Newsletter-cum-magazine of Oasis Movement YEAR 1 I ISSUE14 I July 1, 2008

Forgiveness For World Peace

Being bitter is a sign of emotional failure; for being authentically successful, we need to learn to forgive.

In March this year, Priyanka Vadra, daughter of the youngest Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, stunned the entire nation by the news of her private visit to the special women cell at Vellore Jail to meet Nalini Sridharan.  Nalini is undergoing a life-term as one of the involved in the assassination of Priyanka’s father on May 21, 1991. In the words of this brave daughter, “it was my way of coming to peace with the violence & loss that I have experienced….”

Before many years, Gladys Stein, the widow of Graham Steins, a Christian father working charitably for local community who was murdered brutally, offered her forgiveness to the murderer of her husband publicly. Mahatma Gandhi promptly forgave the man who attacked on him with lethal motives. This kind of demonstration of courage and the power of forgiveness that paves way to world peace is seen rarely. While it is inspiring, it is important to know what is forgiveness and its importance in our lives too.

Hypothetically, many would promptly agree that “an eye for an eye” would make the whole world blind. But how many would ponder and realize on how difficult and complex the act of forgiveness is. Most of the people consider forgiveness as something to be given to the

other, not knowing that forgiveness is something one does in one’s heart to be at peace with oneself. It’s when one refuses to allow past clouding our present, when we refuse to keep on feeling negative-be it anger or unhappiness of any kind- that we need to forgive.

In one of the African tribes, there is a tradition that when someone kills somebody, (s)he is given death penalty by the council of that community. A day is decided when the whole village gathers on the sea shore, the victim’s whole family is present there, and the offender is to be hurled in to the ocean, hands and legs securely chained, so (s)he cant save himself/herself by swimming out of the ocean. This is death penalty by drowning the offender. But they have a very interesting ritual or rule in this process- only victim’s family has the authority and liberty to save the accused. So while the person is getting drowned, helplessly, the victim’s family has the choice-either allow the offender to drown and die OR save him.

It’s said that if victim’s family

save the offender, their grief is over on that day and they find peace. If they allow offender to die, their mourning continues for lifetime. This is the power of forgiveness.

We all mess up our relationship sometime in the process of growing. Many times, before we become aware and mature, we take lot of actions that hurt our beloved ones. This is a common happening in our lives. What is uncommon is our ability to be free from bitterness and unhappiness because of past. No formal education or degrees or “success” can guarantee a person this inner ability to forgive in its true sense. I feel sad when I see people carrying the burden of the past that doesn’t even exist today. People change but our prejudices remain. What a futile life it is that can not learn, unlearn and learn continuously

We respect all the people who make such civilized choices. It reflects how spiritual these people are- may their tribe increase on our planet. The point to ponder is- is World Peace possible until and unless two individuals, two communities, two countries learn to forgive?  

Godspeed to World Peace!

Sanjiv Shah
sanjivoasis@yahoo.com

     

Sheeba Nair - An ocean of love overflowing at Oasis!

 

Sheeba Nair- upon hearing these mere words, hundreds of people would smile fondly, their heart full of love and gratitude. Professionals, businesspersons, CEOs, teachers, villagers, women, senior citizens, youths alike- Sheeba’s love overflows for all and the magic of her teachings are experienced by them all. Oasis records are overflowing with praise for Sheeba as a workshop facilitator, so much so that it is an arduous job today to compile what people have said about her or to justify the diverse, genuine, strong feelings she invokes in people.

In last five years, Sheeba has done what many would envy- teaching love and life to hundreds; single-handedly achieving a feat of establishing a strong foundation of movement Oasis has been aspiring to build all these years. She is one-woman army! What does one say about her personhood- an emblem of oozing positive energy, an unflinching loyalty and dedication, a balance of innocence and intelligence personified, she is unimaginably a giving-oriented person. Much can be written on her simplicity, humbleness and sincerity. As it is with all successful leaders, she has been a tremendously inspiring disciple at heart to learn beautiful aspects of life.

What Sheeba does today for the mankind is as impressive as her journey has been so far.

She joined Oasis 16 years back when she was a student- raw, ignorant but intelligent and passionate to learn, love and grow. She was not the only one carrying such potentials but she has demonstrated what it requires to be authentically successful over a period of time. The organization saw many ups and downs but she didn’t even think of deserting. She did umpteen experiments and much trial & error before she found her mission, but she never regretted or complained about anything- the result being, she is a whole person today-not fragmented within-, a culmination of all her life-experiences. She herself went through much emotional turmoil that an Indian woman has to undergo to follow her heart- but she never gave up.

While she is so soft at heart, when time comes, she can display an iron-like determination. Even though thoroughly sensitive, she has the gift of forgiveness- an amazing ability to overcome bitter experiences of life and keep oneself happy and content. All of us undergo the sweet and sour experiences of life, but only those who have the gratitude in their hearts can see the grace in everything that happens to us.

Sheeba Nair is Proprietor of “Oasis- a university of Love, Life and Friendship for Youth ” and Managing Trustee of O.A.S.I.S. - a charitable organization since 1999. However, true to her spirit, first and foremost, she is a friend to many. She is a symbol of friendship that supports you in your thick and thin- and what is friendship if it lets you down when you need it the most. Similarly, if your life is what you give, then she is one of the richer people on this planet. Being such a magnetic person, she attracts all good things of this world towards her- a secret many fail to understand and inculcate is a natural gift to Sheeba.

When Swami Vivekanand had said that he required just 100 dedicated youths to bring revolution to his beloved country, he must have meant that creating a revolution- a positive transformation- requires not a crowd, but a handful of persons who have great character. He must have meant a youth like Sheeba for sure- for Sheeba contributes so hugely today what dozens of people put together would not be able to. She is indeed, God’s gift to this planet through an aspiring movement like Oasis.

Besides children, the only purpose of marriage is nourishing each other's spiritual development OR nurturing the potentials of each other. But most of marriages are one or another kind of compromise. In our society, generally man follows his path and woman follows him, struggling to create her identity while bound to him and family, ultimately creating illusions.

Is a marriage possible where both spouses can follow their hearts and yet be together? Do both spouses consider the inconveniences caused by following such a principle as secondary? Are the hearts wedded firmly to each other's blooming? These questions are disturbing and require lot of courage and honesty to brood upon.

 

According to a study by Faculty of Community Science, Vadodara, we intake three times more oil than required by our body. To get conclusions of the study, click here>>>

Forgiveness is not an emotion, it is a decision. Forgiveness is not for the sake of other person, it is a primarily a choice in favour of one's own inner peace and happiness. If one couldn't forgive others, it may be because one might not have forgiven oneself first. We can't forgive ourselves, if we have not apologized where due.

Having children makes you no more a parent than having a piano makes you a pianist. Most of parents believe that they don’t need to learn & grow vis-à-vis parenting, and that investing on children is what constitutes major part of parenting.

In reality, children have a much better chance of growing up if their parents have done so first. It is investing IN children-what we do daily with children and with our own lives- that is far more important than things that can be bought.

 

 

 


 

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  Editor's Note

It is 1st of the month again and we are happy to bring to you a issue full of inspiration, enthusiasm and valuable insights.

How nice it would be to know that Peace which we desire so passionately is in our own hands! In this issue, we have Right Angle on 'Forgiveness for World Peace'.

It is a co- incidence that Right Angle is on theme of Forgiveness and That’s Oasis - features Sheeba Nair, as Sheeba's life is emblem of Love and Forgiveness! She has also been awarded 'Sadguru Gnanananda National Award' for excellence in Social Service by women in 2002.

Your responses and inputs are eagerly awaited.

- Team Alive

 

Team Alive

  Poonam Golani

  Kshama Kataria

  Sheeba Nair

  Ami Nanavati

  Umesh Patel

  Jwalant Bhatt

  Jolly Madhra

  Sanjiv Shah

 

Forgiveness...

 

Forgiveness is made easy
when we can identify with others,
and admit to our own imperfections
and our equal capacity for wrong doings.

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Photo Gallery

 

Sheeba at her Best

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College girls mesmerized with Sheeba's words (above) and participants sparkling with joy.

Sheeba receiving 'Sadguru National Award' for excellence in Social Work.

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Events Calender
July
7th - 12th
Parents Meet at Surat
21st
Farmers' Meet
August
12th
International Youth Day
18th
Health Mela at Bangalore
25th
Farmers' Meet
September
5th
Teachers' Day
22nd
Farmers' Meet
November
14th
Children's Day Celebration at Bangalore
14th
Youth Exploration (Mumbai)
24th - 25th
Farmers' Seminar - State Level
December
2nd
OASIS Trust AGM
3rd
International Volunteers' Day
22nd
Farmers' Meet
25th

L3 - Graduation Day Celebration

Alive Archives

 

Forpast issues of ALIVE please click on the link:

ALIVE issue 13 - Jun 16, 2008

ALIVE issue 12 - Jun 1, 2008

ALIVE issue 11- May 15,2008

ALIVE issue 10- Apr 15, 2008

ALIVE issue 9- Apr 1, 2008

ALIVE issue 8- Mar 15, 2008

ALIVE issue 7- Mar 1, 2008

ALIVE issue 6- Feb 15, 2008

ALIVE issue 5- Feb 1, 2008

ALIVE issue 4- Jan 15, 2008

ALIVE issue 3- Jan 1, 2008

ALIVE issue 2- Dec 15, 2007

ALIVE issue 1- Dec 1, 2007

 

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