AntarYan

08/05/2025

07/05/2025

What makes people change their preferences or habits and do something that benefits the environment or the future of humanity? Let’s turn this around and ask, what makes people not take actions when there’s so much information about harms caused by personal actions in everyday life? Bombarding people with facts and data doesn’t seem to change habits. As there is an overload of information, people become apathetic to it. Shaming people and constantly crying foul online doesn’t make people change as it alienates them. Emotional appeals seem to have short term reactions. As there are too many causes to care about, people become apathetic again.

In my experience, what has worked consistently is embodying what one preaches in one’s own life and showcasing that as an example in the immediate social circle . People notice the consistency and eventually make small changes. Change is hard for most people. Also, talking about the positive impacts of actions taken and encouraging people to take small steps helps them to feel comfortable to choose wisely when the opportunity arises. Even those that claim that their personal pleasure or comfort is above everything else change if they notice that you take extra steps to do something that is better for others even though it was easier for you to do otherwise.
Patience, role modelling, compassion and tolerance are some attributes of change makers.

07/05/2025

The Universe doesn't keep score, humans do

The Universe, or the Divine, does not keep score. That’s something humans do—holding on to old wounds, replaying pain, and living inside the echo of our traumas. But the Universe responds only to what is. It meets us in the present moment.
This is why our shastras tell us that even a murderer can realize their true Self in an instant—if they genuinely seek it. Karma is often misunderstood as retribution for our past actions. The challenges we face—whether illness, heartbreak, or adversity—are invitations to look within, to see beyond suffering, and to uncover the radiant, joyful Self. They give us a chance to raise our consciousness to higher values of divine love and connection.
If you are suffering due to a difficult relationship, a health crisis, or emotional heaviness, I invite you to pause and ask, what is holding me back from being my natural, joyful, loving Self.
Life is an offering—every thought, every action, a flower placed at the feet of the Divine. When we live with that intention, we are never alone. The Universe guides us—gently, lovingly—every step of the way. All we have to do is ask, sincerely.
The dilemmas soften when we walk the path of dharma, let go of control, surrender and take action guided by a deeper intuition. If your mind is taking over your sense of self, ask yourself:
“What would the Divine have me do right now?”

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You can have comp

07/05/2025

Sādhana comes from the root word 'sadh' which is to attain or to accomplish. It is a disciplined effort to attain mastery. Sādhana is shaped by one’s stage in life (āśrama) and one’s personal dharma.

For a student, his sādhana is to learn and master the subjects as it is in his dharma to pursue knowledge.
For a warrior or an athlete , their sādhana is to build their strength and endurance as it is their dharma to fight or play.
For a dancer or musician, her sādhana is to practise sincerely and effortlessly to experience and share divinity in art.
For an average human being living as a householder with a job that serves only as a means to earn money, their sādhana is often a spiritual practice to connect to the divine.

While moments of divine connection can arise spontaneously in worldly work, sustaining such awareness is not easy. Hence, the ultimate sādhana is daily commitment to the chosen spiritual path with the aim of Self-realization - a practise that goes beyond the body and mind.

Everything else done in the vyavaharika life (worldly conduct) is done with an intention of sacred offering to the divine , forming part of one’s broader sādhana. In this context, external practices are not ends in themselves; they are expressions of karma yoga, done without attachment.

Daily exercise or yoga āsanas alone do not constitute sādhana. Rather, the foundations of true sādhana are laid through yamas (ethical restraints) and niyamas (personal observances), which cultivate the discipline and purity necessary for inner work.

I invite each of you to reflect deeply on your true sādhana, rather than getting caught up in practices that only serve the body and mind.

05/05/2025

Sādhana comes from the root word 'sadh' which is to attain or to accomplish. It is a disciplined effort to attain mastery. Sādhana is shaped by one’s stage in life (āśrama) and one’s personal dharma.

For a student, his sādhana is to learn and master the subjects as it is in his dharma to pursue knowledge.
For a warrior or an athlete , their sādhana is to build their strength and endurance as it is their dharma to fight or play.
For a dancer or musician, her sādhana is to practise sincerely and effortlessly to experience and share divinity in art.
For an average human being living as a householder with a job that serves only as a means to earn money, their sādhana is often a spiritual practice to connect to the divine.

While moments of divine connection can arise spontaneously in worldly work, sustaining such awareness is not easy. Hence, the ultimate sādhana is daily commitment to the chosen spiritual path with the aim of Self-realization - a practise that goes beyond the body and mind.

Everything else done in the vyavaharika life (worldly conduct) is done with an intention of sacred offering to the divine , forming part of one’s broader sādhana. In this context, external practices are not ends in themselves; they are expressions of karma yoga, done without attachment.

Daily exercise or yoga āsanas alone do not constitute sādhana. Rather, the foundations of true sādhana are laid through yamas (ethical restraints) and niyamas (personal observances), which cultivate the discipline and purity necessary for inner work.

I invite each of you to reflect deeply on your true sādhana, rather than getting caught up in practices that only serve the body and mind.

26/04/2025

Dharma , polarity of good and evil

In a world polarized between good and evil, our scriptures teach us a deeper truth — that humans are a complex mix of both. What matters is our ability to reconcile both within us and act as per dharma, resolving our inner conflicts. It is not about justifying adharmic actions.

While Ravana was a learned, disciplined (in tapas), and strong ruler, he couldn’t overcome his arrogance and lust — he premeditated and abducted Sita, Rama’s wife. Ravana’s wife, Mandodari, advised him many times to do the right thing and return Sita. He didn’t pay heed to her; he ignored his loyal, wise, beautiful wife’s words while coveting another.

The fact that he didn’t touch Sita in captivity doesn’t undo the reality of his criminal actions. His restraint was due to a fear of an ancient curse that decreed he would die if he touched a woman who resisted him.

The fact that he was a learned scholar doesn’t undo the reality that he failed to draw upon his wisdom to do what was noble for his land and kingdom. Instead, he chose the opposite — and led to his own downfall.

As Jordan Peterson says, we must recognize that we are all capable of great evil, and that understanding our dark shadows allows us to restrain them consciously to do what is right. If we deny our own dark side, it will rule us unconsciously. This is exactly what happened with Ravana — due to his arrogance, he held on to the belief that he was the greatest and unflawed.
Emotional maturity doesn’t come from pretending to be pure, nor from pretending to see everything in shades of grey while ignoring adharma. It comes from knowing what we are capable of ourselves and choosing to act consciously.

Dharma sankata is what Arjuna goes through on the battlefield — whether to fight as a warrior for what is right, or spare his grandfather, cousins, and teacher. Ravana didn’t have a dharma sankata. He was consumed by his ego and pride and committed adharma (that which is not right), which led to his undoing.
You cannot celebrate grey on the outside without owning the dark inside. It is a superficial mechanism to see the world with rose-colored glasses where no evil exists.

You can have compassion for a killer’s capacity to change and realize his true Self, while condemning his actions and letting the law take its course. Eulogizing what is not right in the name of seeing grey in everyone and everything is foolishness.
While we can take inspiration from Ravana’s tapas and discipline to be learned, we must also acknowledge that learned wisdom is of no use if not applied to one’s actions — and avoid straying from dharma like him at the end.

If we also consider the curse of kumaras on Jaya and Vijaya, Jaya was ordained to be born as Ravana and be killed by Rama. We cannot make moralistic judgements on Rama or Ravana as humans, we can learn from their actions to tread on the path of dharma.

Krishna’s advice to Arjuna — conscious action without attachment to fears or likes, letting go of the control of outcomes, and surrendering to a higher wisdom for guidance — is advice for humanity..

22/04/2025

The Universe doesn't keep score, humans do

The Universe, or the Divine, does not keep score. That’s something humans do—holding on to old wounds, replaying pain, and living inside the echo of our traumas. But the Universe responds only to what is. It meets us in the present moment.
This is why our shastras tell us that even a murderer can realize their true Self in an instant—if they genuinely seek it. Karma is often misunderstood as retribution for our past actions. The challenges we face—whether illness, heartbreak, or adversity—are invitations to look within, to see beyond suffering, and to uncover the radiant, joyful Self. They give us a chance to raise our consciousness to higher values of divine love and connection.
If you are suffering due to a difficult relationship, a health crisis, or emotional heaviness, I invite you to pause and ask, what is holding me back from being my natural, joyful, loving Self.
Life is an offering—every thought, every action, a flower placed at the feet of the Divine. When we live with that intention, we are never alone. The Universe guides us—gently, lovingly—every step of the way. All we have to do is ask, sincerely.
The dilemmas soften when we walk the path of dharma, let go of control, surrender and take action guided by a deeper intuition. If your mind is taking over your sense of self, ask yourself:
“What would the Divine have me do right now?”

26/03/2025

I asked my Yoga Vaasistha teacher, Narayana Lakshmi:
"Why do vasana bundles come together to form a Jeeva? And why only certain vasanas—why not all?"
In response, I was told the tale of Dama, Vyala, and Kata.

Demon king Sambara, facing continuous defeats against the gods (Devas), sought to change his fortunes by creating three powerful robot like entities—Dama, Vyala, and Kata. These beings were devoid of emotions, desires, and ego, making them fearless and relentless in battle. Their lack of personal identity rendered them invincible, as they had no concept of self-preservation or fear. ​

The gods, unable to overcome these emotionless warriors, approached Lord Brahma for guidance. Brahma explained that the invincibility of Dama, Vyala, and Kata stemmed from their absence of ego and emotions. He advised the gods to engage them in prolonged battles, suggesting that continuous interaction might awaken latent emotions and ego within them. ​

Following Brahma's counsel, the gods initiated a series of battles, each time retreating strategically. Over time, Dama, Vyala, and Kata began to experience feelings of pride from their repeated victories. This burgeoning sense of accomplishment led to the development of ego and attachment to outcomes. As these emotions took root, vulnerabilities emerged within them—fear of defeat, desire for continued success, and the pain of potential loss. ​

With their newfound emotions, Dama, Vyala, and Kata became susceptible to the very fears and desires that plague ordinary beings. The gods seized this opportunity and ultimately defeated them. The story further narrates that after their defeat, the three underwent numerous reincarnations, experiencing the full spectrum of human emotions and sufferings.Eventually, through self-realization and understanding the transient nature of existence, they attained liberation

This is a story told by Sage Vaasishta to Rama to rise above worldly sorrows and inner struggles. Just as the invincible became vulnerable through ego, and the vulnerable eventually found freedom through wisdom, perhaps each of us is walking that same arc—from mechanical doing to self-awareness, from bo***ge to freedom.

What vasanas do you see playing out in your life—and are they leading you deeper into misery, or freedom?

18/02/2025

What is yours will seek you out and what is not yours will leave you.. That's the way of the universe. Resisting what is yours and coveting what is not yours will lead to pain and misery

18/02/2025

17/12/2024

Join us for an enriching yoga workshop exploring the transformative sound So'ham – a Sanskrit mantra that translates to "That am I" symbolizing the unity of self with the universe. As you inhale and exhale, the natural vibration of So'ham connects breath, mind, and spirit, fostering inner peace and self-awareness.

This workshop will guide you through mindful breathing, meditation, and yoga nidra, helping you experience harmony and stillness of the shiva's sound. I was lucky to experience and learn about this sound from Vamadeva ji and Yogesh ji at a recent retreat.

Date & Time: 31st Dec 2024 , 7am-9am IST
Venue: Online
Donation: 2000 INR

Come breathe, flow, and embrace the sound of So'ham.

16/10/2024

These 11 companies control all the processed foods eaten in the US. Some of these are sold in India. How often do you eat them? If you eat them everyday, time for a reality check on the nutrition facts.