# Peace Education # Way of life #path of peace#Empathy education | Savvy Raj

March 3, 2018
by Savvy Raj 3 Comments

6 LITTLE STORIES

Sharing this immensely fulfilling read of stories which came my way today!

Once, All villagers decided to pray for rain, on the day of prayer all the People gathered but only one boy came with an umbrella.

That’s
*FAITH*

When You throw a baby in the air, he laughs because he knows you will catch him.

That’s
*TRUST*

Every Night we go to bed, without any assurance of being alive the next

Morning but still we set the alarms to wake up.

That’s
*HOPE*

We Plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future.

That’s
*CONFIDENCE*

We See the world suffering.

But still, we get Married.

That’s
*LOVE*

On an Old Man’s shirt was written a cute sentence
‘I Am Not 60 Years Old.., I Am Sweet 16 with 44 years Experience.’

That’s
*ATTITUDE*

Faith is a certainity & trust is a true measure in hope that comes with a knowing confidence of the unknown which is what brings forth the bonds in a boundless love that warms the heart and soul when a life is lived with a never say die attitude !

So keep the faith

Keep the trust in belief

Keep the hope alive in life

Keep the love in the heart always

Keep the attitude of gratitude going strong.

Savvy

February 24, 2018
by Savvy Raj 6 Comments

On Learning Spaces

My reflections after a chance visit to Swadhaa A Waldorf School in Pune.

In my spare time as a hobby, I enjoy visiting offbeat places and interacting with people from all walks of life to broaden my perspectives. To envision the world through the eyes of another is always an insightful experience.

When I visited Auroville in Pondicherry last year amongst the many inspirational insights I came across a bit about how Waldorf Schools started by Rudolf Steiner who was inspired by Sir Aurobindo, stands for holistic education that speaks to the soul and strives for human goodwill and integrity and instilling a sense of creativity and wonder through its unconventional schooling methods.

Besides that, I also had come across words of praise for her schooling and education received from the well-known actress Jennifer Anniston an alumnus of a Waldorf School herself.

Jennifer Aniston, Actress, former Waldorf student:

“I was always fascinated by acting, but my experience at Rudolf Steiner [school] encouraged me to pursue it as a career.” “Steiner was a free-spirited school that encouraged creativity and individualism.”

As a dance educator myself I have always felt schooling at conventional schools can be rather stifling for it focuses more on procedure and protocol than allowing freedom to explore. The root of our individuality and personal expression is often stubbed in the process of conforming to the norms and practices unless it is balanced out when there is a gateway to open communication and positive support on the homefront.

Recently having shifted my residence in Pune City and in my foray into understanding what my area had on offer as a creative educator myself, I came across. SWADHA Learning Centre. My interest was piqued that it was based on the principles of a Waldorf school.

I decided to experience the place on my own. Luckily for me the day I visited the school it turned out to be their Annual Day and there were elaborate festivities planned out for the entire day by the school for one and all.

There were workshops galore… I attended a few out of curiosity and came away heartened by the immense enthusiasm and support from the parents and children alike for this schools annual activity. I took my time to interact with some of the parents.

What I was immediately drawn to was the amount of openness that was there reflected in so many ways from children who were learning life skills experientially to how parents were so beautifully integrated into the educational activities of the children.

The pictures speak for themselves I must say!

In an era of grades and marks that decides destinies of children as future adults,

the learning concepts observed here come as a breath of fresh air. Like the lack of grading systems and adding only an individual assessment by the educator annually to ensure that each child is addressed and understood for their unique potential. And the breakdown of hierarchy which makes everyone an involved collaborator working towards positive transformations. And I believe they also help and guide a child gradually, who wants to integrate into conventional schooling system if they wish or need to for whatever reasons. The question is would we want to?

Perhaps the varied schools under the Waldorf umbrella are as unique as the people collectively managing them, but the fact remains that there is a happier learning space we can co-create for our future children if we have the willingness to come together and contribute our time and resources.

” A space that’s open yet bounded with a focus can be conducive to learning as when the process of exploration begins it is helped by a structured approach. But while boundaries may be reminding of a journey having a destination, it is the openness that reflects the never-ending source of creative possibilities.”

Savvy

An excerpt from my reflections on Learning spaces…. (read more )

https://savvyraj.com/2016/10/03/learning-spaces-2/

January 15, 2018
by Savvy Raj 10 Comments

Strings of love

Sharing this beautiful story that touched a chord in me.

Mother is flying a kite.

Her son is watching her carefully.
After some time son says “mom.

Because of the string the kite is not able to go any further higher.
“Hearing this, the mother smiles and breaks the string.

The kite goes higher and then shortly after that, it comes and falls on the ground. The child is very dejected and sad.

The mother sits next to him and calmly explains:

“Son, in life we reach a certain level and then we feel that there are certain things that are not letting us grow any further like Home, Family, Friends, Culture etc.
We feel we want to be free from those strings which we believe are stopping us from going higher.
But, remember son.”That our home , family, friends and culture are the things that will help us stay stable at the high heights .
If we try to break away from those strings our condition will be similar to the kite.”we’ll fall down soon..
*Moral:*

*”Never try to cut away from Home Culture, Family, Friends and Relationships as they help keep us stable while we are flying high…”*
*Life is Beautiful*

*Stay connected*

So much truth in these lines

The bonds of love are there for a reason

To be nurtured and cherished by its sheer presence .

As to be lovingly supported is a blessing of grace!

Savvy

January 3, 2018
by Savvy Raj 8 Comments

Love shows the way!

The path of knowledge is never complete. There is always something more to learn and know more.

The path of action is often difficult to sustain as none can always be in continuous movement. There will be doubts and confusion in the trial and tribulations.

Move from love, acknowledge it in your being, let it be your guiding light in your actions!

The path of love shows the way of being, it flows naturally through us if we can accept ourselves as we truly are.

Make the path of love your way, make it show the way as it reflects its light of being and in that light… all is selfless and all pervading and complete.

Savvy

January 1, 2018
by Savvy Raj 2 Comments

Happy New Year!

December 26, 2017
by Savvy Raj 4 Comments

The Gift of Life

Had shared this post on social media back in time called The Gift of Life !

Would like to share this message again , as it has personally been a great excercise in Gratitude and contentment besides empowering positivity…

“When I was a little girl I often have witnessed my dear father see and give great value and acknowledge every little good that is or that happens, however small they may seem to others. It could be a with a gentle word , a tiny appreciation or a little compliment. He taught me one of most important lesson for a lifetime ….to notice, respect and reflect on the good in and around us … and to live positively and think of life always as Plus++++es.

Savvy

Life is beautiful as it is and it is in us to see it so …” Savvy Raj

December 22, 2017
by Savvy Raj 13 Comments

On being human.

What does it take to be human?

A sensing of emotions

A feeling for life and living

A caring from the heart

A knowing of pain as much as the pleasure

A being in love with life

A sharing that touches the soul.

A connecting with the living you!

Savvy

December 19, 2017
by Savvy Raj 6 Comments

On Oneness

Strength of the interconnects run deep

And in being alive to this now

We are connected in the ocean of oneness.

Savvy

November 14, 2017
by Savvy Raj 4 Comments

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

November 2, 2017
by Savvy Raj 6 Comments

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

September 21, 2017
by Savvy Raj 8 Comments

Peaceful World

In every new moment in time ….

Let there be more compassion and less cruelty

Let there be more creativity and less cliche

Let there be more candour and less cynicism

Let there be more cooperation and less criticism

Let there be more connection and less contradictions .

Let there be more clarity and less confusion.

Let there be more caring and less callousness

Let there be more composure and less chaos …

Let every moment be a celebration in a world of the contrasts !

Let thoughts of a Peaceful World be on top of everything else!

Savvy Raj

My painting and poetry in dedication towards the International Day of Peace.

Image Credits : A painting by Savvy Raj

September 5, 2017
by Savvy Raj 10 Comments

You are not alone…

It is not necessarily age that makes one lonely, it is the apparent disconnect with the self. And it can catch one off guard at any point of life and living.

Here is a share of my thoughts on this…

For anyone feeling a tad bit lonely in this now.

Loneliness is a difficult road to travel.

If it makes it any easier, remember

You are never truly alone

Neither in your grief or your glory.

Every beat of your heart is the work of the divine will…

Sense the divine presence reflecting in every beat that keeps you alive to the rhythms of life and living. Savvy

A few practical tips to beat the blues if you ever find yourself on the lonely road…

1. Get moving… engage in any activity that involves all of you. Or simply take a walk!

2.Share some kindness, speak kindly, think better of yourself and others, focus on positive reflections.

3. Join a group activity or start one on your own. There are always some ways to find yourself a hobby that you may enjoy.

For example if you enjoy reading books out aloud…You can offer to start a weekend story reading session for young children in your area. That way you will find yourself looking forward to spending some fun filled weekends of laughter.

4.Start seeing the world with wonder, than merely looking with lack. Often the feeling of loneliness comes tied along in a bundle with strings of sadness. Bouts of loneliness is best tackled one step in time by learning to shift perspectives of how we envision the world around us .

Loneliness expresses the pain of being alone and solitude expresses the glory of being alone. Paul Tillich

So convert your pangs of loneliness to the sensation of solitude. Start out by observing the good in the world . Learn to unconfine your thoughts of seclusion and be inclusive and expansive. Accept your vulnerabilities. Cultivate a sense of belonging to the world and steer clear of feeling unwanted or indifferent. If you see nature surrounding you, at different times of the day you can sense how it changes, and yet balances itself, quite likewise to human nature with its many phases.

5. If you still find yourself a little lost, then care to consciously shift your attention from the self to the bigger picture. Think of how you can contribute yourself to the cause of improving your community to begin with in your free time.

Personally speaking I have always found that whenever pangs of loneliness strikes, writing, walking or working out either by dancing to some favourite songs or even listening to some happy upbeat tunes are wonderful ways to get back to balance.

As a dance trainer I have conducted and facilitated dance workshops for the marginalised sections of society as well as for senior citizens to spread joy and well being in their hearts through movements. What motivated me? Well! The biggest takebacks were the goodwill of shared laughter and a love loaded heart I would reach home with.😍

Read the full story here of one such experience here…. Magic of movements

This is one of those moments when writing and sharing stories from our lives bring us a deep sense of connection… with our readers and ourselves in gratitude for the learnings. And there is that sense of magic through words.
This is an old story but to me, but sharing it evokes the same poignant feeling of fond memories of the people that are attached to it.

It is interactions such as these that leave us touched beyond words in the circle of life and living and propels us to do more. Savvy

So go ahead and build your life in every moment. Start now, let go loneliness & load in love.💚💙💚

Savvy Raj

About me

August 29, 2017
by Savvy Raj 4 Comments

We will travel far…

An Artwork by Savvy Raj ‘Spectrum of Stars’

We need to come to a place of understanding where

We do not discriminate between man and nature.

We are humans, and we are part of nature.

Our nature makes us who we are as much as nurture does.

We are beautiful in our uniqueness.

We are breath-taking in our magnificence.

We are bound by the very same laws of nature.

We are challenged in its fervour.

We are sanctified in its glory.

We are crucified in its destruction.

We are celebrated for co-creation.

We are complex in our ways of being.

But we are no different from nature.

We are born, we breathe, and we are perishable.

Although full of life we may be, but we are totally accountable

As we are blessed with conscious choice,

Free will and intention.

And that makes way for infinite potential.

We are our own wayfarers in the choices.

We make our own present and future,

Like we made our past.

We are made of stars

And will travel far.

Savvy

August 26, 2017
by Savvy Raj 4 Comments

All of you!

What does it take to accept everything that is happening in life as an unfolding mystery?

All of you!

And when that happens,

No storm is unsurmountable,

No pain is unmanageable,

No hurt is unforgivable.

Yes, it takes all of you

To complete this circle of life and living.

And in every step you take towards realization

You are only another step closer to home.

To decide not to stress and focus on things that you may not be in control of is a step towards understanding the meaning of true acceptance as not resigning the self to fate but to accept it as part of the phase in the ebb and flow of tides in life.

A few reflections:

Acceptance is the key when life happens beyond your comprehension.

Action is the key when there is something you sense you understand enough.

Acknowledgement is the key while sharing goodwill in trust and hope.

Appreciation is the key to manifesting abundance.

Accept life as a mystery that will dawn.

All else is history that has gone in the dusk.

All is well in time, always.

This post has come as an afterthought when I came across a particularly poignant story shared by a good friend caught in turmoils of time and yet being brave enough to ease into acceptance and appreciate the good happening around by sending goodwill and hope to those around him in thoughts words and deeds.

I know there are many who put out ‘All of themselves ‘ to brave out the odds every single day …. My salute to such inspiring souls. Stay ever blessed!

Savvy