Adversity does not exist in hind sight, it only exists in the moment. So when I look back I realize throughout my existence, I have overcome adversity by withdrawing to introspect and seek within before I plan and proceed.

Even as a tender child when I realized I was in an adverse situation I would escape from the adverse situation. Whether it was a bully, a teaser/tormentor, the eye or finger of an admonishing adult or a street mongrel, I always ran from the situation. Even today when I am faced with adverse situations like an unhappy spouse, a demanding teenager, an overbearing relative or friend, I do take a mental time-out. Ideally I love to retreat to my meditation cushion, room or chair where I can release the situation. I even love taking a bath. I focus on my breath and begin to slow down my mind until it comes to a near stand still. From this white space I try to reach the thought less state which then allows me to be objective and trust my intuition and higher self to bring forth answers which will help me gain clarity and come up with a solution to overcome my adversity. It requires immense faith and a lot of practice, yet very simple.

How many times have you asked for it to be easier? How many times have you wished that it stayed 'nice' forever? Look back at tell me when did you really feel good about yourself. Wasn't it when you had overcome the challenging situation, right?

So pray for yourself to be stronger not for it to be easier. My favorite poet Tagore said so, I merely remind myself to remember this thought.

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I keep meeting people so often who speak of their depression, drug dependency (legal medication) and their desire to get out of the dependency on the medication. It almost seems like taking medication depresses them more than their depression, or the unresolved issues that lead them to a doctor's office who prescribed the medication, as a last resort.

It breaks my heart when I see people so lost and feeling so helpless. Yesterday I heard of a man who swallowed a jar of Advil pills to end his existence. Now he is a mental asylum and has an impending case of him for attempted suicide. So he comes out of a hospital to be taken to jail.It tears me apart to know that when there is so much love, beauty and abundance in the life, in this world, and then there are some who find it hard to see and experience all this love and beauty.

We can always go back to finding the cause of why some suffer in their pain, and some march on. As a sub-conscious behaviorist I know that it all begins with low-esteem which was embedded into us by our primary caregivers and environment created by family, friends, well wishers, school system, extended family, the religions and news. To me the only thing that ever gives hope is movies where there is poetic justice and the victory of good over evil, where the underdog does rise and shine. Each of us identify with the hero who is battered through life to become the champion in the end, and lead his tribe to ever lasting joy.

Why is it some get inspired, and others just toss it aside as another tale? Children are born with no concept of fear. They trust their caregivers with everything for all their needs but what happens over time? Fear is an acquired habit, which intensifies with time. Modern day meta-physicists and conscious seekers are working on growing their own tribe where we can experience more love, have more options and create our reality by getting closer to the truth, as it exists, oneness, love!

But where does the person who is now in the clutches of the medication and feeling worse because someone told them that medications make it worse go? What are their options? Is it a downward spiraling journey?

I would love to believe that through education, and media exposure, and everyone doing their part allows each of us to believe that we have to reach out before we take the drug. Stop the blame game and take responsibility. Everyday people need to know that there are those out there who can help them without the medication.

The insurance companies should focus on getting their clients healthy and keeping them healthy. The focus should not be focussed on pumping more drugs into a drugged up nation. The doctors and I know many of them who practice holistic approaches themselves but would not recommend it to a client, since the insurance will not cover it. People are left to the dictates of the insurance companies and pharmaceutical industries. This is unfair, when the citizens of the land of the free and home of the brave, are being hit below the belt and left with no choices.

In conclusion all I will say is .... God bless America! and May God bless my beloved Americans!

I believe this statement of our president resonates a 100% of what I offer and who I am.

Children when they are born are so pure and so close to the light, that in a way God sends them to us to help us and get us back closer to God. To connect with the divinity within us. But the reasoning world says we are here to serve our children and we expect them to do things for us when we are old. But then they have their children and busy themselves proving for the divine a home in the earth/material plane.

The only time children help us is when they are with us, bringing us joy, cheer, laughter, hugs, little gifts made with their little hands, little steps they take with their little feet. Main thing is they teach us to slow down in life since they can't take giant strides like adults. By slowing down we appreciate the world better, instead carrying them around and making them burden us and never teaching them to walk on their own.

Today after four and a half months of working, a Carnival unfolded. It was at Portola elementary school in Ventura California. Parents and community members alike unfolded tables and tents and set up booths for a great day at a community school.

The theme was YOU ME AND THE PEOPLE WE SEE. The PTA came together to raise funds for the school while providing a fun, safe and ecological environment for children, parents and the community. In less than twenty dollars children had fun for an entire day. There is no theme park which could do that.

All of the stalls were contributed by local businesses and most to all of the profits went to the school. Many of the businesses did not have their children in the school. Either their children had graduated out of Portola or were yet to start kindergarten. But they all believed that we must support a community school.

When the government of California has declared itself bankrupt and the citizens are being asked to cast votes on whether government should fund special-ed programs or no, it is up to the community now to ensure that their children receive the guidance they deserve as students and as future citizens of the nation and globe.

Kudos to thoughtful PTA and a generous community. It certainly does take a village to raise our children...

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If I have harmed anyone in any way
either knowingly or unknowingly
through my own confusions
I ask their forgiveness

If anyone has harmed me in any way
either knowingly or unknowingly
through their own confusions
I forgive them.
And if there is a situation
I am not yet ready to forgive
I forgive myself for that.

For all the ways that I harm myself,
negate, doubt, belittle myself,
judge or be unkind to myself
through my own confusions
I forgive myself.

.... today I spent my morning with over 40 teenagers who came to school because that is how they stayed away from prison. Their parole officer ensured this.

Mumbai has been my heartthrob since I first beheld it, when I was 14. Since then at least once a year I visited Mumbai until 2004. I have lived in Mumbai and worked in Mumbai and I have loved everything about Mumbai. Today with tears in my eyes and a bleeding heart I write of the pain I am in seeing my lover city, amidst this war. Nothing compares to what I am experiencing right now. Today is amavas here in the city of angels and I know a new chapter in world history is being written. History is being created right as we live it in each breath. God bless us All. Peace unto us all! Bhagavan ke ghar me der hai, andher nahin! I love you, Mumbai! Keep your chin up and your head high. Om shanti, shanti, shanti!!!

Hardships bring about humility or horrific thoughts. Right now as the world seems to be plunging downwards economically, I am suddenly seeing the niceness in some people whom I knew before and by their own admittance weren’t so nice. I have friends and clients who are undergoing treatments for what seemed incurable a few years ago. CANCER. Since the western doctors have written out death warrants on them, they are coming closer to how fragile human life is.

Just like a strong gust of wind can blow out a candle or spread a wildfire, so can an act of violence make a few violent and others turn to their faith. What is it that makes one get violent and smack or destroy their attacker, and what is it that makes one turn towards their faith, God to give them strength to continue.

Once a friend of mine had told me that I was stupid, because I was ultra nice. I had responded to that saying “thank God for a few stupid people, the rest of the “smart” people can continue to be who they are so the world is still inhabitable.” Of course he smiled and agreed to my response.

When something goes everyone is constantly looking for who to blame. The other day on ndtv, Sanjana Kapoor commented on the television that the Home Minister should resign as he is responsible for the attack on Mumbai. Throughout the India independent from the British Raj this has been the pattern, whenever something goes wrong a demand is made for the resignation of the person in power. Sometimes they take responsibility and resign and at times they resign by succumbing to demands from opposition members of the government.

Now does this mean that violence stopped, or the incident was not repeated there or somewhere else. Terrorists have no religion, the religion of a terrorist is terrorism. I remember in India when the Sikhs had started a movement in which they asked to form their own nation and separate from India. Every Sikh was called an atankwadi meaning a terrorist. In those days I was still a student and having a lot of time in my hand I used to read avidly. I read stories of so many freedom fighters in India, those who fought for the freedom of India from the British. The Britishers bore down on them as criminals. They were killed without trial and it was called encounter attacks. Some were tried and of course they were all sentenced to kalapani, another term for “Sentenced for life and imprisoned in the jails of Andaman Islands” I had seen footages or the prisoners who were young school going students who had attacked some british person, vehicle or office or was present in the scene or was a friend, classmate, cousin or brother of someone who had attacked and was pronounced dead before they physically died. They worked during the days in inhuman conditions and slept with their feet chained. When they walked their bare feet were chained so they would not escape, Where would they have escaped too. They were in a deserted island constructing the bungalows for the british officers and the prisons.

I used to wish that Punjab could never rescind from India else it would be the creation of another unfriendly neighbor like Pakistan, And if Punjab ever rescinded from India I knew that all those who are being labeled as terrorists in India now will be known as freedom fighters tomorrow in the new nation of Punjab. Thank God that such a thing never came of fruition. Punjabis are one of the best cooks, and the bravest of Indian men, besides being a community of handsome men and beautiful women.

Speaking of Pakistan, their demands and attacks on India have forever been irrational to me. They seem to be formed by a government who never seek peace for themselves or the world. Every Pakistani I ever met personally is a very amicable and hospitable person. But the government seems to have their wires crossed. There is no concept of democracy, every elected person in always over thrown by a military regime and assassinated or hung unjustly. And the fascinating part about this is that their biggest supporter has always been the US. After 9/11 US wrote off 2Billion dollars in loan money to Pakistan. The Pakistan President who is also their army head visited US and this was flashed in every news channel in US. The Indian Prime Minister visited US simultaneously and to my knowing he met only with certain members of the US government, the President of US, George W Bush never met with him and there was no mention of this visit in any news channel or prin t media in US. When Benazir Butto, the opposition leader of Pakistan visited US, she was introduced to the President as the Prime Minister of India. It is hilarious how ignorant and egotistical those who house the US White House are. The media in US though speaks of freedom of press, it is only what the government and those in power and with wealth will allow to be published. It is what will sell the company is allowed to be brought to the public. Pakistan being a non-democratic nation, why does US support it financially so it can house all of the worlds militants? Osama bin Laden still resides in Pakistan, why was Afghanistan plundered when all along he lived in Pakistan. Pakistanis burn American flags everyday on the streets and yet US pour in all our tax money into keeping that economy flourishing. Why? All Pakistani extremists in India walk around with US dollar bills in their pockets. They carry wads of these bills. HOW?

US spends billions of dollars promoting how Russia was a threat to the world in the 20th century. In the 21st century they have started another campaign saying that China is a threat to the US economy. The U.S. has the personality of a hormone driven masturbating 17 year old male teenager.  A 15-17 year old male teenager feels that they know everything and everything they lay eyes on belong to them. Everyone must listen to them else they have no problem going against their parents and being disrespectful of their teachers and elders. This is how America operates. America

The World series in US that are played are games in between the states within the US states. I do not think there are Hawaiian or Alaskan state teams for American football and basketball. These championships must be called the 48 contiguous states of the US American football/basketball series.

I believe every Indian is responsible no matter where they reside each time India is attacked militarily or through terrorist attacks. How many India ensures their neighbor is happy and fed? There was a time when we did. We Indians are humble yet proud. We maybe poor but we never beg. What has happened to that country? Today the feudalistic system has been replaced by the credit system. Our parents, the children from the 40’s who are now in the 70s are the only generation who lived their lives debt free.

What is it in human being that make us reject our elders and take on what is alien? Every indigenous culture all over the planet abandoned their heritage to take on the western culture which made promises of freedom, but are the descendents of the Caucasian race truly free. Freedom is within the boundaries, or isn’t it?

- An Indian American