Workday lays off 1,750 employees, or about 8.5% of its workforce
In a Wednesday (5th Feb) memo to employees, published in a securities filing, Workday CEO Carl Eschenbach said the layoffs were necessary for ongoing growth efforts at the company.
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In a Wednesday memo to employees, published in a securities filing, Workday CEO Carl Eschenbach said the layoffs were necessary for ongoing growth efforts at the company — including a particular focus on artificial intelligence investments.
“As we start our new fiscal year, we’re at a pivotal moment,” Eschenbach wrote. “Companies everywhere are reimagining how work gets done, and the increasing demand for AI has the potential to drive a new era of growth for Workday.”
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Workday aims to notify the majority of employees affected by the cuts on Wednesday. “I realize this is tough news, and it affects all of us,” Eschenbach added — encouraging employees to work from or head home for the day.
The maker of human resources software also disclosed that it expects to exit certain office space, but didn't specify a timeline or which locations may be impacted. Still, Eschenbach's memo notes that the restructuring will work to expand Workday's global reach by “investing in strategic locations.”
And despite the current layoffs, the maker of human resources software says that it still expects to continue hiring in certain locations and positions over the next year.
Workday estimates that it will incur between $230 million and $270 million in charges related to the restructuring plan — primarily in severance payments, employee benefits and other related costs. All employees laid off in the U.S. will be offered a minimum of 12 weeks of pay, with additional weeks based on tenure, Eschenbach said Wednesday, adding that affected workers in other countries will be offered packages based on local standards.
The job cuts at Workday arrive as layoffs continue across the tech sector — including from big names like Intel, Cisco and Apple over the past year — amid a broader wave of industry consolidation. Many companies have turned to restructuring as they grapple with how to stay competitive with evolving consumer spending, while also boosting AI-related investments.
Workday plans to release earnings results for its full 2025 fiscal year later this month. In the third quarter, the Pleasanton, California-based company posted a net income of $193 million and revenue of $2.16 billion — up from a net income of $132 million and revenue of $2.09 billion in the period prior.
Shares for Workday were up more than 2.5% by midday trading Wednesday.
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Meta Platforms, on Monday, kickstarted the process to terminate “low-performing” employees by notifying the job cuts as it scours for new talent to dominate the AI race.
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Meta notified laid-off employees via email and is providing severance packages to US-based staff, according to Bloomberg News, citing confidential sources. The severance includes 16 weeks of base pay, plus an additional two weeks for each year of service. Employees eligible for performance bonuses will still receive them, and stock awards will be granted as part of the upcoming vesting cycle later this month, the report added.
Reports say several employees who received positive ratings for their performance during the mid-year reviews were also handed pink slips. These employees were shocked to see their ratings being downgraded to "Meets Most" during the year-end reviews from "At or Above Expectations", making them eligible for the job cuts.
Kaila Curry, who worked as a Content Manager at Meta's San Francisco office, according to her LinkedIn profile, was one of the employees who was rated “exceeds expectations” rating in her mid-year review and was let go on Monday.
"I was placed on a project that multiple managers admitted had me ‘not set up for success’. I frequently asked for feedback and was always told I was doing a good job. I was never placed on a PIP, never given corrective feedback, and never properly mentored or provided clear expectations," she said in her LinkedIn post sharing the news.
Another employee Brittney Ball, who worked at the company for five years, according to her LinkedIn profile, was also laid off on the same day.
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Cognizant Technology Solutions, headquartered in the US, experienced a decline in its workforce during the December quarter, with a reduction of 10,700 employees compared to the same period last year and 3,300 fewer than the previous quarter. Despite this, the company anticipates increasing its headcount throughout 2025 as it grows. CFO Jatin Dalal expressed confidence in adding employees over the course of the year to support expansion.
Cognizant’s Workforce Trends: Attrition, Returnees, and Utilization Insights
The company concluded the quarter with approximately 336,800 employees. Attrition increased to 15.9% on a trailing twelve-month basis, reflecting a better demand environment and enhanced hiring capabilities. This rise in attrition aligns with trends observed across Indian IT firms in recent quarters. Additionally, the company’s utilization rate decreased by 2 percentage points to 82%. However, management highlighted that utilization improvements remained strong throughout 2024.
CEO Ravi Kumar S emphasized that Cognizant is witnessing a “return of returnees,” with 13,000 former employees rejoining the company in 2024, and an additional 10,000 expressing interest in coming back. This trend highlights the company’s strong talent pool and its ability to attract leadership.
Cognizant’s Workforce Trends and Market Position Amid Industry Shifts
In contrast, Cognizant’s rival Accenture saw its headcount grow for the third consecutive quarter, adding 24,697 employees to reach 799,000 in Q1 FY25. On the other hand, India’s top five IT services companies—TCS, Infosys, HCLTech, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra—reported a combined reduction of 2,587 employees in Q3 FY25, primarily due to the seasonally weaker period marked by furloughs and reduced hiring.
Although Cognizant experienced a reduction in workforce, it surpassed revenue expectations. The company has projected an annual revenue growth of 3.5% to 6% in constant currency terms for 2025, indicating optimism for the year ahead.
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Tears running down her cheeks, a female trainee from Madhya Pradesh pleaded with Infosys officials on February 7, "Please let me stay the night. I will leave tomorrow. Where will I go right now," after she was asked to vacate the Mysuru campus immediately , according to another trainee who, too, was fired by the IT services giant.
The two were among the around 400 trainees let go by Infosys on that day after failing evaluation tests three times in a row.
"We don’t know. You are no longer part of the company. Vacate the premises by 6 pm," was the response from an Infosys official, as claimed by the trainee.
Hundreds of trainees scrambled to find taxis and buses to head back to their hometowns. Many had joined Infosys nearly two and a half years after graduating, only to be terminated just months later. Fear and uncertainty loomed as they grappled with how to break the news to their parents on returning home.
Early morning on February 7, batches of about 50 trainees were called in with their laptops for a discussion, starting at 9.30 am. They were huddling inside a room guarded by security outside and bouncers inside.
“You are required to maintain confidentiality, hence please do not discuss this, or share this calendar invite with anyone,” read a mail sent to the affected trainees a day earlier.
The trainee mentioned above said Finacle (Infosys’ digital banking platform) employees were on campus and so were a few US clients. “Therefore, buses were used as shields to cover the area where we were being called and terminated one by one. We were escorted out in a way so as to not catch their attention,” the trainee said.
“This is cruelty, it is a big company, trainees fear speaking the truth,” another trainee who was asked to leave told Moneycontrol on the condition of anonymity.
Infosys, in a statement, said: “At Infosys, we have a rigorous hiring process where all freshers, after undergoing extensive foundational training at our Mysuru campus, are expected to clear internal assessments. All freshers get three attempts to clear the assessment, failing which they will not be able to continue with the organisation, as is also mentioned in their contract. This process has been in existence for over two decades and ensures a high quality of talent availability for our clients.”
Trainees, who spoke on the condition that they not be identified, alleged that the company made the eligibility criteria very stringent for the 2024 batch.
Fears still loom
They alleged that trainers had warned them beforehand that the exam would be designed in such a manner that a significant number of trainees would struggle to pass.
The fear still looms that about 4,500 trainees, who are still undergoing training, might meet a similar fate, sources said.
On February 14, about 450 trainees from the October 21 batch, selected mostly for system engineer roles, will sit their third attempt. It remains to be seen how many clear the exam and how many are terminated.
Evaluation, Passing Criteria
The evaluation and passing criteria for trainees is divided into different focus areas, with benchmarks that must be met to merit a completion.
For the “technology stream” trainees are required to achieve a minimum of 50 percent in each focus area, internal documents accessed by Moneycontrol showed. However, just clearing individual focus areas is not enough; an overall average score of at least 65 percent across all focus areas in the “technology stream” is mandatory.
A flashback: 2022
Over the past two and a half years, the freshers training programme has undergone drastic changes allege trainees.
In 2022, the process was more structured and provided enough time for learning. Cut to 2024, the syllabus has been majorly expanded and the completion time drastically reduced, making it nearly impossible for trainees to fulfill the required assessment.
In 2022, freshers had to go through two main testing phases — generic and technology stream. The generic phase itself had two assessments: FA1, which is Java, and FA2, which is Database Management System (DBMS). FA1 involved only one coding problem and some multiple-choice questions (MCQs), while FA2 required running just four queries in DBMS.
The passing criteria across was overall 50 percent.
There was no time limit for attempting the generic test — candidates could take it at any point within their six-month training period.
Even if someone failed the generic phase, they were still allowed to move on to the technology stream phase and continue their learning, sources said.
In many cases, trainees who failed were still promoted to meet company hiring demands.
2024, a whole new ball game
Fast forward to 2024, and the entire system was overhauled, making it much more challenging at a time when the IT industry was grappling with a challenging demand environment.
India’s second-largest software exporter sent offer letters back in 2022 but did not on-board the candidates after the company faced a slump. The delay, however, was an industry-wide issue. Fears of a looming recession in IT companies' major markets and the absence of discretionary spending led companies to pause hiring, leading to a multi-decadal decline in headcount.
IT companies, including Infosys, have since been slow on hiring. They gradually started hiring as the demand environment seem to turning around after almost one and a half years.
The structure remains the same — generic and stream phases — but the syllabus and passing criteria have changed dramatically, above sources rued.
In the generic phase, the two tests have been renamed as F1 (Java) and FA2 (DBMS).
F1 (Java) now covers Data Structures, Object-Oriented Programming, and Programming Fundamentals. Instead of just one coding problem, candidates now face three coding challenges— one each for Data Structures, Programming Fundamentals, and OOPS. Additionally, MCQs are included.
Each section also now requires a minimum of 65 percent to pass instead of a 50 percent average.
FA2, or DBMS, now requires candidates to run eight queries instead of four, further increasing the difficulty.
The syllabus for Programming Fundamentals is now around 120 hours long, while Data Structures is about 40 hours. The total syllabus requires 200 hours of study.
However, candidates are expected to study from 9.15 am to 5.45 pm in training, and to cover the syllabus, they would need an extra eight hours of self-study a day, which is practically impossible.
Similarly, DBMS training has been reduced to just 10 days despite requiring 100 hours of study.
The Impact
These sudden and excessive changes have resulted in a drastic increase in failure rates.
Of the 930 trainees that joined on October 7, around 160 passed in the first attempt and over 140 in the second.
Over 630 students failed by January 1, 2025 due to the increased syllabus and reduced time.
Previously, freshers were given up to three attempts for the generic phase and could still proceed to the stream phase. Now, trainees must clear generic first before moving to the stream phase.
Earlier termination rates were under 10 percent but now they have risen to 30-40 percent.
Unfair syllabus overlap
A major concern is that the same syllabus is being taught for different roles with vast salary differences, sources said.
System engineers, who earn about Rs 20,000 a month, are now studying the same syllabus as specialist programmers, who earn approximately Rs 70,000.
Previously, hiring exams were designed as per job roles — system engineer papers were simpler, as it was a support role. Now, they are forced to take the same difficult tests as high-paying specialist programmers, they said.
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Anxiety is Normal: Fight-or-flight responses (dry mouth, racing heart) are natural. A little stress can boost focus and energy. 🧠💪
ABCs of Anxiety:
Affective: Feelings of vulnerability, fear, or pressure.
Behavioral: Sweating, shaking, fast speech.
Cognitive: Negative self-talk, blanking out, fixation on judgment.
Mindfulness Matters: Acknowledge anxiety without letting it define you. Reframe it as excitement! 🧘♂️✨
Breathing is Key: Deep, slow breaths (exhale twice as long as inhale) calm your nervous system instantly. 🌬️
Cool Down: Hold something cold (like water) to reduce blushing and sweating. ❄️
Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative thoughts with mantras like “I’ve got this” or “I have value to add.” 💬💡
Structure Your Speech: Use pauses, repetition, and questions to buy time and stay on track. 🗣️⏸️
Reduce Fillers: Sync speech with breath—end sentences out of breath to avoid “um” and “uh.” 🎯
Spotlight Effect: Most people are too focused on themselves to judge you harshly. ðŸŽ
Action Plan: Create Your AMP (Anxiety Management Plan)
Example AMPs:
BOOM: Be present, Observe movements, Oxygenate, Mantra.
ARC: Acknowledge anxiety, Rationalize, Cool down.
Customize: Pick 3-5 techniques that work for you and create your own acronym.
Pro Tip: Practice daily deep breathing and rehearse your AMP before high-stakes situations. Small, consistent efforts lead to big confidence gains! 🚀
Final Thought: Anxiety doesn’t have to control you. With the right tools, you can speak up without freaking out. 🎤✨
This chapter explores how our minds are governed by a series of mental modules, each associated with different feelings and goals, and how this relates to the Buddhist concept of "no-self." Here are the key takeaways:
Our "intertemporal utility function" (willingness to delay gratification) isn't fixed; it can change based on circumstances. For example, men's willingness to delay gratification decreases when shown pictures of attractive women.
The mind can be viewed as a collection of modules, or "subselves," that take turns being in charge. Which module is activated depends on the situation and the associated feelings. A scary movie can activate the "self-protection" module, while a romantic movie activates the "mate-acquisition" module.
Feelings trigger modules. They are the driving force behind which module takes control of our consciousness and, consequently, our behavior.
Jealousy is a prime example of a powerful feeling activating a specific module. It can drastically alter a person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
The "mate-acquisition" module can influence various aspects of behavior, including time discounting and career aspirations. Men in the presence of women may become more focused on accumulating wealth, even if they aren't consciously aware of this shift.
Modules can be triggered without conscious awareness. We may not realize why we're behaving a certain way, as the underlying module's influence is often subconscious.
The concept of "no-self" in Buddhism is supported by the modular view of the mind. If our preferences and behaviors change from moment to moment depending on which module is active, then what exactly constitutes the unchanging "self"?
Modules can create illusions. For example, the self-protection module can lead to exaggerating perceived threats, and the mate-acquisition module can lead to self-inflation and deflating rivals.
Mindfulness meditation can help us gain control over which modules influence us by changing our relationship to feelings. By observing feelings mindfully, we can lessen their power to dictate our thoughts and actions.
***
Conclusion
Ever feel like your brain is a wild party with a bunch of mini CEOs bickering for control? That’s because it is! Our mind isn’t run by one “self”—it’s a crazy mix of mental modules that switch gears faster than you can say “self-control.” One minute, your mate-acquisition module is shouting “Grab that opportunity now!” and the next, your self-protection module is hunkering down, all thanks to the powerful push and pull of your feelings. Even the Buddha knew the secret: clinging to one unchanging self is a total illusion. Instead, he taught us to chill, observe the chaos, and let mindfulness meditation help us step back from the madness. So next time you cave to that chocolate bar or dive into a dating frenzy, just remember—it’s not really you making the call, it’s your brain’s rambunctious inner committee throwing a party!
Ch 8: How Thoughts Think Themselves
This chapter explores the connection between Vipassana meditation, the modular model of the mind, and the nature of thoughts and feelings. Here are the key takeaways:
Mindfulness meditation (Vipassana) can provide insights into the workings of your own mind. While not scientific data, these insights can be validated by existing psychological models.
The modular model of the mind suggests that different modules compete for conscious awareness. Mind-wandering during meditation can be seen as these modules vying for control.
Thoughts that pull you away from focusing on your breath often relate to past/future, involve the self, and concern other people. This aligns with the functions of the default mode network and the theory of mind network.
Thoughts don't "think themselves"; modules generate them. The conscious self receives thoughts, rather than creating them. Meditation can help you see this process of thoughts "bubbling up" into consciousness.
Identifying with thoughts is a habit, not an inherent trait. Through meditation, you can learn to observe thoughts with detachment, like watching a movie, rather than getting caught up in their drama.
Feelings are the "propellant" of thoughts. The strength of the feeling attached to a thought influences its ability to enter conscious awareness. Feelings act as labels of priority for thoughts.
Thoughts and feelings are deeply intertwined. This connection is crucial for understanding both the nature of perception and the dynamics of self-control, which will be explored in later chapters. Advanced meditators are better able to perceive the subtle feelings attached to thoughts, allowing them to observe thoughts with greater detachment.
***
Conclusion
Ever notice how your thoughts seem to pop up like they have a life of their own? Welcome to Vipassana—meditation for the inner psychologist! While Zen inspires poets and Tibetan sparks artists, mindfulness meditation lets you sit on a cushion, focus on your breath, and watch your brain throw a wild, unplanned party. Your mind’s like a quirky game show where different modules compete for airtime, and feelings act as turbo-chargers, pushing thoughts onto the stage. Instead of being the boss of your thoughts, you’re just an amused spectator watching them "think themselves." Embrace the chaos, laugh at the mental circus, and enjoy the show—because sometimes, the best control is realizing you’re not really in control at all!
Ch 9: “Self” Control
This chapter argues that feelings, not reason, ultimately drive our decisions and actions, and that mindfulness meditation can help us gain control over these feelings. Here are the key takeaways:
Hume was right: "Reason is the slave of the passions (feelings). Even seemingly rational decisions, like buying something, are ultimately driven by a contest of feelings (attraction vs. aversion). Reason's role is to inform these feelings, not to override them.
Feelings are the original motivators, rooted in evolutionary needs. They guide us toward things that benefit survival and reproduction. As we evolved, feelings became associated with more complex social goals, like making friends and gaining respect.
The prefrontal cortex isn't a rational "charioteer" controlling unruly passions. It's more like a tool used by feelings. Self-control struggles are clashes between competing feelings (e.g., the desire for chocolate vs. the desire for long-term health).
There isn't a separate "rational self" making decisions. Different modules with different goals compete for dominance, and the "winning" module is the one associated with the strongest feeling. Consciousness observes this debate so we can provide socially acceptable rationales for our actions.
Self-discipline isn't a muscle that weakens with disuse. It's more like modules getting stronger through repeated success (and associated gratification). This explains why addictions are so powerful: the modules associated with the addictive behavior get reinforced with each indulgence.
Mindfulness meditation can help weaken dominant modules by depriving them of reinforcement. Instead of fighting urges, you observe them mindfully, creating distance and reducing their power. This "starves" the urge, like not feeding a stray cat. The RAIN technique (Recognize, Accept, Investigate, Non-identify) is a helpful tool.
Problems like a short attention span or hatred can also be seen as self-control issues. Mindfulness can be applied to these by observing the underlying feelings and thus weakening the impulses they generate.
Mindfulness meditation empowers "calm passions" over "violent passions," leading to a greater appreciation of everyday life. It blurs the lines between therapy, moral edification, and spiritual uplift by addressing the root of these problems: being misled by feelings.
***
Conclusion
Ever wonder why you can’t resist that chocolate bar even when you know it’s a bad idea? Blame old Hume—he famously said our reason is just a servant to our feelings. Modern brain scans back him up: our decisions are like a tug-of-war between parts of our brain that cheer for pleasure (hello, chocolate cravings) and those that warn of pain. Imagine your mind as a bunch of rowdy little party animals fighting for control. Then along comes mindfulness, acting like a chill bouncer that watches your urges without feeding them—kind of like ignoring a stray cat at your door. Suddenly, those cravings lose their mojo, and you get to say, “Sure, I’m in charge…sort of!”
Tags: Book Summary,Buddhism,Psychology,Emotional Intelligence,
Ch 4: Bliss, Ecstasy, and the Path to Mindful Insight
Key Takeaways
Awareness of wandering mind = progress: Noticing distractions during meditation is foundational, disrupting the brain’s default mode network (active during mind-wandering).
Default mode network: Governs past/future thinking; quieting it through focus (e.g., breath) fosters present-moment awareness and inner peace.
Two meditation paths:
Concentration: Deep focus (e.g., breath, mantra) induces serenity, even bliss/ecstasy.
Mindfulness (Vipassana): Observes thoughts/feelings without attachment, aiming for insight into reality’s nature.
Mindfulness benefits: Reduces emotional reactivity, enhances appreciation of beauty, and trains non-judgmental awareness in daily life (e.g., less road rage, savoring moments).
Retreat dynamics: Silence and seclusion amplify self-confrontation (“extreme sports for the mind”) but foster clarity and perspective shifts.
Enlightenment’s three marks:
Impermanence: All things change.
Dukkha: Suffering/unsatisfactoriness.
Not-self (anatta): No permanent, controlling “self” exists.
Vipassana’s goal: Insight into reality’s truths, not fleeting bliss. As the teacher advised: “Don’t get attached” to peak experiences.
Enlightenment as gradual: Achieved through incremental insight, not sudden revelation. Mindfulness reveals “building blocks” of liberation from suffering.
Practical takeaway: Daily mindfulness cultivates resilience, presence, and a path to profound self-transformation.
Mindfulness is the means; liberation is the end.
***
Conclusion
Ever been on a “silent” retreat where silence isn’t the whole story? Back in 2003, I tried meditating for a week, but my mind was bouncing around like a hyperactive puppy chasing squirrels! When I finally vented about my runaway thoughts, my teacher cheerfully said, “Great—you noticed it!” That simple “aha” moment taught me to snap back to my breath. Soon, I began treating my wandering mind like a clumsy friend—acknowledging its detours and then laughing them off. Meditation: where even your daydreams get a standing ovation. Embrace the chaos and let your mind wander—then bring it home!
Ch 5: The Alleged Nonexistence of Your Self
Anatta (not-self) is a core Buddhist concept, suggesting the "self" as we perceive it doesn't truly exist.
Understanding not-self can be challenging intellectually; experiential understanding through meditation is considered crucial.
The belief in a fixed "self" is seen as the root of suffering, leading to attachment, craving, and ego.
Experiencing not-self is a gradual process, with even small steps bringing benefits.
The Buddha's "Discourse on the Not-Self" explores the five aggregates (body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, consciousness) to demonstrate the absence of a controllable, permanent self.
The Buddha links the concept of self to control and permanence, arguing that since these are absent in the aggregates, so is the self.
The discourse paradoxically uses language of "I" and "you," leading to debate about whether the Buddha truly denied the self's existence or meant something more nuanced.
Some interpretations suggest the Buddha focused on dis-identifying with the aggregates rather than denying a self altogether.
The concept of "engagement" with the aggregates is introduced, suggesting liberation comes from changing this relationship.
"Witness consciousness" is proposed as a possible aspect of self that remains after liberation.
The chapter suggests focusing on the practical application of not-self, such as disowning unhelpful feelings and redefining the self.
The idea of "taking charge by letting go" is explored, where dis-identifying with uncontrollable aspects of the self leads to liberation from them.
The chapter acknowledges the difficulty and potential confusion around the concept of not-self, suggesting continued reflection and practice.
The historical accuracy of the Buddha's teachings is questioned, acknowledging the evolution of Buddhist texts over time.
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Conclusion
🧘♂️ "Not-Self" Explained (Without Your Head Exploding) 🧠💥
Ajahn Chah warned: Trying to intellectually grasp "not-self" (anatta) might make your head explode. 💥 (Spoiler: It won’t… probably.)
The Buddha’s mic-drop moment: "You’re not your body, feelings, thoughts, or consciousness. None of it is you." 🤯
The paradox: If there’s no "self," who’s meditating? 🤔 (Buddhists: "It’s complicated…")
The big idea: Letting go of "me" and "mine" = less suffering, more peace. 🌱
Toothache hack: Meditators can disown pain. One guy skipped Novocain at the dentist. 🦷 (Not recommended for beginners.)
Anxiety hack: Stop owning your anxiety. Watch it like a movie. 🎥 (Spoiler: It’s not yours.)
The takeaway: You don’t have to fully get "not-self" to benefit. Start small—disown a thought, a feeling, or that annoying voice in your head. 🚀
TL;DR: You’re real… but not really real. Meditate on that. 🧘♀️✨
Ch 6: Your CEO Is MIA
No Supreme Self: Buddha’s debate shows none of the five aggregates (form, feeling, etc.) are fully “yours”—no inner king calling the shots.
CEO? More Like a Cheerleader: Modern psychology agrees: your conscious mind isn’t the all-powerful executive you think it is.
Brain’s Storyteller: Split-brain experiments reveal that your brain improvises explanations for your actions—even if you didn’t consciously decide them.
Delusions for Survival: We naturally inflate our abilities to seem coherent and trustworthy, a trick that helped our ancestors survive.
Mind Jungle: Think of your mind as a competitive, modular free-for-all—no single part rules the roost.
Power in Realization: Recognizing your self-delusion is the first step toward actually nudging your behavior.
Meditation Magic: Meditation trains you to observe these inner modules, potentially turning your “speaker” into a real decision-maker.
***
Conclusion
Ever thought you were the CEO of your own brain? Well, Buddha once schooled a braggart by saying, “Your self isn’t really the king of your castle—it’s just a bunch of parts doing their own thing!” Modern science totally backs it up: your mind is like a wild, chaotic circus, where different brain modules throw a party and the left hemisphere even makes up silly stories to explain your actions. So next time you think you're in total control, remember: you're just watching the movie of your life while your brain runs the show. Embrace the chaos—after all, who needs to be the boss when you can be part of the fun?
Tags: Book Summary,Buddhism,Psychology,Emotional Intelligence,
"The Matrix is Real: Humans live in a societal ‘simulation’—shaped by evolutionary illusions that prioritize survival over truth."
Pleasure’s Trap: Natural selection designed us to chase fleeting rewards (food, status, sex), leaving us on a hedonic treadmill of endless wanting.
Buddha’s Insight: Suffering (dukkha) stems from clinging to impermanent pleasures—true peace comes from letting go, not consuming more.
Mindfulness ≠ Roses: Ancient Buddhist practice confronts harsh truths (decay, mortality) to shatter illusions; modern “self-care” often softens the message.
Science Meets Spirit: Evolutionary psychology explains why we’re deluded; meditation offers a path to see clearly and break free.
The Red Pill Choice: Liberation requires facing discomfort—awareness of mental chains (Buddhism) + understanding their origin (science) = true freedom.
Tagline: “Awaken from evolution’s dream. See reality. Choose freedom.”
***
The Fun Way
Ever felt like you're living in a cheesy sci-fi movie? Picture this: you're Neo, stuck in the Matrix, munching on powdered sugar donuts, and life is just one big, hilarious illusion. Natural selection wired our brains to chase quick, fleeting pleasures—even if it means getting tricked every time! Then comes the red pill moment: meditation and mindfulness step in like your quirky guru, showing you the truth behind the delusion. So, ditch the blue pill of endless junk food cravings and dive deep into reality. Ready to see how wild the rabbit hole really goes? Take the red pill, laugh at life’s absurdities, and start your journey to real clarity!
Ch 2: Paradoxes of Meditation
No Success or Failure: Meditation isn’t about winning or losing—it's about experiencing the process.
Let Go to Succeed: The harder you chase meditative "success," the further it eludes you.
Paradox of Need: Those who need meditation the most often find it the hardest to practice.
Embrace Discomfort: Accepting unpleasant feelings can diminish their power over you.
Shift Your Perspective: Observing your emotions from a distance can transform pain into neutrality.
Delusions Unveiled: Our everyday feelings and judgments are often illusions shaped by our nature.
Inner and Outer Reality: Both our inner world and external perceptions are less solid than they seem.
Tool for Peace: By clarifying our minds, meditation can help reduce personal suffering and societal tribalism.
Challenging Conventions: The Buddhist ideas of emptiness and no-self invite us to question what we take for real.
A Path to Liberation: Meditation offers a gateway not just to personal clarity, but to a more harmonious world.
***
The Fun Way
Ever tried meditating and got more frustrated than focused? Here’s the paradox: meditation isn’t about “succeeding” – it’s about letting go of success! Picture this: the more you chase calm, the more it escapes you. I’m practically the Bobby Knight of meditation—volatile, distracted, and a magnet for inner chaos. But guess what? That very chaos is why I need meditation the most! Embrace your fidgety mind, laugh at your wandering thoughts, and discover that even “failure” in meditation can flip into unexpected calm. So, kick back, let go of the pressure, and enjoy the quirky journey to inner peace!
Ch 3: When Are Feelings Illusions?
Feelings are real, but some are illusory in that they can lead us astray.
Feelings evolved to guide organisms toward beneficial things and away from harmful ones.
"True" feelings align with what's genuinely good for an organism's survival.
"False" feelings, or illusions, lead to behaviors that are ultimately harmful.
Environmental mismatch: Feelings designed for ancestral environments can become maladaptive in modern life (e.g., sweet tooth, road rage).
False positives: Some feelings, like fear of snakes, are designed to be frequently wrong to ensure survival in rare, life-threatening situations.
Modern life creates new kinds of "false" feelings by making it difficult to assess and react to social cues (e.g., fear of offending, self-consciousness, public speaking anxiety).
Feelings often feel inherently true, making it difficult to objectively assess their validity.
Meditation and cognitive-behavioral therapy can help discern and manage illusory feelings.
Natural selection prioritized gene propagation over our long-term happiness, leading to potential delusions about what brings lasting fulfillment.
***
The Fun Way
Ever feel like your brain is playing tricks on you? 🤯 Turns out, our feelings aren't always the reliable guides we think they are. From donut cravings to public speaking jitters, we explore why some feelings are straight-up illusions. 🤯 Want to take back control? Follow this page for more mind-blowing insights!
Tags: Book Summary,Psychology,Emotional Intelligence,Buddhism,
