New Delhi [India], March 16: In a candid interview with renowned podcaster and scientist Lex Fridman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared deeply personal insights from his formative years, including a transformative two-year period spent in the Himalayas. During this time, he engaged in self-experimentation and meditation, which he credits with strengthening his inner resolve and helping him discover his “inner power.”
PM Modi recounted how he embraced the solitude of the Himalayan mountains, where he encountered remarkable individuals, including ascetics and spiritual masters. “I spent time in the Himalayas, embracing the solitude of the mountains. I met many remarkable individuals along the way. Some were great ascetics, people who had renounced everything, but still, my mind remained restless. Perhaps it was my age of curiosity, of wanting to learn and to understand. It was a new experience, a world shaped by the mountains, by ice, by the towering, snow-covered peaks. But all of this played a huge role in shaping me. It strengthened me from within and enabled me to discover my inner power,” the Prime Minister shared.
He elaborated on how his time in the Himalayas was not just about solitude but also about serving others. “Practicing meditation, waking up in the sacred pre-dawn hours, bathing in the cold, serving people with devotion, and naturally tending to elderly saints became a seamless part of who I was,” PM Modi explained. He also shared an instance where, during a natural calamity in the region, he devoted himself to helping the affected villagers, reflecting his deep sense of service.
Further, PM Modi spoke about his childhood in a small town, where he spent much of his time reading books. He revealed how this led him to self-experimentation. “I grew up in a very small town. Our life was all about being part of a community. We lived among people, surrounded by them. There was a library in the village, and I used to go there often to read books.” His readings inspired him to experiment on himself and led him to the teachings of two iconic figures—Swami Vivekananda and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “Whenever I read something from the books, I often found myself feeling inspired, thinking, ‘Why shouldn’t I shape my own life like that?'” he said, reflecting on his lifelong desire to understand how great leaders lived and built their remarkable lives.
PM Modi also shared a poignant story from his readings about Swami Vivekananda’s encounter with Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Vivekananda sought guidance from Ramakrishna to cure his mother’s illness, and Ramakrishna advised him to seek blessings from Goddess Kali. However, when asked, Vivekananda found himself unable to request anything, which left a lasting impression on PM Modi. “I believe that perhaps that small incident in Vivekananda’s life left an impression on me too. The thought of, ‘What can I give to the world?’ Maybe true contentment comes from giving,” the Prime Minister said.
Expanding on his philosophical views, PM Modi emphasized the concept of non-duality, shaped by his readings of Vivekananda’s teachings. “If you wish to serve Shiva, serve all living beings. Recognize the unity between the divine and the living. True non-duality is experienced through this realization,” he added, reflecting on his deep spiritual reflections that guide his life and leadership.