Tillitonse - A Transformational Journey Together

  In sights from a 10 Day Silent Retreat Nov 2022 For the past 10 years, I have taken a week or so away from normal life and gone off to an ashram, monastery or nature camp. Of course, the past two years were an exception. Having just come back from one such retreat, my belief in this practice has only been strengthened significantly.   This time I went to the Tushita Medication Centre in Dharmashala India - a centre based on the Tibetan Mahayana tradition. 10 days of being cut off from one's phone, leading a simple lifestyle, learning from skilled teachers and in the company of 81 other participants from 22 countries made for an immersive experience. And did I mention that except for one hour a day, the rest of the time was in silence?  Here are some major top line benefits I experienced:  Am immense sense of gratitude for my life....this theme visited me repeatedly during the duration of my stay in a myriad ways. This lead to a wonderful ...

  OBI-WAN HAS TAUGHT YOU WELL, YOUNG SKYWALKER! "Welcome home” said Karl Hofmann with a broad smile. As President and CEO of PSI, it’s great how he always make the time for a leisurely chat every time I roll into Washington DC. As I walked into the building, it struck me that 30 years had passed since I entered 1120 19 Street. In 1992, I recall the immediate connect in an informational interview. I had met two other organizations, but the energy of the people I met that day ( Steven Chapman Kadiatu Bachili Judith Timyan and Brad Lucas strongly resonated – Here were a group of people who did serious work without taking themselves too seriously. My tribe! A year later I joined the organization and the love affair began….that continues to this day. Having open one on one conversations with Karl, Michael Holscher and Marcie Cook were insightful and enjoyable. It was a lovely bonus seeing others as well – Julia Roberts , Manish, Nina Hasen and Dorothy. Missed seeing many who we...

  WHY MANAGING BOREDOM IS AN IMPORTANT LIFE SKILL I found myself at a bit of a loss though most of September and October. I was BORED!  Had pulled back from work + Was not enjoying the course on Buddhist Psychology + My daughter had left for college in far away NY + The yoga studio was closed + Wife was busy at work = ME BORED!  I distracted myself - travelled, Netflix, reading.... Still, the disquiet continued!  It took me a while to fully own up to my 'addiction to activity.' Sound familiar?  Then I turned within...and started to simply become comfortable with this boredom. How? The first step was just acknowledging it fully. This short 3 minutes video captures why it is important to become comfortably with being bored:  https://lnkd.in/gi572mMg Once I accepted that I was bored, rather than fighting it, I noticed a shift in energy.....Acceptance led to more peace..... I am curious to know how this resonates with you. Your honest response including st...

I wrote this note to the grandchildren of my beloved aunt. I think I wrote this to show them a side of her that they may not know, what made her special to some of us and as a way to connect with them to honour both Meena Pedamma and Kitu Pedanna! Dear Rupa, Anjali, Alka, Vivi, Amar and Priya,   Yesterday, we said our goodbyes to the physical remains of Meena Pedamma, as so many of us fondly referred to her. I flew back from Delhi and missed the larger family gathering in the morning. I was at the crematorium and accompanied Mahesh, Manika and Biju, Vinod and Giri to the beach.   (As I write this, I know I speak for so many of us from Chennai/Madurai with deep love for Meena Pedamma and Kitu Pedanna )   We were at a quiet spot on the beach. A blue sky, clear blue waters, clean sands and the noon Chennai sun out in its full glory created a poignant moment. Mahesh and I entered the waters and then with the ocean behind us, we paused. Straight ahead was the outline of a temp...

 Reflections on Question #5 Six questions…  Each morning, I ask myself six questions   I have been cultivating this daily practice for a few months now   Question #5 is “What am I grasping at?” The daily reflections on each of the answers have helped immediately and brought a sense of lightness.   I felt I could benefit from a deeper dive   So, I set aside some time and looked at the pattern of responses over the past few months   Most interesting   Two themes emerged…   First, the desire to be appreciated and validated by others came through persistently. A cherished mentor of mine (David Reene) used to say – ‘We all walk around with an invisible sign around our necks that says – Make me feel relevant, Make me feel wanted.’ This is indeed true for me. I dug it a little more.   It went deeper   There was a seemingly infinite desire to be appreciated that never seemed to run out. It went beyond appreciation. It was about ‘being liked...

  Recall the scene from Star Wars or from the India folklore of Vikram and Betal - the wise one gently whispering words of wisdom and encouragement to the protagonist!  I have my own whisperer!  She went off a few weeks ago across the oceans.  I was asked - Do you miss her? It got me thinking. What do I miss?  It's the learning.   Yup, with her, I have no defences. No false sense of invulnerability. And so her inputs land well. And when one embodies that openness, there is genuine fertile ground to reflect and grow.  I am to create such an environment as a coach.  But this is deeper. An organic connect. Precious! 

  Flow… Just that. Simple yet continuous…… About 10 years ago, my paths crossed DIvya’s and Shantanu’s. I was going through a period of transition. The old was not yet over and the new was not yet born. It is in these periods that the company of like-minded souls is particularly vital. Divya has always been the gust of fresh air while Shantanu, the rock, that so many of us anchor on to. Over the years, our lives twisted and turned. We started as a teacher and two students. Soon, we formed a bond that was more than that. Over time, their relationship grew as they came together as a couple. For me, its been so wonderful watching and participating from the banks as these two fiercely independent forces of nature straddling contradictions, somehow flowed together seamlessly! So about a month ago, when they asked me to join them to Rishikesh, I immediately said YES! And much to my surprise (and their’s too!), I actually made the trip! And over the past five days, we just flowed, ala th...