Tragedy struck in the north/nw part of India and in Pakistan. A powerful earthquake has struck! Here are the details: A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake near the Pakistan-India border Saturday reduced villages to rubble, triggered landslides and flattened an apartment building, killing hundreds of people in both nations. Pakistan's army called the devastation "a national tragedy." Read more
Here is an email from this IIT Madras Dean that I found pretty interesting. ================ Here is a personal experience, as well as a moment of national pride, which I want to share with you. Hope you find it worth the time you put in reading it : "In the middle of 1965 India-Pakistan war, US govt. - then a close friend of Pakistan - threatened India with stopping food-aid (remember "PL-480"?). For a food deficient India this threat was serious and humiliating. So much so that in the middle of war, Prime Minister (Late) Lal Bahadur Shastri went to Ram Leela Grounds in Delhi and appealed to each Indian to observe one-meal-fast every week to answer the American threat. As a school boy, I joined those millions who responded to Shastriji's call. I continued the fast even when the war was over and India became self sufficient in food. Hurt deep by the national humiliation suffered at the hands of the US govt, I had vowed to stop my weekly fast only when India starts giving aid to USA. Read more
This is from a statement from J. Krishnamurthi made in 1929. The two thinkers who have helped me the most in my spiritual quest and "growth" are Swami Vivekananda and J. Krishnamurthi. They truly have said things fearlessly and with an objective understanding. In most situations Learning and Spiritual Quests become structured - where the teacher or the Guru "RULES" and "DIRECTS" a pupil's thought. There is nothing for a student to explore on his/her own. Codes of conduct, Morals, Laws are given to all.. failing to follow which is blasphemous and derogatory. But can anything be ever LEARNT by structured thought? IS Exploration predictable? Is learning anything more than exploration? Read more
"Mankind ought to be taught that religions are but the varied expressions of THE RELIGION, which is Oneness, so that each may choose the path that suits him best." Read more
It may be that I shall find it good to get outside of my body -- to cast it off like a disused garment. But I shall not cease to work! I shall inspire men everywhere, until the world shall know that it is one with God." Read more
"Look upon every man, woman, and everyone as God. You cannot help anyone, you can only serve: serve the children of the Lord, serve the Lord Himself, if you have the privilege." Read more
"The one theme of the Vedanta philosophy is the search after unity. The Hindu mind does not care for the particular; it is always after the general, nay, the universal. "what is it that by knowing which everything else is to be known." That is the one search." Read more
"Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity within, by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy - by one, or more, or all of these - and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details." Read more
It is always easier to believe than to deny. Our minds are naturally affirmative. Read more
"A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight. " Read more
Drishtikone
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