Monthly Round Up on Self Discovery

As we start a brand new year in 2023, a lot of us set goals and resolutions and if we do some deeper inquiry, we find that at the fundamental level we are seekers. Seekers of understanding, experiences, interests and challenges. It may take different shapes or forms for different people, but we do share that common ground of self discovery. 

The os.me community is very rich in that we have so many incredible people who share their experiences and perspectives while embarking on a journey of growth and discovery. What makes it worthwhile is the engagement centers around kindness, truthfulness and compassion which creates such a conducive environment for everyone to learn and grow. 

In this monthly round up of the Self Discovery theme, I share a few of the thought provoking posts from our community members. 

Community Posts

The Blessings of Sri Ramakrishna by Ashutosh Om – While working in Kolkata for about a year, Ashutosh shares his experience of visiting Belur Math and spending time visiting shrines of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and meditating. Some experiences stay with us for a long time and we cherish those times. Ashutosh shares, “Almost every weekend, I followed the same routine of visiting Ramakrishna shrine and Swami Vivekananda temple at Belur Math, meditating on Swami ji’s shrine and coming back after attending the evening aarti of Sri Ramakrishna. This simple routine brought me so much joy and almost became addictive. During those times I heard the opium story, which Sri Ramakrishna used to say to his disciples that once someone tastes the opium of visiting the divine place, they simply cannot resist themselves. I laughed wholeheartedly on hearing this story as it felt so true.”

Chhota Recharge by Raghav Om – Raghav shares an insight about periodically recharging ourselves using the term “Chhota Recharge”. He shares his experience of visiting the Ashram with his family and feeling rejuvenated after the trip. He also talks about associating with fellow spiritual seekers and being able to help one another in our journey. This is such a simple and practical example of what we can do to stay positive and recharge our batteries so we stay on track. 

Unlearning is the new Learning by Niraj Chandra – Niraj shares a very interesting analogy of our life to electronic devices. “I have another Apple tablet with a lot of programs installed in it, and with thousands of pictures in its storage. This device runs very slowly, and it needs a lot of unlearning. When I do this, by deleting apps, downloads, and pictures, it runs better for a while. Then it slows down again as more things get installed and more storage space is used up. It’s a constant battle. We humans are very much like these devices. We have learned too much, we have too much knowledge, and we have installed too many apps in our brains.” I found myself in agreement with Niraj and think we definitely need to be mindful about use of electronics and technology.

Return of the Singer by Rashmi Om – Rashmi shares a wonderful story of Kumar Gandharva giving a brief summary of his childhood and career as a singer artist. It was very interesting to read his childhood prodigy, his approach to music and how he was quite unique in his style. It was fascinating to read where he drew inspiration from as Rashmi says ““Open the window, Bhanu. I want to listen to them.” Every day, some sadhus came begging for alms. The one-pointed sound of ektara marked their arrival. Their songs had captured Kumar’s imagination. How fearless were these Sadhus! Dressed in ochre robes, big terracotta earrings pierced into their ears, and tattered jholas swinging from their shoulders. They had renounced everything, yet their faces shone with fulfillment. What divine source had they tapped into? Truth resonated in their intrepid notes, as they sang the words of Kabir and Gorakshnath”. This is such a refreshing read especially if one is unfamiliar with Kumar Gandharva. 

Compelled at the Foothills of Arunachala by Soma Mohanty Garg – Soma shares her experience at Arunachala, the mountain where the renowned saint Ramana Maharshi spent his entire life. She shares her beautiful experience of being in the temple and participating in the singing and chanting and what she experienced. Recounting her experience of chanting the verses she says “Halfway through, I find tears forming. The wetness is not from any of the emotions I have felt before. My breath slows, and the sounds of the words recede and add a stillness that mingles with the flow and sounds of the word. A stillness as still as the mountain. The calm of the soft wool cloud that drifts without the winds.”  I found this experience very thought provoking because it’s a great story of just being able to live in the present moment and soaking in the experience.

Concluding Words

Self discovery isn’t feasible without challenges and challenging some of our assumptions and beliefs. Many years ago I read a book called Zero to One by Peter Thiel who is a very successful investor. He talks about the importance of asking one question that usually stumbles people but can tell a lot about someone. The question is along the lines,  “ What do you believe to be true that most people believe to be the opposite?”. Philosophically it’s not an easy question at all. What I’ve come to believe is to answer this, we need to be deeply in tune with ourselves to have that firm conviction. And that comes by embarking on a journey to explore and discover. 

That’s a question for you, what do you believe to be true that most others would think otherwise? Give it a try and see where it leads you. 

I have found that writing can be one of the most powerful tools on the path of self discovery because it forces us to think clearly. Modern day life is not the simplest and it becomes kind of a complex web in our mind. Writing in that way is decluttering the mind, just the same way we declutter our homes. If you are running out of ideas for resolutions in the new year, writing can be one of them 🙂 

A quote that I find inspirational from Rumi,  “Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth”.

I am super excited to see what our community members have to share in the new year, do follow me so you can get posted on the latest happenings on the Self Discovery theme.

Wishing 2023 to be an amazing year for everyone with lots of joy and adventure.