योग-साधना LifeSkills/जीवन कौशल ☆ Positive Education: Teaching well-being to Young People ☆ Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

By Hemant BawankarNo Comments

Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator and Speaker.)

Positive Education: Teaching well-being to Young People

Positive education pairs traditional schooling with positive psychology interventions to improve well-being.
Positive education is based on the science of well-being and happiness.

Positive Education is an approach to education that blends academic learning with character and well-being. It prepares students with life skills such as: grit, optimism, resilience, growth mindset, engagement, and mindfulness amongst others.
Positive education views school as a place where students not only cultivate their intellectual minds, but also develop a broad set of character strengths, virtues, and competencies, which together support their well-being.
Positive education is a whole-school approach to student and staff well-being: it brings together the science of positive psychology with best-practice teaching, encouraging and supporting individuals and communities to flourish.
Positive Education focuses on specific skills that assist students to strengthen their relationships, build positive emotions, enhance personal resilience, promote mindfulness and encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Positive Education brings together the science of Positive Psychology with best practice teaching to encourage and support individuals, schools and communities to flourish. We refer to flourishing as a combination of ‘feeling good and doing good’.
In consultation with world experts in positive psychology and based on Seligman’s PERMA approach, the Geelong Grammar School developed its ‘Model for Positive Education’ to complement traditional learning – an applied framework comprising six domains: Positive Relationships, Positive Emotions, Positive Health, Positive Engagement, Positive Accomplishment, and Positive Purpose. This model has been augmented with four fundamental active processes that underpin successful and sustained implementation of positive education: Learn It, Live It, Teach It, and Embed It.
Widespread support is necessary for the success of the positive education movement.
Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Seminars, Workshops & Retreats on Happiness, Laughter Yoga & Positive Psychology.
Speak to us on +91 73899 38255
[email protected]
Courtesy – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht, LifeSkills, Indore

 

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योग-साधना LifeSkills/जीवन कौशल ☆ The first step to being spiritual ☆ Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

By Hemant Bawankar1 Comment

Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator and Speaker.)

The first step to being spiritual

It has been said in the Dhammapada, “Abstain from all unwholesome deeds, perform wholesome ones, purify your mind – this is the teaching of enlightened persons.”

What are unwholesome deeds and what are the wholesome ones?

Any action that harms others, that disturbs their peace and harmony is a sinful action, an unwholesome action. Any action that helps others, that contributes to their peace and harmony, is a pious action, a wholesome action.

There are three types of Wrong Conduct a human being is capable of – Wrong Conduct with Words, Wrong Conduct with Body and Wrong Conduct with Mind.

WRONG CONDUCT WITH WORDS

There are four sub divisions of Wrong Conduct with Words – false speech, slanderous speech, harsh speech and idle chatter.

Abstaining from false speech:
Herein someone avoids false speech and abstains from it. One speaks the truth, is devoted to truth, reliable, worthy of confidence, not a deceiver of people.

Abstaining from slanderous speech:
One avoids slanderous speech and abstains from it. What one has heard here one does not repeat there, so as to cause dissension there; and what one has heard there one does not repeat here, so as to cause dissension here.

Abstaining from harsh speech:
One avoids harsh language and abstains from it. One speaks such words as are gentle, loving, soothing to the ear; such words as go to the heart, and are courteous, friendly, and agreeable to many.

Abstaining from idle chatter:
One avoids idle chatter and abstains from it. One speaks at the right time, in accordance with facts, speaks what is useful, one’s speech is like a treasure, uttered at the right moment, accompanied by reason, moderate and full of sense.

WRONG CONDUCT WITH BODY

There are three sub divisions of Wrong Conduct with Body – taking life, taking what is not given and sexual misconduct.

Abstaining from the taking of life:
Herein someone avoids the taking of life and abstains from it. Without stick or sword, conscientious, full of sympathy, one is desirous of the welfare of all sentient beings.

Abstaining from taking what is not given:
One avoids taking what is not given and abstains from it; what another person possesses of goods and property, that he does not take away with thievish intent.

Abstaining from sexual misconduct:
One avoids sexual misconduct and abstains from it.

WRONG CONDUCT WITH MIND

There are three sub divisions of Wrong Conduct with Mind – covetousness, ill will and wrong view.

Abstaining from covetousness:
Here someone avoids being covetous: one is not a coveter of another’s goods and property.

Abstaining from ill-will towards others:
One avoids a mind of ill-will and hatred towards other beings.

Abstaining from wrong view:
One avoids wrong view, distorted vision.

WHOLESOME ACTIONS

There are three types of Right Conduct a human being is capable of – Right Conduct with Words, Right Conduct with Body and Right Conduct with Mind.

How can one “perform wholesome” deeds? One can perform wholesome deeds by practising right speech, right action, and right conduct with mind.

Right speech means speaking in ways that are trustworthy, harmonious, comforting, and worth taking to heart. When you make a practice of these positive forms of right speech, your words become a gift to others.

Right action is behaving peacefully and staying in harmony with fellow human beings.

Right mental conduct is having goodwill for others and cultivating the right view.

To “purify your mind”, you have to cultivate wholesome states and abandon unwholesome states by seeking wisdom and practising meditation.

This is the essence of the teaching of enlightened persons.

Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Seminars, Workshops & Retreats on Happiness, Laughter Yoga & Positive Psychology.
Speak to us on +91 73899 38255
[email protected]
Courtesy – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht, LifeSkills, Indore

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योग-साधना LifeSkills/जीवन कौशल ☆ Laughter Yoga: How to do it all alone for 10 minutes everyday ☆ Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

By Hemant Bawankar1 Comment

Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator and Speaker.)

Laughter Yoga: How to do it all alone for 10 minutes everyday

Learning Video for Laughing Alone

Laughter is the best medicine.
To get all the health benefits of laughter, you need to laugh deep and continuously for 10-20 minutes. How to do that every day when you are all alone? This video is a tutorial for that.
Laughter Yoga is usually done in groups. People find it difficult to practise it on a daily basis by themselves.
Laughter Yoga is a unique concept where anyone can laugh for no reason without relying on humour, jokes or comedy.
The concept is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between real and fake laughter if done with willingness. One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits.
Dr Madan Kataria, a medical doctor, founded the first Laughter Club with just five members in Mumbai in the year 1995. Today there are thousands of laughter clubs all over the world where laughter is initiated as an exercise in a group but with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real and contagious laughter.
It is called Laughter Yoga because it combines laughter exercises with yoga breathing. This brings more oxygen to the body and the brain which makes one feel more energetic and healthy.

When we laugh, our body generates feel good hormones called endorphins which improve our mood and general outlook. During laughter exercises, all the stale air inside the lungs is expelled and our system gets more oxygen which enhances the immune system. In the long run, the inner spirit of laughter helps you build more caring and sharing social relationships, and laugh even when the going in not good.

Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Seminars, Workshops & Retreats on Happiness, Laughter Yoga & Positive Psychology.
Speak to us on +91 73899 38255
[email protected]
Courtesy – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht, LifeSkills, Indore

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योग-साधना LifeSkills/जीवन कौशल ☆ Why one should not speak a deliberate lie even in jest ☆ Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

By Hemant Bawankar1 Comment

Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator and Speaker.)

Why one should not speak a deliberate lie even in jest.
[1]
One day  the Buddha came to Rahula, pointed to a bowl with a little bit of water in it, and asked: “Rahula, do you see this bit of water left in the bowl?”
Rahula answered: “Yes, sir.”
“So little, Rahula, is the spiritual achievement of one who is not afraid to speak a deliberate lie.”
[2]
Then the Buddha threw the water away, put the bowl down, and said: “Do you see, Rahula, how that water has been discarded?
“In the same way, one who tells a deliberate lie, discards whatever spiritual achievement he has made.”
[3]
Again, he asked: “Do you see how this bowl is now empty?
“In the same way, one who has no shame in speaking lies is empty of spiritual achievement.”
[4]
Then the Buddha turned the bowl upside down and said: “Do you see, Rahula, how this bowl has been turned upside down?
“In the same way, one who tells a deliberate lie turns his spiritual achievement upside down and becomes incapable of progress.”
[5]
Therefore, the Buddha concluded, one should not speak a deliberate lie even in jest.

Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Seminars, Workshops & Retreats on Happiness, Laughter Yoga & Positive Psychology.
Speak to us on +91 73899 38255
[email protected]
Courtesy – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht, LifeSkills, Indore

 

 

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योग-साधना LifeSkills/जीवन कौशल – Happiness and Well-Being – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

By Hemant BawankarNo Comments

Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator and Speaker.)

The Art and Science of Happiness

I teach what everyone seeks but finds it difficult to achieve. It remains more and more elusive as one chases it. Everyone believes he knows everything about it but is, in fact, ignorant and often misguided. I am talking about happiness and well-being.

According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, “One of the greatest obstacles to attaining happiness is that most of our beliefs about what will make us happy are in fact erroneous. Yet they have been drummed into us, socialized by peers and families and role models and reinforced by the stories and images ever present in our culture. Many of the presumed sources of happiness seem so intuitive and commonsensical that all of us – even happiness researchers! – are prone to fall under their spell.”

The happiness myths need to be understood and overcome. You can teach yourself to be happy. The art and science of happiness and well-being can be learned and taught.

At LifeSkills, we have gone deep to blend the best of the modern science of Positive Psychology with the ancient wisdom of Yoga and Meditation. We have added a dash of Laughter Yoga into the cask to make it sparkle. Our programmes show the pathway to authentic happiness, well-being and fulfillment. We help you to flourish!

 

Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Seminars, Workshops & Retreats on Happiness, Laughter Yoga & Positive Psychology.
Speak to us on +91 73899 38255
[email protected]
Courtesy – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht, LifeSkills, Indore

 

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योग-साधना LifeSkills/जीवन कौशल – Happiness and Well-Being – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

By Hemant BawankarNo Comments

Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator and Speaker.)

Happiness and Well-Being

Each one of us seeks happiness.

Happiness and well-being is not a thing. The modern science of happiness and well-being describes it as a ‘construct’.

For example, ‘weather’ is a construct. Ask any meteorologist, and he will tell you: weather is not a thing, it is a construct – a construct of temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and a host of other factors.

The elements of well-being include positive emotion, engagement or flow, positive relationships, meaning and accomplishment.

A couple of additional features from out of self-esteem, optimism, resilience, vitality and self-determination are required to really flourish.

This means you have to dig a bit deeper to understand fully what is happiness and well-being. It’s not as simplistic as saying: happiness is within us.

Happiness does not come to you on its own. You have to act in order to achieve it.

The good news is that we can learn to enhance our levels of happiness and well-being.

Everyone wants to be happy. Here are some simple happiness mantras:

  • Every morning, do yoga and meditation – or walk and exercise.
  • During the day, smile and be kind to all.
  • In the evening, look back at 3 things that went well in the day.
  • During the week-end, spend quality time with your family and friends.
  • Engage deeply in work, studies, play, love and parenting.
  • Devote yourself to a meaningful humanitarian or social cause.
  • Share an occasional ice-cream or chocolate with a child.
  • Be happy and make others happy.

Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Seminars, Workshops & Retreats on Happiness, Laughter Yoga & Positive Psychology.
Speak to us on +91 73899 38255
[email protected]
Courtesy – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht, LifeSkills, Indore

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योग-साधना LifeSkills/जीवन कौशल – ☆ You Too Can Be A Buddha! ☆ – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

By Hemant BawankarNo Comments

Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator and Speaker.)

You Too Can Be A Buddha!

Every person seeks happiness, peace and harmony. But often stumbles upon misery, stress and dis-content. Then, starts a journey. Each one takes a different route.
The most common route leads to a pleasant life. A life of material comfort and luxury. One studies in a good school, goes to the university and finds a rewarding job and climbs up and up the ladder. Or, he starts his own business, and flourishes. Such a life is a life full of pleasures. At times, this person wonders – am I really happy?
You may choose a different track. The road less traveled. You are passionate about something and love doing it. You get so absorbed in the activity that you lose track of time, even yourself. Such a life is a life of flow, an engaged life. You may find gratification in sport, science, design, or cooking. This is good life. One uses her signature strengths on an ongoing basis and feels happy.
Some others search for meaning in their lives. They have the greater good of humanity in their minds. They seek happiness for themselves and all around them. They strive for, and acquire, right wisdom and are full of compassion for others. One such enlightened soul visited this planet about two thousand and five hundred years ago. He saw misery all around and, by deep meditation, discovered a way out of it. That is why he is known as ‘Tathagata’ – one who has walked the Path and known the Truth! The path is the eight-fold noble path of morality, mindfulness and wisdom. Such a life is a meaningful life.
Swami Vivekananda, it seems, preferred a meaningful life over others. He once said, “They only live who live for others. Others are more dead than alive!”
But you may choose the life you wish to live. You can choose a pleasant life, or an engaged one, or a life full of meaning. You can aspire to be a Buddha, and you too can become a Buddha – the Enlightened One! The choice is totally yours.
As the Enlightened One blessed us: Bhavatu sabba mangalam! May all beings be happy!

 

Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Seminars, Workshops & Retreats on Happiness, Laughter Yoga & Positive Psychology.
Speak to us on +91 73899 38255
[email protected]
Courtesy – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht, LifeSkills, Indore

 

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योग-साधना LifeSkills/जीवन कौशल – Vipassana Meditation-Taming Monkey Mind – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

By Hemant BawankarNo Comments

Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator and Speaker.)

Vipassana Meditation – Taming Monkey Mind

A Beginner’s Guide

“Vipassana means seeing things as they really are. It is the process of self-purification by self-observation.”
S N Goenka
Vipassana is one of India’s most ancient meditation techniques. Long lost to humanity, it was rediscovered by Gautama Buddha more than 2500 years ago…
A golden gateway to vipassana meditation is the 10-day vipassana course taught by S N Goenka in hundreds of centres all over the world. It initiates you to the technique beautifully and launches you successfully into the orbit of self-awareness and self-purification.
A human mind is often compared to a monkey – jumping all around. Vipassana is not just a technique to calm the mind or enhance concentration. It goes much beyond that. It purifies the mind of all impurities of craving, aversion and ego.
Goenka follows a scientifically structured three-dimensional approach taught to him by his Burmese Teacher Sayagyi U Ba Khin. The technique as practiced by Buddha was preserved and passed on from generation to generation in its pure form in the Dhamma land now known as Myanmar.
The first dimension refers to discipline and moral conduct. Known as ‘Sheela’, this lays a strong foundation for the practice. During the course, the students maintain noble silence which means no verbal or non-verbal communications of any kind, no gestures, no physical touch and eyes downcast. Nutritious and wholesome food is served for breakfast and lunch. There is evening tea and simple snacks. No dinner. Your day starts at 4 a.m. and before 10 p.m. all lights are off. You clean your own room and wash your plates. No intoxicants or smoking for the duration.
On paper, this may look difficult to observe. But I have seen youngsters in their twenties’ and thirties’, the middle-aged and the old, and men and women of different nationalities comply with the code of conduct without any difficulty. In fact, it feels good. You get a first-hand feel of a monk’s life!
The second dimension is about taming the monkey mind. It is called ‘samadhi’ or concentration. Initially, we start with focussing our attention on our natural breath as it is. Yes, it seems difficult in the beginning. The mind simply sets to wander. Instead of meditating, your mind gets lost in fantasies. You find it very difficult to bring it back. After two or three days, the wandering lessens and you are there more and more.
Once you start experiencing a bit of focus, you move on to vipassana – purification of the mind. It begins with simple observation of your sensations. Then, we go deeper and deeper. Depending on how hard and diligently you work during the course, your experiences may be different, at different levels – gross or subtle.
Don’t ever think you will attain Buddhahood in these ten days. You just get introduced to the technique. Thereafter, it’s your hard work. It may take years, even whole life, sometimes many births. Don’t expect to see some Divine light or experience a state of sweet bliss. The process of metamorphosis or purification may be painful indeed. Be ready!
The third dimension is ‘panya’ or wisdom. Through daily discourses in the evening, insights are given into the activities during the day and the philosophy behind it. Nuggets of pure dhamma gradually build-up right understanding. The morning chanting and dohas give you fodder for thought.
On the tenth day, we practice ‘metta’ bhavna meditation. We wish happiness, peace and harmony for all beings. All our cravings, aversion and ego start dissolving by now. We feel lighter, better, transformed – ready to tread on the path of Dhamma, filled with gratitude towards Buddha who understood the misery of mankind and devised a tool to eradicate it.
The ultimate learning and insight we develop: May all beings be happy! Bhavatu sabba mangalam!

Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Seminars, Workshops & Retreats on Happiness, Laughter Yoga & Positive Psychology.
Speak to us on +91 73899 38255
[email protected]
Courtesy – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht, LifeSkills, Indore

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योग-साधना LifeSkills/जीवन कौशल – Recipe for Happiness – Shri Jagat Singh Bish

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Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator and Speaker.)

When asked for his recipe for happiness, Sigmund Freud gave a very short but sensible answer: “Work and love.”

Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Seminars, Workshops & Retreats on Happiness, Laughter Yoga & Positive Psychology.
Speak to us on +91 73899 38255
[email protected]
Courtesy – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht, LifeSkills, Indore

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योग-साधना LifeSkills/जीवन कौशल – The Happiness Mantra – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

By Hemant BawankarNo Comments

Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator and Speaker.)

Everyone wants to be happy. Here are some simple happiness mantras:

  • Every morning, do yoga and meditation – or walk and exercise.
  • During the day, smile and be kind to all.
  • In the evening, look back at 3 things that went well in the day.
  • During the week-end, spend quality time with your family and friends.
  • Engage deeply in work, studies, play, love and parenting.
  • Devote yourself to a meaningful humanitarian or social cause.
  • Share an occasional ice-cream or chocolate with a child.
  • Be happy and make others happy.

Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Seminars, Workshops & Retreats on Happiness, Laughter Yoga & Positive Psychology.
Speak to us on +91 73899 38255
[email protected]
Courtesy – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht, LifeSkills, Indore

 

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