Jiva - Oasis of Education Innovation and Ayurveda

Greetings this humid day in India.

I wish to honor Eric Tischler again, for creating and maintaining the blog of my journey in India, and wherever else my path takes me. If anyone is looking for a creative, focussed webmaster/web designer, please contact Eric at his website www.netpositivesolutions.com, or email, eric@netpositivesolutions.com.

Today is a warm, hazy, lazy day. Humidity level must be high, as I feel sluggish.

I want to tell you a short story: 25 years ago a man by the name of Riashi Pal Chauhan had a vision, a really involved and complete vision, in which he saw a University/Hospital/Spiritual organization that he was to innovate, and that was to bring the knowledge of Ayurveda, Enlightened Education, and greater Spiritual awareness to India and the world. It was tough, because their origins were humble and money was short.

They started in the living room of his house. Rishai is an accomplished engineer who worked as such on the East coast of the USA for several years. There he met Stephen Rudolph who had a MA.Ed. degree, and they forged a friendship so deeply that he has become as a brother in the family.

Stephen decided to join Jiva in India and wrote a large number of text books demonstrating his incredibly enlightened approach to education. They formed a school, which began humbly in the aforementioned living room.

Today they have a purpose built building with 1,000 children of all ages, covering all grades, with a teaching staff that would be very effective in the West. The children wear uniforms, and are taught in a manner that has brought back the “fun” into learning. They deal with “multiple intelligences,” whereby they find the strengths of the child and encourage that. Very different from the Western example. Stephen, counsels children, parents and teachers. He has a TV show and I expect this “Enlightened Educational System” will take the world by storm.

Stephen told me of a story that is all too familiar. I experienced the same attitude from my teachers as a child. A teacher approached Stephen to ask him his advice. Apparently she (teacher) had a pupil who was always able to provide the correct answer quickly in math, but he could not demonstrate very well how he arrived at his answer. Stephen counseled to do nothing and leave the child alone. He had his own method, and as long as he produced the correct answers, why be concerned how he did it. Simple and logical. How many of us had to produce the correct answer, and demonstrate the exact method of the teacher or what was said in the book. Is life really like that? Some kids are good at demonstrating formulas, other have different ways of doing the same thing. We all have multiple intelligences, and we just need to find out what works for us and go for it. I just love it.

This is like being in a place that on first glance you feel is exceedingly primitive, then you come across a revolution of thought like this. Is this a good example of the rise and fall of civilizations? Is it India’s turn again? Is the USA going to go quieter and come back with renewed vigor? I suppose it all depends on the requirements of the people of the country. When the beautiful people of America (my adopted home) decide what they really want, then, I believe the cosmic process of change to accommodate that will be instigated. “Everything is uncertain except death, nothing is permanent except change.” quoted by Shri Satya Narayan, the spiritual brother/leader of Jiva. Maybe we all have to undergo change in order to evolve and raise our conscious awareness. The educational website is currently www.jiva.in

The other aspect of Jiva is Jiva Spiritual. Shri Satya Narayan is the brother of Partap and Rishi. He was honored in the field of engineering, and he too, worked in the USA for a while. He has since devoted his life to preserving ancient texts in Sanskrit and translating them. He is a Sanskrit Scholar, a PH,D, and so much else. You can visit his site at www.jivs.org
Currently, the three separate websites are being amalgamated into one, which was one of my suggestions, and I am delighted that my tenure here is being productive. Shri Satya has an ashram.establishment in Vrindavan, which was home to Krishna, and where the ISKON (international society of Krishna consciousness) has its HQ. In my next story (if I get to it) I will tell you more about that place. Suffice to say that anyone can go there to study Sanskrit, the Bhagavad Gita (the epic story with Arjuna and Krishna offering transcendental knowledge and wisdom), Indian Music, Access to the library (10,000 books), practice yoga and pranayama, and just relax in the garden as you watch the antics of the wild monkeys.
While all the above was going on Dr.Partap Chauhan was developing the Ayurveda part. He traveled all over the world, giving lectures and consultations, running courses in the USA, Europe, Japan and India. Partap is a master of Rasa Shastra, which is the alchemical aspect of Ayurveda of which he also a master, and Ayurveda is like an umbrella for all the various disciplines and departments that comprise the wholistic nature of this Medical Science. Partap’s website is www.jiva.com  where you will find sufficient information that will be helpful.

Their system of working with patients is also very helpful. Telephone/email consultations are free. You only pay for the medicine which also includes the postage from India, which is usually $100 for two months supply (about). It is best to confirm this, as everyone is different, but this seems to be the norm when dealing with Dr. Sapna, or the other Dr.’s in the call center.

I have just learned consultations are being conducted through Skype (skype.com), which is a free download of a free telephone service via computer. And with a camera, the dr. will be able to see tongue and other aspects of the visage to help facilitate diagnoses. Not a problem if there is no camera.

If anyone is interested in any such consultation, I would strongly suggest that you contact Liz, Ayurvedic Practitioner in Pahrump, Nevada. Her email address is lizklf@gmail.com   I am not sure what her charges are, but there is a lot of work in being a liaison between patient and Dr., and dealing with all the necessary information, and guidance with the medicines, evaluations, and communication with Dr. Sapna, who I believe you will deal with. Just ask Liz, who will be extremely valuable in helping you.

If you are in another State, you can speak to her on the phone. Any problems, let me know and I will do what I can to help co-ordinate. I am further told that once the evaluation form is received by Jiva and an email connection is made with Liz/Dr. Sapna, Skype can then be the next step, and can also be use as a conference call. Let me know if I can be of any further help.

This has turned out to be a strange letter, but then life is strange. In England there was an old saying, “Everyone is a bit peculiar, except thee and me, and thee’s a bit.” Where did that come from? I am in awe of the global vision these brothers have, in their service to humanity. When I return to the USA, I am planning on getting on to the speakers’ circuit, where I will be able to conduct seminars, workshops on Stress Release, Pregnant Women - helping them to connect with their unborn child, Painless childbirth, etc. and give lectures on “Transforming failure into success,” and Inspirational/Motivational Therapy. If you have any ideas and/or recommendations, suggestions, please let me know. I was scheduled to return to the USA on 5/Nov, but I have a funny little feeling that I will be coming home sooner. I will keep you informed.

Well, my friend,
I am computered out.

The next letter will be about Agra and the Taj Mahal
May you have a blessed day.
Tony