Spiritual Magazine | Wellness Magazine

It changes everything, March 2020, VOLUME 5 / 09 Mar 2020
Roots of empathy – part 2
MARY GORDON was interviewed by JUDITH NELSON at the Spirit of Humanity Forum in Iceland in 2019. In part 2, she shares experiences from her own childhood to demonstrate how empathy develops in children. Q: You talked about the generations and their effect on children. How important do you feel generations are – families, cultures – in helping children grow up in a safe society or safe place? MG: Well, children grow up in families. Lucky children grow up in communities. But not every family is part of a community, and your safety net only goes as far as your community net. So families do have the ability to give children what they need to grow up, which is unconditional love, recognition. Society is only as safe as the way we support our families. I always look at: What are the policies in place? How do you cover vulnerability? The most important relationship in life, which is pretty much a template for every other relationship, is the parent infant relationship. What are the policies that allow that relationship to be nurtured? Do you have a parental leave policy? We have some participants here from the United States, one of two countries in the entire world without a parental leave policy. So here we have a gap or a disconnect between what we know from research, the policies we make, and the programs that happen. I think if we recognize the capacity of every person in a democracy to participate in a meaningful way, we need people to stand up and claim their rights in the society – the right to belong, the right to have a voice. And you develop those things in the family. It is the hand that un-mats the bubblegum in the hair. That is the hand…

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March 2020, Thought in action, VOLUME 5 / 09 Mar 2020
The heartful strategist – part 2
In part 1 of the Heartful Strategist, RAVI VENKATESAN introduced the following framework to map how our consciousness manifests into strategies that have consequences and interact with our ecosystem. In this second article, we will explore three cases of strategic choices that illustrate this framework. Let us take three cases of strategic choices made by leaders: The first one is a strategic choice made by Pope Benedict XVI. He resigned in 2013, becoming the first pope in modern times to do so. The last pope who resigned on his own initiative was Celestine V in 1294. Many things were surprising about his decision. He gave up one of the most powerful positions available to humanity. He resigned knowing that he would likely be succeeded by Pope Francis, a man who had views opposed to his own in many areas. He resigned knowing that the church would go through significant reforms and transformation. His choice had significant positive consequences for a large portion of the world’s population. The second one is a strategic choice made by Henry Ford. In 1914 Ford decided to more than double the basic wage for workers. This decision was unprecedented and shocking. The trend in capitalist America had been the rich getting richer, and the lot of workers staying the same. Ford also reduced the price of his Model T car from $800 to $350, so that many of his workers could afford a car. Ford said, “We believe in making 20,000 men prosperous and contented rather than follow the plan of making a few slave drivers in our establishment millionaires.” His decision had significant positive consequences for many, and also made him a billionaire. The third decision is a strategic choice made by Captain Hernan Cortes. He landed in Vera Cruz in 1519 to begin…

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In the Field, March 2020, VOLUME 5 / 02 Mar 2020
A new era
MAMATA VENKAT shares her experience of attending an extraordinary event near Hyderabad, India – the inauguration of a vast new meditation center in honor of 75 years of Heartfulness. On a cool, windy morning on Tuesday, January 28, the Hyderabadi sun slowly cast its light over 40,000 Heartfulness practitioners quietly sitting together in meditation at Kanha Shanti Vanam Ashram. Heartfulness was celebrating the 75th anniversary of its first organization, Shri Ram Chandra Mission, with the inauguration of the world’s largest meditation center. This was to be the first of three separate seminars – the first from January 28th to 30th, the second from February 1st to 3rd, and the third from February 7th to 9th. All in all, 100,000 people attended the three seminars. Seekers from around the world had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this momentous occasion. In the days prior, they came in waves, filling up the newly-constructed dormitories with suitcases, laughter, and a readiness to absorb the subtle meditative condition that was pervading the dusty Indian air. On the inauguration day, Daaji was joined on stage by Yogrishi Swami Ramdev, the co-founder of Pantanjali Ayurved. Swamiji Ramdev sat peacefully with Daaji as he conducted meditation sessions over the course of the three-day celebration, and also demonstrated his extensive knowledge of Ashtanga Yoga to the audience. He shared a few yogic techniques with the audience, explaining the purpose of each, and encouraging the practitioners to utilize them in times of need. He later expressed his enthusiasm and joy to be part of the celebrations. At the end of his visit, he said, “Though I am leaving physically, Shri Ram Chandra Mission will be in my heart, mind, and soul forever. And those who have not yet come to this spiritual path, they, too, will eventually find this…

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Interview, March 2020, VOLUME 5 / 02 Mar 2020
From mediocrity to greatness
NANCY SUMARI, former Miss Tanzania and Miss World (Africa), is also a published author of children’s books, a businesswoman and social entrepreneur. Here she speaks with PURNIMA RAMAKRISHNAN as part of the GLOW Webinar series, on her roots, being crowned Miss World (Africa), her work with children and youth, and the role of the heart. Q: In 2017, Africa’s Youth Awards named you one of the 100 Most Influential Africans. You are a business graduate from the University of Dar es Salaam and the managing director of Bongo5 Media Group Ltd, which focuses on digital media creation. You are the founder and the executive director of The Neghesti Sumari Foundation and the Jenga Hub that runs programs to teach kids from marginalized backgrounds how to do software coding. You are interested in improving the state of your community by working towards digital literacy for all. And your foundation has transformed learning outcomes for youth and little children through its digital literacy programs and applying design making methodology to create value. Welcome Nancy. NS: Thank you so much for having me, this is a great honor. Q: Likewise. Tell us a little bit about yourself. NS: I’m the third-born of five children. One of my parents is a farmer and the other runs her own hotel business, she’s into catering. I had a very interesting childhood, I grew up on a farm and as you can imagine it was full of adventure, mischief, joy and love. My parents were very keen for us to get a good education, and to also grow up in a close-knit loving family. I have very fond memories of my childhood. Beyond that, I went to school in Kenya, graduated from high school and came back to Tanzania, and did my bachelor’s degree here in Business….

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Be inspired, March 2020, VOLUME 5 / 24 Feb 2020
A user’s guide to living – part 3
Uniting Humanity DAAJI continues his series on daily living and human transformation. In this article, he introduces the second universal principle of the user’s guide – the science of filling the heart with love through prayer, the connecting link that unites everything in this universe. In part 2, he introduced the 5 key elements of self-development, and the 10 universal principles that provide a road map to a fulfilling life. Within these five elements are ten universal principles: Around the time Babuji was writing the Ten Maxims, World War II was raging in full swing, taking in its wake tens of millions of precious lives. In addition to young soldiers on both sides of the conflicts, millions of innocent lives were taken as result of ethnic hatred and religious bigotry. Meanwhile, in India, the country was being torn apart by raging religious fanaticism. Pained by this mindless and monstrous atrocity of person killing person in the name of God and religion, Babuji declared: “God is not to be found within the fold of a particular religion or sect. He is not confined within certain forms nor is he to be traced out from within the scriptures. We have to seek for Him in the innermost core of our Heart.” Though his cry of anguish fell on deaf ears at that time, it has become one of the defining phrases of a universal movement that wholeheartedly embraces all religions and faiths without distinction. Babuji envisioned that the movement that started as a mere trickle would sweep the world and lay the foundation of a world based on spirituality defined by love and unity. At that time nobody could even visualize that many spiritual organizations and movements would come together, yet we have already witnessed this starting. It is only the…

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THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

It changes everything

Roots of empathy – part 2

in It changes everything, March 2020, VOLUME 5

MARY GORDON was interviewed by JUDITH NELSON at the Spirit of Humanity Forum in Iceland in 2019. In part 2, she shares experiences from her own childhood to demonstrate how...

Where history intersects with myth – part 2

Thought in action

In pursuit of a dream

in March 2020, Thought in action, VOLUME 5

I have French genes, but my appearance is the only European factor about me! I was born in Tamil Nadu and have spent most of my life in the south...

The heartful strategist – part 2

The heartful strategist – part 1

Focus

Where do you want to be?

in Focus, March 2020, VOLUME 5

Do you have a strong calling from within? How can you convert that calling into reality? ANJANA RAMESH shares the pursuit of her innate passion – the challenges faced and...

Meditate … listen!

in Be inspired, March 2020, VOLUME 5

MICHELE DONGMO finds her guidance from within. Here she shares her way of finding clarity, direction and purpose in life. As a curious mind, I like to research new and...

A user’s guide to living – part 3

A user’s guide to living – part 2

Taste of Life

Doctor of happiness

in March 2020, Taste of life, VOLUME 5

AN ART ESSAY SUKRITI VADHERA KOHLI is the founder of Doctor of Happiness, helping young people with depression and other mental conditions through her art and online platform. Here she...

NANCY SUMARI, former Miss Tanzania and Miss World (Africa), is also a published author of children’s books, a businesswoman and social entrepreneur. Here she speaks with PURNIMA RAMAKRISHNAN as part...