The Guru Within: My Path to Teaching and Learning

  Say India and say Swami Vivekananda! Both are same. He lived the life of an Indian, in its complete sense. He believed boys and girls at school and college have a sacred duty to perform for their nation; they must equip themselves to grow into awakened citizens. When he was a kid like you he respected and revered his mother. His love for his mother later translated as love towards his motherland when he grew older. He was as restless as a boy that his mother used to say – “I prayed to Shiva for a son, and Shiva has sent me one of His demons!” Narendra was fond of stories like you all do. He heard many stories from his mother’s lips on Indian mythology. He started to love the nation as a young kid. His love for the nation is driven by his high sense of duty, his ability to discriminate and enquire. He read about India and travelled across India to understand India better. He celebrated India wherever he travelled. I will try to recount what India meant to Swami Vivekananda...

When you speak of Gandhiji, you speak of someone whose influence has spanned across nations, cultures, and generations. Here’s what makes his legacy extraordinary: 1. Epitome of Character and Individual Transformation    When you speak of Gandhiji, you speak of someone who epitomizes what a person can achieve with sheer strength of character. He pioneered individual transformation, following in the footsteps of Swami Vivekananda, and became an example for anyone wishing to transform themselves—to grow and become better. 2. **Beginning from Scratch**      When you speak of Gandhiji, you speak of an individual who started from humble beginnings and showed that one can **start from scratch** and **learn from their mistakes**, demonstrating the importance of persistence and growth through personal failure. 3. **Non-Conformist by Nature**      When you speak of Gandhiji, you speak of a **non-conformist** who refused to accept the status quo a...

Parenting in today’s fast-paced world is undoubtedly challenging. While it may be easy to advise parents to improve their parenting or children to improve their behavior, the reality is far more complex. The mental and emotional struggles of life have become more demanding than ever. However, with intentional actions, humility, and patience, we can create a meaningful legacy for our children. We are blessed to bear the fruits of the virtuous deeds of our parents. Similarly, the good we do today—feeding the hungry, helping the helpless, offering donations, and serving others—will leave a lasting impact. Someday, our children will reflect on these values, in our presence or otherwise, and feel proud of the path we walked. They may choose to emulate those values, ensuring that our actions today pave the way for a brighter tomorrow. The Bhagavad Gita beautifully teaches us: "कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन" (Karmanyevadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana), which means, "You ...

In a recent teachers’ conference I attended, a teacher declared as if all her problems revolve around parents and parents alone. I do not understand where that comes from. Surprisingly, it seemed to be a popular opinion. It reminded me of a famous Mulla Nasrudin story.  A man is walking home late one night when he sees an anxious Mulla Nasrudin down on all fours, crawling on his hands and knees on the road, searching frantically under a streetlight for something on the ground. “Mulla, what have you lost?” the passer-by asks. “I am searching for my key,” Nasrudin says worriedly. “I’ll help you look,” the man says and joins Mulla Nasrudin in the search. Soon both men are down on their knees under the streetlight, looking for the lost key. After some time, the man asks Nasrudin, “Tell me Mulla, do you remember where exactly did you drop the key?” Nasrudin waves his arm back toward the darkness and says, “Over there, in my house. I lost the key inside my house…” Shocked and e...