I’d been looking for a good yoga teacher so it was really no surprise that a tall young Malayali walked up to me while I was walking past my apartment complex’s department store and said he’s a yoga teacher and available at a very reasonable rate in the comfort of my own home. It’s also … More Undead in my head

My throat is killing me these days. I’ve just not got over my cold and cough from Monday. And this is a rare occurrence now, so I’m sitting up and taking good notice. The first question I asked myself was: What is this throat ache and cough doing to me? Answer: It’s forcing me to … More Cough cough

One of the most significant things about my Buddhist practice is ‘giving guidance’ through home visits. A senior practitioner visits a new one, showing him or her how to chant, and some theories and principles about Buddhism to apply to daily life. It’s a direct transmission of the Buddha’s teachings, from one’s heart to another, … More Giving, giving, gone

It never fails to astonish me how different we all are, and yet how alike; how varied our life circumstances and challenges, and yet how similar. Here are a few case studies of people I’ve met recently or know intimately: 1. She’s 19, earns Rs 9000 a month while studying part-time, lives with unemployed parents … More Many many, same same

I really liked the song Dil toh bachcha hai ji when the Vidya Balan-starrer Ishqiya was released. I found it cute and would often hum along when it came on the radio: Dil toh bachcha hai ji. Haan, thoda kachcha hai ji. (The heart is just a child. Yes, it’s a bit unripe.) Today, though, … More Old and unripe

Today, I realised that I am a closet ‘clothes-folder’. I got an inkling of my ‘condition’ a few years ago when my niece, who was just beginning to talk then, pointed out to a bunch of folded clothes lying on a chair and said, “Bua.” Today, however, I realised how chronic my problem was. There … More The addiction

I read this news snippet today about a book by an Australian nurse, Bronnie Ware, called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. The article ends with a prompt to ask yourself, what would you regret if you died today? I asked myself that just now, and the answer that came was, “I regret not living … More My dying regret

On some days, a wave of pointlessness washes over me. It’s rare, for sure, because I am otherwise an optimistic person who chooses to see the positive side of all situations. But for the past few days, there’s an existentialist sense of, “What’s the whole point of this?” 1. Am I in the right profession? … More Looking into the future

Having interviewed various high-profile women in my jobs, today I had a sudden realisation that came with a wave of gratitude: How blessed am I that I was not born into a well-connected political or wealthy business family. Their life sounds so envious from the outside but here’s what they trade in for being who … More Goldilocks and good fortune

I hollered at my elder daughter this morning, barely a day after she got back from a week-long teen camp in the Himalayas. (When the kids aren’t here, I miss them like mad. When they are back, I am irritable about the slightest things, sigh.) I had issues about various things, and it all just came … More Effective communication for dummies

Every New Year, I end up making the same old resolutions – exercise more, eat healthier, get a promotion. But last year, prompted by an article I had read, I decided to create resolutions that would make me happy and not just stuff that I was supposed to. And so I added things like this … More Happy new resolutions

The flute said, I am merely a hollow piece of reed, with holes. I did not make the music. The wind said, I merely rush through the flute, going wherever passage permits. I did not make the music. The flautist said, I merely blow from one end of the flute, pressing its holes with learned … More Who made the music?

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough. – Meister Eckhart. The other day, I decided to adopt the Buddhist ‘attitude of gratitude’ and apply it to everything that came my way. I managed to get ready for work and leave home well in time. Thank you. I got three to … More Attitude of gratitude

This Karwa Chauth, as married women around me dressed up in bright saris, gold mangalsutras, red bangles and henna-decked hands, all I could think of was, “Thank God I don’t have to do that any more.” I kept that extreme starvation fast for ten years of my life, all through my twenties. And it used to … More Too fast for me