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We, as human beings, are looking for truth, love, compassion and forgiveness. How can we attain strength , courage, and patience for attaining such attributes? According to my understanding it requires, patience, compassion and kindness. We all love to have such wonderful qualities in our life. Wishes are not enough. We need to invest our energy, have patience and courage to attain such qualities. We do need proof to show it. Truth, love, and forgiveness are self evident. Such inner qualities do not need any proof. Living such inner qualities in our daily life reveals the truth. It is evident in my personal life. It takes time, passion, patience and compassion to attain and preserve such qualities. As we say "Rome was not built in a day." As we know, building an inner bridge that unites us doesn't happen in a day. It takes time. But once we build such an inner bridge we can walk on it and help others to walk on it. If we all make sincere efforts to walk on this bridge life becomes a joy to sing. May we all follow this path to make this world safe, peaceful and fulfilling. Namste. Jagdish P Dave.

According to my understanding there are two faces of honesty. One honesty is with myself and the other is honesty with others. If I am not honest with myself how can I be honest with others? I find it is relatively easy to be honest with myself. It is relativly difficult for me to be honest with others. There is a fear lurking behind not telling the radical truth. In relationships the fear is about hurting people close to me will abondon me. I go through internal and external fear cycles which will drain my enrgy. When I was a child it was relatively easy for me to tell the truth. As I was going through adolesence it became realtively more difficult for me to behave truthfully. I was going through fear cycles. The fear was of abondoment. As I was growing up I came to realize that the people who love me unconditionally will not abondon me. They will be with me, they will compassionately empathize with me. Slowly and gradually I came to realize that true love liberates me from my self-created grief cycle. It's up to me to act wisely and end the cylce of emotional ups and downs. When I was a child my father used to sing a song in Hindi: Utha jaga musafir bhore bhahi aba rain kahan tak sovata hai. Jo sovata hai vo khovata hai jo jagata hai vo pavata hai. O traveler! Wake up. How long will you continue sleeping? Those who wake up reap the fruits of awakening. And those who are sleeping lose the fruits of awakening. O traveler! Wake up, don't keep on sleeping. With warm and loving regards. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave PhD, PsyD

I like this poetical writing written by Lariv Athem. This writing begins with a question "What would you like" and ends with the same quetion "What would you like?" According to my understanding, we keep our mind and heart open to receive wonders of the world. I was born by the union of two loving and caring parents. Unconditional love creates union between two people regardless of apparent and outward differences. When we engage with others with a loving heart life flows like a river. Outward differences do not create walls beween two people. Walls are created by this way of thinking and living. Instead of divisiveness, true love creates and sustains union between people. We need to generate, cultivate and sustain such union between people of different caste, color, creed, ideas and status. Following this path is essental in the world we live in. Sadly the world we live in is highly divided by political, social, ideolgical, and economic, caste and clolor differences. When I was a child my father used to sing a song in Hindi: Utha jaga musafir bhore bhai aba rain kahan tak sovat hai! Jo jagat hai vo pavat hai jo sovat hai vo khovat hai. O traveler, the morning is dawned. How long will you sleep? One who gets up gets blessings, one who keeps on sleeping is losing everything. I sing this song every morning. It keeps me awake. When we awake there is nothing to lose. When we keep on sleeping we lose everything. I am very grateful to Lariv Athem for offering such a preciou gift to us. May we wake up from darkness and wake up and be grateful to the light coming from within. Namste! Jagdish P Dave, Phd, PsyD

Thanks David for your comment. Jagdish P Dave

The opening sentence of this passage authored by Darlene Cohen is very helpful to me to understand the paradoxical nature of my pain. There are two ways of dealing with pain: accepting it mindfully in its most intimate sense rather than rejecting or denying it. In my relatively long life ( I am 101 years old ), I have learned many lessons of living mindfully. When I experience pain I accept it unconditionally, mindfully, let it come and let it go, not rejecting or denying it. Accepting pain unconditionally, and going through it without complaining about it has been very helpful to me. I recognize my pain, go through it mindfully without grumbling, complaining and judging and doing whatever I can to reduce it. I get a lot of support from my family and friends. Denying, suppressing and repressing my pain doesn't help me. I try to understand my pain, what causes it, what sustains it without judging it and letting it come and let it go. This way I feel less pain. Accepting my chronic pain, going through it mindfully and doing what I can do it to reduce it is the way I deal with it. I do not accept the proverbial saying "No pain, no gain." There are ways of knowing and dealing with pain. According to my experience, being mindful of the pain and going through it unconditionally and compassionately is very helpful to me. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave PhD, PsyD

In different spiritual practices, runs a common thread, the thread of unconditional love. Unconditional creates oneness, union between two different human beings. Outward differences melt away creating divine oneness, where Two becomes One, divine union. Such a divine union brings two different persons together in spite of apparent and outward differences. It is an experience of divine oneness. Our mind is usually filled with different sounds and noises. We hear such sounds and noises even between two people who have been together for a long time. Such noises create walls of separation and disrupt the flow of love. The rate of divorces has been increasing causing pain and suffering. It is time for us to wake up and make every effort to build the bridges of unconditional love and positive regards. This is hard work. We need to wake up. If we do not wake up, we all will suffer more creating deep wounds in our lives. There is beautiful song in Gujarati, my mother tongue. Utha jaga musafir bhore bhai aba kahantaka sovat hai. Jo sovata hai vo khovata hai. Jo jagata hai vo pavata hai. Wake up oh taveller! Morning has arrived and you are still sleepmg. One who is awake obtains many gifts and one who is sleeping loses everything. I am grateful to get such a wonderful gift, the gift of Awakening. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave

It seems to me that we are looking for truth, love, joy or peace and fulfilling relationships from outside of us. It comes from within. We tend to forget that what we are looking for is right in front of our eyes.There is a beautiful saying in Sanskrit ''Tad dure tad antike." What seems to be far is right now in front of me." We live in illusion. There is a beautiful poem that conveys this truth. A musk deer wandering on the Himalayan mountains is searching for the enchanting fragrance he is smelling. The deer travels here and there . He is looking for the source of the fragrance. The deer does not know that the fragrance is coming from his navel center. Sadly we get tired of looking for the fragrance from outside. We need to open our eyes to see that joy, happiness and love come from within. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave

I love reading this thought provoking article written by Rev. Stephen Lewis made me think on the serious and profound question of what causes suffering in life? Suffering is universal. Nobody can escape from suffering. There are different kinds of suffering: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual-wholistic suffering. Nobody can escape from suffering. How we deal with it is an important question. Do I face it? Do I escape from it? Do I deny it? We all suffer and we all have to face it. If I suppress it or repress it it will bounce back with greater pain. The alternative is to accept it and work through it in the wholesome way. Accepting my suffering unconditionally and working through it makes me wiser and stronger. Denying my suffering will continue my suffering or will increase my suffering. Choosing the wise way will reduce my suffering and will fill the cup of my life full. This is my experience. I am grateful to my parents for teaching me such a lesson in the early phase of my life. Life is a blessing or a curse. It's up to me to make a wise choice. We all can make the right choice that will enrich our life and the lives of others related to us. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave

We like to be educated. Education is not only gathering information but education is for transformation, moving from darkness to light. Education enlightens us. Education expands and deepens our consciousness. How we use our knowledge is very important to me. Knowledge is like a double edged sword. A sword can protect us or it can kill us. It requires discretion. How we cultivate such discretion is very important. Otherwise the sword which is supposed to protect us may kill us. I am a lifelong student and a lifelong learner. I love to learn new things and I love to share my learnings with others. Offering my knowledge to others as a gift fills my heart with joy and gratification. I have been both a teacher and a learner. I was blessed to have great teachers in my life. I am very grateful to them for offering me such precious gifts. I value these gifts. They were great teachers in my life. I have also learnt to be my own teacher. Self- learning is very important to me. I may forget what I learned from others. I am a life-long student as well as a life -long learner. The roots of what I have learned by myself go deeper and deeper and I am very happy to serve people and share my significant learnings with others. To me life is like a banyan tree. It is deeply rooted in the ground offering blessings to oneself and to others unconditionally. May we all become such a banyan tree providing shade to us as well to the world at large! Namste. Jagdish P Dave

There are times when I need to make important choices in my life. If I make a wrong choice it affects not only me but other people in my life. How I make wise choices is very important to me. It is not always easy to make wise choices. There have been times in my life when it was difficult for me to make the right choices. When I make a wrong choice it hurts not only me but also people connected with me. This is a great dilemma for me. I believe in telling the truth. Telling the truth is like a two edged sword. It hurts me and creates wounds and hurts the person whom I love. Normally I do not encounter such situations. But there are times when I run into such situations. I believe in telling the truth even though it may cause emotional pain in me as well as in others close to my heart. Truth indeed triumphs, not lies.-Satymeva jayate na nrutam. Following the truth is not always easy. We need to be aware of the wrong direction we are travelling. We need to be aware of the wrong direction we are taking and have courage and tolerance to drive our life in the right direction. That is the mark of living wisely. People choosing the wise path with such a clear vision liberate themselves from going on the wrong path-Satyameva jayate. Truth indeed triumphs. Inner light indeed shines and helps to show us the right path. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave

All of us are endowed with energy. How do we use our energy is crucial. We may use it wisely or unwisely. We may have a sword in our hand. The same sword either can protect us against our enemies and save our life or hurt us if we do not use it wisely. There is a wise saying in Gujarati, my mother tonge "Whicharine yar ucchara vani. "Think before you speak." The words we say can heal or hurt the other person. Discretion is very important in saying before saing.. It is like energy. How we use our energy is very crucail. We all encounter difficulies in our life. As we say life is not a bed of roses. There are times I have gone thorugh very difficult times in my relatively long life. There were times when I did not have enough enery in my body, mind and heart to function effectively. I believe in a holistic way of living. We have a body which requires food, air, water, movement, shelter, and rest. If I do not use these God-given gifts wisely, I cause problems not only for me bur also for others around me. Creaing , enhancing and sustaining energy is mostly in my hands. I need to be aware of and mindful about using my energy wisely. Living with awareness and mindfulness has been very helpful to me for living holistically. Namaste. Jagdish

We have all kinds of relationships. Some are superficial and some are deep. Cultivating authentic and profound relationships is based on reciprocity. Blossoming realtionships requre unconditional love, empathetic understanding and postive regard. It reqires time to cutivate unselfishness and patience. It takes time for fostering profound and authentic relationships. When I think of cultivating realationship with people close to me an image of a banayan tree comes to my mind. It takes time for the tree to grow. Seeds of the tree slowly and gradually ripen and become a blossoming tree. Such a tree provides shelter and shade to others with no expectaion of a reward in return. I was born in a relatively poor family but the hearts of my parents were rich. They enriched our lives with no expectation in return. They offered their unconditional love and spiritually enriched our life. We learned a valuable lesson: By giving, our life is spiritually enriched. Namste. Jagdish P Dave

I am deeply touched by reading this poem authored by Marian Wright Edelman. We all have God given gifts. And I offer my gift to those whom I serve. As I was growing up I used to listen to my dad chanting in Sanskrit - Ishavasyam idam sarvam yet kinchit jagatyam jagat, tena tyakten bhungithaha ma groudham kasyaschit dhanam. This universe is pervaded by the Divine treasure. You enjoy the treasure by serving others. Don't covet for wealth that belongs to others. And here is the paradoxical truth:It's by giving we receive. Aging does stop me from serving others. I an one hundred years old child of God. And I am doing whatever I can to serve others. I will continue walking on this path as long as I can. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave

I love this passage authored by a Buddhist monk Ajahn Brahm. I read and reread this passge with deep interest and curiosity. Human beings are relational beings. We are born out of realtionships, raised by relationships and thrived by relationships. How do we initiate, enrich and blossom our relationships is of great significance to us. Sadly, the divorcerate is increasing causing grief, pain and unhappiness, deep sadness and many other problems in the world we live in. Marraige is a very special relationship. Marraige brings two people together. How to cultivate harmony between two persons who love each othere is a challenge. Each person has his or her likes and dislikes that can create divisiveness and rift in their relatioship. How to maintain and enrich their relationship is a challenge in marriage. And the challenge becomes bigger when a new life shows up. This is a joyful challenge. It reqires letting go personal agenda, transcend selfinterest and willingly let go of barriers that block each other's growth and development. There is a word, "advaita "in Sanskrit language. It means not two. In loving relationships. there is no divisiveness. There is "oneness" in "twoness". In such relationships we willingly let go I, Me, and Mine and become "one" with the other. We transcend manmade barriers and we create and nurture harmonious and joyous connection with people we love. We go from "Me" to "We." We cultivate "oneness" in "manyness". This is a challenge for all of us to make this world a better and a safer place to live in. Let us join hands with each other to make this world an abode of peace, joy and happiness. Let this be our call. I invite you to follow it joyfully and peacefully. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave

There are three worlds we live in:intrapersonal , interpersonal,and universal. In the intrapersonal world my focus is I, me and mine. It is a phenomenal world. It changes. It is not centered. It changes according to changes taking place in my life. It is like a tree . It grows. It is changing according to the seasons. If the roots of my life tree are strong, it can remain solidly and steady rooted and provide shelter not only to me but also to others connected with me. Daily practice of nonjudgemental mindfulness helps me deepen and expand my consciousness. It enriches my life as well as the lives of people connected with me. What helps my tree of meditation grow? Like a tree, it requires water, sunshine and caring coming from my heart. Living this way the tree of life blossoms and unconditionally provides shelter, nourishment, and encouragement and support to others. As an Upanishidic rishi, sage, chants in Ishavasya Upanishada :" Ten tyaktena bhunjithah, ma gridham kasyaschit dhanam "-Rejoice by giving up! Easy to say, difficult to practice. Walking on this path less travelled is difficult to follow. It is worth following. It is a journey from "Me" to "We". Following this path leads us to unitive consciousness. This is the path I follow and following this path I feel at home. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave

My Reflections: We have a network of relationships. In this poem Stephen Levine writes about a sacred relationship in which there is an unexplainable yet profound connection with a sacredness within us. The foundation of a sacred relationship is pure unconditional love. We love for the sake of loving others with no personal and selfish agenda. In the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna asks his devotee Arjuna to act with no selfish agenda , but with a pure loving heart , with no expectation in return. It is called Nishkama Karma yoga. This is my path which I follow everyday. It bring My family was relatively poor, but rich in heart. We share with others unconditionally expecting nothing in return. It was a path of unconditional love and positive regard. And we walk on this path which brings joy and fulfillment. Walking on this path everyday makes me aware of the sacred within me. Daily practice of mindfulness meditation has helped me walk on the path joyfully. Following this path regularly makes me aware of the sacredness within me. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave

This beautiful writing by Ayla Nereo reminds me of the spiritual saying in Sanskrit Yatha drusti tatha Srusti. The world appears as I see it. It depends on how I see it. If my vision is clear, I see the world clearly. If my vision is clouded, I see the world clouded. If I lose my visionary capacity, the world looks dark. To see the world as it is, I need to clear my inner glasses. When I clear my inner glasses, the world appears clearly , as it is. No more projections, no more illusions. When my eyes are clear I see the world as it is. Clarity makes me free, free from the bondage which I myself have created. When I was 20 years old I fell in love with a beautiful girl who was younger than me. My love for her made me "blind" or truly speaking I blinded myself and emotionally hurt myself and her too. When I 'woke up' from my sleep of self-centeredness I realized how much grief I had created in her life as well as in my life. Life is a dance. How I dance is up to me. Taking a wrong step hurts not only me but also the person I dance with. How not to hurt myself and the others I dance with is a big challenge. I had to work on myself with awareness for some time to be free from my self-created prison. Now I am awake and aware of my self-created misery and causing misery to others connected with me. It is hard work. It is worth taking. It is a healing work. Awakening has helped me to make my life happy and joyful. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave Life is like a dance.

Freedom, awakening, inquiring , witnessing , fostering self-discipline, nonconformity, courage, forgiving and willingness to candidly inquire the causes of suffering and how to be blissful are the foundations for living wholesome life. J Krishnamurti presents such valuable ideas in his writings and talks. From his talks and dialogues I have learned many valuable lessons of living a wholesome life. A few years ago we- Vanleela, my life partner, I and my friend- Aniruddha went to Ojai, California to listen to J Krishnamurti's talk. I will never forget his presence and his words of wisdom. I have been teaching and counseling for many years. J Krishnamurti has played a very important role in my life as a person, as a parent, as a teacher, as a therapist. Be Yourself, live the Truth, love unconditionally, Listen to your inner voice and follow it. Like many other wise, candid and courageous teachers J Krishnamurti will always live in my heart. I will recommend you to read a short book, Think On These Things. Form a group to discuss this small book. I have done this and it was very helpful. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave

While reading this reflective and contemplative article by Mirabai Starr many VOWS passed through my mind and heart. Life is full of wonderment. Keeping my mind open, curious and nonjudgemental I see the inner world and the outer world naturally changing full of surprises and wonderment. Reading, hearing and reflecting on what I see, I experience wonderment of the phenomenal world. It is a changing world in shape, form, size and colors. There is something unchanging. What is that unchanging? Is there something unchanging? If so, what is that? I get a glimpse of light. There is something which is unchanging. What is that? Truth, love, kindness, empathy and compassion. It is Divinity. Divinity is our True Self. The body takes birth. It is born, it is sustained and when time comes it passes away. That is the REAL. That is the TRUTH. My father often used to tell us in Sanskrit: Satyam vada. Dhrmam chara. Satyan na pramaditavyam. Kushalan na pramaditavyam. Follow the TRUTH. Walk on the Path of TRUTH. I feel deeply grateful to my father for showing me how to live in this world. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave

The shift begins with a holy restlessness. When the "outer world no longer satisfies," it isn't a sign of failure, but a signal of readiness. Like a caterpillar that must stop eating to begin its transformation, we reach a point where more "devouring" simply feels heavy rather than nourishing. This exhaustion with the external is the very thing that clears the space for the "natural turning of attention inward." At 17 years, I found myself in the "hungry caterpillar" stage of life, consumed by a deep affection for a young girl. However, the rigid walls of caste and economic disparity stood between us, and our families' disapproval turned our connection into a source of profound emotional loss. When the outer world could no longer provide the path I desired, I was forced into a "natural turning of attention inward". I began to deeply examine my wishes, the obstacles before me, and the reality of their fulfillment. I faced the agonizing decision to leave my home in search of solace, weighing the heavy consequences of my own actions. To navigate the "darkness," I relied on the "light of awareness" found through mindfulness. By focusing on my breath, I learned to balance the tumultuous waves of emotion and negative thoughts. Through the difficult process of acceptance and reflection, I moved away from my mis-taken identity as a victim of circumstance. By eliminating the darkness of the external conflict, I arrived at a clearer "light of enlightenment," discovering the spacious and loving reality within. Let's all look at the light within - The Universal Light of Awakening. Namaste!