Health for Life Tips, Travel and Life Tips
Published on 25/12/2022
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7 Simple Life Ways To Become the Change You Want to See    

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I write for my travellers here who are on this Road To Nara with me, but I also write for my students at school who at one point in time are going to grow and find their teacher online on the road.

This is for all of us, going in another year, like getting up from sleep again, who are going to get another morning, another opportunity, one more day of possibilites.

And it is for anyone who ever in future is going to land on this page, who is curiously questioning, finding a way to grow in value and meaning, who has arrived at the crossroads and perhaps is waiting for that possible kick.


1. De-clutter

In today’s age, we are consuming everything possible. Moving, still, visuals, all kinds of trash, text, and even that screen light that keeps glaring on our retinas like never before. In ancient times Yogis were asked to imagine sun between their eyes to grow light and heat in the system. But today the screen we use has replaced that focal light which we used to practice for inner-growth. We are carrying enormous amount of impressions, records, annotations, understandings, knowledge that might never be used. One may learn by reading, but wisdom can only arrive by living.

Cut most things out. De-clutter anything that is turning out to be a weight for you. Anything that has taken so much time that it is pressing you against the wall.

I do believe that nothing can be taken away from you for what is yours. But one has to work to create that situation. Think fresh and delete all that is heavy and is tasting like chemical.


2. Know your Lows


Learn and this is important. Know what has been the most obstructive, destructive, difficult thing, habit, person has been for you that has taken so much of your time.

Your lows can also get triggered from excessive eating or wrong type of food, timing of eating, sleeping cycle or as simple as getting too comfortable staying under low light. It may start from anything but it can keep you for as long as you will not fight.

As they say, mind knows everything. Body gives signals and warnings. Be aware. Start listening. Find it, and start fighting it.



3. Re-wire

We are our thoughts. What, how and where we are today in life, it is because we thought thus. We became thus. And if this doesn’t make us feel great then we have to rewire how we are putting ourselves out in life. We have to rewire how we engage with people, a place, thing and above all our inner selves.

From the moment we open our eyes, we must bring in habits that is good for growth. The first things we think to the last before we call it a day, if you can make a note, do. It might reveal our future. Everything is connected.

Re-connect. Re-wire.



4. Become like a Coconut


It is a key that I want to practice myself. And may be in first place, I know it too well to talk about it. About being Kind. My parents are teachers, and somewhere so am I. On a day to day basis I have worked with enormous expanse of people, from rich to poor, from parents to my hosts, during stays and long travels across Indian subcontinent. And I have involuntarily practised kindness in every aspect of life. To an extent the attitude showing and showering kindness starts backfiring when met with anyone shrewd.

Kindness brings in complacency if you are not strong.

If I am my own example here, I have lost opportunities of learning by being too kind. In my over three decades of life on Earth, in my travels, with teaching children- talking to every kind of parent I have been too patient and too kind. It has widen that crack which asks me to be gentle, even compassionate that there have been times when I have failed to remember where kindness must end. Many a times I have not argued when I should have stood firm. Or stopped myself from saying things thinking the other will feel bad. Over years it has lead me to become complacent. I melt easily with the words of kindness I am familiar with but certainly world doesn’t work well for the kind of us.

I really like how coconut is. And it is the finest example. One has to really penetrate to get the good and that is how karma works. We need to put the hard work to get results. Learn from the Coconut and Practice being like it.



5. No Mercy


I love these two words like the Boxers do. And if we can practice them separately and have the wisdom enough to discern, when needed together. 

No and Mercy teaches us to learn about life both ways. Practice saying no. And have mercy and apt humility for others. And know when to have no mercy on yourself.

I remember some days that arrived with my wrestling coach would bulldoze me over on exact those days when my body was aching from last yesterday’s training. Or when timing, mood, or something was not right. Somehow it were those days when coach gave the hardest lessons in making us push until our body dropped. But the miracle was the body pushed, and pushed even more beyond we could have ever imagined.

Its better to have less to no mercy on yourself. We don’t know how much we can do till situation arises. Its better to always be ready, always be prepared.



6. Run as Slow as you Can  


I think artists, be it of any expression develops an ability to transcend above average ideas about good or bad, religion, gender, status, caste and any ill that the society has propagated for them. They could see things afresh and give solutions that others seldom thought.

And it is not difficult to perceive! We are nature and nature is also wild. It believes in change. It is most happy when we push. When we opt for work over comfort. Sweat. A walk during rains. Even Sitting still under sun. When we start appreciating. When we put our minds, bodies under the pressure of divine rather natural high.

I would rather request each one who is reading to take time off from anything one is does during the two sandhyas i.e. during the two meetings. The becoming of the morning. And the coming of the night. The magic of both meeting hours is the most beautiful moments to reflect, to percieve, to be present daily and practice receiving with our own eyes i.e. Run, even if its slow while Devouring anything and everything that is in front.
 


7. Learn from Elements. Make them a part of your life.


We live in the times of possibilities. Never before a time on earth has arrived so comfortable and so complete that many of us don’t have to think to collect wood for our food, to light our place or even to keep us warm. Rather we worry more if our gadgets are running out of energy.

But away from gadgets If ones goal is to only be happy, then learn anything and everything you can about the five elements of life. Five elements that you yourself are made of. Body recognizes it.

Who doesn’t like to open ones window to let in the fresh air in. Or walk on wet grass, drinking fresh water, sitting near fire for warmth or children playing in mud. Travellers know it too well.

Elements give us necessary intuition, they shape us to become worthier vessels. And they give us contentment.

It are these ways that can make our days, cycles that may feel like entering in a new phase, a new Life.

May you all celebrate in joy, and be together in prayers for all who left us this year.


Merry Christmas to all my Travellers.


: ँ :

Thank you.

If you have any suggestions, please write in the comment box or feel free to write to me at narayankaudinya@gmail.com

If today is the first time you have arrived on The Road to Nara, you are heartily welcome ~ Namaste


: ँ :

I will take this opportunity to introduce you to About me and importantly;

As a co-traveller, my Ten Learnings from several years on the road, before you coarse on your own Road to Nara.

: ँ :

Also, You will be happy to know about My Little School Project. If you wish to come over for a visit someday that you must, you will be heartily welcomed here

: ँ :

To visit other long-term photographic works, please visit here.

Follow my works and walks as I document Rural Indian Subcontinent at 
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

: ँ : 


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Hi, I am Narayan Kaudinya. And i welcome you on this journey, the Road to Nara ! I am an Ethnographer and a practicing Indologist. I did my masters in History and further learnt Sanskrit, Yoga and Nerve-therapy. At 24, pushing most academic sounding, office sitting works away, i felt compelled to know and understand the world and my country, Bharat/India. I travelled, and as it happened i took up teaching in Kashmir and further up in the remote villages of Baltistan in the foothills of Karakoram Ranges. For around three years and many states later there came a time when i felt that it was only while teaching i learnt how to laugh, to see, feel, breathe, love and cry -with children, and mostly resource-less parents in the harshest-freezing border conditions. I write, and work as a documentary photographer and Filmmaker, with numerous published, exhibited and some awarded stories. In my travels and life i have let nature lead me, the divine mother, and as a Yogin, my resolve here is to share my experiences and thoughts as honestly, and through them to blossom in everyone the power and possibility in pursuing your breath, that you seek your true nature with courage and curiosity. Here, on this road i will share my spirit, my love for nature, the elements of life that are us. And in doing so, i'll be happy to see you along.

61 Comments

  1. Pingback: 7 Simple Life Ways To Become the Change You Want to See | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  3. gabychops says

    Thank you, Dear Narayan, for the wonderfully inspiring essay, just perfect at this time of year. I will have to come back because I have visitors and I can already see that this post is important to analyze properly. It is a greatly valued guide to a well-lived life.
    I will be back, in the meantime to those who celebrate today’s festivities:

    Merry Christmas!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Yetismith says

    Best of wishes to you, Nara. I fully subscribe to your wisdom. It took me far too long to find it but it has brought me peace, finally. You uplift my heart.

    Like

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  5. Yernasia Quorelios says

    💜 The Teacher is The Student is The Teacher is The Student is The Teacher is The Student EveryOne; don’t be fooled by the Aloof and Arrogant who THINK!!! They Know It ALL EveryBody

    nisi mortuus nec neque nolite vicit 🤭🤫🤐

    http://www.ericberne.com

    …💛💚💙…

    Like

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    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Thanks Yernasia, merry Christmas

      Everyone knows it all till it strikes one fine day, my friend.

      apna acche se khayal rakho 🔱🔯🌿

      Like

      Reply
  7. gabychops says

    This essay on the principles of change that will lead to a better life is very apt on the threshold of the New Year, the time of making resolutions, and the start of new beginnings. What is better than reading and examining a ready-made template that allows you to add your own rules but illuminates the points that could be easily missed?
    The first point is now often suggested by trendy magazines as de-clutter leads to more clear vision and simple life. Narayan cleverly concentrates on our minds rather than cupboards. The onus here is on the important statement:
    “Wisdom can only arrive or be achieved by living.”
    I wholly agree with Narayan’s words that wasting so much time on irrelevant pursuits brings stress as we find ourselves in the corner and pushed against the wall. And so the solution is simple – de-clutter, and be free.

    The second rule – is ” Know your lows”.
    Here, self-knowledge is the byword. Feeling low is triggered by involuntary wasting time, excessive eating, and lack of enough sleep, all common around the time of many festivities. The solution – be aware of the pitfalls and made a plan to avoid them, and stick to them.

    The third rule – is to “Re- wire”, as everything is connected, another fundamental truth expertly worded in Naraya’s words, “We are our thoughts, as what we think today becomes our deeds tomorrow”.

    The fourth rule – is “Become like a coconut.” This is an excellent metaphor for not allowing kindness to be abused by some people. You know, of course, how difficult is to break a coconut shell, and the solution is to become like one. We often practice kindness to avoid hurting others but in the process hurting ourselves.

    The fifth rule – the very important one is about learning to say ” No”, is difficult for those who want to please, and not always a good way of dealing with daily events.

    The sixth rule is ” Run as slow as you can”, seemingly a contradiction in terms but actually, this truth is going back to ancient times.

    The seventh rule – ” Learn from Elements”, is again universal truth that is proven to make us happy. All those who live surrounded by nature, grow their own happiness. I love, Narayan’s examples of walking in the rain, on the wet grass, and inhaling the fresh air of the forests, and the beauty of the mountains that lift our spirits and transform our souls!

    Thank you, Narayan, for having the wisdom to impart all this knowledge to your lucky students in one of the best schools in India that you run in Delhi.

    Joanna

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Thanks for highlighting dearest Joanna..May be these words are more for myself. To get back to my highest self. And I hope to change a few much needed habits and get into a deep work routine.

      Thanks for all the words and your support.

      Like

      Reply
  8. gabychops says

    PS. Thank you, Narayan, for adopting the delightful child’s drawing of the symbolic bird of India, the peacock, as the opening picture of your essays!

    Joanna

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. gabychops says

    PS. 2
    I think what you have written, Narayan, in ALL your works, could be best described by the quote from E. B. White:

    ” I feel that a writer has an obligation to transmit, as best he can, his love of life, his appreciation for the world.”

    And you do this admirably!

    Joanna

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  11. Diti Sen says

    The comment box to your last post didn’t show the submit button so i thought of sending it here.

    All the points were helpful but i particularly identified with the one on being a coconut. You’re so right. It’s important to be kind but it needs a filter too. Thanks for the post. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. Mick Canning says

    These are great points. I do think with numbers four and five, though, kindness doesn’t ever have to end. There are situations when toughness is required when dealing with others, and with oneself, but that can still be a kindness to those others, as well as to oneself as it is what is required to help them at that time.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Thanks Mick. I agree about kindness. It cannot end if you are graced with it. If you possess it. I think it’s a boon for life to some. But boons should reach the needy, it has no value to the greedy.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. Pingback: 7 Simple Life Ways To Become the Change You Want to See! — ROAD TO NARA – Tiny Life

  17. KK says

    This is a post that should be read and followed by everyone. Thank you, Narayan ji for sharing your सप्त-सूत्र.

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      • KK says

        यह आपका बड़प्पन है, नारायण जी! बहुत बहुत धन्यवाद 😊

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  18. Chaya Sheela says

    Thank you for sharing, Narayan.
    I love, “Learn from Elements. Make them a part of your life.”
    All the very best for the New Year and always. Stay blessed!

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    Reply
  19. gc1963 says

    Considering three decades of your existence on Earth you are way too wise. I like the No Mercy part. I push myself hard. My family says its bad. I also like the thing between kindness and complacency. In our urge to be kind we overlook many things. Keep growing.

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    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Thanks Geeta, it’s its little more than just three decades 🙂

      It’s hard to look at oneself with a balanced eye Geeta. I hope your days have started pleasantly in the new year.

      Like

      Reply

  22. Pingback: 7 Simple Life Ways To Become the Change You Want to See    

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