Prakash Kumar

🌟 The last day of 2024 feels like the perfect moment to pause and reflect on what has been an unexpected and transformative year. As I look back, I vividly remember the final week of 2023, entering 2024 with moderate enthusiasm and a sense of steady anticipation. However, the year unraveled in ways I could not have predicted, bringing challenges on professional, personal, and familial fronts from the very first week of January.  🎒 The year unfolded as a mixed bag of deep experiences and travel. There were highlights, including one international trip, three visits to Goa, several visits to Delhi, and journeys to Uttarakhand and Sikkim. Yet, these moments of travel and exploration contrasted with an overarching sense of internal reflection and reconciliation. 🛑 2024 became a "Pause Year" for me—a time of slowing down, both physically and mentally, to prepare for the next decade of life. It was a year marked by introspection, as I grappled with errors, unmet expectations, ...

From the pages of Old Diary: Recently, I embarked on an unusual journey, one I had struggle to articulate its purpose to anyone. Yet, within myself, the reason was clear. I was on a quest to unearth deep subtle connection. I sought known vibes and energies that could assure  my heart about such a connection , ultimately seeking a profound connection with my soul—the connection of spirit. As I immersed myself in the surroundings, I encountered positive vibes and energies that momentarily engulfed me. It felt as though I knew the place's vibrations intimately. Gradually, this unfamiliar place ceased to be strange; its vibrations felt like an extension of my own energy. Spending time there left me feeling rejuvenated, as if it fortified a bond between myself and the energy of the place. With each passing moment, I found myself drawn more deeply to its enchanting vibes. This experience was internally enchanting, signaling a profound and intrinsic connection which put at rest many unwan...

From the pages of my old diary, dated 1.05.2014, 22:23: I find myself traversing a critical juncture in my life. Having completed 50 vibrant years and on the brink of turning 51, I am acutely aware of a palpable sense that something vital is missing. The exact nature of this absence eludes me, casting a restlessness and causing a noticeable dip in concentration. Life in Patna is relatively settled, with a fulfilling job soon marking its fourth year. The passing of Cecilia dealt a profound blow, a lingering sadness that calls into question the purpose behind our toil in navigating life's intricacies. There's a tug between embracing more of life or seeking solace in spirituality. The path is unclear, and the motivation sporadic. Restlessness sometimes reaches such heights that I yearn for refuge, leading to irritations that take weeks to dissipate. I grapple with deciphering the signals—lust, an inner desire to find meaning in halting meaningless work—confused by the jolting of ...

As I revisited my 2014 diary, a year marked by restlessness, I notice the striking similarity in my circumstances a decade later. On January 8, 2024, I found myself retracing a walking route reminiscent of the one I undertook on January 19, 2014. The situation remains uncannily unchanged. Reflecting on an entry from January 19, 2014, I shared thoughts on the fascination with death, not in its ordinary and ignorant form, but rather the aspiration for a conscious departure. The contemplation of the art of dying had resurfaced in my mind after more than two decades. The question lingered: why now? The past 10 years had been laden with professional success, propelling me deep into the material world. Yet, the pursuit of conscious death seemed elusive amidst this journey. One school of thought posited that delving deep into the material world could lead to the ultimate truth without a deliberate effort. However, this was considered an ignorant death. Personally, I aligned with the second sc...

Reflections on the journey through 2023 have been a profound learning into the complexities of life, akin to navigating through a maze of professional, personal, emotional, sentimental and familial challenges. As I sit here in the final week of the year, the external facade of control belied the internal maelstrom that persisted, known only to the depths of my own being. At times I enjoyed this inner struggle to come out of the situation. Throughout this tumultuous but remarkable year, I endeavored to employ every learned life skill and experience to weather the storms, yet often found myself in the throes of inner turmoil, occasionally erupting into harsh external manifestations. While there were moments of brilliance, quietness, and remarkable events, the overarching narrative was one of enduring internal strife, conflict, and confusion.The solitude which I was used to was no where. In the midst of this chaos, I grappled with the struggle to exist in the present moment, wrestling wi...

Throughout my life, I have found myself intrigued by some of the pivotal choices I have made almost on a whim, leaving them to fate and chance. This tendency is not limited to me but it is a common thread among those close to me and in general in the society at large—friends and family alike. We often plunge into decisions without much thought, especially the big ones like education or marriage or career which has far reaching consequences in one's own life, family and society. Recently, I have noticed this pattern among those I know quite well, and the swift outcomes surprised me. It led me to ponder life's unpredictable twists and turns. Yet, despite introspection, I haven't quite found clarity. The debate about fate versus our own thoughtful action in crucial moments lingers. Some advocate for relying on education and intellect,for clear thinking, taking opportunities, and having a definitive life vision.This viewpoint dismisses leaving things to chance or tradition, urg...

It was a pure joy, fun on wheel on a 15-year-old Zen Estilo from Dwarka, Delhi to Patna on 5th Feb 2023. My beauty and most trusted car Zen Estilo turned 15 on 6th Feb 2023. As per Delhi rule, I have to dispose of the car or bring back to Patna for a further lease of life of five years to my "Basanti". I was so attached to this car so I decided to bring it back to Patna to apply for a 5-year extension by paying road tax at Patna with Bihar number. I got NOC online in December at Delhi and then looking for a time to go to Delhi and bring back the car. In any case I have to bring back before 6th Feb 2023. My friend and his wife were returning to Delhi on 2nd Feb with car so I decided to join them. His car was new Kia sonet. It was a new car with less than 10000 km run. We started at 6.15 am precisely from Patna and took Patna-Bihta-Koilwar-Buxar-Purvanchal Eway-Lucknow -Agra Eway -Yamuna Eway -Sarita Vihar-Outer ring road-Dwarka with leisurely 3 stops and two fuel stops. ...

My Travel Diary of East Africa: An adventure of a life time through some of the breathtaking landscapes, culture and people in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zanzibar I have been wanting to take an adventurous trip to Africa for several years, and I had planned to travel by road from Cairo to Cape Town, crossing 13 countries in 49 days. My plan was to fly to Cairo from Delhi, then drive through Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, and then fly back to Delhi from Cape Town. I was planning to depart in April 2020, but I had to modify my plans to leave out Egypt and Sudan and fly to Addis Ababa instead, and return from Cape Town to Delhi. I started preparing for the trip and got a yellow fever vaccination on January 20, but then the COVID-19 pandemic happened and all my plans were put on hold. The plan was, A) Addis Ababa to Uganda via Omo valley, Marsabit, Nandi hills, Eldoret, Kampala (2000 km) Kampal...