Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Theory of Psychology

Theory of Psychology - Behaviorism


I as Ravi Kiran Muddha would like to humbly contribute to the field of psychology and offer an extension to the equation of human behavior that was proposed by German Psychologist Kurt Lewin. Drawing inspiration from Kurt Lewin's foundational equation, B = f (P, E), which posits that an individual's behavior is influenced by the person and environment, I would like to introduce the consideration of human choice (C). In this refined equation, B = f (P, E, C), I would humbly recognize that our choices indeed hold a significant sway over our behavior and the path we follow. By acknowledging the pivotal role of human choice, this amendment modestly contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the behavioral equation.


In any change management scenario, the way I perceive it is: why might individuals resist change even when a supportive environment is in place? The answer is quite straightforward—they may simply be reluctant to make the necessary choice. The individual may be unwilling to depart from the comfort zone of their previous life.


As a human being seeking to modify or change my behavior, it implies that I, as an individual (P), must undergo a transformation. This requires not only the presence of a conducive environment (E) but also the conscious act of selecting the appropriate option—making a choice (C)—that enables me to change my behavior.


Engaging in mindfulness practices can empower us to select the most suitable options, and these mindful choices have the potential to enrich our individuality and personal growth.


And further I would like to extend the equation as follows: B = f (P, E, C, M), where 'M' represents mindfulness or meditative practices. This adaptation acknowledges the significant role these practices play in shaping an individual's behavior and overall well-being.

Sunday, September 3, 2023

The Avyakta

The Avyakta

Q) Can the Avyakta be expressed?

    Ans.) In reality, no. For one simple reason - any expression will limit and will be a part of manifested cosmos rather the Avyakta.

Q) What prevents one from entering Avyakta?

    Ans.) It is the identification with the Identity of an existential entity which is a part of the manifested cosmos that prevents one from entering into Avyakta?

Q) Is Avyakta a state and can it be entered?

    Ans.) Avyakta is not a state, it is beyond all states and all states can exist within it. It is the whole existence itself that is inexpressible, and the manifested cosmos what we see or perceive or not perceive is only an infinetismally small fraction of the Avyakta.

    Avaykta is not a state that can be entered. It is an inexpressible space of eternal Nothingness, where an experience may or may not exist without the existence of an experiencer. 

    Every experience that is experienced in the manifested cosmos is based upon an Identity and the identification with that Identity of an existential entity and all these get experienced where there is a presence of mind. In the Avyakta, as the mind does not exist because of the absence of identification with any Identity, the experiencer cannot exist.

    It is that "existential entity" which overcomes the Trigunas by losing its identification with its "Identity" which can become aware of its eternal existence within the Avyakta. It is not a knowing, it is becoming aware of the eternal existence of every Identity without the identification and the experiencer.

Q) And if a question arises - is there an experience?

    Ans.) There is no experience. It is an awareness that becomes aware of existential Eternal Awareness in the ever Existential Eternal Nothingness. It is like a mirror seeing itself. 

The purpose of a mirror is to reflect whatever is present in front of it. When a mirror sees itself, then what appears is infinite reflections. Infinite reflections happen when there is a form or a thought. When there is no form or a thought then the mirror is in itself. The mirror is only a reflection. So we all are only reflections of the whole. We don't really exist. It is the identification with the reflection which is making us to think that we exist. 

Q) Can a reflection think? 

The thought process of the reflection is actually that of the object in front of it. We are an infinetismally small fraction of a reflection of that Absolute which is undergoing myriad experiences. It is the identification with the thought or the wave or the reflection which is making us to undergo these myriad experiences. When the identification ceases, there is no thought, no wave or no reflection. Then everything is in itself. The Truth is that the thought, or the wave or the reflection - all these are happening within the Absolute itself. This is what is called as in the Upanishads:

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

oṃ pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidaṃ pūrṇātpūrṇamudacyate ।
pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate ॥
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॥

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Let go the Meditator

 Let go the Meditator


One day, I sat to meditate,
Thoughts came, time elapsed,
Another day, I sat to meditate,
Thoughts came, days elapsed,
Another day, I sat to meditate,
Thoughts came, weeks elapsed,
Another day, I sat to meditate,
Thoughts came, months flew,
Another day, I sat to meditate,
Thoughts came, years vanished,
Another day, I sat to meditate,
Thoughts came, decades vanished,
Another day, I sat to meditate,
Thoughts came, centuries vanished,
Another day, I sat to meditate,
Thoughts came, many lives gone.


Another day, this body sat,
Thoughts came, suddenly realized,
I did not sit, the body sat,
Even though the thoughts came,
I am not the thoughts.
I am beyond body and thoughts,
I became an eternal witness,
To everything!
Witnessing every action,
phenomenon and noumenon,
Suddenly there was only Silence.
Witnessing itself through eternity.

Thoughts came,
Not to I,
The Witness, witnessed,
All thoughts through Eternal Silence!
And in that Eternal Silence,
Meditator left,
There was and is the presence of
Only Silence and Stillness!


Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Learning from Mistakes

Learning from Mistakes

We all can learn from our own mistakes or from other's mistakes also. Choice is ours. The first one is the hard way where we go through suffering. The second one is the wise one, where we do not allow the suffering to get created also. Think wisely before you act.

Monday, July 17, 2023

Psychology / Mind / Yoga

 Psychology / Mind / Yoga

  • If psychology has to be defined in four words, then that would be "yad bhaavam, tad bhavati" - so you think, so you become.
  • Human life is a manifestation of his/her own thoughts.
  • Thoughts are mental modifications. That is why Maharshi Patanjali said "yogaschittavritti nirodhah." The state where mental modifications cease to exist is called as the state of Yoga.

Friday, June 2, 2023

Monkey Mind

Monkey Mind

मर्कटस्य सुरापानं ततो वृश्चिकदंशनम् । 

तन्मध्ये भूत संचारो यद्वा तद्वा भविष्यति॥

बंदर ने मद्यपान किया । उसे बिच्छु ने काटा । उपर से उस में भूत प्रविष्ट हुआ । फिर तो जो होना है, वह होगा ।  कोइ भविष्यवाणी नहीँ किया जा सकता ।

A monkey has drunk wine. Then a scorpion bit him. Then he was possessed by a ghost. No one can predict what will happen.

This shloka tells us the importance of controlling, directing and channelising our Mind.

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Stillness in the Dark

Stillness in the Dark

On a wintery night,
Walking alone silently,
Hearing subtle sound of insects,
Coming from a distant,
pitch dark, unclear space.
Trying to convey,
To recognize their presence,
To hear their voice,
To resolve the unresolved.

Reminded me suddenly,
Unresolved, unclear emotions,
Hidden in the blind alley of my mind,
Trying to convey,
To recognize their presence,
To hear their voice,
To resolve the unresolved.

Sitting silently,
Breathing slowly,
Entered the blind alley of mind.
Through self-reflection.

Seeing the unclear,
Hearing the ignored,
Emotions unresolved,
Took courage to answer,
In that scary night,
Facing, if not boldly,
Piercing through the pile of emotions,
Dissolving everything,
In that Eternal Divine Silence and
Stillness born within.

Unseen has been seen,
Unheard has been heard,
Unresolved has been resolved,
Unanswered has been answered,
Seeing the Eternal Light bestowed upon,
Feeling the ever present, ever existent grace,
Entering into the realm beyond every emotion,
Silently disappeared into dazzling darkness,
Melting into that Eternal Void,
Unscared, sans fear,
Standing face-to-face with the Truth,
Dissolved into Bliss Eternal.

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

What is Destiny?

What is Destiny?

Many of us wonder about this word Destiny. 

The Oxford Dictionary defines it as:

"1 .the things that happen to you in your life, especially things that you cannot control" and "2. a power that people believe controls their lives"

        Irrespective of the above definitions what is that an individual thinks, that is what is most important. Because Destiny is what we think in our deepest thoughts and what we want it to get materialized. There is a very ancient Vedic Saying - "yad bhāvam tad bhavati यद्  भावं  तद् भवति " - What you think/feel so it becomes. So DEstInY - can be defined as Design Established by Inner You or Design Established by The Inner You or Design Established In You. What it indicates is that our Destiny is established by our own self and this could have been established from time immemorial, may be many lives or many incarnations, but completely based upon our own thought processes and patterns.

        The surrender to a Higher Energy or Cosmos or some 'form or formless' of Supreme is where the Design can be altered, because in true surrender, the self-thinking process is surrendered and all the activities are carried out from the realm of intuition rather than the realm of ego.

        So next time whenever we read or comeacross this word, let us take a pause and self-reflect on what we are thinking and do we really want it to get materialized in some way in our future. If not let us let go the thinking or those thought patterns and intuitionally develop harmony with the Cosmos.

Friday, September 16, 2022

What is Karma and how to burn it?

What is Karma and how to burn it?

Karma comes from a sanskrit root word 'kri' - meaning to do. Our Karma is based upon the deeds that we have decided upon. This decision has occurred in terms of thoughts often termed as sankalpas and vikalpas. 

There is a metaphor that is often used of that of a bow and arrow. The direction of  an arrow once shot from the bow cannot be changed. If it has to be changed then only wind can change it. Similarly an individual's karma is like an arrow shot by the individual itself based upon one's own sankalpas and vikalpas.

To change the direction of arrow meaning to get rid of one's karma, the help of wind has to be taken and the bow should be also taken it control. This is where we enter into the second phase of the metaphor which is slightly difficult to comprehend. In this second phase of the metaphor, the wind is prana which can be regulated by one's breath and the bow is one's own spine. Through regulation of breath and allowing it to pass along through the spine focussing consciously along the length of the spine through out the flow of incoming and outgoing of breath one can change the direction of the bow and hence can get rid of one's karma. 

The above practice in true sense as "Kriya Yoga" has to be learnt from a Guru itself and practiced with full of devotion and sincerity. 

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

BHĀRATĀVANI

BHĀRATĀVANI

భారతావని

రచయిత: ముద్దా రవి కిరణ్

భరతుడు మరియు రఘు రాముడు పాలించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
సీతమ్మ నడయాడిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
త్రేతా యుగమునుండి రావణ, మారీచ, సుబాహు,
తాటకిల రాక్షస సంహారమును చవి చెప్పిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
దుష్ట శిక్షణ, శిష్ట రక్షణను తెలియజెప్పి,
శాంతిని నడిపించి నిలిపింపజేసిన అవని ఇది భారతావని.

నాలుగు వేదములను అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
కపిల మహర్షి సాంఖ్య యోగమును అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
జైమిని వ్యాస మహర్షుల పూర్వ, ఉత్తర మీమాంసలను
భావితరాలకు అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
గౌతమ న్యాయ శాస్త్రము, కణాద వైశేషికమును అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
పాతంజలి ఉత్కృష్ట యోగ సూత్రములను అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
అత్యుత్తమ మేధా సంపత్తిని మరియు ధార్మిక యోగ విశేషాలను షడ్దర్శనాలతో ప్రపంచమునకు దర్షింపజేసిన అవని ఇది భారతావని.

వేదాంతమును శతాధిక ఉపనిషత్తుల రూపములో అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
ఉపనిషత్తుల సారాంశమును శ్రీమత్భగవద్గీతగా భవిష్యత్ మానవాళికందరికీ అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
భక్తి భావమును ఆలింగనమొనర్చుటకు శ్రీమద్భాగవతమును అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
మానవుడు ధర్మ మార్గమున నడయాడుటకు రామాయణ మహాభారతములతో పాటు పదునెనిమిది పురాణములు మరియు ఉపపురాణములను అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని.

గాంధార, శల్య, ద్వారక, జనక, హస్తిన, మగధ, కాశీ, చోళ,  బొబ్బిలి, మరింకెన్నెనో రాజ్యములను తనయందు సామరస్యంగా మరియు సుభిక్షంగా చూపించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
నలంద, తక్షశిల విశ్వవిద్యాలయాలతో భాసిల్లిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
సనాతన ధర్మపు వాఙ్మయాన్ని పునరుద్ధరింపచేసి ప్రపంచ మానవాళికందరికీ మరొక్కమారు అందజేసిన జగద్గురు ఆదిశంకరాచార్యులవారు నడయాడిన అవని ఇది భారతావని.

మొగలేయులు మరియు ఆంగ్లేయుల కీచక, కిరాతక దాడులకు అట్టుడికిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
శివాజీ మహారాజ్, ఝాన్సీ లక్ష్మీబాయ్, భగత్ సింగ్, సుభాష్ చంద్రబోస్, సర్దార్ వల్లభాయ్ పటేల్, మహాత్మా గాంధీ వంటి ఎందరో ఉత్కృష్ట స్వాతంత్య్ర సమరయోధులను అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
ఎన్నెన్నో దాడులను ఎదురుకొన్న, ఇతరులపై ఎన్నడూ దండెత్తని శాంతి అవని ఇది భారతావని. 

రామకృష్ణ పరమహంస, స్వామి వివేకానంద, మహావతార్ బాబాజీ, లాహిరి మహాశయా, స్వామి శ్రీ యుక్తేశ్వర్, పరమహంస యోగానంద, రమణ మహర్షి, సాయి బాబా, తుకారాం, కబీర్, గురునానక్, నాయానార్ లు, మరియు ఆళ్వార్ లాంటి మహా యోగులను, భక్తులను అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
త్యాగరాజ స్వామి, ముత్తుస్వామి దీక్షితార్, శ్యామా శాస్త్రి, అన్నమాచార్య, పురందరదాసు, సదాశివ బ్రహ్మేంద్ర, రబీంద్రనాథ్ ఠాగూర్, తులసీదాస్ వంటి ఎందరో గొప్ప వాగ్గేయకారులను, కవి పుంగవులను అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
భరతనాట్య, కూచిపూడి, మోహినియాట్టము, కథక్, ఒడిస్సి వంటి 
ఎన్నో సాంప్రదాయ నృత్యములను, కర్ణాటక, హిందుస్తానీ సాంప్రదాయ శాస్త్రీయ సంగీతమును అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;
సుశ్రుత, రాజనాథ్ సింగ్, జగదీశ్ చంద్రబోస్, సి వి రామన్, ఆర్యభట్ట, శివ అన్నాదురై, చరక, రామానుజం వంటి ఎందరో విశిష్ట శాస్త్రవేత్తలను అందించిన అవని ఇది భారతావని;

ఇట్టి అవని యందు జన్మించి ఇంతటి ఉత్కృష్ట సంస్కృతిని వారసత్వముగా పొంది నేను నడయాడుటకు భాగ్యమును ప్రసాదింపజేసిన అవని ఇది నా భారతావని. 

🙏🧘‍♂️🙏❤️🙏

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Insanity

Insanity

The sane cannot sense,
the insanity in the senseless,
The senseless cannot sense,
the insanity beyond senses.

To sense the One
that is beyond senses,
one need to be insane, and
Transcend the realm of senses.

Senses sense only the tangible,
Intangible is sensed only by the Heart.

What the Heart senses, logic doesn't,
Where the Heart reaches, mind doesn't.

The sanity exists as long as the mind exists,
When the mind is transcended,
the insanity creeps in, and
a different realm is experienced.

The realm that is experienced,
beyond senses, cannot be expressed,
or explained,
No senses can experience,
No thing can experience.
It's not a thing,
It's Nothing.
Insanity of a different realm,
can only experience the Nothing.

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Beloved

Beloved

There is this pain,
The pain of separation,
Separation from the Beloved,
Caused by delusion.

The Beloved is unseen, unheard,
To be perceived beyond the senses,
To be felt by the Heart,
To be seen within,
With the unseen eye.

When the unseen can be seen,
When the unheard can be heard,
When the unperceived can be perceived,
When the unfelt can be felt;
It can be seen, heard, perceived, felt
and it can happen,
Only by the Heart;
Only by the Grace;
Then it happens.

The presence of Beloved is felt,
In every nook and corner,
In every cell and atom,
In moments now, hither and thither,
Every moment, everywhere,
Within and without,
In everything and Nothing,
Just only that - My Beloved. 

Separation ceases,
Pain ceases,
Separation and pain,
Caused alone by delusion.

My Beloved, not here and there,
Not in the present, past or future,
Not in the time or place,
Beyond every defined and
undefined perception
My Beloved was and is
always with me,
Within me.

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Silent Look

Silent Look

A silent introspective look,
into the mind's nook,
removed the distorted crook,
from the thoughts brook.

Amidst the thoughts whined,
pain and pleasure wiped,
the wonder struck mind,
found its existence died.

Sunday, January 2, 2022

Shifting from a Mind-full state to a Mindful state

Shifting from a Mind-full state to a Mindful state

Most of us start our day with a calendar full of activities and probably would be involved in planning our day while brushing teeth or having a bath. Our mind is generally pre-occupied and is full of those tasks that we need to complete for the day. Probably there could be more activities in the calendar where we might be already feeling overwhelmed and become anxious about the extent of completion of tasks. We might be already worrying so much that sometimes we get a sick feeling and might feel panicked.

This is actually the time where we need to detach ourselves from the mind chatter and try to be realistic in scheduling. We should be ablet to fix in only those many tasks into the calendar that we can realistically complete. If we feel overwhelmed then we might not even be able to start the tasks at hand, and even if we start, we might not be able to focus 100% on the task. While carrying out the current task we might as well be thinking about another upcoming task and would not be able to do enough justice to the task at hand. Our minds get so filled with the tasks to complete that we become anxious and increase our stress levels. 

Mindfulness breathing techniques help us to detach, perform a course correction where required and re-anchor us to the reality at hand. These breathing techniques especially the triangle or box breathing will help us to replenish our brain with enough oxygen and allow us to use our pre-frontal cortex which the CEO of the brain. A regular practice of the breathing techniques will make it easy for us to shift from a mind-full state to a mindful state.

Technique

TRIANGLE BREATHING: A simple technique would be to inhale through nose for a count of 6, hold for a count of 6 and exhale through mouth for a count of 6. This is triangle breathing. We can repeat 6 times in this manner with 6-6-6 as ratio or some equivalent ratio where the count can be longer or shorter based upon individual's lung capacity and the state of mind in which the individual is at that time.

BOX BREATHING: Box breathing involves similar breathing with an additional ratio of holding the breathless state for an equal duration or count. This technique can be practiced by inhaling through nose for a count of 4, hold the breath for a count of 4, exhaling the breath through mouth for a count of 4 and hold for a count of 4 before the next inhalation happens.

CONCLUSION

Let us try to adopt and practice any of these breathing techniques regularly and arrive and stay in a peaceful, mindful state rather than being in a stressful mind-full state.

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Letting go the Frame and Framework

Letting go the Frame and Framework

In learning any concept that we do not know we try to search and choose that which we like or is recommended based upon someone's perception. Whatever the concept we choose based upon our likeness or based on someone's recommendation, we explore it and then try to spend some time in understanding it and probably practice the methodology given by the concept.

Any concept that is given by someone might have also created a framework to understand the concept. In the process of understanding the concept, we end up mostly sticking to the framework and start worshipping the frame that is the individual who has given the concept. In our ideology of worshipping the framework and the frame we rarely arrive at a realization that there will be something beyond the concept, the framework that has been introduced by the individual and beyond the individual or the frame also.

This is the time and space that we create ourselves where the concept, framework and the frame become boundaries, limit our understanding and restrict ourselves to stick within those boundaries. This is the risk and the danger that one has to understand and prepare oneself to let go the concept, framework and the frame. The analogy that can be used over here to understand is like we all chose a vehicle to travel from one place to another - may be a bicycle, a car or an aeroplane. But once we have travelled the said distance we let go those vehicles at someplace or the other and travel by foot all alone.

Similarly, we have to let go the concept, the framework and the frame, once we comprehend the concept and then make an every attempt to understand something beyond the concept, framework and the frame. 

This is what an every seeker need to understand and realize that on the spiritual path, the framework in terms of techniques that are introduced or provided by one's Guru are to regularize the wandering mind and once mind is regularized the seeker has to let go the framework of technique and go beyond the technique, the mind and the concept itself.

Most of the seekers' try to give importance to the techniques or the framework itself and then get stuck with them. The seeker need to understand and realize that the techniques are only to regularize the mind and once the techniques are mastered or practiced, he/she has to let go, move beyond the techniques, beyond the mind and beyond every concept.

This is what an every individual need to understand and realize this. The framework in terms of methodologies that are introduced are only to guide the individual to a certain concept and the individual has to let go the framework and go beyond it to arrive at a 360 degree perspective. Most individuals give importance to the framework itself and then get stuck with them. Once a concept is mastered they have to let go, and move beyond the concept, framework and the frame. .

Why every framework creates boundaries?

The people who follow certain framework will create their thought process in the beginning in such a way so that they want to stick to that framework, and slowly convert this thought process into a belief system. Once their thought process gets converted into a belief system, they like to stick to their belief system and would easily get irritated when they are challenged on their belief system. Sometimes, the individuals will not hesitate to fight or even kill on the extremes just in protecting their belief systems. This is the main reason that every individual has to be told before itself about the limitations of a framework and to what extent they need to stick to it and when to leave it also. Otherwise, every framework gets converted into a belief system over a period of time and will make the individual narrow minded, prejudiced and judgmental. It is like the metaphor "finger pointing to the moon." Over a period of time people will see the finger and worship the finger and forget completely about the moon. In this metaphor, the truth is the moon while the finger is only a pointer or a framework that is pointing to the moon or directing towards the truth.

This keeps happening so much in our day-to-day professional or personal lives. We create so many frameworks and stick to them. In organizations, innovation gets stuck completely because of attachment to the frameworks or the belief systems people have created over a period of time following those frameworks. 

CONCLUSION

Every innovator breaks frameworks, thinks completely out of the box, after knowing very well what is in the box and brings in a change or sometimes a revolution itself. Let the innovator or the seeker of truth in all of us realize this and break the boundaries that have been created by the framework - let go the framework, let go the frame and let go the concept.

Let the seeker in all of us realize this and break the boundaries that have been created by the framework - let go the framework, let go the frame and let go the concept. By doing so let us travel and enter into that realm of Nothingness that is beyond and is in everything. The seeker does not become the sought. Once the seeker dies the seeker realizes that the seeker was always the sought itself. The seeker is stopping himself/herself from this realization because of the thought process that the seeker and the sought are different. As part of this thought process the seeker keeps worshipping the sought in a frame and focusses more on the process or the framework that is provided to actually let go the process. The process is given to let go the process once the process is completed. The process gets completed the moment the seeker dies. The seeker dies the moment seeking stops. We have to become a seeker not to seek or sought something else, but to realize that the seeker is the sought itself.

Monday, December 20, 2021

Creating a Sacred Space

Creating a Sacred Space

The importance of creating a sacred space for mindfulness practices.

To carry out any activity we create a conducive space where all essential articles, objects or the required furniture, and equipment and tools are made available and the space is ensured that it is not cluttered and there is a free and appropriate flow of all the required five elements of nature - ether, air, fire/light, water/humidity and earth.

For example for cooking we need a kitchen where, water taps for washing, cleaning are available. stove, oven, food processor, cutlery, tumblers, utensils and other objects are available and are kept handy. Otherwise we get stressed out while cooking and might as well spoil the food. 

To sleep well we design our bedroom with comfortable bed, mattress and set the bedroom at right temperature.

Similarly we need to design a space that is quite conducive - which enables and enhances our formal mindfulness or meditative practices. As the practice involves with mind the space should be free from any unwanted objects and kept as much empty as possible. The space can also be made in such a way where we might keep objects of inspiration, may be a small statue, photographs of a Guru or an awakened/enlightened soul, a lamp or a candle, some very soft incense and may be some flowers. Dimensionally speaking about it, it can be anywhere from a minimum of 4ft x 4ft to any measurement on the higher side.

A good chair or cushion and props for sitting still for a longer duration of time would enable our practices and enhance them.

We use mainly three tools for our mindfulness practices apart from the cushions.

First one is the mind, second one is our body and third one is the breath that flows through our body.

Our bodies create certain memory based upon its environment - the objects, the floor and the surroundings it comes in contact with. Considering this aspect, we also need to have a dedicated space, personalized cushions, seating arrangements and mostly empty space in the area that we use for our practices.

When we enter this sacred space for meditation or mindfulness practices, it is very important that we set our intentions for how long we practice and ensure that we let go all thoughts, etc., for such a duration. In Sanskrit this is called as sankalpa सङ्कल्प. When we have the sacred space, the setting of intention becomes easy and over a period of time it also becomes a habit as it gets registered deep in the psyche and we automatically try to focus more on the practice rather than on something else.

It is very important that we anchor our mind onto our breath during mindfulness practices for it is very challenging to still the wandering mind. A sacred space also makes it easy for stilling the mind. One can use different breathing techniques initially to anchor the mind and then follow the natural flow of breath and probably go beyond breath.

Try making your own sacred space and reap the benefits that it adds to your mindfulness or meditation practices.


Saturday, December 11, 2021

Reflections - 1

Reflections - 1

Mindfulness practices provides us a platform or a framework to use our faculties of thought, imagination, visualization, emotions, feelings, our wants, desires etc., to enhance our focus, make ourselves more agile, and help us in deepening our convictions of Truth. They also enable us to have those bold conversations with our heart which we might be avoiding because of some kind of guilt or a non-acceptance.

Compassionate and empathetic communication is of prime importance in nurturing and enhancing any relationship. For any relationship to be enhanced we need to build it on strong foundations of trust, open-hearted, and non-judgmental conversations. 

Mindfulness practices especially that are involved in stillness, unintimidated observation and self-reflection will make to see our life, the way we lead it and the path on which we are travelling like an image in a mirror and provide us the courage and strength to course correct and travel boldly the path of Truth.



Friday, December 3, 2021

Life’s 9 Key Questions

 Life’s 9 Key Questions

  1. What is the purpose of life in general?
  2. What is the purpose of my life in particular?
  3. What is that I want to do to fulfil my purpose of life?
  4. What are the various ways of fulfilling this purpose and which of them should I be adapting? and are these ways in symphony or asynchronous with external environment?
  5. In any of my conversations with others, how am I behaving? Is it that I am trying to explore, be open and learn or contribute? Or is it that I feel superior and try to teach them or feel inferior and succumb to them?
  6. In spending time with others, am I really spending time with others or am I ruminating about my own life and trying to show either my supremacy by sharing my success stories or my failures and expecting either praise, sympathy or empathy?
  7. In whatever activity I perform am I doing it for its fulfilment or expecting a validation from others or the external world?
  8. Can I live The Life with my True Self or am I trying to live life in search of finding myself in others for fulfilment? Am I living life Consciously or numbed?
  9. What is that Truly I want from my life and The Life itself? 

Monday, November 15, 2021

The Call of the Wild!

The Call of the Wild!

Deep from within it speaks,
Every time without fail,
Heard or unheard,
To the braves' and the meeks',
Liseneth art those,
With patience and courage,
To the call of the wild!

Untamed and uncut,
Rough and tough,
Every nook and corner,
Knows thou it,
Merciless, brutal, 
Yet kind and compassionate,
Speaketh thou art,
The call of the wild!

Stripped off all identities,
Kicked out from every boundary,
Thrown apart from every entanglement,
Severed from everything,
Alone, in the dazzling darkness,
Cold, shivered, dazzled,
Beyond every amazement,
Cutting through every thought,
Beyond every humanly possible thought,
Silently heard,
The call of the wild!

Heareth only by the Listeneth,
Perceiveth only by the Unperceivable,
Beyond the inner Aurora Borealis,
Unperturbed, stilled, silent beyond the silence,
Still beyond the stillness,
Vibrationless, motionless,
Yet communicating
Through every birth and death,
Through the life eternal, and
Through the eternal Nothingness,
The call of the wild!



 

Monday, November 8, 2021

Falling into Silence!

Falling into Silence! 

On a Sunday afternoon,
As the gentle and strong sun's rays,
piercing through the passion flower vine,
Along with the buzz of bumble bee,
It entered gently and fiercely,
Emptied everything -
Silence, thou art conquered!

From the motion of thoughts,
From the movements of body,
From the movements of
plants and vines around,
It has thrown asunder everything -
Silence, thou art conquered!

What existed, no longer existed,
What did not seem to exist,
Everlastingly existed,
Unheard, unwarned,
It has catapulted everything -
Silence, thou art conquered!

From the realms of identities,
From the realms of meingness,
into the realms of beingness,
into the realms of Nothingness,
Unquestioned, unanswered,
Not caring for the world,
Caring only to Eternity,
It entered softly, gently,
Unrecognized by any - 
Silence, thou art conquered!

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Mode

 Mode

In which mode am I now?



The Journey

The Journey


From Form to Formless - aakaara to niraakaara

From Sound to Silence

From Samskaras to Nishkriya, Nishkarma

From Shabda to Nishabda

From Nishabda to Shunya

Friday, October 8, 2021

Nothingness

Nothingness

What is Nothingness?

It is an ever existence of non-existent.

In the morning hours of October 9, 2021, while I was trying to set a vine of the passion flower in my terrace garden, I saw a bee flying and trying to stay still on a wall like surface to build probably something. Suddenly, a thought came - where is it flying?

And the answer is: It is flying in the air. 

But it is still - only its wings are fluttering speedily.

Then the next question came up. 

It is flying in the air and does it stay there permanently? 

No.

It is flying, it is still and at the same time it cannot exist there permanently. 

But is it really flying? What is that which is showing me that it is flying and staying still even though the wings are fluttering? 

It is actually flying in the empty space, where the air is also flying (moving) along with everything.

Is it not that everything is flying in empty space? 

This question has thrown me off guard and pushed me effortlessly into that empty space. 

Yes, everything is flying in this universe. The planets, asteroids, suns, stars, all astronomical bodies, billions of galaxies - everything is just flying and they all are flying in an empty space. 

Then it clearly means - all that is flying is actually supported by this empty space. And, anything that is flying can fly, and exist only for a little while - could be flash of a second or a trillion years. Still, the existence of everything that we see, perceive or the one which don't see or cannot perceive - everything exists only temporarily. It is like in the movie house of Cosmos, a universal movie is being projected, with all the characters of suns, stars, asteroids, comets, planets, stellar bodies, bacteria, animals, human beings, etc., etc., in myriad forms and without forms on the empty screen of eternal Nothingness.

All of these exist temporarily in an "ever existing of the non-existent" and that non-existent is "The Eternal Nothingness."

Every seeker, every aspirant, everything in the Cosmos is making an attempt to let go its existence of identity and get merged into that ever existing non-existent - The Eternal Nothingness.

Let that Grace, grace its eternal presence on everyone and everything to realize and merge into the ever existing non-existent - The Eternal Nothingness.



Significance of Jai Guru!

Significance of Jai Guru!

What does the words "Jai Guru" mean? 

What is the significance of these two words?

Whenever we utter "Jai Guru" - it means victory to Guru. 

When does Guru attain Victory? 

The individual who has attained self-realization has already attained victory in terms of the purpose of life. That individual has fulfilled the purpose of birth. What else will give that individual more victory? 

An individual after attaining self-realization and who is being always in the state of "Oneness with the Eternal Nothingness" would or may like to help other individuals to attain the same state as that of that individual's state. Then such an individual who is always in the state of "Oneness with the Eternal Nothingness" is called as Sadhguru, descends into a realm of those individuals who are not in the state of "Oneness with the Eternal Nothingness" and helps them to realize that state. 

Those individuals who are not in a state of Oneness with the Eternal Nothingness - can be called as shishyas or aspirants, and when they attain the state of "Oneness with the Eternal Nothingness," then it becomes a victory to the Guru. Thus "JAI GURU" means that an individual who is a shishya (शिष्य) has made or making an attempt to enter or realize the state of "Oneness with the Eternal Nothingness."

Is "Oneness with the Eternal Nothingness" a state means - no. It is a state beyond all the states. It is an ever existent non existential, non-state. It is such a non-existential state that it is beyond all existences and identifications. It is a state of beyond the states of Guru (गुरु) and shishya (शिष्य). The identifications generally an individual goes through are:

  1. Wakeful state (Jagrat जाग्रत)
  2. Dream state (Svapna स्वप्न)
  3. Deep sleep - Sushupti (सुषुप्ति)
  4. Turiya - Beyond sleep (तुरीय)
  5. Samadhi - Conscious Turiya state (समाधि)
The state of "Oneness with the Eternal Nothingness" is beyond all the above states and is beyond any other definable state.





Wednesday, October 6, 2021

What is required on the path?

What is required on the path?

What is required on the path?


Is it the dry intellectualism? or
Is it the debatable skills,
 to win over others perspectives? or
Is it the dogmatic arguing conversation,
that offends and win over others? or
Is it the iconoclastic attitude,
that challenges all belief systems?


What is it, that is required on the path?


Every thought of ours makes us a prisoner.
Every thought enhances arrogance that resists Truth.


Do we believe in power of men's lies? Or
Do we believe in the Truth overpowering men's lies?


Every communication based on rationality,
Every rationality based on mockery and rebuke of Truth.
Every humane aspect corrupted by greed and desire.
Every action based on impulse and compulsion,
Demonstrating the beastly nature of man.


Man's mind fallen, rotten, rutted with ignorance,
Needs drastic reform, renew, change,
with compassionate parlance.
To think from the creation to the revelation,
To ignite the fire within, to set ablaze the light within,
To see the realms beyond the physical and subtle,
To enter the realm of Spirit,
A warm devotion set on fire by the Truth.
A humble surrender, to let go everything,
every thought, and every identity,
To melt and merge into the eternal Nothingness.




Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Am I Spiritual?

 Am I spiritual?

One day I was having a conversation with one of my colleagues and she said about herself that she is spiritual during the conversation. Our conversation went for almost an hour and I was asking her various questions about her life and the way she lives. After one hour of conversation, I could understand that she spends most of her time in other aspects of life rather than being spiritual.

Me being in my egoistic mentality wanted to challenge her on how she is spiritual while she spent 99% of the time in non-spiritual activities and identities. Before uttering any word, I wanted to self-reflect and stop being judgmental. Who am I to judge someone? Isn’t that the Jesus’s timeless maxim says: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged.” I kept my mouth shut.

The question “am I spiritual?” was lingering around and was prodding within my psyche. I started self-reflecting. The way we use the words – how much do we really meant by them? I wanted to evaluate and analyze on how much time I spend on each activity, and how I really pass my 24 hours of a day.

I pulled up an excel sheet and started indicating the time that I have spent on each activity and took about a graphical display. To my surprise, I found that I am more of a materialistic person rather than a spiritual person.


Finally, I realized that, I hardly spent 1% of my daily time in being truly spiritual. It is high time that:

  1. A course correction is required in my personal life. 
  2. I take a U-turn to look within and turn my self-reflection to the Reflection of the Self.

Sunday, September 19, 2021

On a Rainy Evening!

 On a Rainy Evening!

Seeing Thee within,
Seeing Thee out...
in every tiny droplet of rain,
Thy stillness spreading,
with every ripple,
moving along the wave,
revealing Thine eternal presence.

What can I say?
Thy love, Thy beauty,
Spread across the vastness of Cosmos,
Revealing to the eye that can see,
the mind that can comprehend,
the heart that can feel,
the soul that can merge,
In Thy vastness to become,
Thine eternal Nothingness.


Monday, September 6, 2021

I found Thy Presence

I found Thy Presence

In the mystic aureole of Thy darkness,
I found Thine Eternal Brightness.

In the secret realms of vastness,
I found Thine Oneness.

In the myriad forms of Thy diversity,
I found Thine Universality.

In the innumerable scenes of imperfection,
I found the presence of Thy perfection.

In the unlimited hues of light,
I found Thy sight.

In the unimaginable life's absence,
I found Thy presence.

In the silent breaths of air,
I heard Thy voice of Om snare.

In the unfathomable depths of silence,
I heard Thy whispers.

With all Thy Grace of effortlessness,
I could become Thine Eternal Nothingness.

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Defining Yourself

Defining Yourself

Your body may define your mind,
but not the Heart.
To change your body,
change your mind.
To change yourself, and the world,
change your Heart.
Moving forward - to define yourself,
use your Heart rather than your mind.





Facing Tough Times

Facing Tough Times

Tough times may make us to think,
the wrong things we might have done, and brood.
However, it is also an opportunity,
to redefine and refine our ways of living.
Treating tough times as an opportunity,
to grow and evolve is the wise way.
 


Saturday, August 14, 2021

Inner Tendencies

Inner Tendencies

What are inner tendencies?

The inner tendencies are Mind (मनस्), Intellect (बुद्धि)Ahaṅkāra (अहङ्कार) and Chitta (चित्त).

What is Mind (मनस्)?

Mind (मनस्)  is a part of consciousness that is used to process the information gathered, acquired and archived by the senses and each cell of the body with the help of the intellect. 

What is Intellect (बुद्धि)?

Intellect (बुद्धि) is a tool which is also a part of the consciousness and is used to arrive at a decision based upon the processed information of the mind. 

Intellect can work at different levels of consciousness. In the conscious realm it works based upon the sensory perceptions and helps in cognizance of the those sensory perceptions.

In the subconscious realm it works based upon the strong impressions that are created by the sensory perceptions and the impact that they have created.

In the unconscious realm it lets the individual to know that there was a period of time or space where no sensory perception could be processed.

In the superconscious realm it makes the mind to recollect its Divine memory that it is a soul and the soul exists as a part of the consciousness, and there is an awareness which is aware of everything and the eternal Nothingness; and that awareness and the consciousness are all a part of the eternal Nothingness. 

What is Ahaṅkāra (अहङ्कार)?

Ahaṅkāra (अहङ्कार) is that portion of the consciousness which self identifies with the various processes of mind and creates an affiliation towards the phenomena of processing and the intellect.

What is Chitta (चित्त)?

Chitta (चित्त) is a part of the consciousness that is conscious of the impressions, that the mind creates and has created over a period of time, based upon the affiliation that the individual has created or developed, through that portion of the consciousness called as Ahaṅkāra (अहङ्कार). 

Why to understand the inner tendencies?

The "tendencies - karaṇa करण" lead to "cause - kāraṇa कारण", which in turn lead to consequences in the form of "actions - karma कर्म" and the "fruits of actions - karma phala कर्म फल" or the effect, which further leads to the "karmic cycle - karma chakra कर्म चक्र" as the affiliation towards "fruits of actions - karma phala कर्म फल" increases. And, as more and more we get entangled with the affiliation of our "fruits of actions", more and more we get entangled into the karmic cycle. Hence, the best thing to do is, to let go all the affiliations/attachments and go beyond the 4 inner tendencies to enter into the starting point of the realm of Trigunas and travel beyond them and step into the unmanifest or the avyakta by surrendering to the Maha Prakruti or Mahat Tattwa.