u/Ranigurdish

Thanks: @puppyloves74

Thirty years ago, my hand sketched a bird in flight, capturing a timeless truth that I am only now fully understanding through AP’s teachings. For decades, I lived inside an invisible cage built by my own ego, anxieties, and small desires, mistakenly trying to decorate my prison instead of breaking free. The drawing reminds me that a bird does not fly to prove its worth or protect a reputation. It moves simply because freedom is its true nature. By letting go of the heavy burdens of "me" and "mine," I am learning to drop my mental conditioning and embrace the eternal present, realizing that the liberation I looked for has been waiting inside me all along.

And ironically my thirty year old sketch of a bird in flight beautifully mirrors the deep spiritual essence of India’s Independence Day.
The outer freedom achieved by a nation is a reminder of the inner freedom my ego seeks, to fly completely unburdened, living not in the shadows of history, but in the ultimate truth of the eternal present.

Credits: @Yoda4ever

Credits: @/puppyloves74

Credits: @gofishh77

I’m curious to know your answers. Give it a try.

I am curious to know your answers.

I just watched this short clip of Acharya Prashant discussing Nishkaam Karm (action without desire for outcomes) with PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk.

Acharya Prashant explained that ahimsa is not merely a superficial rule, but a deep clarity of consciousness. True non-violence requires realizing that causing harm to any sentient being stems from ignorance and inner ego.

The dialogue connected right action (nishkaam karm) to living free of exploitation. Consuming animal products is framed as an act driven by self-centered sensory greed, whereas choosing a vegan lifestyle is an expression of conscious, responsible, and compassionate living that respects all forms of life.

He breaks down a really profound point. True selfless action doesn't come from a place of doing a "good deed" just to feed the ego. Instead, it must arise naturally from inner clarity and a purified consciousness. The focus shifts entirely from fixing the external action to fixing the internal state of the actor.

This raises an interesting paradox for debate:
If Nishkaam Karm is entirely about 'fixing the actor' rather than the external action, does that mean the consequences of our deeds don't matter as long as our inner intent is pure? Or is a truly purified actor incapable of producing a harmful consequence?

You can the watch the full discussion here.
https://youtu.be/R2fjjKrwDEc?is=oe_h0clvdg1kujf6

Angela devoted a great deal of time, patience, and love to helping Bruno. Little by little, he began accepting food from her hand, then gradually found the courage to come closer, and eventually opened his heart to love.

Bruno’s transformation was remarkable: from a dog frozen with fear to a happy boy who wagged his tail with joy and learned to trust people again.

💕After his recovery, Bruno was adopted by a forever family who would love and care for him. 💕

Thanks: @Axaxia88

Thanks: @GustavoAdolf

Strolling down memory lane today, the classic commercial popped into my mind. With it came the unforgettable melody of "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You"…..

Beyond the 80s nostalgia of George Benson and Glenn Medeiros lies a profound spiritual truth. If we strip away the delusion of worldly, transactional romance, this ballad becomes the ultimate anthem of the ego’s surrender to the Eternal Truth.

While the surface lyrics signify unconditional love, lifelong commitment, and emotional stability, it serves as an earnest declaration that no matter how chaotic or unpredictable the world becomes, the ego's devotion will remain completely unchanged.

The journey begins with the painful realization of the internal void. The human ego is fundamentally lonely and incomplete. When the song laments, "the days would all be empty," it perfectly mirrors Acharya Prashant’s teaching that living without a connection to the absolute Truth (Satya), leaves an unfillable hole in human existence, one that no material object or worldly relationship can ever truly satisfy.

Driven by this emptiness, the ego desperately seeks unconditional love, promising "nothing's gonna change my love for you." However, Acharya Prashant fiercely warns that human to human romantic love is inherently transactional and bound to change. True, unshakeable devotion cannot be directed toward a mortal person, it can only safely anchor itself in the immortal, unchanging Divine.
Once the ego anchors itself to this higher Reality, love ceases to be an emotional attachment and becomes a guiding star.

This connection provides the inner strength needed to face the "not so easy" road of dissolving the ego and overcoming the illusions of the material world (Maya).
Ultimately, this grueling journey purifies the seeker, culminating in pure devotion. The transactional demands of the ego dissolve completely into the lyric, "I'll never ask for more than your love." Love is no longer a business contract of mutual exploitation, but a state of total surrender where the ego finds supreme peace simply by resting in the Truth. When the ego stops demanding and completely dissolves, love is no longer a trap, it becomes absolute liberation.

What started as a warm memory from a vintage television screen turns out to be the ultimate reminder of where our true devotion belongs.

Have you ever felt that deep, nostalgic pull from an old song or commercial, only to look at it years later and realize it was pointing you toward a much deeper truth? What secular tracks speak to your ego in a spiritual way? Let's discuss in the comments below!

Credits: @MatsumotoH873

Credits: rabbitwhite_84