For we cannot survive alone in islands of our own making…
Life truly thrives in the interconnects
Give and partake, share and receive
The gifts of abundance are strewn aplenty across
If we choose to truly see with open hearts.
Savvy Raj
Category Archives: life
On Life Management.
Wisdom truly lies in the art of management of two principles in life : one of never giving up and the other of letting go.
On one side is a dedication, discipline and determination and on the other is the dispassionate discernment and in learning to surrender to balance the ego within. Every attempt at achieving such a state of balance can be a great tool for learning to evolve with the wisdom.
For life is to evolve and not simply dissolve
For life is to live and not simply exist.
Take the path of purpose in faith trust and belief
Flow along with the path of light in passion and dedication .
And allow life to manifest its infinite abundance.
There is an exemplary account of life lived in such a path of evolution and enlightenment
Sharing the great visionary of India Swami Vivekananda’s account of life story in his own words here ….
“When you travel on this path of shraddha, (faith) veerya, (courage ) smiriti, (that which is remembered) you have to go through three phases. The first phase is Haasya (laughter/humour). People will make fun of you. Face them. Accept them. When you are taunted, reply in the same tone of haasya. Then slowly the inner consciousness starts evolving. Then comes the second stage ‘Virodha’.(opposition/ hostility) The same people will start opposing your stance – Accept all the opposition. Don’t fight with anybody. Don’t argue. The moment you get into the argument, then you are going to suffer. If you argue while you are going through lot of internal turmoil’s, conflicts and confusions, you will not be able to convince anybody. So, during the second part of sadhana, (dedicated practice)don’t argue with anybody. Convert the negativity into a positive fragrance and give this in return. Then comes the third stage of ‘Svekaara'(acceptance). The same people who laughed at you, the same people who threw stones, will do pranams ( respectful salutation)& accept you.
In my own life, I have experienced this but I had to pay heavily. Those who taught me became my students but only after I did tapas for 10 years continuously and silently. Understand one thing. Inner sadhana is not a revolution but an evolution. Revolution requires force, vengeance. Evolution requires love, humility and a great feeling of universal love. The consciousness has to evolve. This is an evolutionary process where the bud flowers. We have to allow time for the bud to flower. It will not flower in one day. It takes time. It has to receive proteins, vitamins and the necessary energy for all petals to open out. You have to have a great patience. You have to create an environment for the petals to bloom silently. This is Sadhana. “Swami Vivekananda
Any path of passionate dedication and discipline evolves you along in the strength of persevarance
To honor your path and vision is a task of a lifetime.
To steer clear of slack and sloth, lethargy and languidity takes a consistent mastering of the senses.
To stay true to your chosen way and vision is a commitment driven by your belief and faith in your life’s purpose of being.
To know is to reach beyond the sensing of the eternal truth of ones being .
And all the challenges happening along in the journey, will resolve in time on its own as the intent and focus remains unwavered.
For life itself is a spark of the divine consciousness.
Savvy Raj
On Being Grateful.
A beautiful and well meant message share came my way this morning … and I thought it was relevant enough to share ..
The qualification that gave you a job is the same qualification someone has who still does not have a job.
Be grateful.
The prayer that God answered for you is the same prayer others have been praying but without success.
Be grateful.
The road you use safely on a daily basis is the same road where many others lost their precious lives.
Be grateful.
The temple in which God blessed you is the same temple other people too worship in, yet their lives are still in discord.
Be grateful.
The rain that made your field produce good crops is the same rain that devastated someone else’s field.
Be grateful.
Be grateful because whatever you have is not by your power, your might , your talent or your qualifications, but it’s just the “Grace of God.” the giver of everything you have.
For everything you have, be grateful. 😍
Gratitude Rocks!
Savvy
Travel Trails
Musings on the Middle East: Part 2
The Meet and Greets:
While this trip to the Middle east, was a great getaway of sorts, between the work and pleasure, it undoubtedly became a fodder for thought and much reflections in those moments of chanced and planned connects with some amazing people living there. And some of them I met for the first time and bonded so instantly as if I knew them forever and a few who I knew for decades but didnt get to meet and connect earlier.
There were many more on my list of people who I wanted to meet but have left that for my next trip sooner than later.
Connects of empathy:
Meeting another human being for the first time is an enigmatic phenomenon. In todays age of technology although you may try to connect in so many ways online. Real time meet and greets hold their own a bag of surprises and treats in tow.
One such meet was planned … by me and my dear warm hearted friend from online. Fatima.An eloquent writer with a heart of gold and a keenly developed insight of people and their resources who draws much strength in positive reflections and most importantly a kind and brave heart following her dreams.
The heartfelt connects established in moments of our first meeting was clearly visible. She treated me to an amazing authentic Arabic dinner that evening and while catching up on our lives, in between us was a complete ease of being which we both mutually sensed in the lovely ease of conversation and strength of connection in the little time we had that day. Her warm hospitality and generosity touched me and I truly look forward to meeting her again sooner than later and wish her the best always from my heart.
Then there was this local Arab woman dressed in the traditional Abhaya worn with the hijab and those alluring kohl rimmed eyes with whom I shared a lengthy conversation of their culture and learned much but who moved me in the simplicity of her words and in sharing her heart’s deepest desires for freedom of movement and her eagerness in learning to dance…
Another wonderful woman with whom my daughter and I shared a great rapport albeit in just a few minutes of conversation was a travel guide who invited us to her home in Abu Dhabi. We got talking about so many things in such a short span of time. We bonded without reservations.
There are many more truly endearing people I met and connected some who I managed to catch up with on phone …but simply put perhaps it is just my way of seeing but I found many friendly people from across the world living there making a living thriving in the tolerance and interconnects that makes up much of Dubai’s culture in recent times.
And yes of course my visit to the traditional city of Sharjah had its own share of charm . As the people I met there were my very dear friends connecting after so long … yet the heartconnects were entrenched so deep that it felt home to me .
A short driving across the city will lead you through the Corniche where you can stay on to watch the beautiful Arabian Sunset and may be drive further on to Al Ain as well.
Will not forget the trips to the Gold and Spice Souks and most of all the Creek and the dhow cruise on the creek one pleasant evening….
Foodwise :
Being a vegetarian I thought my choices would be limited to pizzas and pastas and of course my saviour’ Subway’ besides the Indian food . But I was pleasantly surprised to find my flavour in Arabic food. Suffice to say the sumptous starters of the Arab cusine and their spiced tea was perfectly suited to my vegetarian and satvic senibilities. And I must thank my dear friends, relatives and hosts who took so much care and put so much consideration while ordering that I will hold very fond memories of dining out in this delightful trip.
Thanks to my amazing hosts I tried many dishes some which were known like the falafel and some new to me…tabbouleh and the zatar and lentil soup
were just divine. Midly aromatic and
full of flavour and bursting with greens
and a dash of lime . Awesome indeed!.
A city may be made of concrete
But homes are built with hearts
And life thrives in these homes.
Savvy
Precious time spent there…
About me:
Wellness Mentor, Dance Educator & Writer, Motivational Speaker, Freelance Designer
‘Creativity stems from the acceptance of your authentic self. It is a never-ending journey of endless possibilities that is much beyond the pursuit of a hobby or craft and can be a habit of a lifetime. So besides being a Dance educator being a writer and a designer, creating art and writing poetry gives me immense satisfaction with the infinite ways of expressing myself as I believe in enjoying the journey as much as the destination.’
Travel Trails : From At the Top
Musings On Peace
Today I am glad to share my reflections on Peace coupled with my mothers musings on Peace and expectations…
Already a lot has been said and written about this. So that many experts in different fields have shown so many ways to attain peace.
Peace- the ultimate human need even after reaching peaks of success in their fields. It eludes even the so called achieved souls.
Men have various desires and find various ways to fulfill them. Need for wealth, health, love, knowledge, family , status, fame, power, comforts… the list goes on. To achieve them they go through various states of hardships and emotional turbulence . Perseverance, hardwork, focus and luck help them to achieve their goals. But after attaining all these are they peaceful ?
Unfortunately the more one gains, the greater is the loss of inner peace. Loads of pressure weighs us down .
The need for more never get satiated. Contentment is always on the other side of the river. Because our expectation keeps on increasing. From childhood one has to live to the expectations of people surrounding them and in the process start expecting the same from all around them.
Whichever field or whatever state, there is always expectations. Family, friend, society, teachers, work place, children, lifestyle, appearance , behaviour fit to their age and status… Again it is endless. Peace still eludes .
Like the most difficult puzzles have very simple solutions, life problems also can be simplified. Just stop expecting from others or living to other’s expectations.
One word mantra to peace
Live , let live. Stop expecting.
Be yourself , let others be themselves. Never shy away or ignore social responsibilities or inner values. Do without expectations.If every one adhers to this,’Peace’ will befriend the surrounding.
Do one’s duty, Be grateful ,
Be understanding.
Be selfless – all without expectaions.
With whomever or wherever one be, adopt and adjust without expectation , happiness and peace will follow.
Anjana
Living in this now is a sustaining yet exacting task and as every moment presents itself uniquely there is no game plan other than living in it, being at peace,sensing peace and spreading peace in every now as life plays on …So own up to your share of peace.
Savvy
Strength of Subtlety
All matter is energy
And we are unique speckles of vibrations.
All resonating in the universality of life and living.
Trust you matter, more than you know
Believe you can and are making a difference
As you connect deeply in the universal flow
Tune in to reflect the truth of your being.
Every word every deed
Every step every move
Impacts the larger whole
Just as much as the world around affects you.
So start with who and what is around you
Sense your intuitive self talking to you
Telling much in all its subtlety.
Trust it for it is abound
With the strength of the subtle energies.
Resonate joy, abundance, balance
Resonate love ,harmony and peace
For you have the power to transform your world
Savvy
On Truth
States of truth…
“Asatho ma sathgamaya”
(Lead me from falsehood to Truth)
Truth
Is harsh, doesn’t mask with loveliness
Is strong, doesn’t weaken with time.
Is pure, doesn’t add false pretentions.
Is courage, doesn’t waver in fear.
Is patient, doesn’t hurry to get proven.
Is dignity, doesn’t require deceptions
Is power, doesn’t need strategies.
Is brave, doesn’t bend to threats
Is dare, doesn’t fear challenges
Is honest, doesn’t fall for greed.
Is genuine, doesn’t have two faces
Is eternal, doesn’t get erased in time.
Is final, as it alone triumphs at the end.
Is Divine, The ultimate Reality.
Recently my post …’On Truth’ www.savvyraj.com/on truth resonated with many and I received many messages as well on what it meant to some of my readers personally .
But this morning I was thrilled to read my mothers reflections on the same …which I am only too happy to share here …. and while she says ‘it is an echo of your reflections on truth”. I think the above words are simply great reflections of being.
And now here is new share of my reflections on truth again ….
“Ekam Sat vipraha, bahuda vadanthi” – Rigveda
Truth is One, wise call it by various names.
Across the Star Spangled Spaces
Across the Star spangled Space ….
A Celebration of Universal Consciousness
In the Eternal Dance of Cosmic Lights …💙👌💙
Savvy
Lessons From Nature
Lessons from Nature…
The sand on the beach implores you to walk slow…
To watch the waves as the cool breeze blows.
To move with ease, sensing the strength at bay
To see the precious gifts nature has strewn across your way.
Savvy
On Connection
For we do not and cannot exist alone.Savvy
On Thoughts
Our thoughts can make or break us in every now.. and our life seems like a hell or a blessing in the way our thoughts unfold . Every life has a unique purpose and a perseveres on with the thoughts to fulfill its being .
A transition in thoughts is an expansive phenomena in continuity . It courses on even in attempted conquering of thoughts through control or manipulation of its meanderings into an intentional channeling in consciousness.
Every thought carries weight of our feelings and emotions and vis versa. The purpose of sensing recognising identifying defocussing and letting go all can be a liberating process .The power of being a witness to your own thoughts is a learning that can help transcend our limiting beliefs and assumptions. Often practised in the many self awareness programs when practised with dedication and imbibed as a way of life, they are great tools in human evolution .
Transcending thoughts is never easy as it is truly a choice and practise as thoughts come and go ..the patterns we choose to create with, through and in them, makes one consciously or subconsciously a sculptor of ones life. And through every exercise of such a choice we leave a mark in time. That said yet, when we choose to make our presence felt and how we emerge will all figure out along the way in the strength of an interrelation of thoughts in interdependence.
What are your thoughts on this?
Do feel free to share.
Savvy Raj
Travel Trails: Musings from ‘At the Top’.
Meandering the Middle East : Part I
Dubai : The modern marvel
Musings from ‘At the Top ‘
Constructed on these once very red dunes
A spectacle for the world to see
Is the height of pinnacle of man’s quest
For higher greater and further…
In the heart of Modern Arabia
Stands the Burj Khalifa a marvel of man.
And as I stand on top of it this evening
In awe and wonder I am drawn
More to admiring the ingenuity
Of men who made it stand and shine.
Behind the glamour of its sparkling glass & lights
And the elegant sheen of its metallic constructs
For me what stood out was that
It stands strong in spite of its ridiculous heights
A labour of co-creation in collaboration
As the sweat and brains of many nations
Whose ingenuity built this structure
A majestic piece of human engineering …
The worlds tallest building.
At the top with its panoramic view…
Across the sunsets and the curving horizon
That blurs into oblivion.
While the betwitching landscape enthralls
I am watching the horizon fade away
My eyes fall on the shimmering sunlight
On the red dunes beckoning me…
And across the distance tideless sea so invitingly blue.
Stepping back to ground in a minute or so…
You are brought back into one of the largest mall Dubai Mall that withstands and supports the entire structure .
In all an amazing experience of gleaming glass the allure of metal and the glitzy glamorous spaces.
At the Top of the Burj Khalifa the tallest man-made structure in the world is a one of a kind experience indeed .
Night view from the Burj Khalifa
An expansive evening view of the horizon curving towards you greets you and the enthralling lights of Dubai by Night is a treat indeed .
My night vision from the Top of the World
The lights dazzle the senses and perhaps more oft than not, even the most earthy traveler is left struck at first sight by the sparkle of the city.
…Although truth be told I am left wondering the necessity of such dazzling displays of opulence and materialism which is symbolic of the very modern Downtown Dubai.
Perhaps such are the stakes when a city develops so rapidly and begets names like the City of Gold , City of the Future as even the City of Dreams and boasts of the largest landmarks and sets a global standard in lifestyle as it continues to develop its infrastructure and works at providing excellent opportunities for cosmopolitan life and living with an unbelievable 80% of its population being of foreign origin making its culture a melting pot of different nationalities. And that in all is truly a stellar example of the strength of the interconnects in the interdependence .
Savvy Raj
Contd in Part 2 …The Meet and the Greets
Empathy Matters.
Empathy is seeing with another, listening to another, and acknowledging them as they are in a non-judgmental way.
It is being with another, sensing their feelings, and caring enough to reach out with support through words, actions, and deeds.
~@SavvyRaj #WUWorldChanger
Excerpt from: http://blog.thewellnessuniverse.com/a-lesson-about-empathy/ [Read more]
Thoughts for every day!
Beautiful thoughts make a beautiful day… Savvy
Whenever we are able to see beyond the physical characteristics and see the reason why a person behaves the way they do , and strive to be the best we can be , we are attuning ourselves to the divinity in and around us ….
Harmony beckons… BRINGING PEACE , JOY AND ABUNDANCE
Savvy Raj
On Legacy
On Leaving a legacy …
A life lived in expression of one’s passion
A life lived in dedication and devotion.
A life lived sensing the spirit of being alive.
A life spent enriching others as much as ones own.
A life lived like that is ever blessed in grace
For wherever the soul resides
It is always shining in eternal light.
Savvy
Had written these verses on hearing an account of the journey of a life well lived …. nurturing a life of goodness and generating goodwill .
Feel compelled to share this with my readers and ask what would you think is a true legacy? … and most importantly have you seen or influenced by someone following such a path upclose.
Do share your thoughts…
Savvy Raj
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