Power of Om (Aum) Chanting & Meditation over Body, Soul, and Mind!

Meditation of Om has been practiced for millennia as a way to encourage inner peace and well-being.

The syllable "om" is of great importance and is said to have great strength and profundity of meaning. When intoned with precision, it can soothe the mind, body, and spirit alike. Om chanting meditation may be undertaken individually or in a collective setting, frequently serving as a tool to sharpen concentration during various meditation exercises.

The Significance of Om (Aum)

Om, often represented as "Aum," transcends being a mere symbol; it resonates as a cosmic sound of great profundity. It captures the full essence of the cosmos and everything it has produced. It is a potent instrument for self-realization because this sacred symbol, which is treasured in Buddhism, Hinduism, and many other spiritual traditions, symbolizes the underlying frequency from which the cosmos emanates.

Power of Om

You might be surprised to learn that Om, in a variety of forms, has been included in various world religions. In Christianity, the word "Amen" echoes the essence of Om, while in Islam uses "Aameen." Sikhism refers to "Omkar" to convey the qualities of Om. Other religions like Jainism and Buddhism have also embraced this universal sound in a variety of ways.

Even in English, there exists a term, "Omni," signifying omnipresence, which bears a connection to Om. Om has the deepest reverence in Hinduism since it transcends all religions and symbolizes the creation and demise of the universe. It acts as an emblem that unites all people regardless of their religious beliefs.

Benefits of Om Chanting for Meditation

Engaging in Om chanting meditation can grant you access to a wide array of physiological and psychological self-healing. The following are some of the om chanting benefits that may arise from practicing the Om mantra:

1. Sensing the Vibrational Essence of Life

By immersing yourself in deep Om chanting meditation, you can attune to and stabilize your perception of the palpable and subtle vibrations inherent in all of existence, thus connecting with the vibratory nature of life itself.  Om meditation has a positive effect on mood and social cognition.

2. Balancing the nervous system

Om chanting meditation can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which serves as our body's mechanism for recovery and healing. Additionally, it can activate the vagus nerve, which boosts relaxation and improves mental health and depression issues.

3. Tranquillity, Clarity, and Presence

Chanting Om results in deep relaxation, which lowers blood pressure, slows heart rate, and promotes mental clarity and peace. Om for inner peace which calms and focuses the mind, which promotes greater presence and reduces stress and anxiety feelings.

4. Energetic Revitalization

The healing and aligning vibrations of Om, when chanted during meditation practices, can invigorate and uplift your energy. You can relish in the harmonizing energy of Om, experiencing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, coupled with a sense of clarity and relaxation.

Conclusion 

People can start a transformational path toward inner peace, balance, and self-realization by simply saying "Om." The benefits of chanting Om for meditation are vast and include everything from a greater understanding of life's vibrations to calming the nervous system, and from achieving peace and clarity to reviving one's energies.

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Impact of GST on India

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has been one of the most significant tax reforms undertaken in India's history. Implemented in 2017, it subsumed a complex web of indirect taxes into a unified tax system. More than three years since its rollout, GST tax reforms in India have impacted almost all sectors of the Indian economy. Here, we analyse some key effects of India's pre and post-GST tax reforms.

Pre and post-GST Tax Reforms

1. Simplified Tax Structure

Pre-GST Scenario: India's previous indirect tax system was complicated, with several taxes levied by the central and state governments. These included foremost excise duty, services tax, additional customs duty, surcharges, state-level value-added tax, and more. Cascading of taxes was common.

Post-GST Scenario: Indian GST has assimilated the majority of indirect taxes under a single, comprehensive tax regime. With a simplified structure of tax slabs - 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%, it has eliminated the complexity of multiple taxes. GST has reduced the compliance burden for businesses.

2. Boost in Tax Revenue

Pre-GST Scenario: Complexity in the pre-GST tax structure resulted in tax leakage and lower collections. Only about 56% of the commodities were taxed, allowing room for evasion.

Post-GST Scenario: As more commodities have come under the tax net, India’s tax base has widened under GST. Combined with an efficient system of tax credits, tax evasion has been reduced. GST collections crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark for the first time in April 2021.

3. Relief for Exporters

Pre-GST Scenario: Indian exports suffered due to the cascading effects of various indirect taxes. Taxes were levied on inputs at multiple stages, increasing costs.

Post-GST Scenario: Under GST, Indian exports receive favorable treatment. Exporters can claim refunds on GST paid on inputs and zero-rated supply. It has made Indian exports more competitive globally.

4. Mixed Impact on Prices

Pre-GST Scenario: Tax rates varied widely for goods and services depending on states, resulting in price variations. Essential common-use items were taxed higher.

Post-GST Scenario: The tax burden on essential goods like food grains has fallen under GST. For certain categories, like restaurants, prices have gone up. The overall impact has been mixed, with limited inflationary effect.

5. Ease of Inter-state Business

Pre-GST Scenario: Differing state tax regimes meant procedural delays for inter-state trade and movement of goods, affecting supply chain efficiency.

Post-GST Scenario: By unifying India as a single market, GST has eased cross-border trade. The smooth flow of input tax credit has removed bottlenecks and delays for inter-state transactions.

6. Boost to Manufacturing Sector

Pre-GST Scenario: Taxes on manufacturing were high, along with exemptions. Cascading taxes increased production costs.

Post-GST Scenario: Uniform lower rates of Indian GST on inputs, capital goods, and reduced transport times have reduced costs. The make-in-India initiative has received a shot in the arm.

7. Evolving Compliance System

Pre-GST Scenario: Pre-GST tax filing systems were ambiguous and fragmented at the central and state levels.

Post-GST Scenario: Though the rollout faced tech challenges, GSTN has facilitated online registration, filing, and payments across India. Glitches are being ironed out to improve compliance.

Wrapping up

In summary, while the impact of GST tax reforms in India remain ongoing, the new regime has positively transformed the ease of doing business, created unified common markets, and boosted tax collections. Despite initial hiccups, it has laid the groundwork to make India's complex indirect tax system more efficient. With time, compliance is likely to improve further, and GST will deliver on its full potential for the Indian economy.

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How AI is Revolutionizing Learning in the Classroom

When we read or hear of AI one thing that pops up in our mind is how is AI revolutionizing the classroom. Well, generative AI will have a part in education. It would be interesting to learn what experts saying about it.

Artificial intelligence (AI), to put it in simple words, has the potential to transform the way we learn and teach. As a tool in the classroom, AI can offer students with tailored learning experiences, automate tedious tasks and offer prompt responses. However, it also has its confines. AI is being used to boost the competence and usefulness of education. 

In this write-up, we’ll explore how AI is being used in education nowadays and the budding impact it is anticipated to have in the future.

Understanding AI-based Learning in the Classroom

Before we dive into the applications of AI in education, it’s essential to have a proper understanding of the basic concepts of AI learning. Automated Learning (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines, empowering them to accomplish tasks that would necessitate human intelligence. 

AI is Revolutionizing Learning in the Classroom: How?

• Changing teaching models
• Confirming friendliness to personalized learning
• Improving efficiency
• Offering personalized learning experiences
• Ensuring access to quality education
• Making the learning experience better for students
• Integrating AI into the curriculum gives students exposure to new technologies and skills

Advantages Of AI In The Classroom

• AI can give instant feedback
• Has the facility to automate repetitive tasks
• Customizing learning for students based on their requirements and interests
• Automating instructors’ repetitive tasks like grading and feedback
• Powering adaptive assessments that assess students’ improvement and learning results
• Giving teachers free time for more creative and interactive teaching methods
• Incorporating AI into the curriculum helps students learn new technologies 
• Evaluating learning gaps
• Offers support to students with learning disabilities
• AI identifies individual strengths, weaknesses, and learning preferences
• The tool increases engagement and boosts confidence
• Grading and assessment processes are easy for educators get easy with AI
• AI makes learning an adventure
• AI facilitates real-time feedback and assessment during the learning process

Cons of using AI in the classroom:

• Threat to teacher's job security
• Costly to implement for teachers
• Dehumanized learning experience
• Dependence on technology
• Bias in AI algorithms

Significant impact of AI on education

The future of AI in education takes in predictive analytics, virtual reality, natural language processing, and augmented reality, providing pioneering and alluring learning opportunities.

A few AI tools for the classroom:

• ChatGPT
• Perplexity
• Curipod
• Education Copilot
• Quillbot
• Speechify

Some ethical concerns surrounding AI in education

Ethical concerns include algorithmic biases, data privacy and security, besides the potential for AI to substitute human interaction in the classroom. The future of AI in education is loaded with thrilling possibilities and revolutions. Technology is an indispensable part of human advancement. With tech becoming more pervasive and classrooms being digitized. However, the advantages and disadvantages of AI have been the focus of many heated debates between education and tech professionals.

Wrapping up

AI has the power to be a valuable addition to the classroom. However, companies should develop AI tools with thoughtfulness and teamwork with teachers, educators and students to confirm that they are supportive, ethical and effective in meeting the needs of learners. If implemented properly AI can truly revolutionize learning in the classroom.

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Diet and Mental Health

 

"To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong." -Buddha

There has long been an interest in the influence of diet on mental health. It is interesting to learn the interaction of the two with stress. Well, the nature of these relationships is not properly understood. Even though links between diet, overweightness and the associated metabolic syndrome (MetS), anxiety, and mental disorders exist, causal pathways have not been established.

Understanding the connection between diet, stress and mood could have significant implications for the treatment of both stress-related mental disorders and obesity.

This write-up intends to help you understand how food may improve your mood.

Can food and drink affect how I feel?

The answer is Yes! To put it in simple words, every individual reacts differently to the ingredients in their diet. But there are some foods and drinks that may distress how we feel, in diverse ways. Let’s talk about food and drink that might disturb how you feel, and has some ideas on how to manage this.

Keep a note of what you eat and how you're feeling. Over time you might realize if what you eat make you feel worse, or better. If give feel more energetic or if your sleep is getting affected and you feel lethargic. Diet and mental health are pretty much linked. There is no denying the fact that what you eat can affect how you feel, think, and deal with anxiety. 

Dietary Outlines Related to Better Mental Health

Studies show that certain dietary outlines may help cut signs of depression, stress, and mood in general. Let’s explicate.

1. For depression: The Mediterranean diet

In the last few years, quite a few studies have noticed the relationship between gut health, dietary patterns, and the risk of depression.

Looking to follow a Mediterranean diet? Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and dairy products and limit your intake of fried foods, sweetened beverages, baked goods, processed meats etc.

Keep in mind that deciding on an eating outline rooted in the principles of the Mediterranean diet doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your cultural foods.

To put it simply, your eating habits must include foods that are easy to access locally and meaningful to you personally or culturally.

2. For anxiety and stress: Restrict intake of alcohol, caffeine, and sugary foods

There are a few specific constituents that might worsen anxiety symptoms; like alcohol, caffeine, and added sugars. Research has observed connections between stress and higher consumption of saturated fat, low intake of fruit, and poor diet quality overall.

Did you notice that you’re feeling particularly stressed? If yes, you may need to adjust your diet as part of your treatment plan. You are suggested to cut your intake of alcohol, caffeine, and extra sugars.

In short, select foods that may reduce inflammation and anxiety throughout the body, such as unsaturated fats, fibre-rich fruits and veggies, and bacteria-laden fermented foods.

3. For mental well-being: A nutrient-dense food regime

The most suitable thing you can do in terms of diet, to perk up your mood, is basically to eat a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of health-promoting nutrients.Researchers are still exploring the associations between food and mental health. Eating a high-quality, nutrient-dense diet helps in improved mood.

Eating a choice of fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, pre-and probiotics, minerals, and fibre may help mental health by lowering stress, and bringing down depression.

Support your mental health through diet:

Experiencing symptoms of any mental health conditions? Well, you may need to work directly with a specialist, say a psychiatrist or psychologist, for individualized care.

Alternatively, if you’re simply looking to make some upfront changes to your diet to support your emotional health, here are a few recommendations you can start with.

As you read through these tips, keep in mind that the overall quality of your diet is more influential than any one decision you make in a day. Try to emphasize multiple healthy nutrients rather than just one exclusively.

Foods that lift your mood

Here are some of the nutrients especially allied with mental health. Let’s give you a list of foods they’re found in.

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Walnuts, salmon, herring, chia and flaxseeds, sardines 
• Folate: Rice, fortified cereals, brussels sprouts, spinach, beef liver,black-eyed peas, asparagus
• Iron: Spinach, beef liver, fortified cereals, oysters, dark chocolate, white beans, lentils, tofu
• Magnesium: Pumpkin and chia seeds, spinach, soy milk, almonds, black beans, cashews, peanuts
• Zinc: Oysters, chicken, beef roast, Alaska king crab, pork chops, lobster, pumpkin seeds 
• B vitamins: Beef liver, chicken breast, tuna, salmon, clams, chickpeas, potatoes, bananas
• Vitamin A: Herring, cow’s milk, beef liver, ricotta cheese, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes
• Vitamin C: Orange and grapefruit juice, red and green peppers, strawberries, broccoli

Pack in prebiotics and probiotics

Prebiotics are foods that give nutrition to the bacteria already living in your gut. Probiotics contain healthy bacteria themselves.

A diet that consists of pre-and probiotics supports maintaining a balanced state of stability (homeostasis) in the gut. A few research also recommends they may play a role in the body’s response to stress and depression.

A list of foods that contain prebiotics or probiotics:

• Fermented foods: kefir, yogurt, kimchi, kombucha, buttermilk, sauerkraut, tempeh
• Alliums: onions, garlic, leeks
• Vegetables: asparagus and artichokes 
• Fruits: apples and bananas
• Grains: oats and barley

Fruits and vegetables are rich in many nutrients like fiber, complex carbohydrates, vitamin B, vitamin C, and healthy plant chemicals called polyphenols. Most importantly, they support mental health.

Fuel up with whole grains

Whole grains are cereals like wheat, rice, and oats that are left completely intact during processing. Besides, they contain more fibre and nutrients than refined grains.

Foods and habits that may harm your mental health

• Ultra-processed foods
• Alcohol consumption
• Insufficient sleep
• Irregular mealtimes

Dietary changes to support mental health

• Eat mindfully
• Go easy on yourself
• Start small

Some suggestions of healthy food swaps are:

• Whole foods rather than packaged and processed foods
• Whole grains in place of refined grains
• Whole fruits in preference to dried fruits and juices
• Seafood or lean poultry instead of red and processed meats
• Fermented dairy as an alternative to sweetened dairy
• Fruit-infused waters instead of soda
• Kombucha or herbal tea instead of alcohol
• Herbs and spices instead of sugar and salt

Wrapping up

Willing to make changes to your diet to support your mental health? Start with a few small food swaps and build up from there. It is, however, suggested to consult a health expert before you start practicing this.

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