Yogakshemam 020222 In nature, step-by-step

Third wave appears taking a downward trend. Election Campaigns are peaking up.

Nirmala’s budget presented on 1 February marks Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. She visualized that the next 25 years, referred to as Amrit Kaal, focus on inclusive growth, digitalization across, private-public co-investments for atmanirbhar Bharat and PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. Privatization continues. Chemical-free natural farming, farming of millets, oilseeds and fruits and vegetables would be encouraged. Natural Farming aims to sustain agriculture production with eco-friendly processes in tune with nature to produce agricultural produce free of chemicals and restore soil fertility & soil organic matter. NF systems require less water and are climate-friendly. A dedicated scheme, Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati, BPKP, is promoting NF in a small way already. In the portfolio of small and marginal farmers, alternate sources such as livestock, fishery and wage labour have become significantly important, for nutrition and income security. Public-private value-chain services including hi-tech, digital, drones, etc. would be supported. University syllabi would be revised. Value-chain collectives (FPOs et al) and enterprises would be provided blended capital.

Five river linking projects have been finalized. The silver lining of the pandemic is some credit availability to 13 million MSMEs. National Skill Qualification Framework, NSQF, would be further aligned with the needs on the ground. Digital ecosystem for skills would come in soon. 200 channels to service every class in schooling 1-12 would be available. E-labs would be set up and e-content would be widely made available. A digital university would take charge of all this. National Digital Health Ecosystem including mental health would be rolled-out. New generation Anganwadis for nutrition, tap water to every household, housing for all are prioritized. Postal bank is becoming part of the core banking. Digital banking would be further accelerated with Digital Banking Units in districts. Trust-based governance would be encouraged. Single window clearances would be intensified. E-passports would be rolled-out. Urban planning for future, and EV ecosystem with battery swapping would be supported. One Nation-One Registration would be promoted. 5G auctions would be conducted. Digital rupee is being introduced. 50-year interest-free loans to states are being offered.

The size of the budget is about Rs.39 lakh crore, with 6.4% of GDP as fiscal deficit. No changes in tax regime are envisaged. Cooperatives and Corporates to be taxed at 15%. 3-year (out of 10 years) tax incentive continues to be available to start-ups started till 31 March 23. Digital asset transfer incomes would be taxed at 30%.

Zhou Daxin’s THE SKY GETS DARK SLOWLY concludes – many of us, elderly, are completely unprepared for what we are to face when it comes to getting old and the road that lay ahead of us. These include:

• The people by our side continue to grow smaller in number. We get the days of emptiness. We have to learn how to live alone, and to enjoy and embrace solitude.
• We are cared less. We have to learn to contend with standing quietly in one corner.
• The road ahead is rocky and full of precarity. We may have to live with illness and ailments, to view them as friends, even. Getting appropriate, adequate exercise is our duty. 
• We need to prepare for a slow return to the infant state. Let us remember to be grateful for all the services we may get, by chance.
• Let us be wise and careful with what we have and how we spend time, energy and money.
• We need to stay humble, and let go of our attachments. We need to go with the flows of the nature, and live with equanimity.
• Let us smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts and let us continue to enjoy serenely the time that remains.
• Let us not leave things for ‘later’ as ‘afterwards’ may be too late. The moment is now.
• Let us be well and happy now.

Prof R Radhakrishna, 79 (b 10 Oct 1942, d 28 January 2022), Sadgati. Radhakrishna is recognized as one of the most influential applied economists of India. Radhakrishna is a prolific researcher, respected teacher, able academic administrator, and notable institution builder. He led a number of institutions in their formative years, including the Department of Economics of the Central University of Hyderabad, Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, and Institute of Development Studies, AP, Visakhapatnam. He has also held many distinguished positions – Chairman, National Statistical Commission; Member Secretary, ICSSR; Vice-Chancellor, Andhra University; Chairman, Madras Institute of Development Studies, among others. Radhakrishna Committee report on SGSY was the basis for formulating National Rural Livelihoods Mission.

Thich Nhat Hanh, 95 (b 11 Oct 1926, d 22 January 2022), Nirvana. Nhat Hanh, Monk, Father of Mindfulness, co-founded the Order of Interbeing, with seven monks, including himself. Engaged Buddhism. Engaged Mindfulness. Only these 7 continued for the initial 10 years. The 14 precepts include:

1. Let us not be bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, as absolute truth;
2. Let us learn and practice non-attachment from views and be ready to learn throughout entire life;
3. Let us not force others, by any means whatsoever, to adopt our views. By all means, practice dialogue;
4. Let us find ways to be with the reality of suffering, including personal contact, visits, images, and sounds;
5. Let us live simply and share time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need;
6. Let us not maintain anger or hatred;
7. Let us be in the present, being in touch with both inside and around us;
8. Let us not utter words that can create discord, and make every effort to reconcile and resolve;
9. Let us speak truthfully and constructively;
10. Let us take a stand against oppression and injustice, and strive to change it without partisan conflicts;
11. Let us live a vocation and have investments that are helpful to humans and nature, and not otherwise;
12. Let us find whatever means possible to protect life;
13. Let us not profit from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth; and
14. Let us not ill-treat our bodies and let us preserve vital energies and happiness of all.

The world needs our care, goodness, and peaceful action, now more than ever.

Of course, the journey is the joy. Step-by-step. Are we development lifeworkers or entrepreneurs, in the social realm? Is it business, social benefit, social change, or all of them? Processes or results or both? Quality, depth or quantity, breadth or all of these? Maximization of profit, scaling-up or sustainability or all of them? Services, Products, portfolios? Mobilizing and involving or taking the logical conclusion of letting them take lead as early as possible and take over fully? Volunteers, cadres, staff, or owners, leaders, advisers? Who is accountable to whom? Unlearning, learning? Default option(s) or choices? The teams, relationships? Are we joining them, or are they joining us, or are we moving one step towards each other? At the end of the day, it is our life, others have only a small part to play in it, if at all. And this small part may not be acknowledged often. Often the promised support does not materialize. State changes its avowed stance. Friends turn back. The near and dear may not like to own us really. Even then, are we ready? Can we be? Can we do?

Going through the journey is joyous for us at the same time, every moment. The so-called hardships, sufferings make the step of the journey more challenging yet purposeful, therefore joyous. Each step takes us towards ‘success’ in our endeavours of our journey in a relationship, in a business, in an activity, in practice. Each joyous step forward, flexible with next steps, leads us to the next joyous, probably obvious, step, as smoothly as it can. Let us keep going, walking, jogging, running, sprinting. Joyously. Can we?

Yes, we can. If we are mindful. If we respect life. If we are conscious of suffering around. If we listen within. If we keep flowing, step-by-step. Joyfully. With openness to what, how, with why. In the flow of N. For 7L.

Join us in the world of joyous yoga of flowing for useful non-violent coexistence – vaatsalyayoga for 7L.

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