Live Positive Way - Cast your vote wisely

Almost a decade back—to be precise—in 2008, I was pursuing MBA and used to go for my “Personal Contact Classes” in Mumbai.  Our batch was filled with a mixture of students, professionals, and a few homemakers like me—who have taken a break in career.  It was indeed like revisiting my college days after a long time and I thoroughly enjoyed those classes.  The highlight of those classes was the students who came from Gujarat for their contact classes since the University in which I enrolled for the course had “contact classes” only in a few selected cities. We used to sit with other-course students during our break-time or during lunch hours to chit-chat.  We used to have conversations like, which is their course? from where they have come? etc. Something caught my eyes during one such conversation, are their phones.

Smartphones were not that popular in those days, but many students used to have colour phones, which allowed them to keep ‘screen savers’, ‘backdrop pics’, etc. It’s quite natural that it grabs one’s attention when kept on the table or if something flashes on the screen.  In a few phones, I saw a middle-aged person’s picture as the screensaver. I got a bit curious, and to have a closer look, I requested the students to show it once. To my surprise, the picture they had was that of Narendra Modi-Ji. (Even though, I have heard about him and also knew that he is one of the popular Chief Ministers of our country, I personally was not a big fan of him then as I did not know much about him). I immediately asked them, ‘why him’ as a screen saver? To be frank, I was totally surprised to see his photo, since, it is but natural to see the picture of one of the close family members or some cricketer or an actor/actress and not his picture. The reply that came from them surprised me even further.  They said, “he is no less than a hero for us. He has done so much for our welfare and this is nothing in front of that”.  Only after this incident, I started reading more about Modi-ji, both, to know him personally and to know about his vision and policies, which had given him such a stature amongst the people of Gujarat.

A person who is biased, cunning or corrupt can’t earn such respect, that too from the younger generation. People sometimes get carried away by other people’s statements and often make assumptions about someone based on it.  Hence it's required to check details oneself before making any decision/opinion about anyone.  My journey to know him through books, articles and his speeches helped me to understand him better.

When he contested 2014 elections I felt so positive that he will become our Prime Minister and surely make us feel proud. I was campaigning for him by encouraging my relatives, friends to vote for him. There were a few people who even felt he is not going to win and I am wasting my time in supporting him. I believe, before 2014, none of us were this vocal about our political choices, thanks to Modi-ji again, now people freely talk their mind out. Freedom of speech has reached a stage where they have used all possible abusive expressions against the Prime Minister of the country. I used my social networking sites requesting people to vote for him in 2014 too. Whenever I posted something positive about him, the post mooted several conversations, with so many people.  That, of course, continues even now but the number of pessimistic replies have gone down phenomenally compared to the earlier election.  Happy to see many of them have even started supporting him after seeing his good governance.

Once I was surprised to see his picture in some mobile phones and now, my social networking sites has his picture as DP or Profile picture. He is the only politician for whom the general public is campaigning. I am not a politician, not even a secretary/leader of my residential society but I do campaign for him since I trust him and his vision for all of us. I am quite sure if we miss him, he will be moving with his small bundle of things, heading towards the Himalayas but we will be left to suffer in wrong hands.  My humble request to whoever reads this post is vote him back. Trust me, he will keep our security and welfare first than anything else.

All the best to Modi-Ji and to the people of India for good governance.

- Suganthi Sankaran

Live Positive Way - Appreciation

Live Positive Way - Appreciation

I asked Life,

“Why are you so difficult?”

Life 'smiled' and said,

“You people never appreciate easy things”.

What a powerful message?

This is not my first blog post about 'appreciation'. I keep posting on this topic. But this time, it’s a special blog post for me 'on appreciation'.

Whenever we talk about appreciation, we always think about ‘elders appreciating the younger ones’, ‘parents appreciating their children’, ‘seniors appreciating the juniors in work place’, ‘colleagues appreciating each other’ or ‘friends’ or ‘partners’.

A small girl made me realise that children too have the ability to 'appreciate elders' and motivate them.

The past few months were tough for me and I was trying hard to bring out my best in all areas. As a 'Specialist' working with the 'children with learning difficulties' in an International School, I often find happiness helping the children and spending more time with them. Yesterday was a lovely day for me. I was in a class helping my children with "special needs" and suddenly one girl from that class came to me. Normally, I go to classes and take care of the children referred to me and being in the age group of 4-6, sometimes out of curiosity, other students too come to me to know what I am doing. A few children, to grab my attention will keep asking me some doubts or spellings to complete their work.  So I thought she is one such a child and asked her what she wants? She showed me a beautiful drawing of two images. I said, ‘That’s really nice. Good job!’. She immediately responded with a broad smile, “Ma’am, that’s for you!” I was surprised and enquired, “but why for me”? For that she replied, “I like you”. Though I was delighted by the response, still had my own doubts and further asked, “but I never teach you, still you like me?” For this she replied, “Yes ma’am. You don’t teach me but I love you so much since you help my friends to read and write, which they found difficult to do before”. I was totally moved by this gesture of her's. A small child of age 6 is so connected and concerned about her friends and not just that she is also able to appreciate the work of a person who is 41 years old.

I was feeling out of the world hearing her “APPRECIATION” for me. At that moment, I felt like, my 4 years of association with this field is rewarded. All my efforts and passion were recognised by this child and I saw her above anyone else who can rate my performance in the organisation.

Hats off to the parents of Tanvi (that’s her name which I will never forget in my lifetime) for giving such an upbringing who cares for her friends and at the same time have the attitude of appreciating others. She changed my perspective and made me realize that even a small child can appreciate elders and the appreciation from anybody---regardless of age, group, society, person----adds more value to what we do. 

Due to so many personal 'engagements' I was not able to sit and pen down my thoughts for almost 2 months now. Two of my other blog posts (drafts) are only half-way through in my 'reflective journal'. But this small girl moved me so profoundly that I completed this blog post in no time.

I am double-charged now to work more closely and effectively with my students and I feel I have finally chosen something, which is so apt and fulfilling for me. 

Who knows, may be this is my 'real calling'?!

- Suganthi Sankaran

Live Positive Way - Memories

Live Positive Way - Memories

I am remembering those days, when I used to tell my mom, “come on Amma, your days’ songs are so boring. How come you keep hearing them so many times? 

Huh! That’s ‘too mean’ right? I feel bad now, while thinking how rude I should have sounded then.

Now, at this ‘middle age’, I understand, what it should have meant to her then, when I keep hearing to Illayaraja’s songs now—which has become a food for my soul. 

We, who took birth in 70s & 80s can understand and get a nostalgic feel reading this post, for sure. Em just remembering those days…our school days…our bicycle rides, friends and our favourite phrase “vividh bhaarathiyin varthaga oliparappu –naeyar viruppam”….‘our own’ radio station-which had a monopoly in the broadcasting space those days. There were neither ‘malls’ nor ‘big super-shops’…we had only small shops lined up in the streets.  Chennai, being an active city—used to see every shop open early in the morning—those days without any other option—for everyone, for every morning—listening to vividh bharathi’s telecast  was an important ritual like listening to subrabadham.  All houses and the shops, be it a ‘tea-kadai’, be it a ‘thunik-kadai’, be it a ‘maligai kadai’, everywhere its same music, same song…  

I get decked up in my uniform and will be waiting for my friend Bhavani to reach my house around 9.15 am everyday so that we can go together to school.  That used to be the time we get to hear some latest songs in that radio channel which will last for 30 minutes without any break.  We normally commence our journey at the start of the first song, we keep pedaling as slow as we can to listen to those songs fully.  We continue listening to them together all the way, Thank God! we didn’t  have headphones to isolate us from the rest of the world.  The best part is we keep chatting while riding.  The songs used to do the job meant for the background music and worked as a Catalyst in building a long lasting emotional connect.  It is rightly said that music is the solace for soul(s).  We used to hear our Thalaivar Rajnikant’s and Kamalhasan’s songs back-to-back, since they were competing with each other those days releasing movies throughout the year and ensuring us to listen to their songs without any break in the whole year.  We used to listen to those songs in that 30 minute morning slot, mostly.  

Hope my contemporaries remember those tiny 25 paisa ‘pudu paatu’ booklets. I used to collect them and keep for every new Tamil movie release. The way we by-hearted them and these radio channels helping us to keep them in our memory files are mind-blowing… Being a singer I still can sing all those songs without the lyrics in hand since it helped us in developing our rote memory skills. Now we have all latest Smart Apps like Smule, Starmaker to sing, and there is no need to memorise lyrics since we can check the lyrics while singing live, but I find none of the new song lyrics I can remember after a few days.

Those days’ life was very simple, sober, yet fulfilling.  We were more connected with our loved ones which the latest app like ‘WhatsApp’, ‘FaceTime’, ‘Google Duo’ all fail to help us achieve that. 

We used to buy “cone ice-cream” near our school gate and our parents neither restricted us nor we fell sick due to that.  We used to ‘know’ all our peeps staying near our house and get to see all our neighbours gathering at temple for special occasions or at ‘ration shop’ to buy ‘kerosene’ (while writing this, the ‘kerosene smell’ still lingers in my mind).  The news of availability of kerosene in the ration shop used to create happiness on the faces of everyone which can be equated to the availability of new currency notes after demonetisation. Now, the building society in which I am staying for the past 6 months I got a chance to interact only with one of my neighbours (btw, a special note here “I am an extrovert”).

Those days I don’t remember anyone complaining or making a big fuss about any lack of facilities at school or at home.  We were trained to ‘adapt’ and ‘accept’ what is given happily. If we get dresses as gift from some relatives on some festival or marriages, we used to keep it safe for our upcoming birthday or some festival. We were taught and had a habit of appreciating the good intention of the giver and it personally helped me to cultivate patience, restrain from buying a new stuff when I already have one.  Now-a-days we have more dresses than the wardrobe storage and we hardly gift or receive dresses from relatives.

There used to be no back-up for power supply in our era and once there is no electricity supply we immediately start playing ‘anthakshari’ (music game).  Does this new generation even know what is anthakshari or the strategies we used, to make the game interesting? The game will last for hours together. 

We can safely claim that we were closer to the nature those days. Without any big apartment buildings, we had only two option, either to choose play under the hot sun or sit at home and we often opted for the first option to play out.  The houses with ‘WELL’ (ground water source) surrounded by trees, flowers, butterflies…filled with love, passion, care…. I guess now-a-days kids neither go out to play nor they are as attached to the nature or people as we were in our childhood days.

We belong to that generation, whose life-style was simple and is introduced to all new things, beginning from Television to today’s latest technology IOT (Internet of Things) or VR (Virtual Reality).  We were that ‘lab rat’ for all testing purposes. I remember the way I got surprised (shocked?!) the first time I saw computers.  Being a young aspirant that time the pressure of learning how to handle that box was a real challenging situation. I wonder if those old computers are still there and kept in some museum since computers have gone through a massive transformation. Oh yes, I am right now typing this using my new slim laptop and probably I post this in my blog page using my smart phone… Hah! what a change in life…isn’t it?!

I have quoted many a times in my Facebook page or shared with my friends that, “Two man-made things which amaze me and really fascinates me are, one, the Aeroplane - which can take us around the world and two, the Internet - which brings the world to us! But, when I remember my childhood days, I fall into a Catch 22 scenario about ‘internet’ being a blessing or a curse.  Does internet really help us to stay happy the way we were in our childhood days? A big ‘NO’ for sure. It is far easier to send a WhatsApp message to my close school buddy but it can never give that happiness of those time where I used to take my bicycle, ride 2 km to reach her place, see her in person and talk to her. 

I used to get comments from few of my young friends, ‘Suganthi you are updated with all new technologies but you are two generations behind’.  Yes, I agree to their view with a smile. They don’t even know what it was to be in 70s and 80s.  We are the ones who are rooted deep in that simplicity yet coping with the latest ever-changing life skills.  A few recent movies and the discussions that we had in our School friends WhatsApp group made me post this blog post.

Hope the ones who belong to my age group are now in a trance filled with old memories and the new ones with whom we have a generation gap is wondering, 'what she is writing'?  And I am heading back to use my latest iPod to listen to my own favourite ‘Ragadevan’ Illayaraja’s song since I am feeling so nostalgic and wish to travel back in time to my childhood days, yes of course, VIRTUALLY!

Stay happy, stay positive!

- Suganthi Sankaran

Live Positive Way - A throw back

5th September 2003 – a throw back

It was a pleasant evening, the clock was rolling fast and we were in the 'German Hall' in Kodambakkam almost filled to its full capacity.  I was 'super excited' for two reasons. First, for, I was through with my 'Executives Workshop on Motivation' and two for the felicitation  function of our batch. A ‘Trophy’ for the outstanding students and a few medals for the best performers were earmarked.  I was 100% sure that the ‘trophy’ will be grabbed by my brother since he did extra-ordinarily well and outshined other participants in all aspects of the course. Secondly, after so many months I was feeling 'happy', 'contented' and 'satisfied for acquiring something 'good' and was eagerly waiting to watch the grand show.

It was almost 7 months after resigning my job from NIFT and was searching a job all over Chennai. I kept going with the famous probability formula of '1 hit for 100 searches', so you can guess how many places I might have visited in search of a job. One good take away was, I got to know the entire Chennai city so well and knowledge about various industries and the different varieties of job that was available in the market then, except the fact that, I wasn't able to get a job for me. I used to attend many many lengthy...day-long....week-long interviews, cross all levels of scrunity but somehow I couldn't crack the last rounds and make it to the final 'successful candidate list'.  While being a positive person, I managed to keep my hopes alive and believed that 'something good is going to happen', at the same time, I was reflecting on why I was not able to get through in the final rounds of the interviews.  My financial position too was moving from 'comfort zone' to 'critical zone' and I must get a job in couple of months to get back on track. I always wish to offer a big 'thank you' to those 'wonderful' ‘R’ people in our lives, who constantly criticize us, about our status and keep giving us unsolicited advices and 'put us down' with all negative comments. In those days specially if you are not an Engineer or Doctor that is the end of the world. I used to hear, "Hey, you are not professionally qualified still you left the Central Government job? Why you quit your job? How are you going to get a job? That too in Chennai?”……. I was terrified.... scared of hearing these dialogues hitting me again and again and hence started avoiding all ‘R’s….(hope by now you know what stands for ‘R’ if you're not able to guess do message me I will love to reply :) So, I was desperately hoping for a ray of hope, a new start, a positive sign in life.

The program started and all of our 'batch mates' were seated close to the dais. There were a few introductory speeches and the chief guest's speech and then came the most exciting part, the ‘Awards and Rewards’. Never I had aimed for any awards or rewards till that time but being in that predicament---with a 'job-less' status---I was longing for a recognition of my intellectual ability, just one note of appreciation, one medal.

There were many medal winners, many of my batch mates were called up on to the stage and were rewarded with medals under various categories, and, I was still waiting in anticipation below the dias, then came the announcement from the Coordinator, ’all the medals meant for the day are distributed and now it is time to announce the trophy winner'. By hearing this I got so upset and started analysing things in my head whether I went wrong anywhere in my participation but remembered giving my best and being an active participant in every challenging activity. Immediately within seconds I gathered myself and told to myself that 'it is fine if I am not getting an award since I had the satisfaction of 'being a part of something very good' and to get associated with such a great institution. Now, I was ready to hear my brother’s name to be announced as a Trophy winner --- The course coordinator again started after a pause……this is the first time in MAX Academy we are awarding two 'Trophy Winners' and the best thing is both the Trophies are going to the same house…. To the brother and sister…..’ Oh god it’s me! I was feeling out of the world.  It was the first time in my life I heard my name as a ‘Winner’ and my blood raced fast when I climbed those few stairs of the stage and received it with full pride and happiness.

This post is not about me getting a trophy but about the person who thought I deserve it, it's none other than our beloved Dr. J.N. Reddy. That stage, the approval in his eyes and the trophy for the Best Performer that I received, boosted my confidence exponentially, which even he was not aware of.  I felt fully charged up and felt highly motivated at that moment. That was the day I felt that, 'come-what-may', I can never 'fail' in my life and all that stops me from achieving success are mere 'challenges', which I can face and overcome. We always need 'that' one 'appreciation moment'; you can even call it a 'magical pat' to get back the lost confidence. Not only the trophy, eventually, Dr. Reddy even gave me a job in his institution to start with my second innings. From there, it was never a look back, I bagged a job in a most reputed International Bank and never had an iota of doubt about my 'strengths'. He had always been my source of motivation and I always have a great regard for him. I am sure, it is not just me, but many of my fellow 'maxions' is as well surely touched by his sweet gestures. He practice what he preach and I am proud to be associated with such a wonderful person who always inspires and motivates everyone.

After a long gap, again I am back to a job to try my third innings with full of zeal and enthusiasm. I am still in that state of mind that I had while receiving my trophy. “I can always give my best anywhere and in anything that I take up”.  It is not always required to give awards and rewards to recognise someone’s potential, a simple word of appreciation---even the assurance and acceptance we extend towards someone---can boost their morale.  Let’s all be the kind of person who appreciates others and never criticise. Life matters more and we can be someone’s support to keep their spirits high. Let's make a positive impact in someone's life through our positive words and actions!

Stay positive!! Be a change-agent!!

- Suganthi Sankaran

Live Positive Way - Happy Teacher's Day!

षडंगादिवेदो मुखे शास्त्रविद्या

कवित्वादि गद्यं सुपद्यं करोति

मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे

ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्

sadangadivedo mukhe shastravidya

kavitvadi gadyam supadyam karoti |

manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme

tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim ||

which means "The Vedas with their six limbs and the knowledge of all sciences may be on one’s lips; one may possess the poetic gift and may compose fine prose and poetry; but if one’s mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?"

– Guruvastakam by Sri Adi Sankara

We can reach whatever heights we want in life, can mature with age and wisdom, can progress in every aspects in life but all these starts with the blessings of the teacher. There is no greater blessings than the love, hope, guidance, warmth and care of a teacher. 

My humble Pranams to all my Teachers, my Facilitators, Seniors at my work place, my Husband, my invisible Gurus yet powerful Book Author's, especially Dr. Brain Weiss, my Trainers @ MDA/Ananya, My fellow Remedial Educators and all Teachers...Wishing everyone a Happy Teachers Day on this special day!

- Suganthi Sankaran

Live Positive Way - Independence Day 2018

Another year of "Independence Day celebrations". Let's imagine the day when we got "freedom" from the British, how people might have felt, it is indeed difficult to even guage. They might have run 'here and there' on roads in ecstasy, rejoicing the freedom, happily hoisting our 'tiranga' (flag) and sharing the joy and sweets....Do we all really "rejoice" our independence day with the same fervour now? Have "Independence day" and "Republic day" become just a confirmed holidays to be with the family? I really don't know what you feel while you read this, but I feel upset when I see some people shut themselves inside their house to watch the "Special programs" in TV (which in no way connected to Independence Day) or prefer sleeping for a longer time since it is a "holiday".

I grew up hearing my dad quoting poet Bharathidasan's words,

"தச்சன் கூடுதான் உனக்குச் சதமோ?

அக்கா அக்கா என்று நீ அழைத்தாய்.

அக்கா வந்து கொடுக்கச்

சுக்கா மிளகா சுதந்திரம் கிளியே?", 

(Independence is not a dry ginger or black pepper which can be given by the elder sister), which had indirectly made me understand how difficult it was for those freedom fighters to get freedom for our nation. Only because of the so many sacrifices of our people, we got our freedom...but though we 'enjoy' the freedom 'we hardly value' it now!

I remember one of our school day's independence day celebration. It was pouring heavily that day but still none of us moved an inch from the place where we were. Patriotic! That's how we were in our school days and thanks to our teachers and my school, which exposed us to the freedom fighters and spread knowledge about  their great sacrifices.

Times got changed now and we have to be blamed for not ensuring our children's participation in "flag hoisting" with pride. We should make them understand our rich heritage and value our Nation. Encourage them to read more about 'our' history and about 'our freedom fighters'. There were some 'real' freedom fighters for whom our country's independence remained their only wish of their life. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose - a great visionary and our great leader, was one of them. Suspiciously, our main stream history books don't talk much about him. What he didn't do for us to enjoy the freedom? It's unfortunate to see him placed as a "forgotten hero". Should we blame the then Government formed in independent India? or a few selfish leaders who ensured that the future India cuts its chords with him? His death still remains a mystery. Many research articles state that British were so scared of him and it's because of him they wanted to leave our nation.

"Where all he went, what all difficulties he faced just to see all of us free". Many documents, movies, articles & books are available online now to know more about his indomitable efforts. He loved his motherland more than his love of life. The popular "slogans" and the "national song" came into existence because of him, for he who advised the then Congress about its importance and the impact it can create in the minds of people. 

"Tum Mujhe khoon do, main thume azadi doonga" (Give your blood, I will give you freedom) his quote, even today, makes my blood run fast. He travelled a lot to meet the leaders of other nation (which still looks like a dream for me) to help us get freedom. From Kolkata to Pakistan - Afghan - Germany and travelling in submarine (underwater) for more than 40+ days to reach Japan... Oh God! Terrific it is.... He did all of this during the World War II. One can imagine how much struggle he might have encountered on his way.....

"First Mohammed Ziaudin - an insurance agent, then Ziaudin Khan, a mute tribal Patan and now an Italian count (Orlando Mazzotta)...kya kya na hua ya watan tere pyaar mein"..... (from the film Netaji Subash Chandra Bose - The forgotten hero).

Taking charge of INA, training the soldiers and the way he encouraged to fight for our freedom...gives me goosebumps!! 

To add on, Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad, Muthuramalinga Thevar and so many leaders about whom we get very less information in our school History books. Hence I request you---my peeps---to ponder over the points that I shared and educate our children to learn more about our great leaders and help them walk the path of those pure souls.

Wishing you all a very Happy Independence Day!

Kindly participate in the "Flag hoisting" on 15th August every year, wherever it is convenient for you.

Jai Hind!!

- Suganthi Sankaran

Live Positive Way - Are marriages made in heaven?!

A popular saying - "Marriages are made in heaven"... Are they? I don't know.

Having got shifted to a new place, without friends and without much access to television news channels/programs and internet I have only one option left now to sit near my balcony and introspect on the topics, which cross my mind. One such topic, which flashed is the above one - "Are marriages made in heaven"?

This gave me a throw back incident. A few years ago, I went to my family doctor for his consultancy. He has a wide room where we were kept seated as he checks his patients one by one. The conversation that happens between the doctor and patient can be easily heard since there is no strong doors/glasses that separates him from the other patients seated in the wide room. Actually he enjoys the traditional approach of attending to his patients and all of his patients (us) are comfortable with that set up.

One woman, I vividly recollect her face, must be around 25-30, married for a couple of years, was present there for her consultancy. She was looking good, fresh and happy. She had some medical issues for which she had came with her husband for a routine follow-up.

Doctor started examining her. He asked, "How are you feeling now after taking these medicines"? Answer came from her husband, "She is feeling better now Doctor". Again Doctor asked, "are you having your meals properly without skipping them"? Once again the same strong husband's voice replied, "Enga Doctor??! Naanum solli paathutaen,  kaekkavey maataengudu. Adu nalla saaptu nalla irrundathaney naan sandhoshama irrupaen?!!". (Oh Doctor, I too keep insisting her to have food properly. Only if she keeps her health good I can stay happy...right??!) 

There were few more questions from the doctor but every time it was the man who explained/replied the doctor and not his lady. I was surprised to see the husband's knowledge and information even about his lady's micro activities. She was all the time giggling, smiling, feeling shy and her face expressions..... Oh God it was outstanding!! Seeing them I can easily make out that her husband must be a daily wager and they must be having very little facilities in life. But the happiness in her eyes were 'priceless'. 

For the first time in my life I envied someone. All my master's degrees vanished like a dot, the pride I used to have for being an independent woman, the big brand image of having associated with NIFT, ABN AMRO (which I always treasure in my mind), all my other talents, appreciation certificates, achievements everything went for a toss and I felt like I am so small, incomplete and almost null in front of the spark in her eyes. That moment I realised, "Yes! The marriages are indeed made in heaven". If not, I could have never got an opportunity to see this scene in front of me.

More than money, more than fame, more than luxury a woman's absolute need is only 'love and care'. I also realised, every marriages must be made in heaven and I suddenly recollected all the good things that my husband used to do for me, which otherwise I hardly have thought of.

There can be various misunderstandings, there can even be some difference of opinion but if we are able to set aside those few things/traits/habits of our spouse, everyone of us can realise and see that the positive side is stronger and due to our constant cribbing nature we miss out all those good qualities in our spouse and be after them to alter/modify their nature according to our own requirements. 

I wonder at times whether our education really becomes a boon or barrier when it comes to understanding the relationship better. Knowledge gives us so much inputs and once 'ego' gets combined with 'knowledge' it indulges us in examining 'everything' and 'everyone' which causes only pain and dismay.

Let's start appreciating even the smallest​ things in life. It will help us to stay more passionate. This journey of life can be complete only by ascertaining how good we handled life with acceptance, love, harmony and compassion. 

Let's take this first step!!

Start living instead of just existing!!

Let's keep the people around us happy!!

Let the attitude of that lady's husband be ours too!! 

Let's make our people happy!!

Stay happy and stay positive!!

- Suganthi Sankaran

Live Positive Way - My Vipassana Meditation Experience!

Imagine getting into a "shell", totally cut-off from the whole world that too for more than 10 days? But surrounded by a lovely environment full of positivity. It must sound thrilling to you, right? And it was thrilling! Yes! I ventured out to enjoy the "complete solitude" by learning Vipassana Meditation for 10 days at a place named 'Dhamma' (cosmic law and order) in Chennai, popularly called as 'Dhamma-Setu'. "Vipassana" means 'seeing things as they really are'. It's a technique taught by Gautama Buddha himself 2500 years ago.

It all started the day I was frustrated to find myself falling asleep in just 10 minutes when I try to meditate. When I shared this with my husband (must mention here that I am blessed with a person who really understands what my 'search' is), he said my mind is not trained enough to meditate peacefully so, I fall asleep. He suggested that I must go and learn Vipassana meditation since he found me so interested in doing meditation yet felt frustrated because of lack of progress. He himself initiated the process to apply online and finally I got selected to take up the course.

The course involves five percepts and got a list of strict rules like :-

Noble silence - observe complete silence and cannot even communicate with fellow meditators not even through gestures, eye contact or by any other actions. We can only talk to teacher and other Course Co-ordinators.

No phone, internet or any outside contacts which means I have to stay away from my daughter & husband and can't talk to them even. I will not be in touch with​ my relatives/friends with whom otherwise I am always in touch every second through social networking sites.

No music, no reading and no writing - I guess now almost all those who know me will understand how difficult it could have been for me to avoid all the above three.

So many other rules there perfectly suited me like 'saatvik' food and that too only twice a day (no dinner will be provided in the night but only a small snack in the evening). Time table of the course looked a bit stretched since we must start our day by 4 am and it goes until 9.30 pm in which almost for 10 1/2 hours we must sit and meditate and sit for further 1 1/2 hours to listen to the day's discourse.

I kept asking my husband, "will I be able to stay for 10 days like that"? "will I quit in between and come back"? Everytime, he smiled and replied, "I know you can successfully complete the 10 days course"! I knew he always have had that faith in me that I can do anything if I am convinced. This time, actually his belief about me had been my strength which helped me stay there for 10 days with ease. Though I had so many responsibilities his strong intention of sending me to the course made me determined to take it up.

I felt so nervous reaching the centre the previous day of my course (registration usually happens the previous day of the course commencement date) and thankfully I had a roommate and I got very comfortable with her within a few minutes. Destiny is such that both our daughters share the same name. That evening around 7 pm all the rules of the course were explained and our Noble silence started by then.

Systematically we were introduced to the 'Vipassana meditation' step-by-step. It was not that easy actually since it takes a lot of patience, strong determination to learn this technique. We need to listen to all the instructions of our teacher and must follow them meticulously to get fully benefited. Though it sounds demanding there is nothing to panic. It's difficult but quite possible to learn and practice. Anybody with 'persistent' and 'compassion' can learn this technique.

Now I must give a fair account of the techniques right? It is believed that this technique was practised by Gautama Buddha himself and he got liberated through it. He is an authentic testimony for that hence there is no R&D required to check it's authenticity.

Next comes who teaches us right? Our teacher, S N Goenka ji teaches the technique through audio/video tapes, and we also had a teacher physically present in the hall who clarifies our doubts then and there.

This is one scenario that  I saw, on the other hand, we also hear about about so many 'so called' Babas, who teaches meditation, some asks us to do a head shave, some dances insanely to the tunes, some request 'bhakhts' to do Lotus Pooja, pada Pooja, does marketing for his products and what all. Some goes to an extreme where they want us to give all our property to them and enter their jungle (aashram) for the rest of the life. To me, they are more of a 'sect' or a 'religio-political' organisation. But our guruji doesn't expect all these and he neither look like a 'monk' with long 'beard' nor wears 'malas' or perform any extraordinary stunts which is hard to believe. However, if someone wants to pay him 'respects' that can be done only with our eyes closed since he has reached the heavenly abode in the year 2013 itself. So you can understand that there is no personal benefits attached to him in this.

This is the only course that I have come across till date which doesn't have a course fee. You are allowed to take up the course without being asked to pay on the first day. Only after the completion of the course on the 10th day they accept donations from us, which we give on our 'own will'. It can be any amount that a person wishes to donate. Those donations will be used for the future students who will be enrolling for the course. Hence this great technique is taught to people only through charity. There is no fees for teachers either and hence no one is after these "Dhamma Centres'' to take over in future.

I got benefited from this course because I went with a strong determination to acquire what I needed. I meticulously followed all the rules, never went late for any sittings. I had a right knee pain for the past 10 years and was bit worried about sitting for long hours on the floor. I thought of asking for a chair to meditate but when I saw so many elderly ladies seated on the floor I wanted to try meditating sitting on the floor cushions. To my surprise my knee pain disappeared on Day 1 of the course itself and till now I don't find any trace of it. After the course I am feeling very light and am able to feel my whole body and it's activities. I can't sit on the floor continuosly for an hour before but now I can proudly say I can sit the whole day on the floor. I am scared of being inside an enclosed space but that too with the help of Pagodas I have overcome to some extent. I am a calm person still used to become anxious during stressful times but now able to stay even more equanimous in any situation.

10 days of solitude had actually helped me to dig deep inside me to realise who I am. I remembered many things of the past and cherished a few childhood memories which was otherwise forgotten. One such recollection was that I used to spend time watching the sky often when I was a child. I had the opportunity to do that now after the lunch time at Dhamma. Love for 'nature' is always there in me but in these 10 days I found myself moving more close to it.

There are so much to add to this post, but I really suggest you to take up this course for at least once to get benefited. Just give your 10 days for this course and learn the real 'Art of being/living' through it. To reinstate, it is not any religious activity, ritual or some 'sect' formed for converting people. It's purely a spiritual experience and since we must learn it properly they ask us to follow their rules and regulations. We are free to choose the Vipassana or any other meditation technique after we come back.

I suggest you not to read any negative articles about the technique since it may refrain one from trying it. One such article that I read claimed that the course consists of 'Bhuddhism' prayers. It was not so. Since I can understand Hindi very well and have read the daily poem of Bhuddha about what we will be learning that day (instructions on the entrance of the hall) I know it isn't a prayer but an explanation about that day's activity. Since Bhuddha is the one who founded this technique, teacher use those verses as an 'induction' for that day's process.

To talk about Dhamma Setu, the environment is awesome with fresh air, 24/7 water facility, good boarding and lodging facilities, food of my preference - North Indian lunch with roti, chawal, dal, sabji was delicious, the volunteers and Dhamma employees are so polite and approachable. Teacher does clarifies each and every---even silly doubts--- we ask them. 

There is nothing but 'truth', 'compassion' and 'peace'. Though the course is quite demanding it is worth trying as it provides a rich, life transforming experience. I am sure you can explore a new way of meditation you have never heard of or encountered before and I am sure you will be practicing it in your daily life. You will be able to understand your mind and it's relation to every matter, your mind and your body connection, the real path of wisdom and liberation.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank my husband, without whom I would have never got this wonderful experience, my daughter - who kept saying, "You go and learn meditation amma and get 'special powers' (thanks to Pokemon series), I will be with grandparents", my parents, brother and his wife who took care of my daughter in my absence, and my in-laws who were supportive and blessed me to complete the course successfully.

I request people reading this blogpost to share this as much as you can so that many can know about this course, some may show interest, even if one person gets benefited....it will make my journey fruitful. After all, all good things should be shared.

May all share my merits,

may all share my happiness and peace,

may all share my Dhamma (the way to liberation).

May all beings be happy, tranquil and compassionate!

Stay blessed.... Always!!

- Suganthi Sankaran

Few useful links

https://www.dhamma.org

http://www.setu.dhamma.org

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._N._Goenka

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WkxSyv5R1sg (criminals, Kiran Bedi​ & Vipassana meditation)

Live Positive Way

Again....it is summer vacation time. We are in the mid of May and only few more days to go for the vacation to get over. 

Nowadays, kids get bored in just two days of vacation. I remember my school days. My tamil folks can relate to playing 'dhayakattai', 'pandi', 'kallangai', 'pallankuzhi', 'paramapadham', etc.... We used to pick just one of them and keep playing for the whole day. We only take break for lunch and tea and wind up post 6 pm. Sometime it continues like a test series... until we become 'bondi' (bankrupt in the game), but we never used to get bored. 

I am an avid reader since my childhood and hence had a habit of visiting a nearby 'old paper mart' to request him to spare some books on a rental basis. My visits used to continue till the end of the vacation. I agree that we didn't have much exposure to television or internet but our childhood days were never boring. Now, children have got so many channels to watch hence before they make up their​ mind to watch something they get bored.

Being with cousins was the best thing that happened to me on holidays. Me, my brother and my cousin sister were the "3 musketeers" roaming around together almost the entire vacation time. We used to have our own share of fights and arguments but at the end of the day we make up and ensure we had loads of fun. Thanks to our modernization...and nuclear family set up....children of this generation are totally cut off from the happiness of being with cousins. To add to it, the gadgets that are available to them make them move away from everything and everyone. Though I ensure that my child does not use them more often...still...at times I really pity for her when I think, "what else she can do"?... 

We too are to be blamed. If they even go to their granny's house we keep calling them every hour to check how they are....But in those days when we went to our uncle/aunty's place... only when our parents saw us back after holidays they will be able to talk to us and know how we were. So to speak, it helped us to be more creative and independent. I remember narrating so many stories when I got back from vacation. Even now, I share them with my husband occassionally. Those were real fun-filled days.

One big summer task used to be making homemade 'vattal', a snack dried under the sunlight. We used to sit for hours together with our granny the whole day under the sun, making those round tiny eatables, which we dry under the sunlight. But sun was also not this hot with us. He used to be our morning motivation and a friend. We ignored the elders at home yelling at us, "don't be out the whole day...it's hot!". 

It was safe to freely roam around. Today, we are not allowing our children to play outside and spoiling them with various gadgets and made to feel scared really about many crime against children. At least we must help them play some indoor games to avoid them staying with their ipads, tablets, smart phones or gaming consoles.

We even used to climb mango trees in our house/nearby our houses to get loads of mangoes which we temper with salt & chilli powder and have them together. It helped us to learn 'sharing' things with our cousins/friends. Unfortunately we hardly find trees now and it is 'us' who had cut down the trees to build our houses... isn't it?

Aah! Down the memory lane....! I feel 'if I can' get back to those days, I am ready to disown my mobile phone, television, internet, and other comforts for that matter. But reality is...we cannot​ change the change that had already happened. But one thing is for sure, we---friends/cousins---are still in touch and age doesn't matter. With the same gadgets we can get back to our childhood days' pleasures... You know how? We can stay in touch daily with them like before, can pull each others legs with witty chats and funny jokes. 

I suddenly had a self-doubt a few days back like whether the relationship I have with my friends/cousins is 'still' intense and profoundly positive... compared to what it was then, so I sent a riddle to them 'to describe me in a word'. The replies not only made me happy but it also boosted my morale and gave me a reassurance that the distance really doesn't matter.

Let's enjoy our life like we are still a child. We are the same old funny peeps who can share anything between us without an iota of shame. Guess what? They may also be longing to see us back in our old form.... Remember, "your vibe attracts your tribe"....so trace back all of them!

Stay happy​! Stay positive!

- Suganthi Sankaran