Wealth, power, love are some of the often sought means for achieving happiness. Almost everyone seems to know what they need to be happy. Anyone, however, hardly is. We work hard every day in pursuit of happiness. Many of us are forced to work hard, just to be able to survive while some flaunt lavishness and…
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The approach of a new year spawns many desires to fulfill dreams that could not be in the past year. So why do we seem to fail each time in accomplishing something big? The failure is not because we aim for a big goal. On the contrary, shooting for an unrealistic goal is the hallmark…
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Let me tell you a beautiful story that has been adapted from the writings of Swami Vivekanand. Once upon a time, there was a sannyasi who had been practicing yoga and meditation for many years. As a result, he had developed many yogic powers. Once while he was meditating under a tree, a crow and…
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Namaste, the Indian way of greeting with folded hands, is beautiful and the most respectful and meaningful. In the simplest terms, Namaste comes from the Sanskrit words “Namah,” meaning bow or pray, and “te,” which means “to you.” However, who one is bowing to has a much deeper meaning. Hindus believe in one Supreme Reality, Brahman, the…
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One of the biggest reasons for disharmony on the planet is religion. Never a day goes by without some strife between different religious communities. Religion is supposed to be the pathway to God, but would it still be a religion if it leads to violence and wars? The religions are at loggerheads with each other…
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Having power over others is an intoxication like no other. The thirst for power has been the major reason for all conflicts worldwide throughout history. So if politics had ensnared even the kingdom of Rama, its ever-growing mesh in the current corrupt environment is indeed no surprise. The power to rule over others is usurped…
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Narendranath Dutta, born on 12 January 1863 when India was under British rule, took the monastic name Swami Vivekananda after his Guru Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa gave up his mortal body in August 1886. Swami, meaning the Master of himself, is the monastic title after renunciation. Vivek in Sanskrit means the power of discernment. Narendra was…
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Those who rush after capitalism ignore the impact of their zeal on the planet. As a result, people close their eyes when confronted with the worsening climate change. However, some ceaselessly go on planting trees to redress the harm done by capitalistic zeal. The pulls of the society in different directions are similar to those…
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Every morning and evening, we would have sparrows chirping sitting on the walls of the inner courtyard of our home. Their chirping used to sound like they were discussing when the food would come. My mother used to call these sparrows her guests. As was her daily practice, she would make little dough balls to…
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Imagine you are strolling on a sidewalk and suddenly happen to step on a river stone. The goodness in you picks up that stone and throws it in a trash can so that someone else does not get to step on it and get hurt. Imagine an aged couple coming walking down on the same…
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