2025 - Review

 As 2025 draws to an end, it feels like the right moment to pause and reflect on the milestones achieved, the joyful moments cherished, and the challenges faced along the way. Like every year, my heart is filled with gratitude for the many blessings God has bestowed through people and experiences.

I am now nearing the final milestone of my MSc Yoga programme. The second and third semesters went well, and the deeper learning and meaningful interactions made the journey truly memorable. I will certainly miss the structured learning and academic rigor that this programme offered. The final thesis work remains, and I hope to complete it in the first half of 2026.

2025 also marked the year I began teaching online Yoga classes. It was a deeply satisfying experience to plan each session and gradually incorporate varied asanas into the practice. However, I had to pause the batch as they clashed with the busy morning routine of preparing lunch boxes on time. I’m hopeful that in 2026 I’ll be able to work out an alternate schedule and resume the classes soon.

Apart from Yoga, I also initiated two new journeys — Jnana Sadhana and Bhakti Sadhana.

Jnana Sadhana is meant for sincere seekers on a path of learning and knowledge. Through over 20 weekly sessions, we explored and discussed books, podcasts, and online courses across a wide range of topics. Eventually, we narrowed our focus to the Bhagavad Gita and have completed six sessions so far. This initiative will continue more deeply in 2026, with the aim of studying the Bhagavad Gita and imbibing its core teachings in daily life.

Bhakti Sadhana grew as an extension of the offline shloka classes I had conducted the previous year. The chanting sessions moved online, and we came together for several group parayanams during festivals and other significant occasions. Over the year, we learned the Hanuman Chalisa, Aditya Hrudayam, Pratahsmarana Stotram, Sudarshana Ashtakam, Mahishasura Mardini Stotram, Damodara Ashtakam, Kalabhairava Ashtakam, and Mahalakshmi Ashtakam. Recordings of these sessions are available on my YouTube channel.

It was a deeply fulfilling process, as I prepared detailed slides, studied the meaning of every verse, and listened to multiple discourses before each class. With divine grace, this initiative will continue in 2026 with many more stotras and parayanams.

Alongside this, I also dedicated time to learning new stotras such as the Ramaraksha Stotram, Lingashtakam, Shiva Manasa Pooja, Shiva Panchakshari Stotra, and Durga Sapta Shloki, thanks to courses offered by Nirvana Academy. Vijayalakshmi ji remains a source of inspiration for me, and I eagerly look forward to their future offerings.

Learning scriptures continued through multiple sources this year as well. It has now become a daily sadhana for me to listen to these discourses on YouTube, make detailed notes, and reflect on the teachings. Below is a list of the discourse series I have completed so far. Many others are still in progress, which I will share in next year’s review. :-) 

Vedanta Institute London (Bhaskar ji)

• Bhaja Govindam

• Thesis on God

• Symbolism of Hindu Gods and Rituals

• Gita Dhyanam

• Gita chapters 4, 5, 6, 9, 12

Arsha Bodhini (Acharya Lavanya ji)

• Bhaja Govindam

• Sadhana Panchakam

• Understanding Karma Yoga

Advaita Bharati (Acharya Suryapriya ji)

• Gita in daily life

Chinmaya Mission (Swami Aparajitananda)

• Narada Bhakti Sutras

Since learning happened mainly through Shravanam (hearing), reading took a back seat. Managed to complete 10 books, with a few more in progress.

1. Kindle Life by Swami Chinmayananda

2. Bhaja Govindam by Swami Chinmayananda

3. Tattva Bodha by Swami Tejomayananda

4. Narada Bhakti Sutra by Swami Sivananda

5. To the beginning of the end of Karma by Meetu Bisht

6. Narada Bhakti Sutra by Swami Chinmayananda

7. Narada Bhakti Sutra by Swami Bhuteshananda

8. Vedic view and way of life by Swami Dayananda Saraswati

9. Sanatana Dharma Q&A by B Mahadevan

10.  A manual of Self Unfoldment by Swami Chinmayananda

Staying away from social media has helped me remain focused on what truly matters and avoid being caught in the content-creation treadmill that demands constant output just to stay relevant.

My workshops on packaged foods continued this year as well, including the annual session at Bhoomi College, a short lecture for a school in Kolkata for sixth-grade students, and a two-hour workshop for members of My Bharat My Culture. In addition, I introduced a new workshop titled “Reclaim Your Focus,” aimed at addressing social media addiction and encouraging the practice of digital minimalism. I conducted one session this year for My Bharat My Culture members and hope to take it to a wider audience in 2026.

We didn’t do much traveling outside the city this year. We did a 3-day trip to Kumarakom which was relaxing. 

On my birthday, K took us out on a day trip to Aprameya temple, Shivasamudram falls, and Art of Living Ashram. It was quite memorable.

We enjoyed the standup comedy show “8” by Praveen Kumar (big fan!). It was hilarious to see his reaction, when I invited him home for “super upma”! ;-)

We spent a day visiting our favorite Prani pet sanctuary. A great place for anyone who loves to spend time with pet animals.

I tried an Escape Room experience for the first time this year, something that’s quite popular in Bangalore. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy it much—it felt overpriced for a rather mediocre experience. Definitely not my kind of fun! 🙂

Meeting my nephew and niece was quite special. D had so much fun with her cousins, although only for a few days.

I had some health-related setbacks in the middle of the year, which by God’s grace, got resolved for now.

As with every year, I have no specific goals, resolutions, or plans for 2026. I choose instead to accept God’s will and remain an instrument in fulfilling His plans, with discipline, rigor, and a deep sense of responsibility toward my health, family, society, and my country, Bharat.

Wishing everyone a very happy, joyous and peaceful 2026!

The Brain Training App that I love

In 2020, I wrote about my experience with a brain-training app called Elevate, which I found incredibly engaging. At the time, I shared five reasons why it had completely hooked me.

Five years later, in an era where apps grab our attention quickly and then fade just as fast, I find myself writing about the same app again. My daughter and I are still using it—so much so that we upgraded to the premium version. Over time, we reached the highest difficulty levels in most of the games. Eventually, our interest dipped slightly. My daughter wanted to keep her streak alive, so she began playing with minimal effort, just enough to maintain it.

About three months ago, Elevate introduced a new feature called Leagues. It was a simple leaderboard system where the top ten players advanced through tiers such as Bronze, Silver, Gold, Ruby, and Diamond. This immediately reignited our interest. We found ourselves eagerly playing games across Math, Reading, Memory, Writing, and Speaking categories. It was exciting to climb the ranks—only to discover the next morning that we had slipped down a few places. As we progressed, we eventually reached the final league, which then began repeating.

Once again, our enthusiasm dipped when it felt like there was nowhere left to go. Almost as if they anticipated this, Elevate rolled out another feature: Daily Quests. Each day brings three new, changing quests. My daughter now wakes up curious to see what the day’s challenges will be. Completing quests earns coins, which can be used for benefits like XP boosts and streak freezes.

I’m fairly certain that at some point we’ll accumulate coins without knowing what to do with them and feel bored again. But given how thoughtfully the team has layered gamification over time, I’m confident they’re already working on new ways to make those coins meaningful.

The core motivations remain the same—keeping our brains active and spending quality time together. What has changed is how engaging the journey feels. The user experience is top-notch, from the visuals and music (including those mildly annoying error sounds!) to the smooth, uncluttered game flow.

I’ve recommended Elevate to many friends—not just as a user, but also to product managers and UX designers looking for inspiration in thoughtful, engaging design.

The same team has also launched a new app called Spark, a knowledge-based game that covers a wide range of topics. It offers short, bite-sized nuggets of information that you can explore, test yourself on, and learn from—all wrapped in a beautifully engaging design. As an early adopter, I find it especially useful for expanding my understanding of topics I’m less familiar with. I hope we’re able to stay as consistent with Spark as we have been with the Elevate app. 

Importance of Values

One of my most favorite books is "Value of Values" by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. In the first 25 pages, the importance of values and how they impact our everyday life are so beautifully explained. 

 Our actions, emotions, decisions, and life priorities all trace back to our values. Understanding values brings clarity, reduces confusion, and supports better decision‑making.

Why Values Matter

• Values shape behavior: What we do is determined by what we value.
• Awareness of values brings clarity: Knowing your values helps resolve confusion and align decisions.
• Values must be chosen, not imposed: Only self‑chosen values can be truly assimilated into one’s life.
• Values are universal in content but context‑dependent in application.

How We Relate to Values

1. We apply values more strictly to others than to ourselves

Example:
We demand refunds when we receive less than we paid for, but rarely report when we receive more than we paid for.

2. Going against our own values creates guilt

Example:
If truthfulness is your value but your employer pressures you to falsify data, guilt arises and disturbs mental peace.

3. Not living up to our accepted values creates inner conflict

Example:
You value health but cannot maintain healthy habits due to pressures — leading to misalignment between thoughts, words, and actions.

4. We expect 100% compliance from others but not from ourselves

This creates what Swami Dayananda Saraswati calls a split value.

Examples:

• Telling children to avoid screens while being glued to our own devices.
• Building a wellness app while being addicted to smoking or alcohol.

5. Split values create the “knower–doer” gap

• You know the value.
• You want to live it.
• But your actions don’t align.
• This leads to guilt, fragmentation, and lack of inner integration.

Values are not abstract ideals — they shape our mental state, our choices, and our sense of inner harmony.

A Decade of Experiments: What I Tried, What I Learned

January 9th, 2016 — the day I stepped out of my comfort zone.

I still remember my very first food stall at a lake santhe. After spending years fascinated by food and nutrition, I finally decided to share that passion beyond my family. My menu was simple but heartfelt — fingermillet idlis, barnyard millet sweet pongal, and rajamudi rice savory pongal. Millets were far from “trendy” back then, but the joy I felt that day is still unmatched.

That experience pushed me to start a small home-based catering service for my apartment community. Every weekend, I’d brainstorm menus, shop for ingredients, and cook with full focus — that “in the zone” feeling I cherish. Orders were few initially, mostly from a couple of kind senior citizens. But I persisted. Over time, I added podis and thokkus, and slowly, appreciation grew. Of course, there were also the occasional digs — “Why would a BE/MBA do such menial work?” But honestly, those comments only made me more resilient.

2017 — the world of packaged foods opened up

Another passion took shape that year: writing about packaged foods and their ingredients. Every time I wrote a blog post, time just dissolved — 2–3 hours would feel like 10 minutes. Readers found value in the posts, and soon I was speaking at public forums and conducting workshops on how to read food labels.
I may not be actively doing this today, but even now people tell me they remember me from those posts. That’s a feeling hard to describe.

This same journey unexpectedly nudged me towards meme-making on packaged food brands using Tamil movie scenes as the backdrop in 2019. When I look back, I’m both amused and surprised that I did that. I even attempted a couple of stand-up comedy sets on packaged foods. Watching the recordings today is embarrassing, but my daughter insists it was brave.

2023 — the year of books and shlokas

I launched a book club called Sparks and Nuggets with an ambitious goal — one book a week. I’d create mind maps, share insights, and host discussions. I truly enjoyed the rhythm of reading, reflecting, and presenting. After nine months, enthusiasm from the group faded, and I had to wrap it up — but the journey was fulfilling while it lasted.

Around the same time, I started a Shloka chanting class for kids in my apartment. A small group joined, and the classes were delightful. We explored short shlokas, stories, symbolisms, and their curious questions made every session memorable. We managed it for over a year before schedules clashed and we had to pause.

2025 — growing deeper into spirituality and teaching

This year, I began online shloka chanting classes, and we have completed eight stotras so far. The behind-the-scenes effort — preparing PPTs, researching meanings, listening to discourses for more context — has been intense but deeply satisfying.

Continuous learning is my non-negotiable priority. To share what I learn, I started weekly “learning sessions” reviewing discourses, podcasts, and books. We completed 21 sessions in Season 1. For Season 2, I narrowed the focus to the Bhagavad Gita — and we’re already six sessions in.

As a certified Yoga teacher, I also started online yoga classes this year. A few students stayed committed, but many dropped out. Morning schedule clashes forced me to pause this initiative for now.

What I’ve understood after all these experiments

Across everything I tried, two truths have stood out clearly:

The Positive:
My passion, discipline, and consistency never waver. When I’m committed, I give my whole self to the process.

The Challenge:
My energy dips when audience interest drops. Sustaining momentum becomes difficult when impact seems uncertain.

But the Gita brings me back to balance. Krishna’s words — “karmanye vaadhikaraste” (Gita 2.47) — remind me that my choice is only to the action, never the fruits.

As I continue experimenting, learning, and teaching, I hope I can eventually shape these scattered attempts into something meaningful and dharmic — something that creates a larger impact, but rooted in the spirit of karma yoga.

Ideal time to begin engaging with scriptures

Is reading scriptures something to pick up only after retirement?

Are stotras and kirtans meant solely for the elderly?

Many of us unconsciously assume this, and that belief stops us from encouraging teenagers and young adults to explore spirituality early in life. The early working years are filled with pressure, deadlines, and expectations, leaving little time or mental space for inner work. And even when the desire is there, social norms often dictate what is considered “cool,” steering us away from practices that nourish the mind.

There is also a feeling that one needs life experience and emotional maturity to truly understand spiritual wisdom. That is true to an extent, but it shouldn’t become an excuse to postpone the journey.

Bhartrhari’s Vairagya Shatakam, a profound collection of 100 verses on detachment, offers a gentle yet powerful reminder on when this pursuit should actually begin. In Verse 75, he lays out the ideal time with striking clarity:

“As long as this body is free from disease and decrepitude,

as long as senility is far off,

as long as the powers of the senses are unaffected, and

life is not decaying, so long,

wise persons should put forth mighty exertions for the sake of their supreme good,

for when the house is on fire what avails setting about digging a well (for water)?”

The comparison is striking. If a house is already burning, digging a well becomes pointless. In the same way, when life confronts us with illness, old age, loss, loneliness, or financial instability, how equipped will we be to sit through a discourse and absorb deep teachings on impermanence?

Preparing oneself inwardly is not something to be postponed. Building psychological resilience and mental clarity is most effective when begun in our 20s—or at least by our 30s—while the mind is agile and receptive. When unexpected challenges arrive, as they inevitably do, we can then draw strength from within rather than be swept away by circumstances.

Spirituality isn’t a late-life activity. It’s a foundation we lay early, so that whatever life brings later, we stand firm rather than fall.

Source of the verse: Vairagya Shatakam - translation by Swami Madhavananda, Advaita Ashrama

Empowered woman - My view and a modern feminist's view

 Certain Modern Feminists view of today's “Empowered Woman” 

– A woman who’s told that empowerment means peppering every sentence with swear words.

– One who’s encouraged to smoke because it supposedly symbolizes rebellion.

– One who’s expected to drink alcohol as a badge of liberation.

– One who’s taught to blame “patriarchy” for every minor inconvenience — from bad weather to traffic jams.

– One who embraces batch-cooking and frozen meals as the only “progressive” lifestyle.

– One who’s pushed to look down upon women who prefer freshly prepared food, as if choosing tradition automatically makes them lesser.

– A woman who is expected to stay perpetually angry at society, wearing victimhood like a proud badge of honour.

– One who must reject anything tied to culture or tradition, automatically labeling it “patriarchal” without a second thought.

– One who is encouraged to fight endlessly for her rights while treating any mention of duty or responsibility as an outdated burden.

My View of a Truly Empowered Woman

An empowered woman is someone who thinks for herself and embraces an independent mind. 

She carries a broad worldview, enriched by curiosity and openness.

She takes on her duties and responsibilities with wholehearted commitment, without ever sidelining her own well-being.

She honours her mental and physical health, understanding that caring for herself strengthens everything else she does. 

She chooses her priorities with clarity and wisdom, and she asserts her opinions with confidence — always rooted in respect.

She engages with traditional wisdom through a spirit of enquiry, seeking depth and understanding rather than blind acceptance. 

She cherishes time with her family, finding joy and grounding in those bonds. 

And above all, she values self-discipline, knowing it is the foundation of growth, balance, and inner strength.

Change of direction

In June 2023, I felt completely lost—physically drained, mentally exhausted, and worn down by ego-driven attitudes that blocked progress. It was painful to watch health being marketed through fear, supported by the vocabulary of modern psychiatry. The only thing that kept me grounded during that phase was my practice of Yoga. On an impulse, I signed up for a Yoga Instructor Course (YIC), eager to change direction as quickly as possible. I was even a little annoyed to learn that the batch would begin only a month later, in August.

Those two months of the instructor course opened my eyes to a much wider world—Vedas, Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, yoga texts, chanting, Indian culture, history, and so much more. Completing YIC felt like catching the first glimpse of the vast streams of Yoga and our Shastras. Wanting to go deeper, I enrolled in the MSc Yoga program. 

January 2024: Back to student life once more—only now, my motivation was entirely different from what drove me during my BE (Computer Science) and MBA.

This time, my decision came purely from a desire to learn—not from career considerations, peer pressure, or thoughts about security and earnings. Three semesters have passed, each filled with fascinating subjects and concepts.

A program like this depends entirely on how deeply the student chooses to immerse in the learning process. We journeyed through Samskritam (right from Varnamala), the six Darshanas, anatomy and physiology, Yoga philosophy, the Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, theories of consciousness, comparisons between modern and Yogic psychology, various holistic healing systems, and the Narada Bhakti Sutras. Our fieldwork at Arogyadhama offered profound insight into the role of Yoga therapy in supporting recovery from psychosomatic conditions.

When the third-semester results were announced last night, I felt a mix of satisfaction and melancholy—relief at having come this far, yet a quiet sadness that the course is nearing its end, with only the final research thesis left.

Learning never begins and ends within classrooms or Zoom calls. These are merely seeds. True learning grows from interest and curiosity—they nudge you to read further, listen more, explore deeply, and continue sharing along the way.

A structured approach to learning matters at any age, whether you are 14 or 44. And when the subject itself inspires you, the joy it brings is truly incomparable.

Having worked in the IT industry since the early 2000s, I’ve witnessed its evolution over the past two and a half decades. Honestly, the work culture of the 2000s—and much of the 2010s—felt healthier and more fulfilling, both in terms of professional growth and overall harmony. The hustle-driven mindset that has dominated the last four to five years is simply not sustainable, either for individuals or for organizations. It’s not just the extended work hours; it’s also the shift in attitudes toward aggression and a “business-at-any-cost” approach. Leaders and mid-senior professionals need to pause and reflect on the long-term consequences of such a trajectory.

Sometimes, we need to trust our instinct when it repeatedly tells us that a certain path isn’t right. We also need to trust our curiosity and venture into areas that lie outside the familiar and comfortable. In our 20s and 30s, obligations and responsibilities naturally take priority. But if we carry the same relentless hustle forward, life begins to blur and our inner vitality gradually fades. By the time we reach our 40s, taking a pause to reflect, creating space to question, and having the courage to realign becomes essential—before it feels too late.

I’m thankful to God that the chance to realign came in my 40s—better late than never.

The Power of Senses

 In Viveka Chudamani, Adi Shankaracharya reflects on the five senses in Verse 76, illustrating his point with five vivid examples:

A deer is undone by its attachment to sound.
An elephant is overpowered by its sense of touch.
A moth is drawn helplessly to what it sees, especially sources of light.
A fish falls prey to its irresistible attraction to taste.
A bee is captivated by the fragrance of flowers, its sense of smell becoming its downfall.

In each of these creatures, a single dominant sense becomes a vulnerability that enslaves them.

Shankaracharya then poses a striking question: what fate awaits a human being who is attached to all five senses at once?

We can already see the consequences. Our excessive fascination with taste alone has led to widespread deterioration of physical health. Overindulgence in the other senses is expressing itself as a rise in various mental and emotional disorders.

Modern technology only accelerates this. Apps that track engagement care little about how much we strain our sense of sight. OTT platforms that promote binge-watching are unconcerned about the relentless stimulation of sight and sound.

The intellect—which is meant to regulate and guide the senses—is gradually becoming dull, making genuine reflection and critical thinking rare.

Regaining this lost mastery requires what Swami Dayananda Saraswati calls “internal leisure”, a quietening of the mind that allows the intellect to sharpen and reclaim its natural authority over the senses.

How can “internal leisure” be possible in a world where leaders glorify 70-hour workweeks and productivity is judged by the number of hours spent in the office—regardless of how many tea or smoke breaks one takes, as long as one is physically present?

It is no surprise, then, that the weekend makes one weakened (to borrow Swami Paramarthananda’s phrase), as many of us overindulge in those two days to make up for the absence of real leisure throughout the week.

Yoga Philosophy - the fundamental approach

 One of the most prominent gadgets on our kitchen counter is the microwave oven. It offers multiple features and functionalities and comes with various modes, such as grill and convection. But the most popular use case is to reheat leftovers. In many households, the rest of the functionality is hardly explored.

Yoga offers complete transformation and evolution of a human being. This profound wisdom enables all-round personality development of the individual - physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual wellbeing. But it is unfortunate that we end up relying too much on one aspect of it - Asanas, leaving the rest unexplored.

One of my Gurus often refers to an analogy - our present approach to Yoga is akin to chopping off the wings of an airplane and driving on the road to buy vegetables from a nearby shop.

The extreme focus given to physical aspects dilutes the entire philosophy. Success in Yoga Sadhana is often projected as one’s smooth performance of complex twists and turns and headstands, shot in exotic locations and presented as beautiful reels.

Sticking to the traditional approach, with the backing of the right scriptures, is the need of the hour.

Otherwise, the appropriation by the West will continue in full steam and froth with ridiculous ideas like beer yoga.

Festival patterns

 Festival season has begun for those who follow the path of Sanatana Dharma (also commonly referred to as Hinduism).

Patterns that repeat every year:

Certain businesses - “I will ridicule your beliefs and traditions, but hey, I do need a share of your wallet allocated for festival spends. Here are my attractive festival deals!”

Certain political parties - “An opportune moment to appease people of other faiths. Let’s come up with some announcements and see if they create any effect among the majority. If at all a few make noise, we will use our tried-and-tested playbook and convert a devotion-based, religious festival into a cultural event”.

Certain cinema actors - “Do I really need to post wishes for this festival? Will that have any leverage or increase my fan base (or voter base for the future)?”

Fake environmental activists - “I need to put on my savior hat and raise my voice now on air pollution, water wastage, noise pollution, animal welfare, and protecting nature....this is the right time to speak about climate change”

Fake minimalists - “Why do people spend so much during festivals? Too much consumerism at play, buying flowers and fruits.”

Certain health influencers - “Modaks are so carb-heavy. Try avoiding it or eat only 1/4th of a piece if your mother insists. Or else your weight might go up by 1 kg the next day!”

Pseudo feminists - “Women are slogging so much during these festival days, waking up early, cooking an elaborate meal for the family, cleaning the house, doing Pooja, etc....Men do nothing...It’s sheer patriarchy.”

Certain IT employees in their 20s - “Ah finally, a mid-week break...I can wake up late and just chill.”

Certain parents in their 30s - “If we take the Mon and Tue off, we will get a 5-day long weekend. A drive to Coorg is sure to be relaxing. Kids will also have a lot of fun.”

70s and 80s kids - “That festive vibe is missing these days. Visiting grandparents, playing with siblings and cousins, eating a lavish spread followed by a nice afternoon siesta.....Sigh!”

Not a post to judge or crib...I have been that “certain” IT employee and parent in the past. I have also fallen prey to the narratives of the “-ists”.  However, since the last 10 years, I am making a conscious effort to return to my roots and I look forward to every festival.

Festival days break the monotony of mundane routines.

Festivals help nurture the relationship between us and God, to surrender and connect with God.

Festivals are also a way to understand and reflect on the tatparya (significance) using our scriptures.

As a parent, it is my responsibility to pass on the traditions and their importance to my child.

As we celebrate Ganesh Chaturti, let us make it a priority to celebrate with family with loads of happiness, good food and the company of loved ones, keeping in mind, devotion towards God as the foundation.

Book Review: To the beginning of the end of Karma by Meetu Bisht

 

Karma and its workings are intriguing topics, not just for exploration and analysis, but for bringing about fundamental shifts in our behaviors. A deeper understanding of Karma is crucial, so that we don't dismiss it as pre-ordained.

I read the book "Karma" by Sadhguru in 2021, which brought a lot of beginner-friendly clarity. Since then, I have been exploring various other sources to go deeper into this subject. The latest book that I devoured on this topic is Meetu Bisht's "To the beginning of the end of Karma". 

I loved her earlier books - "Living spirituality" and "Why we are who we are". They were filled with powerful insights and nuggets of wisdom. Her nuanced approach to writing keeps the reader engaged.

In her new book, she has unpeeled various layers of Karma in simple language. It is quite voluminous (300+ pages), as compared to her earlier works.

This book is divided into 3 sections. The first section focuses on the nature of Karma, the cause or reasons behind this law, and its principles. The author reiterates throughout the book that Karma is not a force to fear, but a call to action. She defines Karma as the energy of the deeds from the past that manifest as either rewards or challenges in the present. The roots of karma can be traced back to our tendencies (samskaras or vasanas mentioned in our scriptures).  The path elaborated is very much relatable - Tendencies -> Conditioning -> Habits -> Character -> Deeds -> Karma.

In the second section, she elaborates on the method and manifestation of karmas. The purpose of Prarabdha, its intensity, the transformation needed in our responses, and the ensuing closure give more clarity on how one should approach Karma, not through a self-defeating or victimhood mindset, but through graceful acceptance and raising the frequency of response. Someone facing a heavy Prarabdha is offered greater opportunities for self-realization and awakening.

In the third section, more specifics related to the handling of Karma are explained in the context of money, relationships, health, and multiple challenges in life. The chapters on how our ego is the cause of Karma were truly eye-opening. The author has given examples of 19 ways by which our actions and perceptions are shaped by the ego, influencing how we see ourselves and interact with the world. It is a neat check-list to go over and understand how ego influences us on our personality level.

We often wonder how some people are blessed with popularity, wealth, and power, while others are not. The explanation given made so much sense.

"A life of fame, affluence and power is not a perk but a massive responsibility and duty, forming part of a substantial karmic payback.....this is because their soul has undertaken the task of clearing a significant portion of karmic debts......results from multiple debts and rewards of past karma maturing simultaneously".

It is just not possible to pick a few lines as my favorite, as I had highlighted so many lines throughout the entire book :-) But to give a glimpse of the writing, here are a few:

"Opinions are just concepts that feed the ego".

"Personal karma builds when one resists reality, i.e. when thoughts and feelings reflect a rejection of what is".

"The energy associated with money comes from how it is earned and how it is used".

"Our suffering must end with the karmic experience itself, rather than continuing in our thoughts, feelings and emotions long after".

"The more we invest emotionally in what we are going through, the more we remain prisoners of our own ignorant past".

Though the style of writing is simple, each paragraph requires deeper reflection. It is not something that one could just brush through in a glance. When I came back to certain chapters after a few weeks, I realized there were more insights that I had missed in the first read.

If you have read this far, I'm sure you would love this book :-)

The only point of confusion I faced in the initial chapters was that the three aspects - action (karma), visible result (phala), and invisible consequence (punya/papa) are all called as "karma" (which is quite normal, as we use that way in our day-to-day parlance). As I kept reading, I was able to understand the distinction depending on the context.

I will certainly revisit this book multiple times as my understanding evolves.

P.S. This book was sent to me by the author. This review is my honest and unbiased feedback of the book.

Extreme violence in movies

 "People who watch a lot of violent action movies tend to have anger and revenge-seeking tendencies"- I recently heard this statement in a discourse. What we feed our minds triggers our attitudes and behaviors. The impressions get stored in our subconscious minds and influences our actions in very many ways.

In the past 3-4 years, there have been so many gory, violent movies that are being released. The censor board giving U/A certificate (13+ rated) to such extreme gore and violent movies is a big concern! I had written a detailed post on this topic when the movie "Jailer" got released.

Now as the next superstar's movie is about to release, the trailer looks even worse with so much bloodshed. Though the movie is "A" rated, the impact it will create on our psyche is just not worth it, even if the viewer is 18+.

Gone are the days when I used to look forward to Superstar's movies.

It is so unfortunate that a person who claims to be spiritual in his real life, chooses to act in movies that propagate such gore and violence. One can argue that the reel life and real life are different. But for a person of his stature and reach, for someone who claims to practice spiritual practices like Kriya Yoga, such a person has a moral and ethical responsibility on his choices and the impact it would create in the society.