What Is My Duty?

Tackling one of the fundamental questions of life

48 Days And New Habits: The Promising Period Of Mandalam

In many cultures, the idea of Mandalam, which is a period of 48 days, holds significant importance. It is believed that to ensure a new habit is fully integrated into your system, one must practice the habit consistently for one Mandalam. This concept has been passed down through generations and is grounded in the belief that it takes 48 days for a new behaviour to become a natural part of one's routine.

'No' Is The New 'Yes': Learning To Be Firm On One's Decision

Perhaps no other word is associated with negativity as much as the word "No". It cancellation etc., all having strong negative connotations.

Patta Ajwain

In this article we discuss a multipurpose herb that can be used to do everything from adding flavour to Pakoras to making laundry smell better!

Avidya to Vidya: Unlearn to relearn

The Yoga Institute wanted us to contemplate on our Avidya. I was amused. I had pursued twenty years of formal education - my pride, which had secured me a very well-paying job back in 1996. Could I have Avidya at all?

Life Can Wait To Happen: When change is inevitable

Dawn is established only after the darkest hour of the night. A seemingly unending journey in the tunnel disappears as soon light is sighted at the end.

....and then it Happens! - The path to self-realization

My colleagues and I always had a Mquestion, or rather a confusion, in our minds. And we kept searching for answers for the first six months when we joined The Yoga Institute.

Aging Parent as Cost Centre - Returns on investment are hard to come by

Shravan Kumar carried his parents in a basket to every pilgrim site in India. This story, which forms part of the Ramayana, is told by every Indian parent to illustrate what a good child, or rather good son, is supposed to be. But reality is often the opposite. The Takkala Jataka tells the story of the Buddha who at a young age starts digging a grave for his parents, after he observes his father digging a grave for his grandparents, while they are still alive. Of course, the Jataka, like modern soap operas, blames the daughter-in-law for the cruelty of the son.

New Year - 2024: Reflecting on the old before embracing the new

The New Year is waiting in the wings, just about to be ushered in with a lot of fanfare and celebrations. It is another milestone in our lives, with the completion of one year and the beginning of another. Let us take a few moments to review the year gone by.

Svadhyaya - Using the Antarayas for our very own SWOT analysis

It is this time of the year again when we charged with the energy of the New Year jump into all kinds of resolutions regarding what we want to improve in our life. These are usually short-lived because we are either too ambitious and reaching for the stars in our goals or because we do not go about integrating them in a systematic manner.

Simple Rules for a Healthy Life

Start the New Year with these - When I joined the training at The Yoga Institute, way back in 1966, I was eating without knowledge and discrimination. Anything and everything would do until I heard a talk by Shri Yogendraji, the Founder of The Yoga Institute, \"All matter including nutrients, are in three stages of evolution. The calcium in the farm ground can be likened to inertia/Tamas; the calcium in the bones of an ox, likened to Rajas, and the same in the bones of a sage likened to Sattva.\"

When to Do Our Duty: How not to slip into Adharma

There are many stories in the Vedas, in the Upanishads and in the Puranas from which we learn that human beings have to do their duty. This concept of duty is a very strong one. We are told that while carrying out our duty, we should not have emotions like anger, hatred, worry or unhappiness within us.

Aishwarya - Striving for perfection

We will discuss a word that we possibly should know: Aishwarya i.e. perfection. This is one of the four aspects of our personality. We possess what is considered righteous conduct (Dharma), we possess knowledge (Jnana) and we can also give up things (Vairagya). And the fourth thing that we possess is the capacity for perfection.

The Power Of Digital Fasting: Disconnect To Reconnect

When less is more

How To Feel Inspired At 7am Every Day

Kick-starting your motivation

Banaras - "Kashi Ki Kahaani"

Where you never forget that life is ephemeral

Rising like a Phoenix

A metaphor for rebirth/rejuvenation

Shaping the Mud that Is Our Life

Pottery is a beautiful art form. It is an art of shaping earth with hands, on a rotating wheel.

Is Our Universe an Illusion or a Reality?

Looking through life's deceptions

Ego is the Forbidden Fruit

From ego to divinity

Nange Paanv - Barefoot

Heal yourself just by grounding

Becoming a Life-long Learner

Finding lessons and teachers in any situation

Looking for Yogis

What makes a true Yogi? From a Parisamvada by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra

Nine Forms Of Durga

How the nine nights of Navratri celebrate the Goddess in her entirety

Creating Happiness In Life

Distinguishing the real and the make-believe

Hing

In case you have been wondering what gives Indian food its attractive aroma, one of the key ingredients responsible is Hing (or 'Hingu') aka asafoetida. It is known to affect the nose quickly!

My Experience with Pranayama

As the breath, so is the mind

Compassion

Engaging in loving dialogue with yourself

Aparigraha

Letting go of hoarded things - with a little help from nature

My Tryst with Yoga

A fateful encounter with the first family of yoga