During the last few weeks, after getting over home sickness for Orissa and again appreciating life in San Jose, I have re-gained my physical energy thanks to doing what I could of a Master Cleanse and eating holistically again (and building new habits like no-dairy and no-wheat).
I can now run for 2 miles again, though still a far cry from my condition several years ago when I was accustomed to half-marathons and small triathlons!
During this morning's workout, I had cranked up the exercise machine's resistance level and had a fantastic realization: My body, mind, and spirit are so inter-connected! The higher resistance levels came at intervals, and I saw at some times I could easily do the higher resistance and at other times I was pooped. Initially I thought that my muscles needed warming up, but that wasn't the case since even towards the end of the workout, when I was fully warmed up, I had bouts of extreme ease or extreme difficulty.
What I started to realize was that when my mind was empty, when I was not thinking about completing my thesis, Gram Vikas, the next India trip, about my parents, etc., my body was doing wonders. The high resistance levels felt like nothing when my mind was focused just on a spot on the wall. I also realized that when my body was doing more, my spirit went out the roof! Even the Gram Vikas and thesis issues all felt like transformations rather than issues.
I found it amazing that something as simple as presence of mind could have such an impact on my body and in turn my spirit. I also realized that it took me so long to get to this point partly because I had not been taking care of my body, even though I had been doing things for the spirit.
...I am physically the oldest I have ever been in this life, but I am feeling more awakened than ever before. :-)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Stumbling
i stumble, over and over.
Always running for some finishing line.
Only after the fall, do i look behind and below.
It's been a long road.
of smiles, hope, and hard work.
With each stumble, i can return to the root.
Returning makes me want to push farther,
creating a fear of falling even harder next time.
Again I go back to the root...
Papers, presentations, money,
None of those matters.
People and transformation,
and my acceptance of them,
that's what counts.
Always running for some finishing line.
Only after the fall, do i look behind and below.
It's been a long road.
of smiles, hope, and hard work.
With each stumble, i can return to the root.
Returning makes me want to push farther,
creating a fear of falling even harder next time.
Again I go back to the root...
Papers, presentations, money,
None of those matters.
People and transformation,
and my acceptance of them,
that's what counts.
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Best Speech I've Ever Heard
It is simply amazing how fast time goes in while I am in Orissa. ...maybe it's because every task takes so long. The projects in Kalahandi are progressing, amidst the circuses of the NGO, donor, local government, the communities, engineers, suppliers, and the biggest circus of all--my reactions. But I am working at transforming my reactions into responses. :-)
Purna Guma was commissioned in Nov. '08 and hasn't had any major issues, and hence has become a local celebrity in the Karlapat Sanctuary. It's funny how many more local government officials I know after the Purna Guma lights came on! Purna Guma is now focused on building a livelihoods center to utilize the electricity for income generation.
The youth from Purna Guma are helping to implement the next project in Karnivel village. Karnivel is a fantastic tribal community who give 200% to everything. The only thing looming on my shoulders is the schedule. We need to finish the Purna Guma community center and the Karnivel micro hydro within the next month, before the rains arrive.
It's been extremely hot...but I've gotten used to it. Drinking lots and lots of water is key. A big bowl of water rice for every meal is best!
....So what's made me decide to blog again???? The best speech I have ever heard....I can't help but want to tell everyone about it. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KObN8s0M14g
It is in 3 parts, so be patient and download all 3 parts.
Purna Guma was commissioned in Nov. '08 and hasn't had any major issues, and hence has become a local celebrity in the Karlapat Sanctuary. It's funny how many more local government officials I know after the Purna Guma lights came on! Purna Guma is now focused on building a livelihoods center to utilize the electricity for income generation.
The youth from Purna Guma are helping to implement the next project in Karnivel village. Karnivel is a fantastic tribal community who give 200% to everything. The only thing looming on my shoulders is the schedule. We need to finish the Purna Guma community center and the Karnivel micro hydro within the next month, before the rains arrive.
It's been extremely hot...but I've gotten used to it. Drinking lots and lots of water is key. A big bowl of water rice for every meal is best!
....So what's made me decide to blog again???? The best speech I have ever heard....I can't help but want to tell everyone about it. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KObN8s0M14g
It is in 3 parts, so be patient and download all 3 parts.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Hey 2009
Hey 2009
Give me the strength to stand for the things I believe in
And ask me to practice my philosophy.
Make me more patient and tolerant, so that I'll feel everybody is mine and there will be no quarrels and terror.
Help me in giving up my extras and live more and more simply.
Give me the friends - as I always got – who's hearts are tuned in harmony of the world.
Provide me the vision by which I'll always perceive good in whatever happening and will stand against all disasters than collapsing.
Help me understand, what I feel and think, so that there will be no crisis in relations.
And importantly,
Take me to the worst of natural and inhuman situations – which will be my real space – where I can practice all the good that I thought of. I need to give these examinations.
Hey 2009, I believe in equality, peace, justice and enrichment.
By the time you will pass away make this belief more strong,
Of me and my friends.
Good bye 2008
--Wishes from a phenominal soul, Vinayak (http://ekjajabor-vinayak.blogspot.com/)
Give me the strength to stand for the things I believe in
And ask me to practice my philosophy.
Make me more patient and tolerant, so that I'll feel everybody is mine and there will be no quarrels and terror.
Help me in giving up my extras and live more and more simply.
Give me the friends - as I always got – who's hearts are tuned in harmony of the world.
Provide me the vision by which I'll always perceive good in whatever happening and will stand against all disasters than collapsing.
Help me understand, what I feel and think, so that there will be no crisis in relations.
And importantly,
Take me to the worst of natural and inhuman situations – which will be my real space – where I can practice all the good that I thought of. I need to give these examinations.
Hey 2009, I believe in equality, peace, justice and enrichment.
By the time you will pass away make this belief more strong,
Of me and my friends.
Good bye 2008
--Wishes from a phenominal soul, Vinayak (http://ekjajabor-vinayak.blogspot.com/)
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