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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Of Shiva and perception…

Only the most painful circumstances yield the most intense prayers. The uncertainty that lies in front of us makes us appeal to the higher consciousness with all our heart. And when we are heard, and the problem is alleviated, we thank him and move on. In between this problem and the next lie a lot …

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The night of the Shiva…

Mahashivratri. The night when you stay awake, and pray to Shiva, the ultimate Yogi. A lot of questions may arise in our minds, when we think of Shiva, and Shivratri – or the night of Shiva. For instance, why is Shiva synonymous with austerity? He is always depicted as a mendicant, as a renunciate – …

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V for victory!

यतो यतो निश्चलति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् ।ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥ २६ ॥ yato yato niścalatimanaś cañcalam asthiramtatas tato niyamyaitadātmany eva vaśaṁ nayet From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self. बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जित: ।अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् …

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50 shades of paneer…

It’s not enough being vegetarian. No sir. In some parts of the world, you have to specify – no meat, no fish. No chicken even. Yes, vegetables. Yes mushroom. No no, I can eat diary – I am not vegan. Confusing. Restaurant menus do have a customary ‘veggie’ option that is mostly there to demonstrate …

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Of daily picks!

Rohāmrta has his daily pick. One toy, one piece of stuff – can be anything from a spoon to his car. This thing then becomes his obsession of the day, so much so that he carries it to his diaper station, his food table, he even sleeps with it in his hand. And he so …

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Of CEOs and vision…

Today, I visited one of the offices of a very famous CEO in Dubai. The business in itself is quite interesting, but even more interesting is the way that it is run. From the time I approached the reception, to the completion of the transaction, it was one amazing experience. And not because there was …

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