Girish's Blog

  Photo Credit: Pinterest Witness Consciousness Witnessing consciousness is the essence of spiritual awakening. It is the state where one becomes introversive, turning inward through meditation under the guidance of a realised Master. The journey begins with simple introspection, looking within and asking: “Who am I?” At first, the answers are clouded by the mind - by the name, the family, the education, the job, the wealth, the relationships. These are the layers of ego that have been built up since birth. But as meditation deepens, these layers begin to peel away, and the soul starts to shine with clarity. The process of recognising one’s true nature is gradual yet profound. In the beginning, we are identified with body consciousness. We think we are the body, defined by its appearance, its health, its pleasures and pains. But through meditation, we begin to see that the body is only a vessel, a temporary form. Beyond the body lies the mind, and beyond the mind lies the soul. As ...

  Photo Credit: Pinterest The Nature of Reality We live in a world that dazzles us with appearances. From the moment of birth, the newborn is welcomed into the family with a name. That name, though seemingly innocent, becomes the seed of identity. It is the first veil of maya -  illusion - that begins to cover the pure consciousness of the soul. The name gives rise to ego: “I am so‑and‑so, belonging to this family, born in this city.” As the child grows, more layers of identity are added - education, job, salary, wealth, possessions, achievements. Each layer strengthens the illusion, and the journey in the world of maya commences. What was once pure awareness becomes entangled in the web of ego. Ego thrives on comparison and separation. It says, “I am different from you. I am better, richer, smarter.” This sense of separateness is the root of suffering. The mind, acting as the culprit, keeps boosting these illusions through real‑life experiences. Success inflates the ego,...

  Photo Credit: Pinterest Reality is Simple Life, as we commonly experience it, appears complicated. There are ups and downs, joys and sorrows, successes and failures. The material world is filled with issues - family responsibilities, work pressures, love and hate, ambition and desire, jealousy and competition. We spend much of our time entangled in these experiences, believing them to be reality. But is this truly reality in the spiritual sense? The spiritual perspective reveals something deeper: reality is simple. The complexities of the material world are like waves on the surface of the ocean. They rise and fall, but beneath them lies the still, vast water. Similarly, beneath the noise of worldly experiences lies the quiet truth of our being. Meditation is the doorway to this truth. Under the guidance of a living realised Master, such as Himalayan Master Shree Shivkrupanand Swamiji, we discover that reality is not the chaos of the mind but the silence of the soul. Swamij...

  Photo Credit: Pinterest Loneliness and Solitude Loneliness and solitude are often confused, yet they are worlds apart in their essence. Loneliness is a state of lack, while solitude is a state of fullness. Loneliness arises when we feel left out, unwanted, or unloved. It is the painful sense that no one needs us, no one cares, and we are alone in a world that seems indifferent. This feeling comes from seeking external support that does not arrive, leaving us empty and restless. Solitude, however, is entirely different. Solitude is not about being abandoned - it is about being complete in oneself. In solitude, we are happy with our own company. Nature becomes our companion, and we find peace in the quiet presence of trees, rivers, mountains, and skies. In solitude, we are not lonely; we are at ease with our own nature. The journey of solitude is introversive. It turns us inward, where we discover the infinite possibilities that exist within the self. In solitude, we begin to...

  Photo Credit: Pinterest Desirelessness is the Ultimate Achievement Human life is often driven by desires - small or great, subtle or intense. Desire is the seed of restlessness. When desires are unfulfilled, they create frustration; when fulfilled, they create attachment and greed for more. In both cases, the mind remains disturbed. True spiritual progress begins when one recognises that desirelessness is not a loss, but the highest gain. When desires fade, fears too begin to dissolve. Fear is nothing but the shadow of desire - fear of losing what we have, or not attaining what we want. As desires weaken, the wild thoughts that arise from them also subside. The mind, once turbulent, gradually becomes quiet. And in that quietness, bliss naturally arises. Bliss is not something to be achieved; it is our natural state. It is always present, but hidden beneath layers of desire and fear. Disease itself is nothing but the disappearance of our natural ease. The word “dis-ease” poi...

  Photo Credit : Facebook Life is an Illusion Life, as we perceive it, is not the ultimate reality - it is an illusion. We are born not merely to live and enjoy, but to repay karmic debts carried forward from past births. This repayment is subtle, woven into the circumstances of our lives, the relationships we form, and the challenges we face. In the earliest years of childhood, until the age of four or five, many children carry faint memories of why they came into this world. They live closer to their soul’s truth, untouched by identity. But once society gives us a name, the ego awakens. With identity comes separation, and with separation comes illusion. From that moment, layers of conditioning begin to form. We connect with family, friends, education, work, desires, and emotions. Each connection adds another layer of illusion, covering the soul’s purity. Slowly, the soul becomes masked, and we forget our true purpose. Life then becomes a play of desires and fears, a constant iden...

  Photo Credit: Lemon8 Handling Confusion on the Spiritual Path Confusion is a natural part of the spiritual journey. When seekers begin to walk inward, they often encounter doubts, illusions, and conflicting experiences. The mind, conditioned by culture, upbringing, and personal tendencies, projects images - sometimes of gods, sometimes of demons. But these visions are not reality. They are reflections of our conditioning, shaped by whether we are optimistic or pessimistic, by what we have been exposed to. The spiritual process is not about replacing one hallucination with another. It is not about giving up worldly illusions only to embrace spiritual ones. True spirituality is about giving up hallucination altogether and learning to live with reality just as it is. The effort is about truth. And truth means existential - it is what is , not what the mind makes up. Reality is simple: you are here, right now. You do not know why you are here, where you came from, or where you ...

  Photo Credit: QuoteFancy Mind Disappears, the Self Remains In the luminous fabric of consciousness, there exists a constant undercurrent of unrest, a subtle dissonance that often manifests as anger, frustration, fear, despair, and jealousy. These potent emotions, often overwhelming, seem to dictate our reactions and colour our perception of reality. We find ourselves caught in their grip, tossed and turned by their tumultuous waves, often feeling helpless in their wake. But what if these powerful forces weren't inherent truths, but rather elaborate productions of something within us that we haven't fully understood or mastered? What if they were, in essence, the fleeting creations of a mind not fully under our command? Consider the nature of anger. It flares up, blinds us to reason, and leaves a trail of regret. Frustration builds, a constant hum of dissatisfaction. Fear paralyses, holding us captive to imagined futures. Despair hollows us out, while jealousy gnaws at our...

  Photo Credit: Pinterest Consciousness is Always Within Consciousness, or Shivam , is not something external. It is not hidden in temples, scriptures, or distant places. It is always within us, silently present, yet most of us fail to realise it. We search outside, forgetting that the essence of Shiva resides in our own being. To realize this truth, we must understand that we carry our Shiva wherever we go. He is not separate from us. He is the very consciousness that animates our life. Meditation does not create consciousness - it simply makes us aware of what is already present. When we meditate, fixing our attention in the Bhrumadhya (the space between the eyebrows) or in the Hridaya (the heart center), and contemplate the linga - the symbol of Shiva - we begin to experience consciousness directly. The linga is not merely a stone or symbol; it is a reminder of the formless, eternal energy that dwells within us. One profound advantage of meditating on the Hridaya is th...

  Photo Credit: QuoteFancy How Do We Measure Success Spiritually? In the material world, success is often measured in terms of money, possessions, and social status. Our current education system, shaped by materialistic values, has become rotten in this regard—it teaches us to equate success with wealth and external achievements. But is this the true measure of success? Many of us find ourselves doing things against our natural grain, simply because they are more remunerative. We choose careers, tasks, and lifestyles not because we love them, but because they promise financial rewards. This creates inner conflict, stress, and dissatisfaction. True success cannot be measured by how much we earn, but by how aligned we are with our inner being. Spiritual success is measured differently. It is not about accumulation but about transformation. It is not about wealth but about awareness. Through meditation, we learn to live in the present moment. We discover that success is not exte...

  Photo Credit: kr.pinterest.com Totality is the Doorway to Awareness Most of us live fragmented lives. We divide our existence into compartments—work, relationships, emotions, spirituality—and rarely give ourselves fully to any one moment. We laugh half-heartedly, we love with conditions, we work mechanically, and even when angry, we hold back. This fragmented way of living keeps us shallow, disconnected, and restless. The secret of awareness lies in totality. Whatever is happening—laughter, work, love, even anger—be total. When you are total, the “doer” disappears. Suddenly, life feels alive, rich, and whole. In totality, nothing needs fixing. All that is needed is your presence. When you laugh totally, there is no observer inside judging the laughter. When you love totally, there is no calculation, no fear of loss. When you work totally, there is no burden, only flow. Even anger, when expressed totally with awareness, becomes cleansing rather than destructive. Totality tra...

Photo Credit: Pinterest   We Are Afraid of Being Simple Human beings often complicate life unnecessarily. We love complexities, we love to be entangled in relationships, and we expose ourselves to all kinds of experiences. Yet, deep within, we are afraid of being simple. Simplicity feels too bare, too vulnerable, and we worry: What will people think? This fear of others’ opinions keeps us trapped in layers of artificiality. The more complicated we appear, the more intellectual we think we are. Society often equates complexity with intelligence, and simplicity with naivety. But this is a misunderstanding. True wisdom lies in simplicity. To be simple is to be in tune with oneself, with nature, and with the rhythm of existence. Simplicity is not weakness - it is strength. It is the courage to live authentically, without masks. Why are we afraid of being simple? Because simplicity strips away pretences. It reveals our true self, and we fear that others may judge us. We live in c...

  Photo Credit: Pinterest The Four Gatekeepers to the Realm of Freedom The journey toward ultimate liberation, often described as the realm of infinite freedom or Moksha , is not a random occurrence but a systematic unfolding of the soul's potential. In the profound wisdom of Himalayan Samarpan Meditation, as taught by His Holiness Shivkrupanand Swamiji, this path is made accessible to the modern seeker through the grace of the Guru-energies. Ancient spiritual texts speak of four essential gatekeepers that stand at the entrance to this realm of freedom: Shanti (quietness of mind), Vichara (spiritually-oriented enquiry), Santosha (contentment), and Satsanga (the company of the truth). While these may seem like daunting virtues to cultivate in the chaos of the material world, Swamiji reveals that through the simple act of complete and unconditional surrender, these gatekeepers become our allies, ushering us into the deep silence of the Source. The first gatekeeper is Shanti, ...