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"If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place."
Shadow work and emotional work are essential to clear the mind of clutter. By bringing unconscious patterns to light and managing emotions, we dissolve the mental barriers that create the illusion of separation from our true self.
Mental health is dynamic, shaped by biological, psychological, and social factors, but the key lies in how we navigate our inner world. Training the mind through practices like meditation and mindfulness rewires thought patterns and regulates emotions, supporting both mental health and spiritual awakening.
This integration of mental clarity and awareness fosters balance, enabling us to live with inner peace, address issues of the personal-mind, manage psychological experiences in the relative world, and navigate life’s challenges with greater ease.
When you shift your inner world, the physical world follows.
This guide will go over the main areas you might address.
"A quiet mind is all you need. All else will happen rightly, once your mind is quiet. As the sun on rising makes the world active, so does self-awareness affect changes in the mind. In the light of calm and steady self-awareness, inner energies wake up and work miracles without any effort on your part."
When our mind is calm, we experience more of our natural happiness. The quieter the mind, the more we feel peace, contentment, and clarity. On the other hand, when our thoughts are intense and constant, we lose sight of this inner stillness and feel restless or dissatisfied.
Isn’t it true that when our mind is at ease, we feel naturally joyful and peaceful? And when our mind is overactive, we feel unsettled and incomplete? This suggests why we feel perfect happiness in deep sleep: in that state, the mind withdraws from activity, allowing us to rest in our true nature. Without thoughts to obscure our inner peace, we experience unbroken contentment. It is clear, then, that happiness is a state of being rather than doing.
As long as we’re identified with our thoughts and actions, we experience happiness and unhappiness as limited, relative states. But when we rest in stillness—being rather than doing—we encounter the unlimited, absolute happiness that is our essential nature.
Our true being is happiness itself. When we simply remain in our natural state, without rising into thought, we encounter pure, unconditioned joy. This inherent happiness is always within us, untouched by external circumstances.
By recognizing this truth and allowing our mind to be still, we can connect with this inner contentment in both waking and dreaming states. Any happiness we feel when our mind is relatively calm is merely a fraction of the limitless happiness that resides within us.
How, then, can we create an equanimous state of mind?
Our essential being is happiness itself. When we rest simply as our being, without rising to think or act, we experience this perfect happiness. As soon as we rise as the thinking mind, we encounter restlessness and discontent.
Thus, the obstacle to experiencing full, complete happiness is our own mental activity. The more we allow our mind to become calm, the more we connect to the contentment that is inherently our own.
"The mind is by nature restless. Begin liberating it from its restlessness; give it peace; make it free from distractions; train it to look inward; make this a habit. This is done by ignoring the external world and removing the obstacles to peace of mind."
Emotion work involves understanding, managing, and expressing emotions in both personal and social contexts. It involves recognizing emotions as they arise, regulating them, and communicating them clearly.
The practice helps to develop emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness.
Emotion work often involves developing emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness to navigate the complexities of human emotions effectively.
Emotion work is about moving beyond the identification with emotions as part of a personal story. By shifting to a broader, non-dual awareness, you begin to see that emotions, like thoughts, are simply passing clouds in the sky of consciousness.
You realize they don’t define your true self, allowing you to meet them with spaciousness, compassion, and understanding. In this way, non-duality offers a profound approach to emotional healing, one that integrates awareness, compassion, and inner peace.
You do not wish to sublimate your feelings.
"You have put so much energy into building a prison for yourself. Now spend as much on demolishing it. In fact, demolition is easy, for the false dissolves when it is discovered."
Emotional well-being is influenced by factors such as genetics, upbringing, life experiences, and social support systems.
Inner Peace: Non-duality reveals our true essence as pure awareness, leading to an enduring inner peace that remains unaffected by external circumstances or emotional upheavals.
Emotional Resilience: Non-dual awareness helps build emotional resilience by providing a stable foundation of inner calm. When we are less identified with the ego and its dramas, we can navigate challenges with greater ease and grace.
Freedom from Suffering: Much of our emotional suffering stems from ego-driven desires and attachments. By transcending this identification, we can experience a freedom from the self-imposed limitations and emotional pain that come with it.
In essence, emotional well-being is a dynamic and multifaceted journey of self-discovery, self-compassion, and self-expression.
By nurturing emotional well-being through both practical approaches and non-dual awareness, we cultivate resilience, deepen connections, and embrace life’s ups and downs with greater grace and equanimity.
"If you cannot feel your emotions, if you are cut off from them, you will eventually experience them on a purely physical level, as a physical problem or symptom."
Shadow work delves into the depths of our psyche, shining a light on the aspects of ourselves that reside in the shadows—the parts we often conceal or remain unaware of.
It is the practice of bringing the overarching themes in our life, psychic and emotional wounds, triggers, invisible needs, archetypal equivalents, buried trauma, disempowering attitudes and patterns, into the light of conscious awareness, so they no longer control us from the shadows.
The shadow runs much of our lives “behind the scenes,” without us knowing it.
By doing shadow work, we uncover these hidden influences, allowing us to understand and integrate them.
Unconscious Patterns: Shadow work involves uncovering the unconscious patterns and behaviors that influence our thoughts, emotions, and actions. These patterns may stem from past experiences, societal conditioning, or inherited beliefs, shaping our perceptions and choices without our conscious awareness.
Psychic and Emotional Wounds: It entails confronting the psychic and emotional wounds that we carry within us, often stemming from childhood experiences, traumas, or unresolved conflicts. By acknowledging and processing these wounds, we can begin the healing process and reclaim power over our lives.
Triggers and Invisible Needs: Shadow work invites us to identify our triggers—those situations or interactions that evoke strong emotional reactions. These triggers often point to unmet needs or unresolved issues lurking beneath the surface, waiting to be addressed and integrated.
Archetypal Equivalents: It involves exploring the archetypal equivalents present within our psyche—the universal symbols and themes that resonate with our deepest fears, desires, and aspirations. By recognizing these archetypes, we gain insight into the underlying forces shaping our lives.
Buried Trauma: Shadow work requires courageously confronting buried traumas or painful memories that we may have suppressed or dissociated from. By bringing these experiences into the light of awareness, we can begin the process of healing and transformation.
Disempowering Attitudes and Patterns: It entails identifying and challenging disempowering attitudes, beliefs, and patterns that limit our potential and hinder our growth. By dismantling these internal barriers, we create space for new perspectives and possibilities to emerge.
Integration and Wholeness: Ultimately, shadow work is about integrating these hidden aspects of ourselves into our conscious awareness, embracing our shadows as integral parts of our being. By acknowledging and accepting the full spectrum of who we are, we move towards greater wholeness and authenticity.
Samskaras are the imprints left by past experiences that shape our reactions, while vasanas are deep-seated desires and inclinations that color our behavior. These unconscious forces drive much of our thinking and actions, similar to how the shadow operates in psychology.
Shadow work can be understood as the process of uncovering and dissolving these samskaras and vasanas. By becoming aware of them, we lessen their control over us, allowing for the spontaneous unfolding of our true nature, beyond the conditioned mind.
In non-duality, all aspects of experience—including the shadow—are seen as expressions of the same underlying reality. From this perspective, shadow work becomes more than just psychological healing; it becomes part of the journey toward self-realization and the dissolution of egoic attachments.
By integrating shadow work with non-duality, you embrace the entirety of your being—both the light and the dark, the conscious and the unconscious. The very act of witnessing and accepting the shadow allows it to lose its grip on you.
All aspects of experience, including the shadow, are transient and do not define the ultimate reality of who you are.
Ultimately, shadow work leads to deeper self-awareness and emotional healing, dissolving the barriers that reinforce the illusion of separateness. As the ego’s grip loosens, you become more attuned to your true nature as pure awareness, untouched by the fluctuations of the mind.
By shedding light on the shadows, we illuminate the path towards greater self-awareness, healing, and empowerment. In this way, shadow work becomes a vital aspect of the journey toward self-realization and liberation from suffering.
"The shadow is the greatest teacher for how to come to the light."
The relationship between financial health and non-duality invites a nuanced perspective on abundance, challenging conventional attitudes toward wealth.
Financial health, from this viewpoint, is not merely about accumulating assets but about cultivating a sense of inner abundance that isn’t dependent on external circumstances.
True abundance arises from an inner state of connectedness rather than through material accumulation. This doesn’t mean rejecting material possessions; instead, it’s about relating to them without attachment.
Enjoying a beautiful object, a new experience, or a luxury item can be fulfilling, but the fulfillment comes from appreciating the present moment rather than being defined by ownership.
This shift moves the focus from the pursuit of “more” to the enjoyment of what is present, leading to a more balanced relationship with wealth.
Non-duality teaches us to view the material world as a “play of forms.” From the house you live in, the car you drive to luxury items, everything is ultimately impermanent. We live in a world of constant change. Everything changes constantly, continuously, and change will come to you whether you like it or not.
This realization brings lightness to financial pursuits—whether striving to achieve financial goals or enjoying the results. Recognizing the fleeting nature of material forms helps reduce the attachment and anxiety often associated with money.
Financial health from a non-dual perspective emphasizes mindful engagement with money. Practicing mindfulness brings awareness to how we earn, spend, and invest, encouraging decisions that align with our deeper values.
This creates an ethical approach to finances, where money becomes a tool for well-being and service rather than merely a means of self-gain.
Financial security involves both practical planning and trust in the flow of life. While it’s important to plan responsibly for the future, like saving for retirement, becoming overly fearful or obsessed with outcomes is counterproductive.
Maintaining this balance allows for financial prudence without losing trust in life’s unfolding, ensuring that the pursuit of security does not lead to stress or excessive control.
Greed can be understood not as the possession of material items but as the attachment to them. Enjoying material comforts isn’t inherently wrong; the key is not to be possessed by possessions.
This doesn’t mean you should sell your possessions, get rid of everything you own, and own nothing; on the contrary, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a nice car, a comfortable home, or any other pleasure, as long as it doesn’t become a source of identity or emotional reliance–as long as you’re not attached to them.
In short: possess what you want, but never let your possessions own you.
This is often a question we ask ourselves because, particularly in spiritual circles, people can sometimes frown on anything to do with making money or taking care of yourself. They can think negatively about earning a living.
Money is the currency of love. You do what you love, you earn money from it and you spend it on what you love. In our culture, money is the form of currency that enables this flow of love.
Taking care of yourself financially is entirely consistent with the non-dual understanding.
Service Orientation: Recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings fosters a sense of service. Viewing wealth as a tool for contributing to the greater good can make financial management more meaningful.
Mindfulness in Financial Decisions: Practicing mindfulness helps in making thoughtful and conscious financial decisions, reducing impulsive spending and stress. Being fully present in financial planning can lead to better outcomes and peace of mind.
Letting Go of Attachment: Non-dual awareness helps in letting go of excessive attachment to money and material possessions. This detachment can reduce financial stress and promote a sense of peace and contentment.
Compassion and Empathy: Recognizing the oneness of all beings fosters compassion and empathy in financial dealings, whether in personal relationships or business transactions.
Non-reactivity: Understanding that financial challenges are part of the same unified reality helps in responding to financial stress and conflicts with equanimity and understanding.
Openness to Opportunities: Non-duality teaches openness and acceptance, which can enhance one’s ability to recognize and seize financial opportunities. By embracing the present moment, one can be more attuned to beneficial financial prospects.
Embracing Change: Change is an inherent part of life. Viewing financial ups and downs as part of this natural flow helps prevent fear or resistance, supporting a balanced approach to shifting circumstances.
Presence in Each Moment: Bringing non-dual awareness into financial planning ensures that each financial decision is made with full attention and care, reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed by financial responsibilities.
A wise person keeps money in their head, but never lets it rule their heart.
"If you want money more than anything, you'll be bought and sold your whole life."
Social health, when viewed through the lens of non-duality, is deeply connected to the understanding of our intrinsic oneness with others.
At its core, non-duality dissolves the illusion of separation, revealing that the individual self and the collective are not two distinct entities but expressions of the same underlying consciousness.
In the context of social health, this means fostering relationships based on compassion, empathy, and interconnectedness. Rather than seeing ourselves as isolated beings navigating social structures for personal gain, we begin to recognize that the well-being of others is intertwined with our own.
This leads to a more service-oriented approach to social interactions—where giving, supporting, and uplifting others are seen not as sacrifices but as natural expressions of our shared essence.
True social health comes not from superficial harmony but from an authentic understanding of the unity that underlies all beings. When the illusion of separation falls away, relationships are based on genuine presence, active listening, and the recognition of each person’s inherent worth.
In essence, social health in the light of non-duality encourages a shift from ego-driven interactions to a space of mutual respect, cooperation, and unconditional love, where the boundary between self and other fades, leaving only the awareness of oneness.
This realization creates deep, meaningful connections that are supportive, nurturing, and free of attachment or expectation, creating a sense of community that mirrors the unity of consciousness itself.
"There is a magnet in your heart that will attract true friends. That magnet is unselfishness, thinking of others first; when you learn to live for others, they will live for you."
Your career is more than just a means of making a living—it’s a substantial part of your life, often spanning over 80,000 hours.
While career health is traditionally measured by achievements, promotions, and external success, through a non-dual and spiritual lens, it takes on a deeper significance. It’s about aligning your professional life with inner well-being, balance, and a sense of interconnectedness with the larger whole.
Each task becomes an opportunity to grow spiritually, as you focus on the act of service itself, rather than the results. Through this lens, your career becomes not just a means of livelihood but a significant part of your spiritual journey.
Service Orientation: When you understand the interconnectedness of all beings, your work becomes a way to contribute meaningfully to the world. Your career is no longer just about individual progress, but about serving others and making a positive impact. This approach transforms work into a source of purpose and fulfillment.
Mindfulness at Work: Mindfulness invites you to remain fully present in each task, without being distracted by past mistakes or future anxieties. This presence not only enhances productivity and focus but also brings clarity and calmness, allowing you to work with greater intention and ease. Work becomes a meditative practice, where every action reflects your deeper values.
Letting Go of Attachment to Outcomes: Non-duality teaches the importance of releasing attachment to results. By letting go of the desire for specific outcomes, you free yourself from the stress and pressure that often accompany career ambitions. This doesn’t mean abandoning goals, but rather embracing them without becoming entangled in their achievement. With this detachment, you find inner peace even as you remain productive and efficient.
Compassion and Empathy: Recognizing the oneness of all beings fosters compassion and empathy in the workplace. These qualities create stronger, more supportive relationships with colleagues, transforming competition into collaboration. Compassion naturally reduces conflict and fosters an environment where respect and kindness prevail, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
Non-Reactivity: Challenges and conflicts are inevitable in any career, but through non-dual awareness, you learn to approach them with equanimity. When you realize that everyone is navigating the same shared reality, you can respond to difficulties with patience and understanding, improving both personal and professional outcomes.
Openness to Learning: Non-duality encourages openness and acceptance, which allows you to fully engage in the learning process without resistance. By staying present in each moment, you can embrace growth and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of your career with curiosity and flexibility.
Embracing Change: In a non-dual perspective, change is recognized as a natural and essential part of the unified whole. This awareness helps you adapt to shifts in your career without fear or resistance, viewing change as an opportunity for growth rather than a threat.
Ultimately, career health from a non-dual perspective is about finding harmony between your work and your inner life. It transforms your career into a path for spiritual growth, where success is measured not by external achievements, but by the peace, fulfillment, and sense of connection you cultivate along the way.
"When you love what you are doing, you are not ambitious, you are not greedy, you are not seeking fame, because that very love of what you are doing is totally sufficient in itself. In that love there is no frustration, because you are no longer seeking fulfillment."
These six enemies of the mind are seen as obstacles on the path to self-realization, enlightenment, or spiritual liberation.
By transcending these inner enemies, individuals can attain greater inner peace, clarity of mind, and harmony with themselves and the world around them.
"The main thing is to be free of negative emotions – desire, fear, etc., the 'six enemies' of the mind. Once the mind is free of them, the rest will come easily."
In the context of non-duality (Advaita Vedanta), meditation is not simply about stress reduction or relaxation—it is about discovering the nature of reality, transcending the illusion of separateness, and realizing the oneness of existence.
In Advaita Vedanta, meditation is a practice of direct self-inquiry, where the practitioner moves beyond identification with the body, mind, and ego to recognize the true Self (Atman), which is one with the universal consciousness (Brahman). This realization dismantles the illusion of duality—there is no ‘other,’ only the undivided whole.
The purpose of meditation in this context is not to achieve something, but to remove the obstacles—mainly the mind’s identification with form and thought—that obscure the Self. By meditating with awareness of non-duality, we step out of the limited ‘I’ and rest in pure Being.
The methods of meditation align with different aspects of spiritual and mental development. While some techniques focus on mental clarity or emotional well-being, from a non-dual perspective, meditation aims to dissolve the egoic sense of separation.
Self-Inquiry (Atma Vichara): Rooted in Advaita Vedanta, self-inquiry is the direct path to self-realization. By asking, “Who am I?” and tracing the sense of ‘I’ back to its source, one can discover that the true Self is not the mind, body, or personal identity, but pure awareness.
Mindfulness Meditation: Observing thoughts and sensations without attachment helps cultivate the understanding that all phenomena are transient and not the true Self. Non-dual mindfulness goes a step further, recognizing that the observer and the observed are not separate.
Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta): While Metta fosters compassion and reduces negative emotions, from a non-dual standpoint, it also dissolves the boundaries between self and others, revealing the interconnectedness of all beings.
Transcendental Meditation: By transcending ordinary thoughts through mantra repetition, the practitioner moves toward a state of restful awareness, experiencing moments of unity with the source of all thought.
Guided Meditation: Involves following verbal instructions from a guide or recording to achieve a state of relaxation and focus. Useful for beginners and those seeking specific outcomes, such as stress reduction or improved sleep.
Body Scan Meditation: Focuses attention on different parts of the body sequentially, noticing sensations and promoting relaxation. Enhances body awareness and reduces physical tension.
Vipassana Meditation: Which means “to see things as they really are,” is one of the oldest forms of meditation. It originated in India more than 2,500 years ago and was rediscovered by Gautama Buddha. Vipassana is a practice of self-transformation through self-observation, fostering deep insight into the nature of existence and leading to profound mental clarity and inner peace.
In Advaita, the mind itself is seen as both the tool and the obstacle. Meditation gradually quiets the mind, allowing you to experience the stillness of pure awareness, where duality ceases to exist.
This is not a state to be attained but a recognition of what has always been—the Self is ever-present, only obscured by the mental activity and identification with ego.
While meditation brings measurable improvements to mental health—reducing stress, enhancing emotional regulation, and promoting clarity—its ultimate purpose in non-dual practices is liberation from the mind’s limitations.
The benefits, such as improved concentration or emotional resilience, arise naturally as a byproduct of disentangling from the egoic self.
Meditation is not confined to a specific time or place. It can be practiced 24 hours a day, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. You don’t need to retreat to a mountaintop, sit in a cave, or isolate yourself to meditate. The practice can be integrated into everyday life, allowing you to remain present and aware in any situation, whether you’re working, walking, or engaging in daily tasks.
True meditation is about maintaining mindfulness and inner stillness regardless of external circumstances.
"Meditation is not something that should be done in a particular position at a particular time. It is an awareness and an attitude that must persist throughout the day. To be effective, meditation must be continuous."
Mindfulness, the practice of paying full attention to the present moment with a non-judgmental attitude, is more than just a tool for mental health—it is a pathway to self-realization and spiritual awakening.
In Advaita Vedanta, mindfulness becomes a practice of cultivating awareness of the deeper truth that underlies all existence: the non-dual nature of reality.
1. Present-Moment Awareness Beyond the Ego: Mindfulness teaches us to focus on the here and now, observing thoughts, sensations, and emotions as they arise. In Advaita Vedanta, this present-moment awareness is not just about alleviating stress but is about recognizing that all phenomena are impermanent and arise within the field of universal consciousness. By focusing on the present, we begin to loosen our attachment to past and future narratives, which are products of the ego.
2. Non-Judgmental Observation as a Gateway to Self-Realization: Accepting experiences without labeling them as good or bad allows one to transcend dualistic thinking. In the context of non-duality, this non-judgmental observation leads to the realization that the Self (Atman) is beyond dualities like pleasure and pain, success and failure. The observer, who is aware of thoughts and emotions without judgment, is the true Self, which remains untouched by the fluctuations of the mind.
1. Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Stress and anxiety are forms of attachment to future outcomes, rooted in fear. Mindfulness, by bringing the mind back to the present, reduces this attachment. In Advaita Vedanta, the realization that there is no “separate self” to fear anything in the future leads to the ultimate dissolution of stress. The true Self is beyond fear, untouched by the transient fluctuations of the mind.
2. Freedom from Past Attachments: Guilt, regret, and resentment are rooted in attachment to the past. Mindfulness teaches us to observe these feelings without getting stuck in them. In the non-dual tradition, this practice leads to the understanding that the past is an illusion created by the mind, and the Self is ever-present, unburdened by past narratives.
3. Enhanced Self-Awareness: While mindfulness increases self-awareness by helping individuals recognize their thoughts and emotions, in Advaita Vedanta, this awareness deepens into a recognition of the true Self. The practitioner realizes that the self they were aware of before (the mind and emotions) is not the real Self, but a temporary phenomenon. True awareness points to the eternal, unchanging Self, beyond mind and body.
4. Emotional Regulation Through Non-Dual Awareness: Mindfulness helps individuals respond to emotions with calmness and less reactivity. In Advaita Vedanta, this ability comes from the realization that emotions, like thoughts, arise and fall within consciousness. They are not who we are. By observing emotions as fleeting, one learns to reside in the peaceful awareness that is unaffected by emotional highs and lows.
1. Mindful Breathing as a Path to Presence: Focus on the breath, noticing the sensations of inhaling and exhaling, not just to reduce stress but to become aware of the stillness from which all experiences arise. The breath serves as a reminder that consciousness is ever-present, even in the background of all mental activity.
2. Body Scan Meditation and Awareness of the Physical Form: While body scan meditation enhances body awareness, it also reveals that the body is not the Self. By observing sensations and tensions, one realizes that these are temporary phenomena arising in awareness. The true Self is beyond the body, untouched by physical discomfort.
3. Mindful Walking and the Experience of Oneness: As you walk mindfully, become aware that the body and the ground are both expressions of the same consciousness. There is no separation between the walker and the path. This experience of oneness is a direct reflection of non-dual awareness.
4. Mindful Eating and Awareness of Interconnectedness: When eating mindfully, recognize that the food, your body, and the act of eating are all manifestations of the one consciousness. In Advaita Vedanta, this understanding leads to the dissolution of the boundaries between self and other, fostering gratitude and reverence for all life.
Mindfulness, when understood through the lens of Advaita Vedanta and non-duality, is not just a practice for mental well-being but a profound tool for self-realization.
By cultivating present-moment awareness, non-judgmental observation, and self-inquiry, mindfulness helps dissolve the illusory boundaries of ego, time, and separation.
"Accept - then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy. This will miraculously transform your whole life."
Pranayama, derived from the Sanskrit words prana (life force or vital energy) and ayama (expansion or control), is more than just breath control—it is a profound tool for cultivating awareness, balancing the energies of body and mind, and facilitating spiritual growth.
In yogic traditions, pranayama is considered essential not only for enhancing physical and mental health but also for supporting one’s journey toward self-realization.
Pranayama is the practice of extending and controlling the life force through breath.
The simple act of conscious breathing—through various pranayama techniques—can dissolve the illusion of separation, anchoring awareness in the present moment and awakening a deeper sense of interconnectedness.
In Advaita Vedanta, the ultimate aim is self-realization, the recognition of the self as not separate from the universal consciousness. Pranayama plays a pivotal role in this journey by calming the mind, allowing you to transcend the ego and the mental chatter that reinforces duality.
By harmonizing the breath, one creates a stillness in which the true nature of the self—the pure, unchanging awareness—can be experienced.
2. Mental Health Breath control directly influences the mind. By calming the breath, we calm the fluctuations of the mind (as stated in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras). Pranayama reduces stress, anxiety, and mental fatigue while enhancing focus, concentration, and cognitive clarity. Through regular practice, it cultivates emotional resilience and stability, paving the way for inner peace.
At a spiritual level, pranayama enhances self-awareness by deepening one’s presence and mindfulness. It acts as a gateway to meditative states, facilitating a profound stillness in which the layers of the conditioned mind can be peeled back.
As the breath is refined, so too is the mind, allowing the you to access deeper levels of consciousness and move closer to the realization of non-dual awareness. The conscious control of breath reveals that beyond the body and mind lies the essence of pure awareness—the core of our being.
In both yogic and Advaita teachings, breath control is synonymous with mind control. When the breath is steady and harmonious, so too is the mind.
By mastering the breath, the fluctuations of the mind can be stilled, leading to greater control over one’s thoughts and emotions, and ultimately, to the dissolution of the ego. This unity of breath, mind, and consciousness is a powerful method for transcending the dualities of existence and realizing the oneness that underlies all.
Pranayama is far more than a physical practice; it is a gateway to deeper self-awareness, spiritual growth, and non-dual understanding.
By working with the breath, we can heal the body, calm the mind, and realize the timeless truth of our own being. When practiced consistently, pranayama supports a holistic approach to health, well-being, and self-realization, aligning the you with the fundamental unity of existence.
Breath control is the means for mind control. When one of them is controlled, the other gets controlled.
"Breath control is mind control, breath mastery is mind mastery."
The mind and body are deeply interconnected, and the food we consume has a profound impact on our mental health. A balanced diet, rich in whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats, provides essential nutrients that support brain function, mood regulation, and emotional stability.
Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and antioxidants help reduce inflammation and promote neurotransmitter health, improving focus, reducing anxiety, and balancing mood.
Conversely, poor dietary choices can contribute to the development or exacerbation of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline.
By nourishing the body, we nourish the mind, creating a foundation for mental clarity, emotional well-being, and resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
In yogic philosophy, food is classified into three categories—sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic—each influencing the mind in different ways.
Sattvic foods are pure, natural, and fresh. These include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and herbal teas. Sattvic foods promote mental clarity, calmness, and balance. They nourish both body and mind, fostering peace, harmony, and spiritual growth. Consuming sattvic foods leads to a clear, focused, and serene mind, ideal for meditation and self-realization.
Rajasic foods are stimulating and energizing, like spicy foods, caffeine, and certain processed or salty snacks. While they increase activity and drive, they also stimulate restlessness, agitation, and desire. Excessive rajasic foods can lead to overactivity, impatience, and emotional imbalance, pulling the mind toward constant movement and distraction.
Tamasic foods are stale, processed, heavy, or overly sweet, including junk food, fried items, and alcohol. These foods dull the mind, leading to lethargy, confusion, and heaviness. Tamasic foods disconnect us from higher awareness and foster inertia, depression, and lack of motivation.
By aligning your diet with sattvic principles, you support a balanced and clear state of mind, which is essential for mental peace, emotional regulation, and spiritual progress.
"When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need."
Sleep is a fundamental aspect of human life, essential for physical health, cognitive function, and emotional well-being.
From the perspective of self-realization and Advaita Vedanta, sleep holds a deeper significance, offering a glimpse into the nature of consciousness beyond the waking and dreaming states.
In Advaita Vedanta, the three states of consciousness—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—are seen as transient experiences, while the true Self (Atman) remains as the unchanging awareness underlying these states.
Deep sleep, in particular, offers a taste of the peace and non-duality that the awakened state embodies, as it is a state free from the fluctuations of thought, ego, and external experiences. However, unlike the state of deep self-realization, in deep sleep, there is no awareness of this peaceful state.
Adequate sleep supports the clarity of mind necessary for spiritual practice. Proper rest allows the nervous system to rejuvenate, reducing mental noise and emotional turbulence, which are often obstacles to deeper meditation and self-inquiry.
When the mind is clear, it becomes easier to observe its tendencies and step back from identification with thoughts and emotions. This creates an environment conducive to Self-realization.
While sleep is essential for bodily and mental health, Advaita Vedanta emphasizes a different kind of rest—resting in awareness itself. Through meditation and mindfulness practices, one learns to maintain awareness even in states of deep relaxation, cultivating a form of “wakeful rest” that transcends ordinary sleep.
This awareness points to the ultimate realization that true peace does not come from the impermanent states of sleep or wakefulness, but from recognizing one’s own true nature as the unchanging witness of all states.
Engaging in shadow work, emotional healing, and thoughtful introspection naturally leads to a more balanced, equanimous mind. By addressing unresolved emotions, unconscious patterns, and disempowering beliefs, we release the mental and emotional turbulence that often disrupts sleep.
As the mind grows calmer and more aligned with deeper self-awareness, the body follows, allowing for more restful, restorative sleep. This inner clarity dissolves mental chatter, promoting a peaceful state of mind that supports both sleep and spiritual growth effortlessly.
Over time, you may notice that the body requires less sleep, as the mind’s clarity reduces stress and inner conflict. This peaceful state enhances not only sleep but also consciousness, allowing for both deep rest and spiritual progress. As the mind and body align in harmony, the overall quality of life is enriched.
"Sleep is the best meditation."
Psychedelics, such as psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca, are often described as catalysts for altered states of consciousness, where the boundaries between self and the world dissolve.
In the context of self-realization, these substances can facilitate experiences of non-duality, where the sense of a separate, individual self is temporarily diminished or transcended. This experience aligns with Advaita Vedanta’s core teaching: that the self (Atman) is not separate from the ultimate reality (Brahman).
Many people who use psychedelics report moments of profound insight, deep connection to the universe, or a glimpse of what Advaita Vedanta refers to as the “True Self”—that which exists beyond the mind, body, and ego.
However, while these experiences can open the door to self-realization, they are fleeting and require integration through continuous inner work, such as meditation, self-inquiry, or spiritual practice, to foster lasting transformation.
Self-realization is about recognizing the non-dual nature of existence through direct experience and knowledge (jnana). Psychedelics may provide a glimpse of this truth, but true liberation (moksha) is not reliant on external substances.
The mind can attain clarity and dissolve its false identifications through meditation, introspection, and self-inquiry, without needing to rely on psychedelics.
While psychedelics may give a temporary experience of non-duality, they are not a substitute for the sustained practice required to stabilize such realizations in everyday life. In fact, the Advaita path would caution against becoming attached to or dependent on any external tool for spiritual growth.
Research has shown that psychedelics have potential therapeutic benefits, particularly for mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. These substances seem to work by disrupting entrenched patterns of thought, promoting neuroplasticity, and helping individuals gain new perspectives on their mental and emotional challenges.
However, psychedelics also pose risks, particularly for those with a history of mental illness such as psychosis. They should always be used with caution, ideally in a guided or therapeutic setting, to minimize adverse psychological effects.
While the potential for healing is significant, the physical and mental risks need to be taken into account, especially when integrating psychedelic experiences with ongoing spiritual or health practices.
Integrating psychedelic experiences with spiritual practices such as shadow work, emotional healing, and self-inquiry can help to ground the insights gained. Psychedelics might reveal unconscious patterns or emotional blockages, which can be further explored through introspection.
However, for long-term transformation, cultivating mindfulness, emotional balance, and non-attachment is essential.
Ultimately, the journey toward self-realization is deeply personal, and while psychedelics may play a role in catalyzing certain insights, Advaita Vedanta emphasizes the importance of ongoing practice, mental clarity, and the realization of the ever-present, changeless awareness that is beyond all experiences.
1. Psilocybin: Found in certain species of mushrooms, psilocybin is known for its profound effects on consciousness and perception.
2. LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide): A synthetic compound known for its potent hallucinogenic effects.
3. MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine): Commonly known as ecstasy, MDMA has been studied for its potential to enhance emotional empathy and connection.
4. DMT (Dimethyltryptamine): A powerful hallucinogen found in several plants and animals, often associated with intense, short-lived experiences.
5. Ayahuasca: A traditional Amazonian brew containing DMT and other compounds, used for its psychoactive properties.
Psychological Risks:
Physical Risks:
Psychedelics, when used with intention and care, can be valuable tools for expanding consciousness and fostering healing. However, true self-realization transcends these temporary states, resting in the eternal truth of non-duality.
By integrating the lessons from psychedelics with spiritual discipline and self-awareness, you can support both mental health and spiritual growth in a holistic way.
"Psychedelics show you what’s in and on your mind, those subconscious thoughts and feelings that are hidden, covered up, forgotten, out of sight, maybe even completely unexpected, but nevertheless imminently present."
The mind and body are deeply interconnected, and you can leverage the power of your body to influence your mental state. Your body continuously sends signals to your brain, shaping how you feel—whether empowered or disempowered—through subtle chemical and electrical impulses.
When your body signals empowerment, you feel creative, resourceful, focused, decisive, assertive, resilient, confident, and compassionate. This enhances your overall ability to navigate challenges and perform at your best.
On the other hand, when your body signals disempowerment, you may feel forgetful, narrowly focused, fearful, anxious, lacking in confidence, and self-absorbed. You may also make more mistakes, become impulsive, and neglect something important.
These signals, whether empowering or disempowering, are processed in the brain and can manifest as unconscious emotions that eventually surface as conscious feelings.
For example, if your blood sugar drops, your body sends signals to the brain, which creates the drive to eat. Similarly, when faced with danger, your body signals the need to take action to preserve life. These basic survival mechanisms show how bodily signals drive both feelings and behaviors.
The feedback from your body not only influences survival responses but also shapes your mood and emotions. Take the example of deep breathing: when someone tells you to “take a deep breath and relax,” it’s because the body sends signals to the brain that slow, deep breathing is associated with a relaxed state. This works with movement as well. Certain muscle patterns and postures activate feelings associated with them.
Studies show that even just two minutes of standing or sitting in a closed posture—associated with helplessness or submissiveness—can increase feelings of powerlessness and elevate levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. In fact, even watching or imagining these postures can have a similar effect.
Posture and movement can have a powerful impact on your emotional state. By consciously adopting certain body positions and movements, you can influence your mood and enhance your emotions. Movements that are associated with positive feelings can make you feel happier, more confident, and energized, while avoiding movements tied to negative feelings can prevent emotional downturns.
For example, the following movements can boost feelings of empowerment:
Your body constantly sends signals to your brain that influence your feelings. By intentionally adopting empowering postures and movements, you can regulate your emotions, and maintain a more balanced mental state.
"Your body shapes your mind. Your mind shapes your behavior. And your behavior shapes your future."
Stress is often a result of resisting the present moment—fighting against the flow of life, trying to control outcomes, or being attached to identities and expectations.
It’s important to look beyond surface-level stressors to understand the deeper causes. Much of this stress arises from the ego, which seeks to assert control, maintain separateness, and preserve its sense of identity.
Combining these traditional stress management techniques with the insights of non-duality brings a profound shift in perspective.
Instead of viewing stress as something to escape or fight against, you begin to recognize it as a temporary experience, arising within the mind but not affecting the deeper self. This recognition fosters resilience, balance, and peace, even in the face of life’s inevitable challenges.
"Stress is caused by being ‘here’ but wanting to be ‘there’."
Everything changes. It’s a fundamental law of the universe. Life is in a constant state of flux. Change is the only permanent thing.
One of the fundamental truths of life is that everything changes. Life is in a constant state of flux, and no experience, circumstance, or relationship remains the same forever. Everything is temporary. Change is the only permanent thing.
This understanding shifts how we relate to life. If you fully realize that change is inevitable and that everything in the world is temporary, you will no longer be attached to the ups and downs of life. The good and bad, success and failure, pleasure and pain—all are seen for what they are: fleeting experiences that arise and fall away, like waves in the ocean of existence.
When you truly grasp the impermanent nature of all things, you stop clinging to the positive experiences and stop resisting the negative ones. You begin to view both with equanimity. The highs and lows lose their power to control your emotional state, and you become less reactive, less swept away by the ever-changing tides of life.
The world cannot offer lasting happiness because everything in it is subject to change. What brings joy today may bring sorrow tomorrow, and what once seemed permanent will eventually fade away. Therefore, relying on external things—people, possessions, achievements—to make you happy is futile. They are all part of the world of impermanence.
True fulfillment, however, does not depend on external circumstances. It arises from the recognition of your own inner nature, which is beyond time, beyond change. This is the essence of self-realization: knowing that the source of lasting peace and contentment lies within you, in the very core of your being, untouched by the transient nature of the world.
By embracing the impermanence of life, you learn to live in harmony with the flow of existence. Instead of resisting change, you accept it as a natural part of life. You recognize that nothing can remain the same, and this acceptance brings a deep sense of freedom. You no longer grasp at experiences or push them away—you simply allow life to unfold as it will, trusting that the deeper part of you remains whole, no matter what changes occur on the surface.
"In nature nothing is at a standstill, everything pulsates, appears and disappears. Heart, breath, digestion, sleep and waking – birth and death – everything comes and goes in waves. Rhythm, periodicity, harmonious alternation of extremes is the rule. No use rebelling against the very pattern of life."
Every moment holds the essence of your true nature. Being grateful for whatever this moment brings is not just an act of appreciation; it is an acknowledgment that the present experience is part of the unfolding of life itself, inseparable from who you are.
When you see through the illusion of separateness, gratitude naturally arises because there is a deep recognition that all experiences—whether pleasant or painful—are expressions of the one undivided reality.
However, if gratitude does not come easily, simply allowing the moment to be as it is can be transformative. There is no need to resist or control what is already happening. The moment is, and your resistance to it only creates suffering. By allowing your experience to be, you align yourself with the flow of life and loosen the grip of the ego, which is always trying to change, judge, or reject what is.
This simple act of allowing dissolves much of the mental and emotional resistance that causes suffering. When you stop resisting the present, you stop reinforcing the illusion of separateness, and the sense of struggle fades. Though it’s hard to quantify, it could alleviate the vast majority of your suffering—leaving only a small remainder, which may represent deeply ingrained patterns or attachments.
Yet, even that small percentage of suffering can be reduced through this ongoing practice of presence and surrender. The more you rest in the awareness that everything is as it should be, the more you realize that there is no separate “you” to resist life. You are life itself. And in this realization, both gratitude and peace naturally arise.
"Acknowledging the good you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance."
The internet and smart phones completely changed the world we live in. You can connect with others or access information easier and faster than ever.
The internet and smartphones have revolutionized how we connect, communicate, and access information, making it easier than ever to reach others or find what we seek.
Yet, this hyper-connected world has also brought challenges to our well-being on all levels—physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual. The overuse of social media, in particular, has been linked to feelings of dissatisfaction, disconnection, and anxiety, with many studies confirming the detrimental effects of internet addiction.
Dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation and pleasure, plays a key role in this addiction. When we scroll through social media or click on links, we receive small bursts of dopamine, similar to the effect of smoking a cigarette.
Over time, this constant stimulation can desensitize our dopamine receptors, making it harder to find satisfaction in activities that aren’t instantly gratifying. This attachment to instant pleasure mirrors the ego’s insatiable desire for more—more likes, more attention, more validation.
Yet, technology in itself is neutral. It reflects and amplifies whatever consciousness engages with it. When approached mindfully, the same tools that often mirror egoic patterns can be used for deeper awareness and presence.
Social media can easily become an echo chamber of mental positions and unconscious reactions, where identification with thought forms and the need to be “right” dominate interactions. Each time we post or respond online, we can ask ourselves: Is this action rooted in ego or presence? Are we reacting from a place of unconsciousness, or are we contributing mindfully to the flow of life?
To live more consciously, it’s important to set clear boundaries with technology. Being intentional about how we spend time on digital devices opens up space for real-life presence and expanded awareness.
Instead of letting our attention be fragmented by endless notifications, we can use moments of stillness to reconnect with the deeper reality beyond thought—the spacious awareness that is our true nature.
In this way, technology becomes a tool not for distraction, but for cultivating mindfulness. By balancing our use of devices with moments of presence, we align more with our inner being, reducing the noise of the ego and allowing the simplicity of the present moment to shine through.
"The tycoons of social media have to stop pretending that they’re friendly nerd gods building a better world and admit they’re just tobacco farmers in T-shirts selling an addictive product to children. Because, let’s face it, checking your “likes” is the new smoking."
Laughter can be seen as a spontaneous expression of joy and lightness that arises when the weight of identification with the ego loosens. It is the body’s way of releasing tension, and the heart’s way of expressing the recognition that life’s dramas, when seen from the vantage of truth, are fleeting and not to be taken so seriously.
Laughter is a reminder of the impermanence of thoughts, emotions, and situations. When the mind stops grasping at these momentary forms, what is left is the space in which joy can arise.
In non-dual awareness, the heaviness of personal stories dissolves, and laughter emerges from seeing the cosmic play (lila) that life truly is.
On a practical level, laughter can bridge the gap between the mental and physical realms, offering a direct experience of lightness and relaxation. It relieves tension, shifts the body’s chemistry toward contentment, and creates openness.
Laughter doesn’t just lift your mood—it lightens your entire being.
Even if it feels forced at first, making time for laughter is a way to step out of the seriousness of mind-created problems and return to the simplicity of the present moment. The body relaxes, the mind quiets, and the ego’s grip weakens, revealing the inherent joy of just being.
Laughter is more than just an emotional reaction—it’s an expression of the timeless essence that recognizes the playfulness of existence.
"There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor."
Partnering with a therapist who understands non-duality can be a powerful complement when needed. In therapy, personal problems of the mind are addressed, but through the lens of non-dual awareness, the process moves beyond the personal mind, toward a deeper understanding of the self.
A therapist who integrates non-dual principles can guide you in seeing through the limiting beliefs of the ego and help create space for the recognition of your true nature.
Therapy focuses on healing the emotional, mental, and psychological layers, while non-dual awareness reveals the transcendent self beyond these layers. This integrative approach promotes holistic well-being, allowing for healing on all levels—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
Having a guide who has walked the path and can bridge these worlds creates a space for profound transformation, supporting both healing within the personal realm and the awakening to the universal.
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
As you dive deeper into Advaita, or non-duality, you’ll find that the teachings of all great traditions, from the beginning of time, point to one essential truth: the mind must become quiescent—calm, peaceful, and relaxed. It is in the stilling of the mind that self-realization naturally arises.
In Buddhism, they speak of “killing” the mind. In Hinduism, the emphasis is on controlling the mind. In every major spiritual path, attention is directed toward the mind, recognizing it as the source of our problems and misunderstandings. This is where misconceptions originate, and why all spiritual paths converge on one core understanding: the mind has got to go.
But trying to “kill” the mind is a metaphor. All the methods for getting rid of the mind are, in reality, symbols. You don’t truly want to destroy the mind, because the very act of trying strengthens it. The more you try to quiet the mind, the louder it becomes; the more you try to suppress your thoughts, the stronger they grow.
So how do we go beyond the mind?
The key is not in fighting or suppressing your thoughts, but in becoming calm, peaceful, and relaxed—allowing the thoughts to do what they will without interfering. If anger arises, let it be. If thoughts about others appear, let them be. The practice is not in changing or controlling the thoughts, but in remaining non-reactive to them.
Simply observe the mind. When you notice thoughts beginning to arise, become aware of them without following them. Awareness slows the mind down. The trouble only begins when we identify with the mind and believe that we are our thoughts. By observing the mind—by catching it in its tracks—its influence weakens.
It doesn’t matter whether the thoughts are good, bad, or neutral. All thoughts are illusions. They are the cause of pain and suffering because we have identified with the mind. But the mind itself doesn’t exist. If I asked you to show me your mind, where would you find it? You can’t. Yet we speak about the mind as if it were a tangible entity with power over us, when in reality, it holds no such power.
Consider how your mind has controlled you today. Think about an event where you reacted because the mind told you something, whether it was true or not. Upon reflection, you’ll see that everything arises from the mind, and once you see this clearly, you stop reacting to people, places, or events as if they have real power over you. All of it originates from the mind.
This practice is not about exchanging negative conditioning for positive conditioning. It’s not about trading negative thoughts for positive ones. It’s about stillness. By observing, witnessing, and asking, “To whom do these thoughts come? Who has a mind? Who am I?” you trace everything back to the source. The mind dissolves in the inquiry.
The essence is found in silence, not in words. Your only task is to quiet the mind. Stop thoughts from flowing uncontrollably. And you do this initially by witnessing them, sitting in silence, and observing your thoughts without engaging with them. In this way, your thoughts gradually lose their power, becoming weaker until they eventually disappear.
As you cultivate the practice of observing your thoughts and being mindful, your mind gradually becomes quieter and more still. The quieter your mind becomes, the more your true consciousness is revealed to you as the absolute reality.
This is the purpose of self-inquiry, atma vichara, meditation, prayer, chanting, or any other practice: to quiet the mind. These practices are not meant to make you realized, for you already are realized. Their aim is to still the mind so that the realization can be recognized.
Chanting, mantras, meditation and breathwork are all tools to help in the early stages. They are useful, though they too arise from the mind. But in the beginning, they serve their purpose.
Ultimately, your job is to cultivate a peaceful, quiet, and relaxed mind. Do whatever it takes to make this happen.
"Is it the mind that wants to kill itself? The mind cannot kill itself. So your business is to find the real nature of the mind. Then you will know that there is no mind. When the Self is sought, the mind is nowhere. Abiding in the Self, one need not worry about the mind."