Tag: Mindfulness

Conversations on Love & Spirituality with Oumaa (https://oumaa.com)


Conversations with Oumaa (https://Oumaa.com) I said: Is “love” always transactional? That is, do we “love” only when some need of … More

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.

Emptiness (Śūnyatā) in Buddhism


Emptiness (Śūnyatā) in Buddhism does not mean that nothing exists; rather, it means that nothing exists independently or permanently. All things—thoughts, emotions, bodies, relationships—arise from causes and conditions and lack an inherent, unchanging essence. When we truly see this, our rigid attachments and fears begin to dissolve. Emptiness reveals the fluid, interconnected nature of reality, allowing us to respond to life with greater clarity and compassion. This insight is not merely philosophical; it is profoundly practical. By understanding emptiness, we loosen the grip of ego and open ourselves to wisdom, freedom, and compassionate engagement with the world.

Resting in the Source: The Moment Desire Loses Its Grip & Stepping Out of the Mind’s Imagination


In dialogue we explored how desire, thought, and action arise from the mind’s restless search for fulfillment. But the moment thought stops—even briefly—what remains is an empty, formless, peaceful stillness. This stillness is not achieved; it is uncovered when the mind’s commentary falls silent. Instead of analysing who thinks, who desires, or who awakens, the simplest instruction is also the most direct: summa iru—just be quiet. All disturbance is imagination. Stepping out of that imagination reveals the Source that was never touched by it.

Brute Force Meditation: Why It Fails & The Vedantic Path to True Transformation


Most meditation techniques today—from breath-watching and mantra chanting to mindfulness and loving-kindness—belong to the Raja Yoga or Buddhist tradition. While they calm the mind temporarily, they work like “brute force” methods, attempting to suppress thoughts without addressing their root: our underlying desires. True inner transformation, however, requires a radical shift in understanding, not mere mental discipline. Vedanta teaches that only through śravaṇa (learning), manana (reflection), and eventually nididhyāsana (meditation) can the mind genuinely quieten. When the nature of the self, the world, and desire is understood, meditation becomes natural, effortless, and transformative—not just relaxing.