Random Thoughts

It's been nearly two weeks since I returned to India, and the contrast between my life here and in Europe is striking. In India, I see everyone caught up way too much in the world of Maya—endless interactions, relationships, responsibilities, and distractions. Despite having a rich tradition of spiritual practices, only a few tread there. Now I truly understand why the yogis and siddhas retreat to quiet places. A quiet retreat is not only necessary for yogis but even for us to understand our own flawed behavior. A constant hustle and distraction keep us away from exploring the intellectual depths and fostering good relationships with people around us, especially the romantic ones. Lately, I’ve hardly thought about god, a stark departure from my routine in the West where spiritual thoughts punctuate my day amid boredom and work. Here, distractions steal the space that once held bhakti songs, spiritual musings, and the yearning to be near Rama. It's both amusing and intriguing—ho...

The dichotomy of life is such that no one knows us truly, and it is okay. Not even we know ourselves truly. Our fears, desires, and fantasies are all hidden deep under the veil of comfort and socially acceptable behavior. They only move their ugly head in times of discomfort and pain, and that's precisely what separates good and bad people. Everyone can be good in a happy situation, but it's the behavior shown during times of stress and discomfort that matters. Quite often, most of us don't know exactly what we are truly capable of, both good and bad. As the situation evolves, our understanding of our own behavior also evolves, and that's why they say, give weak men power and you'll see them destroy everything around themselves. And you know what, it is good that we don't know ourselves truly, because if we do, then most scientific, artistic, and materialistic pursuits will cease. The fact that we don't know ourselves keeps us on our toes and makes us try ne...

Don't get me wrong—India is one of the most interesting places on earth. With its rich history, culture, and identity, few places in the world can offer a more rich and diverse experience. Some things and practices have literally survived for thousands of years. In Kerala, we still have practices that have been done since the Vedas, at least 5000 BC. I don't think any other culture has a more vivid landscape, seasons, foods, festivals, and spiritual practices. When I moved to the West for the first time, I was surprised to know that people didn't know that India has six seasons, an unheard-of thing for most Westerners. From our own calendar to rituals for even the most basic things, like taking the newly bought car to a temple, or even a space probe by scientists of ISRO.  Among all the diverse groups of people I've had the privilege of interacting with, I've observed that reconciling God and Science seems elusive for most. Indians, however, stand out as a group cap...

The harder you try to control things, the more they seem to slip away. Over the past few years, this has become one of the most profound lessons I’ve learned. I’ve found myself doing things I never envisioned or even desired. But what did I truly want? Honestly, I didn’t even know back then. Yet somehow, everything I’m doing now feels like it was meant to be all along. Ironically, I used to joke that I’d rather beg than code—yet here I am, enjoying it, despite not being particularly exceptional at it. Becoming an intellectual wasn’t something I anticipated either, but the shift happened so gradually that I hardly noticed it until I was already on that path. From coding to living in Europe, so much has unfolded without any careful planning. I suppose that’s what wisdom is—recognizing opportunities when they come and making the most of them. Just today, I was talking with a friend about my past relationships, reflecting on how different life could have been if I had stayed in India. I p...

I recently read Carl Jung's work, for those who don't know him, Jung is considered as one of the founding fathers of psychotherapy. Jung worked extensively on dream interpretation, the human psyche, and behavior. Jung is one of the most famous men in his field, definitely top 100 famous people of the entire 20th century. His ideas are inspiring and give a new framework to think about human life and action. Today, I want to talk about, the projection of ideas and psyche. I'm sure that you have met a few untrusting people in your life, I'm sure you have met many liars in your life, and also a few gentle souls as well. A person who is habituated to lying, cheating, or any other good or bad behavior, sees the same thing in the world. A lot of you already know this, I'm positive. But do you know we also project our inefficiencies to the world? More so than our goodness, a person who couldn't make money would often hate the rich and say things like, money corrupts. Th...

Lately, I find myself in a peculiar stage of life. At times, I feel disconnected from the present moment, neither anchored in the past nor anxious about the future. It's as if I'm a ship adrift at sea, with no inclination to seek the shore. While my days pass relatively smoothly, nights have begun to feel increasingly heavy and vacant. I've arrived at a juncture where my desires are unclear. The facades people wear and the illusions of wealth and power are apparent to me, yet I find myself pursuing these very things, perhaps due to a lack of alternative aspirations. My life's goals have been achieved sooner and more extensively than I ever imagined. Experiences that typically span decades have been condensed into mere years. For instance, I wrote a book at 27—a feat I had envisioned for my fifties—and completed it in just 27 days. Having reached my destination prematurely, I'm now at a loss for how to occupy my remaining time. The aspirations that once filled my min...