Yes, Mother Earth

Yes, I think that it is essential today that we (humans) include the impact of every decision and action of ours on the Earth, her environment and beings other than ourselves as well, as a non-negotiable factor.

Yes, All usage and making of polythene bags must be stopped, even if it makes life inconvenient

Yes, I always carry a cloth and / or paper bags with me

Yes, I more often than not talk to vendors and shop keepers about the nature of plastic and the importance of biodegradable material

Yes, these days many of them listen patiently and courteously and sometimes shrug helplessly and at other times enter into a conversation

Yes, I have at last started working with the soil and getting my hands dirty

Yes, I believe that every human being must do the above for some duration of their lives, if not the whole of it

Yes, children learn a LOT by tending to plants (nurseries, saplings...) and the soil

Yes, animals, birds, insects and plants are as intelligent, if not more, as human beings

Image from FB group "attn:"

Yes, we must buy as local as possible and without plastic packaging whenever possible

Yes, I mostly buy organic foods and produce

Yes, there is an issue that much of organic foods come in plastic packaging

Yes, we must reduce what we waste and what we throw away

Yes, I try and reduce, reuse, and recycle and also repair (or get repaired!) wherever and whenever possible (there is a much longer "re" list)

Yes, we live and act in a world of contradictions - an obvious one for now being that I bring to you this post using technology that has been made displacing people, gouging out the Earth, and using other such unsustainable and violent ways

Yes, I used cloth diapers for my daughter, both home-made (old sarees and dhotis) as well as commercial (bum-genius and so on) most of the time (70% approx*)

Yes, I have at last almost fully converted to using re-usable menstrual pads for 6 months or so now (90% of the times approx)**

yes, we must all cultivate the music of friendly, and inclusive conversations and dialogue, and reduce the noise of fight-or-flight reactions and finding fault with oneself and others and excessive consumption

Yes, it is possible for all, for Mother earth to discover the abundance and prosperities within us

Yes, I believe and see the traditional wisdom that we (humans) are one and whole parts of Mother Earth, this creation, rather than intelligent, superior beings born to utilise this Earth and her resources

Yes, Mother Earth offers all that she is and has, out of the order of being, and compassion

Yes, humankind mistakenly perceives the above to be commodities and puts prices on all of them

Yes, I believe that we must exchange goods and services wherever, whenever possible and reduce the use of paper / metal currency

Yes, there is so much beauty in Nature

Yes, there is everything to learn from Nature (and being outdoors)

Yes, there is so much logic, order and symmetry in the ways and being of Mother Earth

Yes, it is important to give attention to what we eat, feel the texture, the flavours, smells and colours of what we are eating

Yes, I have hugged trees many times

Yes, please go do it (hug a tree, that it, or many of them). Feel the coarse bark, breathe in the tree's scent, drink in the sight of this ecology, and wonder at her mystery

Yes, love makes Mother Earth go round (listen to Madonna's song, 'Love makes the world go round')

Yes, I am sure this is just a starter list and there could be a zillion more yeses for and with Mother Earth

Yes, I challenge you to add your own and commit

The above random Yes-list held together by a commitment to treading softly on our Earth, was inspired by a post that had a 'No-list'.
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*, ** : These figures are based on my subjective reading of the situations

One Breath at a Time

A popular cafe chain advertises saying, a lot can happen over a cup of coffee.  Much, much

Image from sentimetalico.blogspot.com

 more can happen in the space of one breath.  Think why: when one is angry or agitated or stressing big time about something, one of the first instructions given is: "Take a deep breath." And a yoga teacher may follow it up by saying, "now, release it s-l-o-w-l-y, feel it leaving your body and empty yourself completely, now pause." 

What happens when you take a deep breath? 

Normally, we are not even aware of breathing.  We go through the days and activities, mostly breathing unconsciously.  It is only in not-normal or not-collected situations that one becomes aware of one's breath - dashing madly to catch the train, surprise or shock, occasionally even while excited about something.  These are the times when there is an adrenaline rush in the body and the breath starts coming faster. Imagine, the heart has to start beating fast and our lungs have to work overtime in order for us to take note; we are in such a race, chasing after all the good things that life has to offer.  The breaths hasten and trip over each other and lessen life span and quality. It is a known and understood fact that creatures with slower breath rates live longer. The elephant, for example. Dogs on the other hand huff and puff and pant and have a much shorter life span.  The respiration rate is also connected to heart rate and health.  Shorter, quicker breaths usually means that the respiratory process would not be supplying oxygen in a steady and consistent manner to the heart.  As a result, the heart muscle would be pumping extra in order to distribute the not-steady and not-consistent supply of oxygen and get enough of it to the other muscles in the body.  This definitely has a negative impact over oxygen intake and health of the heart, thus robbing the body of strength and vitality.  It is obvious that this would be followed by reduction in quality of functioning in more ways than merely in physical health.  It may just not be directly evident that the decreased quality of life is because of the way one is breathing. 

However, the opposite is evident - that better breathing, meaning slower and deeper breathing, definitely and tangibly increases well-being and quality of life.  Anybody who has been on a correct aasana-praanayama routine (by correct I mean, movement with the right breathing) for a few months even intermittently, will agree with the previous statement even if it is with some hesitation or doubt. Given a couple of years of consistent practice, he / she will emphasise the connection of breath to quality of life.  

Indian tradition calculates a being's life span by the number of breaths and this can be done by taking into account the respiratory rate. Our ancients say that the person is given her number of breaths even when she is born.  This means that one's life span can actually be stretched - by increasing the length of breath.  And this is also perhaps why popular idiom in Indian culture has statements like, "you gave me such a scare and have taken away 10 years of my life."  A scare would mean adrenaline and breath coming in gasps.  

So, how does one actually do this, increase one's life span and quality of life?
One breath at a time. 

Imagine you have to take just this one breath now, this breath will save your life. As you inhale slowly, your lungs and hence chest expands, the diaphragm is pushed down, and you feel the energy nourishing your body.  Then you start emptying your body of air, right from your stomach.  The abdomen gets pulled in and the diaphragm moves up again.  Your body slowly exhales and once you empty completely, you pause. You feel the lightness and the unhurriedness.  Just one breath at one time.  You can move to the next by and by.  The following will happen when you continue doing the same: 

- Your breathing will slow down (obviously!) 

- Your heart rate will slow down

- Your breathing and heart beat will discover your natural, free rhythm - the one that will feed a consistent and steady supply of oxygen to the body

- As you keep at it, YOU will slow down

- You will find your fight or flight reaction fading away gradually, and your free, natural responsive (responsible) self taking over, in time 

- The more you are able to respond, more you will breathe right, hence creating a positive and regenerative cycle of action 

And so, when you take that one deep breath, you will feel the essence of the space and quality of one breath and you will catch a glimpse of the process it would unfold.  And then, you may (could) continue practicing, one breath at a time.