NOVEMBER
विवेक — VIVEKA
The wisdom of clear seeing
VIVEKA: When the mind becomes still, we see more clearly.
Viveka is the wisdom of discernment. It is our ability to see clearly, to recognise what is true, what is useful, what supports our path and what deserves our energy, attention and devotion.
So much of life asks us to discern. Which direction to take. What to say yes to. What to leave behind. Whether something is coming from fear, desire, habit, outside influence or a deeper knowing within us. When the mind is unsettled, these things can become difficult to distinguish. We can overthink what we already know, mistake urgency for truth or allow other voices to become louder than our own inner guidance.
This month we cultivate Viveka by creating the conditions for clearer perception. Our sādhanā will be slower, grounding and lunar in quality, working with Apana Vayu to settle the energy and bring us back into ourselves. Like the moon reflected on a still lake, the clearer and steadier the mind becomes, the more accurately we are able to see what is already there.
Viveka invites us to listen carefully, observe honestly and choose consciously. To recognise what brings us closer to truth, to our path and to God, and to become more confident in the wisdom that is already present within us.
The Power of Discernment:
Viveka means discernment. It is the ability to clear away the noise and ask yourself: What is real and what is temporary? What is true for me and what is coming from someone else’s opinion, expectation or influence?
When we practice Viveka, we become more conscious of how we are making choices. We learn to stop, look inward and recognise what actually feels right for us and what doesn’t. We begin to notice when fear is speaking, when emotion is leading us, when we are following an old pattern, and when something deeper within us already knows the answer.
It is the ability to know your own yes. To recognise what is aligned with truth and what is just something that is familiar, comfortable or expected of you.
When we have strong viveka we can become the witness of the mind. Not every thought needs to be believed. Not every emotion needs to become a decision. Not every desire needs to be followed. When we can observe what is moving through the mind without immediately identifying with it, we create a pause between what arises and how we respond. Inside that pause, we have a choice.
This is why sacred teachings and scriptures are such an important part of our spiritual practice and developing discernment. They give us something higher to orient ourselves towards. A part of developing our discernment learning to recognise what leads us towards truth, freedom, God and a more conscious way of living.
In the Bible, Romans 12:2 says:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God.”
This is a teaching on learning to see differently. Rather than automatically absorbing the values, opinions and expectations around us, we renew the mind so we can discern more clearly what is aligned with God and what is not.
The Bhagavad Gita gives us a similar teaching:
“That understanding by which one knows what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, what is binding and what is liberating, is in the mode of goodness.” {Bhagavad Gita 18.30}
Here, discernment means knowing which choices bring true freedom and which ones trap us. It tells us to look past our immediate feelings or desires and think about where our choices will actually lead us.
Both teachings bring us back to a simple question:
What is this choice leading me towards?
Towards greater truth, freedom and closeness to God? Or further into fear, attachment and unconscious patterns?
This is Viveka in everyday life. The more we strengthen our ability to stop, witness and discern, the more consciously we can choose how we want to live.
One Moon, One Thousand Moons
In Buddhist teaching, there is a beautiful image used to describe the nature of perception:
"One moon is reflected in many waters; all the water-moons are from the one moon.”
There is only one moon, yet it appears differently in every pool depending on the condition of the water. When the water is still and clear, the reflection is clear. When the water is disturbed, the reflection becomes distorted.
This is a beautiful way to understand the mind.Truth itself may not have changed, but our ability to perceive it can. Fear, emotion, desire, outside influence and constant mental movement can all affect the way we see a situation.
Viveka asks us to notice the condition of the mind before we trust every thought that passes through it. When the mind settles, perception becomes clearer.
This is why our practice this month is lunar, grounding and inward. We are creating the conditions to see more clearly what is already there, and what is the Truth.
The Fire of Transformation Practice
Your core practice for this month is all about cultivating Tapas ~ our spiritual discipline ~ , activating the sacred fire of transformation at the navel through the union of Ha and Ṭha, and using the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra to help us dissolve fear, attachments and anything keeping us stagnant and stuck.
Practice everyday throughout the month. Use the sādhanā checklist as your guide.
Supporting Practices
Trataka (Candle Gazing) is a traditional yoga practice that sharpens your focus and clarifies the mind. By training your eyes on a physical flame and then shifting to its inner after-image, you learn to distinguish between the shifting thoughts of the mind and your steady, unchanging awareness. It is a powerful tool for cultivating deep mental clarity and inner discernment (viveka).
Phase 1: External Gazing (Bahiranga Trataka)
— Setup: In a dimly lit room, sit comfortably with your spine tall. Place your candle roughly an arm's length away, ensuring the flame sits right at eye level.
— The Practice: Soften your face. Fix your gaze steadily on the brightest part of the flame, just above the tip of the wick. Try not to blink or move your eyes. If tears begin to form, let them flow naturally without wiping them away, this is part of the physical cleansing process.
— The Reflection: As you watch the flame, notice its shifting, flickering nature. It is constantly changing shape and form. At the same time, become aware of the vast, still space surrounding the candle, a space that remains completely undisturbed by the movement of the fire.
Phase 2: Internal Gazing (Antaranga Trataka)
— The Practice: Gently close your eyes. Let your eyelids remain heavy and relaxed. In the dark space behind your forehead, look for the luminous after-image of the flame. Bring your inner focus directly to this light, holding your attention steadily on it for as long as the impression lasts.
— The Reflection: Watch the inner image of the flame. It will naturally change color, move, or slowly fade away. Notice that while the image changes and disappears, your awareness remains steady and constant. You are not the passing image. You are the quiet awareness observing it.
Trataka (Candle Gazing)
In Vedanta, Nitya refers to what is permanent, enduring and unchanging. Anitya refers to what is temporary, changing and passing.
Our thoughts, emotions, moods, circumstances and even the body are Anitya. They are always moving and changing. Nitya points us toward what remains beneath those changes, our deeper awareness, truth and connection to the Divine. Viveka is the ability to recognise the difference between the two. To see clearly what is passing and what is worth orienting our life around.
Before the contemplation, take a moment to remember: not everything you feel in a moment is something you need to build your life around.
Nitya / Anitya Contemplation
Start by settling the mind for a few minutes. You can practice the 5 principles of healthy breathing if you need help to settle the mind. Make sure your breath is deep, silent, smooth, even and unbroken.
Then bring one situation into awareness. Something you are confused about, emotionally caught in, overthinking, or trying to make a decision around.
Ask: What is changing here?
The emotion? Someone else’s opinion? The circumstances? My fear? My desire? My current mood?
Then: What is more enduring here?
My values? My relationship with God? What I know to be true? The kind of person I want to be? The deeper principle or value I want to live by?
Then ask: If I stopped making this decision from what is temporary, what would become clearer?
Sit with the question for a few moments without rushing to answer it. Notice what feels reactive, emotional or changeable, and what feels deeper, steadier and more true.
Finish with: What remains true when the emotion changes?
Allow the answer arise naturally from a settled mind rather than from urgency, fear or pressure.
This is the practice of Viveka. Learning to see clearly enough to recognise what is passing and what is worth listening to.
Your Monthly Oracle Message
The Transformation card symbolizes a profound shift in consciousness. It speaks to the cycle of death and rebirth, where old patterns dissolve and new possibilities emerge. This card invites you to embrace the revolution within, to awaken to a higher version of yourself. Whether it’s a shift in mindset, lifestyle, or spirituality, transformation asks you to surrender to the process of growth and expansion. It is a reminder that through shedding the old, you make space for the new, allowing your soul to evolve.
Reflective Practice:
What part of myself is ready to be reborn, and how can I support that transformation?
Practical Exercise:
Spend time in meditation or journaling, reflecting on any old patterns or beliefs that no longer serve you. Visualize them being replaced with new, empowering energies that align with your true self. Embrace the clarity that comes with releasing the old and making space for transformation.
A playlist to carry the essence of viveka into your day. Intended for moments outside of practice, to accompany journaling or any space where you feel inspired (not during your main practice).
You're invited to reach out anytime throughout the month with questions or reflections related to your practice. I'm here to support you on your journey toward inner radiance and growth!
