Gem of an interview by Sadhguru

For those who don't have the patience to watch the whole video..enjoy the jist below.....

On new leadership

leadership has to be on many tiers of society. .generally in Asia particularly in India ..if a good leader comes up instead of reinforcing his position they worship..

building leadership in all tiers of  society is a very important aspect if we really want to grab the economic possibility in front of us…

for me the economic possibility doesn’t mean soaring stock markets or limousines on the street..for me what it means is there are 400 million people that have not eaten well..yet..they will get to eat well, there will be food on their plate..

On Economy & Spiritual movements

i wouldnt use the word like greed..because once you've chosen market economy..

there is no such thing as greed..'cos thats the driving force..

its no more a dirty word..

as long as somebody is earning by legitimate means ..paying his taxes he drives a gold plated rolls royce

its not your business..that is the mode of economy we've chosen..is it right or wrong..this is not the time to ask the question..

'cos we've already made the choice..of market driven economy this is not the time to ask..

once you ask that question you are going into socialistic mode..which has not worked for some reason..for whatever reason..

On what Spiritual Movements do

to activate that natural, intrinsic need within a human being  to share..that is where the spiritual movements and other things come into place...

you cannot do it through the economic system..economic system is designed to drive and grow..

so for a human being to decide..see everybody wants to share..the Q is only what is his identity..

if he is identified only with his family..he shares only with his family..

if he is identified with his community he shares with community

if he is identified with the nation he shares with the nation..

if he is identified with the whole humanity he shares with the whole humanity..

so enlarging that identity in a human being is the work of the spiritual movements..

so if an individual person's identity is enlarged to the whole humanity and to all life in this planet naturally he will share...

On differences

so we are always looking at cultural differences with a certain apprehension..because there is a history of people identifying every difference as a discriminatory process..

yes that is the bane of democracy..you dont always get to do the wisest thing..

you tend to do what is popular..for which we always pay a price..

On individual responsibility

ultimately as human actions or human thought or human emotions come ..it is only individual responsibility..which can permeate into the social action...

the more important your position becomes in the world, now when you have the power to impact millions of people..now every thought you generate, every emotion you generate, every word you utter, every action you perform becomes of profound importance..

if you are an ant you can walk upon everyone..if you become an elephant then you have to walk carefully..so as you get into positions of power and responsibility your individual responsibility becomes of paramount importance..

On spiritual and religious process

in a spiritual process you refer to yourself as a seeker ..

you become a seeker as you realize you do not know..

when you identify yourself with a religious process you refer to yourself as a believer..whatever you do not know you believe..

Bunking classes, Television, Theater, Muay Thai, childhood dreams, & wishlist

In about 7 weeks time, if everything goes well I am headed to Thailand for a 4 week Muay thai camp Yes its happening, finally.

Today I sat to recollect since when I got this fascination for Muay Thai...and this dream to go training amidst the 'sticks' in Thailand arise. May be over 10- 12 years. No its not the usual suspect - the movie Kickboxer, not even Ong Bak. Its pretty recent when compared to all my other wish list around martial arts. I fondly recollect 'threatening' my grandma that I would go off to China to one of those Shaolin monasteries and never return. Where exactly did it all start?  I remember its root too- watching  'Shaolin Temple'. I do remember watching it in theaters, one of the very few movies I had watched in a theater thanx to my uncle that came from Kerala to visit us. These are very old memories from my childhood, I was always this dreamy, lazy kid lost in my own world of thoughts and so I don't recollect too many of 'em. If my life was a movie, there was always a movie inside of that movie n  most time I hardly remember the plot - the every day events.

As for my first exposure to practicing a martial art, it was when I was in 8th grade - Tang Soo Do. Then growing up with  Dharam, Achal the still powerful, stocky knock out artists.. my inspirations at school helped. Then there was Prem, Raja the Shotokan kata expert n Kirish my jatti dost n Tang Soo  Do buddy in my village. As I write, we are in 4 different continents. Hmm. The gang went all the way to get their black belts, my martial art stint ended rather abruptly first year of my college post a tournament that left me with black eye, cut lips n swollen legs. Mom pulled the plug on it. 

Talking about theater and television both were out of our means growing up for most part. We had our first Solidaire black & white television until at least I was 9-10 years old. I do remember watching, please note just watching not listening TV sitting on our compound wall through our neighbor's window. I remember the excitement my sister & I  had when that big box arrived. Those were days!

As I grew up to be a teenager, watching movies got easier. I do remember bunking almost every other Friday (movies normally get released on a Friday) to go to Alankar(no more) n Shanti(dunno if its still functional) in Mount Road to watch that random Kung Fu movie that invariably starts with  the Indo Overseas Film production theme music. Most of 'em were that of Jet Li- My father is a hero, Hitter, Winner, Master, Iron fist, leg, little finger, twisted finger n what not n there were so many of 'em they ran out of any more creative names. Then there would be just I, II, II suffixed to a random name. There were other actors too whose names I don't remember. That bus drive from Tambaram to LIC! Priceless. My partner in crime was my 'Jatti dost' my 'Langoti yaar' my 'Bosom friend' Kir***(he is too shy a guy to be called out in blogs :-P ) who had zero interest in those movies. He just had to come with me!

 Mom I am sorry, chances are you will get to know about it via my sister but you already knew didn't you?

 Its been 12 years living outside of India, and have lived in 4 different countries and though very briefly I've exposed myself to other fighting systems - Shotokan, Kyokushin, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing & just a few classes of Muay Thai in Singapore. All the while I have been out of shape and poor cardio. I like MT for its no nonsense approach. No wonder its imbibed so well in MMA by all fighters  these days with very few exceptions like Machida.

As for my Muay Thai camp preparation, my cardio is poor, and I am overweight but still the intent is there. Will I get to fight there? Depends on how much progress I make.I am exited, focused and looking forward to it.

Here is a video of 'as is' situation and would like to keep log of the progress. Training is mostly through watching. One more here


Thanks to Youtube and my wife for her patience.

Wishlist-
 Kalari & Kushti in India
 Kyokushin in Japan,
 Shaolin, Boxing in Cuba

Martial arts, Kalaripayattu and Katrina Yoga

I was looking for some lost literature I had read a while ago on an intense form of Kalaripayattu(Indian fighting system) called Kathina Yoga. My initial source of this info was kalariworld.com, which sadly doesn't exist anymore. A year ago I had communicated with the person in charge of the website, made some contacts through friends etc only to find the style Kathina Yoga isn't taught anymore by the Asan (Master) and he has taken up a job and moved. Now even the literature is gone, hopefully not lost. It pains me to see such rare, ancient art and  wisdom in India is vanishing off due to the lack of proper platforms and sustenance means. Many other Kalari Schools are sustaining by doing stage shows and demonstrations in cultural fests, limiting it to a visual art perception, a far cry from what it is in reality. When you have movies made about it or references made here and there of its 'history', you know the art is dying. Thankfully of late the awareness is spreading and some schools have adopted it as a part of extra curricular activity albeit in a hybrid form.

Though I've trained in a few styles of martial arts in and outside of India,  its always been my wish  to learn what the world perceives as the source of various Asian martial art styles -Kalaripayattu. The fact that the training in weapons are done with actual weapons and no fakes, portrays its intensity and the level of focus it calls for. The salutation as such is poetic expression of the fighter's humility and simultaneously his commitment to fulfill his call for duty.

A mature martial artist makes sure he never start a fight, he only makes sure he ends it- in his own terms. It really doesn't matter what style you pursue, the art in the hands of a good Master is a journey of self realization and awareness for the student. It takes you to a point where your insecurities in mind vanish and when insecurity is gone, need to start a fight is gone. Finding fault in others when observed will always, yes ALWAYS go around the world only to lead to our own shortcomings and make us realize we are just projecting it on others, the ego never likes to lose. If a kid is introduced to a balanced martial philosophy early on, will always lead to a well balanced, confident adulthood. Forgiveness has no meaning for the weak minded and weak bodied, a weak minded person's cloak of escapism is forgiveness, its bad for the kids to get it wrong from early on. A good martial life will teach them to step up to the opponent, get to equal terms and then forgive, let go. This dimension to forgiveness is one of many  invaluable lesson a martial life gives, Kalari's philosophy is built on compassion and forgiveness and gives clarity of thought when one is called for a warrior's duty.

Martial arts are not just jumping around, throwing kicks and punches, many so called dojos that produce 'complete rounded fighters' produce just that.... punching n kicking machines. There are skilled exponents and then there are skilled martial artists, there is a difference. I've met some extremely good masters and some shallow ones, for the benefit of those who might read this blog, I request to exercise caution and be as picky as you would be while selecting a school for education while picking a martial arts school. If the master is pompous remember 'nirai kudam talumbaadu'.

Martial art is not just self defense, it hones the attitude, mental alertness ,teaches us how to  deal with pain, deal with defeat and triumph and teaches us to remain equanimous in and outside of the ring. Its like any sport but the mind body relation and interaction is even more intense and its effect on our other aspects of life becomes apparent in due course of time.

Martial arts teaches you life skills the other benefits are just add ons. If one goes with that attitude and reveres his Asan there will be irreversible, irrevocable benefits for life. Once a fighter in the ring, always a fighter outside of it.

As for Kathina Yoga, one of the search prompt took me to below results. Call it dark humor or anything this is the reality of today's world. At least I am sure Katrina in the title of this blog entry will attract some attention which normally is sparse...

Dubai, working class, smiles, happiness quotient, facebook etc

It's been long due, given the time I've spent in the Middle East, finally it happened rather belatedly, a week long trip to Dubai.

With world's tallest building and the largest shopping mall to name a few the economic aspirations of the Emirate is obvious. With dwindling oil resources, their move to be a strategic hub between West, East and the Middle East for business and focus on tourism is a mixed bag of success stories. Awe inspiring accomplishments and failed dreams,  trying to bite more than one can chew scenarios, no its actually the opposite, there is too much to bite but a tad few to chew. Empty apartments, office spaces and stalled mega structures cannot be missed.

The collective ego of the society is attention seeking and mostly shallow, an amplified reverberation of self indulgence of the masses comprising of a high % of floating population from across the globe. Some are there to please and some are there to be pleased. Its all about the money, some are there to earn, some are there to burn. It is basically a 'I want' go to city. A place to indulge and just pamper yourself. For fear of sounding all too self righteous, please take note, I was there for the same. Like the nice doc we met put it 'Dubai is good but Saudi is better for family and saving, you can come anytime you want vacation'. I nodded in affirmation.

 The blue and pink collar working class people there in a way are so similar to what we see in Mumbai. If you are willing to work you can have a decent life. It doesn't have a rigid structure and one size 'must' fit all approach like in say Singapore with respect to cost of living. In Dubai  a blue or pink collar expat be it an Indian,a Pakistani, a Pinoy or a Sri Lankan is most likely to find a place to have a meal  at a cost that is affordable and well within their means. The comparison stops there, by no means is the pace in Dubai as hectic as Mumbai.

The Burj Khalifa-  what an epic effort! The very name and its history of how it it went from Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa overnight is reflective of the Arab culture of looking out for each other, business built more on relations, trust and honor than just numbers. A project of such magnitude could not have been done without its fair share of pain, struggle and its start up history unfortunately being a part financial meltdown.

 The most intense moment I had at Burj Khalifa was not while at the top of the building looking down at the concrete jungle brightly lit, it was on my way to the exit.  The hordes of pictures of people involved in building right from fitters to engineers to project managers from various countries and from contrasting social strata. The pictures potentially had those whose single month salary might be equivalent to a few decades of savings of some workers that stood alongside them, both flashing a bright smile. No no I am not trying to chastise the society, it is what it is,  I just am sharing the mixed feeling I was left with at that moment.

As for the flashing smiles and greetings,again  there are smiles and smiles. There are these animated 'Hi how are yaa' that puts me off and triggers this 'get your guard up' response to these small gestures and unspoken words from strangers that makes you totally feel at home. And then there are situations when you totally feel at home when your ability to be 'aware' is challenged, like in a bar :-)

The happiness quotient in Dubai. Typical of a place that is focused on boosting tourism and exotic everything. For some happiness quotient tied to bling and the zoom, plastic, glamor and badge value. A.k.a attention seekers and  their happiness quotient directly proportional to their ability to seek attention. Then there is one segment whose phone bills form a major chunk of living expenses living as an expat. Not just Dubai in any country ask any of the expat taxi driver what the best international phone plans are  in that country and who the service provider is, they can tell. For some happiness is in listening to the sons and daughters and the loved ones narrate how their day was from far away. For them its more about paying attention to a smaller circle of near and dear than seeking attention from an ocean of strangers and plastic smiles.

Oh well, sharing is lovely when its for the sake of sharing, it gets dizzy when in name of 'staying connected' one gets into this madness of seeking other's affirmation on good and bad of one's life situations, partner, job, religion, breakfast, lunch, dinner, restroom break, coffee break, hangout spots to name just a few. Ask facebook.

This disease and the fanfare after its cycle of spike, hype and one's own learning cycle, cures by itself. And then what remains is just utter dissatisfaction.Look closer and we can see this unconscious act of seeking affirmation comes from basic insecurity in life. Where is scope for happiness when one is insecure?

 When we start comparing our lives with others, even the pristine aspects of life that are qualitative - contentment, caring and sharing gets polluted and made quantitative and even those noble virtues turns vice. When comparison creeps in  you want to  scale what you are content with, set boundaries on whom you care for and compare and contrast how much you share.

When these acts aren't spontaneous anymore and done for an audience in mind life becomes a business and just a deal with everyone including your so called near and dear.

The volition behind caring and sharing is more important than the act itself.

Well as we go through this life, we all slowly but steadily learn that the externality of life situations can do only as much to be truly happy. Things, achievements, and these fleeting moments in a tourist place can only tickle you at the surface level.

Inherent happiness is from my response to my life situation in full awareness, not from what others make or think of it.

'I' am aware now that this 'I' is seeking affirmation of 'I's understanding of life. So 'I' will stop.

To get back to where I started, like the one word Sun TV end note for new movie review, here is one for my trip.

Dubai to buy.

Vipassana, Isha and Eckhart Tolle

Been a while since my last post, had gone to Isha Yoga, Velliangiri Hills a few weeks ago  for Shoonya Meditation, thought its time for an update. Shoonya a simple tool to get into a state of no mind. While Shambavi Maha Mudra has already made a significant influence on me esp focus and energy level Shoonya will take perseverance and loads of patience to see whats in store with regular practice.

Why Vipassana and Isha in same post?  Both are great means to the same end but the approach is totally different. From what I understand one works on Prajna or awareness (e.g Vipassana) the other on Samadhi. One works to dissolve the 'I' and the other works to detach from the 'I'.

Whatever path one chooses one has to make a decision after a few trial and error and stick to one. As a householder one's well being and one's family's well being needs to be taken care of in tandem with our spiritual pursuits. 

As Sadhguru puts it those who lived in ancient India one's only purpose in life is the realize the Divine, God Almighty whatever one wants to call it. Realize the Divine within and the Divine in all. Every stage in one's life was a perfect balance of family life and spirituality intertwined so well that there was no this and that. Now unfortunately it is what it is.


So why Eckhart Tolle in this discussion? Well for the rationalist, and the ones on the other side of spiritual spectrum he will make a lot of sense. He gives us a lot of tools to maintain moment to moment awareness that everyone can benefit from. He also articulates vividly all the games the mind plays and teaches you to observe the observer. He highlights the biggest blooper of all times 'I think therefore I am'  and makes us realize 'thinking' and the mind is just one aspect of Being and 'I am' is what is. Simple elucidation to help us realize the collective madness - identification with the mind. In simple language he teaches us to bring more awareness and less mind identification.

 Intention of my post is to share the good news. We can switch off from the rattling mind as and when we want to.

How we do it is left to us to choose. 

Isha Yoga

I am going to pen my experience of Isha yoga, Velliangiri Hills, Coimbatore where I spent close to 20 days, doing various courses and staying in the ashram. I will not go into the details of the programs, just recollect what my experience was..

 I landed in Coimbatore, coming from Saudi off the August heat, the weather was welcoming. As I drove across the city towards the Velliangiri hills I could see how small CBE was, just a compact fairly well laid out city. Quickly the feel was like I was driving thro some roads in Kerala, greenery and the cold air..

As I entered the ashram, it just got better. If my few human interactions in Coimbatore city were pleasant, with the people ever conscious of their language - polite and mild mannered, inside the ashram it was surreal. The volunteers had something about them that I've never seen in the outside world. The smile, the warmth and the care seems to come from a different source. The look in their eyes were that of a long lost brother or a mother. I am trying to overtly put in words my experience of the people without getting carried away.

 The volunteers! Why would they volunteer? Why are they so nice to everyone? The whole Ashram is run by volunteers -permanent and  temporary. I wondered what was 'wrong' with them, I just did not get it!  Yes I've paid for the course, but you just cannot put a price tag on their love..suddenly there were brothers and mothers around me with this sparkle in their eyes that I did want to know more about.

32 years of this conditioned mind, so used to the plastic smiles and the 'near and dear' that are more worried about my life and my 'culture' and how I should live it, than their own, ever judging and preaching, I just couldn't digest this acceptance of me as I am without any prejudice. They made me feel welcome and  I belonged there!

My Inner Engineering experience..

Firstly, it was the Inner Engineering. Trying to keep aside all that I have read, the various theories, philosophies and belief systems. I tried to 'just be' with what was happening in the program. I found myself very emotional and could see the walls crumbling deep within while we went out to play a series of games. A team game and me! I was always a loner, the egoistic moron may be that never enjoyed playing a team sport ATALL. Is that why I like martial arts? Ill save that for later. Here I was fully participating in these simple games and I am not sure when I was more physically and mentally alive to a situation. EVER. I cannot say the 'child' in me was out because honestly even as a child I think I was restrained as far as my memory could recollect.

Sadhguru always says the one favor we could do to ourselves is stop reading spiritual books. I could see why as my mind threw concepts and counter concepts to what was being said in the program. The mind hinders 'what is'.

 Before I could realize the Inner Engineering program was over. No out of the world experience. I have a tool to enrich and nourish my life energy and hence my well being. Just few days of practicing the kriyas, I could feel the lightness of body and the energy. May be its the wholesome food and the ambience of the ashram. So let me test it in the in real world and comment after 60 days(usually 48) of practice.

My Dhyanalinga experience..

The Dhyanalinga Temple. Let me not attempt to verbalize the experience and leave patterns in the reader's(if any) mind. Just 'be' there, the Dhyanalinga, the living guru will take care of the rest.

My Hata Yoga experience..

 Hata Yoga  was for just over a couple of days. Just 3 words -tiring, tiring and more tiring. I tried not to resist and was amazed how supple and flexible my 20 kg overweight body could get. Oh ya thats right, its twenty kilograms in words, like we write in a cheque. Can I write it off to someone? Hah, that would be nice..

I've done a few Hata Yoga programs with no disrespect to them I liked this one as they stressed on awareness all thro. This actually made the difference. Instead of struggling with postures I was flowing into them and it made a huge difference. One more tool picked.

My BSP experience...

Everyone there the volunteers the teacher, old students etc kept talking about this BSP program. Do it at any cost! BSP this, BSP that. So I decided to risk it, risk as in the day it ended was the day i was flying out of Coimbatore. A tight rope walk when i am let go and make the 90 mins trip from ashram to airport.

Anyways, I did it and am I glad I did it? Lets see..

Imagine the feeling you get when u look into the eyes of a really loved one. May be it is your mother, father, husband, wife, brother, sister a close friend or your child. This feeling of love, a connectedness beyond the physical form. Now imagine having the same feeling, the same connectedness for a total stranger you have never seen/known in your life before. How about having the same feeling staring at a plant ...this is the closest explanation I cld give to my experience of the program. Yes the state of connectedness wasn't permanent, yes the so called 'logical' mind took over, but the experience remains. 

At the end of the program everything was clear. I could relate to why the volunteers were the way they are. It was no more surreal. The externalities of life batters and bruises us to such extent that our innately sensitive nature, the naturally loving, giving, inner being goes dormant. This program brings to our experience this inner being that though might be for just a few fleeting moments makes us realize who we really are.

The only sad moment of my whole stay was missing Sadhguru's darshan the day I had to leave. I am quietly confident his Grace is always there for the willing, hmm even more so for the not so willing.

My days in the ashram were filled with tears, joy, laughter, gratitude, humility and this unbound, unconditional love never felt before...I always thought I was a loving person. I was not! Love with our boundaries isn't love, it is just gratification, convenience and the ego's expression/reassurance for territorial safety. I can safely say, I experienced love in its unbound, pure form.

People in the ashram don't live their lives, they celebrate it. Whatever they do they give their all. Abundance there has a totally different meaning. They might not have the material comforts that is normally related to 'abundance' but their abundance transcends the externalities and they flow through this life with no friction and embrace life. Being there is like living, feeling, experiencing this poem of life every moment. They work, they eat, they pray, they play they do all of this with so much poise and grace. They just flow!

All I have is this feeling of gratitude to Sadhguru and I thank whoever/whatever it is for the chance to experience it this lifetime..

Lets see who will win! "vegetarians" or "non vegetarians'

An appeal to all my dear folks that has come thus far and decide to read what I've got to say. Don’t take yourself  seriously, more so don’t take me too seriously!!! I am neither a negotiator between the two camps nor an authority or a moral police. Just my views on the matter and how I deal with it!

I am encouraged to write this as an offshoot of this 'poll' that’s going on in Facebook that reads ' Lets see who will win! "vegetarians" or "non vegetarians' .Well I am not sure what the purpose of this poll is other than doing a headcount of people segregated by their eating habit deciding to take a poll in Facebook.

I see various types of ppl here, let me try to 'qualitatively' categorize as ..the quantitative result will be given by the poll.... for ease of use I am going to use V and NV to represent the obvious..

• NVs getting offensive, mostly with statements that has no substance. Their offence is purely their attempt to cover their defensive nature cos though they outnumber the Vs in the poll deep within they know something is not right - in them. It’s like the highschool bully who is most likely the one with highest inferiority complex.
• Vs to add fuel to the NVs complex and make things worse, making statements that exudes of moral superiority and looking down at NVs. Mostly their comments are filled with Bollywoodisque depiction of the poor animals, how they are slaughtered..yada yada- hey but the truth is -its the truth! The animals are hapless and factory farming indeed is the greatest sin by humans of all other sins

I am(gradually moving towards ‘am’ to’ was’) the hardcore non vegetarian that can kill (pun intended) for a good biriyani. Instead of classifying myself as a Vegetarian or a Non Vegetarian let me coin myself as a Minimalitarian(Patent pending) I am not moving toward ‘Veganism’ if you insist to put a tag on me for anyone’s approval or disapproval but purely for the sake of MY health and longevity. I do not want to paint a picture of my social consciousness, environment etc, but all those are true as well. I am changing because I see reason and honest enough to deal with my craving for a plate of biriyani! I eat it cos of my addiction to it and nothing else!

Protein? Endurance? Really? This is how I deal with  my addiction: 

• I strive to dissect and conquer  my craving for flesh(ah that sounds scandalous! Is TOI reading, damn I am not a celebrity), I just observe my breath and it works 9 out of 10 times.
• Living in Saudi, I just make food choices that’s healthy and that has least carbon footprint -I don’t eat those organic vegetables flown in from Holland or Australia for example.
• I sincerely am striving to phase out all animal and animal products(read milk, cheese, eggs etc) because I am totally convinced I will be much healthier, active and more at peace with myself not consuming the same.
• My minimalism is not focused on just my food habits but extended to all actions that can directly or indirectly affect sustenance of life in this earth. This includes not wasting food, energy in all form and cutting down on all 'indulgence'.

I do not even want to get into whether God made us this or that or what our religious texts says, may be God didn't know of factory farming then and how 'smart' and 'efficient' us humans are in exploiting our fellow beings -plants and animals. God would have totally revised his doctrines or sent messengers to revise it if he knew what He was getting into.

For those who talk 'Science' and the usual canine teeth defense, please go hunting and eat the flesh like the canines do!

 I know as much that if we have even an iota of concern for others, leave alone others leave alone the degenerating wildlife, if you love your children you will do your bit to let them have a better environment! If you are not old enough and worry about a child growing in the family atleast be selfish about yourself! Going the way we are going in 20- 30 years I am not sure how India is going to show up -ecologically, depleting water reserves, rising temperature, degrading soil and all we want to do is grow fodder and feed animals so we could have our roganjosh and 65. Please let's channelize our 'josh' on what is right!

One changed mind, one small step at a time. Not out of compulsion, polls, FB ridicule but out of sheer introspection and action based on the truth.

 We need not leave a 'track record' that says I was a vegetarian all my life -90 years! or I am a vegetarian 'convert'' for the past 11 years 300 days and 5 hrs. Stop getting obsessed with your numbers and deal with it with an all-encompassing approach! Have a close hard look at your lifestyle- of which eating is just(and should be) just a part of it and see how 'less damaging' your life is to other beings -directly and indirectly.

So my earnest appeal to all my NV friends reading this blog is this:

• If you are a daily meat eater try making your serving smaller! Focus on not wasting any meat, buy and eat only what is required that whets your appetite/craving.
• Once you've made your servings smaller and are comfortable, try having a healthy vegetarian (read healthy, french fries isn't healthy nor is cheese pizza) meal once a day
• Once you are there try making meat eating to just 2-3 days a week, then to 2 weeks and to month..you get my point.
• Once you are comfortable with that make it 1 day of indulgence with your favorite meal (1 Biriyani for example in my case)
• Focus on % rather than a boolean answer - are you a vegetarian or not.
• Remember the vegetarians, many of them dont know what it is to be a vegetarian. Ask Ambani for instance.
• Focus on eating healthy and eating food tht's local produce. Focus on eating less and wasting even lesser. You are doing great already!
• If you don’t want to deal with the problem as an isolated issue and want a natural change go here. The craving will evaporate in thin air. It no more remains ‘suppressing’ it becomes natural. Again it wont be an on –off switch , change is gradual and it works!

If you are 'typecast' as an  NV because you have an occasional biriyani but you have a car and still walk or cycle whenever possible and  use your resources all around in a mindful manner you are more a 'vegetarian' than Mr.Ambani. Mindfulness and moderation in  action is better than hypocrisy.

For those who give this typical answer 'Its every person's individual choice', if you dissect your statement and look within you will find its just a defence you create for your weakness for an indulgence or a deep rooted habit.

 Now my dear V friends please don’t jump on your seats! The biggest problem with you guys is you think you are superior and mostly your attempt is not to genuinely make people see reason and change but its more about flaunting your bloated ego in this air of superiority. So bring some humility into your lives! Most of you are what you are because your parents fed you ghaas bhoos since birth. You might be doing as much damage to the environment in your own chosen ways. If in doubt gain ask Ambani!

P.S: I have nothing personal against Ambani(like he cares and I am his contemporary) but he is the most apt living example on earth of what a you can call a  Vegetarian Killer -consume, take, exploit, destroy... all of this within legal boundaries because -you can! Its like killing animals and not consuming it, like the kings that kill their ‘game’.

Lets keep  our living habits ethical,  minimal and be true to ourselves. No need of fighting over this 'ism' and miss the point all together!

If you are in a stage where you know its just your addiction an you are changing and want to know of how you can eat healthy and balanced diet go here. Dr Shah is doing a great service to clear all doubts on how 'balanced' a vegan diet can be and how less damaging we can be on the environment. Unlike Rich Roll's interview I shared earlier where you read alien or abusive sounding words like 'marine phytoplanktons, adaptogens, plant-based proteins and oils such as flax, coconut, and hemp' in Sharan you'll find Indian recipes and topics you can relate to. We dont want to create factory farming of a different kind trying to deal with one.I’ve said this earlier and I ‘ll say it now, obsession with any ‘ism’ will eventually lead to fanaticism(Patent pending).

 Simple close to source wholesome food will do!

You can go here if you want to get convinced what we are doing is just 'craving'  and 'indulgence' under the blanket of 'personal choice' and not necessary for healthy happy living- for yourself and others!

If you want to still stick to your gun, please do and feel free to foul mouth me as 'anonymous' and 'whet your appetite' :-) Cheers!

Bhavatu Sarva Mangalam!