Vasudha Jhunjhunwala

Happy Farmers would mean Happy Us.

Food is the basic building block of our life. But when was it, the last time that you attended to the quality of food that you were consuming! It is said the vibrations in the food we consume contributes to our health directly.   “जेसा अन्न वेसा मन”

We may be buying the most expensive food from the market but that does not ensure positive vibrations in it, which can give us good health.  As Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says -“Only when the provider of the food, our AnnaData, is happy can we be happy.

But is the provider of our food, our farmer, really Happy? And do we really care to know!

In the last 6 month more than six hundred farmers have committed suicide in Maharastra. NCRB has claimed to have recorded more than 2.9 lakh farmer suicides in India since 1995.  More facts on suicides can be read here

Isn’t it time that we find out why this is happening and how we can help! Those hands which tirelessly worked through day and night, through floods and draught, for us are calling us for some care..

It’s time, we must reach out and attend to them for our own Happiness and Contentment. Else the plates of our future generations may remain empty. As even those who have hoarded wealth cannot eat gold for food or consume currency to quench hunger. The wealthy of the wealthiest and the richer of the richest are depend on  अन्नदाता, the provider, our farmer for their food.

Let’s remember to pray for them before our meals-

“अन्नदाता सुखी भवा”

Happy Farmers/Happy Us

Let’s do our bit.

Jai Hind

Vasudha Jhunjhunwala

Krishival is a much needed initiative of our time – Know more about them on their Krishival Facebook page

Come and view the Art of living project dedicated for the upliftment of farmers with us – Jal Jagruti Abhiyaan  on 4th-5th-6th   December 

You can connect on +919967446999 for more details on the trip. To know more about Jal Jagriti Abhiyaan, you can visit their page Jal Jagriti Abhiyaan

A short video educating us about the project and the farmers by Akhil Patel, narrated by farmer Mahadev Gomare, an organic farmer expert. Do have a look!

The nothingness, from which the fullness of life emerges and dissolves back, is Shiva. The space, in which energy condenses, hibernates and rests, is Shiva. I wondered why lord Shiva was prayed to and had special significance during the month of Shravan, the rainy season. Today morning’s sunrays seemed to have lighted some secrets for me.

During the month of Shravan the energy that dominates is that of dissolution and transformation, this is the energy that Shiva represents. Old is being dissolved- the bacteria are most active, earth’s surface is filled with water and no new crops germinate, the old is being washed away and water floods the creation. And at the level of the mind, I observed very few new intentions emerging. As if the feeling of nothingness fills the creation. And so this month is for letting go of all the past and resting in this nothingness.

Sages gave the science of Rudra Abhishekam, chanting and meditation to experience this tranquility and dive within. Because Shiva Tatva is so dominant at this time it is much easier to retrieve and Rest in “that” infinite space.

 

Until the 1st ray of the sun touches the earth again and new life springs up from Shiva Tatva after being transformed. The celebration of Janmastmi, the birth of Lord Krishna marks coming of new life, just around the end of Shravan month. And then in the month of Bhadra, Lord Ganpati with his Grandeur welcomes the coming of this new life. And removes all obstacles from it’s way for life to be able to grow.

Life celebrates itself again. In the next month of Aasvani we celebrate Durga Pooja. The elements play with each other, manifest as Tamas, Rajas and Satva. And finally Devi/Energy/Life wins over inertia/death and victory of life is celebrated.

Often in Hindu religion people wish each other new year on Diwali which is celebrated in the next month Kartik as commerce flourishes around this festival for the year ahead. And the cycle of life continues..

All of this emerges from that infinite space, which germinates from nothingness, Shiva Tatva during Shravan and dissolve back into it. That nothingness which brings out the Fullness of life in the year ahead.

From the Month of Shravan and from this cycle of Birth, Death and Transformation, I learn that -Unless the old is washed away no matter how beautiful or ugly it was, transformation is not possible and without transformation evolution cannot happen. For new to emerge, old must dissolve. Life’s nature is to evolve, from a seed to a stem, from a stem to a bud and from a bud to a flower, life evolves naturally. And this cycle completes every Shravan.

Shravan is the time for celebrating infinite peace and infinite stillness, rest in Shiva tatva.  And so Every time I retrieve back, meditate and dissolve into nothingness I celebrate Shravan of my own life.

 

Happy Ganesh Utsav to all! 🙂

 

I remember Hero worshiping them… Admiring the way they spoke…Their Confidence and Conviction was so COOL…YES! They were my Teachers at school.

Unknowingly and even knowingly sometimes, I was walking and talking like them, imitating all those, WOW! qualities. And l recall all this started somewhere in my second Standard:):) when Ms. Joshi would enter the class in her crisp Cotton Saree, ready to take on this world with her enthusiasm and intelligence. Oh! Those formative years were so impressionable and my teachers played such an important role in making me, who I am today.

And on this Teachers day I would like to thank each one of them for contributing to my life. Inspiring me, to be amazing like them. 🙂

But, when did I become a teacher!! I didn’t even get to know. As it was not one of the destinations, I had imagined in the itinerary of my life. But the making of a teacher in me, does make me realise that teaching is about learning, learning more and more.

Every time I repeat the principles of life as taught by Gurudev Sri Sri on a Happiness course, they become a little more firmer in me. There couldn’t have been a better happening for me than to be an Art of Living Happiness workshop teacher.As the knowledge in this workshop has the potential to bring the best out of me.

And so I would like to even thank all my students today, who with their patient hearing made me stronger.

Thanks for all your love and respect. May all of you shine brighter in the world and make it Happier with your presence.

Here are some of the lovely wishes that I received from my dear students, who are like a family to me 🙂

(Aircraft Maintenance Technician with Jet Airways and Volunteer with Art of Living)

Thank you so much Di for being in my life.. the only person I could remember is you when I wanted to wish my teachers… Actually even before Guruji.. I wanted you to know you are always my inspiration, my motivation.. you being in my life is a blessing to me.. the Ashtavakra that I did with you had transformed my life completely.. I can see it’s effects.. all thanks to you.. I really love you and respect you.. Happy teachers day Di..

Raksha

(Professional film maker)

Happy Teacher’s day to you Didi . Thank you so much for Always being there with your unconditional love and support

Special thanks to my lovely teachers Bawa and Dinesh da a very Happy Teachers day.

A few days back, Shashwat, my 9 year old son, came to me and said “Mummy I don’t want to be alone in my room, I am scared, please come and sit with me”. I tried to explain him that there was nothing to be scared of and there was no one else around him, other than himself but he refused to understand and I had to finally give up explaining him.

Later when I was sitting by myself I started to wonder, Why was Shashwat scared? What was the fear all about? He was in his own house, in his own room, then why..?? But then I recalled, when I was his age, I too felt the similar jittery feeling, if I was left alone, but why??!!

The flavours of fear have changed as we grew up, from not wanting to be alone to -Fear of future-Fear of loosing reputation-Fear of being wrong Etc etc. Innumerous fears bind us,  IT’S A LONG LIST and we can carry on and on and on. ..

What is this phenomena called “DAR” or “FEAR” that each of us experience! It would definitely be worth looking into this phenomena because fear can restrict our freedom, isn’t it!

Allow me to share with you an incident with which we could draw an analogy to reflect upon why Shashwat was afraid and also why we may be afraid in life.

The incident was as follows-

It’s a couple of years ago, when we were at our Bangalore Ashram for the Navaratri Pooja. On the last day of the week long Pooja there was Chandi Homa being performed. At the end of the Chandi Homa, Devi (divine energy) was being worshiped in her different forms. Also in form of Animals. Among oth

er Animals who were invited for this ceremony was also Indrani (a female elephant who lives in ashram) .

To everybody’s wonder Indrani who is otherwise a well behaved obedient elephant on entering the Yagya shala (Pooja hall) suddenly became violent and retrieved backwards making a loud sound. She was immediately taken out of Yagya Shala. Everyone was taken aback by this unusual behaviour of Indrani as this had never happened ever before.

Something that no one noticed, Gurudev did (just like he always does), the reason for Indrani’s unusual behaviour. And he immediately asked the camera men to switch off their display screens. And then Indrani was once again called in the Yagya Shala. This time everything went smooth, she was her sweet obedient self again. And the entire Pooja concluded with all the sacred rituals.

But this incident made everyone think, What had happened to Indrani?  what was she so fearful about?? No one knew!!!

Later that evening in Satsang Gurudev explained the reason- “Indrani saw her own image on the screen and got scared of her own form” . She had no clue that she was looking at her own self and her majestic form scared her. Yes! An elephant is not aware of his/her own form. They don’t know how big they are. Wow! That can surely be scary, an encounter with oneself, especially when you don’t know how massive you are, isn’t it!!

So could that also mean, that we also experience fear because we don’t know our real self? Because we don’t know how massive we are?

Yes! We are unaware of our real self and that is the basic cause of fear in our lives. If I wasn’t on the spiritual path I would never be able to comprehend this.

As we grow older the flavour of fear changes because now we are grown up and we realise we are stronger than before but only to a limited extend.Because that which we recognise as ourself is limited, the limited gross body only. The body which is inert and perishable we identify with only that and so remain fearful throughout our lives.

Being on the spiritual path can grow us in strength and eliminate the cause of fear. An encounter with the real self and we get to know how magnanimous we are, all kind of fear can vanish from life. It’s when we grow in ‘that’ aspect of us which is indestructible the very reason for fear drops, naturally.

The irony lies in the fact that Indrani would never know how powerful she is and we too can remain ignorant towards our real strength and remain in the shadow of fear, for a lifetime and more.

But there is a sure short way to overcome all fear in life.  Meditation can wake us up to the reality of what we really are. And we as humans are gifted to have access to a solution.

In this sense the real growth for Shashwat would be when he discovers  himself and wakes up to his own strength. And then he will never feel afraid of being alone anywhere in this world…

And for you!!!

Just for fun!!

You might relate being in one of these situations if you have encountered this ghost called fear-

“Will you marry me”? What if she says no?? My life will be a hell without HER!!!!! OMG

“What if I don’t Pass a second time”? My entire future depends on this one?? How will I show my face to my Parent!!!! OMG

“I have never faced such a big crowd  ever before, what if I fumble”? What will they think about me ?? Everyone will laugh at me!!! OMG

MEDITATION is a MEDICATION for CHILAXation! So Meditate and Chilax bhai.. Mountain Dew won’t really help!! ;))

Dearest Papa,

I can never fully express my love for you in words,  ever… I still keep making attempts for my own contentment 🙂

Though i have lived away from you after marriage, even for a moment, or for a breath, i have not forgotten to offer my gratitude towards God for having you as a Father and Mummy as a mother .

Your teachings continue to guide me, like the light coming through a tall light house does guide a ship through the thickest fogs and darkest nights, makes my sail steady and smooth always.

My experience differs from those who say that God is confined to the limits of the stone statues adorned in alters. And also from those who believe, that to be a saint,  you have to give up your worldly duties and resort to being on higher altitudes of physical space. As in the limited sphere of my understanding and learning, God reflects in his creations. And a Saint is one in whom he shines through more than in other beings. Like a mirror which reflects light in it’s totality, a saint’s inner faculties reflect though, even through his smallest mortal actions and behaviours, the pureness of consciousness more than it does in other beings .

And in my experience I have seen God reflecting through you all my childhood and I continue to see the saint shining in you ever since.

The remarkable strength of your character, the ability to be still through opposites, the laser sharpness of intellect and the sensitivity of a mother. The patience of a teacher and the objectivity of a scientist, the spiritual dept of a yogi and the playfulness of a child and your deep humble sweet voice. How could a name have matched a personality better!!

Now even more than before, after going around the world and experiencing so many flavours of life, that I have the maturity to cherish the worth of my invaluable gift that I was bestowed with, more and more. Blessed to be chosen as your daughter. 🙂

A Guru uncovers ignorance, a Guru raises you to a level where you acquire the inner abilities to recognise purity. The vision seems clearer than ever before and there are no clouds obstructing the light of the Sun, today. The fruits that are bestowed in my life are the results of the deeper roots that I have inherited. Believe me with my eyes closed and open I have always been grateful and thanked God!!

And I will continue to express no matter how many times i fail, thank you Papa, for being you.

May you continue to shine for hundred years and more adorning the world with your presence. It’s for creator’s creations as perfected as you, that the world looks more meaningful and beautiful.

Gratitude and love

Your Guddia