an itinerant observer

There is a jetty on Lake Geneva that thinks it is a philosopher. Every few minutes a voice drifts over the water and asks questions no one really wants to answer. That night the recording says, “who’s delusions have you drowned?” Although the grammar is strange, the timing is perfect. I stand back from the railing and watch Adam pretend he has not heard it. He sits alone at the edge of the lake, hood up, shoulders slightly curved, phone in hand. He always tries to look like he has himself figured out. He has not. The man-child carries confusion like spare change in his pocket, rattling everywhere he goes. He calls himself a dumbfuck without blinking, a habit he has perfected far too early. Most men take years to earn that level of self-deprecation. He lifts his vape and inhales with the seriousness of someone negotiating a treaty. The blue light on the device blinks against his cheek. He holds the vapor longer than necessary. When he exhales, the cloud rises in a thin, unste...

There’s a cat. There’s no dialogue. There are no humans. That’s how Flow begins; quietly, like a breath held underwater. A world submerged, not just in water, but in silence, memory, and what’s left when the Anthropocene folds in on itself. The cat doesn’t meow for help. It doesn’t explain. It moves: hesitant, curious, sometimes afraid. We follow. And perhaps, like me, you start seeing yourself in the cat. Not in some mystical reincarnation way, but in the way it stares at a collapsing world and keeps moving forward. Alone. Until it isn’t. Flight Time, Liminal Time It’s not the first time a film has gripped me midair. Something about that altitude - between departure and arrival, held in suspension - tunes the soul to a different frequency. Last time, it was Mother, Couch and Lost Lake Confessions during a layover that stirred meditations on mortality and the tragic absurdity of family (as I wrote in “ Under the Weight of Absurdity ” ). This time, it was Flow: silent, surreal...

Introduction In a world filled with endless possibilities, our personal journey takes shape through a series of transformative moments that mold us into who we are. This holds true for my own story, as I reflect on the words I penned on my LinkedIn profile: "I see patients, I do research, I teach, I create/innovate, and I reinvent myself every few years." Little did I know then that these words would perfectly capture the essence of my ongoing journey of transformation. Immersed in the profound teachings of Bildung, I have come to realize the incredible accuracy of those words. Bildung is an intriguing German tradition of self-cultivation - a lifelong process in which mind and heart facilitate personal growth through self-reflection. Looking back, it becomes evident that my life has been a constant process of reinvention, leading me on a path of purpose and personal growth. Turning Points and Transformative Phases To truly comprehend the transformative nature of my j...

In the center of my existence lies a visual life ring, a captivating symbol of the interconnectedness and profound significance of various domains that shape my journey. This vibrant tapestry encapsulates the very essence of my being, reflecting the pursuit of fulfillment and the relentless quest for growth across five transformative domains. Asad’s Life Ring . Powered by inner life (or inner realm) as the hub, my life ring includes four spokes emanating outwards, each with its specific touch points. The life ring exercise was from a Coursera course called Creativity, Innovation and Transformation that I completed in December 2020. The 2 nd version (V2.0) of the life ring was triggered by the unexpected passage of my friend Dr. Amir Shariff, one of the coolest general surgeons ever! Hence, it is dedicated to him. A detailed explanation of this figure accompanies the text.   At its core, the inner realm beckons me to rediscover the boundless wonders of life through the eyes of...

Introduction In the realm of Sufi literature, a profound concept known as the Commanding Self, or Nafs-i-Ammara , reveals itself as a mysterious intermediary between objective reality and one's authentic self. As Idries Shah eloquently states in The Commanding Self, it is "the key to understanding my entire corpus of work." This captivating concept challenges Sufi teachers to communicate its essence effectively, despite facing accusations of maintaining authority and denying individuals access to higher levels of understanding. The purpose of this essay is to delve into the depths of the Commanding Self, explore its significance in Sufi teachings, and shed light on its relevance to personal transformation and self-realization. By unraveling the layers of the Commanding Self, we can gain valuable insights into the journey of the soul and the path toward inner awakening. The Commanding Self: A Closer Look "The Commanding Self thrives on convincing individuals that its...

As the year 2023 unfolded, I found myself standing at a significant crossroads—a milestone marking ten years since my relocation from Houston to Karachi. It was a moment of reflection, where the flickering ember of my muse reignited within me. As in the past, it beckoned me to embrace those very failures that had woven themselves into the fabric of my existence, for they had shaped my trajectory through academic rejections, professional setbacks, and personal stumbling blocks. Amidst those failures, I discovered the profound blessings of love, employment, research, parenthood, and caregiving—an epiphany that revealed success as nothing more than a redefined manifestation of failure. Guided once again by the gentle whispers of my muse, I found myself drawn deeper into the caverns of introspection, where profound growth was nurtured amidst pain. As I cast my gaze upon the retrospective lens, I acknowledged the inherent challenges and limitations it presented. It was in response to this...

  "I see patients, I do research, I teach, I write, I create | innovate | startup, and I reinvent myself every few years..." These words, captured in my LinkedIn tagline, perfectly encapsulate the multifaceted journey I embarked on during my decade at Aga Khan University (AKU). Looking back, this milestone marks 10 years of profound growth, both personally and professionally, as I reflect on the invaluable insights that have shaped my path. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu Almost three decades ago, when I took my first step into AKU as a medical student, I had no inkling of the remarkable voyage that awaited me. After my MBBS from AKU, my fascination with human genes and genomes led me to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston, Texas, setting the stage for an awe-inspiring journey of academic exploration and intellectual revelations. While at Texas Children's Hospital,...