Mindful Living Series: Conversations on Family, Being & Belonging
A Dialogue with Shri. Subodh Tiwari, CEO of Kaivalyadhama
- Part I: Family Harmony in the Digital Age
- Q. What fundamental principles from ancient yoga texts can guide people in family harmony? How can we apply these principles today?
- Q. but what of those who carry the weight of the past? The wounds inherited, the patterns repeated?
- Q. In light of today's digital distractions, how can families cultivate meaningful communication?
- Q. How can traditional yoga bridge intergenerational conflicts, especially regarding modern issues like gender identity and sexual orientation?
- Q. How can families address anxiety and mental health challenges, moving beyond dismissive attitudes like "what is depression, do morning walks and you are good"?
- In Part II of our conversation
Part I: Family Harmony in the Digital Age
In an intimate dialogue with Shri. Subodh Tiwari, we explored the intersection of ancient yogic wisdom and modern family life through a series of questions that probe both philosophical depths and practical challenges of contemporary living like loneliness, mental health and LGBTQ+ issues.
Q. What fundamental principles from ancient yoga texts can guide people in family harmony? How can we apply these principles today?
Shri. Subodh Tiwari pointed to the Yamas and Niyamas—the ethical and self-disciplining principles laid out in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
“The beauty of these principles,” he explained, “is that they do not ask for mere intellectual acceptance. They must be practiced, absorbed. Only then do they take root—not as rules imposed from the outside, but as qualities that emerge naturally from within.”
Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Aparigraha (non-possessiveness)—these are not just lofty ideals but quiet forces that, when embraced, shape the atmosphere of a home. When family members embody them, harmony ceases to be something pursued and instead becomes something that simply is.
“True transformation is silent,” he said, “it does not announce itself; it simply manifests”.
Q. but what of those who carry the weight of the past? The wounds inherited, the patterns repeated?
“This is where practice comes in,” he said, drawing from the wisdom of Ishvarapranidhana — surrender.
“You cannot intellectualize your way out of pain. You must dissolve it, not dissect it.” He compared the mind to a river. “If the waters are turbulent, you cannot see the riverbed. But when the waters are still, clarity emerges.”
Stillness is cultivated through practice —meditation, breathwork, contemplation. And in that stillness, something shifts. What once seemed impossible to forgive, impossible to forget, begins to lose its weight. Letting go is not an act of force; it is the natural consequence of inner stillness.
Q. In light of today's digital distractions, how can families cultivate meaningful communication?
Here, Shri. Subodh Tiwari introduced two vital principles: Santosha (contentment) and Aparigraha (non-attachment).
“You can use your laptop very judiciously, do good work and contribute,” he explains. “The problem isn’t the technology – it’s our compulsive attachment to it.”
We need to understand that right now we are having a conversation which is family oriented and we need to put the laptop/phone aside.
The practice of these principles needs to be collective and conscious, involving discussion, awareness, and participation from all family members. Whether through structured sessions, self-discipline, or motivated discipline, the key is to find a balanced approach that acknowledges both the benefits and limitations of technology.
Q. How can traditional yoga bridge intergenerational conflicts, especially regarding modern issues like gender identity and sexual orientation?
Drawing from the sutra “Maitri Karuna Mudito Peksha Nam,” Shri. Subodh Tiwari emphasized friendliness, compassion, and acceptance. He pointed out how Indian culture has historically recognized diverse identities, noting that acceptance rather than judgment is key to bridging generational gaps – “…to accept another,” he said, “you do not need to agree with them. You only need to see them fully.” He reminded us that acceptance is not tolerance—it is the recognition of the divine in another, beyond labels, beyond conditioning.
In this way, whether navigating generational conflicts, shifting gender identities, or evolving social norms, the principle remains the same: see beyond difference.
Rulers and colonisers have created narratives and societies adopt them and it becomes difficult to question these narratives. Shri. Subodh Tiwari drew upon historical examples, tracing back to ancient civilizations where acceptance was woven into the social fabric. He spoke of texts that acknowledged diverse identities, of temples that honored all beings, of societies that once thrived on inclusion rather than division. “We have not discovered new ways of being,” he noted. “We have merely forgotten the old ones. There is nothing to be ‘done’-it needs to be undone”. He jokingly concluded by saying (singing) “We don’t need no education”.
Q. How can families address anxiety and mental health challenges, moving beyond dismissive attitudes like "what is depression, do morning walks and you are good"?
Shri. Subodh Tiwari introduced two crucial qualities: stithapragnyatha- be in the present and Drishtabhav – the ability to look at oneself objectively and the capacity to view situations without judgment.
“You have the ability to look at yourself objectively. Then it enhances your ability to look at everything, every person without being judgmental,”
he explained.
Shri. Subodh Tiwari spoke of passion and dispassion which arises out of judgement. “Step back and observe…When we remove judgment,” he explained, “we create space for true understanding.” This simple but profound shift allows us to replace dismissal with compassion, love and affection reaction with response.
He emphasized that intellectual understanding alone isn’t sufficient – action and practice are essential.
“Intellectualism leads to justifying every inability with a philosophical attitude,”
he cautioned, which seems to be the biggest problem. Instead, he advocated for a balance between vision and action.
In Part II of our conversation
We’ll explore Shri. Subodh Tiwari’s insights on healing from collective trauma, addressing climate change through yogic principles, and finding balance in our hustle culture. We’ll also discuss his thoughts on rebuilding community connections in an increasingly isolated world in the next edition. Stay tuned!
~ Interviewed by Ritika S
Methods
- Part I: Family Harmony in the Digital Age
- Q. What fundamental principles from ancient yoga texts can guide people in family harmony? How can we apply these principles today?
- Q. but what of those who carry the weight of the past? The wounds inherited, the patterns repeated?
- Q. In light of today's digital distractions, how can families cultivate meaningful communication?
- Q. How can traditional yoga bridge intergenerational conflicts, especially regarding modern issues like gender identity and sexual orientation?
- Q. How can families address anxiety and mental health challenges, moving beyond dismissive attitudes like "what is depression, do morning walks and you are good"?
- In Part II of our conversation