Art of Living

Satsang: Non-Template Way to Bliss

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This article comes out as someone pointed me to a Facebook post by a dear friend and fellow Satsangi whose perspective I deeply respect, yet it sparked a need to share a different side of story and asked me, what would be my take. When it comes to spirituality, we must recognize that every individual walks a unique path, there is no single formula that works for everyone. Spirituality is not a specification based product that comes off an assembly line in a standard size. It is a deeply personal journey where what brings one person to tears of devotion might bring another to a state of silent reflection, and both are equally acceptable. In the end it is all about the journey of an individual from “Where they are, to What they are.”

Satsang and Bhajans are beautiful because they do not demand one rigid way of being. While finding stillness is a powerful outcome, for a significant many, it may not even be the goal. For many seekers, true aim is Bliss. This usually leads to a choice between two experiences, Shanti, which is peace, and Ananda, which is ecstatic joy.

Singer becomes the Song and Dancer becomes the dance

Art of Living Satsangs thrive on this very freedom, remaining non-prescriptive so that every seeker can find a rhythm that feels like home. There is no rigid template to follow, instead, these gatherings embrace spontaneity, allowing for a natural flow between meditative silence and high-energy celebration. This flexibility ensures that you are never stuck in one way of being. You have full permission to choose path that suits you today and change it tomorrow as your inner journey evolves. By avoiding a fixed format, these Satsangs stay fresh and alive, making spirituality a lived experience rather than a forced ritual.

Satsang means being with truth, and truth is not always quiet. Sometimes it is a loud, joyful celebration. Those who prefer slow, meditative songs believe that the aim is to calm the restless mind. For them, music is a bridge to meditation where slow rhythms steady the breath and help focus on the silence between notes. On the other hand, fast medleys and high-energy singing belong to path of devotion. These fast tempos help release emotions and bypass logical mind. When people clap and move together, energy builds up until it turns into pure bliss. For many, sitting still is hard because mind is racing. High-energy Bhajans take that restless energy and channel it toward Divine until it naturally settles into a deep, unexhausted quiet.

If someone feels fast Bhajans are not good, they are most likely looking only at the quiet side of spirituality. But traditional Bhajans often begins slowly and ends in a fast, ecstatic peak. Just as a dancer becomes the dance, a fast song allows a singer to get lost in the sound until the singer becomes the song. Not everyone finds the divine in a cave,  many find it in the beat of a drum and collective voice of a crowd. Stillness and bliss are two sides of same coin. Stillness cools the mind while bliss lights up the heart. If a medley makes you feel joy or brings you closer to the divine, it has done its job.

That shift from peak excitement to deep silence is exactly how devotion is designed to work. It is a cycle of expanding and then absorbing. High-energy singing acts like a spiritual spinner. It moves so fast that daily worries and ego are thrown away. In that state, you are not thinking about God,  you are feeling the vibration. When a fast medley suddenly stops, the silence that follows is not just absence of sound. It is a charged, sweet stillness. Because your body was just at a high level of energy, sudden drop into rest makes peace feel tangible.

Our team’s experience has shown us that music is a powerful catalyst for this transformation. We ensure that we always have a mix of fast and slow Bhajans to cater to needs of most of our participants. We have also realized that a non-stop medley of Bhajans from slow tempo ones to fast ones (especially those dedicated to Bhagwan Krishna), automatically results in a dance of energetic bliss among the participants. While at the same time, stillness is a practice some work at. For many in our sessions, stillness is result of singing so fully that silence becomes inevitable. Neither way is superior, but high-energy path creates a collective wave that carries everyone along. Essentially, Bhajans provide the fire of bliss and silence provides the ash of stillness. One lights you up and other settles you down. Both are essential parts of same flame.

Catering to Young and Old Alike (Shanti or Ananda?)

As I understand (I could be way off mark too) from various discourses of Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, varying speeds of Bhajans are a deliberate tool for harmonizing our inner state. The fast, rhythmic chanting is designed to shatter mental inertia and release stagnant energy, using high-tempo celebration to pull a scattered mind back into the present moment with intense dynamism. This energetic phase awakens enthusiasm and creates a sense of collective unity that leaves no room for worry. In contrast, the slow and meditative melodies are intended to lead the consciousness into a state of profound rest, allowing the nervous system to settle and the mind to transition from activity to deep silence. By moving through these different rhythms, Satsang effectively balances the logical and emotional hemispheres of the brain, using sound as a bridge to reach the stillness of the self. Ultimately, Gurudev suggests that the outer music is simply a means to cultivate an inner silence that empowers us to be more effective and centered in our daily lives. Satsang balances logical left brain (through knowledge) and emotional right brain (through music)

Success Needs Soul to Survive

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I received a longish query about my LinkedIn Profile Headline  Spiritualising Work and Humanising Workplace. Reproducing it verbatim below:

Mr. Suresh, your striking headline resonates deeply with me, though I’ve faced challenges applying these principles in a competitive corporate environment, specifically when met with pushback for suggesting that traditional practices like meditation can enhance individual contribution. I would appreciate your perspective on whether spiritualising work is primarily an individual journey or a systemic corporate responsibility, and how one can demonstrate that a humanised workplace fosters sustainable high performance rather than trading off efficiency for metrics. Given our current cold, data-driven landscape and the rise of automation, what practical first step do you recommend for a leader to begin spiritualising their team’s view of labor, and how can we effectively keep the human element at the center of corporate strategy?

Though I am no expert to prescribe, I can only write about my experience on this and what worked for me. Everyone’s journey is unique and we need to find our paths. I have only tried to practicethis aspect as a Mission and can discuss what it really means to me. BTW! this has been my Linked In headline for nearly 10+ years. Here we go….

For many of us, life is split into two boxes. One box is for office, bills, and worldly objectives (ambitions, growth, money etc). The other box is for temple, meditation, or prayer. We often think that being spiritual requires sitting in silence on a mountain, far away from the noise of a busy market or a demanding boss.

But this division is unnecessary. Spirituality is not an escape from life, it is a way of living life more deeply. In fact, our entire professional mission can be summed up in one powerful shift which is my Headline on Linked In: Spiritualising Work and Humanising Workplace.

Working Happily instead of Working for Happiness

Bringing Soul to the Workspace

Work is where we spend most of our waking hours. If we keep spirituality separate, we are essentially living biggest part our lives in a soulless vacuum. In Indian tradition, concept of Karma Yoga teaches us that work itself can be a form of worship.

When we focus on Spiritualising Work, we perform task with full focus, honesty, and without being obsessed only with result. Software engineer fixing bug with total integrity or teacher helping student with genuine care is doing something deeply spiritual. We don’t need to quit job to find peace, we need to bring peace into job. Instead of working for Happiness, work Happily

Power of Human Connection

Often, corporate world feels like machine where people are just numbers. This is where second half of the journey comes in, Humanising Workplace. Spirituality in office is not about chanting, it is about empathy. It is about seeing colleague as human being with fears, dreams, and family, rather than just resource or rival or just as a pair of Hands.

By treating people with dignity and kindness, we turn cold office environment into space of growth. This is not just soft skill as many want to describe, it is Hardest and much needed Skill , it is highest form of spiritual practice in modern world. No, it is not a theoretical or Ashram stuff. It is easy to practice and I see it done in many successful enterprises

Worldly Challenges as a Mirror

Our professional journey provides the best lab for spiritual growth. It is easy to feel peaceful when sitting alone in a quiet room. Real test of our character happens when:

  • A project fails at the last minute.
  • A colleague takes credit for our work.
  • The market goes down and stress levels rise.

These worldly moments are mirrors. They show us where we are impatient, where our ego is too big, and where we lack balance. Instead of seeing office politics or financial stress as distractions from our spiritual path, see them as the very tools that help we grow. An umbrella can protect you from sun and rain, but if you develop the ability to withstand the heat and cold, whether an umbrella or other protections doesn’t matter.

Balance of Dharma and Artha

Many Jigyasus (seekers) think that chasing wealth or making money (unless it is printing your own currency) is vulgar. In Indian Philosophy Purushartha (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha)  talks about four fundamental goals or purpose of human life. It suggests that a balanced and fulfilling existence requires pursuing these four pillars in harmony, rather than focusing on just one. Spirituality is not to advise one to ignore wealth or success. Concepts of Dharma (duty/righteousness) and Artha (prosperity) go hand in hand. We can strive for a promotion, buy a house, and provide for our family while staying grounded.

The secret is detachment, which doesn’t mean we stop caring. It simply means our internal happiness is not a slave to our bank balance or our job title. We should drive the car, the car should not drive us.

Integration is the Goal

Spirituality is simply the quality of our consciousness. If we are kind, mindful, and ethical while navigating the real world, our worldly journey becomes our spiritual journey. There is no need to wait for retirement or a pilgrimage to start.

Integration of work and individual

Every email we write, every meeting we attend, and every challenge we face is an opportunity to practice being a better version of ourself. When we commit to Spiritualising Work and Humanising Workplace, life stops being struggle between work and soul and becomes one beautiful, continuous flow. It is about wearing a formal 3 piece black suit as comfortably as wearing a white Kurta and Pyjama.

I would prayerfully like to acknowledge the source of this power I developed over a period of 25+ years – Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Founder of The Art of Living

What I have practiced with great success in major part of my 38 year old career so far, is to mirror what I learnt from observing what Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji of Art of Living has been saying and doing. Though these may not be the exact words, I have reproduced from the notes I have been keeping since 1998 (and in far greater depth and details from 2000) in my own words. If there is something awfully distant or erroneous (literally or philosophically) fault is mine.

Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Time is not linear. It is circular. What goes around, comes around. Do good to the world and good comes around many folds, it is just a matter of time. World is unthinkably infinitely good to us than we are to the world.

He has often spoken about how the banana of spirituality is hidden inside the peel of religion, it is the core essence that makes life work. In worst of situations (there is never dearth of it that is thrown at Gurudev on every second basis, He has shown us ways to do it, by being an example Himself. He says, Worrying doesn’t make any difference, but working does, spirituality gives one the strength to work. Spirituality is not a retreat into laziness or escaping responsibilities. Instead, it is the energy source that allows you to work harder and more effectively without getting burnt out. In one of His talks on business ethics in a WFEB conference, Gurudev highlights that intuition, getting the right thought at the right time, is the secret to success. He explains that spirituality clears the mental cobwebs, allowing a professional to access their intuitive faculty. When you Spiritualise Work, you aren’t just being good; you are becoming sharper and more creative because your mind is calm.

What I loved the most in this context and has worked for me very well is what he has said on the Human aspect of work life. In every meeting or talks, Gurudev emphasizes that the spiritual bond we share as a human family is more important than our professional identities.  He says, True leadership stems from recognizing the human element behind every workplace label, moving past titles like difficult boss or lazy subordinate to acknowledge individual stresses. By replacing rigid hierarchy with a friendly, empathetic approach, leaders can effectively humanize the environment and build genuine rapport. Ultimately, while rules may curb negative behaviour, it is a broader spiritual outlook that cultivates the inherent goodness required for a truly harmonious office culture. That in real is Humanising Workplace for me

He compares the modern workplace to a pressure cooker. Meditation and breath (Sudarshan Kriya) act as the safety valve. By keeping your inner space clean, you ensure that you don’t bring the stress of the office home, and you don’t bring the ego of your position into your human relationships.

Finally, Gurudev describes spirituality in the workplace as Equanimity. He says that Success is a smile that no one can snatch away. Whether you win a contract or lose one, staying centred is the highest spiritual practice. Spirituality brings a sense of commitment and a work culture. Taking responsibility is a vital component for any company’s progress.

Biotech’s Loss, Humanity’s Gain: 33 years of Divya

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The journey of these thirty-three years is not just an advancement of dates on the calendar, but a collection of moments where your strength outshone the challenging circumstances thrown at you. As April 3rd approaches, I find myself looking back at the staring bundle of 1993 and marvelling at the woman who has become the anchor of the family. We so badly wanted to break the jinx of no daughters in the family for generations (many even used to say we were cursed family). Not only God fulfilled that wish but what an amazing gift was bestowed upon us. Life was never the same thereafter and it got soaring higher and higher and getting better and better every day. We celebrate you everyday, but a bit more on 3rd April for THE BIGGEST GIIFT we have received.

From 3.1 Kgs to….

The Significance of Year 33: This birthday marks your completion of 33 year, called the Jesus Year. It is a milestone that symbolizes a turning point—a time of coming into one’s full power, purpose, and self-actualization. For you, this couldn’t be more fitting. You are entering this year not just with age, but with a refined soul and a clarity of mission that most spend a lifetime searching for. It is a year of rebirth and immense impact, and watching you step into this new chapter fills me with a sense of divine timing.

The Power of Self-Belief: From Biotech to MSW: One of your most defining traits has always been an unshaken belief in your own path, even when it meant taking the road less travelled. We watched with admiration as you made the bold, soul-led decision to pivot from your background in Biotechnology to formally pursue a Master’s in Social Work (MSW).

It wasn’t the easiest transition, but your conviction never wavered. You recognized that while science could explain life, your heart was calling you to serve it. That leap of faith, trusting your instincts over convention, is a testament to your courage. You navigated this change with a quiet, steely confidence, proving that your internal compass is guided by purpose rather than just a career path.

The Silent Language of Love: As I look through my albums, there is a specific set of pictures that always stops my heart, the ones where we are lovingly looking into each other’s eyes. In those frames, no words are needed. Your eyes reflect a deep-rooted respect and an old-soul understanding that goes beyond the typical father-daughter bond.

Here is one…
Another one
My Eternal Favourite

When I look at you, I see my greatest achievement; when you look at me, I feel seen, understood, and anchored. Those captured glances are a testament to the magnetic feature of the relationship, a bond of pure, unspoken trust that has only strengthened as you’ve grown into this remarkable woman.

From this….
….To this-Made even me Dance (Someone said I have 2 left foot)

A Heart for the World: Your humaneness is not a garment you put on; it is the fabric of who you are. We have watched with immense pride as your social service inclination turned into a lifelong mission. You are our Seva Warrior.

For benefit of the Blind Students
Dancing for Differently abled

Whether it was the countless hours spent with underprivileged children or the way you stepped up supporting me during the pandemic, managing logistics, food, and emotional support for others while the rest of the world stayed behind closed doors, you proved that your heart has no boundaries. You’ve always understood that spiritual elevation comes from the joy of giving selflessly, and you have touched thousands of lives with that magnetic feature of your kindness. As I keep telling a lot of them quite often (if I remember it right, I have also written about this earlier), If someone cannot accept that this is a beautiful world, one has to see it through your eyes to realize that it is true.

The Grace of a Mother: The most beautiful chapter of your humaneness has been written in the way you care for Anay. While the world sees your professional pursuits, we see the quiet, profound sacrifices you make every day as a mother to Anay. While ordering fancy food for all others, you stuck to your bland, but healthy curry leaves powder rice with ghee with same palak as the side dish. Your passion and personal preferences have been gracefully subordinated to ensure his emotional well-being remains the priority. We have seen you sideline your own hobbies, your rest, and your “me-time” to be the constant, steady presence he needs.

The precious Bundle

Seeing you with our grandson, Anay the little one who has become the sun around which our entire family rotates, is a masterclass in love. I still recall the moments just before his arrival; even in your own pain and anticipation, you were the one comforting me. That is the essence of Divya: putting the peace of others above your own. Watching you raise him with such tenderness and wisdom makes me realize that your capacity to love has only deepened with time.

For Him, all the time

Every hour that your job allows is poured back into him. You have mastered the delicate, often exhausting balance of being a dedicated professional while ensuring you never miss a beat in his life. Whether it’s staying up late to finish work, so your afternoons are his, or setting aside your own desires to nurture his growth, your motherhood is a masterclass in selflessness. You aren’t just available to him, you are fully present, making him the sun around which your world revolves.

The Ultimate Sister and Anchor: Your heart for service probably began at home without anyone realising, in your role as a sister. We often smile remembering how you took it upon yourself to discipline Vishnu when you were both small, you were his first teacher and his fiercest protector. Today, that bond has matured into something beautiful.

Big Boss to the Big Brother
With Kid Brother-Himalayam Responsibility
Making him Laugh and succeeding too
From Disciplinarian to Partners in Crime

Even with him studying for his Masters abroad, you remain his “go-to person.” Despite the distance and your own heavy responsibilities, you are the anchor he reaches for when things get tough. You guide him with the same wisdom and firmness you showed as a child, proving that a sister’s love is the ultimate safety net.

More Than a Daughter

You have long since crossed the bridge from being a daughter to being my closest friend and my most trusted advisor. You are frail but healthy in appearance, yet you possess the strongest shoulders I know. You have taught me more about resilience than any book ever could. There is an infectious perfume of happiness that follows you, a bubbly energy that masks a profound depth of soul. You learned to take life’s punches on the chin, meeting every challenge head-on before moving forward. Whether the world recognized your efforts or stayed silent, my love and pride would never have wavered.

But seeing glory finally come your way is the ultimate icing on the cake, a moment that brought a father to tears of joy that words simply cannot explain.

A Promise for the Future: On this 33rd birthday, I want you to know that your journey is my greatest source of swollen pride. If I were given a thousand lifetimes, I would choose to be your father in every single one of them. You are the Apple of my Eye and the light that ensures our home never knows darkness. On this day, as you complete your thirty-third year, I pray  that Divine light always guides your steps, illuminating the path as you continue your noble journey of service. I pray for your unwavering health, that your body remains as strong as your spirit, and your mind as calm as a deep ocean. May prosperity flow into your life in every form not just in material abundance, but in the richness of peace, the warmth of laughter, and the continued joy that Anay brings to your heart (and everyone else’s). May you always have the courage to follow your own truth, the strength to be the pillar for those who lean on you, and the wisdom to know how much you are truly loved. May your life be a perennial spring of happiness, and may you be blessed with the long life to see your dreams, and those of your children (hain! Did I make it a plural?), blossom into reality.

Stay exactly as you are—unwavering in your beliefs, boundless in your compassion, and forever our Chirpy and Blissed Di. Our world is a better, more humane place because you decided to grace it thirty-three years ago.

Happy Birthday, Di (Akhila to the world),
Your best chapters are just beginning.

PS: Someone said, “People born in 1993 are part of the Millennial generation (specifically the younger half) and are hitting that sweet spot where back pain starts becoming a legitimate personality trait.”