Swati is from Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and currently resides and practices dermatology in San Diego, CA.  She grew up in an environment that fostered spirituality and encouraged meditation.  Spirituality still remains a fundamental aspect of her life, as she navigates her career and family life. 

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Swati Kannan

<h4>SWATI KANNAN explores the nature of simplicity and how we can cultivate it in our lives. As Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”</h4><hr>The irony of our current time is that we live in a complex world, replete with computers, phones and machines, which are all supposed to simplify our lives. But our lives are not simpler because of them. For example, 20 years ago when I traveled, I carried a book, headphones and a small music player. Now I carry my iPhone, a small iPad with an assortment of e-books, a MacBook, and two sets of headphones – both cord and Bluetooth. I truly believe I need all these items to travel. Of course, this just reflects an inability to simplify my life, despite technology’s attempt to do so.As humans, we gravitate towards complexity. The sunset sky with multiple colors appears more stunning than a simpler, monochromatic blue sky. A laptop with multiple features seems more attractive than a mere typewriter. We hear that beauty is found in simplicity, but what does it mean to be simple? Simplicity is not the opposite of complexity. Many things in nature are complex. The human machinery is complex in design, yet all the parts are necessary for its function. So when we describe the opposite of simplicity, we mean anything that is unnecessary or additional, created by human desire.Simplicity can characterize a personality – a person’s desires and behaviors, thoughts and mindset. A simple-minded person is not a simpleton; in fact, he performs tasks using only the necessary parts, and not one part more. I believe that simplicity characterizes an inner mental condition, wherein an individual engages in external activities without being attached and uses technology without needing any of it. As Gandhi stated so eloquently, “You may have occasion to possess or use material things, but the secret of life lies in never missing them.”<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Purity of heart, mental simplicity and inner sensitivity can become the ultimate tools on our journey.</h4><hr>Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Buddha represent the quintessential personas of simplicity. They dressed simply, spoke simply, ate simply and lived simply. Living selflessly, they devoted their services to help others. When Gandhi passed away, he possessed fewer than ten objects, and he did not own a house. Gandhi grew up in a prosperous family but did not miss the material trappings, as he was a man of non-possession. Siddhartha Gautama, who later became the Buddha, also shunned the material trappings of a king to pursue a simple and spiritual life. But we do not need to live such a minimalist life to be simple. We also do not need to be unambitious in a worldly sense to be simple. For example, Gandhi himself studied law in England and was an educated man, and Siddharta Gautama was a prince and quite protected within the confines of the palace and its comforts.Fundamentally, simplicity indicates a mental state, which is then projected onto the material aspects of life.<hr><h4>Read the complete article in <a href="//www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/category/volume2/volume2issue4/">Volume 2, Issue 4</a> <a href="//www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SUBSCRIBE &amp; DOWNLOAD</a></h4><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</h4>&nbsp;

The power of simplicity

<h4>It is just the tip of the iceberg! And yet DR. SWATI KANNAN shares with us enough about the current research on the power of belief to ask ourselves, “How am I shaping my biology with my thoughts?”</h4><hr>The word “belief” is defined in the dictionary as ‘confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptive to rigorous proof.’ But if we examine the origin of the word, we find something far more interesting. This word can be broken down into two separate terms: “be” and “lief.” “To be” simply means to exist or to live. The word “lief” originates from an Indo-European word “leubh” meaning “love.” The combined word “belief” now takes on a whole new meaning, which is simply “to be in love.” Belief used to define faith in God or “to be in love” with God. And we cannot&nbsp; love without using the heart.Beliefs do not necessarily&nbsp;represent&nbsp;what&nbsp;is&nbsp;true or factual. Our beliefs are based on perceptions of reality, which are shaped by our experiences and culture. The power of each belief or thought stems from within the individual believer. In this sense, whatever you&nbsp; believe&nbsp;in&nbsp;your&nbsp;heart&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;true&nbsp; is a reality in your life. As a result, you then attract events, experiences and people in your life to match your “loves” or “beliefs.” This is demonstrated in my parents’ relationship, where my mom always says that what attracted her to my father was their shared belief in meditation, God and spirituality.Coming from a background of engineering and medicine, I was taught to question every belief, even the proven theories in medicine. So, how can I believe in the ideas of a soul and of God&nbsp; that&nbsp; have&nbsp; never been scientifically proven? Well, it&nbsp; is simple. It is my conviction that they exist, thus making them real and alive. It is not sufficient to just think the thought with the mind, however, as it must be felt in the heart for positive effect. This is the concept behind prayer, meditation and positive thinking: a simple thought that is felt by the heart. A true belief or prayer resonates both in the heart and mind.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Whatever you believe in your heart to be true is a reality in your life. As a result, you then attract events, experiences and people in your life to match your “loves” or “beliefs.”</h4><hr>Imagine how the world would be positively changed if we all prayed for the well-being of each other? This concept was actually studied on a small scale by medical researchers in San Francisco, California. Forty patients with advanced AIDS were allocated randomly into two groups: one group that received prayers from strangers and another control group that received no prayers. The subjects allocated to the distant prayer group benefited from a reduction in AIDS-defined illnesses and illness severity, and a decrease in the number of hospital visits. Even though this is considered a small study in the world of medicine, its scope is still very powerful, for it suggests that heart-felt prayers can alter the course of a serious disease. Perhaps prayers and peaceful vigils conducted in masses can alter an entire country’s consciousness.This study is just one of more&nbsp;than&nbsp;6,000&nbsp;articles that have been published regarding the relationship between prayer or faith and health. Scientists&nbsp; have also been researching the biological changes caused by certain perceptions or beliefs. One such scientist, Dr Bruce Lipton, has discussed the effects of positive and negative thoughts on the genomic code. Simply stated, his concept is based on the simple paradigm of the laws of attraction: like attracts like. If ideas in the mind send certain vibrations, and everything in the universe, including the brain, the heart and the human genome, emanate a certain vibration, then changes can occur if vibrations match.Taking that paradigm one step farther, if beliefs are simply ideas that are loved by our heart, then the vibrations for such beloved thoughts should be even more potent in their effect. The difference between a thought and a belief is not only love but also certainty. A thought implies that something is possible and could happen. A belief surpasses that possibility and makes it certain it will happen. It is then the marriage of feelings, emotions and ideas that will make a mountain move upon request.Think of the implication: since every type of idea emits certain vibrations, thoughts should be pure and positive in nature. To many of us, the phrase ‘positive thinking’ sounds nonsensical, as how can sheer optimism make a poor, uneducated, jobless man rich? It is true that an outlandish thought, “I will be rich, I will be rich,” without any attempt to find a job, might not work. But what if that jobless man started thinking, “I will find a great job that utilizes my level of education and will help support my financial needs”? Even positive thoughts must be reasonable and, of course, genuine.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Positive thinking, transformed into positive beliefs, can be powerful in shaping our life, mind, heart and character.</h4><hr>Optimistic thoughts become optimistic beliefs, leading to an optimistic attitude even during dire circumstance in life. This then triggers a chain reaction: the man finds a job, and he is well liked for his optimistic attitude and hard work. He believes he will succeed, and so he attracts supportive people in his life as a result of his positive attitude, affording him more opportunities for success.In the past twenty years, positive thinking has been acknowledged by mainstream psychology, and is called ‘positive psychology’. It focuses on enriching the lives of ordinary human beings. It complements traditional psychology, as the emphasis is placed on personal growth and happiness instead of the negative aspect of mental illness and phobias. It is a scientific approach to the integration of positive thinking into our attitudes and beliefs, thus attracting positive outcomes. It also supports the paradigm of the laws of attraction and heartfelt beliefs. It is not enough to just think the thought; we must feel it, believe it, love it, live it and even transcend it.Positive thinking, transformed into positive beliefs, can be powerful in shaping our life, mind, heart and character. Scientists are now studying this concept in many fields – genetics, medicine, psychology, biology and quantum mechanics. A mere two-page article cannot even begin to summarize these efforts and the myriad of research publications that investigate the above-mentioned,&nbsp; yet intangible concepts. How do you measure the power of belief or positive thinking? But sure enough, we are finding ways to study it, measure it and then integrate it into our lives.This is just the tip of the iceberg.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The power of belief and positive thinking

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">SWATI KANNAN explores some of the benefits of meditation, including how it can change our personalities and behaviours, provided we are willing to become self-aware.</h4>&nbsp;Often I wonder if meditation can change people’s personalities and behaviors. Does the fundamental act of meditation make us better human beings? After much deliberation, I would like to respond, “Yes.” Meditation can advance us as individuals, but not without self-observation and a will to change.Observation is a skill we innately possess and intuitively use. For example, infants and children learn behaviors and develop personalities by observing their parents. Even important breakthroughs in science arise from the simple power of observation of nature, events and people around us. Novels about Sherlock Holmes rest on his acute ability to notice the details around him in deducing certain conclusions, and Isaac Newton is said to have surmised the concept of gravity by witnessing an apple fall from a tree. Of course, many people saw apples fall to the ground but only Newton discovered gravity. This means that simply looking is not enough – we need to observe.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Like any other skill, the art of observation or introspection can be polished and used to improve our behaviors, emotional reactions and responses to unplanned events in life.</h4><hr>By examining the world around us with curiosity, we develop an understanding of our environment. But these are external observations. What of internal or self-observation? In psychology, self-observation is termed ‘introspection’, and introspection is defined as “The examination of one’s own conscious thoughts and feelings.”1 The process of introspection in psychology involves reflecting on one’s own mental state, but in the spiritual context it also refers to examination of one’s own spirit or soul.Like any other skill, the art of observation or introspection can be polished and used to improve our behaviors, emotional reactions and responses to unplanned events in life.These ideas give rise to an important question: How do we refine our ability to introspect both mentally and spiritually? Meditation? Most of the current research on the effects of meditation focuses on Mindfulness. The practice of mindful meditation has become mainstream now in many parts of the globe, and it has been studied in psychology to assess its effects on both physical and mental health.When searching for how to practice Mindfulness, we find that most websites have the following protocol&nbsp; in common:Sit down quietly, with eyes closed.Focus on the breath, and accept all sensations filtering through, without judgment. The goal is to achieve awareness of the present experience.Instead of becoming overwhelmed by thoughts, feelings and body sensations, the person is better able to manage them, with practice.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Meditation allows space for observation of self without judgment.</h4><hr>Physiologically, practitioners of Mindfulness meditation show similar changes in the brain after just a few weeks of meditation:The gray matter in the brain’s frontal cortex, which processes attention, focus and sensory processing, enlarges, thus increasing the skills necessary for observation, andThe pre-frontal cortex, which is associated with positive emotion, also demonstrates higher activity levels in meditators.2 The brain surprisingly becomes more active during meditation, which has been linked to improved emotional regulation, especially in people who have meditated consistently for five years or more.Psychologically, Mindfulness meditation provides:• Insight into emotions, • Boosts concentration, and • Can help with relationships.Mindfulness meditation has been integrated with other stress reduction techniques and with cognitive behavioral therapy to help with anxiety and recurring depression, respectively.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Through the art of meditation, our awareness of our surroundings and of our own internal situation increases.</h4><hr>If such contemplation leads to changes in the brain that increase attentiveness and result in mental well-being, how does that translate into improved introspection?’Through the art of meditation, our awareness of our surroundings and of our own internal situation increases. Mingyur Ripoche, a young Tibetan monk and co-author of the bestseller, The Joy of Living, describes awareness as “the mind that knows”3. Awareness is already a characteristic of the mind. Mindfulness and awareness complement each other. And if you can train the mind with meditation, awareness is naturally improved.Meditation allows space for observation of self without judgment. “It’s the act of paying attention… that gradually slows the rushing river [of thoughts and emotions] that would allow me to experience a bit of space between what I was looking at and the simple awareness of looking.”3 Most of us lose awareness or control during an angry outburst. After the outburst is over and we have had time to deliberate, we may apologize for our reaction. We may promise not to react so negatively again, however, if the mind could be self-aware during outraged behavior, the stormy response could be changed to a calmer reaction in that instant. If responses to situations can be altered, these actions can then lead to personality changes.Since Mindfulness helps with awareness of our mental state, it requires no stretch of the imagination to understand that Heartfulness makes us aware of our feelings and our divine state. A divine state is characterized by inner beauty, strength and wisdom.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Since Mindfulness helps with awareness of our mental state, it requires no stretch of the imagination to understand that Heartfulness makes us aware of our feelings and our divine state. A divine state is characterized by inner beauty, strength and wisdom.</h4><hr>The practice of Heartfulness is not new, and has been taught in various ways in India, China and other Eastern countries. It emphasizes feeling divine love in the heart instead of just contemplating it. It goes beyond the thoughts and feelings of the mind. This technique increases perception of the higher Self, also known as the spirit or soul. By introspecting on our inner condition after meditation, we become aware of our spiritual progress, and subsequently transform our hearts to openly accept divine grace.Observation is possible of the external world, the mind and the inner Self. They are all interconnected but, as stated before, simply looking is not enough.Simply meditating is not enough. In order to change our thoughts, our emotional reactions and our personality, we must meditate and introspect with curiosity about our true divine nature. Becoming aware of the higher Self can change our thoughts, our emotional reactions and our personality. And through self-observation, if we learn that we are all spiritually equal, the world will be divinely impacted.&nbsp;1 Self-reflection. //www.memidex.com/self-reflection2 Holzel BK, et al. Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psych Res. 2011 Jan 30:191(1): 36-433 Mingyur Rinpoche &amp; Swanson, Joyful Wisdom: Embracing Change and Finding Freedom, 2009&nbsp;&nbsp;