अनासक्त प्रेम

 अनासक्त प्रेम.

     श्रीकृष्ण भोमे ह्यांना स्वरूपसाक्षात्कार झाल्याबद्दल काहीच शंका नव्हती. त्यांच्या बरोबरच्या पहिल्याच भेटित त्यांच्या प्रतिभेची, वात्सल्याची,गुरुतत्वाची प्रचिती आली. काही ऋणानुबंध,हे खरोखर विधिलिखित असावेत. नाहीतर,त्यांचा आणि माझा संपर्क होण्याचे वास्तविक काहीच औचित्य नव्हते. पण तो योग जुळून आला आणि आमची भेट नियतीने घडवून आणली. 

   त्यांच्या घेरी पोचलो,की त्यांच्या डोळ्यात एक विलक्षण निरागस असलेले प्रेम दिसायचे. त्यांचा माझ्या वर इतका जीव कशामुळे होता, हे मला समजत नव्हते. पण त्यांना भेटण्याची आंतरिक ओढ मात्र जाणवायची.  भेटल्यावर त्यांच्या पाया पडायचो. ते थोडेसे अवघडल्या सारखे व्हायचे,आणि मला जवळ बसवायचे. मग, अत्यंत प्रेमाने,मायेचा हात माझ्या पाठीवरून फिरवत,माझी चौकशी करायचे. त्यांच्या चौकशीत माझ्याबद्दल असलेली काळजी, कौतुक,उत्कंठा त्यांच्या स्पर्शातून आणि डोळ्यातून जाणवायची. त्यांच्या डोळ्यात विलक्षण तेज, मायेचा ओलावा,आणि एक कमालीची निश्चलता जाणवायची. मी बऱ्याच दिवसांनी भेटायला गेल्यामुळे,मलाच जरा अपराधी वाटत असे. त्यांनी कधीच मला त्याबद्दल विचारले नाही. उलटे, मी जर सारवासारव करायचा प्रयत्न केला,तर ते समजूत काढत म्हणायचे"अरे तू मोठा सर्जन आहेस. तुझ्या धावपळीत मला भेटायला वेळ मिळणे अवघड आहे,हे माहीत आहे मला. 

         त्यांच्या प्रेमात काहीतरी वेगळेपण जाणवायचे. प्रेमाला दूषित करणाऱ्या स्वार्थ,असुक्षितता,परावलंब,अपेक्षा,अहंकार,कुठल्याच छटा त्यांच्यात नव्हत्याच. त्यांचे प्रेम म्हणजे एका विलक्षण निखळ,निरागस,निरपेक्ष,निस्वार्थ भावनेची,ओलाव्याची अभिव्यक्ती होती. एकदा मी जवळ जवळ 3 ते 4 महिने भेटलो नाही. मग भेट झाली,तेव्हा मला खूप ओशाळगत होत होतं. मी नेहेमी प्रमाणे,त्यांच्या पाया पडलो आणि मग त्यांच्या जवळ बसलो. त्यांनी सुद्धा तेवढ्याच प्रेमाने माझ्या पाठीवरून हात फिरवला आणि लगबगीने माझी विचारपूस केली. माझ्या प्रदीर्घ बेपत्ता असण्याची कारणे सांगायला सुरुवात केली. 

तेव्हा,त्यांनी मला प्रेमाच्या पारमार्थिक औंशा बद्दल थोडे विवेचन केले. 

"दीपक,तू मला भेटलास,की मला परमानंद होतो. खूप प्रसन्न आणि छान वाटतं. तुझ्या बरोबर गप्पा, तू केलेल्या शस्त्रक्रिया, तू वाचलेली पुस्तक,तुझे छापलेले लेख,अशा अनेक विषयांचा स्वाद असलेली बौद्धिक मेजवानीच असते मला. पण तुझी भेट झाली नाही,तरी मला काही त्रास किंवा चुटपुट लागत नाही. तुझ्या बद्दलच्या माझ्या भावना ह्या नित्य,अविरत आणि शाश्वत आहेत. आपले मूलस्वरूप,आपल्यातील चैतन्य, हे एकच आहे. तुला भेटण्याच्या आनंदाचे  कधीही आसक्तीत पर्यवसन होणे नाही. भेटल्याचा आनंद काय सांगू तुला. पण भेटलो नाही तर  भेटण्याची इचछा, ओढ मला अगतिक नाही करू शकत. ही अगतिकता म्हणजेच आसक्ती. पारमार्थिक प्रेम हे  आपल्या मनाला सकारात्मक ऊर्जा देते. ते प्रेम मन,बुद्धी,अहंकार याच्या पलीकडे वावरते. त्या प्रेमाला द्वैताचा दौंश झालेला नसतो. ते प्रेम अद्वैताच्या परमतत्वाची अनुभूती असते. त्या प्रेमाला अनासक्तीचा आशीर्वाद असतो."

त्यांचे शब्द अजूनही कानात स्पष्ट दरवळतात. 

त्यांनी देह ठेवल्याचा आदल्या दिवशी मात्र अनाकलनीय वर्तणूक केली.  त्यांचा पार्थिवाचे दर्शन घेण्यासाठी मी त्यांच्या कडे पोचलो,तेव्हा सौ. भोमे मला म्हणाल्या

"ह्यांनी मला काल रात्री त्यांचा खोलीत अजून एक अंथरूण घालायला लावले. ते तूझी चातकासारखी वाट पहात होते आणि मला म्हणाले,दीपक मुक्कामी येणार आहे. ते तुझयावर पोटच्या मुलापेक्षा जास्त प्रेम करायचे." मला गहिवरून आले. ऋणानुबंध रक्ताचे मिंध्ये नसतात. गुरुतुल्य व्यक्तीचे शिष्यावर प्रेम हे पारमार्थिक उंचीचे असते. त्या निर्गुण निराकार परमात्म्या सारखेच अबोध, अव्यक्त, अनासक्त असते. गुलजारजींचे ते काटा आणणारे शब्द स्मरले.

"हमने देखी है इन आंखो की मेहेक्ती खुशबू

प्यार को प्यार ही रेहेनेदो कोई नाम ना दो

सिर्फ एहसास है रूह से मेहेसूस करो

"हाथ से छु के इसे रिशतो का ईलजाम न दो.'

हे प्रेम अनुभवण्याचे सौभाग्य मिळाले,यासाठी मी त्या परमेश्वराचा सदैव ऋणी राहीन. 

 मी त्यांना भेटायला गेलो नाही,याचा जीवाला खूप घोर लागला. 

कदाचित, तो अनासक्त जीव  मला शेवटचा पारमार्थिक संदेश देण्यासाठी व्याकुळ झाला असावा. मला आसक्तीतून मुक्त करणारा संदेश देण्याची दैवी आसक्ती.

डॉ दीपक रानडे.

The Red Shift

The Red Shift.

   In the 1930's, Edwin Hubble discovered that all galaxies have a positive redshift. A red shift is observed due to the stretching of the light waves reaching the observer from an object moving away from him. This is due to the Doppler effect. When light emanating from distant galaxies is spectroscopically analysed, there is a shift in the spectroscopic spectrum towards the red side if the object is moving away, and towards the blue side if the object is moving towards the observer. The red shift observed universally from all the observed galaxies indicated that all galaxies were receding away from the Milky Way. They were racing away from each other. We are part of a dynamic, expanding Universe.
               In trying to solve the differential equations that describe space-time, Einstein needed to add a constant term to avoid having the universe collapse upon itself. This cosmoligical constant was necessary to  balance the attractive force of gravity contributed by all of the matter in the universe. He was looking for something constant in an ever changing universe. He later admitted to this being one of his greatest mistakes in his career. But then, there still remained the enigma of the source of energy  for the universe to continuously expand ? Physicists now hypothesise the existence of a Dark Energy, that fuels this ever accelerating expansion. The dark energy is what actually overcomes the attractive forces of gravity and literally inflates the universe, driving the dots on it further and further away from each other. The universe was getting colder and colder.
     The other day, I visited a relative, who was very close. I quickly realized and experienced this phenomenon of red shift actually applied to relationships too. Everyone seems to be moving apart from everyone. This 'social distancing' is at an emotional level. Let's call it emotional social distancing. Every friend, relative, associate is traveling at his own speed, in his own life. I had made an Einsteinian blunder of assuming an 'emotional' constant. There can never be any such constant in this flux of Life. Instead I soon discovered a dark energy called Ego, which' powers this ever expanding social universe. This dark energy outstrips the benevolent gravitational force of love, compassion, and care. This 'red shift' phenomenon that virtually drives everyone apart is easily noticeable in the rather perfunctory and superficial interactions replacing the warmth and fraternity. There was an obvious thawing of this emotional universe.
       As I observe the successive generations, I can't help notice the increasing 'escape velocity' of every person, racing away from each other. This escape velocity very effectively overcomes the gravitational field of genuine Love  Affection and Empathy. These emotions are fast becoming vestigeal in a very self centered, materialistic life. It might be rather presumptuous and judgemental to label this as degenerative or detrimental. The 'red shift' in relationships and life  is as much a reality as is the red shift seen in an infinitely expanding universe. The speeding apart and away is part of a cosmic design of the physical as also the emotional universe.

Dr. Deepak Ranade.

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity.
Rewiring Neural Networks

He has a very short fuse, that person is too casual in his attitude or then,  she has a very jovial disposition. These are all very characteristic traits by which we categorise people in our lives. They are typical and highly  predictible behavioral patterns.
        Behavior  can be broken down into stereotyped patterns. Such behaviors follow a specific 'fixed action' pattern. They are entirely stimulus based, and are executed in a robotic, mechanical manner. An example is the egg-rolling behavior observed in some birds. When the bird spots an egg-like object in the vicinity of its nest, the bird  begins to roll it towards the nest. Even when  the egg is removed, the bird will continue the behavior until it reaches the nest, without seeming to "realize" that the egg is no longer there. Programmed, embedded software, that ensures a definite behavioral response to a particular stimulus. Slaves of a program, bound by chains of neural networks. Is our response and behaviour a Bio-Mechanic compulsion, entirely involuntary, unfolding at the sub-conscious level?
     Are we controlled by unique neural templates that mediate unique responses. Are we slaves of a program? Do our responses necessarily get defined and  limited by this genetically embedded software? This instinctive response cripples the intellect and makes the subject surrender to a prefixed, predetermined pattern of  behaviour. This typical unique behavioural pattern is the substrate of personality. Personality is a  characteristic way of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Personality includes moods, attitudes, and opinions and is most clearly expressed in interactions with people and situations. It includes behavioral characteristics, both inherent and acquired, that distinguish one person from another.
Can we change these patterns of behavior or are we helplessly trapped in this neuro- hormonal matrix?  Is our behaviour doomed with the curse of incorrigibility? Can we break these patterns of predictibility and press the reset button?  Can  this hard disc be reformatted and  is it possible to rewrite the (ROM) Read Only Memory?
The human brain most certainly  is evolved to rise above this Bio-Mechanic syntax and protocol. It is blessed and fortified with a phenomenon called Neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity is the alteration and modification of neural pathways, networks and synapses. This enables the brain to effect synaptic pruning that deletes the neural connections no longer necessary or useful, and strengthens the necessary ones. A rewiring of the neuronal circuits. It perhaps might involve establishing a  connection with a  seat of higher intelligence. Transcending the network mediated Bio-Mechanic responses by reprogramming the perception of the observer. A paradigm shift in the response effected by a fundamental shift  in perception. Instinct is over ridden by a dispassionate conscious deliberation. This transcendence is referred to as opening of the Third Eye in oriental mysticism.
The third eye (also known as the inner eye) is a mystical and esoteric concept referring to a speculative invisible eye which enhances perception beyond ordinary sight.  It provides a third person appraisal of the observed and the observer. It is a witness  of the subject and the object. A non-dual sublime intelligence that pierces the illusion of duality. A perceptive shift that dissolves the personal consciousness into the eternal impersonal consciousness.

Dr Deepak Ranade.

Could Have Been, Should have Been

Could Have Been, Should Have Been.

I woke up in a sweat at 1.30 am. I realised I was hysterically kicking in my sleep, as if freeing myself from the vice like grip on my feet of three to four people. I  got up startled and was relieved to see no one at the foot end of my bed. Rubbing my eyes, I made my way in the dark to the kitchen and had a glass of water to soothen my frayed nerves. It was a weird feeling. Dreams can cause palpitations. My heart was still pounding.
I hobbled along to the drawing room and plonked myself on the sofa. I knew it was not possible to fall asleep again, being gripped with this trepidation and angst that although virtual, affected me like reality . I closed my eyes and tried to recapitulate the nightmare that had scared the wits out of me.
 It then slowly came back as I was perhaps re-entering the domain of somnolence. Initially it was a blur, but then it became clearer, as though I was clearing the windshield off the smokey vapour.
I could see myself sprawled face down on the ground, struggling and lunging forwards, trying to free myself from these 3 to 4 persons who were holding my ankles and pulling me backwards. I was ranting and raving, using every ounce of energy to free myself from my captors. My efforts were all in vain. I was seemingly powerless against these henchmen, who were in no mood to relent. They were dragging me backwards mercilessly, with impunity and arrogance.
I was trying to dig my claws in the muddy surface in an attempt to anchor myself in the least. But it was of no avail. My eyes were covered in mud, obscuring my vision and anyways I could not muster any  courage to look down at my abductors.
       I try to keep calm, and with one hand, I try to clear my eyes. And then, far ahead, I see a beautiful glowing candescence that beckons. The brightness  of which is indescribable. I am being pulled away from this brilliant divine luminiscence by these powerful aggressors. Somewhere, in the direction of the light, I hear a very deep and comforting baritone, that is imploring me to escape from this torrid incarceration. The voice is very soothing and reassuring. I shout out towards that voice for help, almost begging for assistance. But there is no respite.
I finally give up. I let myself slide backwards. The surrender decreases the pain.
I shout out to these toughies to be a bit more gentle.They too are convinced of my compliance and slightly ease the grip on my ankles. After truce has been established, I lie down for a while and my subjugators too take a break.
     I notice, they are masked, and rather heavily built.I assure them, that I will no longer resist their efforts to drag me backwards, but plead with them to unmask and  identify themselves.They reluctantly agree and in a few moments unmask themselves. They are three of them. As soon as the masks are off, I am stunned to see them.
All are my identical clones.  I'm shocked by what I see. I gather my wits and then ask them their names.The first two identify themselves as "Could Have Been Deepak" and "Should Have Been Deepak". The third refuses to tell me his name. I plead with him till he finally relents. He tells me, 'I'm "Hate Deepak". I hate you and will never forgive you for all that you have done to yourself and others."
I'm speechless and shell shocked to discover the identity of these desperadoes. I can't contain my curiosity about the identity of that benevolent voice that was beckoning me. I shout out loudly towards that voice- "Who are you and what is that brilliant light that you are leading me to?" in the hope of getting an answer.
After a few minutes, I am rewarded with an answer in the same comforting baritone. "My name is "Can Be Deepak". And the brilliant light that you see is the Supreme Divinity that also lies at your center but of which you are unaware.

Dr. Deepak Ranade.

Bhakti yog and Dnyan Yog

June 2009.
On a trek to Tapovan via Gomukh. Gomukh is where the sacred Ganges emerges from the glacier. The apex from what it emerges resembles the triangular contour of a Cows  face. Hence the name.
Enroute the trek, we had a camp Bhojbasa. It was a quaint little village on the banks of the river Ganges. We reached the camp site by 1 pm, had lunch, and then later in the afternoon, few of us decided to explore the village. There was a very elegant, stone and mud dwelling just adjacent to the river about 700 meters from our camp site.
We casually enquired and were told that a very respected hermit, a yogi, lived there since a many years.
I was very keen to meet up with any Rishis or Sadhus, whenever I trekked the Himalayas. There have been many reported cases of those fortunate few  and their tryst with an inconspicuous, egoless, realized soul. I recollect reading a book by Swami Rama- Living with Himalayan masters, and even Sri M's book making mention of such encounters.
 We anxiously approached the hut and found a disciple or attendant keeping guard. We asked him if we could meet with the sage. He asked us to wait and went into that dark hut. He reappeared after a few moments and said, we could meet the sadhu. We were ushered into the dark but, which had incense sticks and a single oil lamp burning with a steady flame.
We saw the elderly sage, in the gente light seated on the floor in conversation with  two gentleman. They were  introduced as a yoga teacher from Slovakia, and the other was his guide. The sadhu asked us to wait while he addressed a few doubts of the Yoga teacher from Slovakia.
The foreigner, was apparently very well versed in Hindu philosophy and asked the Sadhu a question, that truly left me spellbound. He asked the Sadhu-
"Which path to realisation was the best ? Jnana Yog or Bhakti Yog?
           There are many roads to Rome. In indian philosophy, realization could be achieved by Karma Yog, or the path of carrying out ones responsibilities and roles to perfection, Jnana Yog, which is the path of knowledge, Bhakti Yog, the path of devotion and surrender and a few more like Hatha Yoga about which I'm not too  knowledgeable.
The Sadhu took a deep breath, and after a very pregnant pause answered this very deeply philosophical question.
He said, Adi Shankaracharya the first of the Shankaracharya lineage was a very scholarly Yogi well versed in all the scriptures like Vedas and Upanishads. Despite all his knowledge, his penance, his deliberations, innumerable scholarly texts he had authored, meditation and spiritual practices, he felt he had still not sought his goal of realisation. He one day set aside all these scriptures and hermeneutic  knowledge and composed a few verses that were dedicated to surrender and devotion to the Lord. "Bhaja Govindam".
   In this prayer, Adi Shankaracharya highlights the importance of devotion for God as a means to spiritual development and to liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The prayer leaves  no doubt that the renunciation of our egotistical differences and surrender to God makes for salvation.
  Our turn to ask was next. But we were too overcome with the purport of his earlier monologue. We just bowed down to the Sadhu and took his permission to leave.


This picture is at Bhojbasa taken back in June  2009.

प्राजक्ताचा सडा

प्राजक्ताचा सडा

प्राजक्त. हे केवळ फुल नाहीये. एक ठेवा आहे. बालपणाच्या आठवणींचा. एक वारसा आहे सौंस्कृतीचा. एक पावित्र्याचे निर्मलतेचे प्रतीक. भौतिकतेतुन अधिभौतिकते कडे वाटचाल. एक निशाणी निरागस निष्पाप,बालमनाची.आमच्या लहानपणी,आमच्या घराच्या मागच्या बाजूला एक मोठ्ठ पारिजातकाचे झाड होते. सकाळी ,आज्जी  फुलं वेचायला बरोबर घेऊन जायची. पावसाळ्याचे दिवस,तो प्राजक्ताच्या फुलांचा सडा, किंबुहना गालिचाच म्हणावा लागेल. ओली चिंब पण टवटवीत, मोतीपोवळ्याचा चुराच जणू. आज्जी सांगे "अरे जरा हळू हळू बघून चाल. ती फुलं पायदळी जाऊ देऊ नको." त्या इवल्याश्या पावलांनी मग फुलं चुकवत चुकवत एक एक फूल टिपून आज्जीच्या परडी मध्ये भरायचं.
शुभ्र पांढऱ्या पाकळ्यांचे ते नाजूक फूल,आणि त्याचे ते केशरी गडद देठ. अल्पायुषी,पण त्या अल्पावधीत त्या फुलांचा मोहक सुवास मोहिनी टाकल्या प्रमाणे असर करतो.  अजिबात दर्प नसलेला,पण हळुवार पणे सर्वत्र पसरणारा निर्मळ,सात्विक,पवित्र सुगंध. परडी भरली की आज्जीच्या मागे मागे धावत घरी जायचं.
मग आज्जी म्हणायची,आता त्या फुलांचा हार कर. ती एक बारीक सुई घेऊन त्याच्यात दोरा ओवून द्यायची. आणि मग, त्या फुलाच्या मधोमध ती सुवी घालून थेट त्या केशरी देठातून,हळुवार पणे बाहेर काढायची. एका पाठोपाठ एक अशी 25 ते 30 फुलांचा हार झाला,की मग आज्जीकडे धावत जायचं. ती कौतुकाने माझया कलाकृतीकडे बघून, दोन्ही टोकांची नीर गाठ मारून द्यायची. मग, भूक भूक करत आईकडे हट्ट करत नाष्टा करायचा.  तोवर आज्जीची अंघोळ,पूजा उरकलेली असायची. शाळेत जाण्यापूर्वी देवाला नमस्कार करायला गेलो,की माझया हातानी केलेला तो हार  देव्हाऱ्याच्या चौकटीवर सजवलेला असायचा.
नमस्कार केल्यावर,आज्जी म्हणायची, देवाला तुझा हार खूप अवडलाय. त्याने तुला भरभरून आशीर्वाद दिले आहेत. दप्तर खांद्यावर चढवून मग, शाळेकडे कूच. परमेश्वराच्या आणि आज्जीच्या आशीर्वादानेच कदाचित, डॉक्टर होण्याचे सौभाग्य लाभले. पुढे,कर्म धर्म संयोगाने surgeon झालो. प्रत्येक वेळी,टाके घेतो,तेव्हा त्या प्राजक्ताच्या फुलातूनच सुवी घालतोय हा भास होतो. त्या प्राजक्ताच्या फुलनानेच टाके घालण्याची नजाकत शिकवली. हाताला  हळुवार पणाचे वरदान दिले असावे. त्या फुलाची शुभ्रता,त्याचे पावित्र्य, आणि त्याचा सुवास सतत आयुष्यात राहावी,ही प्रार्थना.

डॉ दीपक रानडे.

भय इथले संपत नाही

भय इथले संपत नाही

लॉकडाउन, करोना वायरस चा वाढता प्रादुर्भाव, पॉझिटीव्ह रिपोर्ट्स, quarantine, ICU, व्हेंटिलेटर. गेले 5 महिने रोज उठावे,तर आज काय बातमी कानावर पडणार आहे,याची धाकधूक. जीवनातले चैतन्य,उभारी,ऊर्जा,आनंद, तेज,हुरूप,सगळेच या किटाणू मुळे हरपून गेले आहे. आयुष्यातली सहजता,स्वभावीकता, उत्कटता गायब झालीये. सम्पूर्ण मानव जात हतबल होऊन शरणागत झाली आहे या अनाकलनीय आजारापायी. हे वायरस  सगळ्यांवर हवी झाले आहे. काहींच्या फुफुसात,काहींच्या मनात,काहींच्या  अंतःकरणात. मानव जातीला वेठीस धरले आहे या सूक्ष्म किटाणूने. या विषाणू कणाने आयुष्य भरभरून जगण्याचे - मरमरून जगण्यात रूपांतर केले आहे.
प्रत्येकजण अक्षरशः पुढचा श्वास देखील भीतभित घेतोय.  कुठल्या क्षणी, कुठल्या रूपाने, हा यमदूत शरीरात प्रवेश करेल या भीतीने आयुष्य ढकलतो आहे.
मी डॉक्टर असल्यामुळे बरेच जण मला " पुढे काय होणार? ह्या शापातून आपण मुक्त होणार तरी का ? असे अवघड प्रश्न विचारतात.
      माझे उत्तर शास्त्रोक्त(scientific),राजकारणी,(politically correct)आध्यत्मिक (spiritual), तत्वज्ञानी(philosophical) या वेगवेगळ्या सदरात मोडते.
शास्त्रोक्त उत्तर  herd immunity, vaccine, co morbid factors, cytokine storm, etc,यांचे विश्लेषण सोप्या भाषेत सांगणे.
 राजकारणी(politically correct) उत्तर म्हणजे मानव जातीवर इतिहास काळापासून अनेक संकटे आली( Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, plague, HIV, SARS 1, etc) आणि त्यावर मानवाने अखेरी विजय मिळवला. तसेच,ह्यावर सुद्धा आपण विजय मिळवू.
अध्यात्मिक उत्तर जरा वादास्पद आणि अशास्त्रोक्त. दैव,कर्म,नियती,आशा अनाकलनीय आणि हाताबाहेर असलेल्या सांकल्पना मांडून आपले अज्ञान झाकायचं.खरोखर,प्रत्येक व्यक्ती ह्या वायरस ला कसा प्रतिकार करतो, काहींना केवळ मामुली सर्दी पडसे, काहींना ताप, श्वासोश्वासला अडचण,तर काही अक्षरशः 4 दिवसात देवाघरी. असे का होते, हे अगम्य आणि गूढ.
तत्वज्ञानी (philosophical) उत्तर जास्त समर्पक आणि पोक्त.
आपण आपल्यापरीने काळजी घेणे हे महत्वाचे. पण जगणे थांबवण्या इतकी क्षमता त्या सूक्ष्म किटाणूला अजिबात बहाल करू नये. आशावादी राहून, ही संधी स्वतःची उत्क्रांती होण्यासाठी आहे,असा ठाम विश्वास ठेवून,वाचन,चिंतन,आत्मपरीक्षण,पुढील आयुष्याचे नियोजन करणे हेच योग्य. गर्भगळीत,लाचार,निराश होऊन काहीच साध्य होत नाही. ह्या वायरस पासून शरीराला जपणे जेवढे महत्वाचे,तेवढेच मनाला सुद्धा जपणे गरजेचे आहे. भयभीत मनावस्था रोग प्रतिकार शक्तीवर विपरीत परिणाम करते,हे नक्की. मानसिक रोगप्रतिकार वाढवणे महत्वाचे. मानसिक दुरबलता सुद्धा कदाचित या किटाणूला शरीरात प्रवेश करायला पूरक ठरत असेल. प्रतिकारशक्तीची सकारत्मक ऊर्जा प्रत्येक पेशीत पोचते ह्याची अनुभूती मला कित्येक रुग्णांमध्ये आली आहे. लस ही जशी प्रयोगशाळेत बनवली जात आहे,तशीच आपल्या मनात तयार करणे गरजेचे आहे.
          अभय इथले संपत नाही...........

डॉ दीपक रानडे.

The Zen of Cycling

The Zen of Cycling.

 I wake up at 4.30 am and think of hitting the pedal by 5.30. The  thought of straining and stretching the quadriceps on a climb makes my mind refractory to getting up. I kill it's resistance with my determination and quickly get into my cycling attire. I pick up my bottle of water, place it in the slot and am off on this 21 speed light weight beauty. My leg muscles are as reluctant as my mind and start complaining almost immediately. I just ignore their grumblings and over the next few minutes, they yield a bit and become a little more compliant. As  the monotony of pedalling continues, the joints and the muscles start coordinating and soon, a rhythm sets in. My favorite song to begin any exercise routine- 'Eye of the Tiger" is blaring in my headphones. My mind has been partially tamed into submission. There are some fleeting thoughts about the surgery that is scheduled, followed by some memories of the yesterday. The mind curses a bit as I hit a climb. The psycho- somatic disagreement causes discomfort. The mind  lazy and relaxed and the muscles all taut and contracted. I whip my mind into submission and ensure that it contracts along with my muscles. This causes smoother movements, by eliminating any resistance.
FIRST ZEN MOMENT-  MIND BODY COORDINATION INCREASES MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE and DECREASES FATIGUE.
 I egg myself on and get into the lower gear setting to negotiate the climb. Driving wheel to driven wheel ratio- 2×4.
The frequency of pedaling becomes a bit furious. The gears actually just decrease the effort per rotation of  pedalling. This gets compensated by the increased frequency of pedalling. The net amount of work done remains unchanged. The second  Zen moment.
TOTAL EFFORT REMAINS CONSTANT. GEARS ONLY INCREMENTALLY DECREASE THE EFFORT OF EACH STEP, BUT INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STEPS PROPORTIONATELY.
The climb is negotiated and soon my quadriceps are really screaming. I ease the pedaling as I hit the plains and to my utter delight, I see the road dipping down. Now, I have to start applying the brakes as my momentum starts picking up thanks to the great affinity gravity has for my large frame. The speed of descent mandates greater caution to avoid any small stones that can throw me off balance.
The Third ZEN moment.
DESCENT  REQUIRES LESSER PHYSICAL EFFORT BUT GREATER SKILL AND CAUTION.
I get back to plain ground and then I realise that the pedaling was going on reflexly,and  involuntarily. The body had yielded and surrendered totally. There was not an iota of pain or resistance.The fourth Zen moment.
 PAIN IS ENTIRELY A CONSTRUCT OF THE MIND. 
My  25 km routine was soon coming to close as I headed for the home stretch.
I was celebrating a victory over my mind, that was so resistant to begin this routine. And then, this notorious mind turns to me and says- 'See, how nice it feels after a great morning work out' .
I end my routine with the last Zen moment.
NEVER TRUST THE DOUBLE FACED MIND.

DR. DEEPAK RANADE.

निर्लेप टेक्नॉलॉजि

निर्लेप टेक्नॉलॉजि.

निर्लेप. स्वयंपाकाचा पूर्ण  कायापालट करणारे तंत्रज्ञान. नॉनस्टिक टेकनॉलॉजि. सुटसुटीत,कमी तेल लागणारी,तब्बेतीला, रक्तवाहिन्यांना,हृदयाला संवर्धक. ही निर्लेपची भांडी स्वयंपाकघरात येण्यापूर्वी
माझ्या लहानपणी,आई बीडाचा जाडजूड तवा वापरायची. बरेचदा,त्या कालथ्याने जोर लावून,दात ओठ खाऊन, घावन,पानगी,डोसे यांच्या चिंधड्या झालेल्या समरणात आहे.मग कोणी सांगे, गरम झालेल्या तव्यावर कापलेल्या कांद्याने थोडे तेल चोळून मग डोसे घालायचे. काही तरी करून डोसा आणि तव्यातल्या अतिप्रेमावर निरोधक उपचार आपापल्या परीने सगळ्या गृहिणींचे असायचे. निर्लेप तवे आल्यावर ही धडपड एकाएकी संपली. अर्थात,ह्या तव्यांवर उलथणे सुद्धा लाकडी असणे गरजेचे होते. स्टीलचे वापरल्यास निर्लेपच्या कोटला जखम व्हायची. तो कोटला  जीवापाड जपायला लागे.तो तवा म्हणजे गृहिणीला वरदानच ठरले.
मी आज 2 अंड्यांचे ऑम्लेट बनवत होतो. कांदा तांबूस परतून, मग मस्त हिरवीगार कोथिंबीर,आणि एकच मिरचीचे चार पाच तुकडे फोडलेल्या अंड्यात घालून, मनसोक्त फेटून,मग त्या निर्लेपच्या तव्यावर ओतले. 2 मिनिटे झाकण ठेवून मग झाकण उघडल्यावर मस्त थरथरत एका बाजूने ऑम्लेट शिजून तयार. ते कुठेही तव्याला चिकटले नव्हते. थोड्या तव्याच्या कसरती करून ते मस्त हवेत उडवुन पालटले. जय निर्लेप बाबा.
     निर्लेप हे रसायन खरोखर किती भन्नाट आहे. टोस्ट बनवत असताना विचार आला, ही निर्लेपी टेकनोलॉजि आपल्या नात्यांमध्ये, स्वभावात आत्मसात केली तर कित्ती छान होईल? उगाच भावना आणि अपेक्षांमुळे नात्यांचे डोसे आपल्या मनाच्या तव्याला चिकटून बसतात. मग काही कारणामुळे नाते पलटायची गरज पडली,तर त्या डोस्याच्या चिंधड्या होतात. कितीही विवेकाचे, निरासक्तीचे तेल सोडले, तरी डोसा चिकटतोच. व्यावहारिकतेचे, प्रकटकॅलिटीचे निर्लेप कोटिंग मनाला लावून नात्यागोत्यांचे डोसे घातले,तर कुठेही डोसा न तुटता कमी तेल वापरून मस्त दोन्ही बाजूने न तुटता शिजतील. अध्यात्मिक वाटचालींकरता सुद्धा ही निर्लेप टेकनोलॉजि उत्कृष्ट. नाहीतरी सध्या social distancing ह्या संकल्पनेला ऊत आलाय. त्याचे औचित्य साधून, निव्वळ शारीरिक स्तरावर न ठेवता emotional social distancing ची सवय लावून घेतली पाहिजे. आणि त्याकरता सगळ्यांना उपयोगी पडणारी "निर्लेप टेक्नॉलॉजि ".ही टेक्नॉलॉजि खूप लोकं, अत्यंत यशस्वीपणे वापरताना दिसतात.कुरकुरीत,अत्यन्त पातळ डोसे बनवतात. पोट भरत नाही ह्या पातळ डोस्यांनी. जास्त डोसे खायचे.सहज सुलभ आणि फार महाग नसलेली.  अवश्य वापरून पहा. मात्र,जरा लाकडी उलथणे वापरायचे लक्षात ठेवा. त्या लेपाला जपणे महत्वाचे.

डॉ दीपक रानडे.