THOUGHTS THIS WEEK: Silence and the space between thoughts

“We live our life in the steps, not at the end. When the time is right, we will find our space in universal design. That space is the reality of our consciousness; rest is layers upon layers of memories, desires, and insecurities of mind. The problem is that within these layers, we lose the sense of our purpose and drift along like the clouds in the sky, inadvertently bringing rain or sunshine in our lives. But if we dive deeper into the awareness of our being, we will find the true purpose of our living.” says the Monk in “Songs of the Mist”

All my loneliness

Is nothing but flowering

Silence of being

And within these layers is that one layer, the space between thoughts, the meditative silence where we can regain our balance, our purpose and live whole some life. A life of an awareness that give us an anchor which will stop us from drifting away.

In reality, the life is lived not in memories but in the moment that is passing by, in the work that you are doing, or in the thoughts that you are thinking. If we learn to live in those moments with a silence that is eternal, we can be forever alive.

Bamboo shoot in deep

Embrace; Echoes of silence

Caressing dew drops

And a deep stillness is attained in the end, just before another journey begins. The stillness of being at the precipice of another fall or at another endless beginning, our nature itself becomes the seed for another tree or another river to burst forth. In this creative surge coming from the depths of eternal silence, is the key to our happiness.

Happiness is not a function of wealth or possessions but the ability to love all that is around us and knowing that we are loved through our creation. Yes, every one is loved by some one, somewhere... As the seeds of  our meditative silence between thoughts, actions and creativity, creates new life, new idea or new beginning. It all burst forth through our own silent self... 

Eternal bliss

In the depths of inner being

Flowers of our soul

__

Shashi 

ॐ नमः शिवाय

Om Namah Shivaya

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The Happiness Hack

SPOTLIGHT: ‘Mock, Stalk & Quarrel - A collection of satirical tales edited by Indrani Ganguly

Spotlight is my small effort to support upcoming authors in their effort to reach their readers. And yes, it is FREE, however to be featured in this section, you need to go through a selection process, please click here for details.

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"The human mind has long been likened to a garden. Wise men tell us to cultivate good thoughts and weed out the bad ones. Indeed. It is the highest of practices. High it may be. But easy, it is certainly not." - Indrani Ganguly

I have had focused on giving space to individual authors, so I was out of my depth when Piyusha approached me to put “Mock, Stalk & Quarrel” - An anthology brought by Readomania, in the ‘Spotlight’. I was not sure how this would work out, but then Piyusha came out with a lovely solution. Who will be better than the Editor, Indrani Ganguly who put together this anthology to answer my questions about the book? 

So here it goes, as I interacted with Indrani Ji. I leave you all to judge about this post but I found the process quite interesting and stimulating.

The Mock, Stalk and Quarrel Gang (I am sorry if I have missed any one as
I had only this picture of the whole gang)

To begin, let me start with the purpose of the book, which I believe every creative manifestation to have, in order to sustain through the test of the times. And as Indrani beautifully puts it as its reason for existence – to make constructive criticism on socio-political matters using wit and irony. She says that each narrative in this anthology is a silent scream, a way to remind the reader of the stark realities of our times, of the hollowness, the empty promises and the increasing nepotism, corruption, and banal priorities of the modern life. From domestic violence, to red-tapism, from reservation to religious fundamentalism, from scams to god men, our authors have captured it all, creating stories that prick the conscience and challenge the powerful, gently ridicule absurdities and follies of fellow humans, not to enrage the reader but to bring on a wry smile.

Indrani says, the two main reasons for writing should be to express oneself and inform as well as persuade the readers. The writing must be powerful enough to make the reader think. It should stir the deepest cockles of their heart; bring out memories through lexical sights and smells. It should make them a changed individual after reading. Your words should stay with them long after they’ve finished the book. That is the power a writer wields but only a few can accomplish. And as I went through some of the stories, it stays true to its ideology.

And with that kind of a writer, the pressure from people one loves and respects to stop writing, for whatever reason, is disturbing which affects the writer at deeper level. In answering my question, whether she will stop from writing, she confirms my deep-rooted belief that a real and passionate writer writes for the change within, which the process brings.

Delhi Launch of the Book

“I think the worst thing you can do to a writer/artist is to chain his/her creativity literally or figuratively.” - Indrani Ganguly

And she goes on to add that even if she to considers the possibility for a moment, she would probably stop loving and start abhorring that person immediately. One cannot put a leash on a creative person and expect him/her to continue loving them. 

BRIEF NOTE ABOUT THE EDITOR

Indrani Ganguly is a manuscript editor with over 15 years of experience in all genres of editing, shifting gears from news, academic, Science-Technology-Medicine, lifestyle and law, though fiction remains her first love. She has done her graduation from St Xavier’s College (University of Calcutta) majoring in English Literature and her post-graduation in Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, specializing in Print Journalism. She started her career in the news room of leading national daily Hindustan Times where she was in-charge of the International desk. She has edited high academic books for many well-known publishers like Oxford University Press, Palgrave Macmillan, Collins India, Lexis-Nexis, John Wiley to name a few. She was also the consulting editor of lifestyle magazine ThnkMkt and has contributed many articles for the same. She also had a brief stint in teaching language and composition to undergraduate students. She has been the Resident Editor of Readomania since February 2015 and has edited many of their bestselling titles like The Madras Affair, The Curse of Nalanda, Cabbing All The Way, Confessions on an Island, In The Light of Darkness. She was also the editorial mentor for Defiant Dreams – Tales of Everyday Divas. She has just wrapped up Archana Sarat’s psychological thriller, Birds of Prey and is extremely excited about being the editor of renowned actor/thinker Jayant Kripalani’s next. Mock, Stalk & Quarrel, a collection of satirical tales, is her first solo anthology.

In the very little leisure time that she gets, Indrani loves to read thrillers, modern interpretations of mythological tales and books based on culinary history and evolution. She is passionate about punning and uses her wit to get out of sticky situations. A die-hard alternative rock and Celtic music aficionado, Indrani lives in Kolkata with her nine-year-old daughter Aahana, who is her biggest fan and fiercest critic.

HER INSPIRATIONS

As an Editor, it is the love for the English language – meaningful and accurate words constructed into lucid sentences that drive home not only a story but emotions. I am a bit of a Grammar Nazi; I even edit my social media posts! My eyes would inevitable find errors in whatever I am reading and believe me this is not good when you’re reading for leisure! But then I take my job very seriously.

HER CHALLENGES

I had some sort of belief that people will not be attracted to a book that talks about feelings. Perhaps it was there because the same people who made fun of my writing were also making fun of emotions. "Too much drama... why talk about feelings? Just LIVE! DO! Why do you need to talk about it?"

As always, the biggest challenges have to do with self-confidence (or self-doubt).

QUOTES

“Practicing just “feeling good” by contemplating pure good feelings will not only make you stronger but it will spill over into everything else.”

"Have you ever tried to write down all the positive feelings that you feel on a regular basis? How long do you think the list is?"

“Just because something is good for you, doesn’t mean that you will do it.”

THE BOOK

Satire is the crème de la crème of all literary writing and in the hands of an exponent, its sharp edge has bled victims through ages. It is said to be the weapon of the powerless against the powerful. It gives voice to the suppressed who have been muted by the authoritative.

Dostoyevsky said, “Sarcasm: the last refuge of modest and chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and intrusively invaded.”

Mock, Stalk & Quarrel, a collection of satirical tales, emanated from a nationwide contest conducted by Readomania to identify powerful voices that could wage an ideological war against issues that matter. Twenty-nine voices, indulgent, tolerant, amusing and witty, were chosen to create this collection.

Satire is meant to use wit to sweeten constructive social criticism. This was the guiding light for Readomania, to compile an impactful set of stories that can make a difference. Each narrative in this anthology is a silent scream, a way to remind the reader of the stark realities of our times, of the hollowness, the empty promises and the increasing nepotism, corruption, and banal priorities of the modern life. From domestic violence, to red-tapism, from reservation to religious fundamentalism, from scams to godmen, our authors have captured it all, creating stories that prick the conscience and challenge the powerful, gently ridicule absurdities and follies of fellow humans, not to enrage the reader but to bring on a wry smile. Eventually, they take lexical pot-shots at the well-heeled establishment that does not think twice before taking people for granted.

In each tale the author has attempted to sketch darkness, not with black, instead with a palette of colours to bring out light and shadow.  There is a bride who fights against her dowry-greedy father-in-law, a student who wages a virtual war against corruption and reservation, goddesses chatting on GodsApp about the paradox of men worshipping them yet ill treating women, the loneliness of a teenager whose parents give him all but their love, the campaign of a dark-skinned woman against the supremacy of fair skin, the fight against the government’s diktats on what to wear and what to eat and so on. These tales are sprinkled with liberal doses of humour and wit that will make the readers laugh, cry, rage and think.

In a world that leaves very little room between one person’s morality and another’s bigotry, with widely divergent views on everything, no single type of satire can fit all.

Mock, Stalk and Quarrel endeavours to bring to you as many of the variety as it can and hopes to live up to William Stryon’s belief, ‘Wickedly funny to read and morally bracing as only good satire can be’. I am sure this anthology will provoke you to think and question all that is considered acceptable in the world today.

Piyusha

 - Editor Indrani Ganguly

In the end let me say thanks to Piyusha that I was able to write this post.... I am grateful to you.

TO BUY THE BOOK “Mock, Stalk & Quarrel” … CLICK HERE

– Shashi 

CEO & Partner ICUBE Projects

Speaker | Author of “Songs of the Mist” | Haiku Poet

Writes India’s #1 Spiritual Blog “Shadow Dancing With Mind”

List of SPOTLIGHT authors of Dec '16

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ॐ नमः शिवाय

Om Namah Shivaya

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Pigment - Renée Topper                      "The Resurrection of Evil" by Neelabh

SPOTLIGHT: 'The Happiness Switch' by Christine Ellis

Spotlight is my small effort to support upcoming authors in their effort to reach their readers. And yes, it is FREE, however to be featured in this section, you need to go through a selection process, please click here for details.

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“Heal yourself through the power of your good feelings.” - Christine Ellis in ‘The Happiness Switch’

My friend, Christine Ellis, from Brussels - Belgium, Author of the book “The Happiness Switch: How to Transform Anxiety, Depression and Other Negative Moods by Focusing On and Cultivating Good Feelings” herself suffered from anxiety and depression for more than two decades. As she had a series of revelations about how her emotions were working, she thought of sharing her stories in order to help others going through the same. The purpose was to relieve suffering. To show people that there is a well of love, of goodness, of health and of utter well-being at the very core of who they are. To remind them that they are pure, blissful spirit poured into the flesh and bones form, not the other way around.

Yes, for her it is important to recognize that she has done something with her life and that something is to help someone reconnect to their sense of well-being. Healing them from some sort of pain. This sense of purpose comes from way back, when she was witness to her father's struggle with cancer, her mother's depression, aunts and uncles’ tortured life that had loneliness, alcoholism and all kinds of soul-twisting pain. Back then, in her early childhood, she felt responsible for all of it, like it was somehow her fault. She says that some of that guilt still lingers in her. But then, she accepts that, this is where her enthusiasm comes from. Relieving suffering and connecting people to love are worthy life-goals. She feels that the path has taken her to do that through writing.

“I am good with words. People respond to them. So I am using the words to teach - and, ultimately, love them back.” - Christine Ellis

The Desk

Over the years, some of her family members had very strong opinions about her writing. Sometimes mocking and sometimes being jealous, they put her down by saying that she was not going anywhere with it. It did puzzle her but made her more determined, with her mother’s support on her side. But she stopped sharing that part of her life with them.

“It is no good discussing something that brings conflict.” - Christine Ellis

She likes to write in her office at home, at her desk to which she is quite attached. It belonged to a great-uncle of her husband’s. It has a big hole in the back, where a German officer shot his rifle or gun during the Second World War. This great-uncle was a teacher, who taught Latin in school.

“I love objects like this  - full of stories. I have the impression that it is an old friend. It has adopted me, this desk. I am part of its life as much as it is a part of mine.” - Christine Ellis

She works at her computer, which was set up by her husband, at the table - and she feels loved when she sits there, even if she is not writing.

BRIEF NOTE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHRISTINE ELLIS is a former teacher who discovered, after being diagnosed with depression and PTSD, a lasting way to transform her life each and every day: focusing on good feelings.

She now writes books and designs online courses about good feelings and feeling good.

She has more books in the works about feelings and how to manage moods and build dreams and heal... One of them is coming out in March of 2017.

All of her stories have a happy ending.

Christine lives in Brussels, Belgium with her husband and young son.

HER INSPIRATIONS

Words are beautiful. Words are magical - they carry emotion. They carry information. They are capable of carrying wisdom that can thus travel very far - and for a very long time. Books have always been with me and have given me worlds upon worlds, especially early on when my horizon, in "real" life, was very small. I am home in those worlds, which are as infinite as the Universe itself. There is LIFE there, there is friendship, there is love, there is great healing. I connect to all that and it resonates with a very deep part of me in a profoundly fulfilling way.

HER CHALLENGES

I had some sort of belief that people will not be attracted to a book that talks about feelings. Perhaps it was there because the same people who made fun of my writing were also making fun of emotions. "Too much drama... why talk about feelings? Just LIVE! DO! Why do you need to talk about it?"

As always, the biggest challenges have to do with self-confidence (or self-doubt).

QUOTES FROM THE BOOK

"The human mind has long been likened to a garden. Wise men tell us to cultivate good thoughts and weed out the bad ones. Indeed. It is the highest of practices. High it may be. But easy, it is certainly not."

“Practicing just “feeling good” by contemplating pure good feelings will not only make you stronger but it will spill over into everything else.”

"Have you ever tried to write down all the positive feelings that you feel on a regular basis? How long do you think the list is?"

“Just because something is good for you, doesn’t mean that you will do it.”

THE BOOK

How to use the built-in power of your emotional system to shift out of depression, anxiety and other negative states

I suffered from anxiety and depression for more than two decades. I was even diagnosed with PTSD at some point. I tried for a very long time to get a handle on my moods and become the sunny, happy person I was occasionally, but I always bounced back. After the birth of my son, I was determined to get better. And better I got. I had a series of revelations about how my emotions are working and that it is actually possible (and it becomes easy!) to guide them.

I am not a medical doctor and I have no medical training though. What I offer you are my own stories and my own method. I'm just a regular teacher, mom and wife who has figured out how to live well inside her skin. Or, better said, inside her mind.

The book will guide you:

1          - How to generate positive feelings and emotions at will

2          - How to stay in good feeling states, moods and emotions consistently

3          - How to coach yourself out of “the blues"

SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT CHRISTINE ELLIS

I jumped out of an airplane on my 27th birthday. Yes, of course I had a parachute. But I was incredibly scared. I would not do it again but I don't regret having done it. It was part of a "Face Your Fears" campaign I was running with myself: I confronted some fear, no matter how big or small, every single day for a year.

TWO BIG THINGS OF HER LIFE

Loving my son and my husband.

Having a few life-long friendships.

HER FAVORITES

GENRE: Books

It is hard to choose. I love literary fiction, mythology, psychology, self-help, economics, children's books, fantasy etc. The genre really does not matter much. It is the book itself.

BOOKS:

"The Hero with a Thousand Faces" by Joseph Campbell. He made me see patterns in life, human behavior, and societies... that I had never seen before. He changed the way I looked at life and opened my horizons immensely. I love everything he wrote but this was the first book of his I ever read.

"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck. I was 14 when i read this book for the first time and I still think of it as one of the best I have ever read. It is beyond epic. It is life itself. There is love in it, the kind that hurts... it has a strange sense of humor too. It is not sentimental at all... you have the impression that you are watching the Universe come into existence for those people in the book - and then slowly dying again... only to come back to life.

TO BUY THE BOOK “The Happiness Switch” by Christine Ellis … CLICK HERE

– Written by Shashi 

CEO & Partner ICUBE Projects

Speaker | Author of “Songs of the Mist” | Haiku Poet

Writes India’s #1 Spiritual Blog “Shadow Dancing With Mind”

List of SPOTLIGHT authors of Dec '16

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ॐ नमः शिवाय

Om Namah Shivaya

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Pigment - Renée Topper                     Mock, Stalk & Quarrel - Readomania