Having followed last two issues of this column, another regular reader came up with an interesting question: “Sir, you have beautifully explained how our karma sets the term for what we become due for – reward or punishment. But in our life, we do both good and bad karma. Would not the credits earned for all the good done, balance out our bad karma and relieve us from its future implications? You have also suggested {…}
Read MoreA regular reader of this column could not digest the observation made in the previous issue: “There is no scope for any extra-terrestrial body that would be adjudicating our Karma, and selectively granting boons in response to your prayers.” Baffled, he sought clarification: “Sir, the general perception is that we do our Karma, but the fruits of actions thereto – good or bad – is granted by God. The above statement seems to be mocking {…}
Read MoreA girl having entered her forties and yet not married, would naturally be a concern for parents. One such helpless father came asking the other day: “Sir, why my daughter has not been able to get married by now? Is her marriage denied? If not, suggest me some remedial measures that could facilitate her marriage. I am approaching 80 and don’t know how long I will survive. I wish to get her married before I {…}
Read MoreSomeone in late fifties going through a very difficult phase in life came with a host of questions: “Sir, I am a highly religious person and dedicate at least 2 hours every day in service of God. I follow a value system and have not intentionally hurt anybody in so far as I can remember. Yet, I have been put through unforeseen problems of such a dimension that it is difficult to bear with. What {…}
Read MoreThe other day an old man worried about his bullish grandson came asking: “What is in store of his destiny? He is 9 years old. Has no interest in studies. He doesn’t listen to his elders. No amount of reprimand or even beating has any effect on him. He has become defiant. When his parents show displeasure towards his unseemly conduct, he himself picks up a stick and hands over to his father and says: {…}
Read MoreInvariably, human minds, unless otherwise consciously reined in, behaves like a wild monkey that is randomly and unmindfully jumping from one branch of a tree to the other. Ever noticed children? Oblivious to implications, they keep shifting attention from one object to the other in rapid succession, their curious minds keen to explore whatever be around. That, however, is a part of the usual learning process. The impressions thus gathered during early childhood shape the {…}
Read MorePicking up threads from the previous issue, let us now see how Lord Śiva, engages with multitude of existences forming his entourage, each unique and at variance with others. He, despite evolutionary barrier of incommunicability amongst them, remains in accord with all of them at one go. Overlooking their individualistic vagaries, He engages with all of them on even terms. It’s not that He is unaware of their individual limitations. He rather purposely ignores them, {…}
Read MoreThe whole of Shravana month, immediately following Gurupurnima, is dedicated to Lord Shiva, believed to be the Universal Guru. Those having a living Guru enjoy the privilege of being regularly guided, and so keep evolving according to their level of dedication and sincere efforts. A large majority, however, either not aware of the significance of a Guru, or not been able to find one, do also deserve to have exposure to the existential realities of {…}
Read MoreEvery Ashadha Purnima, which fell on 16th July this year, is marked as Guru-purnima in the annual Hindu calendar. Following the age-old Guru-shishya tradition, those engaged in such a relationship, pay tribute their respective Gurus. Why so much importance to this practice? Bear in mind; the word Guru is made of two syllables – ‘Gu’ and ‘Ru’. The two syllables respectively mean darkness/ignorance and light/enlighten. The one who is himself/herself enlightened enough to make you {…}
Read MoreWhenever reality confronts myth, usually the latter is found to have the first laugh. The reason plain and simple is that only a handful of people are conversant with existential realities, who may not be overtaken by belief. The rest, caught up in their usual mills of life, are not keen to take pains for exploring the truths of life. Their impressionable minds get carried away by prevailing beliefs, and all the more if {…}
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