Narendra lives in California and is an avid Raja Yoga practitioner. He is the co-founder and CEO of Global Touchpoints, and is involved in Real Time Analytics. One of two identical twins, he believes in spiritual, emotional, mental and physical balance. He loves music, writing and sketching. His illustrations have been rendered in the book Karmic Rhapsody, authored by his daughter. www.facebook.com/4artfulness kininaren.wordpress.com

narendar-kini.webp

Narendra Kini

<h4 style="text-align: justify;">NARENDRA KINI is an artist among other things. He
 shares with us his own experience of creating, and what helps him most.</h4>

What inspires minds?
What triggers creativity?
What persists in a creatively inspired mind?
Several folks have shared their perspectives on some or all of these questions. Among
 the inspiring minds are novelists, poets, playwrights, painters, philosophers, scientists and mathematicians. They
 describe how they subtly manoeuvre in order to overcome the obstacles and daily routines so that they can complete
 the work they love.
It may be by waking early or staying up late; skipping mundane distractions or attending
 events that motivate them; drinking vast quantities of coffee; taking long daily walks; or just sitting in
 meditation, like I do. When I divert my attention inward where it probably truly belongs, that which resides inside
 seems to manifest itself.
Surprisingly the manifestation is profound.


<hr>

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Practice feeds inspiration. 
 Once we commit to doing something creatively,
 we draw inspiration for that work from around us.
</h4>

<hr>
<img class="img-float-right has-img-center-in-mobile"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/the_heart_of_the_matter_2_587eb04523.jpg?updated_at=2023-03-29T10:37:56.006Z"
 alt="self-being" width="249" height="222">My experience gives me belief in two things: the
 10,000 hours of practice that Malcolm Gladwell writes about in his book, Outliers, and disciplining the
 mind. Interestingly, when you combine both, meditation ensures that my mind is regulated and able to direct itself
 to perform a committed task within an allocated time, and discipline channels my creative energy to that activity I
 have committed to. Unusual as it may seem, everything comes to me – ideas, inspiration, motivation, clarity in
 thinking – during my committed practice of meditation. I will be the first one to admit that I did not get there
 overnight. Over twenty years of practice has probably helped. I am yet to reach the proverbial 10,000 hours that
 Malcolm Gladwell writes about, yet I cannot deny the benefits that are already obvious in most walks of my life:
 calmness within, filtering the clutter to take a decision, resting well without nightmares or restlessness,
 responding to situations instead of reacting, etc. These are very natural outcomes of my meditation practice.
To some extent creative work is no different than training in the gym. You can’t
 selectively choose your best moments and decide to only work on the days when you have great ideas. There certainly
 are those magic moments – which also surface during meditation – but the only way to unveil the great ideas inside
 is to make a commitment and show up over and over again. Set the time, set the schedule, and preferably set the
 place and environment.
It is easy to start judging your own work and convince yourself not to share something,
 not publish something, and not market something because “it isn’t good enough yet,” but the alternative is even
 worse. If we don’t have a schedule forcing us to deliver, then it is easy to avoid undertaking the work itself. The
 only way to be consistent enough to make a masterpiece is to give permission to create something along the way –
 feed that creative instinct, do not starve it.

<img class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/the_heart_of_the_matter_3_8348d867d3.jpg?updated_at=2023-03-29T10:38:48.429Z"
 alt="The Heart of the Matter">

Sincere practitioners in any field don’t just work harder than everybody else. At some
 point they fall in love with their practice to the point where they want to do better in less time, more in the same
 time, and generally excel.
It is true in any profession. The elite football player is the guy who spends all day on
 the practice field with his teammates, and after practice he goes home to watch game films. The elite physician
 listens to medical podcasts during a long commute. The elites are in love with what they do, and it does not feel
 like work.
This leads to the other benefit of discipline and practice. Practice feeds inspiration.
 Once we commit to doing something creatively, we draw inspiration for that work from around us. We coach our minds
 to be aware, conscious and mindful about aspects in the moment that could feed our creativity. During my initial
 work, I drew inspiration from the spiritual images and personalities that influenced me greatly in my journey to
 ‘inside-out transformation’.&nbsp;Gradually the canvas widened, and the themes changed. I find subjects in events,
 happenings, award-winning&nbsp;photographs, life moments and nature.
I try to celebrate significant days like birthdays, anniversaries and other events
 through my sketches and share them. I have realised that it has become a way for me to share love – genuine love –
 albeit through my art. So, what is the common denominator for me? In short it is the heart. I can commit, schedule,
 discipline, channel and nurture my mind, but only when my heart is in the right place does it become the origin and
 abode of my creativity and inspiration; hence, the source of joy, love and contentment. Once that is okay, any
 creativity that feeds to that sentiment draws inspiration from within and without.


<hr>

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article and drawings by NARENDRA KINI</h4>

<hr>

The heart of the matter

<h5>NARENDRA KINI asks some thought provoking questions about beauty and the way we see ourselves.</h5><hr>Inner beauty always reflects on the outside. This is something we have all heard time and again. But then, do we spend less time in front of the mirror? Do we still pay attention to outward appearances and draw a lot of conclusions based on those? We have not stopped making external appearances a topic of conversation at most social gatherings – business or otherwise. We still spend a lot of time getting ready for an event, office, function or a party.Roald Dahl wrote, “You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”&nbsp; This makes me wonder what it would be like if the way we lived reflected in our looks. Perhaps we would all try harder to be better people.What if one day our inner self and physical self were turned inside out? How would that impact our looks and confidence? Would most of us be able to come to terms with what we see?<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Roald Dahl wrote, “You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”</h4><hr>If we were to develop a visible scar on our skin for every ill intention or negative thought, would we continue to have such thoughts?If we would lose clumps of hair every time we were mean, would it stop us?If every time we hurt someone intentionally it added a few pounds to our weight, would we still do it?Per contra, what if every time we teach a child or feed the needy, or show kindness, we drop some weight around our waist or grow back some hair or lose a wrinkle, would we be more willing?If taking the time to answer children’s questions or helping senior citizens needing assistance could reduce signs of ageing, maybe we all would develop patience and kindness.Looking good has become so important to us that it could inspire us to take steps that we usually would not consider.Maybe if we lived our lives the way Dahl suggests we would be very different people. I wonder how radically different our priorities, decisions and personalities would be in a world where doing good is rewarded so visibly and tangibly that it becomes second nature.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">So it is with our lives. Those who want to live meaningfully and well must help enrich the lives of others, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. The quality of response and joy depends on the quality of thoughts and love we share and spread.</h4><hr>Often I look in the mirror and wonder if I can confidently say my inner self is better than my reflection.Am I almost at a point where I do not have to look at it to check myself for anything more than the necessary daily activities like shaving, flossing and combing?There is a short story that could lend its moral to nature’s way of working when we are able to see good thoughts and share good thoughts for others also to seed.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/inner_beauty_img2_49188eb7e1.jpg?updated_at=2023-03-29T12:27:08.535Z">There was a farmer who grew excellent quality corn. Every year he won the award for the best corn. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seeds with his neighbours.“How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are entering in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.“Why sir,” said the farmer, “Don’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours grow good corn.”So it is with our lives. Those who want to live meaningfully and well must help enrich the lives of others, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. The quality of response and joy depends on the quality of thoughts and love we share and spread.And those who choose to be joyful must help others find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article and artwork by NARENDRA KINI</h4><hr>

Inner Beauty

<h4 style="text-align: center">AN ART ESSAY</h4>

 The Buddha said: These four are the foodstuffs, ye bhikkus,
 which sustain the creatures that are born, and benefit the creatures
 that seek rebirth. The first is edible food, coarse or fine; touch is
 the second; the thinking capacity of the mind is the third; and the
 fourth is consciousness.


 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/bhikkumonks2_8d1ea2d7ca.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T11:05:29.208Z"
 alt="bhikkumonks2"
 />


 Understand that you own nothing; everything that surrounds you is
 temporary; only the love in your heart will last forever.


 Whatever is not yours, let go of it. Your letting go will be for your
 long-term benefit and happiness.


 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/bhikkumonks3_0811044985.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T11:06:02.426Z"
 alt="bhikkumonks3"
 />

<hr />
<h4 style="text-align: center">Art and article by NAREN KINI</h4>
<hr />

Bhikku monks

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h3 style="text-align: center;">An Art Essay</h3>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>NARENDRA KINI integrates his work as a successful
 Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur with being an artist, a poet and a seeker of higher truth through meditative
 practices. He is currently the co-founder and CEO of Global Touchpoints, and here he talks of how he finds his
 inspiration for creativity and art.</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Meditation is evolving from thinking to feeling, 
 from feeling to being, being to becoming, 
 and finally going beyond.” 
 — Daaji
</h5>
<img class="has-img-center lazyload" 
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_fountain_within2_392b3f76db.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T07:40:56.784Z" alt="The_fountain_within2"/>

<h5 style="text-align: center;">APPROACH</h5>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>Meditation inspires</h4>
I have found that my own approach to art is inspired by
 meditation. It is a process of letting go of control and allowing something to emerge. I took to art after I was
 inspired by an inner calling that happened after a meditation session about five years ago. 
The efficacy of a meditation practice can be also assessed
 by its impact on our attitude towards life. It provides us with a sense of perspective and creative freedom that
 is unmatched. Through invoking stillness in the mind and relocating our awareness center to the heart,
 meditation – within minutes – offers a blank canvas with a wide range of possibilities. “Writer’s block” and
 “artist’s cul-de-sac” are common terms. Creativity can get stumped and inspiration can dry up, and we often look
 for external sources to revive these things. This approach is sometimes successful, but I have found the real
 fan to the creative flame lies within us. And if we lose that spark, we may irreparably dry up our authentic
 sense of creative direction. A visit to the fountain within will rarely fail to quench the thirst for
 inspiration. My personal realization is that paying attention to the inner condition, being centered in
 stillness and contemplation enables the manifestation of creative work. It is not to say that the work will be
 perfect, but it will be truly your own. 
 
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="has-img-center lazyload" 
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_fountain_within3_764761039f.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T07:42:57.234Z" alt="The_fountain_within3"/>

<h5 style="text-align: center;">CONSCIOUSNESS</h5>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
The way in which meditation liberates an artist’s creativity
 can be very nurturing to the soul. No matter how focused we are while working on art, no matter the physical
 environment we are in, if the mind is not steady and the body is not relaxed, very little is actually
 created. By turning inward, centering our awareness, and being heartful, we are free to express our own
 truth. Furthermore, we are able to trust ourselves and our innate creativity. 
Meditation is food for the soul and the very source of
 inspiration for my creativity. When under stress, inspiration can become elusive. A relaxed body and a calm mind
 provide us the opportunity to become observers of ourselves, pause with patience, and wait for an idea, image,
 or concept to germinate at the core of our being. This puts us in a “flow,” or a rhythm of sorts. While the
 ultimate purpose of meditation could be spiritual, a way to expand our consciousness, it can very well be a
 beautiful and simple way to tap into the limitless potential of our being.
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_fountain_within4_c40fce2b09.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T07:45:11.595Z" alt="The_fountain_within4"/>

<h5 style="text-align: center;">GURU &amp; GUITAR</h5>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>Inner inspiration</h4>
In his book, The Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell prescribes 10,000 hours of practice
 as the “magic number for true expertise.” Inspired by the idea behind this, I challenged myself to turn creating
 art into a habit. It is said, “Sow a habit and reap a destiny.” Now, I am not sure if I have gone that far, but
 I have certainly reaped a touch point. I like to think that the art I create is not just something to look at,
 but something that hopefully touches and inspires hearts. 
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="has-img-center lazyload" 
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_fountain_within8_508428f5df.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T07:47:30.341Z" alt="The_fountain_within8"/>

<h5 style="text-align: center;">VIBRATIONS</h5>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
If anyone is on a creative journey – be it writing, sculpting, painting or singing – when
 we take silent time to meditate, a shift happens within. Our consciousness expands, our awareness deepens, and
 we come into the presence of what Albert Einstein described as the most beautiful emotion we can experience –
 the underlying power of all true art and science. Now, neuroscience is showing through brain mapping that such
 qualities are available to all who meditate regularly, creating the mental and emotional conditions in which
 they are most likely to flourish.
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>Inner guidance – intuition</h4>
Regular meditation, like the practice of Heartfulness, has the potential to help us get
 into a deep state each time, thereby strengthening our inner intuition and connection to the heart. The heart is
 where feelings reside, and connecting to it strengthens our sense of intuition. This intuition fans the creative
 spirit in us, guiding us to pursue the right idea or concept. When regular meditation is intensified, it becomes
 the very inner bedrock of spiritual confidence to progressively invest in a vocation. 
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_fountain_within5_82b10d7ca0.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T07:49:34.495Z" alt="The_fountain_within5" />

<h5 style="text-align: center;">TOWARD THE CENTER</h5>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>Inner true self – authenticity</h4>
Meditation helps us connect with the inner true self – the soul – awakening us to who we
 really are, independent of perception of the outer world. Meditation helps create a balance between the mind and
 the heart (soul), thus enabling us to birth creativity with equanimity and ease.
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_fountain_within6_a88fa137c3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T07:52:03.134Z" alt="The_fountain_within6" />

<h5 style="text-align: center;">INNER LIGHT</h5>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>Inner cleaning – rejuvenation</h4>
When we open the gateway to our soul and nurture our inner
 self, a natural sense of grace ensues, and light becomes our very being. That aspect of our prana –
 that enlightened, elevated state – allows us to embrace the magnificent completeness of our being, despite its
 blemishes, limitations, fears, inadequacies, imperfections and other barriers. As we travel on our own
 yatra (journey), even with the simplest of meditation practices, true expression as an artist emerges.
 All we need is an open mind, an open heart and a willingness to explore our inner world. 
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img
 class="lazyload mw-100"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_fountain_within7_70e14dcc74.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T07:52:44.591Z" alt="The_fountain_within7" />

<h5 style="text-align: center;">FIRE PURIFIES</h5>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
Meditation cleanses and nourishes the spirit. It helps us
 approach our empty canvas with an unbiased subconscious and enables us to arrive at calmness. Cleaning out our
 impressions at the end of each day enables us to remove past impressions – thoughts bound by emotions. It
 enables us to let go of feelings of fear, sadness, and anger, which can make us emotionally weak and unbalanced,
 in turn affecting our creative expression.
<hr class="vertical-space1">


<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article and art essay by NARENDRA KINI </h4>


<hr>

The fountain within

<hr><h4>NARENDRA KINI uses the simple analogy of a mechanical flywheel to help us understand the role of meditation in generating love and positive feelings.</h4><hr>What is a flywheel? A flywheel is essentially a very heavy wheel that takes a lot of force to spin around. So, when it is spinning at high speed it tends to keep on spinning. We say it has a lot of angular momentum, which means it can store a great deal of kinetic energy. You can think of it as a kind of mechanical battery, but it is storing energy in the form of movement or kinetic energy.&nbsp;How does this relate to the heart? For the purpose of this exercise:&nbsp;Flywheel = Human heart Angular Momentum = Intensity of meditation Kinetic energy = Love or positive energy Moment of inertia = I“Moment of inertia” sounds abstract and confusing, but it’s much easier to understand than you might think. What it really means is that the effective mass of a spinning object depends not just on how much actual mass it has but on where that mass is located in relation to the point it’s spinning around.&nbsp;In essence, when we go through our day at work, we have several distractions, resistances and negative energies that tend to play on our hearts and minds. If we are aware of the reservoir of positive energy (love), it can overcome the inertia and loss of positivity at work.The most sophisticated flywheels float on superconducting magnets, so they spin almost entirely without friction. They are also sealed inside vacuum chambers, so there are no losses due to air resistance.&nbsp;When we create a vacuum in our hearts, we attract, store, generate and expand more of this positive love energy. Essentially, we become a mobile love generator with an unlimited reservoir of positive energy.<hr>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h5 style="text-align:center;">When we create a vacuum in our hearts, we attract, store, generate and expand more of this positive love energy. Essentially, we become a mobile love generator with an unlimited reservoir of positive energy.</h5>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/heart_love_generator2_b98da17690.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-08T10:10:57.409Z" alt="heart-love-generator2"><hr>There are some other analogies about flywheels that we can apply to our situations:<h4>Create a balanced existence by letting the mind refer to the heart:&nbsp;</h4>A flywheel helps to smooth out the power the wheels receive. So, while the engine’s cylinder might add power to the flywheel every thirty seconds, the wheels can then take power from the flywheel at a steady continuous rate. The engine will roll smoothly instead of jerking along in fits and starts.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/heart_love_generator3_93f194db90.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-08T10:14:04.842Z" alt="heart-love-generator3"><hr><h4>Use pauses to prevent domination of the mind over the heart:&nbsp;</h4>The flywheel can be used to slow down a vehicle, like a brake. As it does, energy is transferred from the vehicle to the flywheel, which picks up speed and keeps spinning. You can then disengage the flywheel to make the vehicle stop completely.<hr>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h5 style="text-align:center;">If you take the flywheel (heart) and spin it twice as fast to double its angular velocity (double the intensity of meditation), you’ll quadruple how much energy (love) it stores.&nbsp;</h5>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/heart_love_generator4_e4d1fdc980.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-08T10:15:59.636Z" alt="heart-love-generator4"><hr><h4>Let the heart become a love energy generator:&nbsp;</h4>A flywheel can be used to provide temporary extra power when an engine can’t produce enough. Suppose you want to overtake a slow-moving horse and cart. Let’s say the flywheel has been spinning for some time but isn’t currently connected to either the engine or the wheels. When you reconnect it to the wheels, it provides extra power.Now, if you take the flywheel (heart) and spin it twice as fast to double its angular velocity (double the intensity of meditation), you’ll quadruple how much energy (love) it stores.&nbsp;That’s why flywheel designers (meditators) typically try to use high-speed wheels (regular practice) rather than a few long sessions. Even better, when the Inner Self directs our lives, the spinning continues non-stop, and we constantly generate love.<hr>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by NARENDRA KINI Illustrations by JASMEE RATHOD</h4>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;

Let your heart be a love generator

<hr class="vertical-space1">

 <img class="has-img-center lazyload" alt="threads-of-life"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/naren_part2_1something_a5905c40ba.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:02:27.148Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1">

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Something</h4>
There is nothing like looking, if you want
 to find something. 
 You certainly usually find something, if you look, 
 but is not always quite the something you were after.
—J.R.R. Tolkien
<hr>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="has-img-center lazyload" alt="threads-of-life"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/naren_part2_2_81a8d0f875.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:03:51.418Z" />

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Fear</h4>
It is said that before entering the sea 
 a river trembles with fear.
She looks back at the path she has
 traveled, 
 from the peaks of the mountains, 
 the long winding road crossing forests and villages.
And in front of her, 
 she sees an ocean so vast, 
 that to enter 
 there seems nothing more than to disappear forever.
But there is no other way. 
 The river cannot go back.
Nobody can go back. 
 To go back is impossible in existence.
The river needs to take the risk 
 of entering the ocean 
 because only then will fear disappear, 
 because that’s where the river will know 
 it’s not about disappearing into the ocean, 
 but of becoming the ocean.
—Kahlil Gibran


<hr>
<hr class="vertical-space1">

 <img class="has-img-center lazyload" alt="threads-of-life"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/naren_part2_4_8ffe43cd59.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:05:03.963Z" />

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Rivers</h4>
By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat
 down. 
 Yeah, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 
 …
Let the words of our mouth and the
 meditation of our heart, 
 be acceptable in thy sight here tonight.
—Boney M.


<hr>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="has-img-center lazyload" alt="threads-of-life"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/naren_part2_5_adb1c703d5.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:06:20.010Z" />

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Sorrow
 </h4>
Sorrow … It pulls up the rotten roots, 
 so that new roots hidden beneath 
 have room to grow. Whatever sorrow 
 shakes from your heart, far better 
 things will take their place. … Maybe 
 you are searching among the branches 
 for what only appears in the roots.
—Rumi


<hr>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="has-img-center lazyload" alt="threads-of-life"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/naren_part2_6_ad95eb0289.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:07:43.686Z" />

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Threads of life</h4>
O Servant of God, where do the Ida, Pingala
 and Sushumna nadis go when the thread of life breaks? 
 One who holds the thread is beyond time, but where does he live? 
 The thread is neither tied nor breaks. 
 Who is the master and who is the servant? 
 Only He knows his secret as He is the Eternal. 
 What is the warp [lengthwise threads] and what is the weft [cross threads]? 
 What are the threads from which the chadar [cloth] is woven? 
 Ida and Pingala are the warp and weft. 
 Sushumna are the threads from which the chadar is woven. 
 Eight are the Lotuses and ten are the spinning wheels. 
 Five are the elements and three the qualities of the chadar.
—Kabir


<hr>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="has-img-center lazyload" alt="threads-of-life"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/naren_part2_7_e93946455c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:09:07.804Z" />

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Gathering </h4>
This is a gathering of Lovers. 
 In this gathering 
 there is no high, no low, 
 no smart, no ignorant, 
 no special assembly, 
 no grand discourse, 
 no proper schooling required. 
 There is no master, 
 no disciple.
—Rumi


<hr>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="has-img-center lazyload" alt="threads-of-life"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/naren_part2_8_22eff1272e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:09:56.168Z" />

<hr class="vertical-space1">

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Depths</h4>
You’ve been walking the ocean’s edge, 
 holding up your robes to keep them dry. 
 You must dive naked under, and deeper, 
 Under, a thousand times deeper! 
—Rumi

<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Art essay by NARENDRA KINI</h4>


<hr>

Threads of life

<h2 class="has-text-align-center">
 An Art Essay
</h2>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img width="500" height="610" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hope1bnew_522275deb8.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T05:31:18.536Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center has-text-color" style="color: #1a66e0">
 HOPE FOR TRANSFORMATION
</h4>


 Nobility of the soul requires cultivating. This opportunity is granted to wise
 hearts every day. Many wise hearts are now dispersed across the world. This is
 a good thing. We need not despair for humanity; it already possesses the seeds
 of the future.


<hr />

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<div>
 <figure>
 <img width="360" height="505" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hope2_5a6103762c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T05:37:52.695Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

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<h4 class="has-text-align-center has-vivid-red-color has-text-color">
 HOPE FOR THE GOAL
</h4>


 “On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world
 is full of beauty. Today is such a day.” 
 —Rumi


<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img width="360" height="505" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hope3_5d50977c57.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T05:40:28.886Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

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<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 HOPE FOR GUIDANCE
</h4>


 The meaning of diksha is initiation, and one definition is “Induction
 into a new realm of awareness and practice by a teacher or trainer through the
 bestowing of blessings and the transmission of prana.” It denotes a
 deepening connection with the Source.


<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img width="360" height="505" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hope4_729b52352a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T05:42:45.734Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

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<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 HOPE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICE
 
</h4>


 “And he gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make two ears of corn, or
 two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before,
 would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country,
 than the whole race of politicians put together.” —Jonathan Swift,
 Gulliver’s Travels


<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img width="360" height="456" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hope5_42c31acf5f.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T05:44:39.479Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 HOPE TO MEET
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img width="360" height="505" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hope6_c60e9f17ec.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T06:25:26.444Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 HOPE FOR THE PLANET
</h4>


 The simple Mantra Om Shree Gaia Ma calls for the healing of Mother
 Earth. It will align you with the feeling of gratitude and the elements of
 Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. It is powerful in cultivating your
 intuitive communication with Nature, and it serves to rebalance the energy of
 the collective consciousness toward that of wholeness, peace, and abundance.



 I offer all of my prayers to thee, my respect and gratitude, and may this be a
 conscious oath to protect you and to honor you as I recognize the great need
 for your healing.



 May your fields be rich and your soil fertile, and may they be sown and reaped
 with care.



 May your mountains attest to your splendor and strength and your valleys hum
 with the lullaby of your receptive embrace.



 May your oceans, waters, rivers, and glaciers be pure and nourishing, as the
 life-blood of the planet.



 May your air be clean and free of toxins so that all may breathe deeply and
 fully the great life-force.



 May your turning invoke an understanding of all cyclical things in nature; of
 growth and decay, of planting and harvest, of karmic cycles; and that as we
 give, so do we receive.



 May your children learn to care for you and love you, and teach their children
 the same.



 You are the Earth, and I am your child.


So it is!

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

Hope

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<h3 class="has-text-align-center has-text-color block-heading" id="h-an-art-essay" style="color: #cf2d6f">
 AN ART ESSAY
</h3>


<hr class="vertical-space1" />



 What an insight it could be to travel in a Commitment Train called
 Ma, to have a window seat, but this time look inside rather
 than out. Just a silent witness along for the ride.



 I would then see the inner workings of a pure soul, full of love,
 moving on the tracks of life. Through rivers, fields and all
 the rife, nothing seeming to deter those flywheels.



 An engine of commitment, fueled just by purity and love to stop
 and go. Life’s signals of red and green guided by conscience
 as the driver keeps one eye on the road and another inward.



 On a silent night, when the winds are still you may hear a quiet
 voice, and feel sometimes steam, sometimes tears. Yet this
 journey that seems endless in distance feels like a pilgrimage,
 abundant with blessings.



 This commitment train never rests. There are different
 destinations and stops but, unspoken commitment bound, into
 the nights and days, on an endless journey. So, there is promise
 in the morrows for ones who follow.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img alt="commitment-train2" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/commitment_train2_a2d1f551ed.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T07:58:38.344Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img alt="commitment-train3" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/commitment_train3_0d3b90b414.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T07:59:20.941Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img alt="commitment-train4" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/commitment_train4_4547895e69.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T08:00:24.165Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/commitment_train5_2e33b60eb3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T08:01:06.824Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img alt="commitment-train6" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/commitment_train6_d7789fa114.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T08:01:51.442Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 Art and Poetry by NARENDRA KINI
</h4>

<hr />

Commitment train

<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/meditation_artessay2_ae8616a7aa.webp" alt="meditation-artessay2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_meditation_artessay2_ae8616a7aa.webp 125w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_meditation_artessay2_ae8616a7aa.webp 401w," sizes="100vw"></figure><h4 style="text-align:center;">ATTACHMENT</h4>“Attachment to views is the greatest impediment to the spiritual path.” —Thich Nhat Hanh<hr>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/meditation_artessay3_5abdf2efc0.webp" alt="meditation-artessay3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_meditation_artessay3_5abdf2efc0.webp 125w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_meditation_artessay3_5abdf2efc0.webp 401w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">BENEVOLENT MASTER&nbsp;</h4>To find one’s Master in a life is a rare blessing. The disciple can fulfil their potential through their practice and get reinvigorated in their faith. They are encouraged to make efforts which will lead them toward the destination, under the benevolent protection of the chosen guide.<hr>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/meditation_artessay4_4ad0a8a49f.webp" alt="meditation-artessay4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_meditation_artessay4_4ad0a8a49f.webp 125w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_meditation_artessay4_4ad0a8a49f.webp 401w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">DARSHANA—PRESENCE</h4>The real cry of the seeker brings the Master to the door.&nbsp; —Babuji<hr> &nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/meditation_artessay5_0c06b64cd7.webp" alt="meditation-artessay5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_meditation_artessay5_0c06b64cd7.webp 125w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_meditation_artessay5_0c06b64cd7.webp 401w," sizes="100vw"></figure><h4 style="text-align:center;">THE LOVING ENERGY</h4>produced when you live a life guided by the heart goes beyond yourself. It is like a wave of pure air, capable of enlivening the human spirit. In the way of the heart, to work on oneself benefits the multitude. Individually you may be one, but collectively you are beacons illuminating the darkness, like the stars in a dark sky. The collective action of love-filled hearts from various paths will converge and strengthen the wave that will uplift humanity.<hr> &nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/meditation_artessay6_fc18fafb6d.webp" alt="meditation-artessay6.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_meditation_artessay6_fc18fafb6d.webp 132w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_meditation_artessay6_fc18fafb6d.webp 423w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">FLEXIBILITY GENEROSITY HUMILITY</h4>Generosity of the heart, humility in the heart, and flexibility. Flexibility only gives birth to generosity. And generosity leads us to making our Heart very humble. So these three qualities are very important. F,G,H, they are in sequence. Without flexibility in our heart, we remain rigid.<hr>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/meditation_artessay7_aeab7477d8.webp" alt="meditation-artessay7.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_meditation_artessay7_aeab7477d8.webp 229w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_meditation_artessay7_aeab7477d8.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_meditation_artessay7_aeab7477d8.webp 750w," sizes="100vw"></figure><h4>&nbsp;</h4><h4 style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/jack-canfield-interview-finding-purpose-meditation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MEDITATION</a></h4>In Heartfulness, we meditate upon the Source of Light within our hearts. There is no need to see the light, as it is “light without luminosity.” We simply make a very subtle suggestion that it is there, and it is attracting us from within. That thought is just the springboard to experience, as we allow ourselves to explore the inner universe with the expansion of our consciousness.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Artworks by NARENDRA KINI</h4><hr>

Meditation: An art essay

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">NARENDRA KINI looks at <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/why-not-artificial-consciousness" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Artificial Intelligence</a> versus Human Intelligence, and whether AI has the potential to develop intuition and higher wisdom, perhaps even replacing HI?</h4>As we find ourselves fast approaching the debate over whether AI can ever replace HI (Human Intelligence), it’s helpful to start with the common element, intelligence. When that is understood, we start investigating frontiers beyond intelligence, for there lie the potential realms toward which we can progress.Humans have always looked to ancient texts and references to explore aspects of existence, whether from a scientific, spiritual, or religious context. While understanding different sheaths in the human system, the physical body, subtle body, and causal body are concepts from the ancient yogic traditions that are now universally accepted.Intelligence is a derivative of the subtle body. The subtle body includes the mental functions of the mind (Manas), intellect (Buddhi), and ego (Ahankara), all playing out within the field of consciousness (Chit). Here, we may explore only the intellect as it relates to intelligence.&nbsp;The evolution of Buddhi (intellect) with inner growth is considered to be:Intellect&nbsp; =&gt; Intelligence =&gt; Intuition =&gt; WisdomThis progression is possible when we turn our minds inward through the practice of Meditation. As a resultant, we expand our consciousness. If we pick up on this thread of reasoning, it is but obvious that intelligence in itself is only a pitstop toward the ultimate destination for Buddhi, which is Wisdom.So the question then arises is: What is the ultimate destination of AI?The ultimate level of AI is often referred to as Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which may theoretically possess capabilities similar to human intelligence, including the ability to reason, learn, and adapt across diverse situations; potentially even mimicking aspects of intuition.Currently, however, most experts agree that AI cannot truly develop intuition in the same way humans do, as it lacks the necessary biological and experiential foundation for “gut feelings” or the subconscious reasoning that underpins human intuition.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Between AI and HI: Intuition</h4>Limitations of current AI: Current AI systems are primarily data-driven, making decisions based on patterns found in large datasets. This does not translate to the kind of flexible, context-aware decision-making that human intuition enables.“Artificial Intuition” as a goal: Researchers are exploring ways to develop AI systems that can better approximate human intuition by incorporating elements like contextual understanding, uncertainty modeling, and learning from incomplete information.Human-AI collaboration: Rather than aiming to fully replace human intuition, the future of AI might lie in leveraging its computational power to augment human decision-making by providing insights and data analysis, allowing humans to apply their intuition more effectively.Thus, one could very well conclude that as long as humans are on the path of evolution of their subtle body, via their progression from intellect to intelligence toward wisdom, AI may find it hard, rather, impossible to replace them. However, if they stagnate at the level of intellect alone or intelligence—they are limiting themselves and very well may make themselves and their decision-making predictable enough to be replaced by AI.If then the objective of every human is to march toward wisdom, then, the logic is to develop a focused mind that ventures to expand its consciousness by evolving past intelligence to intuition and wisdom. What is the means to this outcome? Meditation.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/human_inteeligence_AI_2_1680537372.webp" alt="human-inteeligence-AI-2.webp"></figure><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Why Meditation?</h4>If our goal is to evolve and expand consciousness, we must give ourselves the opportunity to go beyond the intellect. Effortless focus is Meditation. Focus with effort is Concentration. Can we have a discriminative mind without focus? Can we have a focused mind without Meditation? Hence, to move past the intellect and intelligence, we must meditate.An amusing corollary to this is whether or not AI can be trained to meditate and develop its own intuition. It may seem unfathomable for now, but in the future? It remains to be seen.

Human intelligence, artificial intelligence

Natalia Kalenova

<h4>
 NATALIA KALENOVA has learnt techniques
 of spiritual healing , intuitive healing, energy work and psychology in
 the UK, from Joe Dispenza in the US, and in Russia from the Institute of
 Innovative Psychotechnologies and an energy coach and healer. Here she
 explores 7 ways to develop healthier and happier relationships.
 </h4>
 
 It took me about 5 years to realize how to manifest the relationship of my
 dreams. Traveling and working in different parts of the world I realized
 that most of us suffer from similar issues and that relationships are an
 ongoing and interesting topic that we strive to understand and learn more
 about. Both women and men in the USA, the Dominican Republic, UK,
 Switzerland, Greece and other countries suffer from feeling unloved,
 lonely or being in the wrong relationship. They strive for a loving and
 fulfilling relationship, but feel like they are always attracting the
 wrong people.
 
 
 After doing some research, and working with healers and energy coaches
 around the world, I have created 7 steps that have helped me and others to
 bring relationships to a higher level – a level that we hadn’t even
 imagined possible in life. I believe that it is possible for everyone to
 have a loving and fulfilling relationship. It is just a matter of healing,
 learning, appreciating, accepting, and reshaping our mindset.
 
 <hr class="vertical-space1" />
 
 <img
 alt="7steps_1"
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/7steps_1_f6d4eb34e1.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-04T06:57:05.902Z"
 />
 
 <h6><hr class="vertical-space1" /></h6>
 <h6>
 www.nataliakalenova.com 
 www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100016549020905 
 Instagram @sunrisezaika
 </h6>
 <hr class="vertical-space1" />
 
 <hr />
 
 <h4 style="text-align: center">Article by&nbsp;NATALIA KALENOVA</h4>
 
 <hr />

7 extraordinary steps to a fulfilling and loving relationship

Nate is a Clinical Social Worker, father, and Stockton University’s Assistant Director of Counseling Services and Active Minds advisor. He is also a Heartfulness Trainer, and enjoys pet therapy, cooking, surfing, and Yoga.

Nate-Morell.jpg

Nate Morell

<h4>NATE MORELL celebrates the healing beauty of the dawn and a beautiful sunrise. Through this connection with nature, he also discovers the purpose of our human existence.</h4><hr>It was 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning as I walked my dog next to the Mill Pond. It was cool and dark with the smell of pine trees and fallen leaves in the air, about an hour before sunrise. My photographer friend Susan calls this the “magic hour,” because there is a beauty and a stillness to the world only experienced during this wondrous moment. The first light of the day began to appear over the pond and along the tree-lined horizon. Within minutes, streaks of electric pink and tangerine orange spread across the sky and bounced off the high, cool, deep, fluffy, purple clouds.The entire ecosystem seemed to be alive and celebrating the coming of the new day. The fish were jumping from the water, the hawks and ducks were calling out, quacking, and screeching, and my pup and I were taking it in, honoring the dawn along with the world, absorbing it all, every precious and sacred moment.In her autobiography, Wild, Cheryl Strayed quoted her mom as saying, “There’s always a sunrise and always a sunset and it’s up to you to choose to be there for it. … Put yourself in the way of beauty.” That quote resonated deeply within my heart and stayed with me, and so there I was, showing up with my dog “in the way of beauty.”As I continued walking next to the pond, I realized that I was experiencing healing from nature. This sunrise felt like an antidote to the painful, gripping, pressured, complex, anxiety-producing, and Covid-exhausting thoughts and emotions that had entered my life through the tiny cracks of the heart over the last eighteen months. These complexities had built up, and until they were either felt or released, I would break down again. Here, I experienced nature as big enough to hold all my emotional pain, maybe even the whole world’s pain, and I smiled and let go of trying to control everything. Nature generously received it all.<hr><hr><h4>I experienced nature as big enough to hold all my emotional pain, maybe even the whole world’s pain, and I smiled and let go of trying to control everything. Nature generously received it all.</h4><hr><hr>The water on the lake was perfectly still. As the sun rose higher in the sky, an unbelievable and overwhelming golden yellow-orange warmth consumed the sky and reflected perfectly off the calm clear water, which doubled the beauty of the sunrise. I thought to myself, “What could I possibly create that could match even one percent of the exquisiteness of this moment?” It was all so perfect and freely available; all I had to do was show up and bask in the light. How ridiculously lucky was I to be alive? I felt joy for the grace of attending mother nature’s church, and sadness because my dog and I were the only ones bearing witness. What could be more important than this?We walked along the water’s edge and soaked in nature’s gifts. I had the urge to meditate and realized that in five minutes a group session would start on Zoom. I had a foldable chair and towel in the car, so I gathered everything I needed and set up next to the pond under the pine trees. I had not consciously packed my meditation things, but they were there, ready for me.I activated the Zoom link and began by relaxing my toes, moving upward, and letting go of tension in my body, all the way to the top of my head. I felt the complexities and stress release from my physical body, especially from my shoulders, jaw, forehead, and neck. As my body released the stored stress and trauma within, I experienced a release of the weight of the world. I was then left feeling light and spacious.I became aware of my heart, and of something sacred, precious, and intangible within the heart. I took a chance and surrendered to a place of limitless love and depth. I went deeper and deeper, letting go, and falling into love. I experienced a brief wave of fear, realizing I may never come back, but then trusting that the doorway in my heart was creating and supporting this moment. I let go completely.<hr><hr><h4>I became aware of my heart, and of something sacred, precious, and intangible within the heart. I took a chance and surrendered to a place of limitless love and depth. I went deeper and deeper, letting go, and falling into love.</h4><hr><hr>And then a movement into surrender, merged and absorbed in love. “I” was nowhere, and yet somehow still intricately woven into the depths of everything. The experience may have lasted one second or a million years – time had stopped; being “me” had stopped. The peace of the Center, the root of the root, the actors dropping away and the truth shining so brightly that it burnt away anything that was not Reality. Words, beliefs, language, culture, gender, fear, separateness, desire, aversion all stopped. Breathing and the experience of a beating heart stopped, as if a “drop of clear water was dropped into the ocean,”1 except this ocean was infinite love, and the drop of water was the soul.At some point, awareness of “self” with a physical body, a social security number, a job, and a family loosely reformed. Oh my gosh, everything I will ever need is already within me! That is the point of this life. There is nothing to think through or figure out. It is not a secret written in Sanskrit or locked within the Da Vinci code. It is not some huge problem that needs to be solved to earn my way to salvation. It is an experience that is available to us here and now, and the pathway is through our hearts. We are here to realize the Source for ourselves. How pure, simple, and beautiful. It was there all along and I had completely missed it.To have experienced this revelation and taken it in was mind-blowing. The silliness of spending my life chasing things I desire, and avoiding things I don’t desire, hurting others out of fear or to protect myself, worrying about what other people think about me, acquiring expensive cars and clothes, relationship dramas, having a respectable social media presence, FOMO, job stress, politics, saving the world, external recognition, degrees, achieving status, and making my family proud seemed unspeakably off the mark. It is not that these things are bad; but making them the purpose of my life is deeply misguided.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/everything_you_need_is_within_you2_fbd3ab93bd.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T07:27:05.130Z" alt="everything_you_need_is_within_you2"><hr>I will never achieve deep and lasting happiness through the pursuit of external things. Instead, all I have to do is show up and surrender to the unfathomable beauty in the essence and depth of the heart. It has been said, “Love is always offered and never forced,” so it comes down to that really. This entire universe is just one big offering of love, and all we need to do is show up and accept it. That’s all.<hr>1 Swami Vivekananda<hr>

Everything you need is already within you

NATWAR SHARMA

<h3 style="text-align:center;">The Heart is the Key</h3><hr><h4>DR. NATWAR SHARMA shares his experience and ideas about the intuitive role of the heart and its critical place in our lives.</h4><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/heart_key2_4faf8d60f4.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T04:06:41.156Z">One day my wife and I were watching our two year-old having fun in the playground. Suddenly she expressed concern that the little one was beginning to develop a fever. The physician in me immediately dismissed it – the symptoms simply did not add up. A few hours later, to my astonishment, he was burning with fever! Instead of snubbing me with an “I told you so,” my wife silenced me with her intuition and premonition regarding our son’s health.What is intuition? And where does it come from? From my own experience as a mainstream doctor and therapist, as well as a layperson, I am convinced that it is the heart that is the seat of intuition, the sixth sense.The HeartMath Institute has been researching the physiological mechanism of the heart and how it communicates with the brain and processes information, what are emotions, and how they are perceived or sensed. Among these, their landmark research is about pre-stimulus response, which is nothing but the science of intuition. In one such very interesting study, conducted by the institute, different images capable of stimulating emotions like fear, joy, grief and so on, were displayed one after the other in front of a sample group of the population, and the heart-rhythm activity, or the heart-rate variability (ECG), and the brain responses (EEG) were recorded in each case. It was observed that people were able to sense the emotion before the image was displayed.While both the heart and the brain received the pre-stimulus information about 4 to 5 seconds before being exposed to a future emotional image randomly selected by the computer, the heart actually received the information 1.5 seconds before the brain.1There are several other areas of study related to the heart, involving memory and the energy field. In my work as a therapist, when I take people into a deep subconscious state, there are some who reveal memories that go back as far as the time they were in their mother’s womb, as a newly-formed fetus. Medically speaking, pregnancy is confirmed when the heart of the new life inside the mother’s womb starts beating. The brain is not yet formed in any way; it is just a primitive bunch of neurons at that time. But the heart of the fetus is pumping. So when a person recollects and shares an episode which occurred that early in their life, what part of the human system is responsible for that memory?In his groundbreaking work, The Heart’s Code, Dr. Paul Pearsall cites several anecdotes on this topic. He combines ancient wisdom, modern education, and scientific research to demonstrate that the human heart holds the secret to the link between body, mind and spirit. His study focuses on the heart’s memory and energy field, showing that the heart is not just a pumping organ, but also retains subtle information and is in itself a source of infinite knowledge yet to be discovered and comprehended by the science of modern times.Similarly, there are instances when people in a coma are known to capture or perceive what is happening around them, and some of these episodes are termed Near Death Experiences (NDE). What part of the human system actually perceives these seemingly out-of-body sensations, when the brain activity is clinically nil or negligent? What I find even more fascinating is the fact that, like the birth of the fetus in the mother’s womb, the death of the person is medically certified only when the heart stops beating or functioning. It is an indication that the heart is not only the seat of intuition, but essentially the source or center of life itself. Dr. Raymond Moody’s Life After Life is a wonderful scientific treatise for those who wish to explore this subject in more depth.<hr><h5 style="text-align:center;">The heart is not only the seat of intuition, but essentially the source or center of life itself.</h5><hr>As a practicing pediatrician, I often notice that children walk into my clinic in a state of fear or anxiety about what’s going to happen next: What will the doctor do? Will he give me an injection? Will he ask me to take bitter medicine? In the light of this awareness I have been doing a small experiment, where I start connecting with my heart before each scheduled appointment. I take a few moments to be silent and dive into the depths of my heart, with the suggestion that “Joy is radiating from my heart to the child’s heart, alleviating all her fear and anxiety.” The moment I connect in this manner, I feel a shift in my own inner condition and outer expression. There is a feeling of lightness within, which usually flashes as a warm smile on my face and, ultimately, that reflects in the child. I have observed that in most cases when I welcome my patients in this manner, there is a sense of ease and comfort in them which is distinctly not visible on other routine days.In almost all cultures around the world, a person is described by the quality of their heart: “Oh, he is such a kind-hearted man,” “She is so warmhearted,” or “They are hard-hearted people.” So, if you want to change the nature or behavior of a person, where does the change really need to be effected? The answer seems obvious: the heart. And that is why the Heartfulness Institute recommends meditation on the heart, with the aid of a unique and ancient technique known as yogic Transmission. You will find more details regarding yogic Transmission and its benefits at <a href="https://www. heartfulnessmagazine.com/transmission" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www. heartfulnessmagazine.com/transmission</a>/.During pilot research with Terrablue XT, we studied the flow of yogic Transmission with the help of a device that records physiological functions of the body while the person is involved in different activities like sleeping, resting, relaxing, or meditating. Our findings showed that there is certainly a flow of energy between the trainer’s heart and the one receiving the Transmission, despite the absence of any physical contact between the two people in the meditative state. During every such meditation, the Terrablue device recorded a positive shift in heart-rate variability and galvanic skin response, indicating that the people meditating were in a deep state of calm and rest. Time and again, practitioners have shared the profound changes in their own nature and in their surrounding environment as a result of practicing Heartfulness techniques over a sustained period of time. You may read some of these articles at <a href="https://heartfulness.org/in/humans-ofheartfulness" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://heartfulness.org/in/humans-ofheartfulness/</a>.The heart’s wisdom is an ancient science. Shamans or Elders in all cultures were well-versed in using their intuition to predict changes in the season or the weather, in foretelling birth and death, and in identifying nature’s resources for healing and vitality. Even today, there are indigenous tribes around the world who are well-versed in the art of tapping into and using the heart’s secret potential, which may appear incomprehensible and inaccessible to the scientific community of modern times. Surely a lot more research needs to be done on this unassuming little organ, for I am certain the heart is not merely a physical pump and that there is a lot more to what is visible or tangible. It may hold the key to life, death, and perhaps even beyond.1 <a href="https://www.heartmath.org/research/science-of-the-heart/intuition-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.heartmath.org/research/science-of-the-heart/intuition-research</a><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by DR. NATWAR SHARMA Illustrations by UMA MAHESWARI</h4><hr>

Intuitive science

<h4>
 DR. NATWAR SHARMA explores the world
 of feelings and emotions, their effect on the physical body, and how we
 can learn to manage them effectively.
 </h4>
 <hr class="vertical-space1" />
 
 Our life is largely the interplay of feelings and emotions. It is
 important for us to understand why they surface and how we react to
 them, because that in turn will develop our mental perception and
 improve our physical health.
 
 <h4 style="text-align: justify">
 What Are Emotions?
 </h4>
 
 Emotions are basically ‘energy in motion – e-motion’. They generally
 carry a weight or leave an impression on our physical and subtle bodies.
 They are responses, primarily of ‘flight or fight’, which come from the
 subcortical regions of the brain, especially the amygdala and the
 pre-frontal cortex, when we face a particular situation or condition.
 Thus they are part of the subconscious.
 
 
 Emotions potentiate the memory associated with any incident or event. A
 memory without the backing of any emotion is not strong enough to last
 through time, nor does it have much impact on our current physical and
 mental make-up. In contrast, a memory with an associated emotion is more
 likely to influence our present situation. 
 This is one of the primary reasons that it is so important to be aware
 of and handle our emotions in a sane manner.
 
 <h4 style="text-align: justify">
 How Do Emotions Affect the Human Body?
 </h4>
 
 In the current world, where many of us live in cities with busy
 routines, we are not able to be in touch with our feelings and emotions,
 let alone deal with them. We keep going on and on, until we cross the
 threshold and feel overburdened and stressed. Every individual has a
 threshold for emotional tolerance, and when we overstep that threshold
 it adversely affects our physical health.
 
 
 How does this happen? When our capacity to cope with a particular
 situation crosses this threshold, the subcortical region of the brain,
 or the amygdala, is activated, in turn triggering the neocortex, which
 ultimately produces signals that manifest in the physical body as
 physical sensations.
 
 Try these experiments:
 
 Observe your physical body during various activities. For example,
 note the reactions in your body while watching an emotionally charged
 program on television, like a horror movie or thriller. Your muscles
 may contract without your knowledge and your heart may beat at a
 faster rate. These somatic changes in the body, directly or indirectly
 determine the level of stress you experience during the day.
 
 
 
 Similarly, uttering a word or phrase or sentence that is charged with
 an emotion produces a physical sensation in the body. For example, you
 may feel tightness or heaviness, weakness or pain, or a tingling
 sensation in your body while recollecting something that scares you
 while repeatedly uttering, “I am feeling scared of …”
 
 
 
 Repeat this experiment with different sentences conveying positive
 and negative emotions, and see what reactions they produce in the
 body.
 
 
 You may be amazed with what you observe and feel.
 
 
 Often the words ‘emotion’ and ‘feeling’ are used interchangeably. They
 are two sides of the same coin, yet they are different. For example, I
 may feel left out in a particular situation, but what emotion is backing
 this feeling? As an adult I may be sad that I was not included. As a
 child I may be angry at my parents for leaving me out of some talk or
 activity, or I may even be guilty that I did not do what I was supposed
 to do and automatically missed being a part of something. I may also
 experience a mixture of all these emotions.
 
 
 Thus, one situation can produce a cocktail of emotions – and when such a
 cocktail is suppressed for too long it can be debilitating. Suppressed
 emotions generally manifest in the physical body as some kind of an
 ailment or disease – this I can duly validate through my work and
 research with my patients and clients, both as a physician and a
 therapist.
 
 <h4 style="text-align: justify">
 Emotions in Children
 </h4>
 
 The depth of feeling and emotion in children is much stronger than in
 adults. One reason is that they are empty books: everything is written
 afresh on their pages. A second is that the subconscious mind is very
 powerful when they are young. And a third reason is that their capacity
 to discriminate is not strong enough; they still need to grow in wisdom
 in order to reason and come to a conclusion.
 
 
 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload w-100 h-auto"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/play_of_emotions2_a5b5f35e72.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T11:24:59.250Z"
 alt="play-of-emotions2"
 />
 
 
 Children are very sensitive and receptive, so we must be extra careful
 when we deal with them. How do we explain things to them? How do we
 allow them to come to a conclusion in a simple way?
 
 
 One way is to just be with them and go through whatever they are
 experiencing in that moment. For example, if your child is scared of the
 dark, instead of admonishing her, sit with her in a dark room and go
 through the experience together. In my practice, I have found this to be
 more effective as it may actually help children to open up and confide
 in their parents.
 
 
 Basically, we need to devise different ways and methods to deal with
 children. Once they form an impression and come to a conclusion about
 something, it conditions them for life, so that they run according to
 the same program the mind has created. When writing on a new page,
 ensure that you write it well!
 
 <h4 style="text-align: justify">
 How to Deal With Negative Emotions?
 </h4>
 
 It is important to release negative emotions from the subconscious,
 preferably as soon as they are triggered. Another interesting
 observation is that seemingly negative emotions, like fear and anger,
 may actually be used positively in context to the situation. For
 example, it may be good for a student to feel some tension or stress, to
 the extent that it drives them to work hard and do well in life. But
 when we continue to feel the same over a period of time, when we carry
 the negative emotion, it not only affects our own health but also the
 moods and conditions of people around us. A typical case would be that
 of the boss who walks into the office in an angry mood, which cascades
 down to the employees and everyone else he meets during the day.
 
 
 One way to refine our emotions and feelings, purifying them of
 negativity, is the Heartfulness Cleaning – a proven and effective
 technique in this context.
 
 
 Another method to deal with negative emotional reactions, such as
 anxiety, anger or fear, is to activate the parasympathetic nervous
 system, our ‘rest and digest system’. When such emotions surface, try
 closing the right nostril with your thumb and breathing deeply through
 the left nostril. It helps to activate the parasympathetic nervous
 system.
 
 
 Last but not least, pause before reacting in any situation. By doing so,
 you are most likely to respond in a heartfelt manner instead of
 reacting.
 
 
 Much of the research today in the field of pathology of diseases traces
 their roots to deeply suppressed emotions in the human subconscious over
 a length of time. Medical science is opening up to various alternate
 therapies and modalities of treatment, such as psychotherapy, Emotional
 Freedom Technique, and other cognitive therapies, to deal with the root
 cause at the base of physical ailments. Slowly but surely, we are moving
 towards more holistic ways of healing, combining mainstream medicine
 with alternative therapies, facilitating the well-being of the body,
 mind and soul.
 
 <hr />
 <h4 style="text-align: center">Article by DR. NATWAR SHARMA</h4>
 <hr />

The play of emotions

<h4>DR NATWAR SHARMA shares some thoughts on our current sleep crisis, and why it
 is a good idea to get a good night’s sleep.</h4>
Sleep is defined as an altered state of consciousness wherein the sensory and motor
 systems are relatively inhibited.
Why do we need sleep?
Most of us living in cities have a lot of mental activity, but our physical activity is
 almost zero. Especially with all these gadgets available, there is no need to travel and we can sit at one place and
 work. At the same time, the mind is hyper-stimulated. There is so much to do today, so much to catch up on: movies,
 TV, social media. And how much time is consumed on WhatsApp!
Why do we need sleep? Now when we look at the animal world, we see how beautifully
 they’re aligned with nature. By sunset they fall asleep, and with the first rays of the sun you can hear the birds
 chirping. As human beings what has gone wrong with us?
We too have a circadian clock, which helps us to wake up and sleep. The hormone
 melatonin is responsible for this, and light basically inhibits the secretion of this hormone. We are exposed to a
 lot of artificial light today. Even after sunset, there is light all around. Also, most of us don’t follow sleep
 hygiene: we are awake – on our mobile phones, watching TV or just surfing. Imagine the amount of light entering our
 eyes, not allowing the melatonin hormone to be secreted and function properly.
What happens as a result of all this? Gradually stress builds up. We use our mobile
 phone throughout the day, recharge it at night, and the next day it is ready to be used again. The same is the case
 with our body: it needs to be recharged. In many cases, even if our body is not completely recharged, we can push
 ourselves because there are additional mechanisms. It is like having a back-up battery in your mobile phone. But in
 order to make that happen, there is a lot of extra load on the body’s mechanisms and that’s when stress builds up.

What is needed in today’s scenario is to create a balance in our lives. On the one hand
 we need to have some physical activity in order to tire our body, while on the other we need to reduce mental
 stimulation especially after sunset. It is not possible to avoid stress in today’s world; stress has become part of
 life. But how can we manage stress?
Apart from indulging in physical activities, we may practice techniques like relaxation
 and meditation. They help the mind to calm down and induce much better sleep.
Sleep is a very important aspect of our lives, which we ignore. Please think over this.
 I wish you all a good night’s sleep!
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by DR NATWAR SHARMA</h4>
<hr>

The science of sleep

Neale is the author of 37 books on contemporary spirituality, including seven New York Times bestsellers. His Conversations with God series has been translated into 35 languages and read by millions around the world. He travels extensively focusing on what he calls the most important question facing humanity today: Is it possible that there is something we don't fully understand about God and about Life, the understanding of which would change everything?

Nealdonald.jpg

Neale Donald Walsch

<h4>NEALE DONALD WALSCH addresses the underlying cause of our global dysfunctions today and challenges us all to solve them, together, through one single decision. Are we ready for this?</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/NEALE_DONALD_WALSCH_8d0cbc76a3.jpeg?updated_at=2023-04-05T06:06:26.097Z">We – you and I – have a chance to solve the biggest problem in the world today. All we have to do is make a single decision. But so far we haven’t been able to make that decision, because the biggest problem in the world today is that most people don’t know what the biggest problem in the world today is.Now that’s remarkable, because this problem is so huge, it is causing all of the other problems, all of the ‘smaller’ problems, that we hear about every day. That includes global warming, planetary political upheaval, worldwide economic disparity, endless wars, and widespread individual frustration and dissatisfaction with the conditions of life.All of these predicaments are the fallout, the direct result, of one pervasive condition. That condition can be described in one word.Alienation.Human beings are alienated from each other. And we’re experiencing more alienation every day. Overnight we’ve found ourselves in bigger versions of an ‘Us Against Them’ world than most of us have ever encountered before.Nothing that’s gone wrong with the world is our fault. Nothing. We’re not responsible for any of it. Not a single piece of it. It’s all their doing.It’s those unwanted immigrants, those unsatisfied minorities, those unhappy women, those right-wing radicals, those left-wing nut jobs, those unacceptable gays, those uninformed students, those dumb conservatives, those empty-headed liberals, those unmotivated government assistance recipients. It’s those ‘others’ who just keep making things difficult.Not everyone feels this way, of course, but everyone can feel everyone who feels this way. So it’s affecting all of us. Each day it’s producing distressing headlines, angry blogs, name-calling speeches, childish rants, attacking tweets, bullying diatribes, finger-pointing tirades, and violence-laden actions.And not just ‘over there’. It used to be ‘over there’, in that other country, in that other town, in that other place. But now it’s right here, in our own town, in our own country, and sometimes, sadly, in our own hearts.Why? Because alienation inevitably arises in the aftermath of ongoing citizen frustration. And citizen frustration inevitably arises in the aftermath of ongoing societal dysfunction. And societal dysfunction inevitably arises in the aftermath of ongoing systemic failure. And that’s exactly what we’re faced with here. Long-term, ongoing, systemic failure.None of the systems we’ve put in place to make life better for all of us are working. There are some rare exceptions, but in the main, most are failing to produce the outcomes they were intended to produce.Wait. It’s worse. They’re actually producing the opposite.Our political systems, our economic systems, our social systems, even our vaunted worldwide Internet systems, are hurting us, not helping us. And, saddest of all, our spiritual systems, which so many had hoped would bring us closer to God and closer to each other, have done exactly the opposite.All of this can be reversed, however, and all with a simple flip of humanity’s Belief Switch. We merely have to turn off our belief in Separation.It is the idea that we are separate from each other and from God that has generated the conditions that have produced – and continue to create and tolerate – the predicaments mentioned earlier.Are you aware that still today, in the first quarter of the 21st century, 1.5 billion people have no access to clean water? That more than 1.7 billion still have no electricity? That nearly 2.5 billion of our fellow humans still live without indoor plumbing? That’s one quarter of the human race.Now one might argue that these are but inconveniences. Yet hundreds of thousands die each year as a result of the unhealthy conditions arising out of these ‘inconveniences’.And consider this: Every hour more than 650 children die of starvation on the planet.Could any of this occur if our species as a whole embraced a consciousness of Oneness? No. So what is being invited today by Life Itself is a movement on the part of every individual not just to be aware of our Oneness, but to live it.For humanity, this has become the essential path. This is what it will take for us to move forward with our evolution on Earth. And we can do this by making one simple decision.<hr><h5 style="text-align:center;">Adopting the idea that we are Spiritual Beings, One Being, is not about creating a science-fictionesque utopian society. But we can create a planetary community of far more loving, peaceful, safe and joyous people, thriving and not constantly struggling, relaxed and not continually straining, celebrating and not endlessly competing or opposing.</h5><hr>Put into question form, the decision for all humans comes down to this:1. Are we temporary physical beings, or are we Eternal Spiritual Beings Manifesting Physically? 2. Are we completely separate entities, or One Essence Manifesting Individually?Basically, the question is, “What is our True Nature?” Our life as it is now being lived offers us a chance to demonstrate our answer. And this is something that each of us is doing, right here, right now.Should we choose to write a New Cultural Story, one which announces and declares that humans are Spiritual Beings and All One – united with each other and with The Creator – everything would change on this planet. Our motivations, our intentions, our objectives, and our interactions would be altered at every level. Our relationships in this civilization – nation-with-nation, religion-with-religion, race-with-race, conservative-withliberal, man-with-woman, straight-with-gay, young-with-old – would become civil at last.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/solution2_cac2e065c3.jpeg?updated_at=2023-04-05T06:07:25.111Z">Our problem of Alienation, our idea that violence is a legitimate means of addressing differences, our condition of insufficiency and our unnecessary suffering endured by billions … all of this and more would disappear from the Earth, dissolved by new ideas of ourselves that would quickly induce the abandonment of our most damaging self-concepts.Does this mean we would create a life on Earth without a single concern or challenge of any kind? No, of course not. Adopting the idea that we are Spiritual Beings, One Being, is not about creating a science-fiction-esque utopian society. But we can create a planetary community of far more loving, peaceful, safe and joyous people, thriving and not constantly struggling, relaxed and not continually straining, celebrating and not endlessly competing or opposing.Can we do it? Can our species embrace a Consciousness of Oneness, of Unity with each other and with The Divine? I believe we can. And there are many tools we can use. All we have to do is intend to do so, and our intention will act as a powerful magnet, with the awareness of those tools and how to use them being drawn to us from many sources – not the least of which may very well be the magazine you are reading right now.So read on. And read often. And commit to living the truth, if it is your truth, that We Are All One.This article is adapted from Neale’s latest book, The Essential Path, to be published in June and now available for pre-order at most online bookstores. Neale Donald Walsch may be reached for personal interaction at www. CWGConnect.com.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by NEALE DONALD WALSCH</h4><hr>

The  solution to the biggest problem in the world today

<hr><h4>NEALE DONALD WALSCH addresses the underlying cause of our global dysfunctions today and challenges us all to solve them, together, through one single decision. Are we ready for this?</h4>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;We – you and I – have a chance to solve the biggest problem in the world today. All we have to do is make a single decision. But so far we haven’t been able to make that decision, because the biggest problem in the world today is that most people don’t know what the biggest problem in the world today is.Now that’s remarkable, because this problem is so huge, it is causing all of the other problems, all of the ‘smaller’ problems, that we hear about every day. That includes global warming, planetary political upheaval, worldwide economic disparity, endless wars, and widespread individual frustration and dissatisfaction with the conditions of life.All of these predicaments are the fallout, the direct result, of one pervasive condition. That condition can be described in one word.Alienation.Human beings are alienated from each other. And we’re experiencing more alienation every day. Overnight we’ve found ourselves in bigger versions of an “Us Against Them” world than most of us have ever encountered before. Nothing that’s gone wrong with the world is our fault. Nothing. We’re not responsible for any of it.<hr>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Alienation inevitably arises in the aftermath&nbsp; of ongoing citizen frustration.&nbsp; And citizen frustration inevitably arises in the aftermath of ongoing societal dysfunction.&nbsp; And societal dysfunction inevitably arises&nbsp; in the aftermath of ongoing systemic failure.</h4>&nbsp;<hr><hr>Nothing that’s gone wrong with the world is our fault. Nothing. We’re not responsible for any of it. Not a single piece of it. It’s all their doing.It’s those unwanted immigrants, those unsatisfied minorities, those unhappy women, those right-wing radicals, those left-wing nut jobs, those unacceptable gays, those uninformed students, those dumb conservatives, those empty-headed liberals, those unmotivated government assistance recipients. It’s those ‘others’ who just keep making things difficult.Not everyone feels this way, of course, but everyone can feel everyone who feels this way. So it’s affecting all of us. Each day it’s producing distressing headlines, angry blogs, name-calling speeches, childish rants, attacking tweets, bullying diatribes, finger-pointing tirades, and violence-laden actions.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/solution_biggest_problem_today2_ea70318be1_54628506bc.jpg" alt="solution-biggest-problem-today2"><hr>And not just ‘over there’. It used to be ‘over there’, in that other country, in that other town, in that other place. But now it’s right here, in our own town, in our own country, and sometimes, sadly, in our own hearts.Why? Because alienation inevitably arises in the aftermath of ongoing citizen frustration. And citizen frustration inevitably arises in the aftermath of ongoing societal dysfunction. And societal dysfunction inevitably arises in the aftermath of ongoing systemic failure. And that’s exactly what we’re faced with here. Long-term, ongoing, systemic failure. None of the systems we’ve put in place to make life better for all of us are working. There are some rare exceptions, but in the main, most are failing to produce the outcomes they were intended to produce.<hr>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">It is the idea that we are separate from each other and from God&nbsp; that has generated the conditions that have produced –&nbsp; and continue to create and tolerate – the predicaments.</h4>&nbsp;<hr><hr>Wait. It’s worse. They’re actually producing the opposite.Our political systems, our economic systems, our social systems, even our vaunted worldwide Internet systems, are hurting us, not helping us. And, saddest of all, our spiritual systems, which so many had hoped would bring us closer to God and closer to each other, have done exactly the opposite.All of this can be reversed, however, and all with a simple flip of humanity’s Belief Switch. We merely have to turn off our belief in Separation.It is the idea that we are separate from each other and from God that has generated the conditions that have produced – and continue to create and tolerate – the predicaments mentioned earlier.Are you aware that still today, in the first quarter of the 21st century, 1.5 billion people have no access to clean water? That more than 1.7 billion still have no electricity? That nearly 2.5 billion of our fellow humans still live without indoor plumbing? That’s one quarter of the human race.Now one might argue that these are but inconveniences. Yet hundreds of thousands die each year as a result of the unhealthy conditions arising out of these “inconveniences.”And consider this: Every hour more than 650 children die of starvation on the planet.Could any of this occur if our species as a whole embraced a consciousness of Oneness? No. So what is being invited today by Life Itself is a movement on the part of every individual not just to be aware of our Oneness, but to live it.<hr>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">What is being invited today by Life Itself&nbsp; is a movement on the part of every individual&nbsp; not just to be aware of our Oneness, but to live it.</h4>&nbsp;<hr><hr>For humanity, this has become the essential path. This is what it will take for us to move forward with our evolution on Earth. And we can do this by making one simple decision.Put into question form, the decision for all humans comes down to this:1. Are we temporary physical beings, or are we Eternal Spiritual Beings Manifesting Physically?2. Are we completely separate entities, or One Essence Manifesting Individually?Basically, the question is, “What is our True Nature?” Our life as it is now being lived offers us a chance to demonstrate our answer. And this is something that each of us is doing, right here, right now.Should we choose to write a New Cultural Story, one which announces and declares that humans are Spiritual Beings and All One – united with each other and with The Creator – everything would change on this planet. Our motivations, our intentions, our objectives, and our interactions would be altered at every level. Our relationships in this civilization – nation-with-nation, religion-with-religion, race-with-race, conservative-with-liberal, man-with-woman, straight-with-gay, young-with-old – would become civil at last.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/solution_biggest_problem_today3_bd3dc87e2b.jpg" alt="solution-biggest-problem-today3"><hr>Our problem of Alienation, our idea that violence is a legitimate means of addressing differences, our condition of insufficiency and our unnecessary suffering endured by billions … all of this and more would disappear from the Earth, dissolved by new ideas of ourselves that would quickly induce the abandonment of our most damaging self-concepts.Does this mean we would create a life on Earth without a single concern or challenge of any kind? No, of course not. Adopting the idea that we are Spiritual Beings, One Being, is not about creating a science-fiction-esque utopian society. But we can create a planetary community of far more loving, peaceful, safe and joyous people, thriving and not constantly struggling, relaxed and not continually straining, celebrating and not endlessly competing or opposing.Can we do it? Can our species embrace a Consciousness of Oneness, of Unity with each other and with The Divine? I believe we can. And there are many tools we can use. All we have to do is intend to do so, and our intention will act as a powerful magnet, with the awareness of those tools and how to use them being drawn to us from many sources – not the least of which may very well be the magazine you are reading right now.So read on. And read often. And commit to living the truth, if it is your truth, that We Are All One.<hr>This article is adapted with permission from Neale’s book The Essential Path (June 2019). Neale Donald Walsch may be reached for personal interaction at <a href="http://www.CWGConnect.com." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.CWGConnect.com.</a><hr>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by NEALE DONALD WALSCH</h4><hr>

The solution to the biggest problem in the world today

Neelam is an Aerospace Engineer, who has studied and worked on three continents, and currently lives in Munich, Germany. She is an ardent seeker of Truth, enjoys meditation, and has been a Heartfulness trainer for three years. She believes in making a difference to humanity.

Neelam Shivhare.webp

Neelam Shivhare

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">NEELAM SHIVHARE explores some of the great ancient texts of India on motherhood, compares the behavior of Kaikayi and Yashoda, and realizes the importance of removing fear from our hearts in order to nurture our children.</h4>&nbsp;The Ramayana is one of the finest epics of Indian mythology, with lessons of all kinds. It would be unfair to say one lifetime is enough to understand the essence of each character, the plot, and the overall message, but&nbsp;to explain the context, I will write a few sentences.The Ramayana was set in an ancient kingdom, at a time when King Dasharatha was at the cusp of passing his duties of kingship on to his first born, Prince Rama. A peculiarity about this kingdom was that once a person had given their word, it was valued to be the highest, even beyond human life.The kingship of Prince Rama was no surprise to anyone, being the tradition, however it was not accepted by the king’s third wife, Kaikayi, who had been convinced by her maid Manthara that her own son, Bharat, should be king. Her wishes didn’t yield results until one fateful day she happened to help King Dasharatha during a battle, whereafter he granted her a wish. She kept it as leverage for later, and meanwhile crystallized the dream for her son.Just when the time for Prince Rama came to take over the throne, Kaikayi asked the king to grant her wish, as he had promised. She demanded that her son Bharat be the successor instead of Rama, and that Rama and his new wife Sita be sent into exile in the forest far away for fourteen years.Upon learning&nbsp;what Kaikayi did, what emotions arise in you? You may wonder what made her like this? Was it her maid Manthara’s words? My current understanding says it was neither those words nor her decisions. It was fear in her heart that prevented her from seeing the truth.One wonders how a mother can divide two brothers. Well, it appears that sensitivity is a luxury, cherished by few. Nature might give it to mothers, but doesn’t hesitate to take it back should they not exercise it in the journey of life.Kaikayi&nbsp;was blinded by love for her son, aware that he was not the first born for kingship, attached to a future that tempted her. And the cherry on the top was the company she kept. Was she acting from the heart? Doubtful. Was she entirely wrong in her mind, not at all.Then the fault arises in her choice of being driven by fear. Fear engulfs behavior. It enslaves and conditions us, and doesn’t allow even sane people to act correctly.Compare this with&nbsp;Yashoda, the adoptive mother of Lord Krishna, from the era of the Kali Yuga and the great epic of the Mahabharata. Both Kaikayi and Yashoda were mothers, both deeply attached to their sons. What makes them so different?Yashoda received Krishna as a baby and accepted him as her own. Her heart was so free she didn’t activate her mind at all. The way Krishna made his way to her heart wasn’t a coincidence. What made Yashoda behave that way?&nbsp;She was devoid of fear.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">We are creative beings, never forgetting the gifts with which we have been bestowed—the love and tenderness, natural instincts, and intuition to feel the right path. It all lies in the mysterious meanderings of the heart.</h4><hr>What remains when there is no fear? Isn’t it a heart akin to God, so loving that it doesn’t know the difference between my child and someone else’s child?Applying these lessons, I have learned how different destinies can be shaped.&nbsp;What does it &nbsp;take?&nbsp;Awareness.&nbsp;Consciousness of behaviors, vices, and virtues.&nbsp;For young women like myself, who are future mothers, I trust we are on the path of becoming self-aware and brutally honest with ourselves. We are creative beings, never forgetting the gifts with which we have been bestowed—the love and tenderness, natural instincts, and intuition to feel the right path. It all lies in the mysterious meanderings of the heart. Are we really listening to our hearts, or confusing the bombarding information on social media with reality?Practically, what can we do to prepare ourselves?Self-work: First, be honest with yourself. Alone, with the heart, not just meditating for the sake of ticking the box, ask yourself, “Do I like my current self? What is preventing me from being whole in this moment? Am I evolving on a daily basis?” &nbsp;Work on it. Meditate ardently, and every week make a reflection: “How was I behaving last week versus how am I feeling now?”Clarity: It isn’t about how well one can raise a life, but rather, “Am I equipped mentally, emotionally, and physically to even start doing so?” The decision is entirely with the woman. I do not hesitate to say that. Remember, we are creative beings, so there is always a way. And this is the most beautiful job, akin to the Creator’s, which is usually not looked upon with reverence.Action: Before the game begins and you invite a new life into the world, what if you map out what kind of mom you want to be?&nbsp;Cool mom, nurturing mom, or something else? Yes, it is possible to carve out a plan, why not? This is your laboratory and you can choose the ingredients in you that you would love to have.Lalaji’s “Principles of Conversation” help multifold, with their simple recipe to speak with love, like a current of the Divine that enters the heart directly. Imagine being spoken to with so much love, so much ease?Working on that plan also helps prepare ourselves in a way that we overcome our&nbsp;genetic traumas, and also release our regrets, unfulfilled needs, and heal&nbsp;to an extent that our future little angels are served in the best way possible. Like Yashoda Maa’s infinite love. After all, kids are life’s longing to express, and we are privileged to host their bodies for the sake of tomorrow.Turns out,&nbsp;Kaikayi and Yashoda were not just characters in stories, but Viveka personified, if only we are looking!<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">For young women like myself, who are future mothers, I trust we are on the path of becoming self-aware and brutally honest with ourselves.&nbsp;</h4><hr>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fear_affect_role_mother2_0a6addd531.webp" alt="fear-affect-role-mother2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_fear_affect_role_mother2_0a6addd531.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_fear_affect_role_mother2_0a6addd531.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fear_affect_role_mother2_0a6addd531.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"></figure>

How does fear affect our roles as mothers?

Neeraj is an artist who works with paintings, drawings, installations, photography and site-specific installations. Neeraj has done two solo exhibitions, has shown widely in different projects and group exhibitions, and has attended Space Studio Residency Program, Vadodara, and Utsha Foundations for Contemporary Art.

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Neeraj Patel

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">May’s Artist at Heartfulness Magazine is NEERAJ PATEL. We learn about his approach and career through this spotlight by ANANYA PATEL.&nbsp;</h4>Neeraj Patel is a multidisciplinary artist from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. With a background in painting, his work spans multiple mediums and techniques, including drawing, installation, and photography. Based between Vadodara and New Delhi, he has widely exhibited his work in India and abroad, with two solo exhibitions under his belt.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/frameworks_fluidity2_bcd4d336e4.webp" alt="frameworks-fluidity2.webp">An overarching theme in his work is exploring the boundaries between structured frameworks and free-flowing abstraction. During his early training under a miniature painting artist in Rajasthan, he felt limited by the art form’s strict codes and techniques and went in search of methods that allowed him to break free from tradition. His MFA classes at Shiv Nadar University posed other forms of structure and discipline, placing emphasis on architectural drawing and mathematical precision in creating graphic forms. Drawn to these techniques, Patel created a unique artistic process where he uses a precise framework to guide and ground his abstract visualizations.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/frameworks_fluidity3_bef5a8489c.webp" alt="frameworks-fluidity3.webp"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/frameworks_fluidity4_d7a3e87ad3.webp" alt="frameworks-fluidity4.webp">All his drawings begin on graph paper, intentional and measured though they may ultimately appear random and free-flowing. He mentions these grids create a sense of structure that allows his hand to explore abstraction through layered frameworks. He says, “Everywhere we go we have disciplines and structures that may not be visible to us, but they form the basis for everyday life, which then flows around us.” This thinking also informs his relationship with technology and how he uses it in his art practice.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/frameworks_fluidity5_d60348cca7.webp" alt="frameworks-fluidity5.webp">Inspired by a “digital reality,” Patel explores the boundaries between the digital and analogue. He is influenced by digital formats and draws cues from coding languages and architectural drawing. Committed to the precision that digital tools facilitate, he explores how technology can help create in ways not feasible by hand. He employs techniques like laser-cutting and modeling to create individual cut out elements from traditional materials, which are worked on by hand and assembled into layered artworks. In these “<a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/frameworks-of-fluidity" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">industrial landscapes</a>” he reflects on how machines can be used, not just in mass production, but to create a piece that is unique, highly considered, and crafted to perfection.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/frameworks_fluidity6_9bc3a80de6.webp" alt="frameworks-fluidity6.webp">&nbsp;His solo show at Nature Morte in New Delhi encapsulated these ideologies, most notably in a series of metal wall sculptures that he says are an extension of his drawings, “not bound by a frame or any rigid boundary.” He has also completed a residency at Space Studio in Vadodara, to which he attributes his growing competence as an artist, both conceptually and technically. With a permanent studio base in Vadodara, he enjoys being immersed in the creative community built from the city’s Faculty of Fine Arts and its network of artists, designers, studios, and <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/a-different-way-to-play-part-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">industrial</a> fabricators. He enjoys collaborating across disciplines as well as with local craftspeople to realize new ideas. Patel looks forward to expand his practice to showcase the breadth of his artistic abilities, including more three-dimensional works, site-specific installations and projects involving video and sound.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/frameworks_fluidity7_dac7e69254.webp" alt="frameworks-fluidity7.webp"><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Artist: NEERAJ PATEL</h4><hr>&nbsp;

Frameworks of fluidity

Neeraja has been a board-certified pediatrician and specialist in pediatric emergency medicine for the past 25 years. She currently resides in New Jersey, USA, with her three children and manages a general pediatric practice. She enjoys reading, tennis, and travel in her spare time.

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Neeraja Kairam

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">NEERAJA KAIRAM is a physician based in New Jersey, USA. She shares with us her gratitude for the community she has found as she navigates the complex emotions surrounding grief, and builds bridges of understanding.&nbsp;</h4>&nbsp;November 29, 2020 is a date etched in my brain as the day my life changed forever.&nbsp;My husband, who had been by my side for 27 years, died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 50.&nbsp;I think of that time as an inflection point in my life, before his death (B.D.) and after (A.D.).&nbsp;In the three years since, I have become a different person.&nbsp;Looking back on the early days and months, I see a mix of pain and sorrow, gratitude, and resilience.&nbsp;I am still on the journey of navigating this new life that neither my kids nor I asked for. Along the way, I have discovered how the support of community and the connections I have formed allowed me to flourish even in the most difficult of times.&nbsp;In the aftermath of his death, there were so many mixed and complicated emotions, all shrouded in a cloud of intense grief.&nbsp;The sadness, isolation, fear, and sense of helplessness overwhelmed me in those early days. Outwardly, I appeared fine to many, as I mustered the strength to put one foot in front of the other, driven by the sole purpose of providing stability for my children.Balancing this newfound solo life with a full-time career was far from easy, especially when I inherited the task of managing my late husband’s business.&nbsp;His employees were also grappling with losing their beloved boss and their own anxieties about their livelihoods, so they looked to me for leadership. And, the constant concern for my three teenagers—now relying on me as their sole parent—weighed incessantly.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:70.37%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/transforming_grief2_2f1cd2fd02.webp" alt="transforming-grief2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_transforming_grief2_2f1cd2fd02.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_transforming_grief2_2f1cd2fd02.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/transforming_grief2_2f1cd2fd02.webp 800w," sizes="100vw"></figure>Grief is a complex and often misunderstood emotion. We all encounter it at some point in our lives, yet it remains challenging to accept and share openly. The discomfort it brings to those around us can result in a heavy burden, as we often feel compelled to hold our emotions in.&nbsp;Even the well-intentioned question of “How are you doing?" can leave a griever in a difficult position, unsure how to respond.&nbsp;For would-be consolers, there are also many complex emotions. In addition to sympathy and empathy, a sense of helplessness often stems from not knowing how to alleviate the griever’s grief.&nbsp;There is anxiety about saying the wrong thing, frustration due to the inability to find the right words, awkwardness in not knowing how to act or what to say, and even a tendency to avoid the situation to circumvent these uncomfortable emotions. I have felt all these things myself.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">It is about recognizing the shared human experience and acknowledging the importance of supporting one another through life’s most challenging moments.</h4><hr>In our society, it is uncomfortable to discuss grief, and often not openly accepted. So, is there a way to bridge the gap and foster greater acceptance and understanding? It requires us to break down the walls of separation and push open dialogues about grief to the mainstream. In the end,&nbsp;that journey requires a collective effort to dismantle traditional barriers.&nbsp;It is about re-cognizing the shared human experience and acknowledging the importance of supporting one another through life’s most challenging moments.&nbsp;I was fortunate to have key people in my life who provided crucial support.&nbsp;They offered solace and guidance, and insisted I take moments of self-care. Despite their unwavering presence, I still grappled with an overwhelming sense of aloneness, a feeling that no one could truly understand the depth of my loss unless they had walked a similar path themselves. It wasn’t just the loss of my husband, my best friend, and the anchor of support for my children. It was also the loss of the future we had envisioned together.&nbsp;I lost my partner in travel, music concerts, and other adventures.&nbsp;I dealt with the loss of my identity in the world without him, and the loss of a clear sense of purpose in my life.&nbsp;Not long after my husband’s passing, a former colleague and friend, who had recently lost her husband to cancer, introduced me to an online support group for physician widows.&nbsp;Initially, the word “widow” bore the weight of sorrow, but with time, it came to represent strength and resilience. These women gave me a deep sense of belonging and understanding.&nbsp;They empathized with the myriad of emotions that come with widowhood—grief, guilt, fear, “should haves,” and all the expected and unexpected triggers.&nbsp;This supportive community brought me a sense of normalcy regarding my own emotions, and allowed me to extend support to others enduring similar grief.&nbsp;Recently, when one of them shared, “I have lots of people to do things with, but I have no one to do nothing with,” it was a moment of revelation. I connected with the sentiment, even though I struggled for so long to find the right words to express it. In this community of remarkable women I found solace and mutual support.&nbsp;Support also came from unexpected sources.&nbsp;I am still in awe of an experience that took place a year after my husband’s passing as we were approaching the holiday season.&nbsp;Every day for the 12 days of Christmas, a gift arrived on our front porch, accompanied by a card signed, “Your true friends.”&nbsp;On the 13th day, we received the final gift that explained the meaning behind these mysterious presents, a book called The 13th Gift by Joanne Huist Smith. In her book, she shares her own story of what happened after her husband passed away just before Christmas. Like us, her family received 12 daily gifts from strangers that helped them cope with their grief during the holiday season.&nbsp;To this day, the sender of those gifts remains a mystery, but the impact of this unexpected gesture of kindness and compassion has been permanently cemented in our hearts.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:70.47%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/transforming_grief3_a43a8ade80.webp" alt="transforming-grief3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_transforming_grief3_a43a8ade80.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_transforming_grief3_a43a8ade80.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/transforming_grief3_a43a8ade80.webp 800w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Looking back on the past three years, I am reminded of the people who stood by me when I wasn’t at my best, who listened when I needed to be heard, and who gave me space when I needed it.&nbsp;They encouraged me to take each day one breath at a time. &nbsp;It remains a powerful testament to the support and kindness of loved ones and strangers alike and exemplifies what it means to truly take care of each other.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">They encouraged me to take each day one breath at a time.</h4><hr><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4><hr>

Transforming grief 

Negin is a consciousness researcher, educator, and activist. As a social entrepreneur and founder of Be 8nfinite Inc., she is dedicated to unlocking human potential and promoting holistic well-being. With a background in psychology and consciousness studies, certifications in transformational and cognitive coaching for both youth and adults, and extensive experience as a certified trainer in the Heartfulness method of Raja Yoga, she brings deep expertise in self-exploration and personal growth. Negin supports people to connect with their deepest feelings, meanings, and longings, empowering them to reach their highest potential. She finds joy in guiding individuals and organizations to imagine, create, and embody the best version of themselves, fostering lives and workplaces filled with harmony, coherence, and joy.

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Negin M. Khorasani

<h4>NEGIN KHORASANI&nbsp;throws light on the beauty of the inner Self – its nature and its role in discernment.</h4>Many of us who are in the process of self-refinement are striving to become more and more gentle and loving; to respond in a state of love rather than fear-based reactions. Sometimes we are unsuccessful.. Later, when we review the events and don’t feel so good about them, we justify ourselves by saying that being severe is another godly quality that is needed, just as Shiva had both qualities. So is it just a matter of recognizing the right time for the right response? This complicates things – it brings the mind into the picture to decide on the right response, and the mind never seems to make it simple for us.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Our task, as Rumi says, is to remove all our inner barriers against love; barriers that separate us from the Ultimate. &nbsp;</h4><hr>Another approach is through the heart, where we develop Godly qualities. Our thinking faculty becomes a field to receive intuition, our intellect evolves into wisdom, and our ego becomes as subtle as possible, so that we are free from self-centeredness, and self-consciousness, and expand into the consciousness of Divinity. We see nothing but the presence of God, inside and outside.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/ultimate_gentleness2_b9fd2f87d7.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-04T07:09:13.994Z" alt="ultimate-gentleness2">In this state, we are no longer driven by plans to be either gentle or forceful. We are in a state of utmost surrender and acceptance. If applying force is needed from our side, it happens in a natural and intuitive way, without us thinking or planning for it. It is not driven by our ego but by our higher Self in constant communion with the Divine. Love rules it, not defensiveness to protect our ego. Love sees no barrier and separation; love sees all as part of the Divine and does what is needed.When we see all that comes our way as coming from the Divine, as pure wisdom and as the ultimate good for all, we develop faith and later reach a state of surrender to the Divine. So we go with the flow without the least resistance. In this state, our desires and egotistical motives have vanished. There are no more personal likes and dislikes, no more resistance, and that to me is the ultimate gentleness. I always think of water as a lesson in how the gentle conquers the hard. When water reaches a big rock, it does not fight with it but just finds its way around it, and ultimately rolls the big rock from its place without spending any extra energy to do so. Strength is embedded in gentleness. There is no need to strive for it.I have been always amazed by how ancient traditions consider our inner Self to be the feminine side of us. According to ancient collective wisdom, we all have a feminine side, our subtler, finer Self; our inner self that represents true strength. There is a tarot card, Strength, which has a picture of an angelic female who has tamed a lion. This card represents our inner Self, which is able to tame our animal nature in its primal form. In fact, the will and passion of our instinctive nature need not be broken but refined and brought to consciousness, so that all levels of creation come into harmony. The persuasive ‘forceless force’ of the feminine can nurture and induce cooperation from everyone and everything, stilling disruptive energies by harmonizing differences in the spirit of collective goodwill. That is what the balance between Yin and Yang, Anima and Animus means.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">So we go with the flow without the least resistance. In this state, our desires and egotistical motives have vanished.&nbsp; There are no more personal likes and dislikes,&nbsp; no more resistance, and that&nbsp;to me is the ultimate gentleness.</h4><hr>Our task is not in trying to think when to be loving and gentle and when to be severe and tough. Our task, as Rumi says, is to remove all our inner barriers against love; barriers that separate us from the Ultimate. To sublimate our ego and purify our consciousness more and more. To immerse ourselves in Godly remembrance so much so that the right thoughts, words and actions emerge in any situation in a natural and effortless way. There is no need to plan to be severe or to protect. When we dissolve the ego and remain connected to the Divine, are we not just a drop in this vast ocean? Are we not one with all? Are we not feeling already protected and safe? The task is just to dissolve ourselves – fana, as they call it in the Sufi tradition.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by NEGIN M. KHORASANI</h4><hr>

Ultimate gentleness is the ultimate strength

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">NEGIN M. KHORASANI searches for the quiddity&nbsp;of&nbsp;happiness.</h4>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;What would you wish for if you had a genie? A villa in the Canary Islands? A Lamborghini? A luxury vacation? Or something more sustainable: a bank account that never ends, which would maintain a high standard of living with all these things and many more? Or perhaps you wish for beauty? Or for the man or woman of your dreams, your perfect mate, with whom you can live happily ever after?Let’s pause right here, on the very last phrase, “happily ever after”, the words that all our fairy tale stories end with. Isn’t it the core and the essence of all our endeavors? Isn’t this everlasting happiness the reason we need our jobs, titles and money? After all, happiness is what we pursue through all these things. We believe they will make us happy, be it our hard work, our career, our leisure activities, our relationships, and our material possessions and money. So why not focus on our goal in the first place, instead of the tools that might help us to achieve it? Why not focus on happiness?So let’s look at the quiddity of happiness. How exactly can you define it without getting into the trap of equating it with the ways and means to getting it? So to be very clear, happiness is not the money, the luxury lifestyle, the most exotic and desirable food you may think of, a perfect relationship, or being in a happily balanced family life with your children around you, etc. These are all ways we think will help us reach a state of happiness.In order to define happiness, let’s recall the inner state and condition we have when we achieve any of the items on our list. How did you feel in that moment when you reunited with a loved one after being apart for a while? How did you feel when you were holding your baby for the first time? Or how do you feel in simple moments of satisfaction, for example after a good meal in a nice environment? It seems that in all these moments we experience a feeling of our needs or desires being fulfilled, whatever they might be, so we are able to go beyond and immerse ourselves in a state of balance, serenity and harmony.We are where we have to be, in the blissful present moment. We do not want to go anywhere else, as we are happy being exactly where we are. We feel a sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves, connected, surrounded by it, and fulfilled. It is a feeling of being safe and supported, complete, whole and at home.This feeling of connection in the moment, of feeling safe and at home, seems to be the key factor associated with happiness. So to further our search for happiness maybe it would be wise to search for its essence; this feeling of connectedness, unity and inner contentment. This brings us to the heart; not the physical pump that we have in our chest, but the field where we receive our emotions. It is the core of our being where we can settle in and enjoy the feeling of connectedness to the whole of creation and feel at home. So it seems the journey of a thousand miles has brought us to the closest possible corner of the world, right here, available anytime; our heart. Isn’t it amazing how available is that we have searched for throughout human history?Now the question is: how to access this seemingly familiar and close corner, which tends to recede and stay far from reach? Both logic and experience says the means to simple things must be simple.<hr>So when we go within, tune into it, feel the connection and behold it, day after day, we start a process of becoming one with it.<hr>Meditation is a simple way to access the simplicity of the heart; to feel the inner presence, the joy we all are in our essence, the light that we are. This is our natural state. So when we go within, tune into it, feel the connection and behold it, day after day, we start a process of becoming one with it. This apparently very insignificant and passive activity of meditation that we do every day is the most potent way to explore this inner world. It also allows us to create our day and in perusing it persistently we can create our life in a balanced harmonious state that is full of happiness.Heartfulness is the process of finding the philosopher stone rather than the gold. For then we can turn every ordinary thing into gold, every ordinary moment into a joyful experience. That is the miraculous alchemy of Heartfulness, when you are in that lovely corner of the whole world, your heart.&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article&nbsp; by NEGIN M. KHORASANI</h4><hr>

Beholding and becoming

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">NEGIN KHORASANI shares her thoughts on loving in relationships, and the importance of letting go of expectations, attachments, and possessiveness; holding close without holding on.</h4>Have you ever noticed how even our most loving relationships can feel overwhelming? While they bring deep nourishment, we often find ourselves needing space and time to recover from their intensity. No matter how much we connect with those we cherish—our parents, siblings, close friends—it can sometimes feel as though their expectations never end. The more we give, the more is expected.I’ve come to understand that this is because, with every sweet connection, we fuel the fire of craving more. Instead of love flowing freely, it can turn into attachment—a bond that drains rather than uplifts.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">The hidden weight of attachment</h4>Attachment is like an invisible cord that ties us to others, keeping them in our mental space whether they are near or far. If a loved one is struggling, we carry their pain as our own. If they are sick, we feel their sickness in our hearts. Even if our own life is in balance, we cannot fully experience peace because their troubles weigh on us.We often hear mothers say, “I worry about my child because I love them.” But is this love, or is it attachment? True love does not burden—it liberates.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/holding_close_without_holding_on2_10509fa0de.webp" alt="holding-close-without-holding-on2.webp"></figure><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Love versus attachment: Understanding the difference</h4>Love is made of care and understanding. When we truly love someone, caring for them feels natural and effortless. If they need food, we offer it. If they need support, we give it, without counting the cost. Love asks for nothing in return. It is selfless, flowing like a river, nourishing without conditions.Understanding is another key component of love. A parent doesn’t take a child’s mistakes personally because they see the child is still growing. An elderly mother, in her wisdom, is happy when her children are busy building their lives, even if they cannot visit as often as she wishes. This is true love—giving, forgiving, and allowing.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">The trap of attachment</h4>Attachment, on the other hand, is conditional. We give, but we expect something in return. We help, but we want appreciation. We love, but we seek validation. This expectation inevitably leads to disappointment because it ties our happiness to someone else’s actions—something beyond our control.Even when we do great favors for others, if they come with unspoken expectations, they can feel like invisible shackles. Love is <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/march-to-freedom-part-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">freedom</a>. Attachment is possession.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">The secret to boundless love</h4>When we love without attachment, we give wholeheartedly in the moment—whether it’s our time, care, or effort—and then we let go. We do what needs to be done, fully present and engaged, but once the moment has passed, we free our <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/about-a-dog-and-a-small-boy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">minds and hearts</a>. We don’t carry the emotional residue of our actions, nor do we dwell on whether our love was acknowledged or reciprocated.This openness allows us to remain attuned to the next person or situation that may need our care. When our mental space is clear, we can sense the world's needs and respond with love again and again. This is why one saint can carry the burden of an entire nation—because they don’t hold on. They give, they move on, and they remain available. Their love is infinite because it is not weighed down by attachment.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Loving few versus loving all</h4>When we love with attachment, we can only love a few—our energy is limited because we are entangled in expectations, emotional burdens, and the need for reciprocation. But when we love without attachment, we become free to love all.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/holding_close_without_holding_on3_afea1c8f08.webp" alt="holding-close-without-holding-on3.webp"></figure>&nbsp;A person who practices loving detachment does not run out of love because they do not cling to any particular bond. Their love flows limitlessly, extending to family, friends, strangers, and even those who may never return their affection. They can care for many without exhaustion, simply because they are not trying to hold love, only to be love.To love fully and freely, we must practice loving detachment—caring deeply while allowing others the space to be themselves. It means supporting without controlling, giving without expecting, and holding close without holding on.When we detach with love, we free not only ourselves but also those we care for. And in that freedom, love flourishes—not just for a few, but for all.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">When we detach with love, we free not only ourselves but also those we care for. And in that freedom, love flourishes—not just for a few, but for all.</h4><hr>&nbsp;

Holding close without holding on

<hr><h4>NEGIN KHORASANI explores some fundamental principles of Nature about giving and receiving, and how we can limit ourselves by a belief system of scarcity and replace it with a new belief system of abundance.</h4>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;When we don’t know how to give in order to receive, we are unaware of one of the most powerful laws of Nature. We may continue seeking and never be satisfied in our search. Many of us believe in scarcity and are in a state of poverty consciousness. We therefore stay in that state our whole lives. How can we receive what we don’t believe exists? The universe seems to always approve our belief, whatever it may be. If we believe in scarcity, that remains our reality; if we trust the universe and all its mysterious ways, we will observe in a state of wonder how things find their way to us from unknown sources. Even without knowing how, we can live in absolute abundance.Abundance starts with a state of mind. Only when we deeply believe in it, and allow the trust that is naturally generated as a result of this belief to prevail, will we no longer be afraid of giving. We know we are connected to the treasury of the universe. Even if it seems momentarily gone, it will come again, whatever it may be that we are giving – wealth, love, care, etc. Only with this inner condition and mental state does abundance appear as our physical reality.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Abundance starts with a state of mind.&nbsp; Only when we deeply believe in it,&nbsp; and allow the trust that is naturally&nbsp; generated as a result of this belief to prevail,&nbsp; will we no longer be afraid of giving.</h4><hr>It is one of the laws of Nature that there is never an empty space in Nature. As Goethe beautifully says, “It is the nature of grace always to fill spaces that have been empty.” The wise ones know there is no emptiness in Nature. Where an empty space appears, it is immediately filled with something else. The emptiness is just momentary. And as a something new appears in the place of the old, its fresh energy and newness fills our energy and flows to other areas of our life. So we never have to be afraid of losing anything. For example, take a relationship that has not worked, despite all the efforts we have put in to save it. Of course it is sad, but can we also ask, “What will come in its place? I am ready to embrace the new and fresh energy!”We make our choices, and in turn they shape our reality. ‘Poverty consciousness’ or ‘abundance consciousness’ – the choice is always ours. If we choose poverty consciousness, we remain in a state of worry and we stick to what we have, whether in our bank account, in the form of other possessions, or in other resources. Worry is an indication that we believe in the absence of what we are worried about. That in itself interferes blocks the manifestation of the desired object. If we choose abundance consciousness, we accept abundance as our reality and we believe in the presence of it.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/giving_receiving2_240e22d7a6.jpg" alt="giving is receiving"><hr>Therefore we enjoy a relaxed state of mind, as we are always spending from the treasury of the universe rather than a bank account. When we choose this state, we start giving constantly in the trust that it keeps coming. We become part of the flow of Nature. We become a conduit. Nature will know that it has found a proper conduit that allows everything to pass through.I am not talking of wasting resources but of being an open conduit for whatever should pass through, according to the wisdom of Nature. And when we are connected to that wisdom, we do not see separation between ourselves and Nature, which is the source of everything. Neither do we see separation between ourselves and other beings. We have one hand in Nature’s hand, and the other hand&nbsp;in anybody’s we come across. We receive from one hand and give from the other. In a state of oneness we naturally give warmth to the cold, food to the hungry, wealth to the poor, love and care to the ones in need, companionship to the ones who feel lonely. It is like feeling an itch in one hand and the other hand automatically scratches it, or when you wrap your hands around your body when you feel cold and rub your arms to give warmth.If we think about it, nothing remains intact with the winds of change in our world. So why cling to things that result in worry, which will block abundance? Instead we can develop our preferred state of mind and feeling, and stay there in its safety.Remaining in a state means maintaining a certain vibration, and that vibration translates into matter of the same vibration. That is how we attract certain people, events and circumstances in our lives that are in accordance with our state of mind or vibratory level. Therefore the real work is done on our inner state, changing our limiting beliefs and thought patterns based on lack and scarcity. We can change them into what serves us as well as people around us better. This may seem easier said than done, but we can break it down and make it simple.Our beliefs are the thoughts that we have practiced for a long time. So try to think new thoughts and start practicing them long enough to turn them into beliefs. This is even easier when we are free from the grip of old thought patterns by means of a mental cleaning process.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">When we feel supported by the universe,&nbsp; we feel relaxed about life.&nbsp; We trust life and believe in its support&nbsp; whenever and wherever it is needed.</h4><hr>When we feel supported by the universe, we feel relaxed about life. We trust life and believe in its support whenever and wherever it is needed. Then we can smile deeply, expand and dance freely in our being. We start to live in abundance, and to live all those beautiful feelings that abundance brings us, as that is the reason we seek it in the first place. That sense of freedom, choice, relaxation, ease and generosity is but the result of deeply believing in the abundance that surrounds us. And when we live it truly, the vibration that is sent to the universe will attract equivalent things, people and events.The universe has no choice other than yielding abundance to such a person, and that is why we see carefree and generous people receiving more and more. They have learned, through their life experiences or an inner knowing, that giving is truly receiving. And ultimately when we give something, we are always giving ourselves.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Giving is receiving

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">NEGIN KHORASANI shares a practical approach to the attitude of wholeness: How do we cultivate it in everyday life? How do we remember just how integrated we really are, starting with the way we greet the world when we wake each morning?&nbsp;</h4>&nbsp;As I gaze at the fire and immerse myself in its warmth, I recognize the fullness of life in this moment. I see how this moment is perfect in every sense and every way. I am one with life… with the entire existence. I feel my fullness through this sense of unity with all that is. I am the universe. Om So Hum!Sometimes, in the activities of our days, in the highly active doing mode we inhabit, we forget our connection to the whole. We forget the fullness, perfection, and expansiveness of our being. We forget the wholeness of who we already are. We forget the miracle of life itself.At some point, everyone saw something magical in us—when we were first born. Our very existence was considered a miracle, from conception to birth. The first time we opened our eyes was celebrated as if the sun had risen anew. Our first smile was an embodiment of pure joy for our parents and loved ones.So what happened? Did we forget the <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/choosing-life-part-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">beauty of life</a> as it flows within and around us? Did we lose our sense of reverence for existence? Do we see each movement of our bodies as magical? Even on our worst days, we remain miracles on this earth—our bodies, our minds, and the life force that breathes and moves us are absolutely glorious.Do we feel the miracle of waking up every morning? Can we recognize its grandeur and lie in awe and appreciation before making any move? Can we allow this awareness to fill our hearts with boundless gratitude and simply savor it as we awaken? Is our natural response to sit, even for a moment, in silent appreciation for this miracle we call life?Perhaps this is what we can focus on upon awakening each day. And as our day unfolds, we can bring ourselves back—again and again—to our connection with the source, to our wholeness, constantly reminding ourselves of who we truly are, of the <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/love-the-earth" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Divinity</a> within us. What if this were our practice throughout the day: to consciously dissolve the mind-made boundaries that separate us from everything and everyone?As we walk, talk, and engage in daily activities, we would consciously immerse ourselves in this remembrance of unity. Awakening to this wholeness is true healing. All suffering stems from the illusion of separation, which brings feelings of fear, worry, unworthiness, and inadequacy.With an attitude of oneness, we would realize we have already arrived at our destination. We are one with the source of everything. There is nothing—and no one—we must hold onto to feel complete. We are already whole. The absence of this wholeness is merely a construct of the mind, an illusion we can dissolve at will with awareness. We recognize our eternal and omnipresent nature. We see that time and space, too, are constructs of the mind, illusions shaping our perception of existence.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/remembering_wholeness2_164b481d96.webp" alt="remembering-wholeness2.webp">&nbsp;As we bring more awareness to this truth, the stress of constant doing fades. This does not mean we stop taking action, but our approach to action changes. Our actions arise naturally in response to life rather than from a sense of lack. We no longer act to attain something, for in wholeness, there is nothing missing. Our actions become desireless, free from attachment to outcomes.Our days may be filled with activity, but we do not feel busy. We are not rushing from one task to the next. We give ourselves fully to each action as it arises, staying with it until we feel complete. Then, another task may call our attention. In each moment, we are fully present, fully engaged.And there are also moments when we could simply allow ourselves to be—to rest in the fullness of existence, to feel the beauty and miracle of life in connection with the whole.Remember that you are the universe. Breathe it in. Say to yourself: Om So Hum.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">There are also moments when we could simply allow ourselves to be—to rest in the fullness of existence, to feel the beauty and miracle of life in connection with the whole.</h4><hr>

Remembering wholeness

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">We hear from Heartfulness practitioners around the world about the experience of Transmission and transformation.</h4><h4 style="text-align:center;">NEGIN KHORASANI, Toronto, Ontario, Canada</h4>The first time I received Pranahuti in Heartfulness, during my first meditation session with a trainer, it felt like love in liquid form pouring into my heart, melting away the frost within—a warm embrace, a silent reassurance that I was completely understood, accepted, and unconditionally loved.For someone who had always felt out of place, different in choices and ways of being, that moment dissolved my sense of isolation. It was as if my heart had found its true home. As my practice deepened, so did my connection—to people, to animals, to the world around me. Walking down the street, I no longer saw strangers but felt an unspoken bond with every soul.Over time, love became my natural state, effortless and boundless, dissolving all barriers of separation and making even the most distant places feel like home.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/experiencing_pranahuti2_7244c393cc.webp" alt="experiencing-pranahuti2.webp"></figure>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">NATALIA N. LAZO,&nbsp; Langley, BC Canada</h4>I began my search for a spiritual path in 2016, exploring different <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/meditation-health-part-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">meditation practices</a>. While I found many valuable techniques, I always struggled to truly meditate. That changed when I attended my first meditation with a Heartfulness trainer—where, for the first time, I experienced a deep, indescribable, meditative state. And it happened during the very first sitting.I’ve carried many impressions and burdens, both mundane and profound. While every human faces struggles, my journey had left me with deep-seated challenges. Through Heartfulness, I have felt how Transmission has helped release these impressions effortlessly. (Not that it has been easy, but for the first time in 31 years, I’ve seen real inner progress.)There have even been times when I came into a sitting with a quiet wish or thought in my heart, and the experience responded to it in such a clear, loving way. I remember in one of my first gatherings, a video of <a href="https://www.daaji.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Daaji</a> spoke directly to what my heart was seeking—a gentle yet powerful reminder.These experiences have made it clear to me that Transmission is not only real but also deeply personal, reaching exactly where it is needed.I know it might sound unbelievable, but it’s been so real, so direct, that there’s no doubt in me about the gift and impact of Transmission and the transformation it brings.<h2 style="text-align:center;">The Silent Power</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/experiencing_pranahuti3_f13a0ee500.webp" alt="experiencing-pranahuti3.webp"></figure>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">ALMA TARELLI, Coquitlam, BC Canada&nbsp;</h4>“The heart is the field of action for the Divine.”&nbsp; —LalajiI’ve been on my spiritual journey for eight years, exploring yoga in depth, practicing various meditations and other spiritual tools.So, when I came to my first Heartfulness session with a trainer, you can imagine how big my spiritual ego was. I didn’t do the crow or wild thing pose, but sat in lotus position as if I was doing something superb in front of her. Spiritual Ego is a real thing. I made it very obvious that I was quite advanced. I told her about my years of meditating and the different kriyas I practiced.She simply smiled gently, and firmly at the same time invited me to relax and began the session. What followed was something words can’t fully describe.She said, “Feel the divine light already present in your heart.”Now that is totally different from all the visualizations and all the fancy colors I have been practicing in my visualization exercises for years.“Feel the divine light already present in your heart.” How?I witnessed my mind trying hard to make up scenarios for a while. No fun at all, but after several minutes I had a sense of deep, deep calmness. Then silence. Complete silence. I could hear the tik-tok of her clock in the wall. It was very loud. Then stillness. And then, “That’s all.”The Transmission carried me inward, into a depth I had never touched before. I could not open my eyes and it was the first time that the heart had full control of my body. I left bewildered. I also had many questions. Instead of answering the questions she handed me the purple book of the Master, Spiritual Anatomy.The first night I cried a little. I don’t know if my heart started clearing or I cried for all these years I was “trying” to meditate. Trying to meditate was an escapism from myself, my traumas.Heartfulness Meditation is something else entirely. It isn’t about doing something to escape, it is not doing or looking for more. Simply be and “feel the divine light already present in your heart.”The practices are simple: relax, receive the Transmission, and clean. But the effect is profound. The Transmission creates a stillness that’s deeply nourishing, and the cleaning process clears away emotional burdens I didn’t even know I was carrying. This journey has become a natural rhythm in my life—one that I wholeheartedly embrace. Heartfulness is sincerely the way if you are seeking peace, joy, and true connection—deep, deep inside.My lotus is not open fully yet, but my heart knows the way…“When we begin to live from the heart, life becomes meditation.” —Daaji &nbsp;<h2 style="text-align:center;">Joyful Awakening</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/experiencing_pranahuti4_409a935152.webp" alt="experiencing-pranahuti4.webp"></figure>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">ELIZABETH DENLEY Glenlyon, Victoria, Australia</h4>The first time I experienced meditation with Transmission turned my world upside down. It felt like butterflies were flying in my heart, as love flooded everything. The Soul’s feeling awakened, and I could not get enough of meditation. Pratyahara happened so effortlessly that I dived in liked a sponge absorbing experience, turning into the heart. Nothing was ever the same again. Consciousness had begun its expansion and awareness of sensitivity. Consciouness had stretched like elastic and heaviness had dropped off in an instant, like magic. A continuity from a previous lifetime. A continuity with others.<h2 style="text-align:center;">Transmission and Transformation</h2>S. S. RAMAKRISHNAN Kanha Shanti Vanam, India&nbsp;I still recall my first experience of Pranahuti or yogic Transmission, during my second introductory meditation session in Kanpur, India. I had expected to feel vibrations in the heart, as I did during the first meditation session.Instead, something entirely unexpected happened. I suddenly felt as if I were floating in empty space, unable to tell whether my feet were up or my head was up. In fact, I didn’t even remember if I had a head or feet. I experienced myself as pure mind, without a body.After the meditation session, an old puzzle resurfaced: “Am I just a body with a brain, a machine with chemical plants inside, and a computer on top? Will this machine stop one day, and I’ll simply be no more? Or am I something more, something that continues beyond the death of this body?”There was no clear answer or proof, just faint, hazy images pointing in a new direction. Another memorable experience of yogic Transmission happened in Shahjahanpur, in Pujya Babuji Maharaj's home. During a sitting there, I felt as though I had expanded to fill the entire hall.When I reflect on transformation in my nature or character, many specific experiences and changes come to mind. These changes have helped me immensely in my family life, my career, my interactions with my students, and my relationships across three generations of family.But if I had to mention one defining change, it would be the development of a positive outlook on life. This shift became especially noticeable in the past ten years. I’m now at the ripe age of 80. This wasn’t always the case. When I first started on the spiritual path, I wasn’t optimistic, not even about my own spiritual future. I didn’t feel sure of my success, nor of anyone else’s, in reaching the ultimate goal. That was simply the mindset I began with.Over the years, I’ve been exposed to many spiritual methods, paths, teachers, and guides, both in India and in America. But after receiving Pranahuti through the Heartfulness tradition, over the last fifty years, something has shifted profoundly. Now, I am deeply optimistic about my spiritual journey. And more than that, I carry complete optimism about the success of all those walking this path.I feel we are all steadily moving toward the ultimate goal of human life. This joy, this quiet confidence, springs largely from my association with my three spiritual guides. It is their Maitri, their loving friendship, that has made such a transformation possible.

Experiencing pranahuti

NELLA AROSSA

His Excellency, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918&nbsp;– 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist, politician, and statesman who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a representative democratic election. By the time of his death, in South Africa Mandela was widely considered both “the father of the nation” and "the founding father of democracy". Outside of South Africa, he was a global icon, with people describing him as one of the most revered figures of our time.Over the course of his life, Mandela was given over 250 awards, accolades, prizes, honorary degrees and citizenships in recognition of his political achievements. Among these awards were the Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Soviet Union's Lenin Peace Prize. In 1990, India awarded him the Bharat Ratna, and he was appointed to the Order of Isabella the Catholic and the Order of Canada, and was the first living person to be made an honorary Canadian citizen. Queen Elizabeth II appointed him as a Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St. John and granted him membership in the Order of Merit.&nbsp;

Nelson Mandela.webp

Nelson Mandela

Make peace with your enemy

Nicole has 23 years of experience in education. Her drive comes from her commitment to providing the best quality education for all students at Novi High School and beyond. She was honored as the Michigan Secondary Principal of the Year in March 2022 by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals and the Michigan Association of Student Councils and Honor Societies.

Lina is a senior at Novi High School. She leads the Student Mental Health Committee and is an aspiring medical professional and programmer, interested in solving problems at the intersection of mental health, epigenetics, and computer science. She enjoys meditating daily and listening to Taylor Swift. She has conducted and published research to explore noninvasive ways to address mental health disorders in teenagers.

Priya is a junior at Novi High School. She is an aspiring scientist interested in mental health and building inclusive community platforms for free and creative expression. She loves playing the piano and singing in her free time. She is an avid member of the student council and volunteers her time to help others. She loves solving problems by developing apps and conducting research to explore the impact of technology in mental health.

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Nicole Carter, Lina Iyer, and Priya Iyer

<h4>NICOLE CARTER is Michigan’s “High School Principal of the Year, 2022.” Nicole and two of her students, LINA IYER and PRIYA IYER, share how they have been ensuring that Novi High School is a place where students feel they belong.</h4><hr><h4>“Keep your face to the sunshine, and you cannot see a shadow.” Helen Keller</h4><hr>NC: Fostering positivity and creating opportunity for self-care in schools can help the school community rise above challenges.&nbsp;As the principal of Novi High School, Michigan, I have the responsibility of setting a positive tone, and developing a school culture where students feel seen, heard, and valued. &nbsp;I use intentionality to inspire students, staff, and the community. We begin every day with “It’s another great day to be a Novi Wildcat.” This simple phrase reminds everyone how special it is to be a member of this incredible learning community.We strive to make our large, comprehensive high school feel small by incorporating an advisory circle practice every Tuesday. Developing a safe, secure learning environment lends to the social and emotional well-being of our students. We prioritize it at the same level as academics. Studies show that students who feel they belong achieve a higher level of success.&nbsp;Fostering positivity has significant and impactful benefits on the mind. It creates a sense of optimism and self-encouragement. MRI scans of the brain show evidence of increased neural pathways and brain usage where neural activity has increased as a benefit of practicing positive affirmations to foster happiness.The results from a research study conducted by the Palo Alto Research Center and the Computer Science Department of the University of California at Santa Cruz, on fostering positivity, concluded that individuals who were initially self-affirmative completed a larger percentage of their goals compared with those who had no initial self-affirmation.<hr><hr><h4>Fostering positivity has significant and&nbsp; impactful benefits on the mind.&nbsp; It creates a sense of optimism&nbsp; and self-encouragement.</h4><hr><hr><h4>How can we foster positivity in our lives?</h4>LI and PI: One way is through positive affirmations – statements and phrases that empower and support us. By practicing self-affirmation, we can look at our different aspects in a positive way. We also become better at adjusting to new situations.Positive affirmations can be used to motivate yourself, encourage positive changes in your life, and boost your self-esteem by describing how you want to be, or how you want your circumstances to be.&nbsp;For instance, heartful affirmations can be used to strengthen the positive traits of the heart. These affirmations help you become centered, relaxed, and open. When you connect internally, you are better able to connect externally to everyone and everything around you.&nbsp;Keep a Gratitude Journal to write about things or people that you are grateful for. You will focus more on the positive aspects of your life. There is no wrong way to do it! Writing for just 15 minutes a few times a week and being consistent about it will have a significant impact on your life.<hr><hr><h4>When you connect internally,&nbsp; you are better able to connect externally&nbsp; to everyone and everything around you.&nbsp;</h4><hr><h4>U matter</h4>At our school, we try to foster positivity and self-care through the Student Mental Health Committee, which began in 2016 with the support of our principal, Ms. Nicole Carter. It spreads awareness about mental health among our student community, and increases a sense of compassion among students, to reduce the social stigma surrounding mental illness, and to help the students maintain physical, mental, and emotional balance.One of the main events we hold every year is the “U Matter Week.” It is a week filled with activities so that the staff and students feel like they are the priority. Throughout the week, each day has a theme that represents an idea about mental wellness. This, in turn, serves to raise awareness.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/U_Matter2_700x466_b257f11fdb.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T10:36:51.984Z" alt=""><hr><h4>Mental health</h4>We conduct a multitude of activities, at lunchtime and after school, to help students relieve stress and maintain physical, emotional, and mental well-being. These activities include tying friendship bracelets, playing with puppies, and listening to motivational speakers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This year, we ended our week with the “Crush the Stigma” event. Students wrote down their stressors, challenges, and things that were weighing on them on three cars. Eventually, they saw the cars crushed at the end of the week. The purpose of this event was to help students anonymously vent things that were bothering them.After the Oxford shooting last year(at a neighboring school), many students had difficulty managing the new level of anxiety. They felt uneasy coming to school. We wanted to do something, so we held a Self-care Week, which gave students the time and opportunity to try out different mental health activities. We also encouraged them to try out Heartfulness tools.&nbsp;Earlier this year, we conducted an Institutional Review Board approved study at our school to explore the impact of self-care programs on students and staff; to see the effects of these programs on anxiety, life satisfaction, and loneliness, using widely accepted scales. A total of 44 individuals participated.The study showed a significant decrease in levels of anxiety and loneliness, as well as increased life satisfaction scores in those trying the Heartfulness tools from weeks 0 to 4,and this was maintained through weeks 4 to 8. In the control group, there were no significant changes from weeks 0 to 4, but a significant decrease in the levels of anxiety and loneliness and increase in life satisfaction scores from weeks 4 to 8.&nbsp;<h4>Looking ahead</h4>We are looking forward to working with our school community, and inspiring other schools to enhance the learning experience of every student, while giving them a safe, positive, and caring environment in which to grow.<hr><hr>References:Cascio, C.N., M.B. O’Donnell, F.J. Tinney, M.D. Lieberman, S.E. Taylor, V.J. Strecher, E.B. Falk, 2016. Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward and is reinforced by future orientation. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci.Apr, 11(4):621-9. doi: 10.1093/scan/nsv136.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4814782/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1668000920231478%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw2wG7OZt2M_vsteHisBL_C8&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1668000920239363&amp;usg=AOvVaw1nTJUKIrcQ3rT62hverMRG">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4814782/</a>Springer, A.,&nbsp;A. Venkatakrishnan,&nbsp;S. Mohan,&nbsp;L. Nelson,&nbsp;M. Silva,&nbsp;P. Pirolli, 2018. Leveraging Self-Affirmation to Improve Behavior Change: A Mobile Health App Experiment. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, 6(7):e157. doi:&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.9151">10.2196/mhealth.9151</a>&nbsp;

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