The Paradise Project: A Personal Guide to Creating Inner and Global Peace

Copyright 2018 by V.M. Parikh

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in an electronic retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the author, except for brief excerpts embodied in critical or promotional reviews.

National Library of Canada in Publication data available upon request

American Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication data available upon request

Parikh, Vastupal, 1930 -

The Paradise Project: A personal guide to creating inner and global peace

Print ISBN: 978-1-54392-468-8

eBook ISBN: 978-1-54392-469-5

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www.peacepublications.com

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Dedicated to all those who suffered the loss of paradise due to human negligence.

My greatest debt of gratitude goes to my wife, Nalini, whose support and encouragement has never wavered in any endeavor I’ve pursued.

The number of people who stepped forward to edit early and final versions of the manuscript, to offer comment, conduct research, provide guidance and insight, and to give me encouragement has been tremendous. You know who you are. Please know how grateful I am to each and every one of you.

Finally, this book sees the light of day only because of the tireless efforts of my daughter Madhuri, whose dedication and determination to see this through to publication has been unstoppable.

Contents

Preface

Prelude

PART 1: REALITY— The Maladies Affecting Our Planet

We are Humans…or are we?

I Am a God And the Devil Too!

Religious Fundamentalism

Political Fundamentalism

Wars and International Skirmishes

Environmental Degradation

Poverty and Globalization

Part 2: EMPOWERING— Enabling Each Person To Reach Personal Paradise

Foundations of the New Spirituality

Human Strengths And Weaknesses

We Are Our Conscience

Part 3: WORKING TOGETHER— Connecting and Communicating

Attaining Your Personal Paradise

Community Participation: Local and Global

Skills Enhancement

Paradise Discovered

Quick Review

About the Author

Today, confronted with environmental catastrophes, the specter of global war, mass displacements, and species extinctions on a level never witnessed before - indeed, confronted with the seeming failure of humanity itself - we are numb. V.M. Parikh’s paradise project has us take a deep breath. Literally. Through deep mindfulness, meditation, and reflection, he believes we can see a way forward that allows each of us to work toward and create the paradise we envision.

This book is an ambitious effort to stop the rapid, uncontrollable slide of our planet into self-destruction. In three sections, Parikh reveals the secrets of creating a global peaceful movement. Importantly, he believes that no one can live a permanently happy life surrounded by the misery of others. The Paradise Project is thus as much about achieving personal happiness as it is about creating a paradise with and for all members of the community.

Section one vividly brings to life the maladies affecting our planet, mobilizing readers to act.

Section two empowers and enables each person to reach a personal paradise.

Section three offers advice on volunteering with and, if one wishes, starting a new NGO. It combines practical communication tools and field work skills with an idealistic vision of paradise to help readers see the how, why and possibility of transforming their community into paradise on earth.

The author has hope that readers will use the techniques shared in this book and, having achieved a paradise-like happiness for themselves, be inspired to ensure its permanence by working with others to create paradise for everyone on earth. The author is confident it is possible. Happy reading!

I didn’t know where I was when I saw her. She had just turned the corner, her face radiant in the early morning sun’s gentle rays. There was something utterly captivating about her – a special aura. I could not help staring. She must have realized this because as she walked past me, she smiled warmly and said, Beautiful morning, isn’t it?

Beautiful indeed, I answered, marvelously beautiful. One more charming smile and she was gone.

Only then did I notice that everyone and everything around me looked different. Every man and woman seemed cheerful, not a trace of worry on their faces. The trees and plants were wonderfully fresh and loaded with fruit, with birds singing joyfully among their leaves. A few cars whizzed by, but with neither fumes nor noise. Even the air felt crisp, without a trace of pollution. Never had I felt so refreshed and energetic. Where was I? On the outskirts of some city perhaps? What was happening to me?

Suddenly, a small helicopter-like vehicle landed on the street in front of me, and a pleasant looking man popped out and asked: New to this place? Are you going somewhere? Come on, I’ll give you a ride. By the way, my name is Jim. What’s yours?

Aaron, I said, nervously climbing into his strange machine.

As I settled into a deep bucket-seat, still bewildered, I asked: No rotors on top? This isn’t a helicopter. What is this, Jim?

Jim was surprised by my question. Haven’t you seen a Viman before? It’s a type of hybrid. It can take off into the sky like a rocket, fly like a plane, and hover like a helicopter. It runs on land like a car too. They’re pretty common.

"A Viman? What kind of word is that?"

I don’t know exactly, but a company in India invented it. They say their gods used Vimans for inter-planetary travel in ancient times. Haven’t you seen these before? Do people where you’re from still use antique helicopters? Where do you come from, anyway?

Canada, I told him rather meekly.

Canada? Do you guys still live in igloos too? he joked. Haven’t gotten out much? How about I take you around and show you this remarkable new world. Would you like that? Buckle up!

He turned the nose of his Viman towards the sky and pressed a button. It shot up a couple thousand feet and then slowed down and leveled off. In less than a few minutes, we were hovering over Washington D.C. The White House and the Capitol gleamed brilliantly in the sunshine. Our Viman turned, gained some altitude, and sped up.

This baby is on autopilot now, said Jim. It’ll take us around the world. I’ve programmed it to slow down and hover over some major cities and bring us back in the evening, to where I picked you up.

Around the world, and back in just one day? Are you kidding me? My head was already spinning with the sudden changes in altitude.

The Viman’s speaker suddenly crackled: Coming up in two minutes, we will be hovering over New York City. We were already slowing down and losing altitude.

Next, we will turn east and reach London, England. Our expected travel time is seven minutes and 22 seconds. The computer in the Viman continued reading the flight plan. After that, we will float, low and slow, over Madrid in Spain, Abuja in Nigeria, and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Then we land in Mumbai, India for lunch.

The fast pace and repeated shifts in altitude were taking a toll on me. Our Viman was already on a descent path to London, and I was somewhat confused and tired. Sheepishly I said: Jim, I’m feeling a little sick. Could we touchdown in London?

Too late now, Aaron, Jim said. We’ll be past London by the time I reset the flight path. If you really want to get out for some fresh air, I’ll abort Madrid and put her down in Nigeria. It’ll only be a few more minutes.

As we were descending into Nigeria, I could not believe what I was seeing. From what I’d read, Abuja was a poor country’s capital, wracked by military misrule and ethnic conflict. Instead, I saw a modern megalopolis with shining skyscrapers lining clean, broad avenues bustling with Viman-like vehicles and a few old-style cars. I asked: Jim, are you sure we’re landing in Nigeria?

Before he could respond, we were already on the ground. An array of people of all creeds and colors – not just Nigerian Hausa and Yoruba tribes – were walking freely through the terminal gates. There appeared to be Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Arab, and European people too, but no security checks, immigration, or customs.

Jim read the confusion on my face. What’s the matter, Aaron?

Our landing here wasn’t pre-planned, I said. Yet we just walked out of the terminal. No passports? No forms? I’m an Israeli Jew born in Canada, though my family moved to the States when I was very young. And I assume you’re an American. But no one stopped us! I felt uneasy.

Relax. This is a new world, Aaron. You’re from Canada, and I’m a Russian Tartar from the US. Makes no difference because all of us are citizens of the Global Union! Remember the European Union of the past century, Aaron? It was a premature effort to create one world – well, one united part of the world. It failed, and we have now the Global Union. We have united the world!

Jim explained: Ethnic identities and conflicts are long gone, and we are truly citizens of the world. No war or exploitation of one country by another. All countries are prospering. Human ingenuity and cooperation are directed towards peace and tranquility.

The pilot burst into a loud laugh. We truly are in paradise, he said. I suppose he found my ignorance amusing. But I didn’t mind, for he was right. The world around me was surreal and wonderful.

Suddenly my alarm clock was ringing loud and clear: Nice dream buddy - wake up! Time to stop dreaming and face the real world!

This book is about a dream. It’s about beautiful dreams, and about awakening to the reality of today and moving towards the possibilities of tomorrow. It is about getting inspired and merging our passion with compassion, and channeling our deep and true instincts to be forces for positive change, creating a better world for future generations.

Many dreams are seemingly impossible, much like the one Aaron just had. But impossibilities can become realities.

Leonardo da Vinci envisioned people flying in the sky like birds. His human-powered flying machine (ornithopter) may have failed, but his dream did not die. Millions fly the skies daily.

Michael Jackson, the eighth child of a poor family, dreamt of becoming a famous singer. It was an impossible dream for a black kid in the America of the 1960s. Against all odds he succeeded and became one of the world’s most successful artists!

A poor chai vendor, Narendra Modi, dreamt of becoming the prime minister of India. In 2013, he was elected with a clear majority.

Wangari Maathai grew up in the 1940s when Kenya’s lush forests were being rapidly cut down for lumber. Nevertheless, she always dreamt of Africa as a ‘Green Heaven.’ One of the first African women to obtain a PhD, she founded the Green Belt Movement and authored four books about the rapid loss of forest wealth, poverty, and environmental conservation. She was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2004.

As a British girl, J.K. Rowling dreamt of becoming a writer, and at the age of just seven wrote a book about a rabbit with measles. Though that was not published, her 1997 book The Philosopher’s Stone, and all subsequent books in the Harry Potter series, became worldwide best sellers.

As a child, Barack Obama dreamt of becoming president in a country where people of African descent were once whipped by their white masters. And Nelson Mandela, condemned to life imprisonment by the white rulers of South Africa, ultimately became its president.

These are but a few success stories of those who dared to dream. Their dreams came true. Why not Aaron’s dream of paradise? Wasn’t our earth a paradise once upon a time? Aaron’s dream can inspire us all. Together we could generate the impetus and resolve to create a better tomorrow: a peaceful, prosperous world filled with radiating smiles. This book shows us how.

If we can transform our strong emotions into wisdom and manage to keep our passions under control, instead of letting these control our mind, we will be able to resolve most global challenges.

As you read on, you too may become enchanted by a dream, like Aaron’s, and want to make it a reality. But realizing the vision of a better planet presents some serious obstacles. This book highlights some of the challenges posed by this ambition. It also aims to empower people to overcome these barriers.

You are no doubt aware of some global issues already. You may wonder how these will affect you, or your children and grandchildren. You may already be wondering - should I get involved in global issues? If I did, what could I do? Could I really make a difference anyway?

Or maybe you’re worrying - what might happen if we don’t change? What if it’s just too late!?

Do we really have a choice? Can we afford to neglect these issues now? Should we