SPIRITUAL

If fighting injustice is spiritual then knowing how the injustice came about is important. It is like taking the first step towards the shrine. Let us continue exploring the injustice of racism. Historically racism grew from war. When people who did not look like us attacked one the first seeds of hatred were sown. Many prophets and kings fanned this hatred between cultures as they felt xenopho...

From Buddha to Aristotle many have spoken about the importance of balance. This balance is the one which man acquires when he moves on the middle path. When he avoids extremes and follows the golden mean. Then for example, he is not a coward, nor is he rash -he is courageous. Similarly between pride and diffidence he chooses modesty, between miserliness and extravagance, liberality, between mor...

Two sharp insights from Confucius… Cut the handle of a new axe with an old axe and it will not be far from the old handle in appearance. Hence a gentleman asks of others no more than of himself, so long as they correct their mistakes. He who can practice tolerance and forbearance is not far from the way of the mean. He should do to others as he would have others do to him. Confucius highligh...

Now comes a new lament. Indian players in the Indian premier league are being racially abused. And then Air France staff is accused of harassing Indians. So much of racial discrimination targetted against one community? What is it in us Indians which makes the world treat us so? I was invited as the chief guest to the IMA (Indian Medical Association) for their annual function. My introduction w...

Even a priest needs to inspire some awe to command the faith of the faithful- Chanakya By priest, Chanakya means a virtuous man – a kind, honest, sincere, generous, loving man. If you wish to live like such a man your life would be saintly. If you wish to be like a saint, then you should have a weapon. What does a weapon mean? Weapon means either the ability to stand for your principles or your...

In the last piece I said how throwing shoes at one’s oppressors is a spiritual act. A reader has asked me he would like to go further and throw stones. Would that be more spiritual? Let me answer his question with a tale from Ramayana. Lakshaman and Sugreeva are deliberating on how to cross the sea and reach Lanka with their army. They thought it is best to begin with a prayer to the ocean-g...

A popular tale about Krishna goes as follows. Krishna is having dinner sitting in heaven. His wife Rukmani is serving him. On the Earth a devotee of Krishna is surrounded by some thugs who are moving menacingly towards him to rough him up. Krishna watches this and gets up to go to his aid. Rukmani is disappointed that her husband has to leave suddenly and tries to stop him but Krishna is determ...

Mun mecca dil dwarika, kaya kaashi jaan, Das dware ka dehra, taamein joti pichaan (Kabir says that your mind is the Mecca and the heart is Dwarika (the door-way to self-realisation). A sacred and healthy body may be likened to Kashi – the holy place of worship. This ten door body of the human being is that temple where self realisation can be attained. In other words, one does not need to go on...

Tere andar saanch jo, bahar naahi janaav, Jaanan hara jaani hai, antar gati ka bhav (Kabir condemns bragging even about the truth in your heart. Your truth is yours alone. The knowledgeable have the ability to sense the machinations of the human mind on their own and your true heart will be seen by them anyways.) Why do we brag about our spiritual realisations? Why do we want to tell others...

Bhay se bhakti karen sab, bhay se puja hoye Bhay paras hai jeev ko, nirbhay hoye na koye (Kabir says that ‘fear’ (probably of the unknown) is instrumental in moving people towards prayer and taking to devotional practices. Fear works like the philosopher’s stone that causes people to tread on the right path). Kabir reaches the heart of the matter. He says, fear is instrumental in moving peopl...