I served
the Bank for thirty-five years. It provided me bread and butter and gave me a
respectable place in the society. As I was nearing my retirement, a thought of
giving back came to my mind. I wanted to make others happy.
Laughter
yoga generates a lot of feel good hormones, positive vibes, and cheer. It is a
unique concept where any one can laugh for no reason, without the use of jokes,
comedy, or humour. I learned the art and science of laughter yoga along with my
wife and we soon practised it in small and large groups. We conducted laughter
sessions for Nestle, Abercrombie & Kent, Airports Authority of India,
schools and colleges, international students, and, of course, our own Bank. It
gave us great satisfaction and fulfilment.
Positive
psychology is the modern science of happiness. I was always fascinated by it
and studied it in great depth after retirement. It taught me to engage deeply
in work, play and parenting and to devote my life to a meaningful purpose. We
thought of giving even more to the people around us for which we travelled to
the Himalayas to learn yoga and meditation.
The
Buddha always inspired me, and I wanted to go deeper and deeper into his
teachings. It was like a vast ocean and a small drop from the Dhammapada was
sufficient to quench my spiritual thirst:
“Abstain
from all unwholesome deeds,
Perform
wholesome ones,
Purify
your mind.
This
is the teaching of the Enlightened Ones.”
We
conduct sessions on happiness and well-being in the neighbourhood and wherever
we are invited. These sessions include inputs from positive psychology,
laughter yoga, yoga, meditation, and spirituality. We feel happy and content
serving our fellow beings. At the same time, these exercises keep us fit too. Our
gratitude to the Bank that provides us safety and security even at this age.
- Jagat Singh Bisht
