PVPF 2024

Interview with Rajesh Kishanpuriya Author of “How to reduce stress and increase bliss in your life”

Exclusive interview with Rajesh Kishanpuriya, author of 'Stress Reduction and Bliss Enhancement' on Frontlist.
on Oct 13, 2023

Frontlist: As the CEO and founder of Ideazfirst Marketing Services Pvt Ltd & Ideazfirst Technologies Pvt Ltd, you must have numerous responsibilities. Could you share some insights into how you deal with stress and maintain spiritual balance while managing these responsibilities? Are there specific practices or strategies you find particularly influential in your life?

Rajesh: Work can be never-ending and unlimited. But we all have limited time of 24 hours per day to use, and we are how we utilize our time. I find these mental habits useful: -

1) Identify your business and personal purpose and have a balance between both.

2) We should filter all the to-do lists based on the above purpose of life and business. Politely decline to accept work which do not match my purpose, even if it generates a profit for the company.

3) Manage time based on the above-filtered list and then prioritize tasks into Urgent, Important, and not-so-important categories.

4) Maintain a work-life balance and neither overwork nor underperform your duties. I work between 10 am to 6 pm (except in some exceptional cases when I have to stretch). I ensure my daily meditation yoga routines are not disrupted due to work pressures.

Frontlist: Can you tell us more about your motivation for writing this book? What personal experiences or events led you to develop the tips and guidance for achieving a spiritually balanced life that you've shared in the book?

Rajesh: I wanted to write a wellness book that is relatable, simple, and easy to understand. Most of them were too long and complicated to read. I decided to make a small booklet that could fit in a pocket and provide quick and easy tips for health and well-being.

I also had a personal reason for this project. I disliked taking medicines and often forgot or avoided them because of the side effects. I wanted to prepare a definitive checklist of natural and alternative ways to heal myself and others.

Frontlist: In your book, you've discussed various activities and techniques to reduce stress and increase bliss. Did you incorporate all of these activities into your own life? If so, can you share some of the most impactful practices you found effective in reducing stress and enhancing happiness?

Rajesh: I followed all the activities mentioned in my book and experimented with them for half a year to a year before making them a part of my routine. My most effective practice was a combination of self-introspection, forgiveness, gratitude, and meditation. Forgiveness helped me clear out the negative energy that was holding me back, and meditation helped me connect with the positive energy of nature.

Frontlist: In your work, you mentioned that "Meditation is the science of reuniting the soul with the Infinite Spirit or God." How would you adapt your teachings or advice on meditation for individuals who do not hold religious or spiritual beliefs, such as atheists? Are there secular or non-spiritual benefits to meditation that can be universally applicable and beneficial?

Rajesh: To meditate, one must believe in the omnipresent power - GOD. Atheists cannot meditate as to where they will connect their minds.

Frontlist: In today's fast-paced world, people often have busy schedules and limited time for self-care and personal development. How would you advise individuals to manage their time effectively to incorporate the activities and practices you mentioned in the book to reduce stress and increase bliss? Do you have any practical tips or strategies for balancing these activities with the demands of daily life?

Rajesh: A. One of the challenges of living in a fast-paced world is finding time for self-care and personal development. In my book, I share some activities and practices that can help you reduce stress and increase bliss. But how can you fit them into your busy schedule? Here are some tips:

- Wake up early. It will give you some extra time in the morning to do some of the activities I recommend, such as meditation, yoga, or journaling. You will also start your day with more energy and clarity.

- Track your time. Identify where you are spending or wasting your time during the day. For example, you can check your average daily mobile screen time and see if you can reduce it. You can also use apps or tools that help you manage your time more efficiently.

- Switch off your distractions. When you are not using your mobile internet data or WiFi, turn them off. It will prevent you from getting distracted by notifications, messages, or emails. You can also set specific times to check them, such as during breaks or after work.

- Call instead of texting. Sometimes, it is faster and easier to call someone and discuss something than to type multiple messages on WhatsApp. You will also save time and avoid misunderstandings.

- Rest your eyes. Avoid watching too much news, social media reels, or OTT platforms. They can cause eye strain, stress, and anxiety. Instead, read a book, listen to music, or do something relaxing.

Frontlist: In your book, you mentioned the importance of having "good and successful" friends. Can you elaborate on what you mean by "good and successful" in this context? What qualities or criteria do you believe make someone a good and successful friend? And for people who may struggle with envy when they see their friend's success, how would you advise them to overcome or cope with such emotions and maintain positive relationships?

Rajesh: In my book, I discussed the importance of having good and successful friends. By good and successful, I mean genuine and honest friends with you. Friends who are unselfish point out your mistakes and do not fabricate information just to please you. Good friends have positive habits and progressive goals that align with your own. Friends who support you, inspire you, and challenge you to grow—friends who are honest, respectful, and trustworthy. I look for These qualities and criteria in a good and successful friend.

For example, if one does not smoke, drink, or have any other harmful addictions and becomes friends who are habitual drinkers, smokers, indulge in gambling, etc., these friends will induce the new friend to try drinking. They get into the trap and starts spoiling their life.

Frontlist: Your book mentions the disconnect between progress, luxuries, and increased stress. However, isn't it true that luxuries often provide us with more comfort and convenience? Could you elaborate on how you see the relationship between luxuries and stress and whether there are specific types of luxuries or approaches to them that contribute positively to well-being?

Rajesh: Thank you for this crucial question. I agree that luxuries can offer some benefits, such as comfort and convenience, but they also come with a cost. Luxuries can create more stress by increasing our expectations, dependence, and dissatisfaction. They can also distract us from what truly matters for our well-being, such as our relationships, values, and purpose. I think that the key is to be mindful of how we use and consume luxuries, and the luxuries should not increase EGO AND PRIDE in ourselves. One should remain grounded and humble despite having a luxury residence or car. For example, we can enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant and appreciate a home-cooked meal with our family. We can use technology to enhance our productivity and communication but also disconnect from it regularly to focus on ourselves and our surroundings. We should strive to simplify our lives to have more time for ourselves, self-introspection, forgiveness, gratitude, and meditation. If we are constantly entangled with the luxuries of life, we will not get time for the above.

Frontlist: You mention the disconnect between progress, luxuries, and increased stress. How do you believe individuals can balance progress and maintaining a connection with their true selves and nature? Do you recommend practical steps or principles to help people navigate this balance?

Rajesh: This requires one to practice - Bliss Consciousness. It's an advanced stage of detachment with the physical body, and I have been able to achieve it after my Kriya Yoga Diksha and two decades of meditation.

This disconnect is explained very nicely in the book "The Science of Religion" by Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda in these lines: -

The sense of identification with the transitory body and restless mind is the source or root cause of our spiritual Self's misery.