A remarkable 20th Anniversary expo

A remarkable 20th Anniversary expo

June 2016

By Dr Akila Jaikumar

 I was delighted to receive the invitation to participate in the Life Positive Expo from 25 – 27 March 2016, celebrating 20 years of the publication of Life Positive.

It is truly a momentous point in the journey of the magazine. Who could resist the opportunity, to congratulate this remarkable team and  listen to the enlightened speakers over  three days as a bonus? So off I went, quickly making my travel arrangements from Hyderabad, and booking my accommodation in Aurobindo Ashram in New Delhi.

The schedule of the Expo was great. All the events were in a single room, one after another, perfectly timed and orchestrated.  One was not distracted by parallel sessions and confronted with the decision of which session to attend. The ambience was perfect; there were no distractions or unnecessary movements from one place to another. Only if one dozed off seated in the hall (after the sumptuous lunch provided each day) could the session be missed, and then you had only yourself to blame!

All the eminent speakers presented the simple truths of life in their unique styles. The New Age has arrived; the human race is progressing towards increasing  awareness and consciousness, and even though we may see ups and downs on the path, we are on an upward spiral. The consistent message from the speakers was that each of us can work and evolve rapidly if we keep our faith in our potential. Every activity can be used for this purpose – be it an art form like dance or music or literature, be it selfless service to  society, be it the profession we follow, be it various healing therapies, the food we eat, or religion we observe. The paths are many and diverse, none necessarily better or worse than the other, and each individual can choose what resonates with him or her. The only requirement is inner cleansing, awareness, conscious choice, discipline of the mind, self-regulation, self- control, patience, faith and dedication to one’s own self-development.

While intellectually these concepts are understood, integrating these thought patterns and behaviours into every moment requires drilling and practice. The Expo  did this exactly. It would have been impossible to listen to these great speakers otherwise. Over three days, Life Positive brought them to us easily and effortlessly. One could feel the inner healing, peace and joy permeating each session. Healing oneself is the first step towards healing the outer world. Life Positive Expo reiterated this essential first step to the audience through the sessions.

It takes inspiration, dedication, faith and the pursuit of a higher purpose to put together a magazine, month after month, every year for 20 years, against all odds, editing, composing and publishing articles devoted to the personal spiritual growth and the creation of a harmonious society. Life Positive stands tall on the winner’s podium in this race. Interacting with all the team members, the management team and the board of Life Positive was both humbling and inspiring. Their tireless effort and hard work enables us to receive the magazine, seated in the air conditioned comfort of our drawing rooms. May they all be blessed in their pursuit of their noble mission.

Thank you, Life Positive, for this great 20th anniversary celebration and the Expo; Thank you for allowing me to be a contributor to your magazine, and I wish you many, many more years of success.