Tag: Consciousness

Giving Myself Carte Blanche


What does it mean to give oneself carte blanche without becoming irresponsible? In this reflective piece, I explore a deeply personal decision: to spend most of the day in deliberate solitude. Not as withdrawal. Not as rebellion. But as a conscious turning inward.

Rooted in the wisdom of Nisargadatta Maharaj, this practice centers on abiding in the simple yet profound sense of “I am.” Beyond roles, beyond relationships, beyond achievements—what remains when one rests in bare awareness?

This inward freedom does not violate the moral boundary articulated by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.: “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.” Instead, it is an experiment in inner sovereignty—an attempt to discover whether sustained attention to the “I am” can transform not only solitude, but relationship, responsibility, and presence itself.

Is solitude an escape, or the highest form of engagement with truth?

The Compassionate Cloud and the Burning Home


This song moves through fire and tenderness, stillness and longing, carrying the ache of a self that knows it is fragile and yet entrusted to another. It speaks in images rather than arguments—of burning houses and compassionate clouds, wounded spring and quiet islands of ice—gesturing toward the deeper truth that what we call the “self” is both exposed and held. Read not as a narrative but as a mirror, these lines invite a pause, a softening, and a recognition that even longing, even impermanence, can become doorways to care, sincerity, and inward clarity.

Modern Way to Live Vanaprastha Ashram


Vanaprastha Ashram is often misunderstood as withdrawal from society. In truth, it is a withdrawal from compulsion, ego, and the need to constantly prove one’s worth. Traditionally associated with midlife or later years, Vanaprastha marks a shift from achievement to understanding, from control to clarity.

In modern life, this transition does not require forests or seclusion. It can be lived in homes, workplaces, caregiving roles, and leadership positions. Psychologically, it aligns with the brain’s natural movement toward emotional regulation, pattern recognition, and meaning-making. Spiritually, it softens identity without erasing responsibility.

Vanaprastha allows one to mentor without ownership, serve without depletion, and remain socially engaged without being entangled. It is particularly relevant for those experiencing midlife questioning, leadership fatigue, caregiver exhaustion, or spiritual burnout.

To live Vanaprastha today is to stay present in the world while loosening one’s grip on it—fully engaged, yet inwardly free.

Beyond Awakening: Desire, Ego‑Death, and the Non‑Dual Mechanics of Liberation


In this dialogue we explore the deeper layers beyond yesterday’s discussion on desire and stillness. We look closely at why the ego fears awakening, why glimpses of awakening fade, and how true liberation differs from temporary witnessing. We examine the mechanics of ego‑death, the jnani’s relationship to emotions and the world, and what it really means to abide as the Self. The conversation unfolds into a clear non‑dual understanding of karma, grace, destiny, and the illusion of free will. Ultimately, what dissolves is the seeker; what remains is the effortless radiance of Being.

The Seven Stages of Love in Sufism: A Journey Into the Divine


The Sufi understanding of love is a profound inner journey—from the first spark of attraction to the complete dissolution of the ego in the Divine. The Seven Stages of Love map this transformation with remarkable clarity. Beginning with hub (attraction) and deepening into ‘ishq (passionate love), the seeker slowly moves from human love to Divine love. Trials cultivate patience and trust, leading to contentment in both presence and absence of the Beloved. Ultimately, the seeker reaches fanā—the disappearance of the self—and baqā, abiding in the Divine. This is the Sufi path of love: intense, purifying, and liberating.