Nisha Mordani’s Blog

His Holiness Poojya Sri Sri Ravishankar Ji…….Guruji…as we lovingly call Him…..came into my life in July 1998 !!

I had offhandedly heard about Him from one of my friends…that He was the founder of an organisation known as The Art Of Living .That He had created a course,known as the Basic Course where some breathing technique was taught by one of His teachers. This friend asked me if I would like to join the course which was beginning the next day. I said “yes” ,not because I actually wanted to do the course,but because I felt awkward to say “no” to my friend . Little did I know that my “yes” would actually give my life a 360 degree turn (for the better,of course )

The course was to begin at 4.00 p.m the next afternoon..and it was to continue for six days….I got back from work at 3.30 p.m and was reluctant to attend the course…..but ,again, I did not want to go back on my word…so I reached the venue.

There were about 25 people already gathered in the hall …a picture of Sri Sri was placed on a low table…and I merely glanced at it,and then looked at the young man, who must have been in his early twenties, seated next to the picture. Oh,I thought to myself,so this chit of a guy was going to conduct the course !!I was even more angry with myself for having taken the trouble to get there!!

The registrations took place….I had to fill up a form…and then the course began. As Bharat ji (the course teacher) started speaking,I got more and more interested….and I found myself quite enjoying the session The session lasted for a little over two hours..we were given some homework and were asked to come back the next day…same time.

The duration of the course was six days…the last day was almost a full day session .I do not want to disclose the course contents …..one has to experience the course to know what it is all about….but believe me….it is awesome !!! Before we parted ways on the last day….the group had become like one big family…we all got emotional and did not want the course to end !

We had all got so attached to Bharat Ji ….. one could not have imagined that so much knowledge could flow from this young man ….he put everything so simply and so beautifully We went through certain processes, and meditations. We were also taught Pranayams. Then came the “jewel crest “of the course, which is a powerful,rhythmic breathing technique ,known as the “Sudarshan Kriya” which seemed to have cleansed our whole system and we were left feeling hollow and empty !! Such bliss !!!

We had to take a vow of continuing the Sudarshan Kriya at home for the next forty days…without a break . I definitely did so ,giving it my 100% ! I could feel the difference ! I was a very hyper person….always a pessimist….after the course I changed completely ! I felt more relaxed…learnt to accept people and situations….and looked at life with a more positive attitude Guruji had certainly changed me!

I got a picture of Guruji and I actually began speaking to Him (His picture )…..and I felt I got my answers from Him !There were times when I would just look at His picture and feel tears of gratitude flowing from my eyes …..He had become the most important person in my life !

Now…..I wanted friends and family to receive what I had received from the course….so I nagged and finally managed to convince most of them to do the course. Today,three of my family members have been initiated as teachers and they conduct courses .

The Art Of Living is spread over 140 countries all over the world ….. people from all walks of life are devotees of Guruji …..it has now become impossible even to catch a glimpse of Him…whereas earlier we could actually sit with Him and chat to Him .

We have our ashram in Bangalore ……. it is paradise ! Over the last few years it has really expanded . One feels one has “come home” in the ashram ! When Guruji is present there then it is simply WOW

Guruji…….He has the most beautiful smile…..the most powerful eyes…..the most peaceful look……the most elegant movement……..the most melodious voice……the most witty answers…..the most humorous attitude…..the most loving touch…..the most charismatic personality……ooooooooooooooooh…..HE IS SIMPLY THE BEST !!!!!!

I,to date,have continued doing the Sudarshan Kriya everyday.Since July 1998 , I have not missed a single day…wherever I am,whether on a flight or a train….whether in station or out of station….. I do my Kriya with great dedication and devotion…..it has become as important to me as brushing my teeth

To get more information visit www.artofliving.org If You ever get the opportunity to do the course….JUST DO IT…..and please do let me know what you think of it !!!!!

Shillong……to many the name does not ring any bell at all…and rightfully so ! So,here goes

Shillong is the most beautiful hill station,situated in the North East of India. It is one of the bigger hill stations and….and covers an area of 10.36 kms.It is the capital of the smallest state in India,which is, Meghalaya.According to the 2001 census Shillong has a population of 26000….the ratio of male and female being 50:50…..11% of the population consists of children below the age of 11. Christianity is the dominant religion in the city.

Meghalaya attained statehood in 1972….prior to that Shillong was the capital of Assam. Shillong is situated at an altitude of 1496 meters above sea level.It is often referred to as “The Scotland Of The East” because of it’s similarities to the terrain of Scotland.

Shillong does not have a railroad.The nearest railway station and airport are situated at Guwahati,which is 120 kms away.Shillong and Guwahati are connected by a winding road.Buses and taxis are easily available at reasonable rates . The three hour drive is breathtaking….with greenery all around !

The local people who are “Khasis” are very friendly and helpful people.They follow the matrilineal system . They love music and sing beautifully. Most of them believe in herbal medicines and toil hard to obtain the necessary plants and herbs to make the medicines.These medicines help to cure a lot of chronic diseases.

We have the expert masseurs and massage ladies.By their expert and gentle massage,using herbal oils, which are made locally, they cure arthritis,fractures,spondylitis,slip discs,back related problems, paralysis and,sometimes,even infertility among women …they have been blessed by this special gift …they have not been through any formal training….no diplomas,nor degree certificates…blessed aren’t we ?? Many still believe in black magic , read tarot cards and prescribe remedial measures to ward off the evil.

Coming to the tourist places of attraction…there are plenty .

Cherrapunjee,situated 56 kms away, is famous for getting the heaviest rainfall in the world ! It is also famous for it’s limestone caves and orange honey. The little village is marked by beautiful waterfalls,valleys and deep gorges….surely an artist’s delight !

Cherrapunjee is a popular picnic spot and anyone who visits Shillong has to make a trip there.

Golf Links…..which is the oldest golf course in India, has a golf course which is set in an undulating valley covered with pine and rhododendron trees.In 1889,it was a 9 hole course which was later converted to a 18 hole course in 1924 by Capt. Jackson and C.R. Rhodes. The 6th. hole is the longest hole,which is 594 yards. The golf course is termed as “The Glen Eagle Of The East” at the United States Golf Association Library and Museum .

Shillong Peak,10 kms away from the city , is at an altitude of 1965 meters above sea level.It is an ideal picnic spot and offers a panoramic view of the scenic countryside.It is also the highest point in the state.

The Ward’s Lake,located in the heart of the city,is popular for it’s short garden walks and boating .Part of the lake is covered with beautiful shades of the lotus .The winding pathway around the lake has a background of lush grass and pretty flowers .A wooden bridge connects one end of the lake to the other .People often stand on the bridge and watch the boats sailing by…..they even throw some gram into the water and watch as the fish come up to feed on them.

The Elephant Falls,12 kms away, has gushing milky water all year long.

In Jakrem,64 kms away,is a hot spring of sulphur water, which is believed to have curative medicinal properties.

Iewduh,popularly known as “bara bazar” ,is the largest open street market in the North East.Here one can shop for anything under the sun….vegetables,fruits,grocery,utensils,clothes,footwear……you name it….they have it all

There are very good educational institutions in Shillong.The popular ones being St. Edmund’s School and College,Pine Mount School,St. Anthony’s School and College,St. Mary’s School and College,St. Margaret’s School ,Loreto Convent… and a number of Central Schools.

The main shopping areas are Police Bazar ,G.S.Road and Laitumkhrah. These places are always crowded by keen shoppers.Police Bazar has recently had a face lift and the fountain at the circle looks beautiful,especially at night.

There are a number of hotels to choose from for one’s stay. The Stately Pinewood Hotel and restaurant is a class apart !It gives one a sense of pride to enter the lobby ,with it’s polished wooden floors and potted plants , and sit by the fireplace on a cold winter evening.

The Tripura Castle…situated on a hill…..is a heritage….belonging to the Maharaja of Tripura….it is done up in fine taste. It is an ideal place for one to get away from the daily humdrum of life

The Centre Point,situated in the heart of the city,is another comfortable place to stay in.

The above are the higher rated hotels.There are a number of reasonably priced hotels as well,where one can have a comfortable stay.

Seasonal fruits like oranges,pineapples,guavas,pears,peaches,bananas and plums are in abundance !The lime we get here are found no where else in the world !!They are green and oval shaped and have no seeds !!

Another “MUST EAT” are jalebis from Delhi Mistan…………..sluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurp……I swear you will never get jalebis like this,anywhere in the whole universe !!!!

The local people are fond of non vegetarian food….their staple diet is rice,potatoes and meat or fish. Their food is not too spicy..it is rather bland and most often boiled.They prepare pork in many different ways,and one has to acquire the taste for it.

Betel nut, which is known as “Kwai” , and leaf (”paan”) is served in every Khasi house….even during deaths and weddings.They welcome guests by serving betel nut and paan.Most of the people,especially the Khasis, chew this with some lime.

Shillong,being earthquake prone,has houses with wooden floors…(of late,many concrete buildings have come up)….but nothing can beat the quaint cottages,with their smoking fireplaces , which radiate a warm and homely atmosphere.The wooden floors are polished with wax and rubbed till they shine. People living here are house proud and keep their homes spic and span .Almost all the houses have a little garden with a variety of colorful flowers. ALL the houses in Shillong have blinds made with lace or net for their windows. The houses are scattered over the hills and,at night,when the lights are on….Shillong looks like a Fairyland!

The weather is heavenly….the temperature goes upto 28 degrees in summer and minus 1 during the winter.We get rains almost throughout the year …..but the streets do not get slushy.The standard joke is that “Shillong has four seasons in a day!” One minute it is rainy and cold and the next minute it is sunny and hot !!

Ooooooooooooooh…..I could go on and on writing about Shillong……..If you ever get an opportunity to visit this place please do not miss it….it is surely “Heaven On Earth

Guess what????? Rajiv,Preety and Little Rhea actually came home to Shillong for four days….after my Bombay trip !!This trip was certainly not on their schedule due to shortage of time……..so when they called and told us that they would be coming home just for four days…..I could have squealed with delight !!! My husband,needless to say,was overjoyed…( earlier, when he had seen the photos I had brought back with me…..he had become very emotional ….and I caught him wiping away his tears …..and I thought that only women were emotional fools ))

Well, we got going…..getting the children’s room ready…..sunning the mattresses /quilts/blankets, putting up fresh curtains……cleaning ,scrubbing and polishing the floors till we could see our reflection in them .Stocking the fridge with veggies and fruits….. there was excitement and heavy activity all around !!!

Finally, the BIG day dawned………our children arrived home after a looong journey (12 hours to get to Shillong from Bombay ) Even as I heard the car …my heart beat rapidly with excitement ….my babies were home !!

The four days that followed were magical….. Rhea ,our Little Doll was the centre of attraction for each one of us….including Mekha….the girl who works full time with me. The little angel enjoyed all the attention she got…..we hovered around her ,petted her, fed her, cootchie cooed her ,blabbered all the time in that nonsensical baby language…..did funny actions …… in fact…we came down to her age level ….haha….what a sight we must have looked But who cared…..this time was precious…..and we did not want to waste a single moment of it !

The “spick and span” house looked like it was hit by a hurricane……there were baby clothes strewn all over….. bottle feeders, spoons, wipes, creams ,medicines ,wash cloths,baby blankets and little shoes occupied prominent positions in the sitting room…………it was such a welcome mess ….the house had become “home”

I told Rajiv and Preety that I was keeping a pair of Rhea’s socks….so that I could “smell her” every day …………. they looked at me as though I had gone off my rocker !!!! Well, grandmas will be grandmas

Rhea…..she is the friendliest child I have ever seen……..she smiles ALL the time …..never fusses when strangers carry her …… is very ,very curious ….. and she loves to explore !! Her eyes are very expressive and she has long and thick eyelashes She is beautiful :-

We celebrated Diwali before they left for Bombay…..Rhea was very taken up by the sparklers……Grandpa (daadu) and grandaughter lit the sparklers and were thrilled!!!

The four days flew past like a dream . The day of the departure came and I sensed that familiar hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach …which I have experienced ever so often when saying goodbye to the children…..this time it was worse because Rhea ,too,was involved Even as I held them close I felt the lump in my throat and the tears in my eyes ….. and only one thought crossed my mind…”why couldn’t we all stay together as one happy family?”

I went to school after bidding them goodbye ….but throughout the day I felt lonely and empty inside….as if someone had wrenched my heart away from me .I prayed to God to look after them and to keep them happy always.I guess life has to move on….and we have to thank God for all that He has given us….and ,believe me, He has given us plenty …..thank you God!!

Ooooooooooooooooooooooh…..I have just got back from Bombay where I got to spend ten glorious days with my Little Princess ..RHEA

This opportunity just came about out of the blue……. surely a Diwali Bonus for me . As luck would have it….their trip coincided with my Dussera break…..so I could take off from school without any feeling of guilt !

My son Rajiv, his wife Preety and our little doll Rhea landed in Bombay on the 15th. of October …..they flew down from San Francisco to spend a few weeks in India. It was an exciting moment for me, when I landed in Bombay on the 18th., to be received by them.As I held Rhea close to my heart,I could hear her little heartbeat against mine………..all my ” grandmaternal ” instincts came to the fore and I felt tears of affection ,love and gratitude in my eyes!! I think my tear ducts are over active…..can anyone advise me how to control these ” loose and leaky valves” ??? Many a time they are a cause of embarrassment to me My facial expressions are bad enough …… absolute giveaways of my emotions…and the tears make things worse

Well…..I was really,really happy to spend quality time with my little one…strange….but Rajiv and Preety took the back seat,where Rhea was concerned…..she was the one on whom I showered all my affection…….do ALL grandmothers feel that way?? It was “Is Rhea awake?” “Is Rhea hungry?” “Rhea needs a change !” “It is time for Rhea’s soup/juice/ cereal!” It was “Rhea…Rhea …Rhea ” throughout…and believe me the little angel enjoyed all that attention and I thoroughly enjoyed myself with her

Rhea is almost eight months old…..she cut her first tooth while I was there…on the 23rd. of October,to be precise !! We just felt the tip of her tooth…and lo and behold….Preety was ready with the camera and actually got the picture of her very little tooth !!! Let me tell you…. Rhea is camera happy….she simply loves to be photographed…such a darling !! She is a friendly and happy baby ,and very ,very curious for her age and she loves to go for outings !!

She sits up,she rolls over and she loves to be held in a standing position. Her eyes are very expressive and she has a wicked twinkle in them when she smiles…..which she does very often…..her eyes,too,smile such an adorable little angel !!

Leaving her and coming away wrenched my heart……the “leaky valves ” started flowing all over again Why are partings always soooooooooooo painful ??? However , when I boarded the flight back home ,my heart was filled with gratitude……
I thanked the Almighty for blessing us with Rhea….and for giving me the opportunity to spend ten wonderful days with her . …I could not have asked for more !!

Just about EVERYONE is born with……two eyes…two ears…one nose…one mouth…two hands and two legs!!! Yet, how many of us have actually spent even a single moment to thank the Almighty for these wonderful gifts He has given us ??? How we take things for granted….taking them as our birthright !!!

God works in His mysterious ways….and no one can question “why?” Fit and healthy people meet with some tragedy and lose their limbs…. get paralyzed…. lose their sense of sight or hearing or even go into a coma for years….It is only then that they realise …..too late….the true worth of those God given gifts

I belong to the category of the above I was born perfectly normal……though during her labour…my mom’s gynaec thought that I would be a stillborn !!! No way……I was a hard nut…..and am now almost 57 and still alive and kicking !!! Well…..I am the fifth child in a family of seven children…and the fourth daughter…..( when I was born, it was definitely not an occasion to celebrate or get excited about ) Nevertheless, I was well cared for and had a normal and happy childhood.

I was in the sixth standard…that was in the year 1963…… I was about eleven years old . My sister…the eldest among us….had come to visit us for the first time after her marriage…..she was suffering from kidney stones and ,in fact, was to undergo an operation during that visit. I was terrified of the word “operation ” taking for granted that it meant nothing but “an end to one’s life “!!! How I prayed for her !!! Well,we four sisters went to see a movie …..and throughout the movie I kept looking at my sister ….tears streaming down my cheeks…..with the thought that something drastic would happen to her (touch wood…..she is well and happy )

The next day was Sunday….mum and Dad were resting after lunch and the four of us went over to a neighbour’s house to spend time with their children who were our close friends. We sat and chatted….my eldest sister was weaving a bag with plastic wires…..we were discussing the movie we had seen the previous day .I was sitting on the left of my sister….she took a pair of scissors to cut the wire…and as she was keeping the scissors….don’t ask me how this happened ….but…..the scissors went right into my right eye…OUCH !!!!!! She said…”sorry ” and I replied “That’s ok “….Little did I know what was in store for me

I did not feel any immediate pain….just a little discomfort….I rubbed my eye….and I felt some stickiness….(vitreous humour ???) I told my sister ” something is flowing from my eye ” …everyone jumped into action…..we rushed back home…..called out to mom and dad…nobody thought it was serious….I was sent to the eye specialist with one of our staff members. We walked to the civil hospital ,which was close by….. but it being Sunday..there were no doctors on call. By then my eye had started bleeding ……We took a taxi and went to the doctor’s house.One look at my eye and the doctor immediately rushed me to the hospital ….I was wheeled into the operation theatre …..I did not have the faintest idea as to what was going on….I thought he would give me some first aid and pack me back home. I got a fright to see myself surrounded by nurses and the doctor…. now clad in his “greens”…..and all the “ooooooooh” and the “aaaaaa” and the “tch tch tch ” by the nurses I almost died on the Operation Table

I had suffered a DEEP retinal injury ….I had stitches in the centre of my cornea ( oooof…sounds awful…doesn’t it??) sniff…sniff

Well….after the operation both my eyes were bandaged and I was wheeled out of the OT only to hear murmurs of my parents and sisters…and I could sense that they were all sobbing !! Mom held my hand and comforted me…I told her “I want to go home “.She told me she would take me home the next day.

I was put into a private room….and I stayed in the hospital for one whole month…..The bandage was changed the next day and only one eye was bandaged after that …for that month.Visitors came and sympathised with mom…making her even more miserable….the magnanimity of the situation had not struck me…my little heart was only too glad to know that my sister’s operation had been postponed to a later date !! Whenever the doctor would change my bandage I would try to take a little peek-a-boo with the hurt eye…..bad news…..I could hardly see…everything seemed hazy

I could gather, from snatches of conversations, when relatives and friends visited …..” poor thing….after all she is a girl….what will happen to her “….that I was probably going blind !!!! Why do people ,while sympathising, add to the miseries of people who are already suffering? Why can’t they,for a change,bring in some positive energy ??? My parents went through hell…..my sister felt very guilty and ,I feel,she has still not got over her guilt completely even to this day !

As for me, my half term examinations were to begin and that was what was my main concern…my school teachers visited me and told me not to worry about the exams. I asked the doctor if I could continue with my studies…he told me not to worry and that everything would be fine.

Hmmmmmmmmmm…….well…..I was discharged from the hospital after a month and came back home with loads of pills and eyedrops/ointments. I had to put on dark glasses for six months ,as a precaution against infections. I was permitted to join school three months after the injury…..on the condition that I wear my dark glasses to school. My eye didn’t look too bad…except that there was a white line in the centre of my cornea…where it had been stitched….sight??…….nope……no sight in that eye

Inspite of everything…..never for a moment did I feel any regret …..never did I develop any complex .I was only too glad that I could get back to school. Dad took me to Bombay for further check ups….but…those days corneal transplants were unheard of. The doctors said that I could live a normal life with one eye.I could knit,stitch,study,watch movies etc. Dad’s concern was ,of course,beyond that !!!Who would marry his little girl when she grew up ?? I could sense his pain ,even at that tender age . Often I would tell him “Daddy,don’t worry ,I am fine and I shall live with you all my life.”

Well,life moved on….at times I did catch people making fun of me ….  I was  nicknamed “Pirate” and “Pearl  Eye”…but I just ignored them. I finished school ,went on to college and graduated with a major in English. I met my husband…..we fell head over heels in love….and after much resistance from both our families….we tied the knot. Not once,to this day,has my husband commented on my eye…..I have never been much to look at….and losing one eye has not helped either….. yet he has never missed any opportunity to compliment me …..isn’t it admirable?? My children,too, accepted me as I am…never have they felt any embarassment ….be it the Parent Teacher meet….any function in school …. or any social functions .In fact,once when I casually mentioned that I should go for corneal transplant….they said…”why bother mom….you look fine ” !That really made my day

Later,I developed Glaucoma in the right eye…. We went to Madras and I got cryo surgery done….that further shrunk my eye and even spoilt the shape of the eye…..well…..at least the good eye remained healthy….I wear glasses of -2.00 power .

I did my Teachers’ Training when both my sons were still in school .I got a job in the same school….and I continue to teach there to this day…and I LOVE my job !!! I drive, I do loads of knitting, I read, I watch television , I love to cook, I practise Yoga and meditation….and last,but not the least,I have been pampered and spoilt rotten by my wonderful family . They all treat me like a queen . I have LOTS to be grateful for . SOMEONE up there has surely been taking good care of me ….(touch wood ) …and , if given the choice to live my life all over again….I would definitely opt to live it in exactly the same way !!! Thank You God

At school…my little children innocently ask me “Miss, what happened to your eye?”….and in reply…I give them a full lesson as to why not to play with sharp objects !! ( I narrate the whole story to them…with a lot of drama )

Well, I have always believed in the saying ” God has a plan for my life ,and that is all that matters to me ” .He has indeed been kind to me….I have a lovely family ….I have had a great life and have never ever pondered upon the loss of my eye .I have never felt different from any other human being . God gave me the sense not to develop any inferior complex ,so that helped in a big way.

So…..everyone out there….accept situations….know that God has a reason for everything that happens …He knows what is best for each one of us . Life is a precious gift …..make the most of it Ciao !!!!!

“Daddy”….even as I write this most loving word….tears well up in my eyes with fond and loving memories of HIM.

My father left us for his Heavenly abode on 9th of July 2004 at the age of 80.Never ever did I imagine a day would come when he would be declared “no more”…these things happen to other people…not to us!!Oh…what a false notion we all live with !

Dad …..a man of principles….very organised in his ways…methodical in everything he did….particular about every little detail…. lived a very disciplined life.How could such a towering personality just be “no more”??? Our dearest Dad….whom we looked up to with great reverence…..and sometimes with awe….just simply left us one morning without the slightest warning….how could God be sooooooooo cruel???

So many questions…the “how,what,why,if only”……remain unanswered and as time goes by we have come to terms with the fact that we shall never,never see him again Death is so final…..the end of a chapter

After the India,Pakistan partition….dad came to Shillong…..a small hill station in the North East of India. Mom ,along with three of my sisters accompanied him. They came here without a penny…..Dad started life from scratch……we never ever heard him complain……inspite of the fact that he belonged to the zamindar family in Sindh ,Pakistan….and they all fled from there….with absolutely nothing but their precious selves.

Dad was a very strong-willed person….he worked,worked and worked and from nothing he became one of the leading businessmen of Shillong Such was his determination ! (My three brothers and I were born later in Shillong ). He gave us the best !We never experienced any want …..we asked and we received!!! Yet he took care not to spoil any one of us …..he was firm,but gentle. He never ever spoke ill of anyone….he never held any grudge against anyone…helped people in every way he could….. and never spoke about it …..he never complained….. was a spiritual person……he did selfless service to people in need..and was the most generous person I have ever seen!!! He never spoke about all the good he did……his left hand did not know what his right hand had donated …..so great was the man !!

He was a family man….we never heard him raise his voice ……mom and he have been the most doting couple I have ever seen. NOT ONCE did we witness any tiff between them amazing….isn’t it??? They spent 65 years together !!! They doted on each other….mom loved to look after his personal needs….ironed his clothes,polished his shoes every morning , served him meals , watched television together…and discussed the various serials .Mom would always sit by his feet….and standard joke among us was that “Dad was Narayan and Mom was Lakshmi in the famous pose of narayan/lakshmi on the cobra”!!!!! ( Hindu Mythology ) How I miss all this

Though, financially we were well off ,dad was very careful about spending ,especially on himself…..If he had to go anywhere,he would prefer to walk….he never used the car ! He kept the accounts…..and every paisa was accounted for!He hated using the calculator…..he did marvellous mental calculations .

A person like him can never die….he lives through us…..he has surely merged with the Divine and He is taking care of us from somewhere above! I feel his presence very strongly in my life

I could go on and on ….there is soooooooooo much to say …. for me he was and will always remain my GURU !!I have learnt a lot from him… I treasure all the values we have inherited from him …. and which…we have ,in turn,handed down to our children…and I feel proud that I am part of him and he is alive somewhere inside me!!! Thank you dearest dad for everything…..and thank you, most of all , for being MY dad

Meditation ?????What is it?Do we have to go to the Himalayas to meditate?Do have have to give up the comforts of life if we want to meditate? We often think… Meditation???For me?No way….I’ll find time for that when I retire from work!!! WOW…what misnomers!!!Who has seen tomorrow…why wait till you are 60 to do what babies do when they are born???

Yes…babies are born with their hands in “adi mudra”…i.e four fingers of each hand wrapped around their little thumb …amazing isn’t it?? They are in such a blissful, meditative state….we have so much to learn from them!!

MEDITATE OUR WAY TO GLOWING HEALTH——-CHOICE IS OURS!!!!!

This seems a very strong statement!! All it takes is a simple decision ,yet we avoid this and bury our heads in the sand like ostriches!Why? The list of justifications is long and rather hilarious at times.For instance…”I really don’t have the time”…”I cannot sit still for so long”…”I don’t have the patience!!!” Does any of this sound familiar ???

Each one of us is an embodiment of energy.We are connected with Divine cosmic energy,but we do not realise this.Even as we read this the question pops up “Is this right ?”And so we go on questioning ,yet the truth stares us in the face.

Let us take our bodies for instance. Most of the times we tell our body to shut up,instead of listening to the signals it gives us.No other living creature needs an alarm clock to wake up or a sleeping pill to go to bed.We pride ourselves on how we abuse our body.We gloat about how much we can drink,how late we can party,how hard we can work and how badly we can treat ourselves and our body.No wonder we need more food to stop feeling hungry,more drugs to overcome illness,more wine to get drunk,and more television to stop getting bored.

Our body has tremendous intelligence built over 600 million years of evolution as living beings .Much of our body  activity is controlled by the autonomous nervous system with no inputs from us consciously,such as ,breathing,digesting,maintaining our balance or even regulating our sleep - wake cycle.If we needed to worry about doing these things we would be tied up in knots !!!

This is the miracle of our body intelligence.Every single cell in our body is gifted with intelligence to carry out its own functions and coordinate with the functions of related cells.Our mind and body interact very closely and influence each other in amazing ways.Over 85% of our physical ailments are influenced by our mind and are psychosomatic.The mind has the power to both cause and cure diseases.

PET scans( positron emission tomography…. scan to detect diseases early) show that memories evoke different chemical patterns in the brain.Instantly this information is spread through the body to the cellular structure.Our body is truly a reflection of our thoughts!!

It is ONLY through meditation that we can connect with our body to understand what it requires.We start out thinking that meditation is all about sitting in one place very,very still and concentrating on a point between the eyes…That,my dear, is the best way to get a headache Meditation is certainly not about “concentration”. It is more about “Complete Relaxation”, of our body and our mind.The more we relax into meditation,the more benefit we derive from the process. We need to listen…..listen and connect with the beautiful silence within. Finally…do we want a life of health…wealth…laughter .. OR… disease… depression….dullness….THE CHOICE IS ENTIRELY OURS !!!!

Now the question is……where and in what position should one sit in order to meditate??Well….it is ideal to find a quiet corner…sit in the position you are most comfortable in……close your eyes and take a few deep breaths…then just relax and let go !!

I,for one,also meditate while I go for a Nature Walk!! I go alone,in silence,look around at the beauty of Nature….observe things I have never ever noticed before…like the shapes of certain leaves…the little ants crawling up the bark of a tree…the sounds of insects and birds…the setting sun…the shapes of clouds…oooooooh….just about everything that adds to the beauty of Nature!!! My heart fills with gratitude and I thank God again and again for this beautiful world and the gift of life!!!

The bottom line is…..keep aside 20 minutes of ” me time ” each day …. when you can be with yourself and get in touch with yourself

Children ,nowadays, hardly develop any reading habits..thanks to the idiot box!!It is such a pity that they have missed out on the make believe world of fairy tales and adventure stories.Majority of the children give a blank look when asked about Rapunzel, Jack And The Bean Stalk, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs,Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves,Cinderella, The Elves And The Shoemaker, The Dancing Shoes , Beauty And The Beast,etc. The kids have grown up before their age….they are exposed to the world of computers and play stations at a tender age…toddlers play with electronic toys…Daddy is no more “horsey”….mommy need not make any more rag dolls!!!Alas…these little pleasures,that give so much joy,are lost in the maze of modern living!!

Come study time….kids are sent to tution classes …..poor darlings….parents..please,please spend a little time with your child….help him with his studies….he will appreciate it and be forever grateful to you.Just BE THERE……that is all that matters to him……….it makes such a difference!!!

Learning can be fun if it is done in the PLAYWAY METHOD with the smaller kids.Some handy tips (FOR 5 TO 8 YEAR OLDS )

English as well as our Mother tongue:

Make flashcards of words like …wall,table,chair,cupboard,picture,curtain, lamp and stick them on to the respective objects.The child will,without making any effort,look at these flashcards everyday and know the meaning as well as the spelling.

Keep colourful objects/toys …and keep uttering “a red car”, “a blue ball “, “a green box”, “a big doll” “a fat teddy” etc…….there you are…you have a complete lesson on colours and sizes!!!

Gradually, speak to the little ones in complete sentences…”this is a blue bag”….” This is baby’s bottle” “where have we kept the new pencils?” You will be surprised how quickly your little angel will learn to speak correctly ….just by listening and by imitating

Give the child some old newspaper,crayons,water colours….let him scribble,paint,draw,finger paint on the newspaper….it can be so much fun…..you can join him and relive your own childhood!!!! You can frame the artistic piece and keep as a memento!!

Trace your child’s little hands….write a little poem about his hands below the drawing…frame the masterpiece !!!

Get some sheets of crepe paper…tear into bits…show the child how to crush the tiny bits into little round balls.Trace a big butterfly, a giraffe or a house on chart paper.Smear some fevicol or glue on the picture.Help the child stick the different colours of the crushed crepe paper very closely on the picture…frame the finished product and hang it on the wall.It is really an eye catcher!!

To help the child to think, you can play some some SPELLING GAMES with him.Tell him:-

to write five words that begin with ’st’ or ‘ch’ or ‘br’ or ‘cl’ etc.

to write five words that have ‘oo’ or ‘ee’

to write words that end with ‘ck’, ’st’ etc.

to make as many words as he can from the word ‘AEROPLANE’ or ‘TEACHER’

Give some JUMBLED WORDS …e.g kobo..(book),

nilo (lion)

ogd (dog )

WORD ASSOCIATION GAME…

Write the word SKY and tell him to write and draw five things that he can see in the sky.(some of my seven year old students came up with words like ‘aeroplane’ ‘balloon’ ‘kite’ !!!!)

WORD ANTAKSHARI….

Write one word e.g dog….the child has to write the next word which has to begin with the last letter of the word…… the letter ‘g’ in this case….he can write 10 words following this pattern.

SIMPLE RIDDLES …let the child fill in the missing letters

I play with this……. T __ Y (TOY)

I drink this ……… M __ __ K

I smell with this ……. N __ S ___

You will be surprised to discover how intelligent your child is!! Never ever understimate him !!

FOR MATHS GAMES..

You can try out some of these tried and tested methods …Instead of the abacus give your child some kidney bean seeds or black eyed bean seeds…..let him count.

Get some colourful beads with big holes and ask the child to string them…give him a number….let him count and string the beads.

Cut up some drinking straws into 3 inch pieces .This is excellent to teach the concept of tens and ones or units.Hold ten pieces of straws together and put a rubber band around the bundle …there you are…you have a bundle of ten which is = to 10 or “one ten”

Ask the child to put the straws together to make the number 24.Initially help him to tie the bundles….two bundles of ten and four single straws = 24 !!! The concept of tens and ones will be clear to him in this playway method.

Likewise, the bean seeds can be used to teach the concept of adding and subtracting .

Parents and teachers , please try and make learning FUN for the children………IT MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE !!!! Make up jingles ….sing to them…..do actions…go all out and do silly things…. In the process YOU will be surprised to discover that the little child in you,too, is still alive !!! ;-)    

      Rhea. …You are a gift from above to cherish and to love

God gave us Little Rhea as a reward for all our random acts of kindness!

I thought I had forgotten to hold a baby,but my arms remembered!

To be a grandma is motherhood’s reward.

I may not be rich—but I have priceless Rhea.

Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation.

I thought I had my life organised—then I became a grandma

God gives us grandchildren to keep us young at heart.

A grandchild’s laugh is sunshine in the house

“I stood there, just looking around,

There was no music,hardly heard any sound.

On the other side of the glass,I saw you there,

You were so cute…you had lovely hair

Sure there were others–but it did not matter to me

They were not as pretty–it was you I had come to see.

They brought you to the window, so near,

I fought hard to hold back the tear.

Although your parent I may not be,

Hopefully,you’ll spend some time with me.

You see,grandparents have a special role,

They are in charge of the baby’s soul!                          

One would think I would be comparing you to your mom ,to your dad,

To your aunts and to your uncles.

They were all precious—even as you are precious,

But there is no comparison.

Just as each of them came to us, unique-

So have you come—being you –yourself ,

And unlike any other, since the world began.

Even as your name is right for you

As though you chose it yourself…

I think you came with a special delivery tag:

“I am Rhea-Love me!”

And we all do!!!!

The echoes of your baby noises,your little giggles,the gurgling sounds you made…your cute little sneezes, your yawny yawns, your cute little hic-hic-hiccups, your little squeals…your soft…and sometimes LOUD…burps …..still remain in my ears!!!!

I can still smell the fragrance of your little bootees!! I can still get the feel of your soft skin– as I held you close to my cheek ….The stain of milk reflux on my teeshirt ,when I put you against my shoulder to burp you…still remains with me….unwashed!!I can recall your pretty long fingers holding my forefinger in a firm grip….as if to say “daadi….we share a special bond!” Rhea ,my darling little angel…I miss you so!!!!

With lots and lots and lots of love,

Your one and only,

Daadi

If you are at a stage in life when you have finally accepted that your little ones are not so little anymore and have learnt to fly,this is definitely for you!

You are content to watch them with a smug smile on your face to show the world that your offspring is a testimony to a parenting job well -done.Just when you think you can sit back and relax,you are put to test once again…..you’re going to be a grandparent !!

Now…remember the feeling when your child was just born?This seems to be even more of a euphoria than that!You can’t stop smiling and talking about the “event” to all and sundry!You are on cloud nine!

Gran….before you get carried away,tarry awhile and ponder on these ground rules.

Your daughter/daughter-in-law is about to become a mother…she obviously is physically and mentally prepared for her role.So,hard though it is,could you just let her evolve?

Many mothers/mothers-in law get so involved in the parenting role,that they take it to extremes.There are some who are so conscious of privacy and non-interference and “personal space”that they wait ,self consciously,wondering what to do for their child in her new role.

There are yet others who plunge headlong into frenzied activity ,planning everything everyday,completely throwing everyone’s lives out of gear!

And then,mercifully,are some who know how to strike a balance.To stop short of interference..to step beyond indifference…to be there and ready…with a ready ear,a strong shoulder,a warm bosom and a girlish giggle to share “the new mom-to-be’s ” best phase.

It’s time to share the experience that you and your mother/mother-in-law once went through….to forget the “not-so pleasant”issues and relive the pleasant ones in your memory.

You are now parent to a parent!Wow!What joy!!!!