsp; that battery is within us.</h4><hr>

Spreading wellness

<h4>
 DR. SNEHAL
 DESHPANDE is a Developmental Therapist and Certified Life Coach from Mumbai. She leads SNEH, an
 institution dedicated to improving people’s quality of life, and actively drives the Heartfulness CME initiative
 for healthcare professionals across India. Here, she shares some simple tips on how to create wellness.
</h4>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



How do naturalness, stillness, human connection, and letting go come into play when we are trying to establish habits
 and make changes?



It can be difficult to build up a natural routine, like getting up early in the morning, enjoying the sunrise,
 watching the sunset in the evening, and stopping work after that. We are constantly distracted. So, the first thing
 I try to do is avoid distractions.



Human connection enables us to give and receive support. If we don’t maintain our social connections with all our
 heart, we lose the ability to ask for help from people. Because every time we are in need, we think, “How can I
 suddenly ask for help without having a connection.” It’s great to have deep and meaningful connections, even if a
 person is not in your inner circle of friends.



How to go about this? The first thing is self-reflection. 



Reflect upon:



What you have, What you’ve done,&nbsp; Who you are, Who you want to be, and What you’re going to do about
 that.



We often forget we have to use our own resources. Sometimes we depend on external things, or we blame situations and
 people. The moment we self-reflect, we can answer all these questions.



Another habit to develop is connecting with ourselves. Spend a couple of moments with your palms together in a
 prayerful pose. With this small activity, a connection is established between the left brain and the right brain.
 When you establish this connection, and reflect on yourself, you give yourself a new level of commitment and the
 deep potential within.



<hr class="vertical-space1">


<div class="block-image">
 <figure><img decoding="async" width="700" height="893" alt="" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Create_Wellness2_700x893_f76b734ef8.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-26T07:43:51.761Z">
 </figure>
</div>


<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Make an effort to take
 out time for yourself. I think the busiest
 person has
 the most leisure. It is about creating
 those little pockets of time for yourself
 within your
 schedule.</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



Make an effort to take out time for yourself. I think the busiest person has the most leisure. It is about creating
 those little pockets of time for yourself within your schedule.



In a general sense, the moment you are aligned with the universal vibration – the natural energy or super
 consciousness – things start happening the way the universe wants. Each of us is unique, and it is our abundant
 uniqueness that the universe wants us to feel and express. Instead, we seek abundance outside. So, if we can allow
 the universe to express that abundance, there is nothing like it.&nbsp;



<h4>Find your natural
 vibration</h4>



I believe we need to understand what takes us away from our natural vibration, and what gives us an inner awakening.
 It’s very essential. We end up going into a dangerous and unhealthy phase when we try to run away from our reality.




Suffering is an integral part of life. We cannot take that away. In fact, it is suffering that makes us. Wellness is
 all about integrating ourselves in our world, and our reality. It is about allowing healing to happen in a natural
 way. If every one of us, or even a few of us, start thinking like that, the world will be a better place to live in.




There is something to live for, there’s something to feel!



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Wellness is all about
 integrating ourselves in our world, and our
 reality.
 It is about
 allowing healing to happen in a natural way. If every one of us, or even a few of us, start thinking like
 that, the world will be a better place to live in.</h4>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4>



<hr>

Create wellness

<hr><h4>SNEHAL DESHPANDE enlightens us on how pre-conception, conception and pregnancy, and the first year of life affect our later psychology and physical well-being.</h4><hr>The field of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology seeks to illuminate how prenatal and birth experiences influence postnatal development, lifelong response patterns, and interpersonal relationships. It is an interdisciplinary study of the earliest periods of human development, including conception, pregnancy, experiences during and after birth, and experiences with family and caregivers during the first year of life.1Birth is a continuation of life from the womb to this world. So when does learning begin? If we have been given an equal opportunity to reproduce and procreate, why are there deviations? Why has natural birth become unnatural today? Why do many men and women suffer from problems related to their reproductive systems and fertility?<h4>What is reproductive health?</h4>Reproductive health refers to the health of the female and male reproductive systems. Female disorders include early or late puberty, menstrual problems, infertility, reduced fertility, problems during pregnancy, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids, and endometriosis. Male disorders include erectile dysfunction and low sperm count. Various studies conducted by NIEHS have pointed out that factors like lifestyle, environment, food, and exposure to chemicals have been the leading factors in reproductive system ailments.2&nbsp;The reproductive journey is not linear. All aspects of a woman’s reproductive lifespan are interrelated, from childhood through to the later reproductive years. When a woman gives birth, this circular interaction is then transmitted to the next generation, which is then transmitted to the next generation. Fertility, fertility prevention, fertility assistance, and fertility preservation are all intertwined. Understanding this begs some very interesting questions regarding research into reproduction.3PCOS is an infertility-causing endocrine and reproductive disorder prevalent in 5%&nbsp;to 13%&nbsp;of women of reproductive age. It represents 80% of anovulatory infertility cases, and is associated with clinical and metabolic disorders.4Women with PCOS undergo a lot of stress, which in turn affects mental wellness and leads to anxiety and panic attacks. The vicious cycle of being in the state of fight or flight affects the Hypothalamus Pituitary Axis. Research shows that parents’ well-being and thinking lifestyle have a deep impact on their babies even before they are born. Dr. Thomas Verny has emphasized this in his book, The Secret Life of the Unborn Child: How You Can Prepare Your Baby for a Happy, Healthy Life.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/in_Search_of_new_world2_207ed46ab6.jpg"><hr><hr><h4>The way parents respond to situations&nbsp; shapes the life of an unborn child.</h4><hr><hr>The fetal and infant nervous system has vast sensory and learning capabilities, and a kind of memory that neuroscientists call implicit memory.5 The way parents respond to situations shapes the life of an unborn child. It is now known that stress can pass through generations, influencing the disease states in family members.&nbsp;The responsiveness of fetuses to the environmental conditions perceived by their mothers before birth allows them to optimize their genetic and physiological development as they adapt to the environmental forecast. The same life-enhancing epigenetic plasticity can also go awry and lead to an array of chronic diseases in life if an individual experiences adverse nutritional and environmental circumstances during fetal and neonatal periods of development (Bateson, et al, 2004).5Parents and caregivers thus become genetic engineers shaping the future of their little ones.What shapes us from conception until death is experience. Experience makes us. We experience the world through the sensory systems which serve as catalysts to the growing brain. The first five years are all about brain structuring. It is a&nbsp;construction house where the activity is from moment to moment. The sensory systems are gathering information from the womb onwards. Each system follows a timeline to maturity. The sculpting of human behavior and learning is affected by critical periods of development, which are characteristic of each sensory system. These critical periods provide a wide window of opportunity for each human being to develop adaptive responses.Lack of favorable stimulation in these critical periods of development leads to delayed or altered development patterns. This explains why the children from orphanages often show more learning and developmental delays, and alterations in affect and regulation. The human brain depends on the shared interactions and engagements it has with other individuals for its survival. We create a social synapse around us that not only designs who we are, but is responsible for the kind of universe we live in.If we have to create a new world, we need to make our present different. The babies who are yet to be born will need to be resilient&nbsp;and become enablers of joy peace, and happiness. The fabric of society&nbsp;as a whole has to change, and the responsibility for change rests on each one of us. Our thoughts and intentions go a long way to defining our actions. Perinatal and prenatal education has a deep and long-reaching impact toward forming a new world that breeds joy, peace, and happiness.Interpersonal neurobiology, social neuroscience (Adolphs, 2003a), affective neuroscience (Panksepp, 1998), and sociophysiology (Gardner, 1997; Adler, 2002) are among the emerging fields attempting to bridge the gap between the biological and social sciences. They share the goal of understanding people within the context of the relationships into which they are born, develop, and live their lives.6<hr><hr><h4>We create a social synapse around us that not only designs who we are,&nbsp; but is responsible for the kind of&nbsp; universe we live in.</h4><hr><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/in_Search_of_new_world3_d28acd43c8.jpg"><hr>Children survive and evolve only with the care and fostering relationships they develop with their caregivers and environment. When the environment is conducive, the neurons connect and form synapses,so enhanced learning occurs. The mirror neurons in the brain help babies to imitate what they are exposed to. Early childhood experiences thus shape our future and design our destiny. Caregivers, parents, teachers, and therapists therefore have a role to play in nurturing and providing&nbsp;the young ones with an environment based on engagement with nature and human beings.The primary occupation of children is play, and the responsibility of the parents in the early years is to give them a holistic experience with natural play.<hr><hr><h4>What a fetus experiences in the primary period forms&nbsp; the blueprint of core perceptions,&nbsp; belief structures, and ways of relating&nbsp; with themselves and the world.</h4><hr><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/in_Search_of_new_world4_18cae0393c.jpg"><hr><h4>The 12 guiding principles of prenatal and perinatal psychology&nbsp;</h4>These principles form a blueprint&nbsp;and an&nbsp;edifice for future generations to give birth,&nbsp;survive, connect,&nbsp;and evolve.7They are:1. Primary period – the primary period of development occurs from preconception through to the first year of postnatal life. This is a time when the core foundations are laid in every aspect of the being; physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and relational.2. Forming the core blueprint – what a fetus experiences in the primary period forms the blueprint of core perceptions, belief structures, and ways of relating with themselves and the world. These are implicit and observable in newborns, and perhaps decisive toward either having a life enhancing or diminishing direction. Preparing for becoming parents is therefore an important part of the journey.3. Continuum of development – human development is continuous from prenatal to postnatal life. Postnatal patterns build upon earlier prenatal and birth experiences. It is important that this period provides the mother a stress free and secure space and optimal attachment. In traditional cultures, the mother-to-be is often nurtured in the house of her parents once her pregnancy is confirmed.4. Capacities and capabilities – babies are bundles of immense capacity and capability. They not only perceive but also communicate and learn based on integration of their sensory systems interwoven with their related experiences. Caregivers and parents can become aware of the 8 sensory systems and their impact on development.5. Relationships&nbsp;– we exist and survive because of the connections we make. Babies experience what their mothers experience and feel. Relationships and accidental or incidental encounters provide building blocks for the quality of life of babies.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/new_world_4_updated_f62698cab3.jpg"><hr><hr><h4>Babies experience what their mothers experience and feel.</h4><hr><hr>6. Innate need&nbsp;– human beings have an innate need for security, belonging, nurturing, feeling wanted, and feeling loved. Supporting these sets the right environment for optimal development.7. Communication – babies are continually connecting and seeking connections. Honoring the person within them and relating to their needs supports their wholeness.8. Mother-baby&nbsp;interconnectedness – respecting and optimizing the bond between mother and baby, and the mother-baby interconnectedness during pregnancy, birth, and infancy is of highest priority.9. Bonding – is a critical development process for the mother, baby, and father. It forms core patterns with lifelong implications. Best mother-baby interactions occur when the mother feels empowered and supported, and the natural birth process is allowed to unfold with minimal intervention, and no interruption between mother and baby connection and contact. Where possible, fathers also connect, and contact is vital.10. Resolving and healing – past and current conflicts, and issues that affect the quality of life of the family members is of the highest priority. Doing so before the pregnancy is vital.11. Underlying patterns – unresolved issues and less than optimal conditions during any of the phases often result in health issues, stress behaviors, difficulty in self-regulation and attachment learning, and other disorders over the lifespan of the newborn.12. Professional support – may be sought whenever there are any diminishing patterns which are embedded below the level of the conscious mind, in implicit memory, the subconscious mind.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/in_Search_of_new_world5_1_4ce4759d10.jpg"><hr><hr><h4>Best mother-baby interactions occur&nbsp; when the mother feels empowered and supported,&nbsp; and the natural birth process is allowed&nbsp; to unfold with minimal intervention,&nbsp; and no interruption between&nbsp; mother and baby connection and contact.</h4><hr><hr>Theory and research from the fields of psychology, medicine, psychophysiology, epigenetics, and traumatology, among others, highlight the opportunity for parents-to-be and their practitioners to intentionally cultivate nurturing environments, both internal and external, during preconception, prenatal, and early parenting periods. They suggest that doing so will support lifelong multidimensional aspects of healthy development in children and adults, and may also benefit future generations.8The principles of prenatal and perinatal psychology provide elements for every family to practice and adopt in order to raise happy healthy babies. Nurturing the mother to be in a positive environment where stress can be eliminated is the fundamental need of the hour. This can prevent the traces of trauma which children later have to deal with. Holistic well-being, family connection, deep regard, and respect&nbsp;for self, go a long way to establishing self-esteem and confidence in mothers and help them walk the way into motherhood.After the birth, every effort should be put into the mother and child bonding well. The mother and the father should be educated in the use of touch, smell, and taste as important systems of connection. Optimal use of sensory systems blended with a foundation of love and harmony go a long way in&nbsp;defining a bright future for the little one.To summarize, when babies are welcomed, loved, nurtured, and seen for the amazing, conscious, and aware beings they are from the beginning of life, their capacity to love, empathize,&nbsp;be&nbsp;in relationships,&nbsp;and&nbsp;live&nbsp;in&nbsp;joy grow as they grow. As&nbsp;a generation of such babies matures, we would see the ripple effect encompass greater learning capacity, emotional intelligence, creativity, the emergence of new leaders, and healthier families and communities. Our potential is unlimited. It is time for us to come together to infuse our&nbsp;culture and communities&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;vision,&nbsp;resources,&nbsp;and commitment necessary to support each new person from the very beginning of their life. It is time for them to know they are vital to our community and worthy of this commitment.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/in_Search_of_new_world6_c693b050c1.jpg"><hr>References:<ol><li>Weinstein, A. D. &amp;M. Shea, 2016.&nbsp;Prenatal development and parents’ lived experiences: How early events shape our psychophysiology and relationships. W.W. Norton &amp; Company.&nbsp;</li><li>Reproductive health in females and males. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2023, from <a href="https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/reproductive_health_in_females_and_maes_508.pdf">https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/reproductive_health_in_females_and_maes_508.pdf</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Barnhart, K. T., 2011. Epidemiology of male and female reproductive disorders and impact on fertility regulation and&nbsp;population growth.&nbsp;Fertility and Sterility,&nbsp;95(7): 2200–2203. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.03.044">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.03.044</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Melo, A.S. et al., 2015.&nbsp;Treatment of infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Approach to clinical practice. Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Retrieved May 2, 2023, from <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26602525/">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26602525/</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Lipton, B. H., 2016.&nbsp;The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter &amp;Miracles. Hay House, Inc.&nbsp;</li><li>Cozolino, L. J., 2014.&nbsp;The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment and the Developing Social Brain. W.W. Norton &amp; Company.&nbsp;</li><li>McCarty, W.A. and M. Glenn, 2008. Investing in human potential from the beginning of life:&nbsp;Keys to maximizing human capital. Journal of Prenatal &amp; Perinatal Psychology &amp; Health, 23 (2): 117-135.</li><li>Nurturing human capital along the life course: Investing in early child development. (n.d.).&nbsp;Human Rights Documents Online. WHO. https://doi.org/10.1163/2210-7975_hrd-9841-3019.</li></ol><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/in_Search_of_new_world7_5d1287e8b8.jpg"><hr>

In search of a new world

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">DR. SNEHAL DESHPANDE has been a developmental therapist in the field of Pediatric Physiotherapy for 30 years. She deals with families whose children explore their potential in a very different way, and working with these families has given her resilience and helped her learn adaptive mechanisms. She is the Director of CME and other Healthcare initiatives for Heartfulness Institute, and here shares her insights on work-life balance with her team.</h4>&nbsp;Q. You have been a professional for more than 30 years, what does work mean to you?SD: As a physiotherapist, wife, and mother, work has been an integral part of what I call “me". My mother instilled in me that work is worship; if you want to worship God, worship what you are doing. Having this ingrained in me from childhood, I decided that whatever I did in life, I should work. There was no difference between what we call work life and family life. Work is work, joy, and happiness.Most of us spend 40% of our lives working. We should like our workplace, because it’s another home. But do we really treat our workplaces as home, where we can relax? When we are relaxed, we can give our best. When we compare our behavior and attitudes at work and at home, we realize that we need to change things to lead a life that is aligned and balanced.Q: Treating the workplace as a second home is an amazing way to enjoy our work. Yet many people find that difficult. What are the possible reasons for that?SD: We think that work is different from the rest of our lives and create a distance between ourselves and work. Work is not different from us. The question is: why do we do a particular job? Undoubtedly, there is no “impossible” in the human spectra, but sometimes we do things which we don’t want to do. We do it because we want to earn a livelihood, or because of our parents, our peer group, or other social pressures.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">If you want to worship God,&nbsp; worship what you are doing.</h4><hr>As an example, we may say, “Because she is a CA, I want to become a CA,” or “Because my father wants me to be a doctor, I will become a doctor.” But what do we want to do?&nbsp;What does the inner self want to do? Do we ask ourselves these questions? And “What is it that I want to do that will improve the greater good of humanity?” If we ask these questions, and treat our work as something that allows us to make the change for which we are here, I’m sure our work-life balance, the core of work life integration, as we say, can be solved.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:71.13%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/striking_balance2_97ea59c17a.webp" alt="striking-balance2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_striking_balance2_97ea59c17a.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_striking_balance2_97ea59c17a.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/striking_balance2_97ea59c17a.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Q: Why do you think it is necessary to have integration between work and life in this generation?SD: Stress. It’s the biggest word that hits Google. How do we build stress? How do we build work-related stress? In the beginning it is unimaginable. When we take up a career, we say, “Oh, wow, I’m a doctor,” or “I’ve become an engineer,” but when we start really working, it becomes a tragedy. We meet friends and say, “This is happening at work,” or “Shifts are there,” or “I’m not liking my job.” Work-related stress is now one of the biggest concerns.Work-life balance is ultimately created by our choices. By agreeing to take on more work when we don’t have the capacity, or cannot delegate that work, we create stress for ourselves. Improving our work-life balance improves our mental health, because it helps us to become organized. It helps us to compartmentalize; our wardrobes becomes user friendly, our houses become neat, etc. Having balance means having better physical, mental, emotional, occupational, and intellectual health. Wellness covers all aspects. And even working on one of them definitely works on all aspects of well-being.Q: Can you share some well-being tips with us?SD: Accept that this is going to be the life I will lead.Be creative in your workplace. Feel free to do something good every single day at work. Simple things like a bunch of flowers and keeping photos of your loved ones will make you happy.Seek support at work. Asking for help does not mean you are incapable. It says, “I’m here. I’m new. Let’s walk this way together.”Create a schedule, something that modern life thrives upon. Include your morning wake up time, your exercise routine, meditation time, and travel time. A schedule will help you make use of that travel time, and arrive at work 15 minutes early.Chart out where you want to go. Think about what will help you to do better. What really helps you do better is to give of yourself. Then you feel like you are contributing and you feel happy about it. Find purpose in your work, and your workplace will automatically become a happy place.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:70.17%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/striking_balance3_ab01b2c3d1.webp" alt="striking-balance3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_striking_balance3_ab01b2c3d1.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_striking_balance3_ab01b2c3d1.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/striking_balance3_ab01b2c3d1.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Create boundaries so your work does not creep into your home space.&nbsp;Switch off your gadgets to give yourself some “me” time. Your brain need time to rewire. Instead of scrolling through your mobile, talk to a friend or family member, or just be quiet.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Work-life balance is ultimately created by your choices.</h4><hr>These are a few tricks I follow to integrate my personal and professional life. By fine-tuning things we can maintain harmony and joy in the long run.&nbsp;

Striking a balance:  work, life, and you

Ramakantha was a Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in the Indian Forest Service. He is an academic, author, and wildlife photographer, who manages species-rich ecosystems in India. He is also a member of the Heartfulness Green initiative at Kanha Shanti Vanam.

V-Ramakantha.jpg

Dr. V. Ramakantha

<h4>DR. V. RAMAKANTHA is a former Indian Forest Service officer and member of the Green Kanha Initiative at the Heartfulness Community’s Meditation Center at Kanha Shanti Vanam in India. Having spent most of his working life living in forests and jungles, in tune with the natural world, his slant on our current corona crisis is steeped in nature and also in the stories and traditions of ancient India.</h4>While people around the world are worried that shaking hands, hugging and kissing might help spread the virus, the Indian traditional greeting of ‘Namaste’ comes in handy. Even Prince Charles and President Trump have popularized it as a fashionable corona greeting!When we fold our hands in greeting, it is to communicate that “You and I are one and the same, sparks of the same Divinity; and I salute the Divinity within you.” When the world appreciates this greeting with folded hands, it is likely to stay even after the threat of the virus vanishes.The slowdown and shut down of activities we are facing also offer us an opportunity to ponder over some basic issues. There has never been a paucity of wise people, sages and philosophers around the globe who can influence society by their reflections on the purpose and goal of human life. Ancient Indian literature, about which I am familiar, is replete with analyses, stories and metaphors concerning the transient nature of human life on Earth. Also, Indians, like other Asians, stand out in having no compunction in talking about life and death in the same breath! In a way, this nonchalant attitude helps us deal with the corona crisis.Here, the story of ‘The Woman and the Buddha’ is worth recounting. A grief stricken woman approached Buddha and pleaded that he should bring back her husband, who had died. The Compassionate One pondered for a while, and said that he would help her, but she had to first bring a fistful of mustard seeds from a home where there was no death. The lady was pleased with the offer of help. She went looking for the mustard seeds. Wherever she went, she was told that there was a death in the family. She eventually discovered the truth that death is inevitable. In helping her to discover the truth for herself, Lord Buddha expressed his compassion.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/humanity2_6420a6e178.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T07:48:09.517Z">There is another piece of great perception in the epic Mahabharata:In this cauldron fashioned from illusion, with the sun as fire, day and night as kindling wood, the months and seasons as the ladle for stirring, Time (or Death) cooks all beings. This is the simple truth!The first thing that we may try to do is not to be obsessively worried about death. Fear in the heart of a human being is damaging. It attracts other emotions, like prejudice, hatred and anger, and leads to an imbalanced life. Undue worry and excessive fear affect the body and the mind adversely, and can even be the premature cause of death itself. Is there a way to overcome the fear of death? Yes there is.Though it is too naïve to believe that reading literature about the ephemeral nature of human existence will help us overcome the fear, such an understanding may propel us to explore the field of consciousness, and embark on the path of a meditative practice.It has been my personal experience during the past 25 years that Heartfulness practices have helped me to bring my turbulent mind to stillness and calm. This form of meditation, aided by yogic Transmission, has enabled me to overcome the primordial fear of death that is inherent in almost all of us. Cessation of the turbulence of the mind is Yoga. When we turn our attention inward, meditate, and achieve stillness of the mind, we experience peace, and ultimately joy, which is the quality of the soul. Through such meditative practices, an awareness dawns within us that we are in a body, but we are beyond the body. We have a mind but we are beyond the mind. Once we experience the immaculate joy stemming from meditative practices, in a mysterious way the fear starts losing its grip on us.The very first blessing that comes our way through yogic practices is Viveka – the discriminative ability. It is imperative that all of us must be cautious during a medical crisis such as this, taking all the precautions available on the WHO website and through national and local public health authorities.Those of us suffering from any type of cold, cough, fever, body ache and similar symptoms ought to stay at home, avoid public gatherings, and refrain from travel unless absolutely essential. Those of us who are lucky enough to have regulated minds through meditative practices will not unduly worry about attending to our duties and responsibilities in the face of the pandemic. If travelling is unavoidable, we will embark on it with all the necessary precautions (this is specifically for those who are privileged to help their fellow beings, offering essential services).One last thing. In the past five decades or so, many of us have been feeling that the world is running too fast for our comfort. Many of us have had everything but time! In our anxiety to earn a living, to make a career for ourselves, and for many other reasons, we have been deeply engrossed in so many activities that there was no time even to breathe. It is a metaphor, but literally true also, that an expert in Pranayama would have no guilt in declaring that most of humanity does not even know how to breathe! In the face of the spread of coronavirus, the world has not only slowed down, but quite a few of us would vouch that it has stopped. Staying indoors, we have so much time that we do not know what to do with it.I have a proposition to make. Siddhartha was a prince in India, who was a normal human being like any one of us. He wanted to find the truth about human existence, and took refuge in a dense jungle and meditated. After many years of tapasya, he came back from the forests as the Enlightened One to show the way to the confused world. And the world could not forget him and his teachings. If an ordinary human being by the name of Siddhartha could become the Buddha, the worship worthy, can we not explore that possibility?<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/humanity3_b5720694dd.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T07:49:21.819Z">It is said in the yogic literature that when we meditate we transcend Time; we transcend Space. If that is so, when Time cannot catch us, how then can it cook us? If you have time on your hands, please consider making a journey towards inner evolution and enlightenment. You will soon figure out that there is much more to human existence than meets the eye.Every adversity offers an opportunity; we become more sensitive to the miseries of others; we understand that one day we too will need the compassion of our fellow beings, as well as their assistance; we learn to stick together, and it is softening our hearts.Some of the WhatsApp messages I receive these days are beautiful. People are voicing concern over the insensitivity of humanity, which has been blind to the generosity of this planet that is graced with many assets. Probably, this calamity is a prelude for a more just humanity, one that is more refined than that of the past.&nbsp;<hr> &nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by DR. V. RAMAKANTHA Photographs by JOSH BULRISS</h4><hr>

A more refined humanity

<hr><h4>DR. V. RAMAKANTHA is a former Indian Forest Service officer and member of the Green Initiative at the Heartfulness Center at Kanha Shanti Vanam in India. Having spent most of his working life living in forests and jungles, in tune with the natural world, he shares his knowledge about some of the amazing medicinal plants of India, starting with Parijata, the Queen of the Night.</h4>[distance2]Botanical Name: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. Family: Oleaceae Common Names: Night Jasmine, Coral Jasmine&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;Parijata is known as Coral Jasmine owing to its snow-white flowers with coral-red tubes. This small ornamental tree, with its heavenly-scented flowers and drooping branches, is found all over the Indian subcontinent, with a special name in every language. It flowers almost the whole year round, and is known as Night Jasmine because the delicate blooms open by evening and falling off soon after, leaving a carpet of flowers in the morning. This gives it the epithet “Queen of the Night.”<h4>Mythology</h4>Rajanī-hāsa, “the one who forms the night’s smile,” is one of the Sanskrit names for Parijata, and there is a story behind this name. Parijata was a beautiful princess who fell in love with Surya Deva, the Sun God. Initially, Surya Deva, who rode the fiery chariot in the sky from east to west, did not take a fancy to the princess, but over time, he was won over by the single-minded devotion of Parijata, and he left the sky and came down to Earth to spend some loving time with her.Now, the Earth was not a conducive environment for Surya Deva so, after spending a few seasons, he left for his original abode, albeit reluctantly. Heartbroken, princess Parijata tried to follow her lover, but the intensity of the heat from the Sun God burnt her to ashes.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Parijata2_6f93c4df2f.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-20T06:07:53.247Z" alt="Parijata">&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;Moved by sorrow and pity, Surya Deva granted Parijata another life in the form of a tree with the purest of white flowers with blazing orange hearts, and Surya Deva visits her every night. The Parijata flowers are very fragrant as they are kissed by the Sun God. Even now the flowers can’t bear the rays of the sun, and with the first rays at dawn, they are shed.In India, the Parijata tree has a close association with Lord Krishna. The Vishnu Purana, an ancient text of the Hindus, gives a graphic description of the sequence of events that led to the descent of this ambrosial tree to Earth. The story goes that Indra, king of the gods, had a serious confrontation with the noble-born but despicable Naraka. Naraka was the son of Bhumi, the Earth, and he possessed some of the powers of Lord Vishnu. He was not happy to confine himself to his home on Earth and took frequent forays to the heavens, from where he would steal whatever took his fancy before he returned home. He was so powerful that no god dared stop him, not even when he snatched the nectar-dropping earrings of Aditi, the mother of Indra.Indra realized that he was no match for Naraka, and needed help. After much reflection, he decided that it had to be Lord Krishna, who was happily residing in his newly-built city of Dwaraka. So, Indra descended to Earth and beseeched Lord Krishna to put an end to Naraka’s atrocities.Krishna agreed and, accompanied by his wife Satyabhama, he set off to vanquish Naraka. With the help of the Sudarshan Chakra, Krishna killed the demon, cutting him in two. Krishna returned the nectar-dropping earrings to Aditi, who was very happy. She blessed him, saying, “So long as you live in the world of mortals, you shall be invincible, and no harm shall come to you either from celestials or demons.”Indra extended all courtesies to Krishna and Satyabhama during their stay in the heavens, including showing them their celestial garden. Satyabhama caught sight of the Parijata tree and at once fell in love with its beauty and the sweet-smelling flowers. She declared that she would not return to Earth without the Parijata tree, thus obliging Krishna to request Indra to gift them the tree.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Parijata1_c083fac7e1.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T07:47:12.039Z">&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;Indra was polite but firm in refusing Krishna’s request. He told Krishna that the Parijata had materialized during the churning of the Milky Ocean by the gods and demons, and was a prized possession of the gods. Krishna explained to his host the delicate situation of how enamored his wife was of the tree, and how unwise it was to displease her, especially as she had been a great support in fighting the demon Naraka. But Indra’s wife, Sachi, was also clearly fond of the Parijata tree, and had refused to offer even a few flowers to Satyabhama.“Impossible,” said Indra with finality. “That low vibratory planet of yours does not deserve this ambrosial tree!” Finally, Krishna was forced to tell Indra that he would take the Parijata tree, whether the king of the gods liked it or not.Indra forgot that he had just recently used Krishna’s help in putting an end to the life of Naraka. He was also oblivious of his mother’s blessings on Krishna. Incited by his wife, he readied for an all-out war with Krishna. Indra had in his possession a terrible weapon called the Vajrayudha, which in utter desperation he hurled at Krishna using all his might. Krishna arrested the weapon and held it in his hands, unaffected. In the end, Indra had to concede defeat and begged Krishna’s pardon. So the happy Satyabhama took away the Parijata tree to Earth and planted it in her garden.The sacred Parijata tree is often planted near Hindu temples in India and Sri Lanka, and also in Malaysia and Indonesia. It is believed that if you approach the Parijata tree respectfully, you may get a glimpse of events of your previous births!<h4>Wonderful as a medicinal plant</h4>Parijata is also known as Amrita, a tree yielding immortal food. It is a wonder among medicinal plants, extensively used in the Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine from time immemorial. The fresh leaves are also used for the preparation of homoeopathic medicines. Moreover, every part of the tree has been used in household remedies against a host of ailments since ancient times.&nbsp;The leaf juice of Parijata and a couple of spoonfuls of honey makes a wonderful remedy for dry cough. It is also used for curing enlargement of the spleen, and as a safe purgative for infants. A decoction of the leaves is recommended specifically for obstinate sciatica, caused by the compression of a spinal nerve root in the lower back.Ayurveda gives therapeutic predominance to Parijata for certain diseases like chronic fever and worm infestations. In cases of chronic fever, Parijata leaves are used in combination with other herbs like ginger, tulsi and pippali, the Indian long pepper.The leaf juice of Parijata with honey, jaggery and salt, is an effective means for getting rid of roundworms and threadworms. It is an age-old practice in India to administer this orally for expelling intestinal worms in children. The leaf decoction is helpful in cases of malaria and dysentery. The leaf juice is applied externally on ringworm and other skin diseases. Three fresh leaves of Parijata with five pepper grains are traditionally taken orally to overcome several gynecological problems.The flat, compressed, heart-shaped fruits of Parijata have two compartments, each having a seed. A decoction of seeds is useful as a hair tonic and also to get rid of dandruff and lice. A paste of the seeds is used in the treatment of piles. A decoction of the roots helps to deal with enlargement of the spleen. In case of gout, a flower decoction (which has a yellow color and mild fragrance) is taken as a remedy.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Parijata4_c5a45a1cb8.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-20T06:07:53.272Z" alt="Parijata"><hr>It is used in the following Ayurvedic medicines:Manasa Mitra Vatakam: Treatment of epilepsy, autism, psychiatric conditions, and to improve intelligence and speech problems.Bala Taila: Treatment of bloating wounds, spleen diseases, epilepsy and asthma.Arthrella Ointment: Treatment of rheumatic disorders.Ashwagandharishta: General debility, piles, low digestive power, loss of memory.<h4>What does science know about Parijata?</h4>Chemical and phyto-chemical analyses reveal that Parijata, with its many active principles and different bio-markers, is recognized as one of the most versatile medicinal plants, having a wide spectrum of biological activities.A paper published in the International Journal of Herbal Medicine in 2016 throws light on anti-pyretic, antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antihistaminic, anti-filarial, anti-oxidant, immune-protective activities of phyto-chemicals found in the Parijata tree. According to a study published in Phytopharmacology in 2012, the bark has bronchodilation and mast cell stabilizing properties and, hence, can be used in the treatment of asthma.A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 1984 confirms anti-inflammatory property of the leaves. Another paper published in the same journal in 2013 provide some evidence for its effectiveness in the treatment of fevers related to malaria and protozoan diseases.A research work published in the Brazilian Journal of Botany in 2016 says that the ethanolic extract of the flower was most potent in antioxidant activity, and recommends that the same can be used as an inexpensive natural source of antioxidants.A paper published in Applied Biology &amp; Biotechnology in 2020 makes a comprehensive review on Parijata’s pharmacological, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activities and maintains that each part of Parijata may have some medicinal value, noting that the pharmacological studies done so far are preliminary.In the ancient literature of India, Parijata is also described as an ecstatic drink of the gods. Incidentally, science could throw some light on various hypnotic, anesthetic, and tranquillizing activities of this tree.<h4>Other uses</h4>The flower tubes contain an orange coloring matter, nyctathin, used for dyeing silk, sometimes in conjunction with safflower (Carthamus tinctoria), turmeric (Curcuma longa) and indigo (Indigofera spp.). The corolla tubes are also used in dyeing cotton cloth. The essential oil extracted from the flowers is similar to jasmine oil, and is used in perfume. The flower tubes are a preferred natural coloring for food.While the large and attractive leaves of the Parijata are rough and hairy, dipping them in a batter of chickpea flour and spices, and deep frying them transforms them into a delicious snack called bajji.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">How does your Parijata grew?</h4>This hardy plant grows in a large range of climatic conditions from Pakistan to South-east Asia, and also in other parts of the world. It grows well under partial shade, and the trees need pruning to ensure a good yield of flowers. As it is not eaten by cattle, it is useful in afforesting denuded forests. Seeds easily germinate, and Parijata coppices readily. The only disadvantage is that it is short-lived (5 to 10 years).<h4>Finally …</h4>The story of the descent of the Parijata tree has a twist at the end. When Satyabhama grew the Parijat tree in her garden, to her great dismay all the flowers fell at night in the adjoining compound of Rukmini, the wisest, gentlest and most spiritual wife of Lord Krishna.Parijata’s Latin name, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, literally means “night-blooming sad tree.” Why sad? We have no clue.Online references<a href="https://www.easyayurveda.com/2016/11/30/ha-nyctanthes-arbor-tristis-night-jasmine-coral-jasmine/">https://www.easyayurveda.com/2016/11/30/ha-nyctanthes-arbor-tristis-night-jasmine-coral-jasmine/</a> <a href="http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Nyctanthes+arbor-tristis">http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Nyctanthes+arbor-tristis</a> <a href="https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/265609">https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/265609</a> <a href="https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shephalika">https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shephalika</a><hr><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article &amp; Photographs by DR. V. RAMAKANTHA Illustrations by KANIKA SINGH</h4><hr>

Queen of the night

<h4>
 DR. V. RAMAKANTHA
 retells the legend of Savithri and Satyavan, which is centered around the
 Banyan tree, also known as the Tree of Life in India. The story is
 accompanied by a beautiful mural by the German artist,
 CHRISTIAN MACKETANZ.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 The Banyan tree is an evergreen fig which is known in Hindu mythology as the
 wish-fulfilling tree and the tree of life and fertility. Every year, in many
 parts of India, the festival of Vat Purnima1 is observed. During
 those three days, women fast and pray for the well-being of their husbands,
 as they walk around a chosen Banyan tree and tie a thread around its trunk.
 This festival is associated with the legend of Savithri.&nbsp;


<h4>
 The legend of Savithri
</h4>


 The noble king Aswapati reigned over Madra, a prosperous country. As the
 years rolled by, worry gripped his mind, for he had no children. With the
 aim of seeking a boon, Aswapati undertook austerities and prayed to the
 goddess Savithri to appear before him. After eighteen years of penance, one
 fine day the goddess Savithri appeared and offered to grant the king a
 favor.



 When Aswapati asked for many sons worthy of his lineage, the goddess
 Savithri smiled and said that he would soon beget a daughter of great
 energy. Saying so, she disappeared. Soon, the king’s wife had a daughter,
 and he named her Savithri in honor of the goddess who had bestowed the gift.



 When she came of age, Savithri resembled a celestial being, but she also
 possessed such a burning splendor that no man came forward to marry her.
 Ultimately, her exasperated father Aswapati told Savithri to find a partner
 for herself. Taking her father’s words as a command, Savithri set forth on a
 journey to find her life partner.



 In a distant forest, Savithri came upon a handsome young woodcutter. He was
 graceful in limb, tall, broad-shouldered, gifted with the strength of mad
 elephants, and free from fear or affliction. He had sparkling eyes and great
 sensitivity. It was love at first sight.&nbsp;


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<img decoding="async" width="700" height="611" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/everlasting_love2_8e131538c8.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T06:01:36.709Z" />


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 His name was Satyavan, and he was just as happy to see this extraordinarily
 beautiful princess. He was unaffected by her burning aura, and they talked
 for hours. Satyavan told Savithri that he was passing through a lean period,
 but he took her to his hut and introduced her to his parents. His father,
 Dyumatsena, was an old man who had lost his kingdom and been blinded in both
 eyes. On being introduced to his ageing mother, Savithri figured out that
 she was in the company of saintly people. Savithri returned to the palace to
 tell her father that she had found her life partner.



 The sage Narada was with her father, and told Savithri that she was making a
 terrible mistake. He foretold that Satyavan was destined to die exactly one
 year after the marriage. Despite the warning, and the knowledge of impending
 catastrophe, Savithri chose Satyavan to be her husband.



 Living deep inside the forest, the couple led a minimalistic but blissful
 life, however the words of sage Narada were ever-present in the mind of
 Savithri, and as one year drew near, realizing that her husband would die in
 four days’ time, Savithri took to fasting.



 On the day Satyavan was expected to die, Savithri followed him into the
 jungle and watched over him as he worked. A moment came when Satyavan felt
 exhausted and lay down under a Banyan tree. Savithri gently placed his head
 on her lap and stayed alert. Suddenly, she felt the presence of a large
 being of bluish hue clad in red attire, his head decked with a diadem.
 Savithri gently placed Satyavan’s head on the ground, stood up, and after
 salutations inquired who it was. It was indeed Yama, the Lord of death.


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<img decoding="async" width="700" height="454" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/everlasting_love3_213c75b042.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T06:05:51.449Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Yama did not stand on formality. He took the soul and subtle bodies of
 Satyavan in his noose and started his journey towards the region inhabited
 by the Pitris, a heavenly destination for the departed soul of Satyavan. Sad
 but determined, Savithri ran behind Lord Yama and followed her husband’s
 soul. Seeing Savithri following him, Lord Yama asked Savithri to return to
 where she belonged and make arrangements for the funeral of her husband.



 Savithri offered great eulogies to the shining divinity in Lord Yama. With
 folded hands she said, “O, son of Vaivasvan the great, you are the dispenser
 of justice. Snatching away the life of my youthful husband, who was leading
 a virtuous life on Earth, can in no way be considered an act of kindness on
 your part. Please have mercy on me and my husband’s ageing parents. Please
 spare my husband’s life or else take me also to the land of the dead.”


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<img decoding="async" width="700" height="454" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/everlasting_love4_cda94f6821.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T06:07:11.167Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Lord Yama is known to treat the virtuous with respect and sinners with
 rudeness. Savithri’s humility and wise words pleased the god of death. He
 said, “You are virtuous, so you could behold me with your eyes,” said Yama.
 “You are ascetic, so you could follow me where no mortal could travel. I
 agree that Satyavan was indeed an ocean of noble qualities, and my
 assistants could not seize his soul. Hence, I am here.” Lord Yama then
 concluded, “As your time has not yet come, you cannot come to the land of
 the dead. Nevertheless, I am pleased with you. You may ask a favor of me –
 anything except the return of your husband.”



 Savithri asked that her father-in-law, Dyumatsena, regain his eyesight. Lord
 Yama happily granted her wish and asked her to return to Earth and not tire
 herself further. On the path taken by Lord Yama there was no shade where
 Savithri could rest, and no foods with which she could satiate her hunger,
 however, she pursued her soulmate Satyavan, much to the frustration of the
 god of death.



 Upon Lord Yama again asking her to return, Savithri spoke of the duty and
 responsibility of a virtuous wife and explained what compelled her to follow
 him. The logic in her reply mightily pleased Lord Yama. He granted her a
 second favor, except the life of Satyavan. Savithri asked that her
 father-in-law regain his throne. Yama granted her wish and appreciated her
 all the more for her selflessness.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<img decoding="async" width="700" height="598" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/everlasting_love5_4a631e3cb3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T06:19:07.539Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Never suspecting that a human could continue to follow him, Lord Yama
 proceeded without glancing backward. Savithri followed him to where twelve
 suns blazed. There was no water to quench her thirst, but nevertheless she
 followed with sheer determination. When Lord Yama noticed her presence for
 the third time, he advised her to return to the material world, telling her
 that she had come too far, but Savithri had something special to say which
 surprised Lord Yama. He realized that he was happy to be interacting with
 the virtuous Savithri. He offered her yet another favor, except the life of
 her husband, and this time Savithri asked that her father be granted a
 hundred sons. Lord Yama had no difficulty in granting that wish.



 Savithri then followed Lord Yama beyond the Vaitarani River, the mere sight
 of which inspires misery. Unmindful of the hostile environment and the
 torments of her body, Savithri kept pace with Lord Yama.



 Lord Yama could not believe that Savithri was still following him. Yet
 again, he paused and looked at her with great astonishment, mockingly
 saying, “You want your husband back on Earth?” and letting out a loud laugh
 that was like thunder in the sky. “Most of humanity does not know the divine
 laws that govern life, death, the aftermath of death, and the reincarnations
 of souls. No one seems to have time to reflect on those things.” Lord Yama
 concluded, “Divine laws are strict and unsparing. It would be wise to go
 back where you still have a role to play.”


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<img decoding="async" width="600" height="900" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/everlasting_love6_5dd2594d70.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T06:20:33.407Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 With all humility, Savithri pointed out that Lord Yama was carrying out his
 duty as a functionary of Nature, but that his heart was not in his deeds.
 She wondered if he could have some say in this business. Bemused Yama, who
 had started enjoying this conversation with Savithri, pondered over what she
 said and had to agree with her logic. He was merely carrying out tasks
 dictated by Nature, and he was surprised that no one till now had requested
 that he intervene in the tasks he carried out automatically. Appreciating
 her unique perspective, Lord Yama granted her yet another favor, except for
 Satyavan’s life. Savithri expressed her gratitude. This time, she asked to
 be the mother of one hundred children, to which Lord Yama agreed; soon he
 realized the implication of this gift.



 The company of Savithri, her devotion to her husband, and her wise words
 impressed Lord Yama beyond measure. He told Savithri that intellect and
 willpower are the two most distinctive characteristics of human beings, that
 they are rare even among gods and angels, and that Savithri had utilized
 both for the good. He granted her the life of Satyavan, and then blessed the
 couple with an enjoyable earthly existence for a further four hundred years.
 Love was overflowing in the heart of Lord Yama.



 Before departing, he addressed Savithri with compassion saying, “Once in a
 while, gently remind your husband that he should not forget the other world
 while living in this sensory world; that giving a small portion of each day
 to spiritual sadhana will beget him an eternal life of bliss. You,”
 concluded Yama, “do not need any advice.”


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<img decoding="async" width="600" height="882" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/everlasting_love7_70dfa0d019.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T06:21:56.773Z" />



<hr class="vertical-space1" />
 


<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">
 Gently remind your husband that he should not forget
 the other
 world while living in this sensory world; that giving a small
 portion of each day to spiritual sadhana will beget him an
 eternal life of bliss.
</h4>


<hr />
 


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Lord Yama happily returned to his abode. When Savithri returned to the
 Banyan tree, Satyavan’s body came back to life. Savithri had chosen to
 confront her destiny, and she was successful in weaving it through her
 indomitable will. The Banyan tree plays a very small role in this story,
 which comes from the epic Mahabharata. However, it takes a great deal of
 strength to give birth to one hundred children, and we may conjecture that
 the banyan tree played a role in this. Since time immemorial, Indian women
 have used different parts of the banyan tree for gynecological issues, so
 the connection between Savithri and the banyan tree becomes a little
 clearer. During the Vat Purnima festival, eating a shoot apex of the Banyan
 tree is an integral part of the ritual performed by the women of India. It
 is also a ritual that heralds the importance of the Banyan tree in their
 lives.&nbsp;


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />


 1 Vat Purnima usually falls on the 13th, 14th, and
 15th days in the month of Jestha (May–June) of the Hindu calendar.



<hr class="vertical-space1" />
 


<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">Art by CHRISTIAN MACKETANZ</h4>


<hr />

A story of everlasting love

<h4>DR. V. RAMAKANTHA shares some insights into the science, history and mythology of the Banyan tree, also known as the Bengal Fig or Indian Fig. The Banyan is one of those mythical trees that has had an important place in the life and history of the people of India since ancient times. It is also home to many species of birds, animals, and epiphytic plants.</h4><hr><h4>Description</h4>The Banyan or Bargad tree, Ficus benghalensis L., is an evergreen with a deeply fluted trunk and horizontal branches that grow to huge proportions. Aptly called Bahu Paada in Sanskrit, meaning a plant with many feet, the Banyan has aerial roots, which grow down and penetrate the soil, supporting the massive weight of its spreading branches. With its canopy of thick, dark-green leaves year-round, the Banyan occupies more and more space every passing year. As flowering and fruiting take place across seasons, it offers food for many species, making it an ideal home for birds and small animals. This colossal ornamental plant is the National Tree of India.<h4>The Banyan in Mythology and History</h4>The Banyan is known in Hindu <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/tuatha-de-danaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">mythology</a> as the tree for fulfilling wishes (Kalpavriksha), and the tree of life and fertility. With its unique ability to spread in an ever-widening circle with the help of its aerial roots, the tree achieves a long lifespan. In this world of evanescence, it has become a symbol of stability, constancy, and permanency, and represents immortality.The Vedic fire ritual known as Yagna, is a process of burning plants and herbal medicines to purify the environment, and the twigs of the Banyan tree are invariably used. The sacredness of the tree also comes from the ancient stories that it was the residing place of Lord Kubera, the god of wealth, and Lord Krishna used to rest on Banyan leaves.The tribal people of Maharashtra and Telangana, Pardhans, who are traditionally bards and singers, consider the hanging roots of the Banyan tree to be the long and matted hair of their Guru, Jalranda. The story goes that after he passed away, Guru Jalranda was buried under a Palasa tree (Butea monosperma), and later a Banyan tree emerged out of his grave. In a dream, Guru Jalranda revealed to his eldest son that the Banyan emerged out of his body, and he commanded that it must be served and revered. Needless to say, Pardhans hold Banyans tree to be sacred and protect them.<hr><h5>In this world of evanescence, the Banyan has become a symbol of&nbsp; stability, constancy, and permanency,&nbsp; and represents immortality.</h5><hr>For some tribal people of Odisha, the trees are shrines of the gods, and it is sacrilege to cut them. Such belief is prevalent amongst most communities of India.The Banyan has been introduced into several other countries in Asia. It is considered sacred in the Philippines, where many people believe that it is a home for both benevolent and evil spirits. It is customary not to point a finger directly at a Banyan tree, as it may offend the spirits dwelling in it, a belief often shared in South India. In Indonesia, the Banyan tree has become a symbol for unity and power. There, people have built shrines beneath gigantic Banyan trees.&nbsp;A colossal Banyan tree begins its life from a minute seed, and as an epiphyte the plant grows on another plant. When the scarlet red fruits of the Banyan are enjoyed by birds and animals, those tiny seeds pass through their alimentary canals unharmed. The seeds germinate in cracks or crevices of other trees, which often results in the hosts’ death. It is no wonder that in Buddhist literature the Banyan tree is often used as a metaphor for lust overcoming humans.In 1989, a Banyan tree in Anantapur District of Telangana State, India, was recorded as the largest tree specimen in the world in the Guinness Book of World Records. Its canopy covered 19,107 m2 (4.721 acres).<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/tree_of_life_fertility2_14fe2efe58.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T12:26:38.699Z" alt=""><h4>Ethnomedicinal Uses</h4>Parts of the Banyan are used in traditional medicinal practices, such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy. In Ayurveda, it is one of the PanchaValkala (five barks) used in treating various human ailments. The Banyan plays an important role in the treatment of diabetes, and gynecological and fertility issues.The bark is prepared as an infusion, to be used as a tonic, while a decoction is used in treating vaginal problems. During pregnancy, the tender leaves are boiled in water and administered orally to strengthen the uterine muscles.The bark and aerial roots are used in treating diabetes. The decoction is also gargled frequently to counter bad breath and mouth ulcers. The tender aerial roots are chewed and used as a toothbrush.The aerial roots are also pounded and consumed with buttermilk to cure diarrhea, and the leaf buds are boiled in water for the same purpose. A paste made out of Banyan bark is a remedy for sunburn, as it gives an excellent cooling effect and reduces the burning sensation when applied.<hr><hr><h4>The Banyan plays an important role&nbsp; in the treatment of diabetes, and gynecological and fertility issues.</h4><hr><hr>It is considered to be one of the best remedies for controlling hair fall. 300 grams of dried and powdered aerial roots are immersed in one liter of coconut oil for fifteen days. After straining, some of the oil is applied to the scalp before sleeping and is washed out the next morning.The milky latex of the Banyan is used to overcome bad breath, gum infections, and for strengthening loose teeth. The latex, which is obtained from the leaves or branches, is mixed with honey and applied to the gums, rinsing with lukewarm water after ten minutes.&nbsp;A few drops of the latex are taken orally with milk in the treatment of bleeding piles.&nbsp;The milky latex is also applied to bruises and cracked soles, and to relieve rheumatic pains. Banyan fruit and its juice are used in rheumatism and also in cases of pain in the muscles and joints of the lower back (lumbago).The leaf powder mixed with coconut oil is applied to wounds. The fruits are eaten raw to cure problems relating to bile production and the bile duct. The seeds are used in curing excessive urination.Nyagrodhadi Kashayam, Sarivadyasava, Ushirasava, and Paranthyadi Taila are some of the Ayurvedic medicines containing Banyan as a major constituent.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/tree_of_life_fertility3_d28ece0810.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T12:41:05.772Z" alt="">&nbsp;<hr><h4>What Does Science Know About the Banyan Tree?</h4>An article published in the British Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research (Tadulkar, 2015) supports the anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic properties of bark extracts of the Banyan tree. A phytochemical investigation published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Analysis (Shiva and Singh,2018), revealed the presence of as many as 63 phytochemicals (including two new ones) in the tincture of the stem bark of the Banyan.A number of scientific publications advocate the presence of many phyto-constituents with a wide spectrum of biological activities, justifying the use of different plant parts of the Banyan in combating various diseases, environmental stresses, and maintaining human and animal health. Most authors hold the view that a lot of research is still needed on this important plant.<h4>The Enigmatic Tree of Ecology</h4>Recent ecological studies have also added to the mystery of this tree. The gigantic Banyan tree is entirely dependent on a miniature wasp for its perpetuation, and the wasp too cannot survive without the Banyan trees. Only one species of wasp, Eupristinamasoni, can pollinate the inverted flowers or synconium, which are concealed within the figs. The intricate relationship between the mighty tree and the miniature insect serves as an extraordinary example of adaptation and co-evolution between plants and animals. In fact, the Banyan does not yield viable fruit in cold countries where the wasp does not exist.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/tree_of_life_fertility4_7d31d7388e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T13:05:57.417Z" alt="">&nbsp;<hr><h4>Other Uses of the Banyan</h4>The wood of the Banyan is used for door panels, well curbs, furniture, and boxes. Paper is made from the bark and the leaves make good fodder. The sap is used to produce shellac, a strong adhesive. It can also be used to make surface-finishers and for polishing brass and copper.In the olden days, during family gatherings and functions, people would eat on Patravali, organic disposable plates made with the leaves of selected trees like the Banyan. These plates are still very popular in rural regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Karnataka. In some parts of Karnataka, Banyan leaves are used for wrapping idli batter, which is later on steamed. The tender leaves of the Banyan are used as food.<hr><hr><h4>A lot of research is still needed on this important plant.</h4><hr><hr><h4>A Recipe for Banyan Chutney</h4>Chutney made of tender Banyan leaves and other ingredients is an excellent source of Selenium, an element that plays a crucial role in metabolism and thyroid function.Ingredients<ul><li>Grated coconut 1 cup</li><li>Tender Banyan leaves 1/4 cup</li><li>Cumin seeds 1 tsp</li><li>Peppercorns 1 tsp</li><li>Buttermilk 1 cup</li><li>Salt to taste</li></ul>Heat 2 tbsp of ghee in a pan and add cumin seeds and peppercorns. When they splutter, add Banyan leaves, and fry them over a low flame until they become crisp. Cool the mixture and grind them with coconut, adding a little water. Add the buttermilk. Season with mustard and curry leaves. Add salt to taste. It goes very well with steamed rice.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/tree_of_life_fertility5_224aa9970c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T13:07:13.833Z" alt="">&nbsp;<hr><h4>Propagation</h4>Seeds from bird droppings serve as an excellent source for raising new Banyan plants. Branch cuttings can also be planted. There is also translocation – a massive Banyan tree that was rescued and translocated from the Thumkunta area of Hyderabad has bounced back to life in Kanha Shanti Vanam.<hr>ReferencesNarayanan, N. and U. Patil, 2019. Vata (Ficus benghalensis) a Detailed Review from Classical Texts. International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharma Research, 7, 11: 64-69.Talukdar, S.N. et al., 2015. Screening of Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical Profile and Traditional Application of Ficus benghalensis. British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 8, 3: 1-17.Shiva, S.S. and S.K. Singh, 2018. Investigation of phytoconstituents in stem bark of Ficus benghalensis Linn. using GC-MS technique. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 9, 6: 2478-83.<hr><hr><h4>Illustrations by KANIKA RAJ SINGH&nbsp; &amp; JASMEE MUDGAL</h4><hr>

The tree of life and fertility

<hr><h4>V. RAMAKANTHA, Ph.D., is a former Indian Forest Service officer and member of the Green Initiative at the international Heartfulness Center, Kanha Shanti Vanam, India. Having spent most of his working life living in forests and jungles, in tune with the natural world, he shares his knowledge about some of the amazing medicinal plants of India, in this case the Ber tree.</h4>&nbsp;<hr>Botanical Name:&nbsp;Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.&nbsp;Common Names: Indian Jujube, Indian Plum, Chinese Date, Ber, Gangaregu, BadarThe Ber tree is a much branched, thorny deciduous tree with a spreading crown, growing to a height of about 45 feet. It is a hardy species with its origin in India. Its presence is unmistakable in the sandy soils of arid and semi-arid zones of India, and it is widely cultivated for its fruits. The dried fruits purify the blood and are used in the treatment of chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, pharyngitis, bronchitis, anemia, irritability and hysteria. The seeds are used in the treatment of insomnia and nervous exhaustion.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/ber_tree2_c21600b4cd.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T11:54:22.066Z">&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h4>Mythology &amp; History</h4>Ber fruits have an association with Shabari, one of the extraordinary characters in the epic Ramayana. Shabari exemplifies the fact that the spiritual quest is not a prerogative of any sex, creed, class or community, but the birth right of all human beings.Shabari was born into a hunter-gatherer community, and lived much of her life in Dandakaranya, the jungles of the Deccan Peninsula. At one moment in her life, she started observing in herself the loss of interest in anything other than the deep void engulfing her. To begin with, she developed an aversion to meat eating, and dropped the habit. There was a growing restlessness in her heart, and she did not know what would quench her thirst for the unknown. One fine day, with an overwhelming sense of dejection, she left her abode, and started wandering in the jungles, with no particular aim in life.Having mastered the ability to eke out a living and sustain herself from the bounty of nature, she spent days alone, moving wherever her whim led. Fortunately for her, she reached the ashram of Matunga, a hermit who was seeking enlightenment. Sage Matunga could perceive Shabari’s noble intentions, the spiritual yearnings in the heart of this tribal woman, so he took her into his care .Shabari spent several years serving Matunga and the other followers in the ashram. However, just as had happened to her life in her tribal hamlet, she remained dull in spirits, and the monotony haunted her. One day, sage Matunga summoned her and told her something that shook her to the core. He told her that his death was imminent. Second, he told her that Lord Rama, the avatar of that era, would pass by the ashram sometime in the future, and that meeting him would result in her discovering her life’s purpose.Shabari’s miseries increased. She lost her mentor in Matunga and she had no idea who Lord Rama was. What would he look like? Would he come today, tomorrow, at all? How would she address him? Would he even notice her presence? As the cravings in her heart grew, doubts also assaulted her heart, “Will he understand my language? What shall I tell him? What shall I offer Him?” The dull heart of Shabari turned into a volcano.Months passed, and eagerly Shabari awaited the arrival of Lord Rama. Years passed, and still there was no sign of Lord Rama. Shabari was growing old and frail, but there was no stopping her heart that craved the appearance of Lord Rama.Lord Rama was exiled in the forests of India. The evil Ravana had abducted his wife Sita, and he was searching for her with a heavy heart. It was in those times that Shabari got to see her Lord. The cry of the heart of Shabari, the true seeker, brought Lord Rama to her door.Shabari could easily see the Divinity in the human frame of Lord Rama. She fell at his feet, and her tears washed the feet of her Lord. When the mother in her woke up, she quickly gathered some Ber fruits. However, she couldn’t trust those fruits. Were they sweet or sour? So she tasted each one, and only when she was satisfied with the quality of each fruit, she fed them to Lord Rama.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/ber_tree3_f335a10c9c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T11:55:43.851Z">&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;Ultimately, Shabari was able to host Lord Rama in her own little way. Lord Rama’s heart was touched by her love, and he forgot his personal misery while in her company. Needless to say, Shabari was liberated during that incarnation.Ber is one of those monumental trees that are unique to every historical Hindu temple. Ber fruits are offered to Lord Shiva, and in all Shiva temples, the fruit is given great importance, especially during Maha Shivaratri, the Hindu festival in honor of Lord Shiva.The Ber tree is also considered sacred by Sikhs. It is often grown around gurdwaras, as Guru Nanak is believed to have received enlightenment beneath a Ber tree. Probably, the oldest Ber tree is at Amritsar in the Punjab. Known as “Dukh Bhanjani Beri,” it was already in existence when the fourth in the lineage of Sikh gurus, Shri Guru Ram Das, founded Amritsar city and the holy sarovar in the 16th century. This particular Ber tree is now over 400 years old and still fruiting! The devotees coming to the Golden Temple complex do not pluck the fruits, but sit under the tree in the hope of a fruit falling. It is believed that if you pray in front of this Ber tree and then take a holy dip in the Golden Temple waters, it will cure you of all your ailments and diseases.Much is written about how the humble Ber fruits sustained certain historical figures in periods of their distress. The heroic deeds of Maha Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar, Rajasthan, remains etched in the annals of Indian history. The poet Kavi Bhushan lucidly described the struggles of Rana Pratap Singh against the Mughal emperor, Akbar. He described how the ousted king and his family faced the turbulence of their life, and how the humble Ber fruits in the forests of the Aravalli Hills provided nourishment to the royal family.<h4>Ethnomedicinal Uses</h4>The Ber fruits vary greatly in size and shape. They are green at first, turning yellow or reddish as they ripen. The fruits are delicious eaten fresh or dried like raisins. They are also made into pickles and beverages. The raw seeds have a sweet flavor and are eaten as a snack. Apart from being tasty, Ber fruits offer an effective herbal remedy for a wide range of ailments.&nbsp;In Ayurveda, the Ber plant parts are used for treating bleeding disorders, excessive thirst, and bronchial asthma. The dried fruits are considered to purify the blood, improve digestion, and offer relief from constipation. They are used to treat chronic fatigue, diarrhea and anemia. Ber fruits have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce swelling in the joints.<hr>&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h5 style="text-align:center;">Eating Ber fruit is also considered&nbsp;to be good for diabetes, and&nbsp;Charaka has placed the Ber tree among the group of plants that is a tonic for the heart.</h5>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<hr>Ripe Ber fruits help in quick healing of wounds, decrease swelling and bring back normal texture of the skin. Ber fruit powder with honey is applied on the face in the form of a face mask to attain a glowing skin, help manage skin infections, and promote healing of wounds (it should be rinsed off after four to five minutes).Dried Ber fruits are good for maintaining bone density. Ber fruit powder is very useful for reducing the burning sensation and swelling of piles. Charaka Samhita, one of the principal contributors to Ayurveda, recommends a Ber decoction sitz bath for treating hemorrhoids.Ber fruit powder and its leaves help to control hair fall. When applied on the scalp, it also promotes new hair growth and removes dryness.Ber fruits, including the seeds, are considered to have sedative qualities and they are natural sleep inducers. They also provide relief from anxiety and cure hysteria. The fruits and seeds are also used to treat vomiting, flatulence, nausea, leprosy, and ulcers.A paste made out of Ber leaves is applied externally to relieve burning sensations and fever. The leaf paste is also used to treat boils and abscesses. Ber leaves are also a part of Panchamla Thailam oil, used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.Ber bark is used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, gingivitis and boils, and a decoction of Ber bark is used to treat bloating and abdominal distention. Ber roots are also used in case of fever, wounds, ulcers, etc.Eating Ber fruit is also considered to be good for diabetes, and Charaka has placed the Ber tree among the group of plants that is a tonic for the heart.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">What Does Science Know About the Ber Tree?</h4>The presence of a diverse group of secondary metabolites found in the Ber tree makes it a remarkable medicinal plant. Ber fruits are very rich in vitamin C (188 to 544 mg per 100 gm pulp), B1 (thiamine) and B2 (riboflavin). They also have a high Vitamin P (bioflavonoid) content (354 to 888 mg per 100 gm pulp). The fruits are also filled with minerals like potassium, phosphorus, manganese, iron, and zinc.In research published in the journal Pharmaceutical Biology, in 2009, extracts and fraction of the Ber plant have shown appreciable results in decreasing serum glucose level and other complications associated with diabetes. E.E. Jarald et al. support the inclusion of Ber plant parts in traditional anti-diabetic preparations. And according to a study published in the Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences in 2015, the fruit pulp can prevent diabetic neuropathy.An article published in Phytochemistry in 1996 confirms the sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, antibacterial and antifungal activities of Ber. The seed contains a number of medicinally active compounds, corroborating the traditional use of Ber plant parts in the treatment of palpitations, insomnia, nervous exhaustion, night sweats, and excessive perspiration. A study published in Pharmacognosy Reviews in 2015 attributes anti-cancer properties to Ber fruits.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Other Uses</h4>The reddish wood of Ber is strong and durable, used in making agricultural implements, axe handles, toys etc. The Ber tree is a good source of wood fuel, and also high-grade charcoal. The young leaves can be cooked as a vegetable.The leaves make for nutritious fodder, which are also used for growing tassar silk. It is a good host for the lac insect, which deposits an orange-colored resin that is collected and processed to make shellac. Ber bark, when pounded and mashed in water, yields brown and reddish dyes.The Ber tree is an important source of nourishment for the endangered antelopes of India, like the Indian Gazelles and Black Bucks, while its fruits are relished not only by birds but a wide range of mammals, like jackals, wild dogs and honey badgers.The fruits are very much liked by children. Delicacies are made from them, and a tea is made from a decoction of the fruit with cinnamon and ginger.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Propagation</h4>Ber is propagated through seeds, and through other vegetative means. Storing of seeds for over four months, or the scarification of seeds, helps better germination. To germinate, seeds need full sunlight. Ber grows in a wide variety of soils and withstands extreme temperatures, thriving under dry conditions. There are numerous cultivated varieties of Ber in India, so it is difficult to identify the original wild variety.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/ber_tree4_3cd2febe7d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T11:57:22.290Z">&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;

The Ber tree

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">DR V. RAMAKANTHA, retired forest officer, who raised a family and worked in forests for most of his adult life, returns to our pages in 2025 to share his vast knowledge of medicinal plants, and the fascinating stories associated with them. In his signature style, this month he weaves together science, folklore, and traditional knowledge to tell the story of the Devil’s Tree, Saptaparni.</h4>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/devils_tree2_fb0ebfb6a1.webp" alt="devils-tree2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_devils_tree2_fb0ebfb6a1.webp 126w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_devils_tree2_fb0ebfb6a1.webp 403w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Saptaparni is a large evergreen tree growing up to 120 feet. Palakkad, a town and district in the Indian state of Kerala, is believed to have been named after these trees—“pala” refers to Saptaparni and “kaadu” to forests. Saptaparni is also known as yakshi-paalya, meaning Devil’s Tree. Yaksha and Yakshi are nature spirits, generally considered benevolent celestial beings who visit Earth, but they also have a darker form of grotesque and terrible entities that can appear before people as the most beautiful and enchanting ladies.In many parts of South India, a Yakshi is believed to make a home in a Saptaparni tree. If any male villager gradually loses weight and health, an affair with a Yakshi becomes the first suspicion in the minds of the elders.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">A cautionary tale</h4>According to folklore, a Brahmin had gone to a distant village on work. He was late returning, and the golden rays of the sun started disappearing from the horizon. Being far from home, and being afraid of the impending dark, he quickened his step. Then, to his surprise, he saw a maiden of extraordinary beauty wearing a white sari, her long hair adorned with the sweet-smelling flowers of Saptaparni.To his greater surprise, she approached him and in a sweet voice told him that she was late returning from her companion’s home. As she was afraid of the dark, she pleaded with the Brahmin to accompany her home, just a short distance away.Wonderstruck by her ethereal beauty, and enamored by her sweet voice, the Brahmin readily followed her to her spacious house on the edge of a river. By then it was dark. The beautiful lady made an offer to the Brahmin to stay with her for the night. Throwing caution to the wind, not even wondering why a beautiful lady was staying in an isolated house, the Brahmin agreed to stay with her and it indeed became a memorable night in his life.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/devils_tree3_23cdf75117.webp" alt="devils-tree3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_devils_tree3_23cdf75117.webp 133w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_devils_tree3_23cdf75117.webp 425w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;From then on, he spent days and nights in her company, enjoying carnal pleasures. As the days passed, he became disinterested in life and cared not even to eat. Gradually, he became a bundle of bones, and ultimately died. As the story goes, the Yakshi is now on the lookout for other men in isolated places.In the villages of India, youngsters are warned not to sleep under Saptaparni trees. Indeed, if a tree is in bloom, it is prudent not to sleep under its dense shade, as the copious minute pollen grains might cause health issues.&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Botanical information</h4>Saptaparni has a wide distribution in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, southern China, Papua New Guinea, and Queensland, Australia. The tree can be easily identified with its gray-brown bark, which exudes a milky latex when cut, and especially by its shiny leaves that are in whorls of four to eight, deceptively giving a spiral pattern.The greenish white flowers are small, tightly packed in clusters, and highly fragrant. Fruits appear in pairs and look like spindly beans.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/devils_tree4_9b684e9750.webp" alt="devils-tree4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_devils_tree4_9b684e9750.webp 88w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_devils_tree4_9b684e9750.webp 282w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_devils_tree4_9b684e9750.webp 423w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_devils_tree4_9b684e9750.webp 564w," sizes="100vw"></figure>By Utpal Tijoriwala - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36221536">https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36221536</a>The common names of Saptaparni include Dita Bark Tree, Milkwood Pine, White Cheese Wood and Blackboard Tree. Placed in the family Apocyanaceae (Dogbane), the Latin name of Saptaparni is Alstonia scholaris. In the 1950s and ’60s, school children in India would trace letters on small rectangular slates (blackboards), the frames of which were made from the wood of Saptaparni, and hence the species name “scholaris.”&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/devils_tree5_36e1e061bb.webp" alt="devils-tree5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_devils_tree5_36e1e061bb.webp 117w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_devils_tree5_36e1e061bb.webp 375w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_devils_tree5_36e1e061bb.webp 562w," sizes="100vw"></figure>By © 2009 Jee &amp; Rani Nature Photography (License: CC BY-SA 4.0), CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10265828<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Medicinal uses</h4>In India, parts of the Saptaparni tree are used in the <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/yoga-and-ayurveda-for-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">medicine of Ayurveda</a>, Siddha, and Unani, as well as non-codified drug systems, for the treatment of malaria, jaundice, gastrointestinal troubles, cancer, and other diseases. The medicinal importance of Saptaparni has been documented in Bhavaprakasha, a medicinal treatise authored by Acharya Bhavamishra. The bitter drug extracted from the bark is also used to treat a range of complaints from chronic diarrhea, dysentery, <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/conquering-asthma-through-meditation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">asthma</a>, to fevers. Its milky latex is also used to treat sores and ulcers. The leaves of Saptaparni are used in the treatment of beriberi, dropsy, and liver congestion.In China, the bark and leaves are used to treat headache, influenza, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Indigenous Australians use the bark for the treatment of abdominal pains and fevers.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Other Uses</h4>The wood of Saptaparni is soft, light, and fine-textured, but is not very durable; it is sometimes used to make toys, minor furniture, and tea chests. It is also used for plywood and second-class match splints. The latex provides good quality chewing gum (Bhanupratap et al., 2013). The bark yields fiber, which, in this era of plastic, is not much in demand. A yellow dye obtained from the bark is used to dye cotton fabrics. The flowers yield an essential oil.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/devils_tree6_70ea06879b.webp" alt="devils-tree6.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_devils_tree6_70ea06879b.webp 195w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_devils_tree6_70ea06879b.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>By J.M.Garg - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3483481">https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3483481</a>&nbsp;What does science know about Saptaparni?Saptaparni has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide for its pharmacological profile ranging from antimalarial to anticancer activities. It is a valuable medicinal tree as it is rich in bioactive alkaloids. Over 70 different types of alkaloids have been reported in the root, bark, leaves, fruit and flowers. An un-crystallizable bitter principle, ditain, was isolated from Saptaparni and research findings validate its use in treating fever. Many of the scientific investigations conducted on animals corroborate antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, antiplasmodial, antiasthmatic, anticancer, hepatoprotective effects, and wound healing abilities.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/devils_tree7_ea409ecbb3.webp" alt="devils-tree7.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_devils_tree7_ea409ecbb3.webp 208w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_devils_tree7_ea409ecbb3.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>By MargaretRDonald - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69758619In coastal Karnataka and the Western Ghats, on the auspicious day of Ashadha Amavasya, the new moon in the month of July, a great ritual is associated with the Saptaparni tree. Customarily, the head of the family approaches a Saptaparni tree before dawn, seeks its permission to chop some pieces of bark, then heads home with the bark. The lady of the home makes a decoction of the bark and all the family members drink a few ounces. It has a terrible taste that some say is remembered for the whole year. This yearly ritual is believed to be insurance against malaria.Interestingly, the Saptaparni bark is used in the commercial formulation “Ayush 64” produced by the National Research Development Corporation, Government of India in collaboration with M/s Dabur India Ltd., for the treatment of malaria.This versatile tree is also given its due in Jainism. It is the sacred tree of the second Jain Tirthankar, Ajitnatha. And Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European Noble Laureate, elevated the status of the Saptaparni tree to that of an auspicious plant. In Viswa-Bharati, a Central University founded by him, he set a tradition wherein the leaves of Saptaparni are awarded to graduates and postgraduates by the chancellor, given to him in turn by the Prime Minister of India. In recent years, to prevent excessive damage to the Saptaparni trees, the vice-chancellor accepts one leaf of this tree from the chancellor of the university on behalf of all the students.Despite great demand from the medicinal industry, Saptaparni is faring well across its habitats, and is assessed as a plant of Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). &nbsp;It is a fast-growing species and extremely resistant to pollution.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">References</h4><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li>Tomar, A., 2016. Geographical distribution of Alstonia scholaris R. Br. with its medicinal importance. International Journal of Botany Studies 1(3): 01-02.</li><li>Khyadea, M.S. et al., 2014. Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. and Alstonia macrophylla Wall. ex G. Don: A Comparative Review on Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 153(1):1-18.</li></ol>

The devil’s tree

Drew is a poet, writer, and pastor in The United Methodist Church with a deep love for global contemplative spirituality. He studied theology at Justo Mwale University in Zambia and completed graduate work at Emory University. He lives in Fayetteville, Georgia with his wife, Amanda, and their three children, and shares his poetry and reflections on Substack.

drew-west.webp

Drew D. West

<h4 style="text-align:center;">A meditation on stillness by DREW D. WEST</h4>&nbsp;Stillness chosen has a way of shaping us— it certainly has shaped me.Like a rock in a river accepting the water’s current for a hundred years— it smooths our roughness, if we allow it.I thought I knew myself. But when I first entered the quiet, I could hardly stand being with that stranger! I only knew my surface.But after many moments of staying still, I learned to admire the details long unseen. I learned to marvel at the fact that I exist at all.When I avoid this unfolding experience, I become a stranger. When I welcome it, it overflows, and I build neighborhoods of peace amidst wars.How long have I chosen this silence? I’m not sure— but I hope to gather a hundred years.

Stillness Chosen

Durga Nagarajan

When was the last time that your body and mind became so quiet and withdrawn from the surrounding, that you felt you just can’t carry on any longer? It happens every time I hit what we call the ‘writer’s block’.&nbsp;In my understanding, motivation is something we draw from within. It is the primary thing which instills faith and says, “Don’t worry buddy. You’re doing well, just keep at it.”Here are some ways to get self motivated:<h4>1) Train your mind</h4>We need to be practical in our mindset and believe in what we do, irrespective of whatever comes our way. Train the mind that what we have undertaken needs to be completed.<h4>2) Look at the positives at all times</h4>Every situation has its own pros and cons. A lot of the time, we are unable to move ahead as we are so&nbsp;focused on looking at the tough part and difficulties that we forget there are always two sides of the&nbsp;coin.<h4>3) Be prepared for adversities</h4>The reason many of us are taken aback when faced with extremities is that we haven’t prepared for the worst.&nbsp;When I started my business and things got&nbsp;topsy-turvy, I used to ask&nbsp;my colleagues, “What is the worst that could happen?”These days, however, with some experience, we take into account the ‘worst case scenario’. When we do this, nothing seems too big and insurmountable, at any point in our execution.<h4>4) Cheerful acceptance</h4>Part of our problem is that we don’t accept our circumstances and we try to&nbsp;fight reality. Per contra, if we accept our current situation we are able to analyze where we are and what we want to achieve.<h4>5) Visualize</h4>Visualize yourself doing what you’ve always dreamt of doing and, voila, before you know it you will manifest&nbsp;it.<h4>6) Start afresh</h4>When we are working on a very specific project&nbsp;which we feel will&nbsp;be our masterpiece, we are occupied by it 24×7. This preoccupation tends to turn very subtly into an obsession with a very narrow-minded approach.In such instances, we need to take a step back, relax, breathe&nbsp;deeply and take a break. Start off on the same, the next day or the day after.<h4>7) Learn constantly</h4>Try to constantly learn all you can on the project you are undertaking. The abundance of information also tends to give a motivational feel that you tackle situations easily.<h4>8) Track your progress periodically</h4>Here is what I do: To <a href="//www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/silver-and-water/">understand myself </a>better, to know how much I’ve changed as a person, I keep a diary. Every day I write how I feel, what happened during my meditation, and what I felt in my day. That helps me moving forward.<h4>9) Help Others</h4>Many people get their life’s motivation from helping and caring for others. That’s one of the ways in which successful businessmen like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson and Warren Buffet use their money. This dimension in our lives gives a new meaning to our work life and we want to do even better than before, only to help others and make a difference in their lives.<h4>10) Keep good company</h4>People with whom we surround ourselves are&nbsp;strong influencers in our lives. There are times when we are down and we need others&nbsp;to help us back on our feet. Therefore, it’s always in our best interest to be surrounded by optimistic people.<h4>11) Make it a team effort</h4>Competing in the business world or in any other field never really draws good vibes. On the contrary, it draws all our energy. A healthy way of working towards similar goals is to team up with individuals who also share the same.<h4>12) Know about the lives of good people</h4>When we read about the lives of famous and successful people, we realize the hardships they have&nbsp;been through and that their pain and suffering is similar to ours.This works on our psyche so&nbsp;we start moving forward with a new found energy and zeal. This&nbsp;comes from knowing that&nbsp;we are not alone.<h4>13)&nbsp;Optimize time out</h4>Take some time out every morning for yourself. <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.letsmeditate&amp;hl=en">Meditate for a bit to tune in to your inner self</a>. Have a healthy,&nbsp;nourishing breakfast.Try to arrive home&nbsp;from work on time, and have a good evening. Read a book or play an outdoor sport. Prioritize time for yourself, so you are motivated to do well in other things.<h4>14) When in doubt, refer to the heart</h4>When you hit a roadblock, refer to your heart. Rekindling the interest brings back lost passion and you will&nbsp;end up having a new found enthusiasm to complete the task.<h4>15) Move&nbsp;</h4>We need to move. This creates good blood circulation through the brain and all body parts, releasing a lot of endorphins that stimulate the brain to work and create ideas.<h4>16) Find the glitch</h4>Find out where you’ve come to a standstill and why? Is it because you’re afraid, restless, frustrated or because you feel there isn’t enough time to complete the project.<h4>17) Deconstruct your fears</h4>We are constantly afraid of something or the other. What are we afraid of? We don’t know! Most of the time we are afraid of the unknown. Analyze and dissect known from unknown and make yourself confident to&nbsp;handle the situation with finesse.<h4>18) Plan out your day in advance</h4>I generally plan my day the night before. This gives foresight into what is needed the next day and I can mentally prepare myself to manage it. This also motivates me to look forward to&nbsp;the adventure of new work and completing other things in a very timely manner.<h4>19) Get the right ammunition</h4>The tools and devices we use also have a very important role to play in our motivation.&nbsp;They involuntarily affect our mindset and output. Make sure all your devices are those that are appropriate for the task at hand.<h4>20) Build on success</h4>When you’ve just won a deal it’s easier to get yourself working, rather than waiting or working on a one-time job.<h4>21) Take it step by step</h4>It’s not easy to work on a project as a whole from day one. Take it&nbsp;one step at a time. In this way, your concentration is intact and so is the desire to do your best, as there is one-pointed focus.<h4>22) Find a partner</h4>Company is good. Have a go-to person who inspires you&nbsp;just by talking to you for a few minutes or being with you. For example, many of us have jogging partners, and that person sometimes becomes&nbsp;the reason we&nbsp;go for a jog and enjoy it and vice versa.<h4>23) Attitude determines your altitude</h4>A calm and serene attitude speaks volumes. With such an attitude problems get solved, as we tend to focus on solutions. Motivation is never lacking in&nbsp;such an individual.&nbsp;So, here are a few ways to stay&nbsp;self-motivated and create a life of purpose. Try them out and let us know if you have any more ways of staying motivated.&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Blog&nbsp;by DURGA NAGARAJAN</h4>&nbsp;<hr>

How to be self motivated in life - 23 ultimate ways

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<h4>DURGA NATARAJAN shares her favorite tips on how she handles inner turmoil and
 regains a sense of well-being.</h4>
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Many times I find that we cope with stress, anxiety, and inner restlessness by indulging in things outside ourselves.
 The other day after work, a friend of mine had come home to chat about some issues she was going through. As I was
 showering, I heard her singing a melancholy Hindi film song downstairs. Her voice grew louder or softer depending on
 the thoughts in her mind, and I felt heavy in the heart listening to her singing. I could feel that she was trying to
 keep her mind from wandering into the multitude of family and career issues she had on her plate.
Retail therapy is another well-known way that we try to forget about problems, but again, how well does it work?
 These behaviors are just symptoms of our inner disturbance, our way of trying to cope with feeling uncomfortable, so
 how to treat the underlying cause? Our inner apparatus goes through a lot of wear and tear, just like our bodies, and
 often needs attention from us.
When inner turmoil strikes, here are some things that have worked for me:
Relax and calm yourself down.
Sit quietly and connect with your inner self.
For some time of the day, don’t indulge in any activity. Just be in the moment.
When you feel a little better, get up and analyze the situation. It’s not always as bad
 as it seems. Acceptance changes the situation a lot as you start feeling it can be dealt with.
Find out the pros and cons, and what can be done in the present moment.
Listen to your heart’s guidance on what to do and follow it.
In a nutshell, treat it internally. It will take you a long way.
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by&nbsp;DURGA NATARAJAN</h4>

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Rising above inner turmoil

E.M. Forster

Our daily lives

Eckhart Tolle is recognized as one of the most inspiring and visionary spiritual teachers today. His international bestsellers,&nbsp;The Power of Now&nbsp;and&nbsp;A New Earth—translated into 52 languages—have introduced millions to the joy of living life in the present moment.&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;has described him as “the most popular spiritual author in the United States." His teachings focus on the significance and power of Presence, the awakened state of consciousness, which transcends ego and discursive thinking. Eckhart sees this awakening as the essential next step in human evolution.

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Eckhart Tolle

Thoughtless presence

Allow nature to teach you stillness

Eddie is a yoga instructor from NYC, an author, a researcher, and has created two apps, The Breathing App and Yoga 365. He is the co-founder of the Urban Yogis, and is on the board of the Black Yoga Teachers Alliance. His latest book is One Simple Thing, a New Look at the Science of Yoga and How It Can Change Your Life.

Eddie-Stern.jpg

Eddie Stern

<h4>EDDIE STERN explores the 3 basic attitudes that shape the way we form a relationship with the inner self in yoga. Eddie is the co-founder of the Urban Yogis, and is on the board of the Black Yoga Teachers Alliance. His latest book is One Simple Thing, a New Look at the Science of Yoga and How It Can Change Your Life. He has also created two apps:&nbsp;The Breathing App&nbsp;and&nbsp;Yoga 365.</h4><hr>Yoga is perhaps one of the earliest self-care practices presented in a systematic way. But self-care in yoga is a little different from the way we currently think of self-care, because it is care for our inner consciousness. It is the quest to discover the deepest understanding of who we are, what our purpose is, and what we are doing here during our short time on Earth.When we care for our innermost nature, which is one of the things that meditation teaches, other aspects of our life can fall into place. We sleep better, eat better, relate better, and act better. It is a top-down approach to healing.Take sleep, for example: we don’t try to sleep better, but we try to form a relationship with the person within who is sleeping. Better sleep is a result of that relationship. Meditation brings us into contact with the person within us – the consciousness within us – that is present while eating, sleeping, acting, and relating, so that all these activities become imbued with consciousness, and are no longer compulsive.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/caring_self_all2_03d715f663.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T10:24:15.002Z" alt="caring-self-all2"><hr>Ancient yoga texts discuss three basic attitudes that drive how we form a relationship with our inner self. Each is described as a&nbsp;bhavana. Bhavana&nbsp;is often translated as mood or emotion, but it is more specifically a mood or emotion that accompanies an action. For example, one day you might learn a yoga pose that brings you great joy, or a sense of freedom or lightness. When that happens, you consciously attach that feeling to the action. Each time you do that posture, you can recall the feeling associated with it, until the two become interconnected, and each time you do that pose, it brings joy. The same is true with ritual, prayer, work, creativity, and meditation. The mood we bring to any practice is highly important, and when the mood and action become indelibly connected, we will always enter into that expanded state as we perform the actions. Then all actions become devotional.All too often, we get bored, are tired, have stuff to do, or are rushing to get things done. Sometimes we are simply goal-oriented and miss the sweetness of the practice. So, to recall the&nbsp;bhavana&nbsp;as we do a practice is one of the first tunings of consciousness that takes place as we transform.&nbsp;Here are 3 key&nbsp;bhavanas&nbsp;inspired by one of my professors, Dr. Karuna Nagarajan:&nbsp;<h4>1. Adopt the opposite attitude to a negative thought or emotion</h4>This is known as pratipaksha bhavana. If you feel anger, try to replace it with tenderness. If you feel jealousy, try to replace it with sympathetic joy. Easier said than done, but nobody said yoga was easy!&nbsp;Pratipaksha bhavana&nbsp;is featured in the Yoga Sutras.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/caring_self_all3_86888d6fee.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T10:25:21.562Z" alt="caring-self-all3"><hr><h4>2. Observe your emotions, don’t get lost in them</h4>This is known as saakshi bhavana. Things are going to come up, and we all know by now not to push them away. Observe them, and they gradually lose their energy and power, and we also learn something from them.Remember, you are the observing awareness, not your thoughts. You wouldn’t know you were having a thought, or an emotion, unless something was there to observe it. So, consciously practicing witness-awareness throughout the day is a great practice, and good for our overall mental and emotional well-being.&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/caring_self_all4_58c05f6d98.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T10:26:08.636Z" alt="caring-self-all4"><hr><h4>3. Understand that nothing is permanent</h4>This is known as anitya bhavana. The only certainty is change. So, practice with an equilibrium of mind, and also practice having equilibrium of mind. This is described in many places in the Yoga Sutras and is what happens when success in asanas occur. We become balanced and able to withstand the ups and downs of life, the&nbsp;dvandvas,&nbsp;or pairs of opposites.The ability to withstand change is to know and expect that change will come, so we don’t need to be surprised by it. We just need to be strong enough to deal with it.&nbsp;Each of these can act as an anchor. See what happens when you recall any of these at some point during the day, as well as during your practice. When we consciously implement&nbsp;these ideas in our spiritual practice, they can be there for us in our life practices as well.&nbsp;When we care for the inner Self, it is the highest type of self-care, one that reverberates through all aspects of our life.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/caring_self_all5_01dcd0eb2c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T10:26:50.943Z" alt="caring-self-all5"><hr><hr><h4>Illustrations by ARATI SHEDDE</h4><hr>

Caring for the self in all

<hr><h4>EDDIE STERN has been practicing and studying yoga since he was fifteen, and was drawn by India and the yogic life. Here he explains the science of yoga, and how the practices affect both physical and mental well-being.</h4><hr><h4>What Is yoga?</h4>There are many definitions of yoga. I am partial to Patanjali’s definition, “chitta vritti nirodhah.” Then yoga is like an equation: yoga=nirodhah, the stilling or mastery of the vrittis, which are the fluctuations and movements or activities in the chitta, which is the field of mind, thought, consciousness.And key to Patanjali’s definition is the idea that yoga is an umbrella term for different things we can do to achieve nirodhah. It’s not just one thing. We can use asanas, pranayama, mantra, service, bhakti, and other different modalities.From a scientific view, yoga is a systematic multi-modality intervention of practices that influence our anatomical body and physiological systems, balance and calm our emotional and mental states, increase discernment (buddhi), and increase devotion, gratitude and awe. These last three have been scientifically shown to have a multitude of benefits on cardiovascular health, and the way we relate to the world, and also provide conceptualizations of transcendental principles. For example, there are meditations on tanmantras, panmantras, and panchamahabhutas that expand or dissolve our sense of separateness from the rest of the world, and allow us to integrate ourselves in different ways.<h4>Scientific research</h4>About 12 years ago, a researcher approached me and asked if I could design a yoga protocol to help with pre-hypertensive conditions in African Americans. I’d never done anything like that and I didn’t have a college degree. After high school, I went straight to India and started learning yoga. I learned everything from Mother India.We did a trial, and had very good outcomes on diastolic, systolic, and sleeping blood pressure measures. I did another study with the same researcher, this time with a yoga protocol to help improve grade point average in high school students. We did a 40-week study comparing yoga to gym class, and at the end of the study the students in the yoga group had a 2.7% higher grade point average than the students in the gym class. Yoga helped reduce stress, increase time on task, and help with task completion. Many students who are under a lot of stress have a hard time with task completion.After a few years, I worked on a study about back pain. In between, while developing courses for universities on yoga and physiology, I questioned: how is it that studies on hypertension, grade point average, and other things, had the same outcomes? I use the same protocol – asanas in basically the same sequence, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation – and the outcomes were the same. We don’t find that in medical science. If you have high blood pressure, you are not given diabetes medication. If you have anxiety, you are not given diabetes medication. You are given the medication which suits your malady. But here we had a host of different problems, we were applying the same methodologies, and people were getting better.So my question was: what do hypertension, grade point average, back pain, anxiety, digestive disorders, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes have in common that is driving those diseases? The answer is stress and stress perception.<h4>Stress</h4>Even when we see the word “stress” in huge red letters on a screen it makes us stressed. But if we change the colors, if we use soft blues, all of a sudden we can deal with it. Stress is a term borrowed from physics and it’s a neutral force. When we have a lot of it, and the body can’t deal with the demand, it becomes distressed, whereas when it’s a positive stress, we call it eustress and we grow from it. Stress is something we actually need in our lives to grow; but when there’s too much of it and our body can’t adapt, it becomes chronic and leads to problems.We need to start reframing our perception of stress to understand, “When do I need to pull away? When can I engage? When do I have to manage it because I don’t have a choice?” In yoga, we have lists that help us do this:<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yogic_lifestyle_well_being2_d04e61afce.jpg"><hr>There are stress-induced states that we can all identify with – when we get super stressed, irritable, angry, aggressive, hostile, or defensive.The yogic states are things like being calm, quiet, content, accepting, surrendered, loving, appreciative. Stress-induced states are associated with chronic inflammation, sympathetic hyperarousal, and out-of-control chitta vrittis. Yogic states are associated with the healing response, and parasympathetic up-regulation, which occurs through Kriya Yoga and Pratipaksha Bhavana. In-control chitta vrittis can lead us into the healing response, while out-of-control chitta vrittis lead us into stress-induced states.<h4>Why is yoga so effective?</h4>One of the hallmarks of yogic practices is top-down and bottom-up information processing. We do things for the body that affect the brain, and we do things for the brain that affect the body downstream, and then we get integration.We think about the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems as complementary paired systems, not antagonistic systems. They’re antagonistic when they’re out of control, while we want to make them complementary. In yoga we see the idea of complementarity with Hatha – ha, sun, and tha, moon. Hatha Yoga is about creating complementary systems and increasing and maximizing them within us. Bottom-up practices are things that we do with the body, e.g. asanas, pranayama, diet, sleep, and exercise. They affect the brainstem, sending messages up toward the prefrontal cortex through the limbic system. Top-down practices are things like meditation, behavioral practices, self-examination, devotion, loving kindness, maitri, karuna, mudita, upeksha, etc. These use the prefrontal cortex, starting at the top level of the brain, which is going to shift the messages coming downstream through the brainstem into the body, changing physiological body states. For example, in Heartfulness Meditation, you’re doing things with your heart and your cognition. When you’re done, you feel relaxed, you feel calm, you’ve entered into a healing response, you’ve had a downstream physiological response.Bottom-up practices affect heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, digestion, elimination, sleep, reproduction, etc. These are our survival functions, and they are targeted through physically-oriented practices. Top-down practices affect cortical processing of compassion, empathy, strategic planning, task completion, pro-social engagement, sensory development and language. These are higher level order practices. We can begin here, we don’t need to start at the bottom and work our way up. That’s what Heartfulness does by beginning with the meditative practices.Bottom-up practices: research shows that<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yogic_lifestyle_well_being3_afdaebc33e.jpg"><hr>Top-down practices support regulation of the autonomic and neuroendocrine systems, emotions, and behavioral responses to challenge and stress perception. As well, they affect vagal tone. The vagus nerve is 80% of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is directly impacted by these practices, and when vagal tone is low we have inflammatory problems. So these practices are very important for down-regulating the inflammatory response.<h4>Kriya Yoga</h4>Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 2:1 says, “Tapah svādhyāya Isvarapranidhānāni kriyā yogah.“Tapas, swadhyaya, and Ishwara pranidhana are the practices contained within yoga that are going to have a particular effect. Kriya Yoga is an umbrella term for the physical practices of tapas, the verbal practices of swadhyaya, which include the study of texts, mantra repetition, and self-examination, and Ishwara pranidhana, which includes mental and emotional practices, surrender, devotion, gratitude, a sense of unknowing and of awe at the universe.These three categories of practices do two things. First, they thin the kleshas, which are the reasons we suffer and the things that prevent us from knowing who we truly are. They help reduce the kleshas and prepare us for samadhi, the deeper levels of concentration and absorption.So what are the five kleshas? For those who are not familiar, we have avidya which is an incomplete knowing of who we are. Sometimes it is translated as ignorance, but everyone here is not ignorant. You all know so much about so many things. Maybe what some of us are ignorant of is only reality, truly knowing deeply on a full level who we are. So the idea of avidya is not that you don’t know who you truly are. You’re doing yoga to find out. So avidya is an absence of knowledge, of truth. When we don’t fully know who we are, we start making up stories: I think I’m Eddie, I think I’m a yoga teacher, I think I’m a father, I think I’m a husband, I think I know what I’m talking about.All of these are false narratives that we create, especially that last one – I think I know what I’m talking about, when we don’t truly know who we are. And along with that false narrative are a few other things. One is raga, the things we like, another is dvesha, the things we don’t like. What is my story about myself based upon? The things I like and don’t like – I like the Indian cricket team, I don’t like the Australian cricket team. Not only do I like the Indian cricket team with raga, I’m so attached to them, I dislike all of the other cricket teams in the world.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yogic_lifestyle_well_being4_51830ce656.jpg"><hr>By holding fast to raga and dvesha, we get stuck on the things we like, and set ourselves apart from the rest of the world that doesn’t fit with the things that we like, so it becomes quite challenging. Because our likes and dislikes form the entirety of what we think our personality is, then we start to cling to them, we hold fast. And that is called abhinivesha.Abhinivesha is clinging to life, clinging to narrative, and it’s a fear of extinction: “Who will I be if I’m not my likes and my dislikes? Who will I be if I’m not my narrative?” And if that’s pulled out from under us we go into a void, and that’s terrifying. So the idea of abhinivesha is fear of extinction of the false narrative that we’ve created.Now, here’s the key thing. Where does the clinging to life occur? It occurs in our survival function. So for example, right now you’re all breathing. If you held your breath for a few seconds, at a certain point your body is going to tell you it’s time to breathe. Why? Because if you don’t breathe, you’re going to die. One of the primal ways our body works is through survival functions that are clinging to life every moment of the day – every breath is clinging to life, every heartbeat is clinging to life, every moderation of blood pressure, of the chemical balance of our blood, of blood sugar levels, of oxygen saturation. These things are maintaining life. That’s what we like to say.From a yogic point of view, we are clinging to life, we’re stuck on this stuff. Let’s go back to the bottom-up practices. Where’s clinging to life expressed? The brainstem functions are monitoring all of our survival functions. So what do yogis do? They do bottom-up practices to transcend brainstem operations. They do asanas to control blood pressure. They do pranayama to control respiration. They ask, what happens if I don’t breathe for a few minutes every day? What happens if I hold my breath for extended periods of time? Who am I when I’m not breathing? Who am I when my heart rate slows down from 60 to 50 to 40 to 30 to one beat per minute? Who will I be when I don’t depend on my survival functions for my identity? All of the primary practices within Kriya Yoga help us transcend the brainstem functions so that we can have an expanded experience of consciousness, self or reality.<hr><hr><h4>If we don’t support homeostasis through right living,&nbsp; if we don’t sleep enough, eat at the right times,&nbsp; eat the right food, do some exercise, meditate,&nbsp; and be kind and loving and compassionate,&nbsp; we’re not supporting homeostasis,&nbsp; and then homeostasis won’t support our internal balance,&nbsp; and then things go wrong.</h4><hr><hr><h4>Homeostasis</h4>These brainstem functions collectively control the functions that we call homeostasis. Homeostasis is the body’s innate ability to restore balance. And we spend a lot of energy restoring balance throughout the day through micro-adjustments to maintain blood pressure, oxygen levels, etc. So it’s balance within change. If we don’t support homeostasis, through right living, if we don’t sleep enough, eat at the right times, eat the right food, do some exercise, meditate, and be kind and loving and compassionate, we’re not supporting homeostasis, and then homeostasis won’t support our internal balance, and then things go wrong.Where do we see keys to this? Well, verse 6:17 of the Bhagavad Gita says:Yuktaharaaviharasya yuktacestasya karmasu yuktasvapnaavabodhasya yogobhavatiduhkahIn other words, for those who are moderate in food and the enjoyment of life (we enjoy life but we don’t indulge too much), in our work (most of us, at least in New York City are overworked all the time. I like to say I work a lot, my wife likes to say I work all the time), sleep and wakefulness, then yoga will be the remover of suffering.So yoga can be the remover of suffering when we support the practices of yoga through lifestyle. If we’re not eating well, if we’re not sleeping, if we’re not doing yoga at the right time, if we’re not doing it under the right conditions, yoga is not necessarily going to work and give us all the things it promises.So transcending the survival functions changes asmita, our sense of I-ness, by changing our narrative. And then we begin to embody a new narrative on a cellular level. At the same time, our fear of extinction is weakened because our narrative has expanded beyond ourselves. Abhinivesha weakens, our attachment to the things we like reduces, we stop harshly judging the things we dislike, so we’re not so opposed to them even when we know they are not for us. All of these automatically begin to thin.At that stage, we can begin to contemplate the very important questions of life: Who am I? What am I doing here? What is my purpose? What is my dharma? And what do I do next? How do I act upon a new narrative of myself? With the “Who am I?” we create a new narrative that we can embody in an expanded sense. “What am I doing here?” is my purpose. And “What do I do next?” is how I live now, how I behave, from this expanded sense of self that I’m inhabiting.And as we go deep into meditation, we can ask: Does this “I” exist or is it all just being?Personally, I’m studying the effect of Kriya Yoga and the neural correlates of the kleshas, the neural correlates of suffering. Can we somehow correlate where kleshas are expressing themselves physiologically through the brain? Maybe we can also begin to research some of the tremendous physiological and mental benefits put forward by Patanjali, along with an expanded sense of self beyond personal narrative into integrated narrative, global narrative.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yogic_lifestyle_well_being5_b1c2d27cbb.jpg"><hr><hr>This article is edited from a talk given at the international conference on an “Integrative Approach to Health and Well-being” hosted at Kanha Shanti Vanam, December 16 to 18, 2022.<hr><hr>

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