VIVA-RKMM - Inspired Living #VIVAVIVA-RKMM - Inspired Living #VIVAhttps://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/tag/vivaThu, 09 Apr 2026 06:41:13 +0530http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Upholding Values at the Workplace]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/february2026This blog is dedicated to values and lessons we can learn from the professional / corporate sector.]]>
This blog is dedicated to values and lessons we can learn from the professional / corporate sector. Knowing and upholding values such as truthfulness, trust, balance, adaptability, we believe, can help us not only in our long-term professional growth but also bring along with it a sense of deep contentment.

Do People Burnout Faster in the Corporate Sector?
​Sivarama Krishnan

Three decades ago, when I embarked on my professional journey, the country was experiencing significant transformation, creating a strong drive for growth and ambition among us. What mattered to most of us was performing quality work and pursuing emerging opportunities. I recall a senior colleague who consistently shared two guiding principles: first, the importance of having a genuine passion for your work, and the second is - value of following guidance with dedication. He often referred to a renowned saying from a saint in Rishikesh—"Jano na tho Mano," meaning "either learn or follow." This philosophy became central to our approach at work. Engaging in tasks with enthusiasm and within areas of interest leads to professional fulfilment and joy.


Over the years, the perception that individuals experience burnout in the corporate sector has become increasingly widespread. But, upon closer analysis of Swami Vivekananda’s lectures, we can argue that the burnout may be less attributable to the industry itself and more closely related to one's personal mindset, decisions, and sense of purpose. Swami Vivekananda consistently asserted that work itself does not inherently lead to exhaustion or burnout; rather, it is the attachment to the results of work that does. In his lectures on Karma Yoga, he articulated two key principles. First, organisations should focus on the processes and means, rather than solely on end outcomes—though this topic extends beyond the scope of this article. Second, when individuals are motivated by external rewards such as status, monetary gain, or fear of failure, it usually results in  burnout. However, when work is undertaken in the spirit of worship and service without attachment to the results, it serves as a source of strength and happiness.


Swamiji stressed the importance of freedom of thought and conscious choice warning against mechanical living, urging individuals to understand their own nature (svabhava). When one chooses the work consciously, aligns it with their svabhava, and performs it in the spirit of detachment and service, work is more satisfactory and not a cause of burnout.  

How to Stay Calm When Both Work and Home Make Demands
Sakshi Goyal 

I enjoy my work. I love to take up challenging tasks. I strongly believe that one needs to work on building skills and the rest (money, fame, position etc.) automatically follow. Working late nights, making presentations, digging interesting insights from the data, early morning meetings in case of different time zones never feel like a burden.


This was all possible until home began demanding my attention simultaneously. Our 7-year-old son, my husband and I were in total sync in managing daily routines where my husband went for work and my son used to be in daycare until 6 pm. There were only some days that adjustment was required when our son was ill and one of us was needed to take care of him. But a growing child has growing demands. He no longer wanted to go to day care as his all friends were now grown up too and he wanted to spend time playing sports with his age group. The fights among friends were no more a momentary thing but would bring more emotional feelings. His growing interest in football and rigorous practice sessions needed a more enriching diet. A sense of guilt started creeping in that I was not able to pay attention to his growing needs (emotional, physical, developmental). At the same time, growth in career came in, the nature of my work changed. Many stakeholders would mean many expectations. More expectations would mean increased availability at work. On the other hand, keeping sync between my husband and me became a challenge.


Was I not able to effectively balance work and home or did I not have the right spirit to support my family? Was my family expecting too much from me or was I not able to manage time? These questions troubled me. Guilt raced with self-doubt, a deadly combination leading towards a loop of disrupted clarity, decreased focus, and decreased performance.


This was the place where I stopped becoming critical of myself and my situation but focused on accepting – myself and the situation. I changed the questions I asked myself. What matters most to me? What is it that I cannot afford to compromise on? What is my priority at the moment? How can I best utilize my time? Out of the options available, what is the basis of response - present need or future need? Do I talk to someone and take guidance?


As I got the answers to the above, deeper self-reflection took me to the journey where "work-life balance" became a misleading term because it implied a perfect 50/50 split that stays still. Rather work-life integration or counterbalancing—where you accept that one side will always be "louder" than the other at any given time, became my saving mantra. Understanding the power of saying "not right now" instead of "no".  Success isn't doing it all, it’s being present in the room you are currently standing in. Swami Vivekananda mentions in the talk “Powers of the Mind” that we need to learn to concentrate and also learn detachment at the same time. Calmness is a default by-product of clarity in priority, self-discipline, increased focus and mastering the art of detachment.


What helped me was remembering that it is not an overnight change that one can bring. It’s a journey of self-mastery to be uncovered. Being compassionate with oneself. One may take less or more time than others.  Focus on the journey. 

Handling Stress in the Corporate World
​Suresh Srinivasan

Every individual on this planet wants to be happy and wants to live his/her life with comfort, stress-free, enjoying with friends and family. A student in her final year of studies is looking to graduate and get a lucrative job in the corporate sector or a government job. A working employee expects to grow in his career and looking for promotion, bonus, increments and other benefits.  But there lies the catch! The gap between what we have and what we wish for, keeps growing bigger and bigger and this leads to a lot of dissatisfaction, frustration, depression and the dreadful word “Stress”.

With the world turning increasingly “VUCA” – Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous, the number of disgruntled employees in the corporate sector is increasing and we commonly hear a lot of talk on employee stress, pressure of work, disgruntlement and early health problems!

In my journey of forty plus years in the corporate sector, I have seen a radical change in the Employer-Employee relationships. When I passed out of college, getting a job was considered a luxury and if it was a government job, it was a bonanza! Very few contemplated a job change. You had employees who had completed 4 decades in the organization. Fast forward to today’s times, you do not see any employee planning to spend more than two or three years in a job. Moreover, employers also have no qualms in laying off persons due to falling profits in a quarter!  Loyalty has become a forgotten word in the corporate dictionary today. 

Why is there so much disillusionment in today’s Corporate World?  We hear of burn-out, work-life imbalance, young age heart ailments, suicidal thoughts, marital discords and lots more.  A look into some of the common causes of these myriad problems at work

1.Role mis-fit:  This is one of the most common reasons for stress at work. In our anxiety and eagerness to get a job and more so, in a company of repute, we compromise on our actual skills and talents and accept a work responsibility not suited to our tastes and liking.  This leads to a gradual sense of monotony, listlessness leading to inefficiency and ultimately stress.

2.Toxic Environment:  Poor workplace conditions, long hours of work, undefined hierarchy, biased management, poor appraisal systems, arbitrary decision making, lack of respect among peers all contribute to feeling of despair and stress

3. Job Insecurity:  Frequent churns and layoffs in the company, a hire and fire culture and changing economic conditions affecting the company may lead to a constant fear of retaining your place in the team.

4.Heavy Workload: This has become a norm in today’s corporate world where the employer in order to reduce manpower costs, keeps down-sizing the company and expects each individual to take up more and more workload and responsibility.

How do we overcome these challenges and pitfalls and stay calm and stress free?

1.Self-Belief:  This is vital and most important.  Never stop believing in yourself and your infinite possibilities.  Each challenge, if carefully analyzed and dissected with your own unique lens, will give you a solution which will help you surmount the challenges.

2.Acceptance: The world is not ideal and it would be foolhardy to expect it to change the way you want it to be. Accept the situation for what it is and reflect on how to tackle the situation. Remember, acceptance is not resignation to the situation or tolerating a situation! It only means acknowledging that there is a problem!

3.Continuously expand yourself:  Keep improving your skills and strengths.  If you are given a mundane work, find something in that work which you can improve or make it interesting.  An accountant going through a multitude of figures and numbers may find it monotonous but if he is able to find a creative way to sift through the accounts, he will start enjoying it!  Match your strengths and skills to the challenges of the job and you will find your flow!!*

4.Live in harmony: Make as many like-minded friends and peers. Create a social environment where you can relax and rejuvenate

5.Have a mentor: Find someone you can trust and confide.  Seek advice and this may help give a new perspective to the problems.

6.Be curious and creative in whatever you do: Have an inquisitive mind and explore beyond your work. Learn what the other departments, and other functional groups are doing. Read what is happening around you, new ideas, concepts, innovations, etc. Never give up on learning!

7.Always follow your Dharma: Do not compromise on your values and beliefs. This may sound counter-intuitive, but in the long run, it pays

8.Seek perfection: Strive to continuously improve, little by little, Kaizen after Kaizen. It will give you tremendous satisfaction and courage to take up bigger challenges and maybe achieve breakthrough results.

9.Have a vocational pursuit: A hobby such as music, sports, social service in your free time is a must to relieve your stresses and forgetting your worries where you can pursue some activity which enriches your mind, enlivens your senses and rejuvenates your brain!

My Own Experience

At the age of 50, I was called by a very big corporate group in the South to head their marketing division comprising four auto component companies, a large company and three smaller companies. It sounded like a formidable job with seemingly lot of responsibilities.  I took it up and gave up my earlier job in a smaller group.  Only after joining the new group, did I realise my folly!  Although I was recruited by the Chairman and  the President of the group, I was not welcome in the large company by the employees who were all old employees with more than 20-25 years of experience.  The other team leaders looked at me with skepticism and I soon found myself being a fish out of water! I was not invited to any meetings, no one updated on the day-to-day happenings. Every day morning, I had a tough time forcing myself to get to work. My Group President who was my boss, said that this was the culture of the organization and I had to find my way in. It was then I started thinking what I need to do. I found out that the other three smaller companies within the group were not doing too well. I started focusing on these companies. They were remote locations and slowly started involving myself in their meetings. I started advising on how to improve sales and operations and the members there being relatively young and amenable to advice, started confiding in me. Many of the new initiatives there started to yield results and this was noticed by the Chairman in the monthly reviews. Meanwhile, in the main company, there was a scandal where some of wrong doings were found and the top leadership was asked to resign. I was given the charge of heading the marketing under a new President. I came back centre-stage and finally retired from the company on my superannuation.  When I reflect back, I feel a sense of satisfaction that I did not succumb to my stress and depression but found an alternative outlet to channelize my strengths and regain my stature and rightful place.

* - Finding Flow – The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life By Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Corporate is the Actual Classroom
​Yashwant Pankaj

I believe there are a few skills that the corporate environment teaches in the most efficient manner. Adaptability is one that I learned during my corporate experience. Every other month or quarter, you work on a new assignment or project with a different set of internal and external stakeholders. You learn to adapt in any given environment in a short duration of time. Sometimes even when your hard work doesn’t end in success, you learn to live with that. I still remember my first corporate experience, where I worked on a project day and night for more than four months, and suddenly, due to leadership decisions, the project was closed. At that moment, I couldn’t comprehend how to deal with such news. But over time, I have seen so many changes in the corporate environment that it has now become routine to work on a project for some time and then move on to the next with similar energy and motivation. With time, I have become more agile in both my personal and professional life.


The second learning from the corporates is that when everyone gives their personal best to the organization, it can result in the best for the organization and even more so if directed by informed leadership. In most corporate settings, most people try to maximize their own returns. Everyone works toward personal goals, whether in terms of position or money. This also leads to competition within teams and across teams. There is a lot of work happening, not always toward a common goal but toward individual goals, which sometimes does lead to better collective outcomes for the whole organization. However, if the company is driven by a strong leader who seeks not only high returns for investors but also meaningful change in the industry or society, an individual finds a purpose beyond money and position. I believe high attrition is higher in the first setting, where individuals focus mainly on personal achievements. In the social impact sector, the work psychology is different. Since money is not the primary driving force, purpose becomes central. From my short exposure to both corporate and social impact sectors, I see this as a major difference. In the social impact sector, people think more about collective outcomes, and the collaboration is stronger.


The third thing the corporate sector taught me is that everyone is simply doing their job and fulfilling their responsibilities. HR may behave in ways employees dislike, but they are playing their role and conveying the CEO’s message to the rest of the team in their own way. Similarly, the CEO communicates the investors’ expectations to the team. We sometimes feel someone is working against us or trying to take our place, but in reality, most people are just doing their jobs and carrying out their responsibilities. 


How Trust at work is Built Outside the Office
​Srishti Roy

Most conversations about “cultivating trust at work” sound like theatre. Mandatory team-building, corporate retreats, and carefully moderated vulnerability often make it feel more like performance than connection. My understanding of trust shifted not in meeting rooms but outside the office gates.


As an HR intern at Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, I noticed something unusual: our department worked with genuine ease and warmth. We regularly stepped off campus for lunch: bubble tea, Vietnamese coffee, and street candy when budgets were tight. It looked like a perk, but it wasn’t about food. Those moments created a pressure-free space where professionalism softened, and people could show up as imperfect, human versions of themselves. The “work masks” went back on once we re-entered the building, but the trust stayed. I assumed this was a cultural fluke until years later, when, as a mental health therapist at York University, I saw my colleagues overworked and burned out. Once we committed to a monthly off-campus happy hour, something shifted. A neutral space, with food and drinks as an excuse, let us see each other beyond roles and workloads. Trust followed naturally. Eventually, when off-campus breaks weren’t possible, those moments evolved into five-minute walks, bubble-blowing breaks, and unfiltered conversations on campus lawns. The setting mattered less than the intention.


Trust doesn’t grow from forced bonding. It grows when work briefly steps aside—and humanity is invited in.

]]>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:56:14 +0530<![CDATA[For the Youth / युवाओं हेतु]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/jan2026This blog is for all, especially the youth, appealing to our conscience to structure our lives around values to find success and live happily.]]>

The beginning of every year starts with paying homage to the greatest saint of modern India – Swami Vivekananda, also the youth icon of India. This special month of his tithi puja and birth anniversary celebrated as the National Youth Day in India, provides an opportunity to immerse ourselves in his ideas. His greatest teaching is ‘Practical Vedanta’ where he asserts that the ideals of Vedanta weren’t to be mulled over only in the forests or caves but also to be practiced in our day-to-day life. In our humble way, we can start to imbibe Practical Vedanta by leading a life of values and making responsible choices. This blog is for all, especially the youth, appealing to our conscience to structure our lives around values to find success and live happily. 

The Ideals that Swami Vivekananda expected us to have

by Dr. Anuradha Balaram from Bangalore

Let’s pledge to choose one ideal from the many and give our all to it

Whatever the obstacles that come my way I will keep the deepest mental poise and will always keep my mind cheerful. I will grow inside out.


When I find myself suffering, I will blame neither Man nor God but will look within and try to improve myself. All that I need is within me.

I will not be afraid of making a small beginning. I know great things will follow.

I will give up jealousy and conceit and learn to work unitedly with others.


I know great things require great sacrifices and I am willing to make them.

I will never listen to one friend in private accusing another.

I will be fearless from this day on.

I will have faith in myself first.

I know I can be a giant if I have obedience, readiness and love for the cause.


I will fill my mind with great thoughts and highest ideals as I know that from that great work will come.


Purity, Patience, Perseverance and above all Love – these are my ideals

अपने युवा काल को सुझाव
by ​Ramesh Dwivedee, Delhi

अपने युवा काल को अगर मुझे कोई सुझाव देना होता तो मैं दो देता।


पहला कि किसी भी कार्य की प्रक्रिया पर उतना ही ध्यान दो जितना कि परिणाम पर।


बल्कि परिणाम की बजाय हमें प्रक्रिया पर ध्यान देना चाहिए।यदि प्रक्रिया सही है तो परिणाम जरूर आएगा। होता क्या है युवा काल में हम बहुत सारे सपने देखते हैं और बस उन सपनों को लेकर हमेशा मगन रहते हैं।प्रक्रिया पर हमारा ध्यान नहीं होता। नतीजा यह है कि वह नतीजे नहीं आते जो हम चाहते हैं और बस एक भारी मन से जीवन में आगे बढ़ते हैं। 


दूसरा सुझाव मैं अपने मन को देता कि बीती ताही विसार दे आगे की सुधले।

  

युवा काल में हम बहुत सारे सपने बुनते हैं। हमारे बहुत से दोस्त होते हैं।हमारे पास कई वस्तुएं होती हैं।धीरे-धीरे हमारे वह सपने टूटते हैं, दोस्त दूर जाते हैं और वह चीजें हम से खोती चली जाती हैं।आगे के जीवन में हम सही निर्णय लेने की हालत में नहीं होते हैं और तब एक अवांछित जीवन में प्रवेश करते हैं।और कभी काल को कभी कर्म को और कभी ईश्वर को दोष देते हैं।हम तब भूल जाते हैं कि स्वामी विवेकानंद ने कहा है,“हम ही अपने भाग्य के निर्माता हैं” (“You are the creator of your destiny”)। तो यह मेरा सुझाव रहेगा मेरे युवा काल को। धन्यवाद।

Conversation between the Young Me with the Present Me 
​By Sumana Biswas Manna from Delhi

S1 (Young Me): I am so disappointed.

S2 (Present Me): Why, dear? What happened?

S1: I’m so worried about my exams, my hobbies, and everything else… Oh God, please help me.

S2: Why so anxious? How is your preparation going? May I suggest something that might help you?

S1: Will it help me feel calm, peaceful, and free from worry?

S2: Yes, surely. I’ve been practicing this for some time now. Come, sit here. Let me share a few points—choose what feels right for you.

Always remember: we have the right only to our actions, not to the results. This is beautifully stated in the Bhagavad Gita. So, study sincerely, with full attention, but free yourself from worrying about the outcome.

Next comes patience. Everything happens at the right time. No amount of hurry or worry can make things happen faster.

Another important point is letting go. If something happens against your will or choice, simply take a deep breath and mentally chant, “Let go.” Free yourself from that thought. This will help you stay calm and composed.

Finally, sit straight, close your eyes, and breathe slowly and deeply. You will feel relaxed. Practice this every day and notice the difference for yourself.

Along with this, eat light, home-cooked food, include plenty of fruits, drink enough water daily, and sleep well for 5–6 hours every night.

S1: Thank you so much for these tips. I will definitely try some of them. Bye.

Values for the Youth
​By Aman Rana from Gurugram 
​In my opinion, the following three values are very essential for youth to develop in order to achieve anything great and lead a life of happiness and contentment.

The first value: Immense faith in yourself and your ideals

William Shakespeare once said that some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. I cannot comment on those who were born great, nor on those who had greatness being thrust upon them, but surely, I can speak of those who have achieved greatness. People who achieve greatness by themselves have immense faith in themselves and their ideals. Mahatma Gandhi was ridiculed for his method of ahimsa to achieve freedom, but he proved its power and mobilized the whole nation. During a protest, he said: “They may torture my body, break my bones, and even kill me. Then they will have my dead body, but not my obedience.” Such was his faith in his ideals. Similarly, we see this in Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad.

In science, we have Thomas Alva Edison, Einstein, Nikola Tesla, etc. They all had faith in themselves. People did not believe in them initially, but they believed that what they had thought, they would accomplish by their own methods. Later, they proved it. For example, when Tesla conducted experiments on transmitting electricity wirelessly, people thought he was mad. But after some time, he proved it was possible, and today he is regarded as a visionary scientist.

In entertainment, Jim Carrey and Charlie Chaplin are famous examples. Even in history, some infamous or controversial figures like Napoleon Bonaparte and Winston Churchill demonstrated this quality of immense faith.

The second value: Perseverance

If you define determination as a mental state of firmness for a specific target or purpose, patience as the ability to wait for a long-term target with sustained motivation, and persistence as the continuity of effort in a stable manner, then perseverance is a combination of all these, and even more.

People have given different names to this quality. Some call it lagan (लगन), some call zidd (ज़िद), and in modern psychology it is often called grit. Today so many books are available on perseverance and grit in the market, some of them being best bestsellers, which show the relevance of this value in today’s world.

Researches conducted have found perseverance, as an overriding quality in persons who have achieved greatness in life. It is this perseverance, i.e., the continuity of effort with determination and patience that makes a person successful and life worthy.

The third value: Empathy

The above two values can help one achieve something great, but they do not guarantee a fulfilled and happy life. For happiness, one more value is required, empathy. Young people often feel that they alone are important in this world, that only their problems are the world’s problems, and that they have nothing to do with others’ problems. Due to inexperience and tremendous youthful energy, they often fail to recognize the struggles of others. But if they develop empathy, they realize they are just a part of a larger ecosystem, not bigger than it. If they feel connected with this world, they will be easily able to accept their mistakes, and can tame their pride and ego effectively. Less stress, less competition, more collaboration and happiness. Empathy is not just emotional contagion or sympathy. Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone, but empathy is trying to understand the real cause of their suffering. When one knows the real cause, maybe in the future one can help alleviate it. Empathy allows one to make this world a better place. Most great humorists and writers became popular because they can relate to people’s problems. They wrote so well that they gave solace to people through their words and helped make the world relatable, friendlier and hence a better place.

As a parting word - today the young people have become a little bit too mature and sophisticated, I think a balance of maturity and mischief is important.

A Note to My Even Younger Self
​by Shatarupa Dutta from Faridabad

Ones I wish I had understood earlier, and ones I now feel anyone who is young today may find useful.

Accept.

Doing what everyone else is doing will not make you “cool,” and following the latest Instagram trend will not make you seen. It only makes you distant from yourself. What truly matters is learning to accept yourself as you are, with all the flaws, confusions, and unfinished edges. It won’t feel easy, but time has a way of softening and shaping what feels rough today.  Be kind to yourself. And while you’re at it, accept your parents and siblings too. They may seem strange, quirky, and utterly confusing at times, but they are your closest confidants, the ones who will stand by you in ways the world rarely does.

Love them in their imperfect ways; they too grow and change with time.

Engage.

Read, read widely and endlessly. Immerse yourself fully in whatever work comes your way, no matter how small or insignificant it may appear. Yes, much of what you study may help you earn degrees, but there is always that unseen fraction that quietly shapes your perspective on life.

You’ll never know in advance which part that will be, so you better take the entire journey seriously.

Anchor.

Find your faith and strengthen it. Not faith as a label or ritual, but faith as an inner anchor. Discover what gives you strength, through reflection, prayer, meditation, or deep thinking. Return to it often. Regulate yourself around it. Strengthen your anchor, the ocean will get rough and you have a long sail ahead.

युवाओं के लिए तीन मूल्य 

by Saurav Bisht from Gurugram

 

मैं युवाओं के लिए तीन मूल्यों को आवश्यक मानता हूँ— सत्यनिष्ठा (Truthfulness), क्षमाशीलता (Forgiveness), और पवित्रता (Purity)। जब भी मैं इन मूल्यों पर विचार करता हूँ, तो मुझे यह स्वीकार करने में संकोच नहीं होता कि कई बार मैं स्वयं भी इन्हें अपने जीवन में पूरी तरह से व्यवहार में नहीं ला पा रहा हूँ, जबकि ये मूल्य मेरे लिए भी उतने ही आवश्यक हैं जितने युवाओं के लिए।

सत्यनिष्ठा (Truthfulness)

आज के समय में हम सभी—मैं भी—सोशल मीडिया और भौतिकतावादी दुनिया पर अत्यधिक ध्यान देने लगे हैं और धीरे-धीरे उन्हीं को ही सत्य मानने लगे हैं। परंतु वास्तविक सत्य इससे कहीं गहरा है। सबसे आवश्यक है स्वयंको जानना औरस्वयं के प्रति ईमानदार रहना। जब हम अपने प्रति सत्यनिष्ठ होते हैं, तभी हम अपने वास्तविक स्वभाव, अपनी आवश्यकताओं और अपने जीवन की सही दिशा को पहचान पाते हैं।

क्षमाशीलता (Forgiveness)

आज का मनुष्य अनेक विचारों, परिस्थितियों और बाहरी प्रभावों से अत्यधिक विचलित है। हम स्वयं को सही दिखाने के प्रयास में कई बार अनावश्यक बोझ अपने भीतर रख लेते हैं। क्षमाशीलता हमें यह सिखाती है कि हम हर परिस्थिति को बदल नहीं सकते, विचार और स्थितियाँ हमारे नियंत्रण में नहीं हैं, उन्हें छोड़ देना भी एक कला है। जब हम बाहरी शोर से हटकर स्वयं पर ध्यान केंद्रित करते हैं, तभी आंतरिक शांति संभव होती है।

तीसरामूल्य: पवित्रता (Purity)

आज हम प्रतिदिन अनेक दृश्य देखते हैं, अनुभव करते हैं—कुछ हमें तत्काल लाभ भी देते हैं। परंतु वास्तविक विकास के लिए मन, विचार और आत्मा की पवित्रता आवश्यक है। हो सकता है कि पवित्रता हमें अल्पकाल में कोई विशेष लाभ न दे, लेकिन दीर्घकाल में यह हमारे चरित्र, निर्णय और जीवन की दिशा को सशक्त बनाती है

3 values 
​By Tapan Dhar from Jammu
Every Jeev has intellect - ‘buddhi’ (या देवी सर्व भूतेषु बुद्धि रूपेण संस्थिता - 'दुर्गासप्तशती’) using which evolution takes place incessantly and in that process of manifestation, when jeev reaches human form, buddhi reaches a certain level where one responds to the internal and external world based on higher/deeper observations, analysis and conclusions.  

 - One starts taking into account what is permanent and what is transient/temporary (नित्य-अनित्य-वस्तु-विवेक).

 - One evolves further and discovers the commonality despite all differences/diversities and develops same sightedness (सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते| अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि सात्त्विकम् - Gita 18:20).

- One starts to celebrate and utilize this commonality to seek / find / realize the ultimate success – performing ones duties in an attitude of worship (यत: प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम् | स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानव: - Gita 18:46) प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म / अयमात्मा ब्रह्म / तत् त्वम् असि / अहं ब्रह्मास्मि).

Do you all agree? As for me, I totally agree with these and have found contentment following these values. I would be happy to see people - especially the youth of today, to test the validity of these ideas / values by practising them.

]]>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:00:35 +0530<![CDATA[On Spirituality (a year-end special edition)/ आध्यात्मिकता पर (वर्ष के अंत का विशेष संस्करण)]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/dec2025For this year end special edition we ran a survey within the VIVA team. We asked simple questions on spirituality and many gracefully responded, expressing themselves with vulnerability and beauty. Let's read what they have to say and learn from each other.]]>

For this year end special edition we ran a survey within the VIVA team. We asked simple questions on spirituality and many graciously responded, expressing themselves with vulnerability and beauty. Let's read what they have to say and learn from each other. Let's begin with a thoughtful poem that speaks of an ideal of approaching life like an ever flowing river.

जीवन एक नदी 
​by Dharmendra Pandey

अविरल बहती इस नदी को देखता हूँ
तो सोचता हूँ,
क्या जीवन है इसका !
शुरू हुआ तो अब रुक नहीं सकता
और मज़िल है समुद्र से मिलना
मार्ग कठिन है, अनजाना है
कहीं ऊंचे पर्वतों से गिरना,
तो कहीं घने जंगलों से गुजरना
कभी सीधा मार्ग,
तो कहीं टेढ़े मेढ़े रास्ते
कहीं मीलों मील पत्थरों पे चलना
तो कहीं दलदल से निकलना

कहीं पहाड़ों से गिरते पत्थरों के टुकड़े बदन को छील जाते हैं
तो कभी हवा और बारिश आसपास का कचरा गोद में डाल जाते हैं
कहीं निर्जन वन का एकाकीपन
या फिर शहरों का कोलाहली जीवन
अपनी इस यात्रा के दौरान
कितने अनगिनत प्राणों को सींचती जाती है
मनुष्य के जीवन और उसकी सभ्यता की साक्षी भी ये नदी ही तो है !
इस तमाम उतार चढ़ाव के बावजूद
इसने रुकना नहीं सीखा है
पत्थर भी मिले
तो उन्हें तराश कर, नया जीवन दिया
प्यासे की प्यास बुझाई

स्वयं को पूजने वालों का अभिवादन भी स्वीकार किया
लिया कुछ नहीं, सिर्फ दिया
किसी को पीने का पानी
तो किसी को सिंचाई का जल
किसी को निर्माण के लिए रेत
तो किसी को खेती के लिए उपजाऊ थल
पर गंतव्य एक ही है,
और वह है सागर से मिलन
असीम से मिलन!

लक्ष्य तय है
पर उससे पहले
मिले हुए इस जीवन को
परोपकार में समर्पित कर देना
कितना कुछ सिखा जाती है ये नदी
बाधाओं को मुस्कुरा के पार करना
जो मिले उसे सहर्ष स्वीकार करना

पर इसके बावजूद ध्यान लक्ष्य से न हटाना
काश कि मानव जीवन भी सतत सलिल प्रवाह सा हो!

To me, spirituality is ... (मेरे लिए आध्यात्मिकता है....)

Being calm and peaceful within and going out of the way to serve people

Nandini Seshadri 

A journey of self discovery, deepening inner awareness and making meaningful interactions for mutual transformation

Chhandita Sensharma

मेरे लिए आध्यात्मिकता का अर्थ है—अपने आप को जानना, अपनी चल रही जीवन-यात्रा को याद रखना, और हर पल खुद को बेहतर बनाना। यानी बीते हुए क्षणों को अपनी आँखों के सामने रखकर उनसे सीखते हुए आगे बढ़ना

Saurav Bisht 

Being easy with life by accepting everyone, doing good to others as well as to myself 

Sumana

Personal transformation 

Arpita Sud

Discipline to come back to doing the same thing

Jasbir Kaur

एक शब्द में कहना हो तो 'खोज', जीवन के वास्तविक उद्देश्य की खोज मेरे लिए आध्यात्मिकता है , संसार की क्षण-भंगुरता को स्वीकार करते हुए इसके अस्थाई अस्तित्व को सार्थकता प्रदान कर 

Shilpi Sharma

Finding a connection

Anuradha Balaram

Finding that God within

Sudha Nagendra

Becoming tangibly aware (and not only intellectually) of the higher Self and manifesting the realisation in serving others in a spirit of reverence

Parthasarathi Chakravorty

Freedom

Neha Phull

Spiritual place of utmost importance to you (आपके लिए सबसे महत्वपूर्ण आध्यात्मिक स्थान)
​Why is it important to you? (यह जगह आपके लिए क्यों खास है?)

Anuradha Balaram
Nandini Seshadri
Parthasarathi Chakravorty
Sudha Nagendra
Chhandita Sensharma
Saurav Bisht
Jasbir Kaur
Sumana
Shilpi Sharma
Neha Phull
Arpita Sud
Anuradha Balaram

My heart

Walking in a park helps me look inside my heart

Nandini Seshadri

My home as my conduct makes or breaks the atmosphere.

The home is where I spend most of my time and do my spiritual practices so I feel connected.

Parthasarathi Chakravorty

Varanasi

I had done my B.Tech engineering course from IT BHU in 1991 and have kept going back to Varanasi once in a while. Kashi Vishwanath. Ma Annapurna temple. Ramakrishna Math Advaita Ashrama Home of Service. Manikarnika Ghat. You cannot explain Varanasi. You have to experience it. Eternal City. For thousands of years crores of pilgrims have visited Varanasi, lived, prayed and many passed their last days here. Read what Sri Ramakrishna says about Varanasi. He went there during a pilgrimage with Mathur babu.

Sudha Nagendra

Home

This is where I find myself most peaceful, I am able to feel myself meditating deeper here. A true meaning to my life is found here.

Chhandita Sensharma

A place where I am surrounded by nature

Provides a feeling of gratitude, oneness and interconnectedness. Being close to nature helps me to reflect and discover.

Saurav Bisht

मेरे लिए सबसे बड़ा आध्यात्मिक स्थान मेरी मातृभूमि चमोली उत्तराखंड है, जहाँ मैं पैदा हुआ और अपने जीवन के कई साल बिताए।

आध्यात्मिक स्थान मेरे लिए इसलिए महत्वपूर्ण है, क्योंकि मैंने अपने जीवन के कई अहम पल वहीं बिताए हैं। मेरी जीवन-यात्रा में उसका बड़ा योगदान रहा है। जब भी मैं वहाँ जाता हूँ, तो मेरा पूरा बचपन से लेकर आज तक का समय मेरी आँखों के सामने उतर आता है—क्या बदला है, क्या अभी भी वैसा ही है। मेरी वही यादें मेरे लिए सबसे कीमती हैं, और वही मुझे हर बार वहाँ वापस खींच ले जाती हैं।

Jasbir Kaur

My yoga space

Yoga gives a feeling of satisfaction & happiness for the moment and through the day. It inspires me to do it better each day. A peaceful connection is built within; where the mind is less chatty and more calm.

Sumana


Ramakrishna Mission Delhi Ashram

I was initiated there in 2018 by Revered Swami Gautamananda Ji Maharaj. The ashram brings calmness whenever I visit. I love to buy books and calendar from the ashram book shop. 
Shilpi Sharma

"एकांतवास" , और यदि किसी दर्शनीय स्थल के बारे में कहना हो तो तारकेश्वर महादेव मंदिर, जिला पौड़ी गढ़वाल, उत्तराखंड।

असीम अव्यक्त शांति का अनुभव हुआ , इस स्थान की ऊर्जा इतनी अधिक थी कि यहां प्रवेश करने के बाद पुनः वापस लौटना बहुत कठिन रहा। ऐसा अनुभव हुआ कि साक्षात शिव वहां पर वास कर रहे हैं , मैं वहां से कुछ नहीं लाई हूं बल्कि मैं खुद को वहां आंशिक रूप से छोड़ आई हूं पुनः जाने के लिए ।

Neha Phull

One of the beautiful spiritual places - Pyramid shaped Natraj temple in Pondicherry

I brought back rudraksh that was on the Natraj image inside the pyramid temple. I spent hours here alone right beside the beach. Silence, stillness and an easy joy pervaded the enitre place.

Arpita Sud

Thakur Sri Ramakrishna's room at Dakshineshwar Kali Temple

When I visited Dakshineshwar, I felt, despite myself, extremely moved standing at the door of Thakur's room and peering inside. The place in itself is important for spiritual seekers. An incredible and most beautiful 'leela' was played out here and in a past that is still relatable to most of us. It was blessed pilgrimage and I am happy that I got an opportunity to make it.

]]>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:18:56 +0530<![CDATA[Adding Value through Values - मूल्यों से मूल्यवर्धन ]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/nov2025At what point do we choose higher values? Why don’t we respond when values are imposed on us? What values can I employ at work in general and to my role as a value educator in VIVA specifically?]]>

At what point do we choose higher values? Why don’t we respond when values are imposed on us? What values can I employ at work in general and to my role as a value educator in VIVA specifically? These and many related questions are attempted to be answered in our articles this month on the theme of ‘Values’. Hope our readers question, self-enquire, discern and gain clarity. Let’s all add value to our lives by practicing Values. 

My Authentic Self and the Value it adds to my Life

by Ajanta Sircar from Pune

To a person whose sensibility is rooted in the Hindu ideological truths; he knows that his ‘authentic self’ is ‘The Self’ which is of the nature of ‘existence’, knowledge’, and ‘bliss’ itself. Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa’s fundamental message to mankind was this central idea and that to realize ‘It’ is the goal of every human life. Each and every individual is designed to intuit its presence within himself by what is ordinarily understood to be the ‘call of one’s conscience’/ ‘Atma ki awaaz’ (in Hindi). The pitch and clarity of this inner voice that guides us in making our choices, is relatively clear in childhood and begins to get blurred with time unless one continues to pay due attention to its presence. 
In common parlance, our ‘Personality’ is mistakenly understood to be our ‘authentic self’, which is constantly changing for the better or worse with time and experience. But ‘authentic’ is that which is Pure, True, Honest, good and legitimate and so in essence it 

should bring one everlasting joy, peace and contentment. When we brazenly and unabashedly express ourselves in the name of being authentic, do we always end up feeling peace and joy in the core of our being or are we left to languish in guilt and poor self- esteem?  In our present Avatar, we are a bundle of inherited positive and negative flux of aspirations and tendencies that is on a path to gain joy and contentment, deploying our strengths and weaknesses as a means to achieve it. Only if our aspirations can be directed steadily towards achieving the only veritable goal; by aligning our choices, values and personality- constituting our thoughts and actions, to the goal; then what we may exhibit and naturally express will resemble our ‘Authentic self’. A feeling of unshakable inner peace and joy even in the face of challenges is a sure way to know that we are on our way to unravel our ‘Authentic Self’. 

बच्चों में मूल्यों का विकास: आत्म-खोज का महत्व

by Anand Panwar from Jabalpur

बच्चों का स्वयं के माध्यम से मूल्यों (Values) को खोजकर सीखना एक प्रभावी और स्थायी प्रक्रिया है। जब बच्चे मूल्यों (Values) को अपने दम पर खोजते हैं, तो यह उन्हें थोपने की तुलना में बहुत अधिक प्रभावी होता है।
जब बच्चा स्वयं खोजता है तो बच्चे को अपनेपन की भावना मिलती है। जब बच्चे किसी मूल्य (Value) को अपनी खोज के माध्यम से अपनाते हैं, तो वे इसे अपने व्यक्तिगत अनुभव से जोड़ते हैं, यह उन्हें उस मूल्य (value) को अधिक महत्व देने और उसका पालन करने के लिए प्रेरित करता है। स्वयं से खोजना बच्चों को विवेकपूर्ण रूप से सोचने और मूल्यों के बारे में सवाल करने का अवसर मिलता है। उदाहरण के लिए, यदि एक बच्चा दूसरों के साथ साझा करने के महत्व को नहीं समझता है, तो उसे साझा करने के लिए मजबूर करने के बजाय, हम उसे एक ऐसी स्थिति में रख सकते हैं जहां वह दूसरों के साथ साझा करने का अनुभव कर सके। इस तरह, वह स्वयं साझा करने के महत्व को समझेगा और इसे अपने व्यवहार में शामिल कर सकता है, लेकिन जब बच्चों पर मूल्यों को थोपा जाता है, तो वे उन्हें बिना सवाल किए स्वीकार कर सकते हैं। 

 हालांकि, जब बच्चे मूल्यों को खुद से खोजते हैं, तो वे उनके बारे में सोचते हैं, उनका विश्लेषण करते हैं और यह तय करते हैं कि वे उनके लिए सही हैं या नहीं इसलिए जब वह स्वयं खोजते है तो उन्हें मूल्यों को वास्तविक जीवन में लागू करने का अवसर मिलता है और वे उन्हें विभिन्न स्थितियों में लागू करने का प्रयास करते हैं। यह उन्हें मूल्यों को समझने और उन्हें अपने व्यवहार में शामिल करने में मदद करता है,  इससे उन्हे दूसरों के साथ बातचीत करने और मूल्यों के बारे में चर्चा करने का अवसर मिल सकता है, जब बच्चे मूल्यों को खुद से खोजते हैं, तो वे अपने विचारों और अनुभवों को दूसरों के साथ साझा करते हैं। यह उन्हें दूसरों के दृष्टिकोण को समझने और मूल्यों के बारे में अपनी समझ को गहरा करने में मदद कर सकता है।

इसलिए हम बच्चों पर मूल्य थोपने के बजाय, हम उन्हें स्वयं खोजने के अवसर प्रदान कर सकते है। इससे वे अधिक प्रभावी ढंग से सीख सकते है और अपने जीवन में इन मूल्यों को लागू कर सकते है।

My top tips for Resource Persons on how to add value as Value Educators in VIVA

by Indrani Roy from Delhi

Attitude towards the work

If you are a resource person of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Institute of Values (VIVA) and take it up merely as an employment opportunity, you may not be able to fulfil the purpose of joining such an organization. This is a unique opportunity to develop your personality on the ideals set by our value education program. This requires constant engagement and getting aligned to the program in degrees. You have to see yourself as not just a content provider but a person who inspires. Your job is to facilitate and help the students unfold the infinite potential lying dormant in each of them. You are a great contributor towards nation-building. To achieve this, a service-oriented mindset is of utmost importance.

Patience, sincerity, and dedication

In implementing this program, you will be primarily dealing with teachers on whom you have no control or authority. Principals of the school may be of very limited help. You will have to win them over by love and understanding. There is no other way. Keep following up with teachers with utmost patience.

Relationship

Your success and the success of our program is directly proportional to your relationship with the teachers. Try to develop a bond with your teachers. This requires regular contact with your teachers. Reaching out to the teachers on call will be challenging in the initial stage but persist. WhatsApp messages can be used for communication but relationships can be built only by meeting in person and through telephone calls.

Communication

While communicating with the teachers keep in mind that each one is great in their place. They may be great contributors in their area of work, even if due to some constraints they are not running our program. Be a good listener. Listen with empathy to what they are saying without interrupting.

Lastly please bear in mind that students learn much more from who you are than what you say. Each of the resource persons should strive to become live ambassadors of the program, live the values and inspire with your wonderful personality.

Swami Vivekananda said, “purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success and, above all, love”. Let’s nurture these attributes in ourselves and strive to become shining examples of value educators.

Share an example where your innate value added value in someone's life.
​Can you share an instance when someone's value added value in your life?
​How has the meaning of a value unfolded for you over time?

Share your thoughts in the comments box below

]]>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 14:27:36 +0530<![CDATA[VIVA Retreat 2025 - वीवा समागम २०२५ ]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/june2025In this blogpost, you can find reflections on VIVA's team retreat, held in May 2025 at the Sarada Tapovan. Our team members share a witness account, a poem, a photo album and their key takeaways!]]>

In this blogpost, you can find reflections on VIVA's team retreat, held in May 2025 at the Sarada Tapovan. Our team members share a witness account, a poem, a photo album and their key takeaways!

A Witness Account

- Anuradha MS (Bengaluru)

On 4th May 2025, in the cool morning air of Gurugram, one could hear joyous voices, witness deep hugs and delighted laughter, as colleagues/team members met and greeted each other, like long lost friends! Off we went on a day long journey, in comfortable buses, like a veritable platoon. The destination was compelling and sacred: Sarada Tapovan at Jaulangi, Uttarakhand. 

The journey was arduous for those experiencing travel sickness; the rest made up in spirit and energy, as they discussed programs, progress, sang songs, or just narrated experiences. The view of the Himalayas and streams in the valleys, was stunning; heavy rain welcomed us as we arrived at our destination for the next three days. 

Each day began on a spiritual note, with meditation at the serene Shrine, with just peace and bird song for company. The three days of intensive joint study that followed, truly behoves admiration and respect. The topics ranged from self-discovery, purpose, self-expression and Karma Yoga to merging professionalism in service. 

Rev. Swami Shantatmanandaji Maharaj guided us through the tenets of self-discovery, based on the premise that almost all of us have no understanding of one’s true nature, or one’s purpose of life, so we are always looking outward, to mitigate the suffering/sorrow of one’s present birth. He urged us to look inward, with ‘vichara’, which would help in analyzing individual reactions to situations. Maharaj also stressed that as Karma Yogis, we have to connect with a higher ideal, to ensure that we serve without ego.

Click here to read more

Neha Phull, helped us discover the purpose for our being at Jaulangi, at VIVA and in the world. The session on Journaling helped us all in anchoring our thoughts towards introspection, at individual and team levels.

Govind Singh Bisht’s session on merging professionalism in service focused on the fine finish that is so essential in the nature of service that VIVA offers. 

While the above were extremely thought provoking and life changing moments, there was fun and frolic, over morning walks, exercise, meal times with creatively crafted games over evenings! The open sessions, where team members shared experiences, did bring tears of joy and sincerity, among many a brave heart. 

As the buses rolled out on 8th May, towards Gurugram, there was a more intense sense of belonging, of purpose, of wanting to do one’s best and of course, that we are all Children of Maa – our loving Divine Mother. 

Jai Maa Sarada!

जीवन मूल्यों पर चिंतन

- Sapna Sarkar (Indore)

स्वयं में जब चिंतन मनन किया तो, सब मैने ही यह जान लिया
(कुंवारे समय पर कॉलेज की पढ़ाई करते करते)
भाग रही थी मैं धन के पीछे, वैभव ही आधार बना
स्वयं के सुख को रखा श्रेष्ठ पर, कमाना ही मेरा स्वाभिमान बना।
(शादी का समय)
थक के जब मैं बैठ गई तब, विवाह के बंधन में बंधना स्वीकार किया 
खोदी सारी पहचान स्वयं की, हर निर्णय में विवेक से क्यों न काम किया।
स्वयं में जब चिंतन मनन किया तो, सब मैने ही यह जान लिया
जब जुड़ी संस्था VIVA से ,संभावनाओं को मैने पहचान लिया
कर्म योग में शामिल कर उन आदर्शो को, स्वयं का नया आविष्कार किया।

(स्वामी विवेकानंद शिकांगो यात्रा)
सुना एक व्याख्यान जीवन स्वामी जी का, उन जीवन मूल्यों को अपने जीवन में स्वीकार किया
युवा आदर्श आभाव में भी रह सकते थे, हमें ये पथ मार्ग दिखला दिया
भोजन भी मिल गया विद्यालय सफ़र में, मार्ग दर्शक बन शिक्षक ने रास्ता भी बतला दिया ।
स्वयं में जब चिंतन मनन किया तो, सब मैने ही यह जान लिया..
मां मेरी चिंता करती हैं, स्वामी जी भी रक्षा करते हैं
चुना ठाकुर ने करो कर्मों में शामिल, क्योंकि साधन हमें बना दिया
चिंता मत कारों जागृति सफ़र में, हम सबको बड़ा परिवार दिया।

(संघर्ष देख महाराज जी का कहना चाहुंगी)
क्यों मैं चाह करूं अतिरिक्त धन की, महाराज जी ने भी तो दान ही लिया
हमारी शक्तियों का परिचय करा के, जिम्मेदारी पूर्ण अहसास से समाज का उद्धार किया।
स्वयं में जब चिंतन मनन किया तो, सब मैने ही यह जान लिया
कर्म योगी बनी न बनी आज गर्व से यह मैने स्वीकर किया
जो फल सोचा भी नहीं था वो आनंद आत्मसंतुष्टि में पा लिया।
(अंत में कहना चाहुंगी)
हम ठाकुर जी की संतान हैं तो, हम अंश उन्हीं का कहलाएंगे
वो इस कार्य को कैसे करते थे, यही सोच से हम सब एक कर्म योगी बन जाएंगे।
स्वयं में जब चिंतन मनन किया तो, सब मैने ही यह जान लिया
स्वयं में जब चिंतन मनन किया तो, सब मैने ही यह जान लिया।

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A Tryst with Shraddha

 - Rohit Biswa (Shillong)

Looking back on VIVA retreat 2025 at Sarada Tapovan, I feel I have received three valuable gifts which will last for long with me – some unforgettable memories, great experiences, and learning from impactful sessions.

  • Firstly, I created many wonderful memories by meeting up team members whom I had only interacted or seen in virtual world. Meeting them face-to-face was full of fun and our time together was even more special. 
  • Secondly, the experience was incredible from taking my first-ever solo trip to sharing a room, attending sessions in a conference hall, going for a morning exercise, trekking and sharing a dining table with senior team members to the laughter, stories, and guidance I received during these moments taught me not only how to grow in life but also how to improve on the field.
  • The sessions led by Maharaj Ji, Neha Ma’am, and Govind Sir were impactful. But the one by Karthik Sir will be memorable session because it was about experience-sharing by our senior team members. Their stories showed me how the program has transformed their lives.

At last, I just want to say that I learned the true meaning of faith and Shraddha—which to me means respect, care, love, and support for one another. 

A team that serves, sustains!

- Sritama Roy (Kolkata)

The first thing that struck me most was Maharaj ji’s incredible willpower and selfless dedication to serve humanity. I was wondering how a monk could establish so much—not for himself, but for the greater good. I also observed the compassion and teamwork among few other team members as well—whether it was drying wet clothes or caring for the unwell, the spirit of service was everywhere.

I realized that when we focus on others or a larger cause, our own problems feel smaller, making us happier and more fulfilled. 

Another key takeaway was the importance of open communication. This retreat gave us the opportunity to know each other and resolution of conflicts through an honest dialogue exchange, which is crucial for a diverse team like VIVA for strengthening our team bonding. 

Overall, the retreat recharged me with positivity and motivation for the year ahead. I truly look forward to more such rejuvenating experiences annually.

Experiential Learning

- Bornali Pandit (Chandigarh)

  • I liked the team bonding which we developed in the team. I learned how I can become a more caring and helpful person.
  • In the retreat we were around fifty people. Each of our perspectives and opinions were different but all the members accepted and gave attention and respect to others’ views.
  • As a girl I felt I was in a safe and comfortable environment in this team.
  • In our program we speak about honesty, integrity and commitment and I felt that everyone in the team practices all these qualities in their day-to-day life.

    • Engraved forever in the heart

    - Priya Ruidas (Mumbai)

    I feel blessed that I was a part of the retreat which was held in Jaulangi, Uttrakhand. I got a chance to meet the VIVA family and bonded well with the whole team. It was a great experience. The retreat centre is on the lap of the mighty Himalayas which signifies how much dedication, conviction, perfection and care went into bringing Maharaj’s vision to life. I was completely in awe of what Maharaj has built for all our benefit. I experienced the vibration of the divine nature, the calmness of the mountains and peace in that place where it is easy to connect with oneself.

    Apart from the beauty of that place that we enjoyed, there were interesting sessions for us which were conducted by Revered Maharaj ji and other teammates. They helped me gain much needed insight. I learnt how I can reflect on things in my mind. I was able to understand through Maharaj Ji's sessions, that though it is not easy to find peace in carrying out our work or actions, there are some practices that can be adopted that can bring the much-needed peace we work towards. As a normal person, even I can become a Karma yogi. I gained a new perspective on VIVA’s program and understood how it is related to our life. I also got a chance to talk with Maharaj ji one on one that I think was the highlight of the retreat for me. The clarity that I received after speaking to him is helping me play my new role effectively.


    I would like to conclude by saying that it was an unforgettable experience with lots of lovely memories. I will always keep those memories in my heart with love and care.

    शारदा तपोवन में तीन दिवसीय कार्यशाला से मेरी सीख

     - Ravi Sharma (Ajmer)

    पहले दिन मैने महाराज जी के सेशन से सीखा की हम विषय, प्रयोजन, अधिकारी, सम्बंध इन चारों में तालमेल बिठाते है तो हम सभी स्वयं की खोज कर सकते है।

    नेहा मेडम के सेशन से सीखा इच्छा और उद्देश्य में क्या अंतर है और हमें हमारा उद्देश्य स्पष्ट होना बहुत जरूरी है ।


    दूसरे दिन महाराज जी के सेशन में सीखा शिव ज्ञान से जीव सेवा करना हमे कर्मयोगी बनाता है।

    गोविंद सर के सेशन से सीखा हम हमारे द्वारा किए जाने वाले कार्यों को सेवा भाव के साथ करे तो हम स्वयं का ओर हमारी संस्था कंपनी का विकास कर सकते है।

    वहां के शांत वातावरण से सीखा की हम हमारे मन को शांत रख कर कार्य को बेहतरीन ढंग से कर सकते है।


    A Pen Picture

     - Shatarupa Dutta (Faridabad)

    In the quietude of the Himalayas,

    Where the clouds whispered and the winds carried tales,
    Our team gathered—not just as colleagues,
    But as companions on a journey deeper than just work.

    Three days.
    No deadlines, no dashboards.
    Just hearts, minds, and souls—
    Pausing, reflecting, aligning and re-aligning.

    We sat in silence,
    We spoke in stories.
    We laughed till our eyes watered,
    And listened till our hearts overflowed.
    In every shared experience,
    A mirror of our collective spirit was revealed.

    From playful games,
    To dramas that stirred forgotten emotions,
    And musicals where voices met like old friends—
    With the joy of being seen and celebrated.

    There were tears—of gratitude, of grace.
    There was joy—deep, contagious, uncontainable.
    Love flowed like the downpour,
    Blessings crystallised like the dew on morning grass.

    And amidst all this,
    We found our why again.
    Not in spreadsheets or calendar schedules—
    But in the unwavering call to serve,
    To work with dignity, with love,
    And to walk together in purpose.

    We returned lighter, fuller, clearer.
    Yet, something within remains “positively dissatisfied”—
    Hungry for more connection, deeper service, higher joy.
    And so, we look ahead with gleaming eyes,
    To the next retreat,
    The next unfolding.

    Until then,
    We carry the Tapovan within us—
    As a stillness,
    As a song,
    As a promise.
    ]]>    Sat, 14 Jun 2025 12:55:00 +0530    <![CDATA[Our 2nd Podcast Episode on Happiness is Live!]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/ep2VIVA's podcast ' Inspired Living' is live with its second episode on Happiness. It features Swami Shantatmananda in conversation with Neha. This webpage contains show summary, bios and links to relevant resources. Please share your views, queries and suggestions!]]>
    Summary

    Basics of happiness can be understood by thinking of two words which are often used in each other's place - Joy & Happiness. Often used in each other's place, these words have a distinctive meaning. Joy is generated from within; things which I do that gives me joy. On the other hand, happiness is something that is largely dependent on external aids. Joy is a deeper bliss one experiences when they do things that are of value to their internal being. An even better understanding of joy is linked to the Upanishadic idea of our real nature - Sat-Chit-Ananda - You are joy itself! We don't remember this and often suffer on account of ignorance of our real nature. All the practices which our Shastras speak of, are linked to the ultimate joy that is intrinsic to every person. 

    Even when we analyse the life of a regular person going through a workday with their issues and responsibilities, we realize that this joy our scriptures speak of, can be experienced more and more as we move from a mindset of gross to subtle. This mindset has the potential to remove our existential problems and difficulties as well, as joy slowly develops from within. Life of Sri Ramakrishna is the perfect example of someone who was suffering with a fatal disease and yet he exuberated joy day in and out. His very presence and the atmosphere around Him was full of joy as He reached the subtlest element within Him, His own nature which is joy itself. If you are an aspirant, all suffering even can generate a tremendous sense of resilience and determination to delve even deeper to find out the Truth for yourself, your real nature - that is joy. Sri Ramakrishna used to say - look upon human beings as a veritable manifestation of God and find that joy within that you are God Himself when you are serving the human beings and the sincerity and honesty in your practice will help you trace that inner joy within yourself. We can and should use our rich heritage brought forth by our Rishis - what it is to live beautifully, to be in joy, what is fulfilment. Without running around we need to go back to these roots and explore our way to real Joy. Turning our perspective from striving for happiness to being joyful, constantly going from gross to subtle could be the key that unlocks the bliss in our lives. 

    About Swami Shantatmananda

    Inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s ideal of “Service to Man is Service to God”, a young professional embarked on a transformative journey within the Ramakrishna Order, becoming Swami Shantatmananda. A monastic for about 50 years, he had a 30-year stint at the international headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, where he contributed significantly with his expertise in the areas of financial administration and fund management, while pioneering staff welfare schemes. He also played an influential role in setting up the Sarada Seva Sangha, an NGO in Kolkata, working towards women’s empowerment.

    Subsequently, he took charge as the Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi in 2007, where he initiated programs to provide a foundation of education for a range of stakeholders by following a train-the-trainer model, which was extremely well-received by educators across India. The resounding success led to the founding of a new centre in Haryana, Ramakrishna Mission, Gurugram in 2022, along with the establishment of the Vivekananda Institute of Values (VIVA), which is dedicated to spreading the man-making, character-building ideas of Swami Vivekananda.

    Sarada Tapovan, a retreat centre in the Himalayas, situated at Jalaungi, Tehri District, on the Rishikesh-Uttarkashi Highway, is a significant milestone on the same journey, which was inaugurated in 2024. Built with state-of-the-art facilities, it offers a serene ambience for contemplation and spiritual practices.

    Swami Shantatmananda, also known as Jaishankar Maharaj, enjoys sports and music.

    About Neha Phull

    Neha Phull is a VIVA resource person who, while racing through life aiming to achieve one milestone after another, tumbled down the hill, and found the words of Swami Vivekananda coming to her rescue to help her lead a life of purpose. She says, "It is the unfiltered truth in the majestic words of Swamiji that not just picks me up in the worst of my days but also become a beacon of light to nudge me to move forward towards a bigger goal."

    Relevant resources

    5:03 - Sat-Chit-Ānanda - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/m/the-complete-works-of-swami-vivekananda/a/5-7-3-iii-the-absolute-and-the-attainment-of-freedom

    8:35 - Story of the Brahmachari - A version is found here - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/m/the-complete-works-of-swami-vivekananda/a/1-2-4-what-is-duty

    10:40 - Nisargadatta Maharaj - https://nisargadattamaharajofficialcenter.com/about-shree-nisargadatta-maharaj/

    11:29 - Sri Ramakrishna - Biography is accessible here - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/s/lsr/m/sri-ramakrishna-the-great-master/a/cover

    13:44 - Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita - English version is accessible here- https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/s/tsr/m/gospel-of-sri-ramakrishna/a/cover-1

    14:30 - Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva - An article eludicates the idea - https://vk.rkmm.org/s/vkm/m/vedanta-kesari-2013/a/05-shiva-jnane-jiva-seva%E2%80%94a-modern-mahavakya-oct-2013

    21:16 - The Bhagavad Gita - Link to Swani Vivekananda's talk on the Gita - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/m/the-complete-works-of-swami-vivekananda/a/4-2-3-thoughts-on-the-gita

    23:12 - Madalasa - Story of Madalas by Pravrajika Divyanandaprana - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp_ouj7Amug

    ]]>    Tue, 01 Apr 2025 16:00:01 +0530    <![CDATA[Our Brand New Podcast Episode on Perspectives is Live!]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/ep1VIVA's podcast ' Inspired Living' is live with its first episode on Perspectives. It features Swami Shantatmananda in conversation with Arpita. This webpage contains show summary, bios and links to relevant resources. Please share your views, queries and suggestions!]]>
    Summary

    When the same thing is viewed from the prism of different minds, it brings different colours to the same situation – like varied opinions, ideas & meanings and it is applicable to the simplest of things in life. In the world of senses, at the gross level there may be seen a sense of harmony for a particular situation, but at the subtle level of the mind, it is viewed differently by all, depending on their development. It is only when we evolve as a person, a better adjustment is possible. The life of Holy Mother Sarada Devi is a great example of the amalgamation of different ideas and minds. She could live with everyone in the same harmonious way by seeing the point of view of everyone around her. She said, ‘The one who can accommodate and accept, will survive, one who cannot, will perish.’ We can take her example and live peacefully by accommodating many minds. It is the sense of inflated ego that becomes an obstacle in pursuing this goal. When we learn from great people and their way of living, and follow it, we can succeed in understanding various perspectives. Growth in the direction from transactional to the transcendental level is the only way. Sri Ramakrishna too preached practicality and harmony from a spiritual point of view and many examples from his life exhibit that. It is the attention he paid to each person he met and guided them until the end, that made all the difference. The sixteen direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna followed the principles of their Master after his passing, accomplishing great things in life by merging perspectives, meeting people where they are and raising them to a level of greatness. Their transactional tasks too were guided by transcendental principles which they demonstrated all lifelong. Hence, we can say that it is at the phenomenal plane that all arguments happen when different minds clash and not at an evolved level of spirituality where all minds merge. Similarly, organizations function well when perspectives are understood and merged well. It is the leader that exhibits such values, when decision-making, conflict resolution and delivering quality come into the picture. In a household, it is still easier to maintain harmony as there is more time that is spent with each other and more space for personal reflection is presented. Eventually, it is the attempt to understand life in a broader frame that helps us let go of the mundane pettiness we generally nurture. ‘Be very strict with yourselves and liberal with others’ – is the mantra!

    About Swami Shantatmananda

    Inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s ideal of “Service to Man is Service to God”, a young professional embarked on a transformative journey within the Ramakrishna Order, becoming Swami Shantatmananda. A monastic for about 50 years, he had a 30-year stint at the international headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, where he contributed significantly with his expertise in the areas of financial administration and fund management, while pioneering staff welfare schemes. He also played an influential role in setting up the Sarada Seva Sangha, an NGO in Kolkata, working towards women’s empowerment.

    Subsequently, he took charge as the Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi in 2007, where he initiated programs to provide a foundation of education for a range of stakeholders by following a train-the-trainer model, which was extremely well-received by educators across India. The resounding success led to the founding of a new centre in Haryana, Ramakrishna Mission, Gurugram in 2022, along with the establishment of the Vivekananda Institute of Values (VIVA), which is dedicated to spreading the man-making, character-building ideas of Swami Vivekananda.

    Sarada Tapovan, a retreat centre in the Himalayas, situated at Jalaungi, Tehri District, on the Rishikesh-Uttarkashi Highway, is a significant milestone on the same journey, which was inaugurated in 2024. Built with state-of-the-art facilities, it offers a serene ambience for contemplation and spiritual practices.

    Swami Shantatmananda, also known as Jaishankar Maharaj, enjoys sports and music.

    About Arpita Sud

    Arpita Sud is a VIVA resource person whose philosophy is to bring meaning to her life by consciously choosing to grow her inner life

    Relevant resources

    4:50 - Sri Sri Mayer Katha (Bengali), translated as 'The Gospel of the Holy Mother' (English) - accessible at: https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/s/tsd/m/the-gospel-of-the-holy-mother/

    7:41 - Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3, Verse 21 - Link to Swami Vivekananda's talk on the Gita: https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/m/the-complete-works-of-swami-vivekananda/a/1-4-16-the-git%C4%81-iii

    10:30 - A Short Life of Sri Ramakrishna - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/s/lsr/m/a-short-life-of-sri-ramakrishna

    11:30 - Sri Sri Ramakrishna Lila-prasanga (Bengali), translated as 'Sri Ramakrishna The Great Master' (English) - accessible at: https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/s/lsr/m/sri-ramakrishna-the-great-master - hereafter 'The Great Master'

    13:05 - The Great Master

    14:30 - Girish Chandra Ghosh - https://belurmath.org/girish-chandra-ghosh/

    17:03 - The Baranagore Math - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/m/life-of-swami-vivekananda-his-eastern-and-western-disciples/a/1-12-the-baranagore-math

    17:57 - Swami Ramakrishnananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/s/sb/m/holy-trio-and-direct-disciples/a/ramakrishnananda-swami-1

    18:53 - Swami Abhedananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/s/sb/m/holy-trio-and-direct-disciples/a/abhedananda-swami

    19:16 - Swami Vivekananda - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/s/lsv/m/vivekananda-a-biography/a/cover

    20:56 - Swami Adbutananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/s/sb/m/holy-trio-and-direct-disciples/a/adbhutananda-swami

    22:00 - Swami Shivananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/s/sb/m/holy-trio-and-direct-disciples/a/shivananda-swami

    22:01 - Swami Saradananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/s/sb/m/holy-trio-and-direct-disciples/a/saradananda-swami

    22:06 - Swami Brahmananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/s/sb/m/holy-trio-and-direct-disciples/a/brahmananda-swami

    29:20 - Swami Yatiswarananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/m/monks/a/yatiswarananda-swami

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