Home isn’t just a place on a map; it’s where my soul finally exhales. The flight took 6 hours and 30 minutes before I landed in Cairo. First, I had to go to the immigration counter. There were several queues for All Passports. It was pretty […]
I would leave Tiruvannamalai today. I started packing my suitcase at 05:00 in the morning: my clothes, all the chargers and cables, and a few things from the kitchen and bathroom. I had the feeling my suitcase would be more than 23 kg now. At 10:00, […]
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. ~Confucius~ I was at 06:00 in the Ashram. As usual, I meditated for a while in the Meditation Hall, then joined the chanting and milk offering. It would be the last Satsang with Ammani for […]
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. ~Albert Einstein~ I felt a bit sick again, it started in my throat, then my nose was running. It‘s not the first time here in Tiru. I decided to skip Satsang and just rested home for a while. When […]
When nothing is certain, everything becomes possible. Before 06:00, I picked up Florence, and we went towards the Ashram for the morning chanting and milk offering. I love the freshness in the morning. Florence stayed in the Ashram after Puja, while I was driving back. I […]
What feels like chaos to you is choreography to the cosmos. I can feel that this is my last week here in Tiruvannamalai at Arunachala. Not that I am anxious or sad about it, but I just realized. I joined another Satsang with Ammani this morning; […]
The path appears the moment you dare to take the first invisible step. It’s Monday and the last week for this time in Tiru. Today would be Satsang with Ammani again. I started at 08:45 on my scooter. There are still around 20 people joining Satsang. […]
Silence is not empty; it is full of answers. It’s a beautiful day! Last night wasn’t so good. A mosquito was bothering me around 02:00 in the night. I woke up and found my arms and legs itching. I used some of my mosquito repellent. With […]
You are not in the universe; you are the universe looking back at itself. I have been in the Ashram again at 06:00 in the morning. Sitting in the Meditation Hall and joining the chanting and milk offering. At 08:15, I met Florence, and we went […]
There is no reaching the Self. You are the Self. You are already That. ~Ramana Maharshi~ I woke up early and drove to the Ashram at 06:00. The roads are nearly empty, and it is still dark. I love to sit in the Meditation Hall early […]
Character is destiny. ~Heraclitus~ The morning started preciously with Satsang at Ammani’s Ashram. 90 minutes were passing fast. I had no further plans for today, so I was driving back to my apartment. I was working on my laptop for a while before I left for […]
I can resist everything except temptation. ~Oscar Wilde~ It was a silent day this Wednesday. Ulrica wanted to meet me before she is leaving back to Sweden. She can’t resist the heat very well and stayed mostly in her apartment after the morning for the last […]
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. ~Confucius~ This was a fully packed day with Satsang and Puja. At first, I had been to Satsang with Ammani as I mostly do. I was sitting on the floor with […]
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. ~Lao Tzu~ The original plan was to attend Satsang with Kollur Swami this Monday morning. But Swami is in Kashi and Varanasi this week, and my Indian friend […]
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. ~Francis of Assisi~ After 06:00, I was in the Ashram, sitting in the Meditation Hall before moving to Samadhi Hall, where chanting and milk are offered to Bhagavan. It’s Sunday […]
It’s Saturday morning, and I am prepared to join Satsang with Ganga Maa. When I reached there, there were still many scooters parked, but in the Satsang room, there were fewer people than a few weeks ago. People are leaving Tiru because it’s getting hotter here; […]
At the center of your being, you have the answer; you know who you are, and you know what you want. ~Lao Tzu~ I skipped Satsang this morning; I didn’t feel like joining it today. But I have been at the Ashram at 06:00, stillmeditating and […]
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. ~Lao Tzu~ My day started with Satsang in Ammani’s house. Karuna was also joining Satsang. We met outside and talked for a moment. I thought about having a coffee at Nandhini’s. Karuna and his friend seemed […]
Patience is the companion of wisdom. ~Saint Augustine~ Another Satsang with Ammani this morning. The task with my C-Form and Visa extension is still on my mind. I hope it will be solved today or tomorrow. I was about to meet Gopika for lunch at Edwin’s, […]
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. ~Aristotle~ I woke up at 04:00 in the morning. This was my last full night in Shiva Mantra Residency. On Wednesday at 02:00, the taxi would pick me […]
I have been in the Ashram at 06:00 in the morning. It’s lovely to sit in the Meditation Hall, then move over to the Samadhi Hall for the milk offering before 07:00. When I was back home, I had a shower and prepared for Satsang with […]
Sunday morning is the time for Kirtan. I will join Kirtan at Sunshine Guesthouse with Upahar. I met some friends there; it’s always busy and intense here with the chanting. After Kirtan, I walked over to Edwin’s for lunch. Just reaching there, Jonatan was talking with […]
Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it. ~Albert Einstein~ Today is Saturday. As there is no Satsang with Ammani on Saturdays, I joined Satsang with Ganga Maa. It’s been a while since I was here. Question: Why is […]
Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. ~Aristotle~ It’s Friday morning. I woke up, had a coffee, and started reading. I thought it would be better to get petrol before going to Satsang. I used quite a lot yesterday, driving to Kollur Swami and Gia […]
Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. ~Rumi~ Today will be a full day. At first, there is Satsang with Kollur Swami. It’s around 20 minutes to drive. Lokesh wanted to join me, […]
If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. ~Marcus Aurelius~ This morning I went again to Satsang with Ammani. I was […]
Common sense is not so common. A beautiful morning for the Ashram. I woke up earlier than usual. So I felt it was a good experience to drive to the Ashram. It was 06:00 when I started. For a while, I was sitting in the small […]
Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. The day started with Satsang with Ammani. It feels good that she is back after one week. After Satsang, I saw that Jonatan was joining as well. Outside, we […]
Nature never hurries, yet everything is accomplished. ~Lao Tzu~ Today is Kirtan and Satsang with Ammani. I didn’t sleep very well last night, quite interrupted. When I left Shiva Mantra Residency, there was a lady in front of the building. She came in and told me […]
Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are. ~Brené Brown~ Saturday, this will be a quiet day for me. No appointments, not even Satsang. I have been in the Ashram and did some […]
This morning, Ulrica and I met at 08:00. She was waiting on the road and jumped on my scooter. We headed towards the Ashram for some Meditation. At 09:00, we left and drove to Gia Mantra. We planned to spend some time at the pool. You […]
At the center of your being, you have the answer; you know who you are, and you know what you want. ~Lao Tzu~ Another smooth day. I spent some time in the Ashram in the morning. Sometimes I feel that the time to leave Tiru is […]
To find yourself, think for yourself. ~Socrates~ Another beautiful day at the feet of Arunachala. My nose was still running; it happens when I am sitting too long under fast-rotating fans. I was in the Ashram early for Meditation. Before driving home, I had a chai, […]
Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it. ~Rumi~ This morning, I was walking up Arunachala towards Skandashram and the Virupaksha Cave. Skandashram is a sacred cave on Arunachala […]
It’s Monday, and this week will be without Satsang with Ammani. Time for other things to do or not to do. I have been to the Ashram in the morning. At 11:00, I would meet Ulrica here. We planned to go for an ear cleaning at […]
Mahashivaratri 1. The Divine Marriage The most popular belief is that this is the night Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were married. It symbolizes the sacred union of Purusha (pure consciousness) and Prakriti (creative energy), bringing balance to the entire universe. 2. The Preservation of the […]
Today is Valentine’s Day. Not that I really care about it, but at Gia Mantra is an event today. They have a swimming pool, and there will be some open mic music, dancing, and so on… I have been in the Ashram this morning. We would […]
Self-observation is the first step of inner transformation. ~Amit Ray~ The last day Satsang with Ammani, before she is off for one week. It was powerful. After Satsang, we wanted to go to Nandhini’s Cafe. The day before, I spoke to Surati about it. So I […]
Don’t spend your life searching for yourself. Spend your life creating yourself. I was asking Ulrica to join me for Satsang, but she slept long and would not be ready. Another day will do. There are just two more days of Satsang with Ammani, then there […]
Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are. ~Brené Brown~ Another restful, peaceful day. Satsang with Ammani in the morning feels rejuvenating. On the way back, I got some ginger at the corner […]
To find yourself, think for yourself. ~Socrates~ Fortunately, it’s more or less quiet in the morning hours. The dogs usually bark for a while before midnight. Maybe they are communicating in their own way. Around 06:00, the Muezzin begins calling to prayer at the town’s mosque. […]
The most profound and refreshing way to live is to recognize, now and always, that we are not separate from life, but life itself. We are the very source of existence, the invisible and hidden living intelligence, breathing and expressing cell by cell as body, mind, […]
There is no separate person living life; there is only life living itself through us. Sunday and Kirtan with Ammani. I love to start a day with this. I arrived quite late at 08:55. The rooftop was full already. I found a chair in the corner […]
Today is Saturday, and I skipped Satsang. Sometimes it’s good just without any activities starting at a certain time. But I was at the Ashram until 11:00, when it closed. I did some shopping in the supermarket, got a papaya at a street stand, and ice […]
Silence is the most potent form of work. I woke up very early this morning. It must have been around 05:00. I made a coffee and started reading. Just reading the headlines of the news in the world is enough to get a rough idea of […]
This morning, I visited Kollur Swami for Satsang for the first time. I had an appointment with Dharma. We would meet at the Black Pekoe Tea on Girivalam Road. I was there at 08:50 waiting for him. He came with two ladies on his scooter. Helen […]
Bitcoin has lost a massive amount of its value these days. When I am selling now, I will lose thousands of euros. I decided to wait; it might go up again, as it always happened in the past. But you never know. Trump’s America is messing […]
Another beautiful start to the day with Satsang. After Satsang, I drove towards Ramana Supermarket to buy some bread. They were all fresh from this morning. I bought some more body lotion for my dry skin and Jaggery to bring to Portugal. Then I walked into […]
Another Satsang with Ammani on Monday morning. I saw the first time that there is a donation box on the small altar. I left some Rupees there. Back home, I made some lunch with fried eggs and veggies. Dharma was writing me this morning. He is […]
Sunday morning, Kirtan morning. Around 09:15, I walked over to Sunshine Guesthouse. There would be Kirtan with Upahar. Touching as usual, I spent 90 minutes. Before it started, I had a nice chat with Grant, who was born in New Zealand. After Kirtan, I walked straight […]
I thought I would join Satsang with Ganga Maa this morning. Saturday is no Satsang with Ammani. I jumped on my scooter and drove towards her Ashram. When I reached there, I didn’t see any bikes or scooters. There was a sign at the door that […]
Another beautiful Satsang with Ammani. I always bring my new pillow now, so I can sit more easily, especially when sitting on the floor. It was Friday, and there would be new bread at Ramana Supermarket; they bake on Tuesday and Friday. I also got some […]
The day started smoothly in my apartment, and I had some breakfast. SometimesI am eating just fruits, bananas or oranges, sometimes yoghurt with fruit or bread with cheese. I left for Satsang with Ammani. The Satsang was deep, 90 minutes doesn’t feel long. After Satsang, I […]
Either give yourself up (Surrender) or find out who you are (Enquiry). I met this morning at 06:30, Alex, Dani, and Teo. We planned to drive towards Parwatiamalai Mountain. There would be a temple on top, around 1000 meters above sea level. It’s a one-hour drive […]
Let come what comes, let go what goes. See what remains. Today, I will join this event with Patrick Connor in the Village of Light. Some people like him, some don’t. I haven’t been in this place before, so I had to look at Google Maps […]
Silence is the most potent form of work. My intention this morning was to join Satsang with Sharada Ma. I thought I’d start a bit earlier to get a chair somewhere in the middle of the room. At first, I missed the gate and had to […]
The Self alone is the Reality; the world and the rest of it are not. Today is Sunday, and Kirtan with Ammani. On the way to her house, Chengam Road was blocked by police. Just a few minutes, then the traffic continued. After one kilometer, there […]
Happiness is your nature. It is not wrong to desire it. What is wrong is seeking it outside when it is inside. It’s Saturday, and I feel like joining Satsang with Ganga Maa. This time I didn’t come early to get a chair. Instead, I brought […]
Your own Self-Realisation is the greatest service you can render the world. This morning, I will join Satsang with Sharada Ma. The Chidakash Ashram is on Girivalam Road near Nandhini’s Cafe. I have never been here before, nor have I met Sharada Ma before. I am […]
Another morning having Satsang with Ammani. This morning, when I entered the rooftop, I didn’t greet Ammani with a Namaste as usual. I was just looking to find a chair. I felt a bit strange about myself. After Satsang, I drove to the supermarket, got some […]
I didn’t join any Satsang this morning. I was busy this morning with writing and coding. Around 10:00, I was driving towards Nandhini’s to meet Sarah. She had her last acupuncture session before. We had a coffee, then decided to go to Garuda Restaurant for lunch. […]
Another day with Satsand and Ammani. I met Daniela there, and we talked about Satsang. Ammani came out and jumped on her motorbike. She gave a lift to the guy who was playing so beautifully on his harmonium. I had to pay 5.000 Rupees more as […]
Satsang with Ammani! I am there more often now, as with Ganga Maa. I feel comfortable with Ammani. After Satsang, I stopped at the corner of Perumbakkam Road and got some carrots and cucumbers. I was home before I picked up Sarah at Da Mantra Cafe. […]
Today is Sunday, and Kirtan with Upahar. Kirtan is a beautiful, ancient practice of call-and-response chanting that forms a core part of Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of devotion). At its heart, it’s about using music and sound to connect with the divine, the self, or the […]
It’s Saturday, and I will join Satsang with Ganga Maa (Amma). I arrived before 08:45, the door was still closed, but there was a long queue of people waiting. When I came up to the first floor, all the chairs were occupied, and also the wooden […]
I have been in the Ashram this morning. No Satsang with Ganga Maa or Ammani this morning, I decided to join Satsang with Swami Atmananda today. It would be at 11:00 at the rooftop of Rainbow Guesthouse. I arrived there at 10:45. Entry should have been […]
I was joining Satsang with Ammani. It was a bit different this morning. In Tamil Nadu is an ongoing Pongal Festival this morning. So they were meeting at 08:00 with Ammani for Puja, but somehow I missed this information, which is, in a way, quite typical […]
After Satsang with Ammani, I drove to Nandhini’s for a coffee. It is quite close to her Ashram, reaching from the side road. I was still thinking from where I could get a ceramic mug. When I paid for the coffee, I asked the owner of […]
The day started with Satsang in the Ashram of Ganga Maa. There are still many people now, in January is peak season in Tiru. Just after Satsang, I went to the dentist. I have an appointment today. It’s just cleaning the teeth of calcium. This doctor […]
Another Satsang with Ammani this morning. On the road, I saw somebody hitchhiking. I stopped and gave him a lift. I have seen him before, but never talked to him. Still don’t know much about him. He was born in Siberia; his parents are from Siberia […]
This Sunday morning, I joined Kirtan and Satsang with Ammani. It starts at 09:00. There is one hour of Kirtan at first. Two ladies were playing guitar and chanting, and one gentleman played some drums. There were no scripts, so I didn’t know what to chant; […]
I spent this morning at home. Gopika felt still sick and asked me to get her some bananas and activated charcoal. She must have eaten something wrong; it’s easy to come in contact with these kinds of bacteria in India. Later in the morning, I left […]
I have been to Satsang with Ammani again. I reached there before 09:00, and I met Boris there. We had to wait until the Yoga class was finished. Then I could walk up to the rooftop. I found an empty chair on the side, good, they […]
This morning, I will join a talk from Nochur in Voice of Rishis. It is an event hall, just very close to Gopika’s apartment. Nochur is talking about Sri Ramana and Arunachala. He is a good speaker and quite funny at times. The talk lasts for […]
Today I will leave Gopika’s beautiful apartment and move to my new one in Shiva Mantra Residence. The apartment was already cleaned two days ago, I just had to wash the beddings I used. I started the washing machine, but somehow the water was just dripping […]
The second-to-last day in Gopika’s beautiful apartment. I will not join Satsang today, but I will go into the Ashram for Meditation. It is less crowded now, it seems there are no celebrations in the next days. In India, there are so many holidays and celebrations […]
Today it was the first time that I joined Satsang with Ammani. Ammani is an Indian woman born in Malaysia. Her house is a little bit outside town, it is green countryside here. I arrived on my scooter at 08:45. Satsang starts at 09:00. There was […]
Today is Sunday. I did not plan anything for today, which is a good plan. Today is Sri Ramana’s birthday; there will be celebrations and food in the Ashram. But first, I will join Kirtan with Upaha in Sunshine Guesthouse. I got a space in one […]
It’s full moon today, and there will be a million people on the road again. The main day for Pradakshina was yesterday, which is just before the full moon. Anyway, I will walk later at 17:00. For now, I will go into the Ashram for a […]
Self-inquiry is a moment-to-moment experience, regardless of what I am doing. It is not about what I am doing, but how I am doing it. Who am I? If I am not my body and not my mind, then a higher power is flowing. It makes […]
A new year has begun. It will be the end of traveling for a while, and the start of preparing the construction of my eco house in Monchique, Portugal. In the morning, I joined Satsang with Ganga Maa. I had missed for a few days. When […]
The last day of 2025. A year full of experiences and adventures, inside and outside. I have been in six different countries this year: Germany, Portugal, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Australia. It feels like my travels have come to an end for this time. Back […]
Today is the last day for my hospital visits. I was there in the morning for nebulization and antibiotics. This morning I feel much better, I had a good sleep and have more energy now. The coughing is not completely gone yet. Back home, I was […]
Again, I visited the hospital this morning. I got nebulization and antibiotics. Before I left, I had to pay as usual. I was in contact with Sarah. We would meet in Arunagiri Cafe for a juice. We sat outside and had our juice. It’s not a […]
This was the first morning when I had to go to the hospital for my infection treatment. I was there at 08:15. Not many people were there this morning. I went to the reception with my map and said I would get nebulization and antibiotics. They […]
Another morning in Tiru. I felt like joining Satsang this morning. I was early there before the door was opened. I met Alex, and we were sitting outside and had a talk. We were talking about my cough, and I remember saying that I would go […]
I woke up this morning, still coughing. I am running on half power. I didn’t feel like joining Satsang, but I was in the Ashram this morning. After I had a chai, I bought some bread and other things in the supermarket. I don’t have the […]
I had some breakfast at home this morning. Usually, I eat bread with butter, cheese, and tomato, or yogurt with banana or papaya and honey. My cough continues; I hope it will stop soon. If it doesn’t stop, I will need to get some antibiotics. Then […]
What is it that you want to achieve or not achieve? You should relax and be joyful in this moment. As long as you think there is something to achieve, then time passes fast, and I have not reached there yet, whatever it is. In fact, […]
Tuesday morning’s satsang was silent and peaceful throughout. First, I thought not to join Satsang today, but I changed my mind. I had breakfast and a shower. I am still coughing sometimes, and an infection in my chest persists. I left for Satsang at 08:30, just […]
The first time at Satsang in a few days. I managed not to cough during Satsang. I was sitting in the last row on a chair so I could leave the room quickly in case I got a coughing fit. After Satsang, I drove to the […]
Gopika would leave for Gokarna this morning. I was packing and emptying my room on the rooftop. I removed the beddings and brought them down; it’s all from Gopika. At 10:00, I had an appointment with Saryana. Saryana rented me the scooter, and we would meet […]
Still sick from coughing, I bought Swasa Kalpa Syrup from the Ayurvedic shop this morning. A traditional Ayurvedic herbal formulation primarily used to manage respiratory health. It is most commonly used for conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and chronic cough. In Sanskrit, Swasa refers to breathing or […]
“The greatest wealth is health.” ~Virgil~ I am still coughing. Last evening, a big plug of mucus was released from my throat. It was pretty solid and stuck in my throat. Coughing is easier now. I am eagerly waiting to feel fit again. It must last […]
I didn’t feel like joining Satsang again. I was still coughing; something was blocked in my throat. So I more or less rested. Outside, construction is underway, and there is a lot of noise as drainage is being installed for a new building. But mentally, I […]
I still have a cold. My nose is not running anymore, but now I am coughing from time to time. It feels hard in the chest. Maybe I got it from Gopika, maybe it’s from the pollution. Usually, many people in Tiru are coughing. At least […]
Free will, destiny — we refer them to higher planes within you, yourself, nothing outside. “Do I have free will?” — This question belongs to the one who identifies with a personality. So the answer also belongs to that. In fact, you are not this or […]
When Ramana says “you are the Self” or “you are the True Happiness,” he is not speaking as a separate realised person pointing to you. He is speaking as the Self within you — as that one, undivided Reality. As Amma explains, the pointing is not […]
It is Sunday morning. It doesn’t make much difference here if it is Sunday or another weekday. The shops have opened, and the streets are busy as usual. I caught a cold; it started yesterday already, and my nose is running. I don’t feel very sick […]
Good morning! After coffee and some bread, reading and writing, I prepared for Satsang. I shortly visited Gopika, then I left. I arrived at the Ashram at 08:45, just in time to get a chair. People can enter the Ashram at 08:45. Slowly, the room filled […]