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Trekking adventures - From complexity to clarity

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What complicates life, I believe, is not what happens to us — but the context in which we live it. Each of us walks through life carrying a story. A story shaped by our experiences, encounters, and the countless decisions we are forced to make. Over time, this story becomes our worldview. We’re led to believe we’re in control — that we shape our destiny with careful choices. But if you look closely, every decision we make is already shaped by what we’ve lived through. We’re not really in control. Yet we cling to the illusion that we are. And that’s where conflict begins — where differences in perception take root. Because each person sees the world through their own lens. Their version of reality feels right, and the more they experience, the more their belief hardens. More disagreement, more friction, and even more reinforcement of the same views. But everything changes when we step outside that context. In the presence of nature — vast, untouched, and free — things become...
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A Moment with Ram Lalla: Reflections from the Maha Kumbh

When Gopanna, also known as Ramadasu, wrote: “Kaarunyalaya Bhaktavarada ninu Kannadi kaanupu Rama,” he was undoubtedly referring to experiencing Rama — our inner consciousness or Paramatma personified. It is not meant to be taken literally. When we had the darshan of Prabhu Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, these lines by Ramadasu came to mind. Yes, they are not meant to be taken literally, but the emotion one feels while looking at Ram Lalla is such that you can’t help but feel your sight has finally fulfilled its purpose. Personally, I couldn’t have asked for more during our entire Kumbh Mela yatra. It felt as if Mother Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati had conspired with Mahadev to grant us that incredible darshan of Prabhu Ram. There are many logistical aspects one could speak about at the Kumbh Mela — the efficiency of the Yogi administration, the commitment of all the personnel involved, the cleanliness, the cleaning workforce, the elaborate arrangements that are rarely seen in any I...
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Acceptance in the Eyes — A Morning at Kedarnath

"When I started this work, I couldn’t even lift much weight. I’m poor. I don’t eat well or exercise. If I’m now able to carry 70 kg all the way to the Mandir, it’s only because of Mahadev’s blessings. I’m a nobody." It was 4:30 AM. We had completed our darshan of Mahadev the evening before, and having woken up early, I had little to do. I stepped out for a walk along the temple street when a porter approached me, offering his services to carry me either down to Gaurikund or the short distance up to Kedarnath Mandir. “I’m still fit,” I told him, smiling. “I walked up yesterday and can easily manage the downhill walk.” “Aap ko kam mein kar denge, sir. Hamara boni ho jaayega. Karlo na.” His eyes were kind, and the way he pleaded made me feel guilty for being fit enough to not need his help. “Nahin yaar,” I said gently. “Ek time aayega jab hum aapke services ke laayak ho jaayenge. Tab zaroor aapka grahak banenge.” I really didn’t know how else to say no to his sincere offer....
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Nara-Simha

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We had a great time driving to Ahobilam from Hyderabad. We had splendid darshans of all the nine Narasimha temples, the main temple and an exhilarating journey to the top of the Ugrastambha. The Nallamala forests looked absolutely ravishing and had every attribute to lay a trap for the visiting devotees to fall in love and possibly form notions of settling there. While everything about our trip to Ahobilam was satisfying, one question remained. Who or what is Narasimha? Why did the God appear in this strange form of half human and half lion? The story goes that the demon king, Hiranya Kashipa, had the boon of immortality unless killed by someone who doesn't fall into any of regular categories of species and at a time that doesn't qualify as day or night etc. That is if we take the story at its face value. But if one strongly believes that Hindu scriptures are loaded with symbolism, then there is always a window of opportunity to deconstruct and understand the symbol...
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Agniveers everywhere

"Aap ki gaadi tho phas gayi sir"  He joined me as I looked in disbelief at my new car that just got its first dose of reality.  When I chose the parking slot in the morning, it looked like the perfect spot to easily reach the exit on my way out. So I manuvered the car to park there after driving through the spot just behind. If I had chosen the other lane then I'd had to do a reverse parking which is a pain. For various reasons I couldn't see a large box hanging down the roof at the entrance of the parking slot (if I had chosen to reverse maybe I'd have spotted it). The reasons for missing it, like I said, are various and varied. That's not the point though.   Anyways, as I started drivng out in a hurry while monkey balancing a serious conversation on the mobile phone, the top of the car hit that low hanging box and made a dent. Not a substantial dent but being the first one, hurt more. I got off the car, got off the phone and stared at the damaged car in disb...
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Curious case of a Robot that switched itself off

The lab wasn't like the ones we find in the movies. It was just a hall in a three bedroom flat that has been repurposed. The Scientist was a man of unlimited means, great thrift and a curious mind. A mind that was like none other and he knew it too. He was always looking for someone who could recognise that and engage with him at his level. While that never happened, he kept himself busy making robots. Now the robots the Scientist made were of extremely high quality. He focused on three attributes that'd make his robots the best - Ability to learn, discern and act. He built a circuit that allowed them to actively feel, learn and store from any and every event that the robot goes thru. The storage at disposal of the robot was almost infinite too. And then he built a program that enabled the robot to recall from the storage and use the information to discern the next situation and make a decision. When he finished and ran some tests, the Scientist was quite pleased with himself. ...
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Resonance

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The annual Himalayan trek - this has become synonymous with the reason I will be disappearing from the roll call of life during the month of May. I love these treks for various reasons ranging from fun to flora to physics (of the meta variety). But more than anything else for the opportunity it provides to connect back with ourselves - that genuine ourselves hidden behind layers of personas we created to wade through this complex journey called life. There is nothing more important and more invigorating to meet that part of us to get back the confidence that there is still a chance and purpose to this life. For all the things on offer during these treks, one thing that I never really indulge in is networking. Its a pointless pursuit and a wasted exercise if we end up trying to figure what people do in the world of business. It becomes a logical exercise in identifying common areas where one can continue to build a relationship but I don't think we should even bother abo...
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