From me to we ~ a very thoughtful poem on diversity, respect and acceptance!

~Khushi Pasrija 

Karma!

The present moment is like a tapestry. It looks perfect from the top but if you turn it around you see lots of entangled threads. Those threads are like the secrets of karma which bring forth us to the present moment.

Our friends and loved ones suddenly become distant and strangers come to help when we are in need. 

It is all happening through some law of karma and our karmic account.

World is full of Karma. Karma can lead to both positive and negative impressions which can last for many life times. 

In the sense of results of actions performed, karma is divided into 3 categories

• Sanchita Karma ~ Accumulated impressions, memories and results of actions performed in past births
• Prarabdha Karma ~ Accumulated impressions, memories and results of actions from past (sanchita) which have given rise to the present body. 
• Agami Karma ~ It is the results of the actions performed in the present birth that lead to future births.

With the dawn of self knowledge, self control and self awareness in ones life, one can destroy the Sanchita (past) and Agami (future) karma. 

Prarabdha Karma is the reason we are here in this present birth, life and situations. Prarabdha can not be destroyed and has to be exhausted only by living it. 

How to exhaust the Prarabdha Karma without giving rise to Agami Karma - 

The wisdom is not to get attached to both the positive and negative events, rather just being a witness to them all and practicing surrender.

Events are happening in our lives to teach us lessons and settle old karmic accounts. If we learn to let go and take the learning away and move on with zeal without the burden of regrets and grudges, we can get over the karmic account and be free of the vicious circle of karma. 

The karma starts forming the moment a thought or impression is created in the mind. The waves of thoughts rises in our mind like the waves in the ocean. Not all thoughts are turning into karma. Thoughts, do not become impressions or karma if we just stay witness to them...the moment we get attached to our thoughts, cling onto them and start churning on them they start turning into impressions and henceforth Karma.

Take an example of sand~ 

If you throw dry sand on the wall, the sand falls off and the wall does not get dirty.

Now, if you add water in the sand and throw the sand on the wall,  both your hand and the wall gets dirty. 

Sand is referred to thoughts, wall to our consciousness and water to clinging. 

Thoughts come and go,  if we do not cling to them they can not form any impressions on our consciousness.

The intention behind any action is also the key to karma. Always check what is your motivation and intention behind everything you are saying and doing. Asking yourself this why.. becomes an important self checkpoint and helps us to see our thoughts, intentions and motivations clearly without any distortions.

Karma is being created by our own free will. We have a choice to keep bearing the fruits or start to nullify them with right knowledge. 

You become a Karma Yogi when you perform your duties responsibly giving your 100 percent to the job without attaching yourself with the outcome of action. 

Though positive Karma can wash off the negative karma, the memory or attachment to positive karma can also become a hindrance in the path of Yoga as it creates ego. 

Nirvana is to get rid of both the positive and negative karma. Like when we wash dirty clothes we get rid of both the stains and the detergent. Wash off ignorance and karma with the self knowledge and stay humble so the knowledge does not become the reason for the ego!

Contemplation~

I am the creator of my destiny. I am choosing my response in every situation. I am creating my karma every moment.

• Decision is mine
• Action is mine
• Response/ Reaction is mine
• Responsibility is mine
• Karma is mine 
• I am the sole creator of my destiny!

Sanskars ~ the nature of the soul!

Sanskars are the nature of the soul.

There are 2 types of sanskars ~ Acquired and Original

Acquired Sanskars~

-The sanskars that we gets from family, the conditioning that happens from the very first day we are born.

-The sanskars that we get from environment or situations.

-The sanskars we are carrying from past births and impressions.

-The sanskars we create using our own will power and desire.

When we realize we are not going to be the victims of our old sanskars anymore, we gain the ability to wipe off and override the old sanskars through our will power and create the new ones. 

The more we use our will power the stronger our soul becomes and we are able to form the new improved way of living. 

Original Sanskars~

Our soul is originally joyful, peaceful, happy, loving, pure, powerful, kind and compassionate. 

The trouble is we start confusing our acquired sanskars as our original sanskars and we live in this confusion all our lives. The power to change our sanskars dawns in us when we realize we are not limited to and happy with what we have acquired. We can always change the acquired sanskars by self study, self effort and self control.

Just like every canvas is originally clean and gets the layers of paint, we acquire colors through our experiences but the knowledge is to not confuse canvas with what is drawn on it.

The more we use our original sanskars the more they grow bringing us immense joy and contentment.

Peace, Love n Grace

Shikha

Diversity ~ There is more that unites us than divides us!!

A very thoughtful poem on Diversity by my 10 year old! 

A loving Valentines~Be a voice not an echo!!! handmade cards and donations for local victim outreach center and care providers!! Be the change you wish to see in the world- Love and be loved!!! From beautiful moments to memories:)

Wake up call!

Last August, One fine beautiful day as I was taking a routine walk in the woods in my backyard..I
received a call from my doctor. There was a sense of urgency in the nurses voice and a visit was scheduled at my earliest availability which was the first thing in the morning.
I was diagnosed with a rare kind of tumor and my doctor wanted to perform the immediate surgery.

As, I left doctors office and sat in my car in the parking lot, I tried to absorb the information and had a quiet moment of introspection

We keep thinking we have so much time and we make plans thinking that the life is forever.

I shared the information with my family and started preparing my mind, body and soul for the surgery. I was so happy and content to see how my daughters responded to the situation and supported me in the process.

I reminded myself again and again in the meditation everyday that I am just a witness to this pain, suffering and all the events of life.

The reality is ...It is what it is! We hold absolutely zero control. The moment we are not trying to control any outcome and accept the situation as it is...we can feel this immense freedom and such a liberation and thats how I felt every time I told myself..It is the way it is!

A couple of surgeries were performed and I was bed ridden.. I can not decide, what those days were hard on.. my physical body or my mental body because of the calendar full of activities that I was about to miss.

The Biopsy finally came out clear. The recovery is another couple of months from now. I am able live a normal life. But, when I reflect back, I feel something has changed in me, that created this sense of urgency in things I want to accomplish in this journey of life.

I always believe that we all are just the souls in the transition, we have lived before and we will live after. In this transition of realms it does not matter how much money we earned, how nice clothes we bought and how many cars we owned, how we devoted a life in pursuit of luxury and comforts.

We only carry how much we learnt, how much we loved, how much joy we shared, how kindly and fairly we lived, how we cared, how we overcame our fears and obstacles, and how many times we said to others - I need nothing..I am here for you!

What are the things you will like to accomplish in this journey of life? Are you working towards checking them ✅

We do not have to wait for the life to come and knock at the door to give us the wake up call... Every moment thats passing is gone forever....be the joy, live life fully, love and be loved!

🌹Peace, love and grace
Shikha

Prakriti Leya ~ As I walk on the path...I become the path!!!

8 types of wealth!

One of the greatest illusions created in the world is wealth. There's so much difference in the There is no logical reasoning or explanation of why someone is born in Africa and suffers for a piece of bread, while there is excess bread elsewhere, which is often wasted. Why some dogs enjoy the comfort of a home, while others wander the streets. Wealth is something that is granted to you.

There are eight types of wealth:

1. Wealth of material comfort: the first kind of wealth is what we commonly understand as material wealth. Just being born in Ford's house, someone acquired so much wealth, without any effort Some inherit wealth, while others have to work for life to make money.

2. Wealth As Health: just having money is not enough. Some people have a lot of money, but they can't eat well because of some disease. In this situation, material wealth is nothing.
Some people don't have money, but they have enough to eat and they're healthy Like many farmers in India: they have no money, but they have a lot of food Anyone who goes to them is fed. They can feed the whole city. And they can sleep well.

3. Wealth of success: some people can be born into a very rich family, but they face failure in everything they do. They are never successful at undertake. So success is another form of wealth.

4. Wealth of courage: you have to see life as an adventure game and you must play the game without worrying about the result, whether you will win or lose. But if someone is afraid to make mistakes or do something, they lack the wealth of courage. If the wealth of courage is missing for someone, there is no fun in life, even if the person has a lot of Someone may not have any money, but if they have courage, they mirror wealth.

5. Wealth as friendship: the fifth kind of wealth is sympathy - have an attitude of care, have a sense of belonging. You may have the other types of wealth, but you still feel like you're in a tight room if you don't have a sense of belonging. If you can't put yourself in every situation and adjust to them, you'll still feel alienated.

6. Wealth of skill: another wealth is having different skills and talents. Some people write well, some are good at arguing, others have a special talent for music, others have a wonderful voice, others have a wonderful voice, others have talent to educate a child, others are good at administration and So on. There are people who put their maximum efforts to achieve what they want, but they can't achieve their goal. Therefore, the effort alone is not enough to achieve the goal, you need the wealth of skill.

7. Wealth of dignity: the world is full of lessons if you only observe it with full conscience. Be as humble as grass, so nothing can touch you, nothing. No one can humiliate you. In the eyes of the divine, it is those who serve creation that are the true kings and queens Walk like a king and be a perfect servant!

8. Wealth of memory of origin: the eighth type of wealth is the memory of its source. Our life is divided into rooms, in pieces. Every life is like a play. We are "cut". we only know that we were born - we don't At some point - from three or four years old - we know what's going on. Our memory is too short. Looks like this is the only life. We are not aware of our origin. The moment you become aware of your origin and your infinite past, your whole life changes - as someone who suddenly becomes aware of how rich he is. This causes a change in consciousness. Suddenly, you become aware, " Oh! I have several billion dollars in my bank account!". your walking style will change immediately! This is the conscience of the source. You don't even have to remember all the drama you've been through - it's enough if you just remember the source The memory of the source is a great wealth. Makes life a continuous flow - not "cut" - not in pieces.

These are the eight types of wealth.

~Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

15 practical steps Thich Nhat Hanh says we can take to bring mindfulness to our work:

1. Start your day with 10 minutes of sitting in meditation.
                                           
2. Take the time to sit down and enjoy eating breakfast at home.

3. Remind yourself every day of your gratitude for being alive and having 24 brand-new hours to live.

4. Try not to divide your time into "my time" and "work." All time can be your own time if you stay in the present moment and keep in touch with what’s happening in your body and mind. There’s no reason why your time at work should be any less pleasant than your time anywhere else.

5. Resist the urge to make calls on your cell phone while on your way to and from work, or on your way to appointments. Allow yourself this time to just be with yourself, with nature and with the world around you.

6. Arrange a breathing area at work where you can go to calm down, stop and have a rest. Take regular breathing breaks to come back to your body and to bring your thoughts back to the present.

7. At lunchtime, eat only your food and not your fears or worries. Don’t eat lunch at your desk. Change environments. Go for a walk.

8. Make a ritual out of drinking your tea. Stop work and look deeply into your tea to see everything that went into making it: the clouds and the rain, the tea plantations and the workers harvesting the tea.

9. Before going to a meeting, visualize someone very peaceful, mindful and skillful being with you. Take refuge in this person to help stay calm and peaceful.

10. If you feel anger or irritation, refrain from saying or doing anything straight away. Come back to your breathing and follow your in- and out-breath until you’ve calmed down.

11. Practice looking at your boss, your superiors, your colleagues or your subordinates as your allies and not as your enemies. Recognize that working collaboratively brings more satisfaction and joy than working alone. Know that the success and happiness of everyone is your own success.

12. Express your gratitude and appreciation to your colleagues regularly for their positive qualities. This will transform the whole work environment, making it much more harmonious and pleasant for everyone.

13. Try to relax and restore yourself before going home so you don’t bring accumulated negative energy or frustration home with you.

14. Take some time to relax and come back to yourself when you get home before starting on household chores. Recognize that multitasking means you’re never fully present for any one thing. Do one thing at a time and give it your full attention.

15. At the end of the day, keep a journal of all the good things that happened in your day. Water your seeds of joy and gratitude regularly so they can grow.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh
"15 Practical Ways To Find Your Zen At Work", Jo Confino - The Huffington Post.

Abhinivesha ~ Dealing with fears and unwanted thoughts!

Litany against fear ~

"I must not fear

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain."

Contemplation~

• When any kind of the fear arises...make sure you attend to it
• Be accepting and being non judgmental 
• Observe it with curiosity,
• Observe what is going on in your body, mind and thoughts.
• Attend to the feelings.
• With attention inwards notice where in body is it arising from.
• Trace back into the feeling of fear and see what is causing it.
• Gently, observe the sensations caused by fear. 
• With self love, understanding and compassion tell yourself, Its ok..I am here for you! 

Peace, Love n Grace

Shikha

As you walk on the way, the way appears ~ Start where you are!!

~ Elephant Journal 

We all walk on this planet.. some of us, having found the path.. leave footprints, signs of guidance, inspiration and knowledge all the way..to make it easier for others who are on the journey to follow through!! We all are walking on the same journey- you are and will always be along, like you said... “We are all just walking each other home”!! ~ Ram Dass

“When you can't go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward” ~ Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist ~ A wonderful read!!!

If you think you are free- you are free, If you think you are bound- you are bound! It’s all in the mind!!!

Be empty of worrying
Think of who created thought!

Why do you stay in prison
When the door is so wide open?

Move outside the tangle of fear-thinking
Live in silence.

Flow down and down in always
Widening rings of being

~ Rumi

Our thoughts, opinions and judgements about ourselves and and others limit our potential and how we perceive others. We see ourselves and others with the limitation of labels we have created. We can, we can’t, they are, they aren’t etc
Our thoughts, opinions, feelings, judgements are not the truth, but just a passing state created by our fleeting emotions. Our thoughts and opinions are changing all the time, depending on how we feel!

Try this today ~
Observe how every time we are meeting someone, talking to someone or even seeing a stranger on the street how our mind is popping opinions.
Observe how, we are only believing what we think is true and creating a false reality around us.

Now that you are aware of thinking, judging and limiting mind...detach, practice and see~

Thoughts as ‘just thoughts’
Feelings as just ‘feelings’
Emotions as just ‘emotions’
Judgements as just ‘ judgements’

This awareness activity can help you to access greater freedom from  the limiting thoughts!

Food for thought~ for all the teachers around the world!!!

I have come to a frightening conclusion. 
                                         

I am the decisive element in the classroom.

It is my personal approach that creates the climate.

It is my daily mood that makes the weather.
As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make
A child’s life miserable or joyous.
I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.

I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.
In all situations it is my response that decides
Whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated.
And a child humanized or dehumanized

~ Haim Ginott 

Stressed!

Stress never gets over..      
We have to learn to get over it!!

Gift experiences and connections over things this holiday season!

Let them go!

On a positive note ~ Can’t agree more!!! Things I absolutely love about winter:))

And..watching with love, wonder and curiosity as our daughters build their snowman every winter ~ followed by the tradition of freshly baked cookies and hot cocoa!

Acceptance is the key for handling life well!!

When we don't accept an undesired event.

It becomes Anger;...
When we accept it,

It becomes tolerance...

When we don't accept uncertainty,
It becomes Fear;
When we accept it,
It becomes Adventure....

When we don't accept other's bad behavior towards us,
It becomes Hatred;...
When we accept it,
It becomes Forgiveness....

When we don't accept other's Success,
It becomes Jealousy;...
When we accept it,
It becomes Inspiration....

Acceptance is the key for handling life well...

~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar