ashirvachanBUiLDinG cOUraGE, inTELLiGEncE anD KnOWLEDGE |

insPiraTiOnThE PraYEr

OF cOUraGE

cOLLaBOraTinGFOr

chanGE

sEvEn WaYs TO

LOvE

ThE nEW DrEaM

vOL. 1 issUE 3 | `50JanUarY - March 2015

EMPOWEr YOUr caUsE ThrUashirvachan.cOM

Photo: Garry Knight

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Thank you for believing!

ASHIRVACHAN MAGAZINE reaches the desks and homes of 3,000 honorary subscribers, which include Power Leaders in Goverment Organizations, Media People, Educators, Business Honchos, Artists, Musicians, Doctors, Spiritual Healers, Peace Crusaders and

Welfare Activists from India; and Internationally, in Argentina, Italy, USA, Kenya, Namibia, Norway, Australia, Brazil, UK, Germany, and Canada.

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Panel Of advisOrs

artravinder Kalsi

educatiOnshabbi luthravanita sehgal

HealtHashok Khurana

Maria angelica sassone

lawP.K. Ganguly

Mediacol. r.K. Kapoor

shashikant Kapoor

MusicJawahar wattalPreet raj Kwatra

sPiritualityvimla luthra

tHeaterdanish iqbal

welfareJ.r. luthra

rni registration number:delenG/2014/56076

Printed, PublisHed,edited & Owned byshamshir rai luthra

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new delhi - 110048, india

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asHirvacHan vOl. 1 issue 3 in tHis dais

THE PRAYER OF COURAGE on p.4Realize the indomitable strength that lies within you. Healer, Activist SHAMSHIR RAI LUTHRA inspires you to be strong from within.

COLLABORATING FOR CHANGE on p.6“What can we do to change the administrative mindsetand build support for innovative practices of teaching andlearning in our local schools?” DR. SHABBI LUTHRA reflects.

NECTAR on p.8JAI UTTAL, the Golden Voice Of Kirtan, defines ‘Kirtan’ as an invaluable nectar that rejuvenates fatiguing spirits, andexplains the many shades of devotional music.

THE NEW DREAM on p.12JANA FLEMING, Founder of Emotional Healing Systems Inc.welcomes the dawn of collective action for social justice,environmental sustainability, and spiritual fulfilment.

TRUE FRIENDS OF TREES on p.10“If humanity wishes to endure, we must find a way to livein harmony with nature, and not against it.” Eco-WarriorTRIPAT PARMAR expresses her faith in trees and nature.

THE PERFECT ARTIST on p.14Meet an artist of exceptional brilliance - MARINO LECCHI.His paintings reflect mathematical accuracy, andsupreme insightfulness.

‘AshirvAchAn MAgAzine’ is A sequel to ‘AshirvAchAn DAis’ - A shAreD-KnoWleDge confluenceWhich eMbrAces vision leADers, eDucAtors, Artists AnD spirituAlists froM Across the globe

cover photo: ©bonnie gustin photogrAphY in the pic: Alexis reber-King, travis reber, nicole King and hugoiMportAnt notice: All rights to reproduce, and transmit the ‘contents’ are reserved. You are not permitted to use any ‘contents’ such as articles, quotes, photographs, or graphics without explicit written permission from the authors, artists, and photographers themselves. Most images have been borrowed under the creAtive coMMons license. in case we’ve unknowingly used any image/s without prior consent, kindly inform us immediately, and we shall remove them from our future reprints. DisclAiMer: the views and opinions expressed in Ashirvachan are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher and editors. the publisher and editors are not responsible and liable for any comments, or advice given by the authors, advertisers and content-contributors and will not be liable for any damages. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/ new Delhi only.

ASHIRVACHAN | JANUARY - MARCH 2015 p.3

tHe Prayer Of cOuraGe

beneath that tough façade,probably lies a delicate,

fearful spirit. true strength is not in strong words,

and harsh actions. it dwells in a valiant mind, and a

secure heart.sHaMsHir rai lutHra

inspires you to bestrong from within.

realize the indomitable strength that lies within you

Photo: Garry Knight

INSPIRATION

p.4 ASHIRVACHAN | JANUARY - MARCH 2015

O Greatest Bearer Of the spirit Of strenGth,and endurance

Only yOu, KnOw My sins.Only yOu, KnOw My lies.

Only yOu, KnOw My truths innate.Only yOu, KnOw what’s Best fOr Me.

i accept yOu nOw, in My Mindfulness.

i accept yOu nOw, in My reasOninG.i accept yOur OMnipOtent presence.

i have tried Many ways,in despair i have tried,in anGer i have tried,

in revenGe i have tried,in passiOn i have tried,

But My ways have failed tO sustain.

please shOw Me sustainaBle paths,please Give Me endurinG answers,

hOw actiOns Must Be dOne,if at all, they Must Be dOne.

My Mind, My BOdy, My spirit

i surrender.My thOuGhts, My actiOns, My existence

i surrender.tO the purest, the MOst devOted,

and the MOst KnOwledGeaBle Onei surrender

My iMpurity, My infidelity and My cunninG.

i KnOw nOthinG, and nOthinG BelOnGs tO Me.they KnOw nOthinG, and nOthinG BelOnGs tO theM.

shOw Me the waythrOuGh dislOyalty, and despair.

shOw Me the liGhtthrOuGh darKness, and defeat.

illuMinate My BeinG,sO that i May OvercOMe each adversity.

illuMinate My presence,sO that i May cOnquer every wrOnGdOer.

Grant Me Great cOuraGe,tO BrinG hOpe tO My peOple,

Grant Me Great intelliGence,tO BrinG victOry tO My tOil.Grant Me Great KnOwledGe,

tO BrinG cOntentMent tO My spirit.

fOr withOut My BeinG,i aM nO One.

fOr withOut My wOrld,i dO nOt wish tO Be.

aBOUT ThE FOUnDEr

shaMshir rai LUThrashares his light throughvarious mediums such

as writing, social service, education, arts,

and public speaking.his voice and

presence heals.

Photo: William

Warby

ashirvachan | JanUarY - March 2015 p.5

cOllabOratinGfOr cHanGe by

dr. sHabbi lutHra

WHAT CAN WE DO TO CHANGE THE ADMINISTRATIVEMINDSET AND BUILD SUPPORT FOR INNOVATIVE PRACTICESOF TEACHING AND LEARNING IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS?

WHAT ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN CAN CONTRIBUTE,COLLABORATE, AND PARTNER?

p.6 ASHIRVACHAN | JANUARY - MARCH 2015

Photo: vera & Jean-christophe

EDUCATION

cOllabOratinG fOr cHanGeby dr. sHabbi lutHra

all My blessinGsby tHeresa HuMPHrey

aBOUT ThE EDUcaTOrEducator, Consultant, Presenter DR. SHABBI LUTHRA is empowering educators, students, and parents & building 21st century learning environments. She is currently the Director of Research & Development at American School of Bombay.

aBOUT ThE visiOnarYArtist & Spiritualist THERESA HUMPHREY is the founder of ‘Children Celebrating Life Through Art’. She envisages to connect children of her communities with other communities and cultures around the world through this remarkable initiative.

Every moment of every breath is a blessing.Every experience is an insight into our souls.

Every new person is a fresh chance to create a new friendship.

Every thought has it’s opposite right beside it!Every adversity has the ability to create a triumph.

A couple of years back I attended my first tech conference in India. It was very well organized, was attended by 2000 participants from all over India and the world. The format of the conference was interesting. There were four strands focused on technology initiatives in the area of Governance, Health, Agriculture, and Education. Of course the strand that was of interest to me was Education.

The educators from Indian schools who attended this conference were not from elite schools in India. They represented a range of local district school models – village schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas (a huge network of government supported schools all over India), NGO schools, and municipal schools (city-funded schools). We were all eager to discuss and find answers to the dilemmas we face in our collective altruistic endeavor to prepare the future citizens of our world. There were several takeaways from the conference for me. (These could read as takeaways from any education conference anywhere in the world today.)

Educators are facing a problem with engaging the current generation of students in their own learning. Local schools in India are dealing with funding issues, lack of innovation, lack of relevant professional development, and most importantly, lack of leadership and vision – problems similar to what public schools (and some independent schools) in the US and other parts of the world are facing. There is great deal of energy and hunger for change in practices.

There is a lack of vision of what the change should look like. Educators are naïve about software and hardware vendors’ commercial motivations. This make educators (and schools) with limited funding vulnerable to adopting irrelevant technologies as a panacea. I left the conference with a question — As a school in Mumbai that is a leader in innovative practices in the use of technology, how can we meaningfully collaborate, partner, and/or contribute towards a resolution of these problems in our host country’s local schools? I am not looking for answers in the form of fund-raisers. We’re very good at that.

Bake-sales, clothes/toys/books drives — all very important but small and token measures. I am not looking for answers in the form of teacher training – teachers from elite progressive schools that believe in transformative pedagogy and practices, training teachers from schools where the norm is lecture-style teaching and rote learning.

While the trainings will be mind-shifting, they would lack the ‘stickiness’ necessary for the trainings to translate into real change in the classroom. That ‘stickiness’ comes from administrative support in the form of leadership and vision.

While I believe in mind over matter, I also believe in Grace which is to say, sometimes adversity is put there in front of us to teach us something grand and the more we shy away from the lesson, the more it will present itself in more and more dramatic ways until we GET IT! Life is full of everything imaginable and then some! Thank you God for all that I have and will experience in this life!

Photo: William

Warby

ASHIRVACHAN | JANUARY - MARCH 2015 p.7

SPIRITUALSENSE

THE GOLDEn VOICE Of KIRTAn, DEfInES ‘KIRTAn’ ASAN INVALUABLE NECTAR THAT REJUVENATES FATIGUING SPIRITS,

AND ExPLAINS THE MANY SHADES OF DEVOTIONAL MUSIC

nectar byJai uttal

aBOUT ThE arTisTE

Jai UTTaL —a Grammy nominated

sacred music composer,

recording artist,multi-instrumentalist,and ecstatic vocalist,combines influences

from india with influences

from american rock and jazz, creating a

stimulating and exoticmulti-cultural fusion thatis truly world spirit music.p.8 ASHIRVACHAN | JANUARY - MARCH 2015

Photo: Jeffery new

bury

nectarby Jai uttal

in tHe bHavby sruti raM PalMer

Kirtan is the calling, the crying, and the reaching across infinite space -- digging into the heart’s deepest well to touch and be touched by the Divine Presence.

Kirtan is singing over and over the many names of God and the Goddess, the multi-colored rainbow manifestations of the One. It is said that there is no difference between the name and that which is being named, and as the words roll off our lips in song, the Infinite is invoked, invited, made manifest in our hearts.

Kirtan is part of an ancient form of Yoga known as Bhakti, or the Yoga of Devotion. But in Bhakti we redefine “devotion”, we expand the meaning to include every shade of color in the palette of human emotion, turned towards God through song, dance, and worship. These chants have been sung for millenniums by sages, sinners, devotees, and the great primordial yogi alchemists of old. And as we sing, we immerse ourselves in an endless river of prayer that has been flowing since the birth of the first human beings, longing to know their creator.

Being in the Bhav is a truly mystical experience for each one of us to enjoy. It is uniquely individual for every person for it relates to our personal relationship with our maker.

No two people are in the same place spiritually and the Supreme Lord responds to each of us differently, according to where we have evolved and our individual karma’s. We all qualify and are eligible however diverse our situations in life may be.

The common denominator within the Bhav is a feeling of bliss and sometimes euphoria and a sense of fearlessness. In the moment, these feelings are clearly caused by a lack of concern for circumstances of the mundane world. In other words this ‘Bhav energy’ transports our consciousness to something greater and knowledge of a plane of existence where we are safe and nourished spiritually.

We leave our minds and unite in our hearts. We feel Gods presence within us, and in the Kirtan experience we are aware that the Kirtan collective is also united in our bliss. These ancient words have be chanted for thousands of years and science has proven, that sound travels for infinity.

We become a member of that enormous collective, and realize the power contained within that fellowship.

This sharing of love and devotion to the supreme radiates out like concentric circles formed in a pond when a stone is thrown into it. We become the center of love and goodness and ultimately become a vehicle of compassion and a light on the path. For what greater service is it than to help each other find the path back to the eternal connection to God.

Photo: Luis argerich

these ancient words have been chanted forthousands of years and science has proven,

that sound travels for infinity.- sruti ram Palmer

aBOUT ThE arTisTECo-founder of SRI Kirtan, and with 40 years of kirtan leading experience aside from his background in Gregorian chant, opera and doo-wop, SRUTI RAM PALMER is sharing his divinity through bhajan, and kirtan events across the western world.

ASHIRVACHAN | JANUARY - MARCH 2015 p.9

p.10 ashirvachan | JanUarY - March 2015

“i serve trees. i am a lover of trees. i grow them, nurture

them, and take care of them.”

“if human society wishes to endure,we must find a way to

live in harmony with nature, and not against it. for this, we need to change the mindset of people

who have taken our natural resources for granted.”

LaTE Dr. M.L. DEWanFROM INDIA, WAS A SOIL

SCIENTIST AND A WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ExPERT,

WHO STARTED HIS WORK ON CONSERVATION IN THE DAMODAR VALLEY IN 1949.

HE DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO THE RESTORATION AND PROTECTION OF THE MAJESTIC HIMALAYAS. IN HIS LIFETIME, HE PLANTED AS WELL AS ARRANGED PLANTATIONS OF

OVER 1,00,000 TREES.

TriPaT TUTEJa ParMarIS THE FOUNDER DIRECTOR OF

DEEKSHA, INDIA. SHE IS WORKING TOWARDS SENSITIZING THE

MASSES, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, ON ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

AND CARE. SHE ALSO SELF-PUBLISHES A QUARTERLY

ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE TITLED ‘DEEKSHA’

MISSIONARYZEAL

true friendsOf trees

Photo: William Warby

ASHIRVACHAN | JANUARY - MARCH 2015 p.11

“In Narnaul, as you walk around nearby villages, exploring Historical Monuments, trekking to Dhosi Hills, and Dharsoon-Waale Hamza Peer Baba, in Dharsoon Village, you will sense sacred energies that have been present here, since time immemorial.

In Vedic periods, Spiritual Saints and Masters such as Chyavana Rishi (Author of Book ‘Charak Samhita’ and Inventor of ‘Chyavanprash’) and his father Bhrigu Rishi (Author of Astrology Book ‘Bhrigu Samhita’) have meditated here.

Sufi Saint Peer Turkman also meditated here.

Narnaul is replete with historical monuments like Ibrahim Shah Suri’s Tomb, Shah Wilayat Khan’s Tomb, Pabianwali Mosque, Takhat Waali Baoli, Jal Mahal, Shah Quli Khan’s Tomb, Hargopal’s Tomb, Jamal Khan’s Tomb, Tripolia Gateway, Nagpuriyon ki Baoli, Janak Sarovar, and Sarai Bal Mukund Das, also known as Birbal ka Chhatta (Birbal used to visit here!).

Latif, a noted scholar who stayed here during the seventeenth century, compares the city with heaven itself. Shah Quli Khan also built a beautiful garden near the palace. Latif compares this garden with ‘Bagh-e-Aram’ – Garden Of Paradise.”

sPiritual POrtalsOf narnaul

28°.04’n 76°.11’e

Photos source: anne Weth & samrat narula

saMraT narULaIS THE FOUNDER OWNER OF VILLAGE RESORT, NARNAUL,

INDIA, WHICH OFFERS UNIQUE SPIRITUAL RETREATS AND TOURS

IN NARNAUL. HE IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN PRESERVING AND PROMOTING THE ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGES OF

NARNAUL.

p.12 ASHIRVACHAN | JANUARY - MARCH 2015

aBOUT ThE sPiriTUaL hEaLErFounder and Owner of Emotional

Healing Systems, Inc. JAnA fLEMInG’s mission is to inspire people with her

life’s story of overcoming a childhood of abuse, neglect, and poverty.

tHe new dreaMby Jana fleMinG

The Old Dream is dying. It’s demise becomes inevitable as we discover the devastation we’ve caused to our own planet home, as we count the rising cost of our inhumanity to each other and as we see how our current way of living fails to deliver lasting happiness. All of these are the inevitable conclusions of an old dream rooted in acquisition, consumption and putting personal gain above communal good.

The new Dream is emerging! It’s community, collaboration; it’s life-enhancing and earth-honouring; it’s together and for our grand-children, rather than Supersize me now! So we’re seeing the largest social movement of all time, millions of people and organisations working for Environmental Sustainability, Social Justice and Spiritual fulfilment, three facets of a new dream for Humanity and Planet Earth.

Photo: Barry solow

ASHIRVACHAN | JANUARY - MARCH 2015 p.13

aBOUT ThE crEaTivE crUsaDErInventor, Design Engineer, Social Crusader MICHAEL GOEBEL shares a beautiful piece of advice for those whose hearts are open to change.

tHinK Only lOveby MicHael GOebel

Probably, the ultimate ‘mastery of life’ depends solely on your ability to be ‘one-pointed’ - that is, to constantly retain Love as your focus of consciousness. When you do this, you are signaling to the universe, the very thing which it is most capable of resonating with.

The mind is a perpetual source of confusion and will lead you astray, whereas your heart is a much more reliable indicator of what is truly loving. “Think with the heart and Love with the mind” is a very powerful method of sorting out the plethora of confusing and misleading thoughts that you may find yourself presented with from time to time. Often you will find yourself in a negative space. Examine the series of thoughts that led you to this place and you will find that it was a ‘lack of love’ that had brought you there. By cleansing your mind of these ‘non-loving’ thoughts, you will effectively de-rail these ‘negative thought-trains’ and avoid finding yourself in an unhappy and disempowered state.

Phot

o: G

arry

Kni

ght

p.14 ASHIRVACHAN | JANUARY - MARCH 2015

aBOUT ThE arTisTEMARINO LECCHI, from Italy, is a truly global artist.

His works of art are exceptional, and remarkably aesthetic.

ART OF MYHEART

Images: © Marino Lecchi

tHe Perfect artistMarino Lecchi, seems to understand the deepest mysteries of the cosmos. His paintings

reflect mathematical accuracy, and supreme insightfulness.

Geometry, Space and Harmony blend in unique proportions to form timeless masterpieces. Maestro Marino paints with warm colors and fine strokes, reflecting a high level of

sensitivity and self-disciple.

In touch with the times, Marino Lecchi masterpieces reflect perfect harmony and beauty that is omnipresent in the depths of the human consciousness, as well as the universe without.

Each of his paintings are perfect in themselves. Objective silhouettes as well as human forms are identifiable, as well as shapes and colors etch a permanent, and instant

recall of Marino Lecchi’s unique style and creative expression.

TAlkiNg ricH sTudios is A creATive worksTATioNTHAT creATes oNliNe coNTeNT, Audio-visuAl mediA,

ANd iNveNTs leArNiNg sysTems ANd TrAiNiNg sessioNs, for coNglomerATes, welfAre orgANiZATioNs, ANd

scHolAsTic iNsTiTuTioNs.

amazing, enriching andextremely motivating presence.

1000 people were inspired to 'Become what they Believe!'

shilpa aJwani, sales leader,inspiratiOnal speaKer

thank you for instilling faithin each of our presenters, for

giving them focus, and helpingthem realize their true potential!

sOnny shrestha, radiOstatiOn cO-fOunder, nepal

TaLKinG rich sTUDiOsP.O.BOX 4217, GrEaTEr KaiLash 2, nEW DELhi 110048, inDia

RNI Registration Number:DELENG/2014/56076

Photo: Tony Fischer