Author interview – Dr. Harsh M. Chheda

Dr. Harsh M. Chheda is a distinguished lecturer, social activist, economist, and a profound influencer in the realms of spiritualism and Jainism. With over a decade of deep-rooted engagement with Jain philosophy, Dr. Chheda has devoted his life to understanding and imparting the profound wisdom of spiritualism. In addition to his academic and professional pursuits, Dr. Chheda has authored the enlightening book The Mindful Peace: A Journey to Serenity. This work is a testament to his dedication to sharing the ancient, invaluable knowledge of Jainism with a broader audience.

We took tis opportunity to have a detailed and enlightening conversation with Dr. Harsh Chheda. This interview explores his background, motivation, mindset, and upcoming projects.

1. Can you share a bit about your background and what inspired you to write The Mindful Peace: A Journey to Serenity?

[Harsh Chheda] I am a lecturer, social activist, economist, and influencer for spiritualism and Jainism. For over ten years, I have been deeply connected to Jainism and its roots. During this time, I have experienced profound levels of spiritualism through the knowledge and guidance of my Guru, TapaGachhiya Jainacharya Shri TirthBhadra Suriji Maharaja. The depth of understanding I’ve gained through Jainism is unparalleled.

While I was experiencing the heights of bliss, I noticed my friends struggling with stress, worries, depression, anxiety, and hypertension. They were never joyful or happy. This realization led me to think about how the most valuable knowledge of our culture wasn’t transmitted properly to the new generations. The depth of meditation and spiritualism in our country has the power to calm anyone, but not everyone has had the privilege or luck to access it. Since I have received this knowledge, I felt a responsibility to share it with those around me.

My book is a small effort to preserve and transmit the real and ancient knowledge of our country. It aims to help others achieve the same spiritual peace and understanding that I have found through Jainism.

2. How did your personal experiences influence the content and themes of the book?

[Harsh Chheda] Starting meditation and making it a daily habit can be challenging. However, with gradual progress, you can enter spiritualism. Spiritualism is not only about meditation; it also involves understanding the temporary aspects of our lives and recognizing our own flaws and demerits. Once we understand these, we can work towards removing them from our lives. This is a slow and gradual growth process for every being, leading to a profound sense of satisfaction, bliss, and happiness. Since this is a process that must be experienced firsthand to guide others effectively, this entire book is influenced by my personal experiences and the guidance I have received from my Guru.

3. Can you explain the core message of The Mindful Peace: A Journey to Serenity in your own words?

[Harsh Chheda] The core message of my book is to understand the temporary nature of all things in our lives, including our bodies, and to release our attachment to them. By living a life with peace and awareness, we can distinguish between what is necessary and what is not, thereby protecting ourselves from unnecessary turmoil.

4. What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

[Harsh Chheda] I don’t expect much from the readers. The content in this book is tough to digest; it may take 3-4 reads to understand it. What I hope is that people will recognize the wrong things they are doing in their lives. After reading this, their vision towards life and other things should change.

5. How do you define living a life of purpose, joy, and fulfilment?

[Harsh Chheda] Living a life of purpose, joy, and fulfilment can only be achieved through self-awareness. Joy and fulfilment are completely tied to satisfaction, which can only be gained internally. If we keep focusing on external things and products, we can never attain true fulfilment. Another important aspect is living a life of purpose. The purpose of our life is to utilize our valuable time wisely. This means living a life of real happiness and extending that happiness to all living beings around us. I’ve used the word ‘real’ before ‘happiness’ because many people are under illusions about what happiness truly is. Every living being wants to be happy and making them happy is our purpose. Our goal should be to emit positivity for everyone all the time.

6. Can you talk about some of the practical steps and exercises you recommend for cultivating mindfulness and self-awareness?

[Harsh Chheda] I would not mention them in short as they are different for people with different issues. One step may work for someone and may not for another. So, it is important to understand everything first. I would suggest first reading my book. You will get all the required information and guidance from it.

7. Your book addresses a wide range of readers, from teenagers to adults. How did you ensure that your content would be relatable and accessible to such a diverse audience?

[Harsh Chheda] My book is designed to foster maturity and facilitate personal and internal growth. Mental growth is not confined to a specific age; it can occur at any stage of life. I’ve seen many children who exhibit more maturity than some 60-year-olds. While age can impact maturity, it is not the defining factor. Therefore, people of any age can benefit from reading this book. However, I especially recommend it to teenagers and young adults, as they are in a crucial stage of personal growth and development. Starting their growth early can help them achieve incredible heights in their life and career.

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Book is available on Amazon here – https://www.amazon.in/Mindful-Peace-Journey-Serenity/dp/B0BTPRJV51/

8. What specific challenges do teenagers face today that The Mindful Peace can help them navigate?

[Harsh Chheda] The main challenges teenagers face today include peer pressure, lack of understanding, short-temperedness, lack of foresight, and rapid westernization. These issues heavily impact their lives, placing them under constant pressure. Due to a lack of understanding of the right things, they often make wrong decisions. My book addresses these challenges in detail, providing guidance and insights to help teenagers navigate these difficulties. I hope that the content will be significantly helpful to young people, enabling them to make better decisions and lead more fulfilling lives.

9. How can adults benefit from the principles and practices outlined in your book, especially in the context of today’s fast-paced world?

[Harsh Chheda] As I mentioned earlier, this book focuses on the development and growth of internal aspects of life, particularly in the context of a fast-paced world influenced by westernization. It offers a clear vision of right and wrong, eliminating many western habits and ideologies. By shedding light on everything we do in our daily lives, the book aims to guide readers towards more meaningful and fulfilling living. I am confident that adults, too, will benefit from the insights and guidance provided in this book.

10. What was your writing process like for this book? Did you face any challenges?

[Harsh Chheda] Writing this book was quite easy for me as I had clarity about all the things I’ve addressed in it. I wrote this book in just one night and the next day when I woke up, it was already published. So, for me, publishing this book was easier than making my driving license.

11. Did you draw inspiration from any other authors or books on mindfulness and personal development?

[Harsh Chheda] Yes, I drew inspiration from a few books, including Mera Nij Swaroop by my Guruji Jainacharya TirthBhadra Suriji and LightHouse by Jainacharya Shri Udayvallabh Suriji. There was a Hindi movie Ek Cheez Milegi Wonderful by Jainacharya Shri Yugbhushan Suriji which helped me a lot in my journey. I would recommend everyone who knows Hindi to read both the books and see the movie as well. All three of them are available on the internet.

12. Can you share any interesting anecdotes or experiences from the time you spent writing this book?

[Harsh Chheda] Since this book was shaped and written in a single night, there were no significant anecdotes or experiences from the writing process.

13. Do you have any tips for maintaining focus and mindfulness amidst the distractions of modern life?

[Harsh Chheda] Focus or mindfulness can’t be gained suddenly. It is a slow and gradual process to attain them. What you can do is have small targets for anything. Divide your goals into small achievable targets and have consistency in it. Gradually start making your targets bigger and, eventually, you will reach a stage where you will be completely focused. There are many other remedies I have discussed in the book. You can refer to it for that.

14. How do you suggest readers measure their progress on their journey to serenity and fulfilment?

[Harsh Chheda] I have addressed the answer to this question in my book, and since this question has a deep answer, I will request you all to read the book itself.

15. What’s next for you? Do you have any upcoming projects or books in the pipeline?

[Harsh Chheda] My upcoming project is Raagopanishad, the world’s first detailed and Classical Music album. One of the most marvellous projects aims at restoring and preserving our ancient knowledge of music. The one who refers to the Raagopanishad Granth can ace at singing, and the one who listens to its musical album can heal diseases faster with an effective boost of music. I have added a chapter on acoustic medicine in my book as well, which will help you choose the Raag to listen to and heal yourself.

16. Are there any additional areas of personal development or mindfulness that you’re particularly interested in exploring further?

[Harsh Chheda] I want to try complete silence (Maun), which is the best way for my personal development. I want to practice it once I take Jain Monkhood under my Guruji’s clan in November 2024.

17. What advice would you give to someone just starting their journey towards mindfulness and self-awareness?

[Harsh Chheda] There’s only one piece of advice: stay persistent without caring about the returns or results. The path of mindfulness and self-awareness is difficult and time-consuming at the same time. You don’t have to lose hope. Stay positive and optimistic. Read this book once every year. Also, don’t get negative even if you can’t win against your flaws or demerits. It is very tough to do that. At least you identified them! That’s a big thing to be affirmed about. Now you must stay positive and work on it. Also, read good books and meet better and more positive people who are on the right and spiritual path. Exchange experiences with them and become the reason for each other’s growth. Also, open yourself up in front of good people! Do not keep things inside you. When you have doubts, don’t jump to any conclusion without gaining the right knowledge about it. The identification process of such people is the toughest part of our life, but so is life. Staying on the right path and practicing good things always takes our efforts.

18. How can readers connect with you and stay updated on your latest work and insights?

[Harsh Chheda] I am going to accept Jain Monkhood of the Shwetamber Tapagachhiya sect of Jainacharya Shri Kalapurna Suriji M.S. under my Gurudev Adhyatmanishth Gachadhipati H.H. Jainacharya Shri Kalpataru Surishwarji M.S. and Prashantmurti Jainacharya Shri TirthBhadra Suriji M.S. So, after becoming a monk, I’ll leave all the connections with this world. Even though, if you manage to find me by any chance, you can always come to me. Another way is to go and meet any Jain monk like me, and you will feel the same kind of personality in them too as our sources are the same. Before I accept monkhood, you can contact me through my e-mail: [email protected] or my Instagram: @hmckbc.

Thank you, The Top Author, for giving me this opportunity.