知性、創造性、科学: これからの時代生きる

世界的人道活動家シュリ・シュリラヴィシャンカールとの対談

科学的な考え方の根幹を成すのは好奇心と知性と創造性です。
これらの源を見つけた時、私たちの、心や思考の無限の可能性が
明らかになり始めます。

健康な心身と知性、創造性を育むためのヨガの伝統的なテクニックと智恵を
このたびインドから来日する、シュリ・シュリ・ラヴィ・シャンカールから直接聞くことのできる機会です。

エネルギーと活力あふれる生活のためのヒントをぜひ持ち帰ってください！

＊このセミナーは大学生・大学院生の参加を優先しますが他の方のご参加いただけます。

駐日インド大使ディーパ・ゴパラン・ワドワ様より開演のご挨拶をおくります！

◎ 日時：3月18日（水）　16:00- 18:00　（開場15:30)
◎ 会場：インド大使館大ホール
◎ 料金：無料　
◎ お申し込み・お問い合わせ：info-tokyo@artoflivingjapan.org
◎ 主催: ART OF LIVING JAPAN

ミス・ワールド・ジャパンまでにもハピネスが広がりました〜

"アートオブリビング 体験　2015.2.12

世界154ヶ国累計３億人が体験したインドに本部をおく国際ＮＧＯ機関アートオブリビング財団(The Art of Living Foundation)　（　http://happiness-festival.jp/ja/about.html　）のヨガ・呼吸法・瞑想のワークショップに
ミス・ワールド2014日本代表 河合ひかる
準ミス・ワールド2014日本代表 吉岡仁美
準ミス・ワールド2014日本代表 安田衣里
準ミス・ワールド2013日本代表 VANRI
準ミス・ワールド2013日本代表 沼田さくら
2014日本代表チームに加え2013日本代表チームからも二人が参加させて頂きました。

ヨガと聞くと様々なポーズを想像してしまいますが、アートオブリビングでは呼吸をコントロールして瞑想やヨガなどを通じ効果的に心身のストレスを取り除く、健康回復・維持・増進のためのプログラム。皆、ヨガの経験はあったものの想像していたヨガとは全く異なり最初は戸惑っていましたが、９０分の体験後にはスッキリして帰りました。片方の鼻を使った呼吸法や幸せになる７つのヒントをもらうなど初めての体験を楽しみました。

このアートオブリビング財団(The Art of Living Foundation)創設者である
シュリ・シュリ・ラヴィ ・シャンカール氏が３月に来日して大規模なワークショップを開催します。

☆☆☆☆　インターナショナル・ハピネス・プログラム　☆☆☆☆

３月２０日（金）両国国技館
http://happiness-festival.jp/ja/about.html

☆☆☆☆　ハピネス・プログラム　☆☆☆☆

３月２１日（土）２２日（日）サンライズビル 東京
http://happiness-festival.jp/ja/course.html

ミス・ワールド Miss World Japan 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/ミスワールド-Miss-World-Japan/143206452520462

Dream on 2012

I dreamt last night that in 2012, when the planets align, Earthlings are called upon by people from another planet (by people I mean, "people" not "aliens").


It's going to happen in a day's time when humans will have to just "leave" or abandon the Earth to go inhabit another planet. 
Reason: we have polluted the Earth to a level that there wouldn't be any other way to make it better other than for the Earth to re-form/ renew itself. With the humans gone it will be able to do so at peace, send all the garbage, that we've created, under the sea (like the previous civilizations) and become better.


Believing that this Universe is our home, people (with developed powers and awareness, who respect life, their planet, are friendly to one another) will pick a few thousand chosen humans at their discretion and will, to share their planet and take up the task to make us like them.


You might ask "Why are humans saved if we're unwanted by our own planet?"
There is goodness in every heart. Every person knows what favors their own and their loved ones' growth. It is only the desire for small pleasures in short run, that we miss the boat that's beneficial in the long run.
Seeing this aspect of humans that is hid beneath all the dust particles of 'me, I, mine', some are chosen.

The Art of Living

We live in a rapidly changing world where things are becoming multicultural at an exceedingly fast rate. We are introduced to so much information that it gets a bit difficult to keep up with all thats going on "within" ourselves and in our minds while being constantly on the move.

The Art of Living courses help us have a mind free from prejudice and judgments by tapping the breath which, as you all know, is vital to our existence and also connects our body, mind and emotions.

For instance, if you notice our breaths change according to our emotions. When we are upset or angry, exhalation, sighs, hmphs are frequent as compared to when we're happy or excited, we inhale, laugh or gasp more often.

So, when these three rhythms in us are in sync, we feel a sense of harmony and well-being :)

You should try it, it is an amazing experience!

Making the Right decision

Sometimes when logic prevails, we ignore our gut feelings, understanding later that a rational approach was only one way of determining the situation.

After much debate in my own head I took up a 9-to-5 job in a Japanese company as my gateway into the world. Between testing & cleaning machines and experiencing the comfortable life in sub-urban Tokyo I made peace with the usual office chores that almost all my friends are mentally (if not physically) doing with their lives in Japan.

I had taken up this job by looking at patterns in lives of people around me. While I associated myself with them I also convinced myself that the same is bound for me unless fate makes things happen.

Now, after one and a half years, I realize that we are never given anything unless we truly have the desire for it.

Fate, chance, luck - exists only in our hearts and minds to help us achieve what we want. But the first step into seeing that dream has to be ALWAYS done by us alone.

I decided to quit my job just before they moved me into the highly respectable Sales office so that I can pursue my dream of studying art.

At work some mates told me its crazy to QUIT a 'secured' in this economic situation while my bosses said its a crazy idea altogether to go school when I'm already making a living.

I know all of the above are true. But more than anything else I know I am not going to be one of those who lives their entire life only realizing in the last days that I could have been somebody had I done it differently.

Its always harder to do the right than the easier wrong.

What follows after 20th August might be an easy or a difficult set of experiences. But I know I will MAKE my own path, look back and smile at whatever was.

Solar Eclipse - limelight or ill omen?

While the world marveled the total solar eclipse 2009 earlier today morning, my Japanese workmates in Tokyo were least interested to know anything about it.

Occurring for the first time in 46yrs, the next predicted to be in 2132, the sun, moon and earth aligned themselves for 6 mins 39 secs to create near darkness after dawn in Asia and the Pacific regions.

I was thrilled to receive constant updates in Japan from my twin sister who watched the eclipse in our hometown of Patna (India), which was one of ideal cities to view the occurrence. She told me that her excitement matched nothing compared to that of one of our helpers at home, whose small village of Taregna was the BEST spot to view the eclipse.

With more than two lakh researchers, astronomers, scientists and people from across the globe descend in Taregna to view the event, the villagers didn't know what they had done to deserve the sudden limelight. Taregna (means "stars" in the local language) and nearby Khagual (derived from khagshastra which means "astronomy") are the places where the 6th century astronomer-mathematician ARYABHATTA* had camped and built his observatory at the Sun Temple for his studies.

*ARYABHATTA found the notion of zero and also proposed that the earth rotates on its axis.

It gave me a kick to think that in India, where superstitions sometimes takes the excitement out of people's lives (like the eclipse being a bad omen i.e. a triumph of the evil over good) people, even in a rural areas, were more concerned whether they would get a view of the eclipse more than anything else.

For me this a positive change in the mindset and I don't think there are any ill omens to it. Moreover, it is inspiring to see people be in awe of the universe unlike my workmates in Japan who don't seem to care about anything.

Life is to enjoy, celebrate and be happy about and not just stare at a screen 24/7.

The meaning of Travieso

It completely slipped out of my mind to explain the meaning of my blog "stash-travieso" on Blogspot.

For starters, Travieso is a Spanish word, with a number of meanings.
Some of these are - transverse, oblique, Restless (inquieto), uneasy, flighty, knavish, turbulent, noisy; mischievous.
Its not that I chose Travieso because a number of people mistake me for being a Spanish/Mexican.
What amazes me is that an English word can sound really cool by adding an "o" or " i " at the end of it. You know what I mean... finito, momento, inquieto !!!
I seriously feel I would enjoy learning Spanish and have the ability to become pretty good it.
But with my present toils to cope with speaking and learn Japanese at work make me tired.

Nonetheless, given the right frame of mind and time, I think I will give it a shot to learn some Spanish !!!

a-wake or a-sleep

A normal Wednesday, my alarm went off at 7am, I got out of bed, walked through the kitchen to the bathroom, brushed and was taking a shower when I realized that my alarm was ringing again it was 7.30 and I was still in bed!

This was a weird incident for me because even though I have very realistic dreams, today was the first time I believed that I could sleep while making my body do smth I didn’t want to do – i.e. get out of bed in the cold to take a shower.

I have heard of kids peeing in their beds, but showering... lolz, that would have been a sight!
Neways,
I think its a sign to hit the bed @ 10pm tonight!!
My consciousness really needs a break from worldly winter rain, cold and creative TED talks :)

Getting out of the puddle

Consumers or Creators on HIGHER GROUNDE - A must read !

I think am definitely working or at least trying hard to become a creator so that I can live my life the way I want to. But the attractions of a consumer’s life - the new iPhone or an overseas trip on my company's expense, just keep enticing my mind from putting in my 100% in achieving my goals.

I read somewhere that all material goods have a short lifespan, a snap and their happiness fades away like a dream.

There is no doubt that once we have achieved a certain level of maturity in the field that is most suitable for us, all the things that we crave now IS easily accessible and their pleasures are certainly more satisfying if not forever-lasting.

If we understand and know all of this, why is it so hard to channel our energies to take actions that will make us happy in the long-term? Why does the mind get stuck?

I guess I will stop brooding over such thoughts and figure it out on "the road to my higher grounde..."

home again

Happy New Years Everyone!!

Im back in Japan and still NOT in the back-to-work mode.

My new year's trip was a blast esp. becuz I met up with friends after 5yrs of high school graduation. The years we haven't seen each other for didnt matter. We have all started working and a lot has happened in each of our lives ever since we left school, but none of it mattered or showed in the manner we behaved with each other - We were 18 again (and it happened quite naturally!!!) hahaha

I realized that friends are there just to remind us of who we are, what we dream of, and to believe and become what we want.

Have been feeling grateful for all those I have shared my life with.

Thank you all for being there :)
Tons of Love and Hugs

brim full of changes as the year gets over..

My last day at work for 2008 today!! I’m leaving for the US tomorrow afternoon.
It was a crazy decision to make, and its going to be a WILD trip with a reunion of school friends after almost 6yrs~ I am excited, yet a lil tipsy abt how the next year will be when I come back in Jan 09!!

Thinking over all that happened this year brings tons of mixed feelings.
A lot of crazy occurances took place, and (hopefully) theyve made me as strong as the change they brought with them. Working in a Japanese company, I spoke enough about it so I wouldn’t go over the topic in this entry again :P Having said that, out of the three major changes this year (including the former), my twin’s engagement stood second on the list, smth I am still trying to make peace with.

I am the most excited - after her - and extremely happy she is going to spend her life with such an amazing person. I have no doubt they will have an incredible life together. But having been with her continuously for 24yrs is inbuilt into my system since before I was born. Marriage brings one of the greatest changes in a person’s character, and relationships esp. between siblings become quite delicate. (I remember everyday I would change the topic or simply run away whenever we were alone at home, because I didn’t want her to tell me that she had made up her mind to get married, and thus, was ready to leave home.)

Smts I think one of the silliest reasons we live our life is to get really good at letting go and realizing the impermanent nature of everything around us. It brings a huge strength or it brings great fear - either of them lead to the same point - Life Changes. The bad moments go with a blink, and the good ones fly away even faster. Nothing lasts, yet we all remain.
So,
Live and Love in 2009 with greater intensity than before. May the year bring amazing experiences, and may you work towards making all your dreams come true.

With all my love,
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
xx

still searching

Life has changed much since the last time I posted an entry.
I am now living in a small town called Isehara in Kanagawa (a bit far away from Tokyo), working in a Japanese manufacturing company that makes huge machines for famous manufacturing companies in the country.

Knowing about machines, like rolls, mills, their motors and working pipes and wires or even working in a factory sounds just about manageable on a temporary basis. It’s weird that unlike most others who finished university with me, I am yet to find something that I REALLY want to continue as a career. And the work I do now is definitely ‘not’ something I was expecting to do after APU, let alone it being the job I am going to do for the rest of my life.

So the question is – how is it that I find MY ultimate & perfect work (if there is smth such as that)?
Should I look into a Graduate school, or find myself an art course/job - which is one of the things I ‘think’ I can do well. But mostly I want to know how long is it going to take me to get out of my current workplace to find that something I'd love doing?

My name is ~

this is in response to "Chloe Fitzgerald"s email dated Monday, February 05, 2007; Posted at 11:21 AM

Your Irish Name Is...

Alannah O'Mahony

What's your Irish Name?

miss you all tons!!
p.s. look out for the upcoming grad ceremony entry!

pain kill(er)s

I’ve been on pain killers for over 3days now. A couple of days back I managed to get a bruise and a cut on my left-index finger (the source of which is yet to be found!) The damn finger was all pink like a flamingo’s head until yesterday, but from today morning it started turning blue with the band-aid that’s been tied by the univ nurse. Lil thing still throbs with every moment of my left hand, so much so that the entire arm’s starting to hurt now *sob*sob*

Since the univ’s hospital doesn’t seem to satisfy the intensifying pain, I’m more than WILLING & HAPPY to announce that I will consider any advice on what to do/ or what I could do to make it better from anyone whose been through this.

However, please SKIP OVER the idea of “making an incision” cuz that’s smth that totally FREAKS ME OUT, and I’m NOT going to do it!!

Thanks in a million fingers.. oops.. figures!

graduation and gang

Graduation is a custom one aught to get used to while at APU mainly cuz it takes place twice every year!!
But somehow, with every batch leaving for their 'better' places, I see myself getting more and more attached to the ones left behind - so much so that saying the goodbyes hit you harder than even your bad grades.
Every one of the crazy girls i knew has left for the place she’s to go to, with the exception of one who is staying with me till the end of the month till her job starts.
My homes in a mess.. mainly cuz we’ve been living like princesses and are always on the move. Our nocturnal instincts have matured to a great extent, with at least one of us keeping awake till the sun rises cuz she’s rattling her brains with the virtual world.
We’ve been pleasuring ourselves with some extraordinary meals – which surprisingly have increased the frequency of our hungry appetites. Each night we sleep with a heavy heart, and promise each other to wake up the following morning to do some 'yoga'… which, as you all are aware of is the only method one can lose weight by merely breathing!! However, the month has passed but that delightful day is yet to dawn.

Hope - The Reason to live (06:40am)

6am. All is misty outside my windown. Not a soul on the streets even though its early September and not that cold. Buildings in the nearby areas arent in view cuz of the pouring rain that makes the huge hills behind the town invisible.

With 'Somethings in the Air' by Thunderclap Newman playing in my mind, a thin copy of The Alchemist, and a mug of coffee i feel there's nothing more i could ask for.

Yet there is something that misses or perhaps starts to take a form in its real colours as I now close my eyes to the real world and awake to a dreamland of paints and canvases.

A boy smiles at me. His heart is pure and innocence, free of all the miseries of the world. He waits to get out there to prove his worth, show that he's strong to take anything that comes his way. There is no doubt he will succeed in everything that he takes upon himself.

So I tell him to stay calm and relax, but he doesn't listen and moves forward. I take another one behind him and tell him to wait just a little bit more. But he goes faster than I can walk.

I wait for one last smile from before he goes white with the mist, and I wait...He will be back, I tell to myself, if not soon.

There is the power of hope that gives us the reason to live.

What is it that we want.

I notice these days how some people get immensely BORED with everything around them. Even if they have friends who will do anything for them, work which they love, good grades, and the energy to attract anyone they talk to - there is a 'bored feeling' on their face all the time!

Its hard to understand what they are chasing because nothing seems to satisfy them. Yes, it is the same routine with the same people at college and the same food in the cafeteria. Life is made up of routines!

BUT people are happy and they enjoy every second that they live. Its what we give attention to that grows within and around us.

As for me - even if I get bored, it lasts only a couple of minutes because there is always something new to do.