Our Syllabus

It is a big question, Who am I? You can search in many places, read many books, ask many people, but you can only discover the answer within yourself. Through self-analysis, self-honesty, a balanced mind, and the capacity to listen to and follow the voice of the heart, you will find it.

The journey to self-discovery is a dive into unchartered waters, to find the pearl that is your deepest essence. In the process you bring the body, mind and soul into alignment; you come to understand yourself as an interconnected element of nature. Battles are fought as you tackle your fears, the ego, doubts, arrogance, jealousy, shame and all the enemies of your peace and happiness.

One of the biggest problems in the modern world is the fixation on “instant”- instant success, instant results, instant access, instant gratification. It makes for a restless, impatient society. When you cultivate patience with yourself, you will be patient with others, and with any situation. At the heart of patience is the resolve to endure whatever is happening in the present in the faith that tomorrow will be a brighter day.

If you want to go on a long journey you take a car with a strong engine that will keep going, even when the terrain is difficult. Willpower is your inner engine, your inner strength. The stronger your willpower the further you can go.Know what you want, then determine to achieve it, regardless of what level of difficulties or opposition you meet. Unlike willpower, stubbornness makes you rigid, so there can be no flow. Confidence in yourself and others is crucial. How can you hope to achieve anything if your have neither faith nor belief in yourself or others?

Discipline is a superpower, a power that bring you to your goal; a power that maintains equilibrium in nature and in society. A disciplined person is self-reliant and self-confident, with a peaceful and happy mind. Nature maintains a natural discipline that leads to a natural balance.

Everyone has the potential to evolve as a Divine Soul in this lifetime, but only a few will achieve Divinity Power. This is possible only if it is your destiny, and this where your DNA comes into play, the effects of seven generations. Achieving Divinity Power requires belief, faith, trust, and an enormous amount of hard work. It requires detachment, sacrifice, a kind heart, right attitude of mind, and surrender to the Supreme – living fully according to the Laws of Nature and Spiritual Laws

Every human being longs for peace, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose. Yet the greatest obstacle to all three is rarely found in circumstances, relationships, or the world around us. It resides within the chambers of our own mind. That obstacle is ego. Though invisible, its influence reaches every aspect of life, shaping our perceptions, reactions, relationships, and ultimately our destiny.

Since the dawn of civilization, human behavior has been governed by the three gunas—Sattva (purity and wisdom), Rajas (activity and desire), and Tamas (inertia and ignorance). Ego largely arises from the tamasic tendency of the mind, creating rigidity, attachment, and self-centeredness. Left unchecked, it harms both the individual and those around him.

Psychology views ego as the structure that creates our sense of individuality and helps us function in society. In its healthy form, it provides identity and direction. Spiritual traditions, however, look beyond this functional role. In the Vedic worldview, ego—Ahankara, the "I-maker"—creates the illusion of separateness. It continually whispers me, mine, and myself. What begins as a useful sense of identity gradually becomes a prison when we mistake it for our true nature. The sages taught that Ahankara is one aspect of the inner instrument of consciousness, alongside Manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), and Chitta (the storehouse of impressions). The temporary self begins to overshadow the eternal Self, and the mask starts to hide the face.

Ancient wisdom teaches that beneath our roles, achievements, possessions, and social identities exists a deeper reality—the Self, eternal and unchanging. Ego directs attention outward, convincing us that happiness lies in wealth, recognition, status, power, appearance, and control. It persuades us that our worth depends on external validation. As a result, life becomes a relentless pursuit of approval. The ego promises fulfillment but leaves behind restlessness. It promises importance but breeds insecurity. It promises control but deepens fear. At its core, ego is the direct adversary of soul-consciousness. The soul seeks truth, unity, wisdom, and bliss; ego thrives on separation, comparison, attachment, and self-importance. Like oil and water, ego and spirituality do not naturally mix.

At the root of every egoic tendency lies fear. Beneath pride lies insecurity; beneath arrogance lies vulnerability; beneath jealousy lies a sense of lack. The ego constantly asks: What will people think of me? Am I respected? Am I successful enough? In this endless search for validation, enormous energy is wasted protecting an image that exists largely in the imagination.
When ego takes control, listening stops, learning diminishes, and genuine dialogue becomes difficult. The ego insists, "I am right." Wisdom, however, remains open, curious, and willing to learn. True maturity is reflected not in dominating others but in respecting different viewpoints and remaining flexible in understanding while firm in principle.

The great sages understood that the real battle of life is not between one person and another, but between ego-consciousness and soul-consciousness. Throughout the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna teaches that attachment to the false self is the root of conflict and suffering.

Patanjali identified Asmita—the sense of "I-am-ness"—as one of the fundamental afflictions that obscure reality. Modern neuroscience echoes this insight from a different perspective.

Researchers have found that ego emerges not from a single brain chemical but from the interaction of neural networks, memories, hormones, and learned behaviors that create our sense of self. Dopamine drives the pursuit of reward and recognition; serotonin influences status and importance; cortisol and adrenaline intensify defensive reactions; while oxytocin promotes empathy, trust, and connection. Science explains the mechanism; spirituality reveals the path beyond it.

Unchecked ego damages far more than personal peace. It weakens relationships, obstructs communication, and turns cooperation into competition. Families divide, friendships fade, and organizations suffer when self-importance overshadows purpose. Great leaders understand that humility is strength, not weakness. Chanakya warned that one should never be arrogant because of charity, courage, wisdom, virtue, or morality, for the moment humility departs, virtue turns into vanity. As long as life revolves around ego-centered desires and possessiveness, karma continues to accumulate. Spiritual teachers summarize this truth simply: EGO = Edging God Out.

The solution is not to destroy the ego but to rise above it through awareness. Ego gradually loses its grip through silence, humility, gratitude, service, self-inquiry, and the willingness to genuinely listen. Wisdom begins when we stop insisting, “My way is the only way,” and learn to respect the perspectives of others. Before speaking or acting, ask: Are my thoughts arising from compassion and truth, or from pride and self-importance? As awareness deepens, the boundaries of "I" and "mine" begin to dissolve, giving way to inner wisdom and the realization of the True Self. The Indian School of Natural Spiritual Sciences offers a dedicated program to help individuals recognize, manage, and transcend the habit of ego.

Without fear, mankind would not have survived to this day. Fear has kept us aware and alive. It is a very strong emotion, meant to save humans from the realities of danger. It is an emotion that people experience when they recognize something as dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat. In todays world, many people experience fear not only from real existing dangers but also from perceived and potential future dangers. Essentially, people have become fearful of things that do not necessarily exist, and they are letting this fear of the unknown guide and control them throughout life. Living in a state of perpetual fear is all too common. However, if someone exists in a prolonged state of fear, the resulting stress will create a vacuum that drains all energy from the spiritual body, emotional body, mental body, and physical body. Fear if left unmanaged takes control and has the potential to cause illness within all four of these levels of self. When someone is not equipped to handle or sort through complex negative emotions, that is when suppression becomes a pattern. Ignoring fear does not make it go away, it does quite the opposite, often evolving into even more complex issues like anxiety and depression. Long-term exposure to high levels of anxiety and stress cloud the brain, making it extremely difficult to think clearly and remain positive. Man becomes fragile, afraid of fear, ruled by fear, and filled with fear. What he or she must come to see is that their fears are often not based in reality, and do not exist anywhere but in the mind. One must heal and embrace their insecurities and fears, doing so will restore power back to the individual. The key to eliminating high levels of anxiety and fear from your life is to face the fear. One must acknowledge what they are most scared of and do the action anyways, the only way to win over fear is to walk the path through it. Fear is the brain's way of saying there is something important for you to overcome.

What is a Guru and where do we find a Guru? In the dictionary, a Guru is someone who is very skilled at something and who gives advice about it. In the colloquial sense, this could be an investment guru, an internet guru, a sports guru – always depicting someone who has developed some expertise through dedication and practice and can now share this knowledge with others as they learn. In our context, Guru is a spiritual teacher, someone who is able to articulate the Codes of the Universe, the unerring mystical laws of the world and spirit. They have the ability to see beyond your physical representation, beyond the layers of the mind and the ego, to see your true nature. The Gurukul system of education dates back over 5,000 years. In this system, the student was sent to live with the Guru at a young age and would remain for up to fourteen years until his education was complete. These schools were based in forests, so that the young students were immediately immersed in nature. In this holistic setting, they learned not only sacred texts and the many intellectual and practical subjects that formed the curriculum; they learned to love, respect, and protect animal and plant life. During this lecture you will be introduced to the modern day Guru & Gurukul concept.

The environment one is born into and grows in plays a vital role in creating the values he or she carries throughout life. An individual's values, both inherited and learned, serve as the beliefs that motivate all behaviors and thus the qualities that compile their entire character. Through early interactions with family, friends, teachers, religious institutions, and society one is pre-disposed to adopt a certain set of principles, regardless if they are good or bad. If an individual was not shown positive values during their upbringing, they may navigate life with morals that do not serve positive growth. Fortunately, the negative values one holds can be assessed and transformed at any age if there is a desire to make the change. However, changing or developing new morals is no easy feat, for it is similar to changing habits you have held for a lifetime. Even though it may seem complicated, all people should continuously evaluate the morals they live by, ensuring they align with their highest version of self. Personal values are the law of human behavior, and it is imperative that they promote actions and behaviors of ethical stature. Ethical decision-making often involves weighing values against each other and choosing which values we allow to guide our behavior. Morals of high ethical nature ground our actions and decisions in reality, guide us towards a purpose greater than ourselves, and take us to our destiny. Great leaders hold strong values and sacrifice almost anything to live by them; thus, they create sizeable success for themselves. By assessing the why behind the motivations of others, you are given clarity about your actions, motives, and behaviors. Assess the values of those whom you are inspired by and admire most in this life. Take an objective look at the values you live by, how they affect your behavior, and if they are helping you become the person you truly want to be.

The purpose of your life unfolds as you discover who you are. You live a life focused not on the self, but on others and the greater good. Regardless of your circumstances or difficulties, when you are living your purpose and following your dharma, you will experience happiness and joy within. Growth and liberation are the rewards.

Joy is not a destination, nor something to be found outside of oneself, it is a disposition of the mind. Happiness is the mental and emotional experience of positivity and pleasure, with feelings ranging from peace to intense bliss. It is both a state of mind and a way of life, and expresses itself through feelings of satisfaction, well-being, flourishing, and eudaimonia. For many, the experience of bliss is often not permanent because the individual has based their happiness on external circumstances. However, we are often more in control of our happiness than we realize. The presence of happiness in one's life is directly connected to the presence of love, gratitude, and peace within their mind, body, and soul. When an individual is internally content, they understand that good thoughts and feelings are just a perspective change away. You have the power to change your mindset, lifestyle, and environment to restore balance to the cycles of happiness within yourself. If you navigate the world with the mindset that you are unhappy, you will subconsciously continue to attract things, experiences, and people that confirm your viewpoint. The mind loves to be right. If you lead a life with happiness and gratitude then you see that exponential joy exists in you at all times, waiting for you to acknowledge and tap into it whenever you desire. To find the happiness one is looking for, he or she must learn how to direct the search inward and not allow external factors to be the basis of their joy. Constantly attempting to change the circumstances of your external world will make you exhausted before it ever brings you sustained happiness. There is no condition in the outside world that can make you truly happy if you are fundamentally unhappy inside. One must first create change and joy within themselves to see it reflected in their experiences. The foolish man seeks happiness, the wise man grows it under his feet. The presence of happiness in life is by choice, for man does not stumble across it by chance.

Investing in yourself means planting, tending to and having patience for the seeds you plant to grow and blossom at the right time. The reward of self-investment is liberation and freedom. Time is precious, use it wisely, begin planting seeds. The universe is a reflection of your inner consciousness. When you invest in yourself, the universe will invest in you.

Trataka is the doorway, the first chapter in the book of your spiritual life. To become a true spiritualist, you need strong powers of concentration, and this is the gift of this relatively simple practice. It is a technique that uses the sense of sight to still the mind, through focusing on a single point, such as a candle flame. Although it can be easily learned it is very powerful and the breadth of the benefits to be gained from a daily practice is vast. It will support you on all levels – body, mind, and soul.

In a world driven by speed, overload, and emotional fatigue, human life appears outwardly active yet inwardly depleted. Sleep is frequent, yet true rest remains rare, as the mind continues to process memory, anticipation, and unresolved tension. Dhyan Yoga Nidra arises as a profound state of consciousness that bridges waking and sleep, psychology and spirituality, science and inner awareness.

In Patanjali’s yoga system, Dhyaan is uninterrupted awareness following concentration, while Nidra represents the unconscious dimension of mind. Dhyan Yoga Nidra unites these states into conscious
sleep, where awareness remains present even as the body enters deep rest. It is not unconsciousness
but continuity of awareness within rest.

Yoga Nidra, literally translated as Yogic Sleep or Spiritual Sleep, is an ancient science of conscious awareness in which the body enters deep rest, the mind becomes tranquil, and consciousness remains
fully awake. Rooted in the wisdom of the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Ayurveda, and Yogic traditions,
it is a transformative state between sleep and wakefulness that promotes deep relaxation, inner healing, mastery of the mind, and the awakening of higher consciousness.

Ordinary sleep involves complete withdrawal of consciousness, whereas Yoga Nidra preserves a subtle thread of awareness observing inner experience. Unlike meditation, which requires focused effort, or hypnosis, which narrows awareness through suggestion, Yoga Nidra is effortless, expansive, and self-aware.
Ancient yogic and Puranic traditions associate Yoga Nidra with Lord Vishnu, depicted as resting on Ananta Shesha while remaining fully aware of cosmic existence. Texts such as the Devi Mahatmya describe this as a state of cosmic equilibrium between cycles of creation, not ordinary sleep but universal awareness in stillness.

Human experience carries three layers of tension—physical, emotional, and mental—formed through daily stress and subconscious conditioning. Yoga Nidra systematically releases these layers, restoring balance and inner ease. At deeper levels, it works on Samskaras, the subtle impressions stored in the subconscious mind that shape behavior and personality, gradually dissolving their influence.

Within this receptive state, Sankalpa, or conscious intention, becomes a powerful tool of transformation. When planted during Yoga Nidra, it penetrates deeper layers of mind and slowly reshapes thought patterns, habits, and inner direction.

Today, human consciousness remains burdened by continuous mental activity and accumulated subconscious impressions. Dhyan Yoga Nidra restores balance by enabling conscious deep rest,
where stored stress naturally dissolves. It is not simple relaxation, but a systematic restoration of the
entire psycho-physiological system.

The practice produces wide-ranging effects across mind, body, and consciousness. It supports deep physical relaxation, emotional stability, mental clarity, improved concentration, reduced anxiety, and enhanced psychological resilience, while also opening a sense of expanded inner awareness.

Scientific studies show that Yoga Nidra activates alpha and theta brainwave states associated with deep relaxation and subconscious processing. It also helps regulate stress hormones such as cortisol while improving neurotransmitters linked to well-being, supporting emotional balance and cognitive stability.
Therapeutically, it assists in conditions related to chronic stress such as insomnia, hypertension, anxiety,
and pain disorders by calming the nervous system and restoring physiological equilibrium. It also enhances memory, learning capacity, focus, and cognitive efficiency, making it valuable for both intellectual and creative performance.

At subtler levels, Yoga Nidra opens access to expanded states of consciousness marked by inner stillness, heightened intuition, and deeper self-awareness. It is traditionally seen as a gateway toward higher realization.

Meditation prepares the mind for this state by reducing mental clutter and increasing inward focus, making Yoga Nidra more stable and receptive. Together, they form a complete system of awareness and relaxation.
Over time, the practice develops mastery over the mind, allowing thoughts to be observed rather than controlled by them. This shift creates emotional balance, mental clarity, and psychological resilience.
It also acts as an inner cleansing process, dissolving disturbances and reducing psychological heaviness.

The essence of Dhyan Yoga Nidra is conscious sleep—a paradoxical condition where the body rests deeply while awareness remains awake. This unique balance leads to three core outcomes: expansion of consciousness, release of accumulated stress, and spiritual growth, gradually transforming inner experience from fragmentation to clarity.

Ultimately, Yoga Nidra guides consciousness back to its natural state of silence. In that stillness, tension dissolves, awareness expands, and one experiences a profound sense of inner peace. It is not merely a method of relaxation, but a sacred journey from restlessness to stillness, from unconscious living to awakened presence, and from mental noise to the luminous silence of the Self.

Because Yoga Nidra works with subtle states of consciousness and deep layers of the mind, it is traditionally recommended that the practice be learned and guided by an experienced teacher. Proper guidance helps ensure that awareness remains alert throughout the process, allowing the practitioner to receive the full physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits of this ancient science of conscious sleep.

There are many schools around the world that teach Yoga Nidra. At The Indian School of Natural Spiritual Sciences (TISNSS), we teach Dhyan Yoga Nidra in conjunction with Trataka, preparing the mind through focused awareness before entering the deeper stages of the practice. Special attention is given to every organ and part of the body, helping practitioners cultivate heightened awareness and inner sensitivity.

Traditionally, the practitioner lies comfortably in Shavasana (Corpse Pose), allowing the body to become completely still while consciousness remains alert. In this method, awareness is systematically guided through 76 body centres, creating a structured journey of relaxation that gradually withdraws the senses from the external world and directs attention inward. As thoughts, emotions, and sensations arise, the practitioner learns to observe them with detachment and without reaction. Over time, this practice develops profound self-mastery, positively influencing thought patterns, emotional responses, and even physiological processes through the power of conscious awareness.

One of the greatest obstacles on the path of knowledge and self-discovery is gossip. It may appear harmless, yet it diverts attention from introspection, wisdom, and personal growth. A mind occupied with the lives of others cannot fully understand itself. Cultivating awareness before speaking about someone who is absent is therefore an essential practice for every conscious seeker.

From a psychological perspective, gossip is the exchange of information, opinions, or judgments about an absent person, often serving social, emotional, or status-related needs. From the lens of spirituality, gossip represents a misuse of consciousness and speech, diverting human energy away from self-realization, truth, and the evolution of the soul.

People often gossip because of curiosity, a desire for social acceptance, insecurity, comparison, boredom, jealousy, or the need to feel important. Discussing others can create a temporary sense of connection, superiority, or validation, even though it rarely contributes to personal growth.

Ancient traditions regarded speech as a sacred power—Vak Shakti—capable of shaping consciousness and destiny. Every harmful word creates a vibration that returns to the speaker. The soul functions through ethics, truth, and integrity. Gossip is not merely heard by the ears; it is felt by the heart. Instead of nurturing compassion, kindness, and understanding, it introduces negativity that weakens mental purity (sattva), clouds judgement, and hinders spiritual progress. For the person being spoken about, the consequences can be profound, often creating deep and invisible emotional wounds.

A useful illustration is the game commonly known as Chinese Whispers, where a message is passed from one person to another until the final version bears little resemblance to the original. Gossip often follows the same pattern. Facts become distorted through assumptions, exaggerations, misunderstandings, and personal bias. Whether found in families, friendships, workplaces, politics, or social media, such misinformation damages trust, disrupts harmony, and creates unnecessary conflict. Research suggests that many people spend nearly an hour each day discussing others—time that could be invested in learning, creativity, self-improvement, or service. Talking about others often arises from pride, envy, comparison, or insecurity, all of which bind the soul more deeply to samsara, the cycle of rebirth.

Gossip is a three-pronged dialect—it wounds the speaker, the listener, and the absent person being discussed. It violates Dharma, damages Karma, pains the Soul, and disturbs social harmony. Before speaking, apply the Three Gates of Wisdom: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? Conduct regular self-audits to identify habits and triggers that hinder growth physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Surround yourself with uplifting influences and focus on the unique strengths and gifts bestowed upon you. Time is precious; use it for self-mastery rather than criticism. Through disciplined speech, awareness, and compassion, one creates the foundation for wisdom, inner peace, and spiritual evolution.

Ancient wisdom offers a clear warning about gossip. Chanakya advised maintaining distance from both gossip and habitual gossipers, as such influences can gradually divert a person from the path of wisdom, integrity, and self-mastery. What begins as casual conversation can slowly erode character, cloud judgement, and distance one from a higher purpose.

Recognizing the profound impact of this habit on personal, social, and spiritual wellbeing, The Indian School of Natural Spiritual Sciences has developed a dedicated teaching module designed to help individuals understand the roots of gossip, transform unconscious behavioral patterns, and cultivate conscious communication grounded in awareness, ethics, compassion, and self-discipline.

Trauma is fundamentally a thief. It quietly robs us of our natural right to live with freedom, confidence, peace, and purpose. More than an event, it is an overwhelming experience that exceeds our ability to cope emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually. When this happens, the nervous system may become trapped in a survival state, carrying the imprint of pain long after the original situation has passed. What remains unresolved can influence perception, relationships, behavior, self-worth, decision-making, and overall wellbeing, leaving an individual feeling disconnected from both inner strength and life's possibilities.

Ancient wisdom taught that the body remembers what the mind attempts to forget, and modern science increasingly supports this understanding. Trauma affects key areas of the brain involved in memory, emotional regulation, reasoning, and social behavior. It may also disrupt breathing patterns, sleep, immunity, digestion, hormonal balance, and emotional stability. Experiences from childhood are particularly significant because, at that stage of life, we possess limited resources to process adversity. These unhealed impressions often remain dormant until activated by people, places, sounds, situations, or circumstances that unconsciously echo the original experience. Trauma does not always begin with us; unresolved fear, grief, and emotional burdens can travel silently through generations, influencing families until they are consciously recognized and healed.

One of trauma's most damaging effects is its ability to alter perception. Rather than responding to reality
as it exists, we begin reacting through the filter of past wounds. Fear, helplessness, shame, mistrust, anxiety, anger, withdrawal, and chronic stress can become recurring companions. The world may appear unsafe, relationships difficult, and ordinary situations threatening. Over time, prolonged emotional distress can diminish vitality and contribute to physical ailments. Even the skin, the body's largest organ, may sometimes reflect unresolved inner conflict, emotional stress, or experiences that have not found expression. While trauma does not define a person, it can gradually obscure the awareness of who they truly are beneath accumulated layers of pain.

Yet within suffering lies the possibility of transformation. Many spiritual traditions view adversity as a doorway to deeper self-awareness, wisdom, and awakening. The battlefield described in the Bhagavad Gita reflects a universal human struggle: the challenge of facing inner turmoil with courage rather than retreating from it. Healing requires acknowledging what has been carried, understanding its influence, and developing the strength to move forward. Fear and trauma often travel together, but so do resilience and growth. The journey begins when we stop identifying with our wounds and reconnect with the deeper essence of our being.

Recovery is not achieved through avoidance but through compassionate engagement. Restful sleep, mindful breathing, walking, rhythmic movement, nourishing food, meaningful relationships, creative expression, time in nature, laughter, supportive guidance, and spiritual practices all help restore balance. Human connection is particularly important, for isolation strengthens suffering while genuine care promotes recovery. Love remains one of the most powerful medicines available to humanity. Where trauma creates separation, love restores connection. Genuine affection, compassion, acceptance, and understanding calm the nervous system, rekindle hope, and support healing in ways that extend far beyond the physical body.

Never Create Trauma in Another Human Being.

One of the highest responsibilities of being human is to ensure that our words, actions, and judgments
do not become the source of another person's suffering. Many emotional wounds are created not by extraordinary events but by ordinary moments lacking kindness and understanding. A harsh remark may linger for years, a humiliation may damage self-worth, and a betrayal may leave lasting scars. Before speaking or acting, we must ask whether we are creating healing or harm. If we wish to heal the world, we must begin by refusing to wound it. Offer kindness freely, give love generously, and remember that every person you meet may be carrying a burden you cannot see.

Trauma may leave scars, but it need not determine destiny. Every individual possesses an innate capacity
to heal, grow, and rediscover wholeness. The Mundaka Upanishad reminds us that a purified mind becomes a gateway to truth, while the Rig Veda speaks of the light that eternally shines within. That inner light is never extinguished by adversity; it is only temporarily obscured. Healing is the process of uncovering it once again. As Dr. Shashi B. Dubey beautifully expresses: "Healing a trauma opens the door to a fearless life, and a fearless life is a limitless life."

The mind has a floppy disk that stores the experiences, thoughts, and actions of our daily life. When a similar situation arises, traumatic memories can immediately resurface. Trauma can be overcome when we develop the ability to erase the emotional imprint of the original traumatic memory.

At The Indian School of Natural Spiritual Sciences, we teach breathing practices, pranayama, and trataka to strengthen the mind, while also imparting the unique technique of creating space in the mind so that it can be filled with beautiful memories, positive thoughts, and higher awareness.

Nature influences everything in life, from the quality of the air we breathe, the food we put in our mouths, the water we drink, to the tidal effects of the full moon, magnetic storms, and the impact of solar and lunar eclipses. One cannot separate themselves from Nature.

Honesty is valued as a virtue across the world’s most influential religions and philosophies, from Christianity, to Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Confucianism, to the philosophy of Ancient Greece. We like to believe we are honest people, and we may, in the main, be honest in our dealings with people. We tell ourselves we are true to ourselves, and live in the reality, but rarely take time to honestly analyse whether that reality is realistic, whether it is fulfilling our purpose, or whether it is based on wishful thinking. We have hopes and dreams, but do we assess whether they are realistic? Do we have
expectations that others have a responsibility to fulfil them? Do we put plans in place to deal with the unexpected, or lazily “trust” that everything will be okay? In this lecture we will reflect and ask ourselves these deep questions and seek to find the answers.

Those who wake up each day searching for new growth, understanding, and experiences are the few that attain the true pleasures of life. Individuals who think deeply about what they could change to better their life by listening to what their conscience, feelings, and environment tell them. The key to actual positive growth is to live life with an outward mindset, look past your ego, and reflect on what can be learned by your external circumstances each day. Subsequently bringing those perceptions and understandings inward to grow, adapt, and evolve as an individual. When we become complacent and no longer think critically or expansively about our own lives, we subconsciously limit the capacity of our potential. One must always look beyond to ensure active personal growth that is in alignment with his or her life purpose. You must leave behind all self-limiting thoughts to make room for the transcendence of your own destiny. Many people halt their growth without even realizing it, they are stubborn, unwilling to change, learn from others, or take constructive criticism. People tend to do this because this mindset keeps them safe and comfortable subconsciously; in other words, change is too uncomfortable for them. By releasing self-limiting thoughts, every individual makes room for motivating, positive, progressive thoughts to occupy space in the mind. We must constantly look beyond our qualifications, field of work, or current state of mind. Clearing out from our minds anything negative, limiting, or reductive. Looking beyond the scope of our own knowledge and understanding to find information and experiences that are a catalyst for new growth. Using each idea, achievement, and experience to find the interconnections and stepping stones between where we are and where we want to be.