THREE types of people have emerged as a result of prevailing conditions around the world, says Yogesh Sharda, personal development trainer and Raja Yoga meditation teacher.

Violence, corruption, political unrest and economic decline have reached critical levels and the polarity in human response is of little help, Sharda points out.

“The first type looks around him and becomes upset. He pushes back with anger in his heart,” Sharda says. “There is a little problem with this. When one tries to fight chaos with aggression, he is using the same energy to change what he does not like, which will bring only temporary relief at best.”

Just a few degrees better is the second type. “At least this one is not angry,” says Sharda “He looks around and thinks, ‘I do not like this but my life is okay, my family is okay. I am satisfied with what I have; this is not my problem.’ In short, he would rather focus on his own circumstances.”

It is the third type that Sharda is most optimistic about. “He sees what is happening, does not like it, but is neither angry nor dismissive. He realizes that things can be better, and decides to contribute to constructive change.”

Prior to determining which type one belongs to—and therefore how to map out the best course of action in the face of any crisis— he says it should first be understood why misfortune strikes at all.

Sharda, trained in the Academy for a Better World in India and the Global Retreat Centre in Oxford, will discuss how to do both in a public program next week. “AdaptAbility in Adversity” is set on Thursday, Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m., at SGV Hall, AIM Conference Center, Benavidez cor. Trasierra Streets in Legaspi Village Makati.

Adversity

In a video invitation posted on social media, Sharda gives a hint: “To respond to adversity, take the example of the captain of a ship passing through a storm. He cannot control the storm. What he can do is adjust the sails to catch the energy of the wind, and then move the boat in the right direction.”

This tells us that we cannot control situations or people, Sharda notes. “Adversity can come in our financial situation, family, relationships, sometimes in our health. We can shape the appropriate attitude toward any of these situations.”

Born in Malawi, Africa and raised in London and Oxford, Sharda coordinates the activities of India-based Brahma Kumaris Spiritual University in Turkey, his home base for over 20 years. His training grounds in Mount Abu and Oxford are both run by the Brahma Kumaris. This is his second visit to the Philippines for speaking engagements.

Call of time

Two days ahead of the Makati program, he is the resource person for “Call of Time: Inner Peace, Inner Power,” a forum presented by The Ateneo de Davao University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council and the Davao City Cooperative Development Council.

Sharda, 56, started his spiritual journey before he was 10. “It is important to find meaning in life in the context of a seemingly meaningless world,” he says. “It is also important to know your inner strength, how to nurture and increase it in order to stay emotionally stable and on top of any scenario.”

It is just as important to share what you learn with as many people as possible, he stresses. A much sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator, Sharda has presented hundreds of seminars and courses for businesses, hospitals, universities, youth organizations and local community groups throughout Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australasia, India the United States, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

“I was traveling in the Caribbean, on the island of St. Martin in 2017, when it was visited by one of the biggest hurricanes on record, Hurricane Irma,” he relates in a recent online class. “Apparently, it was the size of France and extremely powerful. What do you do when faced with such a force of nature?”

Stillness

This is a good metaphor for the chaos that we are witnessing at this time, Sharda says. “So many things cause us to lose our peace of mind. if we do not pay attention, the storms happening outside of us will make their way inside of us. That does not have to happen.”

He continues: “At the center of every storm is an area of stillness. It is called the eye of the storm. If you were to confront the storm outside and tell it to stop, the winds would merely sweep you away. If you stepped instead into the eye of your storm inside and stayed there, you would experience some degree of clarity and safety.”

Confirmation of attendance for the Makati event is requested before Aug. 24. Please call or message 0917 8340118.

The Davao program will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2 p.m., at the CCFC building (training room) of the Ateneo de Davao University. Please call or message 09914316553.