My Articles

Rohit was the Vice President of Finance in a large company. Calm and composed, he lived with a deep sense of spirituality. He believed that all living beings were connected by a thread of consciousness—a higher energy that bound everything together. Meditation and mindfulness were part of his daily life. For Rohit, Oneness was not just a belief; it was a way of life.

In the same office worked Swarup, the Vice President of Marketing. Swarup was full of energy, always laughing, joking, and socializing. He was a natural in marketing—a go-getter, always chasing results. He never gave much thought to spiritual ideas. He neither believed in them nor rejected them. Life was about action and achievement for him.

But life had taken a turn. Over the past year, Swarup faced one setback after another. His father passed away, his wife’s health deteriorated, and his teenage son was falling into bad habits. The pressure at work didn’t help. Swarup, once full of life, now looked tired and anxious.

One day, over coffee, he said to Rohit, “You once mentioned a Swamiji you visit. Can you take me to him? Maybe he can help me understand what’s happening in my life.” Rohit agreed without hesitation.

That Sunday, they visited the ashram. A young brahmachari welcomed them and said, “Swamiji is in meditation. Please wait.” Swarup chuckled and said, “Meditation? Isn’t that just another word for sleep?” He laughed loudly and added, “What’s the difference anyway?”

Rohit smiled gently and replied, “Sleep is when we lose awareness. Meditation, is when we become fully aware. Sleep is unconscious rest; Meditation is conscious stillness. One heals the body, the other heals the soul.”

Swarup was curious now. “What are the levels of consciousness?” he asked.
Rohit explained, “There are four. The waking state—Jagrat—when we’re aware of the outside world. The dream state—Swapna. Then deep sleep—Sushupti—where there’s no awareness. Beyond all this is Turiya—pure awareness, the silent witness beyond thought.”

Swarup nodded thoughtfully.
Just then, Swamiji stepped out. Peace seemed to flow from his presence. He welcomed them warmly and asked why they had come. Swarup opened up, sharing his troubles, his confusion, and his pain. He spoke with emotion, something he hadn’t done in a long time.

Swamiji listened quietly. After a pause, he said, “Life brings many waves. Some small, some overwhelming. Don’t try to fight every wave. Learn to float. The wave that once scared you will carry you forward.”

He continued, “Start with ten minutes of silence each day. Don’t try to change everything at once. Just sit with yourself. Listen to your breath. You’ll find answers within.”

That day planted a seed in Swarup. Slowly, he began sitting in silence each morning. The problems didn’t vanish, but he no longer felt lost.

One day at work, he told Rohit, “That silence… I don’t know what it is, but it’s helping me breathe again.”
Rohit smiled, “That silence… is you.”