Samadhi (Total Absorption)

 Samadhi (Total Absorption) – Merging with the Infinite

There are two main types of Samadhi:
A. Savikalpa Samadhi (With Form & Duality)
    Awareness remains, but the ego is still present.
    One experiences bliss, divine visions, or a deep sense of unity.
    This is an entry-level Samadhi, where effort is still required.

B. Nirvikalpa Samadhi (Beyond Mind & Form)
    The mind completely dissolves into the Infinite.
    No thoughts, no sense of self—only pure consciousness.
    This is permanent liberation (Moksha) if maintained.
 

Jivan Mukti (Liberation while alive): The realized being lives in the world but is untouched by it.
 

Videha Mukti (Liberation after death): The final dissolution into Brahman, no rebirth.
The liberated one is free from karma, desires, and suffering.
 

So-Hum is a powerful and natural mantra that means "I am That" , referring to the universal consciousness. It is linked with the breath and helps in achieving deep meditation, inner stillness, and eventually Savikalpa Samadhi.

Synchronize the Mantra with Breath
    As you inhale, mentally hear or say “So” (pronounced as "Sohhh").
    As you exhale, mentally hear or say “Hum” (pronounced as "Hummm").
    Do not force the breath—let it remain natural and effortless.

 

 

Pratyahara (Sense Withdrawal)

Pratyahara  (Sense Withdrawal) is the fifth limb of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga, acting as a bridge between external practices (asana, pranayama) and internal practices (dharana, dhyana, samadhi). It involves withdrawing the senses from external distractions and turning awareness inward.

1. Create a Conducive Environment
    Find a quiet and distraction-free space.
    Sit in a comfortable meditative posture (Sukhasana, Padmasana, or Vajrasana).
    Keep your spine straight and hands in Gyana Mudra (thumb and index finger touching).

2. Focus on the Breath (Initial Preparation)
    Close your eyes and breathe deeply.
    Use slow, rhythmic breathing (4-4-6 pattern: inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 6).
    Let the breath anchor your attention inward.

3. Detach from the Senses One by One

    A. Sight (Chakshu Pratyahara) – Withdrawing from Visual Stimuli
    Close your eyes gently.
    Visualize darkness or an internal light (like a candle flame or the third-eye point).
    Imagine the outer world fading away.

    B. Hearing (Shabda Pratyahara) – Withdrawing from Sounds
    Focus on the sound of your breath instead of external noises.
    If external sounds distract you, mentally repeat OM or another mantra.
    Try Bhramari Pranayama (humming bee breath) to tune inward.

    C. Smell (Gandha Pratyahara) – Withdrawing from Scents
    Take a deep breath and become aware of the surrounding scents.
    Shift your focus to the sensation of breath entering and exiting your nostrils.
    If needed, use a neutral or calming scent (like sandalwood or lavender) to center your mind.

    D. Taste (Rasa Pratyahara) – Withdrawing from the Tongue
    Keep your tongue relaxed, slightly touching the roof of your mouth.
    Avoid craving food or recalling flavors.
    Imagine your tongue becoming neutral, with no desire for taste.

    E. Touch (Sparsha Pratyahara) – Withdrawing from Physical Sensations
    Bring awareness to your body, then mentally detach from it.
    Feel lightness as if you are floating.
    If discomfort arises, observe without reacting—let it dissolve.

 

Concise Ramayana by Sri Kanchi Periyavaa

Sri Kanchi Periyavaa has given us a rare and precious gift—just nine simple lines that sum up the entire Ramayanam. It takes only 30 seconds to recite but brings the same blessings as reading the whole Ramayanam.

 

 

ஸ்ரீ ராமம்  ரகுகுல  திலகம்
சிவதனு சாக்ரிஹத சீதா ஹஸ்தகரம்
அங்குல்யா பரண சோபிதம்
சூடாமணி தர்சனகரம்
ஆஞ்சநேய மாஸ்ரயம்
வைதேஹி மனோகரம்
வானர சைன்ய சேவிதம்
சர்வமங்கள கார்யானுகூலம்
சததம் ஸ்ரீ ராமச்சந்திர பாலயமாம்
ஸ்ரீராம் ஜெய்ராம்  ஜெய்ஸ்ரீராம்

Sri Raamam raghukula thilakam
Sivadhanu Saagruheetha Sitaa hasthakaram
Angulyaa bharana shobitham
Choodaamani darsanakaram
Aanjaneya Maashrayam
Vaidhei Manoharam
Vaanara Sainya Sevitham
Sarvamangala kaaryaanukoolam
Sathatham Sri Ramachandra Paalayamam
Sriram Jairam Jaisriram.

श्री रामं रघुकुल तिलकं 

शिव धनु सागृहीत सीता हस्तकरं  

अन्गुल्याभरण शोभितं 

चूडामणि दर्शनकरं 

आञ्जनेयमाश्रयं 

वैदेहि मनोहरम् 

वानर सैन्य सेवितं 

सर्व मङ्गल कार्यानुकूलं 

सततं श्री रामचन्द्र पालयमाम् 

श्रीराम जयराम जय श्रीराम 

Karma Yoga - Mukthi

By following these Karma Yoga principles, your work as an administrator can become a path to inner peace and liberation (mukthi), while also benefiting those around you.

A true devotee sees God everywhere, not just in temples (Sarvatra Bhagavan).

"One who sees Me in everything and everything in Me never loses Me, nor do I lose them."

— (Bhagavad Gita 6.30)

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that liberation is a state of mind, not a physical place - Mukthi can be attained while living a normal life if you follow the right spiritual path.
 

Gita Verse: “By performing one’s duty without attachment, one attains the Supreme.” (3.19)
Realize that you are not the body, but the eternal soul (Atman).
Gita Verse: “A person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress, and is steady in both, is fit for liberation.” (2.15)
 

Mukthi is not about running away but rising above attachments and realizing your divine nature.

Everything—relationships, wealth, success, failure—is temporary. The only eternal truth is the Self (Atman/Brahman).

 

Example: Just as waves rise and fall in the ocean, life events come and go, but the real you (consciousness) remains unchanged.

 

Gita Verse:
“As a person puts on new clothes, giving up old ones, the soul takes on new bodies, leaving the old ones behind.” (2.22)
Attachment comes when we think “This is mine”—my family, my job, my success. Instead, love without attachment, knowing that all belongs to the Divine.

Example: A mother loves her child but should not control the child’s destiny. She is a caretaker, not the owner.

 

Gita Verse:
“He who acts without attachment, resigning his actions to the Supreme, is not affected by sin, just as a lotus leaf remains untouched by water.” (5.10)
Act without expecting rewards. Focus on effort, not outcomes. This purifies the mind and leads to inner freedom. Accept results as prasada (divine blessing).

Example: A teacher teaches sincerely but does not demand that every student succeed. The effort is in her hands, not the results.

 

Gita Verse:
“You have the right to perform your duty, but never to its fruits. Do not be attached to the results of your actions.” (2.47)
When you seek happiness from within, you stop depending on external things. A person who is content with inner peace is free.

 

Gita Verse:
“A person who is self-satisfied and undisturbed by external conditions attains unshakable peace.” (6.7)
“The self-realized soul sees that the soul is eternal, beyond birth and death.” (2.20)
Meditate daily, focusing on "Who am I?" beyond the body and mind.
Realize that you are pure consciousness, not just a person with a name and identity.
A river merges into the ocean and loses its separate identity. Similarly, surrendering to God removes ego and suffering.
 

Before sleeping, mentally offer all your actions and worries to God. Trust that everything happening is for your ultimate spiritual growth.
Final Realization: You Are Divine!
You are not the body, emotions, or thoughts. You are the eternal, divine Self—pure, peaceful, and infinite. Rising above attachment is not about renouncing life but seeing everything as part of the Divine and living in freedom and love.

 

Gita Verse:
“By dedicating all actions to Me with a focused mind, you shall be free from bondage.” (9.27)
Gita Verse:
“The wise see the same divine presence in all beings, whether a learned scholar, a cow, an elephant, or an outcast.” (5.18)
Gita Verse:
“One who works for the welfare of others, without selfish motives, attains liberation.” (5.25)
 

Gita Verse:
“A person who is not disturbed by joy and sorrow, who remains steady in both, is fit for liberation.” (2.15)
Repeat: “This too shall pass” in both good and bad situations.
“A disciplined mind leads to liberation, while an uncontrolled mind leads to bondage.” (6.5)
 

Surrender to the Divine (Bhagavadarpanam)
Trust in God’s plan and accept life as it comes.
Let go of worry and fear—just do your duty sincerely.
 

Gita Verse:
“Abandon all attachments and surrender fully to Me. I shall free you from all sins. Do not grieve.” (18.66)
You don’t need to leave your home or work—just change your mindset. Work becomes a form of meditation, leading to peace, joy, and ultimately, Mukthi.

 

 

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling—it happens over time.
Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting; it means you refuse to let the past control you.
You deserve peace and happiness, and forgiveness helps you reclaim them.
"I choose forgiveness, not for them, but for my own peace."
Acknowledge Your Hurt - Close your eyes and recall the person who hurt you. Allow yourself to feel the emotions—anger, sadness, disappointment.
Say to yourself: "I acknowledge my pain. It is real, and it matters."
Write a Forgiveness letter/email, Express everything you feel—your pain, anger, and disappointment. Then, shift towards releasing it: - "I choose to let go of this pain because I deserve peace." "I am freeing myself from resentment and choosing healing."
Try to see the person as a flawed human who made mistakes. Ask yourself: Did they act out of their own pain or ignorance?
Say: "I do not condone what they did, but I will not let it control me anymore."
Release & Let Go (Symbolic Act) - tear/burn/throw/float away.
Affirm Your Freedom - Place your hand on your heart and say: "I choose peace. I release the past. I am free."
Take a deep breath, smile, and focus on gratitude.

 

 

*Jivan Mukth*

Eternal Bliss#Aham Brahmasmi#Tat Tvam Asi#Atma Nityo Niranandah#So-Hum#Im That#Not the Body#Not the Mind#Divine acts thru You#

"Aham Brahmasmi" (अहम् ब्रह्मास्मि)

"Tat Tvam Asi" (तत् त्वम् असि)

"Brahma Satyam, Jagat Mithya" (ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या)

"Na Me Dvesha Rāgau" (न मे द्वेष रागौ) "na me lobha mohau" (न मे लोभा मोहः)

 "Atma Nityo Niranandaḥ" (आत्मा नित्यो निरानन्दः)

Mukthi is not after death—it is a state of mind. One who is free from desires, ego, and attachments is already liberated while living (Jivan Muktha).
 

Gita Verse: “One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is truly wise.” (4.18)

Realization: "I Am That" (Tat Tvam Asi) - When you fully realize that you are not the body, not the mind, but pure consciousness, Jivan Mukti happens effortlessly. There is no fear, no suffering, only infinite peace and bliss. Even while living in the world, you are free—nothing binds you anymore.

 

1. Realization: "I Am That" (Tat Tvam Asi)
2. When you fully realize that you are not the body, not the mind, but pure consciousness, Jivan Mukti happens effortlessly.
3. There is no fear, no suffering, only infinite peace and bliss. Even while living in the world, you are free—nothing binds you anymore.
4. Abide in Inner Silence (Mouna and Meditation) - Silence the mental chatter and rest in the peace of pure awareness.
5. The more you rest in silence, the closer you come to Jivan Mukti.
6. Dissolve the Ego (Ahamkara-Nasha) - Recognize that the ego is an illusion—it is not your true self. Avoid pride, possessiveness, and the idea that "I am separate from others." Experience oneness with everything.
7. Live with Compassion and Selfless Service (Karma Yoga) - Realize that "I am not the doer", the Divine is acting through you.
8. Practice Equanimity (Samabhava) - Accept joy and sorrow with the same attitude. See all beings as equal and divine. Stay centered, whether praised or criticized, whether in comfort or hardship.
9. Master the Mind (Manonasha – Dissolution of the Mind) - Train the mind to stay in the present moment.
10. Detachment (Vairagya) - Understand that all things are impermanent and true joy comes from within. Live in the world but remain unaffected by its ups and downs (like a lotus in water).
11. Surrender to the Higher Reality (Ishwara Pranidhana) - Cultivate total acceptance of life’s happenings as divine will.
12. Develop humility and devotion, knowing that the individual ego is an illusion.
13. Self-Inquiry (Atma Vichara) - Follow Ramana Maharshi’s method of self-inquiry: Ask yourself, "Who am I?" Realize that you are not the body, mind, or emotions, but the eternal consciousness (Atman). 
14. Drop attachment to false identities (name, role, ego).

 

 

About me

About

A leading figure in oral pathology with over two decades of academic experience & 200+ publications. He did BDS, MDS, & Ph.D. from Saveetha Dental College, Chennai, and an MBA in Hospital Administration from JNU, Jaipur.

What I love about my job?

Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.

We have virtue and excellence as we have acted rightly.

We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said and did but never forget how you made them feel.

My interests and hobbies

He is currently an Executive Committee member of Indian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologists.

He has worked for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Libya. He has also worked under the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences at Surendera Dental College and Research Institute, Sriganganagar, Rajasthan. He has worked in Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals as Associate Dean and also as Professor and Head of Labs and Clinics.

He has published over 200 papers and has more than 1,200 citations. He has played a key role in digitizing oral pathology at Saveetha Dental College.

He was also involved in various academic and administrative roles, including academic council, research integration, and operations management at the University Campus. He is also an NAAC examiner for University Accreditation, an NIRF coordinator, an NABH implementation-trained administrator, and a DCI inspector in India.

In addition to his academic contributions, Dr. Karthikeyan was the editorial manager of MM Publishers, overseeing 16 dental specialty journals.

He also serves on the editorial boards of BMC Oral Health, Open Dentistry Journal, Dental Journal (Majalah Kedokteran Gigi), and Cureus Journal of Medical Sciences. He is a board member of Crossref, Karger Publishers, Springer-Nature, and Wiley Publishers.

He is also a Ph.D. guide and a guest lecturer at universities worldwide.

A skilled clinician, dedicated oral pathologist, caring teacher, and a lovable human being.