Faith and Philosophy.

Every person is born into a particular religion, often attending places of worship such as churches or gurudwaras due to their faith in God. However, some people become atheists, choosing to seek life's purpose without belief in a deity. They look for meaning through reason and personal exploration, rather than relying on divine intervention.

Religious individuals, on the other hand, often develop a habit of depending on an external god to guide them, fulfill their wishes, and offer solace. They may make monetary offerings as part of their devotion. This act of praying provides them with a sense of satisfaction and peace. But how genuine is this reliance on a higher power? There is considerable debate: some argue that events in life unfold independently of divine influence, while others believe everything occurs according to God's plan.

Major religions such as Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism have strong foundations and holy books that reinforce their believers' faith. These texts serve as catalysts, strengthening belief and guiding the faithful.

As for myself, I identify as a Hindu. To be frank, Hinduism is a profoundly complex and impenetrable topic. As a child, I was an atheist. However, as I grew older, I became increasingly curious about the Aghoris and their way of life. The Aghoris follow a monistic philosophy, believing that everything in the universe is one and emanates from Brahman, the ultimate reality. This concept may seem difficult to grasp, but it became clear to me during a transformative experience with psychedelic mushrooms in 2020. During a trip to Kodaikanal and Munnar, my friend and I found ourselves deeply immersed in discussions about the idea of a single, infinite consciousness. We came to see entities as manifestations of this ultimate reality, or Brahman.

Aghoris believe that every person's soul is Shiva, but it is obscured by aṣṭamahāpāśa, the "eight great nooses or bonds," which include sensual pleasure, anger, greed, obsession, fear, and hatred. These bonds are akin to the seven deadly sins. According to Aghoris, Shiva represents pure, infinite consciousness.

Hindu tradition includes mantras written by yogis thousands of years ago. These mantras are like wells with clear water at the bottom—by chanting them, one can draw from their benefits without needing to create a new well. The power of these mantras can only be truly experienced through regular chanting. The "aum" mantra is particularly powerful and widely chanted. Additionally, there are specific mudras or finger positions that, when held, alter the neural pathways in the brain.

The spine is considered a divine channel in Hindu tradition as well as many other esoteric teachings. The "ida," "pingala," and "sushumna" networks run from the base of the spine to the brain, intersecting at the eyebrow center where the "ajna" chakra is located. The ida is connected to the right brain and the pingala to the left. These are nadi channels in our body, and you might notice that your breath alternates between nostrils after a certain period. When this alternation occurs, either the ida or pingala is active. The nadis are pathways for prana (bio energy derived from breath) to circulate in the body. Mood and activities that one likes to do is also influenced by the respective Nadi channel. During a spiritual awakening or kundalini activation, both nostrils become active simultaneously, which activates the sushumna nadi. Besides yogic practises, there are certain conditions which is to be attained by a person in order to get the shushumna Nadi to operate. One being that he/she should become so transparent that external situations don't seem to have any effect on the person. Just like a chameleon changing its colors ,being able to adapt to anything that life throws at you. "Only when energies enter into sushumna, Life really begins."