Thoughts – they occupy a predominant chunk of our daily lives. We’re thinking all the time. When we wake up, during our daily ablutions, on the way to work, at work, on the way back from work, just before we sleep, and even while we’re sleeping, thoughts barge into our heads, in the form of dreams. What is this unending urge to think? Is it even an urge or is it just something programmed into our subconscious? Do we really have control over what we think and how much we think? Is it possible to stop thinking altogether and just exist? If this is achievable, then what is the function of the mind? Will it just be reduced to a useless component of the human body? I’ve found some of these answers through my own experience. And the answers didn’t come when I thought about the questions. I was simply out of my mind and everything fell into place. That said, it’s worth knowing that every spiritual query lies within. What I’m writing here is something you’ve always known intrinsically, but your mind’s ever-interfering nature has ensured that this knowledge continues to remain shrouded in mystery. It doesn’t have to be that way, anymore. You can control your mind, instead of your mind controlling you. When you stop thinking about the future or the past, and you reach the point of being out of your mind, you’ll notice that life begins to transform miraculously. Yet, this is no miracle. It’s an undeniable spiritual law. Many self-help books only talk about the benefits of thinking positive thoughts. I however believe that you can simply be positive, instead of thinking about it. We need more books on ‘positive being’ instead of the myriad ones on ‘positive thinking’. Eckhart Tolle, whom I deeply revere, did delve into present-moment awareness and mind control. However, I feel that real-life examples of putting this to practice lend greater assurance to the spiritual seeker.
I’ve combined present-moment awareness with affirmations and applied this to my relationships, finances, and career. I’m no guru, preacher or messiah. I’m just one among the many people who are trying to get life to work for them. After reading countless self-help books, I realized that a majority of them lionize the mind. Law of attraction, positive thinking, visualization techniques, past-life regression, all use the mind in some way or the other to achieve desires. They argue that you must focus on your desires for an extended period of time in order for them to manifest. Yet, I believe that the only way to access abundance is by not over-engaging the mind. It’s important to have desires, but it’s just as important to be detached from the fulfillment of those desires. Once you’ve released your desires into the universe, simply step back. In my own experience, whenever I’ve had a desire but not been too attached to its manifestation, the desire has materialized almost all the time. The mind loves to think more about the outcome, and it is precisely this act of the mind that stops us from getting our good.
The mind has some splendid functions and it can help us in many ways, such as acquiring knowledge and understanding things. And we can continue to employ it for those uses. But we would do well to eliminate an undesirable feature of the mind – that of constant contemplation. In other words, we must learn to stop thinking all the time. And if a compulsive thinker like me could break free from the shackles of incessant thinking, I’m sure anyone can. Just keep an open mind, till it’s open enough for you to get out of it!
Sleep talk
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Roh
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When the sun sets slowly and the lights go dim,
The day ends slowly and an uncertain night begins,
Thoughts fill your mind; you struggle to keep them at bay,
Darkness washes over you, in a mystical way
‘Am I who I am?’, such questions you ask,
A moment of sleep seems like an endless, nagging task,
You simply lay there, taking in the distant sounds,
You look for someone to hold, but there’s no one around
A luxury of a few, sleep doesn’t come to us all,
You feel like you’re floating, like a never ending fall,
When your eyelids shut, and a few winks come,
Right through your window, beckons the morning sun
The world is rising, and you still need that sleep,
The sun may be smiling, but you just want to weep,
You dress up, and grudgingly stumble out of bed,
Your face shows your anger, in myriad shades of red
You glance at the clock, it’s still early in the day,
Your eyelids protest, nudging you back to sleep,
Your crawl back into bed, your body unfurled,
You’re in deep slumber, oblivious to the world
The day ends slowly and an uncertain night begins,
Thoughts fill your mind; you struggle to keep them at bay,
Darkness washes over you, in a mystical way
‘Am I who I am?’, such questions you ask,
A moment of sleep seems like an endless, nagging task,
You simply lay there, taking in the distant sounds,
You look for someone to hold, but there’s no one around
A luxury of a few, sleep doesn’t come to us all,
You feel like you’re floating, like a never ending fall,
When your eyelids shut, and a few winks come,
Right through your window, beckons the morning sun
The world is rising, and you still need that sleep,
The sun may be smiling, but you just want to weep,
You dress up, and grudgingly stumble out of bed,
Your face shows your anger, in myriad shades of red
You glance at the clock, it’s still early in the day,
Your eyelids protest, nudging you back to sleep,
Your crawl back into bed, your body unfurled,
You’re in deep slumber, oblivious to the world
Life is what you make it
Posted by
Roh
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I can’t be one among the herd. I’m done dealing with personalities that are sickeningly obstinate, the kinds that derive an odd pleasure seeing heads nodding downwards in compliance and can’t stand heads moving sideways in dissent. I’ve always rebelled, silently and non-violently, against such authorities, and that all-pervading entity up there must really love me, for I’ve never had to pay a price for being me. I’ve charted my own path and my decision to live life on my own terms is a resolute one. The last 12 months have been vaguely interesting, and as with all experiences in life, there were rough times, happy times, boring times, crazy times, funny times, sad times, confusing times – you get the drift. But times of introspection were few and far between. I wasn’t in touch with my inner being - that wise, all-knowing spirit in there who has guided me and shown the way. My own fears, doubts, aspirations, and desires created this sheath of confusion around this spirit, who’s been struggling to make himself (or is it herself?) heard. Well, I’ve ripped apart that sheath and the voice is now clear. The dark clouds of uncertainty have parted, and a comforting rain is all set to drench me.
How can you achieve clarity in your life? Well, you can’t beat the sheer simplicity of this approach. Think of what you’d do, if you had infinite money. Don’t just trust the first answer that comes to your head. Take this seriously. What would you do if there was an absence of monetary ambition in your life? The answer could be anything. Dancing, acting, writing, painting, running a monastery, teaching underprivileged kids in a school, setting up an NGO, starting your own publishing house – whatever rocks your boat. Well, that’s your answer right there. That’s what you should be doing. Imagine, if people weren’t driven by money, they’d all be doing what they love doing, and nothing else. And what a society that would be – where money would a means to an end and not an end in itself. People would intrinsically know that if they genuinely love what they do, money will come find them. They wouldn’t have to do the searching. I’m 24, and I think I’ve figured this out quite early in life. But it’s never too late. Indulge in some soul-searching, and the answer will come, and once it does, as the old cliché goes, ‘there won’t be any looking back.’ A lot of people have spent their entire lives trying to build their dream homes, only to realize the bitter fact that they hardly have much time left to spend in that home. If your sole preoccupation is to achieve a healthy bank balance, you will get to that point, but at the cost of your mental and physical health. But if you’re obsessed, in a healthy way, about your passion, whatever it is, then the sheer satisfaction of your work will keep you healthy, the healthiest you’ve ever been. And such stellar health is bound to attract enough wealth.
Love,
Rohan
How can you achieve clarity in your life? Well, you can’t beat the sheer simplicity of this approach. Think of what you’d do, if you had infinite money. Don’t just trust the first answer that comes to your head. Take this seriously. What would you do if there was an absence of monetary ambition in your life? The answer could be anything. Dancing, acting, writing, painting, running a monastery, teaching underprivileged kids in a school, setting up an NGO, starting your own publishing house – whatever rocks your boat. Well, that’s your answer right there. That’s what you should be doing. Imagine, if people weren’t driven by money, they’d all be doing what they love doing, and nothing else. And what a society that would be – where money would a means to an end and not an end in itself. People would intrinsically know that if they genuinely love what they do, money will come find them. They wouldn’t have to do the searching. I’m 24, and I think I’ve figured this out quite early in life. But it’s never too late. Indulge in some soul-searching, and the answer will come, and once it does, as the old cliché goes, ‘there won’t be any looking back.’ A lot of people have spent their entire lives trying to build their dream homes, only to realize the bitter fact that they hardly have much time left to spend in that home. If your sole preoccupation is to achieve a healthy bank balance, you will get to that point, but at the cost of your mental and physical health. But if you’re obsessed, in a healthy way, about your passion, whatever it is, then the sheer satisfaction of your work will keep you healthy, the healthiest you’ve ever been. And such stellar health is bound to attract enough wealth.
Love,
Rohan
Live your dream
Posted by
Roh
comments (2)
The drudgery of a 9-5 existence doesn’t escape most people. But I’ve decided to let myself free from the shackles of a confined cubicle. In retrospect, I wasn’t ever cut out for it. And this drastic step, or rather stride, wasn’t too hard. I simply articulated my ideas to my family, who encouraged my plans to abandon the 'service' life.
What the future holds, I’m not too sure. But it’s going to be filled with positivity, vitality, love, and purposefulness. And the future will take care of itself. I don’t believe in endlessly dwelling on what will happen. It would be shame if I did – all those hours of reading Eckhart Tolle and not imbibing his teachings, what’s the point? The present moment is all there is, and that’s my blueprint for life. Initially, it’s tough to have such resolute, unswerving faith in the entity above, but when you ponder enough over the matter, it’s the only logical way to live. Why delve into the future, which is uncertain, and fill your mind with unproductive thoughts that don’t serve you? Similarly, what can you attain by revisiting the past, which is stuck in time like a frozen opera and cannot be altered? The present is a gift, sent by the celestial well-wisher, and it’s sent to you even before you ask for it (PRE-Sent).
It’s an eventful time for me, these coming months. I’ll be writing, teaching, and perhaps modeling for a few brands if they are worthwhile. It all appears hazy and unstructured now, but there’s a comforting thought that will see me through this uncertain-yet-exciting phase: the fact that I’m not waking up to an alarm clock, not rushing to hail a taxi or board a congested train; not subjecting my fragile ego to incessant rants by the boss or reprimands for mistakes I didn’t commit. I’m not implying that I’ve been through all of this, but what I’m saying will ring a bell with most people reading this. The ‘I’ voice is used so you may relate to it!
I’m happy to have booked myself on this flight of fancy. But I’ll ensure that the landing is a practical one. A wild imagination with no real-world awareness is as futile as great practicality with no imagination. Presently, I’m in a state of nirvana – doing things I love. My true calling has been revealed, and I’ll be answering the call soon. And it’s about time. For now though, I’m ecstatic about not being a slave to the corporate culture. I have the unparalleled satisfaction of being my own boss, setting my own pace. I can already feel my quality of life improving, and my self-worth seems to have got a botox shot as well. 24, an age where you think the world is at your feet. And honestly, it is. The absence of responsibilities (marriage, children, house) allows you to be footloose and fancy free. Can there really be a better age to venture into something of your own?
Go on, live your dream. I’m living mine.
What the future holds, I’m not too sure. But it’s going to be filled with positivity, vitality, love, and purposefulness. And the future will take care of itself. I don’t believe in endlessly dwelling on what will happen. It would be shame if I did – all those hours of reading Eckhart Tolle and not imbibing his teachings, what’s the point? The present moment is all there is, and that’s my blueprint for life. Initially, it’s tough to have such resolute, unswerving faith in the entity above, but when you ponder enough over the matter, it’s the only logical way to live. Why delve into the future, which is uncertain, and fill your mind with unproductive thoughts that don’t serve you? Similarly, what can you attain by revisiting the past, which is stuck in time like a frozen opera and cannot be altered? The present is a gift, sent by the celestial well-wisher, and it’s sent to you even before you ask for it (PRE-Sent).
It’s an eventful time for me, these coming months. I’ll be writing, teaching, and perhaps modeling for a few brands if they are worthwhile. It all appears hazy and unstructured now, but there’s a comforting thought that will see me through this uncertain-yet-exciting phase: the fact that I’m not waking up to an alarm clock, not rushing to hail a taxi or board a congested train; not subjecting my fragile ego to incessant rants by the boss or reprimands for mistakes I didn’t commit. I’m not implying that I’ve been through all of this, but what I’m saying will ring a bell with most people reading this. The ‘I’ voice is used so you may relate to it!
I’m happy to have booked myself on this flight of fancy. But I’ll ensure that the landing is a practical one. A wild imagination with no real-world awareness is as futile as great practicality with no imagination. Presently, I’m in a state of nirvana – doing things I love. My true calling has been revealed, and I’ll be answering the call soon. And it’s about time. For now though, I’m ecstatic about not being a slave to the corporate culture. I have the unparalleled satisfaction of being my own boss, setting my own pace. I can already feel my quality of life improving, and my self-worth seems to have got a botox shot as well. 24, an age where you think the world is at your feet. And honestly, it is. The absence of responsibilities (marriage, children, house) allows you to be footloose and fancy free. Can there really be a better age to venture into something of your own?
Go on, live your dream. I’m living mine.
Live Free
Posted by
Roh
comments (3)
I'm guilty of it too. I gaze into the mirror for hours, sometimes admiring the image that reflects back, and often criticizing it on 'off days'. And it's not restricted to my own image. I judge, criticize, comment, make random conclusions based on physical appearances. Or rather, I once did.
I've finally gone beyond looks. Sure, I might stop for a quick glance to check what the mirror is offering today, but that's about it. And maybe I haven't slept for days, or suddenly broken out, but it doesn't stop me from appreciating what I see. And the reason why I always like my reflection is because it's no longer about my external looks. My focus, almost entirely, has shifted to my world within. How I feel, I've realized, holds far more value than how I look.
Sometimes a glowing compliment or a caustic remark decides how the rest of your day will go – happy, enthusiastic and eager or sad, gloomy, and uninterested. But why? Why should anyone have that kind of power over you? So often, we long for a compliment, and when we don't get one, let disappointment set in. When someone mutters some unpleasant words about you, you take it to heart and let it affect your well-being. Majority of the population goes through this, but that doesn't mean it's normal. It's still insane.
We've all got to stop identifying with form. The physical body is subject to the unchallengeable law of mortality. But the soul isn't. So start focussing on the formless entity that resides inside you, and not the 'formfull' one outside. Don't look at magazines like GQ or Vogue and feel inferior about yourself. You're much bigger than that, and special in your own way. You don't need the media to put a stamp of approval on who you are, or who you should be.
And feel the love. It's the single most powerful emotion to transform everything – your life, your relationships, your career and most importantly – your spirit. In fact, you could call it Botox for your soul!
I've finally gone beyond looks. Sure, I might stop for a quick glance to check what the mirror is offering today, but that's about it. And maybe I haven't slept for days, or suddenly broken out, but it doesn't stop me from appreciating what I see. And the reason why I always like my reflection is because it's no longer about my external looks. My focus, almost entirely, has shifted to my world within. How I feel, I've realized, holds far more value than how I look.
Sometimes a glowing compliment or a caustic remark decides how the rest of your day will go – happy, enthusiastic and eager or sad, gloomy, and uninterested. But why? Why should anyone have that kind of power over you? So often, we long for a compliment, and when we don't get one, let disappointment set in. When someone mutters some unpleasant words about you, you take it to heart and let it affect your well-being. Majority of the population goes through this, but that doesn't mean it's normal. It's still insane.
We've all got to stop identifying with form. The physical body is subject to the unchallengeable law of mortality. But the soul isn't. So start focussing on the formless entity that resides inside you, and not the 'formfull' one outside. Don't look at magazines like GQ or Vogue and feel inferior about yourself. You're much bigger than that, and special in your own way. You don't need the media to put a stamp of approval on who you are, or who you should be.
And feel the love. It's the single most powerful emotion to transform everything – your life, your relationships, your career and most importantly – your spirit. In fact, you could call it Botox for your soul!
Moving on
Posted by
Roh
comments (1)
It's a still, lonely, frigid night
Smoky mists engulf me
The usual inane, pointless fight
I'm sadly alone but happily free
Years of love all swept away
Leavin' behind my bare soul
Nothin' to do, feel, or say
Time will play its perfect role
The moon smiles down
Pearly white, it shines so bright
Erasing gently my fixed frown
A stranger comes by, our eyes meet
She's lonely too, tears flowing free
Love's a feeling nothing can beat
No longer is it just the night and me
Smoky mists engulf me
The usual inane, pointless fight
I'm sadly alone but happily free
Years of love all swept away
Leavin' behind my bare soul
Nothin' to do, feel, or say
Time will play its perfect role
The moon smiles down
Pearly white, it shines so bright
Erasing gently my fixed frown
A stranger comes by, our eyes meet
She's lonely too, tears flowing free
Love's a feeling nothing can beat
No longer is it just the night and me
Distant Love
Posted by
Roh
comments (1)
You’ve been away so long,
I’ve lost track of time,
Baby, I ain’t that strong,
My heart can’t help but whine
Sugar when you left me,
You said we’d see this through,
But all I envision is a vast sea,
That separates me and you
Distance fuels love
That’s what they all say,
But the warmth of our love-making,
Can’t be felt from far away
Come back my love, it’s time
Your heart is safe with me
You belong to me, you’re all mine,
It’s that simple, can’t you see?
I’ll wait for you, every day
You’re so worth the wait,
There’s nothing else I’d like to say,
I miss you my love, my soul mate
I’ve lost track of time,
Baby, I ain’t that strong,
My heart can’t help but whine
Sugar when you left me,
You said we’d see this through,
But all I envision is a vast sea,
That separates me and you
Distance fuels love
That’s what they all say,
But the warmth of our love-making,
Can’t be felt from far away
Come back my love, it’s time
Your heart is safe with me
You belong to me, you’re all mine,
It’s that simple, can’t you see?
I’ll wait for you, every day
You’re so worth the wait,
There’s nothing else I’d like to say,
I miss you my love, my soul mate
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