Prakash Kumar

Goa: Beyond the Beaches — A Continuing Spiritual Journey Goa — that small, sun-washed state on India’s western coast- is often imagined as a paradise of beaches, seafood, and fun living. Yet beneath that lies another Goa: serene, soulful, and steeped in centuries of devotion and tradition. Its history stretches far beyond the shimmering shoreline — from being part of the Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century BCE to flourishing under ancient Hindu dynasties between 1000 and 1200 AD, followed by the rule of the Adil Shahs, and then over four centuries of Portuguese influence. This long and layered past has given Goa a unique cultural rhythm — one where temple bells and church choirs seem to coexist in harmony after its liberation from Portuguese rule in 1961. When India became independent in 1947, Goa still remained under Portuguese control. It was only in 1961 that it found its own freedom — and since then, the transformation has been remarkable. Today, Goa offers world-class tourism infr...

The power of silence and solitude is not easily felt. For roughly one decade, I have been trying to experience this elusive state. I explored several manners of techniques and tools, yet it continues to elude me. I spent considerable time in the Himalayas, embarked on several long solo journeys both within country and abroad, read countless books and articles, and practiced meditation and yoga. Throughout this journey, I try to develop a non-reactive mindset while continuing to work. What amazes me in this process is that the murmuring self never allows you to rest in silence, even in the deep mountains where you are completely alone. What I come to understand is that the inner self is the primary obstacle to meaningful silence and solitude. I try to work on this realization, observing all sorts of communication with my inner self while trying not to be reactive or repetitive. It remains a work in progress, but the initial results are bit positive. In this process, I learned to mai...

For quite some time, I was thinking about writing on suffering to understand it better. The urge was persistent, living in my mind like an unfinished conversation. But whenever I sat down to write, the words wouldn't come. The picture wasn't clear enough, and I abandoned the attempt, leaving my thoughts scattered and unexpressed. I had a firm belief that suffering culminates in many other forms. When one cannot contain it, it transforms into anger—a volatile energy that hurts both the person venting and the person receiving it. Often, we remain clueless about its origin, watching as pain morphs into rage without understanding the journey between the two. What I came to understand is that most suffering which culminates in anger stems from our unmet desires in all their forms—emotional, physical, and material. The wound deepens when we suffer silently, refusing to reach out for help or support. False or inflated ego plays a larger role here, suppressing our desires until they ...

🚗 From Delhi to Goa: A 2,000 KM Odyssey in Two Days Date of Journey: May 11–12, 2025 (Sunday & Monday) Vehicle: Maruti Ritz (2010 Model) Total Distance Covered: ~1988 KM Total Toll Paid: ₹3138 States Crossed (7): Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa. 🛣️ Living the Journey The road trip from Delhi to Goa was my longest drive to date—nearly 1,000 kilometres per day, back-to-back. I have been passionate about long drives since my young days, when 300–400 km in a day used to feel like an achievement. With gradual improvements in road infrastructure, especially after 2005, driving 700–1000 km in a day became manageable. I have done the Patna–Delhi routes several times, each nearly 1,000 km, but this trip was different. Now over 60, and with a 15-year-old car, the challenge was both physical and mechanical. It took me a while to convince myself, but the traveller inside me gave the green light. 🔍 Planning and Preparation The ...