How Can We Matter

Does this image of a grieving bird stir something deeper in you? Does it prompt you to wonder what lies beyond death? Do we simply vanish into nothingness—or is there something more? A Grieving Bird Philosophical Concepts From a Hindu philosophical perspective , such moments offer profound reflection on timeless truths: Ātman – the individual soul, a divine spark present in all living beings. Brahman – the universal soul, the infinite consciousness that is eternal, unchanging, and the source of all existence. Māyā – the illusion that conceals Brahman and causes us to identify with the temporary, changing aspects of existence. Punarjanma – the cycle of rebirth, which ensures that life continues beyond a single incarnation. Karma – the universal laws of cause and effect that govern the journey of every soul towards ultimate liberation ( moksha ). Samsāra – the cycle of birth, suffering, and death through which all beings pass. Moksha – the ultimate liberation from Samsāra , when the soul...

Wow, what a beautiful milestone! Fifty years ago, a remarkable woman, now celebrating her 70th year, said "yes" to a journey of a lifetime with me. Today, I honor her grace, wisdom, and the enduring love that began five decades ago. This tribute celebrates not just a moment in time, but the countless moments of joy, challenge, growth, and unwavering companionship we've shared.  Fifty years of love, Fifty years of marriage, and Fifty years of treasured memories.  My dearest Vasanth, today we celebrate our golden anniversary, a beautiful chapter within your remarkable 70 years on this planet. Half A Century Together  As I look at you today, my heart swells with a love that has only deepened and grown richer with each passing year. It feels like just yesterday we set sail on this incredible voyage, full of dreams and hopeful anticipation. The ocean of life has presented us with calm waters and thrilling adventures, and yes, a few storms that tested our strength. But through ...

We are all busy with the " struggle for existence " that refers to the competition for resources needed to survive, which can occur in human society or in nature. This survival process is best elaborated through a story. The Cow and the Tiger Once upon a time, a cow went to graze in the jungle. Suddenly, she saw a tiger racing towards her. Terrified, she fled, fearing the tiger would catch her at any moment. Desperately searching for a way to escape, she spotted a shallow pond. Just barely evading the tiger’s reach, she jumped into the pond, and in the heat of the chase, the tiger blindly followed her and fell into the pond. To their dismay, the pond where they landed was filled with deep mud. After tumbling over each other, the cow and the tiger found themselves stuck in the deep mud up to their necks, unable to free themselves despite their struggles. The tiger snarled at the cow, roaring, “I will enjoy crunching your bones between my teeth!” Do you have a master? Furiously...

Ishaara Restaurant Yesterday, we went to a unique restaurant by name Ishaara in Phoenix Marketcity, Bangalore. In order to understand what is exclusive about the restaurant you need to know the meaning of its name. Ishaara, a name steeped in Hindi heritage, means "signaling", "signs", and "symbols". Ishaara can also mean "hint", "clue", or "gesture" in Sanskrit. The Ishaara Menu From the outside, Ishaara appeared to be a fine-dining restaurant with elegant and alluring decor. When we sat down, we were presented with menu sheets of 11" x 17" size. At first glance it was a typical à la carte menu with separate prices for each item; an extensive list comprising dishes from across several regions of India. Ishaara Menu Initially I was concentrating on the different categories of food, several items under each category, their descriptions, and prices - in order to get a general idea about the value and quality of the off...

I am presently attending an online program of 40 days entitled Atma Chalisa Parayanam , conducted by Shri Vikas Varma. It is a spiritual practice for self-realization - a way of knowing ourselves and our life in a much better manner. Presently it is half way through and we, the program participants, are required to share our experiences in the group.  The learning process of this program involves three basic steps - Sravana, Manana and Nididhyāsana . Sravana is listening to what the teacher says very carefully. Manana is reflecting on what we heard in the class by trying to understand not only the superficial meaning but also the deeper meaning by reading in between the lines. Nididhyāsana is an extensive understanding of what we heard and reflected, probably by applying them in our life to reinforce the ideas and concepts and digesting them thoroughly. The final phase of this spiritual education, namely  Sakshatkara   (experiencing or realization) is when the contemplate...