Here is a song I've written as a tribute to the Mumbai victims and for all the people of India, commemorating the solidarity and feeling of unity that emerged after the event. It's a first version that I did start to finish in about 3 days. I know there's plenty of scope for improvement, but I hope at least the feeling is conveyed.
You can listen to the song here on Radio Jiva.
Anekta Mein Ekta (Unity in Diversity)
Lyrics and Music by Steven Rudolph
December 2008
asksteve@jiva.com
So many people on the streets today
Raising their voices, we have something to say
People of every age and every faith were full of rage
But now we’ve finally learned turn the page
This is a brand new day
Satyam eva jayate (truth will prevail)
Ek hi hai (one indeed)
Ek hai hum (we are one)
Anekta mein ekta,
Anekta mein ekta
Ek hi hai
Ek hai hum
A billion pairs of ears have hear the cries so many lives
So many lies we’ve just refused to hear
A billion pairs of eyes look to the skies, we realize
There isn’t any need to fear
This is a brand new day
Satyam eva jayate
Ek hi hai
Ek hai hum
Anekta mein ekta
Anekta mein ekta
Ek hi hai
Ek hai hum
This is our chance to rise
A billion hearts, side by side
This is our moment to break free
Our fathers used to say
That we shall over come someday
And now celebrate that day is here
And now celebrate that day is here
Anekta mein ekta, Anekta mein ekta
Ek hi hai, ek hai hum
Copyright © 2009. All Rights Reserved
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Save the Gulf of Mexico: Go Veg!
The Discovery Channel website has an article explaining how America's consumption of meat could eventually turn the Gulf of Mexico into a "dead" sea. Here's a clip from the post:
You can read the complete article here.
There are many great reasons to go Veg (or to reducing meat in one's diet)--one being the positive effects on the environment.Gidon Eshel of Bard College at Simon's Rock in Massachusetts and Pamela Martin of the University of Chicago calculate that if Americans kicked their meat habit, it would prevent seven million tons of nitrogen from spilling into the gulf -- a reduction of nearly 90 percent.
"When we did the calculations, it was astonishing," Eshel said. "The main reason is we're feeding so much corn to livestock. It takes 4.5 times more cropland to do that than if you feed people a plant diet, and corn is so nitrogen-intensive."
You can read the complete article here.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
An Exam Tragedy
People's concerns about exam scores often reach the point of obsession. And often, it is only when we reach tragic extremes that we realize how incompetent we've been as parents, teachers, and administrators in helping our children keep the matter of testing in perspective.
Today I found this short article that I wrote last year about a school where I did a workshop. I never published it, and in fact had completely forgotten about it. As I reread it, I suddenly recalled reading a recent, horrible news story about the school and shuddered. Please read through till the end:
When will we realize we've gone too far with our obsession with exams? There are other aspects to life and lifeskills that are equally--if not more important. Had that girl, her parents, her teachers, and the principal realized so, she would still be alive today.
Today I found this short article that I wrote last year about a school where I did a workshop. I never published it, and in fact had completely forgotten about it. As I reread it, I suddenly recalled reading a recent, horrible news story about the school and shuddered. Please read through till the end:
I had an interesting experience today. I did a workshop for 50 teachers in a school in the NCR area. The institute is reputed for its student performance, with many children scoring very high marks on 10th and 12th class board exams. My workshop focused on my “The Laws of Learning”. Everyone was having a great time, especially when I was talking about the need to engage learners’ emotions. I gave examples of how you can use poetry or music the science class to teach the topic of “matter”.
However, one of the teachers stood up, and commented, “We’re not allowed to sing in our classrooms.” I looked at her with utter disbelief. “Really?” I asked. “Is it a rule?” (I thought she was exaggerating.) But other teachers were quick to validate her statement. They claimed, “No, no, our principle won’t allow it.” Though I still remained somewhat baffled, and not wanting to challenge an official order that they had been given, I got them to agree that it was still possible to do a science-related poem.
A short while later, I had them perform a few cooperative activities. They were completely engaged in interacting with each other, but after the activity finished, again came another dismissal. “Mr. Rudolph, I agree that these activities are beneficial for our students, however our principal would never allow it. They make too much noise.” Another teacher added, “Our principal demands pin-drop silence.” Then the complaints came like torrents of rain:
"Our principal wants only that our children get high marks on exams."
" Yes, by hook or by crook."
"He even demands that we beat them."
"The principal should be here in this training."
"Mr. Rudolph, you should make him agree to let us do these types of activities."
I must admit that I was in a bit of an awkward position. However, I encouraged them to do their best, and at least agree that they would give these new ideas a try—which they agreed to.
Many times parents and principals are quick to blame teachers for their lack of interest in teaching. But we need to realize that without the support of parents and principals, even those teachers who are interested to innovate and work with new methods are completely stifled. We have to stop pointing our fingers at each other, and instead, put the children at the center of the educational experience, and figure out what it is that we can all do to create the most creative learning environments for them.The news item I recalled was from some months back. It reported that a student from this school committed suicide after receiving low exam marks.
When will we realize we've gone too far with our obsession with exams? There are other aspects to life and lifeskills that are equally--if not more important. Had that girl, her parents, her teachers, and the principal realized so, she would still be alive today.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Ayurbaby Update
Six weeks ago I blogged about our Ayurbaby in residence. Here is an update of 3-month old Aditya, who continues his Ayurvedic regimen, and in the photo below is pictured receiving his weekly baby massage.
It's good to be an Ayurbaby.
It's good to be an Ayurbaby.
JIva Newsletter on Ending Terrorism
If you haven't subscribed to the Jiva Newsletter yet, you can do so here. This issue focuses on the Vedic perspective of terrorism. Some really interesting stuff, so make sure you check it out.
The free e-newsletter appears monthly and each issue contains:
The free e-newsletter appears monthly and each issue contains:
- An Ayurvedic article
- An Education article
- A Culture/spirituality article
- Ayurvedic remedies
- An Ayurvedic disease in focus
- A health case study
- Parenting tips
- News about Jiva activities
- and more
Sunday, December 14, 2008
ADD / ADHD Program from Jiva
Many people have been contacting me over the past few months about providing a solution for their children who have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. The stories and case histories I'm reading are shocking as much as they are saddening.
ADD and ADHD cannot just be explained away as natural, biological disorders. They are conditions created by improper diet and unnatural ways of living. People often find solace in the allopathic perspective of these conditions, as it excuses them from poor lifestyle practices and provides a quick-fix solution that pacifies their kids for the short-term. They then unwittingly perpetuate behaviors and consume foods that compound the problem, resulting in further disorders that require stronger doses and that lead to drug dependency and serious, serious side effects. The cycle is indeed vicious.
To address this alarming problem, Dr. Chauhan and I have teamed up to create a natural solution that that draws from Ayurveda, Yoga, and Vedic discipline. We're running a pilot right now that appears very promising. It includes holistic lifestyle practices, balancing diets, breathing exercises, meditation, and therapies such as oil massage. Not only will this help parents achieve results naturally, it will save them huge amounts of money. A year's supply of Ritalin for one child can cost $2400 per year!
It's an exciting new program, and I'll keep you up to date on the developments.
ADD and ADHD cannot just be explained away as natural, biological disorders. They are conditions created by improper diet and unnatural ways of living. People often find solace in the allopathic perspective of these conditions, as it excuses them from poor lifestyle practices and provides a quick-fix solution that pacifies their kids for the short-term. They then unwittingly perpetuate behaviors and consume foods that compound the problem, resulting in further disorders that require stronger doses and that lead to drug dependency and serious, serious side effects. The cycle is indeed vicious.
To address this alarming problem, Dr. Chauhan and I have teamed up to create a natural solution that that draws from Ayurveda, Yoga, and Vedic discipline. We're running a pilot right now that appears very promising. It includes holistic lifestyle practices, balancing diets, breathing exercises, meditation, and therapies such as oil massage. Not only will this help parents achieve results naturally, it will save them huge amounts of money. A year's supply of Ritalin for one child can cost $2400 per year!
It's an exciting new program, and I'll keep you up to date on the developments.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Conference on the Textbook Culture in India
Arun Kapur and the Learn Today company organized a conference yesterday on the Textbook Culture in India. Over 100 principals and educators from the NCR area came to hear about a dozen people talk about their perspectives on the textbook and its role in education.
After an elucidating introduction by Arun (hoping to see his talk posted online!), Krishna Kumar, Director of the NCERT spoke about some of the challenges his organization faces not just in creating textbooks, but in inspiring innovation. Following him, MM Pant, Director of Planet Edu India, spoke about the death of the textbook as we know it, especially in a highly networked world--that the textbook can be one tool, but that learning now has to take advantage of the power of technology.
Interestingly, both Krishna Kumar and MM Pant concurred that the main challenge lies not in the creation of new textbooks, but with the teachers who have to implement them. Mr. Kumar expressed his regret that we are no longer attracting good teachers into the field of education, listing sundry reasons why, including poor pay. Mr. Pant agreed with Mr. Kumar to an extent, offering a more optimistic perspective--that indeed teachers might not be up to the mark at present, but that education will soon see a rebirth, where teachers have to become celebrities along the lines of Bollywood heros. For this bit of vision he received a generous round of applause.
As someone who has created over 70 textbooks (which I feel are highly innovative), I can offer dozens of stories of how teachers have, more often than not, been the point of limitation.
What I have come to learn this:
Problem: Not everyone has an Educative Nature. We must do a better job of identifying those that do, and guiding them into the teaching profession. The problem is that to date, there has not been a clear model or tool to help people do this.
And here are my solutions to the problem:
Solution A: My Multiple Natures model (a corollary to Gardner's Multiple Intelligences theory), which identifies 9 human tendencies (Protective, Educative, Administrative, Creative, Healing, Entertaining, Providing, Entrepreneurial, and Adventurous). A brief explanation of the theory is here: www.multiplenatures.com. This model can help us more easily differentiate those who have a strong Educative Nature from those who do not.
Solution B:We have created a free online test at www.whatsmynature.com that helps people (especially students) identify their Multiple Natures in just 7 minutes. The site then makes appropriate career suggestions (including many professions in the teaching line).
My belief is that future dynamic teachers already exist. The problem is that they themselves might not realize their potential as educators, or that their parents are unwittingly pushing them into other professions. My hope is that the Multiple Natures model and the What's My Nature test can help us find these potential super-teachers, groom them, and get them into our classrooms for the benefit of the future generation of learners.
After an elucidating introduction by Arun (hoping to see his talk posted online!), Krishna Kumar, Director of the NCERT spoke about some of the challenges his organization faces not just in creating textbooks, but in inspiring innovation. Following him, MM Pant, Director of Planet Edu India, spoke about the death of the textbook as we know it, especially in a highly networked world--that the textbook can be one tool, but that learning now has to take advantage of the power of technology.
Interestingly, both Krishna Kumar and MM Pant concurred that the main challenge lies not in the creation of new textbooks, but with the teachers who have to implement them. Mr. Kumar expressed his regret that we are no longer attracting good teachers into the field of education, listing sundry reasons why, including poor pay. Mr. Pant agreed with Mr. Kumar to an extent, offering a more optimistic perspective--that indeed teachers might not be up to the mark at present, but that education will soon see a rebirth, where teachers have to become celebrities along the lines of Bollywood heros. For this bit of vision he received a generous round of applause.
As someone who has created over 70 textbooks (which I feel are highly innovative), I can offer dozens of stories of how teachers have, more often than not, been the point of limitation.
What I have come to learn this:
Problem: Not everyone has an Educative Nature. We must do a better job of identifying those that do, and guiding them into the teaching profession. The problem is that to date, there has not been a clear model or tool to help people do this.
And here are my solutions to the problem:
Solution A: My Multiple Natures model (a corollary to Gardner's Multiple Intelligences theory), which identifies 9 human tendencies (Protective, Educative, Administrative, Creative, Healing, Entertaining, Providing, Entrepreneurial, and Adventurous). A brief explanation of the theory is here: www.multiplenatures.com. This model can help us more easily differentiate those who have a strong Educative Nature from those who do not.
Solution B:We have created a free online test at www.whatsmynature.com that helps people (especially students) identify their Multiple Natures in just 7 minutes. The site then makes appropriate career suggestions (including many professions in the teaching line).
My belief is that future dynamic teachers already exist. The problem is that they themselves might not realize their potential as educators, or that their parents are unwittingly pushing them into other professions. My hope is that the Multiple Natures model and the What's My Nature test can help us find these potential super-teachers, groom them, and get them into our classrooms for the benefit of the future generation of learners.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Experts back brain boosters for the healthy
Today's Times of India has an article highlighting how certain "experts" are recommending allopathic drugs to boost the memory power in healthy people. (It was likely picked up from related stories on Salon.com and Newsmeat.)
Drugs like Ritalin are being used by college students to help them concentrate while preparing for exams. And some professionals are using these "pep pills" to give them an extra boost at work where concentration is required. A moral angle is being discussed (is it fair if one of three candidates in an interview takes the drug to boost her chances, or if an airline requires a pilot to take it to increase his concentration?). But what seems to be conspicuously absent from this discussion are the damaging effects of such drugs as well as natural alternatives.
The side effects of Ritalin? (from Drugfree.org)
We can't easily control the agenda of pharmaceutical companies who get rich by creating such dangerous designer drugs at the expense of our health. The "drug mafia" and their lobbies are indeed powerful, but they can only succeed as long as the public remains ignorant. It is here that the media can play an important role in creating this awareness. And lest reporters feel it's not newsy enough--take heart. There's also a relevant economic angle: Governments (and common folk as well) are looking to cut costs in various areas--especially in healthcare. Just see how natural remedies like these are a fraction of the cost of their harmful allopathic counterparts--in some cases 20-30 times cheaper! Thus, going green in this department will boost not only people's brain power, but also their savings.
Drugs like Ritalin are being used by college students to help them concentrate while preparing for exams. And some professionals are using these "pep pills" to give them an extra boost at work where concentration is required. A moral angle is being discussed (is it fair if one of three candidates in an interview takes the drug to boost her chances, or if an airline requires a pilot to take it to increase his concentration?). But what seems to be conspicuously absent from this discussion are the damaging effects of such drugs as well as natural alternatives.
The side effects of Ritalin? (from Drugfree.org)
Meanwhile, Ayurveda has numerous natural remedies to enhance memory and alertness. These include herbs like Brahmi and Shankpushpi that also stimulate the central nervous system, but, which do so with no side effects. The herbs can be taken easily in the form of tablets, powders, and syrups. There are also memory enhancing teas. These herbs are safe and effective for children, as well as for the elderly in treating problems related to mental acuity.
What are its short-term effects? Short-term effects can include nervousness and insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, palpitations, headaches, changes in heart rate and blood pressure (usually elevation of both, but occasionally depression), skin rashes and itching, abdominal pain, weight loss, and digestive problems, toxic psychosis, psychotic episodes, drug dependence syndrome, and severe depression upon withdrawal.
What are its long-term effects? High doses of stimulants produce a predictable set of symptoms that include loss of appetite (may cause serious malnutrition), tremors and muscle twitching, fevers, convulsions, and headaches (may be severe), irregular heartbeat and respirations (may be profound and life threatening), anxiety, restlessness, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions, excessive repetition of movements and meaningless tasks, and formicaton (sensation of bugs or worms crawling under the skin).
We can't easily control the agenda of pharmaceutical companies who get rich by creating such dangerous designer drugs at the expense of our health. The "drug mafia" and their lobbies are indeed powerful, but they can only succeed as long as the public remains ignorant. It is here that the media can play an important role in creating this awareness. And lest reporters feel it's not newsy enough--take heart. There's also a relevant economic angle: Governments (and common folk as well) are looking to cut costs in various areas--especially in healthcare. Just see how natural remedies like these are a fraction of the cost of their harmful allopathic counterparts--in some cases 20-30 times cheaper! Thus, going green in this department will boost not only people's brain power, but also their savings.
Touching Testimonial
We often get letters of thanks from people who benefit from our services, but this is one of the most touching testimonials ever. It is from a young Indian man who has been watching our TV show Jiva Ki Paatshala, and who has done the What's My Nature test on our site www.whatsmynature.com. (The message was posted to the WMN Discussion Board).
If you haven't taken the What's My Nature test yet, please be sure to give it a try: www.whatsmynature.com. And don't forget to share it with your friends, family, students, etc. Also, do tune in to Jiva Ki Paathsala daily. Timings are here along with some online episodes.
| Subject: Appericiation message Posted By : Ratnadeep G. on 12/7/2008 2:44:02 PM | |
| Namaste Steve, Your work is amazing,fantastict,A GIFT TO ALL MAN KIND,for sure. I lost myself my carrer and 8 consicutive years of my life i.e after 12th i was hardly able to find an exact carrer for myself and also a job,which ultimately left me go in deppression(retarded deppression daigonosed by my psychaiatrist). Somehow i have managed to get into BCA(Bachleor of computer application)course,by meeting a lot of astrologers to understand my nature my intrest areas and related topics.just because i was unaware of you and your work. I WANT TO THANK FIRST OF ALL YOU AND CARE WORLD CHANNEL AND OFCOURSE DTH SERVICE PROVIDERS,for takeing this big step, so that there will be no more Ratnadeep present in India atleast. I really have no words to thank the efforts and hard work of your team regards, Ratnadeep. | |
If you haven't taken the What's My Nature test yet, please be sure to give it a try: www.whatsmynature.com. And don't forget to share it with your friends, family, students, etc. Also, do tune in to Jiva Ki Paathsala daily. Timings are here along with some online episodes.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
HACCP Certification for Jiva
Congratulations to Madhusudan and Rishi Pal Chauhan for securing HACCP certification for the Jiva Pharmacy this week. HACCP is a quality standard for manufacturing, similar to ISO. Jiva now manufactures over 200 medicines and health-related products (which you can check out here), and ships them to over 100 countries worldwide. It's been our goal to keep true to the original formulations in the traditional Ayurvedic literature, and at the same time, ensure they conform to the highest standards possible.
Wikipedia describes HACCP like this:
Wikipedia describes HACCP like this:
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is a systematic preventive approach to food safety and pharmaceutical safety that addresses physical, chemical, and biological hazards as a means of prevention rather than finished product inspection. HACCP is used in the food industry to identify potential food safety hazards, so that key actions, known as Critical Control Points (CCP's) can be taken to reduce or eliminate the risk of the hazards being realized. The system is used at all stages of food production and preparation processes including packaging, distribution, etc. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) use mandatory juice, seafood, meat and poultry HACCP programs as an effective approach to food safety and protecting public health. Meat and poultry HACCP systems are regulated by the USDA, while seafood and juice are regulated by the FDA. The use of HACCP is currently voluntary in other food industries.So that's pretty big news. Nice going guys!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Alain Chevillat visits Jiva
We are pleased to have Alain Chevillat here with us at Jiva. Alain is the founder of Terre Du Ciel, an organization based in Bruailles, France, which organizes workshops and conferences related to life-wellness and spirituality. Alan is a remarkable person, who simultaneously radiates energy, intellect, accomplishment, and humility.
Each year thousands of people attend his events which are publicized by only word of mouth. In a country which tends to be cold toward concepts with a spiritual tag, Alain has found a way to bridge the gap between the rational and the metaphysical with his practical, down-to-earth approach. Speakers from all parts of the globe are invited to share their wisdom with groups ranging from a dozen to as large as 1000. All of this takes place at the organization's castle on 40 acres of natural beauty.
The seminar style emphasizes experience over hype. You will not find banners with the organization's logo; speakers do not carry notes; audience members do not clap after presentations. Alain explains the philosophy in a single, simple sentence, "We invite people to come and share what they know."
This past year, Dr. Chauhan and Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa delivered talks there. Alain has invited me to speak there next August on education, and has also invited Neerja to speak as well on education next Nov. in a conference for women. We'll keep you posted on this.
Each year thousands of people attend his events which are publicized by only word of mouth. In a country which tends to be cold toward concepts with a spiritual tag, Alain has found a way to bridge the gap between the rational and the metaphysical with his practical, down-to-earth approach. Speakers from all parts of the globe are invited to share their wisdom with groups ranging from a dozen to as large as 1000. All of this takes place at the organization's castle on 40 acres of natural beauty.
The seminar style emphasizes experience over hype. You will not find banners with the organization's logo; speakers do not carry notes; audience members do not clap after presentations. Alain explains the philosophy in a single, simple sentence, "We invite people to come and share what they know."
This past year, Dr. Chauhan and Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa delivered talks there. Alain has invited me to speak there next August on education, and has also invited Neerja to speak as well on education next Nov. in a conference for women. We'll keep you posted on this.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Amritsar Workshops on Careers / Multiple Natures
I just returned from a two-day trip to Amritsar, where I interacted with hundreds of teachers and students to discuss career planning. There were events in 5 schools (Springdales, Senior Study, Holy Heart Presidency, DAV International, and DAV Lawrence Road).
The teachers workshops were dynamic and energized, where I urged them to look beyond grades and the syllabus--to understand the unique personalities of each student, and to get back to the real purpose of education--identifying the natures of children and guiding and helping them achieve their potential in all spheres of life. I demonstrated how to use concepts in Multiple Intelligences (MI) and Multiple Natures (MN) as a basis for doing so.
But even more charged were the student sessions--90 minute programs with eager young guys and gals from Classes X-XII who are in the thick of preparing for board exams and deciding their career paths. I know kids--the last thing they want is to listen to some preachy adult spewing out vague platitudes about life. I walk into the room with a guitar slung over my shoulder, which tips them off that this isn't going to some run-of-the-mill counseling session. I then begin telling them when I was their age, I had a dream--of being a rock star. That I was in a band, and was sure I would be on MTV one day. (By this time, they are giggling like anything and I have their full attention.) I then explain how fate had a different plan for me, because I got a part time job as a teacher to pay the bills, and realized education was my calling. I use the MI/MN model to explain how even though my strongest MI is musical, my strongest nature is educative--which outshines my entertaining nature (but that I do keep a space for music in my educational pusuits).
Within an hour, all students understand the MI/MN model, and how it applies to them individually. They find out about Career Master and about the What's My Nature site, so they can immediately identify their natures and get some extra help from Jiva in the career planning process.
And before leaving, I finish with a few songs on the guitar. In these sessions in Amritsar, I performed "Allah Ke Bande", "No Woman No Cry", and my own rock version of "Sare Jahan Se Acha"(I thought a patriotic tune was important at a time like this)--and the kids really got into it. They asked for a Punjabi song, but I told them I'll have to prepare one for my next visit...
The teachers workshops were dynamic and energized, where I urged them to look beyond grades and the syllabus--to understand the unique personalities of each student, and to get back to the real purpose of education--identifying the natures of children and guiding and helping them achieve their potential in all spheres of life. I demonstrated how to use concepts in Multiple Intelligences (MI) and Multiple Natures (MN) as a basis for doing so.
But even more charged were the student sessions--90 minute programs with eager young guys and gals from Classes X-XII who are in the thick of preparing for board exams and deciding their career paths. I know kids--the last thing they want is to listen to some preachy adult spewing out vague platitudes about life. I walk into the room with a guitar slung over my shoulder, which tips them off that this isn't going to some run-of-the-mill counseling session. I then begin telling them when I was their age, I had a dream--of being a rock star. That I was in a band, and was sure I would be on MTV one day. (By this time, they are giggling like anything and I have their full attention.) I then explain how fate had a different plan for me, because I got a part time job as a teacher to pay the bills, and realized education was my calling. I use the MI/MN model to explain how even though my strongest MI is musical, my strongest nature is educative--which outshines my entertaining nature (but that I do keep a space for music in my educational pusuits).
Within an hour, all students understand the MI/MN model, and how it applies to them individually. They find out about Career Master and about the What's My Nature site, so they can immediately identify their natures and get some extra help from Jiva in the career planning process.
And before leaving, I finish with a few songs on the guitar. In these sessions in Amritsar, I performed "Allah Ke Bande", "No Woman No Cry", and my own rock version of "Sare Jahan Se Acha"(I thought a patriotic tune was important at a time like this)--and the kids really got into it. They asked for a Punjabi song, but I told them I'll have to prepare one for my next visit...
Random House to publish my book
I'm happy to inform you that I've just signed with Random House to publish my book, the Laws of Learning. Designed for parents, it provides guidance on how to help children achieve their potential in academic studies.
I've made a page for the LOL concept -- www.lawsoflearning.com and will post updates there.
The book should be available in the second half of 2009. Stay tuned for more!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Terrorist Strikes
Over the last few days, mails have been pouring in, asking us about the situation and how we are here at Jiva and what the situation is like in general. I would like to thank everyone for their concern and support at this very unfortunate moment.
First, we express our sympathies for those who have lost their lives, and to the families of the victims. A special respect and appreciation to those who fought bravely against the terrorists in this horrific ordeal. We also commend the journalists who worked diligently under dangerous conditions to keep the world informed about the events.
Here are some updates and thoughts related to many questions that have been asked:
First, we express our sympathies for those who have lost their lives, and to the families of the victims. A special respect and appreciation to those who fought bravely against the terrorists in this horrific ordeal. We also commend the journalists who worked diligently under dangerous conditions to keep the world informed about the events.
Here are some updates and thoughts related to many questions that have been asked:
- From the latest news reports the attacks and encounters have come to an end, with all terrorists either being killed or captured.
- There is no sense of sign of the situation escalating. It seems as this was a singly planned attack and that it is now over.
- All flights in and out of Mumbai are still suspended.
- There is a strong sense of unity among Indians. At the same time, there is a powerful feeling of outrage with people demanding accountability from the Pakistani government, as evidence shows the terrorists were trained in Pakistan.
- Top Pakistani leaders have been summoned to Delhi to meet with Indian leaders to discuss the situation.
- The election process is on in India, and a number of politicians from opposition parties are trying to politicize the event. Many people are condemning those leaders that are trying to gain mileage at a time like this.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thanksgiving
It's a day of mixed emotions today. While Thanksgiving is being celebrated in an economically-ravaged America, millions of people in India sit glued to their TV sets watching the today's terror attacks in Mumbai. God's name is surely being invoked on this day, perhaps more than usual.
Thanksgiving was a holiday that was meant to be thankful to God for providing us with prosperity. As I reflected on the economic and civil unrest that we are experiencing today, as well as on God's possible role in the situation, a quote came to mind: " You ask, 'In the Holocaust, where was God?' The question is 'Where was man?'"
God created a perfect world, with flawless laws of nature. However, in our own greed, we have egregiously exploited our environment and fellow man--and the karmic repercussions had to emerge eventually. Today, people might look to the heavens in their search for an answer to how their home was snatched from them, or why innocent people have become victims of terrorist attacks. But, as Neil Peart wrote in the Rush song Territories:
In an equally interesting article, David Hulme writes about the first American astronaut's return to earth, and how their belief in God was galvanized upon seeing earth from space. Yet upon their return, they realized what a mess man was making of the place:
Thanksgiving was a holiday that was meant to be thankful to God for providing us with prosperity. As I reflected on the economic and civil unrest that we are experiencing today, as well as on God's possible role in the situation, a quote came to mind: " You ask, 'In the Holocaust, where was God?' The question is 'Where was man?'"
God created a perfect world, with flawless laws of nature. However, in our own greed, we have egregiously exploited our environment and fellow man--and the karmic repercussions had to emerge eventually. Today, people might look to the heavens in their search for an answer to how their home was snatched from them, or why innocent people have become victims of terrorist attacks. But, as Neil Peart wrote in the Rush song Territories:
The whole wide word and endless universeDid you know that the popular notion of the original Thanksgiving being celebrated as a harmonious union of Pilgrims and Indians has been has been significantly romanticized by historians and teachers. Many of the early settlers arrived in the Americas knowing full well of the natives there, and with the intent of grabbing their land and riches. Check out this article Deconstructing the Myths of “The First Thanksgiving”,to read 11 myths about the holiday. Considering the complete disenfranchisement of the native Americans over the last two centuries, it seems as though the day should not be one merely of thanks, but also one of acknowledgment that the riches they enjoy today came at a great expense for an entire race of people.
Yet we keep looking through the eyeglass in reverse.
In an equally interesting article, David Hulme writes about the first American astronaut's return to earth, and how their belief in God was galvanized upon seeing earth from space. Yet upon their return, they realized what a mess man was making of the place:
They did not return to a place as beautiful as they had seen it from a distance. Once close enough, they could see the pollution and despoliation of the earth by man's hand. In orbit they could probably barely identify the countries where war was still raging. Once back on the ground they could see the violence on the streets.Perhaps its a good time for all of us to look within--to dig a bit deeper into our own souls for answers rather than appeal to God for answers. Vedic philosophy explains how we are each responsible for our own circumstances; it is our own desire and karmas that bring us into every new context. By looking into our own actions and misdeeds as individuals and communities--we will see how, through our own unbridled deisres and insensitivity, we have mistreated each other, animals, and the environment, and created these social and economic problems that are plaguing us today. In the process, we will also find that God has provided us with the wonderful capacity for humility, generosity, and empathy--the exact tools we need to create a true and lasting climate of peace and prosperity.
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Educator's Dilemma
You're a teacher who wants to educate kids about life. However the curriculum is rooted in materialistic ideals, and the management wants you to teach to the test. What do you do?
This was a question posed by a colleague, David Progosh, in August 2007. In my bid to find an answer, I asked Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa to provide some insight from a Vedic perspective. I conducted a brief interview with him, and received some very practical advice. (That's what I like about SND--his answers are always sensible and down to earth).
Among other things of interest, he predicts the US economic meltdown a year in advance.
Have a listen here on Radio Jiva!
This was a question posed by a colleague, David Progosh, in August 2007. In my bid to find an answer, I asked Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa to provide some insight from a Vedic perspective. I conducted a brief interview with him, and received some very practical advice. (That's what I like about SND--his answers are always sensible and down to earth).
Among other things of interest, he predicts the US economic meltdown a year in advance.
Have a listen here on Radio Jiva!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Weird Al's "Whatever You Like"
I am an unabashed Weird Al fan. Apart from his spectacular musicianship, his ability to observe and lampoon the absurdities of modern life are beyond compare. After more than 2 decades in the industry, Al is still the undisputed champ of musical parody.
This summer, rapper T.I. released "Whatever You Like", a song about his own extravagant lifestyle, where he lavishly spoils his love with an array of luxuries--cars, cash, tropical vacations, and so on. Some lines include:
If America is to get it's act together and come out of the recession, it would be wise for people to take a clue from Weird Al's wisdom. His recently released parody under the same name is making waves on the web. (The complete lyrics are here.) Below are a few lines, where Al outdoes T.I. by demonstrating the new-age man's feelings for his beloved through more modest means:
This summer, rapper T.I. released "Whatever You Like", a song about his own extravagant lifestyle, where he lavishly spoils his love with an array of luxuries--cars, cash, tropical vacations, and so on. Some lines include:
You know it ain't nothin' to drop a couple stacks on you...Gas up the jet? Hey, man, what the heck? What about Tom Friedman's "Code Green". I mean, this a serious breach of environmental responsibility! All joking aside, what's frightening is that this song (which music-wise is mediocre at best), was at number 1 for 7 weeks. It shows you where people's values are...
Five million dollar home, drop Bently's I swear
My chick could have what she want.
And go in any store for any bag she want.
I'll gas up the jet for you tonight
Baby, you can go wherever you like
If America is to get it's act together and come out of the recession, it would be wise for people to take a clue from Weird Al's wisdom. His recently released parody under the same name is making waves on the web. (The complete lyrics are here.) Below are a few lines, where Al outdoes T.I. by demonstrating the new-age man's feelings for his beloved through more modest means:
Tater tots, Cold Duck on iceI'm not alone in my opinion that the song is superior than the original. The music is exceptional and worth listening to again and again even if just for the melodic value. The parody serves as an additional kicker. On top of this, if you read into it (as I'm prone to do), you'll discover the meaningful message behind the irony--that luxury is not defined by a brand name or fiscal excess, but rather by your valuing what you have. Whatever the case, I'm sure Tom would approve.
And we can clip coupons all night
And baby you can have whatever you like
I can take you to the laundromat downtown
And watch all the clothes go round and round
My chick can have want she want
At Wal-mart she can pick out anything she want
And you can always ride the city bus
Got a stack of tokens just for us
Yo, my wallet’s fat and full of ones
It’s all about the Washingtons, that’s right
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Jiva Logo gets HOT
In my last post I wrote about the Class VI students and their "symbol" project. This morning they were to come to my office at 8am to tell me what the Jiva logo meant. I suddenly realized this morning that I had a teacher training session. OK, no problem. I used it as an opportunity to host a joint learning session.
There were 7 teachers and 6 students.
I did a recap with the students about our previous day's discussion on the symbols of the Indus Valley civilization. As I walked them through the summary, I pointed out side by side to the teachers how I was making use of HOTS (higher order thinking skills). HOTS refers to deep level thinking--not just asking fact-based questions--that is meant to get students to think actively and critically. It is a slap in the face of teaching methods that require students to memorize, especially without really understanding what they are memorizing.
In 1956, Benjamin Bloom devised a taxonomy of educational objectives that demonstrate the hierarchical levels of such thinking. In my impromptu, self-commentated class, I demonstrated each level, along with the questions I had been asking the students (or was planning to ask):
(from lowest to highest)
1. Knowlege - What is a symbol? Give an example of a symbol.
2. Comprehension - What does this symbol mean?
3. Application - Come up with symbols that match different feelings (e.g., strength, grace, power, hard work, etc.)
4. Analysis - Why do you think we used the Lotus/Chakra for the Jiva logo? Why do you think the people of the Indus Valley civilization used those particular symbols?
5. Synthesis - What symbol would you use to represent yourself? Or, imagine you were a (clothing designer, furniture maker, etc.). What logo/symbol would you use?
6 Evaluation - Given an example of any symbol: Do you think this symbol is appropriate for this purpose? Why or why not?
Most teachers do not venture beyond questions related to knowledge or comprehension. However, as you can see, things start getting interesting only after these two levels. They unlock the imagination create the potential for all sorts of learning opportunities to happen.
The teachers gained quite a bit from the session--and I think the students enjoyed the experience (especially witnessing their teachers as learners). In the end, we did achieve our objective of exploring why Jiva uses the Lotus/Chakra symbol, but it seemed like the session today wound up being about a lot more than that.
There were 7 teachers and 6 students.
I did a recap with the students about our previous day's discussion on the symbols of the Indus Valley civilization. As I walked them through the summary, I pointed out side by side to the teachers how I was making use of HOTS (higher order thinking skills). HOTS refers to deep level thinking--not just asking fact-based questions--that is meant to get students to think actively and critically. It is a slap in the face of teaching methods that require students to memorize, especially without really understanding what they are memorizing.In 1956, Benjamin Bloom devised a taxonomy of educational objectives that demonstrate the hierarchical levels of such thinking. In my impromptu, self-commentated class, I demonstrated each level, along with the questions I had been asking the students (or was planning to ask):
(from lowest to highest)
1. Knowlege - What is a symbol? Give an example of a symbol.
2. Comprehension - What does this symbol mean?
3. Application - Come up with symbols that match different feelings (e.g., strength, grace, power, hard work, etc.)
4. Analysis - Why do you think we used the Lotus/Chakra for the Jiva logo? Why do you think the people of the Indus Valley civilization used those particular symbols?
5. Synthesis - What symbol would you use to represent yourself? Or, imagine you were a (clothing designer, furniture maker, etc.). What logo/symbol would you use?
6 Evaluation - Given an example of any symbol: Do you think this symbol is appropriate for this purpose? Why or why not?
Most teachers do not venture beyond questions related to knowledge or comprehension. However, as you can see, things start getting interesting only after these two levels. They unlock the imagination create the potential for all sorts of learning opportunities to happen.
The teachers gained quite a bit from the session--and I think the students enjoyed the experience (especially witnessing their teachers as learners). In the end, we did achieve our objective of exploring why Jiva uses the Lotus/Chakra symbol, but it seemed like the session today wound up being about a lot more than that.
Indian Symbols / The Jiva Logo
A group of 6 students from Class VI spilled into my office during their lunch break today. Each of them was armed with posters they made featuring symbols used in India during the Indus Valley civilization. Their subject teacher thought I would be interested to see the creative work that they did.
Indeed I was. After appreciating their work, I began asking them lots of questions--what were these symbols? Who made them? Why do you think they made them? Some of these queries seemed to escape them...so I tried to contextualize things a bit.
I asked them what a symbol was, and after a while they agreed that it was some pictoral/graphical representation of something. I gave some examples of symbols--including alphabets (symbols for sounds) and numbers (symbols for quantities of something). We pulled out a newspaper and began scouring it for other symbols. We found an ad published by the government of India which bore the Ashoka emblem, and I asked what it represented? "Lions represent power, courage, and kingliness". They got that easily. But what about the pillar...hmmm, that was a bit tough. I told them to turn their bodies into pillars--and they stood erect, tightening all their muscles..."Ah, strength and straightforwardness!". We continued our exploration finding all sorts of symbols of in the paper, and around my room on books, trophies, and electronic gadgets, and did a similar study on each.
I then pointed to their sweaters and asked them what symbol was there. "The Jiva logo," they replied. I asked them to analyze it--what is it, what does it represent, etc. "A flower." Yes, but which? "A lotus." Correct. But why a lotus? And it also represents something else--a chakra. "Yes, yes, it's a chakra too." But why a chakra? (Puzzled faces on the verge of an explosive Aha moment.) But waiiiiiit!! Don't tell me now. I want you to think about it. These are your homework questions...
So the group is coming to meet me tomorrow 8.00am with their analysis. In addition to telling me about the Jiva logo, they will then address the first question I asked, "Who made those ancient symbols and why." Let's see what our Junior anthropologists turn up tomorrow morning!
Indeed I was. After appreciating their work, I began asking them lots of questions--what were these symbols? Who made them? Why do you think they made them? Some of these queries seemed to escape them...so I tried to contextualize things a bit.
I asked them what a symbol was, and after a while they agreed that it was some pictoral/graphical representation of something. I gave some examples of symbols--including alphabets (symbols for sounds) and numbers (symbols for quantities of something). We pulled out a newspaper and began scouring it for other symbols. We found an ad published by the government of India which bore the Ashoka emblem, and I asked what it represented? "Lions represent power, courage, and kingliness". They got that easily. But what about the pillar...hmmm, that was a bit tough. I told them to turn their bodies into pillars--and they stood erect, tightening all their muscles..."Ah, strength and straightforwardness!". We continued our exploration finding all sorts of symbols of in the paper, and around my room on books, trophies, and electronic gadgets, and did a similar study on each.
I then pointed to their sweaters and asked them what symbol was there. "The Jiva logo," they replied. I asked them to analyze it--what is it, what does it represent, etc. "A flower." Yes, but which? "A lotus." Correct. But why a lotus? And it also represents something else--a chakra. "Yes, yes, it's a chakra too." But why a chakra? (Puzzled faces on the verge of an explosive Aha moment.) But waiiiiiit!! Don't tell me now. I want you to think about it. These are your homework questions...
So the group is coming to meet me tomorrow 8.00am with their analysis. In addition to telling me about the Jiva logo, they will then address the first question I asked, "Who made those ancient symbols and why." Let's see what our Junior anthropologists turn up tomorrow morning!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Add Life to Your Style!
When people ask me what Jiva is, I often refer to our slogan: We're an organization that helps you "Add Life to Your Style". Sometimes they pause and say, "Wait, don't you mean add style to your life?"
That's exactly my point. Today's world has become overrun with style. Designer clothes, cars, homes, foods, gadgets--people have become so caught up in brands and consumerism that they are missing out on the essential stuff of life. So Jiva's thought is that we don't need to help people add style to their lives (they've already got enough of that). What folks could use is a little more stamina in their step, solace in their sleep, wow in their work, pleasure in their play, and so on.
Browse through our site to see different ways that we fulfill this goal. In addition to our existing courses, workshops, and products, we'll be adding lots of new content and programs on our website in the coming months. These include:
So stay tuned. Check back frequently so we can help you find lots of ways to add style to your...wait, no...I mean, Add Life to Your Style. Right!
That's exactly my point. Today's world has become overrun with style. Designer clothes, cars, homes, foods, gadgets--people have become so caught up in brands and consumerism that they are missing out on the essential stuff of life. So Jiva's thought is that we don't need to help people add style to their lives (they've already got enough of that). What folks could use is a little more stamina in their step, solace in their sleep, wow in their work, pleasure in their play, and so on.
Browse through our site to see different ways that we fulfill this goal. In addition to our existing courses, workshops, and products, we'll be adding lots of new content and programs on our website in the coming months. These include:
So stay tuned. Check back frequently so we can help you find lots of ways to add style to your...wait, no...I mean, Add Life to Your Style. Right!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Cleaning the Senses
Here's a nice tip from Dr. Chauhan that I picked up from the Radio Jiva interview I did with him last week. It's called "Cleaning the Senses".
In the morning, after waking up, part of our routine for getting ready includes an amount of cleaning. The two key aspects of this process include brushing our teeth and bathing. However, Ayurveda has a different perspective on morning hygiene: it instead suggests that we "clean our senses". This includes cleaning:
Ayurveda (and Dr. Chauhan) assure us that when we clean our senses, they will automatically be drawn to sattvic things--i.e., those things that are good, clean, healthy, and beneficial for keeping our minds and bodies balanced.
Give it a try, and let me know how it works!
In the morning, after waking up, part of our routine for getting ready includes an amount of cleaning. The two key aspects of this process include brushing our teeth and bathing. However, Ayurveda has a different perspective on morning hygiene: it instead suggests that we "clean our senses". This includes cleaning:
- The Eyes - after waking splash water into the eyes. You can do this by leaning over the sink, cupping the hands, filling them with water, and making gentle upward tosses.
- The Nose - you can do so simply by blowing out gently from the nostrils. (The night before you can put a drop or two of almond oil in each nostril and inhale it deeply. This lubricates the nasal passage and pacifies olfactory nerves.)
- The Tongue - after brushing your teeth, you can clean the tongue by using a tongue scraper. This removes toxins (ama) from the tongue.
- The Ears - Clean the ears gently with an ear bud. (The night before, you can take a cottonball soaked in seasame or mustard oil and put it in the ear overnight).
- The Skin - Bathe in water that is neither too hot or too cold. Be sure to natural, herbal cleansers. Avoid chemical based products. (You can do an oil massage with natural oils 1-3 times a week to nourish the skin).
Ayurveda (and Dr. Chauhan) assure us that when we clean our senses, they will automatically be drawn to sattvic things--i.e., those things that are good, clean, healthy, and beneficial for keeping our minds and bodies balanced.
Give it a try, and let me know how it works!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
My Morning Session with Students
Just about every morning, I start the day at Jiva Public School with a student interaction session from 8-8:30am. This is what it looks like across my desk.
Because I don't teach regular classes, this is a way for me to stay connected with kids. I have a lot of fun talking with them about all sorts of topics. I usually let them pick the topic--today, these three 5th graders picked "careers" (not surprising, as this has been a hot topic at Jiva recently). And so we talked about Multiple Intelligences and Multiple Natures and different job types that require strengths of different types. I was impressed with how curious and articulate they were--we really had a lot of fun and 30 minutes just went like that.
Because I don't teach regular classes, this is a way for me to stay connected with kids. I have a lot of fun talking with them about all sorts of topics. I usually let them pick the topic--today, these three 5th graders picked "careers" (not surprising, as this has been a hot topic at Jiva recently). And so we talked about Multiple Intelligences and Multiple Natures and different job types that require strengths of different types. I was impressed with how curious and articulate they were--we really had a lot of fun and 30 minutes just went like that.
Can Everyone Be An Einstein? (Creativity)
Times Online has an interesting article entitled Can Everyone Be an Einstein, about the location of creativity in the brain, some myths about creativity, and techniques which can be done to improve it.
Here's a quote from the article:
Here's a quote from the article:
In fact, the whole process seems to be centred on one small part of the brain: the anterior superior temporal gyrus. This seems to be the point at which bits of information stored far apart in the brain are brought together. This may be an important clue as to how the brain organises itself. But it's only the beginning. At Goldsmiths College in London, Dr Joydeep Bhattacharya says the real issue is not the 'Aha!' moment itself, but the way it is produced in the brain and how we recognise it. 'We need to know the brain processes involved, to find how this moment is strong enough to reach consciousness. We know insight does not come from the sky.' This is the problem with all neuroscience. We don't really know what we are seeing.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Radio Jiva / Consumption Interview
I'm happy to announce we've added a new section to our site: Radio Jiva. This section will contain audio files with interviews and lectures related to Ayurveda, education, and spirituality. Here, we invite you to "Listen to Your Inner Beat".
The first show is a Skype interview with Dr. Chauhan about the current economic crisis and the link to its cause: Overconsumption. I did the anchoring (my first go at it), with me in Faridabad and Dr. C in France.
In the 25-minute interview, Dr. C discusses the root cause of over-consumption, it's negative effects on the body, mind, and soul, and simple solutions at each level to help you keep balanced in a world which screams at you to buy more, eat more, and live life supersize. He's also got some suggestions for Barak Obama on how the president elect can stimulate the American economy with Ayurvedic way of life!
Check it out. Post your comments. And if you have requests for specific types of audio content on Radio Jiva, let me know.
Best,
Steve
The first show is a Skype interview with Dr. Chauhan about the current economic crisis and the link to its cause: Overconsumption. I did the anchoring (my first go at it), with me in Faridabad and Dr. C in France.
In the 25-minute interview, Dr. C discusses the root cause of over-consumption, it's negative effects on the body, mind, and soul, and simple solutions at each level to help you keep balanced in a world which screams at you to buy more, eat more, and live life supersize. He's also got some suggestions for Barak Obama on how the president elect can stimulate the American economy with Ayurvedic way of life!
Check it out. Post your comments. And if you have requests for specific types of audio content on Radio Jiva, let me know.
Best,
Steve
Monday, November 10, 2008
Jiva School Celebrates Education Day
A new holiday has been declared to commemorate the birthday of the late Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, an eminent educationist and the first Union Minister of Education of independent India. November 11th is now National Education Day in India.
Jiva Public School celebrated with a day dedicated to Indian culture and Multiple Intelligences. There were over 20 game booths set up, where students tried their hands (and bodies, minds, tongues, etc.) to demonstrate their multiply intellectual prowess. These included an interpersonal game where friends had to guess their partners' likes and dislikes, a magnetic dartboard where students had to hit targets representing "good human qualities" (such as honesty, hard work, and optimism), and a musical intelligence activiity that had students mapping words of one song to another.
View an awesome photostream here!
There was also a rangoli competition, where students created traditional (and modern) designs on the ground with colored powders, and a mehndi competition (students creating henna designs on each others' hands).
Words that described the scene: energetic, frenetic, exciting, surprising, stimulating, meaningful, chaotic (and orderly)--fun!
I think Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad would have approved highly of the traditional + modern twist created by the Jiva teachers and staff. Nice work team!
Jiva Public School celebrated with a day dedicated to Indian culture and Multiple Intelligences. There were over 20 game booths set up, where students tried their hands (and bodies, minds, tongues, etc.) to demonstrate their multiply intellectual prowess. These included an interpersonal game where friends had to guess their partners' likes and dislikes, a magnetic dartboard where students had to hit targets representing "good human qualities" (such as honesty, hard work, and optimism), and a musical intelligence activiity that had students mapping words of one song to another.
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There was also a rangoli competition, where students created traditional (and modern) designs on the ground with colored powders, and a mehndi competition (students creating henna designs on each others' hands).
Words that described the scene: energetic, frenetic, exciting, surprising, stimulating, meaningful, chaotic (and orderly)--fun!
I think Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad would have approved highly of the traditional + modern twist created by the Jiva teachers and staff. Nice work team!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Stroke of Genius
Here's an extremely interesting video...
A talk given by Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroscientist who suffered a stroke and lived to tell about the experience. As she explains, "It's not often a brain expert undergoes such an ordeal and gets to describe the situation from the inside out."
Taylor provides a fascinating recount of the event, and in the process, offers a wonderful primer of how the brain works--right and left hemispheres, language centers, and more.
The end gets a little emotional, the tone shifting from the scientific to the spiritual. Caught me a bit off guard as it started out so clinically, but fascinating nonetheless.
(Thanks to Anil Mehta for pointing it out.)
A talk given by Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroscientist who suffered a stroke and lived to tell about the experience. As she explains, "It's not often a brain expert undergoes such an ordeal and gets to describe the situation from the inside out."
Taylor provides a fascinating recount of the event, and in the process, offers a wonderful primer of how the brain works--right and left hemispheres, language centers, and more.
The end gets a little emotional, the tone shifting from the scientific to the spiritual. Caught me a bit off guard as it started out so clinically, but fascinating nonetheless.
(Thanks to Anil Mehta for pointing it out.)
Friday, November 7, 2008
Obama Starts Day One with Parent-Teacher Conference
CNN reports:
I meet so many parents who have lots of excuses that they don't have enough time when it comes to their kids. My answer is: You make time.
I'm glad to see he's got his priorities straight!... for Barack Obama, the day started with a more personal duty, that of father. The Obama Transition Office announced this morning that the President-elect would start his day, along with his wife Michelle, by attending a parent teacher conference at his daughters' school in Chicago.
I meet so many parents who have lots of excuses that they don't have enough time when it comes to their kids. My answer is: You make time.
You can't consume your way to growth
Sunita Narain of Centre for Science and Environment has a great editorial about the current economic crisis:
Stay tuned for some Jiva articles by Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa and Dr. Partap Chauhan about the Vedic/Ayurvedic perspectives of consumption.
The fact is we have been taught, and have practised what has been preached, we can consume our way to growth and consume our way through and out of any slow-down period. “Don’t worry, just consume” is the mantra. If we cannot ‘afford’ to consume, then, too, we should not worry. The financial systems will ensure we get cheap loans to buy homes, cars, washing machines, or anything else we may not need but desire. After all, it is only if we consume that growth indicators will look rosy again, and the world will remain happy.It would be way cool if "contientious consumption" became the in thing. People thinking about their footprint on the world--how much they give/create vs. how much they consume.
Stay tuned for some Jiva articles by Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa and Dr. Partap Chauhan about the Vedic/Ayurvedic perspectives of consumption.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Unity in Diversity (Anekta Mein Ekta)
Most of the Indians I speak with are curious about the American elections, not as much with respect to the issues as with the fact that Obama is a person of color. Or maybe more so because America has never had a minority or female president. Folks here find this sort of skewed representation perplexing, because America is supposed to be the quintessential democracy. The country whose currency bares the slogan "E Pluribus Unum" (out of many, one) to demonstrate its commitment to a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. But to Indians it looked as if Americans had just been paying lip service to the ideal until recently.
You see, in the mere 61 years of its democratic rule, India can boast of a female president, a Sikh PM, an Italian-born female as president of the ruling party, and a former president who is a Muslim. Indians actively demonstrate their value in diversity. In fact, it is common for school children to enact a play at least once a year (usually near Independence Day or Republic Day) based on the importance of Hindu, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians living and working together cooperatively.
No doubt, one of India's greatest assets is its diversity, which I feel has accounted for its resiliency over the millennia. Living System Theory shows us how beneficial diversity is in all systems of life--biological, ecological, sociological, economic, etc., and how nature has its own ways of balancing organisms when they become too large, too powerful, too deviant, etc. It also explains how systems that are too centralized or homogeneous often pay the largest price when corrections take place.
Obama's election formally signals the onset of this corrective period. And I feel that America will find the bottom soon (and that it won't be so deep). However, I believe that because of the extent to which globalization has affected our world in the past decade, America's ability to balance itself will be dependent on its ability to increase its interdependence with other countries.
Here is an area where I think India will serve the US well (far better than as a destination for outsourcing)--helping to improve the quality of life by sharing a wealth of knowledge on the science of life, related to yoga, pranayam (breathing techniques), Ayurveda, meditation, etc. Such knowledge will help people find ways of balancing themselves physically, helping them get in tune with their bodies and to reduce stress and anxiety. It will help them stay healthy with inexpensive, natural healthcare, including herbal remedies and massage therapies. And spiritually, people will learn to find greater joy with what they already have in their lives rather than by acquiring more and more material goods.
Making this type of knowledge available in a current context with modern technology is Jiva's mission. We've been working for the past 14 years to create an array of tools, courses, and resources in the area of life-wellness based on Vedic wisdom. It seems that things are suddenly coming together--a tipping point of sorts, where our work may soon be of value to a much wider audience.
We're excited about the opportunity to share these assets and to be an active part of the balancing process. Get ready for some informative articles and videos in the coming days and weeks from Dr. Satya Narayna Dasa, Dr. Partap Chauhan, and our team members. In the meantime, let's remember:
E Pluribus Unum / Anekta Mein Ekta
(Out of Many One / Diversity in Unity)
Steve
You see, in the mere 61 years of its democratic rule, India can boast of a female president, a Sikh PM, an Italian-born female as president of the ruling party, and a former president who is a Muslim. Indians actively demonstrate their value in diversity. In fact, it is common for school children to enact a play at least once a year (usually near Independence Day or Republic Day) based on the importance of Hindu, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians living and working together cooperatively.
No doubt, one of India's greatest assets is its diversity, which I feel has accounted for its resiliency over the millennia. Living System Theory shows us how beneficial diversity is in all systems of life--biological, ecological, sociological, economic, etc., and how nature has its own ways of balancing organisms when they become too large, too powerful, too deviant, etc. It also explains how systems that are too centralized or homogeneous often pay the largest price when corrections take place.
Obama's election formally signals the onset of this corrective period. And I feel that America will find the bottom soon (and that it won't be so deep). However, I believe that because of the extent to which globalization has affected our world in the past decade, America's ability to balance itself will be dependent on its ability to increase its interdependence with other countries.
Here is an area where I think India will serve the US well (far better than as a destination for outsourcing)--helping to improve the quality of life by sharing a wealth of knowledge on the science of life, related to yoga, pranayam (breathing techniques), Ayurveda, meditation, etc. Such knowledge will help people find ways of balancing themselves physically, helping them get in tune with their bodies and to reduce stress and anxiety. It will help them stay healthy with inexpensive, natural healthcare, including herbal remedies and massage therapies. And spiritually, people will learn to find greater joy with what they already have in their lives rather than by acquiring more and more material goods.
Making this type of knowledge available in a current context with modern technology is Jiva's mission. We've been working for the past 14 years to create an array of tools, courses, and resources in the area of life-wellness based on Vedic wisdom. It seems that things are suddenly coming together--a tipping point of sorts, where our work may soon be of value to a much wider audience.
We're excited about the opportunity to share these assets and to be an active part of the balancing process. Get ready for some informative articles and videos in the coming days and weeks from Dr. Satya Narayna Dasa, Dr. Partap Chauhan, and our team members. In the meantime, let's remember:
E Pluribus Unum / Anekta Mein Ekta
(Out of Many One / Diversity in Unity)
Steve
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Breathing from the Stomach
If you've ever watched infants sleeping, you'll notice that their stomachs go up and down when they breathe. This might seem like an insignificant fact, however, most adults could learn a thing or two from these diminutive dozing creatures--as they demonstrate perfect breathing technique!
Most of us lose our original, instinctive way of breathing as young adults and even as kids because of the high levels of stress brought about by unnatural lifestyles. Stress then leads to physical tension, which causes the stomach muscles to tighten and our breathing to shift upward into the chest region.
Want to see what I mean? Here's a challenge: Go ahead right now and take a deep breath. A huge, deep breath...
Did you see your chest expand? If yes, then you are among those who have developed an improper breathing habit. Try it again, this time ensuring your chest doesn't move, but that your stomach expands as you breathe in, and contracts when you breath out. It should feel like a bellows inflating as it sucks in air and deflating as the air is released. (It's not as easy as it sounds! If you need some help, try putting your on your navel. Slowly ease your hand away and ensure your stomach follows it.)
What happens when you breathe this way is that the stomach expands outward, causing your intestines and other innards to move out of the way, and to make room for the diaphragm to pull the lungs down to their fullest capacity. As a result, you get the largest breath of air possible. More air in the lungs means more oxygen in the blood stream--which means more oxygen going to the body parts and brain, and ultimately, better brain performance.
Deep breathing has many implications for learning. One is that it can control nervousness. When learners are under stress (e.g., they have to give a test or speak in front of an audience), they become tense, and start taking shallow breaths from the chest. The lack of oxygen teams up with the psychological fear factor, robbing the brain of oxygen, and cutting off the mind's access to the cerebral cortext (the seat of long-term memory). You might recall a time where you had to give a speech or take a test and your mind went blank. That's what was going on.
In the future, whenever you're in a situation where you need to perform cognitively, and you find yourself feeling stressed, tense, or nervous, immediately shift you attention to your breathing. Begin taking deep breaths from the stomach—slowly and rhythmically. Within a few breaths, your tension will ease and clarity of thought will resume. Try it--it's not so hard. In fact, even a baby could do it.
Most of us lose our original, instinctive way of breathing as young adults and even as kids because of the high levels of stress brought about by unnatural lifestyles. Stress then leads to physical tension, which causes the stomach muscles to tighten and our breathing to shift upward into the chest region.
Want to see what I mean? Here's a challenge: Go ahead right now and take a deep breath. A huge, deep breath...
Did you see your chest expand? If yes, then you are among those who have developed an improper breathing habit. Try it again, this time ensuring your chest doesn't move, but that your stomach expands as you breathe in, and contracts when you breath out. It should feel like a bellows inflating as it sucks in air and deflating as the air is released. (It's not as easy as it sounds! If you need some help, try putting your on your navel. Slowly ease your hand away and ensure your stomach follows it.)
What happens when you breathe this way is that the stomach expands outward, causing your intestines and other innards to move out of the way, and to make room for the diaphragm to pull the lungs down to their fullest capacity. As a result, you get the largest breath of air possible. More air in the lungs means more oxygen in the blood stream--which means more oxygen going to the body parts and brain, and ultimately, better brain performance.
Deep breathing has many implications for learning. One is that it can control nervousness. When learners are under stress (e.g., they have to give a test or speak in front of an audience), they become tense, and start taking shallow breaths from the chest. The lack of oxygen teams up with the psychological fear factor, robbing the brain of oxygen, and cutting off the mind's access to the cerebral cortext (the seat of long-term memory). You might recall a time where you had to give a speech or take a test and your mind went blank. That's what was going on.
In the future, whenever you're in a situation where you need to perform cognitively, and you find yourself feeling stressed, tense, or nervous, immediately shift you attention to your breathing. Begin taking deep breaths from the stomach—slowly and rhythmically. Within a few breaths, your tension will ease and clarity of thought will resume. Try it--it's not so hard. In fact, even a baby could do it.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
My Twitter Account
I'm now on Twitter in case you're interested:
www.twitter.com/stevejiva
For the uninitiated, Twitter is like a blog or message board with really short messages (less than 160 characters in length). It's used to update others about what you are doing, what you are thinking, things you think others should check out, etc.
In a way it embraces both the best and worst of technology...while it is yet another tool that keeps digital gizmos in our face, it does enable us to remain connected--to keep those who are interested in our lives in the loop. Twitter messages provide others with a slice of life, letting you know about where people are, what music they are listening to, what the weather's like. And while messages often border on banality, if it's someone you care about, banalities can be supremely endearing and entertaining.
www.twitter.com/stevejiva
For the uninitiated, Twitter is like a blog or message board with really short messages (less than 160 characters in length). It's used to update others about what you are doing, what you are thinking, things you think others should check out, etc.
In a way it embraces both the best and worst of technology...while it is yet another tool that keeps digital gizmos in our face, it does enable us to remain connected--to keep those who are interested in our lives in the loop. Twitter messages provide others with a slice of life, letting you know about where people are, what music they are listening to, what the weather's like. And while messages often border on banality, if it's someone you care about, banalities can be supremely endearing and entertaining.
Breakfast Brainfood
I get about 50 queries on average per day from both parents and children about problems related to learning. Though I haven't done a formal analysis, I would say that about 75% of the questions deal with memory and concentration. There are many reasons why people are unable to focus or retain what they study, and my responses include an array of suggestions and techniques such as creating timetables, revising newly learned information within 24 hours, studying in the same place at the same time, removing distractions while studying, and so on.
Another tip I share with them is the power food has on the brain. Apart from the general "healthy diet" stuff, my best secret is the super brain boosting 1-2 knockout punch. Milk and Chyawanprash (my morning dose pictured above).Milk contains a host of good stuff, including Thiamine (a B-vitamin) that is essential for cognitive function. It also contains a chemical called "calpain", which is like a dental floss for your brain. Calpain goes into the synapses (the spaces between neurons), and cleans out the plaque there. This enables your brain cells to communicate more quickly and efficiently, making you more alert and more capable of picking up new information.
Chywanprash (pronounced CHOW-IN-PRASH), is an age-old Indian tonic made from Indian Gooseberry (a fruit that contains 400 times more vitamin C than an orange) and over 50 different herbs. This sweet, brown sticky jam can be found in just about every Indian home. And while mothers often insist on their kids eating it as an immunity enhancer (especially in winters), most don't realize its power on boosting brain power.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant (a chemical that bonds with free floating oxygen molecules that destroy healthy cells), which is known for its role in memory retention. In addition, the combination of herbs in Chyawanprash relax the central nervous system and strengthen receptor activity associated with memory and concentration.
And this special brain food is not just for kids. It is also beneficial for seniors who are interested in keeping their gray-matter fit!
Jiva's Chyawanprash is the best I've tasted. (Of course I'm biased, but I've done taste tests, and I'm really partial to ours.). Whatever the case, just make sure you make both Chyawanprash and milk a part of your family's regular diet to keep everyone's body and mind at their best.
Friday, October 31, 2008
A Real Ayurbaby!
...and Ayur-mommy. Meet Meenakshi Singh, neice of Dr. Partap Chauhan, and her 1 month old son, Aditya. Being the grandnephew of a famous Ayurvedic doctor has its advantages, as his mother has learned to follow an Ayurvedic diet and regimen right from the start.
This includes eating sattvic foods (e.g., avoiding spices), creating a peaceful home environment, avoiding watching TV and using electronic gadgets, engaging in spiritual activities (books, music, mantras), and spending quality time with her baby. To keep her system strong and to provide her baby with extra nourishment, Meenakshi takes specially prepared Ayurvedic herbs created specifically for her pitta (fire) body type. She gets regular panch karma massage to ease the back pain and stress associated with newborns, and in turn, she regularly pampers her son with Ayurvedic baby massage with both natural oil and ubtan (a traditional paste made of herbs and pulses) to stimulate his rapidly developing body and brain.
It's no surprise that he's turning out to be such a cute, healthy baby boy. The Charak Samhita (Ayurveda's main treatise) assures this regimen will result in a strong immune system, a healthy body, and a balanced mind. It will be exciting to watch Aditya grow up with such a solid Ayurvedic foundation.Thursday, October 30, 2008
Stress During Pregnancy Has Detrimental Effect On Offspring
ScienceDaily (2008-10-29) reports that
People frequently come to me with problems they face with their children regarding learning and especially behavior. I usually ask them to describe the state of their lives while the mother was pregnant--what she ate, what she did, where she lived, who else stayed in the home, the general mood, etc. I also ask them similar questions related to the the child's infancy--first three years of the child's life. Inevitably, I find that parents with the most extreme problems violated a majority of the principles clearly defined by Ayurveda.
The unfortunate thing is that by the time they meet me, the damage is done. During the early stages of development, the brain's wiring--the essential configuration of its neural networks is more or less laid down permanently--like the infrastructure of a building such as pipes, electrical lines, vents, etc. Once a building is up, redoing infrastructure is nearly impossible. In the case of both buildings and people, this doesn't mean nothing can be done if problems exist in the basic foundation. But then the process of remedy is more about damage control than cure, and in many instances, the problems resurface repeatedly over time.
I hope more new and expecting parents take note of this, and take greater care with respect to the period of pregnancy and infancy. You are always welcome to speak with a Jiva doctor for free advice via email info@jiva.com or by phone +91-129-4088152.
Till then, see what Dr. Partap Chauhan has to say about Ayurveda and a healthy pregnancy:
stress during pregnancy may have unfortunate consequences for children born under those conditions – slower development, learning and attention difficulties, anxiety and depressive symptoms and possibly even autism.While we are surely grateful for the study and its results, scientists should give a bit of credit to Indian's scientists of yore, who arrived at the same conclusions thousands of years ago. Ayurvedic texts discuss not only the implications of stress during pregnancy, but also effective ways of planning for conception, and the diet and lifestyle that should be followed in order to produce a healthy, balanced child.
People frequently come to me with problems they face with their children regarding learning and especially behavior. I usually ask them to describe the state of their lives while the mother was pregnant--what she ate, what she did, where she lived, who else stayed in the home, the general mood, etc. I also ask them similar questions related to the the child's infancy--first three years of the child's life. Inevitably, I find that parents with the most extreme problems violated a majority of the principles clearly defined by Ayurveda.
The unfortunate thing is that by the time they meet me, the damage is done. During the early stages of development, the brain's wiring--the essential configuration of its neural networks is more or less laid down permanently--like the infrastructure of a building such as pipes, electrical lines, vents, etc. Once a building is up, redoing infrastructure is nearly impossible. In the case of both buildings and people, this doesn't mean nothing can be done if problems exist in the basic foundation. But then the process of remedy is more about damage control than cure, and in many instances, the problems resurface repeatedly over time.
I hope more new and expecting parents take note of this, and take greater care with respect to the period of pregnancy and infancy. You are always welcome to speak with a Jiva doctor for free advice via email info@jiva.com or by phone +91-129-4088152.
Till then, see what Dr. Partap Chauhan has to say about Ayurveda and a healthy pregnancy:
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Ayurveda in Eastern Europe
Here are some pics of Dr. Chauhan's Jivananda retreat in Lithuania.
What Teachers Make
I find Taylor Mali's poem about what it means to be a teacher extremely powerful--and funny. Have a look:
India is changing
you can find not just pasta, but a whole lot more.
I'm Back
Back to blogging after a long break. I went way deep into the heart of India and Jiva, and have returned with quite a bit to tell. Stay tuned...
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