Q1. Which do you prioritize more in your decision-making: Following your heart or using your brain?
Ashok ji: Heart.
Q2. Name one skill that you think everyone should learn.
Ashok ji: Patience should be learn by everyone.
Q3. What is something that truly scares you?
Ashok ji: When the people you’re with, who mean everything to you, don’t listen to you and don’t trust you, that’s something truly scary for me.
Q4. Define yourself in five words.
Ashok ji: Honest, Hardworking, learner, spiritual, devotee.
Q5. How do you stay focused?
Ashok ji: Whenever my focus wavers, I spend time with nature, like plants and animals, and even devotion is a path for me through which I regain my focus.
Q6. What is your worst habit?
Ashok ji: Whenever I get hurt and feel bad about something, it takes a lot of time for me to get over it. I keep thinking about it, and I feel like this is one of my worst habits.
Q7. What is the most expensive thing you own?
Ashok ji: I do not believe that I own things. There is nothing that I can call my own, so I do not own anything. That’s my answer to this question.
Q8. Name two person who inspires you, one celebrity and one non-celebrity.
Celebrity: Khan sir (The way he embodies dedication and hard work, and his entire story is very inspiring.)
Non-Celebrity: My mom (She has a very cheerful personality, is extremely kind, and finds contentment in everything. I wish I could be like her.)
Q9. How many hours do you usually sleep?
Ashok ji: 7 hours usually. However, if I don’t have work or in my free hours, I want to sleep even for 24 hours.
Q10. Do you have any good sleep hacks that you use?
Ashok ji: Earlier, I used to talk to people until I fell asleep, but currently, nothing. Just a bit of news before sleeping.
Q11. Arrange these in order of your priorities – Money, Love, Fame, Peace, respect?
Ashok ji: Peace> Respect >Love> Money> Fame.
Q12. What do you think is more worthy of pursuit than wealth?
Ashok ji: More important than money is building one’s own character. Building character is more important than money.
Q13. How do you build and maintain long-lasting relationships?
Ashok ji: Instead of expecting to receive, keep always focus on giving, and any relationship will flourish properly.
Q14. What gives you peace in your career as well as in your relationship?
Ashok ji: Giving my 100% to my work and if I’m a father or a husband or any relation, giving my 100% provides me satisfaction.
Q15. What is your biggest realization in life so far?
Ashok ji: Destiny is already predetermined, and I believe that there are limitations to what you can change. All living beings follow paths that are already decided, and I would credit God for making those decisions.
Q16. If you were given another chance, would you still choose to be born a human?
Ashok ji: If given the chance, I would tell God to make me something else that follows nature and God’s will. If there’s something that aligns with your desires but follows nature and God, then make me that. But don’t make me a human because a human’s life is not righteous. Human life is full of lies, corruption, and filled with the vices of others. So, the answer is no to being a human.
Q17. Have you ever experienced any miracle? Please share it.
Ashok ji: Yes! There have been many events in my life, like my father’s health issues and when the doctors told us that my brother wouldn’t survive, and even surviving in Nagaland was challenging. There are many instances where I survived through tough times because of my Gayatri mantras, and now when I think about it, it feels like a miracle.
Q18. If you meet God, what would you say to him/her?
Ashok ji: If you want to create humans, then do so, but also create a world where people only engage in actions that please you and uphold humanity.
Q19. What is something that blows your mind?
Ashok ji: If I lose my mind.
Q20. Give one financial advice that you’ve learned.
Ashok ji: No matter how much you earn, convince yourself and those around you that you live off half of it and survive on the other half. Let us suppose you earn 50 rupees per day, you need to believe that you earn only 25 rupees per day in order to become financially stable.
Q21. One piece of advice that you would like to give your younger self?
Ashok ji: You needed to focus a little more, maintain a bit more patience, and learn a little more, and then move forward in your career.
Q22. What is your favorite Quote?
Ashok ji: “Do only what you feel good about.”
Q23. Name your favorite book and a movie.
Book: Mahabharata.
Movie: Not exactly, some part of some movie but no name.
Q24. What is your definition of success?
Ashok ji: If your achievements bring happiness to those who are not close to you, and they are inspired or motivated by you, that is called a successful life.
Q25. What is life according to you?
Ashok ji: Actually, I don’t know. Maybe I can give you an answer in the next 10 years. Perhaps you’ll have to wait a while.
———–Thank You———
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Selection Stories
“Experience isn’t just a matter of age; it comes from encountering various tasks and facing diverse situations. This individual is quite philosophical, striving to understand life beyond material possessions. When I was contemplating this interview/talk process, I had it in mind that one day I might be asked you these questions as well. I don’t know if you’ll have the time, but thank you for taking the time. I thoroughly enjoyed this process, and I hope there comes a time when I can share the audio of our conversation with readers. It’s quite a lengthy discussion, and I’ve included the edited version in writing. I hope I did the right thing.
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