The Shiv Nadar School expereince

The Shiv Nadar journey for us did not last very long, but I'd not like to believe it is over ... to them I dedicate ... 'when I can not reach out and hug you in person, I hug you in my prayers' :-)

A and I owe alot to them, the amount of love they gave A and me in a such a short span of time, the way A settled there despite facing MANY personal challenges, is truly commendable.

Its heartening to see how inclusion is becoming the flavor of the mainstream, ofcourse implementation takes its time but as a parent I am grateful for the fact that they put in their best.

(I will update this further as I get the time)

Though a shift back to his earlier school was a necessity beyond our control, it does not do away with the fact that Shiv Nadar school Noida has been extremely warm and forthcoming in welcoming us into their family.

We know really great things await them, they have the potential of reaching out and making a huge difference to both their children as well as parents.

Here is a lovely video which needs preserving and documenting in A's journey, a video that gets me choked each time I watch it ... reminding me of all the effort that went into making this year a fun filled one helping A progress so beautifully through the year.

A moment of celebration

So at A's sports intervention this evening, A peddled his trycycle independently for the VERY first time.  It was his smaller tricycle which I have donated to the sports intervention team but A tends to use it as a leisure time activity or for waiting.

I somehow feel overwhelmed almost chocked with tears whenever my A makes seemingly insignificant yet an important stride towards life :-)

His sports sir also reported that he insisted on having a go at the skating board, and with his sir's help he tried to use the skate board.

And not to forget roller skates, well I was honestly a bit skeptical being very firm initially with his Sir expressing displeasure stating he was being over ambitious and I'd rather have him go slow. But he had a valid reason when he said he needed to break the monotony also he seemed confident, so I just let him be the boss.

And guess what? From a cranky non compliant skater A transitioned within two sessions to 'A pehenegaa skates'.

The best part of this intervention is that his Sir wants no interference, so I leave A in his care and sit in the car with my book, prayer beads ... what can be so comforting. This place is near a lovely park, so I will bring my walking shoes and indulge in some physical intervention for myself.

And from the fine motor factory, A is able to make a beautiful fish complete with details and designs, and he makes a cat complete with all the minute features, he also has a go at making mamaa, papa, didi and A and his house is a small circle attached to a bigger circle which is home to Nani, masi, Maamu, Maami, Yajur and Atharvee. Says something about his emotional need.

Am glad we are working in the direction that is totally aligned to his emotional need.

And the alphabets have all been achieved only they aren't all that well aligned.

Now we are only left with long pending language targets and getting rid of the bottle (eesh, sorry you are allowed to get judgmental about my laid back mothering, but in my defense  when bottle goes away, pediasure goes away, I can't afford that right now, not till his oral protocol has made huge strides, but promise to have it off by the year end).

Karmic Retribution

Abraham Lincoln the 16th president of the United States once said "Truth is generally the best vindication against slander."

I totally agree, and feel assured that I am part of the Nichiren Diashonin Budhism group that are my all time strength providers.

"Budhism teaches the law of cause and effect as it operates in life. In other words, by aligning our lives with the underlying law of the universe and transforming ourselves through human revolution, we draw out the inherent life force that resides within us and establish a life condition of happiness."

'Budhism teaches the way to build a state of absolute happiness in this life for both self and others and the path to happiness to all eternity. It teaches the way to lasting peace and prosperity for all humanity."

"Budhism teaches the need for 'the wisdom of the truth that functions in accordance with changing circumstances."

So ... Update

Two weeks of winter break with a four year old is grief enough, but to be fair to A he has been fairly accommodating and somewhat doing his thing, he is God's truest blessing upon me, my life force. Without detail I too have been through the most difficult time of my life this gone month, the terrifying tempest has subsided and peace and quiet abounds my house yet again, and I owe it totally to the mystic law and my family of fellow practitioners. They have held our hand, both G's and mine and navigated us back to wellness. From a place of gratitude I share something I was deeply moved by.

Lessening Karmic Retrbution

A person's karma is created by his / her thoughts, words and deeds.

It is not created by the actions, words and deeds of anybody else, no matter how closely related they may be.

This knowledge helps us to stop blaming others and feeling like a victim.

We create our own karma, building our tomorrow on the foundations we lay today.

What we are dealing with today is a consequence of our thoughts, words and deeds in the past.

In 'Lessening Karmic Retribution' Nichiren Diashonin states 'If one's heavy karma of the past is not expiated within this lifetime, one must undergo the sufferings of hell in the future, but if one experiences extreme hardship in this life, the sufferings of hell will vanish instantly."

Due to benefits accumulated through consistent, steadfast faith and practice one can lessen, in terms of both time and intensity, the karmic retribution that one would otherwise have to suffer over a longer period, even several lifetimes.

The term Karmic retribution literally means, 'transforming the heavy and receiving it lightly'.
"Heavy indicates negative karma accumulated over countless lifetimes in the past. By experiencing minor sufferings we can expiate negative karma that would have brought greater suffering."

President Ikeda states " There is no such thing as a life that is free of hardships. We experience hardships precisely so that we can achieve true peace in life. But unless we are aware of our inner strength to withstand hardships, we will find ourselves in a situation where one difficulty gives rise to another and we will ultimately be crushed by their weight. The principle of lessening Karmic retribution explains the quintessential power that resides within ourselves and enables us to withstand hardships.

The Important thing is how we change our attitude or inner resolve at this moment. This is because we can freely create our future through our determination and action right at this very instant."

Lessening one's Karmic retribution is not a simple settling of accounts; it implies a findamental transformation of our lives, whereby we put a stop to the negative cycle of suffering and delusion and enter a new positive trajectory of happiness."

Reach out with total empowerment, compassion and love ..... eventually things will turn around. And the pragmatic world that spreads negativity secretly wishing the worst for you, what you wish for others eventually comes around in double for you.