Generating New Ideas

Many of the best ideas come from “happy accidents’. Often, individuals or small groups are simply “freelancing”, working on ideas on their own. Many good ideas die short of development and miles from commercial success. In most companies, the “practice” of innovation is infrequent, ineffective, and unsystematic. To create successful innovative ideas, the following steps to be followed: * Involve everyone in the quest for ideas * Involve customers in your process of generating ideas * Involve customers in new ways. * Focus on needs that customers don’t express. Focus groups provide feedback only on existing ideas. * Seek ideas from new customer groups. Organizational networks are a major factor to successful innovation. Rycroft and Kasha argue that the management of such networks differs, depending on the kind of innovation being pursued. In times when incremental innovations are the norm, managers should allow self-organization to occur; this is the process by which networks re-order themselves and their knowledge into more appropriate structures without the guidance of management. When major technological changes are on the horizon, however, the role of management changes. Managers need to guide organizational adaptations that are essential to acquiring and creating the knowledge needed to innovate successfully. Tata Steel does this with employees-‘Manthan ab Shopfloor se’!

Celebrations

The poorest among mankind celebrate the gift of life and the bounty of Nature. In early January, the whole village celebrates Pongal in Tamil Nadu, South India and similar festivals all over the world depending on the harvest time. It stretches over four days, which become an island of joy, even if life is a stormy business. All old things are burnt in a huge bonfire. New clothes are worn. Overflowing joy and good fortune are celebrated by the Pongal pot of plenty which boils over with the rice and jaggery that will be eaten at the celebration. The house is newly painted and decorated. There is a whole day devoted to cows. Their horns are painted and bodies decorated, and they enjoy a rest and good food. The last day is devoted to going out and seeing friends and relatives, watching movies and generally celebrating life. The saying is that when Thai (following the mid January Harvest festival) is born, a way will be found to solve all problems. These celebrations lift you out of the trough of despondency. They fill you with the energy to make a new beginning with the help of God and the family.

Customer’s Focus On Innovation

Incorporating the customer’s voice into a product is one of the most important methods of ensuring market led innovation. Often the companies assume they know what customers want. But fashions change and so do customer tastes. Nestle, found in the 80’s that their market share for chocolates was plummeting. They conducted a TCC or Tapping Customer Creativity, that is when customers (school children) and officials of the company, learned tools of innovation in a non-threatening atmosphere and explored the field. It was found that modern children did not like chocolates which were too sweet. They also wanted some health benefits from the chocolate. The result of incorporating these suggestions is history – Nestle made a dazzling comeback with chocolates that were less sweet and were garnished with biscuits and nuts.

Affirmations for Personal Wellbeing

You are a powerhouse of potential. The great Michelangelo was once asked how he created great statues. Old and half blind, Michelangelo stood before a block of marble, scarred and muddy from the quarries of Carrara. He said quietly, ‘I have never created a statue. I just stand before a block of marble and study it with reverence. For I know that within every block of marble, there lies a statue, waiting to be liberated by the touch of the Master’s hand.’ Within each of us lies hidden a masterpiece waiting to be liberated by the magic touch of attention. Only you can do it. Be your own ‘expert’. Do not build negative ideas about yourself through the comments of others. Your self-talk should be calm, happy and elevating. Choose to see and hear what is beautiful and encouraging. When you are wounded, learn to soothe yourself by using these affirmations. (Sit with eyes closed and silently affirm) By nature I am kind, gentle and loving. Any mistake committed is unintentional and I forgive myself and others for it. God’s grace has created a magic circle of love, a safe haven for me and my loved ones. I am capable of achieving my goals with hard work and dedication. I look around me for help and knowledge to reach my goals. I seek companions who encourage and help me.

Analysis – the Gateway to Solutions

In the creative thinking process, incubation is followed by ‘Analysis.’ During the process of analysis, apply left-brain thinking – logical, statistical and mathematical. Solutions have to be carefully discussed and the optimum one chosen. The solutions are analyzed against the parameters chosen by the problem owner. Some prevalent parameters are: a) Time b) Budget c) Convenience d) Human resources e) Goodwill and impact on staff motivation levels f) Aesthetics g) Saving lives h) Political capital Different parameters find different levels of priority depending on the situation at hand. Let us consider the example of the budget as a parameter and its priority level in different cases. For a company where liquidity is low, cash flow would be the most important concern. For a company facing a crisis, time may be of the essence and big budgets would be tolerated in view of the emergency situation. While identifying solutions, ensure that there are a wide variety of options to choose from. There is then a greater possibility that the final option chosen ensures optimal results. This systematic process ensures that the option chosen produces the best results. Analysis is the stage just prior to implementation. Therefore, detailed analysis forms the root to strong implementation. Action: Let all groups meet for a couple of hours to study all generated ideas observe them and discus them.

Drought

Drought is firmly established in 2015. Every inhabited continent faces extremely high water stress. This is caused by lower rainfall and chronically increasing over use of water resources by farmers, businesses, residents and consumers. The strong, warm, EL Nino current is firmly established this year; with low nutrients, causing lower rainfall and reduced agricultural production. This in turn affects commodity prices, increasing inflation and resulting in social unrest. In Europe drought has affected large areas. The Czech Republic’s hop harvest has dropped 34%; Asia is striken by drought laying its skeletal hand on India, Mongolia and Eastern Russia. Some parts of India are too dry to plough. One thousand three hundred farmers committed suicide in the last three months because of drought. Ninety lakh farmers have been hit by a severe drought in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra. Rains have been scanty over the last three years. Drought is a creeping phenomenon that occurs when there is long period with lowered rainfall. This insidious problem causes drastic fall in agricultural yield. It said that Indian agriculture is a gamble in the monsoons. Here there have been three failed monsoons. What we need to do is store water when there is good rainfall and always uses water carefully. The east coast of India, especially Telangana is similarly affected. Drought in Africa is entrenched in the equatorial northern regions. Tanzanian farmers have changed their crop and food pattern from maize to sweet potatoes which are drought resistant. Uganda and Kenya are being forced to follow suit. Across the United States, 7 million acres have been burnt by wild fires. Alaska and California have been worst affected. Brazil is reeling from water shortage. Chilean grape farmers are looking for drought resistant vines. Australia is becoming dustier and 24 people died in Papua New Guinea as a result of poisoned water and hunger. The impact of drought can be catastrophic: Economic Impact Farmers are the worst affected. Money may be borrowed merely to irrigate the crops and in digging new wells. Expenditure on food and water will increase for cattle and sheep farmers. Supporting industries like makers of pump sets, tractors and food for livestock will suffer losses. Wild fires thrive in drought prone areas destroying life and property. Lakes dry up and the fishing industry is affected. Hydro-electric power generation suffers and energy costs go up. Food prices shoot up. Environmental Impact: Wild animals languish due to lack of food and water. Plants and trees are badly affected. The quality of soil becomes degraded and erosion sets in. Wet lands dry up as do the plants that grow there. The water table goes down – lakes, ponds and reservoirs dry up and the water table sinks, in the wild, fires blaze uncontrolled. Less food means, pregnant mothers are affected as are their unborn babies suffer developmental defects that are lifelong. Social Impact: Suicides of farmers in the single state of Maharashtra, is the most shocking and obvious social impact. Anxiety and depression affect large parts of the population. The threat of life and health constantly stalk the population. Migration from villages to over crowded cities is an immediate result. What can we do? • Conserve water and learn to store water • Be aware if a drought is impending, study the patterns of the past and be in touch with the latest information. • Always Practice and propagate rain water harvesting. • Find out where your water comes from and test the quality of water. • Make sure your wells are environment friendly and not so deep as to cause degradation of the ground water table. • Make sure some of your activities do not cause water pollution, especially of ground water • Be sure to call attention and take action against water pollution. www.mindspower.com

celebrate water

“And Darkness was upon the face of the Deep….” Says the Bible as it describes the beginning of a watery world. The ancient Indian text, the Rig Veda speaks of the beginning as a world of bottomless, uninterrupted, and limitless water’. Water nourishes washes, cleans, and clears. No wonder many ancient cultures worship water as the foremost of the elements. This blog seeks to focus attention on various aspects of water and ways to preserve it. Over 2/3 of the human body is made of water. Imagine, the brain is 75% water, blood is 83% water, bones 22%, muscles 75% water and lungs 90%! A decrease of 2% in our body’s water content can cause serious health problems. Over 6000 children die every day due to polluted water. These are easily preventable deaths. It is said that the next Great War will be fought over water, as we overuse, pollute and waste water. So let us take personal responsibility to save water. The Rotary Convention in Sao Paulo drew attention to the second largest river in the world – the Amazon. We had an exciting series of journeys across the river recently. Over 6280 kms long, it is formed in the North Peru Andes. It flows across North Brazil before entering the Atlantic Ocean near Belem. This majestic river stretches across over 15 kms in Manaos. It covers and waters over 4,75,000 sq.kms of South America, North Brazil, Bolivia, Pem, Ecuador, Columbia and Venezuela. It has an average depth of 150 ft. Its water and rich fertile silt has created the largest rain forest in the world, with the most diverse collection of animals, birds and insect life in the world. The tropical climate is tempered by heavy rainfall and the abundant life it engenders. Trees full of chattering monkeys leaping and clinging to lush green trees with their tails, vivid clouds of butterflies, carnivorous, piranhas, the mysterious giant anaconda strangulating its prey on the jungle floor, are all parts of its creation. During July -August the frail speed boat takes you through carpets of flowers, as thick hanging creepers and lianas, hang from ancient trees and float around you to brush your shoulders as you pass. The river is the life giving element of the lush rain forest. Polluting the river with human and industrial wastes threatens the life of millions of inhabitants of this land of which Man is the most rapacious. The destruction of the rain forest threatens not only the many life forms it supports but also contributes to an increase in atmospheric carbon di-oxide. Global warming is the immediate consequence. Those of us who live beside water bodies have a special duty to prevent such pollution. Deforestation disrupts the lives of inhabitant people whose livelihood depends on the produce of the jungle. What can you do? • Remember the river is not a garbage dump, it is a source of drinking water for millions. Start or join a citizens group that works to keep the river clean. • You can help keep the river clean by being part of a patrolling body on the river banks. • Attend river festivals and work with groups that prevent littering. • Identify and talk to industries which discharge effluents into the river. • Network with Government bodies which are working to clean up the river. • Encourage any philosophy that develops reverence for the river, religious or otherwise. • Prevent the building of toilets close to the river and work to prevent open defecation by the river

Greenhouses and watering Cucumbers

A cucumber a day keeps the doctor away!’ believed the Roman Emperor Tiberius. The Roman gardener produced a cucumber a day, right through the year, using an early version of a greenhouse. Cucumbers were planted in wheeled carts, which were wheeled out into the sunlight daily. They were taken inside to keep them warm at night. The cucumbers were stored under frames or in cucumber houses glazed with either oiled cloth or sheets of selenite. Imagine growing what you want right through the year. Conquering the seasons, while saving water, energy and other resources. That is what a greenhouse does. A greenhouse or a glass house is made of transparent material like glass. Greenhouses in hot dry climates are called shade houses. In the 13th century greenhouses were built in Italy to house exotic plants from the tropics. In 1438 we read of mandarin trees being grown in a greenhouse in winter. This is found in the records of the Joseon dynasty. Sanga Yorok, written in 1450 AD Korea speaks of a greenhouse where temperature and humidity could be controlled. The concept of greenhouse appeared in the Netherland and England in the 17th Century. These early greenhouses required a lot of work to close up at night and maintain temperatures. Today Netherlands produce millions of vegetables and flowers using greenhouses. The French used their first greenhouses to protect orange trees from freezing and called them orangeries. Pineries or pineapple pits became popular. In 17th century Europe, the palace at Versailles had a greenhouse that was 490 ft long, 43ft wide and 145 ft high. In England during the Victoria Era, botanists became involved ushering in the golden era of greenhouses. Botanist Joseph Paxton, built the Crystal Palace in London. The New York Crystal Palace and the Royal greenhouse of Laeken were built in Belgium for King Leopold. In 1880 the first greenhouse was built in Japan by a British merchant who exported herbs. It is fascinating the way ideas spread across the world. Sailing across oceans with commerce and sometimes religion. The 20th century saw the geodesic dome. Polyethylene filter became widely used for greenhouses. Today commercial glass houses are filled with equipment including installations for heating, cooling and lighting. Computers are often used to control the conditions for optimum growth. Food supplies depend on greenhouses in high latitude countries. In Andalusia, Spain, greenhouses cover 49,000 acres. They can be seen from space. South Korea is the Asia’s leader in reducing its greenhouse gas emission by 30%. They plan a low carbon economy to accelerate economic growth. Incidentally the country is one of the top 10 carbon emitters. The country is full of greenhouses on both sides of the highway. The greenhouse of Gosan completed a massive turnkey project for growing green peppers. The stunning new nursery is on a scenic mountainside, it measures over a hectare. It has a sustainable heating system with a pump which can cool and heat. Greenhouses all over South Korea grow exotic vegetables and flowers like roses and orchids. From simple greenhouse to multilayer cultivation systems, they use revolutionary multilayered water and energy saving systems to conserve resources. There is less loss of light radiation, or water evaporation in these. Today the Netherlands has some of the largest greenhouses in the world. A major producer of food these structures occupy10,256 hectares. Today, we also see floating greenhouses. Cornerways nursery in UK, uses waste heat and carbon dioxide from a nearby sugar refinery. The refinery has a novel way of reducing its carbon emission through a good cause. One can easily foresee greenhouses on the Moon or Mars or even distant planets where Earth colonies may appear!

Room for the River

We have all experienced the thrill of landing a hotel room with a view. But here is a ‘Room for the River’ in the Netherlands. While most people work hard at keeping the water out of their property, the Room for the River welcomes the river, into its legitimate space. The land, Holland, which was mostly peat swamps was protected from the sea and rivers by building dykes about a meter high to protect crops against flooding. Many villages developed on higher terps or mud mounds. By 1250, most of the dikes were connected as a sea defense, particularly by monasteries. The type of dikes kept changing. A lot of wood was used till the arrival of the ‘shipworm’ that ate through the wooden defenses in 1730. Wood had to be replaced by more expensive stone, which had to be imported from abroad. From growing grains, farmers had been forced to move towards sheep and cattle rearing due to the degradation of the soil. The Room for the River became a reality after over 2, 00,000 people were evacuated from the Rhine Delta. The project encompasses four rivers: the Rhine, the Meuse, the Waal and the Ussel. At a cost of 2.2billion Euro, it will complete 40 projects, include master landscaping and improvement of the overall environment. The plan includes the construction of a Green River as a flood bypass. The River will be given more space within its own flood plain. For centuries, people here, built walls to keep the water out. Today, Holland with 26% of its land below sea level, is welcoming the water in. Engineers realized that building higher dykes will eventually lead to greater water overflows, putting 4 million people at risk. The Room for the River, allows water to flow into empty land rather than homes and businesses. Many citizens have co-operated by moving their homes and offices to higher ground. The resulting nature reserves, urban islands have greatly improved the waterscape. Each project manager is given a ‘Soldier Handbook’ or a detailed cook book. It helps in the step by step implementation of the project. The handbook has ensured coordination of the 40 projects with more the 17 local and regional governments. The plans were displayed on the office walls, so that citizens and stake holders have a clear view of what is happening. Buy in becomes voluntary and enthusiastic Town hall meetings and kitchen table talks helped to ensure voluntary, even happy relocation of families. Residents helped make the water front beautiful and interesting: a floating restaurant, a marina and an open nature area surrounding the concert area. Involving people made all the difference. In such projects, so much is lost when stake holders are spectators or victims. The Room for the River creates a project that expresses respect and love for the river. Holland of course, is famous for its tulips that originally found their way from Persia and Asia Minor – from the court of the Sultan. But that is another story.

Physical Wellness

Your Happiness Quotient is directly affected by your physical condition. Health is the foundation for a feeling of wellbeing and joy. It is very difficult to be full of enthusiasm if you are not in a state of positive health. The absence of disease is no indication of this state of perfect health. It is a hygiene factor for improving your HQ. There are many steps that will take you to a state of optimum health. A complete medical check up once a year can provide accurate information about the state of your body to your physician. Make sure this becomes an annual habit. Just as you would not tolerate a minor malfunctioning in your car, so too, you and your doctor should be vigilant for the slightest disturbance in your state of health. Minor problems, aches and pains should be dealt with immediately, rather than be endured with gritted teeth. Listen to your body. If you are tired, rest. If you are hungry, eat. If you are lonely, communicate, ask for a hug. If you are angry, deal with your anger constructively, resolve it. The body is our vehicle for the journey of our soul in this world. You may be an immortal soul who happens to own a body, but the body-vehicle has to be maintained in good condition, so that we may achieve the goals for which we were created.

Rain Water Harvesting

In my lamp lit village in Bajaal, on the banks of the River Netravathi, we worship the Goddess of rain and clouds, Dhoomavathi. There is a 3 day festival in April to celebrate her in the New Year. Rain is Nature’s way of recycling and purifying water “A drop of water may spend 2 to 3 years in a river, 100 years in a glacier between a few weeks and thousands of years in a lake. Some rains will evaporate off the ground at once. Some will soak into the ground, where it will be absorbed by the roots of the plants and then returned to the air through their leaves. And some may sink deep into the ground to form ground water, where it may stay for thousands of years. It is always the same water that goes around in this cycle. Some of the water you shower in today may have flowed down the Amazon a year ago or may have washed the feet of an Egyptian Pharaoh 3000 years ago” writes Ed John Jamieson. Rain dances in Africa, with the sound of kettle drums are believed to bring down rain. Rain is the purest and most natural source of water. It recharges ground water so that underground aquifers, lakes, ponds, temple tanks and other water bodies can store water for the dry months. However, most of the rain water runs off into drains; the water gets evaporated in the sun. As a result many places suffer unnecessarily due to lack of water. But, you only can receive as much as you give. The Rotarian code is that we give much more than we receive. This is true about rain water harvesting. One cannot go on sinking bore wells without paying attention to rain water harvesting and recharging of ground water. Those who forget this are destined to have their drinking water turn saline. Rain water harvesting is an ideal process of collecting and storing water rather than allowing it to run into the sea or drains. Rainwater harvesting provides an independent water supply during drought. It is often used to supplement the main supply. It also helps mitigate flooding of low-lying areas, and reduces demand on wells which may enable ground water levels to be sustained. It also helps in the availability of potable water as rainwater is substantially free of salinity and other salts. Every home can have its own rain water harvesting system. It can be something as simple as a primitive filter through which rain water collected on the terrace or a roof top can be directed by a pipe into a cement water tank. Soak pits can be dug to divert water into the earth to replenish aquifers. In my own home in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, we have rain water harvesting because it is the law that no new house can be built without a rain water harvesting system. This law resulted in a 50% increase in the water level in 5 years. Other Indian states later passed the same law. United Kingdom rewards those who build systems to store rain water. The Rain Saucer that looks like an upside down umbrella also collects rain directly. Check dams have been constructed in many dry areas in Rajasthan to ensure percolation of surface water into the substrate of the soil. In China and Brazil, roof top rainwater harvesting is very common. The law in Sri Lanka, parts of India and Bermuda mandates rain water harvesting. In Israel the Southwest Center for the Study of Hospital and Healthcare Systems in cooperation with Rotary International is sponsoring rainwater harvesting model program across the country. The first rainwater catchment system was installed at an elementary school in Lod, Israel. The project is looking to expand to Haifa in its third phase. The Southwest Center has also partnered with the Water Resources Action Project (WRAP) of Washington D.C. WRAP currently has rainwater harvesting projects in the West Bank. Rainwater harvesting systems are being installed in local schools for the purpose of educating schoolchildren about water conservation principles and bridging divides between people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds all while addressing the water scarcity issue that the Middle East faces What can you do? • Set up rain water harvesting in your home. • Persuade engineering students to set up a business for installation and maintenance of rain water structures in local homes to do rain water harvesting. Rotaractors did the work in my house, as a summer business. • Pre-filter and store rain water in your water tank. • Create soak pits in the garden. “The rain cometh down and the snow from heaven and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the user”, says the Bible. Let network forces with the divine forces that cause it to rain for it is the source of all food.

Water in its place………

The Greeks believed that the Mediterranean Sea and the river just beyond the Straits of Gibraltar, was the whole world. The ‘river’ was of course the Atlantic Ocean. Just like the frog in the well. Today we know there are five oceans – the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic and Antarctic. Few years back Chennai and most of Tamil Nadu has been battered by rain. Streets and homes have been flooded. I always thought of water as a cleansing agent. But when books are rescued from water, when wood or cloth is submerged, it really stinks. Water is lovely only in its own place. But human beings have made it difficult for water to remain in places meant for water – lakes, ponds, rivers and most importantly marshes and wet lands. Wet lands and marshes in Chennai have been destroyed by rapid urbanization. More than half the wetlands have been converted into living areas. The City had 150 water bodies. Now there are only 27. From 1997 onwards 99% of the green cover has been replaced by buildings, drastically reducing the city’s water holding capacity. The rivers have been reduced to sewers while originally they carried surplus water from 450 tanks. The Pallikaranai marshland has been reduced to 1/10 its size by ‘reclamation’ by real estate barons. So what are these encroachments, into the space needed for the flood water to flow? Rotary was once involved with cleaning a Temple tank which was being surreptitiously filled with garbage and masonry by rapacious builders. Rotary could stop it. But such encroachments keep happening below the radar of the law. The Delhi High court while ordering the return of such encroached water bodies to the Public Works Department observed “Water bodies, lakes and water tanks are not only a community asset, but also help in preserving and improving environment.” In a single report from Ghaziabad, we hear that 1036 ponds, one wetland in Hasanpur and one lake in Arthala have all been fully or partially usurped! There is also a case of a UP State industrial development corporation usurping 14 water bodies in the City, while private parties have encroached on 98! Altogether 24,037 hectares which belong to water bodies, have been usurped. Water needs its own space. When greed results in land being wrested away from water, we have disaster. Forty Four people died in the recent flood in Chennai. Millions are homeless. Diseases are spreading and property has been destroyed. The greed of the few has harmed so many. Shouldn’t we ask questions when our birthright to a peaceful life is being pillaged?

Room for the River

We have all experienced the thrill of landing a hotel room with a view. But here is a ‘Room for the River’ in the Netherlands. While most people work hard at keeping the water out of their property, the Room for the River welcomes the river, into its legitimate space. The land, Holland, which was mostly peat swamps was protected from the sea and rivers by building dykes about a meter high to protect crops against flooding. Many villages developed on higher terps or mud mounds. By 1250, most of the dikes were connected as a sea defense, particularly by monasteries. The type of dikes kept changing. A lot of wood was used till the arrival of the ‘shipworm’ that ate through the wooden defenses in 1730. Wood had to be replaced by more expensive stone, which had to be imported from abroad. From growing grains, farmers had been forced to move towards sheep and cattle rearing due to the degradation of the soil. The Room for the River became a reality after over 2, 00,000 people were evacuated from the Rhine Delta. The project encompasses four rivers: the Rhine, the Meuse, the Waal and the Ussel. At a cost of 2.2billion Euro, it will complete 40 projects, include master landscaping and improvement of the overall environment. The plan includes the construction of a Green River as a flood bypass. The River will be given more space within its own flood plain. For centuries, people here, built walls to keep the water out. Today, Holland with 26% of its land below sea level, is welcoming the water in. Engineers realized that building higher dykes will eventually lead to greater water overflows, putting 4 million people at risk. The Room for the River, allows water to flow into empty land rather than homes and businesses. Many citizens have co-operated by moving their homes and offices to higher ground. The resulting nature reserves, urban islands have greatly improved the waterscape. Each project manager is given a ‘Soldier Handbook’ or a detailed cook book. It helps in the step by step implementation of the project. The handbook has ensured coordination of the 40 projects with more the 17 local and regional governments. The plans were displayed on the office walls, so that citizens and stake holders have a clear view of what is happening. Buy in becomes voluntary and enthusiastic Town hall meetings and kitchen table talks helped to ensure voluntary, even happy relocation of families. Residents helped make the water front beautiful and interesting: a floating restaurant, a marina and an open nature area surrounding the concert area. Involving people made all the difference. In such projects, so much is lost when stake holders are spectators or victims. The Room for the River creates a project that expresses respect and love for the river. Holland of course, is famous for its tulips that originally found their way from Persia and Asia Minor – from the court of the Sultan. But that is another story.

The Auspicious Field

Auspiciousness or a feeling of wellbeing is created in a space or a field by treating it as sacred. What happens to a space that is sacred is transformation. When you consider yourself as sacred, you will treat yourself well. You will wear clean, good smelling clothes. Maybe ironed and starched, mended if torn, but clean and fresh. You will smile at yourself, encourage yourself. Just as you put on clean fresh clothes, you will also clean up the mental space or field around you. Sweep out all ill will, anger, fear and anxiety. Let there be the fragrance of incense, divinity of prayer and mantra, the smiles of loved ones, laughter and joy, the smell and taste of good plain, food. It is as important to clean the field around you as it is to have a bath. Sweep out the sad baggage of the past. Take into that field only what is bright and elevating, fine and happy. The space around you, your house, your office needs the same kind of careful attention.When a space is sacred, it magnetizes wonderful people and attracts beautiful events into it. All the words spoken in that space should be sweet and loving. When harsh words or events happen, do not allow them to take root like evil weeds. Sweep them away and find gentleness and kindness that grows beneath. All religions sanctify space by holy water, prayer, dress and conduct. Hindus draw sacred symbols on the earth with rice flour or chalk (kolam) and a particular space can be set apart for the gods and prayer. A sacred space is defined by the rules of conduct laid down for those who enter, as in a court room, a church, a temple, or the parliament. Very few misbehave in such places, they are rarely able to cast away the weight of laws and customs built up over centuries around them. Some religions lay down rules of cleanliness and dress to enter sacred places, including a purificatory bath. A person who maintains such dignity and decorum in such a place, may be totally different in a bar or when at a party. I think the analogy of a television monitor would describe this phenomenon better.Depending on which button you press, you get a different image. So too depending on the place, a different person emerges. Some places access the Highest and Noblest Self while others access the Beast, the Meanest. This is true about people in different interactions. Some people create a field, which accesses the best in us, while others access the worst. If you learn the secret of positive fields, you can improve your Happiness Quotient. You can also get the best out of others. ‘Don’t push the wrong buttons,’ we say. What we mean is, don’t access his negative field.

Health is wealth and critical to happiness

Health is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely an absence of disease or infirmity. Really speaking, health is not a state but a continuous adjustment to the changing demands of life and the environment.Positive health implies perfect functioning of body and mind in a given society. Ayurveda defines health as ‘svasthya’—to be one’s highest spiritual self. It is the state of equilibrium of the three doshas or mind-body energies that govern our external and internal environment―vata (wind); pitta (bile); and kapha (phlegm), along with a contented state of the senses, mind and soul. All the ancients believed that no attempt should be made to cure the body without treating the mind and soul. To be healthy is to have the ability, despite an occasional bout of illness, to live with full use of your faculties and to be vigorous, alert and having a joie de vivre, even in old age. This concept of operational health has been termed ‘wellness’. It is a sense of all-round wellbeing.

Yoga

The word ‘yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit word yuj which means ‘yoke’ attach or ‘join’. It means the joining or uniting of the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness, or self-realisation. The science of yoga was systematised by Maharishi Patanjanli in 285 yogasutras. There are eight components of yoga. These are: 1. Yama: Our attitudes towards our environment. 2. Niyama: Our attitudes towards ourselves. 3. Asana: The practice of body exercises. 4. Pranayama: The practice of breathing exercises. 5. Pratyahara: The restraint of our senses. 6. Dharana: The ability to direct our minds. 7. Dhyana: The ability to develop interactions with what we seek to understand. 8. Samadhi: Complete integration with the object to be understood. Their respective meanings are: i) Universal moral commandments. ii) Self-purification by discipline. iii) Posture. iv) Rhythmic control of breath. v) Withdrawal of the mind from the domination of the senses and exterior object. vi) Concentration. vii) Meditation. viii) Thoughtless state in which one becomes one with the object of his meditation.

Prana and the Positive Field

Prana is the life force that flows in all living things. When the life force leaves the body, the body dies. Kirlian photography has captured pictures of the pranic aura. Meditation and a calm attitude cause prana to flow through all our activities smoothly. When prana is in full flow, the person is full of vitality and energy and enthusiasm. Prana is nurtured by freshly cooked, healthy food. Pranayama is very pro-prana. Prana is fed by breathing pure fresh air. Moderate exercise and yoga helps develop the life force. Eating too much, consuming stale food, exercising till you are ready to drop dead, constant arguments, overworking, getting emotionally upset, breathing polluted air, all interfere with the smooth flow of prana. Moderation is the rule. Prana enhances the positive field and the vital life force flows freely through it. It creates a powerful positive field—a field of all possibilities where any seed of an idea will develop rapidly.

Cultivating Happiness

Focus on cultivating happy people and avoid toxic people. Build protective walls against toxic events that threaten your tranquillity. Too much television is tele-visham—tele-poison. Too much stimulation, a mindspace crowded by fantasy, people and events, distracts you from working on your own home and backyard to create a healthy self. Some days we seem to live a fantasy life dominated by daydreams while reality tugs at our heartstrings for attention, like a neglected child. There is no use focusing on Aishwarya Bacchan’s beauty while neglecting to do the most basic things to maintain yours. This is the only body, mind and soul you will be given. Take care of what is yours and enjoy it. Let the cells of your body be gently bathed in happiness, positive thoughts and healing energies. Run from, toxic people and build protective walls against toxic events that threaten your tranquility. The Vedas speak of the self as a beautiful lotus growing in the muddy waters of life. With its roots in the muck it rises above it, in perfect beauty and bliss.