Kalasa Under the Armpit, Yet a Detour Around the Village*

A reflection on health, happiness, and the true path within

Have you ever paused and asked yourself —

*What am I really searching for?*

Sometimes we think,

*Once life becomes a little more relaxed, I’ll be at peace.*

Or,

*If I earn a bit more, my mind will find rest.*

Or,

*If people around me had understood me better, my life would have been different…*

But just pause,

Look inward.

Is all this truly out there?

Sant Tukaram says —

*What is yours is within you, but you’ve looked in the wrong place.*

These words shake something within…

Could it be that what we are desperately seeking… is already within us?

Yes.

It is.

But we’re looking in the wrong direction.

It’s like holding the pot under your arm and still taking a long detour searching for it in the village.

How will you ever find it if you’re looking in the wrong place?

This isn’t some grand philosophy.

It’s a simple pause —

A moment to come stand quietly by the window of your inner self.

Have you ever realized how much strength you carry within you?

There is willpower, persistence, confidence, courage.

But we forget our own natural powers —

Just like Hanuman, who had divine strength but had forgotten it.

So what do we do instead?

We give excuses…

“The situation wasn’t right.”

“Luck didn’t favour me.”

“I was right, but others…”

We keep pointing fingers outward —

But rarely take responsibility ourselves.

Why?

Because that’s not easy.

*But what’s the truth?*

If you appeared for an exam without studying and said,

“It just wasn’t in my destiny to pass.”

Isn’t that simply escaping accountability?

I remember a friend…

He used to conduct motivational seminars.

He had quit his job with great conviction.

But soon, he faced failure, financial strain, disappointment…

And he returned to his old job —

Not because he wanted to, but because he lost courage.

Another friend —

He lost his job.

Became confused, anxious.

He was weaving a web of negativity around himself.

But then we had a deep conversation.

Listening, understanding, holding space…

And most importantly — helping him turn inward.

He started seeing options that were always there, but unnoticed.

One day he called me and said —

“I’ve found a beautiful business idea…”

“The same one we’ve discussed many times before,

but I never truly looked at it seriously.”

Today, he’s a successful entrepreneur.

*What does all this show?*

Opportunity isn’t outside.

It’s always within your reach.

Sometimes success comes smiling.

Sometimes we stumble.

But failure isn’t in falling —

It’s in staying down.

If you can honestly reflect on your failures,

those very mistakes can become stepping stones.

What’s the difference?

Only in perspective and direction.

The gaze turns inward.

The path realigns.

That hidden pot — the “kalasa” — was under your arm all along.

And finally, you saw it.

Sadhguru Wamanrao Pai says —

*At the center of the universe stands the individual human.*

The world is on the periphery.

So —

*Focus on the center. The periphery will follow.*

But we often do the opposite —

We try to fix the outer world,

while our inner world is crumbling.

Life’s foundation rests at the center.

Without strengthening that,

no height can be built.

Look at our nation —

We have intelligence, wealth, tradition —

But we’ve forgotten our own power.

Others are using our strengths,

while we stand watching.

We’ve lost our place.

So, if we wish to contribute to the country,

where must we begin?

From within.

We say, “The country must change!”

But then we throw garbage on the road.

Remember —

*Every act must be aligned with national interest and universal peace.*

This inner conviction must be firm.

Before blaming the world —

Know yourself.

Accept yourself.

Refine yourself.

Even in relationships,

people seek their *ideal partner,*

but never try to become that *ideal self.*

So before our lives lose their way —

Let’s pause.

Turn inward.

As the mind shifts,

the world begins to shift too.

✨

Your peace,

Your health,

Your happiness —

It’s not out there.

It’s within you —

Silent,

Still,

Yet completely present.

Stop the outward chase.

Take a breath.

And gently look within…

The pot is under your arm.

No more detours around the village.

Turn inward.

Search in the right place.

And there,

You’ll find everything you were seeking.

🪷

A reflection on the journey to rediscover health, peace, and fulfillment.

By: *Jayant Joshi*