Life Purpose

These days I come across a lot of young people who question, "What is the purpose of life?" For me, the purpose of life is to be present, in every moment, with as much compassion, wisdom, and skillfulness, as is possible.............In the process of living this purpose, we express our highest potential.....

Human Form

Learned teachers tell us that our desires keep us in our body-prisons. They also make us come again and again to Mrityu-lok (Earth plane) in human form. Hence, they advocate the state of desire-less-ness to achieve moksha/ nirvana/ release from the cycle of life and death. This is the aim of all spiritual seekers. 

While all of this is true; this advice is based on the premise that the physical body is the cause of all ills, the Mrityu-lok is a terrible place, and one should not come back to it.

But what if we allowed ourselves to summon life-enhancing desires? What if we lived gaily, joyously, passionately, and boisterously? And what if we made a conscious transition (die consciously) from the same gay, joyous, passionate, boisterous space? Would we still want to avoid the Mrityu-Lok experience?

This also brings me to another question, “If the Earth experience was actually so bad that everyone is waiting to get rid of it forever, why did we, the exalted spirit beings, CHOOSE this experience, in the first place?” We must have been out of our mind to do that? (We surely were out of our much maligned bodies!)

To my mind, the popular spiritual thought originates in the theory that being born on Planet Earth is a form of punishment for exalted devas (a la Adam and Eve story). However, I do not believe in that theory. My intuition says that only the bravest of the brave choose an Earth experience because this is the greatest adventure in this Universe.

When we go back Home (after each round), we are truly applauded for our courage and successful sojourn; and that is true for EACH and EVERY human being, despite of whatever kind of life s/he may have lived. If there is any remorse/ guilt /pain/ admonition etc it comes from the individual soul itself, which becomes eager to come back and rectify self-perceived problems.

Knowing all this, I live my life joyously and enthusiastically, feeling all my emotions, satisfying all my desires, and choosing to create Heaven on Earth- beginning from my own home space…. I am very confident that one day I would make my transition from this time-space, in the same spirit..:)))

How I love the Mrityu-Lok….

Desires

Our desires attract the Universal Life Force to flow through us and make manifest the unmanifest energy (Shiva factor).......:) There can be no human life without desires......No desires: No physical life.

When we understand the power (magnetic force) of our desires, we become very conscious of them, and choose not just for our personal benefit but for the Highest Good of All.....That's how the Heaven on Earth gets created....:)

Any takers for this Heaven?

Fear

When we fear something, we activate that energy in our personal vibrational field…..and hence, attract/ experience what we fear…….:)))) It is a cycle...

Energy always moves in a cycle, whether vicious or virtuous.......and each cycle moves in a downward or an upward spiral.........making us feel either low or high.....either dimming our Light or brightening it..........and it all starts with a fear-based thought....

Is it worth it?

Inspiration

The CONTRAST in our life is present to help hone our CLARITY about what we really want; what truly inspires us, and what we'd rather not do/ have/ be..........Our varied life experiences offer us the clarity to find our true desires.........and once we place a sharp FOCUS on our desires, the energy begins to flow that way- making the desires manifest in our life!

Life is not about something that we are 'supposed to do', it is not about something that we 'should do'.........It is only about something that we are 'inspired to do'..........and our inspiration gains clarity only through our Contrast Experiences....:)

So, let us welcome all our experiences as vehicles for delivering a vast array of choices to us............and choose to focus only on those experiences which inspire us the most.......in order to CREATE a life of our dreams!!

And so it is!

Human Potential

Human potential is infinite and our utilization of it is directly proportionate to the level of our consciousness... As we raise our consciousness (become more conscious/ aware) we real-ize (make real) more of our potential......Easy!!

Gut-Instinct

We all know about ‘gut instinct’ but what is it, and where does it reside? Going by the name ‘Gut’ it must be residing in our gut- in our small and large intestine! 

This knowledge should make us give more thought (and respect) to our intestines. But the opposite is true in most cases! 

Most of us think of our guts as the place where our food is digested; and take these organs for-granted, expecting them to digest whatever we throw at (into) them. 

Perhaps, it is time to think again... and think fresh! 

The very phrase, ‘Gut Instinct’ tells us that our Gastro-Intestinal Tract is much more than merely a digestion center. In fact, it is quite literally our second brain and home to 2/3rd of our immune system. 

It is also interesting to note that approximately 100 trillion bacteria reside in our guts… (10 times the number of cells we have in our entire body)  and just like any other colony/ world, this gut-fauna is also divided into good bacteria and bad bacteria. 

Ideally (for good health and strong gut-instinct) the good bacteria should greatly outnumber the bad bacteria, but thanks to our 'modern' lifestyle, the opposite happens.

 

To find out which bacteria has a majority in our gut; we need to pay attention to our bodies (and listen to our gut-instinct). 

Abdominal Gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, acid-reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, skin problems like eczema, restless sleep, migraine headaches, an inability to lose weight, and sugar cravings are sure signs (symptoms) of the bad bacteria ruling the roost in our guts! And when bad bacteria is in majority, our gut-instincts are in trouble! In other words, we are not in touch with our innate intelligence/ in-tuition. 

How do bad bacteria get to rule our guts? There are only possible two ways - either we are eating something that is making bad bacteria thrive or we are ingesting something that is killing the good bacteria! 

Processed foods, sugars, and refined carbohydrates make the bad bacteria thrive; while pasteurized milk, chemicals- pesticide laden foods (meats, fruits, vegetables, grains), chlorinated water, and antibiotics etc kill good bacteria.

How can we reverse this trend, restore the good bacteria and sharpen our gut instincts? The answer is simple. We need to stop feeding the bad bacteria and killing the good bacteria.

A few steps that can be taken (and I like to take) are:-

Eat organic foods (grow your own food), as much as possible

Eat fermented foods, such as yoghurt (lassi), idli, dhokla

Eat live foods, such as sprouts

Reduce intake of sugar, refined, processed, packaged foods

Drink freshly squeezed veg-fruit juices 

Send love and light to the good bacteria residing in the gut.

View-Point

Deep Spring Center: Thought for Today

"Do not move into an oppositional stance against others, which simply invites more negativity. Only when there is non-attachment to view and an openness to hearing others, to hearing their pain, to hearing their confusion without judgment, without reacting to any feeling of threat from them, only then can you begin the work of healing in the world."

:))) This is Universe's personal message to me, as I tend to stick to my view-point.........Thank you. Thank you. Thank you..........

All is Appropriate

Nothing that anyone ever does is ‘inappropriate’ in the eyes of the Universe. The Universe acknowledges that every non-physical / physical energy has different desires and different standards- just a diverse bunch desiring different experiences! No one is holier or lesser than the other- just different, that’s all! 

Can we humans accept that? Can I accept that? 

Theoretically, yes…..Practically, not yet there………..but working on it in full sincerity!

What's right with us?

I have realized that in our zeal to do good/ change systems/ lead better lives/ help others we tend to focus upon what is ‘wrong’ with us/ the systems/ people/ situations/ country/ world etc. Hence, even though we begin with noble intentions, we get mired in all the negativity, which sucks us in, making us offensive/ defensive/ loud/ righteous/ indignant/ and holier-than-thou! In other words, we become exactly what we wish to change in others!

And despite our good intentions end up creating nothing more than noise/ judgments/ criticism/ Them Vs Us paradigm! And needless to say, it doesn’t help anyone, including us.

On the other hand, if we look at each issue/ problem/ system/ person/ country/ world etc with a focus on “What’s right with it/ him/ her/them”, we shall find something that can be worked at/ worked with in order to create sustainable solutions.

This line of questioning will also put everything in right perspective for us, letting us decide whether something is worth working at or deserves to be released/ let go of/ destroyed/ re-constructed/ re-structured.

For example, in case of a personal turmoil- especially in marital arena- the partners can look at what is ‘right’ with their marriage/ partnership; alongside what is wrong with it- and then weigh the two lists. If the ‘right’ one has more weight in it; they should work at making the marriage tick once again; and on the other hand, if the ‘wrong’ list is longer, they should gracefully/ mutually let each other go! This makes life much simpler and more rewarding!

After all, every situation/ person/ thing/ institution has something that is right with it/ him/ her/ them…Let’s find that ‘right’, in order to make it ‘right-er’……:)

The Secret

The Secret of Happiness--------Don't do anything that doesn't make your heart sing...:)))

Is it possible to follow this- all the time- while living in our current reality? Perhaps not, but how about doing it as often as we can??

To begin with, make a list of what makes your heart sing......and take action.......

Or keep checking with your heart, every now and then, if it is singing....If you don't hear your song; stop doing whatever you are doing in that moment......Pause....Take three deep cleansing breaths.........and do something that will bring back the song.....Simple! and easy???

Here is my list:-

My heart sings when......
I am singing, dancing, swimming, gardening, being in nature, listening to devotional/ romantic songs, watching TED talks, writing, sharing, reading, speaking from my heart, cooking, cleaning, chatting with my husband/ my boys/ my daughter-in-law/ my sisters/ my mother/ my friends/ my extended family..............Phew, that's a lot of song for one heart....:))))))))

Energy Spaces

My recent trip to Kerala re-confirmed the fact that closed/ contained/ air-conditioned spaces (cars, air-crafts, hotel rooms etc) drain/ sap my energy/ life-force/ vitality/ personal power; while nature (especially water bodies) rejuvenate me......

Back in Bangalore, my open house-space (the one I shall leave forever in 10 days time) feels so good and life-enhancing.........I feel like a free bird here....Thank you my dear abode....

Lessons from the Sea

Connecting with the sea at Alleppey brought out many interesting learnings. The pre-monsoon sea looked dark, threatening and uninviting. My husband explained that at this time of the year, the ocean currents bring out the dark sand from deep under, as the ocean activity increases there.....We also saw kids throwing all kind of stuff (empty plastic bottles, slippers etc) at the sea and the waves bringing all that back to the beach. It reminded me of people (especially in the movies) throwing dead bodies in various water-bodies, which are invariably thrown up by nature.......and I realized the same happening with us, humans as well.

When deep-churning happens inside us, we too bring out all the dark stuff from deep inside (including long buried dead-bodies). Nothing can remain buried anymore. During that phase we too look 'dark', threatening and uninviting. People close to us wonder why we need to rake up all the buried stuff; but we can't help doing that. Just as the sea can't help bringing up the dark sand. It is a natural phenomenon. When it happens with the sea we know that the monsoons are round the corner. When it happens with us, we know that the tears can't be contained anymore....

This is all a process of cleansing.....and we better enjoy it! The nature teaches us that once the monsoon is over, the sea will settle down, and look clean, beautiful and inviting.....Similarly, we become more accepting/ loving after deep cleansing. That is a given! All we need is patience!

What the world throws at us, cannot remain inside us; it is always thrown back by the strong waves of e-motion.....the energy in motion...The waves too are that; the energy in motion...How interesting!!

Learning- Challenges

We are often told that there are no problems in our life; only opportunities we choose to call problems.....and when we think clearly with a calm mind, this does sound right; because in retrospect all problems do seem like great opportunities.

However, when we are in the midst of a problem, besieged with all the feelings/ emotions that have surfaced ( thanks to the problem), it is not very easy to call it an opportunity (even in-disguise). 

Some teachers ask us to keep repeating, 'it is okay. all is well', even when it doesn't seem okay or well at all (fake it till you make it philosophy). But I feel that this faking puts extra pressure on us and makes us suppress our authentic emotions. 

Whenever I am faced with some situation that seems like a problem and arouses my so-called negative emotions, I acknowledge those emotions and begin to observe them. Then I tell myself, "My soul created this situation to make me use all that I have learnt so far (time to walk my talk), and also to add to that learning through my personal experience (lived wisdom)." 

I prefer to call such situations learning-opportunities but advise my clients to choose any word that they are more comfortable with, such as contrast-situation/ challenge/ obstacle etc; because I have seen that the word 'problem' itself carries many unwanted connotations such as struggle, anxiety, panic, stress etc. (The very word pulls our energies down; so it is better to not use it.)  

The fact is that there isn't a single person on this planet, who doesn't face problems/ obstacles/ challenges/ contrast-situations/ learning-opportunities etc. etc. Such a life is not suitable for this planet, where we are training to strengthen our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects. We learn, grow and evolve and practice our new found skills/ knowledge/ wisdom/ strengths/ empowerment/ enlightenment through such situations........and this carries on as long as we are in this body. 

We cannot wish away/ run from/ brush under the carpet/ hide/ cover such life-situations; we can only learn from them and GROW!

Life is a dynamic space so "stuff" will continue to happen, but when we are authentic ( which means that our thoughts/ words/ actions do not create resistance in us), our life begins to feel different, in a good way..........I should know; I have walked this path!

Then there is another pay-off; bonus so to say! Every contrast-situation/ challenge/ obstacle/ problem eventually inspires us to choose/ desire something different/ better; and intend/ aim for it. Thus we create a different/ better / more fulfilling life! 

And that's the GRACE/ the BLESSING!!

Conformity

Our grief/ anger/ irritation/ rebellion stems from our society's insistence on 'conformity'.............and that is so ironic because EVERY ONE knows that each one of us is different/ unique/ special......:)

Watching my Emotions

Ever since I have started observing my emotions, one thing has become clear to me. My emotions arise in response to my vibrational frequency, which is created by my thoughts; but all this happens so quickly that I don’t usually separate one from the other. But the fact is that emotion doesn’t create my reality. That job is entrusted to my thoughts. My thoughts create my vibrational frequency; and this vibrational field (my personal offering to the universe) becomes my point of attraction. It attracts something of the similar vibrational match from the universe. My emotion at a given time is only a compass/ indicator/ guidance system to KNOW what is being attracted in that moment. So, if I am feeling high, I know that I am definitely attracting a high vibration stuff; and if I am feeling low, I become aware of attracting a low vibration stuff. My emotion just lets me know in advance about the kind of life that I have already created (even though it may not be in my awareness so far) through my vibrational field; which is created by my thoughts.

The other interesting thing is that it doesn’t matter whether I am actually experiencing something or just imagining it. If there is an accompanying emotion; it means that I have already created something. My emotion lets me know if I like what I have created or not.

Isn’t that interesting? I didn’t know that emotion-watching could be so rewarding…..:) Now, if I do not like what I have created, I can change my thought-vibration, even before the low vibration stuff has manifested in my life….I am loving this fun experiment…and you know what- I am on a high almost all the time!! Something sure is cooking…:))

Believe in Enough

Some random thoughts from the archives...........:))

"The body, mind and soul are a trinity. This trinity has a free-will, and so does the divinity. The divinity overrules / vetoes the free-will of the trinity only in the larger interest of the whole, until then it lets the trinity play the drama. When the trinity has had enough of the play and desires to remember its pristine origins, the divinity honours that desire....and no desire is too big or too small for divinity. All desires of the trinity are fulfilled; but each trinity receives as it believes. Each one's faith is received....."

Isn't that interesting? The humanity's free-will can always be vetoed by the divinity (just as parents can veto a child's free-will); hence, the beautiful prayer..'THY WILL be done..' and EACH ONE RECEIVES as s/he BELIEVES........We receive abundance if we believe in abundance. We receive love if we believe in love. We receive peace if we believe in peace. We receive health if we believe in health.........and how much do we receive? As much as we believe we are worth........Wow! We receive according to our faith in ourselves!! Nothing more; nothing less!

So, what stops us from believing in love, peace, health and abundance??? What stops us from believing enough... in ENOUGH?

My power animal Owl

The owl brings me wisdom as well as great powers of perception and intuition. With her powers within me, I am able to develop keen hearing and vision; penetrating through the darkness with my intuitive senses. I can see through deception and illusion; uncovering mysteries and bringing truth to light.

The owl also allows me to move silently and unseen; especially when I do not want undue attention.

She also helps me penetrate my own secrets and see into the beauty of my own soul; uncovering my personal truths and intentions.

I gladly welcome the owl energies into my heart; filling myself up with her power. I feel her within me now, opening myself to myself; my true purpose sparkling like a treasure within.

Ah, what a blessing to be the owl!

Relativity

Deep Spring Center- Thought for Today

"Your work is to know the relative being, respect the relative being, learn how the impulses arise in the relative being and to know that you do not need to be slave to those impulses. They arise and will pass away."

How beautiful this thought is! In this world of relativity, our work is to know the 'relative being' that you and I are in our current incarnation. This relative being has a relative point of view (depending upon what it relates to), but its challenge lies in knowing that all this relativity is temporary............while the eternal bliss is absolute!

...............and yet, it must respect/ love/ appreciate/ accept/ acknowledge its relative truth from moment to moment- at all times!

We cannot deny/ neglect/ brush under the carpet/ ignore/ bury/ suppress/ by pass our relative being!! That's who we are in this incarnation.......and we better like/ love/ accept/ respect/ appreciate ourselves..... Aum....♥

Grounding

These days we are packing our household stuff for moving to Jaipur....Today while going through some loose sheets of paper, that carry my random thoughts (conversations with mySelf), I read, "You are here to 'ground' your Spirit.....through a human body. Only when you are fully grounded can you soar like an eagle." and later I read Arpitha Kodhamagundla's comment on one of my posts, "Reaching the state of bliss is what is called Grounding.." Is that a co-incidence or what? The Universe sure knows how to get a point across.............:) 

Thank you Arpitha.....Thank you Universe...This sure is a POWERFUL message!!! 

Freedom

“The time has come to believe. The time has come to allow yourself to soar on the wings of truth, not the truth you have been taught, but the truth that lives in your heart, the truth that is made from love and power. Allow this truth to speak and you may hop aboard the eagle and fly.”............Carrie Hart

These words came into my inbox this morning...........and set me thinking! The time has come to believe......Believe in what? Of course, believe in My Truth.......and what is My Truth........the one that lives in my heart- the Truth that is made from love and power? Love and Power? That is an interesting combination.........When we use our Power with Love (in whichever area of our life, whether at home or at work), we allow our Truth to speak through us.

This Truth cannot be pre-meditated upon...It simply reveals itself from moment to moment, depending upon the need of that moment and the need of the players in that moment.

Hence, in any given moment, if we just use our Personal Power with Love, we will (metaphorically) hop aboard the eagle and fly? Why eagle? Well, eagle symbolizes a boundless spirit of Freedom.......:))

Freedom lies in speaking our Truth, and our Truth is expressed when we use our Personal Power in Love......Can it get simpler than that??? Simple, but not easy...♥

The Journey

"The end of religion is the beginning of spirituality; the end of spirituality is the beginning of Reality, and the end of Reality is the real Bliss. When that too is gone, we have reached the destination. That is the highest mark, which is almost inexpressible in words."

Taken from the book "Complete Works of Ram Chandra, Vol. 1 (1st Indian edn., 1989)", Chapter "Reality – Its Static and Dynamic Aspects", pg. 306, by Babuji Maharaj"

My sister Pratibha Kang, shared these words with me right when I was taking stock of my journey...........As I read them, I understood that I am at the end of spirituality and beginning of reality phase.........because I often find the 'in-your-face spiritual jargon' too cliched and hollow....More and more I resonate with those people who LIVE their  inner Truth in their day-to-day lives (they may or may not call themselves spiritual)....I often use the phrase, 'Let's get real.' (especially with my 'spiritual' friends, who continue to reside in astral worlds)  It is interesting to note that some great master had looked at The Journey and categorized it in this manner........:)

The Universe always sends us the missing pieces of the jig-saw-puzzle called The Journey of Life....

Seeker?

When we begin our journey to 'Know Thyself', each one of us takes a different path , but we all remain seekers. Then somewhere along the journey, we get to 'know' our true nature. We come face to face with it.....calling it an enlightenment/ awakening/ realizing our Buddha Nature or Krishna Consciousness etc. But the journey doesn't end there; now our focus shifts from 'seeking' to 'expressing' that True Nature, especially through the arising of negative emotions or myriad pains of the body.......Yes, we continue to experience these afflictions of the mind/ body organism,  but without getting caught up in their stories!!

At this stage of my journey, I don't resonate with the word 'seeker' any more........I am more an EXPRESSION of my inner Truth.........and so it is!!!

Guidance

When it comes to guiding people on the spiritual path or providing life coaching, most people think that we have to lead perfect lives with all our stuff in place, all sorted out, at all times. This is the ‘guru’ trap. A guru has to be perfect! Those who buy into this trap, stay stuck in it, until they remember that there is no end to learning.

Everyone, at whatever space in their own journey, can find someone who can learn from their experience and vice-versa. That is why I prefer the term ‘sharing’ to ‘teaching’. All teachers actually share their knowledge and wisdom; how much of it gets across to a student depends upon that student and his/her inclinations! Similarly, all teachers continue to learn more and more, not only about their own subject but many other subjects as well. Any teacher who stops learning stops growing; and that is next to impossible!

There is no stage when we can declare, ‘Now I have arrived. Now there is nothing to learn. I know everything. My life is all fixed. Now I can be of service to others.’

The fact remains that while we may master certain areas of our life, we still remain students in some other areas. This is a beautiful and sacred process of helping and seeking help. On this journey, we can offer support and guidance to someone who has not yet travelled on that path, and seek support on the path that we are yet to travel.

Putting the pressure upon ourselves (or others) of being perfect and ‘knowing it all’ before being ready to share is nothing but a self-sabotaging trap. We all are works in progress. And it is okay to be incomplete/ vulnerable/ fearful/ uncertain while sharing our gifts with others.

It helps to remember that perfection is a mirage; and yet, we are perfect the way we are in the present moment. And it is fun to share our journey with others; even when we are struggling with our own baggage! 

Sex

I have always been against sexual innuendos in social conversation, liberal use of swear-words that casually speak about raping your mother/ sister, lewd/ clinical comments on female figures, taking liberties with / making fun of the opposite sex etc. etc. etc. (it is a long list); but of late, I have observed my impatience with this casual / insensitive approach growing by the day. I have also become more forceful in expressing my objection/ displeasure/ disgust etc.

Since observing my thoughts and emotions is my favorite pastime, I catch the  rise/ flow/ ebb of my emotional tides very well; but somehow I couldn't exactly put a finger on this particular 'sore point'. Hence, I attributed my militant reaction to the very air around me, where 'rape' has become a household word (holding the entire population to ransom).

But last night (and this afternoon) after listening to Lord Maitreya's message (delivered through Ellaeenah Niloufer) I was jolted out of my reverie! (If you haven't heard it, please do at http://jadefirelight.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013.04.22-A-Spiritual-Understanding-Of-The-Energy-Of-Sex-1.mp3)

I realized that NOW is the time to bring out that much maligned/ suppressed/ vilified/ revered / taboo/ curiosity arousing word SEX, out of the closet, and discuss its energy openly on social forums (and not behind closed doors).

In a country that gave birth to Kamasutra (the art and science of love-making), where explicit sexual images adorn our temple walls, where men and women of all ages lovingly pray to the phallus and the vagina (Shiva Linga and the Yoni), where giving birth to a child is the most important function of a married couple, it is a shame that when a small child innocently plays with his so-called 'private' parts (as though the other body parts are public parts), s/he is put to such shame that the poor thing wonders what crime s/he has committed......and in that moment a seed is sown which grows and creates all our woes regarding sex!

How many of us can truly say that I am not carrying any beliefs in my mind/ heart about sex being dirty/ sinful/ something that shouldn't be spoken about? How many of us can truly say that our sex lives are fulfilling not only our physical but also our psychological and spiritual needs? As Lord Maitreya forcefully conveyed, "If you have a joyful/ blissful sex life, you don't need to either meditate or use any other healing tool."

The point is that my 'activist' reaction to the use (misuse) of this sacred energy speaks of my own suppressed/ repressed energy.....and that is the Last Bastion of various energy blocks....Unless this energy is healed/ assimilated / worked with/ given its due place of sanctity, further evolution cannot happen (this is a major road-block and the one I was not really looking at).........

One simple solution (also re-enforced by Lord Maitreya) is FORGIVENESS of all concerned, including (and most importantly) ourselves.

Now that this point has been brought home to me o forcefully (and timely), this particular energy will be the focus of my prayers..........Om Namah Shivay......

Food

The present times are paradoxical in more ways than one; but one particular area where the paradox is most apparent is the area of FOOD....:)

Yes, on one hand we hear of shortage of food; but on the other hand our food-stores are overflowing with bottled, packaged, canned, carton-ed, frozen and fresh foodstuff. All kinds of imported and desi foodstuffs vie for shelf space.

On the one hand, we talk about escalating food prices and on the other hand our shopping baskets/ pantries/ refrigerators overflow with food stuff.

Every nook and corner of our cities has more than one eatery; more and more people are eating out- splurging more on food.

We gorge ourselves on extra food and then look for ways to lose weight.

We expend our energy on digesting the extra food that we eat and then pop in energy enhancing boosters.

We don’t have time (and inclination) to prepare healthy food and then we lament about everyone being hooked to junk food.

We buy, consume, store and throw more food than ever. But how can we resolve this paradox? How can we come out of this box? The solution is very simple. We have to start ‘thinking’ and asking the right questions.

For starters, let us ask ourselves, "why do I buy and store so much food stuff when there is no shortage of food in the market; nothing is going to run away or fly off the shelves? Why do I need to eat so much and store it in my body, when it can easily be stored outside it? Why do I eat when I am not even hungry? What need of mine am I feeding? What emptiness am I filling with food?"

Healing

In my practice as a life coach, I come across many people, who lead a very good life with no practical problems (no health issues, no money issues, happy children, loving husband) and yet, they suffer from anxiety, panic attacks, and sometimes depression. Such people are usually very aware (and sometimes they themselves are healers) but no alternative therapy seems to work either. So, what is the solution?

As I have seen it with them (and with myself), this happens when we let ‘un-founded/ exaggerated’ fears control our very existence. Fear, of course, carries a clear indication that there are still some soul-lessons to be learnt (unassimilated strands to be healed). But sometimes, despite knowing everything, we run away from our fears, and convince ourselves that we are unable to deal with our anxiety. We don’t allow ourselves to ‘see’ the wonderful, all-knowing residing deity- our Spirit Spark.

Anxiety is caused by fear of being out of control (not being able to control life). The healing begins when we allow ourselves to go into our feelings and look for the underlying origin, as soon as the fear surfaces and we begin to panic. (In my case, I was carrying ‘not good enough/ not enough’ paradigm within me.)

Sometimes panic attacks come when we believe that we are going to get caught by others for not being who they think we are. (Reality not matching the projection/ fear of exposure of true feelings/ inability to accept oneself)

Depression stems from a total lack of connection with who we are. It creates a un-fill-able void inside us. We try to fill it with food/ drinks/ addictions/ material possessions/ clinging/ wanting more of everything; but nothing helps.

Most people, who suffer from anxiety, panic attacks, and depression carry very strong belief systems by which they judge everything that happens to them (I know because I have been there). And unless we change our belief system, no therapy (however effective) can work. The power lies in accepting that you have limiting beliefs and work towards changing them.

The process is slow, but well worth it!! 

Healing

Coming back to our understanding of dimensions and relating them to healing........I understand that all those healing modalities that focus primarily on body (physical healing) dwell in the realm of 1-D consciousness; the ones that include the mind (physical+ mental healing) dwell in the realm of 2-D consciousness; while the ones that also take emotions into consideration (physical+ Mental+ emotional healing) are rooted in 3-D consciousness; and the ones that include Spirit (physical + mental + emotional + soul healing) dwell in 4-D realm. After that realm, all healing is self-healing, which keeps happening automatically, just as everything else in the universe happens and eventually there is no disease- as there is no need for it....:))

A consciousness rooted beyond the 4-D understands that when we heal our mind our body heals; when we heal our emotions, our mind+ body heals; when we heal our soul, our emotions+ our mind+ our body heals......

And if we only concentrate on healing our body; nothing heals!!

Body is the canvas where the un-assimilated (un-healed) soul-strands express themselves.....play themselves out through dis-ease. The cause is always present at the soul level.....if that is healed, all is healed!!

And the power to choose, as always, lies within us!!

Fear

Most of us (especially mothers) feel anxious when our kids begin to drive on our ‘killer’ roads, sharing the precious space with speeding drivers on cell-phones. We see or hear of so many accidents that we feel our fears are justified. But are do actually doing a dis-service to our children by fearing/ worrying/ nagging/ being lovingly overprotective?

While it is natural to want to protect our children from any danger coming from outside or from within them, we must remember that humans do not learn to take responsibility for their actions unless they are given the opportunity to be responsible. All sentient beings (including humans) are naturally grounded in the energy of self-preservation (the survival instinct), and we must trust this energy in our children.
We do great dis-service when we transfer our own fears to our children; telling them that they have something to fear about, regardless of how prepared they might be! When children sense our fears, the fears become more real to them and they begin to fear as well. This added energy calls our fears into being and more often than not becomes a cause for accidents. Is that what we truly want?

In a world where potential dangers (traffic, crazy fellow beings, vagaries of nature etc) lurk around every corner, it is good to say (and believe), “All is well in my world.” With this thought in mind we can allow our children to make their choices and follow their heart- and this applies not only to driving but life itself.

Let us not let our fears arouse our children’s fears……..:))

Remember- Whenever we feel fearful about something, it is an indication that our soul wants us to understand some things.

Growth and Evolution

In order to understand why ‘bad’ things happen to ‘good’ people, we need to get clear about why things happen in the first place? Why are we here on planet earth? Why is our planet a place of duality where positive and negative energies reside in equal measure? Why do we need to learn our so-called life lessons?

The answer to all the above questions is just one- we are here on planet earth because we as souls freely chose to be here. It was our CHOICE! Something like choosing to join a school, study a particular subject, take up a particular adventure, face a particular challenge etc. If we wish to grow and evolve, we need to challenge ourselves and expand beyond our comfort zones. That is exactly what souls (you and I) are doing on earth. We are challenging ourselves in order to grow/ evolve/ expand. And all that can’t happen if we remain in our comfort-zones! Simple!

When we experience the so-called bad things, we not only get a taste of what negativity feels like but also understand what its opposite, the so-called good feels like. Earth is the only place where this experiment is going on- the rest of the universe (where we have come from) exists in benign loving energy (and that is our default home state too).

As we grow and evolve we learn that most negative situations get resolved when we use the tool of self-love (I accept myself and this situation. I am grateful to myself and this situation. I forgive myself and this situation etc); however, there are some situations that demand that we face them courageously and squarely; and in the bargain learn how to live with them until the death of this current physical body.

Yes, negative situations bring about ‘fear’ in us, but when the fear comes we need to look for some lesson in the fearful situation. Someone has rightly said, “Whenever we feel fearful about something, it is an indication that our soul wants us to understand some things.”

Happy growing and evolving!

Juicing

Until I got married, I didn’t have much interest in cooking, and hence, didn’t learn much from my mother. But thanks to my Bengali-in-laws and recipe books, over the years I became a seasoned/ versatile cook. I love to experiment/ innovate and generally be creative with food.

Recently, ever since I understood the concept of ‘live food’, I find myself becoming more interested in assembling salads than doing real cooking; and for past few days, since I have discovered the joys of juicing…..I feel ecstatic and excited about creating dark green, light green, red, yellow juices. I feel the joy a little child feels while mixing colors in water…….my juicer does that for me and I happily drown glass-fuls of color…..Wow! It couldn’t get better than this…..or could it?

Dimensions

We are often told that we are moving from a 3-D (dimensions of consciousness) reality to a 5-D reality, where 4-D is the doorway/ bridge/ connecting-link that we are accessing/ passing through right now. Some others talk about being in 7-D, 9-D, 12-D etc. Some say there are infinite dimensions! All this talk leaves us pretty confused. (Almost sounds like an abstract math class!)

Let me try and make it simpler to understand. Our first D is the Body, in 2-D the Mind gets added and 3-D encompasses the realm of Body-Mind-Emotions. The 4th D is the SPIRIT. At every stage we keep adding one new dimension to our being! The main difference with the 4th dimension is that The Spirit (the 4th dimension) opens up the floodgates for us to access any new dimension at will. It doesn’t mean that we will not access our1-D, 2-D or 3-D paradigms any more, it only means that after we learn to ACCESS the Spirit at will and at all times, we can access any other dimension after that. (It is like once you have the Internet, you can access any website. You need not know the names of all the websites, it is the keywords that take you there.)

Let us understand this through an example:-

Suppose a mishap happens in your city/life. The people in 3-D consciousness will begin to blame all and sundry. The ones in 4-D will go into meditation/ ask others to meditate upon the situation. The ones in 5-D will start exposing the real truth behind the scenes. Those in yet higher dimensions will feel compassion for all sides. They would know that the ones perpetuating the crime are only playing a role to make the current reality so painful that people are left with no choice but to shift/ wake up. They know that any mishap eventually helps people take back their power. Nothing happens just like that, without any reason. Any mishap jolts people out of their complacence, in order to bring forth the good for/ from all.

When we begin to observe our thoughts/ emotions/ words, we begin to learn our state of consciousness in any given moment; and as we dance through our multi-dimensional-states, we truly discover ourselves.....:)

Meal In- Meal Out

Some time ago a friend of mine said, “I have become a medical intuitive. I can look at people’s faces and diagnose if they are constipated.” As I looked at her in admiration, she guffawed, “It is very simple. If someone is not smiling, s/he must be constipated. Can’t you recognize a constipated look?” I laughed with her then, but when I look at so many unsmiling faces around me, I often think of her words. By her definition, almost everyone is constipated.

My mother, who suffers from chronic constipation, tells me that in her younger days, everyone, including her, regularly moved bowels twice a day. If someone did it only once, s/he was given a laxative.

As I mull over her words, they make sense to me, and when I learn through the Internet that the digestive health's thumb-rule is 'one meal in-one meal out', I understand the reason behind two bowel movements; in our ancestral household, people ate two meals a day!

Going by this thumb-rule, most of us are constipated. We eat three meals a day (if not more) but pass the poop only once a day (or on alternate days!)

I am reminded of our pet dog, Catherine. We gave her two meals and took her out twice a day. The day she couldn’t move her bowels, she would refuse to eat; and that’s really something for a Labrador! Instead, she would go around looking for some grass. She always knew where to find it, even though we moved several houses/ cities with her! That dear dog followed her instincts to add roughage to her diet (just as all dogs do); she intuitively knew that she must not stuff more food into her system, if she had not emptied it .

Small babies too easily follow the meal in-meal out formula. What happens when we grow up? Why don’t we pass regular stools as our elders used to or as our babies and our dogs do? Regular here means; Meal in -Meal out!

Ascension

Ascension is the process of ascending one’s consciousness while living in the physical body. It requires the ability to view life’s events from a higher/ larger/ broader perspective; wherein one can observe both the positive and the negative, and find great value in both. This ability is highly valuable as it lets us ride the waves of change that are here BIG TIME! It requires a new set of beliefs, seeing beyond the obvious (the 10% of reality that we see) to what is really going on (the 90% of reality that is hidden), and re-balancing ourselves after each shock.

Waking Up!

While walking the path of ‘awakening’, many people feel alone, unsupported, and misunderstood. They become very aware of other people’s state of ‘sleepiness’, since they can’t connect with them. (How can an awake person connect with a sleeping person? For the connection to happen, the one sleeping has to awaken too!!)

Now the question arises, should the awake one try to wake up the one sleeping? I, for one, don’t believe in this. Even in the physical realm, I don’t like to wake a sleeping person up, unless s/he asks me to do it. (this was not the case even a couple of years ago…J)

Awake people know that there is more to life and living than what one is aware of with our physical senses. Most of them are highly intuitive, empathetic, and sensitive; which is both a blessing and a challenge. It is a blessing because they perceive the world in a much more profound, enlightened and spirit-filled way. And it is a challenge, because they are also aware of how many people in their world are sleepy, unaware and not aware that they are unaware. They begin to feel that they should do something about waking people up, in order to make a difference in the world. So, some of them become like blaring alarm clocks while some others act like snooze buttons. Some wait for the others to wake up before deciding to do anything with their time (the whole household must awaken before anything can be done). Some keep lamenting about the world that needs to awaken but is not open to it.

But what happens when you wake sleeping people? They may not get up despite your nudging/ shaking/ shouting/ grumbling/ cajoling/ requesting/ giving reasons etc; making you feel judgmental, critical and frustrated in the bargain- and spoiling your relationship for good. They may get up and start grumbling. They may shout back at you for disturbing them and not letting them sleep in peace. Some may thank you but become too dependent upon you for waking them up, every time they fall asleep; and may blame you if you can’t/ won’t do it.

And what happens when you let them sleep? They may miss their appointments/ or other benefits of waking up.

BUT have you ever met anyone who continues to sleep forever? Every one eventually awakens. Yes, they may miss their appointments, and sometimes may blame you for not waking them up, but in their heart of hearts, they know that they alone are responsible for waking up and may act more responsibly in future.   They may feel very happy, refreshed and charged after sleeping well, and may do something very creative / productive upon awakening. They may thank you for letting them sleep extra. 

The best thing is that you will definitely feel more calm, peaceful and carefree (I experience it when I allow people to decide when they wish to wake up.)

The question is – who decides when it is time for someone to wake up? What about letting people sleep until they are ready to wake up by themselves? Why must we worry about them missing the bus?

The answer is very simple. Those who awaken before others do, must get the bed-tea ready, with the biscuits on the side!! Yes, that is the challenge before us. The awakened ones must make some difference in a world that needs to ‘see’ and NOT ‘hear’ a new path (new way of living) before it is willing to consider it as an option to the existing paths.

People wake up (awaken) when they are ready, and not before that. BEING the difference we want to see in the world is the only tool that will wake the world up to its own potential.

In order to BE THE DIFFERENCE, we have to SHOW the world the possibilities that are available. We can do this not by telling them that they are asleep but by showing them what can be achieved when you wake up! For that we need to use our ability, our mindset, our gifts, and our understandings to make our world more joyful and fulfilling. Only our fun/ joy/ fulfillment can make others CHOOSE to wake up!

The choice, as always, lies with each individual! And so it is!

The child that you were

Someone asked me yesterday, "Would the child that you were be proud of the woman that you are?" I said, "That's a beautiful question! I believe that the child that I was would be very proud of the woman I am."....She smiled and said, "How many persons can honestly say this?" I replied, "I don't know. Not many I guess; but I am certain about the feelings and thoughts of the child that I was (have done a lot of inner-child work and understand her completely by now). Even the teenager that I was, or the young adult that I was, or the woman that I was until yesterday, would be proud of the woman that I am today! There is no doubt in my mind/ heart about that."

What say you? Would the child that you were be proud of the wo/man that you are? Yes, No, May be, Perhaps......................:)))))

Conversations

Our individual, community, and global conversations influence (create) our experiences. The words we speak become the body/ house/ community/ city/ country/ world we live in.

 We don’t live in a set of circumstances. Our world and our circumstances get created in / through our conversations. When our conversations focus upon fear, terror, revenge, anger, retribution, jealousy, envy, comparison, competition, sexual abuse, rape, murders, terrorism, pollution etc, that is the world we begin to inhabit. Conversely, if our conversations are about possibility, hope, inspiration, beauty, joy, gratitude, and appreciation, then that’s the world we begin to inhabit.

(More often than not, our conversations contain BOTH stories, and we continue to experience both the worlds.)

 Most people think that the words we say/ write simply express our innermost thoughts, but the truth is that our innermost thoughts (and our public conversations) create our circumstances/ life conditions/ relationships/ challenges - our whole world.

Our present world needs healing/ cleaning/ over-hauling, because we need healing/ cleaning/ over-hauling. And this process can begin with being aware of our conversations and if need be, change them. This can only happen when we choose to remember that the words we speak, influence/ create the world we live in.

Whatever thoughts/ feelings/ beliefs we express in our conversations, become our experiences in life- our self-fulfilling prophecies.

 It is time now to examine our conversations with ourselves and others and ask, “Do our conversations in personal, professional, and community life reflect what we really want from life? If not, how can we change them?”

 While it is tempting to please the ego-personality that feels justified in carrying negativity, we can always change that if we want to. And the point to power as always lies within us.

 One simple way to improve our conversations is by asking better/ right questions, especially about life’s inter-connectedness and inter-dependence. Simple questions like, ‘What is the possible solution? What might work? What will make it right? What would be ideal? How can I help to make it right?’ carry the power to change our world.

 Today, let us pay due attention to our conversations and make a difference to the world!

Attitude

"We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we hold towards them."

– Elbert Hubbard

What a beautiful saying and so very true! When I think of someone as stubborn, s/he shows a stubborn attitude towards me. When I think of someone as intelligent, his/ her intelligence gets expressed in my presence. When I think of someone as lazy, that person reveals laziness of mind and body. 

I awaken in others, what I think about them.....and so do you! So, the next time you either praise or criticize someone's behaviour, know that you have awakened it in him/ her/ them, by your perceived opinion of that person (or a certain type of people).

For example, when we think that Indians will always litter, they do!! When we think that politicians/ bureaucrats/ police officials are usually corrupt, they are!! When we think that corporate practices are mostly unethical, they are!!

If we wish to change the world, we have to change our attitude towards it!! and our attitudes get affected by what we think/ read/ write/ speak...:))

-- 

Mutual Growth

In order to keep a close relationship (parent-child, husband-wife, live-in-couple, close friends, siblings) really close/ happy/ sincere/ hassle-free/ stress-free/ drama-free/ joyous/ authentic/ fulfilling etc, BOTH partners must REMEMBER that both are on the same side-  in the same team - with same basic needs- the need to be needed/ loved/ appreciated/ admired/ respected/ accepted/ grow/ expand/ have space/ disagree/ say no/ say yes/ seek assistance/ stay happy/ stay healthy/ and just be authentic vulnerable selves sans any masks.....:)

Both must remember that behaviour patterns/ habits/ lifestyle choices/ reactions/ responses/ addictions/ compensations/ defense mechanisms/ diseases etc find deep roots in these needs.

Both must be willing to look deep within self (or through external mirrors) in order to identify their inner needs (this step is CRUCIAL and needs a LOT OF COURAGE)

Both must mutually lend a hand/ shoulder to help each other understand / satisfy/ fulfill/ overcome/ transcend their basic needs. 

The 'householder route' (where all these intricate relationships are possible and all these steps can be practiced) is the shortest path to Bliss/ Nirvana/ Heaven..............if BOTH choose it to be so...and that is a big 'IF' :))))))

The time for working on oneself, in isolation is nigh over. The next step is to work in pairs; and that needs WILLING partners.....otherwise, a sacred opportunity to GROW TOGETHER will be lost!! and that is a GREAT LOSS indeed!!

What is Love?

Love is a state of being. It is our 'home' state. When we are completely at peace with ourselves, without any demands, expectations, needs, requirements, emotions, points to prove, fears, worries, uncertainties etc etc, we are in that home state of love. When any of these 'interruptions' happen, they super-impose other states of being- such as being in anger, being in fear, being in ecstasy, being in attachment, being in greed, being in lust, etc. etc. upon the home state of love. In other words, the state of love doesn't go away, it only gets temporarily hidden/ over-shadowed/ covered/ painted over. (something like the sky getting covered with clouds/ stars etc). 

Hence, whether we realize it or not, we ALWAYS remain in a state of love. We cannot possibly leave that state of being. EVERYONE, including the rapist, the murderer, the corrupt, the terrorist, the saint, the rogue, the rich, the poor, REMAIN in the state of Love at all times; it is the 'interruptions/ disturbances/ clouds/ stars' that determine our happiness or unhappiness. 

Love is the state of oneness. Hence, there are no words to define the opposite of love; though we use words like hate and fear to bring love into the realm of duality and thus get confused about what love actually is. (Opposite of hate is compassion; and opposite of fear is fearlessness/ courage). 

Love you all..............:)

(When I say 'love you' that means, I am communicating from my home state.) (But come to think of it, the 'interruptions' make our lives more colourful and interesting, just as clouds/ stars/ sun / moon make the sky more interesting. As long as we don't forget what the sky actually looks like, without the super-impositions...ALL IS WELL.)

Mother Nature

"Life on Planet Earth is always in a flux. Varieties of species come and go according to the particular need of the energy that they create. One of the tasks of Gaia (consciousness of Planet Earth/ Mother Nature) is to create and eliminate species. When a species (plant or animal) is no longer needed for the purpose of Gaia’s development, it ceases to exist and dies out. If new life is necessary, if new concepts of life are needed, Gaia co-operates in their creation. This process is closely linked and coordinated with changing weather on the planet. Long-term studies of the environment point out to actual creation and destruction of species. It is an ongoing process.  

However, some humans don’t understand this and want to save all the species that exist now. In their linear mind, all the species should remain and exist, just because they are here at this time. The Gaia, however, continues to eliminate some, cull some out, and bring in some new ones according to its own energy requirements . It is a natural and appropriate evolutionary process."..............Kryon

These words of Kryon completely resonate with me. I believe that there is a natural order in this universe and everything happens (is happening) according to a larger game plan that we are not consciously privy to.....and yet, we fall prey to doubts, fears, worries, righteous indignation, missionary zeal, I-shall-save-you mode.....:))) We are all defaulters on this front (me included) in one way or another. I guess, that's what makes us human........our ego-personalities don't become sublime so easily!!

In the end, I am always compelled to return to my regular mantra, "It is okay to have doubts. It is okay to be fearful. It is okay to worry. It is okay to feel righteous indignation. It is okay to nurture a missionary zeal. It is okay to behave as savior. It is okay to default. It is okay to be human. It is okay to have an ego-personality. It is okay to be who I am being in this present moment. However, from now onward I choose to be more trusting- in faith, surrender and remembrance- ALL IS WELL. The Spirit is in-charge here. And so it is."

Happily Married

In our friend circles, most people have children of marriageable age, so marriage and there-after remains a common topic of hot discussions. Most parents want their children to choose their spouse themselves (a  far cry from our days and a very welcome move indeed) saying, ‘Bachhe khush rahein, aur hamein kya chaahiye.’ But in the next breath they begin wondering aloud, “Today’s children don’t have patience and tolerance. They are set in their ways and can’t change for the other. So many marriages are breaking up. It scares us.”

I wonder why such thoughts don’t occur to me. I firmly believe that if we have set a good example for our children, they will be alright; with or without marriage! Marriage is just another way of life; and those who know how to live life, will enjoy being married too….not because one must ‘get married and produce children’, but because one wants to spend one’s life with a particular person as family.

Those of us, who want our children to be happily married (and that includes all of us who have children), have to work upon our own marriage first. The day we can happily declare (to ourselves) that our marriage is making our home a peaceful, joyful heaven, we will stop worrying about our children and their marital status….:))) 

Happy Marriage

What is your secret of happy marriage?

In our case, it is knowing, remembering and if need be, reminding the other that our views/ likings/ dislikings/ preferences/ moods/ perspectives may differ from time to time but we remain on the same side....with our common love for love, peace, harmony, mutual growth and loving communication.......:)

After 30 years of togetherness we both enjoy each other's company the most.........:))

Drama

Let’s face it; most of us remain engrossed in activities that distract us from our spiritual quest. In fact, that’s precisely the reason we create those activities. Some of us are so good at these distraction tactics that we remain engrossed in them all our lives. (I don’t need to tell you what those distraction activities are; we have all been there and done that.) It is a part of the defense mechanism. We argue/ debate/ confront and like doing it all. Drama is our best friend. We thrive on it.

While all that is an individual choice, it creates a small problem for those who are trying to eliminate drama from their lives, who do not wish to play the judgment/ criticism/ competition/ comparison game anymore. After all they still need to interact with the ones who love dramas. They still need to wade through situations that carry anger, hatred, envy etc.

So, what is the solution? What works for you?

I use isolation, dis-engagement, plain honest talk, silence, smiles, and Ho’oponopono……..and that works for me......:)

Freedom

Unless we give freedom to others to act and react in whichever manner they deem fit, we cannot give the same freedom to our own selves. Our bondage is not because of others, it is because we haven't truly freed/ released others from our judgments/ expectations/ opinions..... and these are such subtle chains, which bind us so cleverly, that we fail to see/ recognize them.........So, if you truly wish to be free and soar like an eagle......FREE everyone/ everything from judgment/ expectation/ opinion!!

I know it is a tough call, given our social conditioning and upbringing; everything that we do/ say/ think, reeks of judgment/ expectation/ opinion.......har ek cell mein koot-koot ke bhara hai!

and I am going through another interesting side-story while trying to eliminate the above.....My all time friend- The Guilt- pops up every now and then saying, "See, you were judgmental now. There, you just expressed an opinion. Wasn't that mail rather opinionated? Haven't you been expecting gratitude/ acknowledgment/ shaabash? Hello!! You have a long way to go, if at all!!"

Of late, I have learnt to just listen to Ms. Guilt and smile......There is nothing left to say!! Only actions can speak louder than words...:))) I guess, when finally the freedom dawns, it will ensure a good-bye to Madam Guilt forever!!!! Won't that be great??

Yippeeeee! Just the very thought feels liberating!!