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

Imagine one day that a cell in your body becomes self-conscious. He starts thinking, “What am I doing with my life? I am toiling for someone who barely knows what I do. What is in it for me? No, I won’t live like this anymore. I’ll do what I feel… Continue Reading Wisdom of the Gurus: Happiness Beyond Self

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

One evening Krishna and Uddhava went for a walk. Krishna, the avatar in Hindu mythology, joked the whole way with his childhood friend. Suddenly he stopped and said he was thirsty. Looking around, Uddhava spotted a huge mansion. He went in and asked the wealthy family for something to drink… Continue Reading A Blessing Disguised: How Suffering Clears the Path

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

A hungry fox wandered into a vineyard. He saw a bunch of ripe grapes hanging at a height. Without wasting time, he leaped for it. However, he couldn’t reach them. He tried again. And again. And again. But the bunch was too high for him. Turning away in disappointment, the… Continue Reading Why the Fox Was Right: A Lesson in Letting Go and Living an Ordinary Life

Imagine you are enjoying a serene hike through Europe. It is the peak of Autumn. You are living your dream. Suddenly, a thorn pierces your foot. You are in agonizing pain. What would you do? Obvious, isn’t it? Chop the leg off. Many physicians from the pre-prosthetic era would strongly… Continue Reading How to Win at Life: Just Delete Your Problems

I was bemused, even suspicious. Alien? Really? He looked like a human to me. But there was something in his actions—the way he sat too rigidly, the wild gestures while he spoke, and the precarious way he held the cup while drinking tea—that looked abnormal. Either he is nuts or… Continue Reading An Alien Walked into My Home…