Spiritual Magazine | Wellness Magazine

It changes everything, July 2020, VOLUME 5 / 29 Jun 2020
Transforming awareness: being a life coach – part 2
In October 2019, PETER J. REDING spoke with VICTOR KANNAN about being a pioneer in the field of professional Life Coaching. In part 2, they speak about the importance of sacred space, inner connection, and revitalizing the sacred in secular spaces through awareness. Q: You also talk about sacred space. I love this where you say that sacred space allows us to reconnect with our brilliant and resourceful nature. You talk about sacred self, and quite a bit about the Creator, God, God-given talent, and things like that. Obviously, you are heeding quite a bit of spiritual philosophy and spiritual orientation in coaching people. PR: Thank you. Yes, 100%. Q: And I’ve always heard that businesses are secular minded. So how do you differentiate between religion and spirituality, and bring the idea of spirituality in a secular market place? Or is it that they don’t care because they all believe in God? PR: We were told, quite frankly, about 25 years ago, when we started Coach for Life, that if you present yourself as a spiritual coach training, you’ll not get business from the secular world. Here, in the United States, we have a separation of Church and State, even in our Constitution, right? So, school systems can’t include prayer, because it needs to be separated. 30 to 40 years ago, I spent a lot of time in the world of very large corporations that leave this stuff at home, not just spirituality, but also emotional things. You know … “We don’t want to hear you complaining,” “We don’t want to hear you whining,” “We don’t want to hear the issues you’re having in your lives, whether your kids, your parents, your husband, whatever. Handle that at home.” “We’re not paying you to be emotional. We just want you to…

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Interview, July 2020, VOLUME 5 / 29 Jun 2020
The heart is where we experience connection
MIRABAI BUSH is the author of Working with Mindfulness, co-creator of Google’s “Search Inside Yourself” program, co-founder of the Centre for Contemplative Mind in Society and a founding board member of the Seva Foundation. Some of her other literary works include Contemplation Nation, Contemplative Practices in Higher Education and Walking Each Other Home, co-authored with Ram Dass. Here she speaks with PURNIMA RAMAKRISHNAN as part of the GLOW Webinar series, on her journey and evolution during the last 50 years, and on the role of her teacher in that transformation. Q: Thank you so much for joining us today, Mirabai. It’s an honor and privilege to host you on the GLOW webinar. MB: Hello, and thank you so much Purnima for inviting me. And I’m happy to be talking about Heartfulness, especially because I see so many people learning Mindfulness and maybe overlooking the heart a little bit. Q: These days there are more and more people who are not affiliated with a religion and are seeking something spiritual. According to you, what is spirituality? And how do you think it is different from religion? MB: As I understand it, spirituality is the search and discovery of truth, the nature of reality. It is the relation of you as an individual to the greater whole, the understanding of what exists in you, what its nature is, what its implications are for your life, and how you are a part of the whole. I think that you can make that journey, that discovery, within an organized religion or you can do it on your own. It’s interesting that when we started The Centre for Contemplative Mind in Society, we were going to take practices like Mindfulness, compassion and Yoga, into secular settings in the United States in 1995, when no one…

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Be inspired, July 2020, VOLUME 5 / 29 Jun 2020
A user’s guide to living – part 7
DAAJI continues his series on everyday living, introducing the sixth universal principle of the User’s Guide, which is to know everyone as our brethren and treat them as such. As a starting point, this sixth principle helps us to overcome prejudice, and develop mutual love and respect with all beings. As we take it further, it unfolds into a state of unity and oneness that is a reflection of the original Source. commUnity Principle 6: Know all people as thy brethren and treat them as such. The principle of universal brotherhood is fundamental to all religions and spiritual traditions of the world. In practice, however, what do we see? Sectarianism, prejudice and even outright hatred, a world torn apart by violence, and a deep mistrust between nations and various factions within nations. We are faced with a human race fractured by deep divisions, based on religion and race, even in the so-called civilized countries. You only have to read the news about what is currently happening with the “Black Lives Matter” and “Me Too” movements, or what happens in the name of the caste system in India, to know that we are far from universal brotherhood after thousands of years of religious teachings. From time to time, great teachers and leaders have appeared in different parts of the world in order to bring the message of peace and love. More often than not, their pleas for universal peace and brotherhood have fallen on deaf ears. Many of them have been rejected, persecuted, and even crucified. How many deaths have there been due to COVID-19, which has shut down the globe? As of 12 June 2020, there have been 423,000 deaths around the world. Now, ask yourself, how many Jews were killed by the Nazis? How many people were…

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July 2020, Taste of life, VOLUME 5 / 29 Jun 2020
The fountain within
An Art Essay NARENDRA KINI integrates his work as a successful Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur with being an artist, a poet and a seeker of higher truth through meditative practices. He is currently the co-founder and CEO of Global Touchpoints, and here he talks of how he finds his inspiration for creativity and art. Meditation is evolving from thinking to feeling, from feeling to being, being to becoming, and finally going beyond.” — Daaji APPROACH Meditation inspires I have found that my own approach to art is inspired by meditation. It is a process of letting go of control and allowing something to emerge. I took to art after I was inspired by an inner calling that happened after a meditation session about five years ago. The efficacy of a meditation practice can be also assessed by its impact on our attitude towards life. It provides us with a sense of perspective and creative freedom that is unmatched. Through invoking stillness in the mind and relocating our awareness center to the heart, meditation – within minutes – offers a blank canvas with a wide range of possibilities. “Writer’s block” and “artist’s cul-de-sac” are common terms. Creativity can get stumped and inspiration can dry up, and we often look for external sources to revive these things. This approach is sometimes successful, but I have found the real fan to the creative flame lies within us. And if we lose that spark, we may irreparably dry up our authentic sense of creative direction. A visit to the fountain within will rarely fail to quench the thirst for inspiration. My personal realization is that paying attention to the inner condition, being centered in stillness and contemplation enables the manifestation of creative work. It is not to say that the work will be perfect, but it…

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Focus, July 2020, VOLUME 5 / 29 Jun 2020
Raising consciousness – part 2
In April 2020, BRUCE LIPTON spoke with UDAY KUMAR about the transition our planet is going through right now, and what we need to do to raise our consciousness to the next level. In part 2, he goes into more detail about epigenetics, consciousness, and how we remain pre-programmed until we evolve our consciousness through meditation. It is our programs more than anything external that hack our attention. BL: Now let’s relate this back to our human story. We’re made up of 50 trillion cells. You, me, we are skin-covered petri dishes. It’s not a plastic dish, it’s a skin dish, inside which you’ve got 50 trillion cells! You have the original culture medium. Here’s the point: Does it make a difference in the fate of the cell if it’s in the plastic petri dish, or in the skin covered dish? The fate of the cells is controlled by the environment, whether it’s in the plastic dish or the skin covered dish. Your genetic activity is not controlled by genes turning on and off, it’s controlled by the chemistry of the blood, which is the culture medium, just the same as it is in the culture dish. So, now we take the big blow-away steps that changed my life. The chemistry of the blood controls the genetics of the cell. So, who’s the chemist? Who controls the chemistry of the blood? The answer is: The brain is the chemist! Next question: What chemicals should the brain put into the blood? The answer: Whatever image is in your mind will be translated by the brain into complimentary chemistry. There’s a chemistry of love; if you’re experiencing love in your life, you release dopamine for pleasure, vasopressin makes you more attractive so your partner stays with you, oxytocin bonds you to your…

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Focus, July 2020, VOLUME 5 / 29 Jun 2020
One human family
All around the world, we are in lockdown in a bid to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 virus. And we are coming to terms with this collective experience. Here, RUBY CARMEN shares some insights, inspirations and suggestions for coping well in this extraordinary time. Tips for coping DEVELOP STRUCTURE AND ROUTINE In lockdown, many of us have been given the gift of time. In a recent article published in the New York Times, astronaut Scott Kelly offers some excellent advice on putting structure and routine into your day, including fixing a time to get up and go to bed. Having structure is helpful for well-being and can offer a sense of purpose for both adults and children. There is an element of security and safety in routine. Where possible, create some boundaries of work space and home space, and allow yourself and your children time off. JOY AND PLAY Allow time for joy and play. This feature of the human condition has manifested in the exponential growth of online kindness groups springing up like flowers, and the outpouring of multiform and multimedia creative outlets and ways of expression – online singing and music making, art classes, ukulele playing classes, and meditation sessions across the globe. New possibilities continue to arise, as human beings endeavor to express themselves and connect with each other. COMMUNICATE AND CONNECT Share stories. This is an opportunity to connect deeply with our loved ones. If we are not with them, video calls are indeed a gift. In the absence of technology, children can write letters, and send drawings to their grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts. Limit talking about the lockdown and the virus. In particular, avoid talking about it in worried, anxious ways in the presence of young children, who in turn will model…

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THIS MONTH'S EDITION

It changes everything

Transforming awareness: being a life coach – part 2

in It changes everything, July 2020, VOLUME 5

In October 2019, PETER J. REDING spoke with VICTOR KANNAN about being a pioneer in the field of professional Life Coaching. In part 2, they speak about the importance of...

Transforming awareness: being a life coach – part 1

Thought in action

The heartful strategist – part 5

in July 2020, Thought in action, VOLUME 5

The importance of maintenance in your life

Focus

Raising consciousness – part 2

in Focus, July 2020, VOLUME 5

In April 2020, BRUCE LIPTON spoke with UDAY KUMAR about the transition our planet is going through right now, and what we need to do to raise our consciousness to...

Raising consciousness – part 1

Be Inspired

A user’s guide to living – part 7

in Be inspired, July 2020, VOLUME 5

DAAJI continues his series on everyday living, introducing the sixth universal principle of the User’s Guide, which is to know everyone as our brethren and treat them as such. As...

A user’s guide to living – part 6

A user’s guide to living – part 5

Taste of Life

The fountain within

in July 2020, Taste of life, VOLUME 5

An Art Essay NARENDRA KINI integrates his work as a successful Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur with being an artist, a poet and a seeker of higher truth through meditative practices. He is...

The heart is where we experience connection

in Interview, July 2020, VOLUME 5

MIRABAI BUSH is the author of Working with Mindfulness, co-creator of Google’s “Search Inside Yourself” program, co-founder of the Centre for Contemplative Mind in Society and a founding board member...