Spring of possibilities
Spring is always pregnant with possibilities. We worship Goddess Saraswati at this time to bring out the best in us.
Lessons in trying to save the world
Yesterday, I tried to save the world. Well, just a little bit. Having nurtured a considerable passion for a while about wanting to contribute to a better world, I signed up with great enthusiasm for an event to help with an initiative for the education of underprivileged children. It was a rewarding day both for…
The pressure to do what you love
Do what you love. We’ve all heard this advice and seriously contemplated it at some point or the other in our lives. Usually while we’re hunched at our office desks at 9 pm, eating a cold desk dinner or while reading stories about wildly successful people like Elon Musk doing exactly what they love or…
The most important reminder of all
Shuffling through the ‘to-do’s and ‘may-do’s, Letting some drop off the cluttered lists; Postponing smiles and laughter to the holidays, Squeezing contentment into corners, if it fits. ‘Why are we here?’ ‘What is the truth?’ We’d love to know, but maybe later. There’s so much to do today (and every day), We have problems right…
Nature and spirituality in South India
October is not a fallen month in South India. Unlike in temperate lands, there is no surrendering of the leaves first to non-verdant hues and eventually to the ground. The trees don’t avert their gaze like they do in Paris in autumn, embarrassed by their state of undress
Commercialisation of spirituality
Ever since the Beatles starting chanting Om and Madonna started doing yoga, eastern spirituality has been quite fashionable and has been becoming even more so in recent years. While it’s no doubt good that people are taking up positive spiritual practices like yoga-asanas, the commercialisation of spirituality is undesirable and even potentially dangerous. With the…
The social impact of Demonitisation – towards a more equal society
I don’t usually write on current affairs but seeing as this current hot topic in India holds the key for great transformation of the society and ultimately human lives, I thought it relevant to share some of my thoughts on it on this blog. For those who don’t know what ‘demonitisation’ I am referring to,…
The right basis for action – enhance or dissolve?
To achieve or not to achieve? Is that the question?
Empowering the feminine – a call from ancient times
On 2nd Novermber, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev gave a wonderful talk on ‘Empowering the feminine’ at an event organised by the Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO) in Delhi. It is a topic that’s close to my heart and I feel even more called to the cause after hearing Sadhguru speak about it. Firstly, it is important to…
Why business school grads are wired for misery: Part 2 (lesson from the Bhagvad Gita)
This is the second post in a series in which I explore certain spiritual lackings specifically in the business and corporate world but more generally in modern society, based on my own experiences. If you haven’t read the previous post, please do so here. In this post, I talk about the second reason why I think that…
Why business school grads are wired for misery: Part 1
This series of posts may seem controversial to some, but my intention is not to offend or deride business school grads, who I consider to be the wonderful achievers and doers of our society (after all I am one myself!) but instead to hopefully encourage them and importantly, the corporate world at large to introspect and gain a…
India travel: a lesson from Delhi’s streets
India is a land of contradictions. The new and ancient, the rich and poor and the beautiful and ugly are all tossed up together in a vibrant mix that sometimes makes you gasp in awe and sometimes cringe. After many years of living in Europe, I find myself viewing India with very different eyes when I…
An expat in Paris: top 3 loves and hates
You know you’ve been in Paris long enough when some or all of the following are true for you: 1. You mentally pronounce new words that you come across, in a French accent and this is a completely involuntary reflex; 2. You are addicted to bread and find it hard to have a meal without it; 3. You…
An expat in Paris: the best things in life are free
Ah Paris…The very word conjures up images of romantic walks by the Seine, magical views of the Eiffel tower, decadent designer wear and luxurious food and wine. As one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, there is no shortage of guide books and itineraries of every genre and flavour. But if you care…
Unhealthy work habits to let go of
The essence of spiritual teachings is to live in the present moment, to be in the ‘now’. But how can we apply that to the office, you may ask? Read on. The concept of mindfulness, usually described as a state of being conscious and aware of one’s environment, thoughts, actions and emotions, has been extensively studied in recent years,…