Month: February 2023

Of guests and gods…

शिरीषपुष्पमाघ्राणात् म्लानं संजायते यथा ।तथाऽतिथीनां वदनं स्याद् गृहस्थे पराङ्‌मुखे ॥ The delicate blossom of the anicham flower withers when merely smelled; an unwelcome look is enough to wither a guest’s heart. सूंघा ‘अनिच्च’ पुष्प को, तो वह मुरझा जाय ।मुँह फुला कर ताकते, सूख अतिथि-मुख जाय ॥ मातृदेवो भव । पितृदेवो भव । आचार्यदेवो भव …

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Of show and devotion…

यत् कृतं शुद्धमनसा स धर्म इति कथ्यते ।हच्छुद्धिरहितं कर्म केवलाडम्बरार्थकम् ॥ A mind free of impurity, is the basis of all virtue. Everything else is empty show. I am reminded of the story of Kanaka Dasa, a renowned Carnatic philosopher and poet who lived in the 16th century. Since he was from a lower cast, Kanaka …

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Of action and liberation…

இருள்சேர் இருவினையும் சேரா இறைவன்பொருள்சேர் புகழ்புரிந்தார் மாட்டு. Those who are content in God’s praise, are not affected by the delusions caused by good deeds and bad. माहात्म्यमप्रमेयस्य ज्ञात्वा तं भजतां नृणाम् ।अज्ञानमूलकं कर्म द्विविधं चापि नश्यति ॥ (५) Indian philosophy believes in renunciation as a path to liberation. Moksha is the goal, not heaven. Freeing oneself …

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Two sides…

The two sides of life. Witnessed on my way back home today. Stuck in a traffic jam, we realized that the cause was an accident just ahead. Two ambulances, many police cars, and possibly someone severely injured, or maybe even the worst case scenario…we wouldn’t know. And just then from our windows on the left, …

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On interactions and spins…

I attended a meeting today. The agenda of the meeting was not very specific, and the nature of the meeting was such that I expected a positive outcome. Well, it wasn’t anything like what I had expected. Without going into details, let it suffice to say that I came away from the interaction a lot …

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On water and worship…

துப்பார்க்குத் துப்பாய துப்பாக்கித் துப்பார்க்குத்துப்பாய தூஉம் மழை.  Thuppaarkkuth Thuppaaya Thuppaakkith ThuppaarkkuthThuppaaya Thooum Mazhai (12) All food is produced because of rain, which itself is food again. आहारापेक्षलोकस्य भोज्यं धान्यादिकं बहु ।उत्पाथ पेयतामेति स्वयं वर्षे जलात्मना ॥ (१२) Water sustains life as we know it – without water, life would cease to exist. All holy scriptures speak …

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What is self-restraint?

ज्ञातव्यं तत्वतो ज्ञात्वा संयमी यो भवेन्नर: ।महात्मनां गुणाज्ञानां कृपया स सुखी वसेत् ॥ (१२३) If one exercises self-restraint with knowledge and intent, he will be counted among the wise. Nearly every religion, every spiritual path speaks of self-restraint. One must wonder then, about why we have sense organs in the first place, if they have …

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A bit on charity…

செய்யாமல் செய்த உதவிக்கு வையகமும்வானகமும் ஆற்றல் அரிது.   Seyyaamal Seydha Udhavikku VaiyakamumVaanakamum Aatral Aridhu (101) The gift of heaven and earth is not an equivalent for help that is given where none had been received. अस्माभिरकृते साह्ये यस्तु साह्‌यं करोति न: ।लोकद्वयप्रदानेऽपि तस्य नास्ति प्रतिक्रिया ॥ (१०१) उपकृत हुए बिना करे, यदि कोइ उपकार ।दे कर भू …

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