Paridhi is a lawyer, freelance writer, and Heartfulness Yoga and Meditation trainer based in London.

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Paridhi Singh

<h4>PARIDHI SINGH is a lawyer and freelance writer living in London. After years of letting ambition drive her, she shares the burn-out moment that made her pause and find a new perspective in an unexpected place.</h4>Failures and setbacks are a common part of life. But what if you do everything by the book, dot the i’s and cross the t’s, and still find yourself lost?I was in such a situation earlier this year. I had reached a key milestone in an epic odyssey to becoming a human rights lawyer, which began when I was at school in India and came to an end a decade later in England.&nbsp;I had a sheltered life growing up in a small town in Madhya Pradesh in India, with an abundance of love and nature and blissful ignorance of the world beyond. But as my brother and I grew older, worries about higher education hit us. My parents moved us to the capital city of Delhi. To say that Delhi shocked us as young teenagers would be an understatement. The population, diversity, pollution, poverty, and scale of the city all overwhelmed our senses.Adjusting and adapting to city life was difficult, particularly in school. All the students spoke English fluently, and it was difficult to fit in without it. It made me think: if I could not fit in, despite being the same ethnicity, age, class, and background, all because I could not speak English or because I was not a city kid, then what was life like for those who were truly different? Those who were impaired, or those who could not afford to go to good schools in the city?<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/when_success_fails2_c659d685ca.jpg"></figure><h4>A spark</h4>Human Rights – a profession where you can empower those most vulnerable in society by protecting their freedoms and asserting their rights. My mother’s friend was a lawyer; he told me about this career path, which took root in me immediately. Little did I know that it would become a fire that would consume my entire focus and energy for the decade to come.I worked hard, secured good grades in school, and committed myself to improving my English. I flourished and gained entry into one of the top law schools in India. I worked even harder in my undergraduate university. My goal was simple: to study human rights or international law from a globally-renowned university and secure a good job.I had tremendous support from my faculty, family, and friends who guided me every step of the way. I was determined to secure an internship early on in my undergraduate studies at the United Nations, and after close to one hundred applications in my first year, I did. My first internship was at the UNDP in Colombo, Sri Lanka. And so I went as a nineteen-year-old to live and work abroad. The experience was transformative, and it strengthened my conviction that this was indeed the path for me.I knew that to get into a top postgraduate law school, grades alone would not be sufficient. I threw myself into the world of international competitive debating. I traveled to several countries and worked and competed at debate tournaments, took extra electives and more coursework to set myself apart. It was a lot of work, but I also had some amazing experiences along the way and made friends from around the world, whom I am still proud to have in my life. I was accepted into Cambridge University for my Master’s, a surreal feat for someone from my background.A crack&nbsp;After the amazement at getting into Cambridge subsided, I felt exhausted and completely empty inside. I had barely taken any break during five years of undergraduate studies and the realization came crashing into me. I felt that I could not even move my bones and the emptiness scared me. I confessed to my mother, who with such gentle and knowing eyes said, “I think you should try Heartfulness Meditation.”I was surprised at her suggestion. My maternal uncle is the one in the family who meditates actively; my parents don’t really meditate and rarely asked me to. But I listened and am so very grateful I did.Shortly after I moved to Cambridge, I got a message that a Heartfulness trainer had just started working in Cambridge once a week. Every Thursday morning, I would cycle to a local community center and ring the reception for my weekly meditation sessions.&nbsp;That trainer, who is my trainer still, is a wise and kind-hearted person. As our relationship grew, so did my meditation practice. Things became so much better; although the fire for pursuing a career in human rights had not dimmed, another flame had ignited within me for spirituality. I always remember that year in Cambridge fondly, as I finally found a sense of balance between working hard and enjoying life.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/when_success_fails3_461e65085f.jpg"></figure>But a career in law demands a pound of flesh. Seemingly, I was nowhere close to having made that payment. When I graduated from Cambridge, I was advised by several faculty members and other mentors to qualify as a solicitor in England, in order to open doors for me in the human rights field. That meant doing two additional postgraduate law degrees and two years of working at a good commercial law firm in London.I secured a position at one of the top law firms. The next four years were tough, I worked very long hours, weekends and weekdays blurring into each other, and I constantly felt that there was never enough time to rest.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">I worked very long hours, weekends and&nbsp; weekdays blurring into each other,&nbsp; and I constantly felt that&nbsp; there was never enough time to rest.</h4><hr><figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/when_success_fails4_60fd5b9cb3.jpg"></figure>I knew what I had signed up for, but during law school I had a lot of control over my time, whereas saying “no” did not feel like an option in the work culture. In fact, saying no was often interpreted as lacking drive.My health and well-being suffered. There were upsides; I was paid well and could book holidays for my family and put down a deposit for my first home. But I barely spent time with my family. Although I did qualify as a solicitor, I was not sure that I had landed where I wanted to all those years ago.<h4>And now?&nbsp;</h4>Last year, I visited Kanha Shanti Vanam, and spoke to the Heartfulness Guide, Daaji. One of the things he said was that when we think the material reward or achievement is so great we sacrifice ourselves.The penny dropped. I had not realized that is what I had inadvertently done. I had placed my career at the very top and sacrificed everything else. To chase a dream.This realization made me so resentful at first, but I felt such a release and relief after that, like I had finally been able to come to the edge of a shore alongside the calming and serene waters of my soul. I realized that even our noble desires can consume us and keep us from experiencing the true tranquility that resides within our hearts, always reminding us of our completeness that is not dependent on external achievements or accolades.&nbsp;After a long time, I felt truly at peace. I decided I would never give up this peace for anything else in the world. Perhaps I had to go through this journey to realize that. Perhaps, what I lost I will never find again, but that is okay. I am grateful I came to this realization now while most of my life is still ahead of me. Equally, I am grateful for this incredible journey that only a few get to live and experience.&nbsp;I am figuring out where to go next. I still want to do more human rights work, but this time my heart has the front row seat. Since I qualified, I left the law firm I was working for. I have been doing freelance content writing, teaching yoga, and volunteer human rights work. More importantly, I am allowing myself just to be – to live life, to not have it all figured out, and to not trade the present for the future. The flame I wish to keep alive is the one of a heartful way of life. One that keeps me warm on a cold night and will never burn me.For anyone who has gone through something similar, who did everything they were told to do and achieved success in a conventional sense, and still felt exhausted at the end of the long mile, do not lose heart. It is okay for it not to be okay. The world owes us nothing, but we owe it to ourselves not to sacrifice body, heart, mind, and soul for something external or fleeting.Besides, if you are feeling a sense of incompletion with where you are, then as the saying goes: The film is not over yet, my friend.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/when_success_fails5_f6240c910f.jpg"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">The world owes us nothing,&nbsp; but we owe it to ourselves&nbsp; not to sacrifice body, heart, mind, and soul&nbsp; for something external or fleeting.</h4><hr>

When success fails

As the first woman to be appointed Rt. Hon. Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia’s career has been marked by a number of firsts. She is mobilizing the 56 nations of the Commonwealth to tackle climate change, and, through women’s enterprises, to build the resilience of more vulnerable countries.

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Patricia Scotland

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Her Excellency, PATRICIA SCOTLAND, KC, The Rt. Honorable Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, visited Kanha Shanti Vanam in January 2024. During her visit, she received the inaugural Heartfulness Changemaker Award for outstanding commitment to service through compassionate action in her work. Here, she speaks with students from The Heartfulness Learning Center on climate change, service, dreaming big, and making a difference.</h4>&nbsp;Q: Good evening your Excellency. It is our pleasure to talk with you. We’d be delighted if you would tell us about your life growing up, and what influenced you to pursue your career?SG: First, I am thrilled to be with you. And the performance you gave was so wonderful I had tears in my eyes.As the Secretary-General, I am responsible for helping 56 countries—that’s 2.5 billion people—and 60% of them are under the age of 30. That’s 1.5 billion young people. All of you young people in the Commonwealth, I believe that you are all mine.So, I was extremely proud to hear from you. And I was touched by what you sang: a million dreams, a million dreams, looking at how the world could be, should be, and can be. All of you are going to make it as beautiful as you would like it to be. I was so thrilled that you’re dreaming. So dream big and don’t let anyone tell you that your dreams cannot come true. Because they can.You have to work hard. You have to love harder. And you have to pray and know that each of you has been given a talent by God. It’s your job to find that talent, hone it, and use it for the benefit of other people. And if what I saw on this stage is even a tiny drop of your talent, you are absolutely amazing.Let me tell you a bit about me, because that was your question. I was born on a small island in the Caribbean, the Commonwealth of Dominica. Dominica has about 72,000 people.I was born in the fishing village of St. Joseph. I have eleven brothers and sisters, and am the tenth of twelve children. My family moved to England when I was really small, and I grew up in the East End, the poorer end of London. At that stage, many people thought the likelihood of me succeeding in anything was small, because there was a pecking order. I was told it was white male, black male, then white female. And then at the bottom of the bottom of the bottom was black female.I had a fantastic family, full of love, care, and great determination. And they told me what I’m going to tell you: You can do anything if you choose. Don’t believe anyone who tells you it’s impossible. Everything looks impossible until it’s done. And you are going to do it. I said to my father, “But Daddy, nobody else has done this before.” To which he said, “Oh, good, that means you can be the first!” So if anyone tells you, “No one has done this before,” what are you going to reply?Q: I’ll be the first.SG: Good.The other thing I learned was that it’s really important to support your friends, and for your friends to support you. All of us need friendship and support. Never underestimate what a wonderful thing a smile can be. When you’re having a really bad day, you think things cannot get any worse, and a friend turns to you and smiles, it makes all the difference.Kindness is an incredible, important part of your survival. I’ve found that being kind to friends means that your friends tend to be kind to you.Q: That’s inspiring and heart-touching. Ma’am, we’re curious to know about your favorite subjects in school.SG: My favorite subject was English. I loved English, I loved language, I loved literature, and I loved History; but I come from a family of scientists, and they wanted me to be a scientist. There’s almost every form of scientist in my family—chemical engineering, pharmacology, agronomy—you name it, they are doing it. They thought I should be a physicist, because we didn’t have one. I had no intention of being a physicist, and my seven brothers thought that maybe the brain had started to run out when it got to me, because I was only a lawyer.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back2_f0eccc6195.webp" alt="give-back2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_give_back2_f0eccc6195.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_give_back2_f0eccc6195.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back2_f0eccc6195.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">You can do anything if you choose. Don’t believe anyone who tells you it’s impossible. Everything looks impossible until it’s done.</h4><hr>I also loved knowing about people. Whatever you choose, choose a subject you love, not a subject someone else loves. If you choose a subject you love, it will never be work, it will always be joy.How were my subjects related to my career? The most important thing about being a lawyer is understanding language, construct, the love of language. How to communicate, and how to create ideas have been really important. I love law because I can use it as a tool to deliver justice. I always was absorbed by things that were fair and unfair. I hated to see people being bullied, people not having their say, having their rights denigrated, not being cared for. And I always wanted to make a difference so that people would get their rights.Q: Could you please help us understand the Commonwealth? What are its goals, and how can the youth of India be more inclusive and more involved with the Commonwealth?SG: India was pivotal in helping to create the new Commonwealth. Many of the countries had been members of the British Empire. In 1949, when a total of eight countries (including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) became independent, the question was: Were they going to stay within the family of the Commonwealth? India’s Prime Minister made the decision to stay. When they asked him why, he said it was because the Commonwealth brought a touch of healing; the Commonwealth family of nations shared so many things.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back3_446aeecb7e.webp" alt="give-back3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_give_back3_446aeecb7e.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_give_back3_446aeecb7e.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back3_446aeecb7e.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>We have the same language, we communicate in English, we have the same common law structure, the same parliamentary system, the same institutions. We fought together through two world wars. If you go to the Millennium Gates in London, you will see the names of those who sacrificed their lives. And you will see that India had the highest level of Distinguished Service Orders.In 1953, the Queen of the UK and the Commonwealth said that it was an entirely new concept, built on the fundamental and best elements of humanity, kindness, friendship, and respect. The Commonwealth could be a beacon for the rest of the world. Together, countries coming from five different regions—Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific—with different people, different languages, and with the same heart, looked at the values they shared. And they realized that if humanity needs to survive, we need to work together.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">If you choose a subject you love,&nbsp; it will never be work, it will always be joy.&nbsp;</h4><hr>The Commonwealth was about democracy. It was about freedom. It was about human rights. It was about enhancing trade. Fifty years ago, the Commonwealth decided the most important thing was our children. We were the first organization to have a dedicated youth program. In 2022, when we met in Shogun, Kigali, the leaders reinforced that that fifty-year celebration of youth must continue, because the children of our Commonwealth are our future, the leaders of today, not just tomorrow.The Commonwealth has been responsible for some remarkable things. Many of you were not alive when South Africa was divided on the grounds of race under apartheid. Black people had few to no rights, and white people dominated. It was the Commonwealth that said, “You cannot have a system where one citizen doesn’t have the same rights as the other. Everyone in our Commonwealth has to be equal.” The Commonwealth challenged South Africa and said, “You have a choice. If you wish to stay in our family, you cannot have apartheid. And if you want to have apartheid, you cannot be in our family.” South Africa left, but the Commonwealth continued to fight hard to end that system.You talked about climate change. In 1989, in Langkawi, the Commonwealth came out with a Declaration saying that if we do not change, climate change would become an existential threat. We have continued to fight for climate justice ever since. We are pushing for a regenerative approach that will reverse the climate decline. Looking at all the things you’re doing here in Kanha, I believe we can do this.You can join the Commonwealth Youth Network. We need your voice, your passion, your courage, your knowledge, and your innovation, because this Commonwealth is only going to remain wonderful if you make it so. It has to be how you want it to be. Nothing changes unless we change it. It starts with us.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">You cannot have a system where&nbsp; one citizen doesn’t have the same rights as the other. Everyone in our Commonwealth has to be equal.</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back4_75d40aa13d.webp" alt="give-back4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_give_back4_75d40aa13d.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_give_back4_75d40aa13d.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back4_75d40aa13d.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Q: I’m sure many of us here are inspired by your answer and want to take up a career in the field and express our opinions to make the world a better place.How can we as students contribute directly to the fields of sustainability and innovation?SG: One of the most important ways is by sharing your ideas. We looked at those who are making the biggest difference in the world, in terms of discovery, innovation, and change. And most of them are below the age of thirty. If you look at the founders of some of the biggest unicorns, many of them started as micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, which were innovative, different, and challenging the norms.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back5_df4ae167f5.webp" alt="give-back5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_give_back5_df4ae167f5.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_give_back5_df4ae167f5.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back5_df4ae167f5.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">We each have to start from wherever we are,&nbsp; and someone has to put the first foot forward.&nbsp;</h4><hr>I would invite you to think about a problem you’re passionate about, and then ask yourself this question, “How can I help to solve it?”Remember that you won’t have to solve that problem on your own. But someone has to take the first step. You can do it in school. A group of you can take something, research it, understand it. Then you can ask yourself, “How do I make it better?”Everything you are doing at school can be part of the Commonwealth Year of Youth, because other young people will want to know what you’re doing. You’re learning things, you’re growing, you’re changing, and that knowledge needs to be shared with others. The Commonwealth is great at pooling the knowledge from all different areas.There’s a lot to do. Please join us. Never worry that what you’re doing is too small. It is never too small. We each have to start from wherever we are, and someone has to put the first foot forward.Remember that you won’t have to solve that problem on your own. But someone has to take the first step. You can do it in school. A group of you can take something, research it, understand it. Then you can ask yourself, “How do I make it better?”Everything you are doing at school can be part of the Commonwealth Year of Youth, because other young people will want to know what you’re doing. You’re learning things, you’re growing, you’re changing, and that knowledge needs to be shared with others. The Commonwealth is great at pooling the knowledge from all different areas.There’s a lot to do. Please join us. Never worry that what you’re doing is too small. It is never too small. We each have to start from wherever we are, and someone has to put the first foot forward.To be continued.

How can we give back?

<h4>On the final morning of the Mahotsav, the Right Honorable PATRICIA SCOTLAND, KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, spoke about the role DAAJI has played in bringing spirituality to the world, unifying people of all faiths and cultures, and nurturing nature. In honor of his work, she bestowed upon him the title of Global Ambassador for Peacebuilding and Faith in the Commonwealth. Below is the speech she made while conferring the honor.</h4>My heartfelt greetings to you all. It is a genuine honor to return to this magnificent place. Vision, ingenuity, and labor have transformed what was once harsh and depleted land into a lush green campus, with rainforest full of thriving, endemic, and endangered species, medicinal and edible plants, and organic farms. This site has become a testament to harmony with nature. Every step one takes through the Yatra Garden and these hallowed halls is an encounter with tranquility and renewal.We stand today in the physical representation of the Heartfulness you have been practicing and sharing for so many years. And as we gather here in the month before the 125th Birth Anniversary of Babuji, it is a fitting monument to his lasting legacy.The imprint of his life of humble service, devotion, and love is unmistakable. It echoes in the demeanor of everyone present here. And it is reflected constantly in the vision and leadership offered by our dear friend and brother, Daaji, who has once again welcomed us so graciously to this wonderful place.The Commonwealth is a family, and we are 56 nations and 2.5 billion people stretched across five continents and six oceans. Our collective heart beats with the shared values of peace, understanding, and mutual respect. Daaji, as the guiding force behind Heartfulness, you embody these values. Your wisdom, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the spiritual well-being of humanity shines through you and through this movement. Your leadership has nurtured the growth of Heartfulness, and in doing so you have touched the lives of countless people across the globe, across 160 countries, and more than 5 million practitioners, with the dedicated support of 16,000 volunteer trainers operating in over 5,000 centers worldwide.&nbsp;Your impact extends far and wide. Heartfulness has become a global force for inner transformation, creating ripples that transcend continents and cultures, sowing seeds of mindfulness, compassion, and spiritual well-being. Your teachings resonate deeply, offering a pathway to peace and self-discovery. And your approach to meditation and spirituality is both profound and accessible, guiding seekers on a journey toward a harmonious existence.&nbsp;This vision has cultivated a Heartfulness community centered around love, unity, and mindfulness, offering solace and spiritual nourishment to seekers from diverse backgrounds in an increasingly chaotic world. Your unwavering commitment to service, coupled with your profound understanding of the human heart creates a legacy of grace, humility, inspiration, and boundless compassion. In our lives, we all try to create and send out our own positive ripples of change. The ripples you have created are vast and lasting. They can build a current that can sweep down even the mightiest walls of resistance and provide us all with constant inspiration.&nbsp;In your honor, and in honor of your vision and leadership, and your unwavering commitment to service, as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations I am proud and honored to bestow on you the title of Global Ambassador for Peacebuilding and Faith in the Commonwealth.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/honour_bestowed2_742483bd56.webp" alt="honour-bestowed2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_honour_bestowed2_742483bd56.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_honour_bestowed2_742483bd56.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/honour_bestowed2_742483bd56.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">In your honor, and in honor of your vision and leadership,&nbsp; and your unwavering commitment to service,&nbsp; as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations&nbsp; I am proud and honored to bestow on you&nbsp; the title of Global Ambassador for Peacebuilding&nbsp; and Faith in the Commonwealth.</h4><hr>

An Honor Bestowed

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">The Rt. Hon. PATRICIA SCOTLAND, KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth speaks at the Global Spirituality Mahotsav in Kanha Shanti Vanam about the role we all have to play in supporting peace with each other and the environment.</h4>It is a great honor to participate in this significant and seminal moment in our history. It would be easy to underestimate the enormity of this event. For Daaji to have brought together so many sages and faith leaders across the globe to this spirit-filled place is a matter and a moment we should all celebrate.Some have asked me, “Secretary-General, why have you come?” And there is a clear answer. The Commonwealth is made up of 2.5 billion people, 30 percent of whom are under the age of 30, and 1.5 billion who live here in India. As your Secretary-General, I have been entrusted with the sacred task of helping to maintain, foster, nurture, and support peace.Peace today is so endangered, so precious, so needed. And the truth is, if we wish to have a peaceful world, it must start with us, each one of us, because we are the arbiters of that peace. As Daaji said this morning, when we talk of peace, we are not talking about tolerance, but about respect, acceptance, and the word we have avoided today, the most important word, love.We must love one another. The essence of every faith is love. But we have also heard something else; every single person here today is my brother or my sister. And why is that? According to scientists, all of humanity has come from six individuals. So, why get confused about the color of our skin, the size of our girth, our height? Ninety-nine point nine percent of our DNA is the same, which means whether we like it or not, we are truly brothers and sisters.&nbsp;Together we face some real challenges. Our world is tightly bound by a tangled knot of crises spanning global systems. Conflicts confront us—conflicts rooted in political differences, economic disparities, religious divides, social injustices, and our relationship with the natural world. As I look around, I see the Global Spirituality Mahotsav, but how is it expressed with children and youth, with Nature, with health, and the need to deepen it?These conflicts, which are rooted in our political differences, economic disparities, and our relationship with the natural world, manifest themselves in various forms—from armed conflicts that are tearing us apart to societal tensions threatening to divide communities.Whilst the sources of these conflicts are specific to each place, we all see and feel their tragic impact. As religious and political leaders, and as responsible citizens, it is incumbent upon us to seek solutions, to strive for peace, and to build the bridges of understanding and cooperation. And the starting point lies in each of us. True, just, and durable peace cannot be achieved solely through external means; it must emanate from within.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/we_are_all_related2_1049319d47.webp" alt="we-are-all-related2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_we_are_all_related2_1049319d47.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_we_are_all_related2_1049319d47.webp 492w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/we_are_all_related2_1049319d47.webp 492w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;If we do not have peace within ourselves, how can we have peace in our families? How can we have peace in our communities? How can we have peace in our regions? And how can we have peace in our world? Our world is precious; our world is made in accordance with our values.Inner peace is not merely the absence of conflict or turmoil; it is a state characterized by harmony, clarity, and equanimity. It is the foundation upon which we cultivate compassion, empathy, and understanding toward others. When we are at peace with ourselves, we are better equipped to navigate the complexities of the world with wisdom and discernment. This quality of inner peace is powerful and contagious. And when we embody peace in our thoughts, in our words, and our actions, we inspire others to do the same. We create ripples of positivity that have the power to transcend boundaries and unite humanity in a shared vision of harmony and coexistence.Our Commonwealth, of which India is such a precious part, is in essence a powerful instrument to deliver that peace. You are blessed with the ingenuity and imagination of one third of the world. Your complexity, your diversity, is our strength; our shared humanity contains an immensely precious diversity of thought, culture, tradition, and experience. And we know that by listening to each other we will find many of the solutions we seek.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">When we embody peace in our thoughts, in our words, and our actions, we inspire others to do the same. We create ripples of positivity&nbsp; that have the power to transcend boundaries and unite humanity in a shared vision of harmony and coexistence.</h4><hr>From difference and sometimes difficult histories, our nations sit together today as equals—our unique and enduring blend of shared values. So, it is important that as we contemplate our part we understand how precious each of us is; we have the power, if we choose, to change our world by sharing the love and the spirit that binds us.We have talked about the different pathways, and as I was listening to many, I remembered what was said in the Gospel of John. Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. And I go to prepare a place for you.” That place is for every single human being on the planet. We all share one God.So, I leave you with the blessing my mother always gives me when I go on a journey. We all of us are on a journey to bring peace in our world. My mother would say, “May God bless and keep you. May he make his face to shine upon you and be merciful unto you all the days of your life. May your guardian angel walk beside you, and may the Lord, our God, keep you safe in the palm of his hand.”&nbsp;

We are all related

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Patrick Fleury

<h4>PATRICK FLEURY has been on an inner journey from a young age. Looking back, after 50 years of Heartfulness practice, he shares the importance of a spiritual Guide, and the Transmission and Grace that flow as a result of the Guide’s presence.</h4><hr>I was 13 when I first met God and experienced merging with the Divine. The moment was decisive for the continuation of my spiritual quest. The Lord had shown me the goal to be reached.&nbsp;I did a lot of research in both Eastern and Western spiritualities, and at 17 I realized that “knowing” was not enough. I was fed up with reading about spirituality, yogis, mystics, saints, and masters. I wanted to “live” what they were talking about.&nbsp;I had concluded that only meditation, contemplation, and prayer would enable me to do that, so I started meditating on the&nbsp;third eye chakra. After one experience, where I explored several dimensions, all of which went to infinity, I realized that I needed a guide, otherwise I might get lost in these immensities.&nbsp;But how could I find such a teacher? So I simply asked God.&nbsp;My mother used to say, “When the disciple is ready, the master will come.” I meditated every day for twenty minutes with my parents, until my prayer was answered. After a few months, I came across the Heartfulness way and its guide Ram Chandra, Babuji. I experimented, testing this meditation on the heart. At that time, I only had contact with the Transmission (pranahuti). I would receive it constantly, feeling it was nourishing my soul deeply.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/babuji2_e6370d20b7.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T06:45:16.816Z" alt="">In 1976, four years after starting, I met Babuji, the source of this blessed Transmission. The first time I meditated with him was at the Heartfulness Center in Nice. I was literally carried away. I had met my Master and I was not going to leave him. Six months later, I went to his home in Shahjahanpur, India. There we would spend the whole day and often part of the night near him, sitting on his veranda. We were out of time, completely contented.I understood much later that in Babuji’s presence we were at the Center, in God. Grace flowed down on us regularly, in waves. It surpassed even the fabulous Transmission. I became aware of the blessing that a living Master represents.&nbsp;After that, every year, my wife Alberta and I would spend a month near him. But it was the meeting with Babuji in 1978 that really triggered it all. At the end of each stay at his place, we felt spiritually satisfied. On the day of our departure in 1978, we went to thank him for all he had given us so abundantly. Seeing our gratitude, Babuji asked if we wanted to meditate. I naively replied that it was not necessary, that we only wished to thank him for all he had given us, adding that we had already been blessed with so much. He beckoned to us to sit facing him and the meditation began. Instantly, he gave me the experience of divine infinite love, and I knew this was what I had been longing for all my life without even knowing it.Thus, my quest for God had been totally re-oriented by Babuji. It now went through the love and surrender that manifested for my Master. The inner journey took a superluminal speed. My daily practice changed. I purified my heart so that it would become a sacred temple where I could be in the presence of the Beloved. I discovered the immense value of a Master who had realized the Ultimate. The progress was fabulous and Babuji enabled me to reach the states of liberation and realization at a relatively young age. But the quest for the Ultimate was not yet over. It is infinite, eternal.&nbsp;In 1976, in France, Babuji permitted me to be a Heartfulness trainer. I saw with enthusiasm the advancement of others who practice meditation. Through all these years, I have been blessed to travel the world teaching Heartfulness. It is an effective, universal method. I have realized that the light in the heart is common to all, whatever the continent, culture, or religion. We just need help to access the source of this light in the heart, and Transmission (Pranahuti) gives that direct experience. It brings about a great transformation of the being, a balanced life, and a remarkable equanimity.&nbsp;I was amazed that the instructions Babuji gave us to practice Heartfulness all fitted on one page. But what a page!&nbsp;Babuji used to say, “God is simple and the means to realize Him must be simple too.” He also said, “Silence is the language of God.”&nbsp; I invite you to share this Silence in the depth of your heart.<hr>

Fabulous Transmission

<h4>THÉOPHILE L’ANCIEN shares some practical wisdom about prayer with his young associate.</h4><hr><h4>Théophile the Younger</h4>Greetings! Can we continue with understanding the practices I need to do for my own evolution? I think now I realize the importance of meditation and transmission. Is there anything else that will help me on my inner journey?<h4>Théophile the Elder</h4>Many times we remain at the surface of the heart in meditation, although the suggestion is for us to dive deep to the Source of Light that emanates from the Center. So I invite you to try a “heart-of-the-heart” intensive practice, on the sublime love emanating from the Center of your being.<h4>Théophile the Younger</h4>Am I capable of this?<h4>Théophile the Elder</h4>Yes of course. During the introductory meditation sessions, you directly connect with that Source of Light, as the Guide’s heart is used as an energy transformer so that the power of Transmission is modulated and adapted to your capacity.<h4>Théophile the Younger</h4>Do you mean that we receive 220 volts instead of 10,000?<h4>Théophile the Elder</h4>That is actually quite a fair analogy. Our capacity then gradually increases with practice. Help is also there in the form of prayer, which is at once both powerful and subtle. It is a very important tool on your journey of self-discovery. It is a tool of high efficacy.<h4>Théophile the Younger</h4>I am not very attracted by prayer, as I have the feeling that it is like begging. You have often told me that the soul chooses its destiny before coming to Earth, and we just have to follow it. So what use do we have for prayer?<h4>Théophile the Elder</h4>That is right, but do we really let ourselves be guided? Genuine prayer connects us to the Source or the Center. The words that come are inspired. They emanate from higher planes and carry those vibrations. They can directly connect us to the Center.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">The prayer picked me up. Multiple dimensions opened up in me. I had the feeling of switching to superluminal speed. The rest is indescribable.</h4><hr><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Théophile the Younger</h4>The prayer would then be like a switch, in a way, on/off. Interesting!Would you mind helping me experience prayer?<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Théophile the Elder</h4>If you like. Please begin by closing your eyes, relaxing, and getting into a meditative state. Try to listen to the prayer resonate within your heart.Théophile the Younger, full of confidence, dives into his heart and is immediately overwhelmed by the Light. Theophile the Elder whispers a very beautiful prayer to him.What do you feel?<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Théophile the Younger</h4>The prayer picked me up. Multiple dimensions opened up in me. I had the feeling of switching to superluminal speed. The rest is indescribable.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Théophile the Elder</h4>We are going to explore a number of levels of this prayer.Théophile the Elder gives the instructions one by one, leaving a long time between each. His peaceful and assured voice alternates with deep silences.First say the words of this prayer out loud so that it can fill the whole room.The young man speaks. Then they sit in silence.Pray again, this time fervently, so that the words make their way to the heavens.Again the young man speaks, followed by silence.Now, say it within yourself. Let it fill your whole inner space.Silence.Say the prayer inside your heart, and let it resonate into its depths.Silence.Now, let your heart recite it.Silence.And now, let it be there without any words. Feel only the vibration of the prayer remaining.Silence.Now, erase even this vibration. You are connected to the essence of the prayer.Erase this essence. You are now in the silence of your Center.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">For a very long time the two friends remained in this prayerful state, created by the prayer of the heart.</h4>

Connect with your center

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Paul Luu

Soils make life possible

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Paul Stamets

The grand recyclers

Paul is an American sociologist and bioethicist. He is a professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and served for 15 years as the Bioethicist for NASA. He is Editor-In-Chief of AJOB Neuroscience, the official Journal of the International Neuroethics Society (INS), and a director of INS.&nbsp;

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Paul Wolpe

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">PAUL WOLPE lives and breathes ethics. He speaks with one of his ex-students and one of our editors, KASHISH KALWANI, about how we rely on ethical decision in everyday life—at work, in our families, and also for ourselves. Also, how ethics, values and morals are connected, and how it is very rarely about right and wrong.</h4>KK: To break the ice, tell us three fun facts about yourself.PW: Fact number one: My father was a rabbi, two of my three brothers are rabbis, and one of my two daughters is a rabbi. I am surrounded by spiritual people. Fact number two: I put myself through graduate school as a massage therapist. Fact number three: I have a hang gliding license.KK: Wow, that’s cool.How would you define ethics in the simplest way?PW: My definition of ethics is not in textbooks or the dictionary: Ethics is how we determine, express, and assess our values in the world. Morality is how we establish, maintain, and conduct our relationships as expressions of those values.KK: &nbsp;I remember you sharing that on the first day of class. It’s not about what is right and wrong, but a conflict of two rights. That really struck a chord with me.PW: I think we’re taught about ethics incorrectly. We’re taught it’s about determining right and wrong, and sometimes it is. With children, you need to set the fundamentals: It’s wrong to steal, it’s wrong to be violent, it’s wrong to lie in certain cases. But once you’ve got those fundamentals down, the rest of your life is spent figuring out a different question: I have a set of values I want to express in the world, so what do I do when they come into conflict? That’s what ethical dilemmas are. They’re rarely about right and wrong. We phrase it as, “What’s the right thing to do here?”, but what we really mean is, “What’s the best right thing to do here?” because there’s not just one right thing, there are many right things to do.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Ethics is how we determine, express, and&nbsp; assess our values in the world.&nbsp; Morality is how we establish, maintain, and&nbsp; conduct our relationships as expressions of those values.</h4><hr>I teach ethics to doctors, and give them cases about conflicts of values. The patient wants to do one thing, while another thing is in their best interest; a patient’s autonomy is a good value, a doctor’s responsibility to take care of their patients is a good value, and they can’t both be honored. How do you get to the best right thing to do?There are certainly wrong things you can do, like killing the patient so you don’t have to worry about it. But there are usually a range of right things you can do. Being mature is about trying to figure out what the best right answers are.KK: &nbsp;That’s a great example. What inspired you to pursue a career in bioethics, and what has been the most rewarding aspect of it?PW: I’ve got an overdeveloped sense of justice. Trying to figure out when people are expressing their highest best qualities is something I’ve always done. It’s part of my personality. I was always interested in science, medicine, and technology. Putting those things together, there was this wonderful field called bioethics.Now it is a really well-known field, but back then it was pretty obscure. What’s so wonderful about bioethics? Once you develop an expertise, you can apply it to anything. Any business has ethical challenges; any group has ethical challenges, internally and in relationship with the world. If ethics is how we express our values in the world, then every interaction we have has ethical elements to it.&nbsp;Deciding how a business is going to treat its customers and employees, how safe its products will be, how safe its workplace will be, how it’s going to advertise and where, how it’s going to manufacture its goods in another country with cheaper labor, where the laws don’t protect workers well; each of these is an ethical decision. Businesses are making ethical decisions all the time. Professionals are making ethical decisions all the time. Individual business owners are too. In our relationships—with friends, with partners, with parents, when we walk into a store and talk to a clerk—there is always an ethical element.You asked what is the most rewarding part. In my career, I was bioethics advisor to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). I was bioethics advisor to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, I was on committees in Canada to give out millions of dollars of state funds to worthy projects. I have sat with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. I’ve met famous singers and directors. I never expected where ethics was going to take me. I thought I was getting into an academic profession and never thought my career would allow me to do many of the things I’ve done.KK: &nbsp;A lot of our readers are young adults. How can we think ethically in everyday life situations? Given that there are wars going on and climate change happening, what is the importance of ethics in the life of a young adult?PW: Ethics is challenging. It’s not simple and it’s not easy. Many times, the ethical thing is painful and means you don’t get some other desirable outcome. For businesses to do the ethical thing might mean losing money. For me to do the ethical thing might mean turning down an opportunity, or turning down income, or losing a friend. We joke and say ethics is not for sissies.It’s easy to make casual ethical decisions. It’s when we’re faced with a situation where doing the best right thing means giving up something else significant that we often fail. We all do it, but it’s particularly problematic when big businesses do it, governments do it, people with power do it. Part of what defines a leader for me is taking the responsibility to do the best right thing for an organization, a country, or a group. It’s a hard standard to keep, and we see it failing over and over again.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">In our relationships- with friends, with partners,&nbsp; with parents, when we walk into a store and talk to a clerk— there is always an ethical element.</h4><hr>KK:&nbsp; How do we make an ethical choice in daily life, then?PW: We teach a methodology to businesses on how to make ethical choices. It’s a little different than how we make ethical choices in our individual lives. Very often, we know what the ethical choice is, but the struggle is, “Do I really have the courage to do what I think is right?” There are situations where the right ethical choice is controversial or problematic, where none of the choices seem completely right. That’s an ethical dilemma. Very often they require compromise. That’s when we tend to talk them over with friends and loved ones.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/right_wrong_ethics2_0384260e4a.webp" alt="right-wrong-ethics2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_right_wrong_ethics2_0384260e4a.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_right_wrong_ethics2_0384260e4a.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/right_wrong_ethics2_0384260e4a.webp 600w," sizes="100vw">After studying ethics for a long time, the expertise we develop is to take apart an ethical situation into its pieces and clarify. For example, I do rounds three or four or five times a year with the OB-GYN residents, they send me their ethical dilemmas, then we talk about them. They have trouble teasing out what is a social issue, a clinical issue, a legal issue, an ethical issue; they’re wrapped up together. I help them take it apart, because the ethical piece is the conflict in values. And that’s different from the clinical, social, and legal pieces. Until you have clarity about that, it’s hard to see what to do. Sometimes it helps to start by clarifying values: “What do I think is the value I should be honoring? Is it patient autonomy, or the best interests of the patient?”In the United States in the 21st century, it’s patient autonomy. That’s what the country’s decided is the value we’re going to honor. It’s not true in every country. In some countries, a physician will override a patient if they think what the patient is doing is not in their best interests. In the US it used to be that way too, but we made a decision to prioritize the value of individual choice. It’s not about us being right, and another country being wrong. We have a best right choice, while another country based on its traditions, its history, its values, its religious background, its political beliefs, etc., says, “We think the best right choice is to do what’s in the best interest of that patient in view of the people who really understand medicine. And, eventually, we believe the patient will thank us, even though right now they may not.” And that’s a defensible, ethical position.We try as parents to give our children an ethical compass, because most of the time when we make decisions we don’t sit and analyze them and take them apart. We intuitively do what we think is best. Developing a good intuitive ethical center; part of the job of parents with their children is to teach them how to do that.KK: I have so many follow up questions. One question is: Do you feel guilty for some decisions? You mentioned that you talk with nurses and you teach doctors. What if your own bias affects their understanding?Another question is about parents teaching their kids an ethical compass: Will the bias of parents with their traumas be passed on to their kids, influencing their decisions?PW: We all have biases. In the ethics community, we believe that, for difficult and complex decisions, we need to talk about them in groups. During Covid, I was President of the Association of Bioethics Program Directors, which encompasses every organization that runs a bioethics program in the US. There were so many tough decisions we had to make.At the beginning, we thought they might run out of ventilators at certain hospitals. We were writing policies for hospitals on who would get ventilators if there was a shortage. I started an every-two-week phone call of all the bioethics presidents and leaders of centers. We discussed all these things, and ended up publishing papers on those questions.While I was at NASA, space flight was evolving from being centralized in a government agency, to happening in private space agencies all over the world. We brought together a group of ethicists and people in the private and commercial fields, because there are a lot of ethical questions about putting bodies up into space and doing experiments on those bodies. Bodies in space are a scarce resource.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">So we bring together people with a wide range of experience, coming from many different fields, cultures, religions, and backgrounds, then debate these questions and try to come up with the best policies we can.&nbsp; Then we publish a paper somewhere so that other people can read them.</h4><hr>When commercial companies start putting bodies in space, pharmaceutical companies, medical instrumentation companies, and commercial device companies will want to send up instruments and experiment on those bodies. NASA has a well-developed process for that, but the commercial companies do not.So we bring together people with a wide range of experience, coming from many different fields, cultures, religions, and backgrounds, then debate these questions and try to come up with the best policies we can. Then we publish a paper somewhere so that other people can read them.When it comes to individual ethics, or teaching children, it’s not just parents; kids learn ethics from their peers, schools, and religious institutions. The best thing we can do is to understand that we all have biases. When children learn different values and ideas outside the family, entertain them in a serious non-defensive and nonjudgmental way. Don’t immediately have a kneejerk reaction and say, “Oh my God, this is wrong!” Entertaining and discussing ideas have helped children develop a critical sense and a critical judgment about ethical values. It’s a tough job being a parent.KK: &nbsp;Is there anything more you’d like to share with our readers?PW: One of the most difficult things around our values is protecting them. We feel like anyone who challenges our values is threatening us at a deep level. Listening to another person’s articulation of their values is often threatening. Many of the fights in the world are really about a blind unwillingness to entertain the values of the other side. We defend our values by branding them as right, and the values of others as wrong, evil, or misguided. So we’re back to the beginning! This violates the whole idea that ethics is about conflicts of values, and people prioritize values differently.Deep listening to the other person is a skill we can develop. If I wanted to leave a message it would be that we need more deep listening in the world right now.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/right_wrong_ethics3_a3a754ae26.webp" alt="right-wrong-ethics3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_right_wrong_ethics3_a3a754ae26.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_right_wrong_ethics3_a3a754ae26.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/right_wrong_ethics3_a3a754ae26.webp 600w," sizes="100vw">KK:&nbsp; I feel that listening is such a powerful tool, clearing lots of misunderstanding and miscommunication. &nbsp;What is next for you?PW: I’m stepping down as director of my center in June and building a new center for conflict resolution, mediation, and peacebuilding at Emory. I’ll be traveling on sabbatical next year to Oslo, Geneva, The Hague, and other places, talking to people in different conflict resolution centers, and trying to build some innovative models.KK: That’s great. Thank you for taking the time for this.&nbsp;

Right, wrong, and the morals of ethics

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

<hr class="vertical-space1" />
<h4>
 <spanundefined
 >PAOLO LEZZELLE draws simple parallels
 between the Heartfulness system and sport, in this article focusing
 primarily on how we master time.
 
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

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

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 <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!

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <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"
 />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <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.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<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 />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <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"
 />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <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.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<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

<hr><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 <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/the-story-of-the-Olympic-Games" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Olympic Games</a>, 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.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by PAULO LEZZELLE</h4><hr>

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

Pema-Chodron.jpg

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.

PeterJReding.jpg

PETER J. REDING

<hr><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>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;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)?<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Transforming_Awareness2_5f529227a9.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T08:22:45.571Z"><hr>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.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Transforming_Awareness3_94db5d4c0a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T08:24:23.850Z"><hr>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.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Transforming_Awareness4_05c06b45ee.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T08:25:44.007Z"><hr>&nbsp;<hr><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>&nbsp;<hr><hr>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.<hr>To be continued.<hr>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Interviewed by VICTOR KANNAN Illustrations by JASMEE RATHOD</h4>&nbsp;<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.

Peter-Kater.jpg

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>

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