Paulo Coelho

Gentleness

Experience

Paulo has been a tennis instructor in Italy for 25 years and is an international ATP coach. He has also been a Heartfulness practitioner for 30 years. His passions include physical activity in nature, writing and rock music.

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Paulo Lezzelle

<h4>&nbsp;</h4>PAOLO LEZZELLE draws simple parallels between Heartfulness and sport, in this article focusing primarily on authenticity and creativity.&nbsp;<hr><hr><h2>What I call “mine”</h2><hr>“Education is that which remains, if one has forgotten everything he learned at school.” quoted by Albert Einstein<hr><h4>A story</h4>In my personal opinion John McEnroe has been the greatest tennis genius of all time, superior even to Roger Federer. McEnroe didn’t play better tennis than Federer, which is quite impossible, but his game was so original, unpredictable, creative and extraordinarily talented, that no one was ever able to imitate him. In contrast, in the course of time many Federer imitators have appeared on the scene, some of them very highly ranked, while Federer remained the most successful and elegant player. Nonetheless, John, that quick-tempered brat from New York, was simply unique.After a fast escalation to become the top seed in tennis, and after keeping that position for some years, John got a little lost in the meanderings of life and went down the ladder. His friend and epic rival, Bjorn Borg, had quit the scene at quite a young age and in the meantime true war machines were emerging, like Ivan Lendl, who based their strength on extremely strict programs for athletic training, diet, concentration, and care for all aspects of the game. All this was relatively new for the ’80s. In sport in general, there was still a lot of space for a level of lightness, for a kind of poetry, and for moral values to be upheld. The world of sport was full of human stories that maybe today would sound ridiculous. Since those days everything has slowly degraded, but this is another subject.When our friend John tried to take back the throne, he was unprepared for the new wave of merciless competitors. He realized that he was short of the mark in aspects of the game where others now surpassed him, and this included the planning of yearly tournaments. So he made a resolution to follow the way of hard training: gym workouts, diet, strict life conduct, and all that the task required.He climbed back, but not as much as he wished. Not to number one. He was still one of the best players in the world, but he was unable to pass a certain threshold. Things being as they were, he realized that the harsh regime wasn’t meant for him and he decided to follow his instinct. So he went back to hamburgers, fish and chips with beer, and a schedule of tournaments chosen among the cities of the world he enjoyed. He restarted to play his beloved guitar. He also restarted to quarrel with umpires and opponents whenever he felt like it. Last, but not least, as part of the show, some racquets were smashed on the ground when he lost points. Within a few months he was back on top.Ladies and gentlemen, John McEnroe!<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/heartfulnesds_sport_part3_2_18c96e6616.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:53:19.188Z" alt=""><hr><h4>Love what you do</h4>The world of sport is replete with such stories. After all, all the themes are a hint to one thing: You can study as much as you wish, you can be committed, you can train hard and cover all your shirts with sweat, but there will always be two parameters that matter more than anything else:Number one, enjoy and love what you do.Number two, whatever you learn has to become intimately yours, so much interiorized and mastered that you can even dare to break the classic technical and tactical standards of action and display something that belongs to you and you alone. Only then will you have the right to call what you know and do “mine.”I’m lucky to be friends with an athletics trainer who has trained top tennis players and football teams like Milan and Juventus. One day I asked him what it is above all that determines change and improvement in a specific performance. I’ve asked the same question to many good trainers, but his answer pleased me the most.<hr><hr><h5>Whatever you learn has to become intimately yours, so much interiorized and mastered that you can even dare&nbsp; to break the classic technical and tactical standards of action and&nbsp; display something that belongs to you and you alone.</h5><hr><hr>In short, he explained that even though it may seem that an exhausting amount of repetition will give good results, it is not really so. Why? Because if the very change we are struggling for is not known as “good and pleasant” within our personal neurological map, it will not work. As a result, in a difficult moment of a match (or trial), we will return to old patterns because they are the ones we know better. The old style gives us a sense of confidence, notwithstanding the fact that we know it isn’t the most effective.In other words, Ivan Lendl’s harsh training, while giving results, will not work if it is not heartily welcomed and enjoyed. It was good for him but not for others. Rather, it may be better to do less, possibly in a more creative way. We must always take into account the charge of stress and frustration that any kind of activity brings with it. It could even suppress the talent of a youth who is by nature more delicate and less bold than others, who may require longer to emerge, with more emotional experience in the sporting field.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/heartfulnesds_sport_part3_3_d614b3ddc7.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:54:51.767Z" alt=""><hr><h4>What is mine?</h4>This topic of what is “mine” in sport brings us straight to another field, where “I” and “mine” have a fundamental value, but not an egotistic value – the field of spirituality. If meditating with great fervor was enough, if following a master blindly was enough, if participating in important events was enough, we could all have been masters a long time ago! Obviously it’s not like that, and it shall never be like that. Unfortunately, we need to repeat the very same things before we understand. We need to go off course, to boast uselessly, and to get confused. We also need to deceive ourselves into believing that all the efforts we have made – often with admirable tenacity – were not so great, because perhaps they were not lived in true joy, passion and love.In a sense it’s like saying, “Well, I did a lot, but it was not my way, it was not really me.” I think this is why the great Masters are always able to surprise us and puzzle us. In their behavior there is never a dogmatic, static truth, but whatever they do they can absolutely call it “mine.”<hr><hr><hr>

Heartfulness sport - part 3

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<h4>
 <spanundefined
 >PAOLO LEZZELLE draws simple parallels
 between the Heartfulness system and sport, in this article focusing
 primarily on how we master time.
 
</h4>

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<h3 style="text-align: center">
 Time, Timing, Timelessness
</h3>

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 <spanundefined
 >I wish to speak about one of my favorite topics in the sporting field,
 which is a “sense of time” or, more appropriately, timing. I’ve always
 been fascinated by it since I was a child watching sports on TV. Of
 course, I could not understand it in detail way back then, but I sensed
 that any kind of athletic action was strongly determined by the capacity
 of the athlete to catch the right moment to do something. Be it running,
 jumping, or hitting a ball, it seemed to me that the basic dynamics was
 the same, namely, to be there in the right way at the right moment. I
 didn’t know it, but this is what timing is in its essence.


 <spanundefined
 >Later on, as a tennis trainer, I could give a sound meaning to these
 observations, and come to understand the importance of this aspect of
 sport, which in my opinion is hidden behind more apparent aspects.
 Needless to say, I’m deeply grateful to some extraordinary mentors whom
 I’ve been so lucky to meet.


 <spanundefined
 >Oddly enough, the topic of timing is very much related to the topic of
 strength. Assuming that there are different types of strength (I won’t go
 into detail), it may appear that specific physical acts require a lot of
 strength to be performed successfully, which implies muscular mass. But it
 is not so. Most efforts, even the hardest, are much easier if performed
 with synchronicity among body segments. This means that the kinetic chains
 performing the act function without interruption, with smoothness and at
 the right time (kinetic chains are interlinked muscular groups).


 <spanundefined
 >This synchronicity is mainly responsible for strength or energy.
 Therefore, the right timing is the factor that reduces effort and enhances
 the endeavor of the whole performance.


 <spanundefined
 >Then magic can happen! The more we become familiar with this mechanism,
 the more we seem to enter a dimension where time is sort of suspended.
 Slowly we realize that it is no more a question of timing, and becomes
 instead a kind of timeless matter.


 <spanundefined
 >We could propose an equation:
 


 <spanundefined style="color: #ff0000"
 >More timing = more feeling of timelessness.


 <spanundefined
 >That is to say, less and less effort. Personally, I find it
 fantastic!


 <spanundefined
 >Any sportsperson knows that when they find themselves out of tune, out of
 synchrony, for any reason, they start making mistakes. At that point there
 is only one thing to do: slow down. Slowing down allows us to regain the
 necessary detachment to restart afresh. There is no other way. When you
 are fighting against time (as in biology, so in sport) you will never
 win!

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 <img
 decoding="async"
 alt="Heartfulness-sport-part2-2"
 class="lazyload w-100"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_sport_part2_2_bd2dba3170.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T09:41:49.013Z"
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 <spanundefined
 >This question of time, in all its permutations, is a theme innate to life
 itself. It appears obvious. Life can often appear to be incessant
 confusion, a continuous weaving of so many things, often out of our
 control. Viewed from this perspective, sport is an invaluable
 teacher.


 <spanundefined
 >There is a time to study, a time to ponder, a time to be idle, a time to
 have fun, etc. Timing is so precious, even in apparently small things; in
 conversation for instance, there is a time to speak and a time to listen.
 Good radio DJs are expert in this. Even in cooking, time is essential.
 Needless to say that in music timing is everything!


 <spanundefined
 >So also in life, as in sport, we should not apply too much strength to
 reach a result. On the contrary we should do the right things in the right
 way at the right time. The formula is the same.


 <spanundefined
 >The right predisposition to timing is also acquired through the practice
 of meditation. It helps us find an easy flow of things (the famous “here
 and now” of atavic memory), the functional juxtaposition of the many
 elements of chaos, where we can perceive more clearly the best solution to
 follow with the least effort. A good practice always promotes good timing.
 If we are touched by grace and this daily timing takes us by the hand to
 lead us gently into the dimension of timelessness, then it all gets a
 lighter and wonderful tinge.

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<hr />

<h5 style="text-align: center">
 <spanundefined style="color: #ff0000"
 >The right predisposition to timing is also 
 acquired through the practice of meditation. 
 It helps us find an easy flow of things 
 (the famous “here and now” of atavic memory), 
 the functional juxtaposition of the many elements of chaos, 
 where we can perceive more clearly 
 the best solution to follow with the least effort.
</h5>

<hr />

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 <img
 decoding="async"
 alt="Heartfulness-sport-part2"
 class="lazyload w-100"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_sport_part2_3_13ddea10ed.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T09:42:57.144Z"
 />

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 <spanundefined
 >After many years of practice in both sport and meditation, I can say that
 a sporting practitioner, who wants to reach a certain level of performance
 without implementing a meditation discipline, will find insurmountable
 barriers sooner or later. His or her work will look like a computer
 painting – beautiful, excellent perhaps, but alas without a soul.


 <spanundefined
 >Time and space are interlinked. Spiritual masters tell us this all the
 time, Einstein explained it to us, and toddlers prove it to us while they
 innocently play lost in their joyful present. And novice Yoga
 practitioners can also get lost in meditation, finding themselves in an
 undefined elsewhere, still keeping a certain state of presence. We can’t
 explain what it was, but it was beyond space and time. From time to
 timing, and going beyond into timelessness.

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<hr />

<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Article by
 <spanundefined
 >PAOLO LEZZELLE
</h4>

<hr />

Heartfulness sport – part 2

<hr><h3 style="text-align:center;">BALANCE AND PASSION</h3><hr><h4>PAOLO LEZZELLE draws simple parallels between the Heartfulness system and sport in this article focusing primarily on balance, relaxation, feeling, joy and passion.</h4><hr>I wish to draw some simple parallels between aspects of the Heartfulness practices and sport, although to really do justice to this would require a long time and extensive research, because each reflection seems to attract another one. So the themes presented in this series are approached in general terms, since the peculiarities of any single sport are innumerable. The implicit invitation to sports people of all kinds and levels is to start these practices and dive deeper into Heartfulness to find the hidden pearls.The goal of Yoga is the condition of balance. It is difficult to achieve because it is not a defined, fixed, and constant condition that we can acquire. It rather seems to be something which constantly eludes us. The more we try to make it a concrete thing, the more it slips away from us. It’s one of the innumerable mysteries of the spiritual quest. Balance exists, or rather it can exist in anything, but it does not exist by itself, per se. Wonderful!Similarly, in sport, balance is critical. Here too it is the goal par excellence. It is made up of many things, a lot of qualities put together; while in another way, it’s made up of nothing at all! To feel that we are in balance means to feel that this “nothing” is so perfect in itself that we are in need of nothing else.Total balance, in sport and in the spiritual context, is therefore very difficult to preserve in time, because it is a light and intangible condition.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/heartfulness_sport2_18f5c8152c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T09:11:58.665Z" alt="heartfulness-sport"> &nbsp;&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;Many of us have already experienced the surprise and gratitude that result from extraordinary experiences in meditation – sometimes in the form of very subtle spirit, other times in the form of a true opening to higher knowledge, to where our limit permits. But alas! We are also familiar with the inability to keep those conditions for any period of time, for many reasons. A sad waste indeed.In sport it is the same. Be it a fast- or long-duration sport, it’s the condition of focus and full involvement that makes the difference. We try to allow this condition to take hold of us and let it act by itself, on our behalf, so to say. In sport, as in music, it is called being “in the flow,” letting what is beautiful in us manifest freely.If meditation is a constant education in higher perception, practice in sport is the preparation to be ready in any sense for competition, the true testing ground of our attainment.The Heartfulness method speaks of technique, perseverance and sincere commitment, but most of all it speaks of feelings. Were our feelings not our major guides, it would be an empty container, and sooner or later it would become a sterile, boring routine.Putting together technique and sensitive introspection is not a simple job. Some people find it easier to rely on one approach, others prefer the other way. If we think about the evolution of the innumerable training methods of the last twenty years, we find that they seem to swing between two opposite extremes – technical improvement on one side and incentive to inner perception on the other. In the middle is a bit of everything.A high-level athlete can draw what they need in the moment, relying on pure instinct as well as on specific acquired capacities. Throughout this process, a relaxed condition is an important prerequisite.All sports need a basal condition of relaxation. By this, I don’t mean comfortable and passive inactivity, either mental or physical, for example, when we are sunbathing. On the contrary, it’s being in a clear and tranquil state of presence to whatever happens inside and around us. It is not by chance that in Heartfulness we have a technique of relaxation to be performed before meditation.<hr>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h5 style="text-align:center;">Most sports require the right mix of strength, endurance, reactivity, fluency, and much more. These are needed both in practice and competition.</h5>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<hr>Most sports require the right mix of strength, endurance, reactivity, fluency, and much more. These are needed both in practice and competition. Furthermore, we need the Queenly ability – the ability to change. I would say that this is an art more than an ability. Getting out of our comfort zone, finding new motivation to train at the next level, looking for different strategies in competition … few sportspeople have a natural talent for these assets, though they can learn with serious dedication.We need to change to improve. Yes, but it is easier said than done! Unfortunately, we know how much our habits and complexities keep us stagnating in the same trends, despite our efforts. In the sporting field, this often happens because we make the mistake of seeking change only through hard work and extreme abnegation.Work is essential, of course, but the way is another: There is no real change without joy and passion. Even at the level of the nervous system, it’s only pleasure that brings forth the acceptance of new modalities, not fatigue. Undesired efforts and exhausting training sessions can give good results in the short term (though with an extensive amount of energy that sooner or later will present the bill), but it’s only passion that makes barriers appear exciting and makes the long road look like a joyful and enriching journey.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/heartfulness_sport3_00e7b28d89.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T09:13:09.394Z" alt="heartfulness-sport"> &nbsp;&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h5 style="text-align:center;">For a practitioner committed to the spiritual quest, and for athletes who give themselves totally to the sport, to be in the condition of balance is like piercing effortlessly through a hurdle-ridden maze, always pointing higher despite results.</h5>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;All this and much more comes under the umbrella of balance. To perceive it as a strength having its own life within us, guiding us out into the world, is true manna. For a practitioner committed to the spiritual quest, and for athletes who give themselves totally to the sport, to be in the condition of balance is like piercing effortlessly through a hurdle-ridden maze, always pointing higher despite results.<hr>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by PAOLO LEZZELLE</h4>&nbsp;<hr>

Heartfulness sport - part 1

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<h4>PAULO LEZZELLE looks at the noble value sport has as a human endeavor, and how we can all benefit from the quest for wellbeing, aspiration and continuous improvement.</h4>
Since time immemorial, through the expression of our bodies, humans have sought a way to transcend the mere physical and athletic aspects in an effort to perceive their inner resources. This quest for higher levels of self-knowledge has always been there, more or less conscious at different degrees.
The Olympic Games, born from the ancient Greek philosophy, are just an example, maybe the highest in the symbolic sense. The same could be said about the noble tradition of the martial arts of the Far East, or the relatively recent tradition of sports connected to the conquest of mountains.
In any kind of sport, there has certainly always been a latent aspiration to draw the best out of ourselves, and thus reach a sort of realization. In this context, it seems that the word “expression” goes hand in hand with the word “aspiration.” We could say that sport is that very activity which allows us to express ourselves in a full, powerful, and genuine way, the prime impulse being aspiration.
Through the body, we go inside into an abstract dimension. And through this we emerge out again to improve our performance in the physical field. It is a perpetual work of osmosis, where the planes compenetrate and dialogue to find the balance of all forces. And this is but one of the beauties of sport.
Sport is a living thing – more than living! Despite the level of performance, be it a weekend amateur or a professional, sport awakens vital and beneficial energies in every sense: physically, mentally, and emotionally. There is likely no other activity in the material plane that can produce such a sense of well-being as sport can do. And this can be experienced in any sport, the choices being very vast.
Together with music, sport is a show that gives true and beautiful emotions. Empathizing with high-level athletes is easy, because it is absolutely clear that what comes to our perception is much more than a mere run or a goal or a winning shot. Real admiration is then aroused in us, an admiration for intangible qualities that now come true in concrete form, either seen on the screen or live. How we would like to feel the same in our own way!
In essence, sport is like a mirror, and is a very powerful instrument of growth which can open up to a learning process that goes on and on and on. Sport is one of the few situations where we cannot bluff, because the results speak for themselves! It is just an inexorable truth and it applies to any level concerned. Sport compels us to take stock of what we are and humbly come to terms with it. It’s all there: What is your potential? How can you express your potential? What are your shortcomings? What motivates you to persevere?
To go beyond limits doesn’t necessarily mean breaking records. Not at all! That is not the real goal of all efforts. Anybody can exceed a limit, not the one pre-fixed by some standards or by a specimen, but their own, whatever that is. That’s where the real challenge lies, and it’s a wonderful, exciting, intriguing, funny, and evolutionary challenge. That’s where sport acquires its noble value.
When we witness a great performance, where the outcome is determined by such noble qualities more than physical prowess, then it becomes clear from where it all starts – the heart. Be it a team or single sport, it is always the same energy which really makes the difference. Courage, strength, perseverance, trust, introspection, generosity, group spirit, selflessness – all of these qualities come from the heart.
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by PAULO LEZZELLE</h4>
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The beauty of sport

Pawo is a Bhutanese filmmaker and photographer. His film, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019), was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards, and had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.

Pawo-Choyning-Dorji.jpg

Pawo Choyning Dorji

<h4>PAWO CHOYNING DORJI is a Bhutanese filmmaker and photographer. His film, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019), was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards, and had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. Pawo speaks with PURNIMA RAMAKRISHNAN about the making of Lunana, the teachings of Buddha that inspired major parts of the film, and his hopes and wishes for young people today.</h4><hr>Q: Thank you so much for joining me.PCD: Thank you for having me, Purnima.Q: How did the idea of Lunana come about?PCD: I grew up outside Bhutan, as my father was a diplomat. I was born in India, and lived in Europe, the Middle East, and America. After finishing college, I returned to India and joined a Buddhist monastery in Himachal Pradesh. And after all that, I returned to Bhutan.Bhutan is very guarded about exposure to the outside world, so a lot of Bhutanese wonder what the rest of the world is like. When I returned, I went through the same journey as the protagonist of the film. He is reintroduced to his culture and falls in love with it. There is a lot of my own story in the film.One inspiration was the younger population seeking life in Western developed countries like Australia, Canada, and America. In Bhutan, we are going through that right now. Thousands leave, seeking happiness.I thought, “If our people are seeking life in the urban glittering lights of Western civilization, I will create a story where the protagonist goes to the opposite end of the spectrum. Let me take this protagonist to the remotest, most desolate place in Bhutan. ”That happens to be Lunana. In our language, Lunana means “the dark valley,” because it is so far.So the theme was: could we really discover in the shadows and darkness what we are longing for and so desperately seeking in the light? We could have cheated on the location, making the movie in a village with electricity and road connection, but I didn’t want to do that. I wanted us all to go through the experience and live in the darkness. I felt that it would then translate into the film. It is almost a docu-feature.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/image1_700x617_53a48d34d7.jpeg?updated_at=2023-04-11T09:32:03.034Z" alt="image1"><hr>Q: Lunana is a spark of inspiration. I can’t associate the word “darkness” with it.In many ancient traditions, a teacher is given importance next only to God. You don’t really know God, but you know the teacher who can take you where you need to go. You chose to portray the protagonist as a teacher, rather than a doctor, a social worker, or any other noble profession. That aspect has a deep significance. Can you tell me why you made that choice?PCD: There are two reasons. One is exactly as you say. Bhutan’s culture, tradition, and spirituality are based on Buddhism. And the teacher-student relationship is very important. We have this name “Dalai Lama” meaning “root teacher.” The root teacher takes the most important position in our life. So, I made the protagonist a teacher as he holds the most important role in Bhutanese culture and society, yet he is not happy and he wants to leave.The second reason is that I am trying to bring reality into my films. Reality is my inspiration. In the Bhutan of today, there are two common things. One is that most young people are leaving for Australia. The second is that most of the people who are quitting their jobs are teachers.I had many different aspirations. One was to tell the story of Bhutan, and another was to highlight and preserve our disappearing traditions. Yet another was to reach out to the teachers who are quitting their jobs every year. I told my friends that if I can save one teacher from giving up their profession, it would mean more than any award the film received.Q:That is a very noble idea. There is another interesting thing I observed in your film. Today we live in an age of excess. We produce more food than we can eat and we dump the excess food. We fight wars for trivial matters and aspire for space habitation, and yet you show in your movie that there are extremely joyful people living amongst us who do not have shoes or electricity, and who do not know how to use a toothbrush.While the gap is vast, and I cannot even fathom how it could be bridged, you very sublimely, subtly, and creatively bring this “social activism” to the forefront. My heart is deeply touched. Did you consciously think of these things, or did it just emerge?PCD: I am a lover of Bhutan. I made this film as a love letter from Bhutan to the rest of the world. I wanted to showcase and celebrate our culture and our traditions. I grew up outside Bhutan in a very materialistic world, where, as you said, there is a lot of excess. Where many people are not happy. Bhutan advertises itself as a happy country, and there is some truth in that. Unfortunately, we are losing touch with that because we too are falling into the race to modernize, the race to become worldly. Bhutan’s traditions are rooted in Buddha’s teachings. Buddha always talked about wishing all beings to be happy.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/love_letter_from_bhutan3_27b2dc7748.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T09:33:00.643Z" alt="love-letter-from-bhutan3"><hr>But what is true happiness? In this movie, I wanted to touch upon what happiness is for the people of Lunana. It is really two things. One is contentment. Contentment is a person saying, “I have enough.” He is much wealthier than any rich person. A rich person is never content, always longing for more and more, so they are never happy. In Lunana, the people have very little, yet they are content. Their lives are full. They are not rich but they are wealthy people.Buddha also taught that we must accept impermanence. Much happiness comes from that acceptance because everything is always changing. When we are attached to those things that are changing, then we will not be happy.So I really wanted to put across these two teachings of contentment and acceptance.<hr><hr><h4>Much happiness comes from acceptance because everything&nbsp; is always changing. When we are&nbsp; attached to those things&nbsp; that are changing,&nbsp; then we will not be happy.</h4><hr><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/love_letter_from_bhutan4_8dce6c003c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T09:33:39.621Z" alt="love-letter-from-bhutan4"><hr>Q:The stark difference that you brought out between wealth and richness is a very poignant message.Spoiler alert: for those of you who have not yet watched the movie and wish to do so, please stop here, otherwise, continue reading.The protagonist leaves Bhutan for Australia toward the end of the movie. I was waiting with bated breath to see what he would do. I thought he would have a change of heart and stay back in Lunana to educate the poor children. But he left. I was surprised, yet I felt relieved that it was realistic, not like a Hollywood movie where the impossible happens. The ending made me weep. So, why did you choose for Ugyen to leave Bhutan?PCD: Because my movies reflect reality! In a real story, Ugyen would leave. He has passion and ambition.The second reason is the magic of storytelling, of cinema. If he had stayed in Lunana, the story would have ended there. He stayed for the kids. He stayed for his yak. He stayed for the girl, Saldon. That would be the end of it. But by Ugyen going to Australia, and singing the song he learned in Lunana in the club in Australia, the story continues. When the movie ends you wonder, “What did Ugyen do? He sang that song. Does it mean he will go back to Lunana?”With that thought, each viewer creates their own ending. Then it becomes a much more personal journey.Lord Buddha said that the art of storytelling is the creation of illusion to connect us to reality. And that is also cinema. We create illusory stories and illusory emotions and imaginary story lines to connect us to reality. My hope is that the audience can relate to their own journeys in life.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/love_letter_from_bhutan2_700x467_4f47fe1c65.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T09:34:23.063Z" alt="love-letter-from-bhutan2"><hr>Q: That is eye opening, Pawo. Lunana will always be close to my heart. It talks about the choices we make, our accountability, and the repercussions of our decisions. I hope and wish that all young people will watch this movie.I would like to ask if you have any message for young people today.PCD: I hope you will watch Lunana. It is a small film that my team and I made in the world’s remotest classroom, dependent completely on solar power. We made it with no money, and it went from the world’s remotest classroom to the Academy Awards. At the Academy Awards, I did not represent Bhutan, or myself, or this film. I represented every struggling filmmaker, storytellers who at times do not have the confidence to believe they can make it. If a film like ours can make it, if you put your heart into it, if you have the passion, there is the possibility to make it. That is how amazing this world is.Second, I am from Bhutan and I am a Buddhist. I want to share something about my culture and my spirituality. Buddha said that among all the animal footprints, the elephant’s footprint is the most majestic, powerful, and inspiring. Likewise, the Buddha said that among all the thoughts we might have, the thought of impermanence is the most majestic and inspiring.<hr><hr><h4>My advice to young people is&nbsp; to reflect on impermanence, accept impermanence and change,&nbsp; and use them as tools&nbsp; for your career.</h4><hr><hr>Why I am saying this is because the world we live in has taught us to be competitive and worldly; thoughts like impermanence are rare. They are looked down upon and considered useless and a waste of time. But it is impermanence that makes everything possible. Everything is constantly changing. Impermanence doesn’t mean the end. Impermanence means change. Impermanence means that if you do not have something, perhaps you will have it. Impermanence means that a little film powered by solar batteries and yak dung from the mountains of the Himalayas can make it to the Academy Awards.So, my advice to young people is to reflect on impermanence, accept impermanence and change, and use them as tools for your career.Q: Thank you, Pawo, for your wisdom.PCD: Thank you.

A love letter from Bhutan

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Pema Chödrön

Truth

The sacredness of life

We have a choice

Meditation

The present moment

Peter is a pioneer in the field of professional life coaching, and is the co-founder of the Coach for Life Institute. He has been the co-creator of many coaching and learning models during the last 30 years and has trained over 3,500 people to be professional coaches, all over the world. He is the 2005 recipient of the ICF’s Global Peace Award, and was one of their first Master Certified Coaches.

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PETER J. REDING

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<h4>In October 2019, PETER J. REDING spoke with VICTOR KANNAN about being a pioneer in the field of professional Life Coaching. In
 part 1, they speak about the role of helping people to be authentic and raising awareness.</h4>

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VK: Peter, thanks for joining me. We’re having a great day
 here in Atlanta; it’s pretty nice, sunny and cool and comfortable.
PR: Same here in Orlando, Florida. And Happy Diwali
 to you and to those who are celebrating that today around the world.
VK: Yeah, this is Happy Diwali. The world is becoming a
 smaller place, with everybody celebrating each other’s sources of joy.
PR: That’s absolutely true, and the world needs as
 much light as it can possibly get, so this is a particularly happy time for the world and not just for the Indian
 people who are celebrating Diwali.
VK: Thanks Peter. You’re a coaching profession pioneer,
 teaching holistic coaching since 1996. You’re also one of the founders of the Association of Coach Training
 Organization, and you have a book to your credit called Positively Brilliant Self Mastery: Reclaim Your Authentic
 Self Now. So you have enough in your DNA as a Life Coach. I would like to start off by asking, what is a life coach,
 what do you do as a life coach?
PR: A life coach is really a facilitator of
 awareness of the client. We tend not to give it bias, we’re not mentors per se, we’re not educators, nor are we
 parental authority figures. A professional coach will ask questions to reveal to the client who they really are, and
 what they really want to do, and what brings a sense of satisfaction, completion, fulfilment to the client. Then we
 ask the client if they’re willing to do that. So I’m in the business of raising awareness.
VK: That’s a pretty broad base. In terms of raising
 awareness for a CXO, who’s supposedly already aware, how does that happen? When they advance, do they become less
 aware? Or is it the general risk of life?
PR: A CXO is still human. They get caught up in the
 busy-ness of life and they forget who they really are in many cases. So, if you’re human then get a life coach.
VK: What in your experience are the keys to success for a
 CXO? I thought they are the “aware” people already, and yet you’re raising their awareness.
PR: I’ve been one, first of all, and I’ve trained
 thousands of CXOs, and as you may well know yourself, they are generally task oriented. They’re there to get the job
 done; they’re there to produce results. And if you think about the number of hours they spend in “getting it done,”
 it’s an external drive, mostly. There are exceptions; CXOs who are hugely compassionate human beings. They come from
 the heart, from the soul, they come from a place of supporting individuals as a sense of humanity. But, I would
 propose to you, there are more CXOs around the world that are driven by the external “What’ve you produced for me
 lately?” “Where are the results?” “How come this isn’t done?” “You’ve dropped the ball.” And so, in the coaching
 relationship, its “Who are you?” and “How do you want to bring your most authentic self to your work?”
So then there is an internal drive; an internal passion, compassion, that comes through
 and still gets the stuff done. I’m not saying that CXOs need to switch hundred percent over to Heartfulness. For me
 it’s a both/and, not an either/or situation, and it’s again raising that level of awareness for the individual on an
 on-going basis. It says, “What’s the right thing to do here from the place of humanity?” “What’s the right thing to do
 in terms of …?” “Yes, let’s get the job done, but let’s recognize that we’re working with people who are mothers and
 fathers, who have great responsibilities beyond their work.” And if they’re in the wrong position, then let’s bring
 that to the awareness of the employee and to the CXO and reposition them – find a place where they can bring their
 passion, their strengths, their natural God-given gifts and talents, to a different job, as opposed to the one they’re
 suffering in right now.
And this goes on. I don’t know if you noticed, but learning continues throughout life.
 So, it’s kind of like that angel on your shoulder that says, “Is this what you really want to do?” “Is there a better
 way?” “Is there a way of bringing more of your authenticity into these negotiations, into letting this man go?” That’s
 what we’re talking about here.
VK: You talk quite a bit about authenticity. And I’m
 reminded of an interaction that I had with my spiritual Guide when I asked him once if he had any tips for me so
 that I could progress faster. He said, “Be yourself.” It was quite a long time ago, and that has helped me just be
 myself. I understand it’s very difficult to coach a person who’s pretentious, but what do you mean by authentic
 Self? And also, you’re talking about authentic transformation, so what do you mean by Self and transformation that
 are authentic?
PR: That’s a great question. It’s a compound
 question, actually, so let me decouple it just a little bit. Authentic transformation – transformation mostly – around
 the world, and this includes South America and North America, India and Asia, has the connotation of “You’re not okay
 the way you are. I want to transform you into ______” – it could be a better employee, a better communicator, a better
 parent, a better spouse, a better citizen of the world. Actually I have a bit of a pushback with the word
 “transformation,” but the way I use it is a deep, personal, back to who you really are. In the words of your spiritual
 Guide, “Be yourself.” Exactly “what and who am I?” is at the core of that question. Am I the product of my parenting?
 Am I the product of being an American citizen? Am I the product of being in the generation I am? Am I the product of
 the education I received, and all the influences around me? You know, you have to do this or you have to learn this in
 order to be successful, to be accepted, to be loved. So, for me the “who I am?” is a much, much deeper place. It’s a
 very spiritual place, it’s “who did my Creator make me to be?” What have I been endowed with from that creator
 (whatever name you give the creator)?
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Now, in order to be true to that, comes the authenticity part. To what degree am I
 honoring those innate gifts? Not the skills and talents that I’ve learned because I had to learn them, but the natural
 innate God-given gifts and talents that I have been endowed with? Am I developing those? Am I using them in my work?
 To what degree? Am I true to my life’s purpose? By life’s purpose, I mean in all my different roles – as an educator,
 as a coach, as a spouse, as a brother, as a son, as a citizen of the world?
The third case is core values. Everybody in the world lives by values. My question, has
 always been, “Yes, I’m living by values, I’m living with a purpose, I’m utilizing strengths that I have; but whose
 strengths, whose purpose, and whose values? Are they the values of my generation, are they the values of my parents?”
 Again, it is not all bad. I’m not pointing a finger and saying, “Mom and dad really screwed up.”
And, are they my core endowed values from my creator in terms of my most authentic way
 of being? So, I come back full circle to authenticity.
So, transformation is not so much to be somebody different for the sake of my job, or
 because of what somebody wants from me in the current situation, but to what degree am I living in alignment with who
 I’m meant to be?
Deep, deep dive. There’s a lot of internal returning to my true Self, what I call now my
 core Self, as opposed to my adapted or adopted self. And therein lies the challenge. It’s life-long learning and a
 life-long course correction to what degree am I authentic, to what degree have I drifted away from that sense of
 authenticity.
That’s the absolute core of my work, why God put Peter on the planet. I support people
 to find that core Self.
VK: I love that a lot. People are not brave enough and
 honest enough to confront this primal issue of authenticity, and I don’t think there can be any combination of
 success and happiness without authenticity. Some may be successful, but at the end of the day if they’re not
 authentic I think happiness will elude them.
PR: I totally agree with that, one hundred percent.

VK: Peter, where does acceptance come into the picture?
 Because acceptance has got a big role to play in authenticity, does it not? And not just the “aware” part.

PR: Acceptance, first and foremost,
 self-acceptance. “I screwed up, I’m human. I hope I can do better the next time.” Again, awareness! Am I aware that I
 screwed up, or that I didn’t follow the path of authenticity? So it’s self-acceptance, and when I find I’m more and
 more self-accepting, then coming back to coach or to a CXO, or a good friend, I can hold a bigger space for them.
I have more compassion for being human. I have compassion for “it’s not all perfect,
 it’s not going to be one hundred percent, absolutely straight arrow authenticity.” I strive for that, personally, and
 I understand when you say it takes a lot of courage to be yourself.
I read something by Whoopi Goldberg many, many years ago that said the hardest thing
 you’ll ever do in your life is be yourself. I think that’s a true statement. It takes courage to stand up to parents:
 “Mom, dad, I don’t want to be a doctor. I don’t like medicine, I don’t like autopsies, I don’t like biopsies, I don’t
 like this, that and the other, and I’m not particularly good at all the science that is necessary.” Wow, huge courage
 for a kid of 18 years old, heading off to university. I tip my cap, because at 18 I didn’t have that courage. That’s
 something I developed later, in the latter half of my life.
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VK: But to have that choice is a privilege, Peter, because
 growing up I just needed to get admission into any college, leave alone the subject or career I wanted to choose.
 I’m talking about 35 to 40 years ago.
PR: Right.
VK: Today this is a problem because there is choice. And
 so, there are desires from the point of view of the parents, and fears and concerns on the part of the children.
 That puts them at odds, and they have to develop courage. So, is courage a necessary thing when you have a choice,
 when you have choices to make? If there was no choice where is the question of courage?
PR: In my experience, in businesses and
 organizations there are international surveys at least 2 or 3 times a year that talk about employee engagement, or the
 lack of employee engagement. So now we have a system worldwide, a universal humanity thing, where parents out of the
 goodness of their heart want their kids to succeed. They want them to be happy, they want them to be good citizens,
 they want them to be good contributors to their communities. I don’t believe any parent wakes up in the middle of the
 night and goes, “Let’s see, what can we do to screw up Peter so that he needs therapy at 35 years old.”
That was not the case with my parents. They loved me and I loved them. Well, they don’t
 know what they don’t know, and it’s generational because that’s the way my parents treated me, and I turned out pretty
 good and my great-great grandparents, and so on. There’s a genuine love that a parent has for their child, for them to
 succeed, for them to avoid the pitfalls, traumas and dramas of their childhood, their career choices, their choice of
 partner etc.
Nowadays, courage is required at all points of life, not just for the 18 year old; it’s
 also for the 22 year old, the 30 and 35 year old, to break the pattern of what society or peer pressure wants from
 them and say, “That doesn’t suit me, that doesn’t conform to what I need to do for myself, to honor who I am.” When
 they don’t know who they are in the first place it’s a guessing game of trial and error: “Let me try this … nah… that
 didn’t work. Let me try this … that didn’t work. Let me try this … that feels a little bit better, maybe I’ll stay
 with that one a little longer.”
So, the question of courage when there’s no choice: Well, for one, I believe that
 there’s always a choice, and again it is tied into the courage of making that choice, and pushing back on bosses,
 parents, society, peer pressure, my buddy’s from B-School etc. In the modern world, there are billions of choices that
 are facing all of us right now, not just kids. Again, it comes back to transformation. Am I transforming to a norm in
 all of those choices? For instance, I need to get so many likes on my Facebook or Instagram posts because that’s what
 the social media peer group is measured by. Am I making a choice to come into alignment with who I’m meant to be, who
 I was designed by my creator to be? That conversation really isn’t taking place, not a lot in the world around me.
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<h5 style="text-align: center;">One of the sayings that I’ve always shared in my classes
 is, 
 “You’ll never go wrong being your authentic self; 
 you’ll never go wrong in being your authentic self.”
</h5>


<hr>
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In our coach training some 8 years ago, at the end of a self-discovery process, one
 gentleman in India said, “Wow, this is an accurate description of my original self,” what you and I are talking about,
 the authentic self.
One of the sayings that I’ve always shared in my classes is, “You’ll never go wrong
 being your authentic self; you’ll never go wrong in being your authentic self.”
VK: That’s very powerful, Peter.
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To be continued.
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<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Interviewed by VICTOR KANNAN 
 Illustrations by JASMEE RATHOD</h4>


<hr>

Transforming awareness: being a life coach - part 1

Transforming awareness: being a life coach - part 2

Peter is said to have the ‘gift of melody’. His love and enthusiasm for the creative process, self-exploration, the healing arts and the natural world continues to inspire his composing and recording. In a career spanning over 3 decades, he has recorded over 60 albums, has written scores for over 100 television and film productions including 11 On- and Off-Broadway plays, and has received many awards and honors, including 13 Grammy nominations and a Grammy Award for Dancing On Water. His music has uplifted, soothed, healed and inspired the lives of millions.

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Peter Kater

<h4>PETER KATER experiences the essence of true freedom while on his paddle board in the early morning off the island of Maui. His first of many encounters with a humpback whale, an ambassador of the sacred and free, is for him a wonderful opportunity to explore the unknown.</h4>When I first moved to Maui in 2007 I learned to paddle board and I can honestly say that the ocean experiences I’ve had since have changed my life. Here is a recap of one of my first such adventures.I headed out on my paddle board very early one morning looking for an experience. The ocean and winds were calm so I ventured further out than normal, and probably further than would have been advisable given that the sun had not yet risen and I was the only one in the water as far as I could see. But I really wanted an experience.I paddled for a while, breathing deeply into the fears that sometimes surfaced in my mind and stomach. Fears about sharks and unexpected winds, and my own vulnerability and mortality. As soon as one set of inner disturbances or ripples of fear dispersed, another surfaced. But I kept breathing into them and relaxing my body and mind. Setting my sights on the horizon as I paddled forward, I kept breathing, waiting patiently for the layers of thoughts to disintegrate so that I could simply be present.Finally the thought surfaced, “I’m so far from shore!” Then I looked down at my feet standing on top of my beautiful red striped board and I thought, “But I am here, standing on my board!”<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/somehtingsacred2_1_5040eee2f6.jpg" alt="">Life isn’t on the shore. Life isn’t elsewhere. It’s here. Like it or not, wherever we go, there we are. And I was here, simply standing on my board, holding my paddle, somewhere out on the ocean with Maui’s shore far in the distance. That is all. And that was the last of my distracting thoughts for that morning.I asked myself, “What was I was searching for out here in the ocean, alone, so early in the morning? And the thought occurred to me, “Something sacred, something free.”I wanted to touch on something that was intrinsically just it-Self. Something completely free and wild. Something that was not defined by its productivity or assigned some relative value or worth based on what it did or didn’t do. Something that didn't need to practice being.<hr><h5 style="text-align:center;">Something completely free and wild. Something that was not defined by its productivity or assigned some relative value or worth based on what it did or didn’t do. Something that didn’t need to practice being.</h5><hr>I wanted an experience that could remind and reconnect me with the essential part of myself that existed before all the concepts, ideals and values were layered upon me. I wanted to experience the part of me that transcended even the loftiest and most well-meaning of spiritual aspirations. Spiritual ideals, values and concepts are merely vehicles to guide and transport us to a place where they are no longer useful or relevant. They are only stepping stones, not a destination. I wanted to experience something natural. I wanted to feel true freedom. I wanted to experience my essence.We hug our concepts and beliefs close to ourselves, like a favorite soft blanket protecting us from the cold. We hug it so close that we don’t realize we’ve not only blanketed our eyes but our hearts as well. Even the most comforting, well-meaning thoughts and intentions can blind and separate us from what is present and right in front of us. It’s like forgetting it is spring and still carrying the blanket and snow boots needed in winter. Being here was very different than anywhere I’d ever been so far in my life. And being here required a lot more breathing and letting go.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/somehtingsacred3_1_28df9c07ed.jpg" alt="">True inspiration comes from venturing into the unknown, a new territory. It comes from letting go, into a new awareness.A new breath. You have to be willing to let go of what you know, of what is familiar, to relinquish control and experience something new with open eyes and open heart.I’d started paddling out on my board, hugging my identity, concepts, fears and aspirations close to me. One by one I dropped them into the ocean, and they submerged. I became more and more vulnerable and present as I disarmed myself of my illusion of separateness and identity.Finally, as I stood alone on my board a mile or more offshore, watching the sunrise shimmering brightly over the crater peak of Maui, I heard it. A huge, wet exhale. The sound of water and air spraying out with one giant breath into the atmosphere. Compared to the quiet lapping of water on my board, this new sound was like a freight train blowing its whistle into the dawn. As I heard it again I turned to look, and I saw it! It’s dark long rolling back, surfacing up along the water and then many yards later, rolling back into the ocean. It rolled and rolled, submerging like a giant sea serpent from some mythological fairytale. It gracefully sliced through the water until it completely submerged with a playful slap of its tail fin. This beautiful humpback whale, less than 30 feet away, was now heading directly towards me.This is what I was looking for: first an encounter with myself, and then with a living, breathing ambassador of something sacred and free. The whale just is. A giant symbol of the unknown, from a world I could only peer into for a few seconds at a time. Yet, at that moment, we shared the same water and breathed the same air.I saw it’s huge amazing body slice through the water over and over again. In between paddling hard to keep up with it, I also sat patiently, quietly, waiting for it to resurface again for the air that we both shared. In some ways the waiting and listening was my favorite part.The air was thick with mystery and anticipation. I submerged my head into the water to listen to its whale song and couldn’t believe how loud and clear it was. The whale surfaced and submerged a few more times before heading further out to sea. I had gone as far out as my mind could tolerate and slowly paddled back to shore.That was one of my very first experiences with the humpback whales that migrate from Alaska to Maui from December to April every year, to mate and have offspring. Since then I’ve had dozens and dozens of amazing experiences with them. Their ancient intelligence is palpable, as is the beautiful aloha energy of Maui. I am grateful to live in a place where their presence is so strong and frequent. It has changed my life.Excerpts from the author’s blog <a href="https://peterkater.com/something-sacredsomething-free/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://peterkater.com/something-sacredsomething-free/</a>. Reprinted with permission.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by PETER KATER</h4><hr>

Something sacred, something free

<h4>PETER KATER is a Grammy Award-winning musician and author, who also conducts musical, healing and creative retreats in beautiful natural settings. Here he talks with MEGHANA ANAND about communicating feelings and ideas through music.</h4><hr>Q: Hi Peter. What does music mean to you? How did your journey begin?PK:&nbsp;Music for me is a way to communicate feelings and ideas that are not easily put into words. When I was a child I didn’t really want to be a musician; my mother made me take piano lessons. But after 10 or 12 years I started to enjoy it. I found that it was very soothing and healing for me to play for myself. I did a lot of improvising even when I was a teenager, and I started writing my own songs also when I was pretty young. But I really played for myself. Sure it was cool in high school, but after I was out on my own I was really mostly doing it for myself. Other people always encouraged me to play publicly, and I would wonder, “Really, you think I should play in this place?” And they would say, “Yes, yes, you should do it.” So I would. One thing just led to another. I always had my own unique style – it’s good to be yourself.Honestly, I now enjoy it more than ever. After all these years I’m starting to come into the fullness of myself, and express that musically in a way that is more complete. I am now talking about the creative process. The creative process is a process of self-acceptance and it’s a process of compassion, spontaneity, listening very closely and deeply to yourself, and to what you hear and feel. There is no censoring.Music is a very interesting path. In my opinion, it’s a very spiritual path.Q: You play music for the healing arts. Can you elaborate on that?PK:&nbsp;I was always into the healing arts, meaning I personally always loved any kind of healing process, any kind of organic bodywork, whether it was massage or something deeper. I have always enjoyed therapy of different kinds, but as far as my music being healing, I never tried to play healing music. I never tried to affect anyone in a way that would be healing. All I have tried to do is show up authentically.There’s a saying that I love (I don’t know who coined it): “Authenticity heals.” If we are authentic, where we are, at any given moment, and transparent in a way that’s genuine, authentic, it heals us and all of a sudden we change. It’s like taking something from the dark and shining light on it. If we say, “Oh, I’m feeling frustrated,” or “I’m feeling grief,” or “I’m feeling angry,” or “I’m feeling nervous” – whatever the truth is about that moment – if we can express that in a real way then it’s transformative.So when I play the piano, I just want to tell the truth. I just want to express what’s really true for me in that moment, and when I express that then I feel differently. Then I have to express what’s true for me in the next moment, what’s true for me now and now and now and now. That becomes a natural unraveling process that I could never orchestrate with my mind. It just organically wells up. And if I allow it to flow, it takes me to some place where I need to go, but I don’t really or necessarily plan that. Does that make sense?Q: Absolutely. I totally relate to that. You started your career in music playing jazz, which was contemporary and mainstream. So how did the transition happen into the healing arts? Did you face any challenges, internally and externally?PK:&nbsp;Well, I went through a period of only improvising for about 6 years, between the ages of 18 and 24. Then I had the opportunity to make an album, and so I decided to compose the songs for the album, because I wanted to be able to play songs from it. And I released my first album called Spirit. It was very close to home; it was very much me. It was a solo piano album.The album did well, but I received some criticism from other musicians around saying, “Oh, he doesn’t really know how to play jazz. He doesn’t know how to do this,” and I felt challenged. So in my next album I incorporated other musicians, some jazz, and I started writing melodies that were catchy and commercial. And that record charted in the USA in the top 20 of National Airplay Contemporary Jazz charts.I thought, “Well, that was pretty easy!” So for the next few records I wrote more and more contemporary jazz songs, almost just to prove that I could do it if I wanted to. And I had several top 10 records in a row, but I was really not that happy with it. I would play at jazz festivals and I would feel, “This is not working. This doesn’t feel like me.”One day I heard a cassette by R. Carlos Nakai, who is a Native American flautist. The Native American flute is so beautiful, so soulful, simple and earthy. So I started playing along with it on the piano. And I thought, “Well, this sounds great,” the piano and the flute. So I contacted him to see about doing a project together. I thought it was just going to be a little aside, just a simple project that I would enjoy for myself. I didn’t really think anyone would care about it. And to my surprise when the record came out – the first album was called Natives – it became very popular, selling 5 to 10 times as many as my contemporary jazz albums. And it felt more authentically me than the jazz stuff.So that gave me a big permission to be more myself, and to stop trying to be someone else. The direction went back to where I started, with my spirit, back inside, being who I am, naturally. Working with Carlos was an invitation to do that.Q: How do you overcome the challenges and biases that you may face trying to be yourself, while following your heart’s pursuit?PK:&nbsp;I almost feel that sometimes the world is like a distraction and misleading, when we focus on the outside. We have to be in the world and we have to participate, but I think we need to take our direction from inside. And we can find it in ourselves. It takes time, but we all have this inner voice that is always questioning: “Is that the right thing?” When you have an idea and you’re excited about it, but then you start to doubt, the mind is talking.When I speak with musicians I respect, we all agree that it’s that first thought, that initial spark of an idea, that is the true idea. And all the thoughts that come after that – wondering, second-guessing, doubting – is the mind. That’s the world coming in and undermining our natural essence, our natural intuition. So when I’m playing or improvising, I’m always saying yes. I get an idea, and I say yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes. I find that when I start second-guessing myself, I feel like I go off the path. So for me playing the piano is about not thinking. It is almost like meditating, you know, very spontaneous. I used to meditate a lot many years ago. I was very, very disciplined. I would fast a lot, I would chant, and I would do all these things to quiet my mind. But I find now that playing the piano is the most honest and true thing I can possibly do, because really it’s in the music that my mind is completely quiet and I’m just being. I’m listening and being. And the more I do that, the better I feel in my daily life as well. It kind of bleeds into my life.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/authentic_communication2_1c47b93c40.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T12:28:50.354Z" alt="authentic-communication">Q: Peter, you have played and worked with some very big names in the industry, like John Denver, Dan Fogelberg and now with Carlos Nakai. How has the experience been?PK:&nbsp;Beautiful! I was a big John Denver and Dan Fogelberg fan when I was younger. So working with them was really sweet. But I have to say that playing with R. Carlos Nakai and Dominic Miller, who is Sting’s guitarist, and Tina Guo, who is a fantastic cellist, and Snatam Kaur, who is a beautiful vocalist, is where I really found this connection, because none of us really want to discuss or rehearse the music. We want to find a way to just be present with each other and really listen to each other. The musicians who have been doing it for a long time realize that creativity is not about doing something; it’s about listening, being very open and very receptive. It’s letting creativity flow, rather than thinking that we need to do something to create it. Creation and creativity are everywhere. This Earth is the ultimate manifestation of creativity. We live in creativity. So from my perspective, the way to be a part of that creativity is to be very receptive and listen deeply. And not judge, and not question. You know what I’m saying?Q: Yes. It’s wonderful.PK:&nbsp;And also breathing. I do a lot of Internet performances where I talk with the audience quite a bit, and people ask me, “What are you doing? What are you thinking when you’re playing the piano?” And my response, that first thing is, “Don’t think.” The second thing is, “Am I breathing? And where in my body am I breathing? Where can I breathe into? Where in my body is it tight so I can relax? Is my stomach, my abdomen relaxed?” Those are very important things, because if we’re tight, if we’re not breathing, and if we’re in our head, then we’re stuck. So that’s important to me. And you know what I like to do? I like people to lie under the piano while I’m playing!Q: Really? Okay.PK:&nbsp;Yes! No matter where I’m playing – at a home concert or on stage – I invite people to come up and lie under the piano. I feel them under there, and I breathe into it. I connect with them and then I improvise just for them. I transfer the energy – them to me, me to them – circulating the energy. And people have beautiful experiences.Q: That’s very interesting. Do you often do that with your son also?PK:&nbsp;For my son, listening to my music is like breathing, as he’s heard it all his life. He doesn’t need to go under the piano; it’s actually part of him. He’s actually a very talented guitarist. He is only 14 years old, but he is becoming a very good guitarist.Q: How did you feel winning the Grammy in 2017?PK:&nbsp;Well, it was very exciting. It was especially interesting because that was my 13th nomination! I had not won the previous 12 years, so when I did win it was actually quite shocking and very exhilarating. To be honest, I did have a premonition. And it was the first year that I also took my son to the Grammy’s, because he was old enough to go and appreciate. It was great. I have to admit that winning the Grammy gave me the sense of even more permission to be myself. Even though I had worked through a lot of the need or desire to prove something to someone, I think winning the Grammy was the stamp or the proof of what I believe in. Now I play even more from the heart, even more exploring and trying new things, just letting it go.Q: So what next for Peter Kater?PK:&nbsp;You know what I really love doing? It’s the retreats. They are so much fun, and people have such great experiences. They’re very intimate. There are usually 10 to 20 people per retreat. We spend a week together in a beautiful place, either in Hawaii or in Montana. All needs are taken care of, like food, massage, and being in nature, in a beautiful setting. And every day I play the piano for them for at least an hour, sometimes two hours. I invite guest musicians to come at night. We do little exercises in being present and authentic. I talk a lot about what happens when we show up with ourselves, being really present with ourselves and with someone else, and removing the sense of inhibition or the feeling that we can’t be authentic. We create a very safe space where people can take a risk and say, “This is who I am,” and embrace themselves and show who they are to the others at the retreat. It’s not heavy. It’s not serious. But it’s very free and very loving, and within a day or two people are having an amazing time. After a week people feel like they’ve made life-long friends, and no one wants to leave! I started doing these retreats during the last year or two, and I love them. You really get to know everyone. People experience a lot of feelings, a lot of things come up, and – I don’t like to use the word too much – a lot of ‘healing’ does happen even though no one is trying to make it happen. It happens on its own. When we’re authentic and genuine and transparent, healing happens by itself.Q: Last question. What is the significance of listening in your life, especially in your field of music?PK:&nbsp;It’s everything. Listening is one of the most important things we can learn how to do: listen to ourselves, listen to nature, listen to each other, listen to our hearts, listen to what our bodies are doing – all that stuff. We get so wrapped up in doing: Doing, doing, doing, and not being. And that’s basically what we try to do in the retreats. We focus on just being and listening, and getting out of our heads. Listening is the main ingredient in creating music. People think they have to try to be creative or they have to have creative ideas and thoughts. I don’t believe that. I really think that if we are quiet enough, to where we can actually open up and listen to what’s already going on, then things will just happen. I can never make myself play the piano if I don’t want to. I love being in nature. For me being in nature is the easiest place to open up and be present.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/authentic_communication3_8b32602ec5.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T12:29:43.505Z" alt="authentic-communication">Q: It’s been wonderful talking to you, Peter, and I really want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us.PK:&nbsp;You’re so welcome. Thank you for reaching out.Join me…&nbsp; in the presence of Trees.&nbsp; Where the Earth beckons&nbsp;a deeper listen&nbsp; As it draws you down into its peace. &nbsp; Join me… on the edge&nbsp; of the known and unfamiliar.&nbsp; In the company of intimate strangers. &nbsp; Join me… for an eternal moment&nbsp; Within the eye of spiraling time.&nbsp; As we reclaim what we’ve lost. &nbsp; Join me… in loving emancipation&nbsp; In blinding night and blinding light.&nbsp; To awaken once more and again. &nbsp;&nbsp;—Peter Kater<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Interview by MEGHANA ANAND</h4><hr>

The art of authentic communication and listening

Peter is a forester in the best sense of the word – protecting the ancient forests of Germany rather than logging them. He is the author of a number of books, including The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World, which was a New York Times bestseller. His latest book, The Heartbeat of Trees: Embracing Our Ancient Bonds with Forests and Nature, will be released in June 2021.

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Peter Wohlleben

Our bond with trees

Pierre is a DJ, producer, high-end fashion collaborator, club-headliner, certified yoga teacher, and meditation trainer. He introduced the KaRavan concept of combining music, yoga, and meditation into the Eternal Journey. He is now introducing luxury fragrances, writing a new chapter of the Eternal Journey.

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Pierre Ravan

<h4>Q: You are a successful DJ who also lives a spiritual life. What does spirituality mean to you?
 </h4>
 
 We read that spirituality is about living inwardly and being in the ‘present’ moment. What does that really mean
 in practical life? Where is that ‘inside’ in us where we should live? How can we feel it? Can we ultimately
 reach it?” . The answer is simple: Spirituality is the science of the heart.
 When we learn to connect with it we will find that everything is there. Most
 amazingly we find out that we are all connected to each other through our hearts. When we tune ourselves to the
 same frequency, we will be in the same vibratory plane where we are all one. It is like being in a big nightclub
 and tuning ourselves to the sound that the DJ is playing, enjoying ourselves.
 When we have less resistance in our hearts, we let go and become a part of that
 journey. Then we become unified as one single entity, lost in the music. But what is the force behind this
 unity? It is obviously love; having no prejudice towards others.
 <h4 style="text-align: justify;">Q: Is it challenging to have a disciplined spiritual practice and also be
 in the club scene?</h4>
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 </h4>
 To live spiritually, you need to overcome desires. You can enjoy good food and good
 life, but you cannot be driven by them. The art is to live in the world but not be driven by temptations, and
 that is a tough call because at the human level we are tempted and we have desires. There is nothing wrong in
 saying something is beautiful, but wanting to possess it all the time is something else. So it is all about
 attitude towards life.
 Attitude is important in everything, even your meditation practice. If you don’t
 have the right attitude you will still cheat people, because you still have that element of impurity in you. If
 you go to a dance club and judge people because you meditate and they do not, that is wrong. First of all you
 did not have to go, and also there you can be an example. Without even opening your mouth, people will recognise
 something special about you and be attracted by that.
 People respect you a lot when they see that on one hand you are with them, but at
 the same time you have your own priorities. For example they say, “It is 4 a.m. and he goes to his room to
 meditate, to reset what is happening in his system before sleeping.”
 As a musician you are exposed to so many things – sex, drugs and alcohol. I am
 convinced that even highly elevated people who can resist alcohol and drugs would still struggle with sexual
 attraction, as it is a strong pull.&nbsp; So it has been the downfall of many. The trick is not to lose sight of
 where you are going, so you do not lose the inner connection with that anchor.
 <h4 style="text-align: justify;">Q: What do you hope to achieve?</h4>
 We need to find a way of balancing the inner and outer life, and I feel that
 spirituality is the only way. I think balance in life is a huge art. So if spirituality teaches people how to
 achieve that, the work is done. I feel it is achievable.
 Whether I am a teacher, a banker, a gardener, a baker, or whatever, I am here to
 fulfil the call of Nature. We do not have to be a priest or a master to become the conduit of Nature’s work.
 There are a lot of beautiful souls out there, but we do not have the capacity to
 realise it. It is in our inability to see this that we judge the world and people. Wherever we find ourselves we
 need to be like a candle to see and attract people. Sometimes I feel that people on the dance floor are more
 connected than those in an ashram. It is not about where you are.
 We need not give up life and joy. No! Without joy, good humour and laughter there is
 no spirituality. Spirituality is joy. We misunderstand spirituality. It is the freedom of a bird with the two
 wings of balance. It is hard work! Life is work!
 If I were to achieve one thing, one state, it would be that I am at peace with
 myself. I think that is the ultimate. In that, ‘balance’ is vital; outer and inner balance. The outer deals with
 material life, with work, society, family, etc. Then I find an inner way, a guide, something in me, in my heart
 to which I give my full trust and faith. This is not giving up freedom. If I have faith, and the willpower to
 use that faith, and the patience and I do the work, I realise, “Wow! Life is not so difficult!”
 The moment we are in balance and in tune, then we go, “Ahhh! I see things so
 differently,” and we wonder, “How come I could not see this before?” We no longer see problems; we see things
 totally differently, and our level of acceptance goes up. We accept fully with our heart, although not blindly,
 and when that happens, everything changes again. So life is a fascinating school!
 I think a Master is a person who is in tune with Nature, so he can see and feel
 Nature. He does not even know what he knows. That is so beautiful. He is so in tune that he is not even aware.
 It is so spontaneous. To me the ultimate goal is to become one with yourself, where you are so much in tune with
 yourself that you are not even aware.
 <h4 style="text-align: justify;">Q:&nbsp;&nbsp; How does all of this relate to your work as a DJ with the
 younger generation?</h4>
 People who come to a dance club come for different reasons. One is to get relief
 from the pressure and tension of life. Now imagine if they could find an alternative means of relief,
 intoxication and trance. By turning inside and connecting to the Source inside themselves, they can find it.
 That is the real ecstasy. And my experience is that the more we rely on drugs to achieve trance, the more we
 lose our ability to do it naturally.
 Youth need to learn that while they are here to enjoy life, they also need to make
 that inner connection. Meditation is the first step.
 If you don’t know yourself, understand yourself and love yourself, then what is
 life? Knowing why am I here … all this comes from within.
 <h4 style="text-align: justify;">Q: Thousands of people dance at your concerts. What drives you?
 </h4>
 I never understood love. I feel I am so much in love. If you ask me with what, I
 don’t know. I feel there is a power that affects me deeply. I have learnt that love is love. You cannot even
 describe it. I realise that love is the only way. Until we develop love in us, life is a big struggle.
 <h4 style="text-align: justify;">Q: Tell us about music. How are music and spirituality connected?
 </h4>
 I love this saying by Hazrat Inayat Khan that, “Music is nothing less than the
 picture of the Beloved.” Music is ultimately about tuning the soul.
 Through music you can work and connect with many people, because when they come to
 listen and dance they have no resistance. In a club they are totally open. That is why I see music as a very
 potential means for connecting and that is why at forty-six I am still a DJ.&nbsp; After each concert I need to
 rest for one week because I give my everything.
 <h4 style="text-align: justify;">Q: Tell us more about your work as a DJ.</h4>
 For the past twenty-five years, I have been involved in the world of music and
 nightlife. I consider myself a successful DJ and producer and I am trying to be part of the evolution of the
 club scene. I have met so many beautiful souls who gather in that place I call the club, where language and
 preaching are not involved. Through music they celebrate life, joy and love.
 If we look at the roots of the club culture, we find that the main purpose was to
 create an atmosphere where people could put aside all their differences, leave behind their problems, and come
 to a place with no resistance, letting themselves being carried away by the music. Was that achieved? Did they
 get satisfaction? The answer in most cases is no. Why? Because drugs and alcohol were there. Instead of learning
 to connect inwardly through the heart to the main Source of Life, people relied on a false feeling of temporary
 intoxication and ultimately the inner connection was lost. This is far away from feeling the true peace and
 ecstasy.
 <h4 style="text-align: justify;">Q: What is the solution to restore this frequency?</h4>
 As far as my own experience as a DJ is concerned, I feel that clubbing can be like a
 group meditation where no one is being judged. Through music, people tune their hearts to the same vibratory
 dimension. By looking inside, the real intoxication which is permanent and subtle can be achieved. That can
 happen only when there is love, for themselves and for everybody around – all connected to the same source of
 existence.
 We can be courageous, experience the inner Self and reach this ecstasy, simply by tuning to the heart.
 
 <hr>
 
 <h4 style="text-align: center;">Interview with&nbsp;PIERRE RAVAN</h4>
 
 <hr>

Tuning the Soul

<h4>PIERRE RAVAN is interviewed by ELIZABETH DENLEY about the launch of his new brand, Eternal Journey, starting with 3 exquisite perfumes designed to keep you in tune with the natural rhythms of the day.</h4>Q: Hi Pierre. Tell us about your new perfume range.PR: Thank you. First there’s the brand, Eternal Journey, which was inspired by my spiritual path. I believe that life creates life, and it is an eternal journey.&nbsp;&nbsp;When we created this brand, we wanted to have different products and we started with fragrances. Because of my musical background and luxury background, I wanted to create something that covers the whole 24 hours of the day, and this is also linked with the circle of the eternal journey.&nbsp;When this first collection of three fragrances was created, we wanted to evoke the feelings from the time we wake up in the morning, then into the afternoon, through the night, and till we wake up the next morning. The journey never stops.&nbsp;I believe in the idea of trinity, so the first fragrance is Sunrise to Sunset, the second is Sunset to Midnight, and third is Midnight to Sunrise. With all 3 we are closing the circle through the 24 hours.When we use a perfume, we want it to correspond to the time of day. Even scientifically, we know that when we wake up, when the night becomes day, our breathing shifts so that we move from left nostril dominant breathing to right nostril dominant breathing. The first perfume, Sunrise to Sunset, has been created to activate and facilitate this transition. So the olfactory family of this fragrance has two very important ingredients – orange blossom, neroli, and a woodier petit-grain. Together, they facilitate the shift, while still maintaining a meditative mood.In the morning, you may do yoga, walk your dog, go for a bicycle ride, or go to the forest to pick mushrooms – whatever is your morning ritual, you can use this perfume. At that time of day, you don’t need something spicy; it would disturb others and your own inner condition.&nbsp;Later, when you come home and take a shower, you need something more active. So the second perfume we created is Sunset to Midnight. It is spicier, more sensual, while still creating a meditative mood. One of the main ingredients is frankincense and another is myrrh. And so as not to give the feeling of being in church, I added saffron from Iran, a little marshmallow, which gives sweetness, and a little patchouli and vetiver. This combination gives the sensual, spiritual, fresh, and warm, which correspond to the day’s activities.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">What is spirituality? It is when you do everything from the heart.&nbsp; Then you are connected with your inner self,&nbsp; and through that you lead your life.&nbsp;</h4><hr><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/eternal_journey2_afa999fc31.webp" alt="eternal-journey2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_eternal_journey2_afa999fc31.webp 149w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_eternal_journey2_afa999fc31.webp 478w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_eternal_journey2_afa999fc31.webp 717w," sizes="100vw"></figure>The third fragrance, Midnight to Sunrise, is for night time, going out to dinner, the opera, a party, etc. It is designed to create a presence. It contains a lot of woody spices, like cashmere, sandalwood (the best quality sandalwood from Australia), black pepper, and oud (the best quality oud from Vietnam). The formula was created so that the oud kicks in after 20 minutes. That way it is not a woody-dominated perfume.We also created the 3 formulas so that each one blends with the others, creating a 24-hour atmosphere and evolution. That is the whole concept.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/eternal_journey3_ba20be3828.webp" alt="eternal-journey3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_eternal_journey3_ba20be3828.webp 244w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_eternal_journey3_ba20be3828.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_eternal_journey3_ba20be3828.webp 750w," sizes="100vw"></figure> Q: Pierre, where can people buy these fragrances?PR:&nbsp;In India, we are launching them with the company, Baccarose, through their Parcos shops. We selected 50 shops across India to introduce this brand along with our storytelling. &nbsp;What is the story they will tell? It is a marriage of luxury, spirituality, entertainment, and well-being. We have incorporated all these elements into the perfumes. You will also see this in the packaging, which uses glass and organic wood.&nbsp;Eternal Journey is a gender fluid product. Without even considering gender we created this perfume, so it is for everyone. It evokes all the feelings.Q: Some people would say that spirituality and luxury don’t go together. How do they fit, in your view?PR:&nbsp;I personally do not see them as separate. In spirituality we can incorporate luxury, and vice versa. What is spirituality? It is when you do everything from the heart. Then you are connected with your inner self, and through that you lead your life. What is luxury? In my understanding, a luxury item is something unique and precious. Imagine, if you create something of luxury with your heart, you make something that is not only consistent it’s also permanent. So the people who are using the product will be affected by how profound and how deep it is.&nbsp;On top of that, with my musical background, I am aware that all sound and vibration also creates an effect. Imagine a perfume that you can hear while you smell it. Our sense of smell has a big role to play for us in memory and nostalgia, and so does music. If we blend these together, the journey is complete.Q: Thank you Pierre, we wish you all the best with your perfume launch.&nbsp;PR:&nbsp;Thank you Elizabeth.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Photographs by RASMUS MOGENSEN</h4><hr>

Eternal journey

Pir Zia is a Sufi scholar, meditation teach, and the spiritual leader of the Inayati Order (www.inayatiorder.org), an interfaith mystical fellowship carrying on his grandfather’s teachings. He is the author of Mingled Waters, Saracen Chivalry, and Immortality.

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Pir Zia Inayat Khan

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">PIR ZIA INAYAT KHAN, the esteemed Sufi scholar and key luminary of the 2024 Global Spirituality Mahotsav at Kanha Shanti Vanam, describes the Sufi concept of the “Invisible Gardens” of our lives.</h4>I can hardly imagine a more perfect place for the convening of the Global Spirituality Mahotsav than Kanha Shanti Vanam. Imagine, just eight years ago, this land was all dust, and now we see the result of the care given to the land by the venerable Daaji and the Heartfulness community. It is something of a miracle.The meditation hall is impressive no doubt; but to me, much more impressive are the gardens here—the trees that have been planted, the endangered plants that have been collected, the cultivation that is happening, so that this Vanam can truly be a living garden. Daaji has brought endangered species here, and when trees are about to be cut down elsewhere, he has them dug up and transplanted here so that they may live on. This can be a paradigm for the whole country and for the whole world.While we may find ourselves appreciating these visible gardens, the ones we see with our own eyes, here we also find invisible gardens as well. The Sufis speak of four spiritual gardens.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">The Garden of Deeds</h4>The first of these is called the Garden of Deeds, and this is the place where we rediscover everything that we have put out into the world. The world is like a dome-whatever we say re-echoes and bounces back to us eventually. If we want to find generosity, be generous. If we want to find kindness, be kind. Whatever we bring to the world, sooner or later will circle back and return to us. But we have to be careful when we cultivate our “garden of deeds” not to take pride in those deeds. May it be that the left hand does not know what the right hand has given.The great Hazrat Rabi’a Basri used to walk around with a bucket of water in one hand and a torch in the other hand, and people would ask, “Why are you carrying these things?” She answered, “I want to burn down the garden of paradise and quench the fires of hell, so that those who worship you will worship you for your own sake, and not for any reward.”<h4 style="text-align:justify;">The Garden of Friends</h4>And so we move beyond the Garden of Deeds, and come to the Garden of the Friends of God. This is the garden of the legacy of the Holy Prophet and the sages who have brought wisdom to this world. In this garden, we seek to follow in their footsteps and to realize that although these great beings may come from many different traditions, they all ultimately bring one message—the message of the Divine Consciousness that is seeking its fulfillment in our lives and in this world. We come close to the prophets when we live a life of service.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">The Garden of Names</h4>Going further, we come to the Garden of the Names, the names of God. In our world, the Divine Being is known by many names. Whichever name we choose, if we give our whole heart to it, we will be lifted up by it. In this invisible realm, the Garden of Names, it is said that the angels plant trees whenever human beings intone the name of God. One day, someone saw that an angel was no longer watering their tree or caring for it, and they asked why that tree was being neglected. The angel answered that humans on Earth had stopped reciting the name; they were not glorifying the name. And until they did, it would not be possible to nurture this garden.&nbsp;That is the possibility that exists for all of us—to ensure these trees in the garden of the invisible world continue to grow and thrive. That can only occur when we, with hearts full of love, dedicate ourselves to the glorification of the one to whom we belong.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/invisible_gardens2_6e6d29df20.webp" alt="invisible-gardens2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_invisible_gardens2_6e6d29df20.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_invisible_gardens2_6e6d29df20.webp 508w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/invisible_gardens2_6e6d29df20.webp 508w," sizes="100vw"><h4 style="text-align:justify;">The Garden of the One</h4>Finally, there is a fourth garden, the Garden of the One.&nbsp; A seeker went to that door and a voice asked, “Who is there?”&nbsp; The seeker answered, “I am here, Beloved.”&nbsp; The voice replied, “Then go away.”&nbsp; The seeker went away, and continued his search and meditation for many years, until finally he returned and once again the voice met him with the same question as before.&nbsp; This time, the seeker answered, “You are here.”&nbsp; Then the seeker entered and there was no seeker and no sought, there was no lover or beloved, there was only the “One” forever and ever.May this garden of Kanha Shanti Vanam continue to flourish under the benevolent guidance of Daaji. May the gardens of our own lives—The Garden of Deeds, The Garden of the Friends of God, The Garden of the Divine Names, and The Garden of the One—proliferate throughout this world so that we all may live in paradise. Amin.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">May the gardens of our own lives— The Garden of Deeds, The Garden of the Friends of God,&nbsp; The Garden of the Divine Names, and The Garden of the One —proliferate throughout this world&nbsp; so that we all may live in paradise.&nbsp;</h4><hr>

Invisible gardens

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Plato

Music

Pooja is based in San Francisco and loves to cook, read, drink coffee, and take long walks with no destination. She recently graduated from UC Santa Barbara after studying Economics and Accounting, and now works in finance. You can find her on Instagram @poojxk.

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Pooja Kini

<h4
 id="h-pooja-kini-is-a-master-of-finding-simple-ways-to-eat-healthy-food-while-living-a-busy-lifestyle-here-she-shares-a-kale-salad-that-is-full-of-goodness-without-taking-loads-of-time-to-prepare">
 POOJA KINI
 is a master of finding simple ways to eat healthy food while living a busy
 lifestyle. Here she shares a kale salad that is full of goodness without
 taking loads of time to prepare.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Ah, kale. The green that made an appearance out of nowhere, became everyone’s
 favorite overnight, and has apparently decided to stay for good. It’s the star
 of salads, grain bowls, and even chips! While intimidating and seemingly
 bitter, if you prepare it properly, it can taste amazing. And we all know it’s
 super good for you. Amongst other health benefits, kale is packed with
 antioxidants, vitamin C, and vitamin K.



 I love this salad when I’m looking for something quick, simple, and filling to
 eat for lunch on a weekday. It’s my go-to for a reason: it’s colorful,
 crunchy, and packed with flavor, while being healthy and light! I like to make
 a batch of dressing and pre-portion my veggies so that when it comes to lunch
 time, all I have to do is combine them, which takes less than 5minutes!
 Getting your greens in can be difficult, but this makes it easy.



 This recipe is vegetarian and can be made vegan easily with the removal of the
 cheese.


Ingredients:

<ul>
 <li>
 Kale (any
 variety), washed and stems removed
 </li>
 <li>
 Cheese of choice
 (I prefer goat cheese or feta cheese)
 </li>
 <li>
 Slivered almonds
 or sunflower seeds
 </li>
 <li>
 ½
 avocado
 </li>
 <li>
 ½ cup chickpeas,
 white beans, or kidney beans
 </li>
 <li>
 Any extra veggies
 you like (I enjoy tomatoes, sliced apples, or sweet
 bell peppers).
 </li>
</ul>

Dressing:

<ul>
 <li>
 Extra virgin olive
 oil (1 tbsp)
 </li>
 <li>
 Lemon juice (½
 lemon)
 </li>
 <li>
 Salt (to taste,
 but a generous pinch or a few healthy cracks)
 </li>
 <li>
 Pepper (same as
 salt)
 </li>
 <li>
 Red chilli flakes
 (to taste depending on your spice tolerance)
 </li>
 <li>
 Optional: a little
 honey for sweetness
 </li>
</ul>


 Combine the ingredients for the dressing, whisking with a fork quickly until
 emulsified, in a small bowl or jar. You can make extra and keep it for the
 next day if you like.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="700" height="676" alt="easy-kale-salad2" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/easy_kale_salad2_e1736e08ac.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T05:38:16.386Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 In a salad bowl, add your kale, pour the dressing over it, and massage it in
 with your hands. This tenderizes the kale and takes away the bitterness.



 Add the avocado–a trick is to cut it in half, cut a checker board shape in to
 the half that isn’t pitted, and then simply squeeze down on the skin, pushing
 out the avocado pieces.



 Add in the remainder of your ingredients, and toss with the rest of the salad
 until everything is coated. Enjoy!


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

Easy kale salad

<h4>POOJA KINI shares her experience and tips for setting intentions and caring for your health on a daily basis. She also shares a great recipe for a quick, healthy and very tasty breakfast.</h4><hr>I’ve experienced a great deal of change during my transition to adulthood; perhaps the most poignant being how I invest my energy and set my intentions. As a teenager in high school, I would not think beyond the next “big thing” – an exam, a competition, a party, college admission. Up until I graduated from university, every effort I made went towards crossing an item off a list or achieving an external goal.If you work a traditional 9 to 5 job, your routine can cause your days to blend together. While this may result in monotony (and it’s important to make sure it doesn’t!), it can also create a sense of stability. This external stability caused a shift in my priorities. I started seeking fulfillment internally. I made choices that centered on my happiness, peace, and well-being. I set long-term, less specific intentions, like reading more, moving my body, and eating better. Essentially, I prioritized taking care of myself – something I did not realize I had been neglecting earlier.Recently, I realized that my days are far more productive when I wake up earlier. I feel like I have accomplished more, and I get an extra few hours in the morning to myself before work. I can clean my room, get a quick workout in, go for a walk, read…the possibilities are endless. The caveat? I have never been a morning person.I’ve been a night owl for the last ten years. So no matter how much sleep I get, I associate the early morning with feelings of grogginess and crankiness. But the pros certainly outweigh the virtually nonexistent cons of being an early riser, and I’ve been making a serious effort to get myself out of bed.Here are some things I’ve been trying that seem to be working:<h3>Get some sun</h3>It’s far too easy to snooze your alarm and fall back asleep, but one hack I’ve discovered is to get some sunlight on my face as the key to an immediate wake-up. Keep your blinds open, move to a sunny area of your home, or even step outside for a moment. You’ll feel your body realize it is time to get the day started.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/interest_intention_yummy_breakfast2_d04aab33ae.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:36:35.681Z" alt=" interest-intention-and-a-yummy-breakfast"><hr><h3>Wait to drink caffeine</h3>I used to require my daily cup of coffee as soon as I got up, but drinking it on an empty stomach made me jittery and tired by noon. Now, I drink a glass of water first and pair my coffee with breakfast. This allows me to enjoy my beverage and avoid any unpleasant side effects.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/interest_intention_yummy_breakfast3_005b659b78.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:37:52.823Z" alt=" interest-intention-and-a-yummy-breakfast"><hr><h3>Stay hydrated</h3>Drinking water is so important, and so easy to neglect. I try to fill my water bottle as soon as it empties so I constantly have water near me when I feel thirsty. Drinking enough water has helped me stay more alert and refreshed throughout the morning.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/interest_intention_yummy_breakfast4_937ac7b5ed.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:39:05.187Z" alt=" interest-intention-and-a-yummy-breakfast"><hr><h3>Eat a nourishing breakfast</h3>This might be the biggest game-changer for me. I used to avoid eating breakfast, and now I have found the additional nourishment powers me through the morning until lunch.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/interest_intention_yummy_breakfast5_5a0a2ae781.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:40:31.028Z" alt=" interest-intention-and-a-yummy-breakfast"><hr><h2>RECIPE</h2>My go-to oatmeal recipe is easy, quick, and super nutritious.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/interest_intention_yummy_breakfast6_a2fb82d30a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:41:42.474Z" alt=" interest-intention-and-a-yummy-breakfast"><hr><h2>Oatmeal</h2><h3>Ingredients:</h3><h5>½ cup rolled oats Water Frozen fruit (I use wild blueberries and peaches) Fresh fruit, cut up (I use strawberries) Milk of choice (I use almond milk) Something crunchy (I use hazelnuts, but feel free to use any nuts, granola, etc.) Nut or seed butter (I use almond butter) Optional: chia seeds</h5><hr>Cook your oats on the stovetop to the consistency you prefer. I am not a fan of solid or mushy oats, so I make sure my oats are fully submerged in a ½ water, ½ milk liquid mixture.Add frozen fruit and chia seeds. Bring everything to the boil, stirring regularly.Take off the heat, add to a bowl, and top with fresh fruit, nuts, and a spoon of nut or seed butter. If you want, you can drizzle some honey on top!<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/interest_intention_yummy_breakfast7_87a503af0c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:43:20.532Z" alt=" interest-intention-and-a-yummy-breakfast"><hr>Intentional self-care is a work-in-progress, an ongoing practice that changes often. And as you might have figured, prioritizing isn’t as easy as saying you will do something. But, if you take baby steps that progress naturally, and remind yourself why you’ve set the intentions you have, it’s possible!

Interest, intention, and a yummy breakfast

<h4
 class="block-heading"
 id="h-pooja-kini-simplifies-the-art-of-eating-healthy-food-to-4-simple-principles-that-are-easy-to-follow-she-brings-joy-to-eating-well-and-encourages-us-to-start-the-new-year-with-an-approach-to-food-that-is-both-realizable-and-sustainable"
 >
 POOJA KINI
 simplifies the art of eating healthy food to 4 simple principles that
 are easy to follow. She brings joy to eating well, and encourages us
 to start the New Year with an approach to food that is both realizable
 and sustainable.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 January has truly earned its reputation as a fresh slate. Every year
 without fail, the departure of the festivities is followed by an outpour
 of resolutions. We are filled with excitement for the future, for
 possibility, and for opportunity. Naturally, this translates into the
 goals we set for ourselves.&nbsp;&nbsp;
 

 
 While healthy eating and fitness are among the most common New Year’s
 resolutions, they are also some of the toughest to achieve. Much of this
 has to do with setting unrealistic expectations and approaching wellness
 as a chore. Think restricting certain foods, crash dieting, and saying
 you’ll go to the gym every single day. While it may seem like quite the
 achievement to go from never working out to running a marathon
 overnight, jumping from one extreme to the other is not sustainable.
 Your body and mind will exhaust themselves, and as a result, your
 progress will be short-lived.&nbsp;
 

 
 Thankfully, there is a way to incorporate healthy practices – from food
 to exercise to meditation –into your routine so they become part of your
 lifestyle. It starts with eliminating the idea that these practices are
 a means to an end. Detach from the need for instant gratification and
 think deeply about how things make you feel.
 Do you feel refreshed or drained after your workout? Does
 incorporating a variety of foods into your diet make your meals more
 exciting?
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="4ideas-healthy-eating-newyear2"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/4ideas_healthy_eating_newyear2_5d2582e3a7.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T11:04:05.474Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Think about this as you zone in on healthy eating as a practice, rather
 than another task on your to-do list. If you’ve never been a fan of
 fruits and vegetables, or you’ve never cooked for yourself before,
 approaching healthy eating can be daunting. Forget about the cooking!
 Just assembling the components of a “balanced” meal can seem
 intimidating when the public image of health is a boring salad.&nbsp;
 

 
 When it comes to healthy eating, I do away with the notion of rules.
 Rules, especially strict ones that take a “black and white” angle, make
 any deviations from them seem like failures. This is very unrealistic
 when you’re trying anything new, let alone eating, something we as
 humans depend on for survival.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 Zone in on healthy eating as a practice, rather than another
 task on your to-do list.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="4ideas-healthy-eating-newyear3"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/4ideas_healthy_eating_newyear3_82220c98b3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T11:04:54.270Z"
 />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <h4 class="has-text-color block-heading" style="color: #7fb67b">
 FOUR IDEAS FOR HEALTHY EATING
 </h4>

 <ol type="1">
 <li>
 Make sure your plate is colorful and includes all three
 macronutrients: carbohydrates, fats, and protein.
 </li>
 <li>Understand where your food comes from.&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Be excited about the meals you are going to eat.</li>
 <li>
 Know that by healthy eating you are nourishing your body and mind so
 you can maintain and improve your quality of life.
 </li>
 </ol>

 Let’s explore these:

 
 Rather than targeting specific fruits and vegetables, adding color to
 your plate allows you to try new things and get the essential nutrients
 that give these foods their vibrant hues: lycopene in tomatoes,
 anthocyanins in blueberries, anthoxanthins in potatoes, beta-carotene in
 carrots … the list goes on.&nbsp;
 

 <h4 class="block-heading">
 1.
 A colorful plate with all three macronutrients
 </h4>

 
 Rather than targeting specific fruits and vegetables, adding color to
 your plate allows you to try new things and get the essential nutrients
 that give these foods their vibrant hues: lycopene in tomatoes,
 anthocyanins in blueberries, anthoxanthins in potatoes, beta-carotene in
 carrots … the list goes on.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="4ideas-healthy-eating-newyear4"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/4ideas_healthy_eating_newyear4_708ed9d6b1.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T11:09:23.402Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Macronutrients, on the other hand, are nutrients your body depends on to
 survive. These come in many forms, for example, carbohydrates as starchy
 vegetables and grains; fats as dairy, avocados and nuts; plant-based
 proteins as tofu and lentils. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and a
 simple online search can help you find foods that fit your dietary
 needs, budget, and preferences.&nbsp;
 

 
 Following these guidelines gives you enough flexibility to customize
 your meals while being more-or-less certain that you’re feeding yourself
 everything you need to thrive.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="4ideas-healthy-eating-newyear5"
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/4ideas_healthy_eating_newyear5_0b02766778.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T11:08:20.500Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <h4 class="block-heading">
 2. Where does your food come from?
 </h4>

 
 When you connect with whomever is growing your food, or you grow it
 yourself, you develop a personal investment in your healthy eating
 practice. One of the simplest ways is to center your grocery shopping
 around your local farmer’s market.
 

 
 The best part about getting your produce from the farmer’s market is you
 will eat local foods that are in season. Our bodies require different
 nutrition for different seasons, and seasonal produce is healthier,
 cheaper, tastier, and fresher.
 

 
 Visiting the farmer’s market gives you an idea of what fruits and
 vegetables are locally available, so you can plan your meals and gain
 insight into the nutritional value of what you are eating. You also meet
 the people who grow your food, and are supporting local farmers.
 

 <h4 class="block-heading">
 3. Be excited
 </h4>

 
 If you approach healthy eating with the thought that you’re sentenced to
 a lifetime of rabbit food, it’s going to be miserable and impossible.
 Instead, think about the foods you love and try to incorporate them into
 the meals you eat. Learn about spices and put together visually
 appealing dishes that feature a variety of textures and flavors.
 

 
 The internet is overflowing with food content, from recipes to cooking
 videos.You are sure to find a blog or YouTube video that resonates with
 you. Eating is such an essential part of life, you might as well make it
 fun.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="4ideas-healthy-eating-newyear6"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/4ideas_healthy_eating_newyear6_d78d8eadd1.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T11:05:59.591Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <h4 class="block-heading">
 4.
 Know that healthy eating is improving your quality of life
 </h4>

 
 This is self-explanatory, but perhaps the most important of the four. We
 have to eat to survive; providing our bodies and minds with the fuel
 they need to thrive is critical.
 

 
 Whether you wish to spend time with your loved ones, explore your
 passions, or achieve your goals,&nbsp;nourishing yourself gives you the
 energy and ability to do the things you love to the best of your
 ability.&nbsp;
 

 
 Healthy, balanced eating shouldn’t be a chore; it can instead become a
 natural part of your lifestyle. Hopefully this guide makes it a little
 less intimidating.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 Illustrations by ARATI SHEDDE
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

4 ideas for healthy eating in the New Year

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">POOJA KINI shares one of her simple superfood salads to brighten up your Monday and give you a burst of nutrients.&nbsp;</h4>Sometimes, ordering delivery can seem like the only way to get a filling lunch on a busy Monday. But eating well doesn’t have to require thinking too much – it’s about keeping the right things in your pantry.This salad is packed with superfoods and color. Arugula is full of Vitamins C and K, beta-carotene, and magnesium. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants and anthocyanins. Cherry tomatoes contain lycopene, while extra virgin olive oil is full of heart healthy fats.&nbsp;Another plus? Chopping is optional and you don’t have to make a dressing. This is a lunch that looks good and makes you feel even better. It also takes 5 minutes to put together, so you can really take your time and enjoy it.<hr><h3>The Easiest Superfood Salad</h3><hr><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Ingredients:</h4>Arugula Blueberries Cherry tomatoes (optionally cut in half) Extra virgin olive oil (make sure you’re using a good quality one!) Goat cheese or feta cheese Lemon Salt and Pepper&nbsp; Honey Method:Add your arugula to a bowl, then add a handful each of blueberries and cherry tomatoes.&nbsp; Sprinkle in a good amount of cheese of your choice.&nbsp; Top with a pinch of salt and freshly cracked pepper. Squeeze lemon over everything.&nbsp; Finish with a healthy drizzle of olive oil and honey.

Case of the weekday blues? Eat some blueberries

Prakash is a high school student, passionate about nature and functions of the brain. He writes a blog, chalagullaprakash.blogspot.com/, and has developed an app for mental wellness, SOLACE. He wants to study neuroscience to understand how memory works.

prakash-chalagulla.jpg

Prakash Chalagulla

<h4>
 PRAKASH CHALAGULLA explores the
 relationship between memory and concentration. He suggests
 that one of the common reasons we forget things is because we are unable
 to concentrate due to so many distractions. He also provides the
 solution!
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h2 class="has-text-align-center">
 Connecting Concentration and
 Memory
</h2>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Do you sometimes forget your cell phone? Have you ever walked into a room
 for something then forgotten what it was? Are you unable to recollect names,
 phone numbers, or street names?&nbsp;You probably answered yes to at least
 one if not all of these examples. You are not alone. We are all prone to
 absentmindedness at times. These lapses in memory are caused by breaks in
 attention, which happen when our focus is somewhere else.



 Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, Daniel Schacter, offers seven
 ways our memories fail us1. He calls them the seven sins of
 memory and categorizes them into three groups: forgetting, distortion, and
 intrusion. One of these sins is absentmindedness, forgetting caused by
 lapses in attention.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<figure class="block-table overflow-auto">
 <table class="mb-3">
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>
 Sin
 </td>
 <td>
 Type
 </td>
 <td>
 Description
 </td>
 <td>
 Example
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Transience</td>
 <td>Forgetting</td>
 <td>Accessibility of memory decreases over time</td>
 <td>Forgetting events that occurred long ago</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>absentmindedness</td>
 <td>Forgetting</td>
 <td>Forgetting caused by lapses in attention</td>
 <td>Forgetting where your phone is</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Blocking</td>
 <td>Forgetting</td>
 <td>Accessibility of information is temporarily blocked</td>
 <td>It’s on the tip of your tongue</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Misattribution</td>
 <td>Distortion</td>
 <td>Source of memory is confused</td>
 <td>Recalling a dream memory as a waking memory</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Suggestibility</td>
 <td>Distortion</td>
 <td>False memories</td>
 <td>Resulting from leading questions</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Bias</td>
 <td>Distortion</td>
 <td>Memories distorted by current belief system</td>
 <td>Aligning memories to current beliefs</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Persistence</td>
 <td>Intrusion</td>
 <td>Inability to forget undesirable memories</td>
 <td>Resulting from traumatic events</td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
 </table>
</figure>

<h4>
 Is it a memory problem or a concentration
 problem?
</h4>


 Concentration is our ability to focus the mind on one subject, object, or
 thought, and at the same time exclude other unrelated thoughts, ideas,
 feelings, and sensations. As my mother often likes to point out, when I play
 games or watch movies everything else ceases to exist for me.



 Memory is our ability to store information, past experiences, and events for
 future learning and understanding.



 “For the majority of people, [forgetting] is not a memory problem per se,
 but it’s more of a concentration or organizational problem where they’re not
 getting the information initially or they’re not processing it correctly in
 the first place,” says Aaron Bonner-Jackson, a neuropsychologist with
 Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. “They say they have a
 memory problem when in fact trouble with concentration, focus, or
 organization is the underlying issue.”


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 One of the biggest challenges our generation faces
 is lack of
 focus. Due to constant distractions, we are unable to come out
 of the clutches of scattered thinking. Lack of focus means we
 either don’t complete tasks or don’t execute them well.&nbsp;
 
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 One of the biggest challenges our generation faces is lack of focus. Due to
 constant distractions, we are unable to come out of the clutches of
 scattered thinking. Lack of focus means we either don’t complete tasks or
 don’t execute them well.&nbsp; “We’re really wired to be mono-taskers,
 meaning that our brains can only focus on one task at a time,” says
 neuropsychologist Cynthia Kubu of the Cleveland Clinic. “When we think we’re
 multitasking, most often we aren’t really doing two things at once, but
 instead, we’re doing individual actions in rapid succession, or
 task-switching,” she says.



 Improving concentration and memory power is important when we want to
 accomplish anything. The age-old mantra – to have a sharp memory we need
 complete focus – is really vital. Meditation plays a significant role in
 improving concentration. In meditation, we focus the mind on a particular
 object, thought, or activity in order to train attention and awareness, and
 achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. In other
 words, it is a tool to create a state of mind where one thought prevails. It
 helps us move from fickle-mindedness to one-pointedness.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="text-center">
 <img decoding="async" width="700" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/do_you_forget_things2_e3eaa9aa7b.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T13:57:25.677Z" />
</div>





<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 As a meditator, I feel it enhances my ability to focus a million-fold,
 enabling me to be resourceful. Because of meditation, I am able to strike
 the right balance between hard work and smart work. One prominent change I
 have noticed is a drastic improvement in my level of concentration. Tasks
 that would earlier take two to three hours to complete, I can do in half
 that time now. I am more level-minded in demanding situations and as a
 result I am less stressed.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 As a meditator, I feel it enhances my ability to
 focus a
 million-fold, enabling me to be resourceful. Because of
 meditation, I am able to strike the right balance between hard
 work and smart work.
 
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Our generation faces a lot of challenges today, but we also have a lot of
 tools we can use to overcome them and set the right example for the future.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 1Schacter, D., 2002.
 The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers. Mariner Books, USA.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

Do you forget things?

<h4>
 PRAKASH CHALAGULLA shares his insights and some
 research findings on being open and staying relaxed while navigating the teenage years. It’s all in the
 attitude!
</h4>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



Being open is a fundamental <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/personality">personality</a> trait
 that indicates receptiveness to new information, ideas, and experiences. So that we can retain new knowledge in our
 memory, related brain changes need to occur. New connections between neurons and synapses are formed in places such
 as the amygdala, the hippocampus, the cerebellum, and the prefrontal cortex, which are all involved in memory
 processing. It was once believed that, as we age, the neural networks became more rigid due to insufficient exposure
 caused by lack of learning. But in the past two decades, research has revealed that the brain never stops changing
 and adjusting. This capacity of the brain to change with learning is called plasticity.



Neuroplasticity is the capacity of neurons and neural networks in the brain to change their connections.
 Neuroscientist <a href="http://www.ucl.ac.uk/cdcn/aboutus/steering/Maguire">Eleanor Maguire</a> of University
 College London conducted a study on London’s taxi drivers. They navigate the smog-filled streets with ease,
 instantaneously calculating the swiftest route between any two points. In her <a
 href="http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1522/1407">earliest studies,</a> she discovered that
 London taxi drivers had more gray matter in their posterior hippocampus (responsible for memory) than people who
 were similar in age, education, and intelligence, but who did not drive taxis. Although some neural functions appear
 to be hard-wired, certain neural networks exhibit adaptability and carry out specific functions while also retaining
 the capacity to deviate from their usual functions and reorganize themselves. Hence, neuroplasticity is generally
 considered a complex, multifaceted, and fundamental property of the brain.



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Neuroplasticity is
 considered a complex, multifaceted, and fundamental property of the brain. We have exceptional brain
 flexibility as teenagers.</h4>



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I feel we have exceptional brain flexibility as teenagers. Personality traits and interactions with family, friends,
 and the community play a vital role in our holistic development. The studies of adolescent health and well-being
 also show the importance and impact of such interactions in shaping our resilience, self-esteem, self-efficacy,
 sense of coherence, and level of perception.



Adolescent psychological well-being includes self-acceptance, positive intrapersonal relationships, autonomy, and
 life satisfaction. It’s important to observe and adjust our attitude as we journey toward adulthood. A major
 milestone of becoming a teenager is finishing one phase of life, childhood, and entering another. Being independent
 is paramount. This, in turn, causes a lot of stress and anxiety, and they build up, leading to attitude issues.
 Relaxing activities like gardening, meditation, reading, drawing, etc., help to de-stress. If we embark on this
 phase with the right attitude, our life journey will be smoother.



Motivational speaker and author, Zig Ziglar, once said, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your
 altitude.” Our mental attitude makes the world what it is for us. Our thoughts make things beautiful or ugly.
 According to the Oxford dictionary, “Attitude can be described as a settled way of thinking or feeling about
 something or someone.”



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<figure><img decoding="async" width="700" height="464" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Being_Open2_700x464_1500f7dfd1.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T05:41:11.996Z">
</figure>



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<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Positive thinking fosters a
 positive attitude that improves self-esteem and promotes resilience even in difficult times.
</h4>



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Most successful people, including professional athletes, actors, business people, artists, politicians, and spiritual
 leaders, attribute their success to one thing – the “power of positive thinking.” Positive thinking fosters a
 positive attitude that improves self-esteem and promotes resilience even in difficult times.



Research has shown how a regular practice of meditation can relieve stress and anxiety and enhance the state of
 awareness and concentration level, thus elevating positivity and level-mindedness. One of the most interesting <a
 href="http://www.pnas.org/content/108/50/20254.short">studies</a> in the last few years, carried out at <a
 href="http://www.forbes.com/colleges/yale-university/">Yale University</a>, found that mindfulness meditation
 decreases activity in the default mode network, the brain network responsible for mind-wandering and
 self-referential thoughts – the “monkey mind.” A channelized mind works as an effective and efficient tool for our
 overall well-being.



We have all been witness to the changes the pandemic has brought throughout the globe. I feel qualities like
 compassion and empathy are essential for my generation as future leaders to develop an attitude of openness.



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<h4>References</h4>



Openness. Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers: <a
 href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/openness">www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/openness</a>.



Rugnetta, M. Neuroplasticity. Encyclopedia Britannica: <a
 href="https://www.britannica.com/science/neuroplasticity">https://www.britannica.com/science/neuroplasticity</a>.




Hoiland, E. Brain Plasticity: What Is It? Learning and Memory.&nbsp; <a
 href="https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/plast.html">https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/plast.html</a>.




Walton, A.G., 2015. 7 Ways Meditation Can Actually Change The Brain. Forbes Magazine: <a
 href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2015/02/09/7-ways-meditation-can-actually-change-the-brain/?sh=39c975f14658">https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2015/02/09/7-ways-meditation-can-actually-change-the-brain/?sh=39c975f14658</a>.




Chou, W., 2018. The Difference Between Open-Minded and Closed-Minded People. <a
 href="https://willyoulaugh.com/open-minded">https://willyoulaugh.com/open-minded</a>.



Spring, S., 2015. &nbsp;6 Keys to an Open Mind. The Good Men Project. <a
 href="https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/six-keys-to-an-open-mind-fiff/">https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/six-keys-to-an-open-mind-fiff/</a>.




Cherry, K., 2021. How to Become More Open-Minded. Verywell Mind. <a
 href="https://www.verywellmind.com/be-more-open-minded-4690673">https://www.verywellmind.com/be-more-open-minded-4690673</a>.




Gordon, S., 2022. 16-Year-Old Child Development Milestones. Verywell Family. <a
 href="https://www.verywellfamily.com/16-year-old-developmental-milestones-4171922">https://www.verywellfamily.com/16-year-old-developmental-milestones-4171922</a>.




Malinowska-Cieslik, M., J. Mazur, H. Nalecz and A. Malkowska-Szkutnik, 2019. Social and Behavioral Predictors of
 Adolescents’ Positive Attitude Towards Life and Self. International Journal of Environmental Research and
 Public Health. MDPI, 11. <a
 href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6888235/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6888235/</a>.




Jabr, F., 2011. Cache Cab: Taxi Drivers’ Brains Grow to Navigate London’s Streets. Scientific American. <a
 href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/london-taxi-memory/">https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/london-taxi-memory/</a>.




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Being open and relaxed – for teenagers

<h4>PRAKASH CHALAGULLA explores the process of change, and turning routines into habits.</h4>Are you happy with the person you have become? Most of us experience a disparity between who we are and who we wish to be. To attain the desired goal, it may seem essential to alter our personalities. We get frustrated and irritated with ourselves, more and more with each failed attempt. As with most things in life, knowing “why” makes things simpler.Due to the preconditioning of the brain, it is increasingly difficult to change old habits and form new ones. To explain, imagine your brain as a rich and dense forest. It is challenging and energy-consuming to move through it. All of our actions and behaviors leave trails in the forest of the brain because our brain dislikes expending energy, so it uses a trick. We begin by trampling some plants to make routes through the bush. The more we do it, the more noticeable the trail becomes. Over time, it is a more pleasant road to travel, so we use it more frequently and eventually it becomes a street. When we do the same thing again and again over the years, the roadway transforms into a motorway. It becomes effortless, familiar, and pleasant to traverse. The more apparent the brain highways, the more involuntary they become. We keep using them, which means we keep doing what we’ve always done. This is why change is difficult, especially when we are adults, because our brains have already created concrete paths and roads.To understand how such highways are built, we must first distinguish between routines and habits.A routine is a series of acts that we repeat over and over because they are successful. For example, we buy the same ingredients for cooking, then cook them in a specific order to get the desired flavor. Or we set an alarm for 6:30 a.m. to wake up at that time every day.Imagine you have a smart planner that plans all your routines thoughtfully, with awareness of the future and careful consideration for the results. Based on that, you choose actions to achieve specific outcomes, even if they are uncomfortable, like taking a shower after waking up. Routines can eventually become habits.Habits seem much more comfortable because they happen without thinking, which is why they are also called muscle memory. We’ve done those things so many times that the brain finds them rewarding and an excellent response to the problem. As a result, a habit makes us feel like we’re on autopilot. We don’t have to persuade ourselves to do something when it has already become a habit. The crucial thing to remember about habits is that they are put in motion by triggers, which have context cues, that send a signal to the brain to begin the behavior or activity. We may have many triggers in our life, such as when we see our phone we almost always unlock it. When we sit in a car, we put on the seat belt. When we buy coffee before work, we get a cookie even if we aren’t hungry.Toddlers help us understand habits. They react to their current desires based on what is nearby, without regard to any longer-term objectives. Toddlers have no concept of the future, so when they detect a trigger, they steer down the simple path inside the brain that leads to a familiar pleasant outcome. Most of our challenging habits began with this satisfying feeling: chocolate is good, or browsing Reddit is moderately entertaining. This is why we continue to do these things, even if they are unhealthy for us. Rewarding feelings are linked to an active urge for repetition, thus forming habits.While toddlers may appear to have built-in sabotage mechanisms, they are just as necessary as the smart planner, and they function well together most of the time. We need our smart planner for big ideas, parallel parking, and tax preparation. However, allowing our smart planner to accomplish everything would consume too much energy. Outsourcing dull and repetitive chores to toddler-managed habits lets our brain manage daily life, while also coping with more sophisticated mental issues. So, if we wish to modify and incorporate new behaviors into our lives, we need to employ these energy-saving methods to help us.We can concentrate on minor details rather than major ones. Improving our life incrementally is far preferable to aiming high and altering nothing. Tiny adjustments can have a big impact over months and years. If we want to make change easy, the greatest solution may not be to push but to convince our brain that it isn’t such a huge problem. We simply develop new routines and make them habitual. We want our smart planner to build the initial trail and then utilize our toddler to smoothly launch the action.<hr><hr><h4>If we want to make change easy, the greatest solution may not be to push but to convince our brain that it isn’t such a huge problem. We simply develop new routines and make them habitual.</h4><hr><hr>So, we begin by attempting to establish a pattern, and add clear triggers that the toddler can take up later on. Remember that a trigger is simply a signal that we always identify with an action. It can be a visual cue, such as seeing our exercise attire, a specific time of day, or a specific location. What matters is that we always begin the action in a precise setting. This trigger is the start button that will initiate the activity. If we continue, it will transform from a routine into a habit, from a path to a highway. Don’t get me wrong, squats will still require energy, but doing them will seem less like a job and more like a regular part of your day.Wanting to exercise to get into shape is a relatively common objective. The first step is to break down this generic goal into distinct, discrete activities, to make the action as simple as possible – small enough to be feasible, and detailed enough that we don’t have to think about it. For example, a tangible, controllable action could be “performing ten squats” every morning.While this is straightforward, it is not simple. Many things you want to turn into habits don’t provide as much immediate enjoyment as squandering time on Reddit. The trick is to make the new activity delightful, so it is easier to repeat and more likely to be picked up by the toddler.Try to make the action or behavior more joyful in and of itself, for example, listen to your favorite music or podcast while working out. The beginning is the easiest phase, especially during the first week or two. The difficult part is continuing every day, however, as you progress, it will become easier. Finally, change is a continuous journey, leading to a destination.“Sow an act, you reap a habit; sow a habit, you reap a character; sow a character, you reap a destiny.”<hr><hr>References:Manson, M., 2022. How to Change Your Life. Mark Manson. 10 June 2021. Web. 28 Aug. 2022: <a href="https://markmanson.net/how-to-change-your-life">https://markmanson.net/how-to-change-your-life</a>.Kurzgesagt. Change Your Life – One Tiny Step at a Time. Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell. 07 June 2022. Web. 28 Aug. 2022: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75d_29QWELk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75d_29QWELk</a>.<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1097/00004647-200110000-00001">https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1097/00004647-200110000-00001</a><a href="https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0960-9822%2817%2931258-7">https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0960-9822%2817%2931258-7</a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-and-slow">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-and-slow</a><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229351035_How_do_habits_guide_behavior?%20Perceived_and_actual_triggers_of_habits_in_daily_life">https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229351035_How_do_habits_guide_behavior? Perceived_and_actual_triggers_of_habits_in_daily_life</a><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00560/full#h5">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00560/full#h5</a><a href="https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/change-any-habit-painlessly-6-tips.html">https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/change-any-habit-painlessly-6-tips.html</a><a href="https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/changing-habits/">https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/changing-habits/</a>

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