Month: March 2025

Had the good fortune of speaking to a very spiritual allopathic doctor today.

Why is this important? Because allopathic doctors are about as scientific as one can get. They wouldn’t recommend medicines if they didn’t believe in the science.

But she also told me about a condition called “idiopathic hypertension”. It’s a form of blood pressure where the cause isn’t known.

Then she jokingly said idiopathy probably comes from idiot. And that we are all truly idiots. We think we know everything, but actually all our medicine progress today is still perhaps less than 10% of all there is to know.

When I tried to read a bit more about idiopathic hypertension, I realised there’s plenty of other idiopathic illnesses. No doubt that at least I’m truly an idiot!

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Five years, for every single day – there’s been a post on this blog.

It’s been a joy no doubt. My gratitude to you for reading and putting up with it.

But it’s time to shift gears.

Instead of a daily post, this blog will become more ad-hoc.

Unshackled by schedule – with a focus on meaningful thoughts when they matter (according to me at least!).

It isn’t goodbye.

Simply a new way forward.

See you when the words find me!

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In a recent Lex Fridman Podcast, PM Modi shared a simple yet powerful truth: Focus on what you want to do, not what you want to become.

Chasing titles and status leads nowhere.

Do the work, love the process, and mastery will follow, is what the greats tell us.

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Once Shraddhā deepens, life stops feeling random.

Every event – good or bad – becomes part of a larger design.

Challenges transform into lessons, delays into divine timing, and even suffering reveals hidden meaning.

This isn’t blind optimism; it’s seeing with clarity.

The universe constantly speaks, but only a still mind can hear.

Every meeting, every setback, every joy – when viewed through Shraddhā – links back to the divine will.

Instead of resisting life, we start flowing with it, trusting that each moment, good or bad, unfolds exactly as it should.

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How do we develop this deep knowing? It starts with stilling the noise – reducing distractions, questioning beliefs, and observing patterns in life.

We may need to pay attention to moments when we “just know” something is right.

Meditation, reflection, and learning from wisdom texts sharpen this intuition. And bhakti too, probably stronger than other methods!

The more we listen inwardly, the stronger Shraddhā becomes. It’s not passive belief – but likely active trust built through experience, awareness, and inner silence.

We can notice when a quiet conviction guides us.

Over time, Shraddhā stops being an abstract concept and becomes our compass.

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The Bhagavad Gita (4.39) says Shraddhā leads to knowledge, and knowledge brings peace.

Unlike the idea that “faith is blind,” this is faith shaped by understanding.

The Viveka Chudamani takes it further – Shraddhā isn’t just belief aka faith, it’s the bridge to realization.

Sanskrit, when broken into dhatus (root syllables carrying meaning), uncovers deeper truths, such as here with Shrat + Dha.

When we truly listen, language itself can guide us.

But how do we develop this deep inner knowing?

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Came across an amazing short explanation on an X account called “self vision”.

What did he post?

That Shraddhā (श्रद्धा) is often loosely translated as “faith,” but Sanskrit reveals a deeper meaning.

It comes from श्रत् (shrat) – to listen to intuition, and धा (dhā) – to hold.

True Shraddhā isn’t blind belief; it’s an act of deeply listening to an inner knowing, holding onto it even before it manifests.

It’s about trust in wisdom, not superstition.

So how does that matter? Continued tomorrow…

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Everyone wants a short cut, especially to money, and maybe fame.

But the good stuff never comes easy.

If it comes easy, then we wouldn’t appreciate the value of what we get.

Imagine someone living in abject poverty for years, and is suddenly transposed into our shoes. Wouldn’t such a person think s/he is in heaven?

But do we live our lives like we are in heaven? Or is every moment a waking hell?

As PM Modi notes in a recent Lex Friedman interview, “If you only look for short cuts, you will be cut short!”

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But why couldn’t the genie end hunger?

The genie couldn’t end hunger because hunger is not just a physical issue; it’s tied to deeper, complex problems like greed, inequality, and human behavior.

Even with infinite resources, hunger persists due to systemic and human-created challenges.

Similarly, the genie couldn’t make everyone happy, as happiness depends on individual mindsets and perceptions. These are beyond the genie’s control.

The story highlights that lasting solutions – like contentment – must come from within, not through external fixes or magic.

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Yoshi asked his master, “Sensei, why am I still unhappy after following your teachings?”

The master, gazing at the Cherry Blossoms, replied, “Happiness is like sunlight – it cannot be seized, only reflected. Let me share a tale.”

A monk found a magic lamp. But the genie refused the monk’s wishes to end hunger and create universal happiness.

The monk’s final wish though, “Grant me contentment,” was fulfilled.

The master smiled, “Happiness isn’t forced or demanded. It blooms naturally in those content with the present.”

But why couldn’t the genie end hunger? Concluded tomorrow!

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How to resolve common roadblocks associated with these mental patterns?

1. Observing Without Attachment – Noticing thoughts but not clinging to them. Letting them pass.

2. Balancing Past, Present, and Future – Learning from the past, planning for the future, but living now.

3. Trusting the Inner Voice – External opinions matter, but self-trust matters more.

4. Pausing Before Reacting – A moment of reflection prevents regret.

5. Practicing Mindful Presence – Fully engaging with each moment for true clarity.

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The wise say our mind falls into five common traps. Recognizing them helps us regain control.

1. Dwelling on the Past – Regret and nostalgia keep us stuck. Learn, but not to linger.
2. Obsessing Over the Future – Planning is useful, but overthinking leads to anxiety.
3. Seeking External Validation – Depending on approvals (at least always) weakens self-confidence.
4. Reacting Impulsively – Emotional outbursts cloud judgment. Pausing before acting is important.
5. Lacking Mindful Awareness – Rushing through life dulls clarity. Staying in the present helps.

How to master these? Concluded tomorrow!

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Love this stoic quote:

The road to heaven feels like hell. 

The road to hell feels like heaven.

It isn’t any different from shreyas versus preyas.

Do we choose immediate gain for pain down the line? Like playing video games today and not bothering about tomorrow’s exam.

Or pain today for gain tomorrow?

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The difference between a selfish action and a selfless one, could be a cauldron full of water instead of milk.

The real loss isn’t just to the collective, but to ourselves.

Every choice we make shapes our own integrity.

When we give our best, not because others are watching, but because we are watching, we create a world where contribution isn’t just duty – it’s fulfillment.

What if the cauldron had been full of milk? It wasn’t about lofty gestures, just simple acts done sincerely.

The question isn’t (or shouldn’t be) whether others will do their part – it’s whether we will.

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Responsibility isn’t just collective – it’s personal.

A king once asked his people to contribute a bowl of milk each for a grand ritual. By morning, the cauldron was full, but not of milk – only water.

Everyone had assumed that others would bring milk, so their own small act of dilution wouldn’t matter.

We often think the same way, don’t we?

In a crowd, in a system, in a team – we assume someone else will step up.

But what if everyone thinks that way?

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Super question from yesterday, isn’t it? If we are an accomplice to something bad, then it’s helping do the negative karma to whoever deserved it. But should we get the bad karma for doing the bad deed as well?

“Depends” might be a start. Of course, no one can go scott free for doing bad stuff.

In the Gita 11.34, Krishna says warriors like Bhishma and Drona are “already killed” – their fates sealed by their karma. Arjuna is asked to fulfill this destiny.

Similarly, being an instrument doesn’t absolve intent. One’s role depends on whether one’s actions align with their dharma.

Arjuna’s dharma was to fight selflessly, without malice or attachment. Acting otherwise would incur karma.

Are our actions righteous and selfless? That’s the key to being a true nimitta.

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Someone asked this pertinent question recently.

“Why does a criminal get punished for something already destined?

If I harm someone, isn’t it because their past karma brought it upon them? Doesn’t that make me just an instrument of their karmic result?

And if so, why should I face consequences for something bound to happen anyway?

Isn’t this contradictory to the law of karma?”

Answered tomorrow!

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Here are some more amazing pointers on how Elon kills them bottlenecks!

1. Musk doesn’t waste time on hierarchies; he talks directly to the experts doing the job on the ground.

2. Forget endless reports; he gets straight to solutions.

3. His hands-on approach inspires unmatched loyalty in technical teams.

4. Leadership isn’t about delegation – it’s about understanding the core issues.

5. Solve the bottleneck, and the entire system transforms.

Something for me to try and emulate, wherever possible!

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Everyone hates bottlenecks. But few do anything about them.

One man, particularly the richest man in the world, does! So here’s a few pointers about Elon Musk’s working style that I gleaned off of some twitter threads:

1. Success isn’t about doing everything – it’s about doing what matters most.
2. In any system, there’s always a bottleneck slowing progress.
3. Elon Musk’s genius? He zeroes in on that bottleneck.
4. Once fixed, he moves to the next big challenge.
5. It’s a mindset every leader could learn to adopt.

Continued tomorrow!

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“Mā śucaḥ” – Do not worry.

Krishna’s words are not just advice; they are a command.

Anxiety is a sin because it denies His presence, making us believe we are alone in our struggles.

Worry arises when we think we are the doers. But He is the true doer.

When we surrender, our burdens lighten. Trusting Him does not mean inaction – it means acting without fear.

That is the path to real peace.

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If we trust the Lord, what is there to fear? Yet, we worry. Krishna’s words in the Gita (18.66) remind us:

“Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja,
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ.”

“Surrender to Me, and I will free you from all sins. Do not worry.”

But when we hold onto anxiety, are we not rejecting His promise?

Worry is more than just stress – it is a lack of faith (more on this in the coming days!). It means believing we must control everything, forgetting that He already has a plan.

Anxiety is the biggest sin because it separates us from trust in Him. If He has assured us, why do we still doubt?

But how do we truly let go? How do we replace fear with faith?

Concluded tomorrow!

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We may give, and often, but do we truly serve? Most help comes with strings – expectation, recognition, pride.

Yet real service is like the sun – shining on all, unmoved by who receives it.

True selflessness means detachment from outcomes. It isn’t only about uplifting others; maybe it’s also about freeing ourselves – from ego, from control, from the illusion of giver and receiver.

The highest service isn’t action – it’s understanding.

Not just doing good, but dissolving the self in the process, as a realized soul. Only then is service truly free.

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Today’s world expects and lauds people who are woke – hyper-aware and vocal of every injustice, every identity, every fleeting cause.

But Vedanta asks – are we truly awake, or just trapped in another illusion?

What we fight over, cling to, and fear is all temporary. The world shifts, but Brahman remains – the only truth beyond labels, beyond perception, beyond the noise.

Real awakening isn’t about outrage; it’s about realization. Not woke, but fully awake – to who we are, and who we’ve always been.

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Saw a video of an interview – don’t know who the person was, but his advice was profound.

When asked how to shield a daughter from the evils of social media, he shared two steps.

1. Try to limit social media exposure.
2. Most importantly, build self-esteem.

But how do we build self-esteem? By encouraging real achievements, nurturing talents, and reinforcing self-worth beyond likes and comments.

When we focus on skills, character, and inner growth, external noise loses its grip.

Instead of just restricting social media, shouldn’t we also strengthen the one using it?

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Perhaps the device isn’t missing – perhaps we are the device.

Our own mind, sharpened by awareness, is the connector. Our breath, steady and deep, is the signal. Our thoughts, disciplined and clear, are the transmission. Or something like that.

No external plug can link us inward. Only silence, reflection, and surrender can.

The question is, are we ready to switch on the most connection? If yes, then are we trying hard enough?

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From HDMI to USB-C, from Bluetooth to Wi-Fi, we have connectors for everything. Our phones, laptops, and gadgets link us to the world in an instant. A message, a call, a click – the connection is effortless.

Yet, for all this connectivity, where is the device that connects us to ourselves? The one that links us to our own souls? We search for faster speeds and stronger signals, but the most important connection remains weak.

If such a device existed, wouldn’t we have found it by now? Or are we looking in the wrong place?

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