In spirituality, liberation and redemption from this world is a very important topic. Among all the religions of this world, the principal aim is God-realization, gaining salvation, and eventually entering the kingdom of Lord. The Saints tell that this objective has to be achieved in this life, here and now. The real devotee experiences the […]
Removing a Layer of Ignorance: tattvabOdhA – Self Knowledge
By Malathy Krishnan (CHAKRA) Never being a religious person, though born into a house that revered gods; and married into a family that was orthodox, traditional and staunch believers of Vaishnavism… For many years, my life went on, with just a prayer or two before an exam and / or before an important occasion – […]
Practices Derived from Buddhist Meditation Show Real Effectiveness for Certain Health Problems
According to a report in the July Journal of Psychiatric Practice, mindfulness practices including Zen mediation have helped to resolve mental and physical health problems. “An extensive review of therapies that include meditation as a key component—referred to as mindfulness-based practices—shows convincing evidence that such interventions are effective in the treatment of psychiatric symptoms and pain, […]
Picture of the Week: Wisdom Eyes of Buddha
The wisdom eyes of Buddha symbol looks in the 4 directions to show the all-seeing of a Buddha. The Buddha eyes are mostly common in the country of Nepal. The question mark like symbol is the Nepali character for 1, which symbolizes unity of all the things. Above this is a third eye, symbolizing the all-seeing wisdom of the Buddha.
What is our “Religion” ? What is “Dharma” ?
By Karthik Vaidhinathan (CHAKRA) I would like to discuss briefly my ideas on the English terms like religion, faith and culture and Indic terms like dharma, sanatana dharma, vaidika dharma etc. and also touch upon what we should call ourselves. Different cultures have had different experiences which have conditioned them in different ways, and thus the categories […]
Beauty and the ‘Beast’ of Sufism
(CHAKRA) Sufism is contrasted with more intolerant strains of Islam, notably that advocating jihad, proscribing of dancing and music, intolerance towards the kuffar, and strict interpretation of sharia. Unlike the stern teachings found within Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia or the Shia strain in Iran , Sufi Islam holds a more mystical approach in which the […]
Freedom in Love and Relationships
(CHAKRA) In the Gita, Lord Krishna explores karma yoga at great length. They say charity begins at home, what better way to be a karma yogi than with those closest to us? This is a treatise on love and relationships. The ideas discussed here are based on personal experiences filtered through an analytical process, as well […]
Lord Vishnu the Lord of the Universe
(CHAKRA) Lord Vishnu, the Lord of the Universe and a part of “The Trinity” of the Hindu concept of the Highest Universal Energy that pervades the each matter that exists in this visible world. Meditation on who leads us to “Samadhi” which culminates into realisation of the Highest Primordial Energy Self. The ultimate name of […]
Sri Satya Sai Baba Message: Love all Serve All
Dearest Sai Brothers and Sisters, Sai Ram. Below is the text of a message that trickled in my inbox on an interview of Professor Anil Kumar, a long forty year old devotee of Swami and also His official interpreter of lectures whenever He delivered them after the passing away of Professor N. Kasturi. I have […]
The Blue Throated Shiva
Oh Shiva, I call your name silently from my heart. Teach me the secrets of yoga and the Self. -Yogi Baba Prem (CHAKRA) Shiva is often considered the lord of the Yogi’s, as Shiva, like Krishna, is credited with teaching the science of yoga. Commonly known as the destroyer, Shiva is often not embraced by […]