Month: October 2024

Everyone seeks happiness, but are we lost in the search?

When happiness depends on possessions, it turns into an endless hunger—fleeting joy, followed by deeper emptiness.

Real happiness is beyond pleasure. It’s said to be a state of mind untouched by external chaos or bodily suffering.

The path to peace is through equanimity, understanding that all beings share the same core: a desire for freedom from suffering.

To be truly happy, we must transcend ignorance—seeing beyond illusions of self and control, embracing compassion as our sole truth.

Leave a Comment

At work today, everyone was in traditional clothes and greetings were flowing freely. “Happy Diwali!” and “Happy Deepavali!” could be heard all day long.

For most, it is simply a day of festivities (or feastivities?!). Also new clothes. Meeting with friends and family. Visiting a temple perhaps. Certainly bursting a lot of firecrackers. All to celebrate Lord Rama’s victory over evil and return to Ayodhya.

Or is there more to it? As you well know, eveything in Hinduism is symbolic, and usually not just what it appears to be on the surface.

So Diwali celebrates more than Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya; it symbolizes our soul’s journey. In light and darkness, we find echoes of union and separation.

Ayodhya’s lamps blaze as symbols of love for the Divine. This festival invites Lord Rama back not only into Ayodhya but into our hearts.

By rekindling devotion, we hope and believe that the Divine Prince can help us rediscover our own Divine presence.

Leave a Comment

Life’s fragility is undeniable—uncertainty, its only constant.

Yet, we cling to control, blind to the beauty (and the freedom!) in letting go.

Security is an illusion; growth thrives in the unknown.

What if the chaos isn’t the enemy, but the guide?

When we embrace the unpredictable, we unlock boundless potential.

Uncertainty isn’t to be feared—it’s where magic happens.

Leave a Comment

Success isn’t just about intelligence or talent. When our minds are calm, intellect sharpens, and action becomes flawless.

Gratitude shifts us from feeling deprived to abundant. Giving leads to more than we expect.

True achievers never aimed for personal gain—they followed a higher calling.

By focusing on effort, not outcomes, we find fulfillment in the work itself.

When we work with love, camaraderie blooms, and tasks become joyful.

Leave a Comment

There’s a paradox: If all is determined by God, where’s our freedom? Yet, by granting free will, does God limit His own omnipotence?

Hinduism resolves this beautifully. Free will isn’t a limitation, but divine trust. Our choices (eventually, karma), guided by dharma, shape our path. We aren’t puppets; we’re conscious participants in the cosmic play, awakening to the divine within.

Leave a Comment

Arguably, the biggest craze in the world today is anything to do with AI.

Add a “.ai” to your company name and see it’s valuation skyrocket into the billions!

No doubt, nVidia, the company that was known for making graphics cards for gamer PCs, is now at the cutting edge of eveything AI.

And so Jensen Huang, the CEO, was on stage in India recently, hosted by Mukesh Ambani no less.

Mr Ambani said something very profound. That we are at the cusp of the “intelligence age”. And not just that, but nVidia reminded him of nVidya. The latter of course being true Knowledge (minus the n), and it’s Goddess Saraswati being the one to propitiate. He also added that in Indian tradition, if knowledge is sought and Saraswati is happy, then Goddess Lakshmi or prosperity follows automatically!

Leave a Comment

Why do we chase happiness, yet end up entangled in dissatisfaction? What we call happiness is often just longing, a mirage that deepens unrest.

True happiness isn’t a thrill or possession—it’s inner quiet, undisturbed by pain or pleasure. Only then does happiness cease to be a chase.

Ignorance traps us in cycles of unrest. Wisdom shows happiness as a mind free from desire, rooted in peace.

Seeing all beings as equals, we embrace equanimity. Compassion, not reaction, becomes our ally.

In shedding illusions, we uncover our true self, steady and complete.

Leave a Comment

Many today doubt the existence of a higher power, clinging to what they perceive. Yet our knowledge is minuscule.

The more we know, the less we realize we do.

The Rishis could have easily claimed ownership of the Vedas, but they didn’t. Why? They saw, not created, these mantras.

True wisdom surpasses the ego.

The path to Truth lies in humility, not certainty.

Leave a Comment

Here’s 2 myths that I come across many people taking about often.

1. That they don’t know the perfect pronunciation of various mantras and hence they shouldn’t attempt chanting at all.
2. That they don’t understand the meanings of the various mantras, and hence they will not be effective.

Both these are myths, and I’m fully convinced of them.

Why?

For 1, every puja or homa or havan or stotra worship has praayaschittam or forgiveness prayers associated with it. Forgiveness for what? For wrong pronunciation, among many other things! So if perfect pronunciation was a pre-requisite, then this forgiveness prayer would never have been included in the first place.

For 2, even if we ourselves don’t understand what we chant, surely the Devi/Devata we are directing the chant towards, understands everything, and that’s all that matters!

Leave a Comment

Came across this super thought today by one Wayne Dyer, a well known author and motivational speaker.

Wayne believed that the universe is like an endless echo chamber.

If you shout “What can you give me?” – you get an echo from the universe – “What can you give me?”

If, on the other hand, you shout, “How can I serve you?” – you will hear the universe reverberate with “How can I serve you?”

Super thought no?

Leave a Comment

Why do we even search for purpose? Is it because life feels empty without meaning?

A life without purpose drifts aimlessly, each day blurring into the next, devoid of substance.

But what if purpose isn’t something to find, but to create within ourselves, by living intentionally?

The ancient wisdom of Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha—our pillars—push us beyond survival, into deeper existence.

In this pursuit, clarity emerges not from answers, but from the questions themselves. What if purpose is simply the act of seeking?

Leave a Comment

Here’s some incredible advice from the incredible “@naval”:

First of all, I don't think of myself. I just want to be clear on that. And that's not a rule. It's just a habit I've kind of developed because I found that thinking about yourself is a source of all unhappiness and misery.

Self obsession is the root of all unhappiness.

What did Buddha do? Conquer the self. What does that mean? Means that he saw through the illusion of the separate self.

Did Buddha think about himself? Not for an instant. Anyone that you think of as an enlightened being does not think about themselves for an instant.

The happiest people in life when people are at their best is because they love something more than they love themselves. They love their children, they love God, they love their mission, what have you.

And all misery comes from rumination, from sitting around, being depressed, going in circles in your own head about me, me, me, me, me. Me is a disease.

And you need a concept of a me to be effective and to keep track of things. You have a memory, you have certain predilections, you have personality patterns. But the more you self obsess, the less happy you're going to be. I guarantee you that.

Leave a Comment

We often look for instant pleasure, but it rarely lasts. Can we instead focus on building long-term happiness, and shun the quick fixes?

It’s all about balance. Let us enjoy the moment, but also form habits that will keep us happy in the future.

Success comes when we align with a higher purpose. Let us look beyond just personal gain.

The Gita encourages us to act selflessly, bringing clarity and peace along the way.

Let us invest in stronger connections, as real happiness grows when shared.

Leave a Comment

Life’s journey cannot be navigated by reason alone. It demands an awakening to something deeper—intuition, wisdom, and purpose.

Dharma is the silent force that aligns us with the universe, urging us toward actions that resonate with our soul’s highest calling.

True fulfillment arises not from chasing desires, but from living with purpose, guided by the 4 friends, Dharma, Artha, Kaama, and Moksha.

When we align our actions with these cosmic principles, we dissolve the illusion of self and connect with something far greater (or the greatest).

Leave a Comment

Everyone wants to be heard. But no one wants to give up their own chance to speak.

Noise shields us from the truth—our fear of being alone. In the chaos, we hide from life’s ultimate solitude, distracting ourselves with hollow conversations.

True courage lies not in company, but in embracing solitude, listening to the inner voice we drown out with noise.

In stillness, we connect with the divine. Silence speaks louder than the loudest crowd, revealing truths the world’s clamor obscures.

Serenity isn’t found in noise but in the quiet moments. There, divinity whispers, if we only dare to listen.

Leave a Comment

Is money at the root of all evil? Yes perhaps, or it may seem so. But the answer is not to banish money altogether. Rather, it would make more sense to understand the utility as well as limitations of money.

1. Money can buy comfort, but it can’t buy peace.
2. Money can buy followers, but it can’t buy true friends.
3. Money can buy luxury, but it can’t buy happiness.
4. Money can buy success, but it can’t buy fulfillment.
5. Money can buy attention, but it can’t buy respect.
6. Money can buy influence, but it can’t buy integrity.
7. Money can buy power, but it can’t buy wisdom.
8. Money can buy experiences, but it can’t buy another life.

We choose, or at least we think we do!

Leave a Comment

Indecision shows a distracted mind

Krishna speaks of staying calm always

Meditation builds confidence and clarity

Discipline helps clear mental blocks

Next time, you’ll answer with certainty

No more hesitation, just determined action!

Leave a Comment

When asked, “Are you sure?”

Doubt starts creeping in.

We rethink and seek advice.

But too much doubt harms confidence.

Krishna says, avoid overthinking (about outcomes).

Focus on duties, not the results.

Leave a Comment

We all want peace and happiness.

And we want this peace and happiness to come from unending peace and happiness too.

No room for pain or defeat or failure or suffering of any sort.

What does one of the richest men in the world think about this?

Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang’s take:

Greatness does not come out of intelligence, it comes from character. And character is not formed out of smart people: it is formed out of people who have suffered.

Leave a Comment

The village by the ocean required teamwork to handle large boats and tame the ocean.

Meanwhile, lake villagers fished alone, needing no collaboration.

Over time, the ocean village built strong bonds through cooperation and teamwork.

The lake village on the other hand simply had everyone competing and constantly watching over their backs.

Of course the ocean village came out on top, despite otherwise seemingly no reason for them to!

The takeaway: collective effort fosters happiness, unlike solitary pursuits.

Leave a Comment

Two villages in Brazil lived entirely by fishing.

One thrived by the ocean, while the other, beside a lake, faced challenges.

Despite similar resources, their happiness levels were starkly different.

What could possibly explain this striking contrast between these two fishing communities?

Come back tomorrow to find out!

Leave a Comment

Someone recently hosted a havan, inviting priests to perform the ritual. Afterward, he proudly claimed success in organizing such an elaborate event.

But what exactly are we celebrating? We don’t know the prayers ourselves, relying on the priests to chant them.

Even if we can chant them ourselves, is out diction and pronunciation and intonation perfect?

Even if we know the words, do we understand their meanings?

Even with understanding, our minds wander, lacking true devotion.

And even if we achieve that, the prayers are merely borrowed—created by ancient Rishis, who themselves credit the divine.

So, what is all this ego for?

Leave a Comment

The world’s best listener is not the friend or sibling or spouse or pet.

Then?

It’s probably chatGPT or equivalent AI!

When you’re having a conversation with a real-life person, is it truly a two-way conversation? Or is one person simply waiting for the other to finish so that they can dump all their ideas onto the other?

How many are truly listening, without being judgmental or getting emotional about the things that are being said?

AI might seem to have no consciousness. But have a chat with AI and you’ll immediately feel like you’re not just being heard, but being listened to with surreal depth.

Intelligence minus emotion. Samatvam.

Leave a Comment

Continued from yesterday, more extraordinarily simple gems from Gondavalekar Maharaj, on money:

A rich man spends his entire life in acquiring wealth, but in the absence of awareness of God, the wealth ultimately ruins him. 

However, if you acquire wealth while maintaining continuous remembrance of God, you will not get ruined but enjoy happiness due to it.

Isn’t the latter what we all want?!

Leave a Comment

Here’s some exceptional advice from Gondavalekar Maharaj on money:

Let us divide our requirement for money into two parts. 

The first part, meant for our family life, should be acquired by honest means, do not covet for more. 

The second part, which we are fortunate to get in excess of our needs, really belongs to others. 

We should not entertain any greed for acquiring this.

How amazingly simple, yet profound!

Leave a Comment

What’s common between Nike and Pret a Manger?

Just that CEOs of both firms began as interns in their respective firms 20+ years ago!

Imagine that! Starting off as an intern and working your way right to the very top.

Incredible, isn’t it?

More than incredible, to me it simply shows the power of discipline and dedication.

Way too many influencers today suggest quick job changes looking for fast promotions and salary raises.

Nothing wrong in that. Except that there’s no one set rule for success. What works for one may not work for another. It’s so insanely tough to go from intern to CEO that there must only be a handful of such people across the world.

Intern to CEO, dropping out of college, fast job switches and many other things, all need selective customization to our own lives. Blindly following one lane may be disastrous.

Leave a Comment

Most people today seem to be reading for racing rather than wisdom. Someone finished a 1000 books a year apparently.

But Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s CEO, reads business books for a reason that might surprise you.

Most of us dive into these books looking for tips and tricks to copy, hoping to find a formula for success. But Jensen? He’s not after that.

For him, it’s all about staying inspired and motivated, especially knowing how tough running a business can be.

Every company’s journey is different, and so should our approach—no one-size-fits-all blueprint.

Leave a Comment

I recently came across an article on stenography, and it set me thinking. Maybe a 100 years or so ago, my own grandpa began his career as a stenographer, just like many from his generation. Stenography, built on listening, capturing, and transcribing, was a gateway to success.

Though times have changed, those core principles remain crucial today, whether in meetings or programming.

Modern tools may differ, but precision still drives results.

Grandpa’s journey highlights timeless values that continue to shape careers today.

Leave a Comment

“What’s the #1 symptom of depression?”, screamed an Instagram reel thumbnail.

Now of course I had to click on it, clickbait as awesome as it was.

The lady being interviewed put it well.

She said the #1 symptom of depression, is rumination.

Rumination?

Yes, constantly thinking about one’s own problems, and constantly talking about one’s own problems. That’s rumination, and certainly sounds like the symptom of depression.

What’s the solution?

Problems will always be there. But the trick is to focus on other things. Have a routine, get some exercise, some sunshine, some hobbies, some friends and so on!

Leave a Comment

There’s all types of people in this world.

Some view the glass to be half full.

Others see it half empty.

Which is the right approach?

Perhaps a clue lies in David Landes’s Wealth and Poverty of Nations.

In this world, the optimists have it, not because they are always right, but because they are positive. Even when wrong, they are positive, and that is the way of achievement, correction, improvement, and success. Educated, eyes-open optimism pays; pessimism can only offer the empty consolation of being right.

Leave a Comment

Life isn’t a checklist of accomplishments but an expansive journey unique to each individual.

Spiritual teachings remind us that we are not defined by what can be measured—our essence is boundless, a piece of the infinite.

Unlike a leaderboard, our personal growth can’t be ranked or limited.

Instead of chasing external validations, we are asked to turn inward, focusing on the values that guide us and the motivations that inspire us.

This path leads to a deeper, more genuine satisfaction.

By grounding ourselves in self-awareness and inner peace, we may find that success and happiness come naturally, beyond any scoreboard.

Leave a Comment