The journey to spirituality often begins with a personal quest for meaning and strength. For me, it was a series of life experiences and deeply ingrained values from my upbringing that set the stage. Growing up, my parents and grandmother emphasized kindness, diligence, and respect, values that shaped my approach to life and seeded a curiosity about the broader spiritual truths that guide human existence.
Rather than adhering strictly to one faith or practice, I remained open to exploring teachings that resonated with my personal values and addressed the challenges of modern life. Having spent more than half of my life away from family and living in multiple countries, I gained diverse exposure that nurtured empathy towards all religions and faiths. This broader perspective deepened my understanding that human needs, hopes, and desires, despite cultural differences, ultimately converge around a shared purpose. This openness, rooted in early life lessons, formed the foundation for everything that followed, including my eventual engagement with The Bhagavad Gita and Premanand Govind Sharan Ji's teachings, which added depth and relevance to my spiritual journey.
Finding strength and guidance in the Bhagavad Gita
In November 2022, when my father was suddenly hospitalized due to multiple organ failure, I found myself facing questions I had never asked before. As he lay in the ICU for over a month, I felt weak and lost, despite knowing that everything humanly possible was being done by the doctors. This profound period of uncertainty led me to explore religious texts, including the Bhagavad Gita, seeking answers to the deeper questions of life, purpose, and sorrow.
The Bhagavad Gita provided immense strength during that uncertain time, offering clarity and resilience as my father continues on dialysis. Its teachings enabled me to support my family with faith and inner strength, maintaining a sense of purpose and positivity throughout the ongoing challenge.
Each time I revisited the Bhagavad Gita, its teachings revealed deeper meaning and practical relevance. It is safe to say there is no question in modern life that the Bhagavad Gita does not address with timeless wisdom. However, I came to recognize that understanding its wisdom is an ongoing process, requiring continuous effort to integrate its practices into everyday tasks and challenges.
Discovering Premanand Ji Maharaj’s teachings
I had become receptive and keen to learn more about spirituality, regardless of religion or faith. This openness led me to explore the teachings of various spiritual leaders. Naturally, I was inclined to find someone who aligned closely with the Bhagavad Gita, tying its teachings with a practical approach relevant to current challenges rather than rigid theories or personal opinions. This continued journey with the Bhagavad Gita eventually led me to discover the teachings of Premanand Ji Maharaj Ji. His messages resonated deeply with me, offering solace and clarity at a time when I felt adrift. Maharaj Ji’s approach to spirituality was both profound and highly relevant to modern challenges, blending timeless wisdom with practical applicability. This discovery took me back to the foundational values my parents and grandmother taught me during my childhood, values that emphasized respect, hard work, and kindness.
Practical spirituality
Premanand Maharaj Ji’s approach to spirituality integrates into the realities of daily life with a clarity that feels both practical and empowering. His teachings encourage fulfilling one’s responsibilities while fostering a connection with an inner sense of purpose. Maharaj Ji presents spirituality not as an escape from reality’s challenges but as a resource to confront them with resolve and resilience. This perspective felt particularly significant to me, providing a grounded approach to personal growth while also addressing the broader responsibilities we hold towards society.
Addressing taboo topics
In a society where certain subjects are often avoided, Maharaj Ji addresses them with courage and clarity. He speaks openly about sensitive topics such as celibacy, self-discipline, and the pitfalls of premature relationships, particularly encouraging young people to focus on their education and career. For instance, he advises channeling youthful energy into skill-building and long-term planning rather than distractions, framing these discussions with scientific reasoning to appeal to modern sensibilities.
Maharaj Ji also discusses mental health in practical terms, emphasizing the role of mindfulness and self-awareness in overcoming anxiety and procrastination. His guidance often includes actionable steps, such as maintaining consistent daily routines, dedicating time to self-reflection, and avoiding habits that drain productivity. By blending traditional wisdom with practical advice, he empowers individuals to confront societal taboos and develop a resilient mindset to thrive in both personal and professional spheres.
Respect and equality for women
This teaching resonates deeply with me as I see it as a major struggle in the world today. Maharaj Ji’s message of respecting women as one would their own sister or mother highlights a fundamental value that society often struggles to uphold.
Beyond individual behavior, he speaks about societal responsibility, encouraging leaders and communities to build environments where women are genuinely valued, respected, and treated as equals.
His teaching echoes the values I saw in my grandparents, who extended care, equality, and respect not just to family but to the broader community. As I think and care more about quality, safety, and equality with my 8-year-old daughter, 7-year-old niece, and many daughters in my extended family and friend circle, Maharaj Ji’s emphasis on collective responsibility feels even more relevant. It aligns with the universal truth that respecting others is the cornerstone of a compassionate and equitable society. For me, this has been a humbling reminder to continuously evaluate my actions and their impact in fostering a safer, more equal, and respectful world for all.
Non-materialism
Maharaj Ji’s perspective on materialism has been a transformative aspect of his teachings. He reminds us that true happiness is not found in possessions but in leading a purposeful life. I have often struggled with the boundaries between comfort and excess. I still find myself indulging in luxuries, even if more cautiously and often for the comfort of my children and those around me, yet I recognize it as a recurring mistake.
His teachings remind us that the hunger for luxury and comfort can be endless unless we consciously define boundaries. This realization has shaped how I differentiate between essentials and indulgences, encouraging a focus on purposeful living over fleeting desires. It has also encouraged me to focus on what contributes to building a better future rather than merely ensuring a comfortable present.
This foundation has significantly influenced my choices, allowing me to live a simpler life while prioritizing savings and future investments. Maharaj Ji’s message continues to inspire me to align my actions with long-term goals rather than fleeting desires, creating a balanced approach to personal and professional growth.
Empathy through personal struggles
Maharaj’s personal journey is one of resilience and unwavering commitment to his spiritual path. Born Aniruddh Kumar Pandey in 1964 in Akhri Village, Maharaj Ji demonstrated an early inclination towards spirituality. By the age of 13, he committed himself to spiritual learning, immersing in deep meditation and practices along the Ganges River. During this time, Maharaj Ji chose a path of complete reliance on faith, dedicating his days to naam jap and meditating without seeking assistance. He depended solely on the kindness of others, embodying the principles of surrender and detachment even at a young age. This period of self-discipline and trust in providence shaped his unwavering commitment to spirituality and service.
His life took a significant turn when he became a disciple of Shri Hit Gaurangi Sharan Ji Maharaj in Vrindavan. Under his guidance, he immersed himself in the teachings of Sahchari Bhav and Nitya Vihar Ras, which formed the core of his spiritual philosophy. Maharaj Ji's entire life has been a path filled with immense challenges, marked by unwavering determination and faith. Diagnosed with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, a genetic condition that led to kidney failure, Maharaj Ji has been undergoing dialysis three times a week. This reality struck a deep chord with me, as my father has been navigating similar challenges with dialysis. Seeing Maharaj Ji’s unwavering dedication to his mission despite such physical trials has been profoundly inspiring.
Through his candidness about his struggles, Maharaj Ji has demonstrated that vulnerability can be a source of strength. He continues to inspire many by showing that even in the face of physical limitations, a life of impact and service is possible. Maharaj Ji’s disciplined life is an example of this resolve. His daily routine includes waking up as early as 2 AM and walking miles before beginning his spiritual practices and daily responsibilities. This level of commitment and physical endurance, despite his health conditions, surpasses what many healthier individuals can imagine today. His resilience serves as a powerful reminder that acceptance and perseverance can transform personal hardships into opportunities to uplift others.
Holistic well-being
Maharaj Ji emphasizes the importance of holistic health as a cornerstone of a balanced life. His teachings advocate for mindfulness, meditation, and acts of service as essential practices to nurture mental, physical, and emotional well-being. He frequently highlights the significance of daily discipline, such as incorporating simple routines that foster self-awareness and inner peace. Maharaj’s approach also underscores the interconnection between personal well-being and societal contribution, urging individuals to create harmony within themselves as a way to positively impact the world around them.
Immersion in spirituality
The more I listened to Maharaj Ji, the more I found myself drawn into his world of wisdom. Hours would pass as I immersed myself in his discourses, captivated by his ability to address complex issues with simplicity and clarity. His interactive Q&A sessions were particularly engaging, offering not only practical advice but also a deep sense of connection to his listeners. Topics ranged from personal challenges to societal dilemmas, and each response seemed to reinforce the values I had grown up with, like respect, resilience, and hard work. These sessions felt like a bridge, connecting the traditional teachings I cherished from my childhood with the contemporary challenges of modern life.
The Q&A sessions
Maharaj Ji’s sessions, known as "Ekantik Vartalaap," continue to provide a platform for people to seek guidance on a wide range of topics, including personal struggles, familial conflicts, and societal challenges. Maharaj Ji is known for his ability to distill complex issues into simple, actionable steps that make his guidance relatable and practical.
One of the recurring themes in his sessions is the emphasis on karma, performing one’s duties with sincerity while detaching from the outcomes. For example, Maharaj Ji often shares real-life stories of individuals who transformed their lives by focusing on consistent effort and mindfulness. He uses these examples to highlight how persistence and inner clarity can lead to a fulfilling and balanced existence. His ability to address contemporary challenges while remaining rooted in spiritual wisdom has made these sessions transformative for many.
Deepening devotion
As I immersed myself in Maharaj’s teachings, I found his discourses captivating, addressing life’s complexities with simplicity and clarity. While I never neglected my responsibilities, I found myself carving out more time for spiritual reflection and attempting to internalize his lessons in my daily actions. This phase of my life became a period of profound introspection and learning, where every teaching seemed to offer new insights into balancing worldly duties with inner growth.
The crossroads of spirituality and duty
There came a point where I found myself at a crossroads. While Maharaj Ji’s teachings profoundly enriched my understanding of life, I began to recognize a subtle, unintended consequence of my deep immersion in spirituality. The time I spent engaging with his teachings, though valuable, occasionally overshadowed my ability to fully contribute to my professional and familial responsibilities.
This realization did not diminish the value of Maharaj Ji’s teachings but highlighted the importance of balancing spiritual reflection with actionable responsibilities. While his messages offered solace and guidance, I came to understand that I was overly immersed in listening and reflecting, sometimes at the expense of actively engaging with my responsibilities. Reflecting on his consistent emphasis on karma, the importance of sincere action without attachment. I recognized that spirituality should drive purposeful living rather than become an end in itself.
Grounded in the Bhagavad Gita’s core message of karma, this realization helped me understand how spiritual reflection should guide actionable steps. It was not about fixing everything at once but recognizing the ongoing nature of aligning introspection with more active and deeper engagement in responsibilities.
Returning to the Bhagavad Gita’s core message about karma helped me redefine priorities by identifying what truly aligned with growth and progress versus what risked creating inertia.
Integrating spirituality into daily life
I structured my day to include time for spiritual reflection without compromising my professional or familial commitments. This approach allowed me to embrace both aspects of my life with equal dedication. As I reflected on Maharaj Ji’s teachings, I was drawn to the example of the Gopikas of Vrindavan, who seamlessly wove devotion into their daily lives. While performing their chores, they kept Lord Krishna at the forefront of their thoughts, chanting His name and dedicating every action to Him.
Inspired by this, I began incorporating the practice of Naam Jap into my routine, not as a separate activity but as a continuous thread throughout my day. Whether I was working or spending time with my family, I dedicated my efforts to the Almighty, consciously taking no personal credit. This practice brought an unexplainable sense of ease and lightness to my heart. Even mundane tasks transformed into purposeful endeavors, reminding me that true devotion lies in aligning everyday actions with a higher purpose.
Applying teachings to parenting
I began incorporating these values into my parenting with a conscious effort to instill them in everyday situations. For example, I encourage my children to actively participate in resolving conflicts with empathy, whether it is a disagreement with a sibling or a challenge at school. I also make it a point to involve them in community service activities, helping them understand the importance of giving back and recognizing the needs of others. Teaching my children to value kindness, diligence, and responsibility has become a cornerstone of our family dynamic, ensuring they grow with a balanced perspective that combines compassion with accountability.
Professional growth through mindfulness
Previously, I had started to feel complacent, as if being a seasoned professional meant there was little left to learn. Maharj Ji's teachings, closely aligned with the Bhagavad Gita’s emphasis on karma and continuous effort, challenged this mindset. They encouraged me to reevaluate my approach, embracing the humility to rebuild from the ground up and find meaning in every step of the journey.
I began reshaping every aspect of my professional life, reaffirming foundational skills as I had done at the beginning of my career. Tasks that once felt monotonous took on new meaning, as I realized their value as building blocks for a stronger career. With this mindset, I reignited my curiosity to learn and embraced the challenges of my field with a sense of purpose. All of this happened while keeping Maharaj Ji’s guidance close, not by dedicating exclusive time to listen or meditate, but by integrating his teachings into every moment of my day. This approach allowed me to stay connected to spirituality while striving for excellence in my work.
Moving Forward with purpose
My journey has come full circle, beginning with the Bhagavad Gita during my father’s health crisis and returning to it with a renewed sense of purpose. Maharaj Ji’s teachings acted as a bridge, helping me uncover deeper layers of the Gita’s wisdom and its relevance to life’s challenges. This connection reaffirmed the Bhagavad Gita as the ultimate guide, offering timeless clarity and direction.
Today, the Bhagavad Gita stands as my compass, teaching the principles of karma, devotion, and self-awareness. While Maharaj Ji’s insights provided valuable context, the Gita remains my foundation, anchoring my spiritual and practical approach to life with enduring purpose and clarity.
For those seeking guidance, I encourage delving into the Bhagavad Gita as the primary source of spiritual wisdom. Maharaj Ji’s teachings, available through his YouTube Hindi Channel and YouTube English Channel, serve as a valuable resource to better understand and apply these principles.