Sat, 20 Apr 2024 06:21:38 -0700WeeblyFri, 19 Apr 2024 20:12:23 GMThttp://namastedrdave.com/mindfulness-blog/longer-ladders-dont-get-you-to-the-moonBased on the article by Michael Gordon, here is my reflection:
If we want to flourish personally and socially we need to replace old paradigms by innovative ideas and approaches. Adam Smith is considered the Father of Western Capitalism. His philosophy has given rise to capitalism. There is nothing wrong in creating wealth when it creates wellness not at the cost of the wellness of others who do not have adequate wealth for survival and maintenance. Communism and socialism provide an antidote to self-serving capitalism with their own shortcomings. A new movement called Sarvodaya has been launched in India by the enlightened teacher Vinoba Bhave, a close companion of Mahatma Gandhi. His movement is based on the spiritual concept of Dana-gift from the heart. It is a way of serving others with no selfish desires and aspirations. Going beyond oneself and serving others is the spiritual foundation of liberation or salvation. This is a spiritual call not only for survival but also for enhancement. Research shows that capitalist countries are not on a higher scale of happiness. Materialistic prosperity does not lead to contentment, peace and happiness. Wisdom traditions have shown the ways of living happily, peacefully and consequently, we need to be free from the conditioned mind. Wake up from the sleep of ignorance and follow the wise and right path. It is not easy to be free from the grip of the old conditioned mind. It requires open-mindedness and open-heartedness. I am happy to walk on this spiritual path. Following the path of selfless service, Nishkama Karma Yoga, has been a blessing to me. Reading, writings like this article, reflecting on uplifting ideas, sharing them with like-minded people, satsanga, and walking on this path mindfully have been very helpful to me. Walking on this path is Yatra, a spiritual journey for me. May we wake up, remain awake and walk on this path.
Namaste!]]>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 17:32:10 GMThttp://namastedrdave.com/mindfulness-blog/the-inward-seaBased on the wonderful writing by Howard Thurman, below is my reflection:

We all have the potential source of Inner Light to see the Reality, the Truth, the Sacredness. Such inner light shines when our eyes do not get blinded by the power of hungry and self-centered people in our life. We are witnessing such authoritarian power, hungry, and self-centered leaders in many parts of the world creating divisiveness, hatred and destruction. How do we create a world where we can relate to each other as highly evolved human beings? How can we create light in darkness? We have been blessed to witness highly evolved leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Howard Thurman, Martin Luther King Jr and others mentioned in the introduction of the passage. This is a call for all of us to wake up, to remain awake, to join hands with our brothers and sisters and take a firm and strong stand for peaceful coexistence. Cultivating inner qualities of knowing the truth, listening to it with an open mind and open heart, and taking a courageous stand and joining hands with others is my way of going through such difficult times. When I am walking on this path I remain alert, awake and aware of not taking a wrong step. I am blessed to have people in my life who provide a clear mirror to see my blind spot. I am very grateful to them for helping me to walk clearly on my path of serving others. Studying and following the Eightfold Path of the Buddha has been very helpful to me in my journey of life. May we all awaken and walk on the path of authenticity, compassion and selfless service! 
Namaste!
]]>Fri, 05 Apr 2024 23:53:01 GMThttp://namastedrdave.com/mindfulness-blog/the-dilemma-that-faces-us-allVirtues weave the tapestry of our life and make us virtuous, make us human and contribute to the wellness of life. Virtues connects us and creates harmony in the world. One of the core virtues is forgiveness. I love the famous wise saying: To err is human, to forgive is divine. We all have small errors and big errors. I forgive myself for making a mistake. Such forgiveness comes from the heart. And such forgiveness elevates my consciousness. Forgiveness has two sides of the coin connected with each other: self-forgiveness and forgiveness of others. Both are essential to complete the circle of virtuous living. As the author of the article Kent Nerburn writes," It is the glue that holds the human together. It is the way to bridge the loneliness that often surrounds us. Genuine forgiveness is a way to build that bridge." As a human being I have made many mistakes. That way I have hurt myself and others close to me. I cultivate truthfulness courage and boldness to recognize such mistakes and forgave myself for hurting me and others related to me. With kindness and compassion I have forgiven myself. And there are people who have hurt me. I lit the light of forgiveness for me and for others. This way I am building the brides of loving kindness. How about people who do not raise their voice against injustice and take a stand? They are afraid of retaliation. We must not act out of fear but act with courage. And those who have courage to act eventually succeed. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr and Dalai Lama are living examples of living courageously and bravely for fighting against injustice. Let us enkindle the light of forgiveness and remove the darkness within and without ourselves. Let join our hands and be the torchbearers of forgiveness.
​Namaste! ]]>Sat, 30 Mar 2024 18:49:23 GMThttp://namastedrdave.com/mindfulness-blog/grace-in-the-classroomI love and value this thought provoking passage written by Francis Su. When I was studying in a college my teacher who was also a poet, was teaching us the difference between the sinful action of a person and the person who did that action. He cited a line from his poem in my mother tongue Gujarati: Tu papasathe nava papi marto..Condemn the sin, not the sinner. We all make mistakes. Nobody is perfect. How do I relate to my mistake, my shortcoming makes a big difference. Do I put myself down and humiliate myself for the mistake I have done or do I assess my mistake and do not equate my mistake with me as a person? In the same way how do I relate to the mistake made by someone like my family member or my friend or by my student? I would assess what the other person did, his action, and not him as a person.

Relationships break down when we condemn the other person. Relationships survive and thrive when we relate to our mistakes and the mistakes of other persons truthfully, empathetically and compassionately. As a teacher I have accessed my students coming from all kinds of cultural and economic backgrounds. I want to be an imperial teacher. I want to be fair in assessing my students. When my student gets a low grade or a failing grade from me, I spend my office hours with such a student and offer my help to work on his academic deficiencies. I cannot have two different standards for assessing my students. I relate to such students with an empathic mind and compassionate heart. This way of relating to people in my life has enriched my heart and my relationships with others. When I relate to people not doing well, with open mindedness and open heartedness, with empathy and compassion I honor their dignity. I would like to conclude my reflections with the wise words of Mother Teresa: Not all of us do great things. But we can do small things with great love.

​Namaste!]]>Sat, 23 Mar 2024 15:38:07 GMThttp://namastedrdave.com/mindfulness-blog/organizing-with-loveLove is the foundation of all thriving and deepening relationships. When we join our hearts, heads and hands together our life thrives and flourishes interpersonally and interpersonally, in our families, communities and in organizations. As the author-Adrienne Maree Brown says," When we are engaged in acts of love, we humans are our best and most resilient." Love is the core foundation of all relationships not only to survive but also to thrive. What I am saying is based on my personal experiences at all stages of relationships in my families, friends, in my intimate relationships, societal and professional relationships. I have lived and grown in extended families all my life. I learnt the art of relating to differences by listening to each other with open ears, open mind and open heart. I have learnt to let go of my irrational, inflexible and rigid opinions and ideas and to be fluid and flexible and appreciative of ideas and opinions of other members of the family. I also learnt how to appreciate somebody's opinions and ideas which would be better than mine. Such a stance helped me grow mentally, emotionally, relationally and spiritually.
From my experiences I have learned how to grow deeper in my relationships. The core qualities of growing in my realtionships are unconditional love, empathic mind, compassionate heart, nonviolent communication, telling the truth and accepting my mistakes, forgiveness, gratefulness, and patience. It takes time and effort and mindfulness to cultivate deeper and fulfiling realtionships. It is wise to take time and be patient to enjoy the gifts of such deeper relationships. May we all have such precious gifts to flourish and deepen our relationships!
​Namaste]]>Sat, 16 Mar 2024 04:05:24 GMThttp://namastedrdave.com/mindfulness-blog/as-way-opensThe first sentence of the passage written by Carrie Newman says a lot about keeping the mind and heart open to the unfolding reality. "Proceed as the way opens" . This Quaker saying is an encouragement to live with a kind of intentionality and willingness to "be" with intention and willingness to "be" with a question or decision rather than jump to a rash action out of panic or pressure." This is a counter cultural idea of jumping to a rash action or decision out of panic or pressure. It is a wise way of living to listen to the music birthing in our quiet and awakened mind with an open and compassionate heart. As Parker J Palmer says,'' Let your life speak and you listen." An open and closed door are the same. They both send us a direction. It's up to us which way to go. Proceeding as a way opens means that life has a holy rhythm that brings us together to sing a song of humanity. When I walk in nature connecting myself quietly with the natural wonders of the world, when I pay my attention to the drop of the rain falling on a tender leaf, when a mother holding a crying child in her soothing hands and when two lovers becoming one by uniting their hearts, I proceed the way as it opens. These are precious gifts of living in the presence. Patience, perseverance, loving kindness, living mindfully and meditation, help me live with an open mind and a loving heart.
Namaste!]]>Sat, 09 Mar 2024 16:21:14 GMThttp://namastedrdave.com/mindfulness-blog/without-ourselvesHere is my reflection to the poem of 10 year old Afton Wilder :
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Who am I? What is my true identity? Why am I here? What is my original face? What is my original voice? What is my authentic self? What is my purpose of being in this world? What if nobody walks with me on the road with me? What is my vision? These are very important existential questions for me. There is one SELF. There is one FACE. There is one VOICE. There is one authentic ME. If I lose my true identity, I become a multiple personality. I lost my real self. I lose my real voice. It is not that easy to be myself but it is essential for me to listen to my voice and sing my own song. As I am reflecting on this question Rabindranath Tagore's song Ekla Cholo Re comes to my mind. Walk alone if no one is standing by. Open your mind and speak all alone to be in harmony with all existence. This kind of authentic identity is not against universal identity. I am a part of the whole, not apart from the whole, oneness in manyness. There have been times when I have served people going beyond the limits of myself. I follow the spiritual path of living called Karma Yoga. As a counselor, I provide my free service to people who do not have money to pay for getting counseling from me. Doing such selfless service brings deep joy and fulfillment in me. As I was growing up, I saw my parents doing selfless service and living a truthful and simple life. We were outwardly poor but inwardly rich. They showed me the path of living without the burden of the world, living lightly and fully. I am deeply grateful to them for teaching me the spiritual path of living, Karma Yoga.

Namaste!]]>Fri, 01 Mar 2024 18:04:24 GMThttp://namastedrdave.com/mindfulness-blog/three-supports-for-turning-towards-mysteryI love this passage written by Martin Aylward. My understanding of living a holistic life is enriched by reading and reflecting on this passage. According to me, nonconceptual awareness is awareness beyond the knowledge acquired from books, teachers and other sources. Nonconceptual awareness is cultivated by experiencing the unconditional Truth, the unconditional Love, and by living in here-now consciousness. It is beyond words, concept and theories. I consider it as living Truth. It goes beyond conceptual learning acquired from books, teachers and other resources. It is an experiential learning gained by reading books or listening to teachers attentively with an open mind, reflecting on the teachings, practicing the words of wisdom, and incorporating the teachings in everyday life.

The author describes three helpful supports for nonconceptual awareness. The first support is embodied awareness. Conceptual awareness by itself is not enough. Learning lessons from books or teachers is the starting point. Reflecting on what is orally or verbally acquired is very important for conceptual learning. I call it a curious and inquiring mind. The second helpful support for nonconceptual awareness is building the capacity and the willingness to continue letting go. Mind has a tendency to think. It is mind's job. There is no need to fight the mind or let the mind do whatever the mind wants to do. Using discretion is very important for regulating our thoughts, emotions, expressions and actions. We do not let our mind hijack us. We do not get hooked by the mind. We use our mind wisely. That is the sign of an awakened being. As the author says " Awareness is a more potent, luminous, and immediate than our mental prevarications. When you find yourself caught up in a thought, notice, and in the noticing unhook, unhook, unhook." I find this a very wise advice for unburdening ourselves from the heavy load of unwholesome thoughts. The third step is applying the learning in life, integrating it in our life.  The third support for nonconceptual presence, the willingness to not know- the willingness to put aside familiar and the willingness to meet each experience new. As the author says, "to live aside inner or outer, pleasant or unpleasant, good or bad-all of them can be left aside." I take this as remaining unattached- nonattachment to good or bad keeps the mind free.
​Namaste!]]>Sat, 24 Feb 2024 04:57:23 GMThttp://namastedrdave.com/mindfulness-blog/conscious-complainingWe have a spectrum of emotions. There are times when we are glad, joyful and happy and there are times when we get mad, sad, and unhappy. When I experience positive and negative emotions I let them come and let them go. I do not waste my energy in suppressing, repressing, denying, fighting , complaining or getting stuck. This way I do not waste my energy. When I become a victim of external circumstances, I get upset and angry and process my feelings and work on myself rather than complaining or bitching about it. I do not let myself be a victim of adverse external circumstances but find a way for working on them.

The author of this passage Karla McLaren uses an interesting phrase "Conscious complaining". To me it means recognizing and understanding what causes negative feelings in me. Becoming aware of my feelings, understanding the cause of my feelings, and doing whatever I can to be centered and strong to face the external circumstances. This way I won't waste my energy by complaining or dwelling on the causes of my suffering. I have learned the way of reducing my distress and anguish by practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness helps me understand the causes of my suffering and to be free from the impact of suffering. This practice helps me to be centered and grounded. I see the value of "conscious complaining" as described by the author. I also see the value of doing positive affirmations. It is like looking at the bright side of the issue or situation rather than dwelling on the negative side of the situation. When I have stomach ache, I do not dwell on it or complain about it. I try to find out what caused my stomach ache and learn a lesson from it so that I may not cause my stomach ache again. This way I do not find fault in somebody or complain against someone else in my life. What good, constructive, and positive things I can do is in my hands. And that is freedom.
Namaste!]]>Sat, 17 Feb 2024 21:53:52 GMThttp://namastedrdave.com/mindfulness-blog/equanimity-of-doctor-hunter-warriorBased on the wonderful reading by Thanissaro Bhikku, here is my reflection:

Life presents challenges. There are times when I feel the glow of attainment and success. And there are times when I feel the gloom of loss and failure. I have experienced ups and downs in my life. How do I relate to such ups and downs cycles makes a significant difference in the quality of my life. Realizing that life is not a straight line and it goes through small and big curves and accepting this fact without grudging and complaining is the right and wise way of living. I turn my face towards such happenings and face them with equanimity. This is the equanimity of a warrior. I believe in the wise saying, "A wandering mind is not a happy mind." I know the power of pranayama, maintaining a dynamic balance between inbreath and our breath for keeping the mind steady and focused. Regular practice of pranayama makes my mind clear and calm. I feel peaceful and happy. How to sustain this flow is a big challenge for me. What helps me maintain that flow is mindfulness-a nonjudgemental awareness with an intention of staying in the here and now consciousness not bound by ruminating on the past and worrying about the future. I consider this an illustration of concentration equanimity. All wisdom traditions emphasize the value of non-attachment. We all know attachment to anything, good or bad, creates obstructions on the path of our spiritual journey called yatra. In the spiritual journey, there are neither likes nor dislikes. Likes and dislikes come and go. Both likes and dislikes are two sides of the same coin of attachment. We get bound by them. Self-awareness transcends this duality and creates oneness. I would consider this state as transcendental equanimity. May we be free from attachments and aversions and attain the bliss of equanimity in our life!

Namaste!]]>