Vir Samvat and Vikram Samvat – Traditional Indian Calendars

traditional Indian calendars

Vikram and Vir Samvat (samvat means ‘era’) are two traditional Indian calendars. In 2016, I decided to shift my personal year-end reckoning to these Indian calendars. Because it has a whole cultural and traditional net around it, making it a very useful tool to make life more meaningful. And also, I was delving into the […]

Making A Judgement Call Amidst Non-Stop Polarised Views

making a judgement about someone

Here is a jotted down version of what I typically do with regards the non-stop polarized clutter of views on social media / normal media and also sometimes, in people around me. Often I just ignore or remain engrossed in something else, but at times one needs to make a choice. This choice can happen […]

Year End Review : Vikram Samvat 2073 and Vira Samvat 2543 :)

Last year I decided to blog my next year-end posts as per the Hindu & Jain New Year that happens after Diwali (around Oct – Nov). Because this is when I feel it is a new year with all the festivities and thoughtful, relevant traditions. And as I am writing this, I also researched into the Indian […]

Mistake #2 : Enlightenment is Unreachable (Too Tough)

I got many responses to my solo cycling tour from Berlin to Copenhagen in 2015. One of them which was oft repeated was, “I would love to do this once in my life”. It was a very weird statement and I couldn’t identify with it at all. Because if it is something we love to […]

Mistake #1: Spirituality is for the Old Age

I have a lot of people around me –  friends, family and others – and inevitably through discussions on religion or about spirituality, I find that there are a few fundamental problems in their thinking. So here in this series, addressing some of the totally wrong thinking about Spirituality I find in people around me, #1 […]

निश्चल तत्वं : Spirituality in the Cosmopolitan Society

निश्चल तत्वं quotes: Spirituality In the Cosmopolitan Society

One of the demands of a spiritual life is steadfastness on your path. There are ups and downs. There are doubts and deep experiences of clarity. Through it all the consistent, steadfastness is significant. निश्चल तत्वं जीवन मुक्ति Nischala tatvam jeevanmukti Unshakable Steadfastness leads to liberation (Sadhguru explains this line here) In today’s cosmopolitan society […]

Discipline In Spiritual Paths To Transcend Likes & Dislikes

While having ice-cream with family, Aunty: *something finicky about food* Me: Aunty you are too fussy Uncle: Aren’t you fussy? Me: No, not really Uncle: Ok how about we have some bhel… Me: I can have bhel, of course with no onion and garlic Uncle: Why? Isn’t that fussy too? Me: No that is discipline… […]

Acts of Merit, पुण्य : Offering Support To Other Spiritual Seekers

पुण्य

Acts that gain you merit or पुण्य. Earlier I wrote about Karma Yoga and doing work such that it becomes a way to enlightenment. Part of this are acts conducted to spread the word about a spiritual path. These acts could inspire others to take a look at this path and also support a person walking this […]

Karma Yoga: Spirituality is NOT Social Service

Srila Prabhupada on Karma Yoga from Bhagwad Gita

This seems to be a common theme in a lot of my disgruntled conversations with people. Either they have this zeal to help and improve the world, which is fine, BUT they channel it with a complete and utter disregard for spiritual & religious traditions. Because mistakenly they think that social service is a better form […]