Boredom Isn't The Problem.

Boredom: A Problem of the Mind – And a Surprising Solution

 "Life has become quite boring. No fun! It’s been years since we last went on a vacation. Why don’t we plan something this summer?" complained his wife.

 "Papa, just listen to me. We've been to Lucknow dozens of times. Let’s go somewhere new this time, OK?" added his son, hoping to steer the family towards a refreshing change. 

Like the others, he, too, felt the weight of a sultry and monotonous evening pressing down on him.

 This little scene reveals a common issue that troubles nearly everyone at some point: boredom. It’s an unbearably unpleasant feeling, one we all try to escape — yet it chases us relentlessly.

 We experience boredom at work, especially in jobs we don't enjoy. It creeps in while waiting, during long lectures, or even while traveling, if the journey doesn’t stimulate us. Honestly, I haven’t met a single person who doesn’t occasionally complain of boredom. 

 Let’s dive deeper into this problem to understand it better — and perhaps, discover a solution.

 The Root of the Problem: A Restless Mind 

 Upon close observation, we see that boredom is not a physical problem, but a mental one. It occurs entirely in the mind. But why? 

 Because the nature of the mind is inherently restless. It behaves like a young child: unwilling to stay in one place, always eager to run, explore, or fly toward something — either out of love or fear. It craves newness, but ironically, also misses the familiar. The mind doesn't want to stay where it is. So, what causes boredom? The mind’s refusal to rest in the present moment. 

 Is There a Solution? Yes — and it may sound funny and surprisingly simple. Don’t believe me? Try this short experiment. 

 Close your eyes. 

Now, for 20–30 seconds, just observe your thoughts. Watch them as they enter, move around, and exit your mind. No need to analyze, just watch.

 Soon, you’ll notice your thoughts beginning to slow down. A subtle peace sets in. Do you feel it? A sense of freedom? Calm? 

 Before this, your thoughts — like unsupervised children — were playing wildly, draining your energy and peace without you realizing it. But under observation, like children in the presence of an adult, they begin to settle down. 

 This is mindfulness. It’s the art of being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and moods as they arise, linger, and fade away. It brings the mind into the present and trains it to stop running after endless distractions. 

 Ancient and Timeless Remedies

 In addition to mindfulness, other powerful and time-tested techniques exist. Almost every culture and religion has explored these: Japa (chanting) and Patha (recitation). These practices teach the mind patience and focus. They reduce the constant craving for newness, and gradually bring stillness. They gently train the mind to appreciate the moment, rather than constantly searching for excitement.

 In Conclusion 

 When practiced regularly and with devotion, mindfulness, chanting, and recitation help develop a calm, peaceful, and balanced mind — one that no longer complains of boredom. Boredom isn’t a curse. It’s a clue — a signal that the mind needs training. Once we understand and address its restlessness, we find that joy and contentment were always within us, just waiting to be discovered.

Life Is a Do-It-Yourself Project

Since childhood, I’ve lived with an invisible burden—the need for validation. Every decision, every action, seemed incomplete unless someone approved of it. I was raised in a family and society where every adult acted like a teacher, constantly correcting, advising, and often, unintentionally, sending the message that I wasn’t capable of doing things right on my own. Over time, I became a product of this environment—constantly doubting myself, craving validation to feel confident or justified.

As I grew older, I noticed how this habit was not mine alone—it was a cultural pattern. Children are shaped to believe that someone else knows better, someone else decides what's good, acceptable, or successful. This creates adults who are hesitant to trust themselves. We become followers, not thinkers. We fear being different, because being different means breaking the rules of what’s “decent” or “normal.”

But then, I came across the words, “App Deepo Bhav”—be a lamp unto yourself. It struck me deeply. I realized how far I had drifted from my own light. True confidence doesn't come from praise—it comes from autonomy. Life is a do-it-yourself project, not a performance judged by others. The more I embraced this truth, the more I began to find my own voice, my own way. It is not easy, but it is liberating.

Now, I try to live as a creator, not a copy. Seeking truth, not approval. And in doing so, I slowly become a lamp—not just for myself, but maybe, someday, for others too.

Has Knowledge Failed Humanity?

 

"ज्ञानम् हि  तेषामधिकम् विशिष्टम् ।" It is said that knowledge distinguishes a man from an animal. But how? What is the benefit of knowledge? How has knowledge proved to be useful for humans? What  is the role of knowledge in the life of a human being?

Humans boast of being the homo sapiens. They claim their superiority over other animals due to their knowledge. But, compare a common man with his dog and you will see the latter happier and more content than the former. "Sarvam dukham" which means all is sorrow, has been concluded by Buddha. Ask a person from any corner of the world, if he is happy and pat will be his answer " no." Why does it happen? Why the humans having the superior advantage of knowledge are less happier than their supposedly disadvantaged inferiors. How has knowledge benefited humans? Has it failed humanity? Let us find its answer. 

Knowledge helps humans survive better and longer, giving them power over other animals. Is survival a worthy goal? Yes, of course, it is. It's the opposite of dying, or ending life. Humans are living beings first, then anything else. Protection of life is the first natural and innate urge and worthy goal on which other goals depend. If there is life, only then there may be other things like pleasures, satisfaction, honour, patriotism, piety, religion, loyalty, development, pride and so on. 

But survival is not the only goal which is enough for living beings, specifically for humans and other creatures with the ability of sensory perceptions. If a slave is let to live but under a torturous condition, he may prefer death to life. Even a cow living in a dairy farm under cruel conditions wouldn't like to live, let alone the humans. 

Survival doesn't look like a worthy goal in itself. Though a pet or cattle do not need much, so  do not complain much and are satisfied with the little amenities, humans are a different case. Unlike pets, humans need a lot of things to live. No other animals are heard to commit suicides, but humans are more prone to kill themselves willingly after failing to get their coveted things. Some of such needs which are essential for a human being to be longing to live,are peace,pleasure, happiness, honour, pride and love. 

Food, water, clothes and shelter help a human being survive, but he is not ready to live in the absence of pleasure no matter how less or more frequent and peace. Though pleasure is addictive and produces incremental cravings, humans become involved in gathering more and more, which consumes most of his life space.

 Though peace may be disturbed by rivalry and hostility, he seeks to establish a system which may protect his peace and increase his pleasure. That system is made up of family, society, culture, religion and state etc. The basic goal of all these components is peace and pleasure. As humans want a stable and unbroken state of peace and pleasure, they needed and found knowledge. It helped them have a life of peace and pleasure which was less likely to be disturbed by other creatures. Humans protected themselves against other animals with the help of knowledge.

 But, they have pitiably failed in securing their basic goal of peace and pleasure due to their inability in protecting themselves against their own mind and their own fellow humans. Rarely a man or a woman is seen, living a life of peace and pleasure. 

Has knowledge failed in helping them then ? Yes and no both are the answers. Knowledge is nothing but a tool which can be used as per our desires. Emotions are the users. Feelings are the users. They have not changed since the beginning, though they have become more and more complex. Knowledge as a tool has served both types of emotions, good and bad ones. Knowledge is not the culprit, but emotions are. Feelings, emotions and cravings are the main drivers of the whole human affairs. Thoughts, reasons, science and knowledge are the servants or soldiers. The  latter have become much stronger. 

We need to focus on the feelings and emotions like love which needs to be promoted and hatred which needs to be eliminated. Knowledge is power, but only when it is put in good practice.  

Rationale for Myths

 Rationale for Myths

Many people oppose the construction of temples because they believe in the material reality and not in the existence of false things like gods and goddesses. They call them  myths. Myths  are false beliefs and therefore totally avoidable. Such false beliefs are propagated by religions, according to them, and therefore, they are synonymous with superstition. Religion asks for a kind of blind faith which makes us believe in the unreal and false things. Such beliefs are harmful because they develop in their followers a habit of believing in the unreal and untrue things. "But it gives me happiness." , you may say on which they would say," so does opium. Religion is like opium. It gives an artificial and temporary feeling of ecstasy." You may object to this offencive comparison. " Both  are the same in their effects as they cut off a man from his reality. Any pleasure which is based on an unreal and temporary mental stimulus is harmful as it will result in disappointments and frustrations in future." They will explain it to you. 

Let us consider this subject a bit more deeply and in detail. What is real? What is unreal? What is true? What is false? Is there  a connection between reality and goodness? Is truth always good? Must truth necessarily be good? What is the use of truth? Is it possible to live a good life by believing in the truth conceptualized by materialists?

In my opinion, which is not in contrast to the great idea of SATYAM SHIVAM SUNDARAM, the truth is what is good. Broadly speaking, truth is good forever and for everyone, or as much as possible. Testing on this standard, many supposed true things cease to be true anymore because they are limited in their effects and reach.

Myth is imagination. Though it may be false,It forms a kind of reality which may be called imagined reality. Its effect  is real and great. Its purpose is to fulfill the desire for knowing the reason behind natural events( gods and goddesses, legends, stories), the desire for self importance( tales about the glory of one's family, dynasty,  country,  religion and caste). If the myths are created by a generous and altruistic desire, it is good. But, it's bad if it's created by a desire for pettiness, ego fulfillment,  greed and selfishness and escapism.

"Myth is avoidable because it is untrue. It's untrue because it doesn't exist. It doesn't exist because I cannot perceive it through my senses. I call untrue those things which cannot be perceived by me through senses, though it may exist in my thoughts.", said a champion  of materialism. Here, there are two problems. First, it's incorrect to call true only that which is perceptible through senses because it excludes the mathematical laws and the laws of science etc which are known through reason. Second, even the ability of human perception is very limited and narrow.

If we call real and true only those things which are permanent and true everywhere and everytime, myths are more real due to their comparative permanence in the consciousness of a large society. They encompass, sometimes, a whole nation and sometimes the whole world. The myths like socialism, individualism, democracy, nationalism, equality and  liberty are present in more minds than expected. The empirical truths like the taste of some dish, smell of some flower, sound of some birds etc are more subjective than objective. Their perceptions vary from person to person. 

Many myths, though they are consciously created with some specific purposes, become real thanks to their popularity and effects. Myths of God, gods, goddess, ghosts, chastity, patriotism, loyalty etc are some of such myths.

There is no harm in holding such myths true, as long as they are not harmful. If they are doing good, there is no need to dig deep and try hard to prove them false. As there is nothing true in the world except the Vedantic concept of Brahman, everything is true and good ,if it does and results in good.

There is no society in the world which has lived without myths. Even today, we believe in some modern collective myths like humanity, money, state, and nationalism etc. Myths have been greatly successful in effectively uniting people to realize some common goal which would not have been achieved individually in fragmented efforts. Religions have been the most reliable sources of inspiration for billions of people to do good to their neighbors. They have, with their myths and stories, set billions of simple minded people on the path of goodness. Many myths have filled the lives of the billions with love and hope. It will be a completely illogical and extremely cruel and harmful act to advocate against myths. Let them keep guiding humanity towards love and happiness. 

Life : Living Happily or Miserably ?

 

The most important thing to us is our life. If it's the most precious and valuable thing we have, we should think twice before spending it. Most people spend their life to buy a living which facilitates to have food , a house and clothes. Making a living, though, is not a big problem with most people if they are fairly smart. All other creatures are doing it . 

A Universal Issue : Many Responses

How to make life is a personal question which needs a personal solution. As this question has troubled everyone from the beginning of humanity , it has got various responses and has also become a universal question seeking universal solution. These solutions have been codified in the scripture books of various religions and cultures. Many philosophies have emerged .

Approach to Life : Human and Animal

In my opinion, making a life requires a conscious effort from us . If we leave it to flow on its own , it will have the same course as that of the other animals without little or no brain. Human beings boast of having the most evolved brain enabling them to think most efficiently ,so they must deal with this most important question with the most conscious thinking possible.

What Do We Need To Live?

It occurs to me that life needs a balance among its components. Any excess can poison it. Any deficiency can ail it. Body is the first thing to deserve our care. Breath, food and water are the first three needs without which life is not possible. They are present in plenty around us ; nature takes care of them . What we need to do in this regard is only one thing - save it from the greed of yourself and other humans.

Next come the clothes and shelters.Fulfilling these needs requires no great effort . The matter gets complicated only when they are used for show off.

Then we face the issues of safety and security .They cause fears.They are sometimes real ,threatening life. But in most cases they are psychological and unreal. Our wish to live a quality life is greatly affected by these fears . If the problem is psychological , the solution too needs a psychological approach. 

Psychological 

On the next stage we encounter another psychological problem which exists only in the mind but has a great effect on our life. That problem is in the form of desires for money, power, fame , love and respect . 

Money as a means to fulfill the needs is all right and necessary because, in society, we depend on each other for our needs. But it is an evil if used for show off. Power comes from competence and ability . It is necessary to sustain life .But when it is needed to dominate and harm others, it is a perversion . Fame is purely a psychological and unreal need. A desire to be in the memory of others actually turns the energy of a person in the wrong direction. It leads to unending frustration and unhappiness. Love is a noble feeling and brings happiness but only till we keep getting it. What is done by us is under our control but what is done by others is not.If we want to love someone, it's in our hands but if we want someone else to love us , it is not. Our desire to get it from others is a psychological want and leaves us restless . It too will damage our happiness. Likewise we are free in giving respect to others and we have full control over it.But a desire for getting it from others is nothing but an ego-born unnecessary want , a psychological one. This too is impossible to always get from others and will lead to frustration. 

Life is Simple, Not Complex

Thus we see how we make a mess out of our life. We have , ironically, become masters at making a simple thing , complex. Living life is a simple thing but we make it complicated by putting innumerable and unreasonable conditions before it. On a little close observation we find that most of the problems hindering us from enjoying life fully, are the products of our own psychology. Ruining the major portion of life by running after our desires for money, power, fame and lust is nothing but becoming a prey to our own psychology. In such pursuits we forget the real goal which is life.

Know Yourself and Your Tools 

To live a life to its maximum possible limit , we need to work on our capacity to experience it. The capacity to experience life is enhanced in a peaceful and attentive state of mind. Peace and attentiveness can be obtained and increased by following some time tested rules prescribed by the sages of all ages. Following the path of simple and virtuous living brings immense peace. That peace enables us to focus on our mind. A regular focus on mind reveals its true character and its composition. Understanding the character and the composition of mind with its way of working and influencing our life shows us the ways to effectively control it and live happily and freely forever.

We see that our day to day business is performed by our five sense organs with other body parts like hands , legs etc. These sense organs and action organs are controlled and employed by the mind. Mind works through thoughts, feelings and emotions which compose it. Mind can be controlled by intellect if one desires to do so. But intellect itself works under the control and guidance of the identity we give to ourselves.

 Identity, we see , is ever changing and shrouded by ignorance. In the state of peaceful meditation we can easily view ourselves as different from these organs, mind, intellect and the mistaken identity. This knowledge gives us a sense of freedom and relief. It gives us control over our life . Now we shall find ourselves in the position of a driver not a vehicle. We shall see that we can control our physical and mental actions. We can control our thoughts, feelings and emotions. We can change our identity which means that we are above all identities . 

Knowledge is Bliss , Not Ignorance

Such knowledge will enhance our experience of life greatly. It frees us from pain and sorrow. It makes us realize the evanescent nature of the cravings which do not let us live happily. We realize then that even without the blind chase of money, power and fame , one can live happily. 

Purpose Of Life

 

What Are We Doing And Why ?

" I am going to buy a house next year and then a few years later ,a car. I have also to help my son get a  successful career . I have yet to take out some time for my hobbies…" I was thinking. My thoughts didn't stop there. They never stop .There were innumerable desires which kept gripping my mind for some time then. It was not the first time that it was happening with me. Such thoughts generally keep me , like others, busy day and night. The pathetic reality ,however, is that knowingly or unknowingly ,we are all drifting  towards the other end of the life sailing on the boat of these thoughts . It is these thoughts that cause all our actions and unending busyness. In that helter-skelter ,we forget ourselves and our purpose of life. Purpose! Yes , the meaning of life ! The meaning of our existence! Of course the end reminds us of the duty we should have done . Death marks the physical end of our life .And it also serves many as an alarm bell  reminding them of their sense of purpose in life which is coming to a close. It alarms us to rethink about life and work and reorganize them lest something should get missed. Just a thought of death fills the mind with various fundamental and existential questions about life we have been generally ignoring and postponing.

Know Your Life

 We are always busy doing this and that in our day to day life and in this way our whole life is spent . Thoughts and actions driven by each other consume our life. Busy with our needs and desires ,we never pause to see ourselves, our thoughts and our actions . We never care to ask ourselves if we are doing the right thing. We never ask what is the meaning of all that we are doing. We dare not ask if we are treating our life as it should be treated and in this unconscious and automatic way arrives the imminent end . 

The period between our birth and death is the most valuable and important thing for us. Generally we do not start a work until we get to know it and its purpose. Nobody can make us do a task whose meaning and purpose we are not sure of .Even when we are to do some small and unimportant work , we know or try to know what and why of that. For example when we are eating we know we do it to sustain our life. We exercise to make our body healthy. We laugh to express fun and pleasure and so on. But do we really know what life is? Do we ever bother to know why we are living and what is the meaning or purpose of life? Do we really care to know how to live it best?

We can do our best and accomplish the work in hand in the best way possible if we know it well and are clear about how to do it.  Life ,being the most valuable thing we have ,deserves our best attention and efforts. Let's try to understand it lest it should go in vain.

What Is Life ?

Literally life means living. It is opposed to death. It begins with birth and ends with death. Its simple meaning is that we are living if we are not dying. Apparently it is a time period during which something shows the signs of life like movement, growth, reproduction, consciousness etc. These signs are present in different  degrees in different kinds of life forms. The degree of the presence of these signs decides the level of evolution of an animal .The greater the signs are , the greater the evolution is. In short, life means the duration in which one is active, growing, reproducing, moving, happy and energetic . Life is time and energy, consciousness and growth.

The Purpose of Life 

But the question of its meaning and purpose is not a simple one.  How do we know the purpose of something? To know the purpose of something one needs to know who created it , as the purpose is assigned by the creator himself . For example a gramophone is meant for listening to audio. A toothbrush is meant for brushing our teeth ,pen for writing and book for reading . Their investors made them for these purpose.

Sometimes the purpose is assigned by the users also in addition to or apart from the creator's purpose .For example, food is used for eating ,water for drinking, baking and washing, trees for wood, shade and oxygen and land for farming etc. In both these cases the purposes are not bound to be singular  and absolute, for there may be more than one purpose of an article. Whether the creator or the user gives a purpose to a particular thing, it cannot be final and absolute.

There Is No Single Purpose

 A writer with a pen can say that the pen is serving its purpose but does it mean anything to the pen itself. If water is used for the purpose of irrigation and not for drinking, can we say that it has not served its purpose? If a flower has blossomed and fallen in the obscurity of a deserted place and has not been used by anyone, has it lost its purpose and its life in vain ? These examples indicate that the purpose or meaning is an artificial and psychological notion and it is not fixed . We also feel that it is a perspective based understanding which may vary from person to person.

Purpose Is Psychological

 What is the purpose of an earthworm, a fish or a bird ? What is the purpose of rivers, seas, mountains and forests? What do the sun, the moon and the stars stand for? Whatever good or bad, intelligent or stupid, religious or secular meaning or purpose is given to these things, will appear to be the result of a human centric thinking. But the universe is not human centric in reality. Thus the question of finding a purpose or meaning of anything seems to be a human psychological problem ,not a real problem in itself.

Therefore let us consider the real limitation of our ability in dealing with this question. We become satisfied to get a clear cut purpose for something.Our mind becomes restless when it doesn't get a definable meaning of something. But is it necessary that there should be a purpose for everything? Should all our actions have purpose? With the limited information we have , can our intelligence and intellect know the purpose of something completely? Though, looking at the practical limitations of our intellectual capacity, we are aware that our knowledge of purpose cannot be final , we cannot help dwelling upon this question due to the same intellectual urge. 

Purpose Of Life Is The Life Itself

       Since we do not know for sure who created this life and why , we are free to give it any purpose because we are ourselves the life and it's user . Having no purpose also seems equally good. It looks as good  as any other purpose suggested by religion, politics or society . As a life myself, it occurs to me that the purpose of life is to live it fully with all its possible experiences. It is to have the experience of life in all its profoundness as its opposite, death, is characterized by pain inaction, stagnation, stoppage and a sense of finality. Life should have happiness, action, movement and hopefulness. The lesson is to fill our life with the characteristics of life.

How To Attain The Purpose

However it is easier said than done. How to live life, deserves a careful study. We all want it to be perfect, in both quantity as well as quality. Quantity here means duration. It should be long enough to achieve full realisation.  Quality means positive experience ,full of ultimate happiness of a permanent kind. Quality also implies the state of consciousness. We know that anything good or bad in life is of any importance only when we can perceive and experience it and that is possible only when we are conscious. Raising our level of awareness is helpful in realising this purpose. Quality is also composed of a sense of timeless security which means life needs to be true and real devoid of any fear of loss.

This is the intrinsic desire of all creatures to experience a life which is eternally long,  happy and conscious. This universal longing gives a clue to the universal purpose which lies in obtaining it. But how to obtain it, is also an equally misunderstood problem . When we talk about achieving a purpose , it is assumed that it is distant from us.  That makes it a purpose in the worldly sense. This problem is based on the wrong idea of self and its real nature.

Wrong Identity Leads To A Wrong Purpose

 We can never obtain the cherished purpose of living a happy and conscious life as long as we identify ourselves wrongly with the physical body which is temporary, unconscious and afflicted with pains. It has a beginning and an end. It is also not right to identify with the mind which is rooted heavily in the physical body and its experiences and memories. Our identity as a mind-body complex is at the root of all our problems. It is a wrong perception . On close observation we can view this complex as something different in the same way as we see our car, house and garden.

True Identity Shows True Purpose

 Our identity as a detached  and pure observer sets us free from all miseries.  As an awareness and consciousness ,different from this mind-body complex, we are already free.  With this realisation comes the feeling of eternity, limitlessness and permanence. 

Therefore  the purpose of living a conscious and happy life can be fulfilled ,not by making any external attempts but by making a transformation within. Such life cannot be achieved by money, luxuries, fame or power ,as they are all short lived and  just small means to give the desired experience. They bring with them many concerns, fears and engagements which may involve us in a series of unending hopes and despairs.

Rather than covering all the roads under carpets why can we not put on a pair of shoes . Rather than working on the branches, let us fix the root. Rather than subduing the stink of the body with deodorant let us clean it with a fresh shower.

Conclusion

 We need not pursue a purpose. We are the purpose. We are the meaning. The solution is just a will away. The moment we realise our true nature we shall have all that we appear to want.

कविता, पहचान के नाम पर

 पहचान के नाम पर

पैदा तो हम एक ' जीव ' ही हुए थे ,

पर बाद में हमें एक मिली पहचान ,

एक नाम के साथ
और हम हो गए विशिष्ट,
सबसे अलग :
मानव !!! आर्य !! भारतीय !
लिंग ! धर्म ! जाति ! रंग !
औकात , ज्ञान , बुद्धि , देह ...!