Roughly fifty years ago the “Hippie Revolution” as it is commonly called began and with it the Western world had its eyes opened for the first time to many revolutionary teachings born of Eastern Mysticism dating back thousands of years. In that time the Self-Help industry has blossomed in its own way, allowing it to become a powerhouse of inner development now worth nearly $10 billion dollars and showing no signs of slowing down. Yet among the masses of teachers who come and go, one fresh face is arising from a sea of youthful souls seeking spiritual growth, in an effort to lead a future built from love and unity, rather than division and fear.
His name is Vishuddha Das, and at just 25 years of age, he has not only published two Best-Selling books, but has also amassed one of the largest spiritual YouTube channels on Earth with over 500,000 subscribers and counting in a span of just 3 short years. So what can it be that is causing such an intense surge in spiritual curiosity among today’s youth? And how does a “20-something millennial” with a troubled past become one of the fastest-growing faces of this ever evolving self-help movement?
Vishuddha Das is a Shining Example of ‘Modern’ Spirituality
One facet of Vishuddha’s growing influence is clear to see the moment he walks in the room. Short in stature, out of the ordinary, he isn’t clean cut the way most modern self-help teachers appear to be, nor does his face show the wrinkles of time itself. In fact, he may just be the exact opposite of what one expects. Covered head to toe in tattoos, including fully sleeved arms swarming in colorful archetypal symbols with his ink extends all the way up to the front of his throat. A sight potentially off-putting to some of an older era yes, but in this ever evolving modern world, he stands to show that with true conviction, appearance does not negate spiritual growth, for him or anyone else.
Along with this much-to-stereotypical, ‘hippy’ look, Vishuddha sports a raggedy flowing beard surrounded by a sea of large, half-kempt dreadlocks. And although he might not play the part of clean cut, his visible breaking of such a common mold is exactly what many other young spiritualists are thankful to finally see. Because although the self-help market is flooded with orderly looking teachers, for many to see an outlier of that accepting his own unique appearance is exactly what they had been seeking for so long. One of their own to help blaze the path to inner awakening. The modern world of spiritual seekers are simply put, jaded from the oversaturated clean cut 60 year old in a 3 piece suit preaching about enlightenment. Because to them, a 20-something tattoo riddled teacher with a criminal history isn’t just a statement of difference, but more importantly a statement of his unending acceptance of them, and a clear reality that no matter what one faces in their past, the future always holds room for growth.
Inner Peace is Fast Becoming the New “Success”
Success is one word that while holding a standard societally accepted ‘definition’, is upon closer examination almost always seen in a subjective light to the individual. And although a large fraction of popular culture uses success as a sales tactic, the modern world is quickly waking up to this ‘duping’ so to speak of relying on the external world to define them. Instead individuals are beginning to looking within for meaning on a level that has never been seen before. And with educators such as Vishuddha Das rising to prominence through their endearing embrace of one powerful mantra repeated constantly across their teachings, “Inner Peace is the New Success.”
This realization alone has brought forth a more united world on not just a political spectrum, but on a spiritual level as well. For while many classical teachings of older generations hold onto rules, laws, customs and so forth, modern teachers such as Vishuddha Das seem to respectfully reject the notion of conformity by treating & teaching spiritual philosophies such as Vedanta, Buddhism & more not as some “esoteric” secret meant for few, but something accessible to anyone. This act alone has open the floodgates to a more loving, accepting, and stress-free doorway to spiritual life for all, no matter what gender, sexuality, race, or religion. Inner peace is no longer limited to Brahmanic classes and high priests, but is with the help of people like Vishuddha Das in particular, becoming ever more known as a way of life that anyone can embrace if they truly dedicate themselves to it.