How to move on from bad thoughts | Nidhi Malik | TEDxRavenshawUniversity

Key Concepts

• Dharma: One's purpose in life, duties, and the choices made in fulfilling those roles.
• Artha: Karmic currency, representing the debit and credit carried forward from previous or current births, and how one chooses to spend it.
• Kama: Desires, essential for nature and life, but requiring discernment in which to pursue and which to let go.
• Moksha: Liberation, living in the world without clinging to it, performing and excelling without owning the performance.
• Astrology: A blueprint or map of one's life, not for prediction or changing fate, but for liberating oneself to achieve Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.
• One is Talk No Papas: A series started to bust myths and bring the truth of Vedic astrology.

Early Life and Career Challenges

The speaker recounts her early life, starting from a lower-middle-class family where she had to work from a young age due to financial constraints. She describes doing household chores from the fifth standard and tutoring from the seventh grade to earn money. She recalls feeling left out when she couldn't afford simple pleasures like samosas or birthday celebrations. This instilled a fighting spirit in her.

She faced significant challenges as a woman in the corporate world in the early '90s. She often found herself alone in male-dominated boardrooms, her voice dismissed or silenced. She experienced dismissals and inappropriate advances. She was even told that women belong in the kitchen or bedroom, not in corporate. Despite these obstacles, she persevered due to financial necessity and a strong sense of purpose, adhering to her principles and integrity.

Corporate Success and a Turning Point

The speaker achieved significant success in her corporate career, rising from a starting salary of 2500 rupees per month to an 8-figure salary. She had a 20-year plan that included becoming a CEO and starting a startup. She felt in control of her life until a personal crisis involving her son, who is a special child, led to a turning point.

Her son's struggles and a moment where he expressed a lack of will to live prompted her to re-evaluate her priorities. She decided to take a break from her career, initially thinking it was for her son, but later realizing it was also for herself. This period of reflection led her to question her career path, her purpose in life, and the recurring setbacks she faced.

Discovering the Four Purusharthas

During her time away from work, the speaker began searching for answers and came across an article about the four Purusharthas: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. She realized that she had only focused on Artha (financial success) and Kama (desires), neglecting Dharma (purpose) and Moksha (liberation).

She explains each Purushartha:

• Dharma: Not religion, but the basic purpose of human birth and one's duties. It's about how we choose to play our roles.
• Artha: The karmic currency we carry, representing past actions. How we spend this currency is our free will.
• Kama: Desires, which drive nature and life. Discerning which desires to pursue and which to let go is crucial.
• Moksha: Not leaving the world, but living in it without attachment. It's about performing and excelling without owning the results.

Understanding Astrology

The speaker's exploration of the Purusharthas led her to astrology. She realized that astrology is not superstition but a blueprint of one's life, a map to navigate towards achieving Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. She emphasizes that astrology is not about changing fate but about liberating oneself.

She criticizes the current state of astrology as a "marketplace of fear," filled with irrelevant remedies, magical cures, gimmicks, and false promises. She clarifies that this is not true astrology and not what she practices.

Dharma and the Mission

The speaker states that her Dharma is to bring real, Vedic astrology in its true form to everyone, removing fears and helping people attain their purpose in life. She started a series called "One is Talk No Papas" to bust myths and misconceptions about astrology.

She shares an anecdote about a friend whose job offer was rescinded after his wife followed an astrologer's advice to lock a key under a tree, highlighting the harmful effects of misinformation and fear-based practices. This story inspired her to bring the truth of astrology to the forefront.

Conclusion

The speaker's journey is one of ambition, success, crisis, and self-discovery. She transitioned from a high-powered corporate career to a mission-driven path focused on sharing the wisdom of Vedic astrology and helping others find their purpose. Her story emphasizes the importance of aligning one's life with Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha, and of understanding astrology as a tool for liberation rather than a source of fear.