Few people can come up with an amazing number of unique questions, a corollary to that also holds true; many people are piqued with the same set of questions about life, relationships and personal growth. Taking this into cognizance, we have created a comprehensive question bank, which deep dives into the some of the most asked about Topics and Issues. We advise you to go through these before you address a query to SAM. There is a mighty chance that you might find a part of your answer here.

1. There is so much complacency in the world today. Everywhere we see there is a Chalta-hai attitude? How should we deal with complacency?

The reason is because people are happy with happiness. People easily get wedged into a state of happy homeostasis and it takes a lot of will power and intent to get oneself out of that comfort zone. The change has to start with us. We must deal with Complacency by being stubborn, adamantly non-complacent come what way. The buck has to stop right at us. We must be sticklers with ourselves. Hard task-masters. We must always be in a state of EMONSITY. Please note that word. EMONSITY must become our status quo. We must be crazy, insane and almost belligerent about getting things done firstly BY US and then FOR US. This is the only WAY.

2. We often hear about the Fight Versus Flight response, that is part of our neural networks. Do you think either of them is the best approach to deal with a situation in today’s world, which is a lot safer than the ancient world.

We should neither run away nor should we jump ahead to clobber someone. Neither Fight nor Flight. We must FACE it. Passive –aggressive behaviour has been at the root of many problems. We have to nip it in the bud. We do not have to be MR Nice but do not we have to Miss Nasty either. We must be assertive in the face of every difficult situation. And for that we need immense self-compassion and equanimity like the Buddha himself. We must all become Buddhas, but we must not stop there, we must also look fierce like the Kalari warriors. As a Mahatman we have to walk the tightrope between Equanimity and Extreme Intensity.

3. There is a lot of toss-up between competition and collaboration. There are camps which crusade for either of the two. What are your thoughts on this?

Only competition will turn you into a brute. Only Collaboration will turn you into a Martyr. But we are neither, we are the Mahatmans. We need to collaborate with a competitive spirit and we need to compete with a collaborative approach. We need magnanimity while competing and we need immense self-love while collaborating. It is only when we learn the ropes of balancing both, are we bound to succeed. Life is neither black nor white; we need to be in the Grey area where Collaboration overlaps with Competition. There should be competition, but that should be with our own self and in this one, we must compete to win.

4. In today’s world we see a lot of people are becoming more and more workaholic. Sometimes at the cost of neglecting their own needs and the needs of their families. As an advocate of work-life Integration, what would be your advice?

Being Workaholic- it’s a way of killing time. It is an addiction and it is not in our dictionary. It is the Hustle which is necessary are we to succeed. But we cannot stop at being just hustlers. We have to ACTUALIZE. Which means we have to find purpose and passion in our work. We should find our IKIGAI. That is how we will exude charm and charisma and confidence and bliss, and will infect everyone who is around us. While I do not deny the role of pleasure and entertainment, it has to be extremely curated and mindful. We have to always be alert and focussed on the fact that whatever we do, is for the health of the Body and the Brain.

5. It is understood that your philosophy is based on rational and scientific temperament. You steer clear of Religion and Spiritualism. And this comes from a person who has wandered around in search of enlightenment. How would you explain this journey of juxtapositions?

That is precisely the reason why my words should be taken seriously. Because I have been on both sides of the camp. And I have evolved into what I am now. This whole process of becoming is Mahatman. Crossing the bridge from peace to power, from happiness to greatness, from Realization to Actualization is Mahatman. Awareness is a foundation. It is but a step on the way. Please refer to my book “Elements of the soul” for further details.

6. In this age of Internet with all the social media and communication channels at our fingertips, perhaps people are lonelier than ever before! Yet we cannot shun technology altogether and go back to earlier ways of life. What would be your advice in this situation?

We are lonely not because of the technology, but because we choose to be lonely. Technology is neutral just like Money. If it falls into the right hands it will be put to good use. If it falls into the wrong hands the results will be not so good. We have to get our intent right. Technology will not make you lonely. Technology will be the door you can choose to open or close when your mind controls it and not the other way round. Technology is smart but we have to be smarter than technology.

7. Today is the era of plenty, we are spoilt for choice with so much of information and entertainment at our fingertips. Yet this has not translated into us being happier than we had been before. What do you think is the problem?

That is because we are hankering after happiness. Ironically happiness will never make you happy. It is the lifelong process and hustle and actualization which will make you great. Don’t even look for happiness. Happiness is just a tree on this long journey. Do not sit under it for too long. Before you realize you will languish into unhappiness. Science supports the fact that we are not designed for happiness. Evolution is guaranteed-Happiness is only the elementary level.

8. You advise in your philosophy that we must outwork and outperform. Are you promoting being a workaholic? There is another current of thought which talks about working smart, making your money work for yourself, to the extent that you should could get away with working as less as 4 hours a week; what do you have to say to that?

My question to you is: What will you do in the remaining 164 hours. It is your answer that will shape your destiny. What we do with our so called leisure time is really what defines us. There is no wall between work and leisure. Break those barriers. Build a bridge of integration between work and life and flow both ways without ever stopping. Smartness is overrated and it’s abundantly available. It is the hard work which will put ahead in the line and make you shine.

9. You often talk about Emotional Intensity bordering on the lines of crazy. There have been some really intense people in the past who have produced works of Genius. Like Van Gogh the painter. But they could never enjoy their success during their lifetime. Is there something you think that needs to balance the intensity, so one is able to take better control of their lives?

There is a difference between intensity and insanity. We have to channelize our intensity with momentum that is both physical and mental. Also we have to balance it with immense self-love. People who love themselves with all the intensity they can build, are sure to be hardwired for success. Nothing can stop them. So there has to be passion with purpose and there has to be immense self-love and love from humanity.

10. You talk about embracing pain in life. But in today’s milieu when all the cutting edge technology is geared towards reducing pain and discomfort, does it not seem to be a counter intuitive suggestion? Can you share your thought about this?

Technology does not take away pain. It just opens up new opportunities for us to embrace pain. Technology won’t take away your extra adipose, we have to sweat and toil for it. We have to found never opportunities to raise the bar, all the time and you will see the journey across these opportunities will never be roses, there will be some barbed wires. We are a highly evolved civilization because of pain and stress- this is the story of our evolution). Mahatman is not about the suppression of pain and the avoidance of pain– it is about transcending pain and befriending pain. When you have awareness and the right intention then all pain is happy pain.

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11. Do you think Enlightenment and Actualization is easy for a person who has a hand to mouth existence and does not know where his next meal is coming from?

A person who does not know where his next meal is coming from, is even more enlightened than the rest of us. There is no cushioning for that person and reality is laid our bare. The person has to channelize himself or herself to take extreme ownership and massive action. There have been people who have done that and their stories are legends. It is not cracked up to be, overrated.

12. Your philosophy is called “Mahatman” which translates to ‘The Great Self”. What are your thoughts about the individual “Ego”? When you talk about Self-love and selfishness in a good light, are you saying it is good to have a Great Ego as well? Most philosophies have talked about working towards dissolution of Ego. What are your thoughts in this context?

Most philosophies talk about an after-life. Ego is a hurdle into the afterlife. Here we do not factor in afterlife. And we need our Ego very much in this life. The important thing is how we orient our ego. If we orient it towards loving ourselves and giving to the world, then have taken care of our core and our periphery at the same time. Ego is neither good nor bad in itself, it takes the shape of a person’s intent. A lot of people are Ego-phobic, that is they use ego as an excuse to escape from the challenges of life. We are Ego-philic. We love our Ego and believe in steering it in the direction of actualization. Ego is just a lebel, so is self and I, from this understanding ego does not exist. Based on current neuro science and computational theorist and sense of self are actully the product of our brain for survival. Our brain computes an entity so it can integrate an event that occur in an intelligent organism’s life in order to make sense of flow of time and integrate past present and future.In other words you can that ego is basically brain’s way of surviving in an environment though control.When we say spme one is egoist ,that mean he or she is ignorant of this understanding. Read my book elements of soul to understanding it better.Majority of the philosophies of ego have made us complacent and ego phobic.

13. You talk about extreme ownership of things in terms of responsibility and accountability. But what about those things which are beyond ones control. Will not such an insistence of Extreme ownership translate into making people feel guilty about things they have no control over. Is it not necessary to draw a line sometimes between what is one’s scope and what is an exclusion?

Guilt comes with the lack of self-love and self-esteem. When we have self-esteem we are able to dissociate from the outcomes of our actions. We only learn with the adversities that we face. There is nothing out of control. Everything is under our control when we do everything with the spirit of extreme ownership and massive action.

14. You talk about being productive all the time and being mindful that there be intent and purpose to everything that you are doing, be it playing video games. But isn’t there sometimes a need to just do nothing? Isn’t there a need to just unhinge from this whole hustle and bustle and take a day off, to be utterly spontaneous and without purpose? What would you say about that?

A little rest makes you get used to it. And then you get into the comfort zone of getting more and more rest. You lose purpose and focus of your goals. Therefore we must integrate our work and life such that everything we do is a value addition for our brain and body nexus.

15. I am reminded of the famous opening lines of a book by Charles Dickens “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” In the context of today’s world, what would you say “are we living in the best of times or the worst of times?” And as a Mahatman what is the biggest problem that needs to be addressed with massive action?

The biggest problem today is that we are living in the times where it is easy to succumb into complacency. There are no big adversities like war etc. So we are languishing into a state of contentment. That is dangerous to our work ethic. We need to tackle this with massive action.

16. You say reading is one of the best practices that one should inculcate for life. If you had to recommend 3 books which changed your life. Which would they be and why?

The three books that I would recommend are:

 

  1. Awaken the Giant within by Tony Robbins- This is a very powerful tool for all of us who want to pursue a life of Greatness
  2. Abhidhamma by Buddha- This book was my first brush with spiritualism, a far cry from the fetters of religious orthodoxy. It is a powerful book that helps one to be stoic in all situations. Even my book “Elements of the soul is dedicated to the Buddha”
  3. Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins in which he shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. Goggins calls this the 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.

17. What kind of people do you think we need in the world today? Do we need people who respect authority and are compliant? Or do you think we need people who have a mind-set to rebel? Which of this approach is more conducive to greatness?

You definitely insubordinate with authority. Whoever is authority to you then become like that. Here in this case it is the Mastery. Fake authority is coercive and based on traditions, cultures. Authority should evolve organically from the process of becoming. Follow authority when it commands and inspires you. Always remember that the authority is you. Nobody is bigger than you.

18. Steven Pinker in his book “The better angels of our nature” says that we are living in the best possible times ever, the most peaceful of them all! Does the philosophy of Mahatman concur with that?

Yes we indeed are living in the best of times in the history of mankind. We have come a long way from living in the trees and killing mammoths and running away from sabre-tooth tigers. For most part of the world we are out of wars and internal strife. So we have nothing to complain about. We can make use of the situation we are in to our advantage and work on the path of greatness for ourselves and for the humankind.

19. The great Psychoanalyst Erich Fromm says in his book that we are always escaping from Freedom. Do you think it is truly the case? Are we all wired to run away from the responsibility that freedom brings.? What according to you is freedom?

Yes we are running towards complacency and mediocrity. We are running towards being average. Freedom means responsibility and accountability and the choice of doing something great. Freedom means the opportunity to self-actualize. We are running away from freedom by putting the blame on external factors. We need to change that. We have to embrace freedom and the strain that comes along with it.

20. Sir, you say that you are neither a believer, nor a non-believer, but you are a seeker. What does that mean? Do you advocate a purely scientific temperament or does spiritualism has any place in the whole gamut of greatness?

Yes I am a seeker, which means I am always a work in progress on the path of greatness. I am never static. I am dynamic and always evolving. I never step into the same waters twice. But that does not mean I disavow my spiritual side. In fact we have come to a level where we are going to find striking parallels between spiritualism and the findings of science. There are no walls between scientific thoughts and spiritualism, there is a bridge.

21. Sir, what is the Mahatman concept of love? You advocate self-love over everything else. Does being selfless or being a martyr have any place in the philosophy of Mahatman? How do you explain the contradiction that the person who loves himself the most, is also able to give himself entirely to others.

It is very simple. Think of Money. You can give money to others only when you have it. Think of time- you can give it to others only when you have it. We need to have something in abundance, the cascading effect is a happy by-product of the whole process. The same goes with love. A person devoid of love cannot give love to others. A person in a toxic relationship cannot reciprocate with love. Such an emotion has a very short shelf life. Therefore we must love ourselves abundantly and then whatever happens is a just an involuntary process. The process of sharing oneself with others.

22. Sir, in your literature, it is seen that Greatness is represented mostly with examples of men. Does Mahatman endorse a patriarchal view? What are your thoughts on Feminism? Will Mahatman be involved in any affirmative action from the feminist perspective?

If women commit themselves to not be supressed and used by men as resource but as an equal, then you are a Mahatman. We challenge women to be at part with men by asserting gender equality. Mahatman is attitude and it is not a property of any specific sex. The main muscle that we need here is in the mind.

23. Sir, what are your thoughts on the after-life. Do you believe in Reincarnation or Rebirth? Surely the laws of physics also say that Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it simply changes forms. Do you believe in the continuity of life in the form of a soul beyond death?

There is no such thing as reincarnation, but there is rebirth.  There is only process and phenomenon, there is no personality. That’s how you free yourself from the cycle of birth and death. Freedom comes from understanding. (Pointer to soul research)

24. Sir you say in your book that Greed is good and you also hold the act of Giving in high esteem. How do you reconcile these seemingly opposite propensities?

Needy is just not enough. We have to be greedy for a lot of things. Greedy for knowledge, greedy for doing great work, greedy to give love in abundance. Greed by itself is not bad, it is how you channelize it is what matters. Greed is just one side of the coin, the other side is generosity. But they are not opposites, they complement each other.

25. In his book “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy” Douglas Adams reveals somewhere in the book that the answer to the question, what is life? Is 42. This is a humorous work of fiction. But it triggers a question- what is life? Does it inherently have any meaning? Or Meaning is something we accord to it through our deeds and actions?

Life wants to live. One and only purpose. I am an instrument of life and it is my responsibility to survive and thrive in good health. That is the meaning and goal of life. People who work extremely hard are sure to live the longest. Walking the Mahatman path.

26. You give an extremely high weightage to a logical and scientific thought process. Your approach seems pragmatic and aimed at accomplishing things effectively and efficiently. Is there any place for a purely creative thought process like Poetry, or works of Fiction. Do such pursuits have a place in Mahatman?

A lot of things answer for us the question of How? But there are some other things which indulge in the speculative domain of Why? This is where the Arts come in. Arts are a process of expression. They are cathartic and absolutely necessary for our physical and mental well-being. Arts are also a conduit that connect us to our spiritual side. We certainly believe in the potency of Arts in self-actualisation.

27. You have used the word Sexualise in your book? Anything associated with the word sex is looked at in a very askance sort of way? Eyebrows are raised. It is met with skepticism. And people often tend to interpret this word in the context of some famous communes and cults of freethinkers. Would you like to elucidate on what Sexualize means in the Mahatman context?

By Sexualize I mean brimming with confidence. Sexy is not skin deep. It is an attitude. We have to be sexy on the inside where it really matters. And if we are sexy on the inside, it is going to show on the outside. What is wrong with that? We need not compartmentalize sexy. Sexy is an attitude which we must develop on the inside and then we must be very lavish to let it reflect in our veneer. Everybody loves a well groomed person brimming with confidence.

28. Sir, it is learnt that you have a very deep fascination for Bollywood- The epicenter of Mainstream Hindi cinema in India. But isn’t the film industry a sort of make believe world? A presudo world? How does a Philosopher who is so rooted in a no-nonsense approach to everything adore and find adulation for something that is all glitz and glamour. Would you like to share your view on this.

People only see the glitz and glamour of Bollywood. They do not see the hard work and the sweat and the tears and the grind that goes into it. The people there work extremely hard to create dreams that inspire and influence an entire nation. I salute the industry for their hard work and their creativity. Also the glitz and glamour is not an easy job. One needs to keep extremely fit and in top shape to exude such charm and elegance. If you see the entire picture you will never thing of Bollywood as a superficial thing.

29. It is said that one must never ask a lady her age. And one must never ask a Man his salary. But you walk the talk about great health and you seem to be in peak fitness. One cannot help but feel intrigued about what is your age? Would it be too audacious to ask that? How do you manage to stay so fit despite your insanely busy schedule?

If you really want to know my age come on a hike with me and do yoga, meditation, cycling. I am growing younger every day. I use every second of my wakeful hours, while brushing I am standing in a martial arts posture. At the airport I stand on one foot. Every moment of my life is dedicated to my body and brain health.

30. You say in your philosophy that the journey is from Peace to Power. But surely has not the world become a safer place by moving in the opposite direction? After World War I and World War II, and after the fall of the Berlin wall, has not the world made remarkable strides in Technology. How do you explain your statement in the wake of the way things have changed over the past few decades.

The power is not gone. It is very much there. It has just changed its form and shape, now it is no longer invested excessively on the battlefields. It has moved to the boardrooms and the factories and the research labs and the libraries, into a constructive effort towards the betterment of the world. That is precisely why we must partake our share of the power and add to it manifold times and make the world an even better place.

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31. You have gone out on a limb to propagate this whole new philosophy you call Mahatman. But let me be the devil’s advocate here and ask you. Why should we believe you? What is the credibility you bring to the table? Does your life reflect the philosophy of Mahatman?

I am not asking you to believe. I am asking you to be a sceptic. We do not want blind followers. We want people who will leave their beliefs and superstitions outside the door and join us on this rational path of greatness. Come and experience for yourself. And watch your answers change.

32. You have been extremely audacious and refuted a lot of thought processes that have been rooted since antiquity. You say Selfishness and Greed are good. You say Power is good. You say it is ok to be angry. How do you justify your aberrant stance from various mainstream philosophies?

Anger – most important that we are authentic to our self. We should not be supressed. Don’t scream or supress or yell. Assert your anger. Sweat it out in the gym, do some breaking wood. Don’t ever feel limited.

Greed at the cost of others is bad, but greed related to your own self is good. Greedy for knowledge, health and wealth. Not at the cost of others. Same with selfishness. Take care of yourself so you can take care of others. Sacrifice is like suicide. It has to happen for yourself first. Sacrifice sweets and carbohydrates but don’t sacrifice your dignity and choices.

33. You are an Engineer by qualification and profession. You have had no formal training in either Philosophy or Psychology. What makes you think you are qualified to create this whole new philosophy that you want to share with the world?

Mendel who discovered the laws of genetics and heredity was a monk. The greatest school in the world is life itself and I am a perpetual student, a seeker for life and a seeker for life is the best teacher.

34. You have this whole website up and running where you have spewed a lot of theory and content. But we do not see anything concrete or tangible happening. There are no programs or retreats or bootcamps. Nor is there any evidence of any philanthropic initiatives. Do you even have a plan?

Sometimes you see a small sliver of ice jutting out of the sea. But that is not all there is to it. It is just the tip of the iceberg which is a premonition of what lies beneath. It is just a matter of time. Great stuff is in the making. We are the iceberg of greatness and we are soon going to sink the ship of mediocrity and complacency.

35. We have so many evangelists, Gurus and Life Coaches already. What makes you different? Give us one reason why we should listen to you, when there is already an overload of information out there.

Because we are contemporary, represent today’s milieu and we are accessible. Also we are raising the bar from peace to power, happiness to greatness, realization to actualization.

36. In Today’s age whom should we follow – A saint or a warrior?

Awareness – we have to be a saint first, only then we can be a warrior. First we have to be centred, we have to be at the core, only then we stretch to the edges where the life is.

37. Since you have such an immense fascination and awe for the movie world, let me frame my questions in those parlances- What according to you is “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly of Life”

Let me start with the ugly first. Ugly is living in an illusion that everything will work out for itself and you do not need to do anything. Bad is the wake-up call that it is not so and one has to take extreme ownership in making things happen.  And good is when one actually takes massive action in the direction of Actualization and Greatness.

38. Which are the 3 movies according to you that everyone must watch in alignment to the Mahatman Philosophy? What do you think makes them special?

There is not a single movie which can encapsulate Mahatman zeitgeist, but some examples to go with James Bond for Self-confidence, Iron Man for doing good for the world, Matrix, Star Wars- for futuristic action.

39. The age old traditions have been harping sore about the concept of Sin. Do you think there is any such thing as Sin? Please comment.

According to me there is no Sin. Sin is only a control mechanism by inducing guilt. There is only a good life choice and a poor life choice which would determine where you are headed.

41. What are the 3 mistakes of your life?

  1. Not giving respect and dignity to elders and traditions. Lesson is -Be a rebel but don’t disrespect
  2. Being careless about money. Being frivolous about money. Not respecting it. Lesson is always treat money with the respect and solemnity it deserves.
  3. Waiting too long to do what I really want to do. Lesson is do not wait too long to realize your dreams. Take the plunge now.

42. If you could time-travel and go back to meet your much younger self, what is the advice that you would like to give him?

Start early in life and be super motivated to achieve things. Have dreams. Find your passion and purpose as early as possible

43. If you were not an Engineer and a Philosopher what would you rather have been?

A neuro-scientist – the most fascinating thing for me is the Brain and I believe in doing everything I do for the advancement of my body and my brain.

44. You talk about the importance of great love and great sex, are you doing great in your own life on these counts.

The only way to express love is to love someone without expectations and entitlements. You need somebody to love unconditionally in life. It is easy to love your kids. I am fulfilling that great love through loving my children. The best way to have great sex life is never watch porn but get into the act for real. Sex is amazing for body and brain. You must also be romantic if you want to have great sex. Treat your partner the way you would as if you are meeting for the first time.

45. In your life-story that you shared, you have said that in your earlier days you believed that Enlightenment and Realization was a great thing. Now you say that you have undergone a transformative experience and dispel these as something already existing. Now you say Self-Actualization and Greatness is what we must strive for. What makes you so sure that you are right this time? Why should be believe you?

When I was young I believed that the moon fit in my palm. When I was young I believed that trees ran backwards. I have come a long way. I have evolved and I am here to share my evolution with you. Truths cannot be seen in isolation. They have evolved from the untruths they left behind.

46. In today’s age, what do you think is more important- Form or Content

The content is more important than the form. What you are on the inside, as a person, as a character is more important. But we must make sure not to dismiss the form as well. A good product with a bad packaging will not be able to garner the attention it deserves.

47. There is a concept called SMART- Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound, do you think the Vision of Mahatman is a SMART one?

We believe in measuring everything. Work without measurement is just an opinion which does not count. So yes we do believe in having rigorous standards of measurement that will challenge us to do better.

48. What is your opinion about Rules? Do you think we must always follow rules or should we be subversive, play truant? Who do you think is more successful in life? The compliant or the Rebel.

There is not a straight answer to this question. As law abiding citizens we must fall in step with our constitution. We must comply. But this is on one level. At an inner level where all the action happens, we must rebel against complacency and mediocrity. It is only then that we will evolve from making our own mistakes. We must rebel and we must inspire others to be subversive as long as the intent is the betterment of our own selves. As long we do not harm others rebellion is good.

49. Mahatman sounds like a Hindu word. Are you a HINDU Organization? Why did you not come up with a more secular name?

Mahatman originates in the Sanskrit language which is a combination of two words (mahat+tman). Literally it translates as “The Great Self”. This word is as secular as any other. We respect all walks of life and do not place one over the other. We do not own any allegiance to any one particular religion, though we respect all of them.

50. I am willing to give my life for Mahatman. What is it that you will give me in return?

You are not required to give your life for Mahatman. You have to “live” for Mahatman. We as Mahatmans aim to live at least to a hundred. We will inspire you to do the same. So you can do some great work for your own actualization and pass on the legacy to the generations to come.

Curiosity Corner with Sam