Ashwin is a writer in the fiction-thriller genre. He is the author of best-selling novels The Rozabal Line, Chanakya’s Chant, The Krishna Key, The Sialkot Saga and Keepers of the Kalachakra. His books are based on mythological and theological themes. He is one of India's best-selling conspiracy fiction writers and is an author of the new era of retelling Indian history or mythology in a contemporary context. Forbes India has included him in their Celebrity 100 list.


Ashwin-Sanghi.jpg

Ashwin Sanghi

<h4>ASHWIN SANGHI is an Indian author in the intersecting genre of mythology,
 fiction and thriller. Here he is interviewed by RUDY SINGH at Kanha Shanti
 Vanam about his formative influences, what brought him to writing, and the gray area intersecting mythology and
 history. In Part 2, the conversation will also move to his own work and his latest books.</h4>
Q: Welcome to Kanha Shanti Vanam. What are your first impressions of this place?

AS: I&nbsp;am absolutely fascinated by my
 surroundings. Before I arrived here I didn’t know the scale of Kanha Shanti Vanam. It has been an incredible
 experience not just because of the infrastructure, which is obviously still coming up, but even what is there is
 world-class. More importantly, I think what is fascinating is just the amazing environment that you have
 created.
I am told that you have planted over 100,000 trees and plants in this place, which was
 barren land. That the water table is changing because of the number of reservoirs and the rainwater harvesting that
 is being done here. The fact that this place is energy self-sufficient because of the number of solar panels that
 are used. And of course the fact that there have been so many trees that have been translocated, or transplanted,
 here from other road-widening projects etc.
So when you add all of it up, it makes for a fascinating place. And then of course when
 you factor in Daaji and his vibrations, and the vibrations of all those people who happen to be here meditating,
 it’s a magical experience. So to sum up: it’s a magical place.
Q: Ashwin, I read that when you first started writing, you faced almost 40 rejections
 for your work, and then you decided to self-publish. Now most of us have a terrible time handling rejection. How
 did you handle that phase?
AS: Well, I think one of the problems in today’s
 world is that we don’t teach youngsters to cope with failure. And I think failure is a very important learning tool.
 And I think what we need to understand is how do we motivate ourselves to keep plodding on. When a child falls down
 while he is learning to walk, he doesn’t think, “Well, maybe this is not for me.” He just gets up and walks. He
 makes an attempt to walk and finally he learns how to walk. But we don’t do that in later life; we seem to get
 affected every time we fall down.
In front of my desk I had this bulletin board, which had a series of numbers: 12, 18,
 30, 34, 38, so on and so forth. When people would come to my study they would wonder what those numbers were.
Well, 12 was the number of times that the first book in the Harry Potter series
 by J.K. Rowling was rejected by publishers. 18 was the number of times that Jonathan Livingston Seagull was
 rejected. 30 was the number of times that the first novel by Stephen King, Carrie, was rejected. 34 was the
 number of times that Chicken Soup for the Soul was rejected. 38 was the number of times that Gone with
 the Wind was rejected.
So I used to psyche myself into believing that I would be a better author than all of
 them because I was getting rejected more. It’s almost a way of psyching yourself to plod on, and I think that is a
 very important skill that we need to be imparting to our youngsters.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">I think failure is a very important learning tool. 
 And I think what we need to understand is how 
 do we motivate ourselves to keep plodding on.</h5>
<hr>
Q: That is wonderful. So your first book, The Rozabal Line, is based on the
 hypothesis that Jesus came to India and lived here after he survived the crucifixion. How did that topic come
 up? How did you decide to take that route?
AS: Actually I genuinely have come to believe that
 it’s the other way round. We, as writers or storytellers, think that we are going out searching for a story, but
 really stories come searching for us, because that story wants to be told.
I happened to be in Srinagar sometime around 2002, attending the wedding of a very dear
 friend. This was of course the time of peak militancy in Srinagar, so there were road blocks and military
 check-posts every few yards. I was feeling so completely cooped up in my hotel room and I told my driver, “You have
 to get me out of here and take me to some place.”
He said, “Well, I can take you to a very interesting tomb.”
<h5><img alt="where-history-intersects-with-myth-part-1" 
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/history_intersects_myth2_b2586e4d84.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T07:16:42.021Z">
</h5>
So we landed up in the heart of Srinagar, the old part of Srinagar, known as the Khanyar
 district. And in the heart of this district there is a very unassuming structure. Records indicate that some
 structure has stood there ever since 124 AD. So something or other has been there on that spot for the last 2,000
 odd years. And the person buried there is a Muslim Pir, whose name was Nasiruddin. His was an Islamic burial site
 from around the 13th or 14th century, with the head pointing towards Mecca.
But there was another grave, which was of an older provenance, underneath that of
 Nasiruddin. It went back to the origin of the tomb, which was almost 500 years before the advent of Islam. And it
 was an east-west burial, which is the direction in which the ancient Jews buried their dead. Outside the tomb was a
 metallic plate, which showed the carving of human feet, with marks indicating the points at which the nails of a
 crucifixion would have been hammered.
I was completely blown away and fascinated by the story, and I spent the next two years
 researching that story, not because I wanted to write the book, but because I was obsessed with the story. At the
 end of two years, my wife told me, “Listen, it has become painful to have a conversation with you, because this is
 the only thing we talk about. You need to get this out of your system.” And that’s how I got the idea of writing a
 book. It never started out with the idea of writing a book.
Q: Wow. And in your books of course you use a lot of tales that are rooted in
 mythology. How much does that have to do with your upbringing?
AS: I grew up in an environment where we were
 surrounded by stories. I had my Daadi [paternal grandmother], who used to narrate stories to me from the Ramayana
 and Mahabharata. Then there was my Nana [maternal grandfather], who was a terrific storyteller, and he liberally
 would mix fact and fiction when narrating his stories, which made them even more interesting. His elder brother,
 whom we called Majle Nanaji, because he was the middle brother, had the habit of sending me a book every week to
 read. So at a very young age I was exposed to reading. And of course I had to read each book within a certain time
 frame and reply to him with a letter telling him what I’d read, and why I liked it or disliked it.
That entire habit of being surrounded by stories was very much there, as a result of
 which I think at heart I’m not a writer, I’m not a screenplay writer, I’m not a lyricist, I’m not a playwright, I’m
 just a storyteller, and that’s what I love doing. So even when I’m sitting having a conversation, I will find
 something the person will say that will inspire a story. And then I’m very quick to make a note of it, because I
 don’t want the idea to dissolve into thin air.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">We, as writers or storytellers, 
 think that we are going out searching for a story, 
 but really stories come searching for us, 
 because that story wants to be told.</h5>
<hr>
And of course while all these meaningful books were coming from my maternal granduncle,
 there was also a set of books coming from my mother, and those were always paperbacks, thrillers – the latest
 Jeffery Archer, the latest Sidney Sheldon, the latest Irving Wallace, the latest Arthur Hailey. On the one hand I
 was getting all this philosophy, mythology, science, religion and theology coming to me from my grandparents, and
 then there was the style of a fast-paced novel coming to me from my mother. So a lot of what you see in my
 storytelling is a combination of those two streams of books.
Q: Do you think this style of writing has brought a new generation of readers to
 literature? A lot of people were disillusioned with the way history was written, and a lot of youngsters would
 find history a very boring subject.
AS: Yes of course. I grew up in a school where
 history was taught in an exceedingly boring fashion. The other part of it is that, to a very great extent, our
 history is just … It was the novelist George Santayana who said, “History is a pack of lies about events that never
 happened, written by people who were never there.” On the other hand, Churchill said, “History is always written by
 the victors.” So it’s a version of events.
<img alt="where-history-intersects-with-myth-part-1" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/history_intersects_myth3_c648c2b9fd.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T07:17:44.260Z">

The problem is, when you talk about history as a version of events, it means we should
 also be exposed to alternative versions of those events. For example, in India we learn about the Great Rebellion of
 1857, whereas the average English child learns about the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 – the same event, but very, very
 different perspectives. To a certain extent I have no problem if you want to teach the so-called Aryan Migration
 theory or the Aryan Invasion theory, but also teach the Saraswati Civilization along with it, or the Out-of-India
 theory as an alternative hypothesis, because all of these are at their core precisely that – theories.
So my effort has basically been to correct the narrative, and hopefully as these
 alternative narratives emerge within popular culture, within popular fiction, then eventually researchers, scholars
 and historians will have to update their research and bring them into the academic mainstream.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">I believe that there is that wonderful zone, 
 which is the overlap between history and myth.</h5>
<hr>
Q: It’s wonderful that you mention that, because within the Waldorf education system
 they actually start teaching children myths. They teach them the world of mythology and it’s only after Grade 5
 that they start them on history.
AS: And to a very great extent I believe that myths
 are far more honest. It was C.S. Lewis who said that a myth is imagination that reveals the truth. At least a myth
 doesn’t have pretensions of being a factual record. A myth does not attempt to be a statement of fact. And I believe
 that there is that wonderful zone, which is the overlap between history and myth.
To be continued.
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Interview by RUDY SINGH</h4>
<hr>

Where history intersects with myth - part 1

<h4>ASHWIN SANGHI is an Indian author in the intersecting genre of mythology,
 fiction and thriller. In this second part of his interview with RUDY SINGH, he
 speaks about mythology, history, his approach to writing and his upcoming books. Ashwin continues the conversation
 from where he left off.</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
AS:&nbsp;In India we always called our epics
 itihas [history]. The Ramayana and Mahabharata are itihas. It’s only since Max Müller that we were
 taught: Hey listen, this is myth, this is not historical narrative. I’m not willing to accept that. Take the
 Mahabharata. It started off with less than 25,000 verses of a work called Jaya, which morphed into a work of roughly
 50,000 verses called the Bharat, which then morphed into the 100,000 verses of the Mahabharat. We attribute all of
 this to one single writer, the Rishi Vyasa. I believe that’s almost like a nom de plume, a pseudonym, for
 multiple writers who wrote through the generations. But do you think multiple generations would have spent their
 time narrating that story if there wasn’t a kernel of truth to the events that happened?
We have 300 versions of the Ramayana, and each version is remarkably different. You have
 the Valmiki Ramayana, in which Ram is simply a human being, a mortal. You have the Tulsi Ramayana, in which he is
 elevated to the status of a God. You have versions like the Adbhuta Ramayana, in which it isn’t Ram who kills
 Ravana, but Sita who manifests as Durga. You have the Jain Ramayana, in which Lakshman kills Ravana. You have
 versions like the Muslim Ramayana, in which Ram is a Sultan, or the Lao Ramayana, in which Ram is a Bodhisattva. But
 at the core there are elements of the story that remain common throughout. And why would there be 300 versions of a
 story that never happened? So I believe what we need to do is to find that enticing, exciting overlap zone where
 history intersects with myth. And there is a lot we can gain by examining it closely. The problem is that mainstream
 academia has shied away from looking at these things. I have always believed that the reason why people like reading
 these stories, and the reason why this new generation is reading them, is because if you take these two words – myth
 and history – and put them into a particle collider and bring them charging at superfast speed towards one another,
 they fuse into a new word, which is myth + history = mystery. That’s typically what I try to do.
Q: Wow, that’s wonderful. As you mentioned, there are many, many local myths and
 different variations of myths. Every 200 kilometers you have a new myth; every district has their narrative. Do
 you think we are at a stage where there is a danger of the homogenous narrative subsuming all these? For
 example, the overarching Mahabharata is pan India, and the overarching Ramayana is pan India.
AS:&nbsp;The way I see it is that mythology has
 been in a constant state of flux. The packaging and repackaging of mythology has been happening over generations. We
 spoke about 300 versions of the Ramayana, and there are probably more than a 1,000 versions of the Mahabharata. And
 even if we look at today’s narratives, we are finding that actually the narratives do not depend on the popular
 mainstream.
If you take someone like Anand Neelakantan, for example, he is actually giving you a
 perspective of these epics from the angle of the so-called villains of the story, because he feels that injustice
 has been done to the villains. So why can’t we narrate the Mahabharata from the point of view of Duryodhana? Or why
 can’t we narrate the Ramayana from the point of view of Ravana?
You take someone like Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Chitra’s books narrate the stories
 from the angle of the female leads within those epics. What would the Ramayana look like from Sita’s perspective? Or
 what would the Mahabharata look like from Draupadi’s perspective?
So I think we are opening up new vistas in our narratives, which is wonderful because a
 myth should not be compartmentalized. The whole idea of myth is that you have multiple versions, and this has been
 the great thing about our country, that we’ve said that, “No, we don’t have one version of the truth; we can have
 three hundred versions. And the fact that I have one version of the truth doesn’t make your version any less. It’s
 still the truth.” And I think that is where we need to be going. And I think that that is already happening. So in
 fact we’ll see more narratives, we’ll see more dimensions. We’ll see this exploration increasing.
<img alt="" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/history_myth_part2_2_9c1f110377.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T07:32:27.259Z">

Q: You’ve recently started writing a series of self-help books. How did the motivation
 for that come about?
AS:&nbsp;Well, I had just started writing. I was at
 the point where my first book was not getting published.&nbsp;There was a family friend of ours, who used to come
 home on the weekends and enjoy having a drink along with my father. One day, he saw I was very upset. 
 He saw me depressed and said, “What’s the matter?” 
 I said, “Well, 47 publishers have declined my book.” 
 Between publishers and literary agents it had become 47. 
 “What is the problem? Apply to a few more.” 
 And I said, “There’s no one left on the list. The universe has been targeted already.” 
 So he said, “Beta, remember one thing: in life 99% is about good luck.” 
 So I asked him, “But Uncle, what about the one percent? That must be hard work, talent, efficiency, networking,
 resources, management, so many things.” 
 He laughed at me. He said, “99% is about good luck, and one percent is about bloody good luck.” 
 And I came out of that meeting and I was wondering, “What is he talking about?”
Later on in life, once I had already become a bestselling author, someone asked me, “To
 what do you attribute your success?” and I said, “Luck!” And that was not the answer they were expecting. My
 publisher was standing next to me, and he started laughing. He said, “I think you need to write a book about it, to
 explain what is meant by luck. Demystify this topic.” And that resulted in the first book: 13 Steps to Bloody
 Good Luck.
At that time, it was not meant to be a series. It was meant to me a “one-off” book, the
 ramblings of Ashwin Sanghi about what makes lucky people lucky. As it turned out, then I started receiving e-mails
 from people saying, “If we can demystify luck, then why can’t we demystify something else?” So one of my school
 friends, who is also a venture capitalist, said, “People don’t know how to manage their money, so why don’t we write
 a book on wealth?” So we wrote 13 Steps to Bloody Good Wealth.
Then a teacher got in touch with me, who was an expert in coaching kids. And he said,
 “Why can’t we write 13 Steps to Bloody Good Marks, so that people can study better?” And then Dr. Batra got
 in touch saying, “Why can’t we write on health – 13 Steps to Bloody Good Health?” And we then had a book by
 a blogging mom, Kiran Manral, who wrote 13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting. We now have someone who has been
 in the sales profession for 20 odd years writing a book on sales. Someone else is writing on communication. So there
 are so many things which look like rocket science, but they actually translate into some rather simple fundamentals.
 And that is what we’re attempting to present in a very easy to read format.
Q: I really liked the way you said “demystifying good luck,” because one of the
 objectives of the book, The Heartfulness Way, is to demystify meditation.
AS:&nbsp;Absolutely.
<img alt="where-history-intersects-with-myth-part-2" class="has-img-center lazyload "
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/history_myth_part2_3_3c0ee1213e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T07:33:19.698Z">

Q: You have now been a part of two Heartfulness sessions. Do you think there’s a
 certain resonance with that also?
AS:&nbsp;Absolutely. I think one of the main
 attractions of the Heartfulness Way is the utter simplicity. I have been through several meditation sessions prior
 to this where the instructor is focused on how you sit, what mudras you do, your breathing and your
 concentration, the fact that you should not move, and the fact that you should develop an ability to deal with
 pleasure and pain, even though you’ve been sitting in that position for several hours.
In comparison, the Heartfulness Way is almost childlike: focus on your heart and
 feel rather than think. That is where true meditation comes from. I’m still to get there, but I love the
 utter childlike simplicity of what is explained in The Heartfulness Way.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">The Heartfulness Way is almost childlike: 
 focus on your heart and feel rather than think. 
 That is where true meditation comes from. 
 I’m still to get there, but I love the utter childlike simplicity 
 of what is explained in The Heartfulness Way.
</h5>
<hr>
Q: Finally, what next for Ashwin Sanghi?
AS:&nbsp;Well, currently I’m working on a number of
 projects. In the 13 Steps series there are several books in the pipeline, and they will happen at the
 frequency of two or three titles per year. In addition to that, currently I’m working on the sixth book in the
 Bharat series.
The first book in the series was The Rozabal Line, followed by Chanakya’s
 Chant, then The Krishna Key, The Sialkot Saga, and Keepers of the Kalachakra. The sixth
 one turns its attention down South and talks about the Pallava kingdom. I hope to complete it soon, so that it is
 released in December or January. That is one of the main projects I am working on. In addition to that, I am also
 working on an original web series, as well as an adaptation of one of my books for the web. So at any given point of
 time I have multiple projects going on, and that’s one of the reasons why I need a technique to keep me a little
 more focused. I am hoping that Heartfulness can help me, because I have to keep switching tracks. On a particular
 day I’ll be working in the space of history and mythology; on another day I’m working on a crime thriller; on the
 third day I’m working on a self-help book. So in order to be able to change gears and still come back and focus on
 what I am required to focus on that particular day, that’s a critical element of what I do.
Q: Thank you so much. It’s been wonderful having you here.
AS:&nbsp;It’s been a pleasure talking to you. Thank
 you very much for having me here. What a delightful experience this has been. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

<a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/where-history-intersects-with-myth-part-1/">Read Part 1 of the interview&gt;&gt;</a>
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Interview by RUDY SINGH</h4>
<hr>

Where history intersects with myth - part 2

Ashwin is the Assistant Cultural Secretary and the Vice President of the Debate Club in his school. His passion includes chess, quizzing, and writing. He wants to study Computer Science to find elegant solutions to everyday challenges. 



Ashwin-Vinod-Kumar.jpg

Ashwin Vinod Kumar

<hr><h4>ASHWIN VINOD KUMAR is wise for a 16-year-old. With a little kindness from a loving grandpa, he managed to overcome a negative pattern that threatened to derail his success at school. How many similar challenges could we all overcome with a little help from our friends and family?</h4><hr>When we think of kindness we imagine grandiose acts of charity, or experiences of random acts of kindness with strangers. However, the simplest and most profound acts of kindness are often those we take for granted in our everyday existence.“The world is full of obvious things if one only takes the time to observe them,” said Sherlock Holmes. The world is full of kindness if we take time to observe, I say.Ever since I was 6 years old and in the 1st grade at school, I have faced difficulty with the Tamil language. I lost the top rank at my school 10 years in a row because of my grades in Tamil. My parents never had any expectation, either academic or otherwise, other than that I pass Tamil so that I could go into the next grade. So coming to the end of grade 10, my freedom was at last in sight – the last year of studying Tamil. Ten long years of struggle, an entire saga of my life, would finally draw to a close. But this was also going to be the most difficult time of my life, because the exam would be graded by the Central Board of Examiners, and who knew what destiny awaited me.I shared this most agonising secret with my grandfather one day, and he graciously offered to help me, saying that he had studied Tamil for 15 years. It was as if an angel had descended to answer my prayers; his help was exactly what I needed. But he and I lived in different cities. Thankfully, one thing the pandemic has taught us is that distance doesn’t matter.And so it began. We studied (to my dismay) every single day. He would call me at 2 p.m., just as I finished lunch, and we would study for an hour on video call. He had downloaded the textbook onto his laptop, and he read out and explained every single word, not once, not twice, perhaps fifteen times or more, until I finally understood, finally remembered, and finally expressed some confidence.I did not want to study Tamil because early on I had performed badly. Then, I continued to do worse because I did not want to study. It was a vicious cycle. Now I studied, not because I enjoyed it – I absolutely did not – but because I got caught up in my own request. I couldn’t disappoint my grandpa who called me sincerely every day at 2 p.m.I started looking forward to his calls, and enjoyed the time immensely. Forget about Tamil, I just enjoyed talking with him. He is my grandpa. We bonded. And that bond made me resent Tamil less. How could I dislike something my loving grandfather was talking about? Looking back, those 7 hours a week, and all the tales with which he regaled me so that I would enjoy Tamil, were astonishing. He shared humorous and interesting anecdotes, and in between stories of his school and university days, he showed me glimpses of how to appreciate my mother tongue, and indeed how beautiful any language can be.Well, like all good stories, this has a happy ending – I got good grades in Tamil. But that is not the end of the story, is it?This story is about the kindness of a grandfather to his grandson – not only teaching him his mother tongue, but helping him fall in love with it. This ending is about grandpa roping in grandma in all the fun, so that the grandson learns higher lessons in togetherness and bonding. This ending is about how all of us have a coping ability, immense resilience, and the human spirit, which decides to shine if we kindle it with love and joy.And the ending of the story is not what matters. The journey does. The world is full of kindnesses if we take the time to observe them. A lot of them are invisible and present in our own backyard. When we learn to see them, and sow those seeds of kindness in the world, letting them shine, the world will be as inspired as I am.<hr><hr><h4>The world is full of kindnesses if we take the time to observe them.&nbsp; A lot of them are invisible and present in our own backyard.&nbsp; When we learn to see them, and sow those seeds of kindness in the world,&nbsp; letting them shine, the world will be as inspired as I am.</h4><hr>

Invisible kindness

Dr. Parvaiz was the Vice Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad, India, from 2015 to 2020, and before that was the Principal of Zakir Husain College, Delhi University. He is a science communicator with six books and many articles and book chapters to his credit. Since 1994, he has also been the founding editor of Urdu Science, a popular science and environment monthly, and heads the Islamic Foundation for Science and Environment (India), a non-profit charitable organization.



Aslam-Parvaiz.jpg

Aslam Parvaiz

<h4
 id="h-dr-aslam-parvaiz-is-a-teacher-with-a-passion-coming-from-the-islamic-tradition-he-integrates-the-wisdom-of-the-quran-with-a-scientific-attitude-toward-nature-the-environment-and-our-responsibility-as-human-beings-in-november-2020-dr-parvaiz-was-interviewed-by-elizabeth-denley-and-kambiz-ravan-from-the-heartfulness-institute"
>
 DR. ASLAM PARVAIZ
 is a teacher with a passion. Coming from the Islamic tradition, he integrates
 the wisdom of the Quran with a scientific attitude toward Nature, the
 environment, and our responsibility as human beings. In November 2020, DR.
 PARVAIZ was interviewed by
 ELIZABETH DENLEY and KAMBIZ RAVAN
 from the Heartfulness Institute.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 ED: Welcome, Dr. Parvaiz. Since we first met a few years back, I have been
 touched by your passion for integrating modern scientific approaches about
 Nature and our current climate crisis with the wisdom traditions of the
 Quran and Islam. Why is this so important for you?



 <a href="AP:"
 >AP:</a
 >
 It’s not science per se, but the need to have a scientific attitude. My
 passion is for Muslims all over the world to understand the logic behind the
 practices in the Quran. Whatever is happening around the globe today in the
 name of Islam is not what is offered in the Quran, which is a book for the
 entire humanity.



 What you find there will depend on your capacity, your willingness, and your
 desire to know and internalize the teachings. While I challenge the way people
 currently practice Islam, my approach is not at all controversial, as it is
 based on the Quran.



 ED: Can you please tell us about the importance of Nature, ecology, and the
 environment in Islam?



 AP: I would start
 with the first verse of the Quran, which says that God created the Earth for
 all living beings. Second, the Quran says that if you wish to count
 the bounties of God, you will not be able to do so. Nature has gifted us all
 with countless bounties in the form of resources. Third, the Quran says that
 whatever resources are there, they are to be distributed amongst us all. All
 creatures in the Universe reflect the creativity of God. Fourth, the Quran
 defines the position of humankind as the custodians, the khalifa,
 with the role of protecting the environment and protecting the Earth’s
 resources.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 All creatures in the Universe reflect the creativity of God.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img
 width="600"
 height="371"
 alt=""
 class="has-img-center lazyloaded"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Ancient_Wisdom_nature_2_2e9fc1798e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-19T14:50:36.600Z"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Whatever resources are there in Nature move from one place to another by the
 Law of Diffusion, which tells us that things move from a region of high
 concentration to a region of low concentration. For example, when you add
 water to a bowl of dry soil through a dropper, the water will spread
 throughout the bowl. Only once the soil becomes saturated with the water will
 it start accumulating on top of the soil. The movement of air, which controls
 the temperature and the climate, uses the same process of diffusion. When air
 pressure decreases, air rushes in. The same is true of the action of gases in
 our body, in our lungs. Hemoglobin in our blood has the capacity to bond with
 carbon dioxide and with oxygen, depending upon the concentration. If more
 oxygen is there, hemoglobin picks up oxygen, whereas if more carbon dioxide is
 there, it picks up carbon dioxide. So, our capacity to breathe in oxygen and
 breathe out carbon dioxide is because of diffusion. This Law of Diffusion is
 operating everywhere in Nature.



 Similarly, the Law of Diffusion tells us how to share resources: Where there
 is a need, the resources must go. There is no need for hoarding or reserving
 things for near and dear ones for generations to come, whether it is money,
 property, food, or anything else. The planet is for all. Distribution of
 resources should be as per the need of the moment.


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 <img
 width="600"
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 alt=""
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 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Ancient_Wisdom_nature_3_dea73f0a29.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-19T14:53:30.361Zlazyloaded"
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<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 The planet is for all. Distribution of resources should be as per the need of the moment.
</h5>

<hr />

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 The Quran also says to establish balance. Don’t disturb the balance of Nature.
 Don’t spread impurity, like corruption and pollution. Air pollution is an
 imbalance of gases in the atmosphere. In Islamic countries we don’t have a
 strong awareness of environmental consciousness and protection, yet it is part
 of Islam.



 The Quran talks of Ibadat, which means submission to the divine laws
 or principles. Often the word is understood as “worship” or “prayer,” which
 has then been reduced to praying five times a day, fasting for thirty days a
 year, traveling once a year to Mecca for Hajj, and giving 2.5% of
 wealth to charity as Zakat. I call this cherry picking. We have
 picked those few practices from the Quran and made them mandatory, forgetting
 all the other practices that are there, including those about the environment
 and Nature, about service, and so many other things that are designed to make
 a person a wonderful human being.



 The human-centric approach is missing. While it is wonderful to do prayer five
 times a day, is your prayer helping the poor lady who is your neighbor, who
 has nothing to feed her kids? There are so many people who are hungry, and the
 Quran tells us that giving food to a person in need is our duty.



 KR: Why is the color green associated with Islam?



 AP: For us, green
 is the symbol of peace, productivity, and tranquility. When we talk about
 peace, there are two important words: one is “Islam” and the other is
 “Iman.” Iman is usually translated as “faith,” but it also
 has the same root as the word for peace, “Aman.” The root word
 “slm” has eight meanings, one of which is “peace,” and another is
 “productivity and growth.” So, if someone says they are a Muslim, the true
 meaning is that they are a harbinger of peace. They are at peace with
 themselves, and everyone should feel peaceful with them.


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<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 For us, green is the symbol of peace, productivity, and tranquility.
</h5>

<hr />

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 They do not give any offense to anyone or anything, either mental or physical.



 How does Nature work? After the Industrial Revolution, with the fallout of air
 and water pollution, it dawned on us that the green trees in our neighborhoods
 are themselves a huge industry. They produce so many resources and chemicals,
 giving so many products to humanity, such as dyes and medicines, yet the
 industry inside the tree is creating all these things without pollution,
 without heat, and without noise. That is why the shift is now toward
 bioproducts, because we know that Nature’s models are better than our
 human-made models. In Nature, things are always in balance.


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 width="600"
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 </figure>
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 Balance is important everywhere. Now, balance and justice are the same thing.
 Where there is justice, there will be balance without chaos, because things
 are at peace. In Nature, peace is prevalent because the divine laws are in
 operation. When we are in sync with Nature, we feel peace. The entire Universe
 is tuned with us, and I call this, “Swimming with the current.” The moment we
 don’t follow the natural laws, for example, when we hoard wealth, disrespect
 our spouse, are cruel to our kids, a neighbor, or workers, we feel uneasy and
 not at peace, because these things are against Nature.



 We become disturbed, then angry, frustrated, depressed, and eventually we may
 even feel suicidal. This is the sequence which arises from the internal
 situation where we are not comfortable. So being in sync with Nature is
 important, and this is what the Quran tells us.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 Balance is important everywhere. Now, balance and justice are the same
 thing. Where there is justice, there will be balance without chaos,
 because things are at peace. In Nature, peace is prevalent because the
 divine laws are in operation. When we are in sync with Nature, we feel
 peace.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 ED: If you were to advise young people today how to find peace, what would
 you tell them?



 AP: I would tell
 them what I have practiced and implemented myself, which is to follow the
 natural laws. For example, in the Quran it says, “We have created the children
 of Adam [meaning all human beings] to be respected.” It is a divine principle
 to respect all people. Whatever their color, religion, race, language, and
 gender, they must be respected. This is binding on all of us.


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 <img
 width="600"
 height="400"
 alt=""
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Ancient_Wisdom_nature_6_2dd97fedad.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-19T15:04:52.322Z"
 />
 </figure>
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<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 When we respect people, it means we respect their likes and dislikes, we
 respect their faith, their dress, and everything else. We have ours, but we
 have no problem with theirs being different. When we are able to do this, it
 is Ibadat. If we are respectful 24/7, it is acceptance of the divine
 laws.



 Next, the Quran tells us to speak in the best way – no foul language, no
 abuse, no taunts, no sarcasm, etc. This is again a divine principle. So, if
 someone abuses us, no matter who it is, do nothing! Our duty is to be nice.
 This is a hot topic today, just as it has always been. The Quran tells us that
 when we are in the company of people who are speaking badly, simply move away
 and join them again after they have finished. Don’t react. The human
 connection is very important, as all human beings are brothers and sisters
 coming from one source. There is no specific Islamic brotherhood. The human
 brotherhood is supreme – we must respect everyone. If we don’t respect a
 household helper, or even our spouse or partner, it doesn’t help.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 When we respect people, it means we respect their likes and dislikes,
 we respect their faith, their dress, and everything else. We have
 ours, but we have no problem with theirs being different. When we
 are able to do this, it is Ibadat. If we are respectful
 24/7, it is acceptance of the divine laws.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img
 width="600"
 height="286"
 alt=""
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Ancient_Wisdom_nature_7_bc9bbb6ec5.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-19T15:07:08.680Z"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 The human connection is very important, as all human beings are brothers and sisters coming from one source.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 The Quran also tells us to accept all the revered books from all traditions,
 right from the Vedas, to the Torah and the Bible, etc., and to accept all the
 Prophets that have been sent. A few we know, thousands we don’t know. I
 believe that the Vedas were the first divine books. The wisdom is the same.
 Many of the slokas of the Vedas are exactly the same as the verses of the
 Quran. These wonders are waiting to be discovered and practiced.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 Interview by
 ELIZABETH DENLEY and KAMBIZ RAVAN
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

Ancient wisdom on nature and the climate crisis

Audrey calls herself a pilgrim of life. She has had an unconventional journey, starting with her non-violence studies at UC Berkeley, where she embarked on a walking pilgrimage in Silicon Valley. She’s also known for her work on the compassion quotient, and is the co-visionary behind the iconic 6-week laddership circles of ServiceSpace. Recently, with a team of volunteers, she’s launched karunavirus.org, which is an online platform for amplifying everyday stories of courageous kindness.


Audrey-Lin-img.jpg

Audrey Lin

Kindness is key to resilience - part 1

<hr><h4>In June 2020, AUDREY LIN from ServiceSpace spoke with PURNIMA RAMAKRISHNAN about the qualities needed to live a life of kindness, and the relationship between kindness and resilience. In part 2, Audrey continues by focusing on the Compassion Quotient, the concept of leading with inner transformation, and how easy it is to integrate simple acts of kindness into everyday life.</h4><hr>AL: You can’t draw an easy and clear line of cause and effect with compassion. It’s such a distributed, ethereal thing. It’s a quality that’s there. And we don’t really have metrics to measure it, so you might not notice because it’s not something we quantify. We don’t have a system in place to account for it, so I like the idea of the Compassion Quotient.We focus so much on IQ, but what about the next generation? Will they be good neighbors? Will they be good citizens? How will they have meaningful lives and meaningful relationships? What’s the value of these things?Will they get you a job? Maybe, maybe not. But, when you’re on your deathbed, will they lead you to smile, feeling like you lived in a meaningful way and you did what you could while you were here? It’s hard to say what matters more.The Compassion Quotient is our capacity to offer ourselves, to respond with kindness again and again.Q: Thank you Audrey. That reminds me of Mark Twain’s quote, “Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Qualities like kindness, friendship, compassion and courage are the qualities that define who we are, as humans, and propel us toward what we ought to be in this world.AL: Adding on to that, I’ve heard you use the phrase “lead with inner transformation.” What does it mean? And can you share a story from your own life?It’s an interesting idea, because oftentimes we lead with impact or profit, or we’re motivated by changing some sort of structure in the world. And so inner transformation is like compassion, right? You can’t really measure it. You can’t copy and paste it, you can’t replicate it. It’s something that happens when the time is right and you’re in a space where the conditions have ripened for you to transform in a beautiful way and as a person.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Kindness_Key_Resilience_part2_img_6dc9dac6fb.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T07:06:41.874Z" alt="Kindness-Key-Resilience-part2-2"><hr>How do you lead with that and why do you lead with that? That seems like such a personal thing. We all have those moments in our lives where we might feel like something shifted in a very deep way and we almost never tie it to anything we do for a living, or anything we do to move and shake the world. Often times we just think of it as this very personal thing that was really meaningful in our lives. But why is that not the center of what we do, and how we engage, and how we operate in the world? Why is that just a thing on the side?So, in some of the projects we are exploring, that has become the central question. Like how do we lead within our transformation? How do we design in a way that engages these values of compassion, of generosity, of kindness, and what does that look like?I think it requires a certain degree of operating from a space of emergence. And actually, it’s very relevant now during the coronavirus pandemic, because we don’t really know. There is so much uncertainty in the world. How do we design for an uncertain future?In a way, our future has always been uncertain, right? We might have a five-year plan but it gets revised every month. Or we might develop a business plan with target goals, and of course the targets always move; they are uncertain. So, why don’t we just say we don’t know what will happen, and it is an uncertain future. And we are banking on that uncertainty actually.And how do we lead from a space where we are anchored in values, and that’s all that really matters? Are you leading from a space where all the projects you do are an excuse for these values to take form in some way? So, there have been a lot of ways this has surfaced.One of our platforms is called KindSpring. It’s a website where people can read and share stories of kindness that they have done or they have received. And everyone who writes there uses an anonymous alias. There is no “Look at what I did!” The cool thing is the way this website came about. One of the volunteers was having a conversation with his cousin about the phenomenon called hazing, which happens in fraternities or sororities at university. To get into one of those social clubs you go through this period of hazing, which is organized bullying. It’s like a rite of passage. You go through ridiculous situations where you need to endure silly things and make a fool of yourself. And at the end of that “rush week,” then you’re either accepted into the club or not.So, this volunteer was talking with his cousin, who was studying in college, and it was hazing season. People were trying to get into these fraternities and sororities, so they were talking about bullying and pranks, and how usually when you’re doing a prank on someone you’re trying to make their day less convenient.What would it look like if, instead, you did a prank that made someone’s day better? They thought of a little smile card that said, “Smile, you’ve been tagged. An experiment in anonymous and kindness is the name of the game. And now you’re hit.” So, the idea is to do a random act of kindness, anonymously, and leave the card behind to invite the recipient to pass it on. You could go through a toll booth, pay for the person behind you, and leave a card there to give to that person, just to make their day a little easier. Or you might pick flowers and leave them at your neighbor’s door with a smile card. When they open the door, they see a bouquet of flowers just for them. No reason attached to it. It’s just a nice act by someone anonymously.<hr><hr><h5 style="text-align:center;">Inner transformation is like compassion, right? It’s not something you can really measure. It’s something that happens when the time is right and you’re in a space where the conditions have ripened for you to transform in a beautiful way and as a person.</h5><hr><hr>So, they thought of this idea as a way to counteract hazing, to counteract bullying. It wasn’t planned, it was just about, “How do we decrease instances of bullying?” because bullying is a big issue in schools. There is that element of, “What can we do to prevent bullying, and what can we do to decrease the incidents of bullying?” What are the statistics on it? That’s also important and very valid, but when we are talking about leading with inner transformation, it stems first from the relationship – from a cousin to his younger cousin, having an honest conversation about the dilemma he is experiencing at university of bullying and hazing. So naturally this idea just came up.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Kindness_Key_Resilience_part2_3_img_67b77c3b4a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T07:06:41.694Z" alt="Kindness-Key-Resilience-part2-3">&nbsp;<hr>They printed up a bunch of smile cards and started doing random acts of kindness and leaving the smile cards behind. And then they thought, “Each card is going somewhere and it’s inviting some sort of experience for someone. And there is a story behind every card that goes out. So, what if we set up a website to capture some of those stories?” They put the name of the website on the card and said, “If you want to share the story of how you received this card, or what you did with it, you can post it here.” They set up this website to capture the harvest, all the stories.And that became a portal on kindness. Typically, you’d think about the issue and how to plan and execute something to that end. In this case, it started from the relationship. It started from, “How can I help my cousin out? How can I make his day? And what might surface from that?” From there, impact naturally happened. It was focused on the transformation first. I guess that’s an example.Q: Audrey, the mainstream media tends to broadcast sensational news that capitalizes on fear, anxiety, stress, scarcity and competition, rather than collaboration. In this context, how can we create cultural dialogues around kindness? How can we allow this culture of kindness to percolate into the civilization?AL: That’s so important. We are the stories we believe in, to some extent. So much of what I see, so much of how I interpret the world, is a reflection, a mirror of what my own inner compass is in the world. So much of what’s inside me is projected outward. There are so many times where I have interpreted a situation based on my state of mind, and later on realized that I totally missed something at that time.<hr><hr><h5 style="text-align:center;">We are the stories we believe in,&nbsp;to some extent. So much of what I see,&nbsp;so much of how I interpret the world, is a reflection,&nbsp;a mirror of what my own&nbsp;inner compass is in the world. So much of what’s inside me&nbsp;is projected outward.</h5><hr><hr>We are so very much impacted by the media, by the stories and narratives we are bombarded with. This is the age of information, and especially right now, during the coronavirus, it is a virtual sphere of stories. It’s so present. How do we create a culture of kindness around that? It’s really a call for all of us to start sharing stories of the goodness we see. And not just sharing them, but seeing them.We are so primed to operate in the world, looking for our end goal. Whatever we’re looking for we start to see around us. And how do we tap into a space where we start seeing the value everywhere? Where we see the value of even an argument we have, or something that’s a setback but ends up benefiting something else.It’s a great question: How do we engage a greater culture of kindness in our media? One thing we have been doing in the last couple of months is the website called Karunavirus. “Karuna” means compassion in Sanskrit. In late March, with all the things happening around the world, it just seemed like there was so much fear, there was so much anxiety, there was so much stress because of unknowns, and everyone was sitting with all that. At the same time there was so much compassion flowing out into the world. There were so many stories of young people buying groceries for elder people. There were so many stories of people checking up on neighbors they hadn’t spoken to in years; stories of teachers delivering lunches to their students; stories of police officers forming a heart shape outside a hospital with their police cars to thank the healthcare workers.It’s been an outpouring of such goodness of the humanity that’s rising up in the world. And so we thought: How can we share that? How can we bring more awareness that people are choosing love over fear? And what happens when we do that? We start to see a new possibility and engage in different ways. How does it affect our day? How does it affect the way that we think? How does it affect the actions that we are doing? It can be really powerful.I’m not sure if I’m answering your question, but I think it’s been beautiful to see that flow. It is in our nature to want to be kind. It is in our nature to want to be compassionate. It is in our nature to want to support each other. And when that comes into our consciousness in a strong way, we start to see it everywhere. Even with coronavirus.We started the website out of feeling the need for it, and a group of over twenty volunteers came together in less than two weeks to start working on it. We get the sweetest intentions. For example, someone wrote, “I am in my 60s and I can still learn. Give me your least-fulfilled volunteer opportunity and I’ll do it.” Wow! That is such a blessing to put out in the world.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Kindness_Key_Resilience_part2_4_img_104f8e26e6.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T07:06:41.810Z" alt="Kindness-Key-Resilience-part2-4"><hr>In today’s age, where so much of the media is focused on sensational news, headlines and topics, how do we give rise to greater sincerity and humanity? I think that’s the beautiful thing in some of the stories we see. All the celebrities, and the congressman who gave out his phone number to everyone – he made his phone number public and said, “If you feel scared, feel free to call me and I’ll listen to you and talk with you.” And there is Miss England, who was working as a doctor before she became Miss England. She said, “I’m going to hang up my crown and re-enlist as a doctor, because that is the need right now.”I think we have a culture that’s so focused on the extraordinary, the sensational, the things that are at a distance in the limelight. What about the extraordinariness of simple humanity and the simple moments of connection? It is the simple things that connect us all. I feel that it’s so important to create a culture of kindness in the stories that we tell, and I think it starts with being able to see those stories that are right in front of us, and see the beauty in them, see the gold in them.Q: So poignant. One thing which has stood out in today’s conversation is the power of being the change we wish to see in the world. So, can these small acts make a difference?AL: I invite whoever is interested to do an act of kindness during the week. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, but just not something that is in your usual routine – an extra act of kindness. And tell us how it goes. We will have a follow-up conversation to share some reflections and experiences.Q: Thank you, Audrey. Let’s see how small acts make a difference in all our lives and in the lives of the people who are the beneficiaries of this kindness.<hr>To watch the full interview visit: <a href="https://youtu.be/UTYqYntJwFI">https://youtu.be/UTYqYntJwFI</a><hr><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Interviewed by PURNIMA RAMAKRISHNA Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4><hr>

Kindness is key to resilience - part 2

B. Rathinasabapathy is an ecologist who is currently serving at Forests by Heartfulness. He has led significant ecological projects, e.g., the restoration of Adyar Eco Park, the conservation of the endangered Rudraksha tree, and numerous plantation and greening efforts across the Western Ghats and East Coast. He has authored 15 books and over 55 research papers. He has over 37 years experience in rainforest restoration, conservation, and environmental education. He is the recipient of the JWPT Gerald Durrell Memorial Award and the BGCI Award.&nbsp;&nbsp;

B. Rathinasabapathy.png

B. Rathinasabapathy

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">B. RATHINASABAPATHY is an ecologist who works at Forests by Heartfulness at Kanha Shanti Vanam. He shares some information on the various endemic Indian species of Syzygium that belong to the myrtle family, which has a distribution from Africa and Madagascar to southern Asia through to the Pacific. The most famous species is the clove, Syzygium aromaticum, native to Indonesia, but in this article he explores the widely celebrated Jamun tree and various other species that also have medicinal benefits.</h4>&nbsp;Jamun (Syzygium cumini), also known as black plum or Indian blackberry, is a revered fruit in India, celebrated for its nutritional, medicinal, and cultural significance. Native to the Indian subcontinent, it thrives in tropical and subtropical climates and is a favorite during the monsoon season. Its sweet-tart flavor, paired with its deep purple hue, makes it a prized fruit across the country.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Diverse Jamun varieties in India</h4>India boasts a range of Jamun varieties, cultivated to suit regional climates and preferences. All Jamun in India fall under the species Syzygium cumini, but there are specific cultivars according to region, characteristics, and agricultural development, including:<ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li style="text-align:justify;">Rajamun: Known for its large size, deep purple skin, and small seed; widely cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Its juicy pulp and balanced sweetness make it highly sought after.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Narendra Jamun: Developed by the Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology in Faizabad; known for its high yield and resistance to diseases. It produces large fruits with a rich flavor.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Jumbo Jamun: Produces oversized fruits with a high pulp-to-seed ratio. Popular in southern India for commercial cultivation.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Seedless Jamun: A newer variety; seedless Jamun is gaining popularity among urban growers. It offers ease of consumption and is favored for its sweetness.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Konkan Bahadoli: Native to the Konkan region; a medium-sized variety known for its intense flavor and adaptability to coastal climates.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Chhattisgarh Jamun: Wild and semi-domesticated, smaller in size but rich in antioxidants, often used in traditional medicine.</li></ol><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Health benefits</h4>Jamun is a superfood packed with nutrients. It is rich in vitamin C, iron, potassium, and dietary fiber. The fruit is renowned for its ability to regulate blood sugar levels, making it a natural remedy for diabetes. Its seed powder is used in Ayurveda to improve digestion and manage sugar metabolism. Additionally, Jamun is beneficial for <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/heart-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">heart health</a>, liver function, and skin rejuvenation.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Other Syzygium species</h4>In addition to Jamun, there are other species of Syzygium endemic in India, especially the Western Ghats and Andaman Islands. They are both edible and medicinal.<ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li style="text-align:justify;">Syzygium cumini: Fruits treat diabetes, diarrhea, and digestive issues; seeds have hypoglycemic properties.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">S.palghatense: Edible fruits, antioxidant properties.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">S.singampattiana: Endemic, fruits are edible, medicinal value under study.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">S.jambos: Rose apple used for digestive issues and inflammation.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">S.malaccense: Malay apple aids digestion and boosts immunity.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">S.zeylanicum: Antimicrobial properties; bark and leaves used medicinally.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">S.travancoricum: Endangered; fruits edible, antimicrobial use.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">S.caryophyllatum: Edible fruits, antioxidant-rich, treats infections.</li></ol>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/rich_legacy_taste_health2_6655e3c512.webp" alt="rich-legacy-taste-health2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_rich_legacy_taste_health2_6655e3c512.webp 234w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_rich_legacy_taste_health2_6655e3c512.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_rich_legacy_taste_health2_6655e3c512.webp 750w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Syzygium cumini</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;All these species possess rich antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties and are widely used in traditional medicine. And all the species are present at Kanha Shanti Vanam. The last two, previously endangered, were propagated through the tissue culture laboratory at the Heartfulness Tree Conservation Center, which focuses on generating, planting, and conserving rare, endangered, and medicinal plant species in diverse locations, ensuring their preservation and ecological impact.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Cultural significance</h4>Jamun is deeply connected with Lord Krishna in Indian mythology. It is believed that the dark purple color of the fruit resembles Krishna’s skin tone. According to folklore, Krishna often rested under a Jamun tree while grazing cows in Vrindavan.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/rich_legacy_taste_health4_af7f98aabd.webp" alt="rich-legacy-taste-health4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_rich_legacy_taste_health4_af7f98aabd.webp 126w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_rich_legacy_taste_health4_af7f98aabd.webp 405w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Syzygium singampattiana&nbsp; (Jungle guava)</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;One popular story involves Krishna climbing a Jamun tree to steal butter stored in earthen pots hanging from the branches. The playful association of Krishna with Jamun trees highlights his bond with nature and simple village life. Additionally, it is said that the tree provides shade and shelter, symbolizing Krishna’s protective and nurturing qualities.The Jamun tree holds deep spiritual significance. In Shaivism, it is considered sacred and often associated with Shiva temples, symbolizing tranquility and enlightenment. For Jains, the Jamun is revered as the site where the 9th and 13th Tirthankaras, Suvidhinath and Vimalnath, attained spiritual awakening. And the tree is connected with meditation as its serene shade fosters introspection and inner peace. The Jamun serves as a living symbol of meditation, transcendence, and union with the Divine. It is also a common feature in home gardens and community spaces, symbolizing abundance and vitality.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/rich_legacy_taste_health3_630e387aa3.webp" alt="rich-legacy-taste-health3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_rich_legacy_taste_health3_630e387aa3.webp 208w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_rich_legacy_taste_health3_630e387aa3.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_rich_legacy_taste_health3_630e387aa3.webp 750w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Syzygium samaragense var alba</figcaption></figure><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Challenges and opportunities</h4>Jamun cultivation faces challenges like seasonal dependency, short shelf life, and lack of organized marketing. However, growing awareness of its health benefits has increased demand for products like Jamun juice, vinegar, and seed powder, offering immense potential for agribusiness.Jamun varieties in India reflect the nation’s agricultural richness and biodiversity. From traditional orchards to modern plantations, Jamun continues to be a beloved fruit, merging health, culture, and taste in every bite. By promoting sustainable cultivation practices and value-added products, Jamun’s legacy can reach <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/inspiring-and-ethical-businesses" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">global markets</a>, enhancing its importance as a truly Indian superfruit.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/rich_legacy_taste_health6_77f694aec1.webp" alt="rich-legacy-taste-health6.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_rich_legacy_taste_health6_77f694aec1.webp 215w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_rich_legacy_taste_health6_77f694aec1.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_rich_legacy_taste_health6_77f694aec1.webp 750w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Syzygium alternifolium</figcaption></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/rich_legacy_taste_health5_70f69fae06.webp" alt="rich-legacy-taste-health5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_rich_legacy_taste_health5_70f69fae06.webp 180w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_rich_legacy_taste_health5_70f69fae06.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_rich_legacy_taste_health5_70f69fae06.webp 750w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Syzygium caryiphyllatum (South Indian plum)</figcaption></figure>

A rich legacy of taste and health

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">B. RATHINASABAPATHY, ecologist, Forests by Heartfulness (FBH), shares a heart-warming tale about a rare rainforest tree species that has been brought back from the brink. It gives us hope that with a little bit of care and concern, other extinctions can be prevented.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h4>&nbsp;“In the depths of Tamil Nadu's rainforests lies a tree so rare that it is represented by just three known specimens—the Palani Hill Rudraksha (Elaeocarpus blascoi).”The enigmatic Elaeocarpus blascoi, commonly referred to as the Palani Hill Rudraksha, is among the rarest known plant species on Earth. With its native habitat confined to the pristine rainforests of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, at the southern tip of India, this critically endangered tree has intrigued botanists and conservationists alike. Today, only three known adult specimens exist: two on a private estate and one in the wild.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">A glimpse into the past</h4>Discovered in the 20th century, E. blascoi quickly gained attention for its rarity and ecological significance. Its survival has since been jeopardized by <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/healing-our-planet-one-seed-at-a-time-world-environment-day-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">deforestation</a>, habitat fragmentation, and natural germination challenges. The seeds of E. blascoi often fail to thrive due to harsh environmental conditions, including soil erosion and water runoff that wash them out of the Dindigul Plain.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">A turning point: conservation initiatives</h4>In 2006, two saplings of E. blascoi, affectionately named Bob and Tanya, were planted to bolster the species’ survival. These saplings flourished, thanks to the dedicated efforts of conservationists, and symbolized the possibility of restoring the species.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/journey_conservation_hope2_28845064eb.webp" alt="journey-conservation-hope2.webp"></figure>&nbsp;The Heartfulness Institute took a decisive step in 2022 by launching a structured conservation program for E. blascoi. Recognizing the critical need to secure its future, the program adopted tissue culture techniques to propagate the species and ensure genetic diversity.At FBH, we understand that conserving E. blascoi goes beyond preserving a rare tree species. It’s a commitment to safeguarding biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance. Our multidisciplinary team has been working tirelessly to:<ul><li style="text-align:justify;">Develop propagation techniques: Tissue culture technology has emerged as a beacon of hope, allowing us to propagate E. blascoi under controlled conditions.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Create suitable habitats: By mimicking the natural rainforest <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/think-ecosystem" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ecosystem</a>, we aim to provide ideal growth conditions for young saplings.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Engage the community: Awareness programs and educational initiatives are crucial for fostering a collective sense of responsibility toward conservation efforts.</li></ul><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Challenges and triumphs</h4>The journey of conserving E. blascoi is not without its challenges. The species’ natural germination rate is low, and ensuring successful transplantation requires meticulous care. Yet, each thriving sapling represents a victory for nature and humanity.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/journey_conservation_hope3_59fdb4db8a.webp" alt="journey-conservation-hope3.webp"></figure>&nbsp;In collaboration with global and local partners, we are witnessing the fruits of these efforts. The sight of birds and insects returning to habitats with E. blascoi reinforces the interconnectedness of life and the vital role this species plays in its ecosystem.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/journey_conservation_hope4_c395cc90eb.webp" alt="journey-conservation-hope4.webp"></figure>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:justify;">A call to action</h4>The story of E. blascoi is a testament to the resilience of nature and the impact of human determination. As we strive to bring this species back from the brink, we invite individuals, institutions, and governments to join hands in conserving our natural heritage.Together, we can ensure that future generations marvel at the majestic Palani Hill Rudraksha, not as a relic of the past but as a thriving testament to our collective commitment to biodiversity conservation.“The survival of Elaeocarpus blascoi is more than a conservation effort; it is a symbol of humanity’s ability to restore what we have endangered. Let us act now for the future of this majestic tree, and the world it inhabits rests in our hands.”&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/journey_conservation_hope5_4652a2d116.webp" alt="journey-conservation-hope5.webp"></figure> &nbsp;

A journey of conservation and hope

B.J. lives with her husband in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She met Babuji in France in 1976 and became a Heartfulness trainer at that time. She also contributes to the Heartful Communication program. In her personal life, she tries to live up to the admonition of Socrates, which is to be what one wishes to seem.


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B.J. Levin O’Riordan

<h4>B.J. LEVIN O’RIORDAN explores the nature of problems and why we struggle so much with change. She offers some simple guidance on how to approach transformation, in everyday life as well as in the field of spirituality, and how to take help from others, including a spiritual guide.</h4><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/guidance_from_the_future2_395d3fbbd1.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T07:06:46.880Z" alt="guidance-from-the-future2"><hr>“When you have a problem, don’t think about it. Think of God instead. This is the Golden Key.”<hr>I am grateful to my friend E.W. for bringing the Golden Key into my life. &nbsp;I believe that problems result from the benign conspiracy between two agents – who we are now and who we are becoming. Our current limitations give us the motivation to take the next step, but those very limitations don’t allow us to take that step. The purpose of the problem is to enable us to become a new person operating from a frame of reference beyond the previous set of limitations.For example, a five-year-old child is ready to go to school. The family’s love, in which she has basked since birth, has given her the confidence to explore, discover, and relate to others. She needs these abilities, but now that she is at school, she can no longer behave like the family’s darling. She won’t get away with it! The very purpose of the problem – school – is to enable her to emerge from the old version of herself into a new version. She can no longer use baby ways, like crying, to get what she wants. To solve the problem, she has to behave like and become a school-aged child. &nbsp;This pattern of development persists throughout our lives. A child cannot use childish ways to solve the problems imposed by puberty, so the child becomes an adolescent and solves the problems from that perspective. An adolescent cannot use adolescent ways to solve the problems imposed by adulthood, so they become an adult. &nbsp;We can never solve a new problem by being who we are. We solve it from the perspective of who we are going to become. &nbsp;Throughout our lives, others help us negotiate these rites of passage. At each stage, we have guides from the past and guides from the future. The guides from the past ideally help us to retain the best of the old values, and the guides from the future usher us into the new perspectives necessary for our future selves.For example, kindergarten children have their parents (past) and their teachers (future). Middle school children have their parents and teachers (past) and their peer group and new friends whom they want to be like (future). Young adults have parents, teachers, friends (past) and mentors and role models (future). Older people reminisce about people from the past and also learn from their own parents who are declining or dying(future). &nbsp;Likewise, spiritually-oriented people have saints and sages from the past and, if they are very lucky, a living spiritual guide or master to usher them into a future of a different kind.At a certain stage, the game radically changes. It is not a chronological stage, but a stage of character development. Something odd occurs. The problems that come to us seem crucial and hard. Friends who gave us good advice in the past don’t know what to tell us. We have reached a moral precipice where no one knows what to do. &nbsp;To make things even harder, the spiritual guide does not seem the least bit interested in providing overt assistance. Either he says nothing when we ask for guidance; or he says something that can be taken in ten different ways; or he says something like “Acha,” or “Yes, I will pray”; or he refuses to speak at all.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/guidance_from_the_future3_f5b86136a8.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T07:07:42.647Z" alt="guidance-from-the-future3"><hr>We are left with a problem that our past self cannot solve and which our spiritual guide does not seem interested in solving.&nbsp; The more we think about it, the bigger and more complicated the problem seems to become! We cannot solve it because we are relying on the past to help us, and the solution can only come from the person we are becoming.The spiritual guide seems uninterested in helping us because we are not relating to him properly. We are treating him like a wise man, thus making him something from the past. He is not just another wise man, like all those who have helped us before. He is something radically different, coming from a future we cannot comprehend.We think we are using a problem as a means of growing, but our future selves may be using the problem as a way of growing us. Perhaps we ourselves are the problem! Our old self from the past and the new self we are becoming are bound together in fetal embrace, struggling to grow out of and into itself. &nbsp;If we look at the situation from this point of view, the problem is no longer about income, family, or health. The problem is no longer about whether we will eat or starve, be included or cast out, alive or dead. The problem, quite simply, is how to relate to the new inner self within. That and only that.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/guidance_from_the_future4_09b7af2827.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T07:08:27.480Z" alt="guidance-from-the-future4"><hr>The spiritual guide is very interested in this. He is watching us very attentively and carefully, even though his role in the matter is to say and do nothing. &nbsp;Our work is to emulate him, that is, to also remain silent and do nothing. First of all, we don’t know what to do. Second, anything we would do can only come from the past. Third, we are no longer the person from the past, and we don’t quite know who the person we are becoming is. The most efficacious choice is to be quiet and have the faith to allow the nascent inner self to find a way to solve everything, by becoming itself.It takes self-discipline to stop trying to do something about what we are trying to become. The person who is trying to do something and the person who is trying to become may not be the same, and we may confuse the one for the other.We may pray, but I wonder if there really is any need for prayers at this time. Perhaps the problem has already been solved from the perspective of the future. Perhaps all we need to do is to try to live in confidence, savoring the problem as the blessing it truly is. Our prayer becomes one of gratitude.I think that this may be how things work here on Earth, this training ground for Love, this vehicle for human transformation. It is also why a spiritual guide says nothing when we bring him a terribly hard personal problem. He understands that the problem is working itself out.&nbsp; Our inner self from the future will somehow solve it in a way that is unique and utterly unpredictable.<hr><hr><h4>Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4><hr>

Guidance from the future

Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (1899-1983), affectionately known as BABUJI, was a revolutionary spiritual scientist and philosopher. He was the founder of the present-day system of Raja Yoga meditation, known as Heartfulness.



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Babuji

<hr><h2>BABUJI’S NATURAL REMEDIES</h2><hr><h4>During his lifetime, BABUJI shared a wealth of knowledge to his associates about the simple natural remedies that he learned and also discovered during his life in northern India. In this series we will be sharing some of these, starting with his remedies for tonsillitis.1</h4><hr><h4>Ingredients:</h4>½ tsp ground ginger ½ tsp ground turmeric ½ tsp ground pepper 1 tbsp cow ghee2 tsp chuna paste (also known as slaked lime and calcium hydroxide) 2 tsp honey<h4>Method:&nbsp;</h4>Mix the ground ginger, ground turmeric, ground pepper, and cow ghee together and take orally before going to sleep. After taking this mixture, no water should be taken.External application: Apply chuna paste around the neck once a day for up to 40 days. Chuna is readily available in India as a thick paste in small containers. Open the container and immediately add the chuna and honey together in a small bowl and mix to remove the lumps. Then straight away apply the mixture all over the throat. It will dry quickly and can then be washed off.N.B. Care must be taken not to get it in the eyes, as it can cause harm to the cornea.<hr><hr>1 Please note that these remedies are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider. These remedies may be used to complement medical treatment and support recovery.<hr>

Tonsillitis

<hr><h3>BABUJI’S NATURAL REMEDIES</h3><hr><h4>During his lifetime, BABUJI shared a wealth of knowledge to his associates about the simple natural remedies that he learned and also discovered during his life in northern India. This month we share one of his remedies for <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/a-rich-legacy-of-taste-and-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">heart health</a>, including high cholesterol, angina, and hypertension.1</h4><hr><h3>Ingredients:</h3>Arjuna tree bark from the species Terminalia arjuna. Water to fill a saucepan.<h3>Method:</h3>Place the tree bark in a saucepan of water, bring it to the boil, and let it simmer for at least 10 minutes. This will produce a decoction.Strain the mixture, let it cool, and drink a glass of the liquid twice a day.The mixture will support the removal of blockages from the heart and blood vessels, prevent the build-up of cholesterol, reduce hypertension, and treat other heart ailments.It can also be taken in powder form, and in capsules.<hr><hr>1 Please note that these remedies are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider. The remedies may be used to complement medical treatment and support recovery.

Heart health

<h3 style="text-align:center;">BABUJI’S NATURAL REMEDIES</h3><h4>During his lifetime, BABUJI shared a wealth of knowledge to his associates about the simple natural remedies that he learned and also discovered during his life in northern India. This month we share one of his remedies for the common cold.1</h4>Clove and honey together have been used for centuries as a natural cough and cold syrup, due to their antiviral, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. The syrup also helps to reduce the pain and swelling of a sore throat. In addition, the mixture is used to heal mouth ulcers, and generally boost metabolism and immunity.Tulsi is also a time-honored remedy for respiratory ailments. There are certain plants that can be kept in every home to keep the atmosphere clean. Two plants in particular are very beneficial – tulsi or holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) and marwa or marjoram (Origanum marjorana). Growing these two plants around children provides them with immunity against quite a few diseases.Tulsi is also commonly taken as a tea.<h3>Clove and honey syrup</h3><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/cold_and_flu3_1_700x355_388a693dde.jpg" alt="Clove and Honey Syrup">&nbsp;<h4>Ingredients:</h4>5 to 6 cloves (lavang). 1 tablespoon honey.<h4>Method:</h4>Gently roast 5 to 6 cloves in a pan for 2 minutes. Powder the roasted cloves in a mortar and pestle. Add a tablespoon of honey and mix into a paste. Take 2 to 3 times a day.<h3>Tulsi tea</h3><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/cold_and_flu2_1_700x417_fa600455f3.jpg" alt="Tulsi Tea">&nbsp;<h4>Ingredients:</h4>A few leaves of tulsi. A knob of ginger. 5 to 6 peppercorns. 1½ cups water.<h4>Method:</h4>Add washed fresh tulsi leaves, ginger (grated), and peppercorns to the water. Bring to the boil on a medium flame and turn the flame down to let simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the tea. As it cools, add lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Drink warm.<hr>1 Please note that these remedies are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider. The remedies may be used to complement medical treatment and support recovery.&nbsp;

Cold and flu

Be light

<hr><h2>BABUJI’S NATURAL REMEDIES</h2><hr><h4>During his lifetime, BABUJI shared a wealth of knowledge to his associates about the simple natural remedies that he learned and also discovered during his life in northern India. This month we share one of his remedies for fever.1&nbsp;</h4><hr>In Ayurveda, it is thought that there are two factors that cause fever – toxicity due to improper digestion, and foreign particles like bacteria, viruses, and toxins. Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) is a herbaceous vine that is used to combat fever, and for its high nutritional content, alkaloids, terpenoids, lignans, and steroids. The stems are mostly used, but the leaves and roots can also be used.Giloy relieves any type of fever, including chronic and recurrent fever, dengue fever, swine flu, hay fever, and Covid. For best results, drink the decoction or juice in the morning on an empty stomach, and avoid taking it at night.<h4>Ingredients:</h4>A handful of clean chopped Giloy stems.Water to fill a small saucepan.<h4>Method:</h4>Place the stems in the saucepan of water, bring it to the boil, and let it simmer for at least 10 minutes. This will produce a decoction.Strain the mixture, let it cool, and take a teaspoon of the liquid twice a day.It can also be taken in powder form, capsule form, or as a juice.<hr><hr>1 Please note that these remedies are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider. The remedies may be used to complement medical treatment and support recovery.<hr>

Fever

<h2 style="text-align:center;">Babuji’s Natural Remedies</h2><h4 style="text-align:justify;">During his lifetime, BABUJI shared a wealth of knowledge to his associates about the simple natural remedies that he learned and also discovered during his life in northern India. This month we share one of his remedies for fever.1</h4>Anemia is a common condition around the world, signifying a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and tiredness. It is called Pandu in Ayurveda and can be brought on by poor diet, poor iron uptake during digestion, blood loss, and certain diseases. It is treated by increasing the hemoglobin content of the blood. There are different causes of anemia, e.g. iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, sickle-celled anemia, aplastic anemia, thalassemia, congenital anemia, excessive physical effort, and eating too many sour and salty foods.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Ingredients</h4><ul><li style="text-align:justify;">A small quantity of Chuna paste or slaked lime (Calcium hydroxide), the size of a grain of wheat.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Juice from a pomegranate.</li></ul><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Method</h4>Mix the Chuna in a glass with water and pomegranate juice. Take this mixture every day for nine months.<hr>1Please note that these remedies are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider. The remedies may be used to complement medical treatment and support recovery.&nbsp;

Anemia

<h2 style="text-align:center;">BABUJI’S NATURAL REMEDIES</h2><h4>During his lifetime, BABUJI shared a wealth of knowledge to his associates about the simple natural remedies that he learned and also discovered during his life in northern India. This month we share a couple of his remedies for insomnia.1</h4>We all know the importance of a good night’s sleep, and these days scientists have done so much research in this field that there is no doubt that sleep hygiene is a vital ingredient of a healthy lifestyle. But not everyone finds it easy to go off to sleep, and we often look for pills and potions to give us a helping hand.In India, Tulsi or holy basil has long been known to support sleep. This is because Tulsi relaxes the nerves, tones the central nervous system, and calms the mind. It is also an adaptogen, which means it helps us adapt to stress, and promotes balance and resilience. This in turn supports healthy digestion.&nbsp;Babuji also taught his associates other subtler methods to help them sleep, and one of those is also shared here.Ingredients:<ul><li>Tulsi leaves or a Tulsi tea mix.&nbsp;</li><li>Boiling water.</li></ul>Methods:<ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li>Make an infusion of Tulsi leaves in water. Leave it to steep for a few minutes before sipping prior to going to bed at night.</li><li>While lying in bed, first relax your body, starting with your toes (you can try&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmwqL34FCjA">Heartfulness Relaxation</a>). Then, make a gentle thought that you are drawing sleep downwards from your eyebrows to your eyelids.</li></ol><hr>1 Please note that these remedies are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider. The remedies may be used to complement medical treatment and support recovery.&nbsp;

Insomnia

<h3 style="text-align:center;">BABUJI’S NATURAL REMEDIES</h3>&nbsp;<h4>During his lifetime, BABUJI shared a wealth of knowledge to his associates about the simple natural remedies that he learned and also discovered during his life in northern India. This month we share his thoughts on garlic and sandalwood.1</h4>Babuji highly recommended his associates to eat two to three pieces of garlic every day. In the last few years of his life, Babuji used to say “Garlic is not copper, not gold, not silver; it is diamond.”Babuji felt that the sandalwood tree (Chandan) was useful for many things besides its aromatherapy. He said that the older the tree, the greater the benefits. Its benefits increase from generation to generation, that is, they are passed to the next generation.<hr>1 Please note that these remedies are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider. The remedies may be used to complement medical treatment and support recovery.

Garlic and sandalwood

<h4>Enjoy these profound truths about simplicity from SWAMI VIVEKANANDA, DAAJI, OSHO and BABUJI.&nbsp;</h4>The greatest truths are the simplest things in the world, simple as your own existence.The greatness of a teacher consists in the simplicity of his language.Oh, to live even for a day in the full light of freedom, to breathe the free air of simplicity! Is not that the highest purity?—Swami Vivekananda<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/simplicity2_b06e3a3ccc.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T14:55:22.361Z">Sitting for that first meditation session was the most amazing experience I had ever had in my life – it was so profound and proved to me that this system was right for me. I thought, “If a trainer of the system can transmit like this, imagine what the Guide can do!”His name was Ram Chandra and he came from Shahjahanpur – and now I was longing to meet him. But I had to wait. I could only visit him during my college vacation almost a year later in 1977. When I reached Shahjahanpur, I found him to be a loving, simple, genuine, down-to-earth person. His utter simplicity amazed me. Just looking at him made me wonder how there could be such purity in a person, such simplicity. His whole being radiated love. And I could feel the Transmission flowing through him all the time. There was never a dull moment, even when he was silent, which he was most of the time. There was always inner communion, and I was busy inside feeling his presence. That was the beginning of my journey with my Guide.—Daaji<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/simplicity3_8fa70ee14a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T14:55:56.408Z">If you are simple you will be able to observe yourself. A complex man cannot observe himself because he is so divided. He has so many things around him: so many desires, so many thoughts, and so many problems arising out of these desires and thoughts. He is continuously in a crowd. It is difficult to attain to self study. Only an austere man eats, sleeps, loves, and that is all. He has ample time and ample energy left to observe, just to be, just to sit and look. And he is so happy. … Things are so simple that he can do them easily. And simple things have a quality that even while doing them you can study yourself. Complex things are too much for the mind. It gets too involved and fragmentary, and self study becomes impossible. … You never have enough energy. And without energy there is no possibility of being aware. At the point of low energy, low level energy, you cannot be aware; overflowing energy is needed. An austere man has so much energy left – what to do with this energy? … You are sitting silently; the energy moves to the subtlest layers – it goes higher and higher, it goes on accumulating, it becomes a pinnacle, a pillar of energy. You can study yourself now. Even the subtlest nuances of your thoughts, emotions, feelings, you can watch.—Osho<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/simplicity4_d717ea4018.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T14:56:26.650Z">Simplicity is the very essence of Nature. It is the reflection of that which existed in the Absolute in a latent state. It promotes growth. It can be aptly described as the quintessence of the Ultimate. This is in fact the life-substance of Nature.—Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur

The free air of simplicity

Art of listening

Principle of purity

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Do the <a href="https://heartfulness.org/global/when-should-i-do-the-cleaning" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cleaning practice</a> at the end of your day’s work, ideally around sunset and preferably not too close to bedtime. This process will rejuvenate you and purify your system of any accumulated heaviness. There are a few steps to the process, so in the beginning it is best to practice them in the following sequence:</h4>Sit in a comfortable position with the intention to remove all the impressions accumulated during the day.Close your eyes and relax.Imagine all the impurities and complexities are leaving your entire system.Let them flow out from your back in the form of smoke, from the area between your tailbone (at the base of your spine) and the top of your head.Remain alert during the entire process without brooding over the thoughts and feelings that arise. Try to remain a witness to your thoughts.Gently accelerate this process with confidence and determination.If your attention drifts and other thoughts come to mind, gently bring your focus back to the cleaning.As the impressions are leaving from your back you will start to feel lighter.Continue this process for up to twenty to twenty-five minutes.When you feel light within, you can start the second part of the process:Feel a current of purity coming from the Source entering your system from the front. This current is flowing into your heart and throughout your system, saturating every particle.You have now returned to a more balanced state. Every particle of your body is emanating lightness, purity, and simplicity.Finish with the conviction that the cleaning has been completed effectively.

Heartfulness Cleaning

Bachi has established a name for himself in bird and tiger conservation in India, especially at the Jim Corbett National Park in the Himalayas. He has 30 years of experience and has conducted workshops in the forests of Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. He has also traveled to East Africa including Masai Mara to study the wildlife.



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Bachi Singh Bisht

<hr><h4>BACHI SINGH BISHT is a Nature Warrior from the north of India. Here, he shares his wisdom with RAJESH MENON about how we can live in tune with the natural world, and what is our role in caring for and conserving nature.</h4>&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/NATURE_WARRIOR_1_54b82928c8.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T12:30:23.171Z">&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;Q: Tell us about how your passion for nature and conservation arose. Did it start from childhood?RM: My mother told me that we used to live in a hut under a Gutel tree (Trewia Nudiflora). That’s where I was born. I was brought up in a village surrounded by thick jungle. Until the 10th Standard, I went to a school located at the edge of the jungle near an ancient canal. I feel these natural surroundings had a great impact on me during my childhood. This is how my love for nature arose.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/NATURE_WARRIOR_2_ba38483655.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T12:32:31.822Z">&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/NATURE_WARRIOR_3_b4060a361f.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T12:35:10.308Z">&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;Q: Tell us about the work you do now?RM: I became a nature guide, or “Nature Warrior” as my friends call me, in the early ’90s. I have managed wildlife lodges across Uttarakhand, Central India, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, sharing my knowledge of birds, wildlife, and the conservation of nature with others. Whenever opportunity presents itself, I am called by wildlife training institutes and environmental education institutes (both government and private) as a resource person, trainer, motivator, subject expert, and as a Yoga instructor based on nature therapy. Right now, I work as a freelance Nature Warrior and provide services wherever my inner self takes me in preserving nature.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/NATURE_WARRIOR_5_d1bd516e1c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T12:35:40.715Z">&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/NATURE_WARRIOR_7_d2242b1669.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T12:37:48.351Z">&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;Q: How do you advise that we educate our children about caring for the planet and relating to all living species?RM: Using our five senses properly, sincerely and honestly. The most important is to use our moral and civic sense properly to avoid much of the nonsense going on around the world toward nature. Being honest to one’s own inner self will improve our inner connection with nature. Being disciplined and adhering to moral values in every single act of our daily lives will make us better human beings. Keeping ourselves sensitive to all beings will keep us responsible and humble towards nature.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/NATURE_WARRIOR_6_ad40a8e960.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T12:38:59.087Z">&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;Q: What advice can you give to adults about social responsibility toward nature?RM: Keeping a mental, physical and moral balance, respecting women and the elderly, and love and care for young ones will go a long way. Every human being is made up of the five elements: earth, water, air, fire and sky. As adults, we have to have the right understanding of the true meaning of all these five elements and value them at the minutest level.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/NATURE_WARRIOR_8_c79c1d5aa3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T12:40:07.388Z">&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/NATURE_WARRIOR_9_6eb3c29382.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T12:42:13.568Z">&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;Q: Tell us about Jim Corbett National Park. Are there enough places like this in India to act as a refuge for natural wildlife? What more can we do?RM: Jim Corbett National Park is one of the oldest in Asia, and the biodiversity here is unmatched. Here, the tiger has one of the highest density populations in the Indian subcontinent. India has more than fifty tiger reserves now, and tiger conservation projects contribute toward their increasing numbers.Our responsibility as individuals and the collective society is to conserve nature. Rather than talking and writing, we need to act. Here and now.&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/NATURE_WARRIOR_10_305e23966c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T12:43:29.051Z">&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">Interviewed &amp; photography by RAJESH MENON</h4>&nbsp;<hr>

Nature warrior

Balaji is a technology executive with Amazon. His professional experience spans three decades and he is passionate about improving employee experience and engagement at the workplace. He has facilitated several workshops on leadership and meditation across many different Fortune 500 companies.  


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Balaji Iyer

<h4>BALAJI IYER shares 4 ideas for building a high-performance team, and why these ideas make a difference. This is based on his professional experience over three decades of improving employee experience and engagement. He facilitates workshops on leadership and meditation for Fortune 500 companies.</h4><hr>One of the most significant issues faced by organizations is employee engagement. According to a 2022 McKinsey research report, 55% of employee engagement is driven by non-financial recognition, and the majority cite “not having caring leaders” as a key reason for leaving their team. Research at www.catalyst.org shows a 48% increase in innovation, a 44% increase in engagement, and increased retention when employees feel their leaders are empathic.So, here are 4 key ideas for building a high-performing team:<h4>Idea #1&nbsp; Self-awareness is the basis of empathy</h4>Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation create space between our thoughts, enabling us to be reflective. In a recent leadership workshop I facilitated, participants appreciated the full-body awareness and tuning in to the heart. It provided a break from the constant stress that fills up every working day. Taking time during the day to pause and reflect, by meditating, improves our responses to events. Leaders become better listeners, resulting in an opportunity to provide a compassionate response to employees’ situations.<h4>Idea #2&nbsp; Deep work creates long-term happiness, starting with individuals and affecting the entire team</h4>Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of “flow” recommends a balance between skills and challenges to be able to remain in the flow state. It is important to allow space for quiet time, one to four hours every day, for ourselves and our teams to dive deep. When employees can focus on their work without interruption for multiple hours in a day, it provides them an opportunity to master their skills. It results in an increase in their productivity along with their happiness.<h4>Idea #3&nbsp; Debate, discuss, and decide</h4>A strong culture of open constructive debate builds solid teams and products. The diversity of the team and their thought processes provide the best possible chance at success, especially if we allow them to share their ideas and debate the merits of each. In contrast, a command and control style produces an “Emperor has no clothes” situation.In any organization, we need every team member’s hearts and minds to be successful. We can then focus on the data behind every view point and decide the best way forward in alignment with the organization’s mission. Positional power need only be used as a last resort, to break a deadlock.<h4>Idea #4&nbsp; Inclusiveness is key to engagement</h4>Leaders will benefit by spending time understanding their employees and their aspirations. They will then be able to work toward their best interests, whether within the current organization or outside. Such an attitude will earn the trust of the employees. Leaders have a duty to focus on employee growth, and include them in the organization’s vision and goals. In a corporate setting, managers can also align the individual goals of employees with the organizational vision.When employees feel valued by their leaders, and they see their efforts are resulting in meaningful accomplishments for the organization, they feel included and engaged.<hr>

Leading with empathy

Barbara is a fellow at Schmidt Futures, supporting racial justice. She is co-founder and Board Chair of Global Health Corps which mobilizes young leaders to build health equity, and served as CEO for its first 9 years. She has also worked at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, and UNICEF in Botswana. She serves on a number of boards including Partners In Health and Friends of the Global Fight for AIDS, TB, and Malaria. Barbara co-authored the #1 New York Times best seller, Sisters First, with her sister, along with a children’s book of the same title.


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Barbara Bush

Creating communities for health – part 1

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<h4>In Part 2 of this exclusive interview, BARBARA BUSH speaks with MAMATA VENKAT about how to nurture mental well-being during the current pandemic, gratitude practices, the styles of leadership needed in today’s world, authenticity, what she learned travelling the world as the daughter of a US President, the importance of racial justice, and what is next for her.></h4>
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Q: I’ve struggled with mental health issues for much of my life, and the pandemic has been a challenge. It feels like I have this giant mirror right in front of me, and I’ve had to face so many things that I maybe pushed aside, or didn’t want to face or work on. I’m curious if it’s been a similar experience for you. >
BB: Definitely. The pandemic has forced me to address areas of my life that I maybe would prefer not to. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, and I’m saying this as someone who has been incredibly lucky throughout. I haven’t gotten ill. I have very few friends that have. Unfortunately, I have lost a few people, including a wonderful ex-boyfriend, so the notion of grieving has been important to explore. And yet, it can feel hard to grieve in this confusing time, behind your computer quite a bit, or with yourself so much. >
So while I’d love to say it’s been easy to put into practice all my self-care rituals, it’s been a struggle. But I have noticed small things that make a big difference. I’ve certainly become much more grateful, and a gratitude ritual has been very, very important. I do feel incredibly lucky given everything that’s going on in the world.>
I’ve noticed a lot of things from my previous life that I took for granted that are now so meaningful. For instance, when I lived in New York, I walked to work every day. It was about thirty blocks, and it was a wonderful way to start my day outside, moving. If it was good weather and sunshine, if it was snowing, it was still an experience. And then, when I went to grad school, I would walk to class every morning. It’s a small thing, but it really started my day off in a wonderful way, alone with myself, in my thoughts, and moving and interacting with people. >
In lockdown, I didn’t realize how important it had been, and now, of course, I realize it was a small thing that made a huge difference every day. Now, I make sure I go on walks, that I’m in nature, that I replicate the parts of my previous life that matter a lot to me. That I nurture my ability to be thoughtful about what I’m thinking and what I’m experiencing during the day. It’s a small difference, but it’s something I took for granted previously. >
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Q: Definitely. Meditation practice is the core and center of who I am, and I realized how much I take it for granted. So now, as important as it is for you to take walks, it’s important for me to wake up every single morning and make sure I meditate, to write in a journal right after that, to make sure I adhere to all the techniques that go along with this practice. So much time is going by, and I don’t want to waste another second of it. What’s going on in the world right now makes you realize that nothing is guaranteed. The things that we hold on to may not be there tomorrow. I don’t want to waste another second of being able to do the external things, like spending time with my family, and also going internally as well. >
What are some other things you’ve been doing? >
BB: I love what you just said in terms of not wanting to waste another day or any moment. I think that’s so important. I definitely needed to do a reframe, probably six weeks into lockdown, to realize that there was complete uncertainty around this, and to be comfortable with the uncertainty. It had a big impact. At the beginning, it felt like we were putting everything on pause, and we would un-pause and go back to life the way it was before. Acknowledging that we’re not going to do that, and that’s okay, has been really important, because I treat it very differently now. I’ve acknowledged that it’s not a big pause, that I need to be actively living in these moments, and actively doing what I can to maintain a life that I am proud of, and a life that is aligned with what is important to me. >
I love to meditate as well. I really believe in breathwork. That’s something that I let slide at the beginning of quarantine. As I reframe, it’s been something that’s really important to bring back. I also like a morning practice of journaling. I read The Artist’s Way when I was in high school, and it made me want to journal every morning. I let all of these things go for the first six weeks, so I brought them back. That’s been really important, because the emotions that I’m experiencing – I assume that we’re all experiencing – during this time vary quite a bit, given the uncertainty in the world. It’s been helpful to get thoughts out of my head and onto the page, and be able to process them and move through them. >
Finally, I have dinner with my family every single night, and that’s been a fun ritual of community. We know no one is going to miss dinner or schedule a work call during dinner, and it’s protected time to be together. >
Q: At some point I’m going to have to move out of my parents’ house and I’m kind of dreading that, because it has been so nice being together. I don’t want to take this time for granted at all. Thank you for sharing all of that. >
To segue just a bit: leaders come in different shapes and forms. Especially given everything going on in the world, and thinking about how you nurture leaders in Global Health Corps, what are some qualities that are really significant for any young adult who wants to be a leader in the social impact space?>
BB: There are so many archetypes of leaders. When you’re in school and learning about history, you learn about these different archetypes of leaders who are merrily leading with strength. I think it’s important to reconsider what we perceive, and who we perceive to be leaders, and why. >
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<h5 style="text-align: center; color: #ff0000;">I would say the biggest leadership quality&nbsp;that’s needed is empathy. 
I don’t even think other qualities rival it, because 
if you’re a leader your goal should be to serve. 
And in order to serve,&nbsp;you need to understand people well. 
You need to connect with people 
and you need to love people. 
And while normally love doesn’t come up as 
a leadership quality, I think it should.></h5>
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I would say the biggest leadership quality that’s needed is empathy. I don’t even think other qualities rival it, because if you’re a leader your goal should be to serve. And in order to serve, you need to understand people well. You need to connect with people and you need to love people. And while normally love doesn’t come up as a leadership quality, I think it should. If you think about the opposite of love, it’s fear, and it’s easy to lead with fear.>
 Fear looks like “othering” people. Fear looks like creating divisions amongst people. To me, that’s not good leadership. The opposite of that is leading with love, which is to lead with empathy, which is to build connections, which is to highlight the humanity in other people, and celebrate people, rather than finding the flaws in them. I think it’s important to talk about these qualities. While they are considered soft skills, I’d say they are more important than hard skills. >
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There’s a lot of strength in softness; there’s a lot of strength in kindness. I’ve reflected a lot on my own life. I lost three of my grandparents last year. One of my grandparents was given the title of a leader. His leadership style would seem foreign now, because it was a very gentle form of leadership, and a kind form of leadership. I watched his life and, of course, when you lose people you reflect on their life. He was very satisfied and fulfilled with his life, because he allowed himself to live and be a leader in a way that was authentic to him. Authenticity really matters in leadership. Many of the examples that we see aren’t in line with this. You need to be authentic to yourself and hopefully do so with humility and empathy. >
Q: It can feel really easy to be disillusioned right now. We were talking about how, from the first few weeks of the pandemic, it has been easy to feel the weight and stress of the uncertainty. You talked about this already, but what are some things that we can do to stay positive amidst all of the uncertainty? >
BB: It’s incredibly important to stay positive right now. That’s not to say that we should have a Pollyanna attitude and ignore what’s going on in the world. I think we can be honest but also optimistic in the belief that we have control over parts of our lives that we can make better. Thinking about how to stay positive with your own experience right now is important. I do think gratitude is incredibly important for that optimism and positivity. It’s always an incredible practice, but particularly right now, whether it’s gratitude journaling, or thinking about what you’re grateful for before you’re going to bed, or saying that aloud to yourself or your partner. Making that a practice is really important. >
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<h5 style="text-align: center; color: #ff0000;">Thinking about how to stay positive 
with your own experience right now is important. 
I do think gratitude is incredibly important 
for that optimism and positivity. 
It’s always an incredible practice, 
but particularly right now, 
whether it’s gratitude journaling, 
or thinking about what you’re grateful for 
before you’re going to bed, 
or saying that aloud to yourself or your partner. 
Making that a practice is really important. ></h5>
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There’s a number of different sites that talk about the good news that’s going on in the world. It’s important to go to those sites and read the positive stories that are happening. There’s a great quote from Fred Rogers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”>
Right now we see a tremendous number of helpers – people taking care of their family members, healthcare professionals, protestors trying to change what racial justice looks like in the United States. Let’s consider what we believe notions of helpers are, and look at them, and focus on that. I hope this gives all of us the agency to realize that we can help in whatever way we can. Getting involved is very important – it helps overcome complacency; it helps overcome disillusionment. There are many different ways right now, given all the circumstances that we’re living. We may not be able to volunteer in person, or we may be able to: we may deliver groceries to people etc. Figure out a way to engage that’s interesting, because that’s the number one thing that helps get past cynicism and negativity – to be part of the solution. >
Q: You’ve been in the public eye your entire life, and I know that’s probably come with a lot of really wonderful moments and a lot of challenges, too. How has that impacted your decisions to do the work that you’re doing? >
BB: It’s really hard to tell how it’s impacted my life, because I don’t know my life without it. But I do know that I’m really lucky to have had a tremendous amount of exposure to our country and to the world when I was younger. And that was afforded to me because of my parents – my dad being President. I was in my freshman year of college when he became the President, and my parents made it clear that I could travel with them as long as it worked with school and with my jobs. So I had the opportunity to travel the country and to five different continents with them. That exposure both gave me a global perspective and taught me so much about how people live around the world. It introduced me to a number of incredible people who are service-oriented, who are stepping up in communities to make a difference. >
That’s incredibly contagious – to meet people who do not accept the status quo, who want to change it and do something about it. That led me into the field of global health, and I was exposed to a number of wonderful leaders in global health who were making a difference. And that inspired me and let me see that we can have an impact on global health issues. That’s why I pursued global health as a career. >
We can all have exposure to different ways of being and different ways of thinking among the people even in our own communities. It’s important to broaden who we interact with and how we interact with them. That is a huge part of addressing racial justice in the United States. While the United States is not formally segregated, in many ways it is. And it’s really important to make sure we understand how people live, and be empathetic so that we’re building a country that prizes all people. >
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Q: You’ve just finished your master’s degree and you’re starting a new job. What’s next? Where do you see yourself going?>
BB: Good question! I’m trying to figure that out myself, especially because it’s interesting to have transition points in life. We don’t often have many formal transitions. I graduated with a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School at the end of May. I went back to school last year to study racial justice and policy. I was very interested in understanding systemic race in the U.S. for a number of different reasons. One was exposure to the Black Lives Matter movement over the last four to five years. Then, working in global health and working on health equity in the U.S., you really see how health outcomes are divided by race in our country. It’s not an accident. The history of the U.S., the different policies like segregation and redlining, and how neighborhoods have been composed and then disinvested, led us here. We were doing great work in global health, but I felt like if I wanted to do more and better work I needed to understand racial justice in the United States. >
That’s what drew me to go to grad school. I’m still very passionate about global health and I’m very passionate about racial justice, and the intersection between the two. I’m navigating what that looks like moving forward.>
Q: It sounds like you’re in a very contented place in your life, and motivated to keep pushing forward. >
BB: Yes, for sure. >
Q: Barbara, thank you for taking the time to chat with us, and for being so open, thoughtful, and authentic in all of your responses. I really appreciate it. >
BB: Thank you. >
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">Interviewed by MAMATA VENKAT></h4>
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Creating communities for health – part 2

Barbara is a long-time Heartfulness practitioner and trainer. She has been a course developer and instructor in art and cultural history at European universities. Barbara has additional training in integrative health and continuous health education. Her passion is to combine ancient wisdom, traditional knowledge, and cutting-edge integrative health science. Through hands-on workshops she inspires and encourages people toward self-empowerment and self-care. She is a Heartfulness trainer.

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Barbara Sonvilla

<h4>BARBARA SONVILLA writes about the divine feminine and the global awakening of women. She celebrates women telling their stories and taking action to bring alive a collective awareness of the need to respect and protect Mother Earth, nurture life in all its aspects, and hold it sacred. In part 1, she presents Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), one of the early eco-saints, and her love for Mother Earth.</h4><hr>Humanity, take a good look at yourself. Inside, you’ve got Heaven and Earth, and all of creation. You’re a world – everything is hidden in you.—Hildegard von Bingen<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hildegard_ecosaint1_6e03181bc6.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T08:05:01.429Z" alt="hildegard-ecosaint1">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hildegard_von_Bingen._Line_engraving_ by_W._Marshall._Wellcome_V0002761.jpg<hr>When I was still a student of art and cultural history, I came across the wonderful illustrations accompanying the book Scivias (meaning “know the ways”), by Hildegard. I was mesmerized and wanted to know more about the author. I discovered a giant of a woman, an original thinker and mystic, who considered herself “the feather on the breath of God.”During her lifetime, Hildegard was already famous throughout medieval Europe as a seeress, a writer, a philosopher, a mystic, a healer, a herbalist, and a health counselor. Today, she is widely known for her sublime choral music. Her pioneering and practical works on biology, botany, and medicine, and her scholarly writings on theology, reveal a remarkable personality with compelling teaching abilities, equipped with fearlessness in dealing with church elders and leaders. In 2012, Hildegard was canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI, becoming the fourth woman to receive such an honor in the Catholic Church.What drew me to Hildegard the most was that she was one of the “creation-centered” mystics of the West. She considered everything to be interconnected with everything else. In her own words:“Holy persons draw to themselves all that is earthly … The Earth is at the same time mother, She is mother of all that is natural, mother of all that is human. She is the mother of all, for contained in her are the seeds of all.”<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hildegard_ecosaint2_a94217cbb9.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T08:07:08.283Z" alt="hildegard-ecosaint2">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Meister_des_Hildegardis-Codex_001_cropped.jpg<hr>As was the custom of the time, as the tenth child of a noble family, Hildegard was dedicated to the church. Having had visions of what she called “reflections of the living Light” from early childhood, she was reluctant to share these visions, which came to her as inner experiences while her eyes were open and all her senses routinely engaged. Only at the age of 43, after seeking and receiving the blessing from Pope Eugene III, Hildegard started writing down her visions and thoughts in her first book, Scivias, including images of these visions.In her writings, as well as in nearly 400 letters, Hildegard was quite outspoken, determined, and bold, yet always ready to help, educate, and uplift the correspondent. She loved to mix genres, including music and poetry. People would come to seek help and advice from her, and from this her two works on the origins and treatment of diseases and naturopathy emerged.As an abbess, she asked the nuns in her charge to pay close attention to nature and its rhythms, as they hold the secrets to our physical well-being and aliveness of our inner world. Hildegard urged them to become partners with the natural world, saying:&nbsp;“Humankind, full of all creative possibilities, is God’s work. Humankind alone is called to assist God. Humankind is called to co-create. With nature’s help, humankind can set into creation all that is necessary and life-sustaining.”&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hildegard_ecosaint3_d45c95a85b.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T08:08:16.787Z" alt="hildegard-ecosaint3">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:07angels-hildegard_von_bingen.jpg<hr>Viriditas, the divine healing power of NatureOne of the most recognizable contributions of Hildegard, her leitmotif, and the thread running through all her writings, is the concept of viriditas.The origin of “viriditas” may be the union of two Latin words meaning&nbsp;“green” and “truth.” The definition is both literal, as in “green” and “growth,” and metaphorical, as in “freshness” and “vitality.”&nbsp; The term is difficult to translate, and it has rich and poetic connotations. I simply fell in love with the word. It represents the life force at work in all creation. For Hildegard, this green energy is love pulsing through the entire universe. It is the creative principle itself, sustaining her soul and her work.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hildegard_ecosaint4_c28e3983b9.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T08:09:16.247Z" alt="hildegard-ecosaint4">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Meister_des_Hildegardis- Codex_%E2%80%94_fertility- birth_in_Scivias_%E2%80%94_c._ 1185.jpg<hr>Hildegard saw viriditas as animating every living being, inherent in everything, including humans. Much like gardens, farmlands, and forests need cultivation, Hildegard saw viriditas as something also to be cultivated in our bodies and our souls. For her, a healthy human body is “green,” our blood possessing special greening power, and the life force, the soul, being&nbsp;“green.” It is the very same greenness that connects us all together as humanity. It shines forth, giving us the common purpose of creating a joyful, peaceful, and productive life. It is the&nbsp;strength within us manifesting as a strong and&nbsp;healthy life.“O most honored Viriditas, You who roots in the Sun; You who lights up, in shining serenity, within a wheel that earthly excellence fails to comprehend.You are enfolded in the weaving of divine mysteries.You redden like the dawn and you burn: flame of the Sun.”For Hildegard, green was not just a color – it was the universal life force. “Creation is the song of God,” she said, and viriditas its breath. If we could wish to describe a flavor that comes with this greenness, it would be the joy of being alive. Hildegard defines joy as an “awareness of God’s secrets.1”As the Voice of the Living Light revealed to her:“I am the breeze that nurtures all things green. I encourage blossoms to flourish with ripening fruits. I adorn all the Earth. I am the rain coming from the dew that causes the grass to laugh with the joy of life.”How is this vital greenness sustained?“The soul is the greening life force of the flesh, for the body grows and prospers through her, just as the Earth becomes fruitful when it is moistened. The soul humidifies the body so it does not dry out, just like the rain which soaks into the Earth.”This belief in viriditas&nbsp;led her to become an herbalist also. She wrote extensively on the importance of selecting foods with curative properties, and in accordance with the Hippocratic tradition, she prioritized preventive medicine and remedies based on plants. As an example, she considered fennel to be a plant with truly holistic health benefits.&nbsp;It was one of her primary healing foods after surgery, for convalescence and immune building. In her own words:“Fennel does not harm the body in any way. In whatever way it is eaten, it makes people happy and gives warmth, a good skin color, and promotes good digestion … it reduces the evil mucus and suppresses the foul odor of the breath.<hr><hr><h4>The soul is the greening life force of the flesh,&nbsp; for the body grows and prospers through her, just as the Earth becomes fruitful when it is moistened.&nbsp; The soul humidifies the body so it does not dry out,&nbsp; just like the rain which soaks into the Earth</h4><hr><hr>Hildegard thought that when the soul, body, and mind are equally strong, the four life juices (humors) and elements are balanced. This allows the organism to work optimally and operate harmoniously. Because of our connectivity with the universe, Hildegard believed the soul to be the source of everything and thus essential in achieving harmony. For her, what we now call the autonomic nervous system is the connecting language between the body and the soul. Hildegard described in detail how lifestyle affects that communication. The balance is easily disturbed through incorrect eating and drinking habits, but also through thoughts, emotions, and living against the principles of a virtuous and pious life.To be continued.<hr>1Butcher, C.A., 2007. St. Hildegard of Bingen. A Spiritual Reader. Paraclete Press.<hr>

Hildegard, an eco-saint

<h4>BARBARA SONVILLA writes about the divine feminine, the global awakening of women, and their growing role in leadership. She celebrates women telling their stories and taking action to bring alive a collective awareness of the need to respect and protect Mother Earth and nurture life in all its aspects and hold it sacred. In part 2, she shares more of the wisdom of the medieval eco-saint, Hildegard von Bingen.</h4><hr>“In a true vision I saw and heard the following words: &nbsp;“O daughter of God, out of your love for God you call a poor creature like myself, ‘Mother.’ Listen then to your mother and learn moderation! For moderation is the mother of all virtues for everything heavenly and earthly. For it is through moderation that the body is nourished with the proper discipline.” —Hildegard von Bingen<hr><h4>Moderation (discretio), the mother of all virtues</h4>“As there is order in the cosmos, there is balance in the body.”This is one of Hildegard’s guiding principles. The basis of this orderly structure depends on the interrelationship of the human and the Earth’s four primary elements, where everything has its place, meaning, and purpose. It is from this order, this balance, that we seek divinity. Discretio (seeking the right measure and moderation in everything we do) is the practice of living the balance and bringing the union between divinity and humanity back to order.<hr><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meister_des_Hildegardis-Codex_003_cuted.jpg"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/love_the_earth2_b91dd9fda9.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T11:15:37.898Z" alt="love_the_earth2"></a>Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meister_des_Hildegardis-Codex_003_cuted.jpg<hr><h4>What does Hildegard mean by “back to order”?</h4>When viewed from Hildegard’s idea that human beings are the microcosmic representation of the macrocosm, the “fall from the Garden of Eden” disrupted our originally perfect relationship with Nature, and consequently led to physical and spiritual changes in us, physical fragility, suffering, and disease. But we can restore the relationship through diligent efforts from our side. Hildegard believed that we could strive to bring moderation into our behavior, thoughts, and actions. She taught that a life of measure and spirituality is the right path toward a healthier state of being.Thus, Hildegard’s practice of discretio is a strength of the soul, a virtue of the mind, and a mode of action. For her, discretio is the mother of all virtues.“And so the soul loves the discreet measure in all things. Whenever the body of the person eats or drinks without discretion, or does something else of this kind, the forces of the soul are injured, because everything is to be done with measure, since humans cannot always dwell in heaven.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/love_the_earth3_a5d1a576d0.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T11:16:48.275Z" alt="love_the_earth3"></a>Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg<hr><h4>Hildegard’s golden rules for living</h4>Hildegard’s principle of moderation is deeply rooted in medieval spirituality, and yet it is timeless in its value as an actionable practice for modern living. It is especially timely now as we face climate change and environmental destruction. Finding moderation is a unique challenge in today’s lifestyle. It is worth looking at Hildegard’s guidelines, which are simple:Benefit and draw energy from nature’s life force (viriditas).Learn moderation:<ul><li>by healthy and balanced nutrition,</li><li>by balancing periods of activity with periods of rest, and</li><li>by cultivating healthy sleep patterns.</li></ul>Detox and purify yourself regularly.Strengthen the soul:<ul><li>through prayer and meditation,</li><li>through encouraging your innate talents and virtues, and</li><li>while keeping a check on your shortcomings.</li></ul>Above all, love the Earth and “welcome all the creatures of the world with grace.”<hr>“We shall awaken from our dullness and rise vigorously toward justice. If we&nbsp;fall in love with creation deeper&nbsp;and deeper, we will respond to its endangerment with passion.” —Hildegard von Bingen<hr><hr><h4>Artwork by Hildegard von Bingen</h4><hr>

Love the Earth

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">BARBARA SONVILLA shares her experience of using one of the Peacefulness intentions while swimming in the sea in the Persian Gulf. The outcome is astounding and shows just how effective these simple intentions are in changing the atmosphere both within and outside us.</h4>I would like to share an experience with you that happened recently, and which has been full of amazement, joy, insights, and learnings regarding what it means to “live from the heart.”But before doing so, I would like to introduce to you the particular practice that has led to the experience.Ever since I have come across those small yet powerful practices called “subtle suggestions” and “peaceful intentions,” I have felt particularly drawn to them. My favorite one is:Everything around you is absorbing peace, including the sky, the oceans, the trees, &nbsp;the people, the wildlife, the buildings—and everything is radiating peace.(Peaceful Intention 2 from <a href="http://www.peacefulness.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.peacefulness.org</a>)&nbsp;I love to “dive into” this intention when I’m in my garden, when I’m sitting with people but don’t feel like talking, or when I’m on the subway in the big city nearby.I also use another technique for life’s stressful moments when I feel like I need a drastic cleanse of my entire system—fairly regularly, I admit. It is often related to bouts of anger, hot or cold (feeling resentful) in its quality; and this feeling particularly upsets me. There is a useful Heartfulness technique to deal with that kind of state, which goes like this:Sit comfortably and close your eyes.Imagine that you are in a gentle ocean of peace.&nbsp; The waves are soothing and blissful.Have the firm thought that you are immersed in this ocean of peace, and the gentle waves are removing all your coverings.Do this for as long as you can, but no more than 30 minutes.(Ocean of Peace Cleaning from <a href="https://heartfulness.org/en/simple-heartfulness-practices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://heartfulness.org/en/simple-heartfulness-practices/</a>)Now, here comes the incident:I am so fortunate to nowadays have the regular opportunity to enjoy swimming in the Persian Gulf. What a wonderful color display the water features—it is as if I am immersed in liquid crystals of turquoise aquamarine or emerald with shades of lilac and pink. As I didn’t grow up close to the ocean, I always feel happy like a child when this opportunity arises.A couple of months ago, as I bathed in the warm waters of the Persian Gulf, just feeling joyful and playful, I gradually realized that the feeling of joy and childlike playfulness naturally led my heart to a state of prayerfulness. First, I just observed and witnessed the inner shift for a while. Then, fascinated, I started the above-mentioned peacefulness practice naturally, without planning.I silently suggested and visualized, rather “felt it into being,” that the entire ocean with all its creatures is absorbed in peacefulness, and just like in the rhythm of breathing, it is absorbing and radiating peace. Absorbing and radiating. This happened many times, and I was also immersed in this kind of breathing.When one fine afternoon it finally was time to end the bathing season (I was about to leave the country) and I was about to step out of the water, I saw a crowd of people running toward me, with a look of surprise on their faces.I turned and saw a family of dolphins visiting the beach, happily displaying their playful jumps and showing their smiling faces. It was a family of ten or so, with their young ones. And they came to the very spot where I would swim and breathe peace so often. They remained there for quite a while, delighting every beachgoer. And there were hundreds of beachgoers on this crowded city beach.These wonderful creatures conjured up joy and happiness on people’s faces, which I have rarely seen. Locals would tell me later that they had never experienced before the dolphins coming so close.Finishing this little story, let me share my key insights from this experience:All living beings on this beautiful planet are connected with each other.All living beings respond to impulses because of the principle of resonance.It is the impulses of the heart that are uplifting, nourishing, and contribute to the elevation of consciousness.My subtle or prayerful suggestions matter and make a difference.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/resonating_with_being2_01eaed695f.webp" alt="resonating-with-being2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_resonating_with_being2_01eaed695f.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_resonating_with_being2_01eaed695f.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/resonating_with_being2_01eaed695f.webp 800w," sizes="100vw">The most powerful insight was that when I am in a state of joy and gratefulness, it changes my condition so powerfully into a heart-consciousness-state of being. In that state it happens naturally that I “remember” the interconnectedness and oneness of all, and naturally and cheerfully add a “little something” to this oneness.Om Shanti Shanti Shanti&nbsp;

Resonating with the being(s)

Jain is an advocate for interfaith dialogue, founder and Secretary-General of the World Council of Religious Leaders. He was Secretary-General of the&nbsp;Millennium Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, 2000; co-founded the Religious Initiative of the&nbsp;World Economic Forum; and created the Gandhi-King Award for Non-violence.

bawa-jain.webp

Bawa Jain

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">BAWA JAIN, the Secretary-General for the World Council of Religious Leaders, shares his perspective on the greatest blessing, and his own grounding philosophy that guides him through life.</h4>&nbsp;If someone were to ask me, “What is the greatest blessing in life?” I would venture only one guess. It is my strong belief that the greatest blessing we can receive is to have a guru.Why is that important? Oftentimes in life, we find ourselves at a crossroads. The more crossroads we come to, the more we will build our characters by deciding which path to take. There should be no fear of failure in these moments, because it is through failures that our core character is built. But when we have a guru, they will point us in the direction that is for our betterment. Personally, having a guru gave me purpose, and a strong sense of direction on what I should be pursuing in life.Practitioners of Heartfulness are truly blessed to have a guru like Daaji in their lives. I arrived at Kanha Shanti Vanam without knowing Daaji, and was honored with an invitation to have lunch at his home, along with a few others. Daaji spent two or three hours with us, and all throughout, I didn’t feel as though this was our first meeting. He has that unique ability to make us feel calm and put us at ease, simply by being in his presence.I would like to share with you a grounding philosophy that was inspired by my own guru, and which became the one I choose to live by: the three Ss.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/serve_share_sacrifice2_b9f116c63d.webp" alt="serve-share-sacrifice2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_serve_share_sacrifice2_b9f116c63d.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_serve_share_sacrifice2_b9f116c63d.webp 599w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/serve_share_sacrifice2_b9f116c63d.webp 599w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Wherever you can, share, share, share, because the greatest joy&nbsp;lies in sharing, not receiving.&nbsp; &nbsp;</h4><hr>I had the chance to explain the first S when I had the honor of meeting Chinna Jeeyar Swami during this Mahotsav. He posed the same question to me that I myself ask everyone I meet, “What is the purpose of your life?” My answer was service—I want to serve, and to always be of use; as my guru taught me. He also reminded me of one important distinction: be of use, but don’t let anyone abuse you. So Service is the first S.The second is Sharing. Wherever you can, share, share, share, because the greatest joy lies in sharing, not receiving.The third, which is intrinsic to the Hindu ethos and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, is Sacrifice. The reality we live in is that life is all about compromises. Why? For the betterment of our own self, to detach from one of our biggest enemies—the ego.Our greatest challenge in life is overcoming that ego, the inner demon which too often influences our decisions and puts us on the wrong path. To give you an example close to home, I feel Daaji is humility personified. On observation, he would much rather close his eyes and be in silence than speak at length. Even on the stage, when a program is going on, I have observed that he is in meditation. He doesn’t feel compelled to speak. The more the urge we have for projecting ourselves, the more obstacles we will encounter in our life. You’ll find it necessary to shed that ego. Especially for those who have come here, to Kanha, and learned here, and grown here; that means you have been blessed with the power and the energy that you are receiving from meditation. Serve, share, and sacrifice, but leave your ego behind; don’t take it with you wherever you go, lest it become a burden on your onward journey.In my own journey, I have had the good fortune of encountering many dignitaries and heads of state. Once, I was in South Africa to meet President Mandela and give him the Gandhi-King Award for Nonviolence. Now, at that time, he had become like the moral conscience of the world. So that day, as I was preparing to meet President Mandela, my mind was racing. What was I going to say to him? This was a singularly unique opportunity: Coming face-to-face with one of the greatest leaders in the world, who transformed their lives from being a militant and a commander to nonviolent, peaceful resistance for the freedom and liberation of South Africa from apartheid. Then suddenly he emerged. He was a larger man, physically and metaphorically speaking. But he just embraced me, and greeted me with “Hey, man, how are you?” That day I was dumbstruck. I couldn’t say a word for a moment or two. He had disarmed me completely.Why am I sharing this with you? One of the greatest qualities of a leader is their innate ability to put us at ease. Again, I must draw upon the aforementioned example of Daaji. Although I was meeting him for the first time, he made me feel as if I had known him my entire life. This is a unique ability. A great leader does not build followers; the truly great one builds leaders. Each one of you is a leader, because Daaji has sown the seeds of leadership in your hearts. You will be so enriched by this purpose in your life that you’ll find any sickness or obstacle will just vanish; they will fall away. And when you leave the world, you will be remembered for this.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/serve_share_sacrifice3_555e2e03fd.webp" alt="serve-share-sacrifice3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_serve_share_sacrifice3_555e2e03fd.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_serve_share_sacrifice3_555e2e03fd.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/serve_share_sacrifice3_555e2e03fd.webp 1200w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">If today was the last day of your life,&nbsp; how would you want to be remembered? Change those things that need work, and focus on what you will be leaving behind, because everything&nbsp; that you have gathered materially will be left here.&nbsp; What will remain is the good you have done, what you have served, what you have shared, what you have sacrificed.</h4><hr>If today was the last day of your life, how would you want to be remembered? Change those things that need work, and focus on what you will be leaving behind, because everything that you have gathered materially will be left here. What will remain is the good you have done, what you have served, what you have shared, what you have sacrificed.So, be a true ambassador of Heartfulness as you go about doing your work in the world. Be that person about whom others can say, “Yes, they were here, and they did something that we will remember forever.”Excerpts from a talk given at the Global Spirituality Mahotsav, March 2024<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Images generated by AI</h4><hr>

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