My journey in Spirituality

Spirituality is all about connecting to the Spirit. Such a simple definition; yet such a profound meaning attached to it. I learnt this from My Gurudev, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji. He has a unique way of explaining everything in such simple words that it often leaves me spellbound. It gives me a new perspective to look at things around me.

Growing up in a spiritually inclined family, I always felt some connection to the Unknown, to that which pervades everything. However, as with most seekers, I could not really find an expression or a foothold into what exactly I was looking for. And then, all of a sudden, my first Art of Living Course happened. I still remember I was sitting in my corporate training room, battling with a thousand thoughts inside my head; when the trainer announced that we shall be doing something “new” that day and in came a volunteer from the Art of Living; as if carrying all the answers to the million questions running through my head.

This was a different person; there was something about the effortless confidence, the spontaneous smile oozing from her being: there was something magical about this human being and I was definitely keen to discover the secret to it!

Update and Announcement

Hi Guys,

So it’s been a long time! Hope you all are doing great!! Today, I have an exciting announcement to make. Basically, I have been working on this project for quite a while now and finally the time has come when I can share it with you all!!

I have been working on my long standing passion for painting and have just launched my collection on Indian Art Ideas. If you want to see more, please visit my page on Indian Art Ideas; here: Artist Profile-Nirupama

Thanks for your support. Definitely means a lot to me.

Until next time,

xoxo

Daily Inspiration: Today

Hey guys,

Today I wanted to share this short and simple poem that came as an inspiration early this morning. We are surrounded by so much beauty; so much celebration…nature does all it can, relentlessly day after day, to bring this message to us. I really hope that each one of us take a little moment everyday just to appreciate everything and simply be happy.

I have titled the poem “Today” and of course, the inspiration behind this poem is my Gurudev, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Daily Inspiration: The Sands of Time

I remember my Gurudev, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, once said: “Time is Mind; when the Mind stops, time stops”. At that time, it seemed so fascinating to simply listen to these words…and to try to imagine what it would be like to experience that timelessness.

Fast forward a few years since then and suddenly a few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to experience a tiny fraction of a timeless moment during my daily meditation practice. It was then that the realisation dawned about how futile it is to hold on to events whether they have been pleasant or unpleasant because in the current present moment, they simply do not exist!

Mon Choisy Beach, Mauritius

Hi Guys,

Happy New Year!! Can’t believe its 2016…..!! Today, I decided to do a post on the Mon Choisy beach here in Mauritius. Sorry I have been missing for the last couple of weeks….but I’m back now and hoping to do more regular posts. On another note, I would like to know from you guys what kind of posts you enjoy more…your inputs will help me decide my choice of topics because obviously, I want to be focussing more on stuff that you guys would like to read. So do let me know in the comments below.

Last weekend, I visited one of my favourite beaches in Mauritius, Mon Choisy. It is located in the north western coast of the island and I believe, is the longest beach in Mauritius. Just like all other beaches in Mauritius, Mon Choisy is also characterised by its pristine, turquoise waters and white sand. There waves are very gentle and in general, like other Mauritian beaches, the sea is very calm here as well.

Hiking in Mauritius: Signal Mountain (Montagne des Signaux)

After my first hiking experience in Mauritius at Mount Le Pouce, which I shared with you earlier (Click here to read), I must admit that I have become quite the adventure seeker waiting to discover more and more exotic locations on the island. Needless to say, when my friends planned another hiking trip up the Signal Mountain, I jumped at the opportunity!

Signal Mountain or Montagne des Signaux (in French) is located in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius. It is a very easy trek as there is a tarred road leading all the way to the summit. The way is quite picturesque with beautiful views of the buildings in the capital city, the harbour, the Champs de Mars racecourse, the western coastline and other neighbouring peaks. The summit is at 3000m and can be done in an hour (one way) or less if you are a pro (unlike me)!!

2015: Life Lessons

Phew…what a year 2015 has been! Looking back, this year has taught me many important life lessons which I shall be carrying with me for the rest of my life. As the year is about to draw to a close, I thought I will share some of the life lessons I learnt and hopefully they will be useful to some of you as well. Here goes (in no particular order)…

Daily Inspiration: Find the Silver Lining…

They say that every cloud has a silver lining. This is true…..however, to see that lining, you must stare at the cloud long enough in its face! Last time, I was looking at the storm clouds gathering in the sky and wanted to find that silver lining that people talk about. In the process, I found that I had to stare at the clouds quite a bit and indeed, I could spot that hint of silver peeking out.

This led me to realise that life too, is the same. Problems and challenges appear as clouds and in order to be able to spot the underlying goodness, we need to look at the challenges in their face. Running away is an option readily available, but challenges do not disappear if you look away.

Hiking in Mauritius: Mount Le Pouce

We recently went hiking in Mauritius up the mountain Le Pouce and I wanted to share the experience with you. Le Pouce is the third highest peak in Mauritius. It is located in the Moka District and is part of the Moka range of mountains. Le Pouce, which in French means “The Thumb”, is so named because of its thumb shaped peak.

The majority of the hike is considered to be fairly easy and no climbing gear is required. However, the very last part, about 75 metres to the summit can be slightly challenging; especially for newbies like me, due to the steep ascent. But let that not deter you; you only need a few good friends: some to push you from below and some others to hoist you up to the top!!

Embracing Change

Let’s face it…change is inevitable. Changes do occur in life; often at times when you least expect it. Embracing change is not always easy. How do you react when change happens?  I have witnessed two common reactions to change: resistance and fear. Some people try their best to resist change – to remain in the realm of the known; while others do go with the change but with an element of fear lingering in their minds.

In either case, change cannot be avoided; however, by resisting change or fearing change, we make it all the more difficult for ourselves to accept the change and move on.

These are a few of my favourite things….

Do you remember that song, “These are a few of my favourite things” from The Sound of Music? I absolutely love that song…always have..!! Today it has been a rather gloomy day here in Mauritius. It has been cloudy the whole time and now it is chucking down with rain…!! Well, so to cheer myself up, I thought I would make a list of all my teeny weeny favourite things and share the same with you all!!

So, without further ado, here is the list of my 15 favourite things (in no particular order) which never fail to cheer me up no matter what the weather looks like outside..!! Of course, there are many, many more but maybe that will be another post!

Vegetarian Meals: Mix Vegetables Recipe

Today I want to share with you the recipe for my version of an Indian Mix Vegetables Curry. This is a fairly easy recipe and can be made quite quickly. Also, there are no onions or garlic in this recipe; it is Sattvic and high in Prana (energy). It tastes amazing and if you are a veggie lover like me; you will love this dish, I can promise you!! So, let’s get started…

Travel Diaries: St. Aubin, Mauritius

I recently visited the St. Aubin Plantation in Mauritius and decided to share my experience with you. It is a beautiful estate with a lot of different attractions; including the St. Aubin Residence, the Restaurant, the Vanilla Plantation, an old sugar mill, the tea route, a farm and stretches of green undulating slopes of Southern Mauritius.

The St. Aubin residence is a beautiful colonial style mansion with open verandas and wooden beams. It stands as a magnificent remnant of the colonial era in Mauritius. It is surrounded by lush green gardens which forms a habitat for several species of exotic birds. There are many exotic plants and flowers, too!

Travel Diaries: Port Louis, Mauritius

Port Louis is the capital city of Mauritius. Located on the North Western coast, it is one of the liveliest places on the island. It showcases a fusion of cultures, traditions and ways of life deriving their roots from India, Europe, China, Africa and the Middle East. 

The city is always bustling with energy: employees travelling to their respective work locations, street vendors selling their produce, tourists and of course, ones like me; documenting it all!

Dealing with rejection: Why rejection can sometimes be a good thing…

We have all been through rejection at some point in our lives. It could be a rejection while trying for that post at work, that job interview, that relationship or just about anything. When rejection happens, naturally the mind tends to sink thinking it is potentially the end of the road with that prospect.

However, what I have learnt from experience is that rejection can often be a good thing. Here’s why:

Let your dreams come true: It’s Your Dream; You gotta make it happen

Has it ever happened to you that you had a brilliant idea, a dream that you wanted to make a reality? And then in all your excitement, you go over to your best friend or colleague or someone else to share this fantastic, incredible, extraordinary idea expecting them to cheer lead you all the way and all you get is an indifferent grunt or a shake of the head or a “Great” if you are lucky!

Indian sweet recipe: Guilt free treat for the festive season

As the festive season is just round the corner, I thought of sharing this wonderful, quick and easy recipe to make coconut laddoos. Also, there is no added oil or sugar in this recipe so it can be enjoyed without guilt!!

The endless ocean makes me wonder…

The endless ocean often makes me wonder...

How vast is this Universe

The ocean, which is but a speck in creation, is itself so vast!! It encompasses so many millions of lives within it & hosts a multitude of species which makes me wonder about the vastness of the Universe; of so much that the eyes have not seen, of so many hidden gems of creation and of how tiny I am yet connected!

Daily Inspiration – Protected!

The other evening I was at the Caudan Waterfront, Mauritius; which is a fancy commercial area overlooking the bay. Although I normally go there for shopping, eating or watching a movie; that night no real agenda was on the cards. I was perhaps looking for a quiet evening stroll while watching the world pass by!

I was in for a treat! As soon as I walked in, I saw a host of umbrellas strung together covering an entire open street. There were multi coloured umbrellas hanging above my head! It was a delightful sight, to say the least. I wandered through the street thoroughly enjoying the sight of the umbrellas.

Dealing with difficult situations: Things don’t change unless you do

Okay, we have all been there when we felt lost, direction less and stuck in life, haven’t we? During such times, it becomes difficult to remain motivated and thereby retain clarity on the vision of life one wishes to create. It is easy to give in to frustration, anxiety, fear and a host of other negative emotions during such times. However, it is in these very times, that it is important to change one’s perspective and mindfully take certain steps to overcome any difficulty that arise. Hence, when ordeals strike, it is important to make positive changes within and eventually see our circumstances changing too.

Here I am sharing my top 5 tips (in no particular order) that can be used to change one’s mindset and remain focussed during trying moments: