God, seated in our heart as the Supersoul, is watching our actions and motivations. Just as a CCTV camera observes everything neutrally, the Lord in our heart impartially records our desires and actions. A spiritual practitioner is mindful of the Lord’s presence in his life and therefore pays attention to what he is doing- after…

He even dismissed the fame as daft and ephemeral. In a career spanning almost four decades, he has acted only in twenty films, and for the last twelve of them, he has received numerous nominations and recognition from the film fraternity. Once, on the sets he contracted pneumonia but avoided warm clothes because during the…

In your study or job, it’s tempting to cut corners, especially if you can make a quick buck. But if you break universal laws-principles, you wouldn’t reap the real benefits- there’s no inner fulfillment from the act. You’d lick the bottle of honey only from outside! The veil of glamour could blind you to the…

A suavely designed smartphone may attract your eyes. While you crave for it and feel your fingers smoothly glide through the elegant device, how much are you tempted to open up the gadget and see the inside? Steve Jobs, however, ensured the interior was as chic as the outside. He said being the wealthiest man…

“The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus. Therefore concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand.” –    Alexander Graham Bell (Scottish born scientist and inventor of the Telephone) “Please come upstairs; the toilet is much better there,” said the chief of the hospital, to which swamiji merely smiled, but instead hurried…

To educate one’s conscience, we could try the following: journaling, scriptures, reading wisdom books, nature walks, contemplation and prayers. Scriptures help to develop our conscience Robert Oppenheimer, the ‘father of the atomic bomb’ didn’t realize the dangerous consequences during the famous Trinity test where the first atomic bomb was detonated. He was a student of…

One morning, the stand was clean, but by evening, it was once again messy. Again, the next morning it was in order. Every morning, since then, the rack was maintained. But nobody knew who does the menial job. One night at 1.30, I got up to use the washroom and was surprised to see San,…

Those with a developed manomaya kosha are generally happy, and they feel loved. If however, you are starved of affection and are generally unhappy, you can try affirmations and healthy self-love and self-acceptance practices. A developed Mind sheath ensures you are usually peaceful. Most people live in these three koshas- pleasure, protection, and peace. The…

The energy body – Pranamaya Kosha However, like my friend, we don’t live only in one city. We too travel and spend lots of time in the town of ‘Pranamaya Kosha’- Energy body. The Chinese called it the Chi and the Greeks, Kha. And yoga literature refers to this as Prana- the layer of energy.…

The Taittreya Upanishad describes our existence in five layers; we live in one of the five spaces- known as the Koshas or sheaths that cover our real self. The five Koshas I knew a friend who often traveled for business and lived in Geneva, Dares Salaam, Karachi, Los Angeles, and in Mumbai. He sometimes woke at the…

“No one is free who has not obtained the empire of himself. No man is free who cannot command himself.” –         Pythagoras (Ancient Greek Philosopher) “I feel a sense of emptiness, although I have a spacious house, good money, nice wife and children. Also, I am generally healthy.” I asked him if he was interested to…

Moving forward happily Let’s know that let-down and failures are part of common humanity- it’s an experience we share with billions of others on this planet. The Vedic scriptures remind us repeatedly the example of Indra- the leader of gods in the skies. He slips, falls but rises again and resumes his services. If the…