vipassana: Mind Over Money: 60 minutes of daily Vipassana meditation helps this CEO remain mentally fit & learn to be in the moment

In an interview with ETMarkets, Chowdhary said: “Another important aspect of vipassana is learning to be in the moment. It’s a difficult practice, but with time and effort, it becomes easier,” Edited excerpts:
Thank you for being part of the show. You have about 2 decades of experience and mostly in top global investment banks – how was your journey and more importantly how do you handle tough situations?
I have embarked on a thrilling journey filled with valuable lessons and experiences from diverse regions. In particular, I have come to appreciate the significance of confronting challenges and setbacks in my personal and professional life.

Although my failures have been my biggest obstacles, they have also provided me with essential insights and teachings.

It is crucial to accept and learn from these experiences, recognizing that occasionally, setbacks offer more valuable lessons than successes.

Consequently, I have developed the ability to thrive and not allow these failures to define me, acknowledging them as opportunities for growth and development.

Adaptability is a key skill to have as no two situations are going to be identical. Another is persistence, it pays to be persistent and persevere. It’s great to be a quick learner – but more importantly, you need to possess the mindset of a continuous learner because the life journey is a marathon and you’ll be learning continuously.

Acceptance is also crucial – once you accept a situation, you can focus on improving and moving forward.Life will keep throwing surprises, but if you stay adaptable, persistent, and open to learning, you’ll be able to handle whatever comes your way.

Vipassana is one of the most ancient techniques. Tell us more about your routine?
Vipassana is something I have come to appreciate over the years. There are different ways to reach the same outcome, and for me, Vipassana has been one of the most effective.

I was introduced to it during my MBA, but I did not practice it regularly. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself drawn back to it, and it gave me opportunities to reflect.

The biggest lesson I learned from Vipassana is the importance of accepting things as they are. Many of us try to change things that are out of our control, which often leads to pain and disappointment.

Instead, we need to learn to accept realities, while still striving to grow and improve. It’s a delicate balance, but vipassana has helped me understand that the process of growth is just as important as the outcome.

Another important aspect of vipassana is learning to be in the moment. It’s a difficult practice, but with time and effort, it becomes easier. I try to be more conscious and aware of what’s happening around me without passing judgment. This has helped me stay grounded and focused.

In terms of my routine, I try to practice mindfulness for at least one hour a day, sometimes even more if I have the time. The key is to be disciplined and regular with the practice.

Of course, like everyone else, I have my ups and downs, but I have learned to accept them rather than fight them.

Overall, Vipassana has been a valuable tool in helping me navigate the challenges of mental health. One piece of advice that I give to everybody starting out would be to focus on understanding the energy flow within you, rather than just setting ambitious practice goals; simply just go with the flow.

As I mentioned before, Vipassana is not the only way, and while it works for me, I do encourage everyone to find their own way to manage their mental well-being.

Apart from Vipassana we have heard that you are an avid reader. Tell us any specific book that investors should read.
As an investor, I believe that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to reading books. There are a lot of good books out there that can provide valuable insights into investing, decision-making, and life in general.

One book that I particularly like is “Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger”. It offers a lot of insights into how he has worked throughout his life and what has worked for him.

Biographies are also great to read, as they provide insights into the lives of successful people and the challenges they have faced.

On the topic of psychology, one book that I would recommend is “Thinking, Fast and Slow.” This book talks about our thinking systems and how we make decisions.

As investors, we are always making decisions, and understanding our thinking processes can help us make better decisions.

There are also classic books on investing, such as “The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham. These books provide timeless wisdom that can be applied to any investing strategy.

In summary, there are many great books out there that investors can read to gain valuable insights. While I cannot recommend just one book, I suggest exploring different books on different topics to broaden your knowledge and gain a more well-rounded perspective on investing and life.

Any learning/management lessons which you can share with readers from Vipassana?
1)One of the critical things I have learned from Vipassana is the importance of having a strong belief in what you do. If you have doubts, the journey won’t take off. So, it’s critical to have a strong belief and not let doubts creep in.

2)Another lesson is to align your livelihood with your values and what you wish to contribute back to society. This helps in making decisions about what kind of businesses to pursue.

3)Caring for people is also essential. You can be a taskmaster and still get things done without creating an environment of jealousy or negativity. It’s about being tough, but also being loving and caring, which are critical for me. The intention is to ensure that there is no element of personal enmity or negativity that creeps in. I try to avoid this and keep personal issues away from tasks.

Why has mental health become so important, especially after COVID? Is there any experience you want to share?
Mental health has always been important, but unfortunately, it remains a taboo topic in our society. While physical well-being and fitness are openly discussed, mental health is often overlooked and less understood.

But just like we train our bodies, we need to train our minds and be aware of any weaknesses in our mental health. COVID-19 has brought this to the forefront and given us all a period of self-reflection.

Personally, I dealt with anxiety during the pandemic as it brought concerns about the prospects of Lighthouse Canton. It manifested in the form of different physical ailments as well.

I was fortunate to be aware of the signs and address them early, but many people don’t have this awareness. There is a lack of understanding around mental health, and it’s important to address it early before it turns into something more serious.

Discussing and addressing mental health concerns should be the norm and we need to talk about it openly and early on.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)