About
Serenity begins with an inquiry into the Self.
My name is Hemal Trivedī and I am a lifelong student. I have dedicated my graduate and undergraduate studies to the fields of Indian Philosophy and Psychology.
I firmly believe that the philosophies of ancient India and modern psychology can intersect and greatly contribute to our psychological well-being. Most of my research is concerned with the topics of Yoga, the psychology of mind, Meditation (Mindfulness, Chanting), Self, Narrative Formation, Meaning Making and many other topics. I am particularly drawn to Sāṅkhya/Yoga philosophy which delineates the nature of the immaterial and material world and how the practitioner is required to engage his/her mind to achieve psychological and soteriological goals.
I greatly enjoy writing prose-poetry, spoken word and short stories. I am fascinated with self-study and introspection. Understanding oneself is a never ending process which yields great insight into our healthy and maladaptive behaviors. For this reason, I believe self-inquiry, asking “why”, and silence are powerful tools for self-knowledge.
Academic Credentials
- Master’s of Arts in Religious Studies || University of Texas at Austin
- Master’s of Arts in Religious Studies || Rutgers University
- Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology || Rutgers University
- Associates of Science in Biology || County College of Morris
My Advisors
- Dr. Edwin Bryant || Professor of Indology || Rutgers University
- Dr. Stephen Phillips || Professor of Indian Philosophy || University of Texas
- Dr. Satyanārāyaṇa Dāsa || Professor of Sanskrit, Indian Philosophy and Guru || Jīva Institute
- Dr. Rājarāo Baṇdāru || Professor of Engineering and Sanskrit
- Dr. Jay Valentine || Professor of Buddhism
Lineage
Narendra Desai (Grandfather) || Vedic Astrologer, Lawyer, Indian Independence Freedom Fighter.
My grandfather often quoted a line from Longfellow’s Psalm of Life to describe the virtue of perseverance and a quality belonging to the planet Śani (Saturn).
- Let us, then, be up and doing,
- With a heart for any fate;
- Still achieving, still pursuing,
- Learn to labor and to wait.