Dr Dosti Regmi Blog

  The Quiet Mind: John E. Coleman Hypnotism and ESP (extrasensory perception) intrigued Coleman (Then an FBI agent), leading him towards meditation. U Ba Khin and his meditation center in Yangon, the capital of Burma: U Ba Khin was a senior Burmese government official and a meditation teacher. Although he was constantly busy, whenever he felt overwhelmed, he would pause, adopt the lotus position, and meditate for a few minutes to relieve his stress. For Coleman, this demonstrated that meditation could be integrated into daily life. This practice allows him to understand his own inner workings, leading to clear insight and freedom from suffering.  Coleman committed himself fully to the course. In fact, he was overly zealous about it, dedicating a significant amount of time to taking notes and analyzing every aspect of the practice. Clearly, he still wasn't any closer to quieting his mind. Krishnamurti: One day, Krishnamurti's brother, Nityananda, died. Despite his profound grie...

  The difference between happiness and well-being lies in scope, depth, and sustainability: Happiness Typically refers to a momentary emotional state —feeling pleasure, joy, or contentment. It is subjective , often based on external events or mood. Think of happiness as the weather —it can change quickly. Well-being A broader, more comprehensive concept that includes happiness but also encompasses: Life satisfaction Purpose and meaning Positive relationships Personal growth and achievement Resilience and mental health It reflects the quality and balance of one’s overall life, like the climate , stable over time. Martin Seligman, a key figure in positive psychology, proposed the PERMA model of well-being: P ositive emotions (including happiness) E ngagement (flow) R elationships M eaning A ccomplishment So while happiness is one part of well-being, well-being is the richer, longer-lasting pursuit of a fulfilling life.   “Hap...

This topic taps into the fascinating dance between mindfulness and neuroscience. The human brain is not naturally wired to live in the present moment . Instead, it defaults to what’s called the Default Mode Network (DMN) , which is more about mental time travel —thinking about the past, anticipating the future, or engaging in self-referential thought (like inner monologues, daydreams, or worrying). This network comprises areas like the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and angular gyrus.   While the DMN plays a crucial role in constructing our sense of self and enabling complex cognitive functions, its dominance can lead to excessive mind-wandering and rumination, which are often linked to stress and anxiety. The DMN kicks in when you’re not focused on a specific external task .  It includes regions like the medial prefrontal cortex , posterior cingulate cortex , and parts of the parietal lobe .  It’s heavily associated with:  Mind-wandering,...

The catastrophe life: There’s a line in the movie Zorba the Greek where Zorba, the irrepressibly happy protagonist, describes his life as “the full catastrophe!” Zorba isn’t being negative – far from it. He’s alluding to the fact that a rich life is woven from great happiness and great disasters, as well as small pleasures and minor irritations. And you can't close yourself off to life's irritations and disasters without also closing yourself off to its joys. Confront life’s catastrophes head-on and your life’s joys will also be intensified. Mindfulness guides you to experience the present moment. A 2012 Harvard study found that we feel calmer, more stable, and happier when our minds are focused on the present instead of the future or the past. Here’s a simple mindfulness exercise to try out. Take three raisins. Observe the first raisin closely. What does it look like? How does it smell? How does it feel between your fingers? Then put the raisin in your mouth and begin to chew...

The Impact of Stress and the Power of Mindfulness Scientific evidence of the debilitating effects of stress on the human body, along with its evolutionary origins, was highlighted by Robert Sapolsky in his book "Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers". This work underscores the profound impact stress can have on human health and well-being.  In recent years, there has been growing interest in mindfulness. Defined in modern psychological terms as "paying attention to relevant aspects of experience in a nonjudgmental manner," mindfulness involves the non-judgmental acceptance and investigation of present experiences. This includes body sensations, internal mental states, thoughts, emotions, impulses, and memories, all aimed at reducing suffering and increasing well-being. Historically rooted in Buddhist practices, particularly as described in the "Satipatthana Sutta", mindfulness has been secularly integrated into psychology. One of the first significant incorporation...