The Writing Lab

I lecture to serve a need beyond myself; I write to meet a need within myself. Tracing it all back, the seed of many public teachings begins as a simple written reflection. In that sense, the blog and journal are my fields: places where “idea seeds” are planted and nurtured, eventually ripening into “fruits of realisation” that energise my journey—and, perhaps, others as well. It all begins in the writing lab, where I engage in deeper dialogue with tattva. Here, I put the scriptural word into conversation with lived reality, waiting for spiritual chemistry. There are moments of chain reaction, breathtaking fusion, and other times when I’ve had to regroup, think more deeply, pray and be patient. The versatility and enduring depth of scripture are fascinating. These are exciting times in the writing lab, where wisdom breathes and it all comes alive. Many have asked what I’ve been working on. Alongside several long-term projects (which I’m happily getting lost in), these are the papers I’ve written this term:

• The Name is One: Why Nāma is Ascribed Primacy in Kali-yuga

• Spiritual Vision or Social Cry: Reflections on Rabindranath Tagore’s Dramatic Awakening

• Just for Fun: Homo Ludens and the Playground of God

• On the Streets of Navadvīpa: Underlying Theological Dimensions of nagara-saṅkīrtana

• Yoga Psychology & Fear: Therapeutic Mindsets from the Bhagavad-gītā

• The Ultimate Liminality: Religious Dimensions in Human Mortality

A friend once told me that writing is “perspiration, inspiration, perspiration.” It’s profoundly true. Each time I sit to write, I confront my haphazard thoughts, jumbled and confused. Sometimes I’m staring at the page with nothing substantial to express, faced with my superficiality and shallowness. I close my eyes, dig deeper and meditate on the scriptural truths I’ve received. I slowly scribe some words, revise and reshape, repair the mistakes, clarify the meaning and streamline the flow. One idea latches onto another, a spark of inspiration ignited, a train of thought is triggered, and mystical things start to transpire. Scripture comes alive and makes itself known! As I edit the text, I feel as though I’m editing my own consciousness. I begin to see what I never saw before.

The writing lab: lonely, demanding, and alive with learning. This is HQ. For me, writing is, by far, the most authentic means of communication. It’s expression and discovery, it encompasses truth and emotion, it’s succinct yet multi-layered and it allows me to be alone and simultaneously with many. Writing allows for inner meditation and mass communication, it’s impactful without being intrusive, it reverberates beyond the moment and it captures a snapshot of the inner world that the eyes can’t access. I lecture to serve a need beyond myself; I write to meet a need within myself.