Last winter I visited the Art of living foundation’s Banglore ashram for a spiritual retreat. It was a course meant for youngsters from all over the world. I wasn’t attending such a course for a very first time but still I felt quite anxious about it. Sometimes I had to rethink my decision of going all the way to Banglore just to meditate and be in silence. Now when I remember it I really feel glad that I did go there. However progressive we might be but it’s still quite difficult to embrace the new. I had to make quite an effort to let myself believe that I was doing the right thing.

I used to smoke on rare occasions. I started smoking as a result of my curiosity to try new things and in order to fit into my pear group. It was a perfectly monitored undertaking, I would make sure I don’t smoke on more than 4-5 occasions in a month. If there was a slightest doubt that I was starting to like it then I would simply stop smoking. Today I have quite a many practical reasons to avoid smoking and my attitude towards smokers is not hostile like many non-smokers.