Blog categorized as Reflections
The words “religion” and “spirituality” are often used as though they mean the same thing. This casual usage creates confusion. Are they identical? If not, must one choose between them? Or do they serve different roles in a meaningful way?
Every human being is born ignorant of one’s true nature. This ignorance expresses itself as a sense of inadequacy, incompleteness, and dissatisfaction. If there is one universal feature that connects all human beings across time, it is this—one is always wanting something.
In infancy, the wants are p...
Vedānta clearly recognises a direct connection between the food one consumes and the quality of one’s thoughts. While the classification of food into sattva, rajas, and tamas based on specific items is well known, the deeper understanding lies in how food affects the body and min...
No one likes to be bound. Bondage invariably brings sorrow, unhappiness, and a sense of limitation. Yet, Vedānta clearly declares that all beings are bound, even though this is not always recognised.
Because this bondage is not immediately obvious, it becomes necessary to enquire into what it truly i...
It is often said that Buddhism declares creation to be an illusion and that freedom from this illusion is nirvāṇa. The same idea is frequently attributed to Vedānta as well. This has become a widely accepted notion, and therefore it is necessary to examine whether this understanding is accurate.
If t...
In the life of a seeker of Self-knowledge, it is essential to understand the role of bhakti. A devotional attitude towards the Lord is not optional but mandatory for a serious aspirant. Without bhakti, spirituality becomes dry, intellectual, and purely academic. It can even strengthen the ...
Freedom is the most cherished value for every living being. It is that which gives the greatest sense of happiness. Whether human beings, animals, birds, or even insects, all life forms seek freedom. Wherever there is restriction, there is an instinctive urge to break free.
Even when certain forms of...
Meditation is the training of the mind to remain steadily focused on a single thought, without being pulled in multiple directions by distractions. The term is generally used in a spiritual context, where the chosen focus is meant to aid absorption in the Self or support the pursuit of Self-enquiry.
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Suffering is the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship. No one desires suffering, and all living beings strive to avoid it. Yet, despite these efforts, suffering cannot always be avoided.
To address suffering, one must understand its causes. However, this presents a difficulty—different for...
When one gains something that is rare, not easily available, and considered valuable, one is regarded as blessed. In a material sense, such blessings are certainly desirable. However, what is gained materially is short-lived and can be seen to diminish even while being enjoyed.
A spiritual blessing, ...
Vedānta places significant emphasis on restraint—both physical and mental—along with detachment, withdrawal, and solitude. Because of this, many seekers worry that studying Vedānta may make them lose interest in simple pleasures and in life itself. This concern is understandable, as it could appear ...
A Guru is looked upon, respected, and revered in the Hindu tradition as an earthly manifestation of the Almighty. Therefore, it becomes essential to understand the criteria for choosing one’s Guru.
This is a significant challenge for any spiritual aspirant. There are numerous teachers available—some ...
We live in an age of technology where the ability to self-learn has become extremely important. Digital tools such as search engines, video platforms, social media, and now AI have made information widely accessible. In professional life, continuous learning is essential, and those who do not update...
Every human being has desires, and they are generally accepted as natural and inevitable. Not only that, one justifies them by believing that fulfilling desires brings happiness. But does it really? At best, fulfilment brings momentary joy, often accompanied by considerable effort, struggle, and eve...
A well-known verse from Bhaja Govindam, attributed to Ādi Śaṅkara, observes:
Childhood is spent in play, youth in pursuit of the opposite gender, and old age in anxiety—yet no one enquires into the absolute reality. This observation remains strikingly true. Life is often spent in pursuits t...
Relationships—whether parent-child, siblings, friends, or colleagues—form a significant part of human life. They often seem to give meaning to what one does, and even to one’s very sense of existence.
Naturally, one...
Many a time, the words spirituality and philosophy are used synonymously. The word philosophy is derived from philein – to love, and sophos – knowledge; thus, it literally means love of knowledge. Commonly, however, it refers to the academic study of the fundamental nature of kno...
Family bonds occupy a central place in one’s life. This includes both one’s inherited family—parents, siblings, relatives—and one’s assumed family—spouse, children, and extended relations through marriage.
In most cases, one’s life revolves largely around the family. Given this, it becomes necessary ...
A common question is: at what age should one begin the pursuit of spirituality?
There is a general tendency to associate spirituality with old age. One assumes that it is something to be taken up after retirement, once one has “finished” one’s worldly responsibilities.
This understanding is misplaced.
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Professional life forms a significant part of one’s life. Given the time, energy, and attention it demands, it becomes necessary to understand its place in relation to one’s spiritual pursuit.
There is often an assumption that success in spirituality is directly proportional to professional suc...
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