Tag Archives: Spiritual journey

Absolute non-duality, Advait, Search for truth, Spiritual journey, Truth

Mind the three T’s!

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by Naresh Jotwani and K. M. Chandrashekharan

Naresh Jotwani:

(1) In the age of the ancient Rishis, spiritual knowledge was imparted by Rishis to small groups of disciples. Few means of transportation and communication were available, and therefore the education must have proceeded without distraction.

(2) Today, educational institutes, run by highly business- oriented managements, impart education to millions, all of whom have the primary objective of learning how to earn. At the same time, means of transportation, communication and entertainment are all-persavive, resulting in all kinds of distractions during student life.

If truth and the search for truth are essential in any healthy society, what do the above two observations imply?

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Dharma, Harmony, Search for truth, Spiritual journey, Truth

Honest exchange #1

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between Naresh Jotwani and Jayram Daya

Naresh Jotwani:

Namaste, Jayrambhai!

I summarise my views on Advaita very briefly, as follows:

(1) I believe firmly in the truth of Advaita, and like to conduct my life — to the extent that is possible! — in consonance with Advaita. 

(2) For that reason, I am extremely sceptical about anyone claiming ‘God-given’ rights or ‘God-given’ identity. Very often, ‘God-given’ rights exclude totally any matching ‘God-given’ duties and responsibilities! In other words, ‘God’ is defined by people merely to suit their needs and instincts. 

(3) A broadly accepted list of virtues in our tradition is this:  generosity, morality, renunciation, wisdom, perseverance, forbearance, truthfulness, determination, love and equanimity.

I take these virtues as being universal, and respect greatly any tradition which regards these virtues as primary — whether or not the tradition claims to be blessed by a ‘God’. 

(4) In ‘materialistic pursuit’, many wrong actions are justified in the name of ‘God’, ‘manifest destiny’ … or some other BS. 

I would appreciate very much your views on this broad topic.

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Dharma, Harmony, Search for truth, Spiritual journey, Universe

WHY NOW?

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by R. Srinivasan and Jayram Daya

R. Srinivasan:

My question is: Why do our thoughts on life, death and other spiritual issues crop up only when we grow old, and usually face a health crisis? Then we start wondering about the futility of life’s material pursuits. Why are we born, only to die eventually? What is the reason for the life-death cycle in this universe in the first place? What is its purpose? 

I share my thoughts and questions here as a seeker of truth. I have been exposed to many views on this subject, starting from my childhood, and through reading and listening to our traditional philosophy. But I am still asking this basic question again and again, without attaining clarity in my mind.

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Civilization, Happiness, Individual, Life, Spiritual journey

WEST OR EAST?

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by Jayram Daya, R. Srinivasan and Naresh Jotwani

Several centuries after the decline of the Romans, the major European naval powers had laid the groundwork for a culture of colonization and exploitation. By that time, the Anglo-Saxons had established themselves in England. Their belief in ‘God, Gold, and Glory’ spurred British colonization in the New World, altering history forever. The other European naval powers who likewise set out to colonize and exploit were Spain, Portugal, France and the Dutch.

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Happiness, Health, Life, Spiritual journey, Well-being

WELLNESS, PREVENTION OR CURE?

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Last week a discussion took place within our WhatsApp group on the subject of wellbeing, quite broadly defined. Members shared their views, based on their own knowledge and experience. Overall, the members’ views, when arranged together, took the form of a panel discussion. Needless to say, in a discussion among friends, nobody had a personal axe to grind. Views were shared in the hope that a thoughtful reader may find something useful in them.

It is in that spirit that are we presenting the views here.

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Karma, Life, Philosophy, Search for truth, Spiritual journey

KARMA 101

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by SUMAN SATISHCHANDRA RAO, GUEST AUTHOR

[Our previous post (here) contained only the introductory part of Suman’s article on Karma. This is the full article.]

Karma is the all-encompassing concept of action and reaction in a continuous chain in time and space. It is inclusive of causality as conceived in Science. It includes the effects of grief, hurt and wounds caused to ‘another’ or ‘others’. That is nothing but insecurity playing upon the ego which is nothing but false sense of separation. Until the ego with its limited contents of consciousness drops its limited identity and becomes one with all, through repeated experiences of samadhi, this sense of separation continues and actions are of a mixed nature.

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Karma, Life, Philosophy, Search for truth, Spiritual journey

CAUSALITY OR KARMA?

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The co-editors of this blog, Srinivasan and Naresh, have also been running a WhatsApp group named seeker-of-root-causes. Occasionally, a question or a statement is posed to group members, to which members are invited to respond with their own views.

The practical context and significance of today’s topic will be established by this first-person, true life account submitted by Srinivasan:

My own experiences have taught me the enormous scope of karma in practical life, and totally ingrained the concept in my psyche. I will cite just one specific instance here.

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