Self Actualization : The Big Picture

"Self Actualization" - the word isn't magical.. but you are! The Self without 'I' is what we are going to deal with..

Self actualization otherwise called Awakening or Self-realization or Enlightenment is a simple realization that everything is as it should be, everything is utterly perfect as it is. That feeling...and you are suddenly at home. Nothing is being missed. You are part, an organic part of this tremendous, beautiful whole. You are relaxed in it, surrendered in it. You don´t exist separately – all separation has disappeared.

A great rejoicing happens, because with the ego disappearing there is no worry left, with the ego disappearing there is no anguish left, with the ego disappearing there is no possibility of death any more. This is what enlightenment is. It is the understanding that all is good, that all is beautiful – and it is beautiful as it is. Everything is in tremendous harmony, in accord.

What actually happens when you are Enlightened? Let's look at the big picture of self-actualization:

1. A deep need for growth within you is the beginning of self-actualization

2. It will get rid of all your sufferings

3. It helps you to take the whole responsibility of your life

4. It helps you to discriminate reality from apparent - to find the 'Absolute Truth'. This is to identify how reality actually works. How happiness, emotions, relations etc actually work. Not the way you think it should work.

5. You will get a glimpse of the the 'Absolute'

6. It will raise the quality of your consciousness

7. It will bring unconditional love within you - or you become unconditional love

8. It will bring Self-acceptance irrespective of any external identities

9. It will bring detachment - not attached to fruits of your action. But experience the being-ness in the present moment.

10. It will develop the capacity for observation - find out how your mind, emotions etc works

11. You will face harsh truths like facing death, boredom, emptiness.

12. It helps identifying your fear barriers (fear about loosing security, relationship etc..) and your characteristics defense mechanisms.

13. It raises your quality of motivation and desire (you loose desires like money, sex, success, fame, popularity, approval, getting loved from external sources, security etc)

14. You become a creator - a creator of your own!

15. You restore the ideas of Evil, Suffering and Ignorance

16. You approach everything with a holistic understanding

17. You don't use logic to run your life however use your intuition to run your life

18. You live beyond good and bad - deep rooted in transcendental morality

19. You remove all psychological blocks and undo all social conditioning.

20. You always approach life proactively and you become a visionary.

Here is a beautiful composition of Adi Sankara about self-actualization :

"mano buddhi ahankara chittani naaham

na cha shrotravjihve na cha ghraana netre

na cha vyoma bhumir na tejo na vaayuhu

chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

I am not the mind, the intellect, the ego or the memory,

I am not the ears, the skin, the nose or the eyes,

I am not space, not earth, not fire, water or wind,

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva…

na cha prana sangyo na vai pancha vayuhu

na va sapta dhatur na va pancha koshah

na vak pani-padam na chopastha payu

chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

I am not the breath, nor the five elements,

I am not matter, nor the 5 sheaths of consciousness

Nor am I the speech, the hands, or the feet,

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva…

na me dvesha ragau na me lobha mohau

na me vai mado naiva matsarya bhavaha

na dharmo na chartho na kamo na mokshaha

chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

There is no like or dislike in me, no greed or delusion,

I know not pride or jealousy,

I have no duty, no desire for wealth, lust or liberation,

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva…

na punyam na papam na saukhyam na duhkham

na mantro na tirtham na veda na yajnah

aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhokta

chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

No virtue or vice, no pleasure or pain,

I need no mantras, no pilgrimage, no scriptures or rituals,

I am not the experienced, nor the experience itself,

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva…

na me mrtyu shanka na mejati bhedaha

pita naiva me naiva mataa na janmaha

na bandhur na mitram gurur naiva shishyaha

chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

I have no fear of death, no caste or creed,

I have no father, no mother, for I was never born,

I am not a relative, nor a friend, nor a teacher nor a student,

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva…

aham nirvikalpo nirakara rupo

vibhut vatcha sarvatra sarvendriyanam

na cha sangatham naiva muktir na meyaha

chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

I am devoid of duality, my form is formlessness,

I exist everywhere, pervading all senses,

I am neither attached, neither free nor captive,

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva…"

Enlightenment simply means an experience of your consciousness unclouded by thoughts, emotions, sentiments. When the consciousness is totally empty, there is something like an explosion, an atomic explosion. Your whole insight becomes full of a light which has no source and no cause. And once it has happened, it remains. It never leaves you for a single moment; even when you are asleep, that light is inside. And after that moment you can see things in a totally different way. After that experience, there is no question in you..

Nature and Ecology: What India can teach us?

A few days ago World Environment Day was celebrated throughout the planet. All over the world people conducted many events to protect environment. Now the question is, are we really protecting our environment or protecting ourselves? I would say whatever we do for the environment today is neither service nor a great achievement; it is a matter of survival. It’s not the planet that is in danger today; we are! We almost forgot the fact that the entire humanity is just a tiny speck in this phenomenal universe. Ecology and humanity cannot be separated. Indian sages found this Truth in deep contemplation and mediation which enlightened the world!

India has got many famous thinkers, philosophers who have studied and made extensive research about how the ecosystem works and how we can live in-tune with nature. Sages like Valmiki, Vyasa, Bharadhwaja, Varahamihira etc are the most famous amongst them and their contributions are of immense value. Ancient Indian texts like Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas have taught many technologies to keep the ecological balance of the nature, not only for our survival but to live in the highest level of consciousness.

According to Indian thoughts five elements are the basis of all cosmic creation and we call it as ‘Pancha Bhoota’. Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Aether are the ‘Pancha Bhootas’. These elements have different characteristics and these also account for different faculties of human experience. From a microorganism to the most sophisticated human body, every living organism is made using these fundamental elements, arranged in a certain order. Indian philosophy suggests us not to pollute these five elements but to conserve them with utter care. The fundamental reason of any ailment is the mismanagement of 'Pancha Boothas', within and around us. The one who manages the five basic elements leads a healthy life!

Another important teaching of Indian Philosophy is “Aa Brahma Pipilika Paryantha” – means we need to view 'Brahma' and an Ant equally! It teaches us to provide equal importance to all the living beings and protect then as we are them. Vedanta says the universal consciousness is shining upon everything and you are neither independent nor disjoint from this universe, but tied together with the magical string of singularity. This directly contradicts with the western ‘human centric’ ideology where Human is considered as the supremo among all other creatures, which in fact is a destructive thought.

India has taught not philosophies, but 'Dharma' - the way of living. Mahabharata says “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma” – means non-violence is the topmost duty to the extent that it supersedes all other duties. In short don’t destroy anything! We should be respectful to all living creatures and avoid violence towards others.
Vedas talks about the importance of trees and teaches us how we can implement a balanced eco system by providing ideas to setup biodiversity hotspot like ‘kavu’ (a garden or grove), ‘kulam’ (pond) etc. A book named ‘Vrikshayurveda’ is an important scientific text which specifically talks about the importance of trees and tree planting. Trees are our closest relatives. What trees exhale, we inhale; what we exhale, they inhale. They are half our respiratory system. Have a look at one ‘sloka’ from Vrikshayurveda:

“Dasa Koopa Samo Vaapi
Dasa vaapi samo hridha:
Dasa hridha sama puthra
Dasa puthra samo druma”

{Ten wells are equal to one pond
Ten Ponds are equal to a backwater
Ten Backwaters equal to a Son
Ten Sons are equal to a Tree}

That much important a tree is!

Even while talking about our ancient culture I cannot forget the names of Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, Sundarlal Bahuguna and their contributions towards nature conservation. Gandhi once said “There is enough in the world for everyone’s need, but not for someone’s greed”.

Let’s sing the everlasting song which India taught us and decide to live in union with our ecosystem!

“Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu:”

[May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.]

Marijuana - My Thoughts

Well, these thoughts resulted from a conversation (maybe an argument) between me and my friend (who is a fan of 'joint'). I was totally ignorant about this subject while we were doing the conversation. But then I decided to do a small research and here are my observations...

The Goody goody…!

If you are healthy person..

It will increase your perception, creativity and finally gives you the "Bliss"!!! awww awesome! isn't it?!?!

However your body itself produces a THC like substance which can do the same! Heard of anandamide?!? And a thousand ways to increase this?!?

If you are an unhealthy person...

Wow it’s such a wonderful drug!! It can minimize inflammatory bowel diseases, Gonorrhea, Cancer, Glaucoma, awful pain, nausea, stress, helps your metabolism and many more...

Bad Ass...!

If you are healthy...

Putting both long & short term effects, It messes your balance, visual hallucinations, anxiety, depression, extreme variability of mood, paranoid reactions, and psychoses and many more… physical effects (only short term) include reddening of the eyes, dryness of the mouth and throat, moderate increase in the rapidity of the heartbeat, tightness of the chest, drowsiness, unsteadiness, and muscular in-coordination.

Chronic use does not establish physical dependence, nor does the regular user suffer extreme physical discomfort after withdrawal. However, the use is psychologically habituating!

If you are unhealthy...

An over dose does the same job as stated above...

You wanna get high? - In Comparison…!

Safer than alcohol…! (in long term, arguable in short term)

Better for your lungs than tobacco…! (in long term, arguable in short term)

Spirituality - beyond comparison…!!

"The Bliss"

Wanna increase your perception, creativity, thoughts and finally get that ‘Bliss’ ?

Choice is between Spirituality and Marijuana!

Spirituality for a common man? Arguable in 19th century, but no longer in 21st century as the percentage of people who can think for themselves has dramatically increased (of course you are among one)…!

Well the choice is yours!

I’m in to celebrate "4/20" - just for that “feel-good” effects and Yes! Govt should legalize it (exactly the way it is done in Colorado, USA - purely my own views )...

My Solitude and the mighty Himalayas

I recently did a solo trip to the mystic Himalayans mountains... I have made few videos about my trip and would like to share it here 😊

My little steps on the limitless universe...

My First Paragliding Experience!

My First Helicopter Ride

Solo travel taught me so many things...responsibility, love, patience, independence, compassion...it was an amazing experience...!

Because of my never-ending curiosity, I felt 14 days as 14 hours!

I would say I found myself in my solitude...!

It changes you radically...

Guys, go solo, at least once in your life and you won't regret...

"Travelling alone is the single best gift you can give yourself"

I'm just uploading my travel plan below..might be helpful to someone who's planning a similar one..                                                     

Solo Trip - The Plan

My lineage

On a spring I had sex with myself

Maternity lasted until winter

A son was born to me on the start of winter

I named him 'Solivagant'


He was a free spirit

He spend his adolescence on the shores of Hooghly

He grew up with Kali and Tagore

On his manhood, he fallen in love with himself 


He got married to his own femininity

Sri Ramakrishna and St.Paul blessed the newly married 

A baby girl was born to them

And they named her 'Curiosity' 


Curiosity grew up on the laps of Himalayas 

She wandered to find herself on the mystic mountain 

During her journey, she unveiled a truth

She said "existential loneliness is a mere illusion",

"Creator Creation and the substance of creation are same!"

She died right after this...but was reborn...


But the truth is she is neither born nor does she die...!