“Start Where You Are – Journey of Women’s Emotions Towards Empowerment”

Sri Lanka: Brahma Kumaris, Sri Lanka organized a presentation and panel discussion with meditation experience. The theme of this women’s program was “Start where you are” – Journey of women’s emotions towards empowerment. The program commenced with a meditation commentary, in order to calm down and to tune the mind of the audience to enable them get the maximum benefit from the program. There were around 125 participants out of which there were around 50 guests and 75 BK students.

Thereafter, there were two cultural dances, where the first one was a peacock dance performed by Parami Layanga and Kavishani Gayanthika. The physical movements and facial expression of these dancers implied the freedom and uniqueness of women. The second one was a Bharatha Natyam performance, performed by BK Thushyanthy Velauthan (founder of Satvika school of fine arts). The dance of Ms. Thushyanthy indicated the story of Rama depicting the faith that we have in God should be immovable and unshakable as of Hanuman.

BK Udayakumary Maheswaran (Director of Department of census and statistics),  touched the topics of intelligent quotient and emotional quotient in her presentation. She said, “Whilst IQ is about using the head (rational thinking), the emotional quotient is based on empathetic feeling where the heart is being used”.

Thereafter BK Ganesh, the National Co-ordinator of Brahma Kumaris Raja yoga centre, Srilanka commented on the subject of empowerment where he also added another factor which is more important – spiritual quotient.

In the panel discussion, there were two panelists namely Mrs. Selvi Satchithanandan (Principal, Kalalaya school of dance and music, Retired UN (SL) Nutrition Advisor) and Dr. Mrs. Kaladevi Sivayoganathan (Consultant Eye Surgeon attached to base hospital Dikoya). BK Gopi, a Senior Meditation Teacher, who has practiced this meditation for the last 25 years, was the moderator at the panel discussion.

In a nut shell what Mrs. Selvi Satchithanandan said was that world is full of negativity and it penetrates through our physical organs. Due to the past memories people’s mind gets wounded. To see things clearly and act positively, we have to respond to the situation and not react. Therefore daily we have to take some time to go within and ensure we act positively instead of emotionally. Finally, she also concluded that spiritual quotient is the most important thing in order to be successful in our day to day life.

Dr.Kaladevi also agreed with what Mrs. Selvi said and added that we have to daily get our soul charged in the early hour of nectar by connecting ourselves to the Supreme energy, the Supreme Soul. During this time, the soul gets empowered and all the systems of our body start to function properly. For an example, the pituitary gland in the brain which is close to the seat of the soul gets activated and it is able to control the other endocrine glands in the body to the maximum. As a result , these endocrine glands secrete their hormones, the chemicals in the proper way; so that we are free from many diseases.

After the Panel discussion, there was a meditation session guided with commentary.