The More Within the Less

“The More Within the Less”

There are questions that arrive like soft ripples upon a still pond, gentle yet unsettling, delicate yet demanding. What could you do more of? At first glance, it may appear like a taskmaster’s query, but when one pauses long enough, it becomes less about accumulation and more about awakening. It whispers not of possessions but of presence, not of achievements but of alignments with our truest self.

Too often, the word more is chained to a culture of endless striving. More money, more recognition, more control. Yet psychologists remind us that after a point, these pursuits leave us hollow, burdened with anxieties rather than blessings. What we truly crave is not more to own but more to live fully.

Imagine if we did more of listening, not just hearing words but absorbing the silences in between. If we did more of noticing—the play of shadows at dusk, the laughter of a child, the resilience of a tree bending in the storm. These seemingly small “mores” become quiet revolutions, transforming how the heart feels and how the mind breathes.

Philosophy, too, leans toward this truth. Kierkegaard, in his soulful reflections, spoke of deepening one’s inwardness—living more authentically rather than scattering the self in distractions. Simone Weil, the French mystic, saw attention itself as a form of prayer: to give more attention to the world is to touch the sacred. And Rumi sang of the heart’s capacity to pour more love, reminding us that generosity of spirit multiplies rather than diminishes.

Doing more of what nourishes does not demand grandeur. It is not measured in leaps but in layers. More compassion softens the rough terrains of human existence. More patience in conversation can restore bonds frayed by haste. More wonder at the night sky can calm a weary mind battered by daily anxieties. Even more solitude, when embraced, does not isolate but deepens the soul’s roots.

The psychology of fulfilment is clear: lasting joy emerges when our actions align with values, when our “mores” are chosen not out of compulsion but from clarity. A little more kindness shared each day rewires the brain towards empathy. A little more gratitude lightens the heart’s heaviness. A little more forgiveness releases the invisible chains we bind ourselves with. These are not small gestures but inner renovations.

What could you do more of? Perhaps more stillness in a world addicted to noise. More hope when despair threatens to take centre stage. More courage to say yes to life, even when uncertainties loom. And perhaps, more tenderness towards oneself—for often we forget that the gentleness we lavish on others must also be gifted inward.

The soul does not ask us to become larger, but deeper. It does not demand that we run faster, but that we pause longer. To do more of what heals, what connects, what elevates—that is the “more” which truly matters.

Do more of holding the fleeting light,
Of guarding dreams in the folds of night.
Do more of smiling when skies turn grey,
For dawn is never too far away.

Do more of loving with hands unclosed,
Of tending the fragile, the faint, the supposed.
Do more of being where hearts entwine,
And you will taste the eternal divine.

The Murmur That Changed My Path

The Murmur That Changed My Path

Advice often enters our lives not as thunder, but as a quiet murmur that refuses to fade. The most transformative counsel I ever received was simple in its form yet profound in its implications: “Learn to listen to silence.” At first, it baffled me, for silence is often seen as a void, a vacuum, even an awkward pause. But gradually, I realised that silence is not the absence of sound—it is the presence of depth. It is the space where life speaks in subtle tones.

The Psychology of Silence

Modern psychology acknowledges what ancient wisdom has long whispered—that silence heals. Clinical studies show that silence lowers cortisol levels, slows the racing mind, and helps the nervous system reset. When we allow ourselves to step back from the incessant hum of conversations, devices, and distractions, the brain re-engages with creativity and balance.

Silence, in this sense, is not passive. It is an active restoration. It is the mental equivalent of deep sleep—a state where unseen repair takes place. Carl Jung once hinted that “the soul needs time alone to uncover itself.” Indeed, in silence, the unconscious rises like a hidden tide, carrying dreams, intuitions, and insights we would otherwise drown out with noise.

Philosophical Reflections Beyond the Familiar

While great names like Socrates or Confucius often dominate discussions, other less-cited thinkers offer delicate threads of wisdom on silence:

1. Max Picard, the Swiss philosopher, emphasised that silence is not emptiness but a presence more eloquent than words.

2. Meister Eckhart, the German mystic, urged seekers to quiet their inner turbulence, for only then could truth arrive unannounced.

3. Kamo no Chōmei, in his hermit’s hut in 12th-century Japan, wrote in Hōjōki that stepping away from the clamour of society into a small, silent space opened the way to serenity and impermanence.

4. Plotinus, though seldom quoted in modern contexts, insisted that turning inward into silence was the only way to touch the “One”—the source of all existence.

These diverse voices, spanning centuries and continents, converge on one truth: silence is not absence, but presence, not weakness but strength.

The Practical Wisdom Hidden in Quietude

Silence teaches us patience in a world addicted to instant gratification. It grants us the courage to pause before reacting. In relationships, listening to silence allows us to hear not just what is spoken, but also what is withheld. Psychologists remind us that unspoken emotions often surface in body language, in the eyes, in pauses heavier than sentences.

Silence is also the soil where creativity flourishes. Writers, musicians, artists—many confess that their greatest inspirations did not arrive in noisy cafés or bustling streets but in still moments, often when they were alone with themselves. In silence, imagination gathers strength.

Even spiritually, silence has been the door through which seekers step into transcendence. From the deserts of early Christian hermits to the forests of Indian sages, silence has always been the chosen path. The Upanishads describe the ultimate reality, Brahman, as that which lies “where words turn back, together with the mind.”

Personal Resonances

I have found that silence is not merely the absence of talk but a way of listening—to the world, to others, and to myself. It has guided me in moments of decision, reminding me that rushing often leads to regret. It has soothed me in grief, when words felt inadequate. It has made joy fuller, when shared laughter was followed by a contented pause.

And most importantly, silence has taught me humility—the awareness that not everything demands my voice, my opinion, or my explanation. Sometimes, wisdom lies in restraint.

In silence dwells the tender flame,
That burns beyond all praise or blame.
It heals the scars that time has sown,
And carves a peace the heart has known.

The stillness hums, a sacred tone,
A music felt, though never shown.
For when the clamour fades away,
The soul finds words it dares not say.

So let the murmur guide the way,
Through night’s embrace and break of day.
For silence, vast and deep, conveys
The timeless truth no tongue betrays.

When Melodies Become Memories: My All-Time Favourite Albu

When Melodies Become Memories: My All-Time Favourite Album

Music is not merely entertainment; it is memory, solace, and revelation. It seeps into the crevices of our being and accompanies us silently through life’s seasons. For me, songs have never been just lyrics or tunes—they have been living companions, each carrying its own fragrance of time. If I were to choose my all-time favourite album, it would not be bound to a single singer or a single disc, but a tapestry of artists whose music etched itself into different phases of my life: Eddy Grant, Jim Reeves, Kenny Rogers, Mukesh, and Donna Summer.

The Youthful Beat: Eddy Grant

There was a time when energy overflowed like a river eager to break its banks. The world was new, restless, and unshackled. It was Eddy Grant’s rhythm that echoed then—songs that carried rebellion, freedom, and the pulse of the street. His music was like a drumbeat under the skin, urging one to move forward, to dance even amidst chaos, to defy the monotony of life. Listening to him was like watching dawn break after a stormy night—fiery, hopeful, and untamed.

The Velvet Solace: Jim Reeves

Then came the quiet nights of reflection, when the world outside grew too noisy and the heart sought tenderness. In those hours, Jim Reeves’ voice floated like a soft evening breeze. His baritone was velvet draped in sound, turning loneliness into companionship and silence into poetry. Reeves taught me that strength can reside in gentleness and that sometimes, the most profound comfort lies in a song softly sung. He was the voice that turned solitude into a sanctuary.

The Storyteller’s Road: Kenny Rogers

Adulthood often brings choices—some easy, some crushingly difficult. Life becomes a gamble, and every path is both a risk and a reward. That was the season when Kenny Rogers entered, not just as a singer but as a philosopher in disguise. His stories—of gamblers, dreamers, lovers, and wanderers—were like parables set to melody. Each song reminded me that the human journey is fragile, unpredictable, yet always worth treading. Rogers’ voice was a lantern on that winding road, offering wisdom and courage in equal measure.

The Soul’s Ache: Mukesh

But what is life without love—and what is love without longing? Mukesh became the voice of that tender ache. His songs carried the fragrance of romance and the weight of sorrow, as though each note was dipped in yearning. He taught me that to feel deeply is not a weakness but the essence of being human. When his voice rose, it felt as if the heart itself was speaking—a reminder that joy and grief are inseparable companions, two sides of the same coin.

The Radiance of Joy: Donna Summer

And then, there were moments when life demanded no philosophy, no reflection—only celebration. Donna Summer’s music was the soundtrack of such nights. She lit up the floor with her radiant energy, her disco beats becoming torches in the dark. With her, the world became a dance, every step a declaration that joy is fleeting, yet worth embracing. Her voice was a blaze, urging one to live in the moment, to celebrate life before it slips away.

A Symphony of Phases

If I were asked to pick one album as my favourite, I would have to confess—it is not a single record. My album is a mosaic of life itself, stitched together by these voices. Each artist belongs to a chapter: youth, solitude, choices, love, and celebration. Together, they form a playlist not just of music but of existence—a score that has played faithfully in the background of my journey.

When Eddy strums, the dawn takes flight,
A rebel’s song, a spark of light,
The heart beats fast, the spirit free,
The world becomes a melody.

When Reeves begins, the silence heals,
His velvet voice, the night reveals,
A hymn of love, so soft, so true,
A gentle balm in shades of blue.

With Rogers’ tales, the road unfolds,
Of gambles lost, of dreams he holds,
His voice, a guide through night and day,
A lantern shining on the way.

Mukesh then sings, the heartache flows,
The rose of love with sorrow grows,
His music, tender as a sigh,
Teaches the soul that tears don’t lie.

And Summer calls—the night is bright,
Her disco flames consumed the night,
Her voice commands the feet to soar,
To live, to laugh, forevermore.

An album is not what lies on a shelf—it is what lives within us, echoing through the corridors of memory, shaping who we are, and reminding us that music is, perhaps, the most faithful friend of all.

The Silent Saboteur: When Phones Become Playthings in Tender Hands

The Silent Saboteur: When Phones Become Playthings in Tender Hands

Parenting has always been a fine art, balanced delicately between love, guidance, and discipline. In today’s age, however, this art faces an unforeseen challenge – the silent saboteur called the mobile phone. What seems like a harmless pacifier to keep a child engaged for a few minutes often turns into a subtle yet devastating influence on their mind, body, and soul.

The Convenience Trap

A tired parent hands over the glowing screen to silence the cries of their child. It works – like a charm. Yet, convenience is the seed of compromise. What starts as a ten-minute engagement soon stretches into hours. The gadget becomes the nanny, the entertainer, and even the educator, while the parent slowly drifts away from active participation in the child’s growth.

The Developmental Dilemma

Child development experts remind us that the first years of life shape the brain’s architecture. A screen may stimulate the eyes and ears, but it cannot nurture empathy, imagination, or resilience. A child scrolling through endless videos misses out on climbing trees, listening to bedtime stories, or even the simple joy of observing ants marching in a line. Such lost experiences are irreplaceable – the foundation stones of creativity and character.

The Health Hazard

Beyond the emotional toll lies the physical one. Studies point to impaired eyesight, disturbed sleep cycles, and rising obesity due to sedentary screen addiction. The blue light from screens disrupts the delicate rhythm of melatonin, leaving children restless and cranky. Once robust games of hide-and-seek in the neighbourhood are now replaced by silent swipes of the finger.

The Emotional Echo

Children mirror what they see. A phone that flashes cartoons also flashes advertisements, materialistic ideals, and distorted realities. The tender mind, unable to distinguish between truth and exaggeration, begins to anchor itself in illusions. This often leads to impatience, aggression, and in many cases, a dependence on instant gratification – a hunger that grows insatiable.

The Parenting Paradox

Parental principles emphasise three golden pillars – presence, patience, and participation. When parents substitute their presence with screens, they unknowingly erode the foundation of trust. The child feels entertained, but not emotionally embraced. Parenting then becomes a paradox: on one hand, a guardian trying to provide the best, and on the other, offering a tool that quietly robs the child of innocence.

Towards Responsible Parenting

The solution lies not in demonising technology, but in disciplining its role. Phones can be powerful allies if used wisely – a video call to grandparents, a guided learning app, or even a lullaby at night. Yet, they should never replace the parent’s lap, the parent’s voice, or the parent’s time.

Principles of child care urge:

1. Set boundaries: Define phone-free hours and spaces.

2. Offer alternatives: Books, toys, outdoor games, music, and art.

3. Be a role model: Children copy what they see – let them see balance.

4. Engage personally: Conversations, storytelling, and shared activities strengthen bonds that screens cannot.

Philosophical Reflection

The Bhagavad Gita teaches: “Yuktaḥ āhāra-vihārasya yukta-ceṣṭasya karmasu” – moderation in all activities leads to harmony. Similarly, the Bible reminds: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Both scriptures point to the same wisdom – nurture with care, not with neglect disguised as convenience.

Handing over a phone to a child may silence them for the moment, but it might also silence their curiosity, creativity, and capacity for wonder. Parenting is not about ease; it is about endurance. A child’s laughter is best born not from the flicker of a screen, but from the warmth of human presence.

Let us not trade our children’s future for our fleeting comfort!

Beyond Desire: The Eternal Bond of Man and Woman

Beyond Desire: The Eternal Bond of Man and Woman

The relationship between man and woman is one of the most enduring mysteries of creation. It is not merely a contract of the body but a covenant of the soul. To imagine it as driven only by sensual longing is to dim the sacred lamp that illumines companionship, sacrifice, and growth. Across traditions—Vedic, Biblical, and philosophical—this union is portrayed as divine, inevitable, and eternal.

The Vedic Vision

The Vedas emphasise that man and woman are not opposites but complements. One of the hymns of the Ṛgveda celebrates the sacred bond:

“समानी प्रपदा भवः समाना हृदयानि वः।
समानमस्तु वो मनो यथा वः सुसहासति॥” (Ṛgveda 10.191.4)

“May your steps be in harmony, may your hearts be as one,
May your minds be united, so that you may live together in joy.”

The Manusmṛti too asserts:

“यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः।
यत्रैताः तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राः क्रियाः फलाः॥” (Manusmṛti 3.56)

“Where women are honoured, there the gods rejoice;
Where they are not honoured, no sacred rite yields fruit.”

Here lies a profound truth—that the dignity of a woman determines the sanctity of the household, and through it, the strength of society.

The Upanishads, in their symbolic language, declare the principle of Ardhanārīśvara—that the cosmic being is both male and female, Śiva and Śakti, two energies bound in one. Creation itself is incomplete without their union.

The Biblical Foundation

The Bible too speaks with equal reverence. In Genesis 2:24, it is written:
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

The Book of Proverbs (31:10-11) extols the virtuous woman:
“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.”

In the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 11:11 reminds us:
“Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.”

And in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 we read:
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

These verses speak not of hierarchy, but of mutuality. Not of domination, but of companionship.

Beyond Flesh, Toward Spirit

Man and woman are meant to refine one another. Just as the chisel sharpens the stone into a sculpture, so too love, respect, and sacrifice carve two incomplete beings into one shared life.

Philosophers have long intuited this truth. Plato, in the Symposium, describes love as the search for one’s other half. Indian philosophy, through the symbol of Ardhanārīśvara, tells the same story: that the essence of life is in union, not division.

The Contemporary Lens

It is undeniable that in today’s times, relationships have sometimes been reduced to abuse, exploitation, or fleeting passion. Yet, even amid this decline, the ideal still holds. Where mutual respect exists, the bond of man and woman remains the cornerstone of civilisation—the hearth of love, the cradle of future generations, and the mirror of divine companionship.

Not lust alone, but light they share,
A sacred bond, beyond compare.
When hearts unite, the soul takes flight,
Two flames as one, dispel the night.

Honour her voice, respect his care,
In mutual love, the divine is there.
For man and woman, hand in hand,
Are heaven’s dream upon the land.

A World Without Music: The Echoes of Silence

A World Without Music: The Echoes of Silence

If ever there comes a day when music deserts me, I shudder to think what my existence would be like. Music is not just an ornament of life, it is its very breath, the invisible companion that walks beside us through valleys of sorrow and peaks of joy. Without it, life would appear like a painting drained of colour, a night sky robbed of its stars, or a prayer without its echo.

Every note, every chord, every rhythm, is a language of the soul. It whispers in solitude, roars in celebration, consoles in grief, and heals in despair. Without music, mornings would be nothing more than mere awakenings, evenings mere closures, and nights long corridors of silence. Where would the lullabies of mothers, the hymns of temples, the chants of monks, or the tender strains of a flute find their place?

Poets have long said that “music is liquid architecture, and architecture is frozen music.” It builds bridges where words fail, and yet, in its absence, those bridges collapse into the void of plain speech. Without music, love would lose its serenades, revolutions their anthems, and worship its hymns. Even nature would seem incomplete if we could not hear the rustle of leaves as a melody, the rain as a rhythm, or the bird’s chirp as a ballad of hope.

In truth, music is the invisible pulse that reminds us of our humanity. A world without it would be mechanical, where life would march to the tick of the clock, not to the beat of the drum. It would be a strange wilderness of silence where emotions would wander, homeless and unheard.

Philosophical Whispers

“Without music, life would be a mistake.” – Nietzsche

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.” – Victor Hugo

“The universe itself hums a tune; silence only deepens its mystery.”

Without a song, the heart would weep,
Dreams would wither, shadows creep.
The soul would thirst, the spirit tire,
No spark to kindle, no flame of fire.

But where music breathes, life takes flight,
Darkness softens, sorrow turns light.
For every note is a prayer unspoken,
A bond eternal, never broken.

Holidays: The Symphony of Rest and Renewal”

“Holidays: The Symphony of Rest and Renewal”

The word holiday has always carried an aura of joy, freedom, and celebration. It is more than a pause in the calendar; it is a sacred rhythm in the music of life where rest meets revelation. In the hustle of our contemporary age, where technology blinks even in our sleep and economics shapes even our leisure, holidays have become not just escapes but investments—into health, relationships, and the soul itself.

To me, a holiday is not merely a date on the planner but a philosophy of reclaiming time. It is the art of turning hours into experiences—be it in quiet reflection, familial laughter, or journeys that stretch the imagination. Some holidays are painted with the vibrancy of festivals: lanterns, lamps, or fireworks that remind us of shared traditions. Others are intimate, where one curls with a book, stirs a slow-cooked meal, or allows music to whisper forgotten memories.

Yet, the question in today’s world is not just how we celebrate, but why we celebrate. In an economy where working couples race against deadlines and students live in the glare of competition, holidays act as a balm—resetting both body and spirit. They become bridges to reconnect with family, a moment to step out of the transactional world and revisit the emotional one. A hike into the hills, a prayer whispered in the quiet of dawn, or even an indulgence in a street-side meal—all these carve joy from simplicity.

Philosophically, holidays are a reminder of our mortality and our need for balance. Aristotle spoke of eudaimonia—the flourishing life—which cannot be achieved without leisure. Similarly, in Indian philosophy, ananda (bliss) is seen not in constant activity but in contemplative pauses. Thus, holidays are not wasteful luxuries, but essential nutrients of the soul, much like water to parched soil.

Economically too, holidays are entwined with our times. Tourism fuels livelihoods, local artisans thrive during festive sales, and entire industries pulse with the rhythm of holiday spending. At the same time, minimalistic and eco-conscious holidays are gaining ground—travel that treads lightly, celebrations that are mindful, and choices that balance joy with responsibility towards nature.

In the end, my holidays are not about extravagance but about meaning. They are opportunities to recharge, reflect, and return with renewed energy to the cycle of everyday life. They are songs of gratitude for time, for togetherness, and for the timeless beauty of being alive.

And as I close, let me leave you with a few verses that capture the melody of holidays:

When days grow long and work turns deep,
A holiday calls, like a dream in sleep.
Not gold, not wealth, nor fleeting gain,
But peace of heart is the sweetest chain.

In laughter’s glow, in silence rare,
In journeys made, or whispered prayer,
The soul finds rest, the spirit sings,
Holidays gift us timeless springs.