Dharma - Antidote to Modern Living

In today's fast-paced world, humanity has reached unprecedented heights of material wealth and technological connectivity. Yet, beneath this surface of prosperity lies a profound inner crisis. The relentless chase of Western materialism—a culture centered on accumulating physical possessions, chasing external validation, and treating life as a competitive race—has left millions feeling hollow and sulking at life and its perils.

This hyper-materialistic lifestyle feeds a endless cycle of consumerism, where peace is promised in the next purchase, the next promotion, or the next social media metric. When life is reduced to outward acquisition, corrupt practices thrive, values erode, and the human spirit becomes depleted. The consequences are visible everywhere: skyrocketing rates of stress, chronic anxiety, depression, deep-seated loneliness, and a alarming rise in suicide rates worldwide. People feel disconnected from themselves and isolated from others. The relationships are getting salty and are falling apart – parents feel indifferent towards their children and vice versa – Youngsters are into drugs and all ills….

So what is the remedy to this modern malaise? – a simple sober answer is the Awakening of your inner conscience “Dharma”

Understanding the essence of Dharma -The Sanskrit word Dharma originates from the root dhri, which translates to "to uphold," "to sustain," or "that which holds the universe together." While often translated into English as duty, religion, or righteousness, its true scope is far richer. Dharma is the moral and spiritual order inherent in creation. Just as the inherent dharma of fire is to radiate warmth and light, and the dharma of water is to flow and satisfy thirst, the true dharma of a human being (Sanatana Dharma) is to live in alignment with divine truth, compassion, and inner purity.

In Indian philosophical traditions, human life is guided by four primary pursuits (Purusharthas):

• Dharma (moral and spiritual duty)
• Artha (wealth and material prosperity)
• Kama (pleasure and desire)
• Moksha (spiritual liberation)

Modern materialistic culture prioritizes Artha and Kama while discarding the foundation of Dharma. When wealth and pleasure are pursued without the guiding light of Dharma, they degenerate into greed, corruption, and spiritual emptiness. Dharma acts as the essential compass that ensures material growth serves human dignity rather than destroying it.

Time is transgressing towards the Kal-Yuga where Dharma is fast eroding – that is the Grand design or what you call MAYA …it is shadowing the thought of todays living – but those who would resort to Dharma would be the untouched by Maya as it acts as an antidote to it …Simple living with austerity and upholding the laws of Dharma is the order of the day – obeying its philosophy, you would be at inner peace which you yourself will realize over a period of constant practice ..Live it and see for yourself what this Vedic Hindu Concept makes you realize over a period of time…Live the Dharmic Way of life and enrich its benefits!

Lonely? Turn Spiritual…

 “Why you are feeling lonely??” – This question made my friend in America break down the other day when he called me after a long time – he has everything what an American dream pays – good salary, house and kids and a homely wife But they hardly meet – kids are in different city  - Wife is busy in her kitty parties and my friend after coming from office sits alone looking at his Stale TV or mobile phone – the only relieve is his peg of Whisky….As he tells me America has never been more connected — and yet, never more alone. Millions of people scroll through glowing screens at midnight, surrounded by hundreds of digital "friends," yet feeling an emptiness so deep it aches in the chest like a wound that never heals. The statistics are devastating: over 60% of Americans report feeling lonely on a regular basis, and the surgeon general has declared loneliness a public health crisis.

Relationships are breaking apart at unprecedented rates — marriages dissolving, friendships fading, families fracturing under the weight of ambition, distraction, and the relentless pursuit of things that were never meant to fill the soul. Young men and women are losing their will to live. Suicide rates continue to climb, particularly among those aged 18 to 34, and behind every such tragedy is a person who quietly stopped believing that anyone — or anything — cared whether they existed. Loneliness is not just sadness. It is a spiritual starvation. When a human being feels unseen, unloved, and disconnected from meaning, the mind begins to collapse inward. Depression is not merely a chemical imbalance — it is often the soul crying out that it has been separated from its source, wandering without belonging, without purpose, without love that is unconditional and permanent.

What modern America has forgotten — and what ancient India has always known — is that the deepest loneliness comes not from the absence of people, but from the absence of God. Indian spiritual traditions, thousands of years old, understood that the human heart has a God-shaped emptiness that no relationship, no success, and no amount of entertainment can fill. The Bhakti movement, born in the sacred rivers and forests of India, offered something radical: a personal, passionate, deeply emotional relationship with the Divine. Saints like Mirabai, Kabir, and Tukaram did not find God in complicated rituals — they found Him in love. They wept for Him, sang for Him, danced for Him, and in doing so, they were never alone again. Meditation, as practiced in the Vedic and yogic traditions, is not simply stress relief — it is the practice of returning home. When you sit in stillness, close your eyes, and turn your attention inward, you begin to touch a presence that has always been there — vast, warm, and utterly unconditional. This is what the lonely soul is truly searching for beneath every text message, every swipe, every desperate attempt at connection. The love of God — whether you call Him Ram, Krishna, or simply the Universe — is the only love that cannot leave you.

If you are sitting alone tonight, feeling invisible in a crowded city, feeling unloved in a world full of people, know this: your loneliness is not a punishment — it is an invitation. It is the universe gently pulling you toward something deeper than any human relationship can offer. Begin with one honest prayer, one moment of stillness, one bhajan sung with a trembling voice. The ancient wisdom of India teaches us that God is not far away in some distant heaven — He lives within you, as you, closer than your own breath. Depression loses its grip when the soul discovers it is not orphaned. Bhakti — the path of love and devotion — is not a religion. It is a homecoming. And in that homecoming, loneliness does not merely fade. It transforms into the most beautiful solitude you have ever known — the solitude of a soul resting, finally, in the arms of the One who made it.

~ Do We Die?...~

When a body stops breathing and the heart no longer beats, the physical part of us finishes its journey, but the spirit—the deeper, luminous essence that makes us who we are—does not simply vanish. In many spiritual traditions the soul is seen as a traveler that moves on to another realm, often described as a place of light, love, or pure awareness. There, it reviews the life it lived, learns the lessons it missed, and re charges its inner purpose. This review is never a judgment in the punitive sense; rather, it is a gentle, caring check that helps the soul understand what it still needs to grow.

After this period of rest and reflection, the soul decides, based on its readiness, where it will take form again. The choice is guided by the desires and karmic patterns it has created, not by an external deity assigning fate. When the time is right, the soul enters a new womb, carrying with it the subtle impressions—its “samskaras”—from past lives. The new body may be born in any corner of the world, at any time, and the circumstances will match the soul’s current need for learning. Because the soul always moves forward, death is not an end but a transition, and therefore it need not be feared. It is simply a pause, a doorway to the next chapter of growth.

The moment of rebirth can be close to the previous death, or it may take many years, even lifetimes, before the soul feels ready to return. In Hindu, Buddhist, and many indigenous teachings this is described as “samsara”—the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth—until the soul finally attains liberation (moksha or nirvana). The key to feeling at peace with death is remembering that the true self never dies; only the temporary body does.

A modern illustration of this belief can be found in the story of Anita Moorjani, author of Dying to Be Me. While battling a rare cancer, Anita entered a near death state in which she reported experiencing an overwhelming sense of unconditional love and a clear view of her life’s purpose. She felt her soul of light moving beyond the physical limits, reviewing her experiences, and receiving the assurance that her journey would continue in another form when the time was right. After her miraculous recovery, she described the experience as proof that death is merely a shift in the way the soul expresses itself, not a final disappearance. Many who have read her account feel encouraged to see death as a natural, even beautiful, passage rather than a fearful unknown.

In simple terms, the soul’s path after death looks like this: the body rests, the spirit travels to a realm of light, it reflects and learns, and then, when ready, it returns in a new body to keep growing. Knowing this cycle helps us live more fully, with love, compassion, and the courage to face death without dread—because we understand that the true “me” is timeless, ever evolving, and always moving toward a higher, brighter expression of itself.

Studies of near death experiences (NDEs) provide the most compelling everyday “proof” that consciousness can continue after the body dies. People who have been clinically dead for several minutes—often after cardiac arrest, severe trauma, or anesthesia—report vivid, consistent details: a sense of leaving the body, moving through a tunnel of light, encountering familiar deceased relatives, and receiving a panoramic review of their life. Remarkably, many of these accounts include verifiable information that the person could not have known, such as hearing conversations in another room or seeing surgical procedures that were later confirmed by doctors. 

Another significant studies on this subject is by Ian Stevenson, a psychiatrist at the University of Virginia of reincarnation cases in India, documenting over 150 children who recalled past lives with specific details. His rigorous interviews, cultural analyses, and verification of birth‑records provided compelling evidence that supports the possibility of an afterlife and soul continuity in humanity.

Lastly, there is a compelling evidence that you actually Don’t DIE but change body and form…a true theory in line with the BHAGWAT GITA methodology …life begets life and it will always be… just chill and enjoy your karmas in this body….

~ Life of Austerity...~

 

Spirituality has become an essential anchor in today’s hyper‑connected world, where the relentless stream of information, constant notifications, and ever‑shifting expectations can leave the mind fragmented and the heart unsettled; by turning inward and nurturing a relationship with the divine—whether that presence is imagined as a personal God, an all‑pervading consciousness, or an impersonal principle of order—people discover a steady compass that informs every everyday action, encouraging them to speak truthfully to a colleague, to offer kindness to a stranger, and to make consumption choices that reflect deeper values rather than fleeting trends, because the awareness that a higher presence observes and guides one’s life fosters accountability, humility, and a sense of purpose that transcends short‑term gratification.

Austerity plays a crucial role in this spiritual framework not as punitive self‑denial but as a deliberate shedding of excess that clears both physical clutter and mental noise, creating room for inner clarity and allowing the soul to focus on what truly sustains it—love, compassion, and a sincere quest for meaning—while simultaneously weakening the grip of greed and the endless chase for status symbols that dominate modern culture. 

In this space of simplicity, love for God can flourish naturally, as gratitude replaces envy and the heart opens wider to experience the divine not as a distant, abstract idea but as an intimate, living reality felt in each breath, heartbeat, and moment of connection with another being. Meditation then becomes the practical tool that transforms this aspirational love into lived experience, training the mind to quiet the incessant chatter of the modern brain, to observe thoughts without attachment, and to cultivate a deep, unshakable peace that can be carried into the bustle of work deadlines, traffic jams, and the endless scroll of social media, enabling individuals to respond rather than react, to see challenges as opportunities for growth, and to experience the presence of the divine within the ordinary rather than as something reserved for temples or special occasions.

Together, austerity, love for God, and regular meditation build a resilient inner architecture that not only buffers against stress, anxiety, and feelings of alienation, but also nurtures authentic relationships; when one’s inner world is rooted in a calm, purposeful connection to something greater, outer interactions become infused with empathy, patience, and genuine care, turning everyday encounters into moments of spiritual practice.

This integrated approach redefines success from external markers of wealth and fame to internal markers of inner peace, clarity of purpose, and sustained compassion, reminding us that true fulfillment arises not from accumulating possessions or accolades, but from maintaining a continuous, heartfelt dialogue with the divine, practicing mindful restraint, and cultivating a disciplined presence of mind through meditation—empowering individuals to navigate modern uncertainties with steadiness, courage, and a deep‑seated sense of belonging to a larger, purposeful whole.

The Indian Mind Reset

 The world is pivoting on an invisible axis. We are moving from an era of information scarcity to an age of attention collapse, from industrial uniformity to an AI-driven gig economy, and from physical communities to hyper-connected, yet emotionally isolated, digital tribes. In the Indian context, this shift is schizophrenic: we have the world’s third-largest unicorn ecosystem existing alongside agrarian distress, and deep-tech aspirations racing against a decaying civic conscience.

The Churn in Society

Three distinct ruptures define modern Indian society. First, the erosion of the joint family into nuclear units has created an epidemic of loneliness among the elderly and a vacuum of moral scaffolding for the young. Second, rampant consumerism has replaced the old middle-class ethic of restraint with a debt-fuelled aspiration, measuring life’s worth in EMIs and social media validation rather than fulfillment. Third, a crisis of trust looms—we are polarized by algorithmic echo chambers, divided by caste and religion on digital platforms, even as our collective empathy muscle atrophies.

The Need of the Hour

What is desperately needed is not just economic growth, but a restoration of inner order. The need of the hour is a shift from the "Attention Economy" to the "Intention Economy." We must pivot from mindless scrolling to mindful awareness. India requires a revival of the Sanskaar (cultural refinement) that tempers technological progress with civilizational wisdom. The urgent challenge is to rebuild the “social connect” destroyed by the “network connect”—to look up from our screens and see the human standing next to us. 

How Should We Live?

The ancient Indian concept of “Simple Living, High Thinking” holds the key to our future sanity. We must learn to live with less, rediscovering that joy lies in experiences and relationships, not in accumulated possessions. This involves deliberately unplugging from the daily digital noise to reconnect with nature and the self. The guiding principle should be Seva (selfless service)—extending our concern beyond individual success to community well-being. In a time of fractured attention, the most radical act is to live a life of Dharma; not as blind ritual, but as a conscious, ethical compass that prioritizes duty over rights and compassion over consumption. The future belongs not to the most intelligent, but to the most resilient and the most kind.

Bhakti - Love for GOD...

 There is a quiet crisis unfolding in the modern soul. We have mapped the genome, built artificial minds, and placed the sum of human knowledge in our pockets, yet we have never felt a more profound emptiness. We are data-rich but love-poor. In this landscape of cold algorithms and anxious striving, the ancient path of Bhakti—the yoga of love and devotion—is not just a sentimental relic. It is a radical, necessary act of rebellion.

Today, the world tells you that your destiny is a ladder to be climbed with bruised knuckles and clenched teeth. We are taught to be the architects of our fate, gripping the steering wheel of life until our fingers ache. But Bhakti whispers a sweeter, more terrifying truth: you are not the doer. Destiny is not a prison of cause and effect; it is the sacred script written by the Beloved.

This is where Bhakti moves beyond religion and enters the realm of romance. It transforms the cold concept of “divine order” into a warm, intimate conversation. To the Bhakta, God is not a distant judge dispensing predetermined verdicts. He is the mischievous, loving playwright who has written a drama just to watch you eventually run into His arms. When we view destiny through the lens of love, our suffering changes texture. A setback ceases to be a punishment and becomes a tight, protective embrace from the Divine, pulling us back from a path that would lead us away from Him.

Think of the love of the Gopis for Krishna, or the aching, desperate poetry of Mirabai. They didn't love God to get a promotion, to heal a disease, or to manipulate the stars. They loved Him because the heart simply cannot function on logic alone. In our current age, we have pathologized this longing. We have medicated the very instinct that makes us human—the desperate, wild need to love something infinitely. We try to pour this infinite capacity into finite vessels—careers, relationships, approvals—and we shatter when they cannot hold the weight. Bhakti is the permission to let this love flow toward the only shore vast enough to receive it.

Importantly, Bhakti frees us from the tyranny of the “self-made” identity. We are exhausted by the persona we curate for the world. But in the privacy of devotion, we can finally collapse. When you weep at the feet of the Divine, you do not need a resume. You do not need to explain your trauma. You simply offer your broken heart, and for the first time, you are held by a Destiny that knows your name without needing to read it on a screen.

There is a profound emotional rest in surrendering to a love that pre-dates your birth. Bhakti teaches that God is the eternal pursuer of the soul. While we are chasing pennies and accolades, He is chasing us, orchestrating sunsets, arranging chance encounters, and writing “coincidences” just to get our attention.

In a society that worships productivity, sitting down to cry, to sing off-key, or to simply gaze at an image of the Divine with longing is a protest. It is the heart declaring, “I am a human being, not a machine.” Bhakti is the bridge between the life we have and the life we yearn for. It assures us that our destiny is not random. It is a love letter, written in the ink of time, guiding us home to the only embrace that will ever truly satisfy. Let us put down the weight of the world and dare to feel again. The Beloved is waiting.

How much is Enough...

 Materialism will not take you too far…one day you will leave stash of cash in your bank accounts to be enjoyed by your kids , wife and family – who may not know how much pain and sacrifice was done to earn that pieces of paper we call money!

All life we are consciously or unconsciously living through the law of Diminishing marginal Utility – we buy our first phone and go ga-ga over it – an iphone may be our best buy , it surely gives us a thing to boast about – an adrenaline rush and boosts our confidence but next year when Apple launches the next version of if – suddenly yours feels not so important or now that you may treat it as just another phone – nothing wrong with you though – it is a basic human propensity and behavior to let loose old things – that is exactly what life is all about.

We are on the run for “MORE” and that is never ending, as we are oblivious to the fact that we have limited time as humans and that materialism wont always give us joy or be our constant companion in our lives – at many instances, it actually acts as a burden !!!

Your anxiety level raises when you get to know that your 2^nd car has been hit in the parking or for that matter someone has creeped through your bank account and siphoned off all of your money – that should give you goose bumps but at the same time what if you had only one car which you so earnestly needed or had money which you could have enjoyed on your day to day living – I am not vouching that we should not save but how much? ….

We have our wardrobes full of clothes for every purpose and also a beeline of shoes and slippers to choose from – not knowing each will serve the same purpose BUT it surely is an ego boost when we have a choice , which many don’t!

We want to buy multiple properties securing our future for the purpose of living an old age with our near and dear ones – but on the contrary, I have seen many oldies living in seclusion of their homes – alone with no one to talk to – kids have taken their own route for betterment of their careers – wife is no more – they have money in their bank accounts, multiple properties – which have been nominated in names of their kids when they would be no more…What kind of old age we are striving for…???

Whole life we are struggling to make ends meet and save a little for our future and for the betterment of our families… many of us do marvelous things in life – achieve great heights and save much for their families only to be left in oblivion and suffer through their old age….

Life is a beautiful reminder that GOD has given us much to cherish… enjoy nature, travel, have long lasting relationships, friends and treasure nature – stop a little, look around and contemplate, how much is enough…the question is for everyone to ponder and think twice before we are too late and time for deliberation has gone foo far off….

Naam Jaap....

 You are today’s Arjuna  carrying the same anxieties and mind complexities which he had when he was stranded in midst of War where the GOD himself was his Saarthi (charioteer) – as he was saved by the divine nectar of words by Lord himself…True we are living in a world full of uncertainty and chaos – your best of the efforts are turning futile – all of your knowledge and learnings are being turned down as redundant – Job losses , layoffs and business failures have become the norm of the day…

So, what is the panacea of all of this – it is “Naam Jaap" - Internally reciting the name of the lord all the time and doing your everyday efforts – Karma. This technique has multifarious benefits – first one being the stability of the mind, you will find eternal peace and will have a sense of reinvigorating focus towards your aims and achievement and also the dilution of irrelevant thoughts…. Try it, and with practice, you will soon realise this tendency of a major behavior change…

In todays fast changing world, everyone is aiming to achieve higher – one must – but these thoughts have their own perils and that is what if you utterly fail and that you get depressed when you don’t achieve what you had thought…it’s a human thing of course but alternatively, we surely have to be mindful of the fact that whatever we are thinking would not materialize – many of things would vaporize as dreams – of course you have to go through much of hard work and painstakingly burn the candle night and day still you cannot guarantee your success – you must know this everywhere truth!

Believe me, it is not a cliché that I am telling you – start believing in his pervasive power… do Bhakti – believe in HIS true identity and submit yourself to avail his grace… ( Samarpit kardo unko…your body, mind, intellect and ego!) and then you see miracles happening –  You will surely not get what you are aiming for but will consequently feel lighter and things will start moving in the direction HE wants it to be … and what is good for you !

Now a days ‘Suicide’ is the new norm, every now and then you see stories coming up of people ending precious lives… not realizing that you the best form on earth – as per Hinduism – out of 84 lakh species, you have been given the intellect and intelligence to praise GOD and act accordingly to the best possible way – insects, animals and flora and fauna cant match your wisdom – even after knowing this consciously, if humanity is taking this extreme step – then it is worth noting this fact – as I say  - if you are not believing in the existence of almighty – then you have steered your way – and the end would worse...

Our ancient yogis and Saadhaks were aware of these facts and they had got a glimpse of meditation and conscious living – they knew the power of Naam Jaap (Repeating Lord’s name) and mediating on his form – no wonder they had these powers to materialize anything anywhere – they were healthy and consciously left their body at will !!! – and believe me it was not Suicide…they had the sublime powers to exit from their bodies and be omnipresent anywhere….. though it seems stories now a days…. You have to go through such books to find this anecdotal evidence ..but it happened for sure and still it is happening – If you ever had the time , energy and the conscience to visit the upper regions of Himalayas…you can beyond doubt get to meet yogis who are ultra powerful and live in sacred caves with minimal needs but have power to manifest anything - take away your diseases ..just vanish and telepathically connect with anyone...Sounds like a novel ?? :)  ....as I always say experiencing is believing...you have encapsulated yourself in materialism so are paying for its perils... 

Cutting this writeup short – at the very essence…start doing Naam Jaap and meditation on whomsoever power you believe and in whatever religion or faith system you have… do it earnestly and with full conscience and maintain consistency… See the magical World you create around you… All of your negativity and overthinking… your thoughts would radically turn positive. Just Open your heart and with pure devotion and love Talk to HIM believe me He is all ears…. And you will be first one telling me …I did it…. !!!!

Prarabdha – Its Ever Happening!

Humbleness is a strong virtue and we should always be obliged to be humble towards that unknown power that is the sole caretaker of this physical world… : - these golden words from a elderly retired gentleman rang bouts of echo in my mind – this is pure wisdom derived from life and is certainly not bookish.

Travelling to a remote place and engrossed in my thoughts, this gentleman sitting next to me reminded me of a life’s profound lesson – humility! – it so happened that whilst our train stopped at a junction, we stepped down to stretch ourselves – as we got down a dog came from nowhere lagging his tail and expecting something in return, as I was just lovingly glaring at him, my elderly friend popped up a biscuit packed and started to feed him with love – the dog being hungry gasped for each biscuit that was given to him – quickly the whole packed was partaken – not only this, my friend quickly took out his water bottle and poured water into a leftover cup – his assumption was bang on target, the canine started to eagerly drink water as if he was expecting it!

As the train whistle blew, we quickly boarded the train – not before seeing the dog’s gesture of almost saluting this old gentleman in reverence – it was all divine – in 5 minutes, I witnessed something so subtle and unique between to souls in different bodies and Yonis ( life forms) but tied with a common thread – Love and respect and humility for each other!

As the train moved, I questioned him, Sir did you look at the love and respect that canine was showcasing to you – as a silent observer, I could gauge a deep bond between both of you – as if you had some soul stirring Prarabdha from previous lives. The dog came only towards you and not anyone else – as if he was waiting for you to arrive and feed him – my elderly friend had a very straightforward justification for this – according to him, every creature is tied to everyone apart from previous lives and births and it is only when time is certain that divine things happen and you meet to get rid of that karmic debt – people, animals, insects would come to you at appropriate moments and demand things – this would be vice versa too – so always be humble in giving things – as it is being recording in your karmic debt – and at appropriate time it will be given back to you.

I could not have a better and logical understanding beyond this comprehensive explanation – as I could see myself what event had happened….in all probability, uncle and that dog might not ever meet again , it was the karmic debt that he had to offload and he did at the right age and time – which he actually did!

I guess the more we are observant of our surroundings, the more we have deep understanding about what life is – what is expected out of us and how we should behave to the signs and signal of life – for all of us are ever evolving beings and one day would come that we all have to go to that “Suksham” world for our next birth – but we certainly don’t know in which Yoni ?... Taking this wisdom along with, live each day with full awareness and thoughts that you are being tested every moment of your being…having done so, one day you shall be declared a ‘Pass’ to be never born again .Happy Living!

God – Your all Weather friend….

Why a God and Guru is important entity in your daily life? …Since time immemorial our grannies and oldies used to believe in the power of Unknown – call it GOD , they were regular visitors to temples and had an earnest belief in the fact that there is someone out there who is controlling the wires of this world. Our life being ephemeral and time bound, the limitless boundaries of time and consciousness had to be predicated on the belief that someone out there must have created this perfect existence – with right amount of ingredients that can sustain life and its living. 

Coming back to modern era, we all are living a life of uncertainty – anxiety, stress and frustration have become our constant companions in our daily lives – we cannot discuss same and same feelings with our friends, family and acquaintances – by doing so , we can be castigated as a pessimist and always thinking about the negatives – more so, not everything personal can be discussed with all beings – so considering the type of environment we are living there is something / someone you are looking for as a constant companion – whom you can talk to endlessly and take power and energy to refresh yourself for your next bet and struggle – that true companion whom you can always fall back on at the time of crisis and who you can share your deeper feeling which otherwise you are resistant to share within your closet.GOD can be a true friend and always available all the time 24X7 day and night – he doesn’t argue and is receptive to your silliest of the thoughts – he is all absorbent and listening to your cries and inhibitions and of course your grandeur future plans.

Prayer is a medium to talk to HIM and take his grace – one thing you must have observed, post your visit to a temple, Gurudwara of any place of GOD which your sect allows you – you feel a sense of peace, satisfaction – as if you have shared your burden with someone so close and deep inside you – now that you feel light and charming – inside yourself, you get that sense of assurance that All will be well and that I am always there for you to listen to your anxieties and overthinking. That is more than a hint that the entity you have worshipped and prayed too has listened to your cries – he is all there to help you whenever you have fallen back on HIM.

Just remember, all of your plans and efforts will not bore fruit according to your expectations – you will surely fall and will feel dejected many a time, but after some time some energy or zeal will ask you to try again – that inside voice of your conscience and inner being is nothing but the iota of GOD that resides deep inside you – after all you came from the other world and surely are being watched ay and night for all of your acts, good or bad.

Many a time your prayers will not be answered too as you may have prayed out of greed or jealously and that asked for something which you don’t qualify or that it may not prove good for you – the result would be that you may feel angry from our constant companion and may not talk to him, or visit any temple – this is also a phase which will happen in ones life – but what if there is no one who can talk to you now – the only last being , you have stopped talking to as you believe , he hardly listens….

Believe me, you will again fall back on him, may be after some time or if something exceptional good or bad happens to you – that is his Maya and his power to pull the strings…

So finally, come what may, your relationship with almighty is too personal and will go through its ups and downs – but as per my experience, HE would always turn out to be your last resort – and one day you will realize this fact sooner or later – for every relationship you are in – everyone will leave you or vice versa but not GOD and his mercy upon you – that is the beauty of Bhakti and the power of prayer and falling back on HIM…for he knows what is good or bad for you in life….

~ Life's Anxiety..~

 The successful are anxious now a days ..but Why? …many people I meet and try to figure out the real cause of their anxiety and suspicion… the real answer is “Expectations and Aspirations from life….” – Everyone wants a Money laded lifestyle which they perceive is panacea of all ills and deprivations. they have a notion that money can cure all of their problems and they can instead live a calm and composed life…

Instead, I could also converse with ladies and gents who have done good for themselves in lives and earned well but are still anxious and not satisfied in life…their insecurities are of different type – and certainly they are not after money now but instead, how to preserve it – with multiple sources of income as FD’s, house rent and other benefits coming their way , they are always on their toes to jingle all this throughout the day…

Just the other day on a beautiful Sunday morning, me and my friend sitting in park after doing the rounds and our regular Yoga schedule, he was talking about his plan for the day but suddenly his tenant called him – “uncle the bathroom is leaking as a pipe has burst. Can you please come and make arrangements to repair it!” – hoosh !!! His Sunday is gone and would be consumed by this task… a sense of frustration was there on his face…as I said, the perils of owning multiple properties!!!!

Similarly, lot of my friends owning multiple cars are running to and fro on their weekends for some sort of repair, wash or servicing of their vehicles…often the whole day goes in these petty tasks… in the evening they are facing the “Monday Blues” syndrome… that is the fact of today’s modernity and urban life…

So what is the way out – it would sound mundane but “Minimalism” is the only way out of this vicious circle of materialism…. Believe me one day you will have stash full of cash but you would have left with no choice but to give or donate this to someone… your health would not allow you to consume it.. sugar, BP and other ailments would have become your constant friend… and medicines would be your new companion...

Likewise, sitting with minimal expectations from life and relationships, and just thanking the almighty for this human birth would make your realise life’s full potential … your search for who am I ? and what you are here for will make you feel satiated on different tangent… it certainly would be a different living out of the rat race of modern world…

Sitting idle and giving time to yourself and your thoughts would one day be termed as “Luxury Living” and believe me that day is not far off…. With many youngsters started to feel the pain of constant running around and dream chases… the thought of quitting early and devoting yourself to Grand design or Godly living would be the next state of living for many…. Just wait and watch…!

~ Paradox of being 100% ~

 So you tried hard…infact the hardest and you failed…so what is new in it? , Enjoy!”

These were profound words I heard after ages from a father who is doting on his daughter who could not get 95% marks in her 12^th board classes… Surely, she is a hardworking student as I know her personally but quite intriguingly, she could not

A school topper, she was expected to get through the merit and get accolades which she has already got in school since class 10^th – the teacher had high hopes on her and this came as a shock to them as well – only 85% ? , I mean is this a joke or something ? “- remarked her class teacher…I just can’t believe it and something must have gone grossly wrong in checking or evaluation -it probably could be that there could be a totaling error or a mathematical mistake! 

Hearing all the comments of what she told me as she was in somber mood – my friend – jovial as ever, tried to make things lighter for her – you know Varsha, I only got 67% marks and in those time ( in 90’s) that were supposed to be average marks indeed but on the same pedestal I somehow crossed the league of a “First Divisioner!” – an honour of that time – though , my friends who secured 70 % and more are on the same league today as I am , many of them turned out to be very average in life ….so there is no point in sulking about what you have secured…life will always throw you better options and opportunities with coming time “ .

 As I heard these golden words of wisdom, I could decipher that Manoj – my friend, has grown tremendously well in life in terms of living it… as I know him for almost three decades, he was also in the rat race of marks and securing the perfect 100 in those times… 😊 …but as I was observing him , he has for sure changed his stance about life …

In todays competitive world, everyone is stressed beyond a measure, the ‘to be successful’ human being is widely accepted in the society, with onslaught of “Ai” – this has stirred our stable world…and has bought much uncertainty and anxiety in our day to day lives… students who are on the verge of giving entrance exams to qualify for good professional colleges have much pressure – not only from parents but peers too… the ‘Visibility’ to showcase success is taking a toll on them….

My question has always been this “ What if , it doesn’t happen or your don’t hit a bullseye on the dart of your life…? And your backup plan fail ?” – do you have a second backup plan ? … schools and teachers don’t teach this… as there is no failure as a word for them…rightly so in a way, you have zillion other options to progress and slowly and subtly you will realize that life makes you reach your karma and destination for which you were born…

I have myself seen ‘Early Success’ birds falling in midway – a health hazard due to continuous running and dream chases, family disputes and divorces due to unavailability of time, ..and finally loneliness and depression…high BP and Sugar and other multiple diseases at middle age..all due to a round the clock chase….

Is that we were born? Who much success or money is enough” who will put a full stop on this mad race ?...we have to teach ourselves first about this paradox and then to our next gen….till then keep the anxiety level high ..you might loose your job or else your earnest position you so very cherish in this fake world of showbiz….!

Life's Misses...

 So, you have missed out in life after much trying and didn't get what you had aspired for? ..You pacify your heartbreaks by telling yourself that this is what Destiny had stored for you....Your friends did well in life in job , career and in personal space and you felt left out in many of these fronts, inspite of putting in your best foot forward - The icing on the cake being that when you introspect your life, you cannot figure out what went wrong - the decisions you took were in the best interest and the outcome favoured you!

As the years pass, your will realise that all the 'Misses' and 'Failures' were part of that subtle design which was meant for you explicitly and that was unique for you. Acceptance is the way out of this drama of life; it was always and will be the eternal guidance that would tread your life although - your cleverness will not fructify in the long run.

There are many examples of such thinking - there has been very miraculous escapes through the clutches of Death - just because you missed that 'Important' flight and that was due to a pathetic traffic jam which made you reach the Airport late and you were not able to 'Check-In' on time and were thus denied the boarding pass - soon to realise that the unfortunate Plane just got Crashed consuming ALL the victims - You sit back and profusely 'THANK HIM' from the core of the heart for saving his life  - All of your trial and tribulations surely has a purpose - even your super success as that is the responsibility and pedestal given to you to act in a way to help downtrodden souls... as Who has given to you also knows how to take it back…

If you live consciously day by day, you will start to have the tinge of life and its behaviour... the grand design will start giving you messages, it is you who should be qualifies to receive them and act accordingly and with a true purpose.... Your 'Burnt Toast' in the morning has a life purpose and a underline message... It has not happened just out of the blue ...!!!

I still remember the "Challenger Story of a Teacher" who was the only civilian selected by NASA to board and fly to space  for the "Teacher in Space" program in 1985 - as a human behaviour the teacher broadcasted the news to her near and dear ones but at the last moment she was relegated as a backup and denied the opportunity to fly to space and watched quite humbly the launch of the Challenger space craft towards the skies - Minutes later all the 7 cosmonauts were blown up in space after 73 seconds of its launch - one cannot gauge her predicament after going through this episode and what she might be thinking about all the cribbing’s and blame-game - Life certainly had a different purpose for her -

It is like this that things happen in our lives - subtly and under the table and without any noise… 

So always oblige your failures and delays and denials... things meant or you will fall in your lap as the time comes and if you qualify, things will happen naturally...You will be made to realise when you live life consciously and with awareness.... the parallel world always reaches out to you and sends those subtle happenings and messages...it is you who has to humbly accept those.... Happy living...!!!