Dream Build Share

India Needs a Strong Rupee Policy

2026-10-21T04:47:08.570-07:00

India Needs a Strong Rupee Policy

By Victor Kannan – Oct 21 2026

India has once again demonstrated that, when foreign exchange is urgently needed, it can mobilise enormous financial resources from overseas Indians. But the larger question remains: how do we turn these temporary inflows of dollars into lasting economic strength?

My argument is simple. The Government of India should explicitly declare a strong and stable rupee as a long-term national economic objective. Such a policy must be supported by a growing industrial economy, rising productivity and sustained investment. Raising foreign currency can provide temporary relief. Building an economy that attracts investment and earns foreign exchange through productive activity is the real objective.

From the 2013 currency crisis to today's dollar mobilisation

In 2013, India faced intense pressure on the rupee amid global financial uncertainty and capital outflows. A special programme encouraged banks to attract foreign-currency deposits from non-resident Indians. The FCNR(B) programme mobilised approximately $26 billion, helping India address its balance-of-payments pressures.

In 2026, India again turned to its overseas savings pool, using a special dollar-rupee swap arrangement to encourage foreign-currency deposits and overseas borrowing. Reported foreign-exchange mobilisation reached approximately $136 billion by the end of August, including a substantial contribution from FCNR(B) deposits.

These are remarkable numbers. They demonstrate India's ability to mobilise overseas savings when financial incentives are attractive.

However, deposits are not the same as productive investment. Foreign-currency deposits can strengthen external liquidity and give the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) valuable room to manage market pressure. But they remain bank liabilities, with associated currency and hedging costs. They do not automatically create factories, research centres, technology businesses or jobs.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) that expands productive capacity can transfer technology, strengthen supply chains, improve productivity and create sustainable employment. India needs financial stability, but it must also attract capital that builds lasting economic strength.

Why won't the government declare a strong-rupee policy?

India's reluctance to articulate such an objective may reflect several competing considerations.

First, exporters often benefit in rupee terms when the currency depreciates. A weaker rupee can increase the domestic-currency value of dollar earnings, assuming export prices and costs remain unchanged. Export-oriented industries have understandable reasons to resist appreciation, particularly when they operate on thin margins or face intense international competition.

There is evidence of this tension. Indian exporters have sought exchange-rate relief when confronted with external pressures, including US tariffs. Yet exporter opinion is not uniform. A weaker rupee also raises the cost of imported machinery, energy and industrial inputs, potentially offsetting some of the advantages it offers.

Second, the government must consider employment. Labour-intensive industries may worry that a stronger rupee could make their products less competitive. These concerns deserve attention, but they also raise a more fundamental question: should India depend on currency depreciation to compensate for structural disadvantages in productivity, technology and logistics?

Third, the RBI has traditionally followed a market-determined exchange-rate framework, intervening to manage excessive volatility and maintain orderly market conditions rather than targeting a particular exchange-rate level. The government may be reluctant to announce an objective that markets could interpret as a commitment to defend a specific rupee value.

These are legitimate considerations. They do not, however, preclude the government from declaring that a strong and stable currency is a long-term national aspiration.

Can a strong rupee coexist with export growth?

The conventional argument against a strong currency is that it makes exports more expensive for overseas buyers. This is a genuine concern. If all other factors remain unchanged, appreciation can reduce price competitiveness.

But all other factors rarely remain unchanged.

Exports depend on product quality, productivity, technology, delivery reliability, access to global supply chains and the ability to move into higher-value products. South Korea's experience during 2004–2006 illustrates that currency appreciation and strong export growth can occur together. Its real effective exchange rate appreciated during each of those years while goods exports continued to grow substantially.

This does not prove that appreciation caused export growth. It demonstrates that a competitive industrial economy can sometimes absorb currency appreciation without losing export momentum.

Japan's experience also reminds us that exchange rates cannot be considered in isolation. Currency appreciation following the 1985 Plaza Accord formed part of a much wider economic story, followed by industrial adjustment and, later, prolonged stagnation.

The lesson for India is clear: a stronger currency must be supported by productive strength. It cannot be achieved sustainably through declarations or intervention alone.

What India Needs to Do

India already has institutions and programmes addressing macroeconomic stability, investment, manufacturing, quality and export promotion. The question is whether these efforts are sufficiently coordinated around a clear national objective: building a productive, globally competitive economy that supports a strong and stable rupee.

Five priorities deserve attention:

1. Maintain macroeconomic stability. Keep inflation under control, manage external vulnerabilities and preserve confidence in monetary and fiscal policy.

2. Attract productive investment. Continue improving the investment environment through predictable regulations, dependable infrastructure and efficient implementation, with particular emphasis on investment that expands productive capacity.

3. Create a national productivity and export-quality mission. Within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, or through a dedicated inter-ministerial department, establish clear responsibility for improving productivity, manufacturing quality and export competitiveness across all major export sectors. Coordinate existing institutions, establish measurable sector-specific benchmarks, promote best practices and help Indian businesses consistently meet international quality standards. The objective should be to increase value added and global competitiveness, rather than rely on currency depreciation to compensate for structural disadvantages.

4. Provide clarity in monetary and exchange-rate policy. The government should articulate a long-term objective of a strong and stable rupee, while respecting the RBI's operational responsibilities and allowing the exchange rate to adjust to economic conditions. Policy credibility and predictability are essential for long-term investment.

5. Measure results, not just initiatives. Track productivity growth, industrial investment, export volumes, domestic value addition, quality performance and living standards alongside exchange-rate stability. Publish measurable targets and assess progress regularly.

India has already established many of the necessary institutions. The next step is to align their efforts, strengthen accountability and make productivity and export competitiveness explicit national priorities. A strong rupee should ultimately reflect the strength of the economy it represents.

From raising dollars to earning them

India's ability to mobilise foreign-currency deposits is a significant achievement. But it should prompt a larger question: why must India repeatedly resort to extraordinary measures to mobilise dollars and manage pressure on the rupee?

The lasting answer lies in productive capacity, competitive industries, technological progress and sustained export growth. India should welcome foreign savings while doing much more to attract direct investment that expands its productive base.

A declaration of a strong-rupee policy would provide a clear direction for this effort. It would signal that India aspires to compete through productivity, innovation and value addition, supported by credible economic policies.

The objective should not be to defend an arbitrary exchange rate at any cost. It should be to build an economy in which the rupee is stable and trusted because the fundamentals behind it are strong.

India needs a strong rupee, supported by a strong economy. The time has come for the Government of India to make that aspiration explicit.

Further reading from my blog:

· Currency: India vs Japan

· Confusion in Monetary Policy

#IndiaEconomy #Rupee #ForeignDirectInvestment #MonetaryPolicy #Manufacturing #Exports #EconomicGrowth #MakeInIndia

Do Spiritual Seekers Undergo More Stress

2026-10-08T19:09:21.051-07:00

Do Spiritual Seekers Undergo More Stress

May 17 2025 - Considering for Yoga journals.

Everyone is looking for peace and happiness. That is indeed the characteristic of our Soul. It is passive, peaceful and desiring rest. This is even more so for the spiritual seekers who come to a spiritual practice consciously looking for peace. However Soul is at the mercy of the mind, intellect and ego which is expressed with the faculties of the body and senses. So, all the three aspects of life, body, mind and soul, work together in a very astonishing and wonderful manner.

If a spiritual seeker is consciously leading their lives, practising a discipline and also improving themselves with awareness every day, why would they go through exalted levels of stress.

The comparative state of mind which seeks peace while getting irritated by even small things in life exaggerates the feeling of stress. This is quite common in the early days of spiritual practice and progress. A stress score of 6 on a PSS-10 (Perceived Stress Scale), would feel like an 8 or a 9 on the same scale for a spiritual seeker. This is because they seek peace and expect peace around them. But when they get stressed they feel its effect is exaggerated. It is like a pin drop in utter silence produces more sound than a clunk at the New York subway station.

Another aspect to this is that when we are on a path for self improvement, especially using a system like mindfulness, vipassana or heartfulness, the ego gets challenged. As our awareness increases, our sensibilities get refined, our ego also gets challenged. This is a trifecta which I believe is how Nature accelerates our spiritual progress. It is in the refinement of ego that we advance spiritually more. Refinement of the ego is a result of both conscious practice and how elegantly we deal with our difficulties.

The spiritual Master Babuji of Heartfulness used to say “Nature always cooperates”. It was hard for me to accept it in the beginning of my spiritual practice 30+ years ago. Now I understand it to be true. I used to wonder about the proverb that says the toe that is hurt will get a repeat injury. Or the Japanese proverb, 'The nail that sticks out shall be hammered down'. When our sufferings come in threes, it is Nature’s mercy to get the job done quickly and efficiently. When the ego is suffering, it is Nature’s mercy to get more blows to make the ego more refined. When we ask why me, more will pile on. When we learn to accept and develop the qualities of gratitude, love and compassion then our ego transforms to humility, which is the final gate for complete spiritual emancipation.

The transformation of our ‘self’ happens when our consciousness evolves. Consciousness evolves when mind becomes the heart, thinking becomes the feeling and non-attached to material and emotional, intellect is full of clarity, discernment and wisdom and ego becomes courage, wonder and humility combined.

So if you are a spiritual seeker, suffering will increase. Stress will appear to be more. Eventually as you progress, all these subside yielding to everlasting peace and spiritual prosperity.

Gossip: A Barrier on the Spiritual Path

2026-10-08T19:09:18.942-07:00

Gossip: A Barrier on the Spiritual Path

May 17 2025

Considering for yoga mags

Why do we gossip?

This question might appear trivial at first, but when examined deeply, it opens a window into human psychology, social dynamics, and the level of spiritual evolution or lack thereof. Gossip is not merely idle talk, it is more. It is both idle and dangerous. It is often a mirror reflecting our inner insecurities, desires for validation, and need for social bonding. While it may offer momentary satisfaction or camaraderie, gossip carries hidden costs, especially for those on the path of inner growth.

Gossip arises out of unhealthy curiosity. Gossip may often begin innocuously. We share news, personal updates, or observations about others. But soon, this tendency can evolve into speculation, judgment, or character assassination. Psychologists suggest that gossip stems from a need for connection and belonging. Talking about others can momentarily make us feel closer to our group, more informed, or even morally superior.

Can Any Good Come from Gossip?

Anthropologists argue that in tribal societies, gossip may have helped communities stay cohesive. Knowing who to trust and what behaviors are acceptable had survival value. But in today’s world, gossiping though intentional is due to lack of awareness, compassion and wisdom. There is more harm than good that can come out of this mindless tendency.

Gossip distorts reality. It reduces complex human beings to a single story or flaw. In workplaces, gossip undermines trust and productivity. It encourages a culture of fear and pretense. In families, it fuels misunderstandings and resentment. In communities, it fractures harmony.

More insidiously, gossip affects the gossiper as much as the subject. It cultivates a restless mind in some, a judgmental attitude in all, and a subtle addiction to drama. These are not mere moral issues—they directly impact our inner stability and capacity for introspection.

The Spiritual Consequence: A Hidden Poison

For a spiritual seeker, gossip is not just a behavioral lapse—it is a direct impediment to inner purification. In the real story about Yunus Emre a Sufi poet and his Master Tabduk Emre in the thirteenth century Turkey, Yunus suffers from being a victim of gossip, the Master gets angry at the possibility of Satsang or the group getting split and the gossiper eventually leaves the lodge or the ashram to become a fake guru. It had a huge cost for the spiritual brotherhood and halted the progress of many.

All spiritual traditions emphasize self-awareness, compassion, and equanimity. Gossip runs counter to all three. By focusing on others' shortcomings, we fuel the illusion of separateness and miss the essential oneness underlying all beings. Instead of turning inward and watching our own tendencies, we remain preoccupied with external narratives. Gossip thrives on comparison, which feeds the very ego we seek to transcend. As per scriptural teachings, sattvic (pure) speech is truthful, beneficial, and harmonious. Gossip defiles this sacred instrument of expression.

The Bhagavad Gita (17.15) says:

“Speech that does not cause distress, is truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, and the regular recitation of sacred texts — these are the austerities of speech.”

The Dhammapada, from the Buddhist tradition, warns:

“The tongue is like a sharp knife — it kills without drawing blood.” (Dhammapada 5.11)

And in the Bible (Proverbs 16:28), it is said:

"A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends."

The progenitor, Manu, (Manu Smṛiti 4.138)[v4] wrote:

“Speak the truth in such a way that it is pleasing to others. Do not speak the truth in a manner injurious to others. Never speak untruth, though it may be pleasant. This is the eternal path of morality and dharma.”

For the spiritual aspirant, gossip is not a mere social error—it is an energy drain. It weakens the will, dilutes inner purity, and clouds the heart where the Divine Presence is to be felt.

Gaining Mastery Over the Tendency

The first step is awareness. Notice the moments when gossip arises. What triggers it? Is it boredom, jealousy, insecurity, or a need to connect? Observe without judgment, but with honesty. Next, apply discernment. Thirdly, strictly following spiritual practices like silence (mauna), mindfulness, and self-inquiry weaken the compulsive need to talk about others. When the mind turns inward, it finds the richness it once sought in external chatter.

Finally, replace gossip with noble conversation—speak of wisdom, compassion, and the Divine. Encourage others. Share stories of upliftment. This not only purifies your speech but elevates those around you.

Gossip may appear harmless, even entertaining, but it carries a subtle poison that corrodes relationships and clouds the spirit. For the spiritual aspirant, giving up gossip is not repression—it is liberation. It is choosing clarity over confusion, depth over distraction, love over judgment.

Availability to Oneself: From Introspection to Transformation

2026-10-08T19:09:16.321-07:00

Availability to Oneself: From Introspection to Transformation

Victor Kannan – Atlanta Dec 15 2025

TO be submitted to outside yoga journals

At a recent large-scale meditation event, Daaji, Kamlesh D Patel, the spiritual guide of Heartfulness System, spoke about the idea of “availability”. Many of us heard that message in familiar ways: being available to the practice, to service, to volunteering etc., All of these are important. Yet later that day, one particular dimension of that message stayed with me and would not let go. That is the availability to one’s own self. What does it mean and how does it help?

Being available to oneself is not a lofty spiritual idea. It is deeply practical. It has a direct relationship to introspection and, more importantly, to our ability to recognize the patterns by which we live. Most of our suffering does not come from extraordinary events. It comes from repetitive tendencies carried out unconsciously. These patterns shape how we react, what we avoid, what we defend, and what we cling to. And the defining feature of patterns is not their strength, but our unawareness of them and our unavailability to recognize them.

When we are unavailable to ourselves, patterns run our lives. They grip us and our personality. We repeat the same reactions. We justify our behavior while remaining blind to its predictability. Availability to one’s own self creates a small but crucial window. Through that window, we begin to observe our own reactions instead of being possessed by them. What we call tendencies are often nothing more than habits reinforced by inattention. Though energy flows where our attention goes, inattention equally locks in the channels of those energy flows that reinforce those patterns of behaviors which we need to alter.

Availability, then, is the doorway to introspection. Introspection here does not mean self-judgment or excessive analysis. It means the willingness to pause and look honestly. To notice how we react when things do not go our way. To observe what tightens inside us when we are criticized, ignored, or challenged. The Bhagavad Gita speaks of the steady person who remains balanced in pleasure and pain. That steadiness begins with the capacity to observe without immediately defending. This is availability to one’s own self.

One of the simplest expressions of availability is silence. Silence is not merely the absence of sound. It is the absence of constant self-distraction. Putting the phone away, resisting the reflex to check messages when no one has reached out, is a quiet but radical act. Picking up the phone without reason often reveals something uncomfortable: a deep-rooted unavailability to ourselves. We are unavailable to meet ourselves. So, we end up avoiding meeting ourselves.

Modern life makes this avoidance easy. External stimulation grips us relentlessly. Patterns reinforced by the outside world become difficult to break precisely because they keep us outward-facing. Yet recognizing a pattern already weakens it. Awareness loosens the grip. As Jiddu Krishnamurti observed, awareness itself is transformative because it dissolves unconscious repetition. What we can see clearly no longer controls us in the same way.

Interestingly, patterns often reveal themselves through feedback. When someone points something out to us and we react with immediate anger or defensiveness, that reaction is itself a signal. If we were fully aware, we would pause. We might think, take interest and say to ourselves, “Let me look at that”. This is availability to one’s own self. You are creating space for yourself.

This space is where awareness matures. Awareness is not simply knowing that we have a habit. It is sensing how it operates in real time. Awareness expands the gap between impulse and action. Viktor Frankl famously spoke of the space between stimulus and response, where freedom resides. Availability enlarges that space. And in that space, choice becomes possible. If we want to evolve our consciousness, it is both in increasing our non-judgmental awareness and also the fineness of our response when such awareness is fully processed.

When awareness informs behavior, change happens naturally, through clarity and strength of purpose. We stop repeating certain reactions and we see their cost. We imbibe a gradual softening of our unawareness and unconsciousness. Over time, we experience small behavioral shifts that accumulate into transformation and self-improvement.

Becoming available to ourselves opens enormous possibilities for transformation. It begins quietly. In silence. In noticing. In staying present when we would rather react, avoid or escape. Yet this quiet availability may be the most radical practice available to us. It is the foundation upon which introspection deepens, awareness sharpens, patterns loosen, and life slowly reorganizes itself around greater freedom.

Leadership Dilemma

2026-10-08T19:09:01.274-07:00

Leadership Dilemma

Balancing Truth, Loyalty, and Trust

Victor Kannan

“For while both are dear, piety requires us to honour truth above our friends.” — Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 6

Leadership becomes difficult when loyalty and truth appear to compete. A cause needs committed people who can act with speed, confidence, and trust. Yet loyalty becomes dangerous and inefficient, when it shields poor judgment or misconduct. At the same time, criticism becomes useless when it is offered untimely or carelessly.

The tension can be more severe in nonprofit, nongovernmental, and philanthropic organizations. Their authority rests not only on results but also on moral credibility. If loyalty excuses disrespect or suppresses dissent, the institution may weaken the very values it claims to serve.

1. Trusting to a Fault

Trust enables leaders to delegate authority, but it also creates risk. Those closest to a leader may begin to wield power without reserve and total immunity. A loyal executive who delivers results may develop a dismissive attitude towards the staff, volunteers, or beneficiaries, assuming that past service will shield them from consequences.

The critic faces the opposite problem. Respectful dissent can be treated as disloyalty because it interrupts consensus and exposes uncomfortable facts. The result is a damaging asymmetry: loyalty is protected, while truth-telling is alienating. Having shielded loyalists and sidelined critics the leaders create their own quagmire.

An aware leader may recognize this pattern yet hesitate to confront it, fearing that accountability will damage trust or slow execution. That hesitation is itself a decision: it tells the organization which behavior will be tolerated. This has an impact in the overall culture of the organization. Organizational culture, which is always top down and reinforced sideways, further reinforces this loyalty over truth down the management order.

2. Truthful and Beneficial Speech

The Bhagavad Gita (17.15) stipulates that speech should be truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating. So, in our midst if leaders create and support a culture where truth is delivered politely with respect and pleasant speech does not come out of flattery, it will serve the leaders better.

Alexander Haig offered a useful corrective to the common tendency to direct loyalty upward. He argued that leaders should look down the chain of command and demonstrate loyalty to the people who work for them. In his example, a sales manager earns durable customer loyalty by first being loyal to the salespeople who serve those customers—taking the time to communicate with them and support their success. Applied more broadly, loyalty is not a shield for insiders; it is a leader’s obligation to the people entrusted with carrying out the mission. — “General Alexander Haig: A Four-Star Success Story”

Haig sharpened this idea in his Firing Line conversation with William F. Buckley Jr. Speaking from his experience in government, he described loyalty as more than agreement or obedience: it also requires the courage to tell a leader the truth. That distinction is essential. Honest counsel is not a breach of loyalty; when offered responsibly, it is one of loyalty’s most demanding forms. — Firing Line, “General Haig Looks Back”. But the truth may not exist in all the loyalists. Hence accept critics in addition to loyalists.

A useful critic combines candor with discipline. The purpose is not to embarrass, defeat, or display independence. It is to protect the organizational mission by naming material risks, ethical failures, and strategic blind spots in language that can be heard.

The leader’s duty is equally demanding. Praise and blame should not determine whose evidence receives attention. Feedback should be tested against facts, values, and consequences—not the speaker’s proximity to power.

3. Echo Chambers Harm the Mission

History offers sobering examples of what happens when loyalty is allowed to outrank honest scrutiny. The most egregious organizational failures rarely begin with a lack of intelligence or talent. They grow when trusted insiders become insulated from challenge and inconvenient facts are softened, delayed, or ignored. Enron, the Volkswagen emissions scandal, Wells Fargo’s unauthorized accounts, and Theranos are familiar reminders that reputation, past success, and proximity to power can protect flawed decisions long after warning signs appear.

In philanthropic institutions, misconduct does more than harm individuals or disrupt operations. It weakens donor confidence, damages relationships with the communities being served, and calls the organization’s moral credibility into question. This derails the very purpose of the organization and its mission. In religious organizations this realignment of the balance between loyalty and truth, takes a much longer arc to chasten.

4. Build Systems That Protect Truth

How does a leader balance both loyalty and truth? Leaders need structures that make truth-telling normal, safe, and consequential.

I. Separate Execution from Independent Review

Trusted operators should have clear authority to execute the strategy. Independent reviewers—such as an ombuds function, audit committee, ethics committee, or red team—should have direct access to the governing board and freedom from the operational chain of command. Their role is to challenge assumptions, investigate concerns, and test whether conduct matches stated values.

II. Apply the Same Standard to Everyone

Loyalty cannot function as an exemption from accountability. Expectations for respectful conduct, financial stewardship, conflicts of interest, and treatment of stakeholders should apply consistently. Seniority and access increase responsibility. When exceptions are made, the reasons should be documented and reviewable.

III. Make Dissent Routine

Dissent should not depend on personal courage alone. Strategic meetings can assign a rotating devil’s advocate, require a written statement of risks, and record unresolved objections. Anonymous reporting protects serious concerns, but it should supplement—not replace—direct discussion. Leaders should exhibit care in responding to disagreements and criticisms to avoid any misunderstanding of protecting the loyalists.

Conclusion: Loyalty to the Mission

Another way of looking at the dilemma is that the real choice is not between loyalists and critics. It is between personal loyalty and loyalty to the mission. Truth without commitment can produce endless debate. Commitment without truth can produce ineffective strategies and wastefulness in addition to even ethical failure. Effective leadership requires both.

An aware leader builds a culture in which trusted people can act and respected people can disagree. When accountability is consistent and dissent is protected, trust becomes stronger because it rests on integrity rather than silence.

#Leadership #Philanthropy #ConsciousLeadership #Heartfulness #Governance

Sent to HFN mag Oct 8 26

Yoga and Its Evolution

2026-10-08T19:07:43.341-07:00

Yoga and Its Evolution

Victor Kannan, Atlanta GA Aug 29 26

When we talk about yoga, we often think of physical postures, breathing exercises, flexibility or fitness. These certainly have their place, but yoga, in its deeper sense, means something much larger. Yoga means union: becoming one with the Source, the Ultimate, the Absolute, or simply with our own deeper Self.

It gives us the understanding that we are part of something magnificently large. We are part of a whole.

Consciousness is the connecting link between that wholeness, the Source, and where we are today. Each of us carries a history within us. We are the culmination of everything that has happened before, while at the same time being somewhere in the middle of a much larger journey.

That journey can be understood as the evolution of consciousness.

The human being has been given the extraordinary ability to experience this evolution consciously. We can observe ourselves, question ourselves, change ourselves and gradually move toward a deeper experience of oneness. Yoga provides a framework for that journey.

But there is another dimension that is important to understand. Just as consciousness evolves, knowledge evolves. Our understanding of ourselves and of the world continues to change. Spiritual knowledge is also part of this evolution.

If we look at the history of yoga, we can see an evolution of thought taking place. The traditional framework of Yoga begins with the foundations laid out in Sadhana Chatushtaya ((Reference to SC)) and then progresses through the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga. From there we see modern systems like kriya yoga schools, vipassana, mindfulness, and heartfulness to mention a few.

Viveka and Vairagya

Traditional yoga also speaks about Viveka and Vairagya as the first two of four practices or qualifications for spiritual evolution, known in Sanskrit as “Sadhana Chatushtaya”.

Viveka is discernment. It is the ability to see things as they are. What is real and what is illusion? What is permanent and what is temporary? What is relevant and what is merely distracting us?

Vairagya is often translated as detachment, but that is only part of its meaning. Babuji a guide under the heartfulness tradition, described it as “attachment in detachment and detachment in attachment”. The question is not simply, "What should I detach from?" It is also, "What should I attach myself to?"

As our discernment becomes clearer, our attachments begin to change. We detach from what is unnecessary and attach ourselves more deeply to what is meaningful.

These two qualities reinforce each other. Better discernment helps us develop the right detachment, and the right detachment gives us greater clarity.

The third and fourth aspects are relating the qualities we need to acquire as exemplified by Shat Sampati (six acquisitions that are legitimate) and finally engage in spiritually illuminating practices and experiences (mumukshutva).

From the outer to the inner

In this traditional yoga framework, a later addition is that of Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga. This is added to Shat Sampathi In this sage Patanjali gives us eight limbs of yoga: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

There is an obvious progression here.

We begin with how we conduct ourselves. We bring discipline into our lives. We work with the body and the breath. Then we begin to withdraw from the constant stimulation of the senses and turn inward.

Pratyahara is particularly interesting in this context. It is not simply about withdrawing from the world. It is about reducing our unnecessary involvement with it.

Sometimes the simplest expression of Pratyahara is silence.

If a conversation is becoming unnecessarily contentious, we do not have to contribute. If a conflict is escalating, we do not have to keep stirring it. We can withdraw, go within and wait.

There is a beautiful metaphor for this and a story from Buddhism. Imagine a river whose water has become muddy because the silt at the bottom has been disturbed. If we keep stirring the river, we will never see clearly. If we become still, the silt settles, and the water becomes transparent.

That is what happens within us.

The more settled we become, the clearer our perception becomes. This leads us to exploring the next three steps of Patanjali’s ashtanga yoga, viz, contemplative, meditative and spiritual aspects of yoga. (Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi)

The importance of pausing

If we simplify the six attainments which includes Patanjali’s yoga framework in shat sampathi, we get to one of the most practical aspects of this journey, which is the regulation of the mind.

The fundamental step toward regulating the mind is learning to pause.

A pause seems insignificant, but over time it creates poise. Poise creates space. In that space, clarity and presence of mind can emerge.

Without a pause, we react. With a pause, we have a choice.

When we pause, we move from emotions to feelings, and from reacting to responding.

This also affects our relationship with our senses. We are constantly being influenced by what we see, hear, taste, touch and experience. When the mind becomes regulated, we are less likely to be driven by every stimulus that comes our way.

We gradually become less driven by desire, less distracted by external circumstances and more settled within ourselves. This in a nutshell delivers us the benefits of Shat Sampati.

From knowledge to experience

This is where the evolution of yogic thought becomes particularly interesting.

In Vipasana, Mindfulness and Heartfulness, there is an important shift in emphasis. We do not have to wait until every other aspect of yoga has been perfected before beginning meditation. The practices can evolve simultaneously.

Meditation becomes the starting point, and other qualities develop alongside it.

Dharana can then be understood as continuity, flow and continuous connection. It is constant remembrance or zikr expressed in another way. We move from deliberately invoking an inner state during meditation to gradually remaining connected to that state in everyday life.

Eventually, meditation is no longer simply something we do at a particular time. It becomes something we live. And this leads toward Samadhi.

We are not acquiring Samadhi as though it were an achievement or an object we can possess. We are arriving at a state of being. The emphasis shifts from acquiring something to becoming something.

That is the essence of transformation.

The continuing evolution of yoga

If we look at the evolution of spiritual thought through this lens, something fascinating emerges.

Humanity has continually searched for ways to understand consciousness and to experience a deeper state of balance and connection.

The language and methods have evolved.

We have traditional yoga. We have meditation traditions such as Vipassana. We have the contemporary practice of mindfulness. We have emerging approaches that explore the relationship between the heart, emotions and physiological states, such as HeartMath. We have Heartfulness, which brings meditation, inner transformation and the experience of prana into a contemporary framework.

These systems may use different terminology and different methods. They should not be casually equated with one another. Yet there is an interesting common direction in their evolution.

They increasingly move our attention from the external world toward our inner state. We become more conscious of who we are and strive to become what we ought to become.

Finding our way home

Ultimately, yoga is about this journey. Like every other field of human inquiry and practice, yoga too continues to evolve. Hence, we must ask the question? Where are we in this evolution of thought and practice of yoga?

Since yoga is a subtle science, at times faith and belief systems come in the way. If Buddha continued to go from one Guru to the next as he was prompted from within that the destination was not yet reached. Finally, he meditated on his own to attain nirvana. He became a guide for millions. Since the Buddha we have Jesus, Mohammed, Guru Nanak and the many gurus from Indian sub-continent, each completing what they learnt from history thus far. So, it continues. Evolution of thought on yoga continues to help the current civilization to adopt that a system of practice that is possible in today’s world.

The urge for our souls to journey back home is irresistible. The worst thing that can happen delay and suffering. Once we are awakened to the real possibility, nothing will stop us in realizing the divine quality we have within us which is akin to the Ultimate abode of existence. If we call that our original home, when we return, we also find our home better than we left it.

We return Home transformed to our original state with even more potential for the next journey whenever it begins! In one tradition they say the next world starts when this one ends (Mahapralaya). Thus, existence perpetuates itself while being on a constant trek of mind-boggling evolution of consciousness through eons of time.

Why Me?

2026-10-08T19:06:41.942-07:00

Why Me?

I have often wondered about the question, “Why me?”

I have seen people use it when they talk about the difficulties they have faced in life. Why did this happen to me? Why do I have to suffer? Why do I get less for the same effort?

But I rarely hear the same “why me?” when people talk about their successes.

Then it becomes, “This is what I did. This is how I overcame my difficulties. This is how I succeeded.” Occasionally someone will say I was lucky or fortunate.

I find this interesting. Aren’t both really about the same thing? In one, I am uniquely unfortunate. In the other, I am uniquely successful. One is a story of suffering and the other is a story of achievement, but both can become a story about me.

The Many Faces of Me

When we face difficulties, it is natural to feel like a victim. We compare ourselves with others and wonder why our life is unbearably hard.

If we are introspective and positively oriented we find ways to come out of that state. We read, reflect, meditate, pray, develop positive habits, seek advice and eventually arrive at acceptance and restart afresh. We may even look back and say that the difficulty made us stronger, taught us humility or helped us discover something about ourselves.

All of this can be valuable.

But there is a subtle question worth asking. Have we really moved beyond the “me,” or have we simply changed the story about the “me”?

The victim becomes the survivor. The survivor becomes the achiever. The achiever becomes the person who learned humility.

And the story continues to be about me.

Even our spiritual journey can become another story about me. I am becoming more aware. I am becoming more peaceful. I am progressing spiritually.

There is nothing wrong with sharing experiences. Our stories can help others. They can provide encouragement, perspective and hope. But perhaps we need to look at the intention behind the sharing.

What Is the Intention?

Why am I telling this story?

Am I sharing it because it may help someone, or because I want to reinforce my own identity? Am I simply describing an experience, or am I looking for recognition through that experience?

The subtle ego does not express itself loudly. It can be very gentle. It can speak through humility, gratitude, service and even spirituality.

This is where awareness becomes important.

Perhaps the issue is not whether we talk about ourselves. It is whether we are aware of how much space the “me” occupies in our lives.

From Why Me to Who Am I?

Perhaps the more useful question is not “Why me?” but “Who am I?”

Why am I reacting this way?

Why do I feel I deserve more?

What is it in me that needs to change?

These questions take us from victimhood or insecurity toward introspection.

Self-development begins when we stop trying only to change our circumstances and start looking at the person experiencing those circumstances.

We begin to work on the current “me.” Over a long period of self improvement practice we become more balanced, less reactive, more aware, more compassionate and more accepting.

But even that is not the end.

Who Do I Aspire to Become?

There is another dimension to self-development. We can ask, “Who do I aspire to become?”

This is where the spiritual journey begins to open up.

Perhaps the person I want to become is not simply a more successful, peaceful or accomplished version of my present self. Perhaps there is a deeper self within me that I have yet to discover.

The great spiritual traditions have pointed toward this possibility in different ways.

Krishna speaks in the Bhagavad Gita of seeing the same divine reality in all beings. Jesus reminds us to lose our life in order to find it. The Prophet Muhammad taught that God does not look at our outward forms, but at our hearts and deeds.

The common thread is that through this life we find a possibility to discover the real self inside.

Unique, Yet the Same

This does not mean that we should deny our individuality.

Each of us is unique. We have different personalities, experiences, abilities, responsibilities and journeys. Our lives matter, and we should live them fully.

Yet beneath all this individuality, there is something that connects us.

We are unique, and yet the same.

Can we imagine that we are different expressions of something much greater than ourselves? This is where the idea of oneness becomes so profound. Oneness does not mean that everyone becomes identical. It means recognizing the deeper unity within our apparent differences.

Divine, Yet Insignificant

Perhaps there is another paradox here.

We can recognize that there is something divine within us, while simultaneously recognizing our individual insignificance.

That is not a contradiction.

In the vastness of existence, each of us is extraordinarily small. Billions of people have lived before us, and billions will live after us. Our individual stories, however important they seem to us, are only a tiny part of a much larger story.

And yet the whole is made up of billions of these seemingly insignificant beings.

A single drop may be insignificant compared with the ocean. Yet without the drops, there is no ocean.

Perhaps our significance in life is not in proving how significant “I” am. It is in fully grasping my insignificance while appreciating that I am an inseparable part of the whole.

Beyond Me

Maybe that is the real journey.

We begin with “Why me?” because we compare ourselves with others.

We move toward “Who am I?” through introspection.

We ask, “Who do I aspire to become?”

And eventually we may discover that the deeper spiritual self has very little interest in the constant story of “me.”

The goal may not be to create a more impressive me, a more successful me, or even a more spiritual me.

Perhaps it is to gradually become less occupied with me.

To become nothing.

And strangely, in becoming nothing, we may discover that we are part of everything.

Community Building

2026-10-08T19:05:35.403-07:00

Cultivating Connection: A Blueprint for Meaningful Community Building

Building a community is rarely about gathering a crowd; it is about cultivating a shared purpose. As we navigate a world that is increasingly digitized, the desire for genuine human connection—the kind that fosters growth, resilience, and mutual support—has never been more urgent. Whether in a volunteer organization, a professional team, or a spiritual gathering, the principles of community building remain grounded in intentionality and heart-centered action.

To understand a community, let us look at the word itself. It can be dissected into three foundational pillars: Co, Comm, and Unity.

Co (Co-operation and Co-existence): Cooperation is about different entities working in harmony. Just as a machine function when wheels of different sizes link together, a community thrives when individuals with diverse skills, aptitudes, and attitudes align for a common goal. This requires recognizing that each person has a unique role to play in the system.
Comm (Commonality and Communication): This component represents our shared humanity. While our roles may differ, our core aspirations are often identical. Heartful communication—treating others with the same respect, honesty, and gentleness with which you treat yourself—is the vital link that bridges individuals.
Unity: This is the manifestation of internal harmony extending outward. When our body, mind, and spirit are aligned, we naturally project a sense of safety and security. This internal "We-ness" allows others to feel comfortable, leading to open and authentic interactions.

Communication: The Internal Mirror

A common challenge in building communities is the breakdown of communication. We often resort to frustration when expectations are not met. However, the solution lies in a simple, profound practice: communicate with others as if you are communicating with your own self.

Would you be harsh, untruthful, or violent toward yourself? If the answer is no, then that same standard should apply to your interactions with your community. This mindset eliminates the need for pretense or self-image or impression management. When we stop trying to impress communication flows naturally.

Community vs. Events: Designing for Longevity

It is crucial to distinguish between an event and a community. For more clarity read Daaji’s “PET Theory” in Power of Paradox vol 1.

Events are short-term: They are singular occurrences with a beginning and an end, often centered on an RSVP.
Communities are long-term: They are living organisms that require authentic purpose and caring nurturing.

A sustainable community is not just a group of people who show up; it must become a dynamic organism with shared values, norms, and a clear entry and integration processes. While events can act as gateways, they are not the destination. A community survives the coming and going of selfish individuals because the "We-ness" of the system persists. Most often this is gauged by the sense of belongingness the community creates in individuals.

Like an organic ecosystem, participation in a community naturally shifts; some members are active while others provide support from the periphery. Both are essential to the organism's health.

Avoiding the Pitfalls

Even the best organized communities can stumble. Recognizing potential traps is the first step toward building something resilient.

The Founder’s Trap (Over-dependence): A community that relies entirely on the charisma or labor of one person is fragile. If the leader burns out or leaves, the community collapses. A successful community must distribute leadership and rely on a shared vision, not a single personality.
Artificiality vs. Authenticity: Implementing artificial deadlines or unrealistic goals to force engagement often leads to disharmony. Community building requires patience. As the saying goes, "Well begun is half done." Taking the time to plan an initiative - asking why we are doing what we are doing—is more effective than rushing to start.
The Clique Mentality: Beware of stratification, where a small group or an individual acts as "gatekeepers." A healthy community is meritocratic, welcoming diversity in skill and background, and avoiding nepotism or exclusionary circles.

The Multiplier Effect

Perhaps the most compelling reason to build a community is the "multiplier effect." Individual well-being is amplified within a group. When people come together with shared goals, their collective efforts produce results that no single individual could achieve alone.

Ultimately, the act of building a community is an act of service to oneself and the collective. It requires the clarity to define your purpose, the conviction to pursue it, and the commitment to see it through. By balancing these internal states with the outward apparatus of organization, we can create spaces where people feel they belong. This safety and belonginess are keys to long term success of a community and what all it can do for its members and extending these benefits to humans at large!

Based on discussions from the Global Youth Integration Program (2020), featuring insights from Victor Kannan

Gratitude, a Quality of the Heart.

2026-10-08T19:04:36.848-07:00

Gratitude

a Quality of the Heart.

Saying “Thank you” is a good courtesy and it is welcome. But gratitude is not gratitude if it is based on a situation or a condition.

Apart from the semantics of thankfulness and gratefulness I believe one is deeper than the other. But both have a mundane context and a deeper spiritual meaning.

We are all naturally thankful and grateful for the courtesies and recognitions we get. However, what happens if someone treats me unkindly, at least the way I perceive unkind. I may feel insulted and even revengeful.

A naturally grateful heart has now become a revengeful heart. It is not only the ego behind the hurt and revenge that is now gaining power but the unawareness of it all. It is more unawareness than ego!!

The unawareness of the unity principle perpetuates the separation and identification of the ego.

Compare a grateful person to a revengeful person. Who is suffering the most? Who is free the most? This has nothing to do with who has been endowed with more.

I feel grateful for all that I have and all that I don’t have. Having and not having is part of the same continuum. I would not be what I am today even if a single day had been any different in the past. I will go on trying to do my best and improve daily. And for that I am grateful.

Once Chariji gave a talk saying he was grateful to be alive one more day - one extra day to work on himself to improve himself. He was already in his 90s when he gave this speech, just a few months before his death. This is a phenomenal attitude. It is also a fact. The fact is that only here and now, in this embodied existence can we grow however difficult the circumstances might be.

Lalaji says when a soul enters the body, mind begins to form. Without the body and soul, mind has no place to exist. If mind is needed in this Raja Yoga system of spiritual evolution, life in the embodied state is extremely critical. This mind is that powerful invisible tool of cognition and evolution.

The minute either the body or the mind or the soul separate from this triune, we lose the opportunity to evolve and grow. Hence it is important to live as long as possible, as healthy as possible and to practice a spiritual system with as much discipline as possible.

We started with the statement that gratitude is not that if it is conditional. In fact, nothing spiritual can be conditional. Love, gratitude, faith etc. All are unconditional to be real; Unchanging to be real. If all the three – love, gratitude, faith become unconditional without their negative side of anger, revenge and doubt, what happens?

It gives us all an orientation to be positive and purposeful in life.

Orientation to be positive does not mean one is devoid of inquiry or not cautious of pitfalls in life. This orientation helps us get up and go towards the goal, undeterred.

I am grateful for opportunities that lift me and for suffering that shapes me into someone wiser, stronger, and more compassionate. I am grateful for growth that stretches me beyond my comfort and for setbacks that reveal strengths I never knew I possessed. I am grateful for friends who walk beside me and for those whose indifference teaches me to seek fulfillment within myself.

Gratitude shuns blind acceptance. Mind is still the tool to discern and determine what is essential for life’s higher purpose. We use the mind to know and evaluate the life’s experiences. We cultivate a new “me” and that new me is more self-aware, self-regulating and self-improving.

How do we cultivate such a gratitude which is unconditional, open minded and positively oriented?

First, we begin by recognizing the good things in life.

Not everyone suffers all the time. Even the most unfortunate has something to be grateful for. Find it, recognize it and savor it.

It may have been a courtesy of your neighbor or a fellow traveler or someone who held the door for you.

From there, begin to appreciate even the negative things that happen.

When something bad happens to you, don’t ever ask “why me”? Be bold to say “I am glad it is me. I can handle it”

Forget someone causing you trouble. How can we deal with our own bad behaviors?

Pausing. Pausing requires practice.

Pausing is strengthened by introspection, visualization and reprogramming. This can be done every time you have had a bad day. Eventually bad days become less as you become better at pausing and processing real time. Your interactions become more pleasant. This enhances gratitude. When we say smell the roses, this is what we mean. Pause, appreciate and be grateful.

It is this pausing that increases our awareness. While gratitude helps in expanding the consciousness, it is pausing that helps us change our patterns. When we are released from our patterns, we feel more grateful. This becomes a virtuous cycle.

Unconditional gratitude also opens the door to unconditional love. Think about it. Gratitude is the foundation for devotion and true devotion is unconditional and it embraces universal love - devotion to the Master and love to the fellow beings!! Loving all whom He loves. This is the power of gratitude.

Thank you

Why Not Artificial Consciousness?

2025-05-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

There is a growing debate about whether AI has consciousness.

I find this question amusing. The seriousness with which we debate this question seems to be misplaced. After all, we are not asking the question if an intelligent being is devoid of consciousness. If we are not asking this question, why then are we asking if programs that are powered by artificial intelligence have human type of consciousness.

We seem to have understood intuitively what artificial intelligence is and what consciousness is. Because the responses we get from our prompts to Gemini or Chat GPT, seem to be personal and contextual, we are surprised. We tend to ask the question if the AI is conscious.

What is intelligence?

According to the Oxford dictionary, Intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. When this is done by programming a computer, it is artificial intelligence. Whereas natural intelligence is innate such as found in living beings, whether it is a plant, an animal or a human. It uses this innate intelligence to respond to situations while machines are programmed to respond. It is a different discussion to ask if we are not programmed or influenced by our past memories and present socio economic conditions. This takes us to behavioral science and psychology. However, let us stay focused on this question of AI having consciousness.

What is consciousness?

According to Cambridge dictionary, Consciousness is “the state of being awake, thinking, and knowing what is happening around you”. Consciousness is the degree of awareness and unawareness, thinking and not thinking, knowing and not knowing. Somehow this definition is short on the sleep and dream states of consciousness.

What does AI do when it is ‘sleeping’?

One might say AI is learning while “sleeping” based on the previous set of interactions. This is machine learning. One might say this is similar to how the brain functions while the person is sleeping. As the brain consolidates and stores the information it obtained during the day, the AI machines are continually indexing the knowledge it obtained during the period of interaction for future use. This sounds like a valid argument.

Repetition and Creativity

The fundamental difference is the repetition of the machines vs creativity of what consciousness allows. One might ask the same question to AI repeatedly and it keeps on producing slightly different answers and hence we can claim it to be creative or imaginative. The random number generator in a gaming device appears to produce unpredictable outcomes. Those who know the rule that the house always wins, know the sum of all outcomes is profitable for the house and not to the sum of all players. Many lose to make a few win. The predictable outcome is that the house always wins, though individual outcomes are random. The fact the house always wins would mean the aggregate outcomes are preprogrammed.

Preprogrammed and Uniqueness

Similarly the AI machines are preprogrammed. They have artificial intelligence but not the consciousness to create the intelligence to begin with. Machine learning algorithms do not make them originally creative and unique unlike the human consciousness does. Consciousness is a composite of one’s ability to think, process, decide and act in a unique manner based on circumstances and past learning. It all seems programmable. But how two people respond totally differently to the same set of circumstances define the uniqueness in the behavior.

Knowing and how we know are part of consciousness. Intelligence is a means to know and hence is part of consciousness. Knowing includes feeling and feeling instigates thinking. Thinking results in understanding and that helps in choices and decision making. All these are parts of consciousness. Hence AI is an extension of human consciousness and not that AI has any consciousness of its own or possibility of having its own consciousness.

Humans can behave in a mechanical way, but machines can not behave like humans. Here lies the confusion and pathway for clarity! The best we can do is to define the existence of artificial consciousness as an explanation for the learning aspects of Artificial Intelligence engines. If we called it artificial consciousness would the debate end?

Submitted to Heartfulness Magazine as of July 7 2024 & Published subsequently .

The Power of Silence

2025-05-17T11:37:00.000-07:00

The Power of Silence

Cultivating Focus Through Decluttering Our Lives

(Published in Heartfulness Magazine March 2025)

Victor Kannan

Jan 1, 2025

In our modern, fast-paced world, the ability to focus has become a rare commodity. Distractions are ubiquitous ranging from cluttered physical spaces and overloaded digital screens to jam-packed calendars and emotional entanglements. However, there is a direct connection between focus, silence, and the space we create within ourselves and our surroundings. By intentionally managing the space within and around us, we can cultivate clarity, efficiency, and a deeper spiritual awareness.

Silence and Focus

Silence is not merely the absence of noise; it is a state of being that allows us to access clarity and peace. When we reduce our involvement and get disinterested in external distractions and curiosity, we create a fertile ground for focused attention. Focus and attention are abilities which we naturally discover when we remove the causes that stampede our minds.

We need to consciously reduce the proliferation of these unwanted and unnecessary attractions of sensory objects and ideas, things, events and people. Pause and introspect. Make a list of these distractions. You will find them all mostly related to our tendencies, which express themselves in our behavior. These behaviors get protected by our defensiveness and lack of acceptance of the need to change.

Creating Space for Silence

Silence is inherently tied to the space we create, both externally and internally. Physically, an uncluttered environment fosters calmness and order. When our surroundings are chaotic, they mirror and amplify internal disarray. Organizing our spaces, whether it’s our desks or digital devices, creates a sense of ease that enhances focus.

Internally, creating space involves letting go of unnecessary emotional baggage, outdated beliefs, and endless mental chatter. This means practicing heartfulness and mindfulness meditative techniques and journalling that allow us to observe our thoughts without attachment. The more internal space we cultivate, the more room we leave for silence, and in turn, for focus.

Consider this: a room filled with stuff makes it hard to stay in. It exudes the vibrations that caused the clutter. Are we hiding things under the bed? Are we putting things away in the corner which are never used to gather dust and allergens? These represent fear, confusion, chaos and lack of focus. These thought vibrations protected by the things we have kept there, affect our mind constantly when we occupy those spaces. The space in our mind is thus constantly encroached. A cluttered mind which is like the cluttered room, is a cacophony of fragmented thoughts and unprocessed emotions, which creates noise, contaminates the inner space, blunts the signals and diminishes our ability to see. Lack of focus becomes our permanent condition and state of being.

Avoiding Clutter: A Holistic Approach

Clutter comes in many forms. Physical clutter, such as unused items or disorganized workspaces, distracts and drains energy. Digital clutter, like an overload of apps or notifications, fragments our attention. Similarly, an overcrowded calendar filled with commitments can leave little room for reflection or spontaneity.

Emotional clutter—lingering resentment, unresolved conflicts, or excessive emotional involvement—also takes up valuable internal space. Mental clutter, such as the constant need to impress others or to recall unnecessary details or add “buts and becauses” to more thoroughly explain a situation that is quite plain for everyone else, inhibits our ability to live in the present.

By avoiding clutter, we open pathways to silence, which enables focus. Minimalism, time management, and emotional detachment are not just practical strategies but transformative practices that create harmony in every facet of life.

The Spiritual Connection

As we declutter and simplify, we naturally shift from superficial distractions to a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Ou ability to focus is directly related to the silence we keep. Silence is directly related to the internal space we create in our heart and mind. Space is directly related to the CLUTTER WE AVOID. This applies to physical spaces, digital apps on the screens, events on one calendar, emotional involvements, memory recalls, the tendency to form impressions and eventually all this leads to spiritual betterment. The clutter we avoid is choosing a conscious lifestyle. Clutter we create and find ourselves in makes us wonder who let the dogs in but ourselves.

When silence permeates your being you move gently, you speak sweetly, you listen keenly and you act gracefully.

To get more insight into these aspects, please read the chapter on “Less is More” in Daaji’s recent book “The Power of Paradox”.

Aging Gracefully

2024-09-07T04:33:00.000-07:00

Aging Gracefully
Published in Heartfulness Magazine Sep 24 issue

For a few months now I have been asking the question of how to age gracefully.

I turned 65 a few months back. I don’t feel it and I don’t know how it feels to be 65 since I have never been 65 until now. It is a good milestone as perhaps ⅔ of the time on earth is completed. There is a lot to be grateful for.

The idea of aging gracefully is a great one. It is a very important threshold and especially in the 21st century we live in. We say the 50 is the new 40 and so on to improve the outlook on aging. It is true more are living longer and more actively. However aging invariably calls for maturity in behavior and focus on life’s best interests.

Maturity is possible when we process our life’s experiences like the fruit ripens slowly to its fullness of sweetness. Introspection is a tool for developing awareness. It promotes alertness and it helps us in keeping up with positive associations of ideas, people, books and more. Not only we associate with the positive regenerative moments in life but also actively avoid unnecessary, harmful or hurtful circumstances.

Friction is needed for movement. Lack of resistance is needed for expansion. In the heartfulness way of meditation as we progress, we shift our consciousness from movement to expansion through the continuous process of contemplation over time. The daily practices of meditation, observation, introspection and visualization help us understand how to adjust our thoughts and actions so we can be in line with the expectations that arise rightfully as one ages.

Would you accept a mango which looks ripe but rotten inside? Can you imagine aging without maturity? Can you accept growing old without gracefulness? It is an insult to life itself. It is a colossal waste of time and effort. It is a misdirection of life and its blessings.

The need for Gracefulness challenges us to balance growth opportunities with our ability to respond to them. We choose our physical environment and develop forethought. We become more diligent, agile and resilient in our mental emotional responses.

We need to get more alone time and with nature and grand children if possible. Associate with people without agenda. Listen and share with young people. Avoid contacts of peers who are not friends for there is no room for competition and comparison. Some peer groups are riddled with jealousy and prejudice due to past experiences. Avoid being curious and most importantly transcend FOMO.

Good luck aging. Time moves on inexorably. It is a beautiful thing. It signifies the movement of nature. Day comes and the sun is shining. Seasons change, we celebrate; flowers and fragrance fill our homes. Life cycles through and wisdom is accumulated. Humanity is better off because of it.

If we did not age and time stood still what will happen. I shudder to think. Look forward to aging more gracefully as time clicks on perfectly.

There are three principles I love to follow

Love the one who loves all

Love all who is loved by the one

Love all and hurt none - not even plants and animals.

Yes we can take what the plants and trees give us without hurting them. They happily give us seeds and fruits as they ripen. Similarly we hope to give our wisdom to the next generation to improve the lives of all.

Bhagwad Gita for the Modern Spiritual Seeker

2024-09-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

Gitopadesh for the Modern Spiritual Seeker

Integrating Ancient Wisdom into Daily Practice

*By Victor Kannan*

Aug 26 2024

As we navigate the complexities of modern life, we often find ourselves seeking deeper meaning and clarity. Ancient scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita offer timeless wisdom that not only addresses the challenges of its era but also provides profound guidance for today’s spiritual seekers. At the heart of this pursuit is the integration of these teachings into our daily lives—a vision championed by Daaji through initiatives such as Sthithaprajna Courses for the practitioners of The Heartfulness Way.

The Living Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita, through its narrative of Arjuna and Lord Krishna, presents a story within a story, illustrating decision-making at life's most critical junctures. Arjuna’s dilemma—caught between conflicting duties and emotions—mirrors the choices we all face, albeit in less extreme forms. The Gita does not merely address intellectual clarity but insists on moral clarity as essential for spiritual growth.

While we may easily achieve intellectual clarity, spiritual emancipation requires moral integrity. This is why Lord Krishna emphasizes not only ‘karma’ (action) and ‘dharma’ (duty) but also ‘bhakti’ (devotion). As we peel back the layers of the Gita’s teachings, we uncover the deeper significance of ‘bhakti’, which includes unwavering focus (ekagrata) on our spiritual goal: merging with the Divine within. Krishna reminds us that when we achieve this unity, we experience a state of eternal joy—an aspiration that resonates deeply with those on the spiritual path.

Integrating Ancient Teachings into Modern Practice

How do we make these teachings practical? In Heartfulness, the principles of the Gita are not merely theoretical. They are woven into our daily practices of meditation, cleansing, and prayer, along with the 10 Maxims and the suggestions Daaji has given us. Together, these practices transform spiritual growth into a 24/7 endeavor, ensuring that the teachings of the Gita, Puranas, and other sacred texts accompany us throughout the day.

Our minds need inspiration, alertness, and clarity. The evolution of consciousness is a gradual process, built by accumulating subtle conditions each day. The Bhagavad Gita helps us develop five key qualities essential for this evolution:

1. Self-awareness: Knowing oneself and one’s purpose.

2. Detachment: Letting go of worldly attachments while performing our duties with perfection and self-confidence.

3. Equanimity: Maintaining a steady mind in life’s highs and lows while remaining engaged with love, affection, and respect.

4. Mental regulation: Mastering the mind to reduce distractions and desires.

5. Soulful yearning: Distinguishing between the desires of the body and the mind and aligning with the soul’s ultimate desire to merge with the Divine.

These lessons remind us that the body is a vehicle, the mind its regulator, and the soul the driving force behind our spiritual evolution. By regulating the mind and caring for the body, the soul expands, revealing its innate bliss.

The Active Role of the Soul

Traditionally, the soul is considered passive and eternal. However, Daaji has spoken about its more dynamic role. The subtle body, consisting of the mind, intellect, and ego, exists to enhance and the potential of the soul. If the soul is inherently blissful, are we able to feel it? The Bhagavad Gita invites us not to ignore our duties or compromise on ‘dharma’ but to approach life as joyful warriors, finishing our ‘bhoga’ (worldly experiences) with grace and accumulating true knowledge, where freedom and happiness are intertwined.

Heartfulness and the Four Yogas

The Bhagavad Gita speaks of four Yogas—Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Karma Yoga. These diverse paths all find synthesis in Sahaj Marg, the foundation of Heartfulness practice. This synthesis makes our spiritual practice both effective and inclusive, guiding us through each aspect of our spiritual journey. In Heartfulness, the teachings of the Gita become practical tools, continually inspiring us in our daily lives.

Understanding the Gita’s context within Heartfulness provides us with a wellspring of inspiration and guidance. The spiritual goal is not something to be reached at the end of life—it is something to be attained as soon as possible, allowing us to enjoy a state of joyful equanimity. Yet, this goal is infinite. Just as reaching the beach opens the way to an endless ocean, achieving one milestone in our spiritual journey leads us to new depths of understanding and experience.

A Journey of Infinite Possibility

Heartfulness, supported by the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, offers us the possibility of an infinite journey—an ever-expanding horizon of spiritual growth. It allows us to explore the vastness of our inner world, guided by ancient teachings and modern practices.

As we continue on this path, we owe a deep sense of gratitude to Daaji, whose wisdom and guidance have integrated these ancient lessons into our contemporary spiritual practice. The Bhagavad Gita is not merely a text to be studied but a living guide that enhances our understanding of what Heartfulness offers—a means to navigate life’s complexities with clarity, purpose, and joy.

- Sent it to Magazines (CR and HFN)

Lack of opposites

2024-06-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

I think this was published in hfn magazine or Sahaj marg magazine

Lack of Opposites

Anger is not the opposite of Love

Fear is not the opposite of Courage

Contentment is not the opposite of Aspiration

Quiet is not the opposite of Activity

Night is not the opposite of Day

Hatred is

Foolishness is

Desire is

Laziness is

Unrested Mind is

and

Unawakened Spirit is

Duality is different from opposites.

Both have to be moderated to meet in the middle of a balanced condition

When day meets night, you introspect and reset; to relax and rest.

When night meets the day, you stretch, meditate and regenerate positively

When anger subsides, our compassion takes over and love overflows

When aspiration is nurtured, there is no contentment but restlessness and quiet activity

When real intelligence dawns on us, we awaken and pursue the highest.

In that we experience the truth in existence, expansion in consciousness and bliss in life

When we extend beyond this, we inherit the inheritance of our divine abode!

Along the way, we discover there is no god but a Master, our eternal Guide.

We transcend religion and land in spirituality

We let go of gods and seek the guidance of the Master

We begin to revel in His grandeur beyond any expression

We discover the truth behind Him and Us and All

Unity

We let go of that truth and become just a potential tool

Nothingness

In the hands of the spiritual architect

Who is designing the next edifice of existence.

Potentiality

Causeless Cause

2024-06-06T11:01:00.001-07:00

Submitted for Sahaj Marg Magazine 8/20/23

Victor Kannan

Aug 29 2023

Why is there something instead of nothing? This is called a Primordial Existential Question. PEQ in short. This is one of the big questions that get asked and sends physicists and philosophers, scientists, and saints on a lifelong journey of explorations and dissertations. This quest for answer goes on from some trivializing this question as meaningless to others writing scores of books. Ideally, this question like, where we came from, what is the beginning of it all, explores the first cause - the causeless cause which has created this vast manifest universe and all that it contains, which is continuing to expand at a mind-boggling speed and complexity.

In the movie Coldest Game, which was taken from a real-life story, surrounding the diplomacy effort to avoid Cuban Missile Crisis. In this movie the American President sends in the main character, a chess player, and a Math professor to Russia. While he was in a Taxi, the conversation between him and the taxi driver goes like this.

Taxi Driver – What came first? The chicken or the egg?

Professor Joshua Minsky – It is important to see things as they are. On one hand you have an awkward feathered thing. And on the other you have the most perfect aerodynamic shape that’s ever evolved.

Taxi Driver insists... The answer is…

Professor Joshua Minsky – The answer is obvious, right?

Taxi Driver - Everything’s simple with you, professor. It was the egg, not the chicken, right?

Professor Minsky jokes – That depends on whether I’m having breakfast or dinner.

Joking aside, the 20^th century spiritual saint and founder of Sahaj Marg, Ram Chandra (1899-1931, Shahjahanpur, UP, India) also known as Babuji said similarly that God is not a fool to make chicken if he can do with an egg. So, the first egg was not out of a chicken. The first cause or the causeless cause, is the most efficient part of the intelligent design which created this manifest universe.

There is a line of theosophical thinking that explains, everything came from God, the Absolute. But this gets into difficulty due to the preconceived ideas of gods, religions and the requirements of faith or fear or temptation. Babuji, explains in his book Reality at Dawn (P 3, 21) that God is considered by many as eternal power. This power is activating and energizing all things manifest. Hence this is a substratum of existence. If we go a step further, we could explain this eternal power as the ultimate cause or primeval cause. This is also known in Indian Scriptures as Nirguna Brahma or Indeterminate Absolute which is devoid of multiplicities and distinctions. When we are devoid of multiplicities and distinctions it is essentially nothingness. We may call this superactive center of interdeteminate absolute, full of nothingness, a ‘singularity’ in addition to nothingness for it points to one pointedness!

Babuji says there was a kshob or spontaneous creation from this superactive center of nothingness. We should avoid the temptation of devising a God as the creator. Even a spiritual genius like Babuji says “Before creation there was only 'space' all over. Thus, being of God (Isha) was a later development and it took some time for its appearance. We see the space as endless and eternal, so we conclude God as well to be eternal. Time followed God had come into being. Thus, space served as the mother of creation of God, and time was the negative state of it.” (Sahaj Marg Philosophy, Space and Time). That would mean God did not come first! It also solves the first cause problem. what exists always, is just the space or vacuum or emptiness or nothingness.

A creation coming out of this first cause of a big bang satisfies us in explaining what is in this universe that we see and know. However, it does not answer the question of how the Indeterminate Absolute came into existence to begin with. The answer may perhaps be in the first law of thermodynamics, which is the law of conservation of energy. In physics and chemistry, the law of conservation of energy states that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant; it is said to be conserved over time.[1] Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; rather, it can only be transformed or transferred from one form to another. (Wikipedia – Conservation of Energy – First Law of Thermodynamics). We could define the entire universe as one mega system. The total energy in this existence is constant, always available, moving and powering things in it.

How about thought as energy. We need both particles of matter and bodies with life to complete the picture of manifestation. Scientists are beginning to explore that thought is an energy and we can even measure them in mhz. But a thought to be transmitted it must be released and received, like physical energy which must be released and received. In the process of transmitting energy, transformation takes place even of thought. Thoughts do get communicated. They even transform into feelings and that too get communicated. Bees communicate, animals and event plants are sensitive to emotions of people. Water molecules change shape by prayer prove the transmission and transformation of thought energy.

In positive psychology and spirituality, we speak about intentions and thoughts. They matter in the transformation one’s states of mind. Pure intentions and positive thoughts affect the states of mind positively and the bad ones affect the mind adversely. So, this transference, transmission, and transformation of thought energy, good or bad can influence the receiver of such thoughts and knowledge. In some way we can extend this theory of law of conservation of thought energy to humans and life forms. Granted we must do more studies in understanding the effects of thought energy on manifestation. Suffice it to say, there is a connection between thought and manifestation similar to some big bang and the universe that formed after it.

Material energy and thought energy combined play its part in the ever expanding and evolving universe. The Vedic literature reference of Prakriti and Purusha could very well be assigned to material and thought energies respectively. It is said in Vedic literature that the combination of purusha and prakriti created this universe with life and cycles. Whether it is you and me as individuals or galaxies and stars, they are born, decay, dead and reborn constantly. In this context the search for first cause is meaningless. Though the first cause is a causeless cause, the real search should be for the eternal causeless cause. This sort of real search will inspire us to search for eternality of existence, an existence without an origin and an end, but with all the chaos, excitement, and possibilities.

The Right Understanding

2024-06-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

The Right Understanding

Published in Sahaj marg magazine April 2024

Victor Kannan

Jan 17, 2024

Daaji, the global guide of heartfulness has given us a few suggestions that we could meditate upon or affirmations that we can practice during our spare time to help us grow spiritually and also help create a better social environment that we are part of. You can find them in the article written by Daaji and published in the Heartfulness Magazine, March 2023 edition https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/heartful-suggestions

The other day when I was meditating on the suggestion that “Everyone is developing correct thinking, right understanding, and an honest approach to life. And, they are attaining rightness in action and perfection in character.” The meaning and depth of these words and sentiments expanded.

As you see, this suggestion has multiple parts. First part is related to thinking. Second is related to understanding and the third is an approach to life. All this combined, result in rightness in action and consequently, in perfection in our character. For a spiritual seeker, character is everything. Without character one cannot enter even the first gate of real spirituality. So, this suggestion is truly for the evolution of one’s consciousness and that of others we touch.

We cannot exude that which we don’t cultivate in our hearts. When we have love in our hearts, we can give it easily. No one can evoke love by exhibiting anger or joyously. Pity may be, not love. So, these positive qualities that we are aspiring that others may develop, will automatically be ours as we are sincere about this affirmation. In the collective everyone evolves with anyone’s contribution. The whole evolves when the parts evolve.

We know consciousness is comprised of three subtle bodies., viz., mind, intellect, and ego. The first part of correct thinking is related to the mind. The second part of right understanding is related to intellect and the third part of honest approach to life is related to one’s ego.

How do we think correctly, understand rightly, and adopt an honest approach? This would require our subtle bodies to be refined. Refinement happens when our mind, intellect and ego get purified, regulated and focused. This is possible by our cleaning and meditation done right and regularly.

When the mind thinks correctly, it leads to right action. When our intellect understands the situations right we can appreciate them with clarity and joy. There is a tremendous relief in right understanding and confidence builds up because of this clarity. When the ego gets refined and is enveloped with humility, it does not feel the need to adopt selfish means to promote one’s identity and hence chooses honest living. This keeps the conscience clear and the heart light. We travel light through the journey of life without guilt or anger or jealousy, cheerfully accepting what is meant to be ours. We feel content and grateful. We gain clarity and courage to do the right thing. Lives are better off because of it.

Until the other day, I had not fully understood the depth of practicing this suggestion! I am happy and grateful that the meditation ushered me into this new vista of understanding.

Sculpting Spiritual Anatomy

2023-11-30T04:45:00.000-08:00

Sculpting Spiritual Anatomy: Victor Kannan's Journey

Victor Kannan is a lifelong financial executive and a Director of Heartfulness Institute Inc., USA, an international non-profit organization with an operating presence of Heartfulness in over 150 countries.

He has been an executive leader in the high-tech space since the late 80s. He lives in Atlanta Georgia with his wife and his daughter in California. As an independent thinker, he gives speeches, writes frequently for various magazines and blog sites. His favorite topics are self-development, spirituality, and meditation.

Read more about him in this interview with MysticMag.

Can you explain the concept of spiritual anatomy and its significance in holistic well-being? How does understanding spiritual anatomy contribute to a person’s overall health and balance?

I’d like to mention that this book is authored by Daaji, also known as Kamlesh D. Patel. The book is titled “Spiritual Anatomy: Meditation, Chakras, and the Journey to the Center.” Daaji serves as the Global Guide of Heartfulness and is the Founder of the Institute. Raised in both India and the US, he brings a unique perspective with a Western mind and Eastern heart, blending science and spirituality.

The essence of “Spiritual Anatomy,” as explored in the book, lies in understanding the spiritual functioning of an individual. Similar to how physical anatomy involves the proper functioning of organs for overall health, spiritual anatomy focuses on emotional and mental well-being. A healthy emotional anatomy involves different responses to impulses, while a sound mental anatomy includes reasoning and understanding.

The crux of spiritual anatomy is comprehending the composition of one’s spiritual being and achieving the freedom of the spirit. Recognizing the significance of spiritual anatomy ensures that spirituality encompasses physical, mental, and emotional aspects. This holistic approach leads to the settling of all components in one’s spiritual anatomy.

Proper understanding and care of spiritual anatomy enable individuals to embark on a journey toward freeing their spirit and experiencing the full potential of being human.

Chakras are often discussed in the context of spiritual practices. Could you elaborate on the role of chakras in the human body, and how they influence our mental, emotional, and physical states? Additionally, how can one work towards balancing and aligning their chakras through meditation or other practices?

Exploring the philosophies surrounding Chakras, we delve into their nature and functions. One explanation suggests that Chakras act as step-down transformers, storing and stepping down the vast energy unleashed during creation. As evolved beings, humans integrate various aspects of their awareness and unconsciousness through an elaborate step-down transformer system.

Similar to how all living entities have essential functions, humans uniquely feel, communicate, and vibrate with each other. Chakras, being advanced step-down transformers, play a crucial role in interacting with the sum of energy or nature, constituting God. Traditionally, there are seven Chakras, each with distinct characteristics mirroring specific bodily functions.

From the Muladhara Chakra to the Sahasrara Chakra, these energy centers collectively contribute to the well-being of the physical body. When balanced, they ensure physical health, akin to maintaining balance through medication for bodily organs. In the spiritual realm, however, techniques like meditation in environments like Heartfulness provide a side-effect-free means to harmonize these energy centers.

Understanding spiritual anatomy involves recognizing the collaboration of different Chakras, each with its unique qualities. Adopting diverse techniques becomes essential to balance these Chakras and optimize spiritual practices, facilitating a profound spiritual journey. Meditation emerges as a key concept, serving as the linchpin in discussions about Chakras and their role in spiritual well-being.

Meditation is a key element in many spiritual traditions. How does meditation impact the different layers of spiritual anatomy, and what are some specific techniques or approaches that individuals can use to deepen their meditation practice for spiritual growth and self-discovery?

The journey from physical, mental, and emotional states to spiritual health is a process of integration. By utilizing techniques that integrate different aspects of our being, we embark on a transformative path. The Koshas, starting from Annamaya to Vijnanamaya, represent various sheaths nurtured through physical food, breath, thought, and intellect, culminating in the realm of spirit.

Meditation serves as a bridge, guiding us progressively through emotional, intellectual, and spiritual balance. Daaji’s book on spiritual anatomy places significant importance on the heart region, particularly the heart chakra with its multiple sub-chakras. Each sub-chakra corresponds to specific emotions and tendencies.

The first sub-chakra deals with likes, dislikes, desires, and contentment, emphasizing the need to moderate desires for inner contentment. The second sub-chakra, where the soul resides, addresses restlessness and peace, indicating that peace of mind leads to the expansion of the soul. The third sub-chakra moderates passion, transforming it into a more positive, love-filled energy.

Moving to the fourth chakra, a sense of courage and confidence is cultivated. Finally, the throat chakra enhances clarity, enabling better understanding, communication, and connection with others. Moderating these qualities in the sub-chakras results in feeling content, calm, compassionate, courageous, and clear.

The spiritual anatomy project, incorporated into daily practice, facilitates self-discovery and spiritual growth, transforming one’s perspective and fostering a new sense of self.

In the realm of spiritual anatomy, there’s often talk about energy flow and blockages. How do these energy dynamics relate to the chakra system, and what are some signs that someone may be experiencing an imbalance or blockage in their energy centers? How can meditation be employed to address and clear these blockages?

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s book “The Body Keeps the Score” delves into the connection between trauma, the brain, and the body. Frozen traumas stored in the body can profoundly impact one’s life, and techniques like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) help unfreeze these traumas by re-balancing the brain.

Similarly, in heartfulness meditation, excessive desires, restlessness, anger, and fear are seen as energetic blockages in specific chakras. The technique of “cleaning” involves directing positive thoughts to normalize these chakras. For instance, if someone struggles with anger, the focus would be on the third chakra to invoke love and replace anger.

Over time, as individuals practice heartfulness meditation, they report a gradual moderation of their tendencies. The positive effects are often recognized by those close to them, such as partners noting a reduction in anger. The simple yet powerful idea is that by addressing frozen emotions in a chakra, heartfulness meditation can help balance and moderate these tendencies, bringing about positive changes in one’s emotional responses.

How does meditation serve as a bridge between the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of our being? Can you share examples or case studies where individuals have experienced tangible benefits in their spiritual anatomy through a consistent meditation practice?

Consistent heartfulness meditation, backed by extensive research, demonstrates notable improvements across various aspects of well-being, encompassing the mental, physical, and emotional realms. Surveys reveal that 91% of participants report a deep sense of calm after guided relaxation, with 74% expressing a positive impact and 26% feeling neutral.

Research, both in terms of case studies and scientific studies, validates the efficacy of heartfulness practices. Pubmed.org hosts numerous studies showcasing the positive effects, including enhanced sleep quality, improved emotional intelligence, and reduced stress and burnout. This comprehensive approach addresses blockages or knots in the chakras, transforming them into fully functional energy centers.

Heartfulness meditation, conducted consistently with a trainer, facilitates the release of frozen centers, allowing them to blossom into energized and balanced chakras. This process optimizes the storage and utilization of energy at the appropriate levels, contributing to a harmonious and enriched daily life. Consistent meditation practice, especially in collaboration with a trainer, yields these substantial benefits.

Give Us Your Opinion

9.5 /10

2 People Voted

We rank vendors based on rigorous testing and research, but also take into account your feedback and our commercial agreements with providers. This page contains affiliate links. Advertising Disclosure

About the author

Role of the Intellect in Evolution of Consciousness

2023-03-12T18:54:00.002-07:00

Generally Consciousness is said to consist of Mind, Intellect and Ego. When consciousness evolves it means its component parts of mind, intellect and ego also evolve; mind evolves from thinking to feeling, intellect evolves from instinct to wisdom, ego evolves from preserving and promoting oneself to appreciation of universal harmony in a sense of wonder and humility.

This idea of Intellect is not explored much in faith traditions. Lot more emphasis is given to love, devotion, faith and surrender. However when we observe, many who are moved by faith and devotion seem to lead a life of irrationality and emotional excess. They do not seem to take self-responsibility seriously. This leads the skeptics and the rational to deny the existence of mystery, esoterism and the magical, as the devotees act devoid of much self-awareness.

However, when we observe the universe, we wonder about some phenomenon and doubt others. Doubt is a poison even for intellectual reasoning. Wonder is the best way to approach the things we don't know about. There is so much that is majestic which is all around us. Healthy dose of skepticism along with wonder keeps the mind’s door open and observant for non-judgemental learning.

This is more important when we take up self transformational processes using yoga, meditation and spirituality. ‘Spirituality’ is an art and science of exploring our true connection with nature and our inner reality and ultimate potential. This is usually a process of transformation of the self from who we are to what we can be. In this process we transform from inside out. When we transform such, from the center of our own selves eventually we exude those new states of being into our circumference. This naturally influences the environment and the community that we live in.

The spirituality centered ‘Self Transformation’, can also called ‘Evolution or expansion of Consciousness’. Our consciousness, which may be defined as the extent of awareness and quality of response to such awareness, begins to unravel its potential which to say it evolves and expands. This results in an increase of our ability to perceive clearly and act with focus and purpose.

Mind, Intellect and Ego make up the whole of our individual consciousness. Mind is a thinking instrument. It thinks given a set of mental and emotional circumstances and finds a new solution. Thinking results in a new thought. This thought becomes a seed when appropriate in the future for more thinking. Intellect is a tool which is supposed to be used for dissection, analysis, and understanding. It is a tool of discernment. Ego is the part that gives us the identity and sense of possessions; which is me, mine and ours. This identity is questioned when we feel threats and constraints. The ego suffers. It triggers the other counterparts of intellect and mind to analyze the issue and think of a new solution to overcome these threats and constraints. When overcome, the new solution reestablishes our identity. All these three work together in a complex fashion; it is difficult to say where one ends and the other begins.

But let us assume for the sake of discussion that the intellect is the connecting link between thinking and identification. Intellect is the discriminating or discerning faculty. It is an instrument like a knife. It dissects and analyses the world around us, in the pursuit of meaning. It can cut open a life or make things around us sharper for us to use better! It makes sense out of our thinking. However, intellect has to be expanded or evolved. How? By purifying, regulating and focusing it. If intellect is not pure, it will justify all evil acts.

Intellect is also on a spectrum of display from instinct to wisdom. Eventually it extends to direct perception. Though humans are supposed to be at the pinnacle of evolution of species, all forms of life have a form of intellect called instinct. Research shows that trees have a nervous system. They communicate among themselves1. There are electrons that pass from the external field to a central nervous system and then the feedback loop creates an action, and that action protects the plants or preys on the food and understands what is around them.

So instinct is the first element of intellect. That instinct is necessary for survival and many times we ask ‘What is your gut feeling? Where is the gut feeling coming from? There is also research which has shown that the brain function is just not in the brain2. Similarly the Vagus nerve from the heart stimulates the brain into certain action and not the other way round3. So the autonomic functions are shared between the brain, gut and the heart. They control both the sympathetic and parasympathetic responses, whether they are fight flight or freeze response or post stress feelings of calm, peace, happiness and joy. So our instinct is all over our body and mind complex. Instinct is directly related to brain function and hormones. Instinct makes us react. It is our inheritance to protect and safeguard our lives. It is the instinct that protects the ego and it draws from the resources of the memory bank and thinking of the mind.

The second element of intellect is intuition. We have observed that some are more intuitive than others. We say, we want to develop apps that are more intuitive. All of us have felt a sense of things and events before they happen. This is intuition. A gut feel; a calm heart; a premonition; a forethought or a foresight; an aha moment. Intuition develops when we quiet our mind, observe and eventually witness. Meditation is a significant method to develop intuition. Intuition develops as we open our minds to its subconscious and superconscious states.

The third element is intelligence. Intelligence is again a variable but all of us have it. Animals have it and plants have it. Intelligence can be improved by acquiring knowledge and how to apply it. Mostly knowledge comes from experience and observation. This knowledge includes emotional intelligence which is acquisition of emotional and mental soft skills such as listening, pausing, reflecting, focusing, being attentive etc.. More intelligent a person is, the more successful and happy he or she can be. Here too, without an evolution of that intelligence by proper and pure intentions the intelligence is usually wasted on inhumane enterprises. The power of intention can not be minimized in the growth of our consciousness. Pure and altruistic intentions are the principles of an evolving mind, intellect and ego. This of course includes fighting to protect oneself and the families for self preservation. When this goes to self aggrandizement, then the problems begin.

The fourth element is wisdom. When intellect evolves it becomes wisdom. But how? . By conscious effort to purify, regulate and focus our intellect, it becomes wisdom. The evolution of mind and ego also help in the evolution of intellect and vice versa. How does wisdom help us? When we are wise, we make better choices. Those better choices come as, whether to speak or not to speak. What to say? How much to say? When to say? Whether to go here or go there? All the choices that we make that become consistent and conducive with the goal that we have taken up for our lives. We may not know how to define wisdom, but we can definitely identify when we see a wise man or hear words of wisdom.

In a nutshell, the role of the Intellect is a crucial one. We also said mind, intellect and ego work together in helping each other evolve or devolve. For example, Intellect sheds light on faith as well. Faith is a state of mind. I have struggled with the term ‘faith’ for a long time. I did not understand what faith actually meant in the context of how it has been practiced to get from an almighty what we want. Faith increased if expectations were met. This is not inspiring. In one of the meditations, it occurred to me that the role of faith is to beget hope and hope begets positive action. Positive action produces positive results. So, to my understanding intellect actually embellishes the understanding of faith and puts it in the right place.

One other way to explain ‘Evolution of Consciousness’ is to say it is a release from the limitations of the mind, intellect and ego. It works in a collaborative manner towards their continuous expansion to become feeling, wisdom and the wonderful appreciation of the world around us. It is an ever growing subtlefication of our body, mind, spirit complex. It is ever tending towards moderation and balance in all aspects of our lives. In that intellect plays a very big part. If the mind is not refined, intellect is not refined, and ego is not refined, then love, obedience, surrender will remain misplaced and will become counterproductive to one’s evolution as a species.

The 19th century spiritual Master, Babuji (Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur) added this term “real” before love, life, surrender to perhaps indicate the importance of the pure, regulated and focused form of these attitudes for a self transformation enthusiast or a real spiritual seeker to be guided to get to the real truth. A pure, regulated, focused consciousness is possible only when the mind, intellect and ego are purified, simplified, regulated and focused. Also, when this happens, then the consciousness enables direct perception. This is what the saints and spiritual scientists like Buddha, Ram Chandra (Babuji) are able to achieve at the heights of their spiritual practice. We ordinary humans also have such a possibility when we embrace and practice a spiritual self-development aspiration and use the meditation system such as Heartfulness holistically.

https://www.science.org/content/article/plants-communicate-distress-using-their-own-kind-nervous-system
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3845678/
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210624/Researchers-observe-brains-responses-to-vagus-nerve-stimulation-during-sleep-and-wakefulness.aspx

Sent to Heartfulness Magazine 9/15/22.. published in feb 23 edition

Role of the Intellect in Evolution of Consciousness
Victor Kannan
Sep 15 2022 - Rev 2

Care to be Carefree

2023-03-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

Care to be Carefree

The term carefree is generally used to characterize our lives as children. As children, we roamed around without a care in the world. ‘Carefree’ is a state of mind when we are worriless. This may be true with children, but as we grow older, we are beset with a ton of responsibilities, and worries pile up. Flow of energy is affected, and we lose the freshness in our feelings. This grows into a debilitating situation, and we are drowned in a state of helplessness. How then can we be carefree as adults!

Carefree does not mean being indifferent or careless and uncaring. We also tell people especially our young ones to be pay attention and be careful as they go to school, play, bike or participate in a sports activity. We inspire partners and employees to be caring and pin them for their uncaring attitude. We blame each other for being careless when we drop, pop and break or damage a valuable item such as a flower vase or a statue. Uncaring, carelessness or not paying attention is vastly different from being carefree.

In the middle of it all this is the idea of caring. How much to care and what to care for, are the details that surround this attitude of being carefree.

Caring is a value, being careful or uncaring is a personality trait. Values are taught early in life and are part of one’s upbringing. Children catch these critical values from their parents, families, and environment in which they grow up. These values form a foundation for life. Caring unfolds in how to treat people and do things. It shows in kindness, compassion, and generosity when we are with people and in the ability to pay attention to detail when it comes to doing things. Many of us go after knowledge as it gives us power. But power is not easily sustained without a caring attitude. It was the American President Theodore Roosevelt who said “People don’t care how much you know unless they know how much you care”.

Contrary to being caring, what happens if we behave in an uncaring manner. Uncaring attitude is a selfish one. It lacks etiquette. It has a high concentration of ego, self-centricity and uncouth. Over time, this results in isolation and loneliness. Who will associate with someone who does not care for etiquette and relationships?

Carelessness on the other hand, is the result of lack of interest, pride, patience, faith and passion. It shows in sloppy work, lack of progress, constant turmoil, and chaos in teams or relationships. Careless work will result in unintended consequences. A careless person also speaks without restraint and awareness. Carelessness means lack of attention to work, people and not handling things properly. Carelessness is also a state of ignorance. While uncaring attitude is due to ego, carelessness is due to lack of development of one’s real intelligence.

Amidst the caring, careful, uncaring, and careless people, we also come across people who are carefree. Carefree people exhibit a condition of flow, joy, and happiness. They don’t take up gossip or curious inquiry of their friends, family members or colleagues. When we are in their presence, we also feel expanded and safe. We don’t feel the need to be guarded. Moreover, a person who is in a spiritual practice for self-development at times enjoys a condition of being carefree. As they grow in spirituality their carefree condition becomes more and more permanent.

The carefree condition is a balanced condition of the mind, free of excitement or dejection. To develop such a condition, it takes practice - a practice that helps in the moderation of the tendencies and reducing the swings of the mind.

A spiritual Master called Lalaji (1873-1931) from India, describes how one can reach the condition of carefree happiness. “The mind has the middle position where there is the mixed condition of happiness and sorrow. And when the mind rises above these two stages and reaches the spirit or the causal body, it gets peace, stability and carefree happiness. These are the three parts of the mind” – Lalaji - Truth Eternal, p 63 ed 2018

How to develop the condition of being carefree?

First is to moderate our tendencies. We need to be aware of our excesses and accept them as a challenge to overcome. Then we practice self-development to overcome these personality challenges and shortcomings. We try to get rid of our negative personality traits which we formed due to collection of impressions or samsakaras. We adopt practices such as relaxation, meditation, rejuvenation, introspection and visualization to reprogram our personality. Eventually we gain control over our mind and behavior. We start thinking correctly which helps in processing future possibilities and the choices we have, in a more positive manner.

With respect to this idea of reducing our impressions, Daaji, the founder of Heartfulness Institute says “The ideal life is carefree because we don't form impressions. That is self-mastery, the life of a Master or Guide. Instead of forming impressions, thy help others to stop forming impressions.” - Designing Destiny P57.Ed 2019

Second is to reduce wants and needs. This would help us develop a carefree state of mind as there is less to worry about. This tendency of needing more and more to be comfortable or to have a sense of self or safety must be moderated and refined. If not, we won’t know the difference between wants and needs and will drown in things we accumulate and don’t give away or use. More things more to worry about. More unnecessary things more unnecessary worries. There is wisdom in simplifying our life. This will tremendously improve our carefree status.

Third is to do “spot cleaning” or “clean as you go”. This micro practice of heartfulness, helps in removing impressions as they form that may later trigger a “samskaric” engagement if left uncleaned. This will also help develop a carefree state of mind.

The fourth pillar to develop carefree condition is faith. Faith that when we do our best, only best possible outcome will follow. This faith also has the attitude of total acceptance and if the outcome is less than optimal more effort will follow without a doubt or a whiff of a concern.

Finally, every now and again try to be carefree. Feel it and enjoy it. It does not mean cultivating irresponsibility. It is like resting before activity begins. You are fresh, light, creative and productive. Adding wonder and gratitude to this condition of being carefree takes the whole being to a new dimension of existence. Only when we experience such a condition of being, do we then appreciate this state of being. It is worth striving for.

Submitted to Heartfulness Magazine - Jan 28 23

Lalaji Maharaj

2023-01-28T21:58:00.005-08:00

Lalaji Maharaj

Uncommon Saint for a Common Man

By now the readers of this souvenir would have read about Lalaji’s birth and antecedents. None of the current generation of seekers have seen or interacted with Lalaji. A few of us who are still alive might have heard from Babuji about the extraordinary qualities of Lalaji Maharaj. Some of us would have had dreams of Lalaji and many more of us think of him with awe inspiring adoration.

Lalaji Maharaj was a great Master. Thinking of his life, his words and teachings brings tears to the eyes. He quietly paved the way for Babuji Maharaj, His great disciple and a special personality who came down to overhaul nature which includes man’s composure and perhaps even the constitution in the future. While we don’t know the scope of such work, we have read and seen these changes over the many decades of the influence of Sahaj Marg and Heartfulness on people, communities and nations. It may take decades and perhaps even centuries for the work of Babuji to become established. If we were to project and imagine the distant humanity, it is being designed to be of total idyll.

Today even by reading about Lalaji, we are celebrating the great birth of Lalaji Maharaj 150 years ago, on Feb 2^nd 1873. When I saw His photo for the first time about 40 years ago, he reminded me of my paternal grandfather – same physical structure, fair in complexion and with broad forehead, mustache and a beard. Because of this, it was easier for me to make a connection. Later as I began the Journey with Sahaj Marg, I read about Him in the first chapter of Truth Eternal written by Babuji. Babuji’s simple words captured the magnificence of the life of Lalaji. Lalaji’s life was tough. His life had disappointments, losses and sustained struggles in his material life, however his spiritual values, principles, philosophies and practices were uncommon and provided a pivot for the future society. At the outset, I was touched by his support for women and especially widow remarriage. It touched my heart so deeply, as it resonated in our family situation. Two of my aunts had lost their husbands even before they turned 20 and 30 and had to single handedly take care of their children without getting remarried. They were not wealthy and did not get any extended financial help from anyone. Fortunately, they somehow managed to carry on.

Another of his teachings that touched my heart is not to buy a new thing if we can manage to carry on with our old belongings. It is not about whether we are attached or not. Why buy if we don’t need. This is the most significant advice we need to heed, if we are to reverse an economy of waste, culture of pomp and show, and the climate disaster. If one’s company required a compatible expression of status, it might be considered as etiquette to have expensive things. Here Lalaji is talking about excessive things and not expensive things. He also liked frugality in food. Food waste is one of the worst disasters of our time. Food that is wasted, is cooked or taken in excess of our needs or wants. Food that is wasted was purchased, cleaned, cut, and stored. Throughout this process money, energy and time is invested. Now, a final wasted marcel of food, has a multiplier effect of waste. So, frugality of food is at the core of simplicity. One can have tasty, fresh food that is nutrituous. Such a simplicity in outlook and approach in life, is really sophisticated and noble. It is not elementary or basic as we seem to understand and hence remain uninspired by it.

Several years back I had a dream with Lalaji. He was on a tall modern building which was under construction, overlooking a city. It appeared he was supervising the construction. It was an evening. The sun was setting and getting dark quickly. He was in his usual attire – pajama pants and a long coat. He wore a cap on his head. I came to see him as the day was ending at the construction site. He put his right hand around me and took me for a short walk. In that walk, He told me that there are only a couple of people who can understand who a common man is.

This kept me thinking for several months. This idea of serving the common man has a deep significance in terms of our spiritual service. Our Masters are continuing to offer Heartfulness system of meditation for free for anyone who seeks to better their lives incorporating spirituality in their lives. In order to inspire the common man to follow the path, there is nothing that is more compelling or needed other than being the change we promise by the practice of heartfulness. There is so much we have to do in our expressions of speech, action, behavior and demeanors to incorporate the virtues of Lalaji. Only tangible results in the devotees will inspire the seekers. We have to become a common man. The sentiment of being common among beings is developed only when we are able to empathize and be compassionate. The empathy and compassion along with simplicity in our lives enable us to be generous with our time, money, attention and energy. This sort of noble simplicity gives us confidence and forbearance to go for the long haul of spiritual service.

As we celebrate the 150^th birth anniversary of Lalaji Maharaj, it offers us ample opportunity to remember and connect with him, mentally and emotionally with reverence and gratitude. We meditate remembering him and his teachings, his call to humanity and also his service to his associates. Lalaji Maharaj is pure consciousness living eternally in the divine realm. An attitude of connection to him will surely give us a taste of his enormity and profoundly impact our spiritual condition and growth. He is truly an uncommon saint, who lived and toiled among the common men of his time and created a possibility of an uncommon destiny for all.

Lalaji began a small stream of a spiritual river in Fategarh in the late 19^th century. This has been gaining momentum under the mastership of his successors for the past 150 years. Now Daaji, Global Guide and Founder of Heartfulness, is expanding the availability of Lalaji’s brand of spiritualty to all by any means open to him.

Submitted to Elizabeth

Jan 8th 2023

What is YOUR carbon footprint?

2022-07-25T19:18:00.003-07:00

Submitted to Heartfulness Magazine

April 20 22

In this period of heightened awareness of global warming, we all look to governments and corporations to make an impact. It is true that most corporations have been unconscientious of carbon pollution in their pursuit of profit and governments yield to lobbyists that are in the business of protecting companies that emit greenhouse gases. While millennials and youth are more concerned about the future they will inherit, they are also the biggest customer base for corporations and voting bloc for politicians. Because of this reality, both governments and corporations are struggling to make drastic changes to their policies and practices respectively.

Now, it is easy to look for solutions elsewhere, but what about individuals like us? What is our level of awareness of the carbon footprint we create? What are the changes we are willing to make in our consumption behavior? What kinds of social connections and conversations do we have with people based on our pursuits and possessions, our food and our culture? What about our social identity with the things we possess or the popularity we achieve? Rich or poor, we all could improve our awareness of the effects of our actions on the environment.

So, let us ask ourselves, what is our carbon footprint? Are we leading a life which will leave the earth as we found it when we were born, if not better? How are we mitigating the risks and uncertainty of our own future and that of our children and grandchildren? [i]

“The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Globally, the average carbon footprint is closer to 4 tons. To have the best chance of avoiding a 2℃ rise in global temperatures, the average global carbon footprint per year needs to drop to under 2 tons by 2050.”¹

A 2-ton reduction means that we eliminate our wastes by 12.5%. This is a 1/8^th reduction in general waste, especially in food, water and energy we acquire and not necessarily consume.

Since developed nations such as the USA have a larger carbon footprint than others, those of us living in these nations have an outsized responsibility to lower our carbon footprint. One way to reduce our carbon footprint is to mind our food waste. The US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) calculates that an average American wastes a total of 4.9 pounds of solid waste a day ^2.Even a small reduction in this waste would help greatly, without endangering one’s living standards. By making small changes to our actions, like eating less meat, taking fewer connecting flights, taking bags to shop, reducing waste of food, we can start making a big difference in lowering our individual carbon footprints from 16 tons per year to less than 14 tons.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) by type in United States:

From: The United States Environmental Agency

In the above charts, observe and assess the amount of food wastage here.[ii] Though over decades the world has been reducing hunger, we still have significant levels of childhood hunger and malnutrition stunting children’s growth. About 11 million children suffer food insecurity in the US alone, and according to the World Vision Organization, about 690 million children around the globe go to bed hungry[iii]. This is heart wrenching. A conscious lifestyle that is mindful of reducing carbon footprint will also help in mitigating world hunger if we focus on reducing food waste.

Saving on food waste especially has a multiplier effect. The less we purchase, the less refrigeration we’ll need, both before and after cooking. Raw unprocessed food can be stored easily, and excess could be given to food relief organizations. We could also urge manufacturers of food products to consider longer shelf lives if it is safer based on storage conditions at home. Many companies insert food expiration dates and best sell by dates as a way to increase their sales. WebMD states that dairy products are good for a week later than sell-by dates[iv]. (iv)

Arresting global warming is everyone’s responsibility. Compared with other excesses, those of our consumption-based lifestyles affect our future disproportionately. Spiritual Masters like Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur said, “Waste is immoral”. Like all sins, waste, too, is committed out of ignorance. How can a spiritual aspirant flourish without dispelling their ignorance of over-consumption and wastage?

The Earth, along with its inhabitants, has been constantly ravaged over time, due to both the tumultuous nature of the manifest existence and the evolution of life. However, life in general is resilient. It regenerates after a period of destruction. Chaos begets order. Order decays into chaos. Thus goes the cycle.

But we are conscious human beings who suffer the consequences of our actions. We make choices every day. If we are ignorant in the choices we make, the pain and suffering that follow can become the agent of self-knowledge and transformation. Most of the readers of this magazine are good-hearted people who are spiritual in their inclination and oriented towards self-development. But the demand for real self-transformation has never been greater.

In the Heartfulness system of meditation, there are 10 guidelines for charting a good lifestyle. Three of these can specifically help us reduce our carbon footprint.

Let us examine these simple guidelines:

● Simplify your life so as to be identical with Nature.

● Be happy to eat in constant Divine thought whatever you get, with due regard to honest and pious earnings.

● Mold your behavior and way of living to such a high order as to rouse a feeling of love and piety in others.

Nature recycles and replenishes constantly. It gives as it takes. It keeps itself in balance. Nature is simple and purposeful in its working. Similarly, if we lead a simple life, we will not take more than we need and will give back to Nature. However, when human-generated imbalances of over consumption and excess waste affect Nature, Nature will adjust and rebalance. This rebalancing act of Nature creates havoc. An example of such an adjustment is what we call Climate Change. Similarly, when we consume just what we need, or when we consume much more than we need or can afford, our body also behaves like Nature. It either runs along optimally or starts aching and paining all over.

The idea of being happy and content is consistent with simplifying one’s life. Happiness is possible only when we make the money we need by proper means. No one feels happy by cheating others or taking advantage of others, especially when one is reasonably awakened to spiritual pursuit. A life of contentment automatically is a simple life and arouses a feeling of love and calmness in others. A simple life does not evoke jealousy in others. It does not evoke any sense of competition and one upmanship. These simple guidelines also help in reducing carbon footprint, while making us happy content and responsible global citizen.

So, as we simplify our life to live optimally, we contribute positively to climate change – not only to the earth’s climate but also to the social and emotional climate of our family, friends and neighbors. Gandhi spoke about simple living and high thinking. The above guidelines all go together and help in high thinking and noble living that is conducive for creating a positive climate at all levels.

[i] The Nature Conservancy. “How to help calculate your carbon footprint”. https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-calculator/

^1. The Nature Conservancy. https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-calculator/

^2. The Environment America https://environmentamerica.org/reports/amc/trash-america

[ii] United States Environmental Agency. “National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Waste and Recycling. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials

[iii] World Vision. “5 world hunger facts you need to know.” https://www.worldvision.org/hunger-news-stories/world-hunger-facts

[iv] https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20210917/food-dating-labels-explained

Authentic Leadership - It is a life’s journey

2022-07-25T19:18:00.002-07:00

Victor Kannan

Submitted to Heartfulness Magazine

May 22

Self Awareness

Authenticity requires self-awareness and courage. Self-awareness is both a talent and a skill, and skill development is a process.

When we are children, we are naturally authentic. We are innocent and even fearless. Our innocence supports our authenticity. As we grow older our innocence diminishes. Fear begins to show up from within us when we are faced with circumstances that are not familiar to us. So, to familiarize ourselves with the new circumstance, self-awareness is key.

Is fearlessness being innocent?

In our life’s journey we start with the innocence of a child. At the pinnacle of life we grow through life’s experineces, transcneding obstacles, overcoming fears and the like and finally have a flair for things and have a flow. This is akin to the innocence of a saint when we culminate our spiritual practice. What is the difference between the innocence of a child and the innocence of a saint? The innocence of a saint has seen it all. Nothing shocks the saint. Nothing surprises the saint; the good, the bad, the ugly, the indifferent, the beautiful and the petty. He has observed it all and absorbed it all.

From the innocence of a child to the innocence of a saint, is a journey of life - a spiritual journey of life well lived. As one of my good friends said, “the innocence of a child comes from inexperience and the innocence of the saint comes in the experience.”

Do introverts make good leaders?

There is a lot of misnomers about leadership qualities as if only those type A personalities or high ego individuals or dominant personalities make for leaders. Mother Teresa was a leader. No one will consider her a dominant personality as we understand them in our corporate programs that theorize regarding personality groups. All leaders need to pause, introspect and develop humility to lead. These qualities make an individual more compassionate and productive in the long run. These are the essential qualities of a leader. Introversion and insecurity are not to be confused as interchangeable. Insecurity may exist with dominant personality traits as well.

How do we develop authentic leaders in an organization?

At the outset, we need to establish trust. Trust cannot be built unless the other person knows we care. American President Teddy Roosevelt said that ‘people don't care how much you know, unless they know how much you care’. So it is important that we genuinely care for the other person or the organization or the welfare of everybody concerned. When genuine care is established, trust is born. Then, by repeated action, trust is built. This helps in communication and understanding.

Second, we need to develop sensitivity as a leader to empathize and know others. Pausing and listening help in this empathy building. Emotional intelligence, which includes empathy, helps in building relationships based on trust.

Third, we need to be bold and courageous. Integrity, sincerity and honesty are all linked to courage in a leader. An authentic person, though sensitive, empathetic and compassionate, is also bold and courageous NOT to lose an opportunity to be effective. This is risky, since at times an authentic communication can cause discomfort in the team.

These qualities are the skills we need to develop as a leader. These are accomplished by deliberate meditation practices such as Heartfulness or Mindfulness that help us develop emotional intelligence and strengthen those muscles. All these are easier said than done; hence a practice of self-development with introspection and positive visualizations may be developed as a habit.

How do leaders develop sensitivity?

The term ‘sensitivity’ has got two sides to it. If I am emotionally sensitive, I react. But if I am spiritually sensitive, I respond. When we are emotionally sensitive, we are protective of our self-image. When we are spiritually sensitive, we will do what is best for that occasion, for the situation, for the people, for the cause. We have emotional sensitivity when we feel disconnected and spiritual sensitivity is when we feel interconnected. When I feel attacked, for example, even the idea of feeling attacked is from an emotional point of view. Because I'm unsure of myself. When we get attacked physically, it is very perceptible. But when we feel attacked emotionally, it is subjective.

In order to develop proper sensitivity, we must pause between a stimulus and our response. That is where we make a choice. That is when we are able to bring about the best in us. Dr Viktor Frankel has famously stated that between stimulus and response there is a space. That is where creativity lies. With this creativity we solve problems and improve the situation.

The worst in us comes out when we react; the best in us comes out when we respond. We need to adopt a practice to minimize the impact of emotional sensitivity and improve the spiritual sensitivity. It is a lifelong process for most of us as our programming is so deep rooted and it takes time to deprogram and reprogram.

Is reacting not authentic?

Reacting is perhaps more authentic but not useful. Authenticity is necessary but not sufficient. The development of authenticity is a journey of sorts. It is a journey of life. An ideal journey of life is from being emotional to becoming spiritually intelligent. Emotional self is reactive and gripped by lack of self control, and at times, hopelessness and ignorance. As we become spiritually intelligent, we become integrated beings. It is not possible if we are not authentic. It does not matter if start out with a childlike innocense, or reactive gorwn up self and finally end up saintlike, if we are not authentic in that journey, our journey would not have a real purpose or a goal. It is difficult to know where we are headed if we pretend. If we are not ourselves, how can we benefit from any inputs or experiences we get as we live our lives? Whom do those experiences belong to?

Grow daily

We all grow very slowly every day. Since the growth is gradual, we may not recognize it. But we must figure out a way to know that we are growing every day. It doesn't really matter how old we are, but the dynamism of life is in wanting to grow, every day. Here, diary writing and also writing in general help to know how our ideas have changed due to our experience and growth in life. This also means paying attention to small things. We say, ‘don't sweat the small stuff,’ but do pay attention to them. This includes first things first. Pay attention to total health, including mental and emotional health. Be grateful and laugh often. Accept miseries, as they are common to all of us as much as joy is. What we choose to cherish, nurture and focus on will define who we are.

If we recognize the fact that we are on a life’s journey and we cultivate authenticity as a virtue, then, our journey will be an authentic journey, with real experiences and real growth.

Purpose over Profit

2022-07-25T19:18:00.001-07:00

Is there an enterprise that would make profits without fulfilling a market need?

However, are all needs purposeful? This is the essential question of purpose over profit. In fact, what we consider as market need is more about instigating human desires and creating a compulsion for it. This compulsion becomes a need and, in some cases, addiction. So, purpose over profit is a very necessary discussion which seeks to create a virtuous cycle of a sustainable balance between socially responsive action and money as a resource which is needed not only to support the cause but also improve the lives of these social innovators and responsible humans.

Most of the socially responsible organizations aim to contribute in the field of health and wellbeing, eradication of poverty, provision of electricity, clean water and education for underserved communities of our society. They aim to level the playing field by creating opportunities while removing artificial barriers of caste, class, gender, or nationality.

But how are such organizations birthed and how can existing profit focused organizations become more socially conscious? It is necessary to have a two-pronged approach to make a significant shift towards a holistic corporate engagement and its key success factors. On the one hand, we recognize the companies with “purpose over profit” mission, and on the other hand support corporate regeneration in the Boardroom and expanding its CSR into a vision for the organization. Such organizations need their Boardroom restructured to have more socially conscious members on the board. These corporations also need to recognize that it is not enough to have a budget to support socially responsible programs, but also a much deeper envisioning of corporate purpose and objectives.

One thing the socially conscious corporations can do is to adopt profit transparency. This would mean the annual financial reports will show how the profits are reinvested and what portion of the profits are invested in the social innovations and programs to uplift their employees and communities they influence and benefit from, if not humanity at large.

This other key impetus to this “purpose over profit” movement is the active involvement of the success icons from purely profitable businesses. This is so crucial to influence other profit prone corporations, boards whose current charter is to enrich the shareholders. For example, when Warren Buffett gave away the bulk of his billions to charity, so did Bill Gates and many others.

The 19^th century priest, Rev. Charles Spurgeon, also known as a prince of preachers, claimed “Every generation needs a regeneration”. New generation of corporate leaders have an enormous responsibility to arise, awake, and rest not until the whole of human wellbeing is secured. This needs champions and it is better such champions come from the for-profit sector besides those who are in the non-profit sector.

This idea is best summed up in the words of Prof. Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. “Corporate Social Responsibility is measured in terms of business improving conditions for their employees, shareholders, communities, and environment. But moral responsibility goes further, reflecting the need for corporations to address fundamental ethical issues such as inclusion, dignity and equality.”

Beyond Dualities

2022-07-25T19:16:00.001-07:00

Beyond Dualities - Journey Through the Yogic Chakras

Submitted for Sahaj Marg Magazine April 22

Victor Kannan

As we grow older, generally our hold on our desires dissipates. This is a natural process of aging. This is based both on the physical morphology of the body and also the result of emotional experience and mental growth.

However, a seeker undertakes a spiritual practice for the purpose of transforming and developing one’s own self in an expeditious manner. We want to free ourselves from our limitations both known and unknown. As we embark upon our journey, we begin to uncover many opportunities for growth and transformation. Finally, we reach a place of real freedom, joy and happiness. Spiritually speaking it is a condition of nirvana, nothingness or absolute bliss etc. But it is a journey of a lifetime.

These days development of emotional intelligence or soft skills is a well-recognized need. Many universities and colleges undertake programs to help their students to be mindful of these soft skills which are essential for comprehensive success in life.

When we embark upon a practice for self-growth using a meditation system such as Heartfulness, our need for self-awareness increases. This enhances our focus of our weaknesses. Our recognition with respect to our desires and dualities increases. We understand the existence of likes and dislikes; contentment and desire; peace and restlessness; love and anger; fear and courage and clarity and confusion. We begin a path of self-control and self-regulation.

The idea of duality appears to be an over simplification when we recognize that we all suffer from multiplicity of emotions and a complexity of its combination. For example, we may suffer from a combination of anger and fear, dissatisfaction and anger. We also exhibit addictive dependence on desires and its hold on our tendencies.

As we do our spiritual practice, which has a dual action of cleaning and unentangling the web of impressions we have on the heart and focusing on the divine essence that is deeply buried in us, our complexities melt away yielding to more and more simplicity. As we begin to experience simplicity, our dualities moderate and we are no longer buffeted by the extremes.

However, to consider these as dualities is a misnomer. We could say absence of desire is contentment, absence of restlessness is peace, absence of anger is love, absence of fear is courage and finally absence of confusion is clarity. Duality would mean existence of both. Usually when one is present the other is absent. The skill we have to develop is to transcend the negative part of the spectrum and bring our mental and emotional stance to the middle point of balance and steadiness.

What this would mean is that when the desire, restlessness, anger, fear and confusion are absent, depending on the situation we come across, the positive aspect of the spectrum will manifest as needed.

In this context it is worth mentioning that those of us who are pre-occupied with positivity and or obsessed with development of positive qualities do veer off the balance needed for a spiritual aspirant. Remember Karna, whose soul would not leave after he had been wounded in the Mahabharat war, for he had to surrender the good karmas he had accumulated to Lord Krishna.

Whether it is positive or negative, absence of dualities help us usher in the feeling of simplicity, plainness and expansion in the Cosmic region and beyond. This leads us to being centered and experience Oneness. Oneness is to appreciate the balance inside and connectedness in all the manifest existence outside. This connectedness also embodies inter dependence and mutual support. There is no judgement of the other or that anyone or anything is higher or lower. All are part of the same divine whole.

It is in the oneness, unlimited expansion is possible. It is where orderly expansion from center to circumference is possible. It is where the experience of the absolute is possible. The journey and expansion of the soul from point 1 to 13, from heart region to mind region and then on the central region is essentially a journey of contraction from the expanded but small existence surmounted by multiplicity - a combination of dualities - to an existence of unity or the center.

We were all flung to farthest reaches of manifestation from the Source or the center only for us to trace our memory and journey back home or to the Source. While the creation of the manifestation is of its parts, the expanded existence of the One is a manifestation of the whole. So beyond complexities and dualities exists the One, the whole which alone contains perfection.

3 Gs for Personal Growth

2022-07-25T19:16:00.000-07:00

(Submitted for Publication with Heartfulness Magazine July 22)

3 Gs for Personal Growth

Victor Kannan

One of the most important mental faculties is clarity. Clarity of mind and purity of heart make for a high level of discernment, which helps in proper decision making. It helps in correct thinking and right understanding of the people, events, situations, and things that happen to us and around us. Per contra, lack of clarity results in a downward spiral of confusion, fear, anger, restlessness, and a lack of happiness in life. Furthermore, we make things worse and cause harm to near and dear ones.

How does one develop an inner condition of clarity, leading to correct thinking and right understanding? 'I contemplated this question for a few days and have come to the conclusion that we need to implement the following 3 G’s for personal growth.

The First G: Be Goal-Oriented.

Goal orientation enormously helps in cultivating a clear thinking. Without a goal we are easily lost as our pursuits have no direction or purpose or meaning. If we are goal-oriented, we are not going to be bothered by a lot of unnecessary things.

What sort of a goal should we be oriented towards? We should have one overarching Goal, and everything else as subordinate or supporting goals. Having multiple big goals is a problem; with multiple channels of attention, our focus gets diluted and we are not effective in the pursuit of any goal. So we want to set one over-arching goal. Such a goal is generally very big and aspirational. It holds deep meaning and profound purpose in life. Most of us have one spiritual goal, that is to get the best out of ourselves, to make the most out of ourselves, become the best version of ourselves, realize our ultimate potential, etc.

A big goal is something that energizes us as we proceed on the path. It becomes more and more exciting, more and more inspiring and we become more and more enthusiastic as we march along; there is no fatigue in a long journey when we set a goal of this nature. It is not a limited goal. A limited goal tires us; an unlimited goal keeps on going, and we keep asking, what’s more, what’s next? That’s exciting. It’s because every day, like a Lotus flower that keeps coming up, anew, lovely conditions continue to open. Not all of them can be expressed easily, but we look forward to them. However subtle the flowering may be, we are able to grasp it, we are able to feel it. It is tangible for each of us. That kind of a goal keeps us excited and enthusiastic to keep going. It determines our orientation to the infinite.

So, the goal determines the orientation, and the orientation decides our journey. And when that happens, we are willing to adopt a conducive lifestyle. How serious and clear we are with our goal helps us in simplifying our life and making sure that everything in our life is conducive to and is promoting this goal-oriented existence. It also demands that we avoid unnecessary things. Many of us talk about things like “there’s nothing wrong with acquiring things, but attachment is the problem.” I have not been able to understand that completely. Why acquire things? It requires effort, and if we can apply that effort to something more conducive for the goal, is that not a better strategy? It is worthwhile to talk about balanced existence in this context. Balancing doesn’t mean we balance every good activity with something questionable. Balanced existence is not to be confused with having necessary things and unnecessary things and balancing them both. It is best to avoid unnecessary things.

Daaji as he is widely known, Kamlesh Patel, Global Guide of Heartfulness, has emphasized again and again that the right understanding is absolutely essential. Correct thinking precedes right understanding. To have correct thinking we need to clear out the inner cobwebs and simplify the inner environment. This is usually facilitated by the many Heartfulness rejuvenation practices and other practices to remain meditative. But for the right understanding we need to have Generosity.

The Second G: Be Generous.

How can we ensure right understanding? To answer this question, we may have to ask one more question. That is “How can we avoid mis-understanding and wrong understanding?”

Misunderstanding happens due to prejudice, jealousy, impatience, anger, fear, insecurity etc., Wrong understanding is due to the conviction we have in our misunderstanding. This is because we are being defensive, proud and egoistic. All this colors our vision and perception.

What is the antidote to all this? The antidote is Generosity. Let us examine, how generosity helps in the right understanding and how it then impacts on our relationships and peace of mind.

If we are generous towards ourselves, we have self-compassion. That means we are not hard on ourselves. If we made a mistake, it’s OK. Pause, be self-compassionate, take the time to fix it.

If we are generous, we’re also listening to others, we’re empathetic towards others. This again gives us the necessary pause. When somebody says something or does something, we have two choices: we can either misunderstand them or understand them correctly. Understanding them correctly doesn’t mean that they have said or done the right thing, but at least we have given ourselves the possibility of not misunderstanding.

Often, misunderstanding of others also comes from jealousy, fear of failure and insecurity. Jealousy arises mainly in close quarters, such as the workplace. The boss may praise somebody else for our work and we feel jealous. Jealousy can exist in the worst forms between siblings. It is less talked about, like guilt, but it is extremely counterproductive to peace and progress.

The antidote for jealousy is also generosity. Jealousy and generosity cannot go together. If we are generous with our hearts, with our time, with our space, with our minds, with our thoughts, it facilitates the right understanding.

How to develop Generosity? Generosity is fostered when we give and love giving. Giving time, space, things and most importantly the emotional space everyone needs to express themselves. Give and see. When you put a smile on people’s faces, make them feel safe and welcome, and reduce their pain and suffering see how you feel in your heart. If you repeatedly do this from a heart full of love, there is an enormous good that will await us.

Another way to develop generosity is to develop contentment. It is difficult to be generous if we are not contented. If I think that what I have is not enough, how am I going to be generous? If only I think I have enough, I can be generous.

Generosity is mainly in the giving. However, without a proper attitude towards receiving, the life’s day to day interaction of give and take is not complete.

The Third G: Be grateful.

Being grateful also sets our inner climate very nicely. In fact, generosity and gratitude go together – we put others first when we are generous, and we put others first when we are grateful. We are not complete without the many things large or little that others do for us in our lives. Remembering those givers and those moments help in the promotion of mutual respect, appreciation and harmony.

Generosity is in the giving and gratitude in the receiving completes the cycle of interaction between people. If we just develop generosity and gratitude, it takes care of the entire relationship cycle; giving and taking is what makes a relationship, isn’t it? We give time, we take time, we give things, we take things, we give knowledge, we receive knowledge etc. We give generously and we receive with gratitude. Then it is a beautiful thing.

Generosity and gratitude thus take care of relationships. They foster authenticity and humility as well. With these qualities in the heart, there is no room for jealousy or competition, anger or hatred. There is only harmony and contentment. When generosity and gratitude moderate our reactions and responses to situations, we maintain our steadiness and remain centered. With this sort of a heartful condition and inner environment, we will have correct thinking and right understanding. This helps in the purity of the heart and clarity of the mind, irrespective of the situation we grow out of, like a lotus.