Founder of ServiceSpace, Karma Kitchen, DailyGood and KindSpring, he successfully works to integrate the Gift Ecology, technology and volunteerism. He is recognized globally for creating a culture that brings harmony and inclusiveness.

Nipun-Mehta.jpg

Nipun Mehta

Gift ecology

<h4>
 NIPUN MEHTA is one of the founders
 of ServiceSpace, Karma Kitchen, DailyGood, KindSpring and other
 organizations that successfully work within the Gift Ecology. From a
 young age, he was inspired by the need to serve others. Early role
 models like J. Krishnamurti, Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda and Goenka
 further fuelled that urge so that it has blossomed into a life of
 joyful, cheerful service. He was the recipient of the Dalai Lama’s
 Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award in 2014, and appointed to President
 Barack Obama’s Council on Poverty and Inequality in 2015. Here Nipun
 continues to explain the principles underlying the Gift Ecology to
 ELIZABETH DENLEY.
</h4>

 Q: What happens in that dynamic of trust in relationships when
 people’s innate tendencies and fears surface? And of course they will,
 because we’re all human. We’re all carrying baggage from the past –
 culture, family, whatever – and these things arise. How do we deal
 with it?


 That’s why relationships are complicated. Anyone who has been in any
 relationship will tell you that it’s not so simple. It’s not like I give
 you five bucks, you give me the food and that’s the end of it. If I’m
 actually engaging with you in a multidimensional way, that’s going to
 evoke something – it may trigger me in certain ways. It may be much
 simpler and more convenient for me to not have that relationship and
 just engage in a transaction. So then why engage in relationships when
 it requires so much of me?


 Q: This is the critical question, Nipun, because this is at the root
 of so much that needs to change in our societies globally today. Not
 just in the West. It’s the same in India, and it’s the same in China.
 This is the million dollar question.

Yes indeed.

 Q: How do we work with relationships? It’s not transactional in the
 sense that people are not doing something for money, and they’re not
 even doing something for recognition a lot of the time. The whole
 ethos of service, seva, is anonymity, humility, the Gandhi
 values etc. So how do we build this culture of trust without having
 transactions, without having carrots, if you like?


 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload w-100 h-auto"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/nipun_mehta2_a6290a9527.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T06:14:55.643Z"
 alt="nipun-mehta2"
 />


 It takes many inner capacities that we need to cultivate. And if we do
 cultivate those inner capacities, the reward is that we get a high
 bandwidth engagement with life. So then we may ask: What actually
 happens when I’m in a relationship and certain parts of the relationship
 are difficult? And I have to now deal with those difficult parts to get
 to the high bandwidth engagement with life. I need to grow in
 equanimity, I need to grow in tolerance, and I need to grow in patience.


 It’s much easier in a consumeristic mindset, where we think, “Hey, I
 want this, I want it now, and I want to get to the next thing.” And if
 we keep doing it, that consumerism is going to get us to a very cheap
 engagement with life. So how do we build the virtues that lead to a
 higher engagement with life? And as we inch towards that high engagement
 of life, what we understand is that it’s never been between us and the
 other person in a one-to-one way ever. It’s just that we have reduced it
 to that.


 One of my friends was in San Quentin prison with people who had
 committed at least one murder. They were in a circle and they were
 sharing. At one point my friend got a board and asked, “Can you tell me
 how long you’ve been in jail?” He started writing it down and everyone
 shared: 20 years, 40 years, 12 years, and so on. He added it up and it
 was something like 484 years. Then he created another column and asked,
 “How long was your moment of rage?” 2 minutes, 7 minutes, 40 minutes, 1
 minute, and he added it up and said, “In this circle, for a couple of
 hours of rage we have spent hundreds of years in jail.”


 That kind of a mirroring created a very powerful vibe in the room.
 During the follow-up circle of sharing, one of the guys said, “You know
 what I think? Hurt people hurt people. A person is never negative to you
 in a one-to-one sort of way. Just as we pay forward kindness, we also
 pay forward negativity. We also pay forward selfishness.” So he said, “I
 hurt somebody because someone hurt me.” The circle continued, and a
 little bit later another member of the circle said, “I’d like to add to
 that. Hurt people hurt people, but I think healed people heal people.”

<hr />
<h5 style="text-align: center">
 So when we look at relationships and the inconvenience of them, 
 it is actually an invitation to grow in virtue, 
 so that we’re able to go from that cheap bandwidth 
 to a much deeper engagement in a much more multidimensional
 way. 
 And if we do that, then in that field so much can grow, 
 and in turn we can build trust in society.
</h5>
<hr />

 So who do I have to be when I see somebody harming me? Who do I have to
 be to hold that whole lineage of conditions and have a big enough heart
 to say, “I will endure this and rebound it back with compassion.” The
 reward for that is not just that the other person might be healed in
 some way, but that you are graced with an incredibly high bandwidth
 engagement with the present moment.


 We saw people like Gandhi do exactly this. Godse put 3 bullets through
 him, and Gandhi’s response was, “Bless you, bless you, bless you.” He
 was not condoning the negative action, but rather he was saying, “I
 oppose the action, but you are much more than that action, and I love
 you.” That larger ‘you’.


 So when we look at relationships and the inconvenience of them, it is
 actually an invitation to grow in virtue, so that we’re able to go from
 that cheap bandwidth to a much deeper engagement in a much more
 multidimensional way.


 And if we do that, then in that field so much can grow, and in turn we
 can build trust in society.


 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload w-100 h-auto"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/nipun_mehta_381fdf86a8.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T06:15:55.703Z"
 alt="nipun-mehta"
 />


 Q: So will this spread, do you think, to all the Afro-American kids
 who are in prison, all the Latino boys who are in prison? You know
 there is a lot of cultural divide, even in a wealthy country like the
 US. And I know there are people like the Greater Good Science team who
 are trying to address those social issues, because it isn’t an equal
 playing field either. So who is responsible for this?


 You and I! We can’t lose our agency through this process. Even with
 generosity – we tend to view generosity as a luxury sport. We say,
 “Look, if you accumulate like me and become very successful, then you
 can give.” But actually it’s not a luxury sport. Those who have the
 least end up giving the most.


 My wife and I were on a walking pilgrimage in 2005. We ate whatever food
 was offered and slept wherever place was offered, and those who had
 absolutely nothing would borrow food to feed us. We are wired to care,
 we are wired to give, we are wired to be related&nbsp;– and neuroscience
 now confirms all this. So we know that we want to do this, but we need
 spaces where we can explore it further. Of course it will take time.
 This isn’t a quick fix; it’s not going to happen overnight; .


 As you said, we have a lot of inequities. But fortunately, generosity,
 compassion, kindness are not reserved for those who have ‘made it’.
 There is no worthy destination until we arrive at acting with compassion
 in any moment&nbsp;– even if it’s silent, even if it’s a humble prayer.
 I have had homeless people on the streets start out by asking me for
 money, and by the end they offer me money. It’s not that I’m asking for
 money, but it’s just that they feel a kinship, they feel a brotherhood.
 And when you feel that brotherhood, you want to serve that brotherhood.


 So how do we tap into that kind of agency and trust the ripple effect?
 This is not going to happen overnight, because the problem was not
 created overnight. It took a long time. It’s just that we weren’t paying
 attention when it was drip by drip by drip. We were de-capacitating
 ourselves drip by drip by drip. And now, drip by drip by drip we have to
 turn it around.


 So if you ask, “What’s the quick fix solution?” I would say there isn’t
 any. And so you may ask, “Are you still committed to that? Are you
 committed to spread love, to do that small act of kindness, to plant
 that tree under whose shade you will never sit, whose blossoming you may
 never get to witness?” I’m willing to do that. It makes me come alive. I
 don’t need that immediate feedback loop. So if you and I are willing to
 step into the space, then I think that’s the start of the revolution.


 Q: Right. So what are the projects in your revolution at the moment?
 What’s happening and what’s going to happen? What’s your vision?


 So ServiceSpace is an incubator of many different projects. We have some
 that are online, like DailyGood and KarmaTube. These projects create
 online communities, spread inspiration. Some are offline, like Awakin
 Circles and Karma Kitchen. Some are in-between, like KindSpring, home of
 the Smile Cards, that create an online community, where people share
 stories, but the Smile Card act is actually in person, in offline space.


 So we have been creating this ecology of many different projects. But
 what binds all of them together is not the projects but the process.
 That process, for the entire ServiceSpace ecosystem includes an
 alignment with three basic building blocks:

<ol>
 <li>
 The first principle is that we’re volunteer run. When no one is paid,
 we are driven entirely by intrinsic motivations. Initially, that
 sounds cute, when you’re starting and you say, “We’re five
 volunteers.” But when you’re 500,000, the field of intelligence, that
 field of purely intrinsically motivated intelligence, is just
 profoundly different in its patterns of innovation.
 </li>
 <li>
 The second principle is that we work with what we have. Not seeking or
 scheming. And the way it manifests concretely is that we never
 fundraise. We just say, “This is what we have,” so we work with what
 we have, which forces us to look at multiple forms of capit We’re no
 longer only thinking that money equals wealth; that is, we don’t think
 without money we can’t do anything. Quite the opposite. Money is one
 form of capital, but so is time, so is attention, so is technology, so
 are stories, cultures and so on. Our creative constraint invites us to
 engage with other forms of capital.
 </li>
 <li>
 The third principle is that we focus on small, which means that we
 never say, “Go out and try to change the world.” We never design for
 that threshold of impact. And when you’re small, the onus is on you to
 be the change. You can’t say, “Oh, I’m trying to change this in this
 person.” You say, “Oh, am I being the change?” And if I’m being the
 change, am I growing in equanimity? Am I growing in tolerance? Am I
 growing in patience? Am I growing in compassion, generosity, and
 kindness? Am I manifesting that in every relationship? And am I then
 trusting the ripple effect of that, as opposed to trusting the ripple
 effect of the might of one’s organization?
 </li>
</ol>

 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload w-100 h-auto"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/nipun_mehta4_f0946607fc.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T06:16:32.444Z"
 alt="nipun-mehta4"
 />


 So these creative constraints are what encompass the whole ServiceSpace
 ecosystem. So we have many projects, doing so many things and touching
 millions of people on a regular basis, but underneath them, the way I
 parse it is that it’s actually about the process underneath, which are
 these core values.

Now, looking at the field, what is emerging right now?

 One thing that has recently emerged is this idea of a Laddership Circle.
 We talk about leadership, which is command and control, whereas
 laddership is about being in the back of the room, tuning into the
 myriad relationships that make up that community. And you change an
 ecosystem not by power, not by control, not by force and coercion, but
 actually by nudges, predicated on your capacity to know the
 interrelationships between everybody.


 For example, look at the way acupuncture works. If I have a neck ache,
 the acupuncturist may place a little pin on my arm – because the knee is
 connected to so many other parts and it creates this ripple effect that
 heals my neck. Similarly, we do that in a social context. It works in
 the same way, and it’s far less violent than other options.


 Then, the question is – how can we &nbsp;create a whole context,
 especially for young people, to hold all this, not as a leader, not as
 somebody who is mighty and centralized, but as a decentralized ecology
 that you hold with this kind of a heart? And that’s not something that
 is taught, and we don’t explore it. So we’ve started these Laddership
 Circles, which have been remarkable. We just had a Nobel Peace Laureate
 who joined one of these circles. They are peer-learning circles, so one
 person doesn’t teach another person. There are small groups of 6 to 8
 folks, with 2 or 3 anchors who are just holding space on the side. And
 you’d be amazed how much we can learn from each other if get out of that
 hierarchical mindset.

<hr />
<h5 style="text-align: center">
 How do you create a whole context, 
 especially for young people, 
 to hold all this, not as a leader, 
 not as somebody who is mighty and centralized, 
 but as a decentralized ecology that 
 you hold with this kind of a heart?
</h5>
<hr />

 Q: So it’s an enabling model.


 It’s a model for growth. It’s not a manufacturing model but a gardening
 model. It’s something that’s emergent.


 Another project, which isn’t released yet, but which I’m excited about,
 is actually creating an eBay-like space, where you can pay not just with
 financial capital but also with other forms of capital. So I knitted
 this beanie for the love of it, because I enjoy knitting. Now you may be
 able to pay and maybe I need to get some money out of it. But I may also
 be happy if you go out and do an act of kindness and share the story
 with me. Or if you donate money to another NGO and send me the receipt.
 Or if you meditate for an hour and send me a reflection. We all know we
 value these actions, but we have never connected people in that sort of
 a way. And why not?


 So I’m very excited about this idea. There was a monk who came out with
 a CD, and he came to us and we were talking about how he was going to
 distribute it. We said, “You know, instead of just putting a price tag
 and doing the regular kind of distribution, why don’t you give people
 the option to also do an act of kindness and send you the story?” And
 hundreds of people sent stories! Can you imagine being a producer of
 value, in that sense, and receiving payment in alternate forms of
 wealth? Sure, I am not denying the power of financial capital. We all
 need money to pay our rent and pay our bills and things like that. But
 at the same time we can’t just blindly be focused on it. We can’t
 discount the immensity of other forms of capital that satisfy us, that
 nourish us, and that actually are regenerative, that nourish the person
 who gives, that nourish the person who receives. So how do we create a
 platform to facilitate these kinds of connections in a many-to-many sort
 of a way? I am excited about that.


 Q: That’s a real gifting ecosystem.


 Yes. And isn’t it amazing that we have all these innovations and
 technologies and we don’t think about alternate capitals? It’s almost
 like back in the days when NBC, CBS, and other centralized TV stations
 were there doing the work, but none of them could come up with a
 YouTube, because they were so entrenched in that worldview.


 Similarly I think that this is the time when spiritual people really
 need to get active, and active people &nbsp;get spiritual. We’re in a
 time when that kind of intelligence needs to arise. The innovation that
 came from YouTube disintermediated the NBCs of the world, and we saw it
 happen across the board: CDs turned into iTunes, billboards turned into
 Google AdWords. But now how do we bring these spiritual qualities into
 greater circulation, leveraging modern technologies and their new
 possibilities? And I think that’s the potential of our times and the
 need of our times. If we don’t do that we are going to continue to strip
 down of what it means to be alive.


 Q: And if we do do it?


 If we do do it, then I think we’ll have a higher engagement with life
 and a lot of virtue will grow in the field of our relationships, of our
 deep relationships. And I’d rather see that kind of a world.

Thank you.
<hr />
<h4 style="text-align: center">Interviewed by ELIZABETH DENLEY</h4>
<hr />

Gift ecology - part 2

Many to many

Nirja Parikh

<h4
 id="h-nirja-parikh-is-a-pediatric-physical-therapist-an-ayurvedic-consultant-a-certified-yoga-instructor-and-a-bharatanatyam-dancer-she-shares-her-journey-of-how-scoliosis-impacted-her-dance-career-and-how-yoga-helped-her-body-heal-and-her-mind-persevere">
 NIRJA PARIKH is a pediatric physical
 therapist, an Ayurvedic consultant, a certified yoga instructor, and a Bharatanatyam dancer. She shares her
 journey of how scoliosis impacted her dance career, and how yoga helped her body heal and her mind
 persevere.</h4>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



Growing up in North Carolina, my talented mom taught me my first choreographed dance routines. I felt at ease when
 performing on stage and enjoyed dancing at various cultural events to Bollywood film songs.&nbsp;At 12, I started
 training in Bharatanatyam, a form of Indian classical dance, and by 16 I had transitioned to advanced training. I
 also joined ballet classes and eventually took a gap year in India after graduation, so that I could focus full-time
 on classical dance.



We all grow up having dreams and ambitions, but many of us never see them fulfilled. I did not want to look back and
 regret not having followed my instincts. As a child, I always enjoyed going to India, and dreamt of going back there
 to learn dance and explore my cultural roots. After college, I auditioned for a dance reality show called Dance
 India Dance. During the fifth round, one of the judges disqualified me when he observed my spine curvature.
 I’ll never forget his statement, “I do not think it is safe for you to continue, given the situation with your
 back.”&nbsp;



With that one statement my dreams fell apart. I came back to the US to get my back checked. I knew I had scoliosis
 (curvature of the spine), but I had never thought it would limit me physically. The judge was right: X-rays showed
 that the curvature of my spine had increased from 12 to 60 degrees, affecting my shoulder blades, rib alignment, and
 breathing. I was immediately taken into surgery, and with two rods, fourteen screws, and two weeks in hospital, my
 whole life changed.



After surgery, the orthopedic surgeon remarked, “Look at you! You’ll be able to do backflips now!” I would come to
 resent that statement, because I believed him. Spine mobility is critical for a dancer, and I later learned that I
 had limitations in extension, rotation, and side bending. I had to re-learn how to move my body in a new way, and
 that is how Yoga became a core part of my life.



I had learned Mala meditation, Sanskrit mantra recitation, and Pranayama breathing as a child. Revisiting
 these lesser-known parts of yoga helped me heal after surgery. Yoga saved my body, which at the time had limited
 motion. Yoga helped me appreciate my new movement patterns and allowed me to let go of my ahankar (ego). By
 not comparing my new body to my old one, I began to appreciate the present moment.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Nonetheless, it was a tough journey. It required turning away from media stimulation and focusing entirely on myself.
 With dedicated practice, I eventually felt like my atman (soul) was reborn into a new body, despite being
 only 22 at the time.&nbsp;What helped me most was the practice of Pratyahara, which involves meditating in
 isolation for a couple of hours. Pratyahara is considered the fifth of the eight limbs of yoga, and it
 allows us to calm the wandering mind and senses. Pratyahara helped me find calm, take control of my
 emotions, and improve my psychological immunity.



The more I learned about yoga, the more I realized that elements of it had been instilled in me since adolescence,
 without the label. For example, I regularly attended Swadhyaya every Sunday, in which we studied the
 eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad Gita, recited Sanskrit slokas, prayed, fasted, and maintained a
 sattvik diet.&nbsp;This facilitated my journey to becoming a yoga instructor, because I was already so
 connected to the spiritual roots of yoga.



But I was intimidated by the other instructors when I first started teaching yoga at the local gym. The other
 instructors could handle the physically-taxing poses. To fit in, I molded myself into the Yoga costume, purchasing
 expensive leggings and accessories from popular athleisure brands. Despite my attempt to fit in and demonstrate my
 qualifications, I still felt unsettled, and at times humiliated and belittled. For example, I would hear the other
 instructors make comments like, “I’d love to go to India to practice yoga, but it’s so dirty.”



After finishing a Yoga Teacher (YTT-200) certification in 2016, I started applying for jobs. I was repeatedly not
 selected, despite having a multi-dimensional understanding of yoga.&nbsp;I realized it was because most studios
 cared only about my appearance and ability to handle physically-taxing poses, a symptom of how the West has
 glamorized the physical positions of yoga and the multi-billion dollar “athleisure” industry behind it. In
 subsequent years, I learned how culturally appropriated Yoga was in modern-day society. This fueled my passion to
 educate people on the true roots of yoga.



I am optimistic that change is coming in the yoga industry. I have been inspired by a small group of masters who are
 finally speaking out about this, and are being heard. As I hone my practice, I have started incorporating elements
 of the yogic culture, including Sanskrit chants. I recently began studying the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita, and the
 Yoga Sutras in depth. Rather than treating yoga just as a profession, I consider it a lifestyle. I try to instill
 yoga into every part of my life – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.



Yoga is a gift. It is a journey and a way of life that enables people of all races, religions, and body types to
 reach their potential, physically and spiritually.



I thank yoga for connecting me with my cultural roots, for making me stronger physically, and for giving me an avenue
 to cope with stress.&nbsp;



<hr class="vertical-space1">

Yoga helped me heal

Niroop owns and runs the restaurant 615chutney in Nashville, Tennesee. 615chutney started off as the only Indian food truck serving vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free South Indian food. His goal has always been to bring South Indian cuisine to the US.&nbsp;

niroop-prabhakar.webp

Niroop Prabhakar

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">NIROOP PRABHAKAR owns and runs the restaurant 615chutney in Nashville, Tennessee. 615chutney started as the only Indian food truck serving vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free South Indian food. Niroop’s goal was to bring South Indian cuisine to the US. He believes that customer service is the key. The voices of his customers and employees matter to him. Here he is interviewed by the Heartfulness Wellness Team.</h4>&nbsp;Q: Can you please share your journey from India to the US and how you started 615chutney?NP: My dad used to say, you can live without anything else but you cannot live without food. That inspired me to get into this noble art of serving food and making good food accessible to everybody. The journey of my food business started with meeting family, eating food like a feast, and sharing love and affection with all mycousins, uncles and aunts.At the end of the day, I wanted to make sure that food was being served with love and the hope that tomorrow is going to be a better day. I was born and raised in Tamil Nadu, then moved to the US in 2008, and ended up in Tennessee. Both states have the initials TN. Well, 615chutney was born.&nbsp;The main goal is to give authentic South Indian food to the southern part of the country, and give it in a special way with good customer service. I empathize with my customers and make sure that my employees are happy when they’re serving the food.Q:&nbsp;The way you connect with your customers through your service is fascinating. What is the reason for reducing the number of seats in your restaurant?NP: Initially, the business started as a food truck and I was serving vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free food which is nothing but the basics of South Indian cuisine—idli, dosa, vada, and pongal.With gluten-free being the future of food, I was able to align my products with whatever the customers wanted. In 2019, we started a brick-and-mortar setup. In a couple of years, the area was hit by a tornado, then Covid-19.Covid helped us think out of the box. I moved to a different location and reduced the number of seats, making sure I accommodated as many guests as possible but at the same time allowing time to talk to everybody individually.Business is all about relationships, and when it comes to the food business, hospitality is key. In Tamil we say “Virunthombal”and hospitality is in our DNA in the south of India. In the south of the United States, I feel at home just by giving southern hospitality. Of late, hospitality has become zero in the Hospitality industry. We have to revive that.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/serving_smiles2_9b45bef70f.webp" alt="serving-smiles2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_serving_smiles2_9b45bef70f.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_serving_smiles2_9b45bef70f.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/serving_smiles2_9b45bef70f.webp 800w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;There's a reason why I connect with the guests who eat in my restaurant. Reducing the seats has given me ample time to talk to everybody individually. Yes, it’s difficult to remember a person by his or her name, but every employee of my restaurant knows every customer, and we believe that every customer is a celebrity.Everybody is treated equally and everybody eats the same food.&nbsp;The goal for 615chutney was to make sure that everybody has access to good food served with love.&nbsp;Q:&nbsp;Beautiful concept! As we say in Indian culture, “Atithi devo bhava,” we have to give from our hearts. Once in the Nashville Voyager magazine, you mentioned, “Do good as much as you can. If you can’t do good then at least don’t do bad.” What inspired you to say that?NP: My dad always said it. I don’t know for what reason, but it went deep into my heart. With anything I do, I make sure there is a good outcome.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/serving_smiles3_66daa9d525.webp" alt="serving-smiles3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_serving_smiles3_66daa9d525.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_serving_smiles3_66daa9d525.webp 670w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/serving_smiles3_66daa9d525.webp 670w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Everybody has different circumstances, everybody cannot be in the same situation as you are in. My dad was a banker, and he used one word a lot—empathize. Put yourself in their shoes and see what they are going through.Despite what they are going through, they have taken the time to drive to your restaurant. They’ve looked at your restaurant at least ten times. They have heard about you and they’ve seen your pictures, and when you’re giving food that they can cook at home, what makes your restaurant stand out? What makes your food different? So that is when I realized that customer service is key. Whoever comes, whatever situation they are in, make sure that you do your best and make sure that they eat, have a good time, and spend their time with a smile.For this, we need good ingredients, good chefs, and a good environment for employees to work in. It is not easy to source great ingredients, and sometimes your chef is upset. Sometimes a customer thinks the food is spicy, and when the food comes back to the kitchen the chef should make sure he says,“I'm sorry, let me make another one for them.”That’s what it is.It's all about giving and taking. When my dad said “Do as much good as you can and if you cannot do good then don’t do bad,” it is only this. When the food is sent back to the kitchen, my chef can be upset saying, “Come on this is not even spicy for me. Why are they doing it?” but any wrong that happens has to be fixed right away. It’s like a game where everybody wants to win, but no one wins when you don’t empathize.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">When you give food,&nbsp; give it from your heart.</h4><hr>Q:&nbsp;Talking about ingredients, running a restaurant for the masses is a challenging task. How do you maintain your food supply chain?NP: The sourcing of ingredients is directly from India. Also, I’ve found an importer in Atlanta that guarantees the ingredients will be here within a month. When the ingredients are fresh, it shows in the food, whether you are at home or in a restaurant. If the ingredients are fresh, the food is eaten.Then comes the chef's cooking with love. Our job is to make sure that everybody who is working is happy and is enjoying what they do. When you love what you do then you will end up doing what you love. When this happens, an employer or manager will be excited saying,“My guests are enjoying the food! My chefs are cooking better food! What is the point of me having a long face?”&nbsp;What I’m trying to say is: when you give food, give it from your heart.Every guest or patron is not a dollar sign. They are your family. Food is one way you can connect to somebody, make them laugh, feel happy and light.Then, when they walk out of your restaurant, they will talk about the entire experience, not just the food, or the waiter, or the robot that serves food in my restaurant. The pandemic helped us think out of the box, so I added the robot!&nbsp;Q:&nbsp; That’s amazing. Before we wrap, what is the one thing that you would like to share with our readers as a takeaway?NP: Making sure food is available to everybody. There is no point saying, “This is good food, so I have to charge that extra dollar.” It’s all about quality and quantity, not just quantity and price. We need to make food available and accessible, and not charge extra for good food.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by LAKSHMI GADDAM&nbsp;</h4><hr>

Serving smiles: from heart to table

Nitin is the Managing Director of the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa business area of Serge Ferrari. Based in Singapore, he is also a family man and is actively involved in Heartfulness activities in SE Asia. Nitin has been a Heartfulness practitioner for almost 20 years and a certified trainer for 16 years.

nitin.jpg

Nitin Govila

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>Managing Director of the Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and Africa business area for Serge Ferrari, NITIN GOVILA is constantly on the move. But despite very busy days he finds time to
 recharge his batteries to be in tune with himself. His secret? For 19 years now he’s been meditating as an integral
 part of his life.</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4><img decoding="async" class="lazyload img-float-right has-img-center-in-mobile"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Nitingovila_73ce7c67c3.jpg"></h4>
After having collaborated for seven years with a French roofing company, Nitin joined
 Serge Ferrari in 2016, a choice that reflects his desire to meet new challenges in a more extensive geographical
 area. 
 “Serge Ferrari stands out by their ability to be active in many market segments and have a desire to function as a
 local company in the countries where they are established. The Group takes on more and more local people to deal with
 markets that vary from country to country. The scope covered by the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa business area
 means we rub shoulders and deal with various cultures that lead us to aim at both multiple and unique market segments.
 Such diversity makes work both very interesting and very demanding,” he explains.
His first meditation experience dates back to 1998 when one of his sales managers at
 that time raised his awareness and introduced him to Heartfulness Meditation. This was a discovery that did not occur
 without questions. 
 “It took me a certain time and understanding to plunge into the first meditation session but I’ve never regretted
 making that choice because it turned out to be a very good way to find a balance between my working life and my
 personal life,” says Nitin.
Heartfulness Meditation began in India, and is now practiced in over 130 countries
 around the world. It is a silent meditation with attention centered on the heart, and it can be practiced anywhere,
 without excessive requirements. 
 “There is no dress code, nor a position to respect; just close your eyes and direct your attention to your heart. You
 can meditate anywhere, at any time, even in a noisy environment, in a plane, in a train, or in the office – whenever
 you have a moment to spare. Depending how much time you have, you can meditate for a short period of 20 or 30 minutes,
 or for an hour. It doesn’t matter where or how long, it all depends on your willpower,” explains Nitin.


<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Meditation provides inner peace 
 that ultimately reflects 
 — consciously or not — 
 outwards and is part of our ability 
 to interact with our environment. 
 Meditation improves our concentration. 
 You can really manage to concentrate 
 when your mind is not disturbed.
</h5>


<hr>
As for taking an hour or more each day to meditate, he adds: “Instead of thinking we
 must take so much time to meditate, we need to reverse the perspective. Meditating enables us to have more time,
 inasmuch as a mind that has meditated allows us to do everything more efficiently.”
During those 19 years of regular practice Nitin has observed many benefits: 
 “Meditation provides inner peace that ultimately reflects — consciously or not — outwards and is part of our ability
 to interact with our environment. Meditation improves our concentration. You can really manage to concentrate when
 your mind is not disturbed. In that respect there is also some serious reasoning to integrate: if meditation is
 introspective and initially requires effort, we don’t concentrate in order to meditate but we meditate to develop the
 ability to concentrate. At Serge Ferrari, I have considerable responsibilities and so my meditation helps me face up
 to any problem or react to challenges in that context. That’s one of the reasons why I continue with Heartfulness
 Meditation. And today I cannot do without it.”


<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">At Serge Ferrari, I have considerable
 responsibilities 
 and so my meditation helps me face up to any problem or 
 react to challenges in that context. 
 That’s one of the reasons why I continue 
 with Heartfulness Meditation. 
 And today I cannot do without it.
</h5>


<hr>
In 2001, Nitin became a life coach (trainer) for Heartfulness Meditation. In his spare
 time he accompanies people to discover meditation by giving them some keys to learning. Voluntary coaching satisfies a
 desire to share with others what he sees as freely accessible kindness. 
 “No money interest motivated that choice. I simply want to exchange with people who would like to understand better
 what they practice,” he explains. “Briefly, as you will have understood, everyone who feels the need can start and use
 it. All Heartfulness Meditation coaches are volunteers. Likewise, being a coach has no hierarchical notion. Those who
 practice are asked to meditate at their own pace and conveniece of time; we lead them all to evolve at their own pace,
 depending on their own feelings. When I speak for the first time with a beginner, I tell him, ‘You only need only one
 thing – your willpower.’”
In short, you can understand that all who feel the need are capable of meditating. There’s no particular esoteric
 need or initiation rite liable to stir up skepticism. It’s sufficient to want and be ready to dive deep into yourself.

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h6 style="text-align: left;">Reprinted with permission from Serge Ferrari’s internal magazine, Zebu, printed
 in English, French and German.</h6>
<hr class="vertical-space1">

With peace on his shoulders

A lifelong writer, Noelle is also a mainstream and academic editor, writing coach, and spiritual counselor, with many publications, including articles in Challenges in Writing Your Dissertation (Rowman &amp; Littlefield, 2015) and Trust Your Life (Unity Books, 2011). She is grateful for the gifts to share and apply spiritual principles.&nbsp;

noelle-stern.webp

Noelle Sterne

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">NOELLE STERNE tackles the most uncomfortable of emotions, envy and jealousy, and how competition with others can either cripple us or force us to try a more positive and enlightened approach.&nbsp;</h4>For me, competition takes the form of predictable pangs of envy seeing the high school science nerd who sat in the back getting a MacArthur Fellowship. Or my friend marrying a billionaire tech mogul. Or a book club member whose novel never seemed to be finished landing a contract with a major publisher. Or, as I was working on this article, a novelist who has written 14 Course in Miracles bestsellers, publishes in the top magazines, and appears on many television shows.&nbsp;In a Unity booklet, 40 Days of Letting Go: Lent 2023, the Reverend Cylvia Hayes describes those envious feelings perfectly: “Competitiveness keeps us focused on who we think we’re supposed to be rather than celebrating who we already are… our sense of worth on a comparison with others’ accomplishments, rather than truly appreciating our own unique talents, traits, gifts, and expressions.”Much as I try distractions, the comparisons and pangs sit heavy on my heart, coloring everything—the wonderful pasta meal, the delicious nap, the invigorating swim. I repeatedly tell myself that the successes of others don’t have to affect mine, but I’m never convinced. Soon the pangs spread and become full-blown depression. &nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Strategies</h4>I’ve tried many tactics to dilute the depression. Console myself with the nerd’s lack of a significant relationship (in contrast to my longstanding one). My girlfriend’s losing battle with weight (in contrast to my slimming down and keeping down). The book club member’s frizzy hair (in contrast to my sleek pixie). The multi-novelist’s penchant for formularized paranormal romance, which I’d never do. But, at best, these are band-aids. I immerse myself in my writing, attempting to block out everything else. But soon my plaguing inner editor rears up: This is garbage. Throw it out. You’ll never get anywhere.I go out with friends. Or watch a string of rom-coms or lawyer shows while decimating a whole bag of corn chips. Or sleep too much.None of it works. The feelings can’t be covered, substituted, or held at bay for long. I’ve tried to block them out with whatever method, and I feel no better. And then they spiral into a fireworks of fervent vindictive wishes (the nerd’s latest invention blows up, my girlfriend gains so much weight she can hardly walk, the book club member fails to deliver her manuscript on time and her contract is cancelled, the novelist’s next one is a turkey).I really hate myself for those malevolent wishes of my small mind, ungenerous spirit, and cruelty I didn’t know I was capable of.So, what to do?<h4 style="text-align:justify;">How to counter the cruel competitive feelings?</h4>I’ve learned to turn away from the thoughts that lead to those competitive and depressive feelings. My methods of spiritual reading and meditation may not be for you, but I’ve found them supremely helpful, and you might want to test them out.&nbsp;Turning away is hard when the anguish seems to have me enslaved. If I’m successful, turning away is only half the remedy. It may weaken the intensity and the hold those feelings have on me, but more is needed.&nbsp;Thoughts trigger feelings, and I remind myself that I have the mental capacity and will to change my thoughts. The remedy, again not easy, is consciously to substitute other thoughts.&nbsp;I discovered a Bible passage that became the perfect substitute for my teeth-gnashing envy. In 1 Corinthians, Paul writes to the fledging church at Corinth, Greece, about their conflicts with leadership and personalities. As with many of Paul’s letters, he supports and encourages the members, urges them to solve their disagreements, and always reminds them of the supremacy of God.&nbsp;In the passage that struck me (1 Corinthians 12: 4-11), Paul addresses the erroneous idea that one person’s “gift” is better than another’s. It also resonates down the ages with a priceless lesson, especially when that ol’ devil competition rears up.Appropriate to the culture and time, Paul enumerates gifts each person is given—wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of different tongues, speaking in tongues and interpreting them, and the crowning conclusion:All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines (1 Cor. 12:11).Although Paul’s examples of “gifts” may differ from the ones we covet today, his insights apply. For me, it’s the talents and successes of novelists. For my obese girlfriend, it may be the diet and willpower of an impossibly slender model. For my book club colleague, it may be the perseverance of another author whose books make it into movies. For the paranormal romance novelist, it may be writing a wholly realistic novel.&nbsp;Yet, who is to say that an author has more gifts to share than an airport attendant, a senator than a sanitation worker, a physicist than a plumber?Some of the gifts may seem more important, more contributory. But again, who is to say that the sanitation worker isn’t providing daily blessings to everyone in the neighborhood? A Course in Miracles reiterates Paul: “Love makes no comparisons.”&nbsp;I invite you to think of your own gifts and whom they bless.In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron comments that competition and jealousy are “always a mask for fear: fear that we aren’t able to get what we want; frustration that somebody else seems to be getting what is rightfully ours even if we are too frightened to reach for it.”&nbsp;Cameron says that competition is a “spiritual drug.” We focus on the wrong thing, on them and their accomplishments, instead of our own work. Her solution is to “go within,” to what “our inner guidance is nudging us toward.” As we turn within, our own work rises up to greet us, we get excited about it (at least a little), and become engrossed in it rather than bemoaning our ill luck in the wake of another person’s successes.If you’re jealous of a friend who writes good crime novels, Cameron says, “Try writing one.” For me, with gnawing jealousy of the novelists, the answer is to finish my damn novel and start sending it out. Cameron is also reassuring, obliquely echoing Paul: “The truth… is that there is room for all of us.”&nbsp;In addition to her sage advice, I’ve found another antidote for that insidious poisonous devil competition: gratitude—to recognize my gifts and be constantly thankful for them. Every time the devil threatens, I turn away and instead say to Him, “Thank You for what I have and can give.” It works.Paul offers more: Each of us is given gifts or desires “as He determines.” Therefore, should we not thank Him for His particular gifts to us and the many opportunities—places, people, situations—to use them? Yes.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/devil_competition2_977b3e17d6.webp" alt="devil-competition2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_devil_competition2_977b3e17d6.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_devil_competition2_977b3e17d6.webp 381w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/devil_competition2_977b3e17d6.webp 381w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;And should we not develop and use them to our utmost? Yes.He has given us gifts according to our capacities for our own and others’ good. Should we not express gratitude? Yes.Reminders such as these show me how to stop fueling the competition engine that erodes my writing, my desire to contribute, and my enjoyment of life. The engine sputters to a stop. With a grateful heart, I return to my work.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Thoughts trigger feelings, and I remind myself that I have the mental capacity and will to change my thoughts. The remedy, again not easy, is consciously to substitute other thoughts.&nbsp;</h4><hr>

That ol’ devil competition

NSN is founder and CEO at Sensei Technologies. He has been practicing Heartfulness meditation for 20+ years and is deeply interested in the science of spirituality, software architecture & design philosophies. He also works with Brighter Minds to develop tools and techniques to enhance cognitive skills, especially for children.

NSN.jpg

NS Nagaraja

<h4>N.S. NAGARAJA writes about sleep, dreams, cartoon heroes, near death experiences, twisting space and possibilities. What can our senses really tell us about the world around us and inside us?</h4>

Yes, I should have just slept that night. I was half asleep and ready to rest. The inseparable, my phone, caught my attention, and so I checked one last time for the day. There was a message from an old school mate, and it said a thing or two, ending with, “On matters of God, I am undecided.” I stared at it for some time not knowing how or what to say.

This spiritual field of feelings is not easy to explain to the intellectual mind. I felt, “Intellect of this kind could be considered as a state of ignorance for the other kind!” In the same half asleep, I happened to read a short article on Near Death Experiences, which said that NDE research is only records of the experiences of people who went through it, and that is not scientific enough. It said that NDE could simply be a neurobiological condition produced under low oxygen levels in the brain, leading to hallucination. How convincing (not)!

I thought, “Less oxygen leads one to biological death, is it not?” But this particular article was trying to convince us that one day science will be able to show that NDE is a creation of the brain and there will be methods to simulate that condition in the brain. Long ago, when I started meditation, I used to think that meditation could just be triggering a chemical change in the brain. Subsequently, my brain allowed for many possibilities and helped me transcend the trap of theories so that I could explore reality with an open mind. The same questions, time and again, cross many minds. Now it was surely time to sleep.

I slipped into sleep with some sort of awareness. Of course it was not a NDE for sure! Now I was in a dreamy state in which there was an idea: what if, now, at this moment, the physical space around me has another dimension? ...

<h4>Read the complete article in Volume 2, Issue 1
</h4>
<h4><a href="//www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SUBSCRIBE &amp; DOWNLOAD</a></h4>
<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">Article by N.S. NAGARAJA</h4>
<hr />

When I was half asleep

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>NS NAGARAJA presents to us an index of some theories of consciousness that have
 been put forward in the fields of philosophy, science and spirituality. They are not the only theories, but they do
 awaken the curiosity to discover more!</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
‘In Search of Consciousness’ is a nicer title than the article itself, and you will find
 out soon enough! This topic is all about a self in search of itself. For what purpose? When the finder finds
 oneself, who will know the answer? The finder or the found? Sometimes philosophy sounds like this, doesn’t it! The
 purpose of this article is to capture key ideas about consciousness from the perspectives of philosophy,
 spirituality and science, and to motivate you to Google more – this is certainly not an exhaustive list. Not only
 that, this indexing type of article may encourage you to search, think and tinker with consciousness itself!
<h4>What is consciousness?</h4>
Let us start with a simple definition by Dr Christoff Koch: “Consciousness is everything
 that we experience.”
We have a physical body that performs many functions. Likewise, we all have, “Something
 in us that makes awareness or perception possible.” We know the simple sensory inputs of smell, taste, sight, touch
 and sound, which generate rich inner experience. The inner experience can be joy, pain or complex imagination, and
 so on.
Is the experience a physical phenomenon, arising out of complex information processing
 in the brain? Or is it a non-physical phenomenon associated with constructs like the soul or the self, or some
 universal field of energy?
Some philosophers consider experience as the hard problem of consciousness. Some
 scientists argue that once we understand how it works, it will be yet another physical process. This article will
 list some of the key intuitive approaches (spiritual approaches) and more mechanistic approaches to consciousness.

<h4>Theories of Consciousness</h4>
<img class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/buddha_ee8681b1fa.jpg"
 alt="in-search-of-consciousness" />

<h5 style="text-align: center;">The Buddhist concept</h5>
Way back in 400 BC, Buddhist philosophy proposed that consciousness is the life force
 that continues across rebirths, and also posited that there are 9 levels of consciousness:
Levels 1 to 5 arise out of the five senses: eyes – sight, nose – smell, ears – hearing,
 tongue – taste, and body – touch;
Level 6 is the mind consciousness related to ideas and thoughts;
Level 7 is the inner life that creates the sense of self and is associated with emotions
 and attitude;
Level 8 is the subconscious, the repository of all karmic effects, that lives beyond
 this life; and
Level 9 is pure consciousness – a life force that creates complete harmony of the
 internal and external, and a sense of connectedness or oneness.
Buddhism provides a set of practices to expand or deepen consciousness through
 meditation and contemplation.


<hr>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/plato_4882bd57bd.jpg"
 alt="in-search-of-consciousness" />

<h5 style="text-align: center;">Plato</h5>
Around the same period, Plato theorized that the mind receives information through
 senses, and the soul uses this information to create form and perception.
The allegory of Plato’s Cave is a simple thought experiment that gives interesting
 insights on how Plato viewed the problem of perception. Aristotle, who was Plato’s disciple, argued that the soul is
 seated in the heart and is the principal power by which life itself happens. Aristotle seemed to imply that
 consciousness is the property of the soul itself.


<hr>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Integrated_information_theory_12c9539661.jpg"
 alt="in-search-of-consciousness" />

<h5 style="text-align: center;">Integrated Information Theory and Consciousness
 Meter</h5>
Many scientists have tried to derive an understanding of consciousness by starting with
 the laws of physics, and therelationship between consciousness and the brain is still a subject of deep research. On
 the other hand, Integrated Information Theory (IIT) is a body of research that seeks to explain consciousness by
 first accepting its existence, and then reasoning about what sort of physical entity could manifest consciousness.

IIT was first proposed by Giulio Tononi in 2004 and has since undergone many
 improvements. Some characteristics it attributes to consciousness are:
It exhibits composition where there are distinct elements in it that are part of the
 experience.
Each experience is distinct and differentiated from other experiences in the past or
 future.
It is unified and it cannot be reduced to smaller experiences of phenomena inside it.

IIT lays down certain postulates on what a physical entity like the brain that manifests
 consciousness needs to have. It should have cause-effect power, meaning it can influence other entities and can be
 influenced by other entities.
IIT also gives an account of why conscious brains might have evolved: brains that
 reflect the causal structure of their environment in their internal causal structure can adapt better.
IIT lays down facts about relationship between the brain and consciousness as well as
 providing certain inferences and extrapolations about consciousness. For example, the cerebral cortex is more likely
 to manifest consciousness than the cerebellum, because the neurons in the cerebral cortex can form a complex large
 enough for consciousness whereas the neurons in the cerebellum do not.
IIT also predicts that experiences can be had even when the cerebral cortex is silent,
 like in states of meditation. This body of knowledge has become an important step in advancing our understanding of
 consciousness.
Tononi and team have developed a tool to measure the consciousness level of a person.
 The Zap and Zip Technique involves sending an intense magnetic pulse through the skull and recording the induced
 electrical flow in the neuronal networks. A simple algorithm is then used to compute the complexity of brain
 activity. When tested on normal people, people under the influence of anesthesia, and people in a comatose state,
 the values obtained have consistently shown that it is possible to quantify and determine whether someone is
 conscious or not. Further research might help us understand how widespread consciousness is in nature.


<hr>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/tunnel_ba5a6d4163.jpg"
 alt="in-search-of-consciousness" />

<h5 style="text-align: center;">Global Workspace Theory</h5>
Imagine you are seated in a theater, looking at the stage. On stage there are many
 actors, objects, the backdrop, movement, colors and sound. Now imagine a spotlight focused only on one actor and his
 actions. Everything else is still there, but it is not the focus. The director, technicians, audience and all other
 activities have slipped into the background and the spotlight highlights the one actor and his movement as the main
 focus. All the complex co-ordination, support and direction processes are all hidden. The conscious part is seen by
 the audience, directed by the spotlight. Hold on to this idea.
Now think that the whole brain is a theater, with many parts of the brain performing
 various functions. Now assume that our focus (spotlight) is on some set of thoughts or experiences; our conscious
 awareness is mainly on one thing, and all others are in the background. Global Workspace Theory proposes that all
 sensory and other inputs are communicated to all cognitive functional components of the brain. The conscious
 experience is generated as a result of some focused neuronal activities, and many others are hidden in the
 background to support this. According to GWT, consciousness in an integrative function of the brain to generate the
 rich experience. Bernard Baars is the architect of this theory, which provides an interesting perspective to origins
 of consciousness.


<hr>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4 style="text-align:center;"><img class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/neurons_4172bde57f.jpg"
 alt="in-search-of-consciousness" />
</h4>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Orchestrated Objective Reduction – the Quantum View
</h5>
Many scientists have constructed new theories to explain consciousness. Karl Pribam,
 David Bohm and many others have believed that classical mechanics is not sufficient to explain the phenomenon of
 consciousness. They propose that the quantum mechanical phenomenon, the entanglement and superposition, may play a
 role in brain functioning and, in some way, provide the basis for conscious experience.
Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff have been working since the early ’90s on a theory of
 consciousness known as Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch-OR or OOR). OOR is a new effort to bring physics and
 neuroscience together to explain how the brain may be involved in the process of consciousness. The fundamental
 hypothesis is that the neurons have molecular structures (microtubules), which can potentially support quantum
 processes. This theory argues that consciousness is not because of some complex processing in the brain, but instead
 it is because of quantum processes inside neurons. Such a possibility in theory opens up large scale information
 processing, and even takes perception beyond the individual into the realm of a connected universal field. There
 seems to be some early evidence to prove the existence of quantum activity in brain cells.


<hr>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/body_points_eb7a325f26.jpg"
 alt="in-search-of-consciousness" />

<h5 style="text-align: center;">Subtle Body Approach – Energy Field</h5>
In the Heartfulness philosophy, consciousness is seen as the integrated field of the
 subtle body, which has a spectrum consisting of the subconscious, conscious and superconscious. The expansion of
 consciousness from the current level of a person to the depths of the subconscious and the heights of the
 superconscious is known as spiritual evolution. And this evolution continues beyond the consciousness spectrum.
 Daaji has written extensively on the spiritual anatomy of the chakras, the subtle bodies and consciousness. Daaji’s
 integrative approach provides simplified and rich information, and many new insights for all who want to dive deeper
 in the mysteries of consciousness.
In search of consciousness, outwardly, will give you lots of theories. In search of consciousness inwardly, what will
 you get?
Deep within it is bliss; high above it is oneness.
Transcending consciousness; what lies beyond?
<hr class="vertical-space1">
References: 
 Integrated information theory, <a
 href="http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Integrated_ information_theory">http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Integrated_ information_theory
 </a> 
 Integrated information theory: from consciousness to its physical substrate, <a
 style="color: #b38a1b;"
 href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn.2016.44">https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn.2016.44</a>

<hr class="vertical-space1">


<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by NS NAGARAJA</h4>


<hr>

In search of consciousness

<h4>NS NAGARAJA shares some thoughts on the science of peace.</h4><hr>Peace is something everybody wants. Perhaps it is one of the top ten highly prized items! What is this peace?Peace is “freedom from disturbance.” A disturbed state comes when there is disruption from normal and steady functioning. This applies to an individual inside, as well as to a community, a state or a country. By the time I finished writing this line, almost accidentally I read something about T. S. Elliot’s The Waste Land. I was sure that I would not be able to read and understand 434 lines of poetry, but I wanted to check what it was about. The ending caught my attention: “Shantih shantih shantih.”. I was not interested in The Waste Land any more, but in the person who wrote it, and what made him write “Peace, peace, peace” at the end. He must be a noble soul.The Nobel prizewinner had a great amount of disturbance in his personal life. It pushed him to create great literary works like The Waste Land that left a yearning with the signature saying, “We want peace, peace and peace.” Elliot moved on from The Waste Land and produced other great works, perhaps in the state of peace.This led me to explore more of the science of peace. The first reference I came across is from the field of practical philosophy taught in the Upanishads. I must warn you that I know very little about the Upanishads, but they talk about Tapa trayas, the three kinds of troubles (I had a lot of them!) and how to resolve them and achieve peace. Adi bhautika (physical realm) troubles arise out of external circumstances, Adi daivika (divine realm) troubles arise out of karmic laws and Adhyaatmika troubles arise out of one’s own self – body and mind.The Upanishads preach that shanti mantras (prayers for peace) can bring the troubled individual out of this troubled condition. Now my curiosity started growing. We all know that a particular state of being embodies a certain level of consciousness, but that itself is a knowledge and we may not have of full understanding of it. In the ancient teachings, mantras were used to invoke certain knowledge and a condition in the person reciting them, whereas repeating them mechanically is a ritualistic act with little or no results.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/peace_from_the_waste_land_other_realms_1_img_bf1ec4f39c.jpg">&nbsp;Here are some of these prayers called shanti mantras.One from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says:Aum! That (Brahman) is infinite, and this (universe) is infinite. The infinite proceeds from the infinite. (Then) taking the infinitude of the infinite (universe), It remains as the infinite (Brahman) alone. Aum! Peace! Peace! Peace!This evokes a sense of the vastness of existence. The “I” is part of such infinity. Moving the mind in this thought itself can be elevating. Attaching the mind to that higher ideal, that Reality, even if it is temporary, will produce corresponding vibrations and feelings.This one from the Taittiriya Upanishad brings a simple idea of togetherness. If we truly immerse our minds in the meaning, will we not start caring about our co-travelers?Aum! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together; May we work conjointly with great energy, May our study be vigorous and effective; May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any). Aum! Let there be peace in me! Let there be peace in my environment! Let there be peace in the forces that act on me!&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/peace_from_the_waste_land_other_realms_2_img_ae4136f5d7.jpg">&nbsp;The following shanti mantra from the Aitareya Upanishad is about integrity and being truthful:Aum! May my speech be in accord with my mind; May my mind be in accord with speech. O Self-effulgent One, reveal Thyself to me. May you both (speech and mind) be the carriers of the Veda to me. May all that I have heard not depart from me. I shall join together day And night through this study. I shall utter what is verbally true; I shall utter what is mentally true. May That (Brahman) protect me; May That protect the speaker (i.e. the teacher), may That protect me; May That protect the speaker – may That protect the speaker. Aum! Peace! Peace! Peace! Lead us from the unreal to the real Lead us from darkness to light Lead us from death to immortality Aum! Peace! Peace! PeaceNow, can all this knowledge and understanding of peace come without truly being in that state of being, that spiritual condition? Ponder over it.Let the spiritual condition create the necessary awareness and knowledge in us. If pursued under proper guidance and with the help of Yogic Transmission, meditation can truly create that spiritual condition in us. Let peace not remain as knowledge or definition. Let it be the foundation of our existence and help us launch our consciousness into a realm yet to be known.&nbsp;

Peace from "The Waste Land" and other realms

oprah-winfrey.webp

Oprah Winfrey

Challenges

Wounds to wisdom

Becoming a mother

defualt-profile-image.png

Oscar Wilde

A lifelong romance

osho.webp

Osho

Truth

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

The free air of simplicity

Ovid

Habits change into character

Krishna is an innovator and educator, with more than thirty years of experience in designing, producing and marketing innovative products and services. He is known for his management of the design and construction of houses and ashrams in various parts of India. He is also the Chairman of the Lalaji Memorial Omega International School in Chennai.

pr-krishna.jpg

P.R Krishna

P.R.KRISHNA shares his observations on the background chatter in the mind, the quantum field of realities we create for ourselves, and what is beyond both in the realm of pure universal consciousness.&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;Recently, while sitting in meditation I was troubled because of some events that had taken place. As a result, it was difficult to center myself and go deep into meditation. I tried to apply my will to control the flow of thoughts and after a while my mind became more or less still. Even after this, though, I observed that a sort of background chatter persisted. It was not very strong, but it was noticeable.I thought about why it was there, and it occurred to me that this background chatter is like the background radio waves that are prevalent throughout the universe. All of us know of SETI, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.The scientists at SETI listen to and filter radio waves that form the background chatter of the universe. They apply algorithms to see if any of these waves are intelligible. The theory is that if they have a coherent structure then there is a good probability that someone with intelligence is out there trying to communicate with us.The other idea of relevance is that of the quantum field of physics. The quantum field is the field of un-manifested probability. Physicists tell us that as observers we cause certain realities to manifest from out of the vast sea of probabilities that exists, just by the mere fact of observing them. This is the essence of the Special Theory of Relativity proposed by Einstein.What is this quantum field? Think of it as a wok full of oil. A cook tests the oil’s heat by sprinkling a few drops of water on it. If the oil is hot enough, the water droplets make a loud spluttering noise and dance on the surface of the oil as soon as they hit the surface. The quantum field is similar. In the beginning, before we have regulated and trained our minds through meditation and rid our minds of the unnecessary complexities that exist, the surface of the&nbsp;oil is covered with a scum made up of our samskaras (complexities). Thus, every time we observe the quantum field of probable realities for the future, we see stuff that is from our past. This is visible to us because it is what we have created and therefore what we see.<hr>What is the nature of this background chatter? I have observed that this chatter is our baggage, largely composed of our samskaras, which determine our desires and attitudes and beliefs.<hr>We create our own reality and our own future. We observe what we want to see with our colored vision, and think that there is no other reality other than the one we create for ourselves, without even being aware we are doing so.Until we are ready to accept that our reality is not the real one, there can be no change in us nor in the world around us. At the beginning of a spiritual journey our consciousness is very narrow, so our field of view is limited and often very negative as well. In a sense, we are running our own version of SETI every day, trying to make sense of our personal background chatter. The problem is that our algorithm is governed by our state of being, often full of desires, fears and insecurities, all compounded by our attitudes and beliefs.This is the best and most important reason for ‘positive thinking’. If we continue to conjure up doomsday scenarios from the quantum field, they will manifest, simply because we cause them to manifest.This is also the philosophy behind the importance of prayer and positive suggestion.The will, I believe, is the instrument that we use to pick one un-manifested probability from out of the vast field of such probabilities. This is why in a spiritual practice we stress the development of the will so much.Now, the question is: What is the nature of this background chatter? I have observed that this chatter is our baggage, largely composed of our samskaras, which determine our desires and attitudes and beliefs.When we do a serious spiritual practice, we are trying to alter the very nature of our personal quantum field, to rid it of all the accumulated fears and desires and insecurities. By cleaning the heart and mind regularly, we change the nature of the field as it becomes purified.When we receive Yogic Transmission from a Guru of caliber, the very nature of the field is changed over time. In this way our attempts at changing ourselves from the inside are reinforced. These two processes go hand in hand: Yogic Transmission changes us and we change ourselves, until we become a very different person from the one who started the process. Our view of the quantum field now is significantly different from the old view, since we have changed. Therefore, the reality that we now create for ourselves is very different from the ones of the past. The very nature of the field of probabilities has changed. At this stage, the background chatter is still there, but it is muted to a faint shadow, even though it still has the capacity to disturb!I believe that this is the real transformation that takes place as we evolve. We exchange our lower level quantum field, composed of all the dross and grossness of our past, and replace it gradually with a quantum field that is upward-looking, light and devoid of negativity; in a sense, more spiritual.Then there is an even more profound change. The very nature of the field changes from one that is personal and narrow to one that is universal: our entire outlook changes. All our fears, desires, insecurities and ambitions of the past are replaced by a more aspirational outlook, one that is now asking the real question, “How do I reach the goal of life?”As we evolve, we become less and less concerned with ourselves, and more and more concerned with others and how to help them. Our consciousness itself transforms over time to become more and more universal, subtle and spiritual. When our consciousness expands to a breadth where there is very little of us and almost all of it is concern for our fellow beings, then we approach what can be called ‘universal consciousness’.What is the role of the will in all of this? Our will is the tool that we use to interact with the quantum field. It is the instrument that we use to pick one probability out of the vast field, and to make that one probability manifest as our very own reality. The will is thus a slave to our nature and does our bidding.If we are full of desires and fears and ambition, the will acts in a certain manner. As we change, the very nature of will changes also.The ego plays a very large role in the way in which we use our willpower, as it controls the way in which we transform intent into action. When the ego is sublimated and refined, intent is translated into action that is towards our spiritual progress. When we think with the heart and not with the mind, the ego is regulated and this results in correct action. This is why, when in doubt, it is better to ask the heart and not the mind. The voice of the conscience is the voice of the heart.<hr>When our consciousness expands to a breadth where there is very little of us and almost all of it is concern for our fellow beings, then we approach what can be called ‘universal consciousness’.<hr>As we evolve and become less egoistic, we are less concerned with the results of our actions and more concerned with doing our best, leaving the result up to God. The more we learn to do this, the more the will becomes pure, until we reach a stage when our will is almost divine. Man’s will is coloured by all the stuff that rules man, whereas God’s will does what needs to be done to restore balance, and is not clouded by human frailty.So, we can do away with the background chatter if we:<ul><li style="text-align:justify;">Clean the heart and mind and meditate regularly so that the very nature of the quantum field changes over time,</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Learn to sublimate the ego through changing our nature, replacing ambition with aspiration and controlling our desires and fears and insecurities,</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Allow the will to become pure, so that it becomes a wonderful instrument, capable of creating awe and growth. Why is it important to eliminate background chatter from our lives?</li></ul>All of us know that in order to think and act efficiently and effectively we need silence. Chatter prevents clear thinking and confuses us, so that we are not able to choose wisely. When there is silence, we are able to think and act with clarity. We can also see God’s creation in all its wonder. We marvel at it, and aspire to become one with it.I have always gone into some sort of retreat when I am stressed or disturbed. This helps me to center myself and regain touch with my core. It produces the peace and quiet that is essential for a spiritual life.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by P.R.KRISHNA</h4><hr>

Background Chatter

P.V. Sindhu is a professional badminton player. She has won medals at multiple tournaments, including the Olympics, and a gold at the 2019 World Championships. She is also the recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna sporting honor, and both the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan civilian awards in India.

pvsindhu.jpg

P.V. Sindhu

<h4>Youth icon, sportswoman, and multi-award recipient, P.V. SINDHU has many
 national and international titles under her belt, the latest being the 2019 World Badminton Championships. A
 never-say-never attitude, a magnetic smile and twinkling eyes, she is an epitome of humbleness and graceful poise.
 Here she speaks with SATYA SAHAY at the inauguration of the P.V. Sindhu Badminton
 Academy at the Lalaji Memorial Omega International School in Chennai, India.</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
Q: I’m very grateful and super excited to have a
 heart-to-heart conversation with you.
PVS: It is a great pleasure for me to be here at
 LMOIS in Chennai, where I’m coming for the first time to inaugurate this new badminton facility that is named after
 me. I hope that those youngsters you take up badminton will come here to practice and train hard, and in future be
 more successful.
Q: You have ignited so many lives by being who you are,
 and you have inspired so many girls to take up sports and dream of reaching the same heights. This is an
 encouragement and support to them all.
PVS: Thank you so much. It’s nice to be told that,
 but it’s not just my hard work; it’s a lot of people’s hard work who have supported me. My parents have been very
 supportive, and my coach, and I’m thankful to them. Parents’ support is much needed by anyone who gets into sports;
 it’s not just a few months of hard work, but years of hard work, and success is not immediate. But with hard work you
 will definitely get there. Not only in sports, but in other things like studies, ups and downs are always there. Some
 might find success early and some find it late, but there’s a process and it will take time. You have to be patient
 and you have to believe in yourself.
Q: So, tell us a little about your childhood and
 upbringing.
PVS: I started playing badminton at the age of
 eightand-a-half, just for fun, and when I started I never thought I’d become an Olympic medalist or a World Champion.
 My parents are volleyball players and they always supported me with whatever sport I wanted to do. Step by step, I got
 better. My mom and dad guided me, because they knew how it was coming from a sports background and the experiences
 they had faced. Even now, whenever I play and make a few mistakes here and there, they tell me, “You need to do this,”
 or “You need to do that.” That helped me in improving my game and I’m very thankful to them.
<img class="lazyload w-100"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hfn_sindu4_ce7f02518b.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T04:17:33.931Z" />
 The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi with the Rio Olympic Silver Medal Winner &amp; Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
 Awardee of 2016, Indian shuttler P.V. Sindhu, in New Delhi on August 28, 2016. Image credits: Wikimedia Commons
Q: What were the values in your family? Are there any
 qualities that you are grateful for?
PVS: As I said, hard work is one of the most
 important things, because you won’t achieve success so easily. You have to keep working hard. Also, whenever I would
 lose – you know there are always ups and downs – I learnt never to think it’s over, there’s always a next time. When I
 lost, obviously I would feel sad, but my parents would say, “There’s always a next time.”
Q: So how do you cope with failure in an individual sport
 where you’re not part of a team?
PVS: It’s not only in individual sports, but also
 in team sports, every player feels sad or bad whenever they lose a match or come up with failure. But failure doesn’t
 mean it’s over, and you learn a lot from your loss. The next time you face that same opponent, you won’t make the same
 mistakes again. It’s not that you shouldn’t lose, that you always have to win, because that can’t happen. So, you have
 to be strong and you have to come back stronger to face the next challenge.
<img
 class="lazyload img-float-left has-img-center-in-mobile"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hfn_sindhu2_5ec01973ee.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T04:19:05.462Z" />
 Q: And how do you cope with winning?
PVS: Winning is always a very positive thing. You
 feel happy, you are motivated, and it’s important that you stay grounded and be aware that you won’t keep winning
 every time. You can’t become overconfident because that will lead to something else. You can be happy with your win,
 and the next time you face the same opponent you have to give 100% to the game. In badminton there are a lot of
 strategies, and every time you play the game changes. So you have to be mentally and physically strong.
Q: How did you discover your ability as a sports person?
 Was it easy to follow your passion?
PVS: It wasn’t easy, but at the same time I really
 enjoyed it. I think you need to enjoy sports; you need to enjoy whatever you do. It shouldn’t be a forced thing where
 you’re playing and winning for someone else. You need to feel happy doing it. It wasn’t easy, and there were times
 when I kept losing, and people started asking me, “What’s happening?” But then I came back much stronger, and I gave
 the answer to them with my racket. Criticism always comes, so don’t take it to heart, and let it go. You have to think
 what’s good for you and not spoil your mental condition.
Q: Is there any routine or act that you do before big
 matches?
PVS: It’s very important to take proper rest. You
 practice all the time, but before a match you can’t exhaust yourself. So to feel fresh and rested is important. Before
 any match the preparation is to get to know your opponent, what her strategies are, and how to play against her. And
 in case Plan A doesn’t work, you need to have a Plan B, and to decide on the court in the spur of the moment, under
 pressure, in a matter of seconds. That is crucial.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Hard work is one of the most important things, 
 because you won’t achieve success so easily. 
 You have to keep working hard
</h5>
<hr>
Q: And is there anything that you feel brings you
 luck?
PVS: I believe in God. There’s no lucky action, or
 any such thing, and I do believe that on a particular day whoever plays better wins. I’ve taken up Heartfulness
 practices, which really help me, and they have made a huge difference. There were times when I got angry with myself,
 when I lost points in a match, and I didn’t know what I was doing. But with this practice, I now find those answers
 within myself. I keep calm and keep going, which is very important when you’re playing long matches and feeling
 impatient. For example, when you’re leading by seven points and eager to finish, it’s important to close your eyes for
 a few seconds and get ready. These small changes help you a lot to stay focused and calm.
Q: What does it take to become a great sportsperson? How
 much of it is talent, how much attitude and hard work?
PVS: It is not any one thing; you need everything
 in equal parts. It’s like a chain, where you need to have determination, the right attitude, hard work, and also
 talent. It’s connected and everything together makes a champion. You also need to be grounded when you taste success;
 that’s important.
Q: How do you maintain your graceful poise under
 pressure?
PVS: Every player faces pressure, and that is when
 you need to just keep going, keep calm. People want me to win, the expectations are always there, there are
 responsibilities. That is when you think, “I need to win.” So it’s very important to bear in mind that you’re not
 playing for other people; it’s for yourself. And when you go on court and give one hundred percent and win, it’s for
 yourself and for the people too, for the country. If you let others’ expectations affect your mind, that brings extra
 pressure on you.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Learning to meditate makes a huge difference when you’re
 on court. 
 It makes you feel in control when you’re impatient and under pressure; 
 it calms you down. Nothing else comes into your mind.
</h5>
<hr>
Q: Would you say that meditation has helped you maintain
 your balance, and has kept you centered?
<img
 class="lazyload img-float-left has-img-center-in-mobile"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hfn_sindhu3_84328df2c8.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T04:20:29.986Z" />
 PVS: Definitely. It’s a process and it takes time. Slowly I understood its effect. It makes a huge difference
 when you’re on court. It makes you feel in control when you’re impatient and under pressure; it calms you down.
 Nothing else comes into your mind. You’re able to just play your game. Otherwise, when you’re at game point, when
 you’re leading and about to finish a match, you have this anxiety, “What’s next?” So meditation keeps you going until
 the end. That’s been my personal experience. Every individual has a different mindset, has a different experience, and
 with me, I’ve seen a big change. I used to get angry whenever I lost points or when I was losing, but now that has
 reduced a lot. I’m able to keep calm.
Q: Who has helped you along the way in your career. Who
 are your mentors?
PVS: Of course, my parents and my coach. They’ve
 been very, very supportive, especially through the hard times. My parents have made a lot of sacrifices and I’m very
 appreciative. The stadium where I trained was very far from where we lived, so we had to shift house so we could be
 near the academy. My mom and dad took early retirement from their jobs, so they could travel with me wherever I went,
 and mentor me constantly. Still today, whenever I go home tired, my mom cooks what I like to eat. All that really
 matters and helps me a lot.
Q: What guidance can you offer young people who want to
 follow their dreams?
PVS: A lot of youngsters are taking up sports as a
 career, so I would say to them, “Enjoy your sport. Winning and losing is secondary. Follow your passion. It’s very
 important to play your heart out and do your best.”
To parents, I’d say, “Fully support your child in whatever sport they are playing. Your
 child has to want to play that sport. It’s not enough to put them in an academy and expect them to perform well, just
 because it has produced top players. It doesn’t work like that. Everyone has a different talent and ability, and it’s
 important to know your children’s needs when giving support.”
Q: They need constant nurturing.
PVS: Yes. Joining an academy doesn’t make you a
 world class player. It requires much more; it takes time, too, during which you need parents’ support and
 encouragement.
Q: How important is mental health in sports?
PVS: In any sport it’s important to keep yourself
 both physically and mentally fit. If you’re physically fit but mentally not strong, that won’t work, and vice versa.
 If you’re not mentally prepared, you’ll go and play blindly. At some point, suddenly you’ll go blank and won’t know
 what to do next in your game. Mentally you need to be very, very fit, so you’re aware of what’s happening within you
 and what needs to be changed. Doing meditation won’t necessarily bring you success and let you beat the world, but
 you’re doing it for yourself, for your heart. You get clarity through that. But that’s not the reason for doing
 meditation. You need to feel good within yourself, you need to understand and agree with the inner you, and use it in
 a positive way. When you start meditating, you start getting that clarity in your life. It helps you go with the flow.
 It has made a big difference in my personal life.

 <img class="lazyload w-100"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/hfn_sindu5_f247084a8b.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T04:25:55.869Z" />
 
Q: Now we have some rapid fire questions where you answer
 with one word within a few seconds. What does the following stand for you? 
Happiness.
PVS: Life. Happiness is life.
Q: True success.
PVS: Hard work.
Q: Would you say hard work is success in itself?

PVS: You are working hard with yourself and that is
 a critical condition. Success is not just to beat everyone and win. Success is step-by-step with what you’re achieving
 gradually.
Q: One thing you do when you are stressed out.
PVS: I just sit and think. I also meditate.
Q: ‘Sindhu’ as a brand stands for …
PVS: I would like to see me at the top of the
 world.
Q: Youth.
PVS: Youth stands for youth. There’s nothing that
 we can’t do if we set our minds to it.
Q: Cheeky moment in school. Any breaking rules?
PVS: No, I was a very good student.
Q: Who inspires you the most?
PVS: My parents are my inspiration. They were both
 volleyball players, and they worked hard at it 
 too. And the sacrifices they have made mean a lot. Earlier on, their support meant defending my choice of career and
 my chosen sport. They believed in me from the start and that is why they inspire me.
Q: Your message to school students who wish to pursue
 success?
PVS: It’s very important for students to start any
 sport at the grassroots level. Exercise is important. Keep fit. Spend one or two hours every day doing exercise or
 playing a sport.
Q: Thank you for having such an openhearted conversation
 with me, inspiring all of us to follow our dreams fearlessly. On behalf of everyone here I wish you continued
 success at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. All the best.
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Interviewed by SATYA SAHAY</h4>
<hr>

Home› Contributors