Hector Elizondo

Food is love

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Helen Keller

The best and most beautiful

Hélène Peyret

Only this love

Helle is a certified Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) teacher, with over 20 years’ experience. She is on the faculty of the Center for MSC in the US and their European partner in Holland, and works with a Chinese-based organization. &nbsp;Helle is a dedicated Heartfulness meditation student and trainer.

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Helle Laursen

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">HELLE LAURSEN prompts us to reflect on how we communicate with ourselves and others with compassion, in order to develop trust. Helle teaches the evidence-based Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program worldwide. She has also been a student of Heartfulness for more than 25 years and is a Heartfulness trainer.</h4>&nbsp;Kindness and compassion are powerful ways of supporting others. When someone we care about fails at something or feels imperfect, it seems natural for us to meet them with understanding and support.Responding with kindness, understanding, and support is one of the building blocks of trust. It is also the definition of compassion. Compassion is the ability to hold the suffering and have the wish to lessen the suffering.We also need to trust&nbsp;our own ability&nbsp;to navigate difficulties. The warmhearted response of understanding and support is called compassion when directed at others, and self-compassion when directed at ourselves.Ample research shows a clear correlation between our ability to be self-compassionate and mental health. Research suggests self-compassion is the starting point for building solid relations with others, because self-compassion is the training of relational skills.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Research suggests self-compassion is the starting point for building solid relations with others, because self-compassion is the training of relational skills.</h4><hr>Self-compassion is including ourselves in the circle of those we wish to support. This is much more difficult than responding with warmth to someone we care about.&nbsp; You may reflect on these questions to recognize this:<ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li style="text-align:justify;">Do you respond with kindness, support, and compassion toward yourself when you feel inadequate or make a mistake? If you are like most of us, you tend to judge and criticize yourself instead. &nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Can you hold the emotions that naturally arise when you experience discomfort? If you are like most of us, you will either be consumed by emotions or tend to avoid, bypass, or suppress them.</li></ol>When we respond with kindness and self-compassion in challenging situations, we strengthen the connection to our inner Self. We untangle from difficult emotions more quickly. We gain humility, seeing our own imperfections more clearly.Self-compassion is far from priding oneself, being enough in oneself, becoming self-indulgent, or being better than others. It is the opposite of all that. Research is unequivocal on this. We become less self-centered and more compassionate to others when we are self-compassionate.When we respond with kindness and self-compassion amid difficult emotions, we stay connected to ourselves through what is happening. In Heartfulness, we would say, “I’ll stay connected to my heart through difficulties.” This means not diminishing, not pushing away, and not avoiding what is happening inside. This demands both clarity and courage. After all, avoiding or pushing away the reality of unpleasant emotions involves less effort and is often our default.Trust starts with how we respond. Let it be a kind, passionate, and openhearted response to ourselves as well as to others.&nbsp;Read more about self-compassion at <a href="https://nordic-compassion.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nordic-compassion.com</a>&nbsp;

Do you trust yourself?

Henry David Thoreau

Find Your Eternity

Henry Van Dyk

Time is eternity

Dr Hester O Connor is a Clinical Psychologist who manages a psychology service in the Irish Health Service. She lives in Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland, loves chatting with friends, drinking Darjeeling tea, and listening to pop music.

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Hester O Connor

<h4>DR HESTER O CONNOR shares some tips on how to support children after a death in the family.</h4><hr>When someone in the family dies, it can be daunting for parents to manage their own grief. How can we help our children face what may well be their first experience of death?Routine Is ImportantWe all need routine and structure. It helps well-being and recovery for all the family. Your children will do better if they keep up with normal routines such as going to school before or after the funeral. More sleep is always helpful and again sticking to the normal routine can help everyone to feel safe at this sad time. The bedtime routine might be a good time to let your child tell you about their day. It’s best if you can listen and not be frightened by what you hear or try to stifle feelings.Attending FuneralsDeath is a natural part of life, and the ritual of a funeral helps. Your child gets to experience an important social ritual. Prepare the child for the funeral by explaining what happens so that there are no surprises. If you sense attending a funeral is going to distress your child it’s okay if they don’t attend. It is very beneficial to have a sense of a spiritual dimension to life. If you have beliefs, share them with your child; if it helps you, it will help them too. There are no rules. It is best to trust your sense of what your child can manage. The most helpful attitude is one of lovingly sensing what is needed and trusting this.Talking About DeathIs your child ready to talk about death? Children aged seven to eight years begin to understand permanency. At this stage they feel a bigger impact of loss as they know it is forever. Before this, a child may be upset because a parent is upset, but they might be fine otherwise, as they do not grasp the permanency of death.Use simple language and avoid euphemisms like “Grandma has gone to sleep.” It is good for children to uunderstand that the period after a death can be a sad time. It is normal to be sad and it will get better. Sadness need not be avoided.<hr>Loss and sadness are part&nbsp;and parcel of life, and if a child is helped to face loss they will be better prepared for other losses in life. It&nbsp;is helpful for a child to know&nbsp;that everyone feels sad or unhappy from time to time.<hr>If you can talk about death in a natural way, a child is more likely to ask questions when they are ready to understand more. Be sensitive to the age of the child and what you feel they can manage. You are not obliged to give all the details. This applies especially to deaths where there are unpleasant details such as a road traffic accident or suicide. You do not want to burden a child with unnecessary details, as the images are likely to stay in their minds. You can give more details when the child asks in the months to come.Don’t pretend, as making up stories will lead to mistrust. It is best if children hear the truth explained simply by you. Avoiding the topic is not helpful, especially as a child is likely to hear stories elsewhere, such as in school.Children Take Their Cues From YouAre you okay speaking about death? If you are frightened or uncomfortable, your child will pick this up and become fearful too. Transmit the understanding that death is part of life. Encourage children to remember good things about the person, and look at photos or make a scrap book.Children often communicate with behavior, not words. If a child’s behavior changes following a death, perhaps they are communicating their sense of grief and loss. Find a loving way to empathize and see how the child is feeling will make a difference. Loss and sadness are part and parcel of life, and if a child is helped to face loss they will be better prepared for other losses in life. It is helpful for a child to know that everyone feels sad or unhappy from time to time.Creating An Atmosphere Of TrustIt is much easier to talk about sadness and difficulties if there is already an atmosphere of openness and trust in the family. One of the best ways to foster such an atmosphere is by spending quality time with children. Quality time with a child will reap more rewards than anything you can give them that costs money.<hr>Article by DR HESTER O CONNOR<hr>

Children and Death

Clinical psychologist, Dr HESTER O CONNOR, offers some insights into keys aspects of having a good relationship with your teenage children.<hr>Did it ever occur to you why flight attendants suggest before take-off, “In the event of an emergency put on your own oxygen mask first before you assist others?” On reflection it is obvious that you will be able to help others in an emergency if your own oxygen supply is stabilised. Similarly, it is important as a parent to try to stay calm during the inevitable turbulence of adolescence when your teenager children assert their autonomy and strive for independence.A NARRATIVE: ANNA’S PLAN FOR A SLEEPOVERIt’s summer holidays and twelve-year old Anna says she is staying over at Poppy’s house tonight. Anna’s mum Judy doesn’t feel comfortable with Poppy’s family, so Judy says, “No”. A row breaks out. Anna finally calls her mum a ‘fat ….’ and leaves the room banging the door. Judy starts feeling very conscious of her weight, and wants to tell Anna exactly what she thinks of her in this very moment.Anna sits in her room sobbing. She feels confused, misunderstood and totally overwhelmed by life right now. She does not know why she feels so bad, but she just feels like trashing things. Judy calls out to Anna that she is taking Beanie the dog for a short walk. She does this to draw breath. Judy feels sad, wounded and fearful but decides to respond to what it must feel like for Anna right now.She wants to give them both space, and so she texts Anna: “I know how hard and frustrating it must feel for you when I say no, but maybe later when we have both calmed down we can have a chat.” Judy plans to explain why she is not happy for Anna to go to Poppy’s for a sleepover.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">It is important as a parent to try to stay calm during the inevitable turbulence of adolescence when your teenager children assert their autonomy and strive for independence.</h4><hr>RESPONDING VERSUS REACTINGIn this little story there are a few key elements at play. Anna has gone into fight or flight mode. Fight or flight is what happens instantaneously when we have a response of deep fear to any situation. We are hard wired as humans to have the fight or flight response to protect us when faced with a real threat, such as being chased by a wild animal.Many of us go into fight or flight mode several times a day in the face of minor challenges, such as getting stuck in traffic. We over-respond because our bodies don’t know the difference between the traffic and being attacked by a tiger! They gear up to protect us from real danger.Anna finds herself in a state of heightened awareness, she is fearful and she reacts as if she is under real threat by attacking her mother with strong words. It is very confusing for most of us to know what is going in moments like this.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">We are hard wired as humans to have the fight or flight response to protect us when faced with a real threat, such as being chased by a wild animal.</h4><hr>Initially Judy responds in a similar way to Anna and her own fight or flight response is also triggered by Anna’s anger. Judy does something different though: she catches herself and chooses not to react on impulse, as she remembers that this time a new response is needed. Judy pauses and goes for a short walk. This helps bring harmony with her daughter.BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUSTLet’s see the simple things in Judy response that help build a relationship of trust with Anna:By letting Anna know she is going for a short walk, Judy communicates that she will be back soon. This communication is very important for twelve-year-old Anna, who fears the intensity of her own anger.Although Judy is also feeling fearful, she decides not to retaliate and instead she senses what is needed, calms herself and responds calmly.If Judy had yelled back or gone out without telling Anna where she was going or when she would come back, Anna would have felt punished by the withdrawal of love and kindness. Her confusion would have deepened, creating distance. But she didn’t.Judy was also able to stay firm in saying no. By communicating with love rather than automatically falling into defensive mode herself, she kept the relationship open, did not punish Anna, and also was able to explain why she said no, wanting to keep her daughter safe.<img class="image_resized" style="width:661px !important;" src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/loving_the_teenage_years_1_img_fd491e9ea1.jpg" alt="Loving the Teenage Years">WHO CARES FOR THE PARENT?It is sometimes tough being a parent, and it is vital that you have someone to talk to who will listen to you. Then it is easier to guide your teenager with kindness when challenged by them. Parenting with love and kindness is the base of the security that all children need.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by HESTER O CONNOR</h4><hr>

Loving the Teenage Years

<h4 class="block-heading"
 id="h-dr-hester-o-connor-a-clinical-psychologist-shares-some-simple-ways-to-help-children-know-what-is-going-on-inside-their-hearts-and-minds">
 DR. HESTER O
 CONNOR, a clinical psychologist, shares some simple ways to help children know
 what is going on inside their hearts and minds.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 The ability to recognize and manage feelings and emotions is very protective
 for the mental health and the well-being of children. Yet it is not automatic
 for children to grow up knowing about their feelings and emotions. We teach
 children many wonderful and valuable lessons at home and in school, but there
 is still a big gap in teaching children how to understand what is going on
 inside their hearts and minds.



 With the external stimulation and distraction of social media, it is hardly
 surprising that many children are growing up with little sense of who they are
 on the inside. So when young people face difficulties at home, in school, or
 in relationships, they can find themselves at a loss to make sense of their
 feelings and emotions. Some feel totally overwhelmed and frightened of what is
 happening to them on the inside. Helping a child to develop the ability to
 understand their own mental states and feelings, and to make sense of the
 feelings of others, is a crucial skill that will build their resilience and
 enable them to manage better in the world.


<h4 class="block-heading">
 Why is the
 ability to know one’s heart and mind important?
</h4>


 Research has found that each one of us will experience issues with our mental
 health from time to time throughout our lives. This means we all need the
 skills to know how to navigate our inner world so that when we face
 challenges, when we fall out with friends, fail an exam, or experience family
 hardship, we have the ability to interpret what is going on. If we can make
 sense of the turmoil, we will be able to put our difficulties into perspective
 and learn from our experiences.



 A friend told me a story about a three-year-old, who said to his mum, “I’m not
 cross that you sent me to Liz’s house today, I’m angry.” This is clearly a boy
 who is secure enough in his relationship with his mother to express his
 feelings. She can tolerate his angry feelings so he does not have to protect
 her from them. This preserves their trust in each other.



 It is ideal when children grow up in environments where they are encouraged to
 notice and express a whole range of emotions, including anger, sadness, joy,
 happiness, frustration, etc. The movie,
 Inside Out, from 2015,expresses this theme perfectly.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

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 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Minefield2_9a44f73789.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T10:38:51.913Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4 class="block-heading">
 How to help
 children know their hearts and minds?
</h4>


 When young children hear their parents say what they think and feel, it helps
 them. The adult saying what is going on gives permission for the child to be
 in touch with what they are feeling. An example is when a parent is curious
 about their baby’s cry and says, “Let’s see, are you hungry or do you need
 your nappy changed?”



 Ten-year-old Claire does not believe in eating vegetables. Her parents can see
 that agreeing to her protest will not be good for her health and will set the
 stage for protests over other issues. Her dad Tom playfully explains the
 reasons why eating vegetables is good for her, and agrees to sit with her
 while she eats them. During the ensuing tears, Tom softens his tone of voice
 so that Claire can let in what he says, even though she doesn’t like it. He
 explains that he knows she is upset, and that it cannot feel nice for her to
 try food she doesn’t like. He reminds her of when she didn’t like swimming,
 but quickly over came her fear.



 Tom’s tone of voice is very important in how he explains to his daughter what
 is going on. He is empathetic, which helps to diffuse her frustration and
 resistance. The crucial part of helping a child to know their own feelings and
 emotions, is to build a loving relationship with the child. The kindness with
 which Tom speaks is central to helping Claire develop curiosity rather than
 fear about what is going on inside her.



 The ability to recognize and manage feelings and emotions is very protective
 for the mental health and the well-being of children.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

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

<hr />

Helping children to make sense of their hearts and minds

<h4>HESTER O CONNOR shares an account of her personal research into the experience of a 3-day meditation retreat. How easy it was to look for distraction afterward!</h4><hr>I have been practicing Heartfulness Meditation for almost 30 years, and this September I participated remotely in a 3-day spiritual retreat presented by Heartfulness. In line with many spiritual traditions, we are encouraged to study our meditative experiences and keep a diary of what we feel and discover –in other words, to do our own research.Live-stream meditations were conducted by Daaji, and here is a narrative account of what I experienced during and after the retreat.On Day 2, I was aware of an inner feeling of purity, and a longing to be like my guide. I would describe it as a feeling of wanting to be the absolute best version of myself. There was an inner stillness like a pond with no ripples. I had a feeling of moving closer to my teacher, as if the gap between us was less than it had been in previous days. I was conscious of not wanting anything to spoil this inner atmosphere. I had been ill for a few days with the flu, so I was relieved that I did not have to leave the house and be around others. I did not want to be pulled out from inside into conversation. I was happy to be quiet, savoring and absorbing what I received in the meditations with Daaji.In addition to those <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/expect-the-unexpected" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">group meditations</a>, I meditated twice a day at home. I found myself clearing a corner of clutter in my kitchen, something I had been meaning to do for months. The daily preoccupations that I am so easily caught up in were not present. I went to bed in this state of ease.I woke early for the final meditation of the 3-day event. The rest of the day was filled with inner spaciousness and ease. I did not feel pulled out of this state in the office during the day.<hr><hr><h4>When you couple clean eating with quality sleep, adequate movement, rest and recovery, emotional wellness, and your spirit, you help the natural in-built intelligence of your body to work for you and aid prevention and recovery.</h4><hr><hr><h4>The allure of distraction</h4>When I got home from work that evening, I noticed a shift. I longed to party, to let my hair down as if I was coming out of a period of isolation. I mulled over what I would do to distract myself. I had a moment when I could have chosen to stay with the inner experience and not be distracted, but I wanted distraction. I sat and watched an hour of the UK Channel Four News, and was very distracted by the dire events. I felt like praying for the plight of the suffering in the world. After that, I said to myself, “Enough.”<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/allure_of_distraction2_700x480_a41063dca6.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T11:02:50.507Z" alt=""><hr>Why would I choose to return to the familiarity and comfort of distraction, of thinking and action? What was going on in these moments of choice between the spaciousness and beauty within, an inner gift arising from meditation, and seeking the familiar daily round of thinking and doing?It is helpful for me to question the ideas that underpin how I live my life every day. We all have beliefs that influence how we behave, yet we rarely stop to think about these underlying beliefs, or the assumptions that inform our thinking and actions. What I received from my Catholic upbringing was the trust that all would be well in life. My mother was a fan of the Christian mystics. The Julian of Norwich quote,“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well,” comes to mind when things feel difficult. My father had a simple faith. Where I differ from my parents is that I believe in reincarnation of the soul. I believe that I have the capacity for goodness and destruction. Goodness is expressed as action to alleviate suffering, which includes well-intentioned action for all of creation. Destruction is any kind of harm to anything animate or inanimate – judgmental thoughts, cheating, and wasting resources like time, energy, and so on.<h4>The spiritual purpose</h4>The purpose of my existence is a spiritual one. The journey of my life is for my soul to return to the essence of its origin, which is spiritual energy in its original state. It is my assumption that the spiritual purpose of my life is fulfilled through a silent inner connection with my living teacher. It is through this inner connection, experienced within my heart, that I can evolve to the goal of the highest spiritual level in my lifetime. The effect of yogic Transmission from the teacher is for me evident in how I observe changes within myself and in others.&nbsp;I considered myself to be flaky when I began Heartfulness Meditation in 1994. I now have a grounded-ness within, like an oak tree rooted to the eternal. The deepest longing of my heart is simultaneously satisfied and expands with the simple act of connecting to the core of my human essence. Many unnecessary preoccupations have fallen off over years of practice. Changes happen in a natural manner. The road ahead is still long and many more layers of ego require pruning.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/allure_of_distraction3_700x493_5aefd2ba26.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T11:04:43.371Z" alt=""><hr>So, it is very challenging for me to see how utterly bound I am to thinking and action, because it is how I live my life. It is hardly a surprise then that having an experience of a very subtle and beautiful state devoid of choice-making felt like the satisfaction of my longing. It was so subtle and unfamiliar, and therefore it was hard to rest there. I needed time to adjust to the new inner atmosphere, which was lighter and subtler. I was scared to remain in the unknown, to remain not choosing by being without the churning of thoughts. I opted for choosing the familiar merry-go-round of doing and thinking.<h4>Satisfying your heart’s desire</h4>Does this story shed any light on your experience of your spiritual journey? I invite you to question the beliefs and deeply held ideas that inform how you live your life every day.Does it ring any bells that you might long for something deep inside, yet the distractions of life keep getting in the way?Life is full of endless distraction. It is hardly surprising then that my research into my own experience sheds light on my fear of letting go, despite an intense spiritual longing. Zero has few reference points for me. Distraction on the other hand is the stuff of the material world.<hr><hr><h4>Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4><hr>

The allure of distraction

<h4>MARGARET SCHENKMAN, ROSALIND PEARMAIN, HESTER O CONNOR, and KRISHNAMURTHY JAYANNA address some of the challenges of doing research on consciousness, and explore the various approaches that give them the best understanding of how consciousness evolves.</h4><hr>Throughout the ages, spiritual practices have helped to expand human consciousness. This expansion changes our relationships with our selves, with others, and with our environment. A few years ago, Daaji encouraged scientists in the Heartfulness community to study consciousness, so we took up this challenge. Here, a few of us wish to summarize some of what we have learned.In order to describe and measure consciousness, we needed to define what we meant by the term. Consciousness is defined and measured in very different ways, depending on whether it is in medicine, philosophy, or quantum physics. Daaji has described consciousness as “the degree of awareness and unawareness,” which changes to a large extent according to the refinement of three other mental functions – mind, intellect, and ego. Consciousness evolves to the extent that mind, intellect, and ego evolve. Mind evolves from thinking to feeling, intellect from intelligence to intuition to wisdom, and ego from arrogance to love and humility.&nbsp;We quickly realized that there were no available measures to capture consciousness from this perspective. Therefore, our first step was to interview people who practice Heartfulness meditation. Eleven Heartfulness practitioners were asked an open-ended question about how Heartfulness affected their everyday life. Their responses were surprising and brought new insights into how people experience a meditation practice.The practitioners gave new insights into the experience of meditation as it permeates everyday life, and four themes emerged:<h4>1. Tangible, deeply felt effects that give a sense of being true or real&nbsp;</h4>Embarking on Heartfulness Meditation can lead to changes that are tangible, and recognized as authentic or real. For some, they include the experience of a new sense of inner spaciousness associated with the heart focus, and inner experiences that are described as sublime, profound, pure, and inspiring.<h4>2. Groundedness and a deeper context of existence, altering relationships</h4>Sometimes, inner changes led to a feeling of groundedness. Over time, some participants experienced a real and authentic inner source that supports a more solid sense of self and grounding within. This inner grounding allowed for more openness, trust, and honesty with others, and more empathy.<h4>3. Focus on the heart as the center in the midst of flux and change&nbsp;</h4>Over time, a focus developed on sustaining a connection with the heart center. As life brings inevitable tests and changes, this heart focus is like an anchor in a stormy sea. It offers a continuous presence, a peacefulness, a field of sensibility, and a deeper orientation, in the midst of flux. Reconnecting with the heart could be challenging when distracted by daily stresses and pressures.<h4>4. Immersion in love with less sense of “I”</h4>Increasingly, understanding emerged through the heart field, along with a feeling of no separation from others. It was possible to be in two states of consciousness at the same time: being completely immersed in the practicalities of work and life, and at the same time completely removed from daily preoccupations in the sense of expanded understanding, compassion, and oneness.*We then faced a dilemma: It is not practical to use interviews with large groups of people (50,100, or thousands), yet studying large groups is necessary to adequately observe changes in consciousness with meditation. We needed to translate what we had learned into something that could be measured.The themes that emerged from the interviews, along with specific comments of the participants, guided the development of a “Measure of Expanded Consciousness.” We tested this measure with over 400 participants, including Heartfulness meditators, meditators in other systems, and non-meditators. The resulting measure, which is in its final stages of development, is based upon the answers to35 questions contained in the following five categories:<ol><li>Relationship with others</li><li>Judgment of self</li><li>Connection to inner self (heart)</li><li>Greater dimension beyond self</li><li>Acceptance and surrender</li></ol><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/conundrum_of_consciousness2_c9d987e9ba.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T09:40:54.061Z" alt=""><hr>The conundrum of measuring changes in consciousness is not trivial.&nbsp; The two approaches – interviews and quantitative measures – give very different, yet related information, each with strengths and weaknesses, neither of which can fully capture consciousness among meditators.Qualitative descriptions from meditators tap into personal feelings and awareness not previously described. There is a move from a focus on thinking to a focus on feeling, and changes in ephemeral constructs such as intuition, inspiration, humility, and love. Furthermore, this approach offers flexibility and variability of responses, as each person’s lived experience is described in their own words.In contrast, quantitative data from the “Measure of Expanding Consciousness” can easily be used to study groups of people or populations, but the information is limited by the very nature of trying to fit abstract feelings into concrete words. The data obtained from one measure only provide information based on the content and specific wording within that measure; the information is necessarily limited.Our solution to this conundrum is to combine the two approaches – to obtain quantitative data from a large group, while simultaneously obtaining qualitative data from a sample of the participants. These qualitative data will allow us to add depth and texture to that which is learned from the “Measure of Expanding Consciousness.” Using this combination, we will explore questions such as:<ul><li>How does consciousness change with meditation?</li><li>How do those changes relate to other important concepts such as loneliness, resilience, and depression?&nbsp;</li></ul>Although we may never fully answer the fundamental question of how consciousness evolves, we may perhaps begin to approach an understanding with increasing precision through combining these two approaches.ReferencesLanfranco, R.C.et al, 2022. Towards a vision from within.&nbsp; Adaptive Behavior. DOI: 10.1177/10597123221080193Patel, K.D., 2022.The Evolution of Consciousness. Talk given for the 150th birth anniversary of Shri Aurobindo. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=eFMWZ_0hDtA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=eFMWZ_0hDtA</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;<hr>

The conundrum of consciousness

Hetty is a portrait and commercial photographer. She emigrated to South Africa where she documented social issues and specialized in editorial photography. Back in the Netherlands, her journey and art projects continue in connecting with others, fostering the spirit of ubuntu.

Hetty Zantman IMG_9197.webp

Hetty Zantman

<h4>Under the Trees&nbsp; Saratoga Springs, New York, 2024 FIONA NEARY</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace2_eef369b889.webp" alt="expressions-of-peace2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressions_of_peace2_eef369b889.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressions_of_peace2_eef369b889.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace2_eef369b889.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"><h4>Finding Joy Saratoga Springs, New York, 2024 FIONA NEARY</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace3_7881dcc714.webp" alt="expressions-of-peace3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressions_of_peace3_7881dcc714.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressions_of_peace3_7881dcc714.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace3_7881dcc714.webp 800w," sizes="100vw">&nbsp;<hr><h4>May Their Innocence and Joy Continue to Flower South Africa, 2015 HETTY ZANTMAN</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace4_9fb2448418.webp" alt="expressions-of-peace4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressions_of_peace4_9fb2448418.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressions_of_peace4_9fb2448418.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace4_9fb2448418.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw">&nbsp;<hr><h4>Tree RAMYA SRIRAM</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace5_4e2b2479bb.webp" alt="expressions-of-peace5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressions_of_peace5_4e2b2479bb.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressions_of_peace5_4e2b2479bb.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace5_4e2b2479bb.webp 800w," sizes="100vw">&nbsp;<hr><h4>In Tune with Nature 2007 BRIGITTE SMITH</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace6_b40f508c95.webp" alt="expressions-of-peace6.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressions_of_peace6_b40f508c95.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressions_of_peace6_b40f508c95.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace6_b40f508c95.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"><hr><h4>Expressions of Love 2023 SANTANU CHATTERJEE</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace7_dc37aae479.webp" alt="expressions-of-peace7.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressions_of_peace7_dc37aae479.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressions_of_peace7_dc37aae479.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace7_dc37aae479.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw">&nbsp;

Expressions of peace from around the world

The medieval saint, Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), was a German Benedictine abbess and polymath who was a mystic, composer, writer, philosopher, botanist, naturalist, and medical practitioner. Hildegard's spiritual awareness was based on the umbra viventis lucis - the reflection of the living Light.

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Hildegard von Bingen

<h4 style="text-align:center;">God is the foundation for everything.</h4><h4 style="text-align:center;">This God undertakes, God gives.</h4><h4 style="text-align:center;">Such that nothing that is necessary for life is lacking.</h4><h4 style="text-align:center;">Now humankind needs a body that at all times honors and praises God.</h4><h4 style="text-align:center;">This body is supported in every way through the Earth.</h4><h4 style="text-align:center;">Thus the Earth glorifies the power of God.</h4><h4 style="text-align:center;">-HILDEGARD VON BINGEN</h4><hr>

Prayer of awareness

In his sight

Hippocrates of Kos (460-370 B.C.) was an Ancient Greek physician, who is widely regarded as one of the greats in the history of medicine. He is referred to as "the father of medicine."

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Hippocrates

Food as medicine

The 14th Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Rinpoche, is the spiritual leader of Tibet. He is considered a living Bodhisattva; specifically, an emanation of Avalokiteśvara in Sanskrit and Chenrezig in Tibetan. He is highly awarded, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Templeton Prize, and the U.S. Congressional Medal.

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His Holiness, 14th Dalai Lama

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">HIS HOLINESS the 14th DALAI LAMA met with UNESCO Artist for Peace, Dr. GUILA CLARA KESSOUS, on May 8, 2023. Evoking her commitments to UNESCO, Dr. Kessous asked about issues such as equality and women’s rights, intercultural dialogue, the societal role of art and the importance of yoga for mental health. Here is an excerpt from the conversation.</h4>GCK: Your Holiness, do you think yoga has a real role to play in addressing the mental health and psychological suffering felt by so many people on the planet right now?HHDL: Yes, I do. Yoga, which is an art of discipline, has its place in responding to the complexity of our world. If I make a gesture, I go beyond my intellect, which makes me suffer, by concentrating on that gesture. If this gesture is followed by ten people, not only do those people go beyond their intellect, but they each release an awareness of belonging to a whole, to a collective gesture. This is the genius of yoga. We think it’s gesture, but it’s humanity.GCK: In your book, New Reality: A Manifesto of Collective Responsibility, co-written with the remarkable Sofia Stril-Rever, you describe yoga as a kind of new language that would enable us all to communicate differently, to transcend our physical and mental boundaries. How can we achieve this degree of understanding, of “interdependency,” as you like to call it?HHDL: You are a UNESCO Artist for Peace. You know what it means to want to help others, to want to save others. This can only be done if we leave behind the desire to perform. Many people think that doing yoga implies doing the right postures. ... Many people think that doing meditation is forcing them to absolutely think about nothing. But in fact, everyone should be their own barometer. Each of us is capable of knowing where we stand today and where we stand right now. That’s what being “mindful” is all about. It’s being there, fully there, with what you are today.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yoga_mental_health2_07eed9dc30.jpg"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">The only thing that will keep us going&nbsp; in our difficult times is the awareness that we are all products of generations and links in the human chain.&nbsp; By being aware of this filiation,&nbsp; of this feminine part within us,&nbsp; we return to our healthy matrix,&nbsp; and heal ourselves.</h4><hr>GCK: So, for mental health, yoga is not a way of distracting from illness, of pretending it doesn’t exist, but of living this moment of painful life. So, how can we avoid sinking?HHDL: By connecting with our universal mother being. I’m aware of your commitment to women’s rights, and you’re right – as long as we don’t recognize our being connected with our inner mother, there will always be war. By connecting to that part of us that honors us and makes us worthy of being human. We all have two eyes, a nose, a mouth. ... We each and every one of us can say we are crazy. The only thing that will keep us going in our difficult times is the awareness that we are all products of generations and links in the human chain. By being aware of this filiation, of this feminine part within us, we return to our healthy matrix, and heal ourselves.GCK: Does it mean that our disease comes from the way we function in the world? Does our state of mental health depend on our ability to extract ourselves from this world of efficiency?HHDL: Absolutely. We have to get out of the vicious circle of performance, profitability, and productivity. Our being is not made for that. Our being is unique and needs to be treated as such. Leaning toward ourselves gently with a smile, as we would do toward a newborn in the cradle who is discovering his body’s capacity for flexibility, its treasures of suppleness. This is what yoga is all about. This is what heals.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yoga_mental_health3_cc9ae3956c.jpg"></figure>GCK: Can this healing be achieved through artistic or cultural means?HHDL: This healing comes through attention. Attention to oneself. Attention to others. That’s what art and culture are all about. A way to be attentive, to capture a moment of oneself in otherness. It’s what we should cherish above all else. It’s what makes us human ... and it’s why your UNESCO home is so important.&nbsp;For more information: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLmzlBurfNM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLmzlBurfNM</a><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Photographs courtesy of GUILA CLARA KESSOUS</h4><hr>&nbsp;

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