Ego is a false sense of attainment. It is a perfect example of viparya (wrong knowledge). For example, you say, ‘I go to satsang’. But who goes to satsang? It is the ego that takes you to the satsang. In the satsang you will listen to somebody speaking and you will get the viparya, that now you know! You have heard all these lofty things, like ‘I am Shiva’, ‘I am Brahman’ or ‘The world is an illusion, only...

To be able to meet a guru in your present life is a great fortune. Some people might take it lightly, however this is a result of past good karmas. There are millions of people on earth who have never even heard of a guru and might never meet one in this lifetime. It is the fruit of your karmas that a day comes when you start searching for a deeper meaning of your existence. Then you suddenly come...

In today’s modern times, wherever one looks one is surrounded by rampant consumerism. There is plenty of everything for those with the means to buy it. Exotic foods from all over, the most advanced gadgets, the latest gizmos – anything and everything is available at the click of a button! Everything comes with a handy how-to-use manual, whether it is a mobile phone, a washing machine or a mixie. But when it comes to understanding life and the purpose...

Mind is not just the conscious mind that you know. There are deeper layers which you are ordinarily unaware of. Whatever is happening on the superficial level of the mind, is called the conscious mind. Underneath the conscious mind, is the subconscious and unconscious mind - in Sanskrit it is called ‘chitta’. It is the storehouse of all memories and past impressions.

Emotions and memories are strong forces, such that your mind is unable to cope with them. Now, being sentimental, being emotional is generally regarded as a positive attribute by society at large. But know that being emotional means handing over your remote control to others.

Very simply, the things which last eternally will give you eternal happiness. That which is transient, changeable, that which will die, that which will recede in time, will not give you lasting happiness.

The relation between the moon and the mind has been documented by the sages of ancient times. If the moon has the power to cause low and high tides; then it can surely have a strong effect on everything else in the nature, as well as on our mind. One of the names of Lord Shiva is Chandramouleshwar, which means the one who is the Lord of the moon, the Lord of the mind, who fully comprehends the functioning...

Abhinivesha refers to the strong desire to live and implies, fear of death. The deep desire to live, binds you to the physical body; thus, creating the emotion of fear. Abhinivesha is one of the afflictions of mind. And it is also the root of all our fears, that is why as long as we have abhinivesha in the mind, we will have all other fears as well. Some people are fearful of heights. Why? Because they know that...

Thoughts are a consequence of our senses, for they are the gates through which all information enters the mind. This gathered information, then, gets processed and stored by the mind. Some goes into short term memory and some into long term memory layer. Mind absorbs everything indiscriminately; the good, the bad and the downright ugly.

Dhi, dhriti and smriti are the prerequisites for any spiritual progress. The Sanskrit root word ‘dhi’ refers to the intellect. Whereas, ‘dhriti’ is the power to assimilate knowledge. And ‘smriti’ is the ability to retain the imbibed knowledge such that it can be accessed when one wants - something like a good memory.

Mind is like a jungle. You are standing in the middle of the jungle completely lost in the forest of your thoughts. But how to find the way out? Our sages showed the way. This is the path of dhyana. But this involves preparatory stages like pranayama, etc. Pranayama will prepare your body, breath, mind and energy, so that you can experience dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and finally the samadhi. There is a complete procedure to it. You cannot...

A medical student whose goal is to become a fine doctor, he or she stays focussed on this target and puts in the required effort unceasingly for five to six years. He or she works hard, day and night as their eyes are set on the day they are awarded the coveted degree. The same is true for every worldly achievement-be it sports, arts, science, commerce, theatre and so on…success comes only with strong conviction and hard work.