AKM_LIFE_03 : Mindfulness - Practicing Natural Meditation

What is Mindfulness ?

Always be in the moment in the just present. Neither thinking about past nor anxious about future when doing any work/activity. Involve fully in the process, so that state of flow come hence we are in constant meditation. 

Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.

Being fully aware and conscious in that very moment so that we are not thinking on anything, it will be the state of narural meditation and hence mindfulness.

Steps towards mindfulness, we can practice::

1. Pay attention. It's hard to slow down and notice things in a busy world. Take the time to experience your environment with all of your senses — touch, sound, sight, smell and taste.

For example, when is the last time we eat just food nothing else we did while having our lunch/dinner/breakfast ? 

usually we are talking to someone while having our meal or watching TV or any other kind of entertainment. 

Can we try having our meal with mindfulness, just enjoy the food nothing else, while eating our food, take the time to smell, taste and truly enjoy it. it may sound bearing but once you consciously start this you will find it joyful as you find your meal tastier, you will be able to appreciate your parents/spouse/cook, you will be able to have  gratitude for the farmers who has grown vegetable/grain. Just a small activity will make you more closer to life and aliveness.

2. Live in the moment:  Try to intentionally bring an open, accepting and discerning attention to everything you do. Find joy in simple pleasures.

for example activities like bathing, doing small work at home like washing the dishes etc. we have ample opportunities to be mindful.

In modern times with increasing opportunities of quick entertainment, it become difficult to be mindful with these small activities as we thought all these activities as leisure activities and instead of being present in the moment for these activities we try to multitask and kept ourselves away from these methods of natural meditation.

3. Accept ourselves. Treat ourselves the way you would treat a good friend.

4. Focus on our breathing. When we have negative thoughts, try to sit down, take a deep breath and close our eyes. Focus on our breath as it moves in and out of our body. Sitting and breathing for even just a minute can help

AKM_52 : GOVERNOR WITH THE DIFFERENCE TO FIRST CITIZEN OF COUNTRY

Draupadi Murmu, who has been elected to be fifteenth president of Republic of India, has been in all around the news from last few days. In fact she is in continuous media discussion from the day she announced as presidential candidate by ruling party. Just after announcement many non-NDA parties supported her candidature made election just a formality. Most of the ongoing discussion is praising her appointment as she is the first one from tribal community who will be the president of our country. As per constitution, President is not the de facto head but the de jure head of the country, hence not much power this position has, but symbolically President is the first citizen and Head of the state of Republic of India, supreme commander in chief of all Indian armed forces and custodian of the constitution. Hence it’s a matter of great pride and appreciation for our country and democracy.

Apart from the first tribal, she is the second woman after Pratibha Patill assuming the office. First one from Orissa become president. First one born in independent India. She is the first councilor (ward member) of local civic body (Nagar panchayat) who has reached to this height, again depicts depth and maturity of Indian democracy.

Definitely, being the first one from tribal community (Adivasi) is the major highlight. Around 9 percent of our total population belongs to tribal communities. After almost seventy-five years of independence community is among poorest, least developed and also registered the highest child mortality and infant mortality rates, when compared to other social groups. Also community faced lot of issues b/c of Maoists/Naxalites groups, which are funded from foreign countries who want to destabilize the country.

Draupadi Murmu, has substantial experience as administrator. Although she started from councilor but she was twice elected as member in Orissa assembly. During her first term in Naveen Patnaik lead Collation government in Orissa, she was Independent charge minister of state.

She was also governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021. Where She called herself “governor with difference” importantly not because she was the first tribal woman appointed as governor for any state, but because of her work. Glimpses of this difference she actually showed too few times, while calling DGP in governor house, declining the state govt request to give governor house land for flyover and so on. These differences are interesting b/c these decisions she taken while BJP itself ruling the state.

Time will decide she will be proved as “President with a difference” on basis of her work or not but surely she is different because of her appointment. It creates confidence in the community who is socially and economically most backward. May be BJP playing the card of symbolism to have the vote bank of these community after appointing Dalit President in last term and now from tribal community, In that case also It’s the power of democracy only. It creates trust in Indian Democracy. Democracy has reached so far, more it has to achieve. Democracy is looking forward for de facto head (prime minister) coming from these communities (Dalit and tribal communities).