Again this year, we had Light the Lamp Within workshops with Class VIII friends of Sathya Sai Vidhya Vihar, Indore from 23rd to 29th July.Lots of learning and insights for me .

When asked what are the qualities they liked in their friends, the responses were: helpful, caring, sharing, kind, loving, makes me happy, optimistic, truthful, friendly, creative, humorous, active, sporting, cool minded ,supportive, encouraging, sensitive, smiling,patient, trust worthy, listens, understands etc. Similarly their response of traits not being liked by them in some of their classmates were: anger, rude, irritating, boosting, boring, egoistic, disturbing, serious, dominating, liar, negative minded etc. This gave very useful insight to all of us as to what qualities we should have and what traits we must improve upon ,if we want lots of friends in life.

Similarly, their response to a question as to what we can learn from school,which can be of value for our entire life were: good values, manners, discipline, sportsmanship, public speaking, respecting all religions, confidence building by participation, personality development, relationship building, meditation, optimism, co-operation, compassion, team work etc. Lot of learning for all of us.

Loving and inspiring feedback was received advising and motivating me to continue these workshops. Everyone committed to work for self development, living life and being happy and making everyone happy. Interestingly ,when asked to commit to leave a habit "anger" was most common. Also LOVE again scored highest as expectation from parents. Even if they are receiving it, may be they want more expression of same and small actions to reinforce this feeling.

Surprisingly, when few of the friends were not able to fully co-operate few times and I kept on requesting them to do so, the feedback of many of their classmates was with advice to me to be more strict and discipline such friends. An interesting comment was "Today's generation needs punishment and uncle should at least scold the children". Another one was " You can be a little strict so that other children do not repeat the same mistake, which was done by us."Am amused by such simple but powerful messages, though am grateful for the advice but apologise to my sweet friends that it is difficult to follow this advice.

However, my faith in these young friends , got immensely boosted by love, affection ,positive response and overwhelming support to the workshop. Thanks to all of them.

Experiences of great value

Just finished having workshops with three lively groups of class VIII friends of Sathya Sai School.Lots of happiness, new insights, photos and memorable experiences to be shared ,when am back from Mumbai assignment in second week.

More Happiness

Had some very happy time with new friends at NTPC at their Power Management Institute, Noida and of NHPC at Fridabad at a resort. Suddenly found in the participants a lot of enthusiasm, energy and passion and love. Everyone participated wholeheartedly and enjoyed s much so that at Faridabad on second day, we had even tears overflowing at the thought of separation. When we are in teens, we are able to relate to each other and everyone so deeply ,then why it is that we start losing this quality, thereby living sometimes a life not really making us full and happy.

Thinking about all the sweet memories of great time, I had with these young friends all in teenage, become happy and fulfilled.

Sharing means Caring

My LTL friend Ms Shreya Kulkarni has again sent very valuable messages given above. Teenagers ,when a desire is kindled, find ways to reinforce positive attitude.

World as perceived by a teenager

THE WORLD AS I SEE IT

Scurrying by, to and fro,
Nowhere yet everywhere we must go.
Not looking at the world around,
No music emanating from the harsh sound.
A cacophony of sorts-pinching the mind,
Life has been thrown into a vicious grind.
We know not our destination,
But want to race-procrastination.
The paths wind,unwind, twist and twirl,
The folds of life silently unfurl.
But we are too busy to watch,
All the moments-the awesome feats we notch.
“I’m a loser” some keep saying,
Without their potential, weighing.
“I’m a matchless genius” some quip,
Beware! Putting on airs can rip:

Your destiny and course of life,
To give way to hunger and ceaseless strife.
Slow and steady yet sharp and smart,
Slowly move the spokes of the wheel of life’s cart.
So must we,stride to stride,
Not letting there appear a gap so wide;
That we cannot come through,

Our nightmares become true.
Ah! Let that fateful moment never arrive,

Let us, for prosperity, strive.
Running for jobs-here and there,
Unanswered- who?when?where?
Helter-skelter,rolling along,
A drab scruffy sound-no music, no song.
A sigh of relief-not allowed,
Only the bustle and flurry-long and loud!
The sand rising with tapping feet,
Not for tap dance or a treat;
But to trample on others who dare to rise,
Who dare to deny ill-gotten prize.
Heedless rush to win, God knows what!
Just toil,rush,toil and rot.
The calmness of the breeze,
The ice and cold freeze.
The meandering streams,
The glow and glitter of sunbeams.
The aroma of damp clay,
So much to savour- and we simply flay.
Think of life-clear and sweet,
A smiling charm for you to greet.
Think of a mind-cool and simple,
Who cares for warts or a pimple!
Think of nothing to worry about,
Think of being friendly with all the rout.
Think, for once, just think…
Let the thought, in your mind sink.
Think… think of you,me and the Earth,
Think of joy,sorrow,gloom or mirth.
Shake and stir that brain of yours,
Think of life, fiction or folklore.
Once you think enough, you’ll simply stare,
And you will have found answers to-who?when?where?

-Anujaya Krishna

( I am a proud grandfather of this sweet teenager)

What is that we value?

My son Rohit sent me this poem-

SMART

My dad gave me one dollar bill, 'Cause I'm his smartest son,
And I swapped it for two shiny quarters, 'Cause two is more than one!

And then i took the quarters And traded them to Lou For three dimes

i guess he don't know that three is m0re than two!

Just them, along came old blind Bates And just 'cause he can't see

He gave me four nickels for my three dimes, And four is more than three!

And i took the nickels to Hiram Coombs Down at the seed-feed store, and the fool gave me five pennies for them,

And five is more than four!

And then i went and showed my dad, and he go red in the cheeks And closed his eyes and shook his head- Too proud of me to speak!

-Shel Silverstein

Life as a Basketball Game

My LTL friend Ishita Garg sent me her poem,which is so motivating and hence took her permission to post on blog-

"There is a basket, my ball has to reach.
No matter how high ,it is in the sky
Every time ,when I attempt to score
I throw the ball ,with a mighty force
The ball hits the ring, and falls back again.
And I am left to try, and do the same again
The basket in the sky, sways and swings
As if teasing me ,of the blowing wind
I smile at it ,and ask her to wait
The next time I come ,she will have her bait
The next day ,I was back
With a steady mind ,ready to attack
I gave her my salute ,before I could start
And then after gathering ,all my power
I shot the ball ,up in the air
And saw it ,reach there
There in the basket ,I had made the score
With nothing left ,but happiness to store......"