The concept that we are all beings and interconnected is present in the Vedas. Bishnois are a tribe in Rajasthan, who are inborne conservationists. Jumbhoji was the founder of this community, he preached respect for all life. They revere the Black buck which is considered to be an incarnation of their Guru. Bishnoi women have been known to nurse a baby fawn. Continue reading
Where the Mind is without Fear.
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arm towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is lead forward by thee
Into that heaven of freedom.
My father, let my country awake. – Rabindra Nath Tagore, Nobel prize Winner.
How can we describe sounds? They can be loud or soft. Their frequency can be high pitched or low pitched. They can be continuous, intermittent or impulsive. Continue reading
I join my palms in prayer to Ma Prithvi and ask for forgiveness and blessings. I promise from the bottom of my heart; I will take care of you. I will try not to harm you by denuding the forests, adulterating the waters and making the environment toxic. I have done many things, without being aware of the damage caused to the flora and fauna.
Look deep into nature, then you will understand everything better. – Albert Einstein
The earth has music for those who listen. – William Shakespeare Continue reading
Dear Ones, we have a tribe in India called the Bishnois. They are a Hindu community of desert dwellers, who see no separation between themselves and nature. For them the tree is like a child, and they treat it with parental love. They live in mainly the Thar desert of western Rajasthan and the northern states of India. Continue reading
We need to move beyond the idea of environment and fall back in love with Mother Earth.
What is the use of a house if you don’t have a decent planet to put it on.
It was the beginning of the season for planting crops in Mithila. King Janaka, the ruler of Mithila was invited to be the first to plough the land with a golden hoe. There were musical sounds of bells, drums and conch shells’ trumpets, and the king plunged the hoe into the ground. Continue reading
Mata Bhumi Putro Aham Prithivyah. – Atharva Veda.
The earth is my mother, and I am her child. This is a very intimate relationship, which we cannot forget or ignore. We must protect and care for Mother Earth. Continue reading
What do we know about Indra?
Indra is the regent of heaven. He rules over Svarga, which is a place of eternal bliss and divine splendored is associated with thunder, lightning and rain. He is also considered to be the guardian of Dharma and the east. Continue reading
Elephants are friendly, they never forget and are clever. They can find water, because they have no sweat glands. Therefore, it is vital for them to locate the source. They know how to overcome an electric fence. They were used in wars in ancient times as they were like tanks. Continue reading
Sphota literally means ‘sudden opening’ or ‘disclosure’ which is taking place in both speaker and hearer. The sound of speech called Dhvani evokes the Sphota in the hearer.
Are we aware of this sudden realization of this knowledge? I do not wish to be judgmental, dear ones. We can go through life without this Sphota. Let me illustrate to you how we can learn from these sudden disclosures. Continue reading
I am sharing some pictures with you. All these animals are so quirky and funny. They feel unthreatened by us. However, the capybaras in the wetlands have propagated their families too much. The wetlands are diminishing and now they have introduced the jaguars to reduce their numbers by eating them. Continue reading
Through your ears to hear, to listen and to understand
Is to make gold of grain and golden grain of sand.
Only when what’s to be got from listening has been got
May one turn to what from eating may be brought.
Offerings turn stone to Gods
Listening makes humans of gastropods.
Learn by listening if from reading you cannot
That’ll be the staff from which your grip on life is got.
Loka Samasthah Sukhino Bhavantu—may all beings everywhere be happy, healthy and free. It is an invocation for personal and collective peace. Continue reading