Insights and Inspiration for a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful You

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Wisdom

India is a bridge between tradition and innovation

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In the embrace of Neem Karoli Baba: A journey of spiritual awakening

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The Thorn: Witness spiritual human struggle in the Jesus play

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Melatonin Paradox: America’s go-to sleep aid is no insomnia cure

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Embracing vulnerability as a source of strength

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Wisdom

Paryushan ~ Spring cleaning the soul with austerities

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Paryushan ~ A sacred period for renewal and forgiveness

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Pause, reflect, and recharge yourself during Paryushan

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Reconnecting with nature for wellness and wholeness

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From nervousness to power: Unveiling the silver lining of anxiety

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Personal Growth

Writer’s block: The unspoken depths of experience

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India’s spiritual legacy is a beacon of hope to the world

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In India, Kamala (Lotus) is a symbol of wisdom and divinity

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Love after 50 – A new era for relationships

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Renewable energy need not remain an enigma

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Personal Growth

Lunar luminescence: The moon’s mystical dance with women

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DEI could be more diverse

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Passage from conformity to personal freedom

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India at 77: Embracing unity and purpose for full flowering

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India’s role in global advancement and cultural enrichment

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Wisdom

India’s contribution to the world is civilizational

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An American doctor reflects on her immersive trip to India

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In praise of India’s civilizational contribution to the world

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Cortisol chronicles: The hidden driver of our daily drama

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Rajan Zed delivers Hindu prayer in the US Senate for the second time

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India’s contribution to the world is civilizational

India may be only 77 years old, but it stands on the shoulders of many millennia of civilizational wisdom. Now the nation and its diaspora are enhancing global advancement and cultural enrichment.
Lotus presents expert comments in a 3-part series.

indian speakers
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Editor's Picks

The greatest work is to keep the soul free from all defilement.

~ Hildegard of Bingen,  Mystic Composer

Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.

~ Simone Weil,  Philosopher and Mystic

The antidote to exhaustion is not necessarily rest. The antidote to exhaustion is wholeheartedness.

~ David Whyte,  Poet and Author

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.

~ Dr. Carl Jung,  Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst

The only journey is the one within.

~ Rainer Maria Rilke,  Poet and Author

The soul is not a thing, it is a process. It is not a substance but an event.

~ James Hillman,  Psychologist and Author

The real wealth of the earth is not its minerals but the ability to grow food and create life.

~ Dr. Vandana Shiva,  Environmental Activist and Author

The purpose of human life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.

~ Dr. Albert Schweitzer,  Nobel Laureate

Joy is the fragrance that lingers long after the flower is gone.

~ Mira Bai,  Poet Saint

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

~ Pablo Picasso,  Artist

The mind expands in the stillness where wisdom plants its seeds.

~ Eihei Dogen,  Zen Master

True creativity is the soul’s rebellion against conformity.

~ Vasudeo Gaitonde,  Abstract Artist

In the folds of silence, the universe whispers its deepest secrets.

~ Rabindranath Tagore,  Poet Philosopher

The dance of life is in the rhythm of acceptance, not control.

~ Anandi Ma,  Spiritual Teacher

An equation for me has no meaning unless it expresses a thought of God.

~ Srinivasa Ramanujan,  Indian Mathematician

I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart. I am. I am. I am.

~ Sylvie Plath,  American poet and Novelist

The end of the world is a detail, and the world will be remade. Everything is like a suspended dream where nothing is lost.

~ Clarice Lispector,  Brazilian Novelist and Short Story Writer

The best things in life happen to you when you’re alone.

~ Agnes Martin,  Abstract Painter

It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

~ Jiddu Krishnamurti,  Philosopher and Writer

Inner peace is the ultimate source of true happiness. When the mind is calm and the heart is at peace, we connect with our true self and the divine within.

~ Amma Karunamayi,  Spiritual Leader

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. When the heart is pure, beauty radiates from within and illuminates the world around you

~ Sri M,  Spiritual Guide

Kindness is the light that dissolves all walls between souls, families, and nations.

~ Paramahansa Yogananda,  Yogi and Spiritual Guru

A nation that has no music and no fairy tales is a tragedy.

~ Ai Weiwei,  Artist and Activist

The function of the artist in a disturbed society is to give awareness of the universe, to ask the right questions, and to elevate the mind.
~ Marina Abramović,  Performance Artist

The greatest scientific discovery was the discovery of ignorance.

~ Yuval Noah Harari,  Historian and Author

How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.
~ Rupi Kaur,  Poet and Authorr

Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.

~ Brené Brown,  Researcher and Author

Creativity itself doesn’t care at all about results – the only thing it craves is the process.

~ Elizabeth Gilbert,  Author

Truth is not a philosophy. It's an experience.

~ Mooji,  Spiritual teacher

Your new life will cost you your old one.

~ Jay Shetty,  Podcaster/author

Self-observation allows equanimous awareness of turbulent feelings.

~ Daniel Goleman,  Author, Emotional Intelligence

If you have several outrageous visions, write them all down.
~ Sandy Grason,  Author- Journalution

Your life situation is mind-stuff. Your life is now.
~ Eckart Tolle,  Author -The Power of Now

The mind is responsible for our experience of joy and misery.

~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,  Spiritual leader

Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.

~ Goethe,  German polymath & writer

A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.

~ Yoko Ono,  Artist & Activist

I dream my painting and I paint my dream.

~ Van Gogh,  Artist

We can't all succeed when half of us are held back. We need to all work together to ensure that girls get the same opportunities as boys.

~ Malala Yousafzai,  Noble Peace Prize winner

If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.

~ Toni Morrison,  Writer

The challenge of the 21st century is to use our technology wisely and to ensure that it empowers rather than enslaves us.

~ Yuval Noah Harari,  Historian/Author

Just because you feel something doesn't mean you have to be afraid of it.

~ Billie Eilish,  Pop star

Once you break free of believing you are limited by education, family, location, your current job, or circumstance, you start to push yourself, take risks, reveal new dimensions.

~ Jim VandeHei ,  Author

Technology will not replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformative.

~ Jaggi Vasudev Sadhguru ,  Mystic, Yoga Guru

Your story is what matters most.

~ Brené Brown ,  Researcher, Author

Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.

~ Voltaire ,  Philosopher, Writer

We rise by lifting others.

~ Amanda Gorman ,  Poet, Activist

You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.

~ Zig Ziglar ,  Motivational Speaker

The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson,  Essayist, Poet

Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.

~ Stephen Hawking,  Physicist and cosmologist

Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps.

~ Michelle Obama

Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.

~ Marcus Aurelius , Roman emperor

The past has no power over the present moment.

~ Eckart Tolle Spiritual teacher, Author

Let the fire of the East ignite the kiln of the West.

~ Rudolf Steiner Founder of anthroposophy

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

~ The Dalai Lama

All I know is that I know nothing.

~ Socrates

If you haven’t cried, your eyes can’t be beautiful.

~ Sophia Loren Italian actress

Keep God in your heart like you keep money in the bank.

~ Neem Karoli Baba Hindu saint

The universe whispers until it screams, and happy people listen while the call is still quiet

~ Brianna Wiest Author

Be swift to hear, slow to speak.
~ Cleobulus Greek poet

The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.
~ Søren Kierkegaard  Danish philosopher

The world is a drama, staged in a dream.

~ Sri Guru Granth Sahib

What you see in yourself is what you see in the world.

~ Afghan proverb

The resistance to the unpleasant situation is the root of suffering.

~ Ram Dass American spiritual guru

The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.

~ Ayn Rand Author & philosopher

Waking up early is bought with gold.

~ Moroccan proverb

Nature, too, is an editor. Isn’t evolution a force that shapes all living things?

~ Sy Safransky, Founding Editor, The Sun magazine

We suffer to get well. We surrender to win. We die to live. We give it away to keep it.

~ Richard Rohr, Priest and spiritual writer

All good ideas start out as bad ideas, that’s why it takes so long.

~ Steven Spielberg, Filmmaker

The person who is in tune with the Universe becomes like a radio receiver, through which the voice of the Universe is transmitted.

~ Hazrat Inayat Khan, Sufi master

 When you are in doubt, be still, and wait; when doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage.

~ Chief White Eagle Native American civil rights leader

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

~ Lao Tzu , founder of Taoism

The principle in spiritual life is to open your mouth only when it is beneficial.

~ Swami Veda Bharati  Spiritual guide

Nothing in life is sacred except laughter.

~ Twinkle Khanna  Author and columnist

The pursuit of knowledge and helping others brings lasting happiness.

~ Sudha Murthya  Author and philanthropist

A person can achieve everything by being simple and humble.

~ Rig Veda

In great attempts, even failure is glorious.

~ Bruce Lee Martial artist and actor

Believe those who are seeking the truth, doubt those who find it.

~ Andre Gide French author

The people who trigger us to feel negative emotion are messengers for the unhealed parts of our being.

~ Teal Swan Spiritual influencer

Character is much easier kept than recovered.

~ Thomas Paine
Author

Acting through fear takes you away from what you want. Acting through love brings you closer to what you want.

~ Radhi Devlukia-Shetty , Influencer, cookbook author

The one who loves all intensely begins perceiving in all living beings a part of himself.

~ Yajur Veda

When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use.When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.
~ Ayurvedic proverb

Pay attention to things you are naturally drawn to. They are often connected to your path, passion, and purpose in life.

~ Danny Morel  Influencer, Podcast host, and Life coach

Kindness is the ultimate flex.

~ Vishen Lakhiani  CEO, Mindvalleye

Our bodies are our gardens – our wills are our gardeners.

~ William Shakespeare Playwright and poet

I close my eyes in order to see.

~Paul Gauguin French painter and sculptor

The bird of paradise lands only on the hand that does not grasp.

~Zen Proverb

Lead from the back and let others believe they are in front.

~Nelson Mandela South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader

If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.

~ Steve Jobs Founder, Apple

The world is extremely interesting to a joyful soul.

~ Alexandra Stoddard Lifestyle writer

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

~ Mae West American actress

The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions.

~ Chanakya Philosopher & Royal advisor

Winners don’t do different things; they do things differently.

~ Shiv Khera Indian author

You would be amazed what the ordinary guy knows.

~ Matt Drudge American journalist

People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, and then repent.

~ Bob Dylan American singer-songwriter

The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.

~ Sylvia Plath American poet/novelist

The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.

~ Oprah Winfrey Founder, OWN network

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

~ Maya Angelou American poet

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

~ Winston Churchillr British statesman

What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds.

~ Wayne Dyer Renowned author & speaker

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.

~Oscar Wilde (Poet and playwright)

There’s no escalators, there’s only staircases to success. There is no substitute for hard work.

~Lilly Singh (YouTuber/Comedian)

Do one thing every day that scares you.

~Eleanor Roosevelt  (US diplomat, activist, First Lady)

O snail
Climb Mount Fuji,
But slowly, slowly!

~Kobayashi Issa   (Japanese Haiku poet)

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

~John Quincy Adams   (6th US President)

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson   (Led the Transcendentalist movement) 

The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.

~Neil deGrasse Tyson  (Astrophysicist and author)

Ask yourself if what you’re doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow.

~Paulo Coelho  (Author of ‘The Alchemist)

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.

~ Arthur Schopenhauer  (German philosopher)

If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does.

~Alice in Wonderland

My meditation is simple. It does not require any complex practices. It is singing. It is dancing. It is sitting silently.

~ Osho  (Iconoclastic guru)

Clocks were invented to warn us. Tick (time is passing). Tock (time has passed).

~ Kamand Kojouri  (Iranian-born author)

The question ‘Who am I?’ is not really meant to get an answer; the question ‘Who am I’ is meant to dissolve the questioner.

~ Ramana Maharshi  (Vedantic sage)

True abundance isn’t based on our net worth, it’s based on our self-worth.

~ Gabrielle Bernstein  (Spiritual author)

Spiritual joy arises from the purity of the heart and perseverance in prayer.

~ Saint Francis of Assisi  (Nobel Peace Prize awardee)

What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.

~ Mother Teresa  (Nobel Peace Prize awardee)

Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right.

~ Henry Ford  (Automobile pioneer)

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.

~ Robert Frost  (American poet)

If you want to become an instrument of change, gather people in your community and host a regular conversation. The only way to succeed is to connect people, share inspiration and support one another.

~ Deepak Chopra   (New Age guru)

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.

~ Walt Disney   (American animator)

That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.

~ Emily Dickinson   (American Poet)

Don't let your happiness depend on something you may lose.

~ C.S. Lewis   (British writer)

Self-awareness and self-love matter. Who we are is how we lead.

~ Brene Brown (American professor and writer)

It is never too late to be what you might have been.

~ George Eliot  (English novelist and poet )

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

~ Haruki Murakami  (Japanese writer)

Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.

~Stephen King (British writer and speaker)

Heaven is this moment. Hell is the burning desire for this moment to be different. It’s that simple.

~Jeff Foster (British writer and speaker)

I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.

~Vincent Van Gogh (Dutch painter)

Don’t plan it all. Let life surprise you a little.

~Julia Alvarez (American poet and novelist)

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!

~William Wordsworth (English Romantic poet)

Slowly, O my mind, slowly everything happens. The gardener may water with a hundred buckets of water, but fruits will only come in its season.

~Kabir (Indian weaver-saint)

If you feel pain, you are alive. If you feel other people’s pain, you’re a human being.

~Leo Tolstoy (Russian author)

Let go of how you thought your life should be, and embrace the life that is trying to work its way into your consciousness.

~Caroline Myss (American author)

Be so busy improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

~Chetan Bhagat (Bestselling Indian novelist)
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Sharing Experiences

Moving Picture

Sri Brahmrishi Siddhguru posing with the intimate group of people of various ethnicities.
Sri Brahmrishi Siddhguru posing with the intimate group of people of various ethnicities.
HBO fame actor Alex Garfin received blessings from Siddhguru.
HBO fame actor Alex Garfin received blessings from Siddhguru.
Attendees practicing Siddhasana technique developed by the global guru.
Attendees practicing Siddhasana technique developed by the global guru.
The evening also featured a glimpse of the Siddhasana technique he has developed to empower people and enable them to supercharge their good agendas.
The evening also featured a glimpse of the Siddhasana technique he has developed to empower people and enable them to supercharge their good agendas.
Deepak Bansal, President of the India Day Parade, visited the Lotus booth.
Deepak Bansal, President of the India Day Parade, visited the Lotus booth.
We gained excellent exposure by explaining the mission and vision of the web magazine to the visitors to our booth.
We gained excellent exposure by explaining the mission and vision of the web magazine to the visitors to our booth.

Lotus hosts a global guru and takes part in local India Day Parade

ALotusInTheMud.com co-hosted a global guru on July 18. Sri Brahmrishi Siddhguru addressed an exclusive event at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City presented by filmmaker Neha Lohia. At the meet-and-greet, the saffron-clad guru addressed the intimate group of people of various ethnicities.

“We have advanced and created a lot of technology to be fit externally, but our souls are depleting. We need to strengthen our souls with active practice and utmost urgency,” Siddhguru advised.

 The evening also featured a glimpse of the Siddhasana technique he has developed to empower people and enable them to supercharge their good agendas.

On August 25, Lotus took part in the India Day Parade of Long Island, celebrating India’s 78th Independence Day. By explaining the mission and vision of the web magazine to the visitors to our booth, we gained excellent exposure and scores of new subscribers. Deepak Bansal, President of the Parade in Hicksville, NY, was among the dignitaries who visited our booth.

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Free Forgiveness Journal from Dada Vaswani.

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TESTIMONIALS

TESTIMONIALS

I am continually inspired by Parveen Ji’s visionary work with A Lotus in the Mud. His dedication to exploring and sharing profound insights into spirituality, personal growth, and well-being is commendable. His commitment to fostering a global community of seekers and changemakers is reflected in every thoughtfully curated article and feature. May his webmag magnetize the support and resources needed to have this work reach more people across the world.
Neha Lohia

Neha Lohia

Conscious Filmmaker and Guru Whisperer
Parveen Chopra is a uniquely talented man, with a tempered moral compass. His journalistic abilities have helped enhance the US-India relationship and create a community out of the Indian diaspora. His latest chapter in life harnesses his past experiences, to empower Lotus: a perfect metaphor for living life stress-free. Ranju and I wish Parveen and Lotus readers life's best!
Ranju & Ravi Batra

Ranju & Ravi Batra

Eminent Attorney, Chairman - National Advisory Council South Asian Affairs
I have always admired Parveen Chopra’s qualities of head and heart, and his achievements. Proud of you. I pray for success in all your positive and spiritual endeavors.
D.R. Kaarthikeyan

D.R. Kaarthikeyan

Former Director General, National Human Rights Commission, India, Padma Shri awardee.
I enjoyed exploring the Lotus site and perusing all the various articles there. It is a great service that you're doing for the community. I’ll like to write for it later.
Srinivas Reddy, PhD

Srinivas Reddy, PhD

Author, Visiting Assistant Professor of Contemplative Studies at Brown University, RI
In 1997, when I started writing for Delhi-based Life Positive magazine, Parveen ji encouraged me as its editor to write a number of cover stories. I went on to publish five books and carved a career as a corporate trainer. I am sure with his sincerity, patience, and courage, he will now make the lotus bloom in America and nudge thousands of people on the path of spiritual growth. 
Anil Bhatnagar

Anil Bhatnagar

Large Audience Transformational Speaker, award-winning author
I came to know Parveen as editor of Life Positive magazine in India. He helped some spiritual events we organized there in the early 2000s take off. He has been an important player in the field of spiritual awareness, first in India and now with his Lotus magazine in the US. His roots may be Indian, but as true spirituality requires, his work addresses people across the globe.
Ravindra Raj

Ravindra Raj

IT Consultant who also runs a spiritual events firm in Sweden
Parveen Chopra is a name that stands for true journalism, not sensationalism or any negative ‘ism’. He likes to tell the stories of inspirational people and report on positive developments and trends. Now with the Lotus site he is moving to the most positive and profound subject: spiritualism. The media needs more Parveen Chopra’s!
Prashantt Guptha

Prashantt Guptha

Actor (‘A New Christmas’, ‘Tashkent Files’, ‘Neerja’)
As founding Editor of Life Positive, Parveen Chopra broke fresh ground in publishing industry in India with an outstanding holistic and spiritual magazine. Now a New Yorker, he looks to again blaze a fresh trail with A Lotus In The Mud that looks fresh, inviting and informed. I am excited for Mr Chopra as well as the readers of this web magazine.
Suma Varughese

Suma Varughese

Facilitator of The Zen of Good Writing Course, former Editor, Life Positive & Society magazines
The present decline of interest in religion is troubling because faith is an immense source of resilience and community. Human beings flourish through connection. Without it, we are imprisoned in one body, utterly alone. A Lotus In The Mud brings together diverse insights that move us to deep, meaningful connection.
Nev March

Nev March

Award-winning author of ‘Murder in Old Bombay’, and other mysteries
With his considerable achievements in journalism, Parveen Chopra could have moved to greener pastures. But his inner voice told him to follow his passion: to curate and present knowledge from ancient wisdom traditions as well as modern science to help people heal in mind, body and spirit.
Arvind Vora

Arvind Vora

President, Shanti Fund
With journalistic skills, labor of love and integrity, Parveen Chopra as founding editor made The South Asian Times a leading publication of the Indian American community. We wish him great success in his own venture, ALotusInTheMud.com, which aims to contribute to the well-being of the global community.
Kamlesh C Mehta

Kamlesh C Mehta

Chairman, The South Asian Times
As a journalist, Parveen Chopra has worked with people of many different faiths, nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, and political persuasions.He brings the experience we desperately need today to our divided land.

Rev. Tom Goodhue

Rev. Tom Goodhue

Executive Director Emeritus, Long Island Council of Churches
A need was strongly felt for a consolidated website to help bring clarity, find purpose of life, search for meaning, provide balance, and understand self on the spiritual journey. We hope A Lotus in the Mud, developed by passionate-seeker Parveen Chopra, will help inspire, motivate, engage, and illuminate individuals in their pursuit of connection, exploration, discovery, and awakening.
Rajan Zed

Rajan Zed

Hindu Statesman & President, Universal Society of Hinduism