August 2018, Focus / 30 Jul 2018

The potency of a seed

PARTHASARATHI RAJAGOPALACHARI explores some age-old questions about creation and creativity, and how we nurture ‘seed’ ideas in order to create uniqueness and innovation. My Guide once told me, “There has been one question which has been before the world’s philosophers throughout time: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Which came first, the seed or the tree?” And he said, “God is not a fool to make a tree when he can make a seed and make it grow into a tree!” Western science has stumbled upon this, perhaps truth, perhaps secret, when they talk of the mighty atom which was the seed of the Universe in some distant past time, and that has grown into this Universe. One day it will collapse back into itself and become the seed again, and it goes in a swinging way like this. It is the dance of Shiva, as they call it in Hindu mythology – creation, destruction, creation. It is only a collapse of the whole thing into itself that becomes the seed for the next creation. So the gift is given to us in seed form. I remember a children’s story about a man who had some children. One of the children was avaricious, another was greedy, and the third was a patient worker. When the old man died, they found that in his will he had left factories to one, to the second he had left his money, and to the last son he had left a packet of seeds. When the distribution occurred everybody thought it was highly unfair. The old man must have been a stupid fellow to treat his sons so differently, especially the youngest, who got a packet of seeds. But it was the youngest who became famous. He used those seeds to cultivate enormous forests, from which he cut trees, got timber and all the paraphernalia of wealth. The purpose of a tree is to bring more seeds, and the seeds fall to the ground and become trees again. Suppose a tree were just to multiply and make…

Read More

August 2018, Focus / 30 Jul 2018

Handirubvi in blue

ASHA ELANA CASEY is a contemporary painter, mixed media artist and arts educator. At the center of her mixed media practice is the idea that spirituality is the point of healing for people of African origin. She currently lives and works in Washington, DC. For more information visit www.elanacaseystudio.com. While creating ‘Handirubvi in Blue’, I was considering the spiritual implications of blue in world religions. Mostly I was reflecting on the reverence the gem lapis lazuli held and the image of the Mandorla in Christianity. My hope is that by using multiple symbols from different religions I can create art that is a center of healing for people of African descent. Generally my art is the amalgamation of symbols of the spiritual practices of African people, most of which stem from Akan, Ifa and Christian cosmology. These symbols are used to portray women as deities, spiritual workers, enlightenment seekers, and ancestors. Ancestor veneration and cosmograms permeate the work. The cosmograms take the form of geometric abstractions. They illustrate meditation, inner healing and a visual interpretation of the universe. Various texts by African-American authors and feminists influence the process as well. Art and article by ASHA ELANA CASEY

August 2018, Be inspired / 30 Jul 2018

Samyama – part 3

ASHTANGA YOGA SERIES What if someone told you there was a simple set of practices that could help you manage every aspect of your daily life, and at the same time take you to a level of human potential beyond your wildest imagination? Would you be interested? Most people would at least be curious. That is in fact an accurate explanation of the practices of Yoga, but most people don’t realize it. Yoga includes a holistic set of practices for overall self-development and the well-being of the body, mind and soul. A few thousand years back, the great sage Patanjali compiled the current yogic practices of that time into a simple framework consisting of eight parts or limbs, and that framework is still used today. It is known as Ashtanga Yoga. But the practices of Yoga have evolved since Patanjali was alive, in response to the needs of the time and especially during the last 150 years. So in this series DAAJI explores each limb of Yoga in the light of the modern day yogic practices of Heartfulness. He shows us how to integrate inner spiritual practices with living in the world and refining our personality, so as to create that true state of Yoga – skill in action and integration of the spiritual and worldly aspects of life. SAMYAMA – part 3 Dharana  •  Dhyana  •  Samadhi Dhyana, often translated as meditation, is the centerpiece of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga, and through the inner spiritual journey it leads us to Samadhi, the original state. In this article, DAAJI focuses on the practice of meditation and how it leads us into Samadhi. Meditation is a state of intense inner wakefulness. —The Upanishads There are two very common images we see of people meditating. The first is that of a practitioner sitting completely erect in one…

Read More

August 2018, Focus / 30 Jul 2018

Turn on your creative instinct

G. PRIYADARSHINI is learning to nurture creativity. She shares with us some of the things that have worked for her as a student of the creative process. Where do ideas come from? I’ve been pondering this question a lot lately. Creativity is not just thinking or logical reasoning, it’s visceral, it’s within me, it’s a part of who I am. If I want to improve, I must have a better feeling. Knowledge and imagination help unlock this potential, and they are available within us. Add attitude to these two and creativity emerges. Newton’s first law says, “A body at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force.” To me it means: Whatever is there in our mind space has to manifest in reality. If there are ideas in the mind, provoke them to come out. Instead of waiting for things to happen, push them to happen. Experiment every day. Even simple work can be an experiment – try and work it out. Learn to let go of outcomes and imperfections, and then more will be created than ever. I started working with young children. I started working as a teacher mainly to observe how children absorb things, and voila, I found creativity expressed in every small thing that they do. I like to motivate the people around me to bring their thoughts into action. In order to realize this, and as a way to contribute to society, I started working with young children. I started working as a teacher mainly to observe how children absorb things, and voila, I found creativity expressed in every small thing that they do. Being with them is a vibrant place for me to be creative – singing songs, playing music, drawing, painting, doing craft, making dolls with wool etc. I enjoy being creative in every act I do. Here are some things that all of us can…

Read More

August 2018, Be inspired / 27 Jul 2018

Unlock your untapped potential

CLARA SMITH represents Australia at the international level in athletics. Here she shares some personal tips for performance, including how to be motivated to exercise regularly, and how to create healthy habits. The difference between being the person you want to be and the one you are now is strikingly small. All those who perform at their highest level have one thing in common – their attention to detail. They develop exceptional habits and discipline, while others remain in their comfort zone. They are better at making small positive decisions in their daily life. This may not make a difference in a week, but months or years down the track these habits will become stronger, and the effect can be phenomenal. Since neither habits nor discipline are acquired from birth, it is not a question of talent. It is a question of choice. Discipline is the foundation of success in any domain. It is waking up early, it is treating people the way you want to be treated, and it is doing the tasks you do not necessarily feel like doing. When we begin to view discipline as training rather than a punishment, we will be traveling on a very positive pathway. From my view, an endurance athlete is the perfect example of someone who unites the mind, body and heart into  one. One of the reasons many people never get around to going to the gym is because they know the physical pain ahead and give up. If we take the approach from a regulated mind, however, we learn to fight the mental battle first which makes the physical one easier. In fact, many say the hardest part of a training session is getting out of bed and getting to the gym, whereas an athlete knows to be consistent. Once you begin, your body reacts naturally, and you push harder and harder until you reach 100%. An athlete knows that once you…

Read More

August 2018, It changes everything / 27 Jul 2018

The importance of bonding between parent and child

What does your child really seek from you? What does being with your child mean to you? SNEHAL DESHPANDE shares her insights on the formative years of life and explains the  significance of bonding in children’s overall development. Ashwin is a 3-year-old boy who came to me today with his parents. His mother is a high profile HR head in a  multinational corporation and his father is an investment banker. They recently discovered that Ashwin was not speaking or making any eye contact. He is looked after by a caregiver at home, who spends most of her time in  front of her mobile phone. The boy speaks out dialogues from Peppa Pig with clarity, and he also emotes the character of Doremon. He plays with cars and toys, but he loves to arrange them in one line. He loves to move  around himself and watch the ceiling fan. He avoids eye contact and does not like to initiate a conversation. This is a common scenario in many households nowadays. As a therapist I have come across a lot of children who are insecure and anxious. What leads to this? There is a missing bond or attachment, which the child does not share with his caregiver. He or she cannot understand where the circle of security lies. The British psychoanalyst, John Bowlby, did a lot of pioneering work in the field of connections, explaining through his attachment theory how babies attach to their mothers for reasons of survival, and also describing the effect of deprivation of  attachment on infants. Infants become attached to adults who are sensitive and responsive, and who remain as  consistent caregivers for some months during the period from about six months to two years of age. Parental responses lead to the development of patterns of attachment, which in turn lead to internal working models that guide the individual’s feelings, thoughts, and expectations in later life and relationships. Parental responses lead to the development of patterns…

Read More