Yogakshemam 140322 Practice on Mind

Elections keep BJP ahead. Yogi continues. Is he a PM in the making? AAP sweeps Punjab. Bhagwant Mann will be the new CM.

N Chandrasekharan becomes Air India Chairman.

Non-PhD practitioners with high-quality experience can be professors of practice soon.

2020 World Wildlife Fund‘s Living Planet Report and the Zoological Society of London‘s Living Planet Index measure indicate that a sixth mass extinction event has been unleashed. IPCC Sixth Assessment report says – The rise in weather and climate extremes has led to some irreversible impacts as natural and human systems are pushed beyond their ability to adapt (high confidence). 50% of the world lives in contexts that are highly vulnerable to climate change. For 127 identified key risks, assessed mid- and long-term impacts are up to multiple times higher than currently observed. Soft limits to some human adaptation have been reached. Hard limits to adaptation have been reached in some ecosystems. Climate-resilient development is facilitated at all levels working with communities, civil society, educational bodies, scientific and other institutions, media, investors and businesses; and by developing partnerships with traditionally marginalized groups, including women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and ethnic minorities. Enabling political leadership, institutions, resources, including finance, as well as climate services, information and decision support tools help. Societal choices and actions implemented in the next decade determine the extent to which medium- and long-term pathways will deliver higher or lower climate-resilient development.

Households need a basket of products from the farm. Can the farmer or a group of farmers produce this variety and deliver it? Can the consumer take all his needs from one farm, or a group of farms?

Can we work at multiple scales, levels and points, the key capacities required for systems change? Do we have it in us? Do we work at four levels – deep-rooted foundational level – self-empowerment, intersectionality, personal community behavioural transformation – shifting mindsets, perceptions, cultural practices, habits and values; niche level, local level – initiatives, collaborations and innovations; regime level – structures, policies and institutions; landscape level – economic, environmental, narrative and cultural influences? Can we scale deep? Can we move the centre of gravity of power subtly? Can we build power in the margins through authentic connections between people and groups working in solidarity? Can we trigger Systems change movement(s)?

Can we initiate locally foundational work? Let us work with some 10-20 GPs, 10,000 families – natural farming, education, health and enterprises.

We seem to forget/ignore nurturing talent and leading/managing people. Maybe, we do not have funds, time, energy and ability for the same. The well-being of the people working for people may not be a concern. For many of us –  end matters, not the means. Is this right? It appears we are compromising on overall effectiveness and sustainable growth. Can we invest into this area?

Khalil Gibran is reminded: We are not half a being; we are a whole that exists to live a life. If we correct our minds, the rest of our life falls into place. Our mind shapes our life. The way we choose to see a certain event in our life determines what that event means to us, and therefore, its experience. If we believe in something, we get the motivation, power and gradually, success. If we do not believe, we may subconsciously work to fail. This calls for observing our minds and changing our thought patterns. This is a skill we need to have, acquire. Complaining and victim feeling is a vicious cycle. It does not take us forward. This cycle has to be broken. We need to move towards taking intelligent action. Or we need to simply accept the situation and get going, rather than going complaining vicious cycle. Can we?

Yes, we can. If we live life. If we practice. If we practice the skill of working on the mind. If we plan and invest time, energy, resources, and act intelligently. If we set the purpose. In the flow of N. For 7L.

Join us in the yoga of practice working on mind for useful coexistence and co-action – abhyasayoga for 7L.