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Last week I confronted a friend about a communal post he shared on social media. I had always considered him kind and reasonable. I wondered how he could share such a post. “It was posted in my political group. I just shared it,” he said while calmly sipping his tea.… Continue Reading How to confront prejudice: A Gandhian lesson

They say travelling expands your horizons. But for me, a missed vacation did the same. Yes, I’ll tell you that story. Last week I planned a vacation. Taking a couple of days off from work, I got ready to travel to Idukki — a picturesque hill station in Kerala. I… Continue Reading Don’t Review the Movie too Early

AUM
I forgive my foes.
I forego my woes.
And forget the blows.
Shanti, shanti, shanti.”

Once, an English news reporter came to interview Rabindranath Tagore. The poet invited him in with great courtesy, and the interview began. Amid the pleasantries, the interviewer noticed something peculiar. He asked, “I’ve heard that you love flowers so much, but I don’t see any around.” Tagore walked to the… Continue Reading Let Love Breathe

Once a young man confronted Gandhi. He was fed up with the Gandhian ideologies of non-violence and moral uprightness. Questioning Gandhi’s stand, he gave a non-stop oratory on the effectiveness of armed revolution. Gandhi listened to him carefully. Then he asked, “Are you sincere?” “I am very sincere”, the young… Continue Reading The Age of Intolerance and How to Escape It

Isn’t life frustrating? The world seems like a boiling mess of problems. I feel overwhelmed—whether by a personal life haunted by relationship issues, health problems, and inherent fears; or professional life stuffed with high-octane stress, inhumane policies, and untenable deadlines; or social life trampled by the unscrupulous ruling class, demanding… Continue Reading On the Edge of Collapse and Awakening

Last week, I went on a long drive. The destination: a church far, far away. The event: the baptism of my cousin’s baby. I had an idea of the route. But as the winding roads of my land Kerala can surprise you with persistent traffic blocks, occasional road works, and… Continue Reading Rerouting: Lessons on Life from Google Maps

“No, not now!” I told Tobias. He whined. “You just ate. You can’t play now,” I tried to convince him. He became restless. “You can play in 15 minutes. Trust me.” That was it. He snapped and leapt at me. Finally, I had to confine him. Why can’t he understand… Continue Reading From Impatience to Peace: Why I’m Learning to Let Life Lead

How would you feel if one day your mind goes silent? I recently had such an experience.