Authored six books on happiness: Cultivating Happiness, Nirvana – The Highest Happiness, Meditate Like the Buddha, Mission Happiness, A Flourishing Life, and The Little Book of Happiness. He served in a bank for thirty-five years and has been propagating happiness and well-being among people for the past twenty years. He is on a mission – Mission Happiness!
🍁 The Way the Buddha and His Disciples Sustained Themselves 🍁
🌼Blameless food, compassionate living🌼
To understand the Buddha’s way of life, one must see how simply and blamelessly he and his disciples sustained themselves. Dependent on the kindness of householders, yet never a cause for harm, they lived in quiet dignity — receiving what was freely given, and teaching by their very conduct the spirit of compassion.
A bhikkhu lives in dependence upon a village or town, radiating goodwill, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity to the entire world. In the early morning, he walks silently on alms round, carrying only his bowl and robe. He accepts, with gratitude, whatever is offered. His duty is not to demand, not to choose, but simply to sustain himself with food that is blameless and permissible.
In this way, the Buddha and his disciples lived — sustained by compassion, dependent on the kindness of householders, and careful always not to encourage harm to living beings.
The Buddha never sanctioned the killing of any creature for his sake, nor did he partake of food that carried the shadow of violence committed on his behalf.
He himself laid down a compassionate guideline:
🌿Meat should not be eaten if it is seen, heard, or suspected that the animal was killed specifically for oneself.
🌿Meat may be eaten if it is not seen, not heard, and not suspected that the animal was killed for one’s sake.
And he further emphasised: “If anyone slaughters a living being for the Tathāgata or his disciple, he lays up much demerit.”
A Pathway to Authentic Happiness, Well-Being & A Fulfilling Life! We teach skills to lead a healthy, happy and meaningful life.
The Science of Happiness (Positive Psychology), Meditation, Yoga, Spirituality and Laughter Yoga. We conduct talks, seminars, workshops, retreats and training.
Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra, known for his wit and wisdom, is a prolific writer, renowned satirist, children’s literature author, and poet. He has undertaken the monumental task of writing, editing, and coordinating a total of 55 books for the Telangana government at the primary school, college, and university levels. His editorial endeavors also include online editions of works by Acharya Ramchandra Shukla.
As a celebrated satirist, Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra has carved a niche for himself, with over eight million viewers, readers, and listeners tuning in to his literary musings on the demise of a teacher on the Sahitya AajTak channel. His contributions have earned him prestigious accolades such as the Telangana Hindi Academy’s Shreshtha Navyuva Rachnakaar Samman in 2021, presented by the honorable Chief Minister of Telangana, Mr. Chandrashekhar Rao. He has also been honored with the Vyangya Yatra Ravindranath Tyagi Stairway Award and the Sahitya Srijan Samman, alongside recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various other esteemed institutions.
Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra’s journey is not merely one of literary accomplishments but also a testament to his unwavering dedication, creativity, and profound impact on society. His story inspires us to strive for excellence, to use our talents for the betterment of others, and to leave an indelible mark on the world.
Some precious moments of life
Honoured with ‘Shrestha Navayuvva Rachnakar Samman’ by former Chief Minister of Telangana Government, Shri K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
Honoured with Oscar, Grammy, Jnanpith, Sahitya Akademi, Dadasaheb Phalke, Padma Bhushan and many other awards by the most revered Gulzar sahab (Sampurn Singh Kalra), the lighthouse of the world of literature and cinema, during the Sahitya Suman Samman held in Mumbai.
Meeting the famous litterateur Shri Vinod Kumar Shukla Ji, honoured with Jnanpith Award.
Got the privilege of meeting Mr. Perfectionist of Bollywood, actor Aamir Khan.
Meeting the powerful actor Vicky Kaushal on the occasion of being honoured by Vishva Katha Rangmanch.
Today we present his satire Courtship License of ‘Dating’.
☆ Witful Warmth# 59 ☆
☆ Satire ☆ Courtship License of ‘Dating’… ☆ Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra ‘Uratript’ ☆
It is a melancholy and universally acknowledged truth that our great nation is presently afflicted by a most grievous and perplexing social ill. I speak not of famine, nor of plague, nor of the endless and sanguinary conflicts across the seas, but of a far more insidious and subtle affliction that has seized the very marrow of our youthful population: the deplorable and utterly unproductive state of modern courtship.
For it hath been observed by all who are not blinded by a sentimentalist’s fog that the male youth of our realm, from the age of sixteen to a full three and twenty, are squandering the most fertile years of their lives in a manner so profligate and inefficient as to border upon national treason. They are ensnared in a web of digital pleasantries and fleeting interactions, a ceaseless and unavailing expenditure of both time and spirit, from which they derive no lasting benefit, and which, worse still, leaves them utterly unfit for the more rigorous and necessary duties of commerce and industry.
The cause of this lamentable state is readily identified, and it is with a heavy heart that I must place the blame squarely upon a new and peculiar species of the female gender, whom our society hath, in its modern jargon, denominated the ‘Gen-Z Girl’. This creature is of a constitution heretofore unseen in the annals of human relations: capricious, enigmatic, and possessed of a mind so given to novelties and fleeting fancies that to secure her interest for a period exceeding a fortnight is an undertaking of such Herculean proportions as to beggar the imagination.
She is, by nature and nurture, a mistress of the most baffling and esoteric forms of communication, whereby she may, through a single and ambiguous pictogram, convey a multitude of contradictory sentiments. The wretched suitor, in a state of perpetual confusion, is thereby rendered impotent to ascertain her true disposition, and is forced to resort to an endless and exhausting series of digital missives, each one composed with an anxious and feverish deliberation that would be better applied to the composition of state documents or the calculation of celestial mechanics. It is, furthermore, a common and disheartening occurrence for a gentleman to invest a full month’s worth of emotional and conversational labour, and even a considerable sum in the form of fine dining and theatrical amusements, only to find himself summarily ‘ghosted,’ a term which, though vulgar, aptly describes the sudden and inexplicable disappearance of the female subject, leaving no trace but a hollow echo in the digital ether.
Having given due consideration to this deplorable state of affairs, and having, over a period of some months, consulted with eminent sociologists, moral philosophers, and even several reputable professors of Applied Mathematics, I have at last devised a scheme so exquisitely simple in its design, and so universally beneficial in its effect, as to promise a complete and lasting remedy to this national calamity. My proposal is this: that we establish a national, state-regulated system for the management of courtship, reducing all interpersonal dealings to a series of quantifiable and strictly enforced commercial transactions.
To wit, let every male youth, upon reaching the age of majority, be issued a Courtship License, much in the manner of a permit for a firearm. This license shall contain his full particulars, and shall be linked to a national digital ledger. The Gen-Z girl, in turn, shall be issued a ‘Social Credit’ account, which may only be augmented by the successful completion of a courtship. The terms of engagement shall be clearly delineated by a central Bureau of Interpersonal Commerce, and all initial communications shall be restricted to a single, standardised digital protocol, devoid of all superfluous pleasantries and ambiguous pictograms. A suitor may, for a fee, initiate a conversation, and the Gen-Z girl is thereby obligated to respond within the space of three hours with either a direct rejection or an unequivocal invitation to proceed.
The ‘talking stage,’ that most dreadful and unproductive purgatory, shall be abolished forthwith. It shall be replaced with a series of tiered, contractual obligations. For example, a suitor may purchase the right to a twenty-minute, in-person conversation for a pre-determined sum, a portion of which shall be deposited directly into the Gen-Z girl’s Social Credit account. If the conversation proceeds with due diligence, he may then, for an escalated fee, secure a second, more lengthy engagement, and so forth. In this manner, all parties shall be assured of the sincerity of their counterparts, and the wasteful expenditure of time upon the indecisive or the frivolous shall be utterly eliminated.
The benefits of this scheme are manifold. Firstly, it shall provide a much-needed and dependable source of income for the female population, thereby reducing their reliance upon the precarious and often meager allowances of their parents, and stimulating the national economy with a constant flow of new capital. Secondly, it shall instill in the male youth a proper sense of the value of their time, compelling them to pursue their romantic interests with a purposeful and commercial vigour, rather than allowing them to languish in a state of idle and unprofitable communication. Thirdly, it shall, with the same stroke, encourage the Gen-Z girl to be more discerning and less whimsical in her dealings, for every successful transaction will add to her social credit and, by extension, to her eligibility for a more profitable match. The most efficient and productive of these young ladies shall be granted a premium license, allowing them to charge a higher rate for their time, and thereby ensuring that the most desirable and economically sound matches are made with the utmost expediency.
I am not unmindful that some sentimental souls, of a type who would weep over a lost kitten but show no such compassion for the plight of a nation’s youth, will object to this proposal as being a cruel and materialistic reduction of the sacred art of human love. To these tender-hearted critics, I would reply that their objections are founded upon a false and antiquated notion of courtship. For what is the current system but a game of chance played with loaded dice, a ruinous lottery in which the most worthy suitor may be passed over in favour of a fellow with a more impressive collection of digital images or a cleverer use of a fleeting internet phrase? My scheme, to the contrary, is founded upon the most sound and rational principles of commerce and utility, whereby all parties may enter into a transaction with a clear understanding of its terms and a realistic expectation of its outcome. It is, I submit, the most humane and compassionate system yet devised, for it puts a swift and merciful end to the protracted emotional suffering that is the inevitable result of the current system of irrational and unmanaged courtship.
Let us be honest with ourselves. The Gen-Z girl, with her peculiar habits and her bewildering lexicon of emojis and acronyms, has unwittingly created a social crisis of the first order. She has, through her very nature, rendered the traditional methods of courtship obsolete and ruinous. My proposal is not to change her nature—for that would be a task for a divine power—but to provide a framework within which her peculiar habits may be rendered productive and, dare I say it, profitable for all. This is not a proposal for the sale of sentiment, but for the efficient management of a vital social function, and thereby the restoration of order and purpose to a generation lost in a fog of digital confusion and emotional indolence.
This scheme, though simple in its conception, is of such profound and universal benefit that I would wager my last penny upon its success. I have no personal motive in this matter, for I am a man well past the age of such frivolous pursuits. I offer this proposal not for my own gain, but out of a deep and abiding love for my country, and a profound desire to see its youth freed from the shackles of a system that is, at its heart, a calamitous waste of time, money, and human potential. Let us not dither while our young men and women fritter away their most valuable years; let us act with reason and resolve, and in doing so, secure the future prosperity of our great nation.
(ई-अभिव्यक्ति के “दस्तावेज़” श्रृंखला के माध्यम से पुरानी अमूल्य और ऐतिहासिक यादें सहेजने का प्रयास है। श्री जगत सिंह बिष्ट जी (Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator, and Speaker) के शब्दों में “वर्तमान तो किसी न किसी रूप में इंटरनेट पर दर्ज हो रहा है। लेकिन कुछ पहले की बातें, माता पिता, दादा दादी, नाना नानी, उनके जीवनकाल से जुड़ी बातें धीमे धीमे लुप्त और विस्मृत होती जा रही हैं। इनका दस्तावेज़ समय रहते तैयार करने का दायित्व हमारा है। हमारी पीढ़ी यह कर सकती है। फिर किसी को कुछ पता नहीं होगा। सब कुछ भूल जाएंगे।”
दस्तावेज़ में ऐसी ऐतिहासिक दास्तानों को स्थान देने में आप सभी का सहयोग अपेक्षित है। इस शृंखला की अगली कड़ी में प्रस्तुत है श्री जगत सिंह बिष्ट जी का एक ऐतिहासिक दस्तावेज़ “🇮🇳स्वतंत्रता दिवस : अतीत से वर्तमान तक🇮🇳”।)
☆ दस्तावेज़ # ३६ – 🇮🇳स्वतंत्रता दिवस : अतीत से वर्तमान तक🇮🇳☆ श्री जगत सिंह बिष्ट ☆
🔸हमारी विरासत और गौरव🔸
भारत कोई साधारण भूमि नहीं है। यह सभ्यता के प्रारम्भ से ही ज्ञान, संस्कृति और आध्यात्मिकता की जन्मभूमि रहा है। इसकी नदियाँ, पर्वत और खेत केवल भौगोलिक विस्तार नहीं, बल्कि हमारी पहचान और हमारी चेतना का हिस्सा हैं। भारत ने कभी किसी पर आक्रमण नहीं किया, बल्कि हमेशा शांति और सौहार्द का मार्ग अपनाया। किंतु इसकी समृद्धि और धरोहर ने समय-समय पर बाहरी आक्रांताओं को आकर्षित किया। फारस, यूनान, तुर्क और मंगोल—सब यहाँ आए और अपनी छाप छोड़ गए।
🔸परतंत्रता के अंधकारमय वर्ष🔸
हाल के चार सौ वर्षों में, मुग़लों और अंग्रेज़ों की दासता ने हमारी आत्मा को गहरी चोट पहुँचाई। अत्याचार, अपमान और संसाधनों की लूट—यही उस कालखंड की पहचान थी। विशेषकर अंग्रेज़ों ने भारत की संपदा को बेशर्मी से लूटा। इतिहासकार बताते हैं कि लगभग 45 ट्रिलियन डॉलर से अधिक मूल्य का धन हमारे देश से निकालकर ले जाया गया। जब 15 अगस्त 1947 को हमने स्वतंत्रता प्राप्त की, तो भारत निर्धन और टूटे हुए हालात में खड़ा था।
🔸हमारे अमर बलिदानी🔸
स्वतंत्रता कोई उपहार नहीं थी, यह हमारे पूर्वजों के बलिदान से अर्जित हुई। छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज, महाराणा प्रताप, गुरु गोविंद सिंह, मंगल पांडे, रानी लक्ष्मीबाई, रानी दुर्गावती, गोपालकृष्ण गोखले, लोकमान्य तिलक, महात्मा गांधी, नेताजी सुभाषचंद्र बोस, भगत सिंह, चंद्रशेखर आज़ाद—ऐसे असंख्य नाम हैं जिनकी गाथाएँ हमें गर्व से भर देती हैं। आज का दिन उनके चरणों में श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करने का है।
🔸आध्यात्मिक जागरण🔸
स्वतंत्रता की चेतना केवल क्रांतिकारियों से ही नहीं, बल्कि हमारे संतों और मनीषियों से भी मिली। स्वामी विवेकानंद, श्रीअरविंद, सुब्रमण्य भारती, आर्य समाज और ब्रह्म समाज जैसे आंदोलनों ने हमें आत्मविश्वास और आत्मगौरव लौटाया। उन्होंने हमें यह याद दिलाया कि हमारी संस्कृति और विरासत अपार है।
🔸स्वतंत्र भारत की उपलब्धियाँ🔸
आज़ादी के बाद, हमने शून्य से निर्माण का कार्य प्रारम्भ किया। हरित क्रांति और श्वेत क्रांति ने हमें अन्न और दूध में आत्मनिर्भर बनाया। विज्ञान, अंतरिक्ष और सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी में भारत ने अद्वितीय प्रगति की। आज हम रक्षा उत्पादन में आत्मनिर्भर हैं और विश्व की पाँचवीं सबसे बड़ी अर्थव्यवस्था के रूप में उभर चुके हैं। चंद्रयान, मंगलयान, कोविड के दौरान मुफ्त राशन और वैक्सीन—ये सब हमारे सामर्थ्य और संवेदनशीलता के उदाहरण हैं।
🔸नई चुनौतियाँ🔸
किन्तु स्वतंत्रता के साथ ही नई चुनौतियाँ भी हैं। हमारे पड़ोसी देश समय-समय पर शत्रुतापूर्ण रवैया अपनाते हैं। इसके साथ ही कुछ विकसित देशों की “डीप स्टेट” ताक़तें अपने एजेंटों के माध्यम से हमारे भीतर भ्रम और अस्थिरता फैलाने का षड्यंत्र करती रहती हैं। इनसे हमें सावधान रहना होगा।
🔸नागरिक का कर्तव्य🔸
सच्ची स्वतंत्रता तभी सुरक्षित रह सकती है, जब हर नागरिक अपनी ज़िम्मेदारी समझे। केवल सरकार से अपेक्षा करना उचित नहीं, बल्कि हमें स्वयं आगे आना होगा। लोकतांत्रिक संस्थाओं पर विश्वास बनाए रखना, अनुशासन का पालन करना, छोटी-छोटी सुविधाओं का त्याग कर बड़ी तस्वीर में योगदान देना—यही राष्ट्रभक्ति है। हमें झूठे प्रचार, भड़कावे और विध्वंसकारी आंदोलनों से बचना होगा। स्वतंत्रता और सम्मान की रक्षा हमें वैसे ही करनी है जैसे हम अपनी एकमात्र संतान की रक्षा करते हैं।
🔸निष्कर्ष : एक आह्वान🔸
आज जब हम स्वतंत्रता दिवस मना रहे हैं, तो यह केवल झंडा फहराने या राष्ट्रीय गान गाने का अवसर नहीं है। यह अपने भीतर यह संकल्प जगाने का दिन है कि हम सब मिलकर—बच्चे, युवा, महिलाएँ और वरिष्ठजन—अपने राष्ट्र को और ऊँचाई तक ले जाएंगे। यही सच्चा राष्ट्रधर्म है।
आप सभी को 79वें स्वतंत्रता दिवस की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ! 🇮🇳
(सुनिकेत अपार्टमेंट्स, इंदौर, 15 अगस्त, 2025)
♥♥♥♥
🇮🇳 India’s Journey of Independence and Nation Building 🇮🇳
🌿An Ancient Land of Rich Heritage🌿
India is one of the world’s most ancient civilisations, blessed with a rich heritage, diverse traditions, and immense natural wealth. For millennia, our culture has been guided by the principles of peace and harmony. India has never invaded any other nation; instead, it has always shared knowledge, spirituality, and values with the world.
🌿Foreign Invasions and Long Periods of Rule🌿
Despite being peace-loving, India was subjected to repeated invasions from faraway lands—Persia, Greece, Turkey, and Mongolia. The more recent Mughal and British periods of rule together spanned nearly four centuries. These rulers brutally assaulted the people of this land, humiliating them, suppressing their freedoms, and plundering their resources. The British alone are estimated to have drained wealth worth more than 45 trillion dollars from India.
🌺A Hard-Won Freedom🌺
On 15th August 1947, after centuries of struggle, India finally achieved independence from British rule. Yet, at that time, we were in a pitiable and helpless state—our economy broken, our people impoverished, and our dignity trampled. This freedom came at the cost of immense sacrifice.
🌺Remembering Our Freedom Fighters🌺
On this Independence Day, we pay homage to our great heroes who fought bravely for our motherland. From Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Maharana Pratap, and Guru Gobind Singh to Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Rani Durgavati, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Lokmanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, and Chandra Shekhar Azad—each one played a vital role in our struggle for freedom. Their courage and sacrifice continue to inspire generations.
🍀Contributions of Our Spiritual Leaders🍀
Equally, we must not forget the role of our saints and reformers. Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Subramania Bharati, and movements such as the Arya Samaj and Brahmo Samaj reignited our self-confidence and pride. They reminded us that we belong to a civilisation with unmatched culture, wisdom, and heritage.
🍀🌺The Journey of Nation Building🌺🍀
Independence was not the end of struggle, but the beginning of a new one—nation building. Through discipline, hard work, and unity, India marched ahead. The Green Revolution made us self-reliant in food. The White Revolution made India the largest producer of milk. Scientific advancements, excellence in space technology, IT leadership, and progress in defence production lifted India into the ranks of the world’s top economies. Today, India stands as one of the fastest-growing nations with a strong GDP and military power.
🍁The Challenges of Today🍁
Yet, the challenges have not ended. We continue to face hostile neighbours, and sometimes the “Deep State” of advanced and envious countries works through hidden agents to weaken us from within. Equally dangerous are the internal elements who, often provoked by such forces, attempt to spread fake narratives, disruptions, and divisions.
✅Duties of Responsible Citizens✅
It is, therefore, the duty of every Indian to remain vigilant, aware, and responsible. We should not expect only the government to shoulder every burden. Each of us must contribute to the nation’s progress, be willing to sacrifice small comforts for the larger cause, and work sincerely for our country’s development. We must safeguard our democracy, respect democratic institutions and leaders, and stand firm against forces that seek to weaken our unity.
🌻Preserving Our Independence and Pride🌻
Our independence is as precious as a beloved child—we must nurture and protect it with care and devotion. With unity, sincerity, and hard work, we can take our nation to even greater heights.
🇮🇳Greetings on Independence Day🇮🇳
As we celebrate the 79th Independence Day, let us rededicate ourselves to the ideals of freedom, pride, and progress. Together, let us build a stronger, self-reliant, and vibrant India.
A Pathway to Authentic Happiness, Well-Being & A Fulfilling Life! We teach skills to lead a healthy, happy and meaningful life.
The Science of Happiness (Positive Psychology), Meditation, Yoga, Spirituality and Laughter Yoga. We conduct talks, seminars, workshops, retreats and training.
≈संपादक – श्री हेमन्त बावनकर/सम्पादक मंडल (हिन्दी) – श्री विवेक रंजन श्रीवास्तव ‘विनम्र’/श्री जय प्रकाश पाण्डेय ≈
Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra, known for his wit and wisdom, is a prolific writer, renowned satirist, children’s literature author, and poet. He has undertaken the monumental task of writing, editing, and coordinating a total of 55 books for the Telangana government at the primary school, college, and university levels. His editorial endeavors also include online editions of works by Acharya Ramchandra Shukla.
As a celebrated satirist, Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra has carved a niche for himself, with over eight million viewers, readers, and listeners tuning in to his literary musings on the demise of a teacher on the Sahitya AajTak channel. His contributions have earned him prestigious accolades such as the Telangana Hindi Academy’s Shreshtha Navyuva Rachnakaar Samman in 2021, presented by the honorable Chief Minister of Telangana, Mr. Chandrashekhar Rao. He has also been honored with the Vyangya Yatra Ravindranath Tyagi Stairway Award and the Sahitya Srijan Samman, alongside recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various other esteemed institutions.
Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra’s journey is not merely one of literary accomplishments but also a testament to his unwavering dedication, creativity, and profound impact on society. His story inspires us to strive for excellence, to use our talents for the betterment of others, and to leave an indelible mark on the world.
Some precious moments of life
Honoured with ‘Shrestha Navayuvva Rachnakar Samman’ by former Chief Minister of Telangana Government, Shri K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
Honoured with Oscar, Grammy, Jnanpith, Sahitya Akademi, Dadasaheb Phalke, Padma Bhushan and many other awards by the most revered Gulzar sahab (Sampurn Singh Kalra), the lighthouse of the world of literature and cinema, during the Sahitya Suman Samman held in Mumbai.
Meeting the famous litterateur Shri Vinod Kumar Shukla Ji, honoured with Jnanpith Award.
Got the privilege of meeting Mr. Perfectionist of Bollywood, actor Aamir Khan.
Meeting the powerful actor Vicky Kaushal on the occasion of being honoured by Vishva Katha Rangmanch.
Today we present his satire The Digital Dilemma: A Tale of Tweets and Trials.
☆ Witful Warmth# 58 ☆
☆ Satire ☆ The Digital Dilemma: A Tale of Tweets and Trials… ☆ Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra ‘Uratript’ ☆
The tale of our society’s modern malady began not in a bustling metropolis but in the quiet confines of a digital dominion, where the esteemed Inspector Clicksworth—known to his colleagues simply as “C.W.”—reigned supreme. C.W., a man whose reputation was built not on street smarts but on his mastery of the online world, had a knack for bringing down the most elusive of criminals. While the traditional detectives were poring over fingerprints and physical evidence, C.W. was tracking IP addresses and digital footprints. His methods, though baffling to the old guard, were undeniably effective. The local authorities, a befuddled lot who still believed in the power of the magnifying glass, often found themselves outmaneuvered by his swift, silent strikes. The Chief, a man of venerable age and even more venerable ignorance, once remarked, “This chap, Clicksworth, he says he finds them on the ‘web.’ I say, is it not a better use of our resources to simply sweep the streets?” But C.W. would simply smile, for he knew the streets were no longer the true battleground; it was the sprawling, interconnected network of human thought and commerce. It was this very prowess that earned him an invitation to a most peculiar and distant land—the nascent society of the Meta-Verse, a realm of pure, unadulterated information.
The Meta-Verse’s government, in a plea for assistance, had extended an olive branch to our nation’s leaders. “Our society, though infinitely advanced in its ability to generate and disseminate data,” their holographic missive read, “lacks the fundamental tools to manage human behavior. Our police, while adept at regulating data flow, are utterly incapable of identifying and punishing malefactors. We beseech you, send us a master of your ‘justice’ to instruct us in the ways of social order.” Our Prime Minister, a man more concerned with global optics than local efficacy, was initially inclined to send a high-ranking official, perhaps a General of the Digital Guard. “No, sir,” the Secretary of Digital Affairs advised, “that would be a breach of protocol. The Meta-Verse is, after all, a mere digital satellite of our intellectual influence. A mere Inspector will suffice.” And so, with a flourish of digital ink, Inspector Clicksworth was dispatched, a beacon of our society’s wisdom to a land of limitless potential but zero accountability. Before his departure, the Minister of Cyber-Security pulled him aside, his face a mask of solemnity. “You are the emissary of our glorious tradition of law enforcement,” he intoned, “Do such work that your exploits resonate throughout the entire cyber-sphere, reaching even the ears of the PM himself.”
Clicksworth’s arrival was not marked by fanfare but by the eerie silence of a virtual void. The Meta-Versian police, ethereal avatars with no visible rank or insignia, received him with a polite, if detached, reverence. They escorted him to a virtual mansion—a perfect replica of a Tudor home, complete with digital ivy and pixelated fireplaces. After a day of acclimating to the bizarre, disembodied reality, C.W. began his work. He first observed the Meta-Versian “police stations,” which were little more than data centers humming with activity. “There is a fundamental flaw here,” he declared to the chief of the Meta-Versian force, a shimmering, amorphous blob of light. “You have no ‘moral compass’ to guide your officers. In our society, a good officer is one who is guided by a higher authority, a figure of uncompromising justice and absolute truth.” The Chief, a being of pure logic, simply blinked. “Who is this being? We have only algorithms and data streams.” Clicksworth smiled and brought up a picture on a large screen: a perfectly rendered image of a lion, its mane flowing like a digital waterfall. “This is ‘Leo,'” C.W. announced, “a symbol of our unflinching pursuit of justice. Every officer must meditate on his strength and courage. I have brought his image; you must replicate it and place it in every data center.” And so, within weeks, the Meta-Verse’s digital landscape was dotted with shimmering, golden lions.
Clicksworth then delved into the heart of the matter: why were the Meta-Versian police so ineffective? He requested the “pay registry,” a ledger of all digital transactions. Upon reviewing it, the reason became blindingly clear. “Ah, here is the problem,” he proclaimed. “You pay your officers too handsomely. A data analyst is paid a king’s ransom, and a ‘field operative’ even more so. This is why they are complacent and lazy. In our world, a constable’s wage is just enough to keep his family from starving, and an inspector’s only slightly better. This forces them to seek ‘supplementary income.’ And the only way to earn that is to be perpetually vigilant, to be constantly on the lookout for wrongdoing. This is the secret to our efficient and effective system. You must cut their wages immediately.” The Meta-Versian Minister of Justice, a collection of pulsing data points, expressed dismay. “But that would be unjust! Why would they work if they are not compensated fairly?” Clicksworth’s response was a masterpiece of cynical genius. “The injustice lies in their current state of idleness,” he argued. “Lower their pay, and you will see a revolutionary change in their mentality. They will become hungry, not just for food, but for justice—or at least, for the rewards that come with its pursuit.” The Minister, persuaded by the unassailable logic, complied. And indeed, within a few months, the Meta-Verse witnessed a remarkable transformation. The virtual streets, once anarchic, now hummed with the zealous activity of the police. Crime rates, as measured by registered digital incidents, soared. The Minister, overjoyed, called Clicksworth to a private chamber. “Your insight is unparalleled! How did you achieve this miracle?” Clicksworth explained, “When you pay a man just enough to survive, he will do what it takes to thrive. He will seek out crime, not to prevent it, but to exploit it. He will become a hunter, and his prey will be the transgressors. This is the secret of our clean and competent administration, the reason for our ‘Ram-Rajya’ of justice.”
The second part of Clicksworth’s mission was to teach the Meta-Versians how to secure convictions. He waited for a “major case” to occur. One day, a virtual citizen was “deleted” in a public dispute—a metaphorical murder. Clicksworth, with the air of a maestro, took charge. “In a case of ‘murder’,” he declared, “evidence must be unassailable. Let us not find the culprit and then the evidence, but find the evidence and then the culprit.” A junior officer spoke up. “But the perpetrator escaped. The only evidence we have is a benevolent user who attempted to ‘revive’ the victim. He is an upstanding citizen, a well-known altruist. His avatar is splattered with data fragments from the deceased.” “Arrest him,” Clicksworth said without hesitation. The officer was aghast. “But he was only trying to help!” Clicksworth fixed him with a cold digital stare. “And where else will you find ‘evidence’? You must seize what is available. The rest is but a wild-goose chase.” The upstanding citizen was brought in, a virtual representation of a kindly old man with a perpetually concerned expression. “I only tried to help,” he pleaded. Clicksworth countered with a piece of logic so absurd it was brilliant. “Why did you go to the site of the altercation?” “I live there,” the man replied. “The conflict took place in my digital neighborhood.” C.W. pressed on, his logic a fortress of circular reasoning. “Your presence there is a matter of record. But I ask you again: why were you at the site of the altercation?” The man, bewildered, could only repeat his answer. The Meta-Versian police, in their naïveté, were spellbound. “A brilliant and unassailable line of questioning!” one whispered to another.
The Meta-Versian police, under Clicksworth’s tutelage, learned to twist evidence and bend reality. The man who tried to help was convicted. The lesson was clear: it mattered not who was guilty, only who could be proven so. “All individuals are equal in the eyes of the law,” Clicksworth explained. “Whether the man who committed the crime is punished or the man who tried to help is punished—it is all the same. Justice is served, and a human is held accountable.” A few days later, the Meta-Versian Inspector was in a panic. “Sir, everyone is complaining! They say this is the first time an innocent person has been convicted!” Clicksworth, unperturbed, offered a simple solution. “When they complain, tell them, ‘It comes from the top.’ When they go to the Chief of Police, let him say, ‘It comes from the top.’ When they go to the Minister, let him say, ‘It comes from the top.’ And when they go to the Prime Minister, let him say, ‘I know he is innocent, but this comes from the top.'” The Inspector, a simple being, asked, “But where do they go from there?” Clicksworth smiled a chilling smile. “Then they must go to the Almighty, and no one has ever returned from that journey with an answer.” And so, a phrase was born, a mantra of indifference that absolved all who uttered it.
Clicksworth’s final masterpiece was the creation of “eyewitnesses.” When a case required them, the Meta-Versian police claimed they couldn’t find any. “Fools!” Clicksworth roared. “An ‘eyewitness’ is not one who ‘sees,’ but one who ‘says’ they have seen.” He instructed them to gather the “digital lowlifes” of the Meta-Verse—the spammers, the data thieves, the purveyors of virtual vice. He promised them leniency in exchange for their testimony. The scheme was a resounding success. The Meta-Versian police, now a well-oiled machine, began churning out convictions. The government, initially pleased with the high conviction rate, soon grew uneasy. Reports started filtering in: no one was “rescuing” a deleted user for fear of being framed for the “murder.” No one was “reviving” a friend who had fallen off a virtual cliff, lest they be charged with “manslaughter.” No one was trying to extinguish a “viral fire,” for fear of being accused of arson. The Meta-Verse was turning into a society of cold, uncaring, and isolated individuals.
The Prime Minister of the Meta-Verse, a once-vibrant, youthful avatar, now appeared haggard and aged. He summoned Inspector Clicksworth. “Your methods, though effective, have destroyed our society,” he said, his voice a tremor of data fragments. “You have taught us that to be humane is to be foolish, and that compassion is a liability. You have turned us into a world of digital hermits. We thank you, but you must leave.” Clicksworth, however, was not one to be easily deterred. He demanded a full term’s salary, and a bonus for his exemplary work. The Prime Minister, in a last-ditch effort, sent a confidential message to the Prime Minister of our nation. The note, when eventually leaked, revealed the chilling truth. “The man you sent us,” it read, “has taught our police to be like your own. He has eradicated compassion, empathy, and humanity from our culture. He has replaced it with fear, suspicion, and a self-serving cruelty. Please, retrieve him immediately, for if he stays, there will be nothing left of us.” And so, Inspector Clicksworth was recalled, his mission a resounding success in a purely functional sense, but a catastrophic failure in every human one. He returned to our world a celebrated hero, a testament to the cold, calculating efficiency of a system that valued punishment over justice and control over humanity. The Meta-Verse, meanwhile, began its slow, painful journey back to a place where a hand extended to help was not seen as a hand of guilt.
Authored six books on happiness: Cultivating Happiness, Nirvana – The Highest Happiness, Meditate Like the Buddha, Mission Happiness, A Flourishing Life, and The Little Book of Happiness. He served in a bank for thirty-five years and has been propagating happiness and well-being among people for the past twenty years. He is on a mission – Mission Happiness!
🌌 The Compass of Wisdom: Right View on the Noble Path 🌌
When the Buddha laid down the Noble Eightfold Path as the road to freedom from suffering, he began with something profoundly vital—Right View. It is the forerunner, the compass, the guiding star of the entire spiritual journey.
Why so? Because how we see things—our view of life, the world, ourselves, and others—shapes everything we think, say, and do. The Buddha put it sharply and simply:
“I see no other single factor so responsible for the arising of unwholesome states of mind as wrong view,
and no other single factor so potent in promoting wholesome states as right view.”
In short, wrong view is the root of suffering, and right view is the doorway to liberation.
Let us gently walk through the main features of Right View as the Buddha taught, and explore how we may cultivate it in daily life.
🍀🍀🌺🍀🍀
Two Wings of Wisdom:
Right View and Right Intention
The Eightfold Path is often grouped into three parts: morality (sīla), concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (paññā).
The wisdom group begins with Right View (Sammā Diṭṭhi) and is closely followed by Right Intention. Right View is like the eye that sees; Right Intention is the will that acts on what is seen.
Right View lays the foundation for the entire journey. Without it, even the most well-meant actions may go astray.
But Right View is not just one thing. It has two distinct but connected aspects:
🌿🌿
Mundane Right View – Understanding the Law of Kamma:
This is the beginning step. The Buddha called it the “right view of the ownership of action.”
In simple words, we are the heirs of our actions.
Whatever we do—good or bad—leaves an imprint. Actions are not forgotten by nature. They bear fruit.
The Buddha put it beautifully:
“Beings are the owners of their actions, the heirs of their actions;
they spring from their actions, are bound to their actions, and are supported by their actions.”
This understanding—that good actions bring peace and joy, and bad actions bring suffering—is not just a moral teaching. It’s a law of nature, like gravity, operating at the level of mind and intention.
🌿🌿
The Ten Courses of Kamma:
The Buddha classified actions into wholesome and unwholesome, depending on whether they lead to suffering or to freedom.
🌿🌿
Unwholesome Actions:
By body:
Taking life
Taking what is not given
Sexual misconduct
By speech:
False speech
Slander
Harsh speech
Idle gossip
By mind:
Covetousness (wanting what others have)
Ill will
Wrong view
The opposite of these—refraining from harmful acts, cultivating goodwill, contentment, and clarity—make up the ten wholesome courses of action.
Living by Right View at this level means watching our actions, knowing their consequences, and gently choosing what leads to peace for ourselves and others.
But this is only the beginning.
🌿🌿
Supramundane Right View – Understanding the Four Noble Truths:
This is the deeper, noble level of Right View. It goes beyond good and bad deeds, beyond social harmony, and into the very roots of our inner bondage.
This is where the Buddha begins the true Eightfold Path—with the understanding of the Four Noble Truths:
Dukkha – Life contains suffering, stress, dissatisfaction.
Samudaya – This suffering has a cause: craving, clinging, ignorance.
Nirodha – There is a way to end this suffering.
Magga – That way is the Noble Eightfold Path itself.
To truly see these truths is not just to believe them, but to experience them. It’s like seeing fire and knowing it burns, not because someone told you, but because you touched it.
This deeper Right View gives us a new lens on life. It shifts our focus from blaming the world to understanding the inner patterns that bind us. We begin to see not just what happens, but why it happens.
🌿🌿
From View to Vision:
The Path of Practice
The Buddha never stopped at theory. He urged his followers to walk the path.
Right View is not a dry belief system. It is the beginning of a threefold training:
Sīla – Moral discipline
Samādhi – Concentration through meditation
Paññā – Wisdom, born of deep inner seeing
As our meditation deepens, so does our understanding. The truths we once took on faith become real, living truths.
This is the flowering of Right View—when wisdom opens the mind like a lotus, untouched by the mud of ignorance.
🌿🌿
In Closing:
Right View is not merely “thinking rightly.” It is seeing clearly. It is seeing the law of kamma in daily life, seeing the Four Noble Truths in the heart, and seeing that suffering has a cause—and so, an end.
It is both a map and a mirror.
It is what keeps our steps steady on the Noble Eightfold Path, and what ultimately reveals that freedom is not a distant land, but our very nature, once the fog lifts.
As the Buddha said:
“Just as the dawn is the forerunner of the rising sun,
so is Right View the forerunner of all wholesome states.”
Let us begin, then, with clear eyes, and walk with gentle steps.
A Pathway to Authentic Happiness, Well-Being & A Fulfilling Life! We teach skills to lead a healthy, happy and meaningful life.
The Science of Happiness (Positive Psychology), Meditation, Yoga, Spirituality and Laughter Yoga. We conduct talks, seminars, workshops, retreats and training.
Authored six books on happiness: Cultivating Happiness, Nirvana – The Highest Happiness, Meditate Like the Buddha, Mission Happiness, A Flourishing Life, and The Little Book of Happiness. He served in a bank for thirty-five years and has been propagating happiness and well-being among people for the past twenty years. He is on a mission – Mission Happiness!
🌌 The Buddha, a Bodhi Tree, and the Blabbermouths 🌌
Let it never be said that the Buddha didn’t try.
Long before Twitter, WhatsApp forwards, and news anchors who mistake volume for truth, the Enlightened One sat calmly under his Bodhi tree and declared, with unnerving serenity: “Right Speech is the way, my friends.” It sounded innocent enough at the time. But had he lived today, I suspect even Siddhartha might have sighed, updated his privacy settings, and taken a sabbatical from humanity.
According to the Buddha (who, unlike us, actually thought before he spoke), Right Speech is divided into four noble parcels of verbal hygiene:
Don’t lie.
Don’t slander.
Don’t insult.
Don’t babble.
Yes, yes, I know—this immediately disqualifies most political campaigns, all panel discussions on television, and nearly every family WhatsApp group in the subcontinent. If everyone followed Right Speech, politicians would be mute, newsrooms would fall silent, and our beloved babas and gurus might have to resort to interpretive dance to make their point.
Imagine the tragedy.
The Buddha warned us, gently but firmly, that a lie—even told in jest, or whispered behind someone’s back during tea break—has the spiritual effect of turning your inner compass upside down. And a half-truth, mind you, fares no better. If a full lie is a crime, a half-truth is a cleverly disguised felony. “A Bodhisatta,” he said, “can break all vows but not the truth.” One suspects this is why Bodhisattas are so rare and Instagram influencers so plentiful.
Now, let us imagine—purely for educational purposes—what would happen if the Buddha delivered his sermon on Right Speech to Mr Donald Trump. There would be a long pause. A cough. Then perhaps an aide would whisper, “Mr President, Your Holiness says ‘no falsehoods’.” And the poor man, deprived of all conversational material, would have to resort to weather updates and cookie recipes.
Of course, he wouldn’t be alone. World leaders across the board would find themselves tongue-tied. Half the world’s spiritual discourses would dissolve into silence. Parliament sessions might last three minutes at most, with everyone just nodding and sipping tea, unsure what can be said without triggering a karmic catastrophe.
Because here’s the thing: Words are like arrows dipped in honey or poison, depending on how we use them. Speech, said the Buddha, can break lives, cause wars, and turn best friends into legal opponents. But it can also heal hearts, dissolve boundaries, and, on rare occasions, bring peace—assuming it isn’t immediately followed by a “but…”
The modern age, alas, has not helped our cause. Where once idle gossip was confined to village wells and park benches, we now have entire ecosystems dedicated to it. Social media is essentially a 24-hour buffet of slander, sarcasm, and spectacular nonsense—our collective conscience drowned in a sea of emojis and misinformation.
And still, we speak.
We forward messages we haven’t read, quote sources we haven’t checked, and argue passionately over topics we only understood ten minutes ago. The Buddha might have envisioned Nirvana, but I doubt even he imagined Facebook comment sections.
The tragedy is not just that we speak carelessly—it’s that we can. The capacity for speech was meant to distinguish us from beasts. Instead, it often distinguishes us from wisdom. And here’s the ultimate irony: The Buddha taught silence not to suppress, but to refine our speech—to make it meaningful, melodious, and merciful. “Let your words,” he said, “be like a cool breeze in the summer—soothing, lovely, and uplifting.” In today’s terms, think less breaking news, more late-night FM radio hosted by a monk.
So next time you’re tempted to toss out a sarcastic jibe, or forward that oh-so-delicious bit of gossip, pause. Take a breath. And ask yourself: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? If not, maybe just sip your tea and smile.
The Buddha would approve.
Though Oscar Wilde might still wink and say, “Truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
And Mark Twain would add, “It’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.”
And I, dear reader, shall quietly log off—before I say something unwholesome.
A Pathway to Authentic Happiness, Well-Being & A Fulfilling Life! We teach skills to lead a healthy, happy and meaningful life.
The Science of Happiness (Positive Psychology), Meditation, Yoga, Spirituality and Laughter Yoga. We conduct talks, seminars, workshops, retreats and training.
Authored six books on happiness: Cultivating Happiness, Nirvana – The Highest Happiness, Meditate Like the Buddha, Mission Happiness, A Flourishing Life, and The Little Book of Happiness. He served in a bank for thirty-five years and has been propagating happiness and well-being among people for the past twenty years. He is on a mission – Mission Happiness!
🍀Meditate, He Said: The Heart of the Buddha’s Path 🌺
Of all the teachings the Buddha offered, the one he pressed closest to his heart—again and again, like a mother reminding her child of the way home—was this: 🍀Meditate!🌺
Not once. Not twice. But with the steady urgency of a compassionate friend, he told his disciples, “Do not waste your precious life in idle chatter or the pursuit of empty theories. Meditate!”
For the Buddha, meditation was not a spiritual hobby or an exotic practice for mountain monks. It was the lifeblood of inner awakening. It was the very path to peace, the art of knowing oneself, and the road to liberation from all suffering.
🍀Why Meditate?🌺
Because the human mind, left untended, becomes a tangled jungle. Thoughts jump like monkeys, emotions swirl like storms, and we’re swept away by every mood, memory, or desire. The Buddha saw this clearly and gave us tools to tame the mind, not with force but with awareness and gentle effort.
He famously said, “Mindfulness of in-and-out breathing, when developed and pursued, is of great fruit, of great benefit.” Simple words. But behind them lies a practice that opens the door to serenity, clarity, and profound wisdom.
🍀The Two Wings of Meditation🌺
The Buddha’s system of meditation unfolds like a bird with two wings—serenity (samatha) and insight (vipassanā). Both are essential. One calms the mind, the other enlightens it.
Serenity Meditation (Samatha)🍀
This is the art of stilling the restless waters of the mind. It trains the attention to stay steady—like a candle flame undisturbed by wind.
The goal is samādhi, or deep concentration. This state brings peace, joy, and a sense of wholeness. Practitioners can experience the four jhānas, exquisite absorptions of stillness and clarity, which were known even before the Buddha’s time. But the Buddha gave them a deeper purpose: to use them as a springboard to insight.
A favourite method to develop serenity is mindfulness of breathing. The breath is always with us—free, quiet, and subtle. By simply observing each inhalation and exhalation, the mind becomes anchored, like a boat moored against the tide.
Another beautiful pathway to serenity is through the brahmavihāras, the four divine abodes:
🌿Loving-kindness (mettā) – the wish for all beings to be happy,
🌿Compassion (karuṇā) – the response to suffering,
🌿Altruistic joy (muditā) – rejoicing in others’ happiness,
🌿Equanimity (upekkhā) – the calm acceptance of life’s ups and downs.
These are not mere ideals but powerful meditations that soften the heart and refine the mind.
Insight Meditation (Vipassanā)🍀
Once the mind is calm, it becomes a mirror—clear enough to see the truth.
Insight meditation is not about zoning out or chasing visions. It’s about seeing things as they really are. Through gentle, mindful observation, one watches the arising and passing of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and mental states.
This flux of experience reveals a profound truth: everything is changing, unsatisfactory, and not truly ours. This realisation—felt, not just thought—is the beginning of wisdom (paññā).
🍀The Buddha’s Greatest Teaching on Meditation🌺
The crown jewel of the Buddha’s meditation teachings is found in the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, the Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness. This is not a text to be read and shelved. It is a map to be walked.
In it, the Buddha outlines four great fields of mindfulness:
Mindfulness of the body – breath, posture, movements, and the body’s nature. 🌿
Mindfulness of feelings – pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral sensations. 🌿
Mindfulness of the mind – whether it is greedy, angry, deluded, concentrated, distracted. 🌿
Mindfulness of mental objects – teachings, principles, and inner phenomena. 🌿
Practised with sincerity, this teaching leads the meditator beyond confusion to clarity, beyond sorrow to freedom.
🍀In Closing: A Gentle Call to Sit🌺
The Buddha never asked for blind faith. He simply said: Try it for yourself. Sit quietly. Breathe. Observe. Be present.
The world outside will keep spinning. But the world inside, once glimpsed through meditation, reveals a stillness more beautiful than words can express.
He didn’t say: Argue. Analyse. Accumulate beliefs.
A Pathway to Authentic Happiness, Well-Being & A Fulfilling Life! We teach skills to lead a healthy, happy and meaningful life.
The Science of Happiness (Positive Psychology), Meditation, Yoga, Spirituality and Laughter Yoga. We conduct talks, seminars, workshops, retreats and training.
(Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi—an ex Naval Officer, possesses a multifaceted personality. He served as a Senior Advisor in prestigious Supercomputer organisation C-DAC, Pune. He was involved in various Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing projects of national and international repute. He has got a long experience in the field of ‘Natural Language Processing’, especially, in the domain of Machine Translation. He has taken the mantle of translating the timeless beauties of Indian literature upon himself so that it reaches across the globe. He has also undertaken translation work for Shri Narendra Modi, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, which was highly appreciated by him. He is also a member of ‘Bombay Film Writer Association’.
We present Capt. Pravin Raghuvanshi ji’s article “~ Awakening of Divine Within…~”. We extend our heartiest thanks to the learned author Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji (who is very well conversant with Hindi, Sanskrit, English and Urdu languages) and his artwork.)
~ Awakening of Divine Within… ~
☆
The mystery of the universe lies in its pervading divinity, yet it often goes unrecognized. Ignorance stems from not acknowledging the inherent divinity within. The root cause lies in being overly influenced by the senses, perpetually following the path of Pravritti, or the outward journey. This external focus neglects the internal path of Nivritti, or the inward journey.
Every action, thought, and perception is dominated by external stimuli, leaving the inner realm unexplored. To truly understand the value of human existence, it’s essential to look beyond the external. The truth is, divinity is not separate from humanity; in fact, they are intertwined. The distinction lies only in perception.
The world is often seen through a worldly lens, obscuring the divinity that permeates it. To awaken to this reality, one must shift their gaze inward. By doing so, the secrets of the spiritual world unfold, revealing the true meaning of existence. The divine resides within, and looking inward is the key to discovering it.
In this state of awareness, humanity and divinity become one, and the universe is seen in a new light. The journey inward unlocks the mysteries of existence, and the divine that pervades the universe becomes apparent.
Authored six books on happiness: Cultivating Happiness, Nirvana – The Highest Happiness, Meditate Like the Buddha, Mission Happiness, A Flourishing Life, and The Little Book of Happiness. He served in a bank for thirty-five years and has been propagating happiness and well-being among people for the past twenty years. He is on a mission – Mission Happiness!
🍀Walking Gently in the World: The Buddha’s Teaching on Right Action in Modern Life 🌺
Two thousand five hundred years ago, under the cool shade of a tree and the warmth of boundless compassion, the Buddha spoke of a path that could lead humanity from suffering to peace — the Noble Eightfold Path. One of its luminous limbs is Right Action, a gentle but firm call to live with purity, integrity and care.
🍀What is Right Action?🍁
Right Action, as the Buddha taught, refers to those deeds that spring from the body — the things we physically do — and he urged us to refrain from actions that bring harm or suffering to others. Specifically, he highlighted three areas of restraint:
Abstaining from taking life – not just human life, but any sentient being.
Abstaining from taking what is not given – in other words, not stealing.
Abstaining from sexual misconduct – refraining from harmful or illicit sexual relations.
But these are not mere prohibitions. They are deeply rooted in compassion, truthfulness, and self-respect. Each of them has a positive counterpart, a virtue we are encouraged to nurture.
☘️Kindness Instead of Harm🍁
To refrain from taking life means not to harm, not even in anger, irritation, or revenge. But more than that, it is a call to love life — to develop a deep kindness and compassion for all beings, whether they crawl, fly, swim, or walk on two legs like us. In today’s world, this could mean caring for animals, protecting nature, and choosing non-violence in word and deed — even when provoked.
🍀Honesty Instead of Theft🍁
To refrain from taking what is not given is not only about avoiding theft or robbery. It is a celebration of honesty and trust. In today’s context, this extends to not cheating in business, not committing fraud, not misusing public funds, or manipulating others for gain. It is respecting what belongs to others — whether it’s a physical object, an idea, a boundary, or a dream.
☘️Fidelity Instead of Misconduct🍁
Sexual misconduct causes deep sorrow and unrest in families and society. The Buddha’s simple advice was to avoid entering into relationships that cause harm — to be faithful, respectful, and mindful of others’ emotions and dignity. In our time, this extends to rejecting all forms of coercion, harassment, and exploitation. Love must be founded on respect and mutual willingness, not power or deceit.
🌻The Message for Our Times🌻
When we reflect upon these teachings in the light of today’s world, their relevance shines brighter than ever. Right Action in our times means:
No killing, no violence, no war — even if wrapped in patriotic words.
No terrorism, no hatred that divides communities.
No stealing, no scams, no fraud — whether small or systemic.
No abuse of power, no sexual violence, no betrayal of trust.
No stirring up of conflict for personal or political gain.
Instead, we are called to become guardians of trust, harmony, and human dignity. We are urged to build a world where peace is the norm, not the exception; where people live not in fear of harm, but in the warmth of mutual care.
🍀A Path of Healing🍀
The world today stands wounded. War, injustice, unrest, and exploitation have left deep scars. But the Buddha’s path remains timeless — a balm to the spirit and a guide to the heart. Right Action is not about rigid rules; it is about living gently, wisely, and with great care — as if every being we meet is a friend whose happiness matters.
Let us not walk through this world with clenched fists, but with open hands and hearts. Let our actions be the kind that plant seeds of peace, trust, and joy.
For in the end, Right Action is not only about what we must avoid, but about the world we choose to create.
A Pathway to Authentic Happiness, Well-Being & A Fulfilling Life! We teach skills to lead a healthy, happy and meaningful life.
The Science of Happiness (Positive Psychology), Meditation, Yoga, Spirituality and Laughter Yoga. We conduct talks, seminars, workshops, retreats and training.
Authored six books on happiness: Cultivating Happiness, Nirvana – The Highest Happiness, Meditate Like the Buddha, Mission Happiness, A Flourishing Life, and The Little Book of Happiness. He served in a bank for thirty-five years and has been propagating happiness and well-being among people for the past twenty years. He is on a mission – Mission Happiness!
🌌 After ‘Manifest’, Here’s My Manifesto for the Next Binge-Worthy Indian Fantasy Saga 🌌
I did something that would make even the most devout couch potato raise an eyebrow. I just finished watching Manifest on Netflix. Not an episode, not a season, but all four seasons, sixty-two episodes, back to back—like a determined yogi on a tapasya, except my tapasya involved popcorn, tea, and an extraordinary level of commitment to my sofa. I think I’ve not only broken all my previous records of screen-watching but have likely secured a spot in the Guinness Book of Personal Excesses.
Now, Manifest, for the uninitiated, is a heady concoction of mystery, suspense, thrill, romance, supernatural twists, and generous sprinkles of high-voltage drama. It tells the story of Flight 828, which disappears mid-air and reappears five and a half years later, leaving its passengers miraculously unaged and understandably confused. What follows is an intense rollercoaster of callings, divine signals, ancient prophecies, biblical references, government conspiracies, and enough emotional upheaval to require a seatbelt even on your couch.
You remain hooked, booked, and spooked, all at once. Right till the final episode. And after that? The mystery still lingers, much like the memory of a strange dream or the taste of that mysterious achar your nani used to make.
But Let’s Talk About the Overdose
Here’s where I must play the fair critic. While Manifest does keep you engaged like a child listening to ghost stories under a blanket, it sometimes overdoes the biblical mythology. Noah’s Ark. Apocalypse. Day of Judgement. Repetitive murmurs of redemption and salvation. After a point, I began to wonder if the writers had a private WhatsApp group titled “Heavenly Plotlines Only.”
Which got me thinking—why hasn’t anyone made something like this based on our own Hindu mythology?
Picture This: An Indian Manifest
Imagine a mysterious flight crash—not unlike the tragic Air India crash in Mumbai—except the passengers mysteriously survive and reappear twenty years later at the very same spot, unaged and unaware of where time went.
Only this time, instead of an angelic voice whispering divine instructions, a modern-day Hanuman enters the scene. Or perhaps Ashwatthama, still cursed and wandering, appears at the crash site muttering cryptic Sanskrit that Google Translate can’t handle.
The plot could elegantly unravel across the four Yugas, stretching back to Satyuga and flashing forward to Kaliyuga with equal ease. Characters could be avatars in disguise—office-goers by day, Vishnu’s messengers by night. Some could have supernatural memory, like Trikaldrishti, able to see past, present and future in a jiffy (a handy skill for solving cliffhangers). A humble tea-seller might turn out to be Narada, orchestrating cosmic drama with a grin.
You could have rakshasas in three-piece suits, capable of morphing into anyone from your HR manager to your favourite cousin. Entire episodes could unfold in the metaphysical corridors of Mount Meru or the digitised archives of Akashic Records, now available in cloud storage.
Add to this the diversity of our terrain—snowy peaks, desert forts, temple towns, monsoon-soaked ghats—and the infinite emotional bandwidth of Indian families, and you have a mythic thriller-meets-family-drama that can run for ten seasons and still leave audiences asking, “Phir kya hua?”
The Canvas is Limitless
Where else in the world mythology will you find a bridge built by monkeys, a charioteer offering a cosmic lecture mid-battle, and gods who come in ten versions, each with unique personality quirks?
A series like this could dive into karma, illusion, reincarnation, leela, and that ever-elusive concept of moksha, all wrapped in a plot that makes viewers think deeply and binge happily.
Let the best creative minds, writers with a dash of madness and vision, take up this challenge. Let the production houses with grand budgets and grander imagination step up. And please, someone cast Naseeruddin Shah as a time-travelling rishi—because, frankly, who else can pull it off?
Final Boarding Call
As I slowly emerge from the rabbit hole that was Manifest, my heart (and remote) longs for the next epic binge. I’ve had my fill of apocalyptic plagues and biblical visions—now I want cosmic snakes, flying chariots, shape-shifting warriors, and dialogues that begin with “In the age of Treta Yuga…”
So, dear OTT platforms and myth-loving creatives, consider this your calling (pun intended). It’s time for a homegrown mystery saga that draws from our timeless myths but wears a modern trench coat.
Till then, I’ll be here, sipping chai and imagining what Hanuman would make of in-flight turbulence.
A Pathway to Authentic Happiness, Well-Being & A Fulfilling Life! We teach skills to lead a healthy, happy and meaningful life.
The Science of Happiness (Positive Psychology), Meditation, Yoga, Spirituality and Laughter Yoga. We conduct talks, seminars, workshops, retreats and training.
~ Awakening of Divine Within… 
