CHILDHOOD ; THE HEART OF SADHANA

Recently in Dharamshala, I spent time with two remarkable siblings, nine-year-old Yusuf and seven-year-old Sufana (affectionately nicknamed Sofa and Banana). Their mother, Bedour, is a beautiful soul part of our very first Inner Alchemy Evolution cohort.

Watching Yusuf brought me to an abrupt standstill. He carries a natural, quiet wisdom that instantly mirrored my own childhood—I, too, was an intensely observant, introverted, but entirely un-shy child. Looking into Yusuf’s eyes, I saw a profound, resting compassion. It was a space of pure solace. It struck me with absolute awe that many seekers undergo decades of rigorous sadhana and meditation just to touch the exact baseline of presence that Yusuf is simply starting from.

But isn't this the baseline truth for most of us? We arrive in this world wired with an innate, crystalline inner knowing. Then, adulthood happens. The expansive space we once inhabited begins to constrict, getting tighter and tighter until we can no longer see the simple things right in front of us.

How does this shift happen? Somewhere along the line, we exchange sincerity for seriousness. We let the need for control and the weight of self-doubt take over.

Think of a child throwing a ball into the air. They watch it with wide-eyed curiosity, purely fascinated to see where it lands. An adult throwing that same ball doesn't look at it at all—they have already assumed its landing based on past data.

Perhaps that is the core difference between being present and being experienced. Experience builds a library of predictable outcomes, but presence allows the world to happen in real-time.

Does this imply that we should disregard our experiences or forget the valuable lessons they've taught us? Not at all. The suggestion isn't to become naive; it's to stay receptive. It's about balancing our accumulated experiences in one hand while keeping the other hand open to the wonders of the present moment. It's the skill of clearing away the clutter so we can recall the wisdom we already possess.I am deeply thankful for every moment I get to sit with myself and connect with my inner child. I can see it as a whole only when I view it as distinct.

Paradoxical ? that's the fun part :) The picture below is drawn by Yusuf:))