Tillitonse - A Transformational Journey Together

Q : What is a Problem and how can Problems be avoided? A : Problems can't be avoided because we don't want to avoid them. If we didn't care about problems, they  wouldn't exist. But we like to take on problems because we are guided by our self-image. Our self-image says one has to be good, considerate and kind, and that is the front we always try to project. As long as we are consciously or unconsciously following the dictates of our self-image, we will never be free from problems. What is a Problem? A problem is something you take upon yourself which is not your natural inclination or expression. Other people imposing their difficulties can become a problem. Somebody offering to help can also be a problem if the help is not expressed in the right manner. Even musing over things can become a problem. Encountering situations that can affect, change and alter our self-perception can become a problem. A sudden influx of negative thoughts can become a problem. An inf...

No, I am not referring to the song from ‘The Sound of Music.’ This weekend, I had two conversations both pointing me towards The Hill. First, let me take a step back about two other hills. Growing up, Phantom comics were a big part of my life. There was something quite amazing about the aura around the Phantom. Phantom took me on a journey to exotic lands – one such being Walker’s Table in the Mesa desert in the US. Walker’s Table was quite an exotic location – bare and isolated. And then there was the famous hill made out of mashed potatoes. Yup, am referring to Richard Dreyfus maniacally replication an image stuck in his head in Spielberg’s ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind.’ Yup, these two hills indeed look very very similar. Not sure why, but these images have stuck in my head. So, over this weekend, when my uncle Madhurai GS Mani and Prof. Muthukrishnan both referred to their strong association with Shri. Ramana Mahari...

Swami Sivananda - The Long Arm of Grace!  If the success of one’s student is the yardstick to measure success as a teacher, then Swami Sivananda is arguable India’s greatest spiritual teacher over the past 100 years or so. In addition to being a spiritual giant, he also encouraged his students to form separate institutions focused on different aspects of spirituality. Some of them are: ·        Chinmayananda Saraswati , founder of the   Chinmaya Mission ·        Satchidananda Saraswati , founder of the Integral Yoga Institutes, Around the world ·        Satyananda Saraswati , founder of Bihar School of Yoga Sw. Sivananda’s mandate to his students to ‘serve, love and give’ continues to inspire so many across the world. There are two important ways in which this great man has intrinsically influenced my life. The first – by birth. But, let me come to this later. The more r...

I visited the Rikhia Ashram of the Bihar School of Yoga last week. A magnificent trip. This trip had many first - the first trip on my own without the guidance of Shantanu, my yoga teacher; the first course I was attending there and yes, the first really long trip (others had been for a few days only). Many wonderful lessons learned in addition to a really tranquil experience. This post captures some key lessons learn Lesson Learned #1: BE KIND The simplest things are often the most profound - In an unscheduled conversation with one of the many 'normal' residents of the Ashrams - I picked up a gem. A short poem in Hindi which roughly translates as "Be Kind, Speak the truth, but don't speak the truth unkindly." For many years, I have thought that being right  (in my eyes) trumped being kind. Over the past few years, I have questioned this. Now, the deal is done. As a wise person said "today I bent the truth to be kind...I have no regrets...for I am...

A few days ago, a post by Puja Gupta on the touchy subject of death got my attention. Today, this came out….Not a fun topic, so please read on with that caveat.  I was talking to my wife’s cousin yesterday about the concept of death and how most of us are scared to discuss it. Yudhistra in the Mahabharatha is asked about the greatest miracle he has seen. His reply ‘death is certain for all of us,  but humans go around thinking it won’t happen to them.’ Yup, quite amazing how we have been socialized to disassociate with the topic of death. Some of you have heard me tell the story of the princess and the four boyfriends Well, today, I had yet another exposure to the main thesis of that story. I spent an hour at the crematorium this morning sitting quietly next to my friend who had lost his father. We did not talk for more than 30 minutes. Just sat next to each other. Words are so inadequate at times like these. This is my second trip this year to this place and for more reasons...

Three Treks So, earlier this month, went for three treks

29 Signs You’re Doing Just Fine (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It) By:  Marc Chernoff Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to keep things in perspective and deal with them. We all have days, weeks, months and – for some – even years of feeling anxious and uncertain. It’s a vague feeling you can’t quite put your finger on. From the outside, people think you have it all together, but they can’t see what’s going on in your head. Emptiness fills your thoughts and emotions all too often, nagging at you throughout the day. You set goals but they never satisfy your ego. You always feel a day late and a buck short. The search can seem almost endless. And a question continues to spin in your mind: “Why can’t I just be happy?” The good news is you don’t have to live like this. There is a better way to view the world that will lead to what you seek. The first step, though, is to stop searching. You will never find happiness by continually looking fo...

Sometime in 2011, I came across a book that had a huge impact on my life. "The only way out is within" written by Rohini Singh resonated strongly. I came across this book at a critical juncture of my life - when the past was inadequate and the future unclear. Oh, the classic cross roads (a.k.a the mid-life crisis).  The book helped me to understand my thoughts and emotions better and most importantly played a big role in setting me on a path of rejuvenation. I liked it so much that I probably have bought over 20 copies and have passed it on to others. Flipkart owes me big time!   A year or so ago, an idea occurred - maybe I can convert this book into a workshop. I tracked down the email address of the author and wrote to her. But, alas there was no response. Earlier this year, I decided to pursue this again and found another email address and wrote to her. This time a warm note came back! Hurrah!  So, last week, when I was in Delhi, I decided to track down Rohi...

They say that to get over your fear of falling when learning to cycle, one has to quickly get back on and try again. This note aims to capture my experience in relation to my visits to a bastion of Yoga in Bihar, India. In Dec 2011 and then almost two years later in Oct 2013, I spent some time at the Munger Ashram of the Bihar School of Yoga (BSY). In both the trips we had come during large events that were attended by many from across the world. Our small group from Chennai was lost in the sea of humanity at the Ashram – And I did not like the feeling…. The experiences in Munger were in stark contrast to the coziness in BSY’s other ashram in Rikhia. At Rikhia, particularly during my first trip, we were made to feel extra special and being the only guests at the Ashram gave us tremendous access to the wonderful people there who went the extra yard to make our visit very comfortable and memorable. Very quickly, most of us passed the judgment – We like Rikhia be...