Unfolding Conscious Spirituality: Vivek Singhal’s distinct worldview at the convergence of spirituality, academia and professionalism

Great journeys begin unannounced, and such was the case for Vivek Singhal (https://dharmalincoln.com/) in post-independence New Delhi. Growing up in a modest family that emphasised values and ambition, Vivek was exposed to the constructive side of spirituality, which integrated meaning and purpose for the rest of his life. The watchful eyes of elders, and the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Ramkrishna Mission taught young Vivek that true abundance lay beyond earthly possessions, but in learning the true purpose of life. This nascent crucible was the defining factor that stayed with him even when he left for the US to pursue academia, marking the beginning of his lifelong journey of learning that led him to a distinct worldview. “The real wealth lies in meaning,” says Vivek, reminiscing about the driving force that guided him with a spiritual heart, combining the intellectual discourse that highlights inquiry, curiosity, and openness.

Converging Eastern and Western philosophies require a course of conscious turn, and Vivek witnessed it first at a nascent age of 8. He reminisces about his visit to Ramkrishna Mission Centre with his father, directly being exposed to the highest echelons of Eastern philosophy of Swami Vivekananda. “I felt a lifelong calling,” he reveals, speaking about how he decided to name himself Vivek. The deep impact Swamiji’s words left on him led Vivek to carry several of Swamiji’s books with him when he left for the United States years later, but little was known at the time about the inner clarity, conscious choice and fearless expression it would manifest on himself over the course of academia and professional lives. “The resounding motivations Swami Vivekananda had on me have never left my mind,” says Vivek, serving as a living testament of similar inner clarity like Swamiji, and a bold articulation that he has highlighted in his upcoming book.

Vivek’s intellectual odyssey is a transformation of years of exposure to spirituality and philosophies from both Eastern and Western hemispheres. From the corridors of IIT Delhi to the world’s most recognised scientific frontier at NASA, along with the strategic insights garnered from the University of Michigan, his worldview has stayed true to its path. “Curiosity is fuelled by knowledge, but knowledge is meaningless without wonder,” he articulates the foundations of his core philosophy. Spending years in academia and professional lives while holding onto spirituality taught him the “dance between Shoonya (emptiness) and Anant (infinity)” — bringing him to the crossroads of the deep understanding of Eastern and Western schools of thought. “Live with awareness,” he still recalls his father’s words after all these years, something he considers to be his guiding principle across his life. The holistic understanding of spirituality-based worldview was fuelled by his interactions with National Knowledge Commission members, along with PanIIT leaders in India and the US. “It was my first window into how public–private partnerships really work behind the scenes,” he recalls, adding that his connection with the University of Chicago also played a considerable part in forming his idea of global dynamics.

Eastern philosophy and Western pragmatism — these are some of the primary constituents that inspired Vivek’s worldview alongside his deep spirituality, which has inspired him to forge his own unique approach towards leadership, literature and life. “The East taught me to listen inward,” he reveals, “the West taught me to act outward,” he maintains. What this represents is an integrated perspective that prizes “presence as much as performance,” and Vivek says that true potential can be achieved from a centred mindset. To Vivek, literature is far beyond the simple submission of ideas, but a bridge of hearts that connects divisions. It is at this particular moment that the tension between spirituality and science vanishes. “They are not in opposition,” he says, further explaining that science emphasises detecting measurable patterns outside, while spirituality works to unearth silent truths within. He reveals that both disciplines require discipline, and through harmonising, one can understand oneself more deeply within them. Vivek maintains that silence and stillness are the great unifiers of a centred being, something he attributes to his morning walks, breath awareness and creating small sanctuaries of solitude amidst responsibility.

Vivek’s worldview stems from the fragmentation of the world with ideologies, technology and spectacles, bringing in profound integration of spirituality and clarity. He supplements the idea of questioning the status quo as a unique form of reverence, committing himself to unearthing deeper truth. He feels humanity stands at a crucial juncture of evolution where it is transitioning “from a civilisation of conquest to one of consciousness.” According to Vivek, this transition demands active observation and collective responsibility, and extends a sincere invitation to individuals to embrace “conscious co-creatorship” by recognising every single choice, bolstering or weakening the ethical foundations for the future. “Taking responsibility, not just reacting to the world but responding from a place of awareness,” he explains. For him, sharing what he has witnessed through the very act of questioning and seeking deeper meaning is a commitment to proving deep assumptions, leading to a more conscious and compassionate civilisation in the future.