An adventure that will refresh, rejuvenate and renew YOU!
This entire blog is one BIG treasure hunt. The treasure is ancient. This blog helps you find the treasure in modern times, right in the heart of the city. But hurry, we don’t have much time !!!! The clock is ticking !
Each post is a clue. Each clue is linked to other clues.
All my posts are only about 1 thing, yet they talk about different things. The moment you figure out what the 1 thing is and find it, Game Over. Bye Bye. Well done.
I am not sadistic – just maybe a bit of a tease. So, along the way, I have left a lot of little hints on what the 1 thing is. Good luck.
The problem I face with blogging is that my posts don’t read like chapters of a book. They appear to be too random, so apologies for that. Of course, there could be a hidden pattern that I might reveal magically at some point in time. But it’s more possible that I am just a jackass and pathetic at blogging, so any compassion you show me is most welcome.
(I will keep updating this home page as we go along, so you will always find the most recent index of clues here)
Why are you here?
- Well…aren’t you curious to find an answer to the question?
- Urban life is cool, but with its ups and downs. The tough stuff really gets to us. Can we use it as an opportunity for enlightened living? Is there more to it than working out at the gym or signing up for a Yoga class?
- Is urban life really complicated or do we complicate it ourselves? What if we could simplify it?
- So, what is enlightened living (to be always like the happy, wise guy in the middle) and how do we get there?
Stage 1: The beginning
- Of course, we all know what we need to do in order to be happy, productive and making lots of money. Do we?
- We have a lot of desires to satisfy. Perhaps if we had a 1000 years at hand, we’ll be better off?.
- Did you know it’s not possible to satisfy a desire for any object? Curious?
- Whatever we desire to experience arises here first! But we search for it elsewhere! Bummer!
- So, who is trying to experience the world through all these layers? We meet the mysterious ‘I’. We try to draw ourselves and find out its not that easy.
- Our first challenge is to try to directly experience the real world, at least once, in this life. But there are many obstacles to cross. You need to master the 8 chambers of Urban Shaolin
- We find that we experience the real world only by the names, labels and meaning we give them.
- Slowly, these names and labels become full-fledged maps we carry in the mind. Over time, we only experience these maps and we stop experiencing the world.
- We try a small experiment – to recharge our relationships with the people in our lives. Along the way, we help Sara find perfect love .
- What about the real world of objects out there? We find that even those things we took for granted– tables and chairs – and things we call matter, energy, space, time don’t exist independently of us. We cant trace when things are born and when they die.
- The more we dig in, the more mysteries seem to crop up. Isn’t that cool? We start to develop a sense of wonder for everyday living.
- We follow the trail of the 8 chambers to see where exactly we experience a tasty, sweet-smelling, crunchy red apple.
- We start with the eye, then go to the brain, cross the bridge, encounter the screen and then locate the projector
- We finally bump into the magician. We then find out that he doesn’t work alone. Somehow, he makes us feel very unique, different and special.
- We have reached the end of the beginning. Time for a drinks break. Sit back and enjoy the view. Share how you feel. Learn about the road ahead.
Stage 2: The middle
- We now start the next segment of the treasure hunt. We stumble upon a clue from the past. To follow this trail and enjoy it, we need rational people. We hear about a machine that is looking for God . We’ll search in our own way. First we need to find out where the essence could be hidden. As we start our search, we bump into a red line. Uh-oh!
- The red line makes us aware of differences where there are really none. Riya gets this insight when she takes on a man’s world and finds out she doesn’t have to compete after all. We test Sara’s sixth sense in spotting jerks and sweethearts.
- We hear about the riddle of scarcity vs abundance. We find that living with the red line makes us feel restless and empty all the time. Sometimes we wonder if there is someone all-powerful, out to get us. Jamie finds that the red line hides the beauty in reality and it hides it in every passing moment.
- To get to Aha!, we need to dissolve the red line. But wait! We have to find it somehow! It is a real tease, because we have to find our own boundaries first.. our fears, our original face, our personal beliefs, our current identity and if we really are as independent as we think we are
- We face-off to a mind-boggling quiz. If you solve the quiz, you find the treasure. So, have a perfect holiday break and take it head-on. To help you get started, I will let you in on the secret of the grinning monk. But pssst…dont tell anyone.
- Help is on the way. We visit the Temple of the seeker and receive the treasure map. How far have we traveled? How much longer do we have to travel, before we achieve the purpose?
- We discover interconnectedness through the Twilight episode and experience it in the heart of Wall street. We explore the secret of living a meaningful life. We learn how to use it to live a life of purpose. We discover how to cultivate a refreshing state of mind and escape the burning flames of anger.
- We complete the middle phase with an intriguing love story and discover a key to freedom at the break of dawn.
Stage 3: The end
- We journey into a rain forest, heeding the call of a teacher. The end begins as different worlds and paths begin to converge. Meanwhile, 7 treasure hunters gather on a hill to attempt Mission Impossible.
This sounds like a magical mystery tour of the mind. I hope I don’t have to lose too much before taking the first step to seek the answers in India.
michael j contos,
Conshohocken, PA USA
Really nice to hear from you again..have mentioned you in the book launch credits. Would be great to meet up in person during our travels. Take care, friend.
Everything happens for a reason. The concept is ever seeking, a true seeker always reaches ones destination.This new concept as you have precisely named ‘treasure hunt’ is amazing.Surely going to enjoy this amazing journey.
The crux “we only experience these maps and stop experiencing the world.”
Going through the blog I’m remembering the number:
Such a feeling’s comimg over me…….
There is wonder in most everything I see……
Great going.
Thanks for sharing the wonder with us, Alka…Take care and be well :)
Hi Urban Monk,
It was great meeting you last week. Shall start my reading now & will keep my interaction on with you.
As I said the other day
“No two people ever meet without a reason. The reason is only ONE, either to TEACH or to LEARN”.
Cheers
Sundreysh
Hiii Sundreysh,
So nice to hear from you. Thanks for the wonderful evening. Keep sharing your thoughts and presence with the others. I look forward to catching up again.
best wishes and don’t forget to have fun :)
@UM
Yes Gana, I agree too. Meandering through all of this is so exciting.
…..
hey i like this blog alot because u only taught me to write new blogs
@tarunrocks : thankqqq…keep rocking :)
I come in peace
Take me to my master
@Shakti: The ‘I’ that spoke that statement; just turn around and see it.
amazing
very kind of you, sharada :)
I genuinely value your work , Great post.
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I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
Usually I do not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this article really forced me to do so! Thanks, really nice article.
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Good work man
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I’m happy to have found this blog! Can see we share some common interests. As “Idol Lash” said, will be looking forward to the updates.
greatttttt
keep up the good work on the blog. Do like it! :p Could use some more frequent updates, but i’m quite sure that you got other things stuff to do , hehe. :p
I really like your writing style, superb info , thankyou for posting : D.
You got a really useful blog. I have been here reading for about an hour. I am a newbie and your success is very much an inspiration for me.
I find myself coming to your blog more and more often to the point where my visits are almost daily now!
Amazing writing:D Will need a decent amount of time to think about this post!
Great blog!!! A++++
Wow, this is very fun to read. Have you ever considered submitting articles to magazines?
hello thanks for the blog.
Keep functioning ,terrific job!
Hello Guru, what entice you to post an article. This article was extremely interesting, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this subject last Thursday.
God is good
Hey very nice blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…
yea nice Work :D
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Wow! what an concept !?! What an idea !!! Attractive !!. Wonderful …
This sounds good, the search for God, and finding the connection. It is real. Go for it. Wishing you the best. My sons are 65, 63, and 57, grandson is 37, great grandson 6. You are adopted for the way you present truth, with a light and laughing heart. Have at it. Helena
i want to join
Hi Prakhar…welcome…its like ‘Hotel California!’: You can check out any time you like, but [once you start the treasure hunt], you can never leave ;-)
Monk…, MARRY ME!!! haha
Bumped into an ad on FB and here I am bookmarking the site… Amazing stuff
Keep up the wonderful spirit and more power to you! :)
Hee hee..thanks…and ya,may the Force be with you too :)..enjoy the treasure hunt!
I will Seek …thank you :)
cheers!
Just imagine I learn it twice. Although I am not expert with this topic, I tally with your closings mainly because they make sense. Gives Thank you and goodluck to you.
Hi
I just logged in to my Facebook Account and noticed ad. of your website at the right side of the screen. Initially I thought it will be like any online diary but the result was much better.
Your posts are really amazing and enlightening.
Keep it up.
Good luck.
@Alok: Hi there! Glad you like it. Thanks for your good wishes. Take care and drop in anytime you feel like
cheers
Hi,
I find your site very enlightening and interesting at the same time.
I suggest you should advertise your site more so that more people could get benefit of this amazing experience.
I’ve participated in many “so called” treasure hunts (as they seem to me now) before but never felt the urge to participate & understand it.gr8 concept.gr8 language.gr8 way to simplify life….!
@Kartik: Thanks much for the encouragement. Rest assured, I will do my best to spread the word.
This is far the best article about this topic. I have this site under my bookmarks soon so long.
i was browsing through my account when i glanced at the right side of my monitor…out of curiosity, i opened your site and here i am..your words are really enlightening, you know the kind that will really make you think and re-think…and reflect…and later on – smile and say “wow! the words hit the mark!”
now, all the more reason to really smile! God bless!!!
@Rain: Thanks very much for your encouraging words…and yeah, I can relate to the ‘monitor’ experience. Things don’t happen by accident or planning :-). They just happen. Good luck with the treasure hunt! Laugh, cry, yell and smile your way to Aha! :-)
You write really well.Simple and thought provoking.I would like to meet you some time.
Thanks Surbhi…all thanks to my English teacher in school…used to pull my ears if my essays were badly written :-) …and yeah, feel free to stay in touch/e-mail me. If you are in town, we can catch up and share our stories.
Hi Urban Monk,
Hats Off to Your enlightening work!!! Keep it up. These days we get lost in our own work and world. Your Meaningful Words will help People who are carried away by Strange Swami’s and Soothsayers!!! I am Sure Your work will reach beyond the eternal. You are a treasure and you are building a cathedral!!! All the best
Krish
P.s. I BECOME WHAT I SEE IN MYSELF. ALL THAT THOUGHT SUGGESTS TO ME, I CAN DO: ALL THE THOUGHTS REVEALS IN ME, I CAN BECOME. THIS SHOULD BE MAN’S UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN HIMSELF, BECAUSE GOD DWELLS IN HIM.
Hi Krish,
thanks. i guess everyone has their part to play in the world. i just love playing mine. i don’t take myself too seriously, playing it.
building a cathedral or a sandcastle – don’t know yet – but both are fun, don’t you think? :-)
good luck ..and stop by whenever you feel the need to refresh and rejuvenate.
cheers
Hi Iam Ruhi from India..i just wanted to know more about your site. I was just browsing through some sites when i came across Urban Monk..please tell me more about it..
Hi Ruhi, Thanks for stopping by. The best way to describe this site is a ‘Treasure hunt’. It is meant for people who are keen to have a taste of freedom, right in the heart of the city. Now, isn’t that the best of both worlds?
The best way to experience this site is to start with the home page and then click on any link that catches your attention. Don’t worry. They are all connected one way or another. So, all you need is an open mind – and you’ll have a lot of fun. If you need more help, feel free to write to me (urbanmonkdiaries@yahoo.com)
cheers and have a nice day
Bingo…I think I can visualize the road now…Let me simpli-fly through the pages again and look for the secret doors and windows beneath which the treasure may be hidden…I am a gamer you see , so i go back to the levels out of curiosity not to gain points :-) keep going bud, you have me hooked…