Category Archives: Spirituality
Change
In 1955 John Wyndham published a novella titled The Chrysalids in the UK and Re-Birth in America. It is not a religious text. It is about post-apocalyptic mutants. But it’s also one of the best books about change– the inevitability of change and resistance to change– that I’ve read in a long time. It really …
Forever In Flux
“As human beings we share a tendency to scramble for certainty whenever we realize that everything around us is in flux. In difficult times the stress of trying to find solid ground– something predictable to stand on– seems to intensify. But in truth, the very nature of our existence is forever in flux. Everything keeps …
Neither Is The Cause of the Other
Excerpted from How To Learn Astrology by Michael Erlewine (via): One popular misconception about astrology is that the planets out there in the heavens cause events to happen down here on the earth. Professional astrologers that I have known, and I have known many, do not hold with these theories of “celestial influence,” that planets …
What Is
This is a special Islamic prayer called a du’a. I believe it’s universal enough to be prayed by every faith: O Allah Enlighten what is dark in me Strengthen what is weak in me Mend what is broken in me Bind what is bruised in me Heal what is sick in me Straighten what is …
Saint Abbie Hoffman
In this excerpt from Fates Worse Than Death, copyright 1991, Kurt Vonnegut talks about one of my personal heroes, Abbie Hoffman: I mentioned Abbie Hoffman in that piece about books as mantras for meditation. I realize that most people nowadays don’t know who he was or what he did. He was a clowning genius, having …
Arrest the Intention
“If you can watch ‘what’s going on in your mind’ with dispassion, you will become capable of noting when an arising intention develops into an unbeneficial action. The best thing to do, in such a case, is to catch and arrest the unwholesome intention before it can become an unwise action which will be harmful, …
And his drum incessantly plays
Which, according to YouTuber saurabh dhuri, translates to: गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् । डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥१॥ Jatatavigalajjala pravahapavitasthale Galeavalambya lambitam bhujangatungamalikam Damad damad damaddama ninadavadamarvayam Chakara chandtandavam tanotu nah shivah shivam .. 1 Meaning: From the forest of his matted lock, water flows and wets his neck, On which hangs …
Plans
“If you follow Krishna’s instruction, you’ll always be happy. And if you create your own plans, then you’ll be unhappy. This is the whole instruction. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: (BG 18.66) ‘You give up your own plans, nonsense plan. You take My plan. You’ll be happy.’ This is the whole purpose of Bhagavad-gita. …
Carries It On His Head
“The Lord bears the burden of the world. Know that the spurious ego which presumes to bear that burden is like a sculptured figure at the foot of a temple tower which appears to sustain the tower’s weight. Whose fault is it if the traveler, instead of putting his luggage in the cart which bears …
Do Not Blame; Instead
“At all times, do not lose courage in your inner awareness; uplift yourself, while assuming a humble position in your outer demeanor. Follow the example of the life and complete liberation of previous accomplished masters (siddha). Do not blame your past karma; instead, be someone who purely and flawlessly practices the dharma. Do not blame …
Obey
“Historically, the most terrible things– war, genocide, and slavery– have resulted not from disobedience, but from obedience.” ~Howard Zinn
