Heartfulness Magazine - March 2024 (Volume 9, Issue 3)

www.heartfulnessmagazine.com
March 2024
Who Is A Seeker?
DAAJI
How Yoga
Regenerates Us
SAT BIR SINGH
KHALSA
Living Voice
MERETE
NØRGAARD
Do You Trust
Yourself?
HELLE LAURSEN
Trust
Yourself
B
E
I
N
G F UN
N
Y
B
O
JO H NS
O
N

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CREATIVE TEAM
Editorial Team — Elizabeth Denley, Mamata
Subramanyam, Vanessa Patel, Kashish Kalwani,
Christine Prisland, Pankhi Chauhan
Design, Art & Photography — Uma Maheswari G,
Anagha Kulkarni, Jasmee Mudgal, Ananya Patel, AI
Writers — Ichak Adizes, Sravan Banda, Ichha Bhan,
Sara Bubber, Daaji, Vasco Gaspar, Helle Laursen,
Tejeshwar Singh, Mamata Subramanyam
Interviewees — Bo Johnson, Sat Bir Singh Khalsa,
Merete Nørgaard
Support Team — Balaji Iyer, Subash Kannan, Karthik
Natarajan, Ashraful Nobi, Jayakumar Parthasarathy,
Nabhish Tyagi, Shankar Vasudevan
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Heartfulness

Dear readers,
How can we learn to trust ourselves and others, especially when so much of our upbringing and education
teaches us to do the exact opposite? The key is to understand that trust develops when we learn to listen
to the heart, and this month our contributors share their experience on how to do just that.
Daaji delves into how the inner journey of a seeker opens the heart, and also how to better connect with
others. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa speaks of yoga as a tool for awareness, Vasco Gaspar explores wholeness and
connection through the heart, Helle Laursen prompts us to trust ourselves, Tejeshwar Singh shares a note
on love, Merete Nørgaard encourages us to strengthen our voice, and Bo Johnson inspires us with the
challenges of being career funny. Ichak Adizes looks at the side effects of speeding up, Ichha Bhan offers
a DIY guide to well-being, Mamata Subramanyam shares her secret for change, Sravan Banda brings us
the history of an important condiment, and Sara Bubber tells us a children’s story from Japan and offers a
great activity.
Enjoy building trust!
Happy reading,
The editors
Building
Trust
March 2024

inside
self-care
Connect with Others
Daaji
12
Do You Trust Yourself?
Helle Laursen
16
A DIY Guide to Well-Being
Ichha Bhan
18
The Secret to Change Is To
Take It Minute by Minute
Mamata Subramanyam
22
inspiration
Who Is A Seeker?
Daaji
28
environment
Salt: A Culinary Staple with
a Rich History in India
Sravan Banda and Kamlesh
Kumar
64
creativity
Being Funny
Interview with Bo Johnson
70
children
Who Should I Be?
Sara Bubber
78
How Yoga Regenerates Us
Interview with Sat Bir Singh
Khalsa
30
workplace
Faster and Shallower
Ichak Adizes
40
Living Voice
Interview with Merete Nørgaard
42
relationships
A Note on Love
Tejeshwar Singh
54
Connecting with Life
Vasco Gaspar
58
March 2024 7

DAAJI
Daaji is the Heartfulness
Guide. He is an innovator and
researcher, equally at home in the
fields of spirituality, science, and
the evolution of consciousness.
He has taken our understanding
of human potential to a new
level.
MERETE NØRGAARD
Merete has more than 20 years’
experience in the field of voice
and performance training. Her
company, Living Voice, works
with leaders and communicators
helping them become better
speakers, to strengthen their
voice, and achieve authentic
leadership. Learn more at www.
livingvoice.dk.
BO JOHNSON
Bo is a comedian from Seattle,
Washington. He can be found
headlining clubs, breweries, and
theaters across the United States
and Canada. His stand-up has
been featured on Netflix Is a Joke
Radio, Comedy Central, and
at many well-known venues.
With a growing online audience,
Bo’s jokes have been viewed by
millions.
SAT BIR SINGH KHALSA
Dr. Khalsa, Ph.D., is a world-
renowned yoga researcher,
collaborator, author, and speaker.
He is associate professor of
medicine at Harvard Medical
School and director of research
for the Kundalini Research
Institute. He is editor-in-chief of
the International Journal of Yoga
Therapy.
VASCO GASPAR
Vasco is a Human Flourishing
Facilitator, inspiring change in
organizations worldwide for a
more human and compassionate
world. He is trained in
Mindfulness, Emotional
Intelligence, neuroscience, and
Heartfulness, and dreams of
merging these practices in the
service of a greater good.
ICHAK ADIZES
Dr. Adizes is a leading
management expert. He has
received 21 honorary doctorates
and is the author of 27 books
that have been translated into 36
languages. He is recognized as
one of the top 30 thought leaders
of America.
Heartfulness
8

contributors
SRAVAN BANDA
Sravan’s expertise is in constructed
wetlands and wastewater
challenges. He is an accredited
Green Building Professional
through IGBC, and a member of
the Society of Wetland Scientists,
USA. His interest extends to
Indian Traditional Medicine
and the medicinal properties of
indigenous plants. He is a Director
at BlueDrop Enviro Pvt. Ltd.
TEJESHWAR SINGH
Tejeshwar’s inspiration to write
comes from his passion for
poetry. He enjoys cooking and
volunteering over the weekends.
His dream is to travel the world
and experience the beauty of
nature. Tejeshwar currently works
as an Income Auditor for a hotel
group.
ICHHA BHAN
Ichha Bhan is a counselor and
life coach with an interest
in fostering positive change,
resilience, and transformation
through mental and emotional
well-being training. She is on a
mission to empower and inspire
others on their wellness journey.
SARA BUBBER
Sara is a storyteller, Montessori
consultant, and a children’s book
author. She is also a naturalist,
doing her doctoral work in eco-
consciousness in childhood. She
has been practicing Heartfulness
for eight years and is a certified
trainer.
HELLE LAURSEN
Helle is a certified Mindful
Self-Compassion (MSC) teacher,
with over 20 years’ experience.
She is on the faculty of the
Center for MSC in the US
and their European partner
in Holland, and works with a
Chinese-based organization.
Helle is a dedicated Heartfulness
meditation student and trainer.
MAMATA
SUBRAMANYAM
Mamata couples mental health
and meditation with her passion
for storytelling, using Instagram
as a space to build community.
Her 2016 TEDx presentation
has been viewed over 2.7 million
times. She is currently a freelance
social media and content
manager, and an editor and writer
for Heartfulness Magazine.
March 2024 9

To love oneself is the beginning
of a lifelong romance.
OSCAR WILDE
self-care

Connect
with Others
D
ear friends,
You have consciousness,
awareness, and free will. So,
how can you use these gifts to
evolve from being human to
humane to divine?
When we are born, we are
not aware of differences and
similarities; we simply accept.
As we grow up, we start to
identify and label ourselves
and others according to color,
culture, religious or spiritual
leanings, gender, career, place in
our culture and society, mental
and physical health, and so on.
There are so many labels and
categories. We become attached
to them and think they are real.
As a result, we establish a whole
suite of likes for some and
dislikes for others, leading to
prejudice and separation.
YES, YOU CAN DO IT!
DAAJI shares a simple way
to open your heart and
expand awareness of your
connection with others and
the world.
Heartfulness
12

Meditation takes us deeper
into the conscious, subconscious,
and superconscious parts of the mind,
where we feel and experience
the unity of all beings.
of the Earth from outer space,
we cannot detect the differences
that separate us: we see it as a
whole, a beautiful blue jewel
floating in space. There is no
separation.
Meditation takes us deeper into
the conscious, subconscious,
and superconscious parts of
the mind, where we feel and
experience the unity of all
beings. In addition to the
inner practices of Heartfulness,
here are two simple exercises
that will help you experience
connection and unity:
Experiencing connection
and unity throughout
the day
The Sanskrit word “Namaste”
literally means “I bow to you.”
This first exercise uses the
familiar Namaste greeting
to bring inner awareness of
connection with others and
your environment. It allows
In order to become humane, we
need to reverse this construct
and move toward a simpler
awareness. This goes hand in
hand with the expansion of our
consciousness. And the result
is that we become kinder, more
empathetic, affectionate, and
compassionate in a natural
way. We move from judgment
to tolerance, from separation
to connection. We allow our
small self to become absorbed
into the higher Self. My
spiritual guide described this
advancement as moving “from
animal man to human to
divine.”
We experience this as a result
of meditative practices. The
labels drop off. Instead of
seeing differences, we begin
to feel the divine spark that
resides in us and every living
being. We become aware that
we do not live on our planet as
visitors, we are part of it, part
of nature. When we see images
March 2024 13
SELF-CARE

love to radiate from your heart in a
more conscious way.
You may practice it alone or with
others. You may prefer to say the
equivalent word/s in your own
language, or do the practice in
silence. This activity is also a fun
and profound group activity for
children and/or adults in any
workshop or seminar setting.
The idea is to greet others with
the word “Namaste” in order to
honor and acknowledge the higher
Self within them.
Gently place your hands
together in a prayerful position
over your heart, with your
eyes lowered, and your body
slightly bowed. Let yourself
within your heart, or when you
greet others, it will expand your
awareness from human to humane
to divine.
An extension
If you wish to take it further:
Imagine a person you dislike—
perhaps someone who has
hurt you—standing in front
of you. Have the thought that,
“This person is my friend and
well-wisher.”
Allow the feelings of love and
empathy you have created
in the Namaste exercise to
flow into that person as you
breathe out. Have the thought
that particles of your love and
affection are entering their
heart. Let the feeling manifest
as forgiveness, empathy, and
compassion.
When you breathe in, have the
thought that you are pulling
all the negative thoughts they
have about you from their
heart and throwing them
aside.
I wish you all the best on your
onward journey,
Daaji
dive into the higher Self, the
pure essence within you. Then,
let that essence radiate out
to the higher Self of others.
They will reciprocate. Now,
expand this feeling to include
your surroundings: the air
particles, the birds, the trees,
the flowers, everything around
you.
Allow this awareness to
continue throughout your
daily activities. Take the
feeling of connection and
unity wherever you go, with all
who cross your path, to your
city, country, the world.
This simple gesture will open your
heart to the pure essence of all
beings. Whether practiced silently
Heartfulness
14
SELF-CARE

HELLE LAURSEN prompts us to reflect on how we communicate with ourselves and others with
compassion, in order to develop trust. Helle teaches the evidence-based Mindful Self-Compassion
(MSC) program worldwide. She has also been a student of Heartfulness for more than 25 years and
is a Heartfulness trainer.
K
indness and compassion are
powerful ways of supporting
others. When someone
we care about fails at something
or feels imperfect, it seems
natural for us to meet them with
understanding and support.
Responding with kindness,
understanding, and support is one
of the building blocks of trust. It is
also the definition of compassion.
Compassion is the ability to hold
the suffering and have the wish to
lessen the suffering.
We also need to trust our own
ability to navigate difficulties.
The warmhearted response of
understanding and support is
called compassion when directed
at others, and self-compassion
when directed at ourselves.
Ample research shows a clear
correlation between our ability to
be self-compassionate and mental
health. Research suggests self-
compassion is the starting point
for building solid relations with
others, because self-compassion is
the training of relational skills.
Self-compassion is including
ourselves in the circle of those
we wish to support. This is much
more difficult than responding
with warmth to someone we care
about.
You may reflect on these questions
to recognize this:
Do you respond with
kindness, support, and
compassion toward
yourself when you feel
inadequate or make a
mistake?

Research suggests self-compassion is
the starting point for building solid
relations with others, because
self-compassion is the training of
relational skills.
If you are like most of us, you
tend to judge and criticize yourself
instead.
1. Can you hold the
emotions that naturally
arise when you
experience discomfort?
If you are like most of us, you will
either be consumed by emotions or
tend to avoid, bypass, or suppress
them.
Self-compassion is far from
priding oneself, being enough in
oneself, becoming self-indulgent,
or being better than others. It is
the opposite of all that. Research
is unequivocal on this. We become
less self-centered and more
compassionate to others when we
are self-compassionate.
When we respond with kindness
and self-compassion amid difficult
emotions, we stay connected
to ourselves through what is
happening. In Heartfulness, we
would say, “I’ll stay connected to
my heart through difficulties.”
This means not diminishing, not
pushing away, and not avoiding
what is happening inside. This
demands both clarity and courage.
After all, avoiding or pushing away
the reality of unpleasant emotions
involves less effort and is often our
default.
Trust starts with how we respond.
Let it be a kind, passionate, and
openhearted response to ourselves
as well as to others.
Read more about self-compassion at
Nordic-compassion.com
SELF-CARE

Heartfulness
18
ICHHA BHAN is a counselor and life
coach with an interest in positive
change, resilience, and transformation.
By helping people connect with their
authentic selves and unlock their
potential, she is on a mission to
empower and inspire others on their
wellness journey.
A DIY
Guide to
Well-Being

P
ositive emotions play a
crucial role in our well-
being, offering a myriad of
benefits. Biologically, they trigger
the release of neurotransmitters
like dopamine and oxytocin, which
make us feel happier and reduce
internal disintegration, resulting in
fewer intrusive thoughts that cloud
our judgment. This heightened
state of positivity creates an ideal
environment for exploring our
perception of situations, and
extracting valuable lessons from
them.
Moreover, these emotions
cultivate an optimistic outlook
for future situations, reminding
us that change is constant, and
positivity can be found even
in adverse circumstances. This
positive feedback loop elevates our
overall sense of well-being and
adds greater meaning to our lives,
helping us find the silver lining in
challenging moments.
Positive emotions equip us to
make wise decisions, respond
calmly to negative emotions, and
improve our social integration and
distress tolerance. Ultimately, they
enhance our ability to effectively
regulate our emotions, providing
us with valuable tools to navigate
life’s ups and downs.
Consider this: when you’re in a
positive mood, or when life is
going smoothly, you feel more
confident and stable in your
emotions. If something negative
occurs, you recover swiftly. You
might process it more efficiently
and find that it doesn’t have as
much of an impact on you. On the
contrary, when life is challenging
or you are already facing
difficulties, rebounding from a
negative event can be far more
taxing. It is harder to maintain
belief in a positive outcome and
your resilience may wane.
March 2024 19
March 2024
SELF-CARE

3 practical ways to cultivate
a positive inner environment
and build resilience
Recognize that remembering past
achievements and positive
experiences serves as concrete
evidence of your capabilities,
even when you doubt yourself
in the present.
Memory jar
Create your own personal time
capsule.
Equipment: Jar, colorful sticky notes,
pen or pencil.
Each day, take a moment to notice
when you’re feeling contented or
joyful. Grab a sticky note and jot
down what brought that happiness
or smile to your face. Fold the note
and place it in the jar.
Whenever you’re feeling down
or could use a quick mood boost,
simply reach for a few notes from
the jar and read them. You’ll find
yourself smiling again, even if
temporarily. It’s an effective way
to swiftly shift your mood and lift
your spirits.
Visual diary
Remind yourself of beautiful moments.
Equipment: Camera or phone camera
Keep an eye out for those charming moments that bring a smile
to your face, instill a sense of ease, or elicit laughter. Whenever
you encounter such positive experiences, seize the moment by
taking a photo. While these snapshots may not hold the same
significance for others, revisiting them will conjure up cherished
memories, filling you with joy.
Photos also serve as undeniable evidence that every day is adorned
with small, almost indescribably beautiful moments, each carrying
a deeply personal and meaningful connection to your life.
SELF-CARE

Sensory-specific
information
A counselor and coach-approved
technique that is especially helpful
when you’re feeling low or lacking
confidence.
Equipment: Journal, pen or pencil.
Step 1: Recall and visualize
Recall a specific moment from
your past when you felt extremely
positive and confident. If needed,
focus on the emotion or state of
mind you wish to recreate.
Take some time to vividly visualize
this moment, allowing yourself to
fully immerse in the experience.
Explore the thoughts running
through your mind at that time.
Reflect on how these thoughts
influenced your behavior.
Analyze your behavior during
this memory and identify what
indicates that you were feeling
good.
Step 3: Reconnect with
empowering feelings
As you answer these questions in
your journal, notice if you start to
rekindle the sensations, emotions,
and thoughts you experienced
during the memory. This
immersion is designed to bring
you closer to that experience.
Recognize that remembering
past achievements and positive
experiences serves as concrete
evidence of your capabilities, even
when you doubt yourself in the
present. It demonstrates that you
have the capacity to achieve more
than you think in the present.
This structured technique allows
you to tap into the power of
positive memories to boost your
confidence and mood, offering
tangible proof of your inner
strength and potential.
Step 2: Journaling the
experience
In your journal, describe the scene
using your senses:
What do you see at this
moment?
What are the sounds you hear?
What are you touching, and
how does it feel?
Are there any particular scents
associated with this memory?
Now, delve into finer details:
Identify the specific emotion
you were feeling during this
memory.
Describe how you know you
were feeling this emotion,
focusing on observable
evidence.
March 2024 21
March 2024
SELF-CARE

Heartfulness
22
SELF-CARE
The Secret to Change:
TAKE IT
MINUTE BY
MINUTE
MAMATA SUBRAMANYAM reflects on her own
processes of change, and realizes that there
is an easier way to move forward—one that
doesn’t involve self-recrimination and instant
gratification. She explores incremental change,
minute by minute, embracing the messy process
that goes with it, and sets herself a brighter
vision for how to live her life.

I have big, lofty dreams of whom I
believe I can be.
I constantly envision myself as
a bright, confident, perfectly-
coiffed woman in imaginary high
heels (I’m only 5’2) who walks
with intention and speaks with
humility, who has no flaws and
no insecurities, and is loved by
everyone.
In my head, I am the ideal career
woman who works her behind off,
who aces every project, who never
runs out of steam. In my head, I
will be a boss lady like my mother,
make witty jokes like my brother,
get stuff done at the same pace
my dad does. In my head, I am the
perfect wife my husband will never
regret choosing, the one who is
always balanced and never stressed,
the one who makes him laugh and
makes all of his hard moments
easy. The one who does everything
so perfectly that he can’t help but
brag as I sit on the pedestal we
built together.
In my head, I am the best, best
friend; the one who always says
the right thing, sends the right
gifts, makes everyone feel the
most seen, valued, and appreciated.
I imagine myself as the light
everyone gravitates to, the one
who can be everyone’s everything,
the one who never makes a single
mistake, the one who can do no
wrong.
SELF-CARE

Like any good,
reliable mirror, the
answer was right
there in my
reflection, just
waiting for me to
look close enough
to find it: change
is not a leap.
24 Heartfulness
SELF-CARE
But that bubble of a fantasy
easily bursts when I see the
dozens of unread emails with
unmet deadlines sitting in my
inbox, the blue notifications
of text messages I have yet to
respond to from friends, who are
probably wondering if they did
something to make me mad (you
didn’t).
I have saved lists of recipes I tell
myself I’m going to make, only
to lose steam and yet again press
“order” on my staple Chipotle
meal. I don’t hold my own like
my mother, I don’t make witty
jokes like my brother, and I
certainly don’t work the way
my dad does. I have cried three
times this week to my husband
about my insecurities. Those
insecurities put voices in my
head that make me question if
he is happy that he chose me.
And I see her so clearly, the
woman I know I can be. If only
I could break the cycles of bad
habits that hold me back, if only
I could stop being complacent,
if only I could stop being a
ridiculously outdated version of
me. My twenties are coming to
an end, and every day I feel I
have nothing to show for them.
As I make the same mistakes
over and over again, as I
watch in furious envy as other
people grow and change and
accomplish and succeed, as
I leave yet another to-do list
unchecked, and though I know
the ability to change is only in
me, what do I find myself doing?
I anxiously worry if I am well
past my prime, if my thirties will
be a knock-off version of my
twenties, in which any success
won’t be taken as seriously
because I’m not as young
anymore, if it’s actually too late
for me to be anyone, anything.
I keep making the same mistake
of wanting to get from point
A to point Now by trying to
bypass the in-between. When it
comes to bringing those dreams
out of my head and into reality, I
freeze. I get excited about doing
the work, but become daunted
about diving in, letting all my
insecurities and complacencies
get the better of me and talking
me out of moving forward. I
freeze.
And then I sit in a large self-
made pool of self-pity and
self-aware shame, mentally
hurling envious anger at the
people who have the courage to
create their own destinies while
being perfectly aware that I am
fully capable of making my own
dreams a reality, if only I weren’t
so fearful or lazy.

25
March 2024
in-between. I understand that
now. I realize I have to do that
work to unwind and rewind the
in-between, otherwise I’m not
really aiming for change: it’s a
rustier, burned-out version of
who I am now.
Change is minute by minute.
We are complicated, creative,
incredible, messy, broken, fixable,
wonderful canvases that are
subject to change, if we allow
that change. It can be a hard
ride, but I’m learning that
change can be a fun rollercoaster.
If we are willing to let it be.
SELF-CARE
If only I weren’t in my own way.
Today, as I shamefully walked
away from another dream I
knew I could have achieved, if
only I had put in the work, I put
a metaphorical mirror up to my
heart and asked myself two hard,
hard questions:
What is stopping me from
changing?
And what can stop me from
ever asking myself this
question again?
Like any good, reliable mirror,
the answer was right there in my
reflection, just waiting for me
to look close enough to find it:
change is not a leap. It cannot
be a leap. Over time, change
can be measured in leaps and
bounds. But to get to that leap,
to get to that bound, you first
have to take it step-by-step.
Change must happen minute by
minute, otherwise I am setting
myself up for failure. I can no
longer expect that by simply
making a thought suddenly I’ll
change. I can no longer waste
a single second. I have to be
willing to put in the work to
make it happen. Every self-
encouraging thought, every
forward action, every plugged-
nose-closed-eyes deep dive in
between point A and point Now
must be done with the clear,
firm intention of never going
back. It must be done with
the full bravery to see myself,
flaws and all, with a determined
acceptance that while those
flaws will take time to fill and
smooth, the result will be worth
it.
And it’s time that I recognize
my strengths. If I really own the
bright parts of me that shine
brighter than my flaws, I can let
the beauty of those bright parts
fill and smooth out the cracks.
To create change—real, hard,
messy, good, positive, ever-
evolving change—I have to be
willing to wade through the
We are
complicated,
creative,
incredible,
messy, broken,
fixable,
wonderful
canvases that
are subject to
change, if we
allow that
change.

Whatever lifts the corners
of your mouth, trust that.
RUMI
inspiration

Who Is a
Seeker?
Dear Daaji,
What does it mean to be a seeker?
Dear Caroline,
A seeker is one who seeks the truth and remains passionate about this
search. Without this passion, how can a mere spark become a roaring blaze?
We begin the journey from wherever we are. Does it matter where our
journey starts? No. What is important is to begin. Whether we begin our
search for the Truth Eternal as a Hindu, a Christian, a Muslim, a Jew,
or an atheist makes no difference. What matters is the final culmination
– realizing the Source of the infinite presence in the deepest core of the
heart, realizing our original nature, the ultimate flowering of our being.
The journey toward the Unknown is always guided by the inner voice, even
when its signals and guidance seem to come from outside in the form of a
friendly suggestion from an elder or a book. Often, the signals from our
inner core remain buried and inaudible. They are not easily accessible.
Only superficial things are easily accessible!
The inner journey has many meanders. Sometimes, we backtrack to proceed.
The path is replete with surges of faith and trust, but sometimes we become
LETTERS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Heartfulness
28

overwhelmed with suspicions and doubts. That is what makes spirituality an
adventure.
What is spirituality? In Sanskrit, we call it adhyatmikta. The etymological
roots, adhi + atma, convey moving toward the atma, the center or core of our
being.
It also means not identifying with the superficial and meaningless. As we
move inward, we begin to transcend the peripheral. We do not renounce the
peripheral; we simply transcend it. We need not detach ourselves from material
life. It is all about non-attached attachment.
The seeker of truth remains busy with the spiritual search at all times without
running away from family, society, work, and personal health. Such a seeker
flies on both wings – the wing of the objective world and the wing of the
subjective world; the material sphere and the spiritual sphere; the external
world and the internal world. While being in this objective world, we gather
the “escape velocity” to launch ourselves into the unlimited sky of infinite
consciousness. The objective world is, precisely, the training ground for the
subtler realm.
Mastering the subtler realms, while sailing through the not-so-subtle battles
in the objective world, helps us master the spiritual realm and beyond. For
example, the relationship with a spouse or partner helps us develop increasingly
greater levels of acceptance, the relationship with children makes us truly
humble, the relationship with grandchildren makes us more loving, and
with friends we learn the meaning of loyalty. Here comes the magic of the
meditative mind. With it, we are grateful to God for choosing us to tread the
path of spirituality.
Take time to observe how you are expressing the meditative mind in your day-
to-day life. Are your inner and outer worlds in sync?
With love and respect,
Kamlesh
March 2024 29
INSPIRATION

HOW
YOGA
REGENERATES US
SAT BIR SINGH KHALSA is interviewed by VICTOR KANNAN about research and the
applications of yoga in modern life. Dr. Khalsa has been an instructor of Kundalini Yoga
since 1973, and conducted research on yoga since 2001 on insomnia, chronic stress,
anxiety-related disorders, and in workplace and public school settings. He is medical
editor of the Harvard Medical School Special Report, Introduction to Yoga, and chief
editor of the medical textbook, The Principles and Practice of Yoga in Health Care.
Yoga in schools
Q: Can you tell us how some of
the yoga practices help prevent
physical and mental problems?
I’ve been a strong proponent that
we need more research on the
implementation of yoga in our
public schools, because I believe
yoga provides fundamental skills
children need to learn. The skills
of self-regulation and mind-body
awareness are preventive. They
will prevent both physical and
psychological conditions.
One of the biggest risk factors for
all kinds of medical conditions
is chronic stress and emotional
disturbance. Self-regulation
leads to emotional equanimity.
Stress regulation and emotional
regulation are absolutely critical
in preventing aberrant behaviors
as well as aberrant mental states.
The degree to which our children
and adolescents are experiencing
adverse mental health conditions is
disturbing. The answer is to teach
them what has been called “socio-
emotional learning”; the ability
to self-regulate and be aware
will change their behavior. It will
change their mental state and it
will change their emotional state.
It will change their self-efficacy
overall and improve their ability to
cope with life.
Unfortunately, these skills are not
taught in our schools, which are
focused on acquiring successful
occupations and not on successful
health of the mind, emotions, and
body. Not training our children to
be able to be functional physically,
emotionally, and mentally is a
weakness of our society. Education
should be about learning how
to be an effective and functional
adult, not just about getting a job.
Yoga has the potential to inculcate
those skills, and that’s the reason
I believe it should be taught in
schools. But we need the research
to demonstrate that bringing yoga
into schools will accomplish that.
Q: You also mention that policies
lag behind research, so we need
more research.
Heartfulness
30

Our society functions and makes
decisions based upon research
evidence. Now, the problem is
that research takes time. There
are many forces and influences in
opposition to research on topics
that we believe are beneficial. One
example, which is very dominant
in modern society, is cigarette
smoking. The research on smoking
goes back to the 1940s and 50s.
Scientists reported that smoking
is associated with bad effects,
and then came the evidence that
smoking causes cancer. How
many decades of research has
it taken to create policies and
regulations leading to no smoking
in restaurants and university
campuses? I’m hoping it will not
take many decades to come up
with policies for yoga and socio-
emotional learning in our schools.
It’s hard to predict.
There is a joke in modern society
that science moves forward funeral
by funeral. Scientists hold onto
old dogma and refuse to be open
to new evidence and new ways of
thinking. When they die, those
who take over are more open and
will adopt and implement new
policies.
We have so many examples. Go
back to Galileo and the principle
that the Earth revolves around the
sun. It took decades to finally win
over the opposing force, which was
the Church arguing that it was
against religious doctrine. That
construct died with the people
who defended it.
Yoga is not religion
Q: I’m also wondering about the
misunderstanding that yoga is
religious.
There are actually two major
misunderstandings, and they are
polar opposites. One is that yoga
is a religion. There is suggestive
evidence that yoga was part of
the Indus Valley civilization.
We know that yoga evolved
out of the culture from that
part of northern India. India is
predominantly Hindu, so many
Hindus practice yoga, but to argue
that yoga is a form of Hinduism
is incorrect, both historically
and philosophically. Although it
is linked to other philosophical
traditions in India, e.g., the
Samkhya philosophy, all of which
are related to each other, yoga
stands on its own as a form of
practical mysticism.
The focus of yoga is the
experience of the unitive state of
consciousness. There has never
been a dogma associated with it.
That, to me, is what distinguishes
religious activity from spiritual
activity. Yoga is a practical form
of mysticism, a philosophy that
argues for the experience of a
higher state of consciousness.
It’s an experience, not a dogma
or belief. That is the distinction
between spirituality and religion.
In religion, you adopt a set of
beliefs and behaviors that make
The focus of yoga is
the experience of
the unitive state of
consciousness.
There has never
been a dogma
associated with it.
That, to me, is what
distinguishes
religious activity
from spiritual
activity.
you part of that religion. You align
with those beliefs and dogma,
and you practice the techniques,
ceremonies, and rituals as part of
religious behavior.
Yoga is a mind-body practice.
You do exercise, relaxation, breath
regulation, and meditation. Over
time, you hope to experience the
unitive state of consciousness.
In the beginning it may be an
experience of simple peace,
quietude and tranquility. But many
people do experience the deeper
unitive state of consciousness,
the Samadhi state. If you do the
practices, you have the experience,
Heartfulness
32
INSPIRATION

regardless of whether you believe
or not. And there are many
instances where people start with
the belief that yoga is a joke; then
they practice and change their
minds because of the experience
that yoga is real and beneficial.
That’s one extreme.
Yoga in Western
mainstream culture
The other extreme is that many
people believe yoga is practiced
largely by beautiful women in
leotards doing acrobatic postures,
and that you have to be flexible.
This is the result of the media’s
portrayal of yoga. In this view,
men don’t practice yoga, children
don’t practice yoga. If you have a
medical condition or limitation,
you don’t practice yoga because
you’re not fit.
If you’re writing a media article,
or want to sell a magazine, what
are you going to show? An old fat
man sitting in meditation? No,
you’ll show a beautiful woman
in leotards doing an acrobatic
posture, because that’s what
attracts readers. If you constantly
put that kind of image in the
media, then the public makes that
association. The related conclusion
is, “I’m not a young flexible
woman, therefore yoga is not for
me.”
Q: I thought the Happy Buddha
was a good counter to that.
The problem with the Happy
Buddha is that you’re going into
Buddhism. When you show a
meditative posture, it’s associated
with Zen and other forms of
Buddhism. You’re going to the
other extreme of yoga as religion.
As a community, we have to
disabuse the public of these two
extreme notions, which are both
false.
Q: I agree. We have a
responsibility to promote yoga
correctly, if it is to help everyone
optimally, focusing on the latest
research, from a perspective
of promoting sleep and stress
management, and preventing
depression and addiction.
We are seeing enormous advances
in research on yoga, with studies
that show the psychophysiology of
individual yoga practices, and also
the effects of combining all four
aspects of traditional yoga.
There are four major outcomes
of the basic research on the
psychophysiology of yoga:
1. Changes in the physical
body.
There is increased flexibility,
muscular endurance, muscle
strength, and respiratory function.
It works on the physical body
and through the mind-body
connection, affecting the
emotional cognitive functioning.
2. Self-regulation.
There is now strong evidence
that yoga can self-regulate our
internal state. We’re starting to
understand the neurophysiology of
that self-regulation. The two most
important self-regulation skills are
stress and emotion regulation. We
know that the prefrontal cortex
is activated during yoga to calm
the limbic system, where stress
and emotion are expressed. There
is growing evidence to show the
ability of yoga to improve self-
regulation of emotion and thought
processes.
There is increased
flexibility, muscular
endurance, muscle
strength, and
respiratory
function. It works
on the physical
body and through
the mind-body
connection,
affecting the
emotional cognitive
functioning.
Heartfulness
34
INSPIRATION

3. Increased mind-body
awareness, mindfulness.
The engagement of the
attention networks in meditation
consistently over time leads to
the skill of self-regulation of
thought processes. We become
capable of self-regulation of
thought processes and come to
an understanding of our thought
processes. We come to realize
that we are not our thought
processes. They are not central
to who we are, because we can
self-regulate them and change
our thoughts. This is referred to
as metacognition in psychology.
Metacognition is consistent with
the most powerful and universal
form of psychotherapy today,
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,
which is based on self-regulation
of thought processes. That
component of yoga is powerful.
4. Longer-term yoga
practice leads to deeper
states of consciousness.
People experience at both gross
and subtle levels a sense of peace,
quietude, and tranquility. Over
time, it becomes stronger and
evolves into a unitive experience,
which approaches the state of the
universe is one. This brings a deep
oneness that leads to a change in
life purpose and meaning.
That is really what we’re talking
about when we use the word
“spirituality.” People change. They
may change their behaviors. They
change their goals in life—there’s
a shift from materialistic goals
to non-materialistic goals. They
become more focused on spiritual
goals and less on materialistic
aspects of life.
The research is convincing in the
fitness component. This research
goes back decades. If we give
individuals asanas to practice,
they become more flexible. We
can measure this in inches and
centimeters and degrees of motion.
Pranayama practice increases
respiratory function and the
autonomic nervous system.
March 2024 35
INSPIRATION

are regions and networks that
can be activated to generate these
states of mind.
The model of the
psychophysiological changes
with the four outcomes can
automatically apply to any
circumstance or behavior. You can
address hypertension, diabetes,
depression, or anxiety. The two
research areas that have had the
biggest impact on policy change
have been yoga for low back
pain and yoga for cancer. We are
starting to see strong movement
in other areas, for example, yoga
for diabetes. India has put an
emphasis on the treatment of
diabetes because of the epidemic
there.
In the West, we are seeing yoga
in incarcerated populations,
and the enormous potential for
rehabilitation of criminal behavior.
There are many areas where yoga
is now used very effectively in
mental health and the entire range
of human disorders.
To be continued.
Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL
From brain
scanning and
neuroimaging,
molecular
biological
techniques, and
biochemical
assays, we are now
starting to
understand how
self-regulation and
mind-body
awareness develop,
what the
relationships are in
the different
regions of the brain,
and how this
manifests in the
brain.
From brain scanning and
neuroimaging, molecular biological
techniques, and biochemical
assays, we are now starting to
understand how self-regulation
and mind-body awareness develop,
what the relationships are in the
different regions of the brain, and
how this manifests in the brain.
This is the most powerful outcome
we’ve had from research during the
past three to four decades.
The area where we don’t have
so much scientific research is
spirituality. Many people have
argued yoga is so profound that
you can’t possibly study it. I
disagree. If you have a spiritual
experience, and you can describe it,
you can measure it. We have many
questionnaires and assays that
measure states of consciousness.
We also know these states of
consciousness are produced by the
brain. We know there are networks
in the brain that are affected by
yoga practice that produce these
states.
One of the strongest pieces of
evidence that it is the brain is the
fact that psilocybin can generate
unitive states of consciousness.
Psilocybin is a drug that affects
regions and networks of the brain.
A subset of people who have
taken psilocybin experience the
full and complete unitive state
of consciousness, which has the
same degree of efficacy and life
change that naturally-generated
experiences have. We know there
March 2024 37
INSPIRATION

Workplace
Be a prisoner of the past
or a pioneer of the future.
The choice is yours.
DEEPAK CHOPRA

Faster and
Shallower
DR. ICHAK ADIZES explores how the speed and depth of our activities
impact the quality of the work we do and the lives we lead. What
message do you take from his thoughts, and what do you feel?
Heartfulness
40

WORKPLACE
H
ave you recently watched
an old movie, say of the
1950s? Did you notice how
it moves so slowly that sometimes
you get restless? Compare it to
recently released movies. The story
moves faster, and people speak
faster.
Compare a news broadcast from
the 1960s to a broadcast now.
Messages are shorter and anchor
people speak faster today.
These increases in speed are
reflected in many aspects of our
life. The proliferation of fast-food
outlets is one. How do people
want their maladies to be fixed?
Not with long-term treatment,
but with a drug that will provide
instant relief rather than healing.
That explains to me why the
drug and marijuana culture is
dominating young people’s choices.
Drugs and marijuana provide fast
pleasure. You do not have to work
hard to achieve goals and provide
services to feel good. Just have a
smoke or take a sniff.
Sex is also faster. Courting is short
and the sexual engagement follows
instantly.
The increase in speed has an
impact on the quality of what we
deal with. Take education: I want
to deliver a theoretical message,
and I’m told to make a tape no
longer than five minutes. Try to
explain the concept of truth in five
minutes.
People are asking for the bottom
line. I asked an author how he
gets to be a bestseller. He told me
he writes a book with just one
message and lots of stories about
that message. Then he prints a
thousand copies himself, and at his
next lecture gives the participants
a copy. Before he starts his
workshop, he tells the audience
members they have twenty
minutes to read the book, tell him
what the book is about, and what
is the message. If they do not have
it, he rewrites the book till people
give him the right answer. Then
he publishes his book. In other
words, for a bestseller, write a book
a reader can finish while waiting
for the bus.
To me, it makes the book
superficial and shallow. You cannot
develop a concept in depth.
I believe that none of the earth-
shaking philosophers of the past
would have survived in today’s
environment.
With speed and
lack of depth, it is
not strange that
many decisions are
bad, and in the field
of leading a
country they can
lead to disaster.
This shallowness impacts the
quality of the message and, in
the case of news, I would not be
surprised if it borders on fake news
because the information provided
is incomplete.
With speed and lack of depth, it
is not strange that many decisions
are bad, and in the field of leading
a country they can lead to disaster.
Just thinking and feeling,
ichak@adizes.com
https://www.ichakadizes.com/post/
faster-and-shallower
March 2024 41

LIVING
VOICE
MERETE NØRGAARD is in dialogue with EMILIE MOGENSEN.
Through her company, Living Voice (www.livingvoice.dk),
Merete works with leaders and communicators, helping
them become better speakers, strengthen their voices,
and achieve authentic leadership. Her book, The Magic
of the Voice, is a guide to understanding the voice as an
instrument and a muscle to be trained.
Heartfulness
42

When you say
something aloud,
only then do you
know what you
mean as the words
take conscious
form.
EM: By way of introduction, one
of my best experiences was
when I had to pitch my previous
company on Danish national TV.
I knew I needed help to be able
to stay centered and focused,
so that the people who were
listening should be able to feel
behind my words, and sense
who I was. That was in 2018, and
I have learned and changed a
lot since. Nevertheless, I really
nailed the performance and it
was so much fun! I felt myself
speaking and behaving from
a sense of deep inner balance
and authenticity. I believe it was
because I trained with Merete.
Merete is one of my very dear
friends, an older sister, whom I
admire and love to talk to. She
is funny, her mind is agile, and
her heart is open. I really hope
Merete’s wisdom will reach more
people, because she is one of
the best facilitators I know. I am
honored to introduce Merete
to the readers of Heartfulness
magazine and happy that this
is coinciding with the English
translation of her book, The
Magic of the Voice.
The Masters of ancient wisdom
traditions have written about the
voice. According to philosophical
texts, OM is a sacred sound,
the sound of the universe,
encompassing all other sounds
within it. The mystery of sound
is a deep innate wisdom we all
carry and can access rather
simply.
Hi Merete, thank you for
everything you’re doing in
this world. You have been an
entrepreneur for many years
March 2024 43
WORKPLACE

When you make
sound, and
cultivate and train
your sound, your
voice transports
your vibrations
behind your words.
and have built up a successful
coaching business. You also have
two adult children, whom you
parented as a single mom while
building your company. That is
quite an achievement.
I am curious to know why your
method has become well known
and used by many companies
and individuals in high positions
in Denmark. What is it that made
your company grow and become
a fruitful career path, while
remaining your deepest passion?
MN: Thank you so much for
inviting me, and being a kind,
loving sister in the Heartfulness
community. We all need to
practice being present while
communicating, as our voices are
like a conveyor belt from the inner
to the outer.
My purpose is to help people to
own the right to be and speak with
a voice that says something about
who they are. The voice is one of
your most powerful instruments
of presence and awareness. It
helps you connect with others and
understand who you are. When
you say something aloud, only
then do you know what you mean
as the words take conscious form.
Also, most of us need to relearn to
speak as we exhale—to breathe in
and then speak as we exhale, i.e.,
Heartfulness
44
WORKPLACE

draw inspiration (Inspirare means
“to breathe into”) and speak it.
I work in a concrete and physical
way with your voice, peeling off
whatever isn’t you, so that you
come across bright and vibrant.
Working with your voice is a
source of wisdom and insight into
yourself, which works sublimely
with whatever other methods of
development you are working with.
You will dare to discover the
unknown spot within yourself that
transforms your nervous energy
and makes your voice vibrant,
strong, and convincing, reducing
the need to repeat what you’ve
said a thousand times before, as a
professional speaking from your
heart with lasting impact.
My story began at a young age,
with red blotches on my neck,
a rapid pulse, and intense fear
whenever I spoke in public.
Many years ago I decided to
transform that fear into something
advantageous, the anxiety and
nervous energy into something
positive, by developing a tool kit
that enabled me to lead others
down the path to outstanding
performance; the kind where you
get your message across, leave an
impact on the audience, and break
the sound barrier.
As a young actress, I worked with
Shakespeare’s texts. It was as if
I could only get to the soul of
Shakespeare’s characters through
their voices—like a fingerprint, the
exact sound of a person can tell
everything about their character.
The voice became a key to finding
character. Shakespeare forced
me to connect with the voice,
body, breath, and soul; to put my
whole self into his material, and
surrender to the text without using
my brain or anything mental. It
was all about giving myself fully
and forgetting myself; self-
forgetfulness. In this way, the text
became a living character via the
voice.
And so my interest in voice work
began. I always knew we all have
the right to a voice; to attend, give
our voice, and share our stories. It
is a human way to belong and find
out who we are, what we can give
to others and the world.
I needed to develop myself to
pass it on. Shakespeare’s work
connects the soul and voice. His
plays express the great human
emotions, and outline profound
ideas that are still relevant today.
He sums up human emotions
and dilemmas, and conveys them
powerfully and effectively. He had
a deep understanding of and love
for humanity. He knew that there
is much more that unites than
divides us.
EM: You have been a sincere
practitioner of Heartfulness for
more than two decades, and
March 2024 45
WORKPLACE

Let the flow of your
conversation be
one that is smooth
and in harmony
with the flow of
reality.
I know for myself that voice
training allows me to meditate
and center myself better. Can
you put some words on why?
MN: Voice training emphasizes
the fact that you don’t just have
a voice; you are your voice. Your
voice, physically, is you, and it will
spread throughout your body if
you let it. Often you feel centered
if your inner space is deep.
When you make sound, and
cultivate and train your sound,
your voice transports your
vibrations behind your words. The
sound of the voice is vibration,
which gives peace and anchoring
when you speak with a bodily-
supported voice. You can better
recognize the sound of yourself,
and others also perceive your voice
as you.
When your voice is physically
supported and takes place in the
whole body, you can imagine your
voice as an airborne instrument,
with sound waves that flow
through the air. Those sound
waves are created inside your
instrument, and they fly through
the air and set the parts in the ear
in motion. It’s a touch that flies
through the air. Let the flow of
your conversation be one that is
smooth and in harmony with the
flow of reality.
Your voice is with you all your life.
From the time you were born with
a scream until you exhale with a
sigh. We survive and live on sound,
and the sound of our voices is
part of our basic existence. In the
voice, body, psyche, emotions, and
expression meet—everything that
makes you you.
The voice sets the air and people
in motion. It is an airborne
instrument that can both caress
and strike, and get very close to
other people. We literally touch
other people when we listen to
them with our voice.
For me, the human voice is the
most important sound on our
planet and the only sound that
can make us laugh or cry, start a
war, or say, “I love you.”The voice
comes as “dynamic flesh” from
the body, from the soul, from our
life stories, from our emotions,
and from the human need to
communicate. As Lalaji said,
“Sound is the manifestation of
consciousness.”
EM: We have shared a lot lately
on inner development, and how
we can go from being good
facilitators to extraordinary
facilitators. You talk about the
ability to bring yourself into
the equation as facilitator,
demonstrating vulnerability. On
your podcast you explore the
archetypal feminine voice (not
gender specific). Why is the
voice such an incredibly powerful
tool to enhance polarity
balance?
March 2024 47
WORKPLACE

We are born with an instrument that
we can use to remove distance
between each other, by speaking
properly and bodily.
MN: We are born with an
instrument that we can use to
remove distance between each
other, by speaking properly and
bodily.
Knowing your voice is important:
“How do I sound when I speak?
Do I have a harsh sound, loud,
muffled, closed, or a hearty sound?
Do I speak with a voice that I
recognize as me? Or can my voice
only transmit parts of me and my
messages?”
We can be aggressive with our
voices and push people away,
perhaps without knowing it.
That is because we have not been
trained to be heard, or to be in
ourselves when we have to speak
up, and take a place with who we
are and what we would like to say.
Know your voice and the sound of
it, as it is connected to your inner
self.
Take responsibility for how you
sound when you speak. Every
time you open your mouth, you
do something to other people.
Some people don’t even know
they speak so low and muffled,
without nuance and variation, that
it sounds as if they are talking to
themselves and are not interested
in connecting with others.
When you communicate, give
something of yourself, and let it be
available in the room. Focus, body,
and presence are needed, and the
fuel to speak, namely your breath.
I work with two masculine and
two feminine voice qualities that
are found in everyone. The goal
is to balance the light and dark
tones in the voice, so that the
body supports it softly. This inner
polarity balance is what you have
experienced supporting you as a
facilitator, an entrepreneur, and a
human being on the path.
EM: When I work with you, I enjoy
your ability to imitate different
archetypes through the voices of
famous people and politicians.
Your background as an actor
comes in handy to emphasize
the power (or lack of) the voice
can have to deliver a message.
I am curious to know how we
can explore our signature story
and “Voice Real,” through voice
training. Hidden parts of myself
pop up when I dare to let go
and really follow your guidance.
Is the voice an instrument to
deliver our message, and also a
guide to find our authentic Self?
MN: Yes! It is your signature
history, your personal and unique
story that tells why you have
become who you are. Among other
things, authentic people have
reflected a lot on their lives. No
matter if they have had the full
of support of others, or they have
been hit by misfortune and death,
they have extracted learning. They
have reflected on what events have
made them who they are today
and taken responsibility for the
process. They have risen above
their challenges, put them in a
new framework, and thereby found
their passion for living.
You can work with this spark, this
you, because this is where your real
power and energy lie; as a person,
Heartfulness
48
WORKPLACE

communicator, leader, teacher,
performer, etc. Self-awareness
and authenticity are important
prerequisites for motivating others
and burning through with your
messages. It requires courage,
a high degree of honesty, and
an openness to look at oneself
and past events without judging
yourself or others. The people
who take this step fully experience
becoming more human and
willing to show their vulnerability.
Denying your “weaknesses” is
one of the biggest dangers to
development, regardless of which
function you are contesting.
The ability to motivate and
communicate is based on the
courage to dare to use your unique
voice, originality, and individual
story.
EM: I love these answers. They
make me think about the French
word “coeur,” meaning “heart,”
from the same root as courage.
To speak from the heart requires
courage. I wish schools would
have voice training in their
curriculums.
Do you think the voice is one
of those forgotten parts of the
human potential, and in future
societies we will train this
instrument as much as we train
the body?
MN: Yes, our voices can be trained
much earlier in the school system
so own the space we speak in.
Then, we will not be afraid to
speak up and fail, or be judged
based on what we have on our
minds.
If we are not trained in the
naturalness of taking the floor and
speaking up, we lose connection
to the heart when we speak. Then
everything has to be thought
through in the brain, and we
sound like a machine, not like a
human voice.
Many love to stand for hours and
train muscles in front of mirrors
in the gym, or burn hundreds of
calories on bikes and treadmills.
That is perfectly fine, but the
muscles we overlook are the vocal
Heartfulness
50
WORKPLACE

If we are not
trained in the
naturalness of
taking the floor
and speaking up,
we lose
connection to the
heart when we
speak.
cords. It’s a shame, because the
voice has far greater potential than
anything else. If it were up to me,
we’d replace an hour a week in
the fitness center with an hour of
optimal use of the voice. The voice
has such an incredible influence on
how we are perceived by the world
around us. Most importantly, you
can step into character toward
your surroundings, as the person
you are deep down.
EM: Can anyone’s voice be
trained, even if they are tone
deaf, for example?
MN: Yes, it’s possible.
“You have to forget yourself. It’s
the only way.”
—Eleonora Duse,
Italian actor
If you could chose two well-
known voices, one male and one
female, that you feel to be the
most balanced and authentic, who
would that be and why?
There are many well-known
actors, activists, change makers,
and spiritual masters, like Morgan
Freeman, Emma Thompson, Judi
Dench, Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Chariji, Malala Yousafzai, and
Scarlet Johannson could be some
good choices. They speak with
such integrity and authenticity
that it almost doesn’t matter what
they say, you just want to follow
them.
EM: I am looking forward to
training with you soon in the
Danish Heartfulness Center, and
I hope to see you facilitate voice
training at Kanha in India one
day. What can we expect from a
workshop with you?
MN:The Magic of the Voice is a
guide to understanding the voice
as an instrument and a muscle
you can train. The voice has both
masculine and feminine qualities,
and the ability to juggle these
aspects is a great advantage in
various situations, not only in
leadership roles, during business
negotiations, or when giving
presentations, but also in daily life.
When you join my workshops,
you will harvest many years of
experience in helping people find
and use their voices. I guide people
in improving their performance,
both on stage, in relationships, and
at work.
EM: Thank you from the heart,
Merete.
March 2024 51
WORKPLACE

You are not going to be perfect
every day. It’s about turning up the
next day and doing it again.
KRISTA TIPPETT
relationships
Illustration by JASMEE MUDGAL

TEJESHWAR SINGH shares his
perspective on the nature and
nuances of love.
A Note on
Love

The role of the heart
We often use the heart to
describe the emotions we’re
feeling, but there is something
more to it, and that is love. Love
gives the heart its character.
We use the heart symbol often
to express our love, sometimes
in a text message, or a drawing
from a child. If it so obviously
represents love, then it makes
sense to use it for what it is
best known. We know that the
physical function of the heart
is to supply oxygenated blood
through the system, keeping
it alive and well. I believe it is
similar with the emotional heart
as well—love passes through the
heart and keeps us emotionally
healthy.
The heart is like a flower
So soft yet filled with valor.
Deep within its chambers
Lies love in all its glamor.
words, I would say the deepest
echo of your heart, because it
comes from you, just as an echo
does. You are the source of love.
These echoes from your heart
manifest in words, actions,
and emotions. A fundamental
element of an echo is emptiness,
in other words, an absence of
obstructions. So, the emptier
your heart, the more you can fill
it with the echoes of love.
Think of it as a wavelength of
emotion; when you add other
aspects, it either enhances the
frequency or disturbs it, just
as we have disturbances in
radio waves from buildings.
A common disturbance is
expectation. It is like building
a dam that controls the flow
Where it all starts
Just as charity starts at home,
love is also deeply rooted in
its home, the heart. It starts
with learning to love yourself.
This could be accepting who
you are or acknowledging your
flaws. The more you learn about
yourself, the easier it becomes
to understand others. We are
all capable of love, it is innately
present, we only need to channel
it through our hearts to spread it
throughout our system.
Is it love?
Love, in the true sense, can
only be defined by itself. That is
because there is nothing quite
like it. If I had to express it in
55
March 2024
RELATIONSHIPS

of a river. Compare that with a
mother holding her newborn for
the first time; she has only one
predominant feeling. The love
channeled through her heart is
pure and without conditions,
allowing it to flow tremendously
without the use of will. It is an
example of the love we can all
harbor in our hearts.
Love is all around
You came into this world as
a product of your parent’s
love. A mother nurtures her
baby with love. In your youth,
falling in love is something you
look forward to. A lot of your
decisions are made with love at
the center.
From the first time your mother
holds you to the last time you
hold someone dear, it’s love. It’s
not just for humans, it’s there in
Nature as well. Mother Nature’s
love for you provides everything
you need. Love is quite literally
in the air. The more you look for
it, the more you find it.
Love and attachment
Attachment is common where
there is love, but it acts as an
obstruction. Since you feel you
are a part of the person you love,
it affects your judgment, because
you subconsciously know that
the decisions you make about
them will affect you as well.
Attachment adds expectation
and the idea of possession. On
the surface it seems normal
to have these feelings, but
when things take a turn, it’s
the attachment that holds
you back from doing what’s
best for yourself and the other
person. Remember the example
of a mother and a newborn.
The two were physically
attached before birth, but it’s
the separation that gives the
mother the opportunity to love
unconditionally when she sees
her baby. Of course, not all of us
are mothers, but it serves as an
example of what we are capable
of.
Loving bad people
How to love everyone? How do
you love someone who has done
terrible things to you, or terrible
things in general? How do you
love someone who is in prison
for a heinous crime? There are
two beautiful ways to do it, and
they are prayer and gratitude.
You can pray that they are given
an opportunity to realize love
and change. And you can remain
grateful that life provided
you with better opportunities,
and that you were not in that
situation to do something
wrong.
If I had to express it in words, I would
say the deepest echo of your heart,
because it comes from you, just as an
echo does. You are the source of love.
These echoes from your heart manifest
in words, actions, and emotions.
56 Heartfulness

Taking it to the next level
The true essence of love is not in
feeling but in becoming.
My spiritual guide, Daaji, has
always encouraged me to do
everything with love in my
heart; it is not enough to love
everyone, it is better to become
love yourself.
Why become love? Is it not
enough to love everyone?
Loving everyone is still a limited
ideology, whereas love is infinite.
When you become love, you will
sustain it. Look at it this way:
the Moon shines beautifully,
but it depends on the Sun for
light. The Sun produces its own
light and illuminates everything
in its path. When you become
love, you illuminate the hearts
of others. To harbor infinity, you
must become infinite yourself.
One question remains: How to
become love?
The Heartfulness way is helping
me. It is a set of meditative
practices that focus on realizing
your Self, which is where love
begins.
The true essence of love is
not in feeling but in
becoming.
Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL
March 2024
RELATIONSHIPS

Connecting with
Life
VASCO GASPAR asks us to explore
how we can become truly alive. Like
Einstein, he invites us to remove
the delusion of separateness
and connect with the whole. He
challenges us to move from “ego
to eco,” and gives us the tools to
manifest the world of the Heart.

... that our real goal
is to dissolve our
boundaries and
unite with the
whole, unite with
the Universe/Life/
Source/God.
Becoming whole,
connecting our essence
with Life
Life is a great mystery. Many times
we wonder about our role and who
we really are. I invite you to get
in touch with the depths of your
Heart and reflect on the following
questions:
What is the real goal or
purpose of human life?
What blocks us from
manifesting that potential?
Who can help us flourish into
that higher possibility?
I’m always inspired by a letter
Einstein wrote to his daughter,
To me, that seems like an inspiring
answer to the first question—that
our real goal is to dissolve our
boundaries and unite with the
whole, unite with the Universe/
Life/Source/God (use the term
you prefer that resonates the
most). That is what words like
yoga and religion seem to point to
in their origins.
What is blocking the way to
achieving that goal? What really
stops us is our ego, with its fears,
desires, and attachments. Also, the
parts of us that, although trying
to protect us, end up creating even
more constriction and boundaries
between ourselves, other people,
and Life in general. As some say,
the word ego can be an acronym
for “edging God out,” which seems
where he said, “A human being is
a part of the whole called by us
Universe, a part limited in time
and space. He experiences himself,
his thoughts, and his feelings as
something separated from the rest,
a kind of optical delusion of his
consciousness. This delusion is a
kind of prison for us, restricting
us to our personal desires and to
affection for a few persons nearest
to us. Our task must be to free
ourselves from this prison by
widening our circle of compassion
to embrace all living creatures and
the whole of nature in its beauty.”
March 2024 59

As we connect with that divine
presence within, we start getting
guidance to attune to Life. We
start “stepping out” of our own
way and letting Life live through
us. The words “surrender” and
“service” become the beacons
of our existence. We start
surrendering to the guidance
that Life is constantly sending
us, receiving it with our Hearts,
which in turn then guide us in
the right direction. We manifest
who we truly are in the world and
how we can be of service to the
larger existence we are part of,
contributing to the greater good.
Step by step, we become a walking
prayer, as the Benedictine monk
David Steindl-Rast says: “Prayer
is not sending an order and
expecting it to be fulfilled. Prayer
is attuning yourself to the life of
the world, to Love, the force that
moves the sun and the moon and
the stars.”
entirely aligned with what blocks
us from flourishing.
From ego to eco
How can we move from “ego to
eco,” from the constriction of our
small self to the infinite expansion
of our being, our higher Self,
connecting with the whole web of
life? And who can help us achieve
that?
I believe the answer lies within,
beyond the body and beyond the
mind. It resides in the Heart, in the
Heart of our Heart, the Self, that
deeper healthy core inside, that
inner divine Light that has always
been shining. The Chandogya
Upanishad pointed to it many
centuries ago: “There is a light
that shines beyond all things on
Earth, beyond us all, beyond the
heavens, beyond the highest, the
very highest heavens. This is the
light that shines in your heart.”
RELATIONSHIPS
Nurturing the connection
I find many practices helpful to
establish, attune, and nurture
that connection with Source,
but the main ones guiding my
journey have been Heartfulness
Meditation and the Heartfulness
Prayer. Prayer helps to create
an inner connection with that
divine presence, and meditation
strengthens it, allowing me to be
in tune with Nature and evolve
spiritually.
We are all sparks of the Divine,
walking each other home, back
to the Source. What would
happen if we could maintain that
connection, that remembrance of
the Divine within and without? To
see ourselves and others beyond
the masks. To see us all as one,
part of the same Being. Imagine a
world like that.
“Prayer is not sending an order and
expecting it to be fulfilled. Prayer is
attuning yourself to the life of the world,
to Love, the force that moves the sun and
the moon and the stars.”
Heartfulness
60 Heartfulness

RELATIONSHIPS
Is it easy to do? No. Is it possible?
Yes. It takes one step at a time,
expanding our awareness to a
deeper understanding of the
interconnectedness we share with
each other and our environment.
The more we expand, the more
we include and transcend our
boundaries and realize our
full potential for goodness,
compassion, and peace, while
navigating through the challenges
of Life.
May we all find ways to become
our divine essence and manifest it
in the world for the benefit of all
beings. May we all realize who we
truly are, surrendering ourselves to
the divine guidance that is always
present. May our spirits blossom
and flourish while we help others
to flourish as well. May we,
together, manifest the world our
hearts know is possible.
Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL

One touch of nature
makes the whole world kin.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
environment

Heartfulness
64
SRAVAN BANDA is a Ph.D. scholar in Biophilia and
Wetlands, and Commodore KAMLESH KUMAR is
CMD of Hindustan Salts Ltd. Here, they share the
history of one of the most important condiments
we use in our food—salt!
Salt:
A Culinary Staple
with a Rich
History
in India

Salt is an essential ingredient
that has played a significant role
in human history and culture for
thousands of years. It is an integral
part of most cuisines, preserving
and enhancing the flavors of
various dishes. Salt has a rich
history that traces back to ancient
times. Historically, it was not just
a culinary ingredient but also
had great economic and political
importance. It was used as a form
of currency, and salt production
and trade became lucrative
businesses. In India, salt holds a
special place, both in the culinary
traditions and in the socio-
economic fabric of the country.
Here are the origins and usefulness
of two varieties of Indian salt—
Sambhar Lake Salt and Sambhar
Lake Black Salt.
Origin of Sambhar Salt
Sambhar Salt comes from the
Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan. It is
renowned for its distinctive flavor
and its alkaline nature, which
sets it apart from other types of
salt. It holds a special place in the
country’s salt industry. Sambhar
Lake is one of the largest saltwater
lakes in India, and is renowned for
its high salt concentration. The
lake’s salt production dates back
centuries, with records of its use
during the reign of the Mauryan
Empire.
Sambhar Salt undergoes a
natural evaporation process that
concentrates its mineral content
and natural iodine coming from
an algal source. This process
contributes to the salt’s alkaline
nature, which is associated with
various health benefits. It is
believed that consuming alkaline
foods can help balance the body’s
pH levels and reduce acidity. Some
studies suggest that an alkaline
diet may contribute to improved
digestion, enhanced energy levels,
and better overall health.
In addition to its alkaline
properties, Sambhar Salt retains
the essential minerals found in the
saline waters of Sambhar Lake,
including sodium, potassium,
calcium, magnesium, and iron.
They contribute to the overall
nutritional value of the salt. The
presence of these minerals also
adds to the unique flavor profile,
enhancing the taste of dishes
prepared with it.
March 2024 65
March 2024
ENVIRONMENT

Sambhar Salt is a favored
choice among health-conscious
individuals and those seeking a
unique flavor experience in their
culinary creations. Whether used
in traditional sambhar recipes or
as a seasoning for various dishes,
Sambhar Salt adds depth and
character to the culinary delights it
accompanies.
Sambhar Lake Black Salt—
A Medicinal Wonder
Sambhar Lake Black Salt, also
known as Kala Namak, is a
flavorful variety of salt that has
been used for centuries in various
cuisines and traditional medicinal
practices. Triphala herbs are added
to the salt, creating a unique taste
and potential health benefits. The
three herbs making up Triphala—
Amalaki (Indian gooseberry),
Haritaki (Chebulic myrobalan),
and Bibhitaki (Bahera)—are
well-regarded in Ayurveda,
the ancient Indian system of
medicine, for their numerous
health benefits. Triphala is known
to have digestive properties and
is commonly used as a natural
remedy for digestive disorders such
as bloating and indigestion. It is
also known to possess detoxifying
properties and may help in
balancing electrolytes in the body.
The production process of
Sambhar Lake Salt involves a
traditional method that has been
passed down through generations.
The plant materials are carefully
selected and burned to ashes.
These ashes are then mixed
with the salt and subjected to a
meticulous filtration process for
around 48 hours. The soluble
salts present in the ashes are
extracted and combined with the
salt, resulting in the distinctive
black color and unique flavor of
Sambhar Lake Black Salt.
One of its key characteristics
is a distinct sulfurous aroma,
because of the presence of trace
amounts of sulfur compounds.
It is this distinct flavor that
makes Sambhar Lake Black Salt
a popular ingredient in various
dishes, especially in Indian and
Asian cuisines. It is often used as
a condiment, or as a seasoning to
enhance the taste of salads, fruits,
snacks, chaats, and chutneys.
Heartfulness
66
The soluble salts present in the ashes
are extracted and combined with the
salt, resulting in the distinctive black
color and unique flavor of Sambhar
Lake Black Salt.

Whether used in culinary creations
or for its medicinal properties, the
Triphala-fortified Sambhar Lake
Salt continues to be appreciated
for its rich heritage and versatility.
While Sambhar Lake Black Salt
offers a unique flavor and potential
health benefits, it is to be used in
moderation like any other form of
salt. People with specific dietary
restrictions or medical conditions
should consult with a healthcare
professional before incorporating
it into their diet.
With a long-standing history
in India, salt holds both cultural
and culinary significance. From
the ancient trade routes to the
modern-day kitchen, salt continues
to be an indispensable ingredient
in cooking. The distinct varieties
of Indian salt, such as Sambhar
Lake Salt and Sambhar Lake
Black Salt, showcase the diversity
and richness of India’s salt
heritage.
So, the next time you savor a
flavorful meal or explore the realm
of natural remedies, remember
the remarkable journey of salt and
its transformative role in India’s
history.
Note: The information provided in
this article is based on historical and
cultural references and should not
replace professional medical advice.
March 2024 67
With a long-standing
history in India, salt holds
both cultural and culinary
significance.

Nothing can dim the light
which shines from within.
MAYA ANGELOU
creativity
Illustration by ANANYA PATEL

BO JOHNSON is
interviewed by SURAJ
SEHGAL about being a
stand-up comedian, the
humanity behind humor,
and the nerves around
how it will be received.
He also reminds us why
we need humor more
than ever before.
BeingFunny
Q: What initially drew you to a career in stand-up?
When I was in the seventh or eighth grade, the iTunes Store had just
become a thing. They had all the old—in some cases not so old—Comedy
Central half hours. I was mowing a lot of lawns and doing yard work at the
time, and I spent almost all the money I made on music or comedy specials
at the iTunes Store. I’ll never listen to it again.
The first comics I loved were Mitch Hedberg and Demetri Martin, who
were both great non-sequitur one-liner comedians. I also loved humorous
books like those of David Sedaris and Douglas Adams, who wrote The
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
I had been writing a little satire zine with two friends, but after college
they lost interest. I was also frustrated by writing something that no one
would read, so I wanted to find a medium where the engine was my own
interest. Stand-up was perfect; even if at first it’s three-minute open mic
sets, there are captive audiences, and they give immediate feedback on
what sucks and what works. That was the start of it, right after graduating
college. I was busing tables and starting to do stand-up.
Q: I’ve seen your stand-up routine twice, once in Atlanta and once
in San Francisco. I noticed you have jokes you are comfortable with,
and then you have your sheet of paper with new material you’re
workshopping. What’s your creative process like for developing new
material?
Heartfulness
70

If I’m on the road, I’ll slip in a few new
lines, or some newer material, into the main
set. I’ll try to do five to ten minutes of new
material on a headline show, and if it’s
working consistently, I’ll move it into my
regular set and see if it still holds up. If it
does, then it has a more permanent home.
When I’m at home or doing shorter sets,
I’ll go to an open mic and do 30 minutes.
In an ideal world, that’s where I would try
new ideas, where no one’s paying to see me.
But some jokes are longer, and don’t really
work on an open mic, and some jokes just
work better if you do them 30 minutes into
a set versus a cold opening.
Q: Comics have different ways of
writing. Do you spend a certain amount
of time writing each day? Or is it when
inspiration hits?
I should do more sit-down writing, because
some of the stuff has been written that
way. But right now I’ll go for a long walk
or workout and jot down an idea here and
there. If I’m in a city for shows, I like to
walk around and think about something
that will hopefully catch. A lot of it is
conversation-based writing. If I’m talking
with friends and something makes us
laugh, I’ll write it down as a premise. I have
a weekly call with a couple of friends, and
we go over the jokes we’re working on and
try to improve each other’s material.
Q: What’s been the most challenging
aspect of being a stand-up comedian?
And what have you done to try to
overcome it?
I’ve been doing stand-up full-time for
about a year and a half now, and doing it as
a whole for eight and a half years, including
Heartfulness
72
CREATIVITY

during the pandemic. One of the most challenging parts is
doing three or four different jobs. I have a manager now who
helps with my bookings, but I still run all my online ads and
social media. Those tasks that make it possible to earn a living
directly eat away at my ability to be creative. But without
doing them, there’s no way to make a living doing stand-up. I
try to make sure that I take time away from the business end
to be a person, to experience the world directly, let my brain
be free enough to be creative, and to have new experiences to
write about.
Another challenge is that it’s easy to take it personally if I’m
not doing well on stage. I’m basically saying, “Hey, here’s what
I think is funny.” Sometimes people won’t like the way I view
the world. There’ll be some weeks or months where I feel
super creative and very funny. I’m writing a lot of new material
that is all working. Then there will be stretches where nothing
is working, and I don’t feel sad or funny. Life is just more
stressful. Maybe something’s happened to my personal life.
Stand-up is essentially freelance work. You’re going paycheck
to paycheck, regardless of whether or not those paychecks are
big or small. As soon as one job is done, you’re waiting on the
next. Your mood can be tied to how well you’re doing on stage.
Sometimes you don’t know how to balance your emotions.
When I had a day job as well, and I wasn’t feeling creative or
funny, or I did poorly on stage, it wasn’t my only identity. I
could think, “Oh, I have this other job. And this is part of who
I am.” It didn’t feel as much like the only thing I did.
I try to make sure that I take time
away from the business end to be a
person, to experience the world
directly, let my brain be free enough
to be creative, and to have new
experiences to write about.
March 2024 73
CREATIVITY

Now, when things aren’t going well on stage, it’s harder
to balance out and feel, “Okay, let’s not sit on this for too
long.” Like an athlete having a bad game, you don’t want
to dwell on it forever. You want to have a short memory,
ideally, being honest about how it didn’t go well, but not
sitting on it for too long.
Q: It’s hard not to take things personally. You thought
it was funny, you were literally standing up in front of a
bunch of people sharing it because you thought it was
worth sharing. With music, people can say, “We don’t like
your voice.” With stand-up, people can say, “We don’t like
you the way you think.” In the last eight years, I’m sure
there have been times when your moods were different,
or you were just in a phase where you felt less funny.
What helps you move forward from that?
It’s easier to say than do in practice, perhaps. You learn over
time that it will always pass. There have been enough times
where I’ve felt very funny and done great on stage, then
bombed for a while, then been funny again, then bombed
for a while. It’s just remembering that this has happened
before.
If I’m on the road, I try to write something about the
city, or have a new joke, a new line. It makes it easier to
be present. I don’t want to come across as if most of it is
written or is an act. I don’t want to be reciting it like a
play with no emotion on autopilot. If I think about my
favorite concerts, it wasn’t just that they were good singers;
they were clearly very happy to be there. We’re all in the
moment. That’s the goal. I want to be in the room when
I’m performing. I love that. And that makes it more fun to
love.
Q: There are changing boundaries with what is
considered appropriate or respectful. I think a lot of
comedy is trying to push boundaries, but at the same
time trying to be respectful and keeping it enjoyable.
I think it’s about your own individual sense of humor, and
how good a joke you can write. I’d say that my sense of
humor tends to skew more toward silly than serious. Great
joke writers can get away with joking about anything,
March 2024 75
CREATIVITY

because you can make anything funny if it’s coming from
the right perspective. Who you are also makes what you
can joke about, what you can say, and how it’s understood.
If you’re joking about your own identity, it’s very different
from commenting on a group that is different from you.
I’m ideally not writing jokes that will make people feel
bad. If I write something that reads the wrong way, I just
don’t do that joke anymore. When people are talking about
things you’re not supposed to joke about, you can joke
about whatever you want; but if people are upset, that’s a
reaction and it’s totally fair.
Q: Have you ever decided not to share a joke because
people have been upset?
I don’t think I’ve posted or shared any that are too
controversial. I don’t know if there’s a right or wrong with
this; there are some subjects you can joke about from all
the right places, but they are darker subjects. Even if the
joke’s written the right way, someone in the room won’t
want to hear it. Maybe it’s tied to their past experiences.
Someone could be doing jokes about mental health and
suicide, for example. I’ve seen instances of that with people
I care about, where they’ve had a bad experience and they
don’t want to have that memory brought up, even if it’s
done in a mindful way. I think that’s fair. Ideally we don’t
want people leaving feeling worse than when they came to
a show.
Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL
Q: There’s a lot right now that feels pretty
challenging; there’s plenty to be sad
about. It strikes me as important to have
people still laughing and making jokes.
What do you think about the importance
of humor and comedy, especially now?
My favorite part about stand-up is the
initial idea of a joke, even before you find
out if it works. This is true about other art
as well. I remember cartoons like Calvin
and Hobbes when I was growing up; it
made me stoked that someone was making
stuff that I thought was cool. And it made
the world seem like a better place. At
college, one of my roommates showed me
another comic I really love, Mike Birbiglia.
We bonded and connected when he showed
me this guy, who he really resonated with
and loved. The same could be said about
my best friends in high school; I’m still
really close to them. We all loved Flight
of the Conchords and had inside jokes tied
to different shows and comics we enjoyed.
We grew closer laughing together. We had
a shared sense of humor. If anything I’m
doing has that same impact, it would be
really cool.
More from Bo Johnson:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/
UCLGWWlDBQUcW77ENfRCLeUw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
bojohnsoncomedy/?hl=en
Who you are also makes what
you can joke about, what you can
say, and how it’s understood. If
you’re joking about your own
identity, it’s very different from
commenting on a group that is
different from you.
Heartfulness
76
CREATIVITY

Who Should
I Be?
SARA BUBBER brings us
a story based on the
famous Japanese tale
“The Stonecutter,”
followed by a fun
coloring activity from
the story.

O
nce upon a time in Japan,
a poor stonecutter was
hard at work. He used his
inefficient tools and a lot of breath
to cut part of the mountain to sell
and earn his bread. He was happy
and content with a life that had no
unfulfilled desires.
One day, he saw a rich man
enjoying the cool shade of a silk
umbrella held by servants. At
work, while hammering away,
sweat beads formed on his head.
He said aloud, “I wish I was that
rich man who had shade over his
head.”The spirit of the mountain
heard him and granted his wish.
He had many servants around him
to take care of his needs. He said,
“Now I will be truly happy!”
A few days later, as the
stonecutter was walking in
the market, a procession
made its way with the king
sitting on the back of an
elephant. The stonecutter
was now a rich man, but he
remarked, “I wish I were
king. I could move around
on an elephant instead of
my feet and everyone would
have to make way for me.”
The spirit of the mountain
heard him again and
granted his wish. The
stonecutter was a king
with a palace, and never
had to set foot on the
ground. He was carried in
palanquins, on horses and
elephants, and in golden
and silver carriages. “Now
I will be truly happy. I have
everything I could hope
for.”
March 2024 79
CHILDREN

But alas, his happiness was short-
lived when one day in the heat his
head began to hurt and his eyes
began to close. He wished aloud,
“The sun is so powerful. I wish
I were the sun.” Once again, his
wish was granted by the spirit of
the mountain.
Now the stonecutter had become
the sun, he thought, “Now I will
be truly happy.” He shone down
so hard on all the poor people, but
he forgot that after intense heat
comes joyful rain. The water began
to heat and evaporate, forming
fierce gray clouds which covered
the sun. “I wish I were a cloud that
has dared to cover me. The cloud
is more powerful!”The spirit of
the mountains fulfilled his wish.
As the cloud burst and poured,
he felt happy. People ran to take
shelter and the cloud moved along
dropping its rain. “Now I will be
truly happy.”
He looked down and saw a tiny
stonecutter.
“A stonecutter? Inflicting so much
pain? Surely, there is no one more
powerful that a stonecutter.”The
spirit of the mountain granted his
heart’s desire and he once more
became a stonecutter. To this day,
the stonecutter can be seen around
different mountains of Japan,
whistling tunes of his journey as
a king, the sun, the cloud and the
mountains.
“Bang.”Try as he might, the cloud
could not move past a mighty
mountain. He looked at how grand
the mountain was and thought he
wanted to be the mountain, stoic,
unaffected and great. The spirit
of the mountain heard his wish
and the stonecutter was now a
mountain. He stood still for many
days, not affected by the sun, rain,
or cold, until one day something
pricked him again and again.
AI generated illustrations
Heartfulness
80
CHILDREN

Activity
Do you remember how many forms the stone cutter took in the story? Can you color
every form the stonecutter took in the image below?
“You are you. Now, isn’t that pleasant?”
—Dr. Seuss
March 2024 81
CHILDREN

Master the habit of meditation
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a joyful existence. Download it at
heartfulnessapp.org
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Meditation Masterclass
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Spiritual Anatomy
by Daaji
From the bestselling author of The
Heartfulness Way and Designing Destiny
A must-read for seekers, meditators,
and anyone who wants to cultivate
joy in their life..
spiritualanatomy.com
Find Your Community
Find a trainer or meditation
center near you!
heartfulness.org/en/
connect-with-us/
Heartfulness
82

Learning,
The Heartfulness Way
Explore simple Heartfulness
practices through our
self-paced courses for
beginners and advanced
learners alike.
learning.heartfulness.org
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Heartfulness Magazine - March 2024 (Volume 9, Issue 3)

Heartfulness Magazine - March 2024 (Volume 9, Issue 3)

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