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This reading is coming at an apt time when I am on the Laddership circle ME-WE-US. I was one of those folks who was all about the new bride and making her "become" the best partner. I took it upon myself to find the "gaps" the "lacks" and fix them - unasked for. I also wanted to be the first to acknowledge the positives and compliment at every opportunity. Until a couple of years later, we decide to do all learnings together. Even if one of us was great at it (Racquet Ball, Tennis, Dancing, Skiing ). That changed it. almost immediately we started reading books, watching movies, going hiking, attending seminars as US. Everything totally changed. Gradually I realize, my partner was actually the catalyst and I was thinking I was the enabler. One such activity we took together was to start meditation and stay on the same path as ONE and inspire, motivate and nudge each other to never leave this as an experiment until it became the very anchor of our lives today. Rest as they say...is history! Yes, being on the same path, having to take out the thorns along the way, sharing shades and shadows and still appreciating that on the same path each of us have our own journeys makes it an adventure that never ends. Joy is the experience, destination unknown.

Amazing submission....Service in anonymity is the ultimate service. Dear Sister, I do not know you, nor am I assuming it is addressed to me. Yet, all I can say is like many, I care and am willing to listen.

In the context of my Heartfulness Meditation practice, this reflection becomes even more personal. Heartfulness specifically emphasizes the "light in the heart" and the thinning of the ego-structure, which aligns perfectly with "un-plugging" from the evolutionary interface. Heartfulness practice serves as a practical laboratory for the FBT theorem. By consciously suspending the "evolved drives" of the ego and the senses, you are thinning the veil of the biological "map." This allows for a "clearer window" into a reality that is spaceless, timeless, and non-dual—a state that science is only now beginning to describe through the language of physics, but which the heart has been exploring for millennia.

This resonated quite deeply with me...as a matter of fact, I was with my spiritual master recently in India. Within seconds of our eyes union, there was a deep sense of love and gratitude followed with a personification of humility. I sent out a silent prayer from the core of my heart and wondered what enabled it? Is it His presence? Was it my joy? Was it all about the heart and its condition? No sooner had my thought left my scope of consideration, He sang two lines, a couplet of a song and everything seemed to get the answer. In that silence san a description, something magical was enabled that left a lasting resonance in our hearts. I am sharing those two lines and its meaning herewith. Dil men kisi ke pyaar ka jalata hua diya Duniya ki andhiyon se bhala ye bujhega kya? A lamp of someone’s love burns within the heart — Can the storms of the world ever extinguish it? Saanson ki anch pa ke bhadkata rahega ye Sine men dil ke saath dhadkata rahega ye Fed by the warmth of breath, it will keep glowing brighter; It will keep beating within the chest along with the heart. Hope it resonates like it did with me - just two lines and a profound connection. May such a flame of love always burn in all.

Krishnamurti’s inquiry into why the mind is not free is deeply resonant. Yet, from the perspective of Babuji Maharaj, there is a further subtlety. Often, the very movement that seeks freedom—however noble—still arises from the mind’s restlessness and sense of incompleteness. When freedom is no longer sought, defended, or asserted—when even the urge to be free subsides—something deeper opens. This is “freedom from freedom”: a state where observation is no longer an act of will, discipline is no longer effort, and conditioning loosens naturally through inner orientation rather than struggle. In such a state, the mind does not claim freedom; it simply ceases to bind. Jiddu-ji emphasizes clarity. Babuji emphasizes surrender to the subtlest Source. They are not opposed—Babuji’s view is almost like a postscript written in silence.

This is a topic very dear to my heart though I believe I am still a work in progress. Last year I lost my dad at 90. If one were to reach out to his peers and his friends group, he would clearly be recalled for his humor and wit. He always tried to make any situation funny and the very basis of a conversation. I also noticed that it was more in the presence of strangers or not-so-regulars or his best buddies from his youth. I have since noticed that folks that are always joking, taking any situation lightly and finding humor even when the joke is on them, seem to be always happy, joyful and in good health. I guess laughter indeed is a good preventative medicine.

Profound reflection. When you see it from Mother Earth perspective, there is yet another reflection I got. Much like the Gaia Prayer - Find a place outside, place your bare feet upon the earth, raise your hands to the sky and recite the following: Earth, Terra, Gaia! Mother of All, Giver of Gifts and of Life, I offer all of my prayers to thee, my respect and gratitude, and may this be a conscious oath to protect you and to honor you as I recognize the great need for your healing. May your fields be rich and your soil fertile, and may they be sown and reaped with care. May your mountains attest to your splendor and strength and your valleys hum with the lullaby of your receptive embrace. May your oceans, waters, rivers, and glaciers be pure and nourishing as the life-blood of the planet. May your air be clean and free of toxins that all may breathe deeply and fully the great life-force. May your turning invoke an understanding of all cyclical things in nature; of growth and decay, of planting and harvest, of karmic cycles and that as we give, so do we receive. May your children learn to care for you and love you, and to teach their children the same. You are the Earth, and I am your child. “SO IT IS!”

Lovely piece sister Menka. "Pause for Poise". In this attention economy with social media grabbing all the eyeballs, it is important for us to know the importance of attention and in a way ration it before we spend it on any grabber. As Samuel Johnson said, "The true art of memory is the art of attention." We better be aware what we want to remember and hence what we need to pay attention to. Respond v/s react to any situation or incident or 'attention grabber'.

Yes. This is THIS Simplicity that is said to be the highest form of sophistication. And it IS possible to unleash one's highest potential and remove the limitation of capacity in humans.

This article is very timely- not intended to play on the word time. Yet, absence of anticipation and being is one of the most precious gifts for anyone to be in tune with nature. It feels like creation has a message for us, from the falling leaves to the gentle breeze and the songs of the birds....if there is expansion of consciousness in a human mind, it is at this moment. Unfortunately, we make complex objects of meditation as a practice and forget to just be with an open heart. Nature reveals, consciousness expands!

This reading is loaded!!! Like all journeys inner and outer, there comes a time when one does all to prepare, set off and be part of a journey and yet, along the way becomes the observer and starts relishing the moments - the expected and the unexpected encounters with other "soul" or "lives" we have and realize that as much as the purpose of the journey was getting to the destination, all the lessons and retained wisdom of letting go descended along the way, during the journey. The place where it all got tucked away was not the mind but the heart. It is the guidance from there that we get to realize the very notion of ending a journey is all but a miniscule part of the REAL JOURNEY our souls are on......to reach HOME and be part of the cosmos - all inclusive in their own manifestations.

Life takes us thru phases I think. Youth creates a sense of urgency to get to a place, achieve something, reach a pedestal and in the process just not enjoy the process. Stamina over speed, observation over look, wonder over delight, pause to create poise. At this stage, when we learn to enjoy every step of the walk, take in the nature we enjoy it more for soul and body nourishment rather than just an exercise to stay fit. Similar is a road trip, Take stops to enjoy and observe changes in landscapes, weather, vegetation rather than drive to the destination in record time only to miss the tree in pursuit of the forests, miss being the drop that has the potential to become the ocean

The clincher for me was the last line. ..and the witness we forgot was listening. " This one is loaded. When you approach something as sn observer rather than a participant, the notion of not knowing seems to back away with your observation. Then. The activity also appears like having been undertaken before. QBQ here is, is that why when one becomes conscious of an observer or of your own observation, the activity no longer is natural and stops being as effective.

Another lovely choice. The knowledge of Science and the wisdom of Spirituality behooves us to appreciate everyone's perspective. Context always adds its own dimension. When the whole play of the world is in the heart-mind region and not just mind or just the heart region, when in doubt almost always, the heart never lets you down, Now, that might not be the most popular or obvious outcome one expects, but when in doubt - trust your heart - the very seat of wisdom. Is it not quite ingtersting that centuries ago, Science and scientists were trying to get endorsement from the Churches for their findings and in the current era, religious and spiritual spirants are asking for scientific evidence - prove meditation can help calm your mind, avert stress, feel the presence of THE FORCE within etc., When the world accepts their complementary role, we will have a wiser world - pure, simple and in tune with nature.

"Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha" is the sutra of sage Pathanjali - Essentially introducing the concept of becoming a witness, arriving at a state of choicelessness and overcoming the fluctuations in the mind. Just be a witness and do not judge anything you come across when you meditate. Pema has nicely highlighted the three simple guidelines. Often times, a practitioner or a seeker tends to forget that meditation leads to concentration. Effortless focus is another way to explain the process. Observer approach lets us overcome attachments too and gradually develop a practice of observing the thoughts that emerge as passing clouds.When we meditate on something as subtle as our breathe or source of light and love -all are bestowed with, the process easy and natural. Very useful template for an aspirant.

This one has Rumi touch to it. I felt it all thru the read. “In your light I learn how to love. In your beauty, how to make poems. You dance inside my chest where no-one sees you, but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art.” The word I picked for this week was "convivial". Secret of being in the moment, spontaneity, synchronicity with nature are yet to be fully understood by humans..but we have all taken the first steps...reaching passages such as these and reflecting is also part of that journey. Many thanks for sending this our way to reflect and share.

Ah! like nectar is this passage. A very wisely interpreted and articulated one from the Ashtavakra Gita. Initially it is about the Drishta, Drishya and Darshana and gradually, you take the position of a Saakshi and all that happens is witnessed with a "saakshi bhaava" without attachment whatsoever. That exalted position as said, is truly worth the pursuit and within everyone's reach.

Self awareness, Conscience and Independent Will are some of the most significant endowments Humans have. When it is exercised by always adding "pause" and "poise" before we act, decide, commit or respond. Pause helps us shift from our mind to our heart, poise lets us say "NO" unless there is a bigger "YES" burning inside us - both helping us with the "memnoon moment' since riding on the wheels of pause and poise is the vehicle of compassion and love!

At the outset when I read these lines, my mind started working on it. Just as the word gives power to the one showing it and taking power away from the person receiving it - the very word MERCY like any other word that gives power and takes it away seemed very odd and uncomfortable. I am yet to meet a kind person who has said to me, I was merciful or I showed mercy on the poor thing..etc., Yet, it is a powerful word to reflect for sure. In our day to day activities, unbeknownst to us, we get presented with several situations that will call for us to show it - when no body is watching! What is natural to all human hearts is compassion and love. Mercy is a manifestation of those qualities. A personal story that comes to mind is when we were having lunch in the backyard and a kite dropped a lizard it had in its claws I suppose. It fell inches from my daughter. Shining blue scales and amazing creation was helpless and probably as hurt badly. No CPR if possible could probably have saved it. I took the position of an observer to see my compassionate offspring spring into action. In no time, she picked a large leaf, put the ailing lizard on it and moved it to a place where she could rest, not be found and maybe find something to nourish it. We saw it change positions for the next few hours and into the night. Options were many for my daughter, she could have taken the "yuck" route as she was eating her lunch, or just disposed it in the garbage assuming it was dead. however, to give it priority over her lunch and pay full attention with love and care to something that was at a point of no return - I felt was much more than mercy. It did stir something mellow in my heart and gave me a feeling of "All is well for the future, life will be good, kindness has a future." Meditation and self compassion practices help me practice mercy. My practices are all heart based and moves me from thinking to feeling and from feeling to being - being to becoming - becoming love, bec... [View Full Comment] At the outset when I read these lines, my mind started working on it. Just as the word gives power to the one showing it and taking power away from the person receiving it - the very word MERCY like any other word that gives power and takes it away seemed very odd and uncomfortable. I am yet to meet a kind person who has said to me, I was merciful or I showed mercy on the poor thing..etc., Yet, it is a powerful word to reflect for sure. In our day to day activities, unbeknownst to us, we get presented with several situations that will call for us to show it - when no body is watching! What is natural to all human hearts is compassion and love. Mercy is a manifestation of those qualities. A personal story that comes to mind is when we were having lunch in the backyard and a kite dropped a lizard it had in its claws I suppose. It fell inches from my daughter. Shining blue scales and amazing creation was helpless and probably as hurt badly. No CPR if possible could probably have saved it. I took the position of an observer to see my compassionate offspring spring into action. In no time, she picked a large leaf, put the ailing lizard on it and moved it to a place where she could rest, not be found and maybe find something to nourish it. We saw it change positions for the next few hours and into the night. Options were many for my daughter, she could have taken the "yuck" route as she was eating her lunch, or just disposed it in the garbage assuming it was dead. however, to give it priority over her lunch and pay full attention with love and care to something that was at a point of no return - I felt was much more than mercy. It did stir something mellow in my heart and gave me a feeling of "All is well for the future, life will be good, kindness has a future." Meditation and self compassion practices help me practice mercy. My practices are all heart based and moves me from thinking to feeling and from feeling to being - being to becoming - becoming love, becoming compassion and kind.[Hide Full Comment]

As the saying goes, the process of dying starts the moment your are born. How, when and where are probably the only aspects left for others to discover. That said, it is my hope that the answer to these questions lie in the realms where science and spirituality can collaborate. Science with deep rooted spiritual values can address the first question to a large extent and some to the second one. Spirituality and its understanding through compassion, kindness, sharing, giving and enabling will certainly address a part of the second and make the third group enablers. Just as the spider uses what is within it to weave a web, we humans should go deep within and will find values of sharing, giving, loving and kindness. It is this essence alone that will be possible. United initiatives of any kind should not be mistaken as a way to bring different faiths together, but connecting human hearts under a common canopy or shelter of compassion and sharing so as to bring some aspect of equanimity in this world of ours. May this vision get closer to realization as we are at the threshold of 2022.