Thursday is considered the day for the Guru. It is called Guruvaar in Hindi. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Brihaspati (Jupiter), with mantras which focus on wisdom prosperity and spiritual growth. The most popular mantra is Om Brim Brihaspataye Namah. Wear Yellow on this day and offer yellow flowers. Continue reading
In Negombo, we visited the Reclining Buddha temple. I have placed some pictures. The paintings on the wall depict different aspects of his life. Buddha cutting his hair and he was being given his mendicant garments. Continue reading
People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day. – A.A Milne
Do not cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. – Seuss
We are a flower, a tree and the whole garden.
Thich Nhat Hanh has described this statement. I read it and dear ones; I wanted to share it with all of you. It is so beautiful and it made me understand myself better and I hope it does the same for you. Continue reading
I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, Present, and Future. Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. – Charles Dickens, “A Christmas Carol.” Published in 1843 on 19th December.
He wrote it to show that the Victorian society ignored the needs of the poor and the rich behaved selfishly. Continue reading
It is so easy to be angry. But after reading this, it makes one think.
Anybody can become angry—that is easy but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way—that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy. – Aristotle
Kisa Gotami and Patacara were fully appointed Buddhist nuns and were equivalent in status to male monks (Bhikkhus). They were ordained by the Gautam Buddha. And were known as Bhikkhunis (nuns). The time span is given as 5th – 6th Century BCE. They were renowned for teaching acceptance of grief, and freedom from fear. Continue reading
The Sanskrit word Vaishardaya means an unwavering confidence in the dignity and infinite potential of one’s own life. One is held back because one lacks faith in oneself. In Buddhist philosophy, courage is synonymous with Vaisharadayas. Nichiren Buddhism teaches that courage is the starting point of all change in an individual. Continue reading
Both words when spoken aloud sound sad and horrid. See your face in the mirror, when you say revenge. Let us try to understand the power of these two words.
I will take retribution first. I will share some quotes with you and many of you are familiar some of them. Continue reading
Food is so important in our lives and yet many of us have no respect for it. We take it for granted. We have all been through the phase that we would not like anything home cooked. Continue reading
Jnana comes in many ways. Jnana for the Buddha came through the contemplation of sufferings of others. In the case of Sankara, the great saint it came with the longing to understand. For others it comes through the art, or sacred songs or chants. It can come through the sound of the silence within. Continue reading
There is self-compassion, compassion and idiot compassion.
The Buddha spoke about self-compassion. He said that one can search the entire universe for someone, who deserves your love and compassion more than you do yourself and you will not find that person anywhere. Because that person is you. You deserve that love and compassion more than anyone else. Continue reading
When I was growing up, in the local paper this title would come every day. A thought for the day. It was the time when one waited for the newspaper to arrive. Then my parents would read the newspaper and the subject would come up for discussion about what the thought was. It was quite the highlight as often one felt that it was exactly what one was thinking about. Dear ones, you must remember that there was no television and one depended on the radio and the daily newspaper. Continue reading
Who does not love elephants? It is impossible to believe that any one of us does not respect elephants. India’s image for a long time was that elephants were walking on the streets. When I was growing up and until twenty odd years ago, we would see elephants walking on the roads. One would see them most often on a Wednesday, which happens to be the day one prays to Ganesha. Continue reading
Compassion is the basis of Bhakti in Hinduism. The Sanskrit name for it is Daya and Karuna. It is also one of the three virtues along with charity and self-control. Vedas and other sacred texts composed before 1500 BC speak about compassion. Spirituality refers to Ahimsa which is a Sanskrit word meaning refraining from harmful activities. And it is the central concept of compassion. Continue reading