Daily Online Meditation
with The Parallel
What is meditation and how should it be done?
Meditation = Watching
Watching our mind, its thoughts, our body and its on goings. It's that simple. It's not about having no thoughts. That's not possible. The mind's job and function is to think and it will never stop doing that. So don't even try. The mind can't stop thinking and your body can't stop breathing. Don't fight with it or get angry that it's not stopping. It's not supposed to.
All you have to do is extract yourself from the thought that you're the mind and body and start watching it. Let the thoughts come and leave. Let bodily sensations come and go. Don't react to any of them. Just watch them without reacting to them in any way.
How does daily meditation help?
All our lives we have been reacting to our thoughts and getting entangled in them. So much so that we believe we are our thoughts. But that's not who we are. We are the watcher / observer.
The daily practice helps us become more of who we actually are than being who we think we are. It helps achieve mindfulness. It helps us remain stable. It keeps anxiety and stress away. And that's where permanent happiness lies.
We learn one powerful thing. That we are not our thoughts. That we are not our physical pain and pleasure. We are the watchers.
Our happiness doesn't lie in something or someone. Or getting something extra. It lies in removing what causes stress. The stress lies in reacting to our temporary thoughts. Once you become the observer instead of the reactor, you're free.
Want proof of that? Think about a product you thought will keep you happy for life. Has the excitement come down with time? Most probably. The same goes for a person. Truth is - nothing lasts. Clinging to temporary feelings and finding happiness in them leads to negative emotions. Our main work is to understand and break this cycle of finding peace and joy in the temporary.
What's the final objective of daily meditation?
The final objective of our daily meditation is to change the habit pattern of being a participant and reactor to becoming a watcher. Being a reactor is a habit. Our daily meditation changes that habit pattern to becoming a watcher.
But I can't meditate. I can't even focus for 2 minutes. How will I do this?
That's because you may be doing it wrong. You're not supposed to focus and stop thoughts. You're supposed to observe and watch them come and go. When you stop fighting your thoughts and become a watcher, there's no need for focus. You're just watching a film. And that's true meditation. That's mindfulness and being in the moment. Not getting entangled in the film. Just watching it play. Once we start our practice, you'll realize how simple it is.
How does being a watcher help?
When you learn the art of being the watcher / observer, you understand these things:
1. This is our true nature. This is who we actually are.
2. We aren't the thought / mind / body / pain / pleasure. We are just the watchers.
3. All thoughts of the mind or the sensations of the body keep changing. They are temporary. They come and go. That's their nature. We don't need to identify with them or cling to anything temporary.
4. What's permanent is the fact that we are watchers. All we need to do is regain the power of being who we truly are. The watcher.
All our lives we have been living in a moment other than the one we are breathing in. Either thinking about the past or worrying about the future. And that's the real reason behind our stress. Because we relive a bad past, imagine a terrible future, or tie our hopes to a great future, or find happiness in a past memory - tying ourselves to either things that can't return or haven't arrived. We need to get out of this habit. Our happiness is being obstructed by this one simple habit.
Observe kids. The youngest ones. Ever wondered why they are happy? Because they don't do what adults do. They just live in the moment. We need to unlearn adulting and start kidding. That's the key to happiness. And the key to being who we are.
What are some of the new habits we'll learn?
Watching:
Being a watcher. Not a reactor. We will learn to watch our thoughts, our pain, our pleasure and stay detached from them till we watch them pass.
Gratitude:
We will learn to be grateful for what we have instead of desiring what we don't have. Doing this elevates our frequency. It makes us positive and see the glass half full rather than half empty. It's the simplest way to be happy.
Self forgiving:
We will learn to stop talking to ourselves badly / disrespectfully. We'll forgive ourselves for the mistakes we've made and be nice to ourselves. And we'll practice this everyday. We will practice self love. In the smallest of ways.
Acceptance:
We will learn to accept people the way they are. To give people the benefit of doubt. We will stop assuming the worst.
True joy lies in simple changes that compound over a period of time when they become a habit.
Renowned gurus have been talking about the same things since centuries. The Parallel just tries to simplify complicated theory into simple daily practices that become a habit and second nature to how we operate. Leading to a better and happier you.
And because it's difficult to form new habits, you'll get support from a whole bunch of people going through the same transformational journey. We are all imperfect on a quest for growth and peace. We'll do this together, as equals. Not as a teacher and student. But as equals learning from each other and becoming a much better version of ourselves.
When do classes happen?
1 hour classes
2 times a day
7 am and 9 pm (Indian Standard Time)
Monday to Sunday
You can attend these as per your convenience. Attend whatever is convenient for you. This is the online link: <>
What will we do in class?
We will meditate and practice the simple things outlined above - gratitude journal, prayer and self forgiveness. 50 minutes of meditation, and 10 minutes for gratitude and self forgiveness.
Is this paid?
The Parallel is not for profit. It's for sustenance and we will charge Rs. 1500 ($15) per month / Rs. 15000 ($1500) per year. Whatever is convenient. If you don't feel like paying, that's completely up to you. We trust you to exercise your good judgement.
Nobody will keep track of how many classes you attend or follow up for payments. It's a high-trust based community. This amount is for the entire household. Which means you can get your entire family to the same online link so everyone benefits. The payment helps us do this forever. It's our only way to make this sustainable, so maximum people can derive the benefits of what we practice together.
Any rules for the class?
1. Attend when convenient. There's no attendance. Your intent should drive you. Not the fear of being forced.
2. Keep your video on so that you're seen and we get to know each other. The most powerful part of this is everyone knowing that they are in this together.
3. Be on mute at all times. If you have something to say, you'll be unmuted for a conversation. This helps everyone meditate in peace.
4. We practice more than preach. This class is about learning through experience. Not through theory. And each of us will have learnings which we'll share at the end of the class. We won't discuss heavy spiritual theory. The best breakthroughs will happen through self experience.
5. Be respectful of others. Everyone has their journey, context and opinions. Our job is to help elevate each other. Not to pull anyone down. If we can't help, we stay quiet.
6. We don't discuss religion. This is a spiritual journey. Not a religious one. Religion is personal and we respect everyone's personal choice.
7. There's no teacher concept. We are doing things together. That's all.
What's the core principle behind The Parallel?
The Parallel’s objective is simple. Help elevate human consciousness. Make people lead a better life and grow spiritually. Not through religious practices. But with universal and simple habits that can be practiced irrespective of who you are and what you believe in or who you worship.
Some things go beyond religion - body, mind, breath, thoughts - these are all universal. Our job is to help you lead a better life by doing simple things. By removing habits that cause stress. By adding new habits that make us happy and grateful. Without changing who you fundamentally are.
Our success lies in a better and happier you.
Who started The Parallel?
I'm Mayank Bidawatka. The founder of The Parallel. I've worn multiple hats in my past and have been on a journey of self discovery since my youth. Professionally I have been in advertising, public relations, a banker, a startup executive and a startup founder. I'm an author, a past life regression counselor, an akashic reader, a Vipassana practitioner and a pranic healer. I've had runaway successes and massive failures.
I've always done what I feel like doing and been on a quest for finding my true joy. I've been spiritual more than religious and have benefitted from the wisdom of gurus across times. I've come to the realization that I'm happiest when I see others win. There's no greater impact than delivering forever peace and joy. While I've created functional products in the past, from selling bus tickets, to media spaces, to creating platforms and marketplaces to selling concepts - my best lies ahead of me. And that best is The Parallel.
My big and audacious goal is to elevate human consciousness. Sounds lofty and unachievable. But a simple revolution can attract millions because finally, we want the same things. Happiness and peace. To help people become a better version of themselves. I can't think of a higher impact than improving someone's life because their thinking changed through simple habits.
I'm far from perfect but I'm already on the journey of practicing some of the things that I've outlined above. I'll be happy to share them with you so that together, as equals, we all elevate our thinking and living. Not as a teacher, but as a fellow student. My Vipassana courses helped me learn and teach meditation to those who haven't had the privilege of practising this.
The Parallel is a community of fellow practitioners of simple daily habits. You're not alone in the difficult journey of self improvement. All of us have our own broken parts that need healing. Let's start with simple practices that help fix multiple problems and help us lead fuller lives, for ourselves and for the benefit of those we meet.
How can I contact you?
I'm on + (91) 9980827526