If only giving up desires was this easy

If only giving up desires was this easy

July 31, 20201 mins

The great sage Ramakrishna from a conversation on Aug 24, 1882: “Sometimes I used to assume a rajasic mood in order to practice renunciation. Once I had the desire to put on a gold-embroidered robe…

At the left hand of God

At the left hand of God

July 09, 20202 mins

But everyone can make a beginning. Things to do in the morning: 1) First, I remember that I’m going to die. This gives urgency to the way I will live that day. 2) Second, I spend 5 minutes in…

The asthmatic who went up a hill but came down a mountain

The asthmatic who went up a hill but came down a mountain

July 05, 20203 mins

“Hey V, are you carrying your inhaler? R is having an asthma attack further up the trail.” It was day #6 (of our 3-week trek from Uttarkashi to Yamunotri) and my first reminder that I was an asthmatic…

Tiny Habits, as explained by Goscinny & Uderzo

Tiny Habits, as explained by Goscinny & Uderzo

May 31, 20201 mins

If you’ve not heard about Dr. BJ Fogg or Tiny Habits, let me suggest this 800-word primer on the habit guru’s key principles. If you are struggling with an unambiguous definition of tiny, the masters…

Lockdownland – a documentary by BBC’s David Reid

Lockdownland – a documentary by BBC’s David Reid

May 24, 20201 mins

I first met David Reid (one-man-army BBC documentary maker) in late 2014. A meeting that started off with a cold call to the mGaadi call center with “Hey, you guys seem to be transforming auto…

In defense of idol worship

In defense of idol worship

May 02, 20201 mins

A source of controversy and a massive source of division between the major religions that believe in form/idol worship (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism) and those for whom it is anathema (Christianity…

Subhadra is a horse

Subhadra is a horse

May 01, 20202 mins

[Editor’s Note: My mother, a late adopter of the Internet, used to write the loveliest of letters to her children pre-Internet era. The letters stopped after I returned to India. In the past few years…

The well-grounded runner

The well-grounded runner

April 11, 20202 mins

Years ago, when I shared one of my posts on barefoot running (or cold showers) on Facebook, my friend Ramesh Pai shared this interesting anecdote: You’ll be amused to know about this Polish guy that…

On suppression vs dissipation of desire

On suppression vs dissipation of desire

April 04, 20201 mins

My Jiddu Krishnamurti friend painstakingly reminds me that desire suppression is very different from desire dissipation. Between the two, the latter is desirable (pun intended) because suppression…

Sebastian and Sons

Sebastian and Sons

February 01, 20202 mins

One man’s noise is another’s music. When I was listening to classic rock, alternative rock and metal, I could never fathom why people needed any other genre. Ok – maybe western classical had utility…