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A User's Guide
To Living
THE ART OF COMMUNICATION
THE 2020 SERIES
BY DAAJI
www.heartfulnessmagazine.com
How well do you
CREATIVE TEAM
Editorial Team — Meghana Anand, Elizabeth
Denley, Emma Ivaturi, Vanessa Patel
communicate?
Design & Art — Emma Ivaturi, Uma Maheswari,
Ananya Patel, Jasmee Rathod, Rujuta Sinha,
Ramya Sriram
Photography — Heartfulness Media Team
Writers — Ichak Adizes, Ram Chandra (Lalaji),
Shiwani Gurwara, Liz Kingsnorth, Kamlesh Patel,
Ramya Sriram, Alessandra Veglia, Mamata Venkat
Dear readers, Interviewees — Bronwyn Cayley, Peter Kater,
Ashwin Sanghi
H eart f u l n es s
contributors
KAMLESH PATEL
Jan u ary 2 02 0
inside
thought in
in the field
action
European Youth
at Heartfulness Generation Now:
Headquarters Start the New Year Right
Alessandra Veglia Mamata Venkat
6 24
Heartful Communication
focus Liz Kingsnorth
28
DO WE UNDERSTAND EACH
OTHER? Look Up
innerview
Only Love Can Save the Ramya Sriram
33 The Art of Authentic
World
Communication &
Ichak Adizes Listening
12 Interview with Peter Kater
H eart f u l n es s
be inspired what's up
A User’s Guide to Living
80
it changes Kamlesh Patel
56
Jan u ary 2 02 0
IN THE FIELD
European Youth at
Heartfulness Headquarters
ALESSANDRA VEGLIA is a second year student from the University of Trieste, Italy. She is
doing a Master’s Degree in Diplomacy and Development Cooperation, and is currently doing
an internship at Kanha Shanti Vanam, the Heartfulness Center near Hyderabad in India, as
part of her degree. She has been interacting with other visiting fellows and interns from
around the world, who are currently also training and volunteering in various capacities in the
campus, and took this opportunity to interview them.
6 H eart f u l n es s
i N T HE FIE LD
I
have always left the job of interviewing to others
where possible, because of a sense of uneasiness in
intruding upon people’s lives. But here in Kanha
it is unthinkable to run away from weakness, so
not surprisingly I was asked to interview some of
the Europeans staying in the ashram, to explore
the impact of Heartfulness on their lives. After
accepting the idea, I ended up enjoying the task
immensely, for I could frame the interviews
in the guise of a lively chat, and together with
my questions I shared my own experience and
opinions with those in front of me.
Jan u ary 2 02 0 7
iN T H E FI EL D
8 H eart f u l n es s
i N T HE FIE LD
Jan u ary 2 02 0 9
focus
D o We U n d e r s t a n d E a c h O t h e r ?
ILLUSTRATION BY ANANYA PATEL
Listening is about being
present, not just about
being quiet.
KRISTA TIPPETT
love
Alone Can Save the World
this morning to have Dr. Adizes you are in the field of management, if
amongst us. I would call him a guru you’re a game changer.
of management. He has many tricks,
which are not spoken, not written, “So we’ll have a taste today. I always
but which he delivers based on his want to listen to him because he has
personal experience and personal very refined ideas when he speaks. If
intuition. However complex any you watch his words, his style and his
protocol may be, he will dissect it and attitude, you will learn a lot. Welcome
simplify it for any organization – a Dr. Adizes.”
.
12 H eart f u l n es s
FOCUS
N
amaste and greetings to You’re not changing. You say, “I’m
you all. Thank you for fine, I’m not going to decide. I’m
giving me this opportunity not going to go left, I’m not going
to share with you some to go right, I’m going to stay
experiences, thoughts and insights where I am.”
that I’ve been developing over 50
years of working with companies, But the world is continuously
prime ministers, and generally changing. The world is not
with people. stopping. The world is not saying,
“Since you’re not changing,
What is it all about? It’s about nobody will change. We’ll all wait
change. This is nothing new. until you change.” That’s not going We need to change,
Change has been going on forever, to happen.
from the Big Bang (maybe even because there is
before that) and it will go on We need to change, because there
forever. So what? is change. But there is a problem change. But there is
now. Something new is happening
Whenever there is change there that did not happen in the past:
a problem now.
are problems. Why problems? Change is accelerating; the world
Something new is
Because, what is change? is going faster and faster and
Something new. And then when faster. With new technologies happening that did
you’re confronted with something there are tremendous changes: in
new, you have to decide what to medicine, in technology, social not happen in the
do about it. It’s like coming to an changes, political changes.
intersection in a foreign country past: Change is
– something new – and now you As change is accelerating, what
have to decide, “Do I go left? Do I is accelerating? Problems! If
accelerating; the
go right? Do I go back? What do our grandparents were poor but world is going
I do?” relatively happy, we in the modern
world have a better standard of faster and faster
Some people cannot make a living but a lower quality of life.
decision. They say, “I don’t know Why? Too many problems, too and faster.
what to do.” Uncertainty. “I don’t much stress, too many decisions to
have enough information. I’m make, and people are falling apart.
not going to decide.” But you just It’s called stress.
decided. What did you decide? To
stay where you are. And maybe The biggest disease of the modern
that’s the worst decision you can world is depression. Too many
take. Why? Because even if you people don’t know what to do.
are on the right road, even if you’re The world is changing too fast
comfortable, “Everything is good, and they don’t know what to do.
I’m on the right road,” if you don’t So I asked myself the questions:
move, a truck may come from What to do? How do you handle
behind and run you over. Why? change?
Jan u ary 2 02 0 13
FO C U S
14 H eart f u l n es s
FOC U S
16 H eart f u l n es s
FOCUS
than ever before, more divorces should fall apart – French, Italians Switzerland, and the second like
than ever before, more diseases and Germans together in one Yugoslavia? Here is the difference.
than ever before. We have diseases country should be a disaster. That Let’s start from the beginning:
today that we never knew about country should have fallen apart, Why does change create problems?
before. What to do? It’s a serious but it has not. Because everything in this world
question. We are falling apart. is a system. You as a human being
There is a high rate of change. I look at one marriage and they are a system. And a system by
It is destructive. Conflict can be have conflict, but at the end of it definition has sub-systems. And
destructive, but it doesn’t have to they love each other even more, the sub-systems have sub-sub-sub-
be. I ask myself the question: Why not because of the conflict, in sub-sub-sub-sub-systems. You’re
did Yugoslavia, a country that does spite of the conflict. Wow! And in a subsystem of your marriage,
not exist anymore, fall apart? Why another marriage they’re ready for your marriage is sub-system of
did the Soviet Union fall apart? divorce. What is the difference? the community, the community
And look at Switzerland – they Why is the first marriage like of the country, the country of the
Jan u ary 2 02 0 17
FOC U S
18 H eart f u l n es s
FOCUS
Adizes, here we don’t say ‘give and take’. We say message to a world that’s falling apart. India has
‘take and give’.” that role. Unfortunately, India is falling apart too.
Oops, I got it. I come from the West where everybody is saying,
“What’s the future of the world?” The world needs
When you give, eventually it will come back. You love. And what is integration? Integration through
trust. When you say, “First I will take, and then see the heart. Something bigger than us. And what is
what I want to give,” there is no trust. Yoga? The word “Yoga” is integration, unity. India
has that message for the world.
So what makes a conflict of interest positive?
When there is mutual trust. Do we trust each So the trick is not to stop change. The trick is to
other? Can you integrate when there is mutual make change constructive. And that we can do
trust and respect? It is not good enough. with love. Thank you very much.
Jan u ary 2 02 0 19
The Art of
Irrespective of the fact that the talking comes from
good intention, it is an arrogant thought to believe that
I have any kind of power to change or influence others.
Listening
I have learnt to respect that every person has their own
life, their own individual personality, values, beliefs
and circumstances, and they have every right to live
it and think about it in their own way. The one thing
that helped me achieve this was to look at every human
being (and animal) as a soul.
SHIWANI GURWARA shares her personal
experience of learning to speak less and
listen more, and how she is learning to Types of listening
improve the quality of her listening.
At times we are not listening at all. This is what we call
inactive listening. While we may be able to hear the
In the last few years there have been many times words that are being said, we are not really listening.
when I have decided that I will learn to talk less In such a situation, we find ourselves wandering off or
and listen more. Being quite a loner, there are long asking the other person what they just said. All of us
periods of time when I am totally by myself, so are guilty of such listening at times – at parties, with
somehow I feel I am trying to make up for lost children, in conferences etc.
time when I do interact and meet people.
20 H eart f u l n es s
FOCUS
So, all the best if you are someone like me, trying
to learn to talk less and listen more.
Jan u ary 2 02 0 21
Thought in action
Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
MARY OLIVER
G E N E R AT IO N N O W
24 H eart f u l n es s
T HOUG HT IN ACTION
T
he start of the New Year often feels like a That’s all resolutions are really: habit building. I
period of rebirth. It is a reset of the clock, a needed to build my habits in the same steady way
fresh start that allows us to take inventory on I built my meditation practice, gradually, with ease,
the status of the past year, to celebrate its wins, and and intentionally. Once I reframed resolutions
to honor areas of growth and improvement that as habits, it became easier to take them off the
can be carried into the following year. pedestal and implement them into my routine.
Jan u ary 2 02 0 25
THO U GH T I N ACT IO N
4
to achieve
2
Track your progress.
What steps can you take to get there?
Tracking your progress allows you to be
Instead of jumping right in, write out accountable for your progress.
actionable steps that you can take to
achieve your goal. A few years ago, I took up bullet journaling, a
record-keeping method that allows you to design
When I started to incorporate meditation into how you want to track your goals and to-do lists.
my routine, I first started with five minutes in the I used this method as a way to record how I
morning and five minutes in the evening. As I grew was doing with each aspect of the Heartfulness
comfortable with those five minutes, I kept adding practice. When I saw how it helped me to keep up
on an additional five minutes until I could sit for with my meditation practice, I started to use bullet
30 to 40 minutes. Taking those steps helped to journaling as a way to manage all of my habits.
5
build the habit and improve upon it.
3
Be flexible and allow your goals to
What does success look like for this change as you and your year changes.
resolution at one month, three months,
six months, nine months, and a year? Part of habit building is allowing your
goals to change and adapt with you as you grow
What progress would you like to see in yourself throughout the year.
with this habit throughout the course of the year?
Mile marking goals helps to set easy points of We often have a fixed vision of what our end
achievement throughout the year. results should be and get frustrated when those
expectations don’t meet reality. I am learning how
to allow for flexibility with those goals, as they
evolve in the same way I do.
6
Willpower, willpower, willpower.
26 H eart f u l n es s
Project :Dubai International Airport (UAE)
28 H eart f u l n es s
T HOUG HT IN ACTION
T
ensions were high during said one. They had uncovered NVC originated through Dr.
a 3-day peace-building their common humanity, shared Marshall Rosenberg, who
dialogue between that they had the same needs passed away in 2015. He said,
community leaders from – to give their children a good “The purpose of Nonviolent
Palestine and Israel. My co- education, to celebrate their Communication is to help you
facilitator and I were worried. culture, to live in safety, and so to do what you already know
The hope and determination on. From that moment, I was how to do ... to connect in a
that people had arrived with able to do what I was there way that makes natural giving
was under threat from divisions, to do: offer the perspective possible. To stay with that
frustrated efforts, and pain. and skills of Nonviolent quality of giving, moment by
The breakthrough came when Communication to support their moment, in every contact we
we asked participants to ongoing dialogue and projects. have. But it’s easy to lose that
simply walk along the beach connection. In spite of how
with someone from the other When I first came across the precious it is, we forget. And
community. As the pairs set approach called Nonviolent instead, we play the game of
off, they walked with distance Communication, which ‘Who’s right!’ It’s a game where
between them. An hour and a is the basis of Heartful everybody loses.”
half later they returned. Many Communication, I realized it
were visibly different, a kind of was transformative. Only with We want to be in tune with our
serenity and fragility in their time and experience, I began true, giving nature, but we have
open faces. There was an air of to understand how profound forgotten how. We’ve lost our
gentle connection, a sense that it is as a way of being, a way to way. Deep down we long to find
people had truly met each other. understand human behavior. It a way to align our thoughts,
Many described the powerful helps us experience the one-ness words and actions with the
impact of their walks together. “I of humanity in a tangible way ... loving, spiritual beings we are at
will see things differently now,” in each moment, every day. our core. When we experience
Jan u ary 2 02 0 29
Some Shared this alignment, we breathe freely. We remember.
Human Needs and Values We feel a sense of Home.
30 H eart f u l n es s
T HOUG HT IN ACTION
NVC offers a radical listening and empathic like myself.” Subsequently they won an award for
responding process that can melt conflict in a teaching this to others, and guards who refused to
surprisingly short time. I remember a neighbor take part were called “dinosaurs”!
who was furious with me because my workmen
were trampling through his garden. He blocked Rosenberg saw the crucial role that language plays
the gate and refused to let them through. When in contributing to either harmony or conflict. We
he yelled, “Your guys are wrecking my garden! think in language. Language shapes our perception,
How long am I supposed to put up with these creates our “reality.” Hafiz, the 14th century
idiots?” I responded, “I can see you’ve put a lot of Persian mystic said, “What we speak becomes the
effort into your garden. Are you furious because house we live in.” Judgments, threats, demands,
you want it respected? And you’d like a timeframe interpretations, separate us from our hearts and
for when this will be over?” He continued with his from each other. NVC offers us a clear structure
angry accusations but it took only 5 minutes of and tools for expressing ourselves without these
me listening to him without defending, each time habitual, alienating forms of language (See https://
empathizing with his needs in the same manner, baynvc.org/basics-of-nonviolent-communication/ ).
before he softened and opened the gate. Our
relationship was preserved. It can readily be taught to children as well as adults
– children are naturals!
NVC is a universal process that can be learned by
all kinds of people, of all ages and in all kinds of Daaji has said, “NVC goes ‘hand-in-glove’
cultures. I recall a team project with prison guards with Heartfulness.” Both are heart-centered
in Scotland that I found particularly moving. These approaches enabling us to become more loving,
were tough guys, mostly ex-military, allergic to purer human beings. As we integrate NVC into
feelings, keeping themselves safe through physical Heartfulness, a process is emerging called Heartful
strength and hard-hitting humor. Our job was to Communication. Eventually, with a spiritual
teach them deep listening, conflict management, practice and perspective, we may hope to free
facilitation and counseling skills! At first it ourselves of having needs. But at the moment we
was difficult. Their armor seemed impenetrable are imperfect human beings. Needs are there, at our
and we were perceived as coming from another core, with differing intensities for each of us. As we
planet. Listening to their stories, having sincere evolve spiritually, our needs also evolve. A wish for
respect and willingness to try to understand their recognition may change to a longing for humility
dangerous world, finally turned the key. I will to be an anonymous server. A need for social
always remember sitting in a circle with them belonging may transmute to a yearning for merging
one year on. One man had tears in his eyes as he with the divine.
expressed his sadness and despair: “There is no
room for compassion in this work.” No one joked, The 13th century Sufi mystic, Rumi, expresses the
all were quiet, nodding their agreement. In awe condition that can blossom when we move out of
I reflected on how far these men had come. Now fear-based blame and judgment, threat, demand,
they valued self-awareness, feelings, trust, openness. winning and losing, reward and punishment; when
They knew how to listen. They could connect to we transform our “diagnoses,” i.e. thinking and
the needs of the prisoners and each other. They had communicating in terms of what is “right” and
self-respect. They had come home to their hearts. “wrong” with us.
One said, “I am a much better man now, I feel
Jan u ary 2 02 0 31
THO U GH T I N ACTIO N
32 H eart f u l n es s
Jan u ary 2 02 0 33
Music coordinates
mind, body and spirit.
YEHUDI MENUHIN
Innerview
The Art of Authentic
Communication and Listening
Jan u ary 2 02 0 37
There’s a saying that I love (I Q: Absolutely. I totally relate top 20 of National Airplay
don’t know who coined it): to that. You started your Contemporary Jazz charts.
“Authenticity heals.” If we are career in music playing jazz,
authentic, where we are, at any which was contemporary I thought, “Well, that was
given moment, and transparent and mainstream. So how pretty easy!” So for the next few
in a way that’s genuine, did the transition happen records I wrote more and more
authentic, it heals us and all of into the healing arts? Did contemporary jazz songs, almost
a sudden we change. It’s like you face any challenges, just to prove that I could do it if
taking something from the dark internally and externally? I wanted to. And I had several
and shining light on it. If we top 10 records in a row, but I was
say, “Oh, I’m feeling frustrated,” Well, I went through a period really not that happy with it. I
or “I’m feeling grief,” or “I’m of only improvising for about 6 would play at jazz festivals and I
feeling angry,” or “I’m feeling years, between the ages of 18 and would feel, “This is not working.
nervous” – whatever the truth is 24. Then I had the opportunity This doesn’t feel like me.”
about that moment – if we can to make an album, and so I
express that in a real way then decided to compose the songs One day I heard a cassette by R.
it’s transformative. for the album, because I wanted Carlos Nakai, who is a Native
to be able to play songs from it. American flautist. The Native
So when I play the piano, I just And I released my first album American flute is so beautiful, so
want to tell the truth. I just called Spirit. It was very close to soulful, simple and earthy. So I
want to express what’s really home; it was very much me. It started playing along with it on
true for me in that moment, was a solo piano album. the piano. And I thought, “Well,
and when I express that then I this sounds great,” the piano
feel differently. Then I have to The album did well, but I and the flute. So I contacted
express what’s true for me in received some criticism from him to see about doing a project
the next moment, what’s true other musicians around saying, together. I thought it was just
for me now and now and now “Oh, he doesn’t really know going to be a little aside, just a
and now. That becomes a natural how to play jazz. He doesn’t simple project that I would enjoy
unraveling process that I could know how to do this,” and I felt for myself. I didn’t really think
never orchestrate with my mind. challenged. So in my next album anyone would care about it. And
It just organically wells up. And I incorporated other musicians, to my surprise when the record
if I allow it to flow, it takes me to some jazz, and I started writing came out – the first album was
some place where I need to go, melodies that were catchy and called Natives – it became very
but I don’t really or necessarily commercial. And that record popular, selling 5 to 10 times
plan that. Does that make sense? charted in the USA in the as many as my contemporary
38 H eart f u l n es s
jazz albums. And it felt more When I speak with musicians I Q: Peter, you have played
authentically me than the jazz respect, we all agree that it’s that and worked with some very
stuff. first thought, that initial spark big names in the industry,
of an idea, that is the true idea. like John Denver, Dan
So that gave me a big permission And all the thoughts that come Fogelberg and now with
to be more myself, and to stop after that – wondering, second- Carlos Nakai. How has the
trying to be someone else. The guessing, doubting – is the mind. experience been?
direction went back to where That’s the world coming in and
I started, with my spirit, back undermining our natural essence, Beautiful! I was a big John
inside, being who I am, naturally. our natural intuition. So when Denver and Dan Fogelberg fan
Working with Carlos was an I’m playing or improvising, I’m when I was younger. So working
invitation to do that. always saying yes. I get an idea, with them was really sweet. But
and I say yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes. I have to say that playing with
Q: How do you overcome I find that when I start second- R. Carlos Nakai and Dominic
the challenges and biases guessing myself, I feel like I go Miller, who is Sting’s guitarist,
that you may face trying to off the path. So for me playing and Tina Guo, who is a fantastic
be yourself, while following the piano is about not thinking. cellist, and Snatam Kaur, who
your heart’s pursuit? It is almost like meditating, you is a beautiful vocalist, is where
know, very spontaneous. I really found this connection,
I almost feel that sometimes because none of us really want
the world is like a distraction I used to meditate a lot many to discuss or rehearse the music.
and misleading, when we focus years ago. I was very, very We want to find a way to just
on the outside. We have to be disciplined. I would fast a lot, I be present with each other and
in the world and we have to would chant, and I would do all really listen to each other.
participate, but I think we need these things to quiet my mind.
to take our direction from inside. But I find now that playing the The musicians who have been
And we can find it in ourselves. piano is the most honest and doing it for a long time realize
It takes time, but we all have true thing I can possibly do, that creativity is not about doing
this inner voice that is always because really it’s in the music something; it’s about listening,
questioning: “Is that the right that my mind is completely quiet being very open and very
thing?” When you have an idea and I’m just being. I’m listening receptive. It’s letting creativity
and you’re excited about it, but and being. And the more I do flow, rather than thinking that
then you start to doubt, the mind that, the better I feel in my daily we need to do something to
is talking. life as well. It kind of bleeds into create it. Creation and creativity
my life. are everywhere. This Earth is
Jan u ary 2 02 0 39
the ultimate manifestation of very important things, because with them and then I improvise
creativity. We live in creativity. if we’re tight, if we’re not just for them. I transfer the
So from my perspective, the way breathing, and if we’re in our energy – them to me, me to
to be a part of that creativity is head, then we’re stuck. So that’s them – circulating the energy.
to be very receptive and listen important to me. And you know And people have beautiful
deeply. And not judge, and not what I like to do? I like people experiences.
question. You know what I’m to lie under the piano while I’m
saying? playing! Q: That’s very interesting.
Do you often do that with
Q: Yes. It’s wonderful. Q: Really? Okay. your son also?
And also breathing. I do a lot Yes! No matter where I’m For my son, listening to my
of Internet performances where playing – at a home concert music is like breathing, as he’s
I talk with the audience quite a or on stage – I invite people heard it all his life. He doesn’t
bit, and people ask me, “What to come up and lie under the need to go under the piano;
are you doing? What are you piano. I feel them under there, it’s actually part of him. He’s
thinking when you’re playing the and I breathe into it. I connect actually a very talented guitarist.
piano?” And my response, that
first thing is, “Don’t think.”
40 H eart f u l n es s
INNERVIE W
He is only 14 years old, but he is even more exploring and trying someone else, and removing the
becoming a very good guitarist. new things, just letting it go. sense of inhibition or the feeling
that we can’t be authentic. We
Q: How did you feel winning Q: So what next for Peter create a very safe space where
the Grammy in 2017? Kater? people can take a risk and say,
“This is who I am,” and embrace
Well, it was very exciting. It was You know what I really love themselves and show who they
especially interesting because doing? It’s the retreats. They are are to the others at the retreat.
that was my 13th nomination! so much fun, and people have
I had not won the previous 12 such great experiences. They’re It’s not heavy. It’s not serious.
years, so when I did win it was very intimate. There are usually But it’s very free and very
actually quite shocking and very 10 to 20 people per retreat. loving, and within a day or two
exhilarating. To be honest, I did We spend a week together in a people are having an amazing
have a premonition. And it was beautiful place, either in Hawaii time. After a week people feel
the first year that I also took my or in Montana. All needs are like they’ve made life-long
son to the Grammy’s, because taken care of, like food, massage, friends, and no one wants to
he was old enough to go and and being in nature, in a leave! I started doing these
appreciate. It was great. beautiful setting. retreats during the last year or
two, and I love them. You really
I have to admit that winning And every day I play the get to know everyone. People
the Grammy gave me the sense piano for them for at least an experience a lot of feelings, a lot
of even more permission to hour, sometimes two hours. of things come up, and – I don’t
be myself. Even though I had I invite guest musicians to like to use the word too much
worked through a lot of the need come at night. We do little – a lot of ‘healing’ does happen
or desire to prove something to exercises in being present and even though no one is trying to
someone, I think winning the authentic. I talk a lot about make it happen. It happens on
Grammy was the stamp or the what happens when we show its own. When we’re authentic
proof of what I believe in. Now up with ourselves, being really and genuine and transparent,
I play even more from the heart, present with ourselves and with healing happens by itself.
Jan u ary 2 02 0 41
INNERV I EW
42 H eart f u l n es s
INNERVIE W
Join me…
in the presence of Trees.
Where the Earth beckons a deeper listen
As it draws you down into its peace.
Join me… on the edge
of the known and unfamiliar.
In the company of intimate strangers.
Join me… for an eternal moment
Within the eye of spiraling time.
As we reclaim what we’ve lost.
Join me… in loving emancipation
In blinding night and blinding light.
To awaken once more and again.
—Peter Kater
Jan u ary 2 02 0 43
44 H eart f u l n es s
it changes
everything
History often
resembles myth,
because they are
both ultimately of
the same stuff.
J.R.R. TOLKIEN
PART 2
Where History
Intersects
with Myth
I
ASHWIN SANGHI is an Indian n India we always called our epics itihas [history].
author in the intersecting The Ramayana and Mahabharata are itihas. It’s
genre of mythology, fiction and only since Max Müller that we were taught: Hey
thriller. In this second part of listen, this is myth, this is not historical narrative.
his interview with RUDY SINGH, I’m not willing to accept that.
he speaks about mythology,
history, his approach to writing Take the Mahabharata. It started off with less
and his upcoming books. Ashwin than 25,000 verses of a work called Jaya, which
continues the conversation morphed into a work of roughly 50,000 verses
from where he left off. called the Bharat, which then morphed into the
100,000 verses of the Mahabharat. We attribute
all of this to one single writer, the Rishi Vyasa.
I believe that’s almost like a nom de plume, a
pseudonym, for multiple writers who wrote
through the generations. But do you think multiple
generations would have spent their time narrating
that story if there wasn’t a kernel of truth to the
events that happened?
48 H eart f u l n es s
IT CHA NGES EV ERY THING
why this new generation But at the core there are elements of the story that
remain common throughout. And why would there
is reading them, is be 300 versions of a story that never happened?
So I believe what we need to do is to find that
because if you take these enticing, exciting overlap zone where history
two words – myth and intersects with myth. And there is a lot we can
gain by examining it closely. The problem is that
history – and put them mainstream academia has shied away from looking
at these things.
into a particle collider
I have always believed that the reason why people
and bring them charging like reading these stories, and the reason why this
at superfast speed new generation is reading them, is because if you
take these two words – myth and history – and
towards one another, put them into a particle collider and bring them
charging at superfast speed towards one another,
they fuse into a new they fuse into a new word, which is myth + history
= mystery. That’s typically what I try to do.
word, which is myth +
Q: Wow, that’s wonderful. As you
history = mystery. That’s mentioned, there are many, many local
typically what I try to do. myths and different variations of myths.
Every 200 kilometers you have a new myth;
every district has their narrative. Do you
think we are at a stage where there is
a danger of the homogenous narrative
subsuming all these? For example, the
overarching Mahabharata is pan India, and
the overarching Ramayana is pan India.
Jan u ary 2 02 0 49
The way I see it is that mythology has been in Or what would the Mahabharata look like from
a constant state of flux. The packaging and re- Draupadi’s perspective?
packaging of mythology has been happening over
generations. We spoke about 300 versions of the So I think we are opening up new vistas in our
Ramayana, and there are probably more than a narratives, which is wonderful because a myth
1,000 versions of the Mahabharata. And even should not be compartmentalized. The whole idea
if we look at today’s narratives, we are finding of myth is that you have multiple versions, and
that actually the narratives do not depend on the this has been the great thing about our country,
popular mainstream. that we’ve said that, “No, we don’t have one version
of the truth; we can have three hundred versions.
If you take someone like Anand Neelakantan, for And the fact that I have one version of the truth
example, he is actually giving you a perspective doesn’t make your version any less. It’s still the
of these epics from the angle of the so-called truth.” And I think that is where we need to be
villains of the story, because he feels that injustice going. And I think that that is already happening.
has been done to the villains. So why can’t we So in fact we’ll see more narratives, we’ll see more
narrate the Mahabharata from the point of view dimensions. We’ll see this exploration increasing.
of Duryodhana? Or why can’t we narrate the
Ramayana from the point of view of Ravana? Q: You’ve recently started writing a series
of self-help books. How did the motivation
You take someone like Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. for that come about?
Chitra’s books narrate the stories from the angle of
the female leads within those epics. What would Well, I had just started writing. I was at the point
the Ramayana look like from Sita’s perspective? where my first book was not getting published.
50 H eart f u l n es s
IT CHA NGES EV ERY THING
Jan u ary 2 02 0 51
IT C H AN G ES EVE RY T H I NG
manage their money, so why don’t we write a book Q: I really liked the way you said
on wealth?” So we wrote 13 Steps to Bloody Good “demystifying good luck,” because
Wealth. one of the objectives of the book,
The Heartfulness Way, is to demystify
Then a teacher got in touch with me, who was an meditation.
expert in coaching kids. And he said, “Why can’t
we write 13 Steps to Bloody Good Marks, so that Absolutely.
people can study better?” And then Dr. Batra got
in touch saying, “Why can’t we write on health – Q: You have now been a part of two
13 Steps to Bloody Good Health?” And we then had Heartfulness sessions. Do you think there’s
a book by a blogging mom, Kiran Manral, who a certain resonance with that also?
wrote 13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting. We now
have someone who has been in the sales profession Absolutely. I think one of the main attractions of
for 20 odd years writing a book on sales. Someone the Heartfulness Way is the utter simplicity. I have
else is writing on communication. been through several meditation sessions prior to
this where the instructor is focused on how you
So there are so many things which look like rocket sit, what mudras you do, your breathing and your
science, but they actually translate into some concentration, the fact that you should not move,
rather simple fundamentals. And that is what we’re and the fact that you should develop an ability to
attempting to present in a very easy to read format. deal with pleasure and pain, even though you’ve
been sitting in that position for several hours.
52 H eart f u l n es s
IT CHA NGES EV ERY THING
on your heart and feel That is one of the main projects I am working
on. In addition to that, I am also working on an
rather than think. That original web series, as well as an adaptation of one
is where true of my books for the web. So at any given point of
time I have multiple projects going on, and that’s
meditation comes from. one of the reasons why I need a technique to keep
me a little more focused.
I’m still to get there, but
I am hoping that Heartfulness can help me,
I love the utter childlike because I have to keep switching tracks. On a
simplicity of what is particular day I’ll be working in the space of
history and mythology; on another day I’m
explained in working on a crime thriller; on the third day I’m
working on a self-help book. So in order to be able
The Heartfulness Way. to change gears and still come back and focus on
what I am required to focus on that particular day,
that’s a critical element of what I do.
Jan u ary 2 02 0 53
be inspired
In a very true sense,
character is the very life of
spirituality.
LALAJI
A User’s Guide
to Living
DAAJI introduces us
to a user’s guide to
daily living and human
transformation. This
series is based on a
book written more
than 75 years ago, by
Ram Chandra, called
Commentary on the
Ten Maxims of Sahaj
Marg, which is entirely
relevant for anyone
wishing to evolve to
their highest potential
in today’s world.
56 H eart f u l n es s
B E INSPIRE D
Origins
Some 75 years ago, a holy man in a remote town in Uttar Pradesh in the north
of India decided to put into words some amazing truths that he had received
through direct perception in a superconscious state. As a result, he came up with
a method by which people could completely transform themselves and reach the
highest level of consciousness possible, and go beyond. This method was based on
taking the essence of the ancient practices of Raja Yoga, and modifying them for
the present era of humanity. His name was Ram Chandra, and he was known to
many as Babuji.
Here is the preface to his first book, Commentary on the Ten Maxims of Sahaj
Marg, which was originally written in the Urdu language, and has now been
translated into over 30 languages worldwide:
A Word
“True love cannot be expressed by words. This is the very reality which is
inexplicable in any way.”
In this respect, I may therefore say that it is proper for the readers to try to
reach up to the real spirit, ignoring the defects of expression and language,
and be profited, and help others to be profited by it.
Ram Chandra
8 December 1946
Jan u ary 2 02 0 57
B E I N SP I R ED
He was eager to share his knowledge with everyone, to help us all experience
those elevated states of consciousness that he had experienced. Being a
householder he knew that spirituality and materiality are like the two wings of
a bird, and no one can soar on one wing alone. He was a humble man of simple
means, but in the spiritual field he was a giant, the like of whom no one had
seen before. His concern was not for himself, or just for humanity, but for the
whole universe. In order to bring positive change, peace and growth to suffering
humanity, he knew that inner transformation was needed. He had developed
a simple method that was easy to practice, and that was available to everyone,
irrespective of culture, race, age, class, religious belief, education and sex.
The discoveries Babuji made were simple but Einstein only knew the method to convert
revolutionary in the field of consciousness, mass into energy, and not beyond it. In
much like the discoveries that Einstein made a short, I can say that energy can also be
few years earlier in the field of physics. In some converted into mass and this is a very
ways these two men were alike. Their greatest easy job.
ideas came to them through direct perception
in superconscious states. More importantly,
unknown to each other, they were both exploring Having only studied up to high school level in
similar phenomena – one from the perspective of rural India, Babuji would not have been taken
spirituality and the other from the perspective of seriously by those scientists in the evolving field
science. Through his now famous equation E=mc2, of quantum physics, yet the discoveries he made
Einstein proposed the interchangeable nature of through direct perception were literally mind-
mass and energy, creating tremors in the world of blowing. He not only saw directly that matter and
science. But Einstein was limited to the manifested energy were different vibrational states of the same
world of physics. Babuji was able to express the manifestation, but that consciousness was the basic
inexpressible, and he shared his views. He gave stuff of creation: Everything created since the Big
us an understanding that transcends the aspect of Bang has emanated from consciousness.
interchangeability of mass and energy, writing in a
letter to one of his associates: There is a sweet story of a meeting between Babuji
and a physicist in London in 1972, through a
The energy itself in the long run returns to mutual friend. The physicist did not consider
Babuji worth listening to, as an uneducated simple
the Absolute – the cause of the power. The
man from rural India, until Babuji proceeded to
whole of matter, every particle of the body, describe to him in detail the intricate structure
becomes energy and then goes to its absolute. and movement of the particles in an atom. The
58 H eart f u l n es s
physicist was astounded and asked Babuji how he observer effect is easily solved, however, when we
knew this, to which Babuji replied, “I penetrated understand that a grosser observer can affect a
matter and I have described to you what subtler experiment, but a subtler observer does not
I observed.” affect a grosser experiment.
During this same period, quantum scientists were The subject of consciousness is now being
spooked by the observer effect – the fact that an researched and debated not only by scientists, but
observer can affect the experiment. Some held also by people in all fields and walks of life. We
the view that it could be because everything is have come full circle, in fact, as this was also the
fundamentally made up of consciousness, so the case in ancient times in many cultures.
consciousness of the observer will influence the
consciousness of the object of the experiment.
This idea did not initially go down well with the
scientific community. Even today scientists are
divided on this issue. The entire confusion of the
Jan u ary 2 02 0 59
B E I N SP I R ED
In the meantime, back in the 1940s, Babuji complete chakra system, culminating in the 16th
not only demonstrated that we can change our chakra, which Babuji called the Central Region,
consciousness by a special method of meditation the source of everything. They had opened human
on the heart, utilizing pranahuti or yogic awareness to an entirely different dimension of
Transmission, he also went on to discover and map existence.
the various incremental levels of consciousness, and
what lies beyond consciousness. Lalaji transmitted the knowledge of the Central
Region to Babuji, and also taught him the
Spiritual scientists from ancient India were techniques to master that Region. Based on his
familiar with the seven chakra system of energy own personal research and experience, Babuji then
consciousness, and most believed that the crown mapped the stages of consciousness, from the most
chakra was the pinnacle of spiritual achievement. solid levels of matter to the very source, which he
Babuji was to change all that. Along with his called the Center. This was the first time in the
teacher, another great sage of the 19th and 20th history of humankind that anyone was able to
centuries, Lalaji, they together discovered a more accomplish such a task.
NABHI CHAKRA
SWADISTHANA CHAKRA
MOOLADHARA CHAKRA
60 H eart f u l n es s
B E INSPIRE D
Jan u ary 2 02 0 61
B E I N SP I R ED
Meditation is a
quantum experiment
Babuji taught a simple method of meditation pinpoint what function of the brain is improved
on the heart, rooted in the ancient traditions of with meditation. Some of the conclusions are that
Raja Yoga, yet simplified and modified to meet meditation reduces stress, improves sleep, reduces
the needs of modern life. He explained why blood pressure, improves learning and memory,
meditation is the best way to change and expand and increases happiness. The human brain is an
consciousness. And unlike traditional methods amazingly complex system and science has only
of Yoga that took many years of austere practice taken baby steps in understanding it.
to bring the mind to balance, Heartfulness was
able to give instantaneous results, because of the In contrast, yogic scientists have known the value
revolutionary use of pranahuti. of meditation since ancient times. They knew about
the observer effect long before science figured
What happens in meditation? In the last fifty it out. In fact ancient texts like the Vedas and
years, scientists have made impressive strides Upanishads could describe the various stages of
in understanding how meditation impacts our consciousness in meditation that correlate with
physiology, especially the brain. This has been the brain waves now identified by EEG machines
made possible by advancements in measuring at each stage. For example, the ultimate depth
technology, like brain scanning and its ability to of meditation, a stage called Samadhi in Yoga,
62 H eart f u l n es s
B E INSPIRE D
correlates with the very slow delta waves produced two aspects of the spectrum of consciousness, and
by the brain during deep sleep. Typically it takes the consciousness at the cellular and atomic levels,
many years of meditation to achieve a deep delta have all been vital components of physiology in
state, but Babuji enabled his students to experience yogic science, which modern scientists are now
Samadhi when they first started meditating, starting to understand.
through the utilization of pranahuti.
Babuji perfected the method of Heartfulness and
Each one of us transmits his or her vibration to the the science of yogic Transmission as a means to
Universe, and an evolved Master of caliber, who help human beings evolve and master the various
is in osmosis with the Center, can transmit the incremental stages of consciousness. But he was
essence of that Center, pranahuti, into the heart equally clear that this was not enough. Without
of a student, thus enabling the student to advance working on personal development and character,
faster and more effectively. This is what happens in this would lead nowhere, as there would be no
the Heartfulness tradition. integration or wholeness of the physical, mental
and spiritual bodies of the human being. Spiritual
Yogic scientists have also recognized the role of transformation is an internal transformation of
the Central Nervous System in a much wider the vibrational field of consciousness, whereas
content than just the brain. The heart, the spinal personality transformation is equally important for
cord, the connection between heart and brain as the process to be complete.
Jan u ary 2 02 0 63
Principles of
Conversation
Back at the turn of the 20th century, the great
yogi RAM CHANDRA OF FATEHGARH (LALAJI)
shared some tips about communication with
his associates in a small town of northern
India. Today these principles are even more
relevant in corporate boardrooms, parliaments,
universities and school classrooms the
world over. Imagine if we could all follow this
approach to communicating with others! The
world would be transformed.
T
he style of speech should be devoid of rise and
fall in pitch. On the contrary, it should be like the
divine current, flowing evenly since the beginning
of creation. I had copied just that and innumerable are its
benefits, beyond the possibility of narration.
64 H eart f u l n es s
B E INSPIRE D
65
A person whose tongue is polite, civilized and
cultured, has a large, pure and noble heart, and
thus has a wide sway over the minds of others. The
A civil tongue is a pure heart, in communion with the Base or the
Source, pours itself forth naturally with nobility,
prerequisite to magnanimity and love. It leaves an impression
immediately, and progressively makes deep inroads
achieve the goal of and establishes itself in the minds of all. But
ambiguity and indecision are not to be encouraged.
human life. A cultured
A civil tongue is a prerequisite to achieve the
tongue rules the
goal of human life. A cultured tongue rules the
kingdom of the heart. kingdom of the heart. A polished tongue in
discourse or conversation influences humanity and
reigns supreme.
66 H eart f u l n es s
B E INSPIRE D
Anger is a poison to spirituality. Unless we are and constant activity of man is often overlooked
free from this plague, moderation can never be and neglected. It is also unfortunate if the Divine
obtained. The effect of anger is that the system Guru is held responsible for any lapse. It is no
becomes heavy and tension is produced. There will doubt very difficult to control the mind.
be continuous pressure on thought. This human
frailty leads to loss of self-respect and individuality, To free ourselves from anger, we should think
and results in unhappiness. This does not allow the ourselves to be polite and humble. Nay, we should
free and subtle current to enter; in other words it try to make ourselves such that the same color
restrains the flow of Divine Grace. enters each and every part of the body. A cool and
calm disposition alone is required for spirituality.
If anger is overcome, and a nasty and short temper The heart is so tender that it begins to droop even
is avoided, there is scope for the attainment of a by the slightest circulation of wind.
balanced condition of the mind. The greater the
control over it, the freer and more bounteous is the When we rise to some height, lowness is also
celestial gift. within our sight to the same extent. This is a secret
of Nature. If, while remaining glued to the Master,
It is a pity that this important and essential we make high advancement and yet feel low, is this
principle of the use of the tongue in the inevitable not a state? The cause of this I have just stated.
Our passion should be: whatever is there is Thine!
And when it is thus, where is the occasion for
regret?
The technique of
When we are satiated with something, we no
developing softness is to longer derive pleasure from it to the same degree as
earlier. By and by we come to treat it as something
create extreme humility in ordinary. Just this is to be known as the state of
regret or the fallen condition. Apart from that,
temperament, so that it is lying low is better than a perch up. Herein lies
filled with such a devotion and therein rests the idea of perfection.
sentiment of love as to What more than this is there for me to tell? When
we have lost all sense of our own significance, and
have no inclination to are devoid of ego-consciousness in any form, direct
or indirect, then whatever we do will be just what
cause any hurt to anyone’s we ought to be doing. This condition, if bestowed
by God, is the best of all conditions. Everyone
heart, and the words are ought to try to arrive at it.
also such as not to hurt
The technique of developing softness is to create
anyone’s heart in the least. extreme humility in temperament, so that it is
filled with such a sentiment of love as to have no
inclination to cause any hurt to anyone’s heart,
and the words are also such as not to hurt anyone’s
heart in the least.
Jan u ary 2 02 0 67
taste of life
Wonder is the
beginning of wisdom.
SOCRATES
Q: What is the inspiration for your
art?
70 H eart f u l n es s
Jan u ary 2 02 0 71
TAS T E O F L I FE
AKASHA
72 H eart f u l n es s
TA S T E OF LIFE
INSCAPES
Jan u ary 2 02 0 73
Q: How does Nature influence you?
Nature has always been a source of wonder and awe. It displays infinity of forms,
geometries, colors, textures, through incredible diversity – rocks, crystals, flowers,
plants, water, animal life and much, much more. Learning to look when drawing,
for example, at the smallest details of a feather or shell, is evidence of Nature
as Divine. I was fascinated by Ram Chandra’s use of the capital N in Nature, as
we use the lower case in English. This seemingly insignificant detail was like a
revelation. Of course Nature is sacred, and we partake in that. We have access to
incredible resources both external and internal.
74 H eart f u l n es s
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