The Art of Living: A Journey Through Perspectives

The Art of Living: A Journey Through Perspectives

There is no use in living with words you do not understand, and there is no use in living a life you do not comprehend.

​We decide whether something is right or wrong based on how we perceive it, but we rarely take the time to analyze it properly.

If we were to examine things thoroughly, doubts would not arise between human beings.

​We think that what our eyes see is the absolute truth, but everyone’s eyes view the world from different perspectives.
   
That is why the same event is understood in many different ways by different people.

Understanding is the foundation of peace.

​Many of us lose sight of reality right before our eyes, only to search for it later in the darkness of dreams.

​Planning is essential in life, but sometimes, due to internal and external influences, when things do not go according to plan, frustration and disappointment arise.

One can plan for needs, but one should not turn life itself into a rigid plan.

It is important to ensure that your home does not become merely a dream, even while working to make your dream home a reality.

​When a person walks toward their goal, they may sometimes lose their way.

This is not failure.

it is an opportunity to correct one's course.

Rather than walking without direction, recognizing a wrong path and turning back is the way of the wise.

​The ability to live without being hindered by obstacles and sorrows is largely gifted to a person by the failures they have encountered.

It is life's hardships and obstacles that provide the experiences necessary to achieve success.

If you face defeat many times, it simply means you are moving toward victory.

​Patience and the ability to compromise are very important in human life.

Both of these have limits, but love has no boundaries and no enemies.

​We are all traveling toward death from the very moment we are born.

If we realize and accept this truth, we can make every passing moment of our lives meaningful.

​Life is not just a journey; it is an art.

One should learn this art without haste, accepting every experience as a lesson.
   
Instead of regretting the days that have passed, it is our duty to make the days ahead meaningful.

​Even nature provides us with changing seasons winter, monsoon, summer so that we do not become weary.

Similarly, life constantly teaches us through ever-changing circumstances.

​Therefore, do not leap with joy in success, nor collapse in despair during defeat.

Take everything in stride.

Living joyfully with what you have is what makes a beautiful life.

​In human life, which is bookended by birth and death, many changes occur in between.

The lives of most people run within the single cycle of being born, growing, working, and dying.

When the wheel running on a single path encounters changes,

it stumbles. Our challenge is to understand these stumbles, remove them, and steer the wheel of life straight.

​Dear youth, you have the maturity to understand life beautifully and savor a successful existence.

Walking the path of love will empower you to reach success.

​You can do it.

​With love,

Sakthi Sakthithasan

Patience is the highest wisdom a human being can possess.

Patience is the highest wisdom a human being can possess.

Whenever we face a problem, the patience we hold becomes the strength that helps us overcome obstacles and reach success with ease.

A small story comes to mind.

In a certain village lived an elderly master  brave, wise, and deeply respected  who trained many disciples.  

Defeating him was considered impossible. One day, a young warrior arrived in that village.

He too was known for defeating everyone he faced.

His skill lay in identifying the weakness of his opponent and attacking that very point, ensuring their defeat in the very first strike.

Everyone who confronted him would fall in his initial blow.

He had come with the sole intention of defeating this elderly master.

Ignoring the warnings of the disciples, the old master accepted the young man’s challenge and faced him.

The young man began to insult the master harshly.

But the old master stood still, without the slightest reaction.

The young man continued to hurl abuses at him, insulting even his ancestors.

Yet the master did not move.

Finally, exhausted from shouting, the young man realized his defeat and left the village.

The disciples then asked the master,  

“Guruji! How did you tolerate such disgraceful words from that young man?”

The master smiled and replied,  

“If someone offers you a gift and you refuse to accept it, to whom does the gift belong?”

Understanding the meaning, the disciples rejoiced at the lesson behind their master’s patience.

Victory does not always arise from mere strength; often, true victory is born from wisdom.

The same truth applies to life.

Many situations, many people, many words try to provoke us every day.  

But what our mind chooses to accept determines our peace and our growth.

If we learn not to let others’ anger or insults enter our inner space, our mind will always remain under our control.  

That is true strength.

Beloved hearts!

In this winding road called life, we often believe we are driving our vehicle with great skill.

But at some point, when we grow tired, we sit down and look back at the path we travelled.

Oh my!

How many hearts we have shaken,  

how many lives we have failed to notice only then do we realize it.

That realization sometimes brings sorrow, sometimes awareness.

But if we hold on to that realization only as sorrow, it weakens us.  

If we transform it into awareness, it becomes a power that reshapes us.

The mistakes of the past do not come to punish us they come as opportunities to correct ourselves.

Those who recognize this build the next phase of their life with calmness and clarity.

What can we do?  

The youthful, restless phase of life has passed can we ever get it back?

Every bend in life, every event we encounter, carries a lesson waiting to awaken us.

But the feeling of “I” blinds us with a dark cloth, hiding those moments from our sight.

Those who understand themselves at a young age are truly the fortunate ones  they are the real achievers.

Self-awareness is not a grand philosophical journey.

It begins in a quiet moment of simple observation.

Where do our thoughts run?  

What do our emotions seek?  

What direction do our actions move toward?

The ability to see this clearly is self-awareness.

When this ability begins to grow, every decision in life becomes clearer, and every step becomes more confident.

Self-awareness is the inner lamp of a human being.

In every event around you, in every experience you go through, messages and lessons beneficial to you are hidden beneath a layer of paint.

Learn to peel off that layer and recognize them.

Such awareness will shape you into exceptional leaders of the future.

Such people are the ones who can work for the prosperity of the world.

They are the ones who can transform the poverty and suffering that plague our nations.

When a person transforms himself, it does not remain a personal victory.

It becomes a blessing for society as well.  

When love grows within, compassion grows in our actions.  

When clarity grows in our thoughts, justice grows in our decisions.

When such individuals arise, the face of a society changes.

Change never begins outside.

It begins within  and spreads to the world.

Destroy hatred and sow love.

Forget divisions and strengthen unity.

Listen to others’ views with genuine feeling.

The universal divine force that lives in every heart will raise you to greatness.

You can do it.

With love

Sakthi Sakthithasan

The Desire to Know the Soul — The Root of Peace

The Desire to Know the Soul — The Root of Peace

The human mind is an ocean of desires.

From the moment we open our eyes in the morning until we fall asleep at night, every human being is wanting something, chasing something, or trying to fill some inner incompleteness. 

Caught in this web of desires, daily life becomes an endless race that never truly reaches the finish line.

But if an ordinary person understands the profound truth that “the desire to know one’s own soul has the power to bring all other desires to an end,” then his life can shift from being a battlefield of struggle to becoming a fountain of peace.

The Nature of Desires and Their Cycle

If we observe the life of an ordinary person closely, we see him wrestling with countless small and large desires every single day. 

A good job, a higher salary, respect from others, good health, harmony in the family the list stretches endlessly.

When one desire is fulfilled, another rises. It is an unquenchable thirst.

Just as a well never dries even if you draw water from it, desires never cease even if you keep fulfilling them. 

Humanity has known this truth for thousands of years through experience, yet it continues to search for a way out of this cycle.

The hidden sorrow of human life is that the joy gained from fulfilling desires is always temporary. 

The happiness of buying a new house fades within months. 

The excitement of a promotion dissolves within weeks, replaced by the longing for the next one. 

This cycle slowly hollows a person from within. Everything may appear complete on the outside, yet a subtle emptiness gnaws from within. 

This is the root cause of the restlessness that most people carry every day.

What Does It Mean to Know the Soul?

Many believe that “knowing the soul” is something reserved only for sages meditating on mountaintops. 

This is a misconception.

To know the soul is simply to understand who we truly are at the most fundamental level. 

It is to realise that our thoughts are not us, our emotions are not us, our name, status, and possessions are not us.

    

Recognising this basic truth is the first step.

How can an ordinary person understand this in daily life?

While eating, one can notice the thought “I am eating.” 

There is the act of eating, the taste of food, and alongside all of this, there is an winner witness that is aware of everything.

    

That witness is the soul.

When anger arises, we feel “I am angry.” But there is also an awareness that is watching the anger. 

That is the real “I.” Discovering this inner observer, this eternal witness, is the essence of knowing the soul.

How Do Other Desires Come to an End?

When the deep longing to know the soul arises, it does not forcibly suppress other desires. 

They simply begin to fade on their own.

A simple metaphor explains this:  

When a bright lamp is lit, the small candles in the room do not disappear, but their light no longer seems significant. Likewise, when the light of inner awareness dawns, smaller desires lose their importance.

When a person truly understands who he is, he realises that the recognition, respect, and validation he seeks outside already exist within him. 

The beggar-like need to receive happiness from the external world dissolves, replaced by a sense of inner fullness.

Just as water overflows from a full vessel, a person who knows the soul no longer seeks to fill himself from the outside.

The Impact on Daily Life

When this truth enters a person’s life, practical changes become visible.

If a colleague criticises him at work, an ordinary person takes 

it as a personal attack and suffers the whole day. 

But one who knows himself sees clearly that the criticism is about his action, not about his being. 

He knows that his soul cannot be harmed by external events. 

This clarity gives him unshakeable peace.

In family life too, the transformation is profound.  

Usually, spouses expect constant love, attention, and validation from each other. When these expectations are unmet, pain arises. 

But one who knows himself understands that his source of fulfilment lies within.

    

He participates in the relationship not to take, but to give. 

Such a home becomes a garden of love rather than a battlefield of demands.

Even in earning money, the difference is clear.  

One who does not know the soul earns money to prove his worth, to gain power, to rise above others. 

One who knows the soul earns to fulfil responsibilities and uplift those around him. 

One tries to prove himself through money; the other uses money as a tool.

    

This subtle difference determines whether one lives in stress or in peace.

Peace Is Not in Circumstances — It Is in Awareness

Most people believe peace comes from favourable circumstances a quiet place, wealth, or the absence of problems. 

But this belief is fundamentally flawed, because life will always bring challenges.

    

There is no day without them. Seeking peace outside is like building a house on sand.

For one who knows the soul, peace is a constant inner state.  

Just as the ocean’s depths remain calm even when waves rage on the surface, life’s problems may churn on the outside, but the inner core remains still. 

From that stillness, clarity grows, relationships deepen, and life becomes richer.

Where Does the Journey Begin?

This journey does not begin in a temple or on a mountaintop.  

It begins here, now, in this very moment.

If an ordinary person simply asks himself upon waking, “Who am I?”, that question becomes a seed planted deep within.

    

Observing one’s thoughts daily, watching one’s emotions without drowning in them these simple practices slowly lead a person to the doorstep of the soul.

The most important thing in this journey is not to rush.  

Knowing the soul is not information gained from reading,it is a direct experience. 

It happens when it happens. 

All we can do is turn in that direction.

    

That very turning makes all other desires fade into shadows and transforms life into a journey of unshakable peace.

There is nothing wrong in living an ordinary life.  

But living that ordinary life in the light of inner awareness transforms it into an extraordinary experience. 

When a person realises that peace does not come from outside but blossoms from within, his life changes forever.

With love,  

Sakthi Sakthithasan

The Light of Wisdom in a Moment of Anger”

The Light of Wisdom in a Moment of Anger”

The anger that rises within us is a natural human emotion.  

But the intensity of that single moment blinds the clarity of our thinking and prevents us from seeing the consequences of our actions.

The decisions we make in that instant rarely come from genuine need.  

They arise from the speed and heat of that moment.

Because of this, even a small problem appears enormous, the people standing before us seem like enemies, and we lose sight of our own well‑being.

When the anger fades, the actions we took begin to haunt us.  

Our words trouble us.  

Our decisions chase us.

That is why making permanent decisions based on temporary emotions is never an act of wisdom.

Every situation life gives us is an opportunity to test our patience and our self‑control.  

Success in that test does not lie in suppressing anger.  

It lies in restraining our actions at the moment anger arises.

Life is a chain of moments.  

But the decisions made in those moments have the power to change the course of many years.

A single wrong word can break a relationship.  

A single wrong action can destroy trust.  

A single wrong decision can alter a future.

So, in the moment anger rises, we must listen not to what our mind screams, but to what our wisdom whispers.  

A deep breath, a minute of silence, a small pause these can save us from great mistakes.

Emotions are the colours of our life.  

But decisions are the shape of our life.  

Colours can change, but once the shape is altered, correcting it becomes difficult.

Therefore, avoiding permanent decisions based on temporary emotions is one of the greatest forms of wisdom that protects our life.

When anger subsides, our mind becomes clear.  

The decisions we make then benefit our well‑being, our relationships, and our future.

This is true maturity; this is true wisdom.

Anger is like a spark.  

We cannot predict when it will ignite or how intensely it will burn.  

But it is our responsibility to decide what that spark must not burn.

Often, in the moment anger rises, we lose ourselves and forget our values and our humanity.  

A harsh word spoken in that instant can leave a deep wound in the hearts of those we love.

The most important relationships in our lives often break in a single moment of anger.  

But rebuilding them may take years  sometimes even that is not enough.

So even if our mind burns with anger, our wisdom must remain unburnt.

Feeling an emotion is not wrong.  

Acting based on that emotion is where the danger lies.

Our actions are greater than our emotions.  

They write the history of our life.

True wisdom in life is not about being a person who never gets angry.  

It is about having the ability to protect oneself when anger arises.

A moment of silence can prevent a great problem.  

When our mind is disturbed, our vision narrows and our thinking becomes trapped.  

The decisions made in that state do not reflect our true desires or our long‑term well‑being.

That is why, in the moment anger rises, pausing the mind, slowing the thoughts, and delaying the actions is a profound wisdom.

This may not come naturally to many.  

But it is a skill that can be cultivated through practice.

Each time we choose calmness over anger, our life becomes more stable and our relationships become more secure.

This approach prioritising long‑term well‑being over temporary emotion — is true maturity.

With love,  

Sakthi Sakthithasan

The World We Create Within

Most people do not realise that the world they live in is not a stage created by someone outside.

It is the expression of an inner universe they are creating every day, every minute, every breath.

This truth is the foundation of the spiritual journey called self‑realisation.

Human life is not about seeing what happens outside and living according to it.

What happens inside us is what shapes the world we see outside.

An ordinary person faces many events every day.

Work, family, relationships, difficulties, joys — all these happen outside.

But how we perceive them, how we interpret them, how we respond to them that is what creates our world.

The same event can create two different worlds for two different people.

Why? Because the world is not created by events, but by our inner perception.

Every breath we take, every belief we hold, every boundary we draw  none of these are reactions to the outer world.

They are tools that shape our inner world.

Breath changes our state of mind.

Belief changes our decisions.

Boundaries change our journey.

Together, they sculpt the artwork we call life.

Self‑realisation is not a grand philosophy. It is not reserved for yogis or monks.

It is the simplest, most natural process happening in every human being’s daily life.

Self‑realisation is not asking “Who am I?”

It is observing “What is happening inside me?”

When I get angry, where does that anger arise from?

When I feel fear, how does that fear control me?

When I feel joy, how does that joy open me?

Observing these is self‑realisation.

Even a simple person can understand this, because it is not book‑knowledge; it is lived experience.

We often think:

“Something happened outside, so I feel this way.”

But what truly happens is:

“I feel this way because of how I am inside.”

On a rainy day, one person feels sad, another feels happy.

The rain is the same.

Only the feeling is different.

Therefore the world is different.

This is the core of self‑realisation.

The world does not create us.

We create our world.

This truth frightens many people.

They ask, “Then is everything that goes wrong in my life my fault?”

No.

That is not the purpose of this idea.

Many events in life are beyond our control.

But the impact they have on us — that is what creates our world.

Meaning:

The event is not in our hands.

But how we feel it, how we face it, how we transform it — that is in our hands.

This is the greatest freedom of a human being.

This is the greatest gift of spirituality.

From the day we are born, the universe influences us.

Family, society, education, experiences, memories, fears, desires — all these shape our mind.

But they cannot control us forever.

Because humans have a unique ability:

The ability to change from within.

We can change the beliefs we hold.

We can heal old wounds.

We can create a new perspective.

We can reshape our world.

This is the power of self‑realisation.

Self‑realisation is not withdrawing from life.

It is connecting deeply with life.

It is:

Being conscious while working,  

Handling relationships with awareness,  

Facing difficulties with calmness,  

Experiencing joy with gratitude.

Self‑realisation is not a philosophy.

It is a practice.

A breath.  

An attention.  

A feeling.  

A wakefulness.

We do not face the world.

We create the world.

The world we create is born from our inner peace, our awareness, our emotions, our beliefs.

Once this truth is understood, life stops being a burden and becomes a creation.

Each day takes a new shape.

Each breath becomes a new beginning.

With love,  

Sakthi Sakthithasan

The Power of Thought

This life we live may appear like a drama to some people.  

But the same drama becomes life itself for others.

The ability to think is a wonderful gift, but it is essential to think with calmness.  

If we want to put our thoughts into action, we must do so with determination.

If we choose to leave our thoughts or actions for the sake of others, we must do it with complete sincerity.

Sometimes the best advice we receive may come from someone we consider an enemy.  

Likewise, the advice given by someone we consider a close friend may turn out to be foolish.

Thought is not merely a flow of ideas.  

It is an inner light that determines the order of our mind and the direction of our actions.  

For that light to remain clear, our mind must be free from confusion.

When the mind is clear, even the smallest decisions gain the power to create great changes.  

That is why nurturing our inner self and guiding our thoughts is one of the most important responsibilities in life.

Do not worry about how small the step toward progress is.  

The power of thought is what distinguishes humans from animals.  

The growth of this power of thought is the foundation of today’s inventions and the lifestyles built upon them.

Thought varies from person to person.  

How each individual uses this power determines whether it is used for the right purpose or not.

To illustrate this difference, our ancestors created epic characters.  

The differences in the thinking of the Pandavas and the Kauravas—who grew up in the same environment—are what became the Mahabharata.

Even when people share the same environment, education, and opportunities, they differ because of the quality of their inner thinking.  

Some use thought as a ladder to rise.  

Some turn it into a tool for their downfall.

These two directions of thought have the power to elevate or degrade a person.  

Therefore, the ability to control one’s thoughts and use them for good is one of life’s greatest treasures.

Every human being’s future is shaped by the cycle of thoughts he gets trapped in.  

Our ancestors worked hard to teach us this truth.

“Power of thought” is a divine gift given to us.  

Using it for social progress, societal upliftment, and the nation’s well-being is a great challenge before everyone.  

The future of our nations depends on how the younger generation chooses to face this challenge.

A seed must shed its protective shell to sprout into a plant.  

A worm must bear wings to become a butterfly.  

This is the law of life.

To rise from one stage to the next, one must accept certain sacrifices and let go of certain comforts.

Every challenge life gives us is not to test us,  

but to bring out the strength hidden within us.

Sometimes what we think we are losing actually becomes a stepping stone to elevate us.  

“When one door closes, another opens” is not just a proverb—  

it is the natural rhythm of life.

The ability to see that open door and the courage to walk through it are the true signs of progress.

At times and in certain places, silence becomes necessary.  

But what is the true meaning of silence?  

Is silence merely the absence of speech?  

If so, would cutting off the tongue be considered silence?

No, my dear young generation!

True silence is understanding the weight of every word that leaves our mouth.  

Ensuring that our words do not hurt others or cause unnecessary distress is the mark of real silence.  

Speaking only what is necessary, to the right person, in the right measure—this is the true definition of silence.

Silence is not a sign of weakness.  

It is the expression of inner strength.  

Remaining silent when anger arises is not an ordinary act—  

it is a noble discipline.

Our words reveal our character.  

Our silence reveals our wisdom.

One who knows when to speak and when to remain silent has already achieved half of life’s success.

We often say, “Be a good person.”  

But what does “good person” really mean?  

Are there only two states—good and bad?

Through the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and many other epics, our ancestors tried to teach us something deeper.  

Perhaps they wanted to show us that there exists a state between good and bad.

Is it enough to behave in a way that earns us the label “good” without making any real effort?  

Is speaking illogically about everything and pretending to be righteous a sign of bravery?  

Or is there a state between bravery and cowardice?

The same ancient wisdom that says “Dharma will protect you” also says “Even in the river, measure before you step.”  

All these teachings convey one message:

“Be a good person who brings benefit to the world.”  

“Be a wise and courageous human being.”  

“Be a hardworking, compassionate, spiritually grounded individual.”

If our decisions do not harm those connected to us, and if we live within our limits as good human beings, that is enough.  

If we perform our daily duties properly, live as disciplined individuals, and worship the divine without causing trouble to others, that is enough.

A generation that walks the path of patience, guided by knowledge and rooted in love, will surely succeed.

The progress of life depends on how kindly we treat children, how respectfully we support the elderly, how compassionately we help the suffering, and how understanding we remain with both the weak and the strong.  

Because…

In our lives, we have passed through—or will pass through—all these stages.

My dear generation, you will absorb all these truths and rise as an exemplary society.  

You can do it.

With affection,  

Sakthi Sakthithasan

Illusion and the Human Everyday Life

Illusion and the Human Everyday Life 

From the moment a human wakes up until the moment they fall asleep, they never see the world directly.  

They only see the interpretation their mind gives about the world.

An event, a word, a facial expression  none of these carry any inherent meaning.  

It is the mind that assigns meaning to them.

The moment we believe that meaning to be true, illusion begins.

For example, if someone smiles, we assume the smile is meant for us.  

If they don’t smile, we conclude they dislike us.  

These are not truths they are interpretations created by our mind.

In reality, we can never know what the other person is thinking.  

But the story created by our mind feels more real than reality itself.  

These mental stories are the first layer of illusion.

Most of the suffering we experience in daily life arises from these mental interpretations.

A small mistake becomes “I am useless.”  

A small success becomes “I am extraordinary.”  

Neither is true.  

Yet both illusions bind a person equally.

The mind naturally believes whatever it creates.  

This is why two people can see the same event in completely different ways.  

For one, it is an opportunity.  

For another, it is a problem.  

The event is the same the interpretation differs, so the feeling differs.

This is the deeper functioning of illusion.

Illusion is most visible in human relationships.  

If a word hurts us, it is not the word that hurts.  

It is the meaning our mind gives to it.  

The same word may have no effect on someone else.  

This shows that the root of emotion is not outside it is inside.

Our mental interpretations shape our emotional world.  

Those who do not understand this feel the world is their enemy.  

Those who understand it see the world as a mirror reflecting their inner state.

Even the decisions we make daily are not free from illusion.  

If we avoid an opportunity, it is not because it is truly dangerous.  

It is because our mind interprets it as danger.  

Another person may boldly take the same opportunity because their mind interprets it as growth.

Thus, a human life is shaped not by external circumstances but by internal interpretations.  

Illusion is not something happening outside it is something happening inside.

Illusion is clearly seen in desires and fears.  

We believe an object will give us happiness.  

But the happiness is not in the object — it is in our imagination about it.  

We believe what we fear will destroy us.  

But the destruction is not in the fear  it is in the story our mind tells about it.

Desire and fear are dramas performed on the stage of illusion.  

As long as we believe these dramas to be real, there is no freedom.

From a spiritual perspective, illusion does not mean rejecting the world.  

It means understanding the world correctly.  

The world exists — but how we see it determines our experience.

One who understands illusion does not have to renounce the world.  

They begin to see it clearly.  

They see events as events.  

They do not believe their mind’s interpretations as truth.  

This is the beginning of spiritual freedom.

A person who understands illusion remains peaceful in daily life.  

Because they know: “It is not the world that hurts me; it is the meaning my mind creates.”  

This understanding makes them the owner of their emotions.  

They are no longer tossed around by external situations.  

They begin to smile at their own mind  at how it creates stories and convinces them they are true.

Understanding illusion is not rejecting life.  

It is understanding life deeply.  

True freedom begins when a person stops believing their mind’s interpretations as truth.  

That freedom is the essence of spirituality.

One who understands illusion lives in the world,  

but the world cannot control them.  

They experience events,  

but they are not enslaved by them.  

They see the stories created by the mind,  

but they do not get trapped in them.

This understanding has the power to transform everyday life.  

A fight, a mistake, a failure, a success  all are built on layers of mental interpretation.  

Once this is understood, a person stops being a slave to emotions and becomes a witness to them.  

That witnessing leads to peace.

One who understands illusion does not need to leave the world.  

They only need to see it clearly.

With love,  

Sakthi Sakthithasan