Living in the Present: A Vision or Just an Illusion???

 

We often hear that the present moment is all we truly have... But is that really true???

In the deeper understanding of life especially through the lens of karma and the Vedas; the present is not an isolated moment...
It is a bridge shaped by the past and forming the path to our future...

What the Vedas Teach Us

According to ancient Indian philosophy, life is not a single event: it’s a continuum...
Our present is not born out of randomness, but is a direct result of the karmas (actions) performed in our past lives…

Every joy and every sorrow we experience now is part of a cosmic settlement; what we owe, and what is owed to us…

The Present is Not Entirely Ours…

We like to believe we are in control of our lives…
But most of the time, we’re simply responding to karmic patterns unfolding through us…

We are born into certain families, face particular circumstances, experience specific heartbreaks or blessings; not by luck, but by design…

The moment we call “now” is already programmed by past karmas from this life or even several lifetimes before…

The freedom we think we have???

It lies in how we choose to respond…

Our Response: Writing the Future

Here lies the paradox:
Even though we’re living the consequences of our past, every reaction we offer now becomes a seed for our future…

Your anger, your forgiveness, your greed, your compassion; each one is recorded in the subtle book of karma…

We are constantly repaying old debts while simultaneously writing new ones…

This is why saints speak about awareness because how we act in this moment is not just a reaction…
It’s a creation…

The Infinite Balance of Karma

The soul travels through lifetimes; each life offering a chance to balance the karmic scales...

But this balancing act isn’t easy... Most of us, in reacting to the challenges of life, unknowingly add new baggage while trying to remove the old…

Very few the truly awakened, the spiritually surrendered break this loop…
They reach a state where karma no longer binds them…
This is moksha: liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth…

Accepting the Present Without Attachment

So, the present is not fully in our hands…
We don’t always choose what happens to us but we do choose how we walk through it…

If life brings you sorrow, perhaps you’re clearing an old karmic imprint…
Be grateful... One more layer has been peeled off…

If life offers you joy, don’t cling to it, use it with humility...
Your response to this moment is your contribution to the future…

Final Reflection

We are not just living a life…
We are fulfilling a journey that spans lifetimes…

So maybe the present isn't completely ours…
But our awareness, our choices, our grace; that is…

Live with understanding, respond with awareness, and walk with humility… that’s the only way to truly honour the moment we call “now”…

 

 

The Most Undesirable Time of the Day – Can You Guess???

 

We often talk about evolution - about how far we’ve come, the intelligence we’ve developed, the comforts we now have…

But have you ever paused and wondered… at what cost???

Let’s travel back in time to when our ancestors lived deep within the forest…
You’ve read about them... Haven’t you???
Those labelled as hunters and gatherers… But why exactly were they called that???

Agriculture wasn’t discovered yet, and life revolved around nature…

People relied completely on the forest for their food - fruits, vegetables, and wild animals... They didn’t hoard. They didn’t panic-buy... They lived as per their need…

Ø Men would go out in small groups of 8–10 people to hunt

Ø Women would gather edible vegetation

Ø Elder children took care of younger ones

And whatever they brought back, they shared - not just with their group but even with other bands if they had extra... Can you imagine that???

No competition for luxurious homes, no race for higher living standard as compare the people around you...
They lived simply - often near rivers, with plenty of water, fish, and nature’s blessings…

What Did They Truly Possess???

Today, we might pity them for having nothing...
But didn’t they actually have everything???

Ø They had love, care, and respect for each other

Ø They wore ornaments too - but not of gold or diamonds, just nature’s art: beads, shells, stones

Ø They had no fridges, no storage - so they shared their food before it spoiled

Isn’t that true wealth???

And yet… we often call them backward or uneducated...
We feel proud of our modern achievements, but... should we???

 How Far Have We Really Come???

Sure, we’ve progressed:

Ø  We invented agriculture

Ø  We learned to weave cloth

Ø  We discovered machines, electricity, even AI

Ø  We built rockets and reached the stars

We now wear precious stones, live in huge homes, eat from cuisines around the world…

But have we really evolved, or just drifted away from ourselves???

 The Cost of Advancement...

Most people today wake up not out of joy; but out of compulsion...

Think about it:

Ø  Do you wake up feeling alive or already burdened???

Ø  Are you excited about your day, or just counting hours to get through it???

Unlike before, we no longer live in cooperative groups.
Now, a handful control the millions… and we all have to constantly prove our worth in a society that never stops watching...

Morning is no longer peaceful...
It’s a reminder of duties we didn’t consciously choose, but now can't live without...

Why Do Mornings Feel So Heavy???

Have you noticed???
You feel more relaxed after your 8–10 hour shift than when you woke up in the morning…
Why???

Because at night, you know you have at least 10 hours before the next round of pressure begins…
Mornings are no longer fresh… They feel threatening...

What Do We Wake Up To Now???

Now when we rise, our first thoughts aren’t of birds chirping or rivers flowing…

Instead, we wonder:

Ø  What if I don’t get up; what will happen to my family???

Ø  How will I pay the bills, the loans, the school fees???

Ø  Which school or college will secure my child’s future???

Ø  What if I fall behind in this never-ending race???

This is what our mornings have become a battlefield we enter daily, just to survive in a society we’ve built around fear, not faith…

We may have conquered the skies… but in doing so, have we lost the earth beneath our feet???

So ask yourself today:
What is your morning waking you up to???
Duty or desire???
Fear or freedom???
Pretence or purpose???

Because maybe… just maybe…
The most undesirable time of day isn’t the morning itself; but what we’ve turned it into…

In a World Full of Ravanas, Can We Choose Acceptance Over Authority???

 

Have you ever wondered why we rely so heavily on others to accept us as we are???

Is it truly about love and prestige; or is it just ignorance???

We often become harsh judges of those around us, quick to form opinions, swift to criticize... But how often do we turn the mirror inward??? When was the last time you held yourself to the same scrutiny you offer the world???

We whisper to ourselves:

“There is no one like me...”

“This relationship only exists because of my effort…”

“I’ve done more, I care more, I deserve more…”

And just like that, the unseen battle begins…

A silent, ego-fueled war where everyone is trying to prove they are the supreme one... This struggle is no longer private, it’s grown... Its radius has widened to include everyone even remotely connected to us... We’re pulling people into our storms who never signed up for the chaos…

Where did the happiness go???

Greed, pride, and unchecked expectations have devoured it…

We read about Vibhishana “Ravana's brother” who helped Lord Ram kill his own kin, not for revenge, but because it was necessary. Ravan had to fall, for the world to heal…

But today???

Today, everyone sees themselves as a modern-day Vibhishana, casting others as Ravana mighty, flawed, and in need of defeat... Driven by ego and rage, they fight not to heal, but to destroy convinced they’re the savior, the chosen one to cleanse the world of wrongs…

Where is the peace in all this???

Why is happiness no longer a shared emotion, but a guarded secret???

Relationships are losing their fragrance... Instead of watering them with love and understanding, we drown them in comparison, control, and competition…

Family dinners have turned into therapy sessions…

Appointments with psychologists and psychiatrists now outnumber those with friends and family…

We don’t even share joy with those closest anymore because somewhere deep inside, we believe they won’t be happy for us… So, we look for love, validation, and acceptance outside… even from strangers we’ve just met…

Why can’t we pause?

Why can’t we see people as they are, rather than how we want them to be???

Our mind is as vast as the universe, and as efficient as a computer…

And just like a computer, it has two types of memory:

RAM - temporary memory, where things come and go...

ROM - permanent memory, where data is stored forever…

So why do we treat painful moments like ROM and beautiful memories like RAM???

Shouldn’t it be the other way around???

Let’s try to store joy, love, and forgiveness as our permanent data…

And erase bitterness, ego, and judgment as temporary glitches…

After all, humans are social beings; we cannot thrive in isolation…

So why are we swimming in loneliness and sleepless nights???

Maybe, just maybe, a little acceptance; and a little chosen ignorance, could save our sinking boats…

Let’s try to see people for who they are…

Let’s fight for our peace, not our pride…

Let’s accept more, judge less…

Let’s heal…

Because in the end, life isn’t about proving you're right...

it's about keeping the ones who make it worth living…

When I Got to Know Which Path I Need to Choose...

Have you ever sat down and asked yourself, Why did I do that??? Why did this happen???

I have, many times…

As a human being, I carry a baggage full of regrets… Often, I find myself reflecting: Was I the reason for someone's pain??? Could I have chosen a different path??? These thoughts used to drown me in sorrow and shame... I kept wondering, Where am I going with all this guilt???

Do you also start comparing your actions with others to justify your response???
I did. And like many of us, I clung to the ready-made answer: "Because they did this to me, so I responded accordingly..." But then I had to ask myself, Doesn’t that make me just like them???

If we simply react as others do, don't we lose our own essence???
What if we paused “just for a moment” and calculated the weight of the words spoken to us before reacting???
There’s a well-known technique: count backwards from 10 to 1 before responding... But have you ever tried that when your emotions are bursting???
I have... And let me tell you, it’s not easy... It was extremely difficult for me...

Because when I give someone importance, I place them above myself. And being emotional, I expect something in return…
But here's the harsh truth “Just because someone means a lot to you doesn't mean you mean the same to them…”
Have you ever experienced that imbalance in love or friendship, where one gives and the other just takes???

I didn’t understand this for years. I kept fighting for what I thought I deserved, until life gave me a cosmic jolt…

That’s when my inner journey began…
Are you someone who talks to themselves when alone???
I do... In fact, I love talking to myself endlessly… I question, debate, and conclude everything; all within…
Sleep rarely comes easily to me, and in those quiet hours, I think... a lot…
It’s like my mind goes into deep processing, and slowly, I’ve started awakening, bit by bit...

Could this be a form of meditation???
For me, it is…
I converse with myself, with my loved ones, and with God, all internally… And oddly enough, I’ve begun sensing what’s going on in others' minds too, because my connection with them runs deeper than just the physical…

Have you ever wondered why certain souls come into your life???
I used to. But I now understand “it’s all karmic”. Whatever is happening to me now is rooted in my past births…

Some people come into our lives briefly but leave lasting impressions on the soul... I questioned those connections too; Why this person??? Why now???
But as I began understanding the cosmic design, things started making sense… These are not coincidences; they are karmic debts being settled…

Have you ever felt disappointed when your love or effort wasn’t returned???
I have… But now I remind myself, maybe I’m supposed to give in this lifetime because I took too much in my previous one...

“It’s okay to not be okay.” What a powerful quote, right???

I’m working on myself. And let me tell you, it’s harder than it sounds…
It’s like a toddler learning to write, but with the existential question: Why am I writing???

Do you believe we face consequences only for what we intentionally do???
I hope God forgives the unintentional ones. But as I’ve come to understand that karma sees all.

Have you noticed how people, nearing 50, suddenly turn to prayer and the sacred river Ganga???
They’re trying to wash away their sins. But can external rituals really cleanse internal wounds???
I’m not so sure…
The real cleansing, I believe, lies in spirituality; in transforming your inner world…

Are you surrounded by people who pull you down???
Stay with those who help you grow; mentally and emotionally... Some people are in our lives due to family ties or past bonds… Treat them with compassion, even if they don't treat you the same…
Remember: they may simply be unaware; not yet touched by divine grace…

And if you can, be that light for someone else… Just as I found my way, help others find theirs…

God made us all out of love; like a parent who praises one child for goodness and scolds another for mistakes…
We’re all on our own journeys, guided by karma…

Do you believe in salvation??? in moksha???
If so, remember: every deed counts… Your bad karmas may not catch up with you in this life, but they’re stored for the next…

Be cautious… Be mindful…
What’s done is done, but we always have a chance to tip the scale with good deeds…

This is the path I’ve chosen; not easy, but mine…
What path are you choosing???

 

Preserving Relationships with Peace: A Journey Beyond Ego and Expectations...

Being human comes with a mixed bag of emotions: love, anxiety, anger, joy, fear and I have lived them all… 

So yes, I’m a perfectly normal human being with all the highs and lows that come with it… 😉😉

I’ve spent most of my life trying to be recognised, appreciated, and understood… Whether it was on the home front or in my professional life, I worked hard…

But what happens when your efforts don’t get the acknowledgment you think they deserve???
Have you ever felt like, no matter how much you do, it’s just not enough in the eyes of others???

I did. And I began to question: was it me or was it just the world???

Of course, I’ve had setbacks and heartbreaks… Many times I felt like I was falling behind, even when I was giving my all... And somewhere along the way, I started to believe I never received what I truly deserved…

But wait; who decides what we deserve???
Is it our own inflated sense of self???
Or is it the silent comparison we constantly make with others???

Let’s be honest don’t we all, at some point, think we are better than the people around us??? We notice what they lack, rarely pausing to acknowledge our own flaws... We expect appreciation, sometimes even false praise, just like we give children when we want to cheer them up; even when they’ve done nothing exceptional…

But do we truly deserve extraordinary recognition if we haven’t done anything extraordinary???

Reality check: most of the time, our dreams are grand, but our effort doesn’t match that intensity…

So yes, I began to question; was I really doing it all for others… or just to validate my own sense of worth???

I have many people around me; some by blood, others by bond. Some I talk to regularly, while others I’ve lost touch with… But do we really forget the people who once mattered???
Don’t we all occasionally think about those who helped us grow or even those who hurt us???

I do…

Some are no longer in this world. Some are far away and busy with their live…. And some… I simply don’t know where they are anymore… But I’ve learned from them all… They had a purpose in my life, and maybe I had one in theirs too…

Are you still holding on to relationships that once shaped you???
Or have you let them go with time and with peace?

I’ve realized that many relationships slip away not because they must end, but because of pride, ego, or strangely fear of losing them... Yes, sometimes, we try to control people because we love them too much...

But if you truly love someone, can you really hold them tight and expect them to stay???
Isn’t love about letting them be who they are even if that means setting them free???

“To love someone, set them free” such a beautiful truth… One that I didn’t understand earlier, but now I do…

We don’t need to do anything exceptional to be loved…
We just need to be our authentic selves…
Let others feel your energy, your presence and let them decide if they want you in their space…

So, I started preserving my relationships differently…

Now, when I see flaws in others, I pause. I no longer explode or react, especially not toward people who don’t even care…
Why waste energy proving your worth to someone who never valued it???

Are you doing good to be noticed???
Or are you doing it to keep your heart clean???

I’ve learned to be kind not for reciprocation, but for my own peace… I’ve started to listen more and react less… We are all walking through our karmic stories, and I believe the least we can do is not add more hurt…

Is it easy??? No…
Is it peaceful??? Absolutely…

So now, I choose silence when there’s disagreement… I choose distance when there’s negativity…
No more questions... No more drama…
Just me, them and whatever balance we can manage to hold…

Because maybe, just maybe… this is what healing really looks like…

 

When I Experienced Death in a Dream “Was It Just an Illusion or a Message from a Higher Spirit???

 

We all experience dreams at some point in our lives... Some vanish the moment we open our eyes, while others linger in the corners of our subconscious, refusing to fade… But have you ever wondered… why do some dreams stay with us??? Why do they haunt or heal us, long after we've woken up???

I often reflect on how dreams come to us, mostly when we’re in deep sleep... Is that why they sometimes don’t make sense? Like when we try to run, but can’t move... or when we’re falling endlessly from a cliff… or sitting in an exam hall unable to write a single word??? Have you ever had one of those??? I believe many of us have…

In my 48 years of life, I’ve rarely had the luxury of a sound sleep, so dreams don’t visit me often... But when they do, and when my subconscious is suddenly awakened, I try to capture them… I even attempt to go back to sleep, hoping to pick up where I left off… just to hold on to that moment a little longer…

One such dream became unforgettable…

I lost my best friend, Lata, 15 years ago... We shared a bond that’s hard to define… We shared our childhood together... The first five years of our lives were innocent and unconscious, but for the next twenty, we were soulmates... Our childhood wasn’t luxurious in terms of toys or luxurious things, but it was rich in warmth, laughter, and deep understanding…

Have you ever had a friend who just got you???

We grew up side by side, dreamt together, healed each other’s heartbreaks... We were both emotional fools in many ways, but she was the stronger one… I leaned on her strength, without even realizing how much…

Then came the dream after many years of losing her…

I saw myself as an old, brown, heavy woman lying on what seemed to be my deathbed... My family was around me, mourning silently as they knew my time had come... I wasn’t in pain... But I was flooded with emotions… I was leaving behind my sons and husband… the people I lived for…

And then, I took my last breath…

My soul, weightless like a snowflake, began rising. I felt light, free, and emotionless… I was soaring through clouds, wondering where I was going. Was I exploring the unknown??? Was this what liberation feels like???

Suddenly, I heard my name being called…

“Ritu!”

Who was it? I turned and saw Maya, Lata’s sister... She smiled and said, “Here you are! We’ve been waiting for you… come with me...”

What was she doing there??? Had I truly crossed over???

I followed her up a stunning staircase into a bold but old structure... And there… there was Lata. Sitting beside her father and brother; people who had all tragically passed away more than a decade ago… Yet they looked so alive... So content... So peaceful…

Her father greeted me just as he used to when he was alive: “Come, Ritu, here’s your cup of tea.”
How could my dream capture such exact moments??? Exact emotions???

There was a warm energy that pulled me in, and for a moment, I felt I belonged there…

And just like that… the dream ended…

For years, I believed this dream was a sign from God… A confirmation that Lata and her family were at peace… That I didn’t have to worry about them anymore…

But now, when I revisit that dream, I begin to wonder was it more than just a glimpse into the afterlife???

Why did I dream of her then??? Could it be that I was going through another rough patch and subconsciously reached out to her spirit???

Was my soul seeking her comfort again, like it used to when we were kids???

Everything in the dream matched the reality we once shared… Her father’s warm welcome… Her serene smile that always told me, “Everything will be alright.” Was it simply a projection of my own longing, or was it a divine encounter???

Sometimes, I feel that even in our subconscious, we’re more conscious than we think… Maybe dreams are our soul’s language... Maybe, just maybe, when the heart wishes deeply enough… even the universe listens…

Was it wish-fulfillment??? Was it divine connection??? Or was it something in between an illusion shaped by love and loss???

I still don’t know the answer. But I do know this, it felt real, and it gave me peace…

Have you ever had a dream that felt like more than just a dream???

Let your heart speak. I'd love to know your experience…

 Whatever it was, I’m in awe of what God has given us the ability to dream, to manifest, and sometimes… to meet the ones we’ve lost, if only for a fleeting moment.