Dear Kavita,
Hold on to that feeling
to reconnect
and never stop seeing
there is beauty -
even in the face
of sadness and deep hurts
and tragedy.
with love,
~ Kate

the VT community has been embraced with love and care from all over the world! It's truly amazing.

Hello Kavita!

Good to see you again and to hear your thoughts.
As you can see, I still tend to virtually follow
Kate, now and then. As far as I know, she doesn't mind.

Here at IB we have thoroughly discussed many of the questions
that were brought to the forefront after the tragedy at V. Tech.

It was never really appropriate to discuss Cho's
recent incarnation on this earth, but with you I
feel that the time is ripe. At least, I hope so.

Since reincarnation is always a hot topic amongst the skeptics,
I wouldn't be surprised, nor will you, to see a few
wannabe scientists jump in to negate these concepts
which are yet to be proven in the eyes of materialists.
To be honest, I have no direct experience to validate the subject.
So I will just ask you, if you don't mind.

According to the philosophy of The East, correct
me if I am wrong...we choose (with help, possibly)
the lessons we need to learn before we begin again.

In this case, we should then attempt to understand
this life of Cho's as pertaining to his long-term predicament.

Perhaps he was a victim of such a crime in a past life.
I suppose, that if could not bring himself to forgive
the 'killer', he would have to learn by becoming one for once.
"Hopefully," we would say, "once is enough!"

As hard as this is for a Westerner to say, we would also
need to see the victims lives and fates in the same light.

"They asked for it!"

That sounds very cruel to the followers and believers in Jesus Christ, who to this very day wish to believe in the free-will of man. I am also
currently under the grip of this vice called 'ingrained belief'
in choices and a destiny procured through hard work.

My brain is hard-wired, but I like to think that my heart is open
to entertain such views as The East provides for us.

Does your intellect fight with your heart the way mine does?
Body vs. Soul, Soul vs. Spirit, a tug of war
presumably kept to oneself, but alas, we see the
spill-off in our daily lives, watching and listening to The News.

Thanks for listening! Sorry to say, I haven't been
visiting your site for my time is limited. I wish
you well! Sounds like you've gotten yourself a good friend
in Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. You are fortunate.

"Okay, okay! I'll get off now!" Kids...geez!

See ya, Kavita! Peace, Keith!

Keeping your friends, cousin's two lads in my prayers Kavita; may Truth be revealed in short time!! I hope the boys and all involved are healing as well as can be expected in such a shock as this duo-murder of thier parents. Three months time is not long..but, I DO hope, justice prevails here; for the sake of peace and safety of their spirits.

How come no one discusses Noam Chomsky here.He explains why the governments have allowed violence like these to continue.

Aloha Kavita

It is so nice to read your thoughts. You are precious and much loved. With the Tao polar opposites are complementary. As Deepak shares birth and death are a continuum as space and time.

My son who is a teacher suggested a movie for me to watch: Half Nelson. The teachers in Hawaii were in the process of voting in a new contract and part of it was for the teachers to be drug tested. When I asked my son how he voted; his response was to get them out. The film wasn't easy to watch but very gratifying upon reflection.

In A Course in Miracles they say the only problem is the belief that we separate. That belief comes from the concept we are physical matter. It is important to remember the mirror always stays the same; it is the images that change. It doesn’t matter who is in power or what religion or non-religion is practiced, the key is to be like the wave that returns to the sea. And your writing always takes me there. Love patty

Aloha prabhakar

I bookmarked Noam Chomsky's site. This looked interesting: http://www.chomsky.info/debates/20060301.htm Mahalo for sharing about Noam.

love patty

Hello Kavita,
I agree that there are many societal problems that allow for the anger and resentment to build in people. I also agree that people will use whatever is at hand when rage possesses them. My father works at a psychiatric hospital and has seen this occur a lot. Needless to say the doctors can't even carry pencils with them anymore, they write with small bits of crayon. I think there are a few programs that could be enacted to help accomplish social reform, but social programs on a national level are not very popular (the federal budget is already distended).

We have to each do what we can.

While we are at it, let us not get carried away.

EDITORIAL
What to make of Allen Lee
Published April 28, 2007
www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0704271052apr28,1,7164075.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

***

This is nuts

Chicago Tribune reports

"Allen Lee, an 18-year-old straight-A student at Cary-Grove High School, was arrested Tuesday near his home and charged with disorderly conduct for an essay police described as violently disturbing but not directed toward any specific person or location."

Just because a teacher is horrified by the writing of a student, one cannot arrest him. The student is supposed to be a A grader. Even though it doesn’t make him a “god”, it speaks of his dedication towards education. Also there are no known reports about any suspicious activity by that student. Whatever happened is just nuts. What is the guarantee that the police and school administration has not taken a perfectly good student and traumatized him? What is the guarantee that this action will not force what could be a perfectly good young mind into taking revenge on a society that wrongly implicated him? Why do administrations (whether it is the administration of this country or the school in question) react so badly in the aftermath of events like 9/11 or VT shooting? Aren’t leaders supposed to be different from ordinary citizens in keeping their cool in the aftermath of disasters (no, I am not justifying Bush’s action after Katrina. What he did was not an example of being cool. It was an example of being inefficient.)? If writing disturbingly is the sole reason for arrest, I am petrified by whatever our right wing leaders speak regarding wars and world domination. Will the police go about arresting them for that? Come on, there is a big difference between being vigilant and over reaction.

Post written by Krish
http://krishworld.com/politics/

S

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes, we need to stay calm. When something tragic happens, people tend to react with fear or animus. When fear runs rampant, senseless acts multiply.

Hello Kavita,

Nice post. I think you resume very well the actual crisis situation.

Balance of the Inner and Outer world (self). Very good subject to meditate on.

A good personal observation; the new generation of kids seems to come out with an innate-intelligence about bad beliefs (religions, what is right or wrong...).

Gran Pa, Grand Ma, P'pa, M'ma, please don't put pressure on your kids for the future changes, but please, be part of it, right now! Your sedentary outer-vision identity has consequences that are far of been positive-only!

Dad, what you were looking so intensively outside (by buying all kind of material)(or by looking father figure in kissing boss-?ss) was it not to compensate for inner-miss? Is this not the reason why I suffer from your education? Rejecting your fake-virile image as model?

Gran'Pa can you see from the Above? Look at your son and little son. Look at the chain of sufferance. Big guy can you start the rain at less? Is there not a spirit post-sign "Cul-de-sac"?

Dad, Grand'Pa have a seat... it's men talk... There are "butts" everywhere moving, chasing me... haha yes, right, cool subject, oohh dad you feel uncomfortable?... well follow me... What do you do when you look at her face and see a puppet?...( ) Are you feeling virile with that answer?

M'ma, you and Grand'Ma,

Have You Ever Been In Love?

Jean-Francois,
Have you ever been In Love?
she asks
playfully,
but with
interest

Dear Kavita,
I am glad you are back at IB!

Sadhguru says:
"It is the upheaval within that makes a teenager behave in a certain way. We have not made any arrangements in this country to help create that emotional and physical balance and harmony. We have left it to time and hope he will be alright".

Most teenagers navigate through this time in their lives, without hurtful, violent actions. There are numerous programs in schools, counseling centers, and friends and family that reach out, and listen and encourage teenagers to talk about what's important, the issues that concern them, and just dialoguing.

If a teenager is struggling, parents, friends, the school, siblings, 'elders' - can reach out, and play a part. Counseling can be very helpful. Kids need safe places to talk about and reveal their vulnerabilities, sensitivities, and questions. Even to express anger, in a safe way.

Reconnecting is possible!

with love,
~ Kate

Dear Kavita,

Welcome back, what you have to say resonates with me.

Remove all the in depth analysis, we have seen so much of that regarding this tragedy. What we have left is about reaching out to others. That is what I hear you and Kate say. The sad part of it, we seldom reach out to others unless they are very close to us. I have often wondered about this and am still at a loss to understand it. Yet it is perhaps the most natural thing for us to do as human beings. It generally comes spontaneously, when we see someone in trouble, a child crying out, an accident victim, when we ourselves are in good spirits; yet it seems to me that something holds people back.

How often do we smile at strangers on the road or just wish them? I don't see it too often and yet whenever one just reaches out to another it is always reciprocated, I get a smile in return and a cheery hello, making us both happier.

I think sometimes that it boils down to just feeling good about yourself. When that happens one is perhaps more inclined to reach out and spread the same feeling to others. I am unable to express this clearly as to how all this is also applicable in this case. But I think reaching out to the young and the very young is specially important, they need to know that we genuinely care.

Thank you Kavita for your post.

Kate. Thank you for sharing the information about your niece and the VT community. Love and Peace can be found even in the midst of tragedy.

Dara. It is so true that we share with others that which we see in ourselves. Thank you for helping me remember that. Can we ever go wrong when we reach out to others from a place of love?

Giving by Tagore

Life is given to us
Then we earn it by giving it back

Unmanifest by Tagore

What you are you do not see.
What you see - that you are not.

With Much Love and Peace, Melissa

Thank you everyone for your thought provoking and warm responses. Kate thank you for the beautiful words. Your comment “Most teenagers navigate through this time in their lives, without hurtful, violent actions. There are numerous programs in schools, counseling centers, and friends and family that reach out, and listen and encourage teenagers to talk about what's important, the issues that concern them, and just dialoguing,” made me think hard. One of the things that I noticed is how so many people aren’t either aware or just don’t take advantage of resources that are available. Also certain ethnic communities tend to go into the closet when it comes to facing any kind of dysfunction. Children are beaten if they open their mouths to disagree. Growing up I saw the spirits of many of my friends broken because the parents would beat the hell out of the kids, especially boys if they questioned anything. I’m very grateful to mine who allowed me to question and disagree and back off if I chose not to agree with them..
I’m told that when there is depression, emotional upheavals in teens, often parents don’t see the signs, and children isolate themselves. My friend’s brother locked himself in his room after not doing as well in a math exam in high school..the parents said oh usual tantrums..they even heard a thud and didn’t bother to investigate-the guy was actually hanging himself from the ceiling fan. So unless there is consistent monitoring, or children have confidence in their elders to be able to confide their deepest darkest thoughts, I don’t think those resources will be availed of by many of the emotionally disturbed teens or adults, in spite of even all the help lines having been installed.
In such scenarios I think yoga and meditation is a great option. It provides relief from all the pent up feelings of negativity, and actually remove stress toxins from the blood stream
Dear Keith, I think Deepak can answer your question much better than I. Eastern philosophy has been interpreted in so many ways based on the perception of the scholar, and the interpreter, that I don’t know what is an established fact and what isn’t. And for me there is no dispute-my heart always rules the roost! And when I think with my heart-I’m usually right.

Eventually we believe only that we want to believe and here I must quote some excerpts of the interview which Patty was kind enough to place a link for and the name Prabhakar brought up- the very gifted Noam Chomsky- The interview is something I resonate with and is worth a read so please do go check it out- but these paras really reiterated some of what I believe and Sadhguru mentioned-thanks Prabhakar for reminding us.

“NC “ (Noam Chomsky) One of the most important comments on deceit, I think, was made by Adam Smith. He pointed out that a major goal of business is to deceive and oppress the public.
And one of the striking features of the modern period is the institutionalization of that process, so that we now have huge industries deceiving the public—and they're very conscious about it, the public relations industry. Interestingly, this developed in the freest countries—in Britain and the US—roughly around time of WWI, when it was recognized that enough freedom had been won that people could no longer be controlled by force. So modes of deception and manipulation had to be developed in order to keep them under control.
And by now these are huge industries. They not only dominate marketing of commodities, but they also control the political system. As anyone who watches a US election knows, it's marketing. It's the same techniques that are used to market toothpaste.
And, of course, there are power systems in place to facilitate this. Throughout history it's been mostly the property holders or the educated classes who've tended to support power systems. And that's a large part of what I think education is—it's a form of indoctrination. You have to reconstruct a picture of the world in order to be conducive to the interests and concerns of the educated classes, and this involves a lot of self-deceit.
NC- NC: I mean, I think we all know from personal life, if there's something you want to do, it's really easy to convince yourself it's right and just. You put away evidence that shows that's not true…. it's self-deception but it's automatic, and it requires significant effort and energy to try to see yourself from a distance. It's hard to do.

In fact, you can see it very clearly by just comparing historical events that are similar They're never identical, but similar.
Take the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, Saddam's invasion of Kuwait and the US invasion of Iraq—just take those three. From the point of view of the people who perpetrated these acts, they were each a noble effort and done for the benefit of everyone—in fact the self-justifications are kind of similar. It almost translates. But we can't see it in ourselves; we can only see it in them, you know. Nobody doubts that the Russians committed aggression that Saddam Hussein committed aggression, but with regard to ourselves it's impossible.
I've reviewed a lot of the literature on this, and it's close to universal. We just cannot adopt toward ourselves the same attitudes that we adopt easily and in fact, reflexively, when others commit crimes. No matter how strong the evidence.
You have to carry out violent acts to maintain credibility, even if the issue is insignificant.”

Ratnasambhava, I would love to talk to your dad as I’m working on a series on mental illnesses. Patty thank you for your beautiful words. I’m deeply touched. Dara-its strange isn’t it that in our culture we are so formal with each other. My mom has only now started saying I love you to me-in my entire clan there are only a handful of parents who hug their kids. Mercifully the younger lot are doing it more frequently-so I’m not surprised that we hesitate to greet others. In this country perhaps the greatest positive thing is how Americans always greet you with a smile-it may be fake because they don’t know you-but its better than being aloof and shifty eyed. The warmth is even more in a place like Atlanta; southerners are known for their hospitality and warmth. I love being here and in Hawaii..that same warmth is manifested there.
Scott, that was horrifying and many incidents are on the rise. I think as a society we live on the edge only if there is fear and sensationalism.
North, thank you very much for your kind wishes. Sadly, the longer it takes the more cold the trail grows.
Jean Francois-my heart just melted reading what you wrote-very touched. Thank you also for your warm welcome everyone. I will try and be here more often. Work has just exploded for some reason as has travel..hence the long gaps..but the love remains..always..

Thank you melissa!

In my view, society needs to reconsider its priorities. Being a witness of life on earth; since my birth in 1956-I have seen so much change.

Lots of great changes for the better, and more convenient; but, always at a later cost...

Antibiotics was new in my childhood; now, only 50 years later; our children become immune...

Food additives, and colourants; were new in my childhood; now, they are the normal food-staple of our children's diet--children are obese, depressed, having allergy reactions to everything produced, to the air, and they are lethargic of ambition and without proper supports, guidance and attentive nourishing of their spirit.

Their "structure" of growth has changed negatively since my childhood "ways" of outdoor street sports in the neighbourhood and block parties of music, hotdogs and corn on the cob; where parents were attentive, active, and content

There were always bullying back then too; but, authority was respected; only when the authoritarians earned the respect from their charges(children in their care.)

But, what we see now; are abuses in all sectors of the "providing" system--which isolate children, introverted from a life-time of animation, fantasy, "organised" reality tv(worst thing to ever happen to tv)and kill, kill, kill blood-stained videos; and women-scorned, kill-bill trilogies...

I'd turn back time to the 60's if I could...

before plastics consumed our cupboards and closets and foods

before microwaves were invented(which in my opinion are hazardous and cancer-causing)and popcorn was burned on the stove in a cast-iron big pot, then poured into a big paper grocery bag; where after lots of butter was melted in the burned pot..was shaken in the bag of hot popcorn, and dished into smaller paper bags, or bowls!!(nothing like it)

before convenience took over, from quality

before accountability of product and offices of government, took an obsolete course towards non-accountability

oh dear.. I am reminiscing..you know you are getting older, when...we start reminiscing, about days of "old."

Miss, you simply impress me. You express something that I thought I was alone to think about:

"
“NC“ One of the most important comments on deceit, I think, was made by Adam Smith. He pointed out that a major goal of business is to deceive and oppress the public.

...And one of the striking features of the modern period is the institutionalization of that process, so that we now have huge industries deceiving the public—and they're very conscious about it...

...when it was recognized that enough freedom had been won that people could no longer be controlled by force. So modes of deception and manipulation had to be developed in order to keep them under control."

...And by now these are huge industries. They not only dominate marketing of commodities, but they also control the political system.

Throughout history it's been mostly the property holders or the educated classes who've tended to support power systems. And that's a large part of what I think education is—it's a form of indoctrination.
" - Kavita Chhibber

Superb Kavita!

If you wake up enough, you will understand that these words are human-tsunami-change.

(click my name to feel the power-change)

Hello Jean Francois-the paragraphs are excerpts of an interview with Noam Chomsky and Robert Trivers. I think every leftist or leftist in the making will resonate with those words. I think the more I research the more I see things that are hidden from the general public in any political system-or any system for that matter-be it the corporate world(Enron-Nortel and the debacle of other prominent corporations who fiddled with their numbers) the health care industry(cant wait to see Michael Moore's new documentary) and anything where power or profits come into play.
North thank you for your thoughts-and all that you have pointed out.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Dear Kate,

I want to

fall
|
|
|
|
|
in
|
|
|
|
love

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Hello Kavita,

I admire your work... You reach a sensitive cord inside myself. So great to feel that again.

If -WE- wake up enough, -WE- will understand that these words are human-tsunami-change.

Sorry for the mistake. For sure I was not pointing that remark at you Kavita. My bad english says things that I do not mean sometime.

I wish you a great weekend too!

"“If we bring the simple process of meditation into the lives of both adults and children, you will see a marked decline in violence"

I am not fully convinced. In India, we have meditating, violent prone, violence inciting sadhus, samis, leaders. A mechanical view of meditation as a panacea for everything is immature and is quite naive.

Jean-Francois,
I have shed some tears tonight, for someone I care for is ill.

There is space within your picture,
for two
to
embrace
....

'with you'
Josh Groban

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYpqFnYpjag&mode=related&search

can you hold me close
in your thoughts
tonight,
and in your arms
tomorrow ....

with you
~ Kate

Jean-Francois,

Very nice graphics in #21! An original of yours?

Btw, you sound different to me as of late.
Have you had some sort of revelation?
I hope no one has stolen your identity.

Whoever you are, please continue to be someone new every day.

You cannot get stuck in any one place in particular.

There is 'no such thing'. Godspeed to the un-thing!

.

Twisters and tornadoes are my lot for the day.
They land willy-nilly where they please,
picking up Dorothy's, only to dissapate
upon reaching The Land of Oz.

Now open the veil, Mr. Wizard, and let us see who's in there.

For Kate: The M Path

.

Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks

"Cry Out"

.

Crying out loud and weeping are great resources.
A nursing mother, all she does
is wait to hear her child.

Just a little beginning-whimper
and she's there.

Cry out. Do not be stolid and silent
with your pain. Lament,
and let the milk of loving flow into you.

The hard rain and the wind
are ways the cloud has
to take care of us.

Dear Kate. Thank you for the video.

Blossom by Tagore

Tears are no shame.
It is the tears of the earth that keep her flowers blooming.

With Peace and Love, Melissa

Hi Kavita,

I've been thinking about you and it was good to read your post. Your message about reconnecting is an important one. Awareness is critical, especially when things seem to be falling a part. Those are the times it's easiest to become cynical or to lose hope. Yet what I've observed within myself is that indulging in feelings of hopelessness or becoming overly cynical are just another way for me to feel sorry for myself. They are just another way for me to buy into the illusion that I am powerless.

Sadguru is right. Introducing and encouraging meditation can make a big difference. Something as simple as meditation could change the world.
Meditation without tying it to a doctrine or a person. Meditation simply for the purpose of remembering, reconnecting with the stillness and essential goodness in us all. Not goodness that says I am better or pretends to be holy. Goodness that sees God everywhere. But we don't need to call it God or goodness. We can remain quiet. The awareness will follow us into the world and one day all of our actions will mirror our deepest truth.

I think the trouble so many of us have is that we are looking in the wrong places.

Love, Kristin

Dear Kate, Keith, Melissa, Kristin,

This time the revelation is coming from you!

Kate, why are you so sad?

hmmmm... am I too much monologist? Stuck in observation only?

Next:
Confession: Chopra Alter-Ego

dearest Melissa, Keith and Jean-Francois,

The tears can't stop just now....

He cannot make it through the injury,
and slowly soon
his breath
will
cease

he is not alone

and the smile
the friendship
his gentle ways

I will remember

and
cherish

with love

~ Kate

Dear Kate.. walking with you in the spirit of comfort and peace; I am so sorry for this grief before you...)))HUG(((

Dear Kavita

Your blog is the most well-rounded one I've read anywhere on this issue. It is simultaenously humane, compassionate, realistic, pragmatic and spiritual. It brings relief and healing just to read it, yet it shies away from nothing. Thank you for writing it, and for the thought and feeling that preceded the writing.

love, Heath

I agree with Kavita & Kristin! Meditation / yoga are the only solution to come out of this mess.

I agree with Kavita & Kristin! Meditation / yoga are the only solution to come out of this mess.

Dear North,
I feel your warmth, and I thank you for the embrace.
Now is the time
to celebrate
a wonderful life
a gifted person
a joyful friendship.
with love,
~ Kate

Dear Kate... may comfort and joy be with you all; as life is celebrated; where memories are then immortalized in our hearts; and they are then, never to be forgotten...

love and blessings,
North

Dear Kavita...you are connected to so many stories of sadness, death, disease; and I am glad you are able to meditate for peace... did you start the practice at a young age?

with loving kindness,
North

Dear Kate, and Naj, I wanted to start with a response to you both.
Dear Kate, sorry I have been away this entire weekend, and have just sat down to work. My prayers and love and best wishes are with you in this difficult time. I like to believe that when we leave this planet we are in a better place..that leaving this body is just another step in our journey of many dimensions. Yet the memories and bonds of love that we create with others on this earth, bring tears of joy at the remembrance, and tears of sorrow at the parting. But you are such a sensitive, beautiful soul-I know if anyone can feel the presence of those who leave still in her life, it is you.
May God give you the strength to bear with this loss and may the memories keep you warm. I know the intent family loves you very much, and their prayers and love are embracing you deeply on cyber space and I’m among them.

Dear Naj, you said, “I am not fully convinced. In India, we have meditating, violent prone, violence inciting sadhus, samis, leaders. A mechanical view of meditation as a panacea for everything is immature and is quite naive.”

I think a violent saint is an oxymoron in itself isn’t it?

Meditation and looking inwards has no religion, and doesn’t require sadhus and swamis to show you the way. It has been scientifically proven that yoga and meditation remove the toxins created by stress hormones that lead to anger, resentment, fear and other imbalances. In fact the UN and WHO have embraced Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s sudarshan kriya and it has also been introduced in Hawaii’s most violent prisons and people have testified that the most violent prisoners have calmed down. Sadhguru has done that in jails in Tamil Nadu with equal success. That is one aspect that may go a long way when combined with other things to create a better world. I think Kristin has described it much better than I could. Thank you Kristin.

Here since you mentioned India, I would like to talk about an interview I did with Kiran Bedi, India’s supercop and first woman police officer. She told me that she introduced Vipassna meditation in India’s most formidable jail Tihar, along with other reforms and that resulted in a drastic change in the personalities of the prisoners which in turn directly affected their families when they left the prison. Tihar jail began to be called Tihar ashram. I have not seen any swami worth his salt who is revered by millions in India and abroad ever advocate violence. Whether it’s Sadhguru, or sri sri, or amritanandmayi or karunamayi ma or even the head of the swami narayan organization,or Guru Ramdev- everyone talks about world peace. I personally feel we become angry and violent when there is an imbalance between our inner and outer world-and also when there is greed and avarice. A calmer detached way of looking at things always helps in a positive way and yoga and meditation is a great start. Thank you for sharing though-its disturbing to know that there are people who call them selves enlightened beings but advocate violence-and more that they may have people who practice what these men preach.
North you are right-society does need to change its priority and it has to start at the top. As to your other question, I was part of a school system where yoga was taught on a regular basis through High School. I didn’t practice it regularly until a few years ago I started getting severe bronchial infections and would be bed ridden for weeks..it was pranayam that really helped and ever since I don’t even take flu shots..The day I don’t do my practice, I am very lethargic and unfocused.
Jean Francois what a beautiful image, and thank you for thoughts. Heather I’m very touched by your words. They elevated my writing to a much higher place than I deserve to be. Thanks Rohit.
Love to all.

Thanks for answering my question Kavita. You are one of the rare contributors whom do regularly; and I admire this; which must impede your free-time...

I used to meditate in the 70-80; having learned it in the late 60's during the "peace and love revolution." Got into Tao, Buddha, Maharashi Yogi(deep appologies if misspelled) and eventually, Deepak, way back when...

The past few years, I have been trying in vain to untangle my troubles; that I cannot achieve a full, good mediation where one feels at one with ALL... I used to be able to very well...also using breathing control, to the point; I could control it very low, etc..in that state..one feels like the blood-flow... anyway; I keep trying to regain the ability to meditate well.. as I know the benefits are tremendously remarkable. First, I must learn again, to completely quiet my mind....

I think yoga and mediation should be offered right from pre-kindergarten.... we nurture almost everything for/about a child..except their minds and emotions... hmmm..strange thing really.

Dear Kate, i have a candle burning in honour and celebration of your loved one... please keep warm by its light of peace, and tranquil comfort...

much love, from me and mine; to you and yours!
North

Kate...in your post, you said it was time to celebrate a wonderful life...

posted this design on my blog 2 days ago...

how sync... offered with love and blessings

http://xs115.xs.to/xs115/07191/celebr.life.dds2.jpg

Dear Kate,

Didn't come here over the week end and am sorry to hear about your friend and your sorrow.

I know words are often inadequate but I pray you derive comfort and strength from the empathy and love of so many friends here at IB.

love,
Dara

Hi Kavitha,

thanks for the reply.

FYI, here is Yogi his name is Yogi Aditynath (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aditya_Nath)

His worth: has been elected thrice to the Indian Parliament and he is the current Mahant or Head Priest of Gorakhnath Mutt.

Recently, this Yogi was in news again. In the recently held election in UP, the Priest of the makeshift temple in Ayodhya, Shri Baba Satyendra Das, tried to contest with muslim and hindu support. He said in an interview that he was threatened by the above Yogi for keeping muslim support.

Tihar: Do you have any statistics? Such as how many prisoners went thru Yoga, how many have changed their life and in what ways?

Dear Dara,
It is hard, this kind of shock, of not being prepared ... to hear ...

He had taken the bike path that traverses along the river, and into the wooded shading of pine and cypress trees.
He fell - something fell him, and
it was a little while before someone came to help him.
By then, he could not recover.

I believe, Kavita, like you - that memories have a special way of enriching our lives - my life - and I always bring those moments into the present, so that I can indeed celebrate, because ... it is tempting to despair ... the challenge becomes how to manage the hurts and sorrows that appear, that wound us, me - and still keep the heart open.

Dear North,
The celebration pictures are lovely. I like the lips within the flower petal, and of course, the romantic sketch of girl and boy gazing upon a flower-filled canvas of sky. You are very good with your eye to see the dance, the beauty the inter-mingling of nature, and life, and what makes this world so amazing - Love.

Dara, I come to the well of IB, where the water is cool and refreshing, and I never leave without feel nourished in some way, dearest.

With love,
~ Kate

Dear Kate... always with you in spirit and comfort.

Much love, prayers and blessings,
North

Dear Naj,
I did a google search on the Mahant and I'm not surprised he is from the BJP. For me its very disturbing because my dad and his family and I have grown up being loved by muslim families that lived close by and that has continued to this day. I guess he is neither a holy man nor a saint..and I think the onus for abetting and aiding someone like him lies firmly on the shoulders of those members of the Hindu community who are a part of his scheming and planning.
As long as we remain slaves to a religious bigotry, there will be no peace on earth..

As for Tihar jail-here is the link to my interview with Kiran-http://www.kavitachhibber.com/main/main.jsp?id=kiran_bedi

hopefully that will give you an idea.
Dear Kate very sorry to read about the circumstances that led to the tragedy. I guess maybe we need to do many activities like these in groups even though its not always possible unfortunately. I guess I'm a bit of a fatalist-when your time has come there isnt much you can do..my prayers and love to your friend's family and you.

Dear Kavitha,

so those from BJP will be violent prone, even if they meditate? :)

I am sure you know about Dheerendra Brhamachari, who tutored Indira Gandhi on meditation and yoga and he used to conduct TV programs in early eighties. Before his death in a helicopter accident, he was running an arms factory.

Thanks for the link. I am not negating the benefits of meditation altogether. It is just that a mechanical view of meditation as a solution for all violence does not make full sense to me.

Dear Naj,
I think bigotry and violence exist across the board but often when there is violence or some fundamentalist talk the RSS and BJP seem to show up. I wonder why. I'd love to see some study done on the effects of yoga and meditation on them:)

I have met Dhirendra Brahmchari many times as a kid. He was always surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women, and his gun factory was in my home town of Jammu. There are however hundreds of people and some close family friends and relatives who swear by the healing power of the yogic practices he taught at his ashram. I remember my own aunt was very sick and she stayed there for a month and came back cured.

I dont think Sadhguru implied that yoga and meditation is the be all and end all-he felt it could be one of tools to improve our well being and in reducing violence. The mind body connection is an established fact, may be it will help in making people react less intensely to the negative situations and thoughts that they are confronted with which make them react negatively and at times violently.
Personally I have definitely seen that in myself. I react more calmly to things when I'm practicing yoga and meditation and seem to have a lot more energy even when I'm sleep deprived.
I seem to be more lethargic and cranky the days I dont practice it. Btw have you ever tried it?
best
Kavita