I am sure many of you are familiar with the song, ‘Black is black.’ It has beautiful rhythm and sadness in it. It is also similar to Viraha which means the deep pain or realization of love through separation from a beloved. Continue reading
Hearty laughter is a good way to jog internally without having to go outdoors. – Norman Cousins
Laughter is an instant vacation. – Milton Berle
Laugh till your tummy hurts. – Winnie the Pooh
We celebrate Janmashtami, because it is the birth of Krishna, who is the eighth Avatar of Vishnu. He descended earth during Dvapara yuga to restore righteousness (Dharma), vanquish evil forces and protect the good. Dvapara Yuga is the third and second to last age in the cosmic-time cycle of Hinduism. It represents the decline of virtue and virtue and vice exist in equal balance. Continue reading
As taught by Swami Sivananda Yatartha Prema or Atman Prema is supreme unconditional and all-pervading divine love directed towards the inner self (Atman). Continue reading
Love leaves us in a quandary and understanding Atma Prema gifts us the knowledge to experience love.
Love enables us to look at whatever happens in our life neutrally and not regard oneself as a victim. Love is affection, romance, commitment and action. Love includes familial love, friendship, romantic love and self-love. We require all these types of love to be whole. Without love we cannot survive. Continue reading
Even when you tear its petals
off one after another,
the rose keeps laughing and
doesn’t bend in pain.‚Why should I be afflicted because of a thorn?
It is the thorn which taught me how to laugh.‘Whatever you lost through fate
Be certain that it saved you from pain. – Jalal-ud-din Rumi
Rumi looks upon pain and suffering as not meaningless punishments, but sacred catalysts for spiritual awakening, inner transformation and divine connection. Continue reading
Tie a band around the wrist of your brother or someone whom you care for as a brother. This band which one ties is called a Raakhi and the day on which it is tied is called Raksha Bandhan. Raksha means protection and Bandhan is the knot. It is literally a bond of protection, obligation or care, promised by the brother and the thread which is tied is called a Raakhi. It is considered a sacred thread and is decorative, or it can be a simple braided red and yellow cotton. Continue reading
Read, pause and close your eyes after reading each quote. Continue reading
Ecstasy is an altered state of consciousness marked by reduced awareness of the outside world and a deep intense connection to the Divine. Its actual meaning is standing outside oneself. It comes form the Greek term Ekstasis which means to step outside or stand out. Continue reading
Meditation is not a mental exercise or focusing on an object. It is an effortless abidance in the pure thought-free self. – Ramanna Maharishi
But the worst enemy you can meet will always be yourself; you lie in wait for yourself in caverns and forests. Lonely one you are going the way to yourself! And your way goes past yourself and past your seven devils! You will be a heretic to yourself and witch and soothsayer and fool and undoubter and unholy one and villain. You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame: how could you become new, if you first had not become ashes?
Dear Ones, I had a life-threatening experience yesterday at lunch. We had gone for lunch to a fancy restaurant with our friends. We were all having a great time enjoying the food. I was listening to my friend across the table very carefully. I was silent and not eating, when I found that I was coughing and my larynx (windpipe) was closing. It was awful as it started happening gradually and then I couldn’t breathe. Continue reading
What is the difference between a conditional and unconditional relationship? Let us ask ourselves these questions.
Kindness should become the natural way of life, not the exception. – Thus, Spoke the Buddha.
How to be a kind person? Are we aware what happens to us when we are kind to others? Continue reading
Socrates described ignorance as the only evil and learning as the only good.
Tiruvalluvar, the great Tamil philosopher and sage, has described ignorance and learning in similar language. Read the following couplets. They are self-explanatory. Continue reading