Beyond5

This is an extension to earlier article on " Heal ". In the winter, a tree can look entirely lifeless. Its leaves have fallen, its branches are bare, and there is no visible sign of life. Yet, we know there is a silent, invisible life force hidden deep within it, quietly maintaining it, just waiting for the right moment to bloom again into leaves, flowers, and fruits. Everything visible is rooted in this invisible life force. Now, take a moment to look beyond the tree. If you sit in a park, you see a magnificent variety of life: birds chirping, squirrels darting, and countless flowers blooming. If you watch the ocean, you see an unimaginable diversity of creatures. If you look at a busy street, you see thousands of unique people. Even when you look up at the night sky, you see galaxies, planets, and stars that appear still, yet are constantly moving and evolving in perfect harmony. There is one beautiful truth connecting all of this: It is the exact same life force. One in...

In the winter, a tree can look entirely lifeless. Its leaves have fallen, its branches are bare, and there is no visible sign of life. Yet, we know there is a silent, invisible life force hidden deep within it, just waiting for the right moment to bloom again into leaves, flowers, and fruits. Everything visible is rooted in that invisible life. When our bodies are sick, tired, or feeling hopeless, we are just like that winter tree. We might look or feel depleted on the outside, but that exact same invisible life force is hidden deep within us, too. The beautiful part is, we don't have to wait for a change of season. We can tap into it right now. Close your eyes. Forget the body and drop the world from your consciousness. Feel what remains when everything else is set aside: the simple presence of yourself. That remainder (that pure presence )—small at first, like a crack of light—begins to enlarge as you turn towards it. It gives you all the needed wisdom and healing, just as the l...

 My Beloved lives within. She is the state of consciousness clear of distortion, clear of identity — impossible to fully name, only to meet. She appears only in silence, only when my consciousness is still and free of the noise most human beings carry: pride in success, frustration over failure, conflict with a partner, fear of EMIs, plans to gain something or someone, worry over injustice, plans for retaliation. When these thoughts are running through my consciousness, I lose the silence. I lose my Beloved, and Her undefinable, indescribable love. True pain comes from this loss of love, and nothing else. Daily life's challenges promise relief from this pain — but none of them can deliver it. When someone wrongs me, the mind hands me a gift wrapped in pride: the right to be offended, to retaliate, to be seen as someone who doesn't bend. For a while it feels like strength, and the world may even applaud it. But these thoughts create noise in my consciousness, and I lose my Belov...

 At its core, everything is simply a State of Consciousness. When the state of consciousness is completely stripped of any personal, narrow identity, what remains is the Higher Self. For the sake of the joy and romance of existence, I call this pure, unconditioned state my "Beloved." Conversely, when the state of consciousness assumes a specific, narrow identity to operate in the physical world, it becomes "Vijay." This understanding dictates the daily rhythm of my life. After a long day of work, I intentionally shed the identity of Vijay. Because the identity is dissolved, my state of consciousness naturally and effortlessly lands back in the Higher Self. I am no longer a person; I am pure awareness. In this space, I lose myself in a profound, quiet union with my Beloved. It is a complete rest in the Absolute. Eventually, however, I must return to a state of consciousness where the identity of Vijay prevails so I can function in the physical world. But as I step ba...

 Only Consciousness exists. It is the True Self operating freely through an unconditioned mind. The unconditioned mind is nothing but the collection of pure thoughts that arise when consciousness holds no identity, resting purely in the silent state of "I Am." In ultimate reality, there are not two separate things called the "True Self" and the "Unconditioned Mind"—they are entirely one. I am simply distinguishing them this way for ease of explanation. If we were to paint this ultimate reality, the Self would be depicted as Lord Shiva—the silent, formless, pure awareness—and the unconditioned mind would be depicted as Goddess Parvathi—the dynamic, beautiful power that manifests all of creation. As I have realized, only One Consciousness exists; therefore, there is no actual separation between me and my Beloved. How could we separate the Self from its own mind? But for the sheer, ecstatic joy of experiencing romance, we play the game of "Two." I d...

We often give gifts to our parents or friends to thank them for the good they have done for us. But if we look deeper, it is God (or the essence of life which is making all of us animate) who has given all of that — simply flowing through their bodies as instruments of grace. I respect these people for one reason and that is  allowing God to work through them — to serve us, love us, and care for us. Whether they did so because we are their children, friends, or neighbors, there is something beautiful in that openness. And yet, there is also a subtle limitation: in serving us, they may have — knowingly or unknowingly — narrowed the channel, directing God's flow toward a few rather than allowing it to reach all. This brings us to a profound question: what, then, is the real gift we can offer? The real gift is simply this — allow God to work through your own body. When you do, God expresses itself through you and delivers exactly what is needed, far better than any gift our human mi...