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
I met a little rabbit once,
A hopping on his way.
I said, ‘Where are you going on such a lovely day?’
He said with just the slightest frown,
Don’t hinder me I pray!
I am taking round the Easter Eggs,
Because it’s Easter Day. – Anonymous
Eat a little, drink a little,
Talk a little, sleep a little,
Mix a little, move a little,
Serve a little, worship a little.
Do asana a little,
Pranayama a little,
Reflect a little, meditate a little.
Do japa a little, do kirtan a little,
Write a mantra a little,
Have satsang a little. – Swami Sivananda
- ‘I’ve no water or air,
I am a ball of fire. Don’t come near.
You can’t live here.
Here, it’s no fun,’
So said the hot Sun.- ‘I’ve no water or air,
You can’t stay here.
But for the Sun’s light,
I won’t shine bright.
I’m but stone and mud.’
The Moon cried and said.- ‘I’ve no water or air.
Will your life can bear,
With nothing for sustenance,
My hollow existence?
Stay where you’re,’
Said the planet Jupiter.- ’We’ve no water or air.
What’s there to share?
Nothing but the death,
With no further birth,
The Venus, the Mars and the Saturn.
Said in their turn.- ‘Admission only for Angels,
And not for body, but souls,’
Said the sign board,
Kept aside the road.
The Heaven said, ‘Sorry,’
When I went with my body.- ‘Why do you go elsewhere,
When I’m down here?’
Said my mother earth.
‘To you, I’ve given birth,
With your body and soul,
To enjoy and play your role.’- Yes, Mother, what isn’t there,
For us, on this earth, to share?
Free food, water and air,
Everything looks so fair,
Thank God, for what we have
And grieve not, for what
We don’t have. – Rajaram Ramchandran
What is the difference between Puja and Yagna? The word puja means prayer and it is 2500 years old. It was found in Griha Sutra, which talks about rituals. It describes the ceremonies (samskaras) that mark each stage of an individual’s life, from the moment of conception to the final death rites; the five daily sacrifices (mahayajna); seasonal ceremonies; and those observed on special occasions, such as house building or cattle breeding. The Griha sutra mentions the word pujaniya, worthy of reverence. It is assumed that the word puja comes from it or from south India. In Tamil, pujai means flowers or offering of flowers. Continue reading
All gods have Vahanas (transport) and they are animals and birds. Since they are used as a means of transport, they are considered sacred. The beast or bird which is the Vahana, the vehicle also indicates the temperament of the God. Continue reading
We were taught to respect Mother Earth and treat the trees with respect. Many trees are considered sacred to specific deities. Trees become objects of worship or shrines are built beneath them. Mango trees are considered holy because they are associated with many rituals. Tulasi is considered sacred to the disciples of Vishnu, Wood apple or Bilva tree is considered sacred to disciples of Shiva. The neem tree wards off evil. Continue reading
The Oracle of Rama is consulted by all devotees of Rama. The custom is to ask a question after one has ended one’s morning prayers. There are three pages, with chapter, section and verse at the back of the book. It is a very powerful reading and it answers one’s query. Sometimes the answer is terrifying if one asks an inappropriate question. Continue reading
Mother Earth, hear your child. Be a bond between the Worlds of Earth and Spirit.
Let the winds echo the Knowledge of Grandfathers.
Who await, unseen, yet visible if I only turn my eyes to their World.
There is so much happening around and yet at the same time one feels overwhelmed or underwhelmed. The newspaper has just come and each of us has our own paper. Glancing at the newspaper and reading the news, induces a sense of deep sadness. War has taken the front pages, and the reporters are eager to tell us. The more distressing it is, the better it is for the ratings. Continue reading
Percy Bysshe Shelley is listed as a romantic poet. Romanticism in poetry is defined as the development of the individual and embracing of the natural world in poetic form. “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer,” is attributed to Percy Bysshe Shelley. He further wrote that “to him that hath, more shall be given; and from him that hath not, the little that hath shall be taken away.” Continue reading
Why do we display violence towards God’s creatures? We hunt and poach animals for pleasure and profit (sell their body parts or eat them). What is it about us that makes us destroy the different species of fauna? Continue reading