My journey began in 2008 at a 10-day silent meditation retreat in Igatpuri, India. I arrived confused, restless, and searching for something I couldn't quite name.
For ten days, I sat and struggled with the discomfort and chaos of a mind screaming for release from the torture, until it finally relented. What I discovered in the stillness that followed was so profound, so liberating, that I knew I had to return.
Since then, I've returned to these retreats nearly every year, committing myself to the practice.
My practice is Vipassana, a meditation technique taught by SN Goenka in the Burmese Theravada tradition. Each retreat, I peel back another layer. Each year, I understand myself a little more.
Here are seven things I’ve learnt along the path to where I am today.
Seven Lessons That Changed My Life
I am a creature of reactivity. Through the practice, I started noticing how much of my thoughts, words, and actions I don't actually choose—how much I simply react. I'd feel a craving and fulfill it without a second thought. I'd want to avoid discomfort and reach for distraction. Someone would say something unkind, and before I knew it, I was snapping back. These patterns run so deep that we don't even notice their manipulation—they're invisible, automatic. The meditation taught me that this reactivity was at the root of all my suffering.
Trauma is hidden. There's a reason our minds default to seeking entertainment in idle moments. The mind prefers distraction over introspection because what we hold deep within isn't at all pleasant. When I sit in silence, old hurts surface. Moments of shame or regret I'd buried years ago. Fears I didn't even know I was carrying. Grief I'd never fully grieved. My body remembers what my mind tries to forget.
I'm responsible for my own suffering, but that means I also hold the key to my own freedom. Responsibility isn't blame; it's power. When I realized that my suffering comes from my own reactive decisions—from how I relate to my circumstances—I unlocked the precious ability to change. The consequences of past decisions could no longer hide in my inner recesses. The pain was revealed, and with it, the way forward. This shift from victimhood to agency is everything. It meant that my healing didn't depend on anything outside of my own phenomenal experience. It meant that freedom is right now, exactly as things are.
Happiness is not satiation. Scratch an itch, and you'll have to scratch another. There is no bottom to our cravings, and no respite from what we are averse to. What unlocked real joy for me? Finding peace in simplicity. In being alive, and sitting with a mind that is able to rest.
My inner smile matters more than any outer mask. An inner smile comes from a place of peace and acceptance. When I cultivated that inner smile, people felt the difference. They share it with me in ways as simple as flowing together in class. More importantly, I felt it. I'm learning to move through the world with a quiet confidence that no mask could ever create.
I never walk alone. In Sanskrit, Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha represent something profound: Buddha is the awakened heart within—the inner teacher and guide. Dhamma is the truth of existence itself—the laws of nature and how things really work. And Sangha is the community—other sincere seekers walking the path alongside me. We're all learning the same lessons, fighting the same battles. Your vibe attracts your tribe. And that community—that Sangha—becomes sanctuary.
My happiness is intertwined with the happiness of others. In trying to make others happy, I find my own happiness. In trying to ease others' suffering, I ease my own. It's not sacrifice; it's the deepest act of self-love.
Ready to Begin Your Own Journey?
If any of this resonates with you—if part of you is stirring with recognition, or longing for something you can't quite name—I invite you to explore this path.
For those not yet ready to commit to a 10-day retreat, I'm here to guide you home to yourself through more accessible ways. Whether you're dipping your toes in meditation for the first time or ready to deepen a practice you already have, here are three ways to explore together:
Weekend Meditation Retreat — July 25-26, 1-6pm at Nithya Priyan School of Yoga. This is your first step. A gentle, supported introduction to Vipassana meditation where you'll experience the power of sitting in silence and truly listening to yourself. Perfect for the curious beginner or if you want to dip your toes in before committing to a longer retreat. Sign up here
Teacher Training Course — July 25 - August 9. For those called to share this practice with others, this is your invitation. A three-weekend intensive where you'll deepen your own meditation, understand the teachings more profoundly, and learn how to guide others on their journey. This is how the light spreads—from awakened heart to awakened heart. Learn more
5-Day Immersion Retreat in Chiang Rai — November 26-30, hosted at the exquisite Museflower Retreat. For the serious practitioner ready for a deeper dive. Five days of silence in one of the world's most peaceful settings, with time and space to truly untangle the knots in your mind and heart. This is where transformation happens. Reserve your spot
The path to freedom begins with a single step—and it starts from within.
