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NK
Naren Kini
Oct 22, 2026
This one hits very close to home. While we were growing up, one of my maternal uncle's wife passed away at a young age. They had two boys. One was 3 and the other about 18 months. My mother decided to bring home the 3 year old and care for him as he has been born with polio in his right arm and leg and needed help to do anything. Mom's vision was to get him to be independent and not become an object of sympathy. We started teaching him, supporting him and loving him like no one had ever. When it was time, we admitted him to the very best of schools which had empathy and compassion as its core along with other montessori curriculum. I was given the responsibility to care for him and help him regain his strength on the right side. What started as a physio therapy and ayurvedic approach to regaining strength, ended up in building a strong bond with him. 2-3 times a week I had to take him in my bicycle for 10 kilometers, have him undergo his therapy and ride back. We did this for a few years. Along the way, I saw the transformation - both phsyically and in his outlook. Though there was a slight limp in his walk, his friends at school started including him in all sports and activities and he too started taking interest in them. During his 10th grade his dad, who had remarried and was confident of supporting both the boys and another new born daughter, decided to take him back. My mother encouraged the boy to accept it as a sign that he had grown and was fully capable of supporting his dad. She also encouraged him not to give up the effort of becoming a better version of himself every day. Years passed, he is now a leading partner in one of the largest firms. His handshake firm as any, confidence soaring higher than any and most importantly, passing on the lessons of perseverance not just to his children but to his teams and neighbors. Just by ignoring what was once a handicap, he had grown into a shining light amidst the brightest around him. My mother was lik... View full comment
on Tulip Poplar Tree, by Victoria Crawford
NK
Naren Kini
Jun 4, 2026
Such a lovely observation. I havae two to share, maybe three. We have a few humming birds that always visit our backyard. We do not have any feeder but we have a lot of flowers with herbs and foliage. I started observing one and approaching it first thing in the morning. After some time, it started coming closer and almost greeting me and comfortable to even rest on my finger. When I was late or busy, it would come to the kitchen window and knock on the glass as it inviting. I got curious abouttheir habits and read more about them. Stats and all that was interesting including how their colors shine during mating season etc., My interest turned into observation to habit to love. When they do not come or disappear, there is a feeling of disappointment. We grow a lot of mint and use it for our tea. Next to it is a small crack in the wall and bees have decided to make home there. Several visitors and guests suggested we seal it or call someone. We just decided to let them be. They never hurt even the gardners blowing leaves and sometimes directing the blower to their entrance and when he left, they resumed their buzzing. Their buzz too is like a "Hello sunshine" to us as they do not come out when it is cloudy. From concern about them, we now visit the mint patch to collect mint and have a chat with the bees. Several do die and we see some falling all over the backyard. We respectfully take them and put them in the soil nearby. We now have visitors, we sit in the backyard, we meditate there and they seem to have kept to themselves. When we go on a vacation, we try to mentally say goodbye and ask them to keep a watch on our place. Interestingly, during our recent trip, an intruder came to our backyard - I guess just exploring and the bees attacked him and drove him away...you can make your own conclusions. I have made mine. Love and gratitude!
on What Catches My Attention?, by Gayle Boss
NK
Naren Kini
May 26, 2026
This reading beautifully captures a shift I have experienced over the last decade of my own meditation practice, where I simply called it "self-awareness." Looking back, I realize how often I used my external roles—whether as a parent, a CEO, or simply an elder with more experience—to justify outbursts of anger and defensiveness. I hid behind the "responsibility to correct others," rationalizing actions that, in truth, had no valid cause or right timing. More often than not, the people on the receiving end were left completely defenseless against this assumed authority. Deep reflection reveals that none of those justifications hold weight. When we lead with love instead of letting reactive emotions take over, unnecessary friction dissolves and true perspective emerges. My hope is that this practice of radical honesty becomes deeply rooted in our subconscious minds. It is the only way to prevent lasting damage to our relationships and save ourselves from the heavy price of regret, guilt and deep impression that actually becomes the greatest obstacle for the soul's spiritual growth.
on Radical Honesty, by Yung Pueblo
NA
Naren
Mar 23, 2026
Enjoyed the authentic taste this one offered :-) Many years back, I got a call from a client of mine - who had by then become a very dear friend and mentor ( I surround myself with such souls). He said he had a unique request. He wondered if I would be open to donate some of the art I made for a worthy cause. It was to help raise funds for a non-profit that helped women of domestic abuse. I have always given away my paintings as a token of appreciation, gratitude and good wishes. So, there was no effort to say Yes. But then, I thought I should add value. ( My dad had taught me back in India as his apprentice that even when asked to mail a letter, one had an opportunity to add value - could be the handwriting to write the address, perfect and neat stamp at the corner or no leak of glue when you close the envelope) With that training, I offered to paint something special in tune with their theme for which they were trying to raise funds. I offered 10 of my paintings of which one would be specific to the theme. It enabled me see the last mile impact of a line of sketch or a blob of paint had made in the lives of several sisters not more than 50 miles from where I lived. Without this act of generosity ( on the part of my friend to accept my work of art), I would have been deprived of this experience. I pledged to donate every single year and it was up to them to accept or not. The offer from my side was always there. Six years have gone by and to this day, they have demonstrated their generosity.
on A Recipe Is A Story, by Priya Basil
NK
NAREN KINI
Mar 16, 2026
Nicely said. Gratitude
on Secret To A Happy Marriage?, by Ajahn Brahm
NA
Naren
Dec 7, 2021
This is a very interesting package. I would go so far as to saying it is mostly a mental, intellectual and analytics perspective. There is a new perspective we need to potentially insert in this discussion - a shift - Thinking to feeling, analysis of the mind to synthesis of the heart. The ultimate destination for pure and unconditional love is always said to be experienced when one BECOMES love itself. In such a state, one does not think or even consider roles of observer, experiencer, thinker etc., You are part of a being and get engulfed into the very essence of love. My personal experience is as long as we give 'love' a definition between just two individuals or a few individuals, we will discuss a limited perspective . It is here that this idea of circumference, boundary etc., In other words, expansive. It is in this state of existence that love prevails and grows. Coming to the next point of discussion about attention and total energy, a simple way to practice it into action is "Mind our cup of TEA" We only have so much TIME, ENERGY & ATTENTION (TEA). In any situation, when one kicks off their day with a good meditation practice, it tends to put the individual in a "meditative state" essentially a generator of love. In this state, if we find everything we are using our time for, spending our energy and giving our attention is part of that love, all barriers will disappear, no judgement, no analysis no discrimination and deservingness. Love for all, starting with our own selves thru self compassion. 
on When I Say I Know You, by J. Krishnamurti