Category: Psychology

Advaita for Dummies


Is happiness really hiding in the next achievement, possession, or relationship—or is it already within you, waiting for the restless mind to pause? In this article, we explore 16 timeless questions through the lens of Advaita Vedānta and other wisdom traditions—questions like: Is desire poison or medicine? Is the waking world any more real than a dream? What does it mean to be in bondage, or free? Drawing from the insights of Vedānta, Buddhism, Taoism, and Stoicism, this guide simplifies profound truths and shows why “you” are not the doer at all—Consciousness alone is.

Drop that Mask – Know and Tell!


Professor Seshan Ramaswami reflects on how students reveal their authentic selves in pre-course introductions but often hide behind masks once classes begin. He urges students—and faculty alike—to drop these facades, embrace vulnerability, and connect genuinely. College years, he reminds us, are the best time to discover who we are and to express that openly. By daring to share experiences, strike up conversations, and engage with strangers, we not only learn more about others but also uncover hidden truths about ourselves—ultimately leading to confidence, connection, and a richer, more meaningful life.

What Has Shakespeare/Socrates to Do With Shankaracharya?


What has Shakespeare or Socrates to do with Shankaracharya? Nothing. Shakespeare glorifies the theater of Maya, making us weep and laugh at dream-characters. Socrates spins webs of thought, trapping us in endless dialogue. Both literature and philosophy grant solidity to illusion, deepening our bondage to samsara. Shankaracharya is not another voice in their marketplace; he is the firebrand who torches the whole bazaar. Brahma Satyam, Jagat Mithya—the world is false, Brahman alone is real. Advaita is not here to polish the dream but to shatter it. Wake up. The play is over.

When Philosophy Meets Poetry and Laughter


Schopenhauer once wrote that there are only two real escapes from the suffering of existence: asceticism and art. In my own life, I touch both paths. I live simply, asking little of the world, yet I seek refuge in songs, laughter, poetry, and the wisdom of philosophy. These moments of art dissolve the restlessness of desire, as if time pauses and the weight of striving falls away. Between simplicity and beauty, I find not escape, but a quiet harmony with life itself.