A casual discussion on mediation today, got me thinking about how people view the act of meditation. The person in question had seen a few videos on You Tube, and had come to the conclusion that meditation is all about closing your eyes and ‘not-thinking’. Of course, she didn’t claim that she understood it fully, …
Read the previous part here… “So tell me, o King, why did the boy laugh when his death was imminent?” “Remember, if you know the answer, and don’t tell me the truth, your head will burst into a hundred pieces!“ इति वेतालतः श्रुत्वा स राजा प्रत्युवाच तम् ।शृणु यो ऽभूद् अभिप्रायो हासे तस्य शिशोस् तदा …
Read the previous part here… King Candrāvaloka beheld the boy who stood before him, his courageous demeanor, and the tej (glow) on his face, and he was delighted. He ordered for the boy to be clothed in fine garments, with garlands of flowers with the sweetest of smells, and had him sit on an elephant, …
Read the previous part here… “This body is impure, and gathers dirt from the day it is born. It is the abode of all pain, and will perish anyway, one day or the next.” “The wise say that the only permanence in this creation is merit, and merit is acquired by this very body.” “And …
Read the previous part here… The boy was special. Even at this tender age, he always took pleasure in being of assistance to his fellow human beings, as this was a trait that he carried forward from his previous lives. In fact, he seemed to personify the merits of all the king’s subjects. And so …
Read the previous part here… The next morning, he called a meeting of his cabinet of ministers, and told them what had happened. One of the ministers – Sumati, reassured him and said… “Don’t worry my king. I will search and bring to you such a boy. This world has many strange things to offer, …
Read the previous part here… “Please forgive me, I have committed a sin but unknowingly. Please think of me as someone who has come to you asking for your protection.” “I will give you whatsoever you desire, be it man or animal, so that you can be appeased and your anger may subside…” Jvālāmukha thought …
Read the previous part here… And so the tired King Candrāvaloka dismounted from his horse, fed it some grass and water, so that it was refreshed, and then lay down next to his wife, on the banks of the river, in the shade of the tree. The moon arose a few minutes after, lifting the …
Read the previous part here… Rishi Kaṇva was pleased. “You have promised to protect all living beings, and have thus made me very happy. You can ask me for any vardāna (boon) that you desire!” The king, who was well-versed in the matters of timing, replied… “Oh great Rishi, if you are truly pleased with …
Here is what I thought yesterday. Today, I showered, shaved, put on a new shirt, and reached the venue an hour in advance. Me and my fellow speakers had a jamming session over coffee, just to warm up. The session was at 10 am. Or so I thought. When I walked up to the backstage …
