How MSD Student Bipin Regmi Found Happiness at MIU

Meet Bipin Regmi, who hails from the spiritual country of Nepal but never found inner happiness until he was 30 years old and everything came together at MIU.

What was it like, growing up in Nepal?

I’m from a small town called Butwal, Nepal where spirituality is central to our culture.  My entire family is spiritual and my grandfather used to do blessings for people in their homes.

Did your family encourage you to be more of a spiritual person?

I am a person who needs to get the feeling for myself instead of from other people, so I wasn’t drawn to my family’s spirituality while growing up. My parents were wise enough to let me find my own path.

Where did you go to college?

My higher education was in India where I studied finance and accounting, similar to a U.S. CPA. Although I was smart in high school in Nepal, I had to work very hard while in college in India, and by the tim

e I graduated in 2013 I was tired and unhappy. I took some accounting jobs and I was a college professor for a year, but I still wasn’t happy, so I thought I should travel and see the world and learn more about myself.

Like Nepal, India is also known for its spiritual culture. Did you gain any insight into finding happiness while you were there?

Actually, when I was in India, I realized I was exerting myself and getting nowhere, so I thought I would try meditation. I took a 10-day Vipassana class but when I left India and traveled, I lost the momentum and the practice was lost.

 What did you learn from your travels?

I was like the alchemist, always traveling and searching and never finding happiness. I was stressed out and still pushing myself too hard, and only sleeping 5 to 6 hours. I never found the happiness I was looking for.

 How did you hear about MIU?

While working in Seattle I came to know a group of people who had all graduated from MIU. They had good jobs and families and they were happy, so I wanted to be like them. One of those was Ashim Ghimire who recently graduated from the Master’s of Software Development (MSD) program. He was also from Nepal and I became friends with Ashim and his whole family.

What was it about Ashim and his family that impressed you?

Ashim’s father had been practicing the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique for 17 years and met Maharishi in Katmandu. He said that he had practiced many other meditations before learning TM. TM worked best for him, and he never missed practicing it every day. He really sparked my interest in learning this meditation.

What motivated you to enroll in the Masters in Software Development program?

I wanted to get into software development but I didn’t have a computer background, so I was looking for a school or program to develop those skills. Ashim’s brother graduated from ComPro in 2008 and highly recommended MIU, but I couldn’t apply for ComPro because they require a computer science background.  Then Ashim told me about the MSD program, which was relatively new and accepted Permanent U.S. Residents*.  When I heard you didn’t need a computer background I thought it would be a great program for me. I was also intrigued because all the students meditate. As the old saying goes, “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.”

“Here at MIU, I learned that happiness comes from the inside, not from traveling around the world looking for something outside.”

What was it like for you when you arrived at MIU?

I was so excited to learn TM when I arrived at MIU and when I finally learned, all of a sudden everything got connected. I realized how one step leads to the next and I started feeling more contented. Here at MIU, I learned that happiness comes from the inside, not from traveling around the world looking for something outside. Ironically, 2020 was the best year for me. I felt like I found myself. I wanted to be a vegetarian but could never do it until now. I’m sleeping well for the first time in a long time, and I’m focusing on myself and my meditation practice while getting a great education. And I’m happy.

What is most inspiring about MIU in general? Anything that stands out?

For me, it’s the environment, meditation, and healthy food. The meditation and the environment helped me put good habits into place and each new good habit helped me step into the next good habit.

Based on your experience, do you recommend this program for other aspiring software developers?

During my 30 years of life, I was never satisfied, and I was always looking for more. When I arrived at MIU in 2020 I started working on myself, exercising, being vegetarian, getting more rest, and having a healthier lifestyle. At MIU it is about more than the degree, it’s about finding yourself. So, anyone who comes here will not only gain strong software development skills, but they will become stronger and happier human beings.

Any final comments about your time at MIU?

We learned the 16 laws of nature and applied them to our studies. I especially like the saying “Outer depends on the inner,” which means that everything depends on your perception, which depends on your physiology. So, it’s all about developing yourself from the inside, then you are happier and able to appreciate life. That’s such a great thing about the education here.

“At MIU it is about more than the degree, it’s about finding yourself. So, anyone who comes here will not only gain strong software development skills, but they will become stronger and happier human beings.”

Bipin is currently enrolled in the Masters of Software Development program and will begin applying for JavaScript web developer positions when his courses finish in August 2021. We wish him the best of luck and promise to keep you posted about his next adventure in the world of IT!

This article was written by Christine Albers, Professional Writer.