I was 9 years old when I was introduced to the concept of re-birth. I don’t recall how I was introduced to it. Must be through my granny.I was very fascinated by this concept that I started thinking deeply about it. I used to think if I were to be reborn, who would my new parents be? Will I be having a new body? What will happen to my present family,&nbsp;will they recognize me if I come in front of them in a new body?I used to think till I get really scared and stopped. Again, after a few days, I go back to the same series of thoughts, get scared and stop.I was curious and scared at the same time. The curiosity prompted me to go back to the questions. Fear made me stop beyond a point. This must have continued for at least a few months.After a couple of years, I went to boarding school where I spent 7 years of my life. When I was around 14 years old, a friend introduced me to the books of Osho, Jiddu Krishnamurti and Noam Chomsky.I read some books by Osho and had late-night conversations with this friend and a few others. This went on for the next 3 years till I finished my schooling. My greatest insight from these books and conversations was that&nbsp;there is a way to live a life that is free.&nbsp;A life where one can be joyful and free irrespective of the external situation.While I knew this to be true, the joy and freedom in my life were tied to external situations. I got happy when things worked out in my favour and got upset when they didn’t. This made me wonder about the&nbsp;gap between my knowledge and my experience.A few years later, I got introduced to the work of Byron Katie. I learnt from her that it is not the external situation that upsets us, but it is the stories we make about them. She has a simple process called The Work that guides one towards joy and freedom.The process is about identifying the belief that is causing you stress and examining if the belief is true. If it seems true then examine if it is “the truth” or is it “a truth”&nbsp;(one among many perspectives).She says that reality is always kinder than our stories about them. It's not the problem that causes our suffering; it's our thinking about the problem.As I examined my beliefs, I found this to be true. I was very happy to have found a simple and effective process that helped me experience joy and freedom irrespective of the external situations.For example: If I find myself stressed about losing my job. I will examine if I can be sure I will lose my job. Even if I’m certain that I will lose my job, can I be certain it’s a bad thing to happen?As I examine deeper, I come to see that I cannot be certain that I will lose my job, and even if I do lose my job I cannot be certain that it is a bad thing.(She uses 4 simple questions and turnarounds to do this. You may check it out.)I examined all the beliefs that caused me stress and found relief and freedom. I sensed that there was more to it than being a simple process, but I couldn’t figure out what it was.A few months later I got introduced to the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi. I also started reading Jiddu Krishnamurti, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Rumi and Hafez.Their teachings took me to the question - Who am I?&nbsp;(I realised, this was the question I had as a 9-year-old when I heard about re-birth.)These teachings helped me see that I am not the image I have of myself. It helped me see that all that I am seeking is available right here. I realised I was like the fish who went searching for the ocean.I realised the void I’m trying to fill is nothing but a mirage. This realisation brought some relief. I didn’t have to prove anything anymore. I realised the value of my presence over the value of my actions. I started focusing on who I’m being rather than obsessing over what I’m doing.It also brought some confusion. It was against all that I was taught so far.I was taught happiness is a destination to reach. But here I see happiness can be the starting point. I can do things from happiness than doing things for happiness. This was a big shift in the way I looked at life.I realised all my actions are rooted in either love or fear. I either see the universe as a friend who has my back or as an enemy waiting to pull me down. When I trust the universe I experience peace. I am compassionate to others. When I doubt the universe I am restless and self-centred.I decided to notice the source of my actions and reduce actions that are not rooted in trust. This continues to be my go-to practice.It is this inner quest and realisation that led me to start my coaching journey. My deepest intention has been to guide people to inner freedom. I wished to help people see that the world need not change for them to experience peace, joy and freedom.As I started working, I realised, I need to meet people where they are. I mean, if someone is drowning I need to give them a life jacket and ensure they feel safe before I could ask them if they are interested to learn swimming.In the process of doing this, I started spending a lot of time providing life jackets rather than teaching swimming. I felt the need to take some time off to reflect on this. That’s the reason I couldn’t send you letters in the last two months. I was on a reflective break.After the break, I wish to spend more time with people who are interested in learning to swim.This essentially means examining ‘how’ we relate to life rather than solving a particular situation. It means examining if the universe can be a friend worth trusting and what it means.In a more tangible sense, there are many things we can achieve through effort. Then there are many that slip away from us the more effort we put in. I tend to value the second kind of thing more.I’m talking about things like love, rest and creativity. These are not things we could control by effort. It takes a different kind of relationship with life to enjoy love, rest and creativity. It is this space that brings me alive the most.At the moment, I don’t have more details. But if this interests you or evokes some thoughts or questions in you, please write back to me.Thank you so much for reading till the end. Sending warm hugs.With love,Arjun

I was 9 years old when I was introduced to the concept of re-birth. I don’t recall how I was introduced to it. Must be through my granny.

Stories of my spiritual quest 

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Stories of my spiritual quest

Stories of my spiritual quest

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