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Thoughts on Hinduism

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In the wake of several developments over the last four decades, the religious situation in India has changed. We all know what the incidents are .We remain a secular nation, but the faultlines have deepened. Hindu,   Muslim, Christian, Sikh- all religions have been drawn into this religious debate. I can’t say much about other religions, though I have read and practised a bit of Christianity , Buddhism and Sufism   in addition to my own, namely Hinduism, and still do. What I can say is about my own religion, with conviction, clarity, certainty, born of a thought process that has varied in the past between atheist, agnostic, would be convert ( yes, I used to wear a cross made with matchsticks in my childhood and speak against idolatry) to a firm adherant of my own faith today. “ I respect your faith if you respect mine” is my norm. I see certain Hindus , especially Bengali and Malayali Hindus revelling in beef consumption , as if it were amritam , so to say. A confessio...
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A kid at the park

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Aarshi's escapades at Nicco Park, Kolkata , in 2014. She was aged 4 at that time.  Needless to say, she's an outdoor afficando, and loves Nicco Park. We haven't been here together for 4 years now, but I look forward to taking her here again. Here's a kid who is a bundle of energy !!
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The Spirit-what is it actually

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x The spirit does not die. Simple statement of Hindu philosophy, the core of the Advaita tradition. As   said in the Bhagavad Gita, Samkhya Yoga “ Na hanyam, na hanyate ( the spirit does not kill or let kill).”Even while you kill your enemies, your kill their body (and their mind), but never the spirit or soul ( Atman). Bhagwan Maharishi Ramana defines this spirit   as the “ I”,   that which is unique to us all, thus has to be perceived by us uniquely. He defines “ I” as the sole phenomenon that drives the world, the Shiva tattva that is present inside us all , and I wholeheartedly agree with him. The Bhagwan would know- it was this “I “phenomenon which helped him to battle cancer undaunted till his death in 1950 . It was the same spirit which allowed my late father to battle lung cancer undaunted till his end . It is the same spirit that allows all of us to face life’s multiple problems everyday. Without “I”, there ...
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The Kathua, Unnao and Assam rapes

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Unnao and Kathua rapes. Horrific crimes.   These   rapists- murderers belong to the list of bastards( sorry, i won't call them dogs since dogs are actually much better creatures) who pose in the name of Hinduism. They are actually the bastards, pariah children of our ancient, glorious religion. We devout Hindus (I don't know whether my fellow Hindus will agree) don't need scum and scoundrels like these who are scattered across our country, who can be seen at some violent so - called "Ram Navami" processions which target minorities. Those are "Asur Navami" processions, not "Ram Navami." Hinduism doesnt sanction this violence , and I don't care what some so- called " priests" or "mahants" say otherwise.They are also pretenders duping us in the name of religion. Addition to the pariah child list. A mere teeka and chants of "Jai Shree Ram" doesnt make you a good Hindu. Foll...
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Rumi ruminations 1: Know only that which makes the unknown known

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"Know only that  Which makes the unknown known Before the sands of  Fleeting life are blown  What you think you 've Grasped is but a void  The bird in hand is that  One which has flown. ” -Maulana Rumi ( R.A.)  Translation by Farrukh Dhondhy. Which means that, " It is futile to pursue things in their normal form or apparent form, which we will never be able to grasp. We need to find new ways of looking at things.Therefore, before we pass away, we have to find unknown, undiscovered,  probably mystical ways of looking at things."  ( My interpretation) More about Maulana Rumi at:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi
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Self body therapeutic massage- Abhayangam

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We all like to get massages, whether it’s is   a body massage or a head massage (not talking of erotic massages here J )   Watch   a new born child cry from tummy pain ( colic) or leg cramps and the see the relief offered by   massage. I saw my daughter at the age of 3 months benefiting from this. Let’s carry the matter a bit further. Why is massage helpful even in adulthood, not only for health persons but also in diseased states? Abhayangam is basically stimulation. This is how the website of Kerala Ayurveda ( http://www.ayurvedancr.com )   describes Abhayangam , the cornerstone of Kerala Massage Therapy: “ This relaxing and refreshing full body massage is a masterpiece of Kerala Ayurveda. It is done with medicated herbal oils by two therapists in a synchronized manner for 45 minutes. The number of strokes and pressure vary with the condition of the individual. This massage is indicated daily to prev...
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