#Authentic Self Archives - Madhu Bazaz Wangu
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#Authentic Self

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Posted on September 27, 2026
in #Authentic Self, Flourishing, Meditation, Mindfulness and Travealing, Spirituality, Travel, Well Being
2 Comments

Our Itinarary (September 27-October 10 2026) Dear Readers, My husband, Manoj and I are going away for about two weeks on a river cruise on Seine River, France. We are leaving on Sunday and will return on October 10. For the next two weeks please enjoy reading the "Reflections" below about the meaning of God, Allah, Yahweh, Dao, Buddhachitta, Atman or any other name we give to the Cosmic Intelligence or Divine Within.Do you sometimes feel that something within you is wiser, kinder and more peaceful than you? Have there been moments when you’ve experienced this Self?For the next two weeks, I’d like you to read and reread what different philosophical, spiritual and religious traditions say about this wiser and kinder jewel deep within each one of us that I call...

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Thursday, September 24, 2026

Posted on September 23, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Awareness, #Stillness, Silence, Solitude, Attention and Awareness, Flourishing, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds
1 Comment

Do not confuse the whispers of the Authentic Self with the voice in your head. Perhaps you’ve not yet separated yourself from the chain of thoughts and still unconsciously identify with that voice that is loud, pessimistic and never stops talking. Begin to be more attentive. Learn to differentiate between that critic’s voice (harsh and unproductive) and gentle nudges of your Self that are unexpected, productive and wise.  When you make “focus on the breath” a daily routine, you’ll experience the presence of Awareness, presence of your higher Self. The whispers of your Authentic Self are from the one who is within you, who knows you, knows you more than you know yourself. This Self provides you freedom from your separate ego self. You may believe that your small ego self...

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Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Posted on September 22, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Stillness and Solitude, #Stillness, Silence, Solitude, Awareness, Meditation, Sharper Brain after Retirement, Spirituality, Well Being
5 Comments

Do not confuse the whispers of the Authentic Self with the voice in your head. Perhaps you’ve not yet separated yourself from the chain of thoughts and still unconsciously identify with that voice that is loud, pessimistic and never stops talking. Begin to be more attentive. Learn to differentiate between that critic’s voice (harsh and unproductive) and gentle nudges of your Self that are unexpected, productive and wise.  When you make “focus on the breath” a daily routine, you’ll experience the presence of Awareness, presence of your higher Self. The whispers of your Authentic Self are from the one who is within you, who knows you, knows you more than you know yourself. This Self provides you freedom from your separate ego self. You may believe that your small ego self...

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Thursday, September 17, 2026

Posted on September 16, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Awareness, #Stillness, Silence, Solitude, Creativity, Imagination, Well Being
1 Comment

Spending some time with yourself makes the time you spend with others more pleasurable and playful. Similar to nourishment; solitude is one of the basic necessities. When you’re alone, at first you confront distractions from past and future floating in your mind. You mull over them. This is followed by self-enquiry. More often than not, you realize whatever recent “wrong” happened did not have much to do with her, him, or them, but with you. The negativity feel is ultimately a reflection of your own inner landscape. Slowly the thought settles and you’re back to your normal self. Only in silence can you mull over things and be fair to yourself and others. When you sit still quietly, pondering what you have encountered, how it has affected you, and how you have...

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Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Posted on September 14, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Awareness, #Stillness, Silence, Solitude, Journaling, Meditation, Originality, Spirituality
2 Comments

The day you don’t get time to meditate do this: two to three times a day, pause, take an inhale, then a long exhale and bring your mind to the present moment. Become aware of your body and senses. What do you see around you? What do you smell? What sounds do you hear? You are fully alive to the present moment! When you are Here and Now your awareness is one with you. With practice you learn to be with your inner Awareness. When you bask in the self-recognition of your aware self you feel the warmth of loving-kindness and peace. Present moment has two levels: the immediate one, the one we are familiar with. A bundle of our experiences—past and future in which we are constantly entangled. At this level we are not truly...

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Thursday, September 10, 2026

Posted on September 9, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Awareness, #Stillness, Silence, Solitude, Attention and Awareness, Spirituality, Well Being
2 Comments

Read this sentence“It is hard to clear 10-15 minutes in my daily schedule to sit still in silence and solitude.” How silly does it sound? Do you chat on the telephone, surf the internet, watch television? How long do you spend on any one of these passive diversions? Then, why do you find it difficult to find 10-15 minutes of quiet? Why do you think that it is a waste of time, especially now when you know it’s benefits? Sitting quietly provides time to settle the sediments of your mind and to become aware that something in you is aware of you being aware of these sediments. Reflect on this for a few minutes and know that as soon as you are aware your mind brings you to the present moment. That reflection makes...

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Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Posted on September 7, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Nature Lover, #Stillness, Silence, Solitude, Awareness, Being in Nature, Flourishing, Meditation, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Spirituality
3 Comments

The practitioners of mindfulness meditation who sits in silence and solitude elevate themselves as they realize what it means to live in the awareness of the present moment. When we are aware we are lifted beyond our fleeting emotions and thoughts—painful or cheerful. We feel serenity and true peace. We sense, I’m not my ego self. I’m awareness that is one with the awareness of all—always peaceful and joyful. We are one with our Authentic Self which is always here, now and awake.  What is a life of contemplation? It is to realize that we come to the world alone and we leave alone. Our solitude may be absolute but our life is as meaningful as we make it. Our feelings, thoughts, sensations, activities and relationships are fleeting; but our Authentic Self abides. Those...

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Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Posted on August 24, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Nature Lover, Being in Nature, Flourishing, Travel
4 Comments

On our way to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, the bus stopped for a photo break of the spectacular peaks of the Teton mountain range. The driver pointed to a log cabin in the distance, a cottage in the middle of a meadow of swaying yellow flowers and wild grass. Behind these was the restroom. I hurried toward it when I noticed a sign board: “The Episcopal Chapel of the Transfiguration” in front of a chapel. I wondered, what exactly does transfiguration mean? When I returned, people had already seen the chapel and left. I entered, looked around its sparse decoration and plain walls constructed with logs. It moved me. The space felt cool and comfortable. In front of a large rectangular glass window was a table on which was placed a cross flanked...

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Tuesday, 14 July, 2026

Posted on July 13, 2026
in #Authentic Self, Awareness, Death and Dying, Flourishing, Nonverbal Activities, Old Age and Death, Walking
2 Comments

Walking through a well-maintained cemetery is a unique experience. Observing the headstones and monuments of those who have gone before us not only grounds us but also stirs a feeling of serenity that stirs contemplation. For the preliminary exams for my doctoral work, I was to collect the rubbings from the headstones from three New England cemeteries. My topic was symbols and rituals of death from four different cultures. India, China, Mexico and New England. I didn’t find these resting places of long-gone ancestors morbid or depressing. On the contrary, walking through these was calming and tranquil. After making drawings and collecting rubbings, I was inspired to take longer walks on the pathways that webbed the greenery. The moment we’re born, we begin our journey toward death. Each human life’s path might...

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Tuesday, May 27, 2026

Posted on May 26, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Neuroscience and Meditation, Flourishing, Meditation, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Spirituality
2 Comments

Cherry Blossoms at Ashby Ponds Neuroplasticity is something our age group must celebrate. The fact that we can keep learning a new skill, experience new experiences and strengthen the neural pathways of our brain is a scientific discovery to rejoice. Resilient and sharp mind is not only for the younger people but also for people in their eighties and nineties.  Most of us in today’s world prefer our meditation practice easy and brief. Because of this we leave behind a lot from the world’s rich contemplative traditions. We morph the practice to user-friendly forms. To gain self-awareness, insights into the subtleties of consciousness and achieve lasting positive traits require dedication. In addition, ethical attitude and moral guidelines are crucial. What we abandon is ignored or forgotten. A strong motivation to practice for the...

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