The Power of Niyamas
The ancient yogic tradition offers five powerful inner disciplines, known as the Niyamas, which help individuals develop inner strength and become responsible leaders in their families, communities, workplaces, and society.
The Niyamas are practical principles for living a balanced and meaningful life. They guide us towards purity, contentment, discipline, self-reflection, and humility. Together, they create a strong foundation for conscious leadership.
1) Shoucha means purity and cleanliness. It includes physical cleanliness as well as clarity in our thoughts, intentions, words, and actions. A pure and organised mind helps us make better decisions. By reducing negativity, anger, jealousy, unhealthy habits, and unnecessary distractions, we create space for wisdom and positive thinking. A leader who practises Shoucha communicates honestly and acts with integrity.
2) Santosha means contentment. It encourages us to appreciate the present moment without abandoning our desire to learn and improve. Modern life often pushes us towards constant comparison. We may measure success through money, recognition, popularity, or possessions. Contentment helps us remain peaceful despite external pressures. It teaches us to value our journey, acknowledge our progress, and remain grateful for what we already have.
3) Tapah represents discipline, perseverance, and endurance. Every meaningful goal requires consistent effort and the courage to continue when results are delayed. Leadership demands commitment, patience, and the ability to face difficulties without giving up. Tapah teaches us to choose long-term purpose over temporary comfort. Regular learning, healthy habits, punctuality, and fulfilling responsibilities with sincerity are all expressions of discipline.
4) Swadhyaya means self-study and self-reflection. It encourages us to understand our thoughts, emotions, habits, strengths, weaknesses, and patterns of behaviour. A leader who understands themselves can respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively. Reading, meditation, journalling, seeking feedback, and reflecting on life experiences are all forms of Swadhyaya. Self-study also encourages lifelong learning and personal growth.
5) Ishwara Pranidhana means surrendering to a higher purpose. It reminds us that we must give our best effort while accepting that we cannot control every outcome. This principle brings humility into leadership. It teaches us that leadership is not only about personal achievement; it is also about service, responsibility, and contributing to the welfare of others. Surrender does not mean passivity. It means acting with dedication without becoming excessively attached to recognition or results.
Sudesh Foundation (SF) is a vegan nonprofit organisation working to promote individual and collective evolution. Its vision is connected with compassion, conscious living, plant-based choices, cultural exchange, and the development of a more humane world. The SF Yogic Vegan Travellers Community is a global community for vegan travellers and hosts. It provides a virtual platform where people can connect, exchange information, explore plant-based lifestyles, travel, relocate, and build meaningful relationships across cultures.
The SF Yogic Vegan Travellers Community is currently available in the following countries: Austria, Argentina, Belgium, Russia, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, Mexico, Jamaica, Peru, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Guyana, Egypt, Israel, Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, the Czech Republic, and Luxembourg. Many more countries will be added soon.
Contact -
Email 📨 help@sudesh.org
HOW ARE YOU?
HOW ARE YOU? Whether asked in casual conversation or as an inquiry into one's state of being, it demands introspection. At the Institute of Doing Nothing (IDN), we fuse Vedic philosophy's Akarma—non-action as radical presence—with modern psychological insights, challenging the Western imperative of ceaseless productivity. True eudaimonia, or flourishing, arises not from hyper-agency, but from deliberate stillness, echoing Vedic wisdom's call to transcend the illusion of perpetual striving.
Central to this is the Upanishadic method of *neti neti* ("not this, not that"), via negativa that dismantles egoic attachments, much like Minimalism strips life to essentials. Yet Akarma elevates this beyond mere idleness: it embodies *nishkama karma* from the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 3), action devoid of desire for results. Krishna advises Arjuna to perform duty without clinging to outcomes, aligning the will with cosmic *dharma*. Philosophically, this parallels Stoic *apatheia* in Epictetus or Heidegger's *Gelassenheit*—letting-be—fostering clarity amid chaos.
Psychologically, such practices validate mindfulness interventions (e.g., Kabat-Zinn's MBSR), which lower cortisol and silence the superego's tyranny. Regarding Antinatalism's pessimistic calculus (à la Benatar), Akarma offers respite: by suspending anthropocentric busyness, we confront suffering's roots, reframing existence as non-striving presence rather than futile procreation or accumulation.
☘️ SUDESH KUMAR
⏰ Kāla — The Eternal Rhythm of Existence
In the sacred hymns of the Vedas and the insights of the Upanishads, Kāla (Time) is revered as the eternal continuum—unborn, imperishable, and omnipresent. Time is not merely a sequence, but the very pulse of cosmic order.
Through following eternal revelations, the sages recognized Kāla as the ultimate law. To surrender to Time is to align with Truth itself, realizing that the spirit within transcends the marching moments and abides beyond the flow of past, present, and future.
1. 📌 Atharva Veda (19.53.8)
“काळः प्रजाः वि दधाति सर्वाः।”
(Time creates and directs all beings.)
2. 📌 Rig Veda (10.90.11)
“तस्माद्यज्ञात्सर्वहुतः ऋचः सामानि जज्ञिरे।”
(From that sacrificial essence, time unfolded the hymns, the metrical order, and the rhythm of the universe, establishing the cycles of creation.)
3. 📌 Shvetāshvatara Upanishad (6.2)
“कालः स्वभावो नियतिर्यदृच्छा भूतानि योनिः पुरुष इति चिन्त्यम्।”
(Time, destiny, nature, chance, and the eternal spirit are all reflections of the Supreme Reality.)
4. 📌 Maitrī Upanishad (6.14)
“कालो वै अस्य सर्वासां भूतानां नायको भवति।”
(Time indeed becomes the ruler and guide of all existing beings.)
5. 📌 Bhagavad Gītā (11.32)
“कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत् प्रवृद्धः।”
(I am time, the mighty destroyer of worlds, engaged in dissolving all beings.)
👨🏫 Sudesh Kumar
🎯 Philosophy Circle
👁️🗨️ philosophy.sudesh.org
🌸 Stop Animal Sacrifice in Durga Puja 🌸
The Goddess Durga is the eternal Mahishasuramardini. It means she destroys cruelty and darkness, not the seeker of innocent animal blood. True bhakti is never measured in violence, but in compassion and love.
When we place a sword in one hand of Goddess Durga, we must also place a lotus in the other. The sword is for the protection of the weak and the destruction of Adharma—never for the slaughter of helpless animals.
The ancient Vedas and Upanishads are crystal clear: Divine power is pleased not by killing, but by kindness. To kill in the name of the Goddess Durga is to go against Her very spirit. When we shed blood, we stain the festival of Shakti itself—a festival meant to awaken strength, purity, and protection for all.
1. 📌 Rigveda (10.87.16) - “Let no one harm the innocent, neither the one who comes close nor the one passing by.”
2. 📌 Yajurveda (36.18) - “With the vision of divine friendship, I look upon all living beings.”
3. 📌 Atharvaveda (19.48.5) - “Non-violence is the highest Dharma.”
A sacrifice done in ahimsa is the highest offering—a kind heart, a pure prayer, a compassionate deed. That is the offering Mother Durga accepts with joy.
Let us reclaim Durga Puja as a festival of compassion, not cruelty. Let us show the world that our culture celebrates life, not bloodshed. May this Durga Puja/Navratri awaken a new strength—the strength to protect, not to punish; the strength to love, not to destroy.
🙏
– @vegansudesh
– @stopanimalsacrifice
The Global Campaign to Stop Animal Sacrifice
True Human
The Rigveda, Atharvaveda, and Upanishads say that simply being born in a human body does not make someone truly human. A real human is one who disciplines the mind to walk on the path of righteousness and compassion — “Man follows the mind, therefore he is called Manushya.” That is why the Vedas clearly teach — “Manurbhava” (Rigveda 10.53.6) — meaning “Become a true human.”
☘️ VEGAN SUDESH
In today’s context, this Vedic teaching connects directly with our lifestyle. When we cause suffering to animals just for taste or habit, our mind loses its compassion. But when we choose non-violence in what we eat, wear, and consume, we move closer to the ideal of the “true human” envisioned in the Vedas.
Division of The Upanishads
The Muktikopanishad is a sacred Hindu text that serves as a spiritual roadmap for achieving liberation (moksha), featuring a dialogue between Lord Rama and Hanuman. Its primary significance lies in listing all 108 Upanishads, categorizing them by their respective Vedas, and emphasizing self-knowledge, particularly through the study of the Mandukya Upanishad, as the ultimate path to freedom. The text integrates paths of devotion (Bhakti), knowledge (Jnana), and Yoga, stressing inner realization over external rituals and the role of a guru.
As per the Muktikopanishad 108 Upanishads are divided according to four Vedas are as follows:
🎯 10 Upanishads from the Rigveda
🎯 19 Upanishads from the Shukla-Yajurveda
🎯 32 Upanishads from the Krishna-Yajurveda
🎯 16 Upanishads from the Samaveda
🎯 31 Upanishads from the Atharvaveda.
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⭕ Philosophy Circle
🪀 YouTube.com/@philosophycircle
The Principal 13 Upanishads, related to the Vedas are:
(A) Rigveda:
1. 📌 (1) Aitareya Upanishad
2. 📌 (2) Kaushitaki Upanishad
(B) Shukla-Yajurveda:
1. 📌 (3) Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
2. 📌 (4) Isha Upanishad
(C) Krishna-Yajurveda:
1. 📌 (5) Taittiriya Upanishad
2. 📌 (6) Katha Upanishad
3. 📌 (7) Shvetashvatara Upanishad
4. 📌 (8) Maitrayaniya Upanishad
(D) Samaveda:
1. 📌 (9) Chandogya Upanishad
2. 📌 (10) Kena Upanishad
(E) Atharvaveda:
1. 📌 (11) Mundaka Upanishad
2. 📌 (12) Mandukya Upanishad
3. 📌 (13) Prashna Upanishad
Fighting Stereotypical Mindsets
🧍♀️🧍🏾🧍🏻♂️🧍🏻♀️🧍🧍🏿♂️
What's comes to your mind first…!
🥾 1) A Spider? Crush it!
🍣 2) A Tuna? Belongs in Sushi.
🏇 3) A Horse? Someone should be sitting on it.
🛟 4) A Sea Turtle? Save the sea turtle.
🍳 5) A Chicken? Leg Piece? KFC?
😻 6) A Black Cat? Ominous?
🧀 7) A Cow? The holy animal of India, beef must be banned everywhere, but can’t live without cheese.
This list goes on when we talk about egoism versus veganism. All stereotypical mindsets that keep prejudices alive from generation to generation while having nothing to do with reality.
We humans are social creatures. Belonging to some community, adopting its behaviors and consuming opinions, which has been crucial to our survival. It’s simply part of us, and that is completely understandable. However, we must recognize that what is considered normal at one time and what our community claims to be normal is neither necessarily the truth nor the new generation bound to follow it.
Why can't we look at every animal neutrally, and feel inside what we truly feel about them, instead of just listening to what our society says? The pointing to discriminatory practices among humans has thankfully been becoming viral media contents and appearing in a mainstream news stories, now we just need to take it one step further and extend this to other species.
Every animal has their life and their role on this earth. They were not born to be placed in our culturally adopted cruel practices. The moment human animals realize this, we will start treating other animals (and each other) nicely.
— Prof. Sudesh Kumar
— Founder @ Vegan Mumbai Foundation
— Email to: help@veganmumbai.org
Go to the Website: veganmumbai.org
Ban the Gadhimai Animal Sacrifice Festival
The Gadhimai Festival is about to take place on 2nd December in 2024. We need to open the eyes of the Nepal Government to put a stop to the mass murder of animals!
The Global Campaign to Stop Animal Sacrifice needs your support to spread a message of kindness to ensure that the estimated 5 million devotees attending the festival will hear the message not to bring animals but to bring flowers and fruits to offer to the goddess Gadhimai instead of Sacrificing innocent animals.
The origins of the Gadhimai Animal Sacrifice Festival date back around 270 years, when the founder of the Gadhimai Temple, Bhagwan Chowdhary (A Local Goon), had a dream that the Goddess Gadhimai wanted blood in return for freeing him from prison, protecting him from evil and promising prosperity and power. The goddess asked for a human sacrifice, but he successfully offered an animal instead, and this has been repeated every five years since.
Every five years, the world’s largest animal sacrifice takes place at the Gadhimai Temple in the Bara District of Nepal, about 200 KM south of the capital city, Kathmandu. Following a big “Mela - A Grand Hindu Fest" the festival culminates in the ritual slaughter of more than tens of thousands of animals. It is the largest animal sacrifice event in the world and has previously involved the sacrifice of nearly half a million animals, of which more than 60-70% are illegally transported from India.
In September 2019, the Supreme Court of Nepal ruled in favour of ending live animal sacrifice at the festival, directing the relevant agencies to create an action plan. But the idea of animal sacrifice is so ingrained in the minds of the millions of traditional devotees they have been ignoring the law of the land, turning Nepal into one of the most cruel countries for animals.
☘️ Vegan Sudesh
The Global Campaign to Stop Animal Sacrifice
🩷 instagram.com/stopanimalsacrifice
💁🏻♀️ facebook.com/stopanimalsacrifice
The importance of Brahmamuhurta
What is 'Brahmamuhurta'?
In Hinduism, Brahma means the supreme element or the Supreme Soul. Muhurta means favourable time. There are 30 Muhurtas in 24 hours. There are 8 Prahars in 30 Muhurta. Brahmamuhurta is the fourth prahar of the night. The fourth prahar is called Usha.
Names of Eight Prahars -
Day Time -
🔖 Purvahna (AM)
🔖 Madhyavahna (Noon)
🔖 Apranha (PM)
🔖 Saymkaal (Evening)
Night Time -
🔖 Pradosh
🔖 Nishith
🔖 Triyama
🔖 Usha.
There are two Muhurtas in the prahar before sunrise. The first of them is called Brahmamuhurta. The 30th part of the day and night is called Muhurta, which means, the period of 48 minutes is called Muhurta. According to our clock, the time of 4.24 am - 5.12 am is Brahmamuhurta.
What to do in Brahmamuhurta?
You may do any one of the 4 tasks or any other suitable things you feel right in Brahmamuhurta:
🔖 Meditation
🔖 Prayer
🔖 Study
🔖 Worship
What not to do in Brahmamuhurta?
Negative thinking, arguments, conversations, sexual activities, sleeping, eating, travel, any kind of noise, etc.
Scientific importance of getting up in Brahmamuhurta
At this time, the amount of oxygen (pranavayu) in the atmosphere is highest, which is important for the purification of the lungs. By getting pure air, the mind and brain also remain healthy. The air flowing at this time is said to be nectar. Waking up during the Brahma Muhurta and taking a walk provides life-giving energy to the body.
This time is also said to be the best for study because when we wake up in the morning after resting at night, there is energy and freshness in the body and mind as well. As the oxygen level is higher in the morning, it provides extra energy to the brain, due to which the study things are easily grasped by our memory.
Prof. Sudesh Kumar
Follow √ @vegansudesh
Chanting: A Tool of Spiritual Fitness
Chanting is a more than 3000-year-old Vedic practice that deepens the connection with the source and with those around us. It promotes a feeling of connection to surroundings that includes yourself and others. A powerful sense of oneness occurs during the process of chanting together, a feeling that has been lost in our busy lifestyle, an individualistic approach. If you are unable to chant, play a recorded chanting on your phone or laptop in the background, follow it and meditate on this sound to get similar results.
Here are some FAQs on how to begin.
1) How do I start chanting?
a) Chanting is for everyone -
You may not have a good voice or you may have an inner critical part that says - you don't have a singing voice. Still, you can chant, so chanting is for everyone. Remember, when you chant, you interact with your surroundings. It can be a natural way of assimilation with your spirituality.
b) Start at home -
Start by chanting at home, alone, with a recording. When you feel comfortable start chanting in a group.
c) Musical instrument / Bluetooth mic.
You may use musical and electronic devices for a better experience. It's natural to be a little anxious, and excited when starting something new. The cool thing about chanting is that as soon as you start the mantras start working on you. Before you know it you'll feel relaxed, open and energized.
2) How can I find mantras to chant?
Chant for exactly what you want. Typically, the best way to find your mantra is to ask yourself what it is you need and then search mantra for it. Let the deficit guide you instead of being a weakness but don't become too attached to one mantra you think is right. It's important to try new mantras on and see how they fit.
3) Which are the main things, I should follow for a better result of chanting?
Chanting is bound by adherence to 6 rules
🔖 Varṇa (pronunciation)
🔖 Svara (chanting notes)
🔖 Mātrā (duration)
🔖 Balam (force)
🔖 Sāma (continuity)
🔖 Santāna (conjugation)
4) How does chanting help to maintain my Spiritual Fitness?
In the modern digital world, it doesn't matter in which culture or religion you were born. We all need to develop a routine for Spiritual Fitness and follow it to see, how our body responds to make it work for us, that is a lot like physical fitness. Not only does it improve our cognitive health, and make us more altruistic, but chanting can help improve our blood pressure and mood, even reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and overall stress.
The study of the relationship between the brain and spiritual practices such as chanting has been given wide attention in modern times. The good thing is that you need not be an adherent to a specific religion to reap the benefits of chanting. It is rooted in Hinduism and Buddhism but still open to everyone regardless of their faith practices like yoga.
5) How long should I chant for?
When we first start chanting, even 15 minutes can feel quite long. Of course, there are crucial moments in life when we are facing a huge problem or challenging situation and feel that we want to chant more. That’s great. How much you chant is completely up to you; feel free to do what you think feels right.
🪷 Prof. Sudesh Kumar
Spirituality in Action
Dairy Addiction of Lord Krishna is fictional
"The only way you can conquer me is through love and there I am gladly conquered.” - Lord Krishna
The story of Krishna is many thousands of years old. The story of being a dairy addict goes against the fundamentals of Hindu philosophy in which an Avatar incarnates to uphold and protect the Dharma.
It is nowhere mentioned in any valid texts that Lord Krishna consumed milk or milk products. Krishna’s true vegan nature is found in the 9th Skandha 26th verse of the Bhagavad Gita, which states that the appropriate offerings to God are a flower, a leaf, fruit or water; all are vegan offerings.
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति |
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मन: ||
patraṁ puṣhpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayachchhati
tadahaṁ bhaktyupahṛitam aśhnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
tadahaṁ bhaktyupahṛitam aśhnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
The idea of a dairy addict likewise goes against Krishna’s teachings on detachment. The entire dairy industry, giant milk cooperative movements and traditional cow breeding culture in the countryside of India are the forces behind keeping alive such stories as sacred for so many years.
The Hindu Scriptures are divided into categories that include Veda, Puranas and Upanishads etc. In which, Puranas are folktales. Folktales are very important to Hindu culture because these are the actual application of our Hindu philosophy. The folktales of a lactarian culture do not acknowledge anything but lactarian history and behaviour. The Krishna Puranas integrated into the Srimad Bhāgavatam when it finally was written as a text by Vyasadeva.
Vegan Sudesh Vegan Sudesh Vegan Sudesh
Ad-made Spiritual Guru?
The daily video gurus, TV babas, astrologers, past life analysts and many other ad-made ‘Healers & Sidhi holders’, are all advocates of false spiritualities as they make us fearful about our future and present by making assumptions and predictions based on epic stories. They are seeding their business through mass media, the more you consume their catching content on your TV or Phone, the more you believe in them blindly.
The spending of your hard-earned money and precious time in their well-established organizations make you a customer rather than a spiritual person. The up and down including situational events in life make us feel powerless and in no control over our life, hence causing us to rely on the solutions given by them, and leaving us dependent on their expertise as we follow tradition to resist self-education.
- Prof. Sudesh Kr.
Founder // Spirituality in Action // sudesh.org
A True Soulmate
You are not reading this post because you just want to date someone who fits your preference or you like to engage in a discussion on topics such as #psychology and #relationships. However, no matter whatever the thoughts you are having, that's a little more practical. Because it's driven by yourself. Well, whatever it is called – we all accept that the subject of #love and #relationships are as big as our #imagination, although they also have a very practical side to them. It can be really fun to #fantasize about finding your one true #soulmate. Also, it can be a great change while #breakingup from your #married partner and then living with someone else who matches your current preference. This is the right track when your #reality matches to practicality all the while pursuing your goals on a non-traditional path of the #spiritual journey in life.
आप इस पोस्ट को इसलिए नहीं पढ़ रहे हैं क्योंकि आप बस किसी ऐसे व्यक्ति को डेट करना चाहते हैं जो आपकी पसंद के अनुकूल हो या आप #मनोविज्ञान और #रिश्तों जैसे विषयों पर चर्चा में शामिल होना चाहते हैं। हालाँकि इससे कोई फर्क नहीं पड़ता कि आप किन विचारों से गुजर रहे हैं यह थोड़ा अधिक व्यावहारिक है क्योंकि यहाँ आप खुद से प्रेरित है। खैर इसे जो भी कहा जाए - हम सभी स्वीकार करते हैं कि #प्रेम और रिश्तों का विषय हमारी कल्पना जितना बड़ा है। हालाँकि उनका एक बहुत ही व्यावहारिक पक्ष भी है। अपने एक सच्चे हमसफ़र को खोजने के बारे में कल्पना करना वास्तव में मज़ेदार हो सकता है। इसके अलावा यह एक बड़ा बदलाव हो सकता है जब आप अपने #विवाहित साथी से अलग होकर फिर किसी और के साथ रहना चाहते हैं जो आपकी वर्तमान के पसंद से मेल खाता हो। यह सही रास्ता है जब जीवन में #आध्यात्मिक यात्रा के गैर-पारंपरिक पथ पर अपने लक्ष्यों का पीछा करते हुए आपकी वास्तविकता व्यावहारिकता से मेल खाती है।
- #सुदेश
#soulretreat #soulawakening #sudeshfoundation #vegansudesh #soulguidance #soulretrieval #soulfood #soulwisdom #soulmusic #soulcoach #soulhealing #soultravel #sudesh
Prof. Sudesh Kumar
Ancient Surya Mantra (Chanting)
The Sun is very influential in the lives of everyone on Earth. Chanting always has positive effects on our souls. Praise and devotion are one way of finding peace within your soul and consciousness.
As the sun shines the darkness of the worlds. The sun shines constantly on the earth and there is nothing on this earth that can hide it.
Ancient Surya Mantra -
Om Japa Kusuma Sankaasham Kaashya Peyam Mahaa Dyutim |
Tamorim Sarva Papaghnam Pranathosmi Divakaram ||
ॐ जपाकुसुमसंकाशं काश्यपेयं महाद्युतिम् |
तमोरिं सर्वपापघ्नं प्रणतोस्मि दिवाकरम् ||
Meaning: I bow before the Sun, who is the cause of dawn, which dispels all darkness, which destroys all sins, incomparable in his brilliance, which is the son of Kashyapa and which is red like the flower of Japākusuma.
How to Chant Ancient Surya Mantra -
The ancient Surya mantra has a special power in praising the Sun.
It is said that the best time to chant the Surya mantra is early in the morning. (Daybreak)
Start singing daily, it should be chanted 108 times.
Try to start chanting the old Mantra Surya on Sunday during Shukla Paksha (Crescent Phase).
Reciting Surya Kavach will give additional benefits.
Benefits of chanting the ancient Surya Mantra
You will notice the release of negative energies from the mind, body and soul. The singing of the ancient Surya Mantra has a powerful effect on the positivity of devout souls. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Rama prayed to Surya for his strength and victory before fighting against Ravana.
Spirituality in Action
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