Volume 2-Issue 8, Work

The heartful presenter – part 3

  In the last 2 articles, RAVI VENKATESAN has talked about the reasons public speakers fail, the 27 Cs of communication that will enable you to become an influential and effective speaker, and has taken a deeper look at body language. In part 3, he explores voice modulation. Research shows that 38% of your communication is based on voice modulation, independent of the words. There are 5 areas within voice modulation that you may want to specifically improve: CLEAR The first requirement of being understood is to be clear. It is easier said than done. Many people tend to speak fast, mumble and not enunciate. They also do not project their voice. To overcome these issues practice speaking slowly and clearly. Two exercises that help a lot are as follows: Voice projection Ask a friend to stand about 6 feet from you. Say to them, “I hope you can understand me clearly.” Ask them to give you a thumbs up or a thumbs down, and then move 6 more feet back. Repeat the exercise with increasing distances. Speakers who project their voice will be heard at 200 to 300 feet. Remember not to shout or yell, but rather increase your volume by filling more air in your lungs, and letting your voice come all the way from the stomach and chest. The more you practice this, the better your voice will project. Enunciation To get your enunciation right, practice with a friend. Speak slowly and open your mouth so that your teeth are visible. Then say a few tongue twisters. For example: “High roller, low roller, lower roller,” “Peter Prangle, the prickly pear picker, picked three perfectly prickly pears.” Have your friend confirm that your teeth were visible and that you said every word clearly. CRISP Being crisp is all…

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Inspiration, Volume 2-Issue 8

Pushkar – a photo essay

  The small town of Pushkar in Rajasthan has a special mystic magnetism for devout Hindus, camel traders and tourists. 11 kilometers from Ajmer, on the other side of the rugged Snake Mountain, the town nestles against a holy lake, which in Hindu mythology is said to have appeared when the Lord of Creation, Brahma, dropped a blue lotus flower. In fact, in Sanskrit ‘Pushkar’ means ‘blue lotus flower’. Full of temples and ghats, including one of the very few Brahma temples in the world, and the only one in India, the air resonates with prayers and chanting. Pushkar is also famous for the annual camel fair that happens in November. This is one of the world’s largest camel fairs, along with the trading of other livestock. It was a delight to witness the variety of camels and colorful turbans of the local people. I witnessed many silent interactions between the camels and the herders. I could also feel the tension of the herders, as they wondered whether their camels would fetch the true market price that they were worth. Photographers come from all over the world to witness and capture the fair, and over the years it has become an important tourist attraction with people flocking from all parts of the world. Let the photographs speak to the occasion. Article and photography by RAJESH MENON    

Inspiration, Volume 2-Issue 8

The march to freedom – part 2

KAMLESH PATEL continues with the ultimate journey to freedom. In this issue he takes us further into a whole new realm of experience, the road less traveled. THE SCIENCE OF SPIRITUALITY Evolution of Consciousness Series In part 1 we explored the evolution of our consciousness through the chakras of the region of heart – those associated with our physical existence on this Earth. After mastering these five chakras we then move on, expanding our consciousness into the region of mind, also known as the region of the Super-Mind of God. To step into this region, there is one important pre-requisite: we first must embody that generosity of heart that emerges as we purify the heart and master the emotions of worldly life. In this new realm we experience a different level of freedom; we are free from the cycle of birth and death. In other words, we transcend the need for reincarnation, and this is commonly known as liberation. Our consciousness is free to soar in a completely new way, and actually we go beyond consciousness to the potentiality that creates consciousness. The soul has passed through its first great rite of passage on its way back home to the Source. So let us now continue on our journey and see where it takes us. This new realm of mind is beyond dualities, dwandwas, of everyday physical existence, and yet it is always there behind everything we do in daily life. We continue our journey by entering the Cosmic Region, also known as Brahmanda Mandal and Virat Desh, which starts at chakra 6 between the eyebrows. This is such a vast region that normally thousands of years would not be long enough to traverse it, what to say of its grandeur. Here we feel holiness and piety, and become conscious…

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Inspiration, Volume 2-Issue 8

Education – where are we headed?

Human society is currently going through a phase of rapid change, and if that change is to have a positive outcome for the future, one place to pour our energy and love is in the care and education of our children. ELIZABETH DENLEY explores why we are evaluating our current outdated educational paradigms and what is possible through the emerging paradigms of the 21st century. Also, what questions do we need to ask to move forward? Today, everywhere in the world public education is changing. We are living in times of revolution, and there are many reasons for this revolution – the pace of social change, economic drivers, technology, the critical nature of our relationship with our planet, the shift in understanding the needs of our children and their place in society, and the expansion of consciousness that humanity is currently undergoing. But most importantly, it is our children themselves who need something different. Many are bored at school, or worse unhappy, medicated or unmotivated. Why? It’s time to ask them. Are we catering to their needs? As Tagore once said, “Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time.” This is so pertinent today. Educators have been addressing this issue from many different angles, especially during the last 150 years, and here are just a handful of their thoughts. There are, of course, many more: From Manufacturing To Growth-Oriented Sir Kenneth Robinson, the British educator says, “Many of our institutions evolved in earlier times to meet different needs than those we face now. Many of them are failing the people they’re meant to serve and the energies of those who work in them. If we’re to have fulfilled lives as individuals and meet the challenges we face collectively, we have to create the…

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Vitality, Volume 2-Issue 8

Health heroes

In the first of a series of articles, DR PARTHA NANDI shares something of his own story and why he became so passionate about health. MY LIFE CHANGING DECISION I nearly died when I was six years old. I was a normal kid running wild and having fun with my family and friends. Even at that young age, I had a real passion for life. I loved school, sports, music and practically anything that engaged my curiosity and creativity. Then one day, I started suffering from joint pain bad enough that I could no longer do the active things that I loved. Seemingly overnight, I went from a fearless kid running wild and free to one who had lost interest in everything. I didn’t even want to eat. Fast forward through time and multiple visits to the doctor, when my mother insisted on finding a specialist. That’s when I finally met the man (and doctor) who I will never forget. It turns out I had rheumatic fever, a potentially life threatening disease of the joints and heart. During my hospital stay, this unforgettable doctor saved my life with his knowledge, skill, strength and compassion. He was a superhero. My parents, the way they stepped up for me and cared for me, were superheroes. And I wanted to be just like them. They were my very first Health Heroes. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE YOUR OWN HERO I was only six, but I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to save people who were sick and afraid. I wanted to make them strong so that they could be their own heroes. Forget the capes and x-ray vision. Having the power to be your own hero! This was exciting to me. It’s what drives me to this…

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