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.

Practice of shama and dama

 In Viveka Chudamani, Adi Shankaracharya talks about six-fold wealth (shat-sampatti), in reference to qualifications of a spiritual aspirant. These six treasures are equally relevant in leading a meaningful life in the material world.

The first two of these six treasures are:
- shama - control of the mind
- dama - control of the sensory organs

Shama - withdrawal of the mind from external objects and steadily fixing it on a goal. Requires perfect discipline.

Dama - self-control relating to the sensory system, comprising of 10 Indriyas. These include 5 Jnanendriyas (organs of perception) and 5 Karmendriyas (organs of action). Turning away from sense objects and placing them in their respective centers when they are not meant to be used.

Swami Ranganathananda in his commentary talks about how a turbulent mind and an uncontrolled sensory system make for an unstable inner environment.

Inner stability or psychic homeostasis can be achieved through the practice of shama and dama.

In the modern world, many businesses thrive because of our lack of shama and dama. Many ideologies promote that we let go of these two treasures under the pretext of "YOLO".

If one leads a life with discipline and self-restraint, the merits accrued, impact various aspects at the individual level - good health, character, strong relationships, purpose, meaning, peace and most importantly, freedom.

As long as we don't practice shama and dama, we will continue to be enslaved by the fleeting pleasures, while businesses profit out of our compulsive behaviors.

Consistency in Yoga asana practice

 As a practitioner and a Yoga teacher, I believe that there are three factors that are important to stay consistent at Yoga asana practice:

1. Be comfortable with repetitive movements
Our minds seek novelty and people who are new to Asana practice tend to get bored after a few days. When someone goes for jogging or gymming, though the physical movement seems repetitive, novelty is brought in either by listening to new podcasts, audiobooks, music or other forms of entertainment to keep the restless mind occupied. Yoga is all about awareness and staying mindful during the practice. Similar movements done consistently and slowly yield amazing results in terms of strength and flexibility.

2. Stay there for the long run
Because of initial enthusiasm, we tend to push ourselves more and strive to do challenging asanas earlier without giving enough time for the body to open up. This increases chances of injury and strain. It is better to take it slow and continue our practice in the long run. I'd rather prefer to do 12-rounds Suryanamaskar comfortably in my 70s rather than push myself to hit the 108-rounds in my 40s and end up straining my lower back.

3. Adopt an attitude of "I'm grateful that I can...."
If your body is relatively stable without any major ailments, approaching Yoga asanas with an attitude that "I'm grateful that I can do Trikonasana or Sarvangasana or Padahastasana...." helps you to stay consistent with your practice. We take our flexibility and mobility for granted, but when diagnosed with certain ailments, the same poses which we could have comfortably performed earlier, now become contraindicative. For someone with high blood pressure or lower back related issues, forward fold poses are to be avoided.

Luxury once sampled becomes a necessity

Though I have a traditional hand mortar-and-pestle (ammikal in Tamil), I hardly make use of it. For the morning rush hours of cooking, I automatically turn to my trusted mixer-grinder for making any spice pastes or chutneys.

No doubt, the taste and flavor of traditional grinding far exceeds that of a machine-ground chutney. And yes, traditional hand grinding is a good exercise for the arms and shoulders. But the time-saving and convenience of the mixer-grinder outweighs these benefits.

Luxury once sampled becomes a necessity.

Last night, I was narrating the experience of how TV evolved in the 80s and 90s - from black&white to colour, Doordarshan days, changing channels by pressing buttons on the TV, no way to skip intro/skip ad, no way to rewind or forward, no way to rewatch an episode, no way to pick and choose a movie to watch and much more. She was taken aback by all the "privileges" the 80s and 90s kids didn't have from a TV point of view.

Will we choose to go back to a single channel with fixed timings for programmes and movies like it used to be earlier? Very few might even consider that option.

Luxury once sampled becomes a necessity.

WFH (Work-from-home) was one such luxury and benefit we claimed from our employers in the 2000s when we were not so unwell, when we had guests at home or when we expected a furniture delivery in the middle of the day. Then came the lockdown and pandemic. WFH became the norm, work got done amidst the uncertain environment.

We realized how much time was saved by avoiding commute.

We also experienced more focus and attention when we were in the comfort of our home office/desk/ergonomic chair, rather than working in an open-office setup, next to colleagues taking Zoom calls with clients/team-mates from other countries/cities.

We felt relaxed to take a short break and make ourselves a cup of homemade milk chai or coffee.

We brought to the forefront our capacity to multitask and manage the mental load and responsibilities of various roles (employee, daughter, mother, father, son, etc).

We also noticed how the moment we stepped out of our work desk at home, we can be available to listen to the little chitchats of our kids rather than battle traffic and potholes to reach our homes late into the night.

Luxury once sampled has now become a necessity, especially for knowledge workers who have realized how a laptop and a stable Internet connection is all that matters to get work done.

It is an irony that the same tech founders and leaders who wish to improve quality of lives through technology are forcing employees to get back to office location.

"We deliver chips and aerated drinks in 7 minutes, but we want you to write the code/manage the product that provides this convenience by battling traffic woes for 2 hours everyday and be in our office location so we can be sure that you are working".

Productivity improves with Trust (& vice-versa).

Book Review: Kindle Life by Swami Chinmayananda

 I have recently started reading Swami Chinmayananda's books on various topics related to Vedanta. Chinmaya Mission prescribes a scheme of study to understand and assimilate the teachings of Vedanta. The first book in this scheme is titled "Kindle Life".

Written by Swami Chinmayananda himself, this book is a beginner-level guide that explains the fundamentals of Vedanta concepts in simple, lucid language. Organized in small chapters, one can easily read a few pages daily as part of the Vedantic study. This book introduces many concepts - the role of mind and intellect, Panchakosha theory, the trigunas, and their attributes, the play of Maya and its expressions, mind control, refinement of personality, the importance of scriptures, etc.

Swamiji explains how uncontrolled and excessive indulgence in sensual enjoyment causes the dissipation of one’s personality. 

“A successful man never allows his faculty of discrimination and judgment to be disturbed by the rising tides of his emotions”

He then elaborates on the pitfalls of desires and the difference between sublimation and suppression of desires. Happiness is an entirely subjective phenomenon and it doesn't exist in external sense objects. 

“If the joy is inherent in sense objects, then each object should provide the same quantum of joy to all those who come in contact with it”

The purpose of religion is to help one understand the higher values of life and realize the futility of sensual indulgences. Both philosophy (theoretical aspect) and rituals (practical aspect) are integral to religion, as they complement one another. Scriptures help to refine and chisel the intellect, thereby one gains mastery over the mind. 

Swamiji explains the importance of the head (intellect) and heart (mind) and classifies humans into four different personalities based on the dominance of the head/heart. Depending upon one's personality, the corresponding spiritual journey through Yoga (Bhakti, Jnana, Karma, and Hatha Yoga) is recommended.

“What” one meets in life is destiny and “how” one meets it is self-effort.

Towards the end of the book, there are three chapters that are based on his talks related to the role of Action. How to approach one's work and the three ways by which our energy gets dissipated are so beautifully explained.

If you are interested in Vedantic knowledge, "Kindle Life" is a perfect place to start.