Category: happiness

An old fable shares the story of a monk who went for alms. A householder saw him and scolded the monk for begging despite his strong physique. The monk listened quietly and then asked, “If you give a cow to me and I don’t accept it, where will the cow go?”

The householder, a bit confused, answered, “To me, of course.” The monk smiled and replied, “Exactly. I do not accept your abuses.”

The lesson is clear. Criticisms and negativity only have power if we choose to accept them.

By not accepting, they return to where they came from. In life, we often have a choice, even if it may not seem obvious.

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Here’s a super story I came across on equanimity, in “The Speaking Tree” by one VB. Totally worth sharing and reading, as is the case with everything else here on Foreverhappynow! (tongue in cheek!)

Onto the story!

A group was engaged in a singing practice. A carpenter was setting the stage. Every time the carpenter made some noise, the choir leader looked at the carpenter silently indicating that he was disturbing their practice. This continued for a while and finally the carpenter told the leader, "Don't worry, please continue your practice. It is not disturbing my work."

How awesome isn’t it?!

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Samatvam or equanimity is one of the highest virtues.

Is it easy to be equanimous always?

Are we able to react the same way to both praise and blame?

How about to success and failure?

Surely pleasure and pain aren’t any easier to deal with equanimously.

And fame and disrepute? Impossible!

Lord Rama was said to have a smile the day he ascended to the Ayodhya throne. He was also said to have retained the same smile when he was banished into exile the very next day.

More equanimity? Continued tomorrow…

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Spirituality is for the weak and the meek, is what one would think.

Because spiritual people tend to remain more silent, more introverted and less bothered by external irritations.

And hence new spiritual seekers look at advanced spiritual folks, and think they should jettison all pragmatism and focus on being outwardly calm.

As we well know, maintaining calm on the outside is pointless if the mind is agitated.

In the world we live in today, stress is a reality. Many people aren’t honest or well intentioned. Personal gain often takes over everything else. And people can argue and fight for the silliest things.

Does a spiritual person remain weak and meek?

Absolutely not. If there’s one thing to be remembered, it is that the divine Bhagavad Gita itself was revealed on a battlefield!

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Who’s the king of the world?

Okay not Jack from Titanic.

But the king of the world would seem to be the one with the most money, right?

Well king is only figurative. I mean, anyone with a lot of money today has an extraordinary degree of freedom, and thereby probably happiness.

How to get money though, by just doing a 9 to 5?

Hardly possible. And with the advent of AI, is there any guarantee that even a 9 to 5 will work? How do you know AI isn’t writing this very post?! It can certainly already do much cooler things!

While AI can automate and replicate most things, I suppose one thing it cannot do, is to replace YOU. You are the brand. You are all that matters. You are everything. You have everything. You are complete. Spirituality will quite like this thought process!

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Compassion is a deep virtue, distinct from simple kindness. It goes beyond warm feelings, requiring awareness of shared pain and vulnerability. True compassion lies in recognizing suffering and responding thoughtfully.

Perhaps we should first overcome our instinct to avoid pain. Facing it directly, both in ourselves and others, allows us to embrace empathy.

Next, compassion demands action—actively seeking to alleviate suffering.

Perhaps we should also extend this compassion to ourselves, offering forgiveness and understanding as we acknowledge our own faults and frailties.

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The “dead horse theory,” passed down by the Dakota Indians, offers a simple yet important lesson: “When you discover you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.” Too funny, isn’t it?

This wisdom, circulating as a WhatsApp meme, humorously critiques modern approaches in business, government, and education.

Instead of accepting the obvious solution, many employ complex strategies to revive the metaphorical dead horse. These include buying a stronger whip, changing the riders, and even threatening the horse with termination.

Some go further by hiring outside contractors or appointing committees to study the problem. Others might provide additional funding and training, hoping to boost the dead horse’s performance.

In a global twist, visits to other countries are arranged to observe how they manage their dead horses, all while avoiding the simple truth!

The takeaway? Sometimes, the simplest solution is the most effective. Let go of what’s not working and seek new paths for genuine progress.

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HR isn’t the most liked part of any organization, generally speaking. It feels like they never give enough bonuses and increments and what not.

Is that really HR’s problem? Or the manager’s? Tough one.

But no one likes a system where ratings are given at random, with no measure of what an employee has achieved and missed.

The same is true for our spiritual growth too.

We often want to know how far we’ve come, and how much we’ve progressed.

Many ask why they are unable to even control their minds for basic things. “I know what I’m supposed to do, but I’m just not able to do it!” (like regular exercise, chanting, meditation, eating clean etc etc.)

The crucial part is periodic measurement. A spiritual audit. Without that, any appraisal is but futile.

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In his research and teaching at MIT and Duke, Dan Ariely discovered an effective technique for changing opinions: asking key questions. Instead of bombarding people with information, he suggests three types of questions.

First, ask questions to reduce confidence. For example, “How well do you think you understand the stock market?” Then challenge their understanding by asking how they would explain complex concepts like derivatives. This approach helps people realize the limits of their knowledge.

Second, slow people down by asking for more detailed responses. Encourage them to think deeply and provide complex answers to issues they care about. This can lead to a more thoughtful and productive discussion.

Third, use empathetic questions to shift perspectives and foster problem-solving together. Ask questions that put people into the perspective of those most affected by the situation. By changing the tone and opening the conversation, Ariely believes we can find common ground more effectively.

Absolutely worth trying!

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Even though it’s supposed to be Q&A, most of us do A&Q.

How?

Especially when we want someone to change their opinions on something.

What do we do? In all our passion and vigour, we bombard the other person with information and logic as to why they must change their mind.

And then it’s all usually downhill from there.

Bestselling author Dan Ariely has a super unique approach and one that appeals to me intuitively. What is the approach?

To put questions first before any answers.

How exactly? Continued tomorrow…

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We’ve always been told to grin an bear it. Or smile through them tough times.

It’s a great attitude, but also hard to practise.

How to think about this?

From a spiritual point of view, it depends on whether something is one’s duty or not.

If it’s our duty to do something, then we shouldn’t be tagging those duties as pleasant or unpleasant. Duty is duty, and we must do it with the grin and the smile. Dedicating the action and it’s fruits to the Lord would make it that much easier.

Is everything our duty? Certainly not. Partying every day is not duty. Eating junk food daily isn’t duty.

When it’s not duty, we have decision making power. When it’s duty, it’s ishwara arpana buddhi, or dedicated to the Lord.

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Some question and answer gems from Osho, although paraphrased.

Q: What’s the mind’s real purpose?
The mind is a tool to navigate the unknown, like a safety guard. It’s not meant to make us happy, though many mistakenly try.

Q: Why are those who rely on the mind often unhappy?
Those who identify with the mind too much often find misery. The mind should be used when needed and set aside when not.

Q: How has this affected us?
The mind, once a servant, has become our master. We’ve lost touch with our true selves.

Q: How can we find happiness?
Perhaps we should feel more and think less. Nature is happier because it isn’t ruled by the mind.

Q: What’s the key to using the mind effectively?
Treat the mind like a car—use it when needed, but don’t let it control you. Stay in the driver’s seat.

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Met a guy who had worked with the creme de la creme of firms and was himself of top notch pedigree.

He has enough to retire, and for his next gen to never need to work again, although he’s only in his 30s.

I’d met him many years ago as well, when he told me that once he reached a certain amount in savings, he’d just chill.

But cut to now – not only doesn’t he have 10x that, but he also doesn’t work the conventional 9 to 5.

Just does some consulting on his own hours and terms, and is sorted.

Until he tells me that he is not satisfied, and wants to “startup and make it big”.

Despite him knowing very well all the stress that will come along with it. And having experienced it all himself in a previous avatar as well.

Go figure!

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On Krishna Janmashtami, what is the one thing we should practice the most?

No, not stealing butter and smearing our faces!

But perhaps the spirit of yagna, daana and tapa or sacrifice, charity and austerity.

In the big bad corporate world we function in, everyone looks solely at their own P&Ls. Or Ps rather.

What are they themselves going to take home? How much in cash, how much in bonus, how much in stock options?

Lord Krishna inverts this, or maybe we are the ones that have inverted everything. He suggests we must simply work with the attitude of yagna, service and sacrifice for a higher cause, and that as a by product, will bless us with immense prosperity.

Jai shree krishna!

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You know the number one problem that most billionaires have?

It’s not about how to make more money.

But about how to spend their time and money well.

For the richest 10-20-30 people in the world, they just can’t spend enough money even if they wanted to.

They’ll buy a few houses – okay mansions, maybe palaces, a few yachts, many supercars, and a few other things here and there. All that maybe at best will cost what, a billion dollars? Maybe two?

What to do with all the remaining 50 or 100 billion they have?

Of course that’s a great position to be in – but beyond a point, all that money is practically worthless. Unless it’s for helping others, for the upliftment of society.

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My 3 year old niece was in the house for a small pooja.

As we all gathered to pray, I told her just for fun to close her eyes and pray for whatever she wanted, and that God would give it to her.

Kids are the best, and the most innocent.

She closed her eyes, and appeared to do as was told.

Naturally, I was surprised. What did her little mind possibly wish for? New toys? New clothes? More TV time?

So I asked her.

She said all she wanted was the banana in the bowl of fruit in front of her, that had been kept as an offering to the Lord.

So simple and pure!

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A self-help post by an career counsellor on LinkedIn said that there were 3 main points to ace any interview.

Obviously preparation is key.

But what to prep for?

3 areas:

1. About the company
2. About the job
3. About yourself

And he said that point 3 was the most important, and I couldn’t agree more, even though I don’t have the acumen to be a career counselor!

Knowing yourself is perhaps the key to everything. What good is knowledge of a company or a job when we don’t know what we ourselves truly want?

Even from a spiritual lens, the magic happens only when we start introspecting about ourselves.

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Came across a thought provoking post on LinkedIn today by one Aseem Dhru.

He wrote about 5 currencies. Not like the US dollar and Pound Sterling and the Euro. But the currencies of life.

Specifically – wealth, beauty, skills, fame and power.

1. **Wealth**: Wealth acquires beauty, fame, and power; it’s foundational.
  
2. **Beauty**: Beauty is the most fleeting, and seeks wealth and power, highlighting its dependence.

3. **Skills**: Skills lead to wealth, then fame, and power.

4. **Fame**: Fame follows wealth and beauty, fulfilling ego’s recognition need.

5. **Power**: Power dominates wealth, beauty, skills, and fame ultimately.

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Shankaracharya’s Bhavani Ashtakam resonates with anyone seeking solace in the divine. The line “Gathistvam gathistvam tvam ekaa Bhavani” is hair raising and encapsulates the essence of his devotion. It reflects that amidst all of life’s uncertainties, Bhavani remains his sole sanctuary.

The verse “Na tato na mata na bandhur na data, Na putro na putri na brityo na bharta” profoundly explains his realization that earthly relationships and attachments are transient.

By declaring, “Na Jnanam na chavairagyam na shilpam na sa vidya, Na shasram naiva cha kriya na bhaktir mamaivacha,” Shankaracharya acknowledges that neither intellectual pursuits nor spiritual practices alone can bring him peace.

I don’t understand these verses much. But every line is similar. It highlights a variety of things, and then concludes by saying that I know nothing to the exclusion of Bhavani.

Such outstanding devotion!

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The 18th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita begins with Arjuna questioning the true principles of renunciation and sanyasa. This line of questioning is fairly abrupt following the 17th chapter’s discussion on the three Gunas and Om Tat Sat. However, it addresses a crucial unresolved issue.

Despite the extensive teachings, Arjuna remains hesitant and doubtful about his duty. He faces the daunting task of fighting his own relatives, which intensifies his inner conflict.

Commentators suggest Arjuna’s query reflects his struggle, seeking an easier way to evade his responsibilities.

This moment reveals a profound headfake, redirecting focus to deeper spiritual truths and the essence of duty beyond superficial understandings.

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Sanyaas, or renunciation, is linked to Karma Yoga, where one performs duties without personal likes or dislikes. Acting with a prayerful attitude, we see every action as an offering.

True renunciation means doing our duties without attachment to outcomes. This mental shift helps us live freely and gratefully.

Focusing on  responsibilities with this mindset aligns us with a higher purpose, maintaining equanimity in success and failure.

Ultimately, renunciation leads to a more fulfilling and peaceful life, performing our responsibilities without emotional dependencies.

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Renouncing material possessions doesn’t mean giving them up physically. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna emphasizes that true renunciation is mental. It’s about detaching from desires for family, property, and wealth.

Guruji explains that we should see our possessions for their true purpose, like using a car just for transportation. By letting go of these attachments, we find inner peace.

Renouncing expectations from our children is also essential. This doesn’t mean we stop caring but the key would be to avoid emotional dependency.

By embracing mental renunciation, we live more harmoniously, reducing stress and fostering a balanced life.

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In Vedic astrology, the 12th house is a feared one.

Why?

Because it generally shows losses of various kinds. Loss of wealth, giving up of things, leaving one’s home, being hospitalized for long, going to jail etc etc.

As you can see, not a lot of good stuff.

Ketu happens to be a planet that signifies giving up things as well.

So when Ketu is in the 12th house in the native’s chart, it might seem like a deadly combination of an expurging planet in an expurging house!

But what’s bad for materialism is often spectacular for spirituality.

So much so that if one has Ketu in the 12th house, it signifies giving up of everything, including one’s ego. If that sounds familiar, then that it is because it is nothing but moksha or liberation!

Every cloud has a silver lining.

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We think we humans have it tough. Would be so much easier to be a God or Goddess, isn’t it?

But the rules don’t change, no matter what. Here are some examples:

1. Lord Rama endured 14 years of harsh exile and waged a deadly war to rescue Sita.
2. Goddess Sita was abducted, forced into exile, and had to prove her purity by walking through fire.
3. Lord Hanuman had to cross a vast ocean and battle powerful demons, driven by unwavering devotion to Rama.
4. Goddess Parvati subjected herself to intense years of severe penance to win Shiva’s love.
5. Lord Krishna served as nothing more than  Arjuna’s charioteer, guiding him through the bloodshed and chaos of Kurukshetra.

This is what the greatest of the great Gods had to endure. Who are we in comparison?!

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A lot of self-help Gurus say we should live in the present.

But what if the present truly sucks?

Like someone is in jail. Or stuck far from home laboring away somewhere? Or is being harassed by someone, or maybe find themselves in the center of a war zone?

Very hard to just “live in the present” then. So this needs to be applied sensibly and purposefully.

As the Gita in chapter 6 verse 5 says, we must use our minds to elevate ourselves. Maybe in tough times, we use elements in the present to envision and progress ourselves to a superlative future.

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Most of us have a love-hate relationship with our food.

We love food, especially the tasty unhealthy kinds. But then hate the after effects.

It’s so hard to keep the discipline of eating clean food going for very long.

Sunil Chhetri, a leading football player in India had some sane advice.

He was talking about how he has just conditioned himself to eat certain foods. He doesn’t let his mind win. If he must boil bitter gourd and eat it because it’s good for him, he just does it. No complaining, no whining.

He ended with the awesome, “What we eat, reflects in what we think. And what we think, is what we become!”

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One of the greatest Chessmasters of all time is Norwegian youngster Magnus Carlsen.

He is clearly one of the smartest and most brilliant people ever, right? Right?

Well he himself doesn’t think so.

In a recent interview, he says that he too, suffers from imposter syndrome. Can you believe it?

So much so that he feels that people are perhaps even fooling him, playing an elaborate prank, artificially looking dumb in front of him.

His conclusion was my true takeaway though:

He’s met many people who are super smart, but-but-but, they aren’t better than him at chess. So just being smart isn’t enough.

I guess we just have to find our own niches, and keep getting better there!

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Got this super forward today. Yes yes, I don’t usually subscribe to these social media “Good Morning” forwards and such, but today’s was really nice!

Desire changes nothing.

Decision changes something.

But…

Determination changes everything!

How cool no?

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But is all of this teachable, and learnable? Yes!

Bezos believes high standards are teachable.

Exposure to a high-standard environment can elevate expectations and performance.

New team members quickly adapt and contribute at a higher level. Unlike height in basketball, which can’t be taught, high standards can be learned.

Building and maintaining high standards requires recognizing excellence, understanding scope, and fostering a culture that values quality.

Bezos’ insights offer a valuable framework for achieving high standards.

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Jeff Bezos points out that beyond recognizing excellence, it’s crucial to understand the scope of work needed to achieve high standards. For example, writing a six-page memo requires meticulous effort, including multiple revisions and peer feedback. Many mistakenly believe a high-standard memo can be crafted quickly, but truly excellent memos take about a week or more.

The same principle applies to other domains. Mastering a skill like a handstand requires consistent practice over months, not weeks. Unrealistic beliefs about the effort required can lead to frustration and eventual abandonment of the goal.

Understanding and communicating the scope of work is key to achieving high standards. Do we communicate well enough, whether at home or outside? It’s a question to ponder. Whether writing a memo or learning a new skill, recognizing the required effort and time commitment is fundamental. This understanding fosters persistence and ultimately leads to better results.

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There’s a superb interview of Jeff Bezof, founder of Amazon, where he discussed excellent pointers for excellence.

He emphasizes the importance of recognizing high standards and understanding the effort required to achieve them. To illustrate this, he shares a story about a friend learning to do a perfect handstand. Initially, she thought it would take a few weeks, but her coach corrected her, saying it would take about six months of daily practice. This example underscores the need for realistic expectations.

At Amazon, this principle is applied through their unique approach to meetings. Instead of using PowerPoint, they write detailed six-page memos. Not too many do that, do they?

Bezos says that achieving high standards is not just about recognizing excellence but also about realistic expectations. Understanding the time and effort required to produce high-quality work, like a perfect handstand or a detailed memo, is essential for success.

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It’s a natural part of life that relationships, no matter how profound, don’t last forever. This nudges us, or at least should nudge us, towards something timeless, something that transcends our everyday experiences.

That timeless element is often captured in the concept of Dharma, which can be seen as a pathway to understanding the eternal, helping us move beyond the temporal constraints that define our lives.

Dharma purifies, offering a clarity that other sciences might not. It helps us understand ourselves better by fostering a deeper connection with our inner being, rather than the external world. In embracing this spiritual discipline, even a brief moment can be more enriching than a lifetime spent in idle pursuits.

The idea of transcending death may seem paradoxical, but it involves a deep understanding of life’s fleeting nature. By recognizing and accepting the impermanence of life, we become more present and aware, making us less susceptible to life’s illusions.

When we start seeing things as they truly are, it opens up a new perspective where we can find vitality within the inevitability of death.

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Had the opportunity to observe some charity work recently from close quarters. It was interesting – the various types of “takers”.

When given money, some take it happily.

Some ask why the giver is giving them.

Others ask why certain people were given more.

Some try to refuse but happily accept with a little prodding.

Some ask how much others were given.

A few take it with gratitude and express sincere thanks.

Some doubt the giver’s intentions and look for hidden motives.

Others take it silently without a word of acknowledgment.

Vedic spirituality emphasizes the purity of intent behind giving (daana). The act of giving in Vedic traditions is not just a material transaction but a spiritual one, meant to benefit both the giver and the receiver. True charity aligns with the principles of selflessness and humility, fostering a deeper sense of connection and mutual upliftment.

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Recently read Swami Sukhabodhananda’s thoughts on “living wisely.” He contrasts Friedrich Nietzsche’s “live dangerously” by suggesting wisdom while living, or rather in living.

While living dangerously has its moments, it’s equally vital to find joy and contentment in calm times.

Swami Sukhabodhananda highlights that poor self-esteem limits us. We should “learn to be unreasonable,” pushing beyond these limits. Powerful people achieve this by surpassing their diffident minds.

Ultimately, we need a balance of past, present, and future, while living fully in the present.

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Of course every one knows that there are only 24 hours a day.

But guess what, scientists at the University of Wisconsin – Madison have discovered that the Moon is actually slipping away from the earth.

The click-baity article I opened said we’d have 25 hours a day soon.

Wow! Because I can now use that extra hour for sleeping!

Not so soon bubba. The scientists also add that this slow process will conclude in about – wait for it – 200 million years!

Reminds me of my Guru’s famous Millennium Party. You’re invited to the party too, and you get many free gifts including cars and houses and money and what not. The catch? The party will be 100 years from now…

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Here’s an interesting analogy I came across by spiritual leader and coach Chaitanya Charan.

He likens desires to pedaling on a cycle.

Say someone is pedaling too fast, and they lose control and fall into a ditch.

Oops, game over.

They are scarred for life now, after their cycling mishap, that they decide they will never pedal anymore.

This is super extreme isn’t it? Either pedal too fast, or not pedal at all?

This, according to Chaitanya ji, is how desires should be treated. Not at extremes. Neither is too many desires good. Nor is no desire at all good.

A bunch of healthy spiritual selfless desires would be ideal!

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Never heard of rawdogging before? Me neither.

Apparently this refers to a TikTok trend wherein folks record themselves taking long haul flights where one endures the entire journey without any form of entertainment or distraction. It means no music, no phone, no screen, no books or magazines, no food, no water, and no sleep.

Isn’t that crazy?

Not just crazy, but also highly unsafe!

But who cares about safety in this day and age of instant gratification, and more importantly, instant monetization!

Influencers from any part of the world with no degrees and credentials and nothing but a huge mass of followers (soemtiemd even fake!) can rake in the moolah.

But at what cost? Every day so many of them die simply from stretching too far for the perfect click. Falling off a cliff, getting hit by a train, or even drowning in the waves. The influencers need to be influenced first. Nothing is worth losing one’s life over.

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Success vs failure. Man vs child. Are these only about time and age?

Manhood isn’t about age; it’s about enduring life’s toughest trials. Pain, failure, rejection, loss, disrespect, and heartbreak shape a boy into a man.

Success requires relentless effort. Persistence, hard work, dedication, resilience, adaptability, and sacrifice are essential.

Embracing every struggle. The worst experiences are the true architects of greatness, refining character and strengthening resolve.

Life’s harsh lessons teach us to keep pushing forward, turning obstacles into stepping stones. Embracing the challenges—they lead to true strength, wisdom, and success. So we have no other option, but to keep moving forward!

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Ever noticed how saying “tyagi, tyagi, tyagi” continuously sounds like “Gita”?

This isn’t a dazzling invention of mine, but it’s worth pondering for sure.

The essence of the Gita is about being a tyagi—a selfless sacrificer.

We can reflect on this profound connection and discover the timeless wisdom guiding us towards spiritual growth.

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Missed my part 3 yesterday because I was in a daze. Maybe I ate too many apples! But the final and amazing highlights today below.

• The powerful quote that influenced Steve Jobs’ life: living each day as if it were your last can help prioritize what truly matters.

• The use of death as a tool to make important life decisions and to avoid getting trapped by external expectations and the opinions of others.

• The reminder that death is a natural part of life and serves as a change agent, making way for the new by clearing out the old.

• The encouragement to not waste time living someone else’s life and to have the courage to follow one’s heart and intuition.

• The famous closing advice to ‘stay hungry, stay foolish’, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a sense of curiosity and not being afraid to take risks.

How cool were these!

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With all the wars around us, every nation only wants to add to its might and accumulate more weapons.

Because that is what defines a country’s strength.

Not the ability to give in and surrender, but to fight to the finish, and be the last one standing.

Or at least ensure the safety of its residents.

But in spirituality?

Maybe it couldn’t be more different!

The more one gives up and the more one surrenders to the higher power, the stronger the spiritual power within!

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More highlights today from an awesome Steve Jobs speech!

• The concept that you can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only make sense of your life looking backwards, and the importance of trusting the journey.

• The experience of being fired from Apple and how it led to a period of immense creativity and personal growth.

• The founding of NeXT and Pixar after leaving Apple, and how these ventures contributed to Steve Jobs’ success and Apple’s renaissance.

• The idea that sometimes life’s most difficult experiences can lead to the most significant personal and professional growth.

Concluded tomorrow!

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The famous Stanford commencement by Steve Jobs for some reason walked into my YouTube feeds just now. Key highlights from that evergreen lesson on how to live life!

• Dropping out of college and trusting that things will work out okay can lead to valuable life experiences and learning opportunities.

• The importance of following one’s curiosity and intuition, even if it doesn’t seem practical at the time, can lead to significant innovations later on.

• The story of being put up for adoption and the promise made by the adoptive parents to send the child to college, setting the stage for Steve Jobs’ life.

• The impact of attending a calligraphy class, which seemed irrelevant at the time but later influenced the design of the Macintosh computer.

Continued tomorrow!

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Came across a super profound line today in a blog.

As we reflect on the everyday events and actions that we experience and ascribe ownership to, we realise that in almost all cases, our actions involve a thought, a call or an accidental meeting, over none of which we exercise control. Acknowledging this will, over time, help us reduce our entanglement with the sense of doership.

Was thinking about a good idea I had at work recently.

But where did the idea come from?

Really from me?

Why did it only occur then, and not one year ago? Or one year later?

How much control do we really have?

When we think from this perspective, undoing doership is not just easy but also obvious and absolutely necessary and mandatory.

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I’ve always wondered about Vipassana retreats and Mauna Vrat. Maun, or silence, is the language of true worship, capturing Ashabda Brahmn, the soundless word. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says, “maunam chaiva’smi guhyanam” – Of secrets, I am also silence.

Practicing Maun Sadhana celebrates the Divine within. By closing our senses, silence fosters deep self-understanding. Figures like Buddha and Mahavir, who embraced silence, significantly contributed to global peace.

There are at least 4 types of silent practices (I learn new stuff every day!).

Maun Sadhana starts with Vak Mauna, silence of speech. Next is Chitta Mauna, silence of the mind, including Buddhi Mauna (intellect), Ahamkara Mauna (ego), and Iccha Mauna (desire). Indriya Mauna is the silence of the senses.

Incorporating Maun Sadhana daily, even briefly, is said to bring inner peace and strengthen our connection with the Divine.

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A 90-year-old gynecologist who, despite her limited time left on the planet, was utterly dedicated to ensuring every baby she delivered was healthy. If that isn’t selflessness, then what is?

Similarly, an elderly oncologist, battling cancer himself, continues to work tirelessly to save his patients, embodying resilience. His commitment to his patients’ well-being, despite his personal struggles, speaks volumes about his character.

An aged cardiologist with a heart condition still oversees life-saving surgeries, reflecting true dedication. His unwavering focus on saving lives, even while managing his own health issues, highlights his exceptional commitment to medicine.

A retired pediatrician, despite suffering from arthritis, volunteers to care for sick children, showing profound compassion. Her willingness to endure physical pain to ensure the well-being of young patients illustrates a deep sense of empathy and love for her work.

Such amazing selflessness, I can only hope to have some day…

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I came across an interesting question on LinkedIn recently: “What was the best time in your life?”

Surprisingly, people recalled their toughest challenges, and not their most fun moments.

It seems we crave purpose and accomplishment.

Luxuries like exotic vacations and designer clothing undeniably fade away, but conquering challenges leaves lasting, cherished memories.

Yet then, why do we run away from the tough stuff?

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Intriguingly, even leadership styles can be compared to the three Gunas in Indian philosophy: Tamasik, Rajasik, and Sattvik.

Let’s start with Tamasik leadership. This passive, demotivating, and often egoistic style can create confusion and stifle progress. Leaders with this approach may struggle to inspire their teams, leading to a lack of direction and low morale.

Next, we have Rajasik leadership, which is transactional and driven by ambition and action. These leaders focus on goals and rewards, using clear structures and performance metrics. While this can boost productivity, it can also lead to stress and burnout if not balanced.

Finally, Sattvik leadership embodies transformative qualities. These leaders are wise, selfless, and aim for higher goals. They inspire and uplift their teams, fostering growth and harmony. Sattvik leaders create environments where everyone can thrive, balancing ambition with mindfulness.

By understanding these styles, leaders can strive to cultivate Sattvik qualities, promoting a more enlightened and effective approach to leadership.

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At a recent social function, a cute little kid was ravenous. So much so that as soon as the dinner counters opened, she went straight for the ice cream.

The happiness on her little face was telling, while a few adults joked about beginning the course with dessert instead of appetizers.

But funnily enough, a post (link) I came across today mentioned that in Indian culinary/medical tradition aka Ayurveda, there is a set sequence of what types of food one must ingest.

No prizes for guessing, that “sweet” comes right up top! Apparently sweet foods are the easiest to break down and hence eating them first is best. If they are eaten last however, just like most “modern and sophisticated” people tend to do, they get stuck waiting in line for other harder-to-digest appetizers and main courses to digest. The sweet food hangs around for long and then turns toxic.

Quite interesting I’d say, and it’s probably worth starting with a sweet, just like the kid!

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Be “alert to praise”! This was one of the key messages for success from my Guruji this Guru Purnima (today).

His message was not for spiritual success, but rather for the material successes that each one is craves so much.

How to get ahead in life? By getting along with people.

And how to get along with people? By making people like you.

And how to make people like you? By praising them of course!

If we can remain alert in all situations and find ways to praise others, we will win them over.

Doesn’t mean we need to deliver fake praise. But finding ways to genuinely praise others means we are automatically able to look at the best in others.

Win-win, if you ask me!

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When something good happens to us, like passing an exam or getting a promotion, we feel joy and spread happiness. But when others succeed while we fail, jealousy and anger take over, making us and those around us miserable. Why is it so hard to be happy for others?

It’s perhaps a matter of building our own qualities and self-esteem. Recognizing our worth reduces insecurity and makes it easier to be happy for others. This inner joy naturally extends to celebrating others’ successes.

Cultivating this joy begins with self-compassion and acknowledging our strengths. When we value ourselves, positive feelings emerge, making it easier to share in others’ happiness. This shift in perspective allows positivity to radiate.

So much so that letting go of negativity and constant criticism allows us to experience joy and wonder in our own lives.

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Here’s a nice speech of Mark Zuckerberg that I came across. Reproducing an excerpt verbatim:

Many people lament, Oh I don't know how to build a damn thing. I don't know how to get a million people involved in anything. I don't know this or that. 

Well, let me tell you a secret. No one does when they begin. Ideas don't come out fully formed. They only become clearer as you work on them. You just have to get started. If I had to know everything about connecting people before I got started, I never would have built Facebook.

Movies and pop culture just get this all wrong. The idea of a single Eureka moment is a dangerous lie. It makes us feel inadequate because we feel like we haven't had ours yet. And it prevents people with seeds of good ideas from ever getting started in the first place. 

What is the takeaway then? To just get started.

On your mark, get set, go!

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What is the real change agent?

Is it anxiety?

No, because anxiety cannot change the future, or present or past.

Is it regret?

No, because regret cannot change the past, nor present or future.

Is it gratitude?

Yes indeed, because gratitude can instantly transform the present. That in itself is a present!

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We can think of our minds like a phone, constantly pinging us with notifications. Not every alert is important, but some require our immediate attention.

To manage this, we should first determine our purpose, just as we decide which phone notifications are vital. This helps us filter out distractions and focus on what truly matters.

By treating our thoughts like phone alerts, we can pick those that align with our goals. This keeps us productive and focused.

Ultimately, we control which mental notifications to prioritize, ensuring our attention is spent on what truly deserves it.

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While some can have the most ostentatious parties and weddings, is wealth truly easy to manage? Is it easy to have 100s and 1000s of friends and relationships and acquaintances? Back to “surface area” for a bit.

As Shane says, our friendships also add to our surface area. The more friends we have, the less time we can spend with each one.

Wealth expands our surface area too, as managing various assets and investments requires effort.

When our surface area grows too much, people hire other people to help. He says that assistants and property managers, for instance, can mask the expanding surface area by abstracting it. Despite having so much, and delegating work to so many, is there real peace?

As our surface area increases, so do our responsibilities and mental burdens. Most truly happy people tend to maintain a smaller surface area. They focus on fewer things, leading to less work and more satisfaction. It appears that keeping our surface area small is key to maximizing enjoyment and reducing stress.

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It feels like all of India and many parts of the world are/were keenly watching what might easily be the wedding of the decade.

So many families, so many friends, so many invitees, so many celebrities, so many planners, so many cooks, so many drivers, so many valets, so many pilots and jets, so many chefs, so many politicians, and the so-manys can go on and on and on.

In this context, Shane Parrish’s views on “surface area” are very interesting!

Shane’s rule, is that the larger our surface area, the more energy we have to expend maintaining it. Of course, when most of us think of surface area, we think of a the area of a solid or square of figure. But there is a surface area of life, and that is all-consuming.

If we have only one house (not a mansion or castle please!), we have a relatively small surface area to maintain. If we buy another one, our surface area expands. But it doesn’t expand linearly—it expands more than that. It’s all the same work plus more. There’s mental stress involved too of having to take care of multiple things.

What should we do then? Go the billionaire’s way? Concluded tomorrow!

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Timothy Gallwey’s “The Inner Game of Tennis,” written by a renowned tennis coach, offers an interesting thought on learning, by silencing your internal critic.

They key principle?

Performance = Potential – Interference, where interference is your inner critic, whether it’s praising or criticizing yourself, both of which are unhelpful.

One key concept is the method of non-judgmental observation. By simply observing our actions without judgment, we create space for improvement. Visualize the desired outcome and trust our inner self to perform without the active interference of our critic.

The process involves observing changes and results without judgment and repeating these steps. This approach allows us to master necessary skills while letting our inner self take charge of the game.

Gallwey’s insights are not just for tennis but can be applied to various aspects of life, offering a means to enhance performance by quieting the inner critic.

This is similar to what our scriptures call saakshi-bhaav.

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Someone remarked recently about the importance of ensuring a “good time” is considered for auspicious events.

The Sanskrit shloka “Tadeva lagnam sudhinam Tadeva…” effectively states that whatever time is chosen, if dedicated to God, automatically becomes good.

Another wise man also said, “Everyday is a good day, because if it is not, then God wouldn’t have created that day”

Can’t argue with that!

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“What is the one thing that you should look for while choosing your life partner?”, is the question posed by investing legend Warren Buffet in a speech given by him.

Brains?

Humor?

Character?

Beauty?

“None of these!”, he says

“The one character that you should look for is low expectations!”

That alone will ensure the most beautiful married life ever.

Mr. Buffet, oh what a legend!

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The mind is an integral part of Maya, ensnaring us in its web of illusions. To find truth, we must go beyond it, a task that’s far from simple. Because our minds create attachments that seem inescapable.

Becoming a witness to our own minds helps. We learn to observe its patterns without getting caught up in them. This detachment isn’t about disinterest but about understanding the fleeting nature of thoughts.

Interestingly, the mind is adept at detaching as it naturally moves from one thought to another. Using this ability wisely can lead us to true liberation from its grip.

Mastering the mind involves embracing both its ability to attach and detach, steering it towards a balanced understanding of itself and the world around us.

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Who doesn’t love nectar?

No one, unless it is poisoned of course!

There’s a lot of this in our lives.

Things that appear cool and awesome on the outside, at the start. But such very nectar will often lead to a massive downfall and disgrace.

Many things come easy, only to unveil their dark sides later on.

Conversely, the best things in life only come after significant struggle. The nectar follows the poison. This is explained in verses 37 and 38 of chapter 18 of the Gita.

Which would you choose?

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Not the senior citizens we know generally, but the ones in offices. Not the seniors by age, but more by positions. The ones that call all the shots. The ones that are supposed to be leaders.

What is the one thing they are paid for? Not to know everything or solve every problem. But to simply make the right decision.

Decision making. That’s what they’re there for! But can they cut through the clutter and figure out the right decisions? Only if they stop talking!

When asked about his silence during meetings, Rockefeller often recited a poem:

A wise old owl lived in an oak,

The more he saw the less he spoke,

The less he spoke, the more he heard,

Why aren’t we all, like that old bird?

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In two varied situations recently, I came across 2 similar people.

The first was in a doctor’s clinic. While I was waiting for my turn, another elderly lady came in helped by her relative.

When she sat down in front of me, I realized that she was fully blind. And yet she had the widest smile on her face, as though everything in the world was just perfect.

The second situation was in a temple. It was super crowded that day, with a heavy dose of jostling and pushing. As I got closer to the sanctum sanctorum, I could see one muscular chap praying fervently. And then in the small crowd ahead of me, that person vanished instantaneously. Whoa, how’s that possible?!

A few seconds later, I saw him crawl past me, the Lord having given him just a torso, no legs, but also a supremely divine smile.

Did these people have a disability? By conventional metrics, most certainly. But this ability of smiling despite the odds stacked against them? If only this ability could be my superpower…

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There’s a lovely analogy I came across narrated by renowned astrologer and sanskrit scholar PVR Narasimha Rao.

As I always say, a servant carrying queen's jewelry box & trash can are not really different - sincerity & humility define a good servant & not the value of which property of queen one carries!!

A famous scholar of Jyotisha/Vedanta & a street beggar are mere servants carrying different possessions of Mother. Not realizing that and taking pride of temporary possessions can make one bounce between many such transient realities, while fully realizing that can set one free.

None of what we own is ours. Except our egos!

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Babies cry all the time.

But do they only cry because they are hungry?

Nope. Sometimes they cry so they can be held. Sometimes they cry because they have gas in their little tummies. Sometimes they cry just for attention.

So not all crying is equal!

Our minds may be similar.

The mind often cribs and cries for various things.

Is everything the mind presents to us always urgent, important and necessary? Hardly. We would do well to use our own intelligence to separate what is critical from when the mind is just playing it’s tricks.

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There’s a brand new ad going around.

The scene shows a small boy, presumably aged 7 or 8, and he’s wailing, throwing tantrums and being nothing short of a brat.

Instead of being reprimanded, what do his parents do?

Use their mobile phones to place an order for an expensive toy that would be delivered in less than 10 minutes by a quick-commerce unicorn startup of course!

What sort of messaging is this? Most adults today are already suffering from the repercussions of instant gratification. Kids aren’t going to be left far behind at this rate…

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There’s this outstanding video I just saw, again, after a gap of several years.

It’s of a horse, that is being led around by its master.

But not led by its reins.

Because there is no rope!

The equestrian simply enacts putting on the rope around the horse’s neck. And the horse simply follows her around, not realizing there is no rope at all.

Is there such an invisible non-existent rope that is tied to our minds as well? What all is it stopping us from truly achieving?

Here’s the amazing video if you’d like to watch it yourself! Link

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In the 17th chapter of the Gita, Lord Krishna says that a person and his prayer can be judged by 3 key markers.

What are these?

1. The deity one worships. Is it a God, a demi God or a negative spirit?

2. The mode of worship. Is it a divine offering? Or something unseemly?

3. The motive of worship. Is it sattvik? For the betterment of society and the world? Or is it purely personal? Or worse, is it harmful?

That’s detailed judgment for us!

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Legend has it that after creating the world, God wanted to see how people enjoyed his creation. Everyone he met praised the world but had a “but” and requested more. God realized that fulfilling one desire would just lead to another, like cutting off Ravana’s head in the Ramayana; another would appear.

So, God decided to hide. Knowing the human brain’s power, he sought the perfect hiding spot. After much thought, he hid within humans themselves, figuring that people take this place for granted as they’re always looking outward.

By hiding within, God ensured that only those who drop their worldly infatuations and calm their minds can find him. It’s a reminder that true connection with the divine comes from within, encouraging us to look inward for peace and fulfillment.

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Here’s a superb short video I just watched.

The interviewer simply asks a young bloke on the street whether he’d accept 10 million dollars.

The guy obviously says “yes!”.

Then he’s told, the only catch, is that once the 10 million is deposited into his account, that would be his last day. He would not wake up the next day.

What does he respond with?

“No thank you, you can keep your money!”

What does this mean? Simply that waking up the following morning is far more precious than getting 10 million dollars. And yet we’re running after millions? What should we do then?

Simply be super happy and super grateful anytime we wake up, because that is worth more than tens of millions.

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In our daily lives, trust is much like faith on a spiritual path. Life’s imperfections can’t give us the true satisfaction found in perfection. Doing things without expecting returns cleans up our act and brings us closer to freedom. Perhaps because sacrifice is about giving ourselves up completely to God.

The scriptures praise household life for spiritual growth, but warn that we shouldn’t get lost in its pleasures and forget our duties. Rather, our very work should serve as a devotion to God.

Family life doesn’t block our path to God, but enhances it. We may just need to commit our actions to Him and accept life as He shapes it.

Real happiness comes from connecting deeply with God, not from material success.

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Many of us push the thought of death far into the future, leaving us unprepared. Tim Urban’s “The Tail End” puts this into perspective, showing life visually through dots that represent years, months, weeks, or days.

Urban’s approach uses a sheet of paper dotted with these time markers. Imagine living to 80 years old; even if each dot represents a day, it fits neatly on an A4 sheet. This stark visualization underscores how finite our time truly is.

Seeing our lives represented this way can be eye-opening. Those dots symbolize all the time we have left to do everything we’ve dreamed of—visiting loved ones, mending relationships, and tackling long-delayed projects. It makes the fleeting nature of time all too real.

However, Vedic philosophy reminds us that life is a journey of the soul, transcending the physical. Each dot represents not just time, but opportunities for growth, love, and fulfillment. By embracing our dharma, or purpose, we can transform these moments into meaningful experiences, living with joy and wisdom.

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I came across an interesting anecdote recently. At a school, research students’ cubicles were removed to encourage talking and idea exchange. This highlights the importance of verbal communication in fostering creativity.

However, in daily life, face-to-face conversations are dwindling as people are engrossed in their mobile phones. A prominent US doctor notes that our social muscles weaken without use, similar to physical muscles.

The decline in verbal interaction can impact brain function and lead to memory loss, especially in the elderly. Young people may also feel isolated due to excessive screen time, missing real-world interactions.

For those on the spiritual path, satsangs offer a way to connect with like-minded individuals. Realized sages say there is no loneliness when connected to the Divine, living a life of selfless service, and staying active in the community.

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What’s common to the companies below?

Airbnb, Apple, Atlassian, Coinbase, eBay, Facebook, FedEx, Google, Intel, Intuit, KAYAK, Okta, PayPal, Snapchat, Tesla, Zoom.

All awesome companies, having made 1000x or more maybe for early investors.

Yes, but that’s not the only thing that’s common.

A cooler common thread is that these all are part of one of the world’s best venture capital firm – Bessemer.

This is what they call their Anti-Portfolio.

Their compilation of worst mistakes or rather misses, that have gone on to become incredible multi-baggers. If the best can show off their weaknesses, then why not me? (maybe because that’s all I have?!!)

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Shivani Didi shared another profound insight about the importance of determination. She recounted the story of a mother who refused to accept a negative prognosis for her child. Despite medical advice, she nurtured her child with unwavering positive thoughts and actions.

This mother’s dedication exemplifies how present karma can override past negativity. Her child’s eventual success as an international athlete underscores the transformative power of consistent positive thinking.

Additionally, Shivani Didi emphasized the power of creating a thought and holding onto it. This practice, known as “Sankalp se Siddhi,” means realization through resolution. By firmly believing in our goals, we can manifest them into reality.

The key takeaway is to focus on what we want to see in our lives. Visualize our success and affirm our goals as if they have already happened. This shift in mindset, combined with persistent positive actions, can lead to remarkable transformations in our lives.

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Shivani Didi’s analogy of throwing balls also highlights the importance of consistency. Every positive ball we throw contributes to building a positive reality. It’s not just a one-time effort but a continuous practice.

She emphasized the power of our thoughts. When we replace “I wish” with “I am,” we align our mindset with our goals. This affirmation reinforces our belief in our abilities and attracts positive outcomes.

The sour curd metaphor reminds us that our past does not have to dictate our present or future. By consciously setting fresh, positive intentions daily, we can change the trajectory of our lives.

Consider your mind as a powerful magnet. It attracts what you think about most. By focusing on positive outcomes and affirming your success, you draw those very things into your life.

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In Shivani Didi’s video, another powerful insight was the concept of karma. Past karma is undoubtedly powerful, but our present karma is exponentially more influential. By consciously choosing positive thoughts and actions, we can override past negativity.

Our thoughts create our reality. Instead of saying, “I wish” or “I hope,” we should affirm, “I already am.” This shift in mindset helps us attract what we desire by believing it has already happened.

The first benefit of throwing positive balls is that all negative balls stop coming back to us. This immediate reduction in negativity paves the way for a more positive and fulfilling life.

As Shivani Didi mentioned, imagine your life as a field where you plant seeds. If you plant seeds of doubt and fear, that’s what will grow. But if you plant seeds of confidence and positivity, you’ll cultivate a garden of success and happiness.

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I recently watched a video by Shivani Didi from Brahma Kumaris, and the takeaways were incredibly powerful. This blog post is inspired by her profound insights, which can help us lead more fulfilling lives.

One key lesson is to never live like a victim. Our past karma may influence our current circumstances, but we must remember that our present karma holds much more power. By focusing on positive actions and thoughts today, we can shape a better future.

Imagine life as throwing balls into the universe. What happens when we throw balls at a wall? They bounce back, right? The balls we throw, whether positive or negative, come back to us. If we consistently throw positive balls, we’ll receive positivity in return.

Shivani Didi used a metaphor of setting curd. If we use sour curd from the previous day, today’s curd will also be sour. Instead, we should set fresh, sweet curd by changing our thoughts and actions today.

Continued tomorrow…

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Continuing from yesterday’s insights on Roger Federer’s speech at Dartmouth College, here are more valuable lessons he shared.

Federer pointed out that performing well when you’re energetic and focused is easy. The real challenge comes when you’re exhausted and distracted. True champions excel in these tough moments, showing resilience that ensures long-term success.

He also mentioned that he won  80% of his matches but just 54% of his points. It’s not about winning every point; it’s about learning from losses and growing stronger through mistakes.

Lastly, Federer emphasized that life goes beyond achievements and wealth. It’s about finding joy, using your influence for good, cherishing time with loved ones, and staying true to yourself. Don’t let our happiness be dictated by external success.

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Champion tennis player Roger Federer recently gave a speech at Dartmouth College.

He spoke about a bunch of things.

But the one that caught my attention the most was his take on talent.

Did he say that talent is something that is God given, and at birth?

He didn’t mention it that way specifically, but of course, if we have some inborn talent, that’s obviously a plus.

But he spoke of two supreme talents that rule them all.

What could these talents be? Playing the ukulele? Singing 4 octaves? Dancing like Presley?

Nope, far more boring, yet far harder to truly claim as one’s talents.

1. Discipline

2. Patience

Incredible, isn’t it?!

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In the book “How to Succeed with People,” a profound statement captures the essence of interpersonal success: focus on meeting others’ needs rather than your own.

This philosophy pivots on the idea that true success comes from mutual benefit.

When we prioritize the needs of others, we cultivate a spirit of generosity and empathy. This approach not only builds trust but also establishes lasting relationships that are foundational to personal and professional growth.

By shifting our mindset from self-centered goals to a more inclusive perspective, we pave the way for a more fulfilling and successful journey. After all, when we help others grow, we grow in return.

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Here’s an interesting take I came across on us having 3 minds.

They are: the carrying mind, the universal mind, and the joyful mind. The carrying mind is tied to daily struggles, full of conflicts and desires. It’s what we use to navigate our material world.

The universal mind goes beyond duality, embodying peace and oneness. It is compassionate and serene, focusing on harmony rather than conflict.

The joyful mind emerges when we are filled with compassion, experiencing a state of continuous joy. This mind is the essence of true happiness and peace.

Our task is to understand the carrying mind and elevate it to the universal and joyful states. This transformation brings inner peace and lasting joy.

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In the Durga Saptashati’s third part, we come across names like the title above. What are these? There are 2 demons, Sumbha and Nisumbha. But as we know in Hinduism, there’s always a much deeper meaning to everything.

Sumbha represents Asmita, the false self tied to the ego, while Nisumbha embodies Mamata, the attachment to possessions reinforcing this pseudo-self. Their generals include Canda, the extroverted psychic energy, Munda, the introverted psychic energy, Dhumralochana, distorted perception, and Raktabija, incessant compulsive thoughts.

Together, these forces create a formidable challenge. Overcoming them requires a luminous, benevolent, and beautiful manifestation. This is where Maha Sarasvati’s power comes in.

Predominated by Sattva, Maha Sarasvati brings the pure, harmonious energy needed to dispel these inner demons. Her divine presence enlightens and liberates, guiding us away from the clutches of our false selves.

The 700 shlokas of the Durga Saptashati are absolutely incredible!

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Yes, you read that right. But not P. Stain, but pee stained.

What?

Pee-stained jeans, to be specific.

“Eww and yucky” as any second-grader would burst out!

But someone has really come up with the idea of jeans that have dark patches in the crotch area, to depict pee stains.

Being a fashion statement, the jeans aren’t available for cheap (think tens of thousands of dollars!).

And apparently there’s plenty of demand for these jeans, because various influencers and social media elite would want to show them off in the hope of gaining even more attention.

How I wish P was for peace instead of pees!

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What happens when rising sea levels and toxic environments threaten our way of life? Some people argue we should enjoy life while we can, facing the reality of our planet’s decline with a sense of fatalism. Others believe in drastic lifestyle changes to combat the effects of climate change and perhaps even reverse some of the damage.

A middle path, inspired by the wisdom of the Bhagwad Gita, suggests maintaining balance in all situations. This approach emphasizes recognizing our role in creating these problems and finding ways to live with and adapt to the changes already affecting us.

Small individual actions, when pooled together, can influence broader changes and shape policies. This collective effort is essential as it shows that everyone, from single individuals to large corporations, has a part to play in environmental stewardship.

By understanding and accepting our impact on the environment, we can make informed decisions that contribute to a sustainable future. Learning from nature’s resilience, like the adaptable octopuses or migratory fish, we too can develop strategies to survive and thrive in a changing world, embracing proactive and sustainable actions.

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In an exercise session, the trainer was getting the class to work up a sweat.

Walk!

Faster!

Jog!

Run!

100 skips!

Run!

The commands came quick and fast. And it became harder and harder for everyone to keep up.

Finally it was time to cool down. Everyone was laying on the floor. And the trainer asked everyone to relax.

Easy? So far so good.

And then he asked everyone to still their minds.

Easy? Impossible almost! Would have been easier to run another 10 rounds.

It feels many times like idling and doing nothing is easy. But not only is it detrimental to success, but also quite a tough path in itself!

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Here’s a delightful story I came across recently about a Zen disciple struggling with meditation. He approached his master, lamenting his inability to concentrate, his thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind. The wise master pointed towards children playing and suggested, “Join them, or at least watch. Don’t strain yourself to meditate.”

Taking this advice to heart, the disciple sat observing the children at play. Amidst their laughter and carefree antics, he found his heart swelling with joy, slipping almost magically into a state of deep reflection.

The master’s lesson was clear: Enlightenment doesn’t require solitude or withdrawal from society. “Immerse yourself in the everyday and let enlightenment find you,” he advised.

This reminds us that sometimes, in the quest for profound truths, the simplest joys can illuminate the path to inner peace. Just as we needn’t chase every fleeting thought, we needn’t chase enlightenment—it unfolds in its own, often unexpected, time.

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This is part of common parlance in India, and means that “it will take time”. And Indians are habituated to wait patiently in long queues for various services.

All good, but of course faster the better, if possible.

I remember during my childhood, going to restaurants and the waiter saying, “time lagega sir” to the adults, which would mean it would take say 30 mins to heat up their oven, prepare the ingredients and work up their magic.

In many recent visits to restaurants all over however, the waiting time has reduced materially, and the waiters still say, “time lagega sir” for a specific dish.

And when you ask how much time, they say 5 to 10 minutes sir.

That’s it! Just 5 to 10 mins. And still their manner of expressing this suggests that people don’t even have 5 to 10 minutes of patience. Instant gratification to a whole new level!

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While desire management could be an endless course offered in any Ivy League university, we’ll leave it at 404 this time around.

404 is the famous error we see when we type a URL in our browsers but find out that the page doesn’t exist.

So desire management 404, in a similar vein, points to a state where desires cease to exist. It’s the ultimate goal in taking care of desires, because the link between our desires and the purported happiness they bring is completely severed.

But in order to get there, apart from 101, 202 and 303, we can also consider converting our desires to preferences.

No tea? No worries, coffee will do. No coffee, okay then some milk please. No milk? Then some hot water is fine too. When desires are only preferences, they will never transform into anger or greed.

All the best to us. , with managing our desires!

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Just as we know most things can be satvik, rajasic or tamasic, the same extends to desires as well (no surprise there!).

If we want to do something to hurt someone else, that desire would be tamasic.

Like say if I want to earn a lot of money, simply to put someone else down, or rub it in their face.

If our desires are for ourselves, like we want to earn money so that our immediate family lives a comfy life, then that would be an example of a rajasic desire.

And if the desire is so noble that the intention is either for the benefit of society at large or one’s own spiritual progress, that would be a satvik desire.

Desire Management 404, concluded tomorrow!

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The key to desire management is to run our desires through a 3-filter test.

How does this test work?

It’s simple.

First, we need to check whether the desire is a dharmic one.

Is it a rule-breaker? Is it against the law? Is it in line with what the scriptures would say? Does it destabilize or hurt anyone or anything around us?

Second, is it moderate?

Or over the top? Extremes are usually to be avoided.

Third, does it have a spiritual angle?

So that’s the 3-filter test for desires. Pretty awesome, no?

Continued tomorrow, with desire management 303!

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Here’s some wonderful notes on managing desires that was discussed recently in our satsang.

Firstly, can we completely get rid of desires?

Nope, because then we couldn’t even get out of bed.

So what can we do then?

We manage our desires of course, we take care of our desires, rather than just pretending to give them up altogether.

Interestingly Lord Krishna in the Gita says that there are 3 really bad qualities – desires, anger and greed. And even amongst these, the worst is desires, because that somewhat leads to the other two!

Continued tomorrow…

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Does one get attention by being right? Or by being wrong?

It seems like a silly question.

Of course if someone does things right, then they should shine through and bring out the best in others.

In a recent live YouTube video I was watching, the speaker was asking people to comment if they liked the session, or if they had specific questions to discuss etc.

But there was hardly any response at all. Despite there being thousands of live viewers!

And then the speaker suddenly had a slip of tongue. He said “today is Wednesday”, instead of saying “today is Tuesday”.

And boom! The number of comments to correct the speaker just didn’t stop!

So is being right better, or being wrong? Go figure…

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AI is the bane of all humanity, or rather of working humans. Because all our jobs are going to be replaced, and eventually we ourselves.

But is that really true?

Nope. However, a human being’s effort catalyzed by AI is an unbeatable combination. And that’s what upskilling is crucial for.

Similarly, prayers alone may not work, if there is no effort from humans.

But prayers catalyzing human endeavor? That is where the real magic happens!

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In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear emphasizes the importance of asking for what we want. Being direct and specific often encourages others to lend a hand, opening up surprising opportunities.

However, Clear also advises managing our expectations. Everyone has their priorities, and our requests may not always align with them.

Receiving a ‘no’ should be taken in stride, without disappointment. This mindset helps us maintain positive relationships and resilience.

Thus, let’s practice asking with courage while accepting responses with grace, keeping ourselves open to the multitude of possibilities life offers.

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In Indic philosophy, bliss, or anand, is a core attribute of Brahmn, the ultimate reality, and represents the highest state of existence. The Upanishads describe anand as one of Brahmn’s essential attributes, along with sat (existence) and chit (consciousness), forming Sat-Chit-Anand.

Such bliss arises from simply existing.

Achieving perpetual bliss means appreciating life as it is, despite our feelings of unworthiness and thinking future achievements will make us more deserving.

Spiritually, bliss is unconditional and available to all of us by simply existing. Our true selves are inherently blissful.

To cultivate bliss, we start with acceptance, self-love, gratitude, and living with purpose. Bliss then transcends life’s ups and downs.

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Why do we struggle to focus on the Divine? We live between two worlds: the tangible one we interact with daily and the spiritual realm of the Divine.

Our experiences in the physical world often bring more sorrow than joy, yet it remains our focus. Despite the wisdom about the spiritual realm, our minds are drawn to the immediate and the visible.

Escaping this material attraction requires significant effort. Many seekers lose hope quickly as spiritual growth is slow.

While the physical world offers quick gratification, its long-term effects can be damaging. The spiritual path, though demanding, leads to deep and lasting fulfillment.

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Came across an interesting article on 3 algorithms for bliss.

What is needed for true bliss?

To get rid of our problems of course.

But getting rid of problems is impossible in life.

Instead of getting rid of them, maybe we can learn to deal with them instead? How?

The 3 algos might help:

1. Let it go.

2. This too shall pass.

3. How does it matter.

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Came across a nice 2-liner today:

Failure isn’t the opposite of success.

Rather, failure is the rungs on the ladder of success.

As long as we keep moving upwards, from one rung to the next, then we’re always successful.

Failure is only when we get off the ladder!

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Irrespective of political ideology, how does one get so much energy that the person can do:

– 200 rallies
– 25 Roadshows
– 80 interviews
– 200 flights
– 100,000 Kms of travel
– Over 200 hours of speech

All in just 2 months.

And at the age of 74 years.

I’m getting tired just writing this…

How to tap such divine energy?

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Wise people don’t tell you they are wise.

Humble people don’t tell you they are humble.

Influential people don’t tell you they are influential.

Wealthy people don’t tell you they are wealthy.

Famous people don’t tell you they are famous.

Powerful people don’t tell you they are powerful.

And what of all the guys that just don’t stop telling…

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There’s a cool blue Netflix documentary called Living in the Blue Zones.

These blue zones are nothing but small pockets of human inhabitants, strewn across the world, and that for some strange reason, consistently manage to have their folks live well past 100!

How do these happy and healthy centerenians do it? You’ll have to watch the documentary for the real dope, but there was one amazing example on stress.

In Sardinia, which is one of the blue zones, the men would be shepherds most day. How much anxiety do they have? Very little, unless one or two sheep get away and stray a bit far!

But in who’s control is that? The shepherd’s of course! And hence if something bad is controllable, then the stress from it is minuscule.

But what of the stress that plagues us nowadays? Hmm, worth thinking about…

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We’ve all heard the saying, “No pain, no gain.” This timeless wisdom reminds us that growth often comes from pushing through discomfort. Similarly, “No pressure, no diamond” teaches us that great beauty and value are often forged under intense conditions.

“No rain, no flowers” speaks to the necessity of challenges in nurturing beauty and resilience. “No grit, no pearl” just as an oyster turns a grain of sand into a pearl, we transform our struggles into strengths.

“No mud, no lotus” reminds us that beautiful things can emerge from difficult circumstances. “No exertion, no strength” highlights that our challenges build our resilience.

“No friction, no fire” points out that a little resistance can spark greatness. Lastly, “No battle, no victory” captures the essence of fighting through obstacles to achieve success.

These sayings remind us that adversity is a catalyst for transformation. By embracing challenges, we unlock our potential and discover new strengths.

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In a recent yoga session, the teacher asked everyone to count all the rectangles and squares that they could see in the room.

For 20 seconds.

Get set, go!

How many did they count?

Some said 30, some 40, some 50.

And then the teacher asked everyone to count again. 20 seconds, get set, go!

The numbers were slightly higher this time. Not that it mattered.

But his next question was the clincher. Did anyone count any circles? Did anyone even notice any circles?

The squares and rectangles should be like the positive thoughts and things in our life. Our minds can focus on what we ask it to focus on!

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The 2nd shloka from yesterday was Sa tu dirgha kala nairantarya satkara sevito drudha bhumihi.

What does this mean?

Sathu dheerga kaale is for a very long time;

Sathkaarya sevita is with honor and reverence (ie, the attitude with which the exercises need to be performed)

Nairantarya is day after day, regularly, no misses

Dhridabhoomi is that it then gets firmly established.

How cool no? So relevant for yoga, and for anything else in life that is worth having. We just need to keep at it!

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A young and famous and awesome yoga teacher on YouTube summarized the key takeaways of yoga in just 2 shlokas.

1. Atha Yoga Anushasanam

2. Sa tu dirgha kala nairantarya satkara sevito drudha bhumihi

What does the first one mean?

Atha means now, and yoga is yoga. Yes, the exercise variety, not the deeper esoteric union meaning. But it could be that as well, because everything in spirituality has multiple meanings.

And anushasanam is discipline. So yoga comes to those with discipline. Yoga itself is discipline. And Atha or now could be anytime that we wish to begin. It’s never too late. Movement for the body, and no-movement for the mind, are the panacea for a happy life.

Shloka 2 tomorrow… Stay tuned!

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What is there to be truly done?

In the world that we live, no matter what we do, nothing is enough.

From a spiritual point of view though, we are told to strive for nothingness.

The nothing that has created everything, but is yet nothing.

How to understand this? Is it ever possible to demystify?

The sages say the truth is entirely experiential.

Sit and meditate. But even in that meditation, we cannot try to meditate. We cannot try to rid ourselves of our emotions. Of our mind’s thoughts. Of the various ideas that keep popping up. Nothingness, it is said, comes from acceptance of everything. Not from trying, but from trying not to.

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Insults evoke feelings of hurt and indignation, but it’s worth questioning whether these words themselves are harmful or if it’s our interpretation that imbues them with power. Often, insults are born from another’s frustration or insecurities, highlighting that our reaction is what truly defines their impact.

We deeply value others’ opinions, allowing both criticisms and compliments to mold our self-image. Yet, should this influence be so profound? Words are simply vessels; it’s the meanings we attach that stir our emotions.

Feeling insulted stems from unmet expectations of respect. By adopting a mindset of resilience and reducing these expectations, we shield ourselves effectively.

Ultimately, mastering self-respect and confidence ensures no insult can diminish us. By reshaping our perspective, we navigate social interactions with grace and untouchable poise.

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What is spirituality really?

It’s become cool to say one is spiritual.

But what does this mean?

Is spiritual lifestyle a real thing?

Is it about going to a particular place, like a spiritual retreat or resort? There’s so many of those nowadays.

Or is it about applying scriptural knowledge to one’s profession? Or trying to use ancient wisdom to deal with family, friends and colleagues better?

Perhaps it is none of these.

True spirituality is simply about finding ourselves. The real us.

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The recent opening of an ultra-luxury brand’s second store in a bustling city highlights a curious facet of first-world problems: the exclusivity-induced heartbreak of not receiving an invite to a high-profile event.

While apparently some longstanding customers with hefty spending habits were absent from the guest list, creating a buzz of “broken hearts,” it’s a stark reminder of the privileged nature of such woes.

In contrast, many people with far less—who face challenges that extend beyond social invitations—often exhibit remarkable happiness and contentment.

This situation underscores the importance of gratitude and perspective, recognizing that true fulfillment often lies beyond material or social accolades.

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A super successful professional recently recounted his route to success in LinkedIn.

Did he have it easy? Not at all.

Did he fail repeatedly along the way? Many times.

But what was his takeaway and what kept him going?

The 50B-50G attitude.

That 50% of our days will be Bad. And 50% will be Good.

On the good days, we soak it in.

On the bad days, we clench our teeth and keep going, because that’s what will cause the next good days to come.

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Today, I came across a lovely shloka that beautifully encapsulates the human condition:

Jananam Sukhadam Maranam Karunam
Milanam Madhuram Smaranam Karunam
Kalavashadiha Sakalam Karunam
Samyadhipateh Akhilam Karunam

Birth is joy, witnessed in the radiant smiles of newborns, and death, curiously enough, brings compassion—freeing us from the eternal burden of existence. Imagine being penalized for not “living well enough”!

This chant poignantly sketches our journey: a collage of sweet encounters and fleeting moments, all under the relentless tick of time. It’s a humorous nudge that while we meticulously plan and worry, we edge ever closer to the finale. If we could all truly grasp our ephemeral nature, wouldn’t our choices paint a world vibrant with only what truly matters?

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Was watching an interview recently where someone was questioning the beliefs of aghoris.

Like why do they do all the stuff that is generally prohibited in normal life?

Some of the unconventional rituals include dwelling in cremation grounds, smearing ashes on their bodies, using human skulls as utensils, and eating flesh from human corpses. Surely not for the faint of heart.

And there’s many that criticize such true aghoris. And “true” aghoris because there are many frauds too, apparently.

In any case, the interviewee provided an endearing point of view. He said true aghoris are full of karuna, or compassion.

That’s quite a lovely thought, isn’t it? Unless they are overcome by said karuna / compassion for creation as a whole, and are devoid of judgements like “this is good, and that is bad”, how else can they practise such rituals?

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Who doesn’t love a good pose?! Yes fine, the ones that go onto Instagram and Facebook.

But not just those poses for photography. But poses for improving life’s graph itself!

Which pose would that be? A yoga pose of course!

But even with yoga, if one can’t contort oneself to the extent a master can, does that become less impactiful?

And what is a pose, or an asana in yoga?

By definition, it would be Sthira sukha asana, which means sthira = steady, sukha = happiness, so an asana would need to not just be held steady (sthira), but also require that the yogi will need to maintain a happy composure (sukha).

The flip side is the clincher though. Because it implies that every steady and happy pose is automatically an asana, so body contortion may not be necessary!

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Some interesting points from another post on the much discussed imposter syndrome.

Apparently McKinsey’s “Dealing with Impostor Syndrome” live learning module is offered quarterly and always has a long waitlist. It turns out that even some of the most brilliant minds, who have faced incredible challenges and succeeded in highly competitive academic and professional spheres, still doubt their own abilities.

So, what’s the solution to this persistent issue?

LeBron James revealed on a podcast, that he watches highlights of his best performances to regain his confidence whenever he experiences a slump.

If someone as accomplished as LeBron James can feel inadequate, despite reaching the summit of professional basketball, then I must certainly manage my own doubts!

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Most people don’t know a thing about dharma. Even if they do, they don’t understand it. Even if they do, they don’t live it.

So a natural question that occurs is that if others don’t follow dharma, then why should I?

Three key reasons:

1. It’s incorrect to conclude that others don’t follow dharma. We honestly have no clue what motivates others to do what they do.

2. There’s plenty of research now that shows that nice guys finish first, and not last. When we do good things, then people remember us for our generosity, empathy, integrity and righteousness – all great for long term success.

3. We must follow dharma for our own spiritual progress and spiritual peace.

Any others? Please share in the comments!

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In chapter 16 of the Gita, Krishna mentions “chintam pralayantam” to describe an asuric mindset.

Seems like he’s describing my mindset though!

What does it mean?

Nothing but endless worries. That the mind is constantly worried, leading to stress and anxiety.

We say that life being unpredictable is what leads to stress.

But it’s not unpredictability itself, but the fact that we allow the lack of certainty to impact our happiness.

As my Guru often says, living in uncertainty alone is spirituality.

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The nocebo effect. I swear it’s a thing. You think I’ve got it wrong? It should be placebo? Well yes, placebo effect, but did you know there’s a nocebo effect too? I’m not kidding, and even I found out just now!

What is it? Nothing much… Just the placebo effect, but in reverse.

If someone takes a pill that is a dummy, and is cured, that’s the power of positive thinking?

Likewise, if someone takes a dummy pill, but is scared of the side effects (having read about them somewhere), then and then ends up suffering the side effects… That’s nocebo!

Imagine then, the power of negative thoughts on us!

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Persimmons are super sweet on the inside. But the skin isn’t that easy to peel off.

In possibly the newest and most popular K-drama show of all time, Queen of Tears, one discussion on persimmons is food for thought.

Specifically, the fellow who just plucks some of the fruits, and then explains to another man, how this batch of fruit isn’t sweet at all.

But what is to be done?

Simple, just soak the fruit in bitter soju, which is an alcoholic beverage made from rice, and wrap it tightly in a cloth. Leave it overnight, and the fruit turns sweet!

Much like life itself, as the man notes. Life gives many bitter experiences, but if we soak ourselves in them and endure them, it’ll lead to success and sweetness eventually.

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We discussed the hedge fund genius Jim Simmons here yesterday.

You know how his fund became so profitable?

Because he was able to predict human nature.

He knew that whenever crises would strike, the same basic human instances would come to the fore – fear, greed and desire.

Is this rocket science? Does it sound predictable? Of course!

Jim was able to create sophisticated quant models and systems to extract alpha from such situations.

Interestingly, if we want to extract alpha from life, we can predict the same things too, in ourselves, and in others. And everything’s already predicted in our scriptures. We just need to read them!

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Jim Simmons, one of the greatest hedge fund investors of all time, passed away yesterday, at the age of 86.

He compounded returns for clients in his Renaissance Medalion fund at a ridiculous 66% per annum for over 30 years.

To compare, Mr Warren Buffet’s own returns compounded at somewhere between 20 and 25%.

What did Mr. Simmons say about his own life story?

"I did a lot of math. I made a lot of money, and I gave almost all of it away. That's the story of my life".

Isn’t that just an outstanding way to live? Work, earn and pass it on.

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Here’s a thought for today that I came across:

Life is not about having or achieving. It is about being and becoming!

Isn’t that just awesome?

Now how to live such an awesome life?

The first step would be to simply smile or laugh, and just enjoy the current moment.

We’ll realize that is actually not so simple to do! Because there’s so much other stuff that needs to get done, right?

Well, as a great man once said, smiling and laughter are not situations. They are decisions.

You know what we must decide to do now…

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Bookkeeping refers to maintaining one’s books of accounts.

But recently on social media, there’s a bunch of motivators and self(proclaimed)-help Gurus that does another type of bookkeeping. Which is keeping their books front and center for everyone to see and advocating reading books like there’s no tomorrow.

“I read a book a week”, says one. And a peer comments instantly, “I read two!”

“I’ve read 120 books this year!”, says another, while yet another claims to have read 2500 books in his lifetime. Phew.

It might seem like there’s no place for success in our lives unless we read 1000s of books.

If someone’s really read a 1000+ books, then they should have read about humility somewhere you’d think?

As my Guru always says, it doesn’t matter how many books you read, if you don’t implement anything from them to bring a positive change to the lives of those around us.

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Funny things happen around us all the time.

People love God, but they hate one another.

In the name of religion, people hate followers of other religions, but what about loving everyone? What about peace?

What really is holiness and piousness?

Are they linked to religion?

Absolutely not!

Being holy and pious is part of our innate nature. But the deluded think otherwise, and ruin their lives, and the lives of others around them.

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There’s a debate among spiritual seekers, especially on the tantric path, as to whether certain rituals, excessive as they may seem, are truly necessary.

The relatively straightforward ritual path, called dakshinachar is itself not easy to follow.

But the left hand, or vamachar, is ridiculously difficult (and also what catches most people’s imaginations).

One tantric expert explained it nicely.

The left hand is like taking an expressway. Tantric deities hence have swords in their hands, because they can cut off all attachment at once.

Whereas the right hand path is slower, but perhaps more suited to most. These deities may wield axes, symbolizing that the tree of attachment needs to be cut, but maybe one blow at a time.

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Here’s some super stuff from the legendary Osho, on money:

• Money is equated with power and is a common focus for most people.
• Even those considering spiritual or otherworldly pursuits view their virtues as a form of currency that can “purchase” a better status in the afterlife.
• Both worldly wealth and spiritual “wealth” are motivated by similar desires for security and a better position, either on earth or in heaven.
• Money serves as a future security; people accumulate it to feel secure about their future.
• The preoccupation with money only diminishes when one begins to live fully in the present, stepping away from concerns about the future.
• Ultimately, money, whether in literal or metaphorical terms, symbolizes power, and this underlying quest for power is pervasive across different realms of thought.

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What is enjoyment really about?

Happiness?

Does enjoyment truly lead to happiness? Maybe temporarily, but permanently?

As Swami Chinmayananda says, wrong understanding of freedom leads to licentiousness. Which means that one has no self-control whatsoever.

Very soon, the diminishing marginal utility principle starts working, and the 5th scoop of ice cream and the 10th scoop have the same limited value to someone with a massive sweet tooth (like me!).

True freedom isn’t simply letting the mind and body do whatever they want. Rather true freedom, is keeping the mind and body under “our” control.

But who are we, if not the mind and body? Hmm…

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AI or Artificial Intelligence is just extraordinary.

Anyone who’s used chatGPT for only a few minutes even, will agree.

Whatever it does, and in the micro/nanoseconds it does it, is simply unfathomable to the human mind.

Just how can it understand anything and everything we prompt, and then create an answer or even an image (video too soon, it seems), and then format it, and send it back, in just the blink of an eye?

Almost impossible we’d have thought 2 years ago, before it was publicly revealed.

But chatGPT creator Sam Altman went on record yesterday to say that “chatGPT will soon be remembered as the dumbest AI ever used by man.”

Holy moly to whatever is coming up next. But importantly, there’s no place for ego in life. Even the best of yesterday is not good enough today. Not in human life, not in AI life.

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Prayers are a vital link to the divine, at the heart of spiritual devotion across religions, each with its own rituals. We often wait eagerly for answers after praying, but the Divine communicates in unpredictable ways, unlike showing His/Her immediate physical presence in movies like “Oh My God” and “Bruce Almighty.”

• We seek strength, and instead, maybe rewarded with challenges that make us stronger.
• We hope for prosperity, and are reminded to use our skills and effort.
• We ask for courage, and encounter situations that reveal our deepest fears, that can only be overcome by inner strength.
• We wish for divine love, and find opportunities to help those in distress, serving the divine through our actions.

Patience and awareness are essential. The divine doesn’t make grand gestures like in movies but subtly shows us paths to answer our prayers. We must recognize and seize these opportunities, maintaining our faith.

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So apparently there are 4 types of muktis or liberations (never a dull day in spirituality, always something new to learn!).

1. Salokya Mukti – Residing in the same realm as the deity, contingent on the merits earned through spiritual practices like chanting. This state is temporary, with individuals returning to life’s cycle once merits are exhausted.
2. Samipya Mukti – Achieving closeness to the deity, akin to a servant-master relationship, leading to enlightenment through divine service.
3. Swarupya Mukti – Adopting a form similar to the divine, specifically reflecting aspects of the Divine Feminine such as Lalita Tripusundari or Bagalamukhi from the ten Mahavidya pantheon.
4. Sayujjya Mukti – The ultimate union, merging entirely with Ishwar (God), transcending all distinctions between worshipper and worshipped. This profound state can be achieved in higher states of consciousness accessible through advanced spiritual practices.

These muktis represent stages on the path to spiritual fulfillment and the eventual dissolution into divine oneness.

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There’s a nice video doing the rounds on social media. It’s called the Root vs Fruit system.

The essence is a comparison of the two systems that work inside of a tree.

One is called Gravitropic, where the roots of the tree grow towards gravity. It’s dark and damp, and it takes plenty of effort to grow into the ground.

But it is 100% required. Because without the roots, the trunk and branches and leaves and fruits wouldn’t even exist.

Speaking of fruits, the other part is called Phototropic, which is the part of the tree that grows towards sunlight. And eventually leads to the blossoming of flowers and their fruits.

Life is like that, isn’t it? One needs to hunker down and do the hard work in the darkness and dampness. And only then would one really be able to shine in the light.

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A movie that was playing recently had the dialogue “this is a prison without bars”.

And it immediately reminded me of Hotel California, where “you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave…”!

But such prisons are not uncommon.

Maybe our daily workplaces are one such example. We might despise the boss and the colleagues and can easily walk out, except for the monthly salary which acts like a drug.

Social media platforms can also feel like a prison without bars. We scroll endlessly, craving connection and validation, yet often feel more isolated and trapped in the cycle of comparison and competition.

Our own minds can become a similar prison too, especially for those battling anxiety or depression. Thoughts become a maze we can’t escape, despite the absence of physical restraints.

The real escape? Satsang and scriptures, with the guidance of a Guru.

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Sri Sri Ravishankar defines attachment in a very nice way.

He says that anything that requires efforts, is attachment.

Like if you are asked to smile. Then the smile is forced. Compared to if you are happy within and smiling naturally.

Or if you don’t know how to cook and are asked to prepare a meal. It’ll be a lot of effort. And that is attachment.

But he says that anything that comes naturally, peacefully, easily, that is nirasakti, or detachment.

Worth pondering over!

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Imagine Buddha, in his later years, deciding it’s time to share a key piece of insight with his followers. This is what he did. He gently introduced a simple, yet profound concept: finding your way back to your true self.

Here’s the core of his message: Being at ease with who you are involves a subtle inner alignment. The first step is to guide your wandering thoughts back to the present. Avoid getting lost in past memories or future worries, as they can mire you like quicksand.

Instead, engage in mindful breathing. This practice helps synchronize our mind and body, fostering a peaceful state right in the current moment.

Think of it as drawing the curtains to shield yourself from life’s chaos. Close off your senses—sight, hearing, smell—and focus inward. Relax with your breathing, and you’ll discover a peaceful retreat within yourself.

Whenever life feels overwhelming, remember this advice from Buddha: center yourself, breathe deeply, and find your calm. This is the essence of tranquility.

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The whole world is going crazy over startups and their insane valuations.

From the 100s of millions to the many billions.

Wowza. Many founding teams are raking in moolah, and becoming wildly rich, seemingly overnight.

Valuation is great. But what about value creation?

Would we take only the cherry and not the cake?

Forget the startup, and look at our lives.

Are we creating value for others?

Or simply running after the glitter and gold?

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Do the horns matter at all?

It’s perhaps the thorns inside that are more relevant, than the horns outside.

As Krishna explains in chapter 16 of the Gita, an asura would be a person who does not live by dharma. And that an asura’s sole aim in life is to enjoy sense pleasures. That’s it, as simple as that!

We each perhaps intuitively feel and believe that we live by dharma. But do we really? Are there never any transgressions?

The reality is that we each have a mix of daivic and asuric qualities, a bit of good and a bit of bad. The effort has to be, constantly, to introspect, and force out the bad, while growing the good.

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There used to be an ad for a brand called Onida TV back in the day. It would feature a friendly looking devil, with his 2 horns and 2 fangs sticking out prominently.

“Neighbor’s envy, owner’s pride”, went the tagline, causing sales to absolutely go through the roof.

While TV ads are generally positive messages, here was a case when words like ‘envy’ and ‘pride’ actually resulted in success extraordinaire.

This is not about the devil being in the details, but a thought towards the devilish details itself.

The devil would be no different than what out texts calls asuras perhaps. People with horns, right? More tomorrow!

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Here’s the great Jiddu Krishnamurthy on “beliefs”, because his thought process was truly unique:

Belief is corruption because behind belief and morality lurks the mind, the self growing big, powerful and strong. We consider belief in God, the belief in some thing, as religion. We consider that to believe is to be religious. You understand? If you do not believe, you will be considered an atheist, you will be condemned by society. One society will condemn those who believe in God, and another society will condemn those who do not. They are the same.

So, religion becomes a matter of belief-and belief acts and has a corresponding influence on the mind that then can never be free. But it is only in freedom that you can find out what is true, what is God, not through any belief, because your very belief projects what you think ought to be God, what you think ought to be true.

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Imposter syndrome is truly a real thing. Even the most successful suffer from it.

Could be because of educational background, or comparisons with others and more recently, the fear of obsolescence (like by AI).

Youngsters that can’t cope sometimes end up doing the unthinkable, like a 25 year old super smart kid that launched himself to his end from a 9th floor balcony.

Why do we struggle like this?

Perhaps because we believe that we are only as good as the work we do. That we are only as good as the job titles we carry.

Is that all there is to life? In this material world where we are taught to self-aggrandize above all, maybe that is the sad reality.

But such life has no purpose. Spiritual purpose is the only way out of this nasty cycle.

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What are the 3 gateways to ruin?

According to the Gita, these are kaama (desire), lobha (greed) and krodha (anger).

Why these?

Because when we are full of desires, then our ego (aham) becomes prominent.

When one does anything to fulfil one’s desires, then it’s never enough, and lobha or greed dominates.

No one can have everything they desire, no matter how rich, because there are many things that money cannot buy. And unfulfilled desires when excessive can lead one to cross the line of dharma, and stem from or result in krodha.

How to stay away from this? Just lead a simple life. Earn more, own less, and be ever helpful.

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What is important for a hiring manager, especially over the longer term? Is it good grades? Or the stamp of the Ivy Leagues?

Or maybe something harder to measure, like soft skills?

From a very interesting write-up (link) by the amazing Collab Fund, here’s an excerpt:

The analysts from the “non-target” schools ranked something like #1, #2, #4, #5, and #7, while the analysts from the traditional “target” schools claimed the #3, #6, and #’s 8-11 spots.

The results were so stark that the firm’s CEO approached Rick to see what drove them. Rick’s response was direct and clear — The analysts from “non-target” schools simply wanted it more. They were humble and wanted to learn. They were willing to go above and beyond what had been asked of them. Much like how I felt just talking to this guy, these kids wanted to run through a brick wall for him.

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Okay not shun, but tion.

But that won’t make sense unless it’s merged with a word. That’s English!

Read this nice life tip today.

Vocation. Location. Relation. Don’t change more than one at a time.

Vocation as in job.

Location as in maybe moving from one city to another, or maybe even across countries.

Relation as in getting married, or expanding the family and such.

Only one at a time. Nice to know for sure. But as we well know also, life has its own plans…

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Saw an ad in the newspaper for a play on Lord Ram’s life, aka Ramayana (but it wasn’t called that!).

What was odd and disconcerting, was how big the photo of Ravana was in the ad.

As though Ram was somehow relegated to being his sidekick, with a tiny image in comparison to the villain.

The ad also proudly announced, “XYZ person playing Ravan”.

But no mention of who was playing Ram.

Reminded me of this wooden doll story we discussed 4 years ago!

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In an interesting podcast with a tantric practitioner, the interviewer posed an interesting question which got an interesting answer (which is what made the podcast interesting, you see!).

He asked, “So many people claim siddhis and powers and stuff, but why are they not being captured on video then for proof? Is it that once cameras became mainstream, then such ethereal beings and divine powers stopped being shown?”

The tantric practitioner laughed and acknowledged that this was a very nice question. And then said that it’s not because cameras had come onto the scene, but simply that very few people actually possess any powers or even the intent and discipline required nowadays. Distractions abound, and siddhis don’t come by without extreme penance and effort.

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What is life, if not just a cursory glance of the Divine. A few moments of His time line, and we are created, preserved and destroyed.

And yet we have egos that are larger than time itself!

Funny it was then, that I came across a silly situation.

A group of priests had gathered to perform some rituals. They were to collect some money (about 3$ each) from the participants as part of the ritual. Everyone paid up, or so they thought, because the money wouldn’t add up. Someone didn’t pay. Or the money was pocketed. Or something else. Does such a small amount even matter?!

But a huge fight ensued. Almost for an hour. And one of the priests in his anger, even cursed the whole group, and included all their 7 generations-to-come as well. And then another priest gave his curses too.

What is this, a movie script?

When anger and ego take over, everything perishes.

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In a recent Zoom meeting l attended, eveything was going well.

One side was presenting their product, which was fantastic.

The other side, the client, was listening with rapt attention, and also keeping relevant questions coming from time to time.

About 45 minutes in, the folks on the client side suddenly began to look around.

What happened? Apparently an earthquake struck, not a deadly one, but still enough to feel their building quake.

The presenter, despite being fully incentivized to continue his sales pitch, very empathetically said, “My suggestion is that we reschedule and continue this call in the future. Follow-on tremors of earthquakes often come in gaps of 3 to 5 minutes. So please find yourselves a safe place.”

Lovely presence of mind and empathy, don’t you think?

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In an episode of the Netflix series Mr. Queen, a significant moral dilemma is presented, demonstrating the timeless struggle between the greater good and individual welfare.

The king is faced with a decision that challenges the very essence of his reign: whether to sacrifice a young child for the supposed benefit of the many.

This situation illuminates the depth of his character and the principles upon which his rule stands.

Contrary to the expectations of a hierarchical society that often prioritized the collective over the individual, the king’s response is both profound and telling. He asserts that his power and position hold no value if he cannot protect even the weakest among his subjects.

This moment in Mr. Queen not only highlights the inherent value of each life but also serves as a reminder that leadership, at its core, is about safeguarding the vulnerable.

Through this narrative, Mr. Queen subtly critiques historical and contemporary notions of power, suggesting that true strength lies in compassion and moral integrity, rather than the cold calculus of sacrifice for the greater good.

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Oh, to be royalty!

Lounging in palaces, donning the fanciest robes, and feasting on… well, whatever was considered a delicacy back then (pigeon pie, anyone?).

But let’s face it, even the regal life of yesteryears pales in comparison to the simple pleasures of today.

Take, for instance, the hit Netflix TV show Mr. Queen.

Imagine the hilarity of a modern soul trapped in the body of a queen from the Joseon Dynasty.

Sure, you’ve got the whole kingdom at your beck and call, but what good is that when you’re craving some late-night ramen or dying to binge-watch your favorite show?

Suddenly, being able to order pizza at 2 AM or streaming endless hours of TV feels like a luxury fit for a king… or queen!

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When the researchers used the word “because”, the outcome changed materially! Like, “Hey, can I jump the queue and get 5 copies please, because I’m in a rush?”.

The number of people who would now agree to let the researchers skip the queue increased by 50 percent!

But was it because of the reason? Or was it because of the word “because”?

So then the researchers added some frivolous reason. Like, “Hey, can I jump the queue and get 5 copies please, because I have to make copies?”.

And lo and behold, despite the reason itself being silly and adding no new information, about the same increase in queue-skipping permission was seen.

Incredible no? It shows how important it is, that we use the right words!

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There used to be this silly English sentence when I was young, that the kids would discuss in school. About how it’s not possible to have 3 “because”s in a sentence. And then some other kid would say nope, it is possible, such as: “Because cannot be used to begin a sentence because because is a preposition.”

In a book called Magic Words (by Jonah Berger) that I just began reading, the author speaks of an interesting New York Copy experiment. Everyone knows that New Yorkers are always busy, have little time to speak, and are keen to finish their wok quickly and move to the next thing.

So the researchers went to a photocopy shop where a long queue was outside. They’d go up to the front of the queue and ask “Hey, can I jump the queue and get 5 copies please?”. Obviously no one wants to give in especially when they’re all waiting for the same thing.

But when the researchers used the word “because”?

Super insight…tomorrow!

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Swami Sukhabodananda speaks about “experiencing an experience”.

He says that this is the only real way to “true” happiness.

What does he mean by this? He himself gives an example:

"Experience an experience?" a student asked the master, "What was your experience before and after enlightenment?" The master replied, "Before enlightenment, I used to wake up, bathe, eat, chop wood, and sleep at night. After enlightenment, I did the same," he continued. "The only difference being, previously when I was doing similar chores, my mind used to be in the past or future. After enlightenment, when I eat—I eat, when I bathe—I bathe, and hence I live in the present. To experience an experience is to be present in that experience."

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Whether it’s exploring new hobbies, engaging in spontaneous adventures, or simply embracing moments of silliness, there are countless ways to infuse play into our daily lives.

Consider the story of Jack (again from NatGeo), a middle-aged accountant who rediscovered the joy of play through improv comedy. Despite initial apprehension, Jack found liberation in letting go of his inhibitions and embracing the spontaneity of the moment.

By prioritizing play in our lives, we not only nurture our own well-being but also contribute to a more vibrant and connected community. Whether it’s organizing a neighborhood game night or volunteering with local youth programs, finding opportunities to play and connect with others fosters a sense of belonging and purpose.

Ultimately, embracing playfulness in adulthood is a choice—a choice to approach life with curiosity, creativity, and an open heart. By infusing our daily routines with moments of joy and laughter, we can unlock the full potential of our inner child and lead lives filled with meaning and fulfillment.

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From the earliest stages of life, play served as a crucial tool for learning, socialization, and adaptation. Across species, playful behaviors are observed in both young and adult animals, highlighting its evolutionary significance in survival and development.

Take, for instance, the playful antics of dolphins, who engage in elaborate games of chase and tag. While these activities may seem lighthearted, they play a vital role in honing essential skills such as hunting, communication, and social bonding.

Similarly, scientists observed tadpoles hitching rides on bubbles from aquarium aeration stones, demonstrating playful behavior even in the earliest stages of development. This playful exploration likely serves to enhance their understanding of their environment and develop essential skills for survival.

Even in humans, play has been integral to our evolution, driving innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. Consider the story of Albert Einstein, who famously remarked, “Play is the highest form of research.” By embracing his playful curiosity, Einstein revolutionized our understanding of the universe.

Concluded tomorrow!

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In the midst of adulthood’s responsibilities, play often takes a backseat. However, play serves as more than just a pastime; it’s a vital component of adult life that promotes creativity, problem-solving, and social connection.

Consider the story of Sarah as per the NatGeo article, a busy professional who rediscovered the joy of play through painting. Initially hesitant to indulge in such a seemingly frivolous activity, Sarah found solace and fulfillment in expressing herself creatively.

Engaging in playful activities not only reduces stress but also fosters deeper connections with others. Whether it’s a game night with friends or a spontaneous dance party, these moments of shared joy strengthen bonds and create lasting memories.

Moreover, play encourages us to approach challenges with a fresh perspective and a sense of curiosity. By embracing a playful mindset, we can navigate life’s complexities with resilience, adaptability, and a healthy dose of humor.

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In the midst of a rare snowstorm in Washington, D.C., the cityscape became a playground for the imagination.
A group of adults was attempting to build a snowman. Despite initial awkwardness, laughter soon filled the air as they embraced their inner child, demonstrating the joy and camaraderie that play can foster.

Yet, amidst the enchanting scenery, the notion of adult play faced skepticism, echoing societal norms that often dismiss playfulness as childish. But beneath the surface, play holds profound significance beyond mere amusement, as explored in the January 2024 edition of National Geographic.

Renowned psychiatrist Stuart Brown coined the term “adult-play deficit” to describe the alarming decline in adult playfulness, as discussed in said NatGeo article. He warns that this deficit may contribute to rising rates of depression and other mental health issues, highlighting the serious consequences of overlooking the importance of play in adulthood.

Recent scientific findings support the evolutionary roots of play, suggesting it’s as essential as sleep for mammals, including humans. From enhancing cognitive function to strengthening social bonds, play enriches our lives in multifaceted ways, challenging the notion that it’s solely reserved for children. More findings tomorrow!

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Although “Everyone loves Raymond” (that hit TV show from yesteryear), everyone loves winning, even more!

Everyone also knows the ingredients needed to win.

Most people have the ingredients too.

But are they used properly?

Nope.

Here’s a lovely quote that sums this up:

It’s not the will to win that matters – everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters

Paul “Bear” Bryant

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We know the power of words. Say something appreciative, and you might capture the recipient for life. Say something nasty, and you might lose a relationship forever.

Likewise, the power of our thoughts. Would we just think bad stuff, if we knew that our thoughts come to fruition? If we are constantly fed the negative, now can we expect the outcome to be positive?

Ditto for our presence. We can’t be omnipresent, thankfully! And yet, we mentally try to be everywhere at once. If that doesn’t give us anxiety, then what were we expecting?

Our words, thoughts and presence matter. More than we can imagine.

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Step into the emotional landscape of ‘Vesti la Giubba,’ an aria from Ruggero Leoncavallo’s 1892 opera ‘Pagliacci.’ Here, a grieving clown, informed of his beloved’s demise, must bravely don his costume, take the stage, and uplift the audience.

This powerful scene encapsulates the resilience to confront life’s trials without succumbing to self-pity.

Delving into Hinduism and spirituality, the perspective on death transcends conventional understanding. Unlike a mere transition, it posits that there is no true end.

Life, according to this philosophy, perpetuates through various forms, urging us to embrace the cyclicality of existence. This spiritual viewpoint challenges the fear of mortality, offering solace in the belief that life transcends boundaries, echoing the powerful resilience symbolized by ‘Vesti la Giubba.’

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We discussed the amazingly motivational move “12th fail” here recently.

One of the best takeaways from the movie is the word “Restart”. It’s also the mantra of the movie, that’s is applicable to each one of us maybe, and even more, to me.

When the protagonist fails repeatedly, his coach too repeatedly tells him the same thing. To restart. Because failure only crystallizes when we don’t restart.

And as any user of a Windows laptop knows, the solution to every problem is nothing but a restart!

So here I was, restarting my PC for some simple issue that of course I failed to troubleshoot. And I loved what the message said:

You’re 28% there. But you need to keep the computer on. Nothing good can happen if we switch off at the very point that we need to be switched on!

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The word swasthya in Sanskrit refers to health.

I came across a very interesting interpretation by Sage Ashtavakra of Ashtavakra Gita fame. He was ashta-vakra because of his 8 physical deformities.

Could such a person be perfectly healthy or swasthya?

Seems impossible, but he was!

How?

Because his physicality was irrelevant to him. All he cared about, was being forever established in the Self.

Which is swa-stitha, or self-established. How cool is that?

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So here’s a Gita that I never heard of before, until I chanced upon a thread on X. Encountering this Gita, also known as the Jackal Gita, nestled within the Mahabharata’s Vana Parva, unveils a lesser-known yet profound dialogue between a wise jackal and sage Kashyapa, offering solace and guidance. The wisdom shared includes:

• Humans are blessed with hands, which jackals and animals don’t have.
• Even so, animals never contemplate suicide, and do their best with what they have.
• The jackal explains how running after money won’t help him, a brahmin, become a king. And even a king cannot become a Devata. And a Devata cannot become Indra. And even Indra is dissatisfied!
• Hence Kashyap muni should embrace being born as a human + brahmin, and do his dharma.
• The sage then realizes that the jackal is none other than Indra himself in disguise!

This interesting and relatively less known Gita is a gem and enriches one’s understanding of ancient scriptures, offering valuable insights for navigating life’s complexities.

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A recent ad enroute to the airport caught my eye.

It was an aptly placed photo of a really premium and really rugged luggage.

Very strong and very durable.

And it had been put through some endurance tests, presumably.

Because the tagine it went with was, “The bigger the test, the bigger the person becomes.”

A good reminder for me, when I feel like curling up into a ball and shutting out the world at the slightest hint of something not going my way…

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Many people find it cool to shun spirituality. And religion.

In its truest form, religion only helps make spirituality more accessible.

Why is spirituality needed?

We are all a combination of matter and spirit.

We know this, because just physically assembling a human body together will not make it “alive”, as it will still lack the spirit of life.

But we tend to spend all our time feeding the matter in us. Which might make us rich in material terms.

But what food are we giving to our spirit? Especially when it is the only thing can truly resolve our inner malaise?

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In the grand theater of existence, we often play the role of demanding divas, seeking divine intervention for our every whim. It’s like ordering takeout from the universe, expecting it to arrive in thirty minutes or less, with a side of enlightenment.

But the Divine isn’t a wish-granting genie; it’s more like a wise old friend gently nudging us towards self-discovery, all while chuckling at our attempts to control the cosmos with a vision board and a prayer.

So, next time we bargain with the Divine like flea market shoppers, remember: it’s not about what we get, but who we become in the process.

We must ask ourselves, do we want the Divine? Or only what the Divine can give us?

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In the realm of Kundalinī-yoga, there’s a captivating concept known as “nerve-centers.”

These points, often called chakras, aren’t just physiological plexuses; they represent deeper psychological levels that modern science hasn’t fully explored.

When diving into Kundalinī-yoga, it’s supposed to be like embarking on a journey through consciousness. Each step involves ascending from one level of awareness to the next, encountering spiritual obstacles known as granthi along the way. This path is supposed to require intense concentration and perseverance until the aspirant reaches the pinnacle of universal consciousness.

Other schools of thought involve chanting and focusing various mantras on various energy centers to make spiritual progress.

The roads are myriad, but the destination one.

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In an interesting podcast featuring one Nilesh Oak, a historian by profession, he describes the concept of yugas, as mentioned in a part of the Aitreya Brahmana.

Now typically yugas are considered to be large time periods, and some of the dating doesn’t even make sense.

For instance, the common number one sees is that some 432,000 years makes up one yuga. And some will compound this number as well. And then they say the Mahabharata happened one yuga ago, so 432,000 years ago. Really? Was there even any human life back then?

And thus this different explanation of yugas was symbolic and interesting, as are most things in Hinduism! What did it say?

That when we sleep, that is Kali Yuga. When we wake up and sit, it is Treta Yuga. When we stand, it is Dwapara Yuga, and when we take action, it is Satya Yuga!

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In Sanatana Dharma, there are 4 stages of life progression.

Brahmachari, or student life.

Grihastashram, or family life (as a householder).

Vanaprastha, or going to the forest, relinquishing material life.

And lastly Sanyasa, which is completely giving up everything.

This is a beautiful progression no doubt.

But a billboard ad caught my eye today enroute to work. They were selling apartments in a lovely looking skyrise building.

The name of the building? Vana, of course, from Vanaprastha, but minus the prastha!

What are they offering? That for an insane price, one can buy a princely apartment in that building, with a nice forest-ish appearance (i.e., lots of trees!) and hence leaving no need to go to the forest for vanvaas at all!

Are  we running away from materialism, or towards it?!

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Is there another lesson for us from what Swami Vivekananda did?

Do we completely give up our prayers, and wish for nothing?

And if we stop asking, will the Gods not make those things happen?

Do things happen only because we ask? Well surely this we know is not true. Our efforts matter, but most things are outside our control.

Then why pray? For our mental peace, at the very least. Because that is truly the only thing that matters. If we are lucky, specific chants might provide specific material results too.

Therefore it makes sense to pray for us to have the right mindset for every situation. That will us to samatvam, or equipoise in the face of everything.

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So, what can we glean from Vivekananda’s experience? It prompts us to contemplate our own approach to prayer and spirituality. Are we too focused on asking for specific outcomes, rather than seeking a deeper connection with the divine?

The notion of living without constantly seeking fulfillment through external means poses a significant challenge. It requires a level of spiritual maturity and selflessness that few attain. Yet, it’s a worthy aspiration, inviting us to transcend our material desires and embrace a more profound understanding of existence.

In essence, Vivekananda’s journey urges us to reflect on the interconnectedness of prayer, enlightenment, and liberation. Perhaps it’s not about achieving one before the other, but rather recognizing that they are intrinsically linked – different facets of the same spiritual evolution. It’s a journey of self-discovery and growth, where each step brings us closer to realizing our true nature and purpose.

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In Vivekananda’s repeated attempts to ask for help within the shrine, we witness a struggle familiar to many: the tension between faith and doubt, action and inaction.

Despite his genuine need, Vivekananda’s forgetfulness highlights the complexity of human nature, where even sincere intentions can be overshadowed by distractions or uncertainties. But was he really distracted or uncertain? Perhaps not.

It might be we who are truly distracted. Distracted away from God and into materialism. Vivekananda was exactly the opposite, because he forgot everything in the presence of the Lord. That’s not distraction, is it?

Ultimately, Ramakrishna’s gentle rebuke – that asking for material gains without understanding life’s deeper truths is folly – challenges us to reflect on our own motivations and expectations in prayer and in life. It’s a lesson in aligning our desires with a deeper understanding of the universe and our place within it.

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There’s a remarkable incident from Vivekananda’s life that offers profound insight. Picture this: his mother lay gravely ill, nearing the end of her life, and Vivekananda found himself without the means to provide her essential medication or sustenance. The frustration and helplessness he felt must have been overwhelming.

In his distress, he turned to Sri Ramakrishna, seeking solace and guidance. Venting his emotions, he questioned the value of spirituality in the face of his mother’s suffering. Ramakrishna, a devout worshiper of Kali, suggested an unconventional approach: to seek assistance directly from the divine.

Despite initial doubts, Vivekananda entered the shrine. But, remarkably, he forgot to make his plea. This happened not once, but twice, demonstrating the fallibility of even the most earnest intentions in moments of crisis. Ramakrishna’s patient insistence on trying again underscored the importance of perseverance in spiritual practice.

What happened next? Continued tomorrow…

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Ever pondered how to address the divine? The Bhagavad Gītā offers a hint: “Howsoever men approach me, even so do I accept them,” says the Avatar. Thus, whether one prefers a paternal or maternal demeanor, divinity accommodates all.

Within the realm of the divine, gender and personality dissolve, akin to fitting an elephant into a teacup—utterly futile, yet oddly amusing.

Here’s the twist: from the impersonal Brahman, cosmic entity extraordinaire, emerges the personalized Iśvara, donning a human-like garb for a more relatable vibe.

And when chaos beckons and evil looms large, God sheds the celestial garb, donning the guise of an Avatar—a divine intervention akin to a cosmic superhero, ready to save the day in style. Whether as Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, or the next box-office hit Avatar, divinity reigns supreme in all its multifaceted glory.

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Can (pseudo) spirituality manifest in untoward ways?

1. Social Media Showcase: Some individuals attend meditation retreats primarily to flaunt their spirituality on social media, seeking validation instead of inner growth. By posting photos of themselves meditating, they prioritize external validation over genuine spiritual connection. Their focus shifts from personal development to impressing others, turning their spiritual practice into a disguised ego trip.
2. Intellectual Ego Boost: Others use spiritual quotes and discussions to appear wise or enlightened in conversations. Rather than embodying humility, they seek admiration and elevate themselves intellectually. Their motivation isn’t genuine spiritual growth but rather to assert superiority over others, feeding their ego through the guise of spirituality.
3. Manipulative Justification: Some manipulate spiritual teachings to justify selfish actions, distorting spirituality for personal gain. By claiming alignment with spiritual principles while harming others, they prioritize their own interests over compassion and understanding. In doing so, they not only deceive others but also corrupt the essence of genuine spiritual practice.

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The Sanskrit word samata refers to equanimity. Neither getting too happy when something good happens, nor getting too sad when something bad happens.

Samata is possibly the first step in karma yoga.

Can we directly give up all attachments and desires? Very difficult.

But can we slowly and surely train ourselves to be lesser and lesser volatile (of mind) to outside events? Absolutely.

And this will naturally cultivate a sense of detachment. Such an internal shift leads to a separation between the active surface personality, engrossed in various engagements, and the inner peace and detachment.

The individual begins to perceive that it is not they who are solely responsible for their actions, but rather that the actions are being carried out through them.

This perspective eliminates feelings of possessiveness or attachment to the outcome of their endeavors, regardless of their perceived significance or success in conventional consciousness.

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We fawn over ourselves like the world’s most stunning Instagram filter.

Yet, one snarky comment and our self-worth crumbles faster than a gluten-free cookie. What gives?

Vedic spirituality calls it “Maya”.

We see ourselves reflected in other people’s opinions, forgetting the eternal, flawless Self within.

Ditch the external validation and grab your meditation cushion.

Uncover your inner diamond, and those fleeting opinions will lose their sparkle.

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Forgetfulness comes in various forms. Sometimes, we misplace items or overlook appointments – minor slip-ups. But there’s a deeper, more profound kind of forgetfulness: absent mindfulness, where we lose touch with ourselves.

I stumbled upon the thoughts of the Danish philosopher Kierkegaard in an article in the paper. In his 1843 work, “either/or,” Kierkegaard reflected, “The unhappy person is one who has…the content of his life, the fullness of his consciousness, the essence of his being…outside of himself.” This detachment from oneself, Kierkegaard argued, leads to perpetual absence from the present moment.

He identified existential boredom as the root cause of our frantic pursuit of distractions, long before the digital age. Kierkegaard viewed this busyness as absurd – a futile attempt to fill the void of meaninglessness.

So, what’s Kierkegaard’s answer? He challenges us to find truth within ourselves. It’s about discovering ourselves in the here and now, where past and future fade away, leaving only the perfect present tense.

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We’ve already seen TTSP once before.

But this was echoed several centuries ago by the wise Birbal.

King Akbar once asked him, “What is it that will make an unhappy man happy, and a happy man unhappy?”.

Birbal thought for a moment and replied, “This too shall pass!”, indicating that everything is transitory only.

If a moment seems too good, and a happy man is revelling in that moment, that moment will soon pass. And likewise for the unhappy man, who is extrapolating his life to constantly get worser and worser. But as we well know, TTSP!

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In a TV series called Curbing Your Enthusiasm, one of the protagonists throws himself a “live” funeral. He’s absolutely convinced that it will catch on too!

What is this, according to the funny guy? A pretty nice concept, if you think about it.

His premise is that when everyone’s going to come to his funeral after he dies, they will invariably have very nice things to say. But, they will be saying all those nice things to “the body in the box”.

So, why not have the same situation, but receive the praise when alive instead?

The concept is cool. And it’s amazing really how no one praises anyone during the normal course of life. At least not when they aren’t expecting anything in return!

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Why give up the thrill of pleasure, huh? Imagine soaking in a breathtaking sunset, admiring a majestic tree, or following the graceful flow of a river—sheer bliss!

But here’s the twist: when we cling to those moments like they’re going out of style, they become addictive. Suddenly, that beautiful face or serene landscape becomes an obsession.

We’ve all been there. We revel in a moment—be it artistic, intellectual, or simply awe-inspiring—and we’re hooked. Yet, this pursuit often clouds our minds, breeding false ideals and endless illusions.

Let’s be realistic though. Trying to kick pleasure to the curb is a futile endeavor. Instead, we could dissect it, and understand its quirks and cravings. Because when life becomes a relentless pursuit of pleasure, it’s like opening Pandora’s box of chaos, confusion, and blurred lines. Pleasure can be painful.

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Just came across a nice Jay Shetty video where a young lady all of 26, asks him for advice. She was hit by brain cancer 4 years prior, and she’s obviously seen all of her friends and colleagues move forward in life, whereas time had stood still for her.

How could she possibly reclaim her life?

Jay’s answer was sensible and sensitive. After calling out how inspiring this young lady was, he told her that what she and many others go through at such a point in time, is perhaps grief.

Why grief?

Because, he explained, that grief doesn’t just come because of losing someone or something, it could also come because of not having the life one would have wanted or thought they should have.

Pretty interesting way to define grief, no?

And he also said that the lady should continue to share her story with others and inspire those around her. Because as she helps others bring down their grief, her own grief would reduce!

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Our minds have a habit of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. And let’s face it, they can cling to the negative like Velcro. But here’s the important bit: we’re all born with innocence, just waiting to be rediscovered.

Remember those carefree days of childhood, when every moment was an adventure? That innocence is still within us, ready to bring a little magic back into our lives.

So, if we loosen up and embrace simplicity, life could become a whole lot sweeter. It’s not just about gaining knowledge; it’s about reconnecting with our inner selves. By welcoming our innocence, we can open ourselves up to a world of joy, spontaneity, and endless possibilities.

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Ever catch your mind in a daydream? It’s like a puppy, always chasing after the next thing. But here’s the deal: being aware of what’s going on up there is like having a superpower. It’s our ticket to taming stress and anxiety.

Sometimes our thoughts feel like a flock of birds, darting from one idea to the next without a care in the world. But when we start paying attention, we realize we can guide those thoughts like a skilled shepherd herding sheep.

The next time our minds take off on their own adventure, let’s grab the reins and steer them back to the present moment. Who knows? We might just discover a newfound sense of peace and clarity amidst the chaos of everyday life.

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In the recently released Hollywood movie called Barbie, there’s some interesting dialogues.

Of course Barbies always have fun and every day is perfect.

Just like the perfect world imagined by the minds of so many little girls who love their dolls.

However, one day, Barbie faces an existential question.

She begins to think about death, and that too, while shaking a leg at a party.

“Have you other dolls ever thought about dying?”

And suddenly there’s pin drop silence. Clearly this is a no-no on Barbie-land.

So Barbie quickly covers up, “I meant, I’m just dying to dance…”, and the party resumes like it never even stopped!

Funny stuff, but in the real world, we know all too well, that it is the thought of mortality that truly awakens one’s spirituality.

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An octogenarian leader made it clear that relinquishing power is not on the agenda. Despite advancing age and mounting health concerns, he remains steadfast in his position, defying expectations of retirement.

This stance prompts reflection on the universal struggle of letting go of power and privilege, even in later life. It highlights how deeply ingrained desires and attachments can overshadow considerations of what may be best for succession planning.

This narrative serves as a reminder of the complexities of human nature, where the allure of power often outweighs rational judgment or recognition of one’s limitations. It underscores the wisdom found in spiritual teachings, advocating for detachment from worldly desires and the pursuit of inner peace.

For the elderly leader, the throne is his whirlwind, a realm he’s reluctant to depart. Do we have such thrones as well?

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Can we truly give up all desires?

Perhaps not.

But can we give up one desire for another?

I feel like buying that cool looking $1200 new iPhone, but then seeing the $3500 Vision Pro makes my heart skip a beat (insane price and awesomeness both!).

So the interim solution is probably in trading desires upwards. Go for something better, and replace the lower.

Keep doing this, and we’ll realize that the only desire that truly and comprehensively fills the heart is the desire for God and the Self.

That’s also when we’ll accept that we already have everything that truly matters. What good is a desire for the one who has it all?

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It’s difficult bringing spirituality to work, isn’t it? Most people don’t get it, or don’t care. And we ourselves may not fully understand how to implement what Krishna has said. So here are three simple pointers:

• Give Your Best: No shortcuts, just your A-game!
• Keep Your Cool: Inner peace amidst the chaos is key.
• Share the Success: We didn’t get here alone, and there are many people who will benefit from us, in myriad ways!

Being spiritual doesn’t mean being naive. But we can surely tackle the corporate jungle with a dash of mindfulness.

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People always reminisce about the “good old days,” but maybe, the good old days are happening right now!

Remember when we had to rely on paper train timetables or stop random strangers for directions? Now, with just a tap on our smartphones, we can navigate through the chaotic streets of Mumbai or the bustling markets of Delhi without breaking a sweat.

The struggle of waiting for a bus in the scorching heat or pouring rain, praying it would arrive on time? Nowadays, with ride-hailing apps, we can summon a ride with a few taps and avoid the dreaded wait.

Back then, if you missed your favorite Bollywood movie at the cinema, you might have to wait ages for it to come out on DVD. But now? Streaming platforms bring the latest releases pronto.

So, let’s raise a chai to the present chaos because someday, we’ll look back and say, “Remember when we thought these were the good old days?”

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Here’s a super “miracle” that I had the good fortune to witness recently.

I was with a staunch devotee of a particular deity. This deity was the Ishta Devata of said person, and the person would chant copious malas of this deity’s mantras daily.

I watched the person put small flower garlands across the photos of all the various deities at their altar. All garlands from the same strip, and all similar flowers.

And yet, the next morning, while all the other garlands had wilted, only the garland around the Ishta Devata was incredibly fresh!

The difference was absolutely remarkable, almost as though that specific deity’s photo had specially charged energy… Divine and miraculous indeed!

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In chapter 16 of the Amazing Simple Gita, my Guru has added an important element for many virtues in the first 3 verses. One of pragmatism and practicality.

Some people try to conflate the virtues given with perpetual application. In every single situation.

The virtue list asks to tell the truth? Well tell the truth all the time then, even if it hurts someone, especially a dharmic person.

Here’s one:

Kshama: An automatic, effortless (non-reactive) forgiveness. No stupidity, Great Prithviraj Chawhan, forgave his enemy 7 times and got killed in the 8th battle. Never forgive durjanas.

Adhroha: Bearing no enmity, dislike to none. Yet applied depending on your duty. For instance border protector, soldier and police. Don’t wait to get killed by other’s tricks.

See the stuff in bold? How practical is that!

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How about we cherish the beauty of the everyday? In the simplicity of routine, we uncover moments of wonder and joy, whether it’s the melody of birdsong, the comfort of a familiar embrace, or the aroma of freshly baked bread.

Amidst the hustle of life, we could pause to appreciate the magic in ordinary moments, like the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind or the soft glow of a candle’s flame.

We can embrace the notion that true miracles lie in the everyday, reminding ourselves to seek awe in the seemingly mundane, like the way sunlight dances through the trees or the laughter of children playing in the park.

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We’re always told to value the journey over the destination, right?

Because focusing on the destination aka result is what brings us stress and anxiety. Focusing on the journey hence will allow us to “enjoy the moment”.

Here’s another nice take I came across recently.

Shift your focus from the ‘how’ to the ‘who‘ – because the people you surround yourself with shape your journey.

In life’s adventure, the beauty lies in the company you keep. Prioritize the ‘who’ over the ‘how.’

There is magic in embracing inspiring souls; they transform ordinary journeys into extraordinary adventures.

The right people could make every journey and destination brilliant.

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In Rajarshi Nandi’s book called Adhyatmikta, the author presents an interesting view on sects or lineages of saints, called sampradayas.

Many people simply become egoistic today, saying that they are linked to so and so lineage. Does it really matter?

Here’s a funny excerpt from the book…

Each sampradaya is susceptible to a single weak link in the chain of transmission. Nobody can fix this; that is how matters transpire. The classic example given is that of one great pundit who had a cat and would tie that cat near his puja room when he sat for puja so that the animal did not disturb him. Few generations down the line nobody really remembered why he used to tie the cat, but the thought process, and that action transformed into a dogma and a new rule was made that whoever did that puja ought to first buy one cat for himself and then tie it near the room!

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• Life’s pursuit? Seek limitlessness.
• Problem: How we seek.
• Why? Because desires drive us, and actions limit us.
• Upanishad say: Seeker and sought unite.
• Knowledge, not action, leads.
• Then why act? As work purifies mind, detached.
• Pure mind grasps reality fast.

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In Sanskrit philosophy, there’s this concept called “prakriti,” which refers to nature’s role in shaping our consciousness and giving it boundaries. Pra+kriti, first+action.

It’s like nature’s way of guiding us to act in certain ways, almost instinctively. Picture it as our default mode of action, the way we naturally respond when faced with a situation that demands action.

This innate nature, deeply embedded within us, influences how we perceive and interact with the world around us. Until we learn to master it, we’re bound by its constraints.

There’s this saying in Sanskrit that I came across, “svabhavo vijayati iti shauryam,” which translates to “the true heroism is to conquer our own nature.” It’s about overcoming those instinctual impulses and limitations to truly assert control over our actions and decisions.

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A relative was recently discussing an experience of a silent spiritual retreat.

I’ve heard of these before, but never had the courage to attempt one. Still won’t, I think.

But it’s interesting when you realize that verbal silence is only one aspect of it. The real mauna is in the ability to make the mind go quiet. Silencing the mouth is just a means to that end.

Apparently there are a few types of maunas.

Karna mauna: control of speech;

Kastha mauna: maintaining a neutral expression in every way;

Susupti mauna: clearing the mind of doubts, recognizing life’s transient nature and the role of the three Gunas, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas;

Maha mauna: achieving a complete cessation of thoughts

Clearly, shutting my mouth is far easier than the others!

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Guruji’s Wisdom: “I am the body” breeds fear—of hurt, death, loss.

Cosmic Play: Recognize life as Lord’s Prakriti, embracing desire’s exhaustion for innate fearlessness.

Death’s Truth: Realize death befalls the body, not the everlasting soul—fear wanes.

Relinquish Labels: Strip away “I and mine,” embracing everything as the Lord’s—fear fades.

Devotion Triumphs Fear: Total faith in the Lord dispels fear; Prahalad’s unwavering trust exemplifies.

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In the realm of leadership today, there’s a lot of buzz around soft skills, and empathy often gets thrown into that mix. But Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sees it differently. He believes understanding others goes far beyond what we typically consider soft skills. To him, labeling empathy as “soft” undermines its true importance—it’s actually one of the toughest skills to master.

Nadella emphasized this point in an interview with Axel Springer’s CEO Mathias Döpfner, stating, “Empathy is not a soft skill. It’s the hardest one to master—to truly connect with the world and the people who matter most to us.”

Moreover, Nadella highlights that empathy isn’t just about bettering relationships within a company—it’s also integral for understanding customers. According to him, genuine innovation stems from empathetically addressing unspoken needs.

Nadella has long championed the significance of empathy in leadership. His personal experiences, including being a father to his late son Zain, who had special needs, profoundly shaped his perspective. He acknowledges his wife’s empathy as a driving force behind his own commitment to infusing compassion into both his personal and professional endeavors.

In essence, Nadella’s stance underscores that empathy isn’t merely a trendy concept—it’s a fundamental pillar of effective leadership.

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Steve Schwarzman is global Private Equity behemoth Blackstone’s Founder and Chairman.

He’s 77 years old, and is worth some ~38bn dollars. So one can say he’s successful.

Here’s what he said in an interview recently, which offers some exceptional motivation:

Schwarzman, who will likely never retire, insists his global ambitions have nothing to do with money. "I look at anything and say, 'What's the maximum we can make this?"" he says of his life's work. "If you see some amazing opportunity, I just get so excited about that. Why shouldn't we own that? Let's go."

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Ever found yourself pondering how to tackle an unusual challenge? Imagine facing a judge’s puzzling verdict: a prisoner must be hanged on a surprise day from Monday to Friday.

Instead of succumbing to fear, the prisoner remains calm, employing a brilliant strategy. If he stays alive until Thursday, the judge’s Friday execution loses its element of surprise.

Extending this logical approach, if he survives until Wednesday, Thursday’s execution is ruled out. This method continues for each day, ultimately making a surprise punishment impossible.

This tale unfolds a powerful lesson in navigating tough situations with a composed mind and innovative thinking. When faced with adversity, the ability to think beyond the obvious can work wonders. The prisoner’s clever reasoning not only spared his life but left the judge in awe, leading to a compassionate decision.

In life’s challenges, perhaps remarkable solutions emerge when one stays calm and embraces creativity.

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In our journey as humans, we’re endowed with the incredible gift of the human form, giving us the unique ability to choose our thoughts, feelings, and actions. This power shapes our destiny and happiness.

Life is often turbulent, filled with trials. Yet, amid the storm, our choices remain in our control. We can choose our attitude, our response – to be positive, proactive, and resilient.

Cultivating the art of choice is vital. Each decision carries consequences. Discovering our purpose guides us towards meaningful choices, aligning us with fulfillment and freedom.

But beware of ego-driven choices, which lead to bondage and suffering. The study of Vedanta offers wisdom, clarifying our path towards a meaningful and joyful existence.

In the end, the power of choice is divine – a force that shapes our lives and the world around us. Embrace it, for it resides within each of us.

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In the chaos of our daily lives, meditation has become a lifeline for many chasing success and inner peace. But what’s the real key to making meditation work? Well, it’s simpler than you might think: just repeat to yourself, “I am nothing, I know nothing, I do nothing.“

Now, that might sound counterintuitive in a world obsessed with achievement, but here’s the trick – it’s all about letting go. Embrace the mantra, embrace the nothingness.

By acknowledging our smallness, we actually find a deeper connection within ourselves. It’s like shedding layers of stress, anxiety and ego.

This mantra isn’t about achieving something monumental. It’s about finding peace in the now, letting go of the need to know everything, and realizing that sometimes doing nothing is the most productive thing you can do.

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We’ve discussed previously the very nice and funny TV series called Our Man in… where the host is none other than James May of Top Gear fame.

Guess where he’s traveled to after visiting Japan and Italy? Well, India of course!

India is a country that’s just too vast to do full justice on a 3-episode show. And so while May has tried, he’s barely scratched the surface. At least it leaves room for him to come back for more!

What struck me as poignant, was how he a Britisher, and therefore ex-“colonizer” (as one of his guests in an episode funnily put it), summed up India at the end.

He acknowledged that foreign people always talk about the problems in India. And then he added, “The problems of India are no different than the problems we have back home. The only thing is, India is much bigger, and hence its problems look that much bigger.”

Nicely on point. The problems everywhere are the same. And interestingly, the solutions are the same as well. All dealing with the mind, and cleanly provided in our scriptures!

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Remember Elton John’s touching but outstanding song, “Candle in the Wind”? It got me thinking about life in another way.

Imagine life as a flame, akin to the candle in Elton’s song, but with an uplifting twist.

Each of us is like a candle, glowing brightly for a time before we’re gone.

Yet, the flame – our spirit or essence – doesn’t end with us. It moves on, lighting another candle, another life.

This is an analogical perspective to rebirth, isn’t it?

Our physical form may flicker out, but our essence continues in the endless cycle of life, much like the enduring melody of a beautiful song…

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Daana or charity has a special place in spirituality. Lord Krishna considers it amongst the key rungs on the spiritual ladder.

Why would this be?

Because the root cause of all our troubles is said to be the ego. The more the ego has, the more it wants.

Au contraire, the more it gives away, the weaker it becomes.

This nicely sums up daana. Because when we part with something, we’re actually not losers, but gainers in the most crucial sense.

So charity, assuming it’s done right, with no expectations, and given to the right people / organizations, means that it’s really not the receivers who should be telling thanks to the givers. Rather it should be the givers telling them thanks, for giving them the opportunity to perform daana!

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There was a funny incident recently. A session on improving presentation skills was being conducted.

The speaker said that there were three key things to watch out for.

1. Listening
2. Questioning
3. Messaging

The speaker then said that he wanted the audience to pick any one of the three key focus areas that they believed were their strong point.

Everyone picked one of the three and put that into the chat box (most sessions happen online nowadays you see!).

Everyone except one chap. He picked Listening and Questioning.

The speaker said you’ve to pick only one. So he picked Listening.

But it’s funny no? The guy who picked Listening as his strong suit couldn’t listen to the requirement, which was to pick only one! Sums me up well many times, when I’m just physically present but mentally far far away someplace…

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Here’s a nice mental model that I came across recently.

What “mental subtraction” calls for, is to imagine that certain situations have not happened in our lives.

Many times we feel low and depressed. But how to get out of this rut? Mental subtraction of course!

So just think of the most important and the happiest events and situations that happened in your life.

Could be when you got married, or when you graduated, or got a promotion, or got your first child, or any of 100s of other such situations.

Now mental subtraction requires us to slowly remove each of these incidents from our lives. The positive triggers that pushed our trajectory forward? Yes, remove them.

How would we have felt? Where would we be? Surely not in a better position than we are in today?

And thus the need for gratitude and faith. Nothing is truly in our hands, but still, we are in good hands.

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A lot of people would be doing homas (fire worship) for a variety of reasons.

While I was reading an excellent manual on performing a Chandi Homam (Mother Chandi is the divine primordial energy of life), I was struck by the message provided by the author on the mindset one needs to adopt while doing this homam. Pasting it below, verbatim, for your reading pleasure!

However, it is not necessary that She should take away one's material success and prosperity in order to give spiritual upliftment. In fact, many people who perform Chandi homam everyday or every week using this document may experience continued or even increased material success (and yet be able to remain detached from it and progress spiritually). However, in some cases, She may decide to give a shock or two in worldly matters if something is badly blocking one's spiritual progress and a setback is needed. The path towards self-realization is different for each person. She knows the best for each person. Unless one is willing to surrender to Her completely and accept whatever comes one's way good or bad as Her blessings and unless one does not expect any specific material benefit from this homam, one should not use this document to perform Chandi homam.

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Seem a hamster wheel before? No doubt you have!

It seems silly that the hamster keeps running on it, despite getting nowhere.

Well here’s the story of someone I know.

He was perched on a ladder, and was doing great.

Then he looked down, and felt super, because he saw many below him on lower rungs of the ladder.

Then he looked up, and felt sick, because there were so many above him on higher rungs.

And he felt those above him were getting away, farther and farther, while those below, seemed to be catching up!

But the Divine Being who was standing outside and observing, could clearly make out that the ladder was nothing more than a circle, exactly like a hamster’s wheel.

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Most people today are crazy about speaking up. They just do anything to get the first word in, and more importantly, their word in.

It’s as though the world is run by people who talk, talk and talk more.

Speaking up is important, no doubt, at specific times.

But only speaking, and not letting anyone else in on the conversation? That’s plain bad manners!

And yet, most people just love the sound of their own voice a bit too much!

But you know what’s even more beautiful than sound and perhaps more important?

Silence!

Silence is crucial if one wants to listen to and understand the words and perspectives of others. Wisdom calls upon us only when we are silent. We can feel the Self within, only in silence. Indeed, silence is the true language of Creation.

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Came across the interesting concept of Virodha Bhakti, or reverse devotion. The practitioners harbor such intense hatred towards God that they undergo self-destruction, only to be rescued by the very divine force that annihilated them.

This philosophy suggests that the immense power and transformative nature of the Divine makes any interaction, even adversarial, ultimately beneficial for the Seeker.

Liberation is attained when an asura, slain by Vishnu or Durga (for example) in battle, experiences this paradoxical union of destruction and salvation.

The gods of Hinduism, capable of formidable deeds, execute their actions with perfect detachment – destroying without hatred and loving without attachment.

This paradoxical nature underscores the profound dynamics of spirituality.

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Everyone who runs a marathon knows that the 10k or 10 kilometers run is not even close to the actual 42km.

Neither is it close to the half marathon at 21k.

But 10k is important in itself, as the stepping stone to the larger numbers. 10k is also the over-publicized and over-quoted number from Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers where he coaxes people to get in 10k hours of practice on anything if they seek mastery.

We’ve discussed this before as well, and so we’ll get to the point. 10k hours works in everything, including spirituality. We spend 10k hours on many things, but how about on prayer?

Many people question faith. They say our scriptures and vedic chants do not work. But these statements come from quarters that have never tried these out. Try calling out to a deity with shraddha and bhakti 10k-hours-worth times and the view will change!

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For the Ayodhya Ram Mandir consecration, the who’s who across various fields were been invited to attend.

But there’s also one poor ragpicker who was invited.

Really? Why?

Because she had donated a meagre 20 rupees in total, 10 from her side, and 10 for her unwell son.

20 rupees is nothing. The middle class will argue that with inflation, even 2 million rupees is nothing.

But what this lady lacked in money, she made up for in faith and devotion.

In terms of money, everyone reading this would never considering themselves to be in poverty.

But I can’t help but wonder if I’m not spiritually impoverished. And whether the Guru has been trying forever to lift me above the poverty line.

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Life is a test. Or maybe a series of tests.

Like in school and college, we can’t always score a 10 on 10.

Some will be really tough tests, and others not so much.

But the tests are what cause us to grow.

They push us to become better.

When people hurt us by doing exactly the opposite of what self-help and leadership and “success-secrets” books tell us, that’s fine. Because those crazily aggravating scenarios too are just tests.

Can we keep our wits about us? Or do we give up?

Every moment spent here on earth is a test not for our bodies and minds, but for our souls. Are we able to overcome our basic instincts, and pass the test to become a higher power?

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Many of us may be attending a lot of satsangs, or at least one of them.

How does it make us feel? Great, right?

That one hour spent in satsang could be absolute bliss.

The key messages to empower ourselves, to bring us success, and to elevate our spiritual lives – all in those lovely 60 minutes. And add some socializing and some prasad, and that would seem like spiritual bliss.

But outside of that one hour of satsang?

Does the bliss continue?

Maybe the word professional satsangi is relevant then. We are (I certainly am) beneficiaries and maybe even contributors within that 1 hour period. But outside of that, life (aka strife) takes over.

Only if we consistently and mindfully implement each of the messages of our scriptures, can we hope to move from professional satsangi, to a permanent one!

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Apparently some 4 billion people across 60+ countries are eligible to vote this year (2024).

That’s just insane, and incredible.

A quick look at poll promises overall though?

Many leaders in the decades gone by, would offer development and things. Yes, things like schoolbags and bicycles and computers and what not.

Instead today, there’s hardly much positive left. It’s mostly all about promises of shutting down other communities, wiping out other religions and inviting hate wherever love and peace should exist.

The game seems to be all about self-gratification, ensuring continued rulership (via appeasement votes) with little care for those around.

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Rohan Bopanna recently won his first tennis Grand Slam title. Now this statement may not be a big deal standalone, but Bopanna achieved this at the age of 43 years and 329 days!

Easy on the body? Nope. Easy on the mind? Absolutely not!

Imagine having played 100s and 100s of matches during all the so-called “prime” years of youth and not winning a grand slam at all. And yet, he persisted.

He couldn’t do intense weight lifting and similar exercises, so he switched to yoga, to give him the core workout he needed.

And of course, he switched his mindset to being super positive.

As he quipped, “I’m not 43, I’m at level 43!”

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The markets across the world are going higher and higher.

Wealth effect is kicking in.

People are getting richer.

And yet, they aren’t happier.

Why?

Because those who are invested, are wondering what to do. Do they pull out their money, crystallize their gains? Or will the market go even higher after they pull out, only to leave them as helpless bystanders?

Then of course there’s the bunch that aren’t invested at all. They’ve just been watching and waiting, hoping to enter, but never able to truly make up their minds.

The market might be high, but the moods of the hoi polloi?

That’s a trick question, as you know by now, where happiness truly resides!!

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Cows have a unique significance in Indian / Hindu tradition.

Foreigners often find it funny that Indian roads (even highways!) are used by these bovine creatures to chill out, for lack of a better phrase.

And because of the respect for cows, people will leave them be.

In Vedic tradition and astrology too, feeding cows and taking care of them is said to bring benefit, including erasing or neutralising bad karma.

Now who’s going to go find a cow and take care of one? Thus when I was scrolling through my twitter feed today, I chanced upon https://dakshinvrindavan.org/, which is a retirement home for cows, and where anyone can donate whatever they feel like.

I haven’t particularly verified this organization, and maybe there are many others like them, but this one came recommended by some respected individuals, so just thought to share, in case someone is looking for helping spread some moo-sic to cows ears!

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What is the opposite of fear?

Bravery?

Courage?

Confidence?

Fearlessness?

Well, none of these are wrong. But they aren’t a 100% correct either, because to eradicate fear, we need something strong and permanent.

So what is such a thing?

Devotion.

With adequate devotion, even the deepest of fears melt away. Why fear when the Lord is here?

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When you’re gunning for the top post, and someone thinks you’re not worth it, how does that make you feel?

Not good, right?

A recent interview by US Republican ex-candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was outstanding.

A lady in the audience asked him whether he would accept being a VP to Trump (her implicit assumption being that Trump would win and be President).

Vivek said that he would always put his country first, and do what was needed. But also that he felt he was the right choice to run America.

The lady then said that his answer sounded like “a maybe”.

To which Vivek said, “I gotta tell you about a defect I’ve got. You need to know because you gotta know your President has a defect. And that defect is, that I never have a Plan B!”

A masterclass in handling hecklers if there was one! But more than that, it shows extraordinary confidence in one’s abilities. Could he lose? Yeah, anything can happen, and I don’t remotely understand politics, so that’s not even the point. But if we could all work as though we had no plan B’s, how cool would that be?!

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It’s funny how human nature rarely changes.

And this is exactly why all our scriptures, although written thousands of years ago, are still as relevant today as they were back then!

In the investing world, maybe a few decades ago, people would make basic mistakes like buying high and then getting wiped out in a market crash. Why’d they do that? Because they didn’t have enough information. About companies, about markets, about stocks. No internet, no information.

Hence, buy, because it seems like a get rich quick scheme, and hey the neighbor is in on it too!

Fast forward to today, and what has changed? Lack of information has changed to an overdose of information. But has this translated into wisdom? Hardly. Greed and fear still rule the roost, and hence the basal human nature is absolutely unchanged.

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In business, concepts like the ‘flywheel effect’ and ‘virtuous cycle’ signify momentum from strategic actions. Surprisingly, these ideas also illuminate the spiritual path, particularly when exploring the synergy of humility and gratitude.

Humility sets this spiritual flywheel in motion. It’s a grounding force, reminding us of our small yet significant role in the universe. This humble perspective naturally ushers in gratitude – a deep appreciation for life’s often overlooked blessings.

Gratitude, in return, fuels humility. The more we express thanks, the more we recognize our interconnectedness and limitations. This understanding fosters deeper humility.

Together, humility and gratitude create a self-reinforcing cycle, each strengthening the other. This dynamic duo not only propels personal growth but also brings us closer to the core of spirituality, turning every humble acknowledgment and thankful moment into a step towards inner peace.

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Where does work-life balance start?

Obviously it starts with work, because it’s the first word, right?

Nyop.

Thinking about work-life balance as first balancing work and then attempting to balance life, is probably why we always feel imbalanced all the time.

So what to do then?

Invert it perhaps.

Start with life balance first. And within that, begin with the self.

Once we keep enough time for our own reading, prayers, meditation, chanting etc., our soul will feel nourished.

Then we can automatically be better and more humane with our families.

Which in turn will make us better at work. Balance achieved!

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Everyone wants to be trusted. But how does one build this trust? How can one assume the role of a trusted advisor to someone else?

Here’s a super formula I came across in a training slide from one Simitri Group.

Trusted Advisor = (Trust + Liking) / Self-interest

How does one build trust? Trust comes from consistency, transparency, competence, reliability, and empathy.

And Liking? Liking comes from common interests, positive interactions, similar values, empathy, and active listening.

Self-interest, or rather not putting Self-interest first, is key.

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Embarking on a marathon transcends testing physical stamina; the true challenge lies in cultivating muscle strength. This serves to ensure cramp prevention.

How does one do this? From nothing less than dedicated strength training.

Is there any dedicated strength training for the mind? Yes there is, and it is called satsang!

How?

By engaging in prayer, scriptures, chanting, and meditation.

In life’s marathon, achieving harmony between mental resilience and enduring muscles is the ultimate victory.

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If you wanted to go to a particular city, and were standing at the station to get a ticket, what would be the most important info you’d need to give at the ticket counter?

The number of buffaloes in the destination?

The kind of cars that people drive there?

The type of cheese folks prefer to eat?

The types of buildings that city has?

Or…

Would it simply be the name of the place?

Surely the name, isn’t it?

As Saint Gondavalekar Maharaj says, such is the importance of nama. If we take the name of place to go to a destination, we must take the name of the Lord if we want to reach him.

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It’s funny how many people hide behind the garb of “blind faith”. This is especially so when it comes to putting one’s religious or spiritual beliefs up.

While it is not possible to generalize, the younger generations are perhaps lesser connected to their roots compared to a few generations prior.

“It’s impossible for me to have blind faith in God. I’ll first need evidence.”

Where’s the evidence for gravity? It still exists though doesn’t it.

But the solution is really not about faith but about action. Spirituality and religion impact human beings at their core. Spirituality is experiential. If a certain process is followed as mentioned in the scriptures, the outcome will follow, no doubt about that. But how many people even give the process a try?

It’s easier to hide behind the veil of “blind faith” than to lift a finger. Such laziness will lead only to blind fate. Can’t be criticising the system then!

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Came across a book on mantras that presented an interesting distinction.

It said that there are 3 types of mantras. Sattvik, rajasik and tamasik. Yes you probably guessed that already the moment you read “3 types of”. Pretty much anything on Vedic spirituality can be categorized under these 3 buckets it seems.

What I found interesting, was that while the letters and words making up the mantras themselves may not be Sattvik, rajasik or tamasik, the intent of the one chanting perhaps makes it more so.

The book said that a tamasik mantra is one that is aimed at controlling and harming others. A rajasik mantra on the other hand is useful for our wants – a bigger house, a bigger car, more money, more fame etc.

And what’s a Sattvik mantra for? For all the good stuff, like progress in spirituality, for collective achievements such as the furtherance of dharma etc. Interestingly, even things like food, money and house etc. can be clubbed under Sattvik mantras, but only as long as these are basic needs. Once the focus graduates to greed, it’s not Sattvik anymore!

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There’s a super fun travel TV show called Our Man in Italy and the protagonist / anchor is a familiar one. James May, as we might know preciously as one of the 3 hosts of the superb automotive TV show called Top Gear, takes the helm here.

It’s great fun, because he travels from one country to another, and covers all the important cities and landmarks, giving us a vicarious look of what could be.

In Italy in particular, James is told to search for “la dolce vita”, or “the sweet life”.

What does this mean? Well usually it would be a lot of money, fame, wine, good cheese and pizza, a good house, and generally chilling. Seems sweet for sure.

But during the episode, James notices his own Italian guide simply staring at an old Vespa – one of the famous Italian manufactured 2-wheelers. The man is so in love with the Vespa that he continues to stare, unaware of the world whizzing past him.

Later on, he confides in James. “Buddy, who cares about money and wine and cheese. That Vespa moment was my dolce vita because I was completely at peace!”

What is your dolce vita?

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Are we close to being overtaken by AIliens? Yes not the aliens from other planets, but the AI that we humans have created? Not that I have made any contributions whatsoever in the creation of AI, but it does collectively seem like quite an advancement in technology.

It may seem like AI and robots are taking over, but as a Tamilian would exclaim, the “aiyo” moment is probably not here yet. Here’s a piece I was reading from one FEI FEI Li, a computer scientist and a pioneer of the artificial intelligence boom.

"There's just so much complexity in human brain science that is still a mystery. We don't know how we do that in under 30 watts, the energy the brain uses. How come we're so terrible at math while we are so fast at seeing and navigating and manipulating the physical world? The brain is the infinite source of inspiration for what artificial intelligence should be and should do. I feel human intelligence should be the benchmark to judge Al and not the other way round."

There we have it. The One who has created us is far far ahead in this race for creation. In any case, anything we create is also a part of His creation only.

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How does one make good decisions?

Well, it’s not easy for sure. And some would say that the decision itself doesn’t matter, much, and that it’s the follow through that’s truly critical.

But many people and organizations get stuck at the time of making a decision itself. Analysis paralysis. What to do in such cases?

Jeff Bezos the founder of Amazon provided a stellar method, in one of his letters to shareholders back in 2015.

He said that the focus should simply be on whether the decision is reversible or not. If it is, then go ahead, make a decision, and don’t waste further time on discussing whether the decision itself is the right one or not. Explore and exploit. If things don’t work out, the decision can anyway be reversed.

Of course, if the decision is irreversible, then take adequate care, planning and strategizing, before making the final call.

A great focus point I think, in order to keep moving ahead in life!

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There’s a lot of people who claim that their chakras or energy centers are open. Or have been opened.

This may or may not be true, and I for one certainly am no one to judge.

Some say their ajna chakra has been opened and that they can plunge into deep meditation instantaneously. Others focus on the mooladhara chakra and can go into deeper states.

Of course such things can and do happen. Even if words like kundalini might be thrown around recklessly and find much media attention, that does not imply it is apocryphal.

More critical, as my Guru often reminds us, is what such folks (and everyone in general) do after they snap out of their trances. Are they truly seeking the Self, or simply self-centered?

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Here’s a cool anecdote I came across in a book (don’t remember the name unfortunately).

“I met a man a few days ago in Washington, D.C. who, while a student in Delhi, had met Dr. Radhakrishnan, the second President of India. He had asked Dr. Radhakrishnan “Sir, since you are also a great philosopher, can you explain the difference between science and religion, as there seems to be a contradiction between the two? Religion speaks of something that is not seen and people have faith in that. But in science one accepts only what one sees, so it appears that scientists are anti-religion and faithless.”

Dr. Radhakrishnan gave a very nice answer. He said, “A little science takes you away from religion but more of it brings you nearer religion.”

This suggests that scientific exploration can ultimately lead to profound spiritual understanding. It’s a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge, whether through science or spirituality, can lead to unexpected revelations about the world and ourselves.

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There’s this endless debate about smart work versus hard work. You know it. And I don’t have an answer for it unfortunately (else I’d already be atop the ladder of the billionaire lists you see!).

Lords Ganesha and Karthikeya also had a tiff on the same topic with the elephant headed one simply circumambulating his parents thrice instead of traveling the whole world.

But can one be more right than the other?

We are told to work hard, right from childhood. And it’s necessary. Then why pray? So many mantras and deities exist in India who are supposed to help deliver outstanding results. Just pray and all will be well no? No need to work hard only.

But there’s a catch! A mantras book I was reading gave a specific mantra for Goddess Lakshmi, which if recited, would bring extraordinary wealth. But the specifics? The mantra had to be chanted 100-thousand times, 5 times a day. That sounds like hard work to me too! No free lunches…

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Does praying a lot make one automatically divine?

Does sitting in a meditative pose for hours mean one will automatically reach Brahman?

Unlike investing, where time spent matters, in spirituality, time spent matters, but perhaps much less.

We know of asuras who spent insane numbers of hours in penance. But are they prayed to or well respected?

If time doesn’t matter, then what does?

Perhaps the intention of the prayer matters the most. As that would cleanly differentiate prayers of the bad versus the good, wouldn’t it?

A sadhana that is practiced for the enhancement of one’s own ego becomes asuric. As simple as that perhaps. And we know what ego means – not the pride that we associate the English word with, but rather the incorrect attachment to the body.

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One must be fully focused on ones own duty. Ones swadharma. Lord Krishna calls this out in the 35th verse of the 3rd chapter of the Gita. Here’s an excellent take by Shri Vinoba Bhave in his book called “Talks on the Gita”. He gave these talks when he was jailed for being a part of India’s freedom fight movement!

It is not good for me to adopt another's dharma, however superior it may appear to be. I like sunlight. It helps my growth. I worship the sun. But my rightful place is here on this earth. If I leave the earth and try to get close to the sun, I would be burnt to ashes. Compared to the sun, the earth may appear worthless; it may not be self-luminous, still I should strive for self-development by staying on the earth, which is my rightful place, so long as I lack the capacity to stand the sun's powerful blaze. If someone were to say to a fish, "Milk is more luxurious than water. Come and swim in the milk", will it accept? It can survive in water only; in milk it will die.

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Everyone knows the amazing TV show called The Big Bang Theory – a sitcom where socially awkward but extraordinarily brilliant scientists navigate life, love, and comic books, often proving that even geniuses don’t know everything about the real world!

In a prequel adaptation called Young Sheldon (the smartest scientist of the lot), his mother Mary posts a question.

Mary: Sheldon, faith means believing in something you can’t know for sure is real. And right now, I am struggling with that.
Sheldon: So you don’t believe in God anymore?
Mary: That isn’t something for you to worry about. I need to figure this out myself.
Sheldon: Can I help? Maybe I could provide a fresh perspective.
Mary: I don’t think so, baby.
Sheldon: Did you know that if gravity were slightly more powerful, the universe would collapse into a ball?
Mary: I did not.
Sheldon: Also, if gravity were slightly less powerful, the universe would fly apart and there would be no stars or planets.
Mary: Where you going with this, Sheldon?
Sheldon: It’s just that gravity is precisely as strong as it needs to be. And if the ratio of the electromagnetic force to the strong force wasn’t one percent, life wouldn’t exist. What are the odds that would happen all by itself?
Mary: Why are you trying to convince me to believe in God? You don’t believe in God.
Sheldon: I don’t, but the precision of the universe at least makes it logical to conclude there’s a creator.

Food for thought?

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Many people say that God will take care of everything. Or if they are in a rut, then no worries because their Guru will take care of everything. “All is well. All is always well.” But what does this really mean? Is this possible? Can a Guru sitting somewhere actually take care of everything?

Yes it is, and only experience can build such faith. There is no difference between Guru and God. As we know, poet Kabir das once said that if he had to fall at the feet of either of God or his Guru, and both were at his doorstep the same instant, he would choose his Guru. Why? Because the Guru is the one who taught him about God in the first place!

We can only perform our karma, our actions. Over 99.99% of what’s happening around us is not in our control. Who’s taking care of those, if not the divine?

In essence, embracing this belief is not about surrendering responsibility but recognizing a greater cosmic harmony. Our actions, infused with sincerity and purpose, become part of a grander scheme, orchestrated by the divine. The Guru, as a guide, reveals this interconnectedness, teaching us to see beyond the immediate. To trust in a larger plan.

So, while we navigate life’s complexities, we do so with a heart full of faith, understanding that, in the grand tapestry of existence, every thread is held and woven by a force much greater than ourselves. In this realization, we find not just solace, but a profound sense of being part of something infinitely vast, yet intimately connected to our every step. That’s the G-force.

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We think we are struggling with stress and anxiety today, despite seemingly having the best of the best that technology can offer.

Was this always the case?

Our existence is a tapestry rich with ancestral threads, spanning not just the last 400 years but reaching far deeper into the annals of human civilization.

Within just say the last 400 years alone, our lineage would include an astonishing 4,094 ancestors over 12 generations.

It begins with a vast network of 2,048 ninth great-grandparents and intricately narrows down through the generations, converging at our 2 parents. However, this is just a glimpse of our heritage, as human history extends much further back.

Every generation, from those 400 years ago to the dawn of civilization, faced its own set of trials, triumphs, and life stories.

These countless generations, their struggles, joys, and hopes, have interwoven to create our present.

So what are we anxious about really?

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Here’s some timepass happiness jokes I came across…

Why don’t we ever give happiness a remote control? Because it’s always found within, and you can’t lose it between the couch cushions!

Why did the smartphone go to therapy? Because it thought happiness was an app, but then realized it’s always in ‘plane’ mode within us!

Why don’t emotions use GPS? Because happiness is not an external destination, but an internal journey!

Why did happiness refuse to play cards? Because it’s not about the hand you’re dealt, but how you feel inside!

Why don’t fish worry about being happy? Because they know the best joy is found in the current moment, not upstream or downstream!

Some were not that funny? Don’t worry, be happy!

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What does the mind do?

We think that the mind thinks. But what is this thinking about?

Mostly the mind thinks about the past. Or else about the future.

If something has gone right, then the mind tries to find some flaw or fault in it.

If something has gone wrong, then the mind tries to extrapolate that into Armageddon.

The mind struggles to remain in the now, in the present.

Interestingly, all our scriptures say that the here and the now is where the mind should be. That is what leads to spiritual evolution. In the now, the mind doesn’t even have to think. It simply needs to witness.

Mind it, it’s easier said than done.

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…is the name of an exceptional movie that is now streaming on Disney Hotstar in India.

No spoilers, but it’s about the difficulties involved in cracking India’s toughest exam, the UPSC, and how it gets even tougher for those born not with a silver or golden spoon, but perhaps no spoon or plate at all.

It’s an incredible movie that everyone should watch. The level of motivation a viewer will get is just indescribable.

And you know the best part? The movie is entirely based on facts. Yes, a true story.

Learning about such stories only makes me think one thing. That if I’m not giving every ounce of my energy to do my best at whatever I’m doing, then I’m not just wasting my time, but also indirectly denying opportunities to hundreds or thousands or millions who could have done infinitely better should they have been in my position right now. And this is perhaps applicable to each one of us.

Here’s the link to the movie, if you’d like to know more! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23849204/?ref_=ext_shr

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In the vast expanse of what we believe we understand, there lies an unseen realm. Take the frog, for instance. Its eye, a marvel of nature, deciphers only essential cues for survival. It can spot stark contrasts, sudden light shifts, moving outlines, and dark shapes. But it cannot admire beauty like a sunset or recognize faces.

Our human eyes, intricate as they are, fall short too. We boast of comprehending everything until we ponder about bees detecting ultraviolet patterns on flowers or how owls navigate the dark. Each species possesses a tailored perception system vital for its existence. Dogs catch sounds we can’t, insects pick up scents from miles away and more.

Vedic spirituality echoes this idea—there’s a depth beyond our grasp. It humbles us, reminding us that our intellectual understanding has its limits. Just as the frog’s vision serves its survival, our perception, albeit broader, is still confined. The universe holds mysteries far beyond our discernment, urging us to embrace the boundless unknown.

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So a 1952 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for a staggering 51 million dollars a few weeks ago in New York.

Absolutely incredible.

I would have thought that cars are to go from point a to point b. And the latest cars have extraordinary gadgets in them, almost making them more computers than cars.

But a 70-something year old car going for 30x more than a brand new one? Bonkers indeed!

But someone still sees value in them. Why? I do not know. Maybe it’ll be part of some billionaire’s rare collection. Or else it’ll get sold for even higher some 30 years down the line, when the antique becomes antiqu-er!

But if old is sold, then old is also gold, which is what our scriptures are. If 70-year old things have this much value, imagine what value books that date back to 7000 years have! Truly the secrets to life. If only one (i.e., me) would read them, imbibe them and practise them…

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There was an incredible item in the newspapers about a couple of decades ago. It read “RR creates petrol from pomegranate juice!”

RR was the initials of the chap, a supposed scientist, that achieved this incredible feat. Fuel from juice. Wow, talk about renewable energy, and that too some twenty years ago!

Well you know what say. If it’s too good to be true…

So a few weeks later, an errata was issued, which read, “RR creates petrol from pomegranate juice and petrol!”

Howzzat!

While this is funny no doubt, from a spiritual point of view, we are all RRs only.

Whatever we think we are creating, we are simply using what already ever existed aka God. No different from “RR creates creation from creation”!

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In many schools of spirituality, there are discussions about mantras and lineages.

It is said that a mantra must be given by a Guru to specific disciple in a specific manner. Absolutely true I’m sure.

It is also said to vary from Guru to Guru, from lineage to lineage.

And the ways of chanting each mantra and the various things to focus on, and of course accompanying visuals and dreams and what not.

My Guru is very clear. “Let the lineage be anything, what will you do with it?”

“Have you given up your desires and attachments?”

It’s that simple, without which he says nothing else matters.

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Came across a lovely story today.

A guy goes for an interview. There are 3 interviewers on the panel.

The first interviewer tells the candidate that he’s in the middle of the ocean on a boat and that there’s a crazy storm outside. The boat could capsize. What would he do?

Our man answers, “I’ll throw in a large anchor and steady the ship sir”.

The second and third interviewers ask similar questions, each time simply increasing the intensity of the storm. Our hero consequently simply increases the size of his anchors!

The panel ask him, “Buddy, all that’s fine, but where are you going to get such large anchors from, on such a small boat and that too in the middle of the ocean?”

The reply is swift. “I get the big anchors from the same place you get your big storms. Where you source fear, I source hope!”

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We finish the insightful podcast journey with Shane Battier by exploring a surprising concept: embracing chaos.

Shane argues that injecting a controlled dose of chaos into a team or system can be a powerful tool for innovation and growth. By introducing new players with diverse perspectives and experiences, we can disrupt the status quo and spark creativity.

Think about it like adding a new ingredient to a recipe. It might shake things up a bit, but it can also lead to a delicious new dish. The same goes for teams and systems. By welcoming controlled chaos, we can break through old patterns and discover new ways of thinking about and doing things.

Of course, it’s important to find the right balance. Too much chaos can be destructive, but too little can stifle progress. The key is to be open to change and embrace new ideas, even if they seem unorthodox.

So, next time we’re feeling stuck in a rut, remember Shane’s words. Embrace the chaos, shake things up, and see where it takes us. We might be surprised by what we discover!

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As Shane explains during his conversation with Simon, achieving anything truly remarkable requires a deep desire and unrelenting pursuit of success. He shares his experience with the Spurs, where their hunger to win ultimately surpassed that of their opponents, leading them to several championships.

But Shane also warns that this hunger can fade after victory. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a constant drive for improvement and a relentless desire to win more. He credits the Spurs’ continued success to their unwavering focus on getting better, even after reaching the top.

So, it’s not enough to just have the talent or the skills. We need that fire in our bellies, that burning desire to push ourselves and achieve something extraordinary.

Concluding post tomorrow, on how embracing controlled chaos can lead to unexpected breakthroughs!

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Back again today with another insightful tip from Shane Battier. This time, he’s sharing the key to staying focused and achieving peak performance, aka, the power of the “next play.”

We’ve all been there, right? Dwelling on past mistakes or getting too caught up in celebrating successes. But Shane says the key to staying on top of your game is to focus on the next play.

Think about it like this: every moment is a new opportunity to start afresh and give our best effort. Shane days, “Don’t let the past hold us back or let the future distract us. Just be present, focus on the task at hand, and give it our all.”

Shane even says this applies beyond sports, to everything in life. Whether you’re working on a project, studying for an exam, or just facing a personal challenge, it’s all about the power of the next play. It’s about taking things one step at a time and giving our best in each moment.

Tomorrow we explore the fuel that drives success: a burning hunger for greatness.

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Did you catch that awesome podcast with Simon Sinek and NBA champ Shane Battier? Never heard of Shane? Ya me too. But that’s the point! You know who all he played with? All the famous guys – LeBron, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan etc. And yet hardly anyone’s heard of him.

He might not have been the top scorer, but guess what? He was always on teams that won the championship. And according to Shane, the secret sauce isn’t just about having a superstar leader. He believes that “teammateship” might be even more important.

Let’s think about it. Championship teams are more than just a collection of talented individuals. They’re a well-oiled machine where everyone trusts each other, helps each other out, and pushes each other to be better. They’re all working towards the same goal with a deep commitment to the team.

Shane used the San Antonio Spurs as a great example. They were known for taking players who weren’t quite there yet and turning them into valuable contributors. They created a culture where everyone felt valued and empowered, and guess what? They won a lot of championships!

So, the next time we’re working towards a goal, we can remember Shane’s words. It’s not all about having the best leader. It’s about building a strong team and supporting each other every step of the way.

Tomorrow: we’ll unlock Shane’s secret to staying focused and achieving peak performance!

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