I write this overlooking a beautiful and auspicious sunrise over the city of Varanasi, India 🇮🇳
Monkeys are everywhere!! 🐒
It is no exaggeration to say that — within just a few short days — India has completely transformed my view of the world.
As far as the population goes, it is about 3x that of the United States, but with a land mass of only about 1/3rd. To get a sense of this, imagine that for every 5 people you see walking down the sidewalk in an average US city, there are 50 Indians doing the same.
The trains are packed with people; many of whom are "hobos" and hope on the outside, with hopes of catching a free ride.
The sheer amount of noise this creates as a byproduct is truly something to behold. Horns, bells, shouting. It’s chaos.
Not to mention the pollution. It is tragic to see the mountains of plastic and dense layer of smog that cover these cities (and even more tragic to breathe it all in day after day).
Smog covering the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata
And yet…….
There’s something so — I don’t know — organized? Enchanting? True? about this country. The way that drivers dangerously swerve in-between one another; how everyone wags and bobbles their heads approvingly; their lack of embarrassment as they cough, fart and spit in front of you.
It’s funny, and perhaps it is just romanticism or naïveté, but I can’t help but feel inspired by this culture.
Or maybe I’m tapping into something real. This is, after all, the longest standing civilization the Earth has ever seen. Maybe they really have developed some important perspectives and lifestyles over the millennia.
On Tuesday I head to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Here's what one article says about the event:
Imagine being part of something so rare that the last people to witness it were your great-great-grandparents. The Maha Kumbh 2025 at Prayagraj is not just an event; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle that occurs only after 144 long years...
Spanning 45 incredible days, from January 13 to February 26, this grand celebration is the world’s largest gathering, with millions of people coming together at the sacred Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj.
Only once every 144 years!? The world's largest gathering!? I am undoubtedly in for a wild ride...
I hope you enjoy this week's {Body} • {Mind} • {Soul} Newsletter and have a beautiful Sunday, - Ethan ॐ
P.S. Expect an email this week for the official announcement of my 7-day, Portugal yoga retreat. Gabi and I have been working super hard on it, and can't wait to see what you think.
In yoga, koshas are the five layers (or sheaths) of your being, progressing from the physical to the intangible and increasingly subtle.
The jnānamaya kosha, or “wisdom sheath,” is the fourth layer.
If the annamaya kosha is your hardware, the prānamaya kosha is the electricity that powers it, and the the manomaya kosha is your software, the jnānamaya kosha is the wisdom that knows how to use the system.
While the manomaya kosha deals with mind processes — thoughts, emotions, and sensory impressions — the jnānamaya kosha describes a deeper intelligence: the intuitive understanding guiding your sense of truth.
It is the discernment that separates fleeting desires from lasting fulfillment, the insight that transcends logical thought, and the silent Knowing that aligns you with your purpose.
Unlike the surface-level chatter of the mind, this sheath operates beyond duality. It might experienced as a gut feeling, a profound realization, or a quiet inner voice that knows the way forward even when your thoughts cloud your guidance.
In this layer, knowledge isn’t accumulated facts (as it is in the mind), but an intrinsic, indescribable understanding of your interconnectedness with all things. Because of this, it is known as the subtlest, most refined part of our manifested Universe.
That said, there is still one sheath left on our journey within — the sheath that transcends all matter, energy, thinking, and knowing — the anandamaya kosha. Stay tuned next week for that.
Practice
To clearly see the inner workings of the jnānamaya kosha, practices like meditation and contemplation are the only way in. Why? Because they quiet the noise of your mind to create space for your inner wisdom to emerge.
Do you think you know or do you know? The difference matters. The former is a relic of the manomaya kosha and has its limits. The latter is the result of the jnānamaya kosha in action and has no bounds.
During his life, the Buddha outlined various obstacles, stages, and revelations encountered on the Path to enlightenment.
In one of his well-known teachings, he describes “the Five Hindrances” — mental obstructions that block the development of one’s meditation practice, a crucial vehicle for attaining enlightenment.
The fourth of these hindrances is known as Uddhacca, or restlessness.
Uddhacca is the all-too-familiar state wherein your mind constantly jumps from one thought to the next. It’s the (nearly) unbearable feeling of being pulled in multiple directions, unable to sit still, either mentally or physically. It’s when your thoughts race, when you’re fidgety, and your mind insists that it has to be somewhere else.
This hindrance often appears after being bombarded with dozens of different subjects while scrolling the news or social media, or when you’re overwhelmed with everything you “need” to do or worry about.
According to the Buddha, the only way out of uddhacca is by developing samādhi (concentration) and upekkhā (equanimity), a challenging task in today’s dopamine-driven world.
Here are some practical ways to handle it:
Count your breaths — inhale four, hold seven, exhale eight is a great anchor whenever your mind starts to scatter.
Use gentle movements — if restlessness manifests in the body, practice mindfulness while doing cat/cows.
Create a routine — a predictable meditation schedule helps train the mind to settle into stillness over time.
Practice mindfulness throughout the day — integrate moments of stillness into your daily activities, whether it’s in walking, eating, or washing dishes.
Detox from your phone — go on an information diet by cutting out all media consumption for 3 days.
Lemon balm tea — there’s no better herb for relaxing your nerve receptors than lemon balm. Make sure you get tea without “natural flavors” in the ingredients list.
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity to move forward despite it." – Rosa Parks
Fear is relentless — a master illusionist.
Its sole mission? To both exaggerate your endowments and minimize your potential; to simultaneously convince you to be larger than you really are, and smaller than you need to be.
Courage is what dismantles this illusion. It is what corrects the toxic misalignments of overcompensation and false humility. It is the bridge all spiritual seekers must eventually walk across.
Despite what fear whispers to you, courage is surprisingly simple to cultivate. In moments of doubt or arrogance, repeat to yourself: “I’m willing to see this differently. I’m willing to release my grievances. I’m willing to take the first step.”
Sincere willingness creates a subtle opening, nudging you through the doorway of courage. It primes your system to do what is right, either by surrendering your ego or going beyond it.
With each layer you surrender, fear begins to dissolve, like shadows retreating before the light. And it is in this light that courage is kindled, and the Path becomes clear.