u/JourneyTowardsTruth

Right from childhood, being influenced by Western culture, I somehow never felt inclined to wear or do anything Indian.

Now it makes me think how stupid I was.

Almost everyone around you makes you feel like you're the most fashionable and updated person if you wear the tightest T-shirt, jeans, or eat a burger or pizza, although it looks like the most unaesthetic way of eating food.

Food is treated as something very sacred and we bow down to it before consuming it in this culture. A bottle of Coke and eating pizza became a cool thing because of the way it's projected.

If I put my hands together and bowed down to my food before eating, people would think I'm doing something very outdated and orthodox.

But in our culture, we bow down to everything that is a source of our lives.

Whether it's food, water, sky, animals, or anything we see, we bow down to it. It is to recognise the divinity in everything.

If you see a snake, they say snake god. If you see a mountain, they talk about mountain god. If you say Bharat, they say Bharat Mata, Mother India.

Rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Cauvery, and Godavari are all worshipped.

I used to feel ashamed to speak in my own mother tongue. If I spoke in English, people thought I was highly knowledgeable or educated.

Even today in India, people think you are really great if you speak English. But it's just a language. That's got nothing to do with one's knowledge and knowing.

This is one of the biggest cripples because it'll make one lend a deaf ear to all the great people just because they don't speak a particular language.

We are all trained in an education that's structured to make clerks, not to free our minds and think independently. This education that we're going through is largely British-made.

The education in India wasn't like this at all.

Not just education, but for every stage in life, what needs to be done, everything was structured and thought of for the wellbeing of a human being and to make a human become a full-fledged life.

In childhood, information and knowledge was not given because the brain and body should grow.

Until the age of 8, education wasn't given. This was known as Balyavastha, a stage where the body and mind are still in the growing stage.

If a child is burdened with information and knowledge at this stage, it only does more harm than good.

Later years were known as Brahmacharya, where children went through extreme discipline because this is the age where it's most needed.

Along with this, education was given only after the child utters Aham Brahmasmi, to say that my identity is not with myself or my family, caste, creed, gender, or nationality, but I'm cosmic.

If a person whose identity is limited gets empowered, it leads to destruction.

No wonder why so much is spent on arms and armaments. It's only because of me vs you.

If my identity was cosmic, who do I fight with?

Then comes Grihastha Ashrama, where people chose to get married, fulfil their needs and responsibilities, handle material aspects, and raise children. Or if they wish, they can be a lifelong Brahmachari.

And finally, Vanaprastha or Sanyasa, where one focused on living in solitude or stepping away from family.

It's unfortunate to see people hang on with family till the last moment they die. It's painful for elders and also the family.

But if a certain detachment arose out of fulfilment of life, naturally a person likes to withdraw and leave gracefully.

These days, due to media and the internet, young adults are seeing everything on screens and they think they know everything already.

No more excitement about life.

This is one of the major reasons why they fall into psychological ailments so early.

The history of this nation has been made to be looked at as just mere mythological stories.

Whether it's Mahabharat, Ramayan, or Puranas, these were not stories but real happenings expressed in dialectical ways so that they remain relevant for every generation.

The calendars also have changed.

Sadhguru states that the modern Gregorian calendar is a numerical convenience which ignores the larger geometry of the cosmos entirely. He further adds that it ignores how this human system is a reflection of the larger cosmos, especially the sun, moon, and earth.

Whereas the Eastern calendars devised by mystis, particularly Hindu luni-solar ones, were made thousands of years ago to map cosmic geometry and align human physiology with the sun, moon, and earth.

If one learns to align with it, life shall become blissful and a dance.

The Indian calendar goes according to celestial happenings, but we're following something that was created as a numerical convenience.

The word "calendar" originates from the Roman term Calendae, the day taxes and debts were due.

Whatever happens to the celestial bodies happens to our bodies too.

But all these aspects are missed in the calendar we follow.

And somewhere along the way, all these things started to feel outdated and orthodox to me simply because they were Indian.

I didn't realise then how much of my own culture I was dismissing without even knowing what was behind it. Grateful to Sadhguru and several other great masters of the past who made me realise about my own culture which I was ignorant of despite being born in it.

TL;DR: I grew up thinking many aspects of Indian culture were outdated because of Western influence. As I learned more, I realised there was much deeper wisdom behind our culture that I had dismissed without understanding.

Right from childhood, being influenced by Western culture, I somehow never felt inclined to wear anything Indian.

Now it makes me think how stupid I was.

And almost everyone around you makes you feel like you're the most fashionable and updated person if you wear the tightest T-shirt or Jeans.

Somewhere within, I knew it wasn't making sense, but I was just trying to look cool. And I was good at that. I looked fashionable and stylish. But was I really feeling harmonious and comfortable? Hell no. It wasn't comfortable, but I wore it just to look fashionable in college.

Torn clothes were a big fashion too. The more it's torn and tattered, the more expensive it is. It still doesn't make sense why people prefer these. Fortunately, torn clothes never attracted me.

And this becomes so much a part of your psyche that anything Indian starts to mean outdated and orthodox. I had such a dismissive attitude towards everything that was Indian. Whether it was going to temples, doing pujas, or even my own name... yes, you read that right. I used to hate my name because it had Indian gods' names in it.

One thing is, there wasn't much one can learn learn about India or Indian culture apart from the freedom fighters and the independence movements. Apart from that, definitely nothing about spiritual pride. While growing up, you have no clue what this sacred land has offered for a human's ultimate wellbeing.

Of course, the parents and elders were equally clueless as to why a temple is built or why a ritual is done. I thought it was all blind belief and unscientific. In a way, it became like this because the scientific aspect was lost somewhere during nearly a thousand years of invasions. We forgot who we are. What the core of this civilization has been.

And then one day I stumbled upon a video of Sadhguru. A few days later, I found myself watching video after video and understanding so many things about this profound culture. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have known. I felt a deep pain what this land offered to the world yet we knew nothing about our roots. All we cared was education, grades, going cinema and enjoying life. I'm not saying it's wrong but it's just the surface of life.

This made me curious about our very existence & made me into a seeker of truth. This eventually led me to Yoga & Meditation.

Many things changed after I came into it.

One thing is, life itself became so fantastic and profound. In turn, you began to make conscious changes about everything, from what you eat, how you sleep, how you do anything.

Sadhguru once mentioned how stitched cloth can restrict the flow of energy, and why synthetic clothing is something yoga practitioners must avoid. He further added that cotton or silk is best since it's organic, and that's traditionally how Indian men and women always wore one long piece of garment, either a dhoti or a saree.

It makes so much sense now. One thing is the comfort, but another is the aesthetic. When I wear a kurta or dhoti, the way it feels and the richness of it are just unmatched.

Keeping the energy and organic aspects aside, cotton or silk clothing just feels so good to wear. It's so light, and you feel like your body is breathing through every pore.

Another thing that changed is I started liking more vibrant colours, the kind silk offers, or cool colours in cotton. I've not stopped wearing T-shirts and stuff, but I've become more picky and choosy.

Recently, I went to buy a T-shirt and searched for almost two hours in the mall to find the right one. Haha. One thing was that all the T-shirts just stick to your body, like I'm playing the role of Superman or Spiderman lol.

Another thing is the slogans on T-shirts. It's so stupid. They write so much rubbish on them, or just their own brand name. So I have to spend my own money to promote their brand. I wasn't willing to do that unless I was some ambassador for their brand. :p

Finally, I found a few clothes which spoke about being in nature. At last, I felt at peace! Phew! At least nature! Some message for the environment rather than some fringe stuff. The T-shirt was a bit oversized, but at least it doesn't remind me all the time that I'm wearing it, so I can focus on things better.

Can dressing make you feel better? Yes. If one becomes a meditative, sensitive, and sensible human being, naturally the way one dresses changes too.

You might have seen the imagery of Christ, Sai Baba, Guru Nanak, Gautama Buddha, Paramahansa Yogananda, and Swami Vivekananda or Sadhguru. All dressed differently, but definitely in more comfortable, breathable clothing. It's not because they became enlightened and wanted to show the world they are enlightened. It becomes a natural choice once a human becomes more sensitive and conscious.

I considered myself a very logical person until this happened.

I was a very logical person and extremely passionate about life. I enjoyed life to its fullest and was curious about almost everything.

Being deeply involved in various things in life, everything interested me and life was magical.

Then one day, my curiosity turned towards myself.

Who really am I?

Where did I come from?

Where do I go?

What exactly happens when someone dies?

It was an intense desire and thirst to know the truth. This seeking somehow led me to spirituality and yoga.

I was fascinated with the idea of chakras, meditation, yogis and everything.

I knew there was more to life than what meets the eye. This eventually led me to a yoga program.

I didn't suddenly start believing everything I heard there. In fact, I didn't believe anything just because someone said it. I simply decided to do try the meditation practice that was offered there and practice it sincerely for a period of time atleast before coming to any conclusion. I wanted to see it for myself and experience what it means to be meditative.

About two weeks later, as usual, I sat for my daily practice.

I had no idea that day would leave such a deep impression on me.

For a few moments, it felt like everything was merging into me, or maybe I was merging into everything. I still don't know how to explain it. Words fall short. It was a like experience and intense dance of cosmos.

When it ended, one thing had become crystal clear to me. The dimension of life I had known until then was not all there is.

Even today, when I think about that experience, I get goosebumps. Sometimes it even brings tears to my eyes.

That wasn't the end of my journey. Life has gifted me with many more profound experiences since then, each one deepening my sense of wonder and gratitude.

Life hasn't become perfect. I still have responsibilities, challenges, and goals like everyone else.

But I can no longer look at life in the same way. With every experience, my quest has deepened more and more. Today, this has become the most significant and important thing in my life, more than anything else.

Life can be explosive and absolutely so full of light. And now, after all these years, I realise there's only the very surface of mysticism or spirituality I've explored, and there's a whole world out there for me to explore yet.

If there's one thing I've learned, it's this.

You don't have to believe anyone.

Just be willing to explore with sincerity.

Life may reveal something far more beautiful than you ever imagined.

How did your journey in spirituality start? What triggered you to look within?

Would love to hear about your journey.

I was a very logical person and extremely passionate about life. I enjoyed life to its fullest and was curious about almost everything.

Being deeply involved in various things in life. Everything interested me and life was magical.

Then one day, my curiosity turned towards myself.

Who really am I?

Where did I come from?

Where do I go?

What exactly happens when someone dies?

It was an intense desire and thirst to know truth. This seeking somehow led me to yoga.

I didn't suddenly start believing everything I heard there. In fact, I didn't believe anything just because someone said it. I simply decided to do the practices sincerely and see what happened.

About two weeks later, as usual I sat for my daily practice.

I had no idea that day would leave such a deep impression on me.

For a few moments, it felt like everything was merging into me, or maybe I was merging into everything. I still don't know how to explain it. Words fall short.

When it ended, one thing had become crystal clear to me. The dimension of life I had known until then was not all there is.

Even today, when I think about that experience, I get goosebumps. Sometimes it even brings tears to my eyes.

That wasn't the end of my journey. Life has gifted me with many more profound experiences since then, each one deepening my sense of wonder and gratitude.

Life hasn't become perfect. I still have responsibilities, challenges, and goals like everyone else.

But I can no longer look at life as just the same way. With every experience my quest has deepened more and more. Today, this has become the most significant and important thing in my life more than anything else.

Life can be explosive and absolutely so full of light. And now after all these years I realise there's only the very surface of mysticism or spirituality I've explored and there's a whole world out there for me to explore yet.

If there's one thing I've learned, it's this.

You don't have to believe anyone.

Just be willing to explore with sincerity.

Life may reveal something far more beautiful than you ever imagined.

How has your journey in spirituality start? What triggered you to look within?

Would love to hear about your journey

I sometimes wonder if we've become so good at living... that we've forgotten to truly explore life.

Most of us spend years building careers, earning money, finding partners, buying homes, and planning for the future. None of these things are wrong. In fact, they're important.

But somewhere along the way, I started wondering if that's all there is.

I wasn't someone who grew up believing in spirituality. If anything, I was very logical and endlessly curious. I loved life, enjoyed my passions, and questioned almost everything.

Eventually, that curiosity turned into seeking and made me turn inward.

Who am I, beyond my name, my profession, and my thoughts?

Where did I come from? Where do I go after death?

Is there god? I had lots of questions about chakras, enlightenment and what not.

It was an intense desire to know the truth.

Those questions stayed with me until I joined a yoga program. I didn't go expecting anything extraordinary, and I certainly didn't accept everything I heard. I simply decided to practice what was taught and see for myself.

About two weeks later, during my daily practice, I experienced something that completely changed how I looked at life.

For a brief moment, the usual feeling of being a separate "me" seemed to disappear. It felt as though there was no boundary between me and everything around me. I've never found the right words to describe it.

Even now, years later, thinking about that moment gives me goosebumps and tears.

That experience didn't make my responsibilities disappear. I still work, plan, and live like everyone else but there's a whole dimensional shift.

Life can be explosive and absolutely so full of light. And now after all these years I realise there's only the very surface of mysticism or spirituality I've explored and there's a whole world out there for me to explore yet.

It became crystal clear to me that the dimension I exist in is not all there is.

Sometimes I wonder how many of us spend our entire lives perfecting the outside while never exploring the inside.

Have any of you ever had an experience that completely changed the way you looked at life? I'd genuinely love to hear your stories.

Thought I'd share how a few small habits have completely changed how conscious I've become about my body and my eating habits.

One of the biggest changes happened after I got drawn to meditation and yoga. I slowly became conscious of my eating habits without even trying to force it. I've been influenced by the Paramhansa Yogananda lineage and Isha.

I've noticed how anyone who wants to experience life more fully, or experience deeper meditative states, ends up becoming really selective about their food habits. No wonder our body is called Annamaya Kosha, which literally means "food body."

I don't simply eat whenever I feel like it anymore. I make sure there's a gap of at least 6 to 8 hours between each meal. I once heard that if you're over 30, two meals a day is usually enough unless you're very physically active, and that stuck with me.

It's been almost 10 years since I came into yoga, and I can say for sure I've become a lot more conscious of my food habits since then.

To me, everything comes down to being conscious. One of the simplest things we can do is pay attention to what we're eating and how we're eating it. It makes a bigger difference than people realize.

I prefer eating in silence when I can, though that's not always possible.

That thing sitting on my plate isn't some non living object. It's life. It has a life of its own, and it's offering that life to me. When I eat with that kind of gratitude, the way food behaves in my body feels completely different.

I once heard Sadhguru say, "You're not willing to sacrifice your little finger, but that carrot, or whatever it is, is willing to become a part of you. That's a huge love affair if you're conscious of it."

Since then I've been eating with enormous gratitude and in turn it made me conscious of my body.

I feel like my capacity to listen to my body has gone up. I can sense things well before they become a real issue. My body feels more agile and alert too, like I've slowly tuned myself to be more receptive to life.

There are foods considered more "positive" and foods considered more "negative" in terms of the energy they carry. I'll probably do a separate post on that if people are interested.

These small choices have made such a difference that some days I genuinely feel lighter, almost like I'm floating. Standing on my terrace or walking outside, I feel a lot more connected to everything around me.

I've also been trying to fast on Ekadashi days, and that's made a real difference to how I feel overall.

This has been my experience over the last decade of slowly becoming more conscious. Has anyone else here worked on becoming more aware of their body and how they eat? Would love to hear.

I know I might be criticised for this, but I still wanna write.

In life, horrible things can happen, but should we take our lives because of that?

Those people who took their lives thinking it was over would have felt so happy today if they were alive. Isn't it?

Please don't act so fast, Gen Z... Please slow down a bit before taking quick decisions.

A paperleak shouldn't kill you. You are much stronger than that. You've shown it to the world today.

Stay strong. Please don't die for small reasons. Your life is precious. More precious than any exam in the world.

Thought I'd share how these little habits have changed how conscious I've become about my body and my eating habits.

One of the significant changes that happened after I got drawn to Meditation and Yoga is that I've become conscious of my eating habits. I've been influenced by Paramhansa yogananda lineage and Isha.

I've also noticed how everyone who wants to experience life more fully or experience deep meditative states have become so selective about their food habits.

No wonder why our body is called 'Annamaya Kosha', which literally means "food body."

I don't simply eat whenever I feel like it. I make sure there's a gap of at least 6-8 hours between each meal. I once heard from Sadhguru that if one is over 30 years of age, two meals a day would suffice unless there's a lot of physical activity.

It's been almost 10 years since I came into yoga, and I can definitely say I've become a lot more conscious of my food habits.

To me, everything is about being conscious. One of the simplest things we can do to become conscious about is what food we're consuming and how we're consuming it. It makes a lot of difference.

I prefer eating in silence, although that's not possible every time.

That thing sitting on my plate is not some non-living object. It is life. It has a life of its own. It's willing to offer its life to me, and I bow down to it. When I consume food with utmost gratitude, the way it behaves within me feels very different.

I once heard Sadhguru say, "You're not willing to sacrifice your little finger, but that carrot, or whatever it is, is willing to become a part of you." It's a huge love affair if we're conscious.

I just felt like sharing how this has made me eat with gratitude and how it has made me more conscious of my body.

I feel my capacity to listen to my body has increased. I can sense things much before they become an issue. My body has also become so agile and alert. It's almost like fine-tuning yourself so you can become receptive to life.

There are foods that are considered positive pranic and there are foods considered negative pranic. The positive ones are many, while the negative ones are very few. I'll probably make another post about that if you guys are interested.

These little choices have made so much difference that I feel like I'm floating. When I stand on my terrace or walk in nature, I feel one with the breeze. I feel so connected with everything around me. My body feels so light and agile.

Also, I've been trying to fast every Ekadashi, and that has made a huge impact on my overall well-being.

This has been my experience over the last decade. Have any of you tried something similar? What habits have helped you become more conscious of your body and the way you eat?

I'd love to hear

How subtle truth is, yet how simple and obvious it is. It's so obvious, and that's why we miss it.

One of the tools offered in this program has the potential to take one to one's ultimate nature if used properly. Keeping that aspect aside, it's made my relationships so much better.

It made me realize how much resistance I had towards some people in my life. Now, just by applying that tool and seeing life through it, it has empowered me in such a way that it's almost miraculous. It's the same person I was resistant towards just a few weeks ago.

Now I simply chill out with the same person. It's brought such a level of acceptance within me. I've no words.

I once saw a video of Sadhguru saying, "How can a person irritate you? You're blind to life. You're not seeing the uniqueness of this person."

And it's so true. This person right in front of me hasn't happened before, ever in this universe, nor will they happen again. Yet I had concluded a few things about this person, and it had clouded my vision and made me see them in such a poor way.

Would love to hear how have things changed after inner engineering for you?

Today's Ananda Alai made me experience such a profound state of love, devotion, and gratitude. I don't even know how to express it, but it's one of the most beautiful things I've ever experienced.

During a certain practice, I started walking around, and I began to see every single thing in my home in a completely different way.

Everything was important. Everything serves my life. Everything is above me.

I bowed down even to the mop, floor cleaner, broomstick, clothes, vegetable cutter, utensils, taps, my vehicle, tables, chairs, headphones, and electronic gadgets. Every single object in my house has been serving me all this time and has enhanced my life.

I went out for a walk.

The same soil that produced a tree has also produced me. I bowed down to this tree. It's not an ordinary tree. It's an extraordinary tree. There is no such tree anywhere else. There may be similar ones, but this one is absolutely unique.

Above all, I bowed down to my own body because it has been serving me and allowing me to experience life so beautifully. Despite the many ways I have tortured it at times through extreme discipline, it still bears with me.

I looked at the sky. I looked at the rain. I felt the rain falling into my eyes.

There's no guarantee that there will be a tomorrow. Today is my day. This is my moment.

Whatever I am today, my highs, my lows, my beautiful side, my ugly side, I still want to cherish it and live this day totally.

I smiled. Tears of gratitude washed down my cheeks. I moved through my own home with so much tenderness, feeling immense gratitude towards every little object and everything around me that makes my life what it is.

Whether it's a light bulb, a table, a chair, or my footwear, there is so much work that has gone into making it. Obviously, I can't make any of these by myself. Just because I purchased them doesn't mean I should take them for granted. I genuinely thanked and bowed down to each one of them, and to all those who made them.

During my schooling, I learned about living things and non-living things. But these so-called non-living things make our lives possible. And lately, I've realized that if we go deeper, they are actually living too. Maybe not in the sense we usually understand, but there is life everywhere.

The subatomic particles in these so-called non-living things are constantly moving and full of energy.

Everything in this universe is alive.

I bow down to Isha and Sadhguru for bringing this program into our homes free of cost and making us experience such a profound state. There are so many volunteers, and so much work goes on behind the scenes to make it happen for us. I heard there are nearly 80,000 people attending it across the world.

I bow down to every one of them for taking this step towards their inner well-being, to all the Isha volunteers, and above all, to Sadhguru for making this possible for all of us.

Gratitude & love to everyone of you who's reading this🙏🙇

Recently, I came across an article featuring Sadhguru and neuroscientist David Eagleman on Reddit. It was an extremely interesting read. I had watched this conversation on YouTube long ago, but this time it felt completely different reading it.

It made me think very deeply.

Then I thought: suppose I lost one of my body parts. I would still exist. Of course, there is the pain aspect and all the psychological suffering associated with it. But for the sake of understanding, I decided to take the thought experiment further.

I closed my eyes and started imagining myself erasing my legs, hands, and all the body parts. I could clearly see that I would still exist.

Then another question arose: if all my memories and mental content were gone, would I still exist?

The answer was an immediate yes, without a second thought.

At that moment, I experienced a distinct sense of distance between myself and the body. Usually, during meditation, something similar becomes clear to me for brief periods, but once I open my eyes, body consciousness returns as usual.

This time was different.

Even while talking to people and walking down the street, I could still perceive that distance. There was a clear distinction between the awareness that seemed to be experiencing everything and the body through which the experience was happening.

I'm curious whether others here have had similar experiences.

Recently, I came across an article featuring Sadhguru and neuroscientist David Eagleman on Reddit. It was an extremely interesting read. I had watched this whole conversation on YouTube long ago, but this time it felt very new, reading it experientially.

It made me think very deeply.

Then I thought: suppose I lost one of my body parts. I would still exist. Of course, there is the pain aspect and all the psychological suffering associated with it. But I was wondering, just for the sake of understanding.

I closed my eyes and started imagining myself erasing my legs, hands, and all the body parts. I could clearly see that I still exist.

So, in the same way, even if I lost all my memory and mind, I would still exist.

At that very moment, I saw a distance between myself and the body. Usually, during meditation, this becomes clear to me to some extent, but once I open my eyes, body consciousness is very much there and I'm the body. There's no question about it.

But this time, while talking to others and roaming around on the street, I could still see that distance.

It was a very clear distinction that I could experience while reading the article.

The way Sadhguru explained it was so clear. The conversation was so interesting, and every point that Sadhguru made felt like it was taking me towards my real nature.

Eternally grateful to Sadhguru, and I feel fortunate to be alive in the same times as he is.

I came across this beautiful quote of Anandamayi Ma today, and it stayed with me throughout the day.

"Hostile powers can operate only within the realm of the body and mind. Sit absolutely still in a fixed position for as long as possible, and strive to remain immersed in the stream of consciousness (Chetana Dhara)."

Somehow, since then, I wanted to sit still and experience it. I don't know what it is or how, but today I simply sat still for a very long time.

Earlier, while doing a certain yogic kriya practice, I did feel like I had touched that state where I was merging into some phenomenal, undying stream.

On the other hand, sometimes when I sit without any inspiration, I seem to doze off a bit.

I feel sleep is one of the biggest enemies of meditation. How do you deal with feeling sleepy during meditation, if you ever experience it?

What sort of meditation do you do? Is there a particular practice you follow, or is it simply allowing yourself to be?

"No one needs to be managed, but everyone longs to be included." — Sadhguru

I came across this quote some time ago and honestly, I ignored it initially but it makes complete sense now.

Over the last few years, I became identified with what is right and what is wrong. I was unconsciously forming opinions and drawing conclusions about people and things.

I wasn't doing this consciously, but it was happening through my interactions with people. This gradually led to an exclusive way of being.

Even when I was surrounded by people, I felt alone. I found it easier to connect with nature, animals, or simply be by myself than to connect with human beings.

The truth is that every human being has flaws, and so do I.

What I realized is that when we constantly form conclusions about people, we stop including them. We may still interact with them, but inwardly we have already separated ourselves from them.

The moment I started accepting people the way they are, something changed. I felt more connected, more compassionate, and more at ease within myself. I found peace and harmony in nature, but when I began accepting people the way they are and giving them love, I felt liberated. I felt like I was the source of love and compassion.

It is simply about allowing people to be the way they are and embracing them as a part of life.

If we include someone, unknowingly the best will come out of them. If we are sweet to people genuinely, not out of pretension, people naturally connect with that energy and reciprocate. In this way, we can bring the best out of them.

Managing people comes from conclusions, while inclusion comes from love. Managing creates a subtle hierarchy where one person becomes the authority and the other is placed below them.

I feel there is no need to manage people. Human beings need to be included, just as you and I also want to be included.

Here, the choice we have is that we can be the ones who include others rather than expecting others to include us.

In this way, life becomes harmonious. All conflict ceases.

Peace and love prevail.

Has anyone else reflected on this quote or experienced something similar? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Has anyone pushed themselves to the point of a complete breakdown and recovered?

If so, what worked for you?

How did you cope with depression or a low phase, and how did you find the light, if you have?

Did you have any coping mechanisms that helped you get through this period?

Please feel free to share your experience if you're comfortable doing so.

Love means different things to different people.

In my own life, love has meant different things at different stages. But right now, love simply means being. Not asking. Not demanding. Not expecting anything from anyone or even from existence itself. Just simply existing and giving.

I feel love towards those ants on the ground and that random person walking down the street. I simply see if I can be of some help to that random stranger on the road. Sometimes I offer help, sometimes I don't. But this state of being has made my life incredibly sweet.

Sometimes it becomes so unbearably sweet that it feels like the very core of who you are is dissolving. Almost like self-annihilation.

Music has been a strong part of my life, and I can never fully express my gratitude for good music and for Sadhguru.

I remember watching a talk by Sadhguru during Youth and Truth where he spoke about love in a completely different way. He said, during 60's and 70's cars used to be on push start but now all cars are on self start.. "It's time you upgrade your technology."

At that time, I was still quite naive when it came to experiencing love in this way. I was probably more inclined toward romantic love back then. Haha.

But this... this is something entirely different.

What does love mean to you? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Firstly, I wanna define what I mean by spiritual path here.

For me, it's a life of full intensity and energy where things are moving super fast that it almost feels like everything is happening like a blur, but everything is too fantastic.

It's like you're driving at 300 kmph but one mistake can you throw you off the path or may even kill you.

But the experience is too fantastic and it feels like life’s on fast forward. Things are happening too quickly, and your day is filled with too many things.

It feels like time is getting crushed, or you feel like you're doing what you could be doing in 10 years’ time in one year. Others may see you as a super human coz you're doing impossibly too much in such short span of time.

Sadhguru has spoken about this a few times, mentioning it as the burning of prarabdha karma (accumulated karma of this lifetime) and also downloading karma of previous lifetimes and dealing with it (sanchita karma).

I wanna know if anyone has ever experienced this and also what you've done if you've fallen out of this?

What have you done to get back to it?

Or do you live life differently altogether now?

In whatever you've taken up in life,

How do you continue to be relentless,

Despite life's lows?

There are times i feel like I'm just dragging myself through life.

Nothing feels good,

Not even music.

I don't seem to enjoy anything but just continue doing what I'm committed to doing.

Do you also go through such phases?

What has helped you?

Or are you always in good mood?

And I really wanna know

People who are consistent seem like they are always in good mood.

I feel that's what is helping them becoming successful.

What is your take on that?

Love to hear your thoughts

I've just realised that one of the most important aspects of the right kind of pranayama and yoga is to bring one to experience subtle things, both within and without.

This is something I've experienced in Isha Yoga. Every small nuance and every movement is done with a lot of precision. I've learnt yoga elsewhere too, but it's not done this meticulously.

Why is being subtle and sensitive to life important?

One reason is that one can experience life more richly and profoundly. Another is that one can notice a lot of things about oneself and the world around them.

For example, if someone is insensitive, they will notice something only after it becomes acute. But if one is sensitive and conscious, they can notice it early and perhaps even prevent it. Whether it's a health issue, an argument, a fight, or even a larger problem in life, it need not become a major issue before it is recognised.

I heard Sadhguru once say that a physical health problem first manifests in the energy body and only later manifests in the physical body. Whether one takes that literally or not, the idea stayed with me. The more sensitive we become, the earlier we notice when something is out of balance.

This is one of the greatest benefits of yoga I feel. Not just flexibility, fitness, or stress relief, but cultivating the awareness to notice things early, within ourselves and around us, so that we can respond consciously rather than react after the fact.

I've just realized that one of the most important aspects of the right kind of pranayama and yoga is to bring a person to experience subtle things, both within and without.

This is something I've experienced in Isha Yoga. Every small nuance and every movement is done with a lot of precision. I've learned yoga elsewhere too, but it wasn't taught this meticulously.

Why is being subtle and sensitive to life important?

One reason is that you can experience life more richly and profoundly. Another is that you begin to notice a lot of things about yourself and the world around you.

For example, if someone is insensitive, they notice something only after it becomes acute. But if one is sensitive and conscious, they can notice things early and perhaps even prevent them. Whether it's a health issue, an argument, a fight, or even something larger, it need not grow into a major problem before it is recognized.

I once heard Sadhguru say that a physical health problem first manifests in the energy body and only later manifests in the physical body. Whether one agrees with that or not, the underlying idea makes sense to me: the more sensitive you are, the earlier you notice that something is out of balance.

I've also noticed that the right balance is always important. Pushing oneself is necessary, but so is knowing when to relax. If one pushes too much, one can break. If one doesn't push at all, one can fall into laziness or laxity.

Growth seems to happen when there is a balance between the two.

This is true not just in one aspect of life, but in every aspect. When things are balanced, life becomes a beautiful play.

Many traditions speak about masculine and feminine dimensions within us—yin and yang, Shiva and Shakti, sun and moon. Whatever names we give them, they seem to represent two complementary dimensions of life.

Yoga, to me, appears to be about bringing these dimensions into balance so that they function harmoniously within us, making a human being more complete.

I've heard that this is also what Adiyogi Shiva represents through Ardhanarishvara—one half of Shiva being feminine—to show that the feminine dimension is just as important as the masculine in leading a complete life.

These dimensions are not against each other, even though they may sometimes appear that way. They are both essential for the smooth functioning of a human being and, in turn, the world.

For example, I sometimes feel that excessive development and urbanization can be a side effect of an overly masculine approach to life. If more people truly enjoyed being in nature, walking through forests, hiking, bathing in rivers, sitting by a waterfall, or simply gazing at a starry night sky, perhaps our planet wouldn't have faced so much destruction.

People also wage wars because of over-identification with nations, castes, religions, ideologies, and countless other identities.

The feminine embraces.

The masculine divides.

The masculine is logical.

The feminine is magical.

Both are needed.

Without balance between the two, a person can become lopsided.

Perhaps yoga is ultimately about bringing these dimensions into harmony, so that we become sensitive enough to experience life fully and balanced enough to respond to it wisely.