My Car	to Desai Eye Hospital
My wife’s car (Dr Bhavana Desai)	to Bilimora Railway Station
Sayaji Nagari Express	to Surat
Auto Rickshaw	to Dayalji Ashram (a Marriage Function)
Walk	to God Dod Road
Auto Rickshaw	to Dr Bhaskar D Acharya’s Bungalow
Car	to Surat S.T. Bus Terminus
State Transport Super-fast Bus	to Navsari
Local Bus	to Eru Cross Roads
Three-wheeler Tempo	to Khara Abrama
Three-wheeler Tempo	to Amalsad
Three-wheeler Tempo	to Bilimora
Brisk walk	for early home

Blindness is a state of being sightless or say an inability to see. World Health Organization - WHO (1972) describes blindness as the inability to count fingers at the distance of 3 meters in day-light after best possible spectacle correction in the better eye OR visual field less than 10° around the centre of fixation.

Blindness is of three TYPES:

1. Loss of visual acuity.
2. Colour blindness: Inability to recognize colours, and
3. Night blindness: Night vision is damaged.

Continued from the series I, at 60; Relations, at 60; Money, at 60 and Medical Practice, at 60

Am I ready to die? The answer is yes and no. If given choice, I don’t want to die before my father. If so is allowed, I want to be with him serving till his last breath and yes, then I am ready.

Actually, I had sorted out my wishes during my terminal illness where I am unconscious regarding 1. Organ donation, body donation and eye donation, 2. Treatment schedule especially telling when they should be stopped, 3. Protocols to be followed at the time of death and 4. Formalities not to be observed after my death and enlisted them. But then I suddenly realized the futileness of such exercise and accordingly, I have omitted all as a mark of respect to my concerned ones.

I was one of the brightest of students during my academic career. I respected my teachers and I was their favourite student. I have studied up to 28 years of age to pass M.S. in Ophthalmology and practised for 32 years. I know practising in a small village-like town does bring more practice and less money. I was the only eye specialist available serving needy poor of the area for more than two decades
.

I have worked as honorary visiting eye-surgeon at Eye camps organized at Adivasi (tribal) and poor areas of Vansda, Ahwa, Dharampur for a long time - at Gram Seva Trust, Kharel and Bodhi Gaya (Bihar) eye-camps for more than five years. I am working at Rotary Eye Hospital, Chikhali till today in addition to my private practice.

Continued from I, at 60 and Relationship, at 60

If a person is ready to live a simple life in old age with minimum needs, any savings one has done is enough. Generally, all at 60 and beyond feel whatever one has earned is very little – one has missed the chance to earn. When I graduated my MBBS in 1974, all were leaving for the US. I opted for serving my motherland India and my parents; today I have no regrets for the decision. If serving the poor with full dedication is considered to balance, I have earned it at maximum. If poor appreciation is an issue, I suggest to bother about Karmic Theory of results and remain aloof.

Continued from I, at 60

Before starting this story, I must admit, I have been accompanied by a brother before birth till today - a pair of twins. We are hardly comparable in any way or let me say, we are totally different in nature, look and attitude - we are always available to each other.

I had parents to guide me till 60, of whom I lost my mother a month back. My father is always available with his viewpoint to guide me in need on any issue with clarity of thought and without forcing to follow the same. I understand it as a great luxury many do not have.

In my first presentation on At 60 and after… I had enlisted ten general characteristics related to age. Now I think it is worth writing my own experiences, views and ideas regarding the subject of being 60. Well, I am sharing my thoughts. I am sure you will respond with your comments.

First, I’d like to reply FAQs (frequently asked questions) regarding me:

At 60 and after...

1. Even the not-so-young people around start addressing you as Uncle/Auntie.
2. You start receiving less greeting cards on new year, birthday, wedding anniversary.
3. You start earning less in case of professionals and start getting pensions if retired from such a job.
4. One starts counting balances and investments that can give returns.
5. Diseases of old-age like blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, amnesia start showing their power. Certain serious illnesses like cancer, paralysis and heart problems start troubling.
6. You start receiving concessions in railway ticket, state transport fare and air tickets.
7. Younger people may start offering a seat at public places out of respect or pity. You may be allowed to go ahead in 'Q's and if needed they may support you.
8. You start feeling a new phase of life has begun, where you have to start compromising and adjusting in place of ruling and dominating as in the past.
9. Senior citizen clubs and old-age homes start waiting for your welcome.
10. Evening meetings of elderly at temples, garden and railway stations await, honouring them with your regular presence to share your pleasures and sorrows.

A few days ago, my mother (84) passed away of old age. I had an experience of being in a state of sorrow due to her demise. The article is an outcome of experiences following the incidence. I did realize the need and importance of true consolation to the grieved person. So I thought it is prudent to write from the heart words giving guidance.


Condolence: It is expressing sympathy to a misfortune or bereavement (one deprived of relative because of death).
Consolation: To give comfort or sympathy to an unhappy person.

On the death of a close relative, a sudden gap is created due to the absence of that relative. Even the mentally strong person understanding every aspect of the event becomes shocked for a while. Here is the need of true consolation known as 'condolence.'

Image Source: beeimgs.com

Mind your mind! Or you may need a psychiatrist at the earliest.

If you cannot love and respect any one of the following (whatever their nature, economic or intellectual level may be) - Parents, Parents-in-law, Son/Daughter, or Son/Daughter-in-law, consider checking your thought cycle and revise it. Or else, you may be nowhere. 

You may lose your most important life support following your method.

From the recent book review, I presented at Lions Club’s promotional event, as a part of Vanche Gujarat campaign.

The One Minute Apology - Ken Blanchard, Margret McBride

• A powerful way to make things better.
• A manipulative technique for getting what you want.
• A power of forgiveness to improve or repair relationships, your business and even your home.

“Facing Challenges and Creating Destiny” by BK Shivani, Gurgaon
National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine, Mount Abu.
August 6-10, 2010

What is Karma?

Karma is work or energy going out in the form of 1. Thought, 2. Word and/or 3. Action. Resultant return of energy is in the same amount known as Bhagya (Destiny).

The role of God is to ask you to do Karma and to help you to do the RIGHT karma. Then whatever good/bad karma you do, the result is accordingly and entirely your responsibility. Because the result is Destiny (Bhagya). So don’t blame anyone else or God for anything bad. Do not try to blame someone responsible for your own deed and its result.

Be aware and create/decide your own destiny (Bhagya). Actually, the role of God is to:

1. Give us the strength to handle the problem/situation
2. Accompany us in solving the issue
3. Guide
4. Love unconditionally
5. Give proper knowledge and
6. Pour power to face the situation

So pause a little before doing something wrong, think it will never give a good result and possibly you may stop doing wrong.

Never compromise on inner Happiness for gaining profit, position, or fame.

Write a Karmic account of positive and negative deeds before going to bed (maintain a diary or make a mental note). You have to settle your account. Please, understand a simple thing: good work (Karma) will give good destiny (Bhagya), and similarly, bad/negative deeds bad destiny. It is not a mathematical addition or deduction because both good and bad deeds will give their destiny accordingly, but separately. So BE AWARE and understand you can create/decide your own destiny, just BE POWERFUL enough to write your own destiny, because you have to settle the account.


Law of Karma:

Wrong is wrong whatever logical justification you give to satisfy yourself. And the result will be accordingly. So don’t be a lawyer to argue and prove something wrong as right.

Similarly, right is always right, let the whole world disagree with it. And the destiny will be similarly good. To simplify, one may say whatever good or bad I have done, I will get the result.

When something goes wrong or let us say when a problem, insult, or conflict arises, BE AWARE, CHECK the causative karma carefully and CHANGE yourself. The situation will definitely smoothen.

The Karmic Law - Judgment Day

Soul Consciousness:

Actually, we are not the body (physical form), we are souls. We are eternal and non-destroyable. So change in life is just like changing clothes. Life is a complete journey going on and on. That is why the Karmic account will be carried forward even after death.

All this teaches us the role of ETHICS in life. Live by your values and principles ethically.

If you think, you cannot do that, QUIT.

Be ethical and face the challenge. But never ever say to yourself, I had no choice but to do the wrong.