What are the attributes of a saint?

21 Sep 2020 13:35 PM IST

All religions of the world believe in the notion of saints or sages, though they call them bydifferent names. In Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism they are called sant, mahatma,sanyasi, sadhu, aryika, sadhavi, arahant, bodhisattva, swami, pravarjak, guru. Mahatma Gandhiobserved, “All the saints of the world, ancient and modern, were each

Being human: Whole inside, peace outside

21 Sep 2020 13:33 PM IST

By breathing in and breathing out, awareness rises, disturbances go away, and tranquility follows. We are able to see differences for what they are and the underlying aspect of common humanity starts to prevail.

Purity determines our quality

19 Sep 2020 10:54 AM IST

The deities worshipped in temples are greatly revered, so much so that kings bow down at their feet, and the rich and famous supplicate before them for a little prasad—the devotional offering handed out to the faithful. Why do they do that? What is it that the deities have and

LIVING LIFE AS AN ART

19 Sep 2020 10:50 AM IST

Any normal action that takes on a special degree of attention, expression, finesse and value is an art — a high standard of doing things.” —Purity magazine, April 2016 Living becomes art when every thought, word and action is an expression of spiritual fullness. Artists spend years refining the small

Key to sustainable living: Inner contentment

19 Sep 2020 10:46 AM IST

A spiritual life reduces neediness for wealth, material possessions and external validation. As inner contentment grows, we move towards a simpler way of living. We discover fulfilment has nothing to do with what we have – it’s all about who we are. Consuming less, we waste less. It becomes a

MY TRANSFORMATION WILL CONVINCE MY KIN

19 Sep 2020 10:43 AM IST

If my friends and relations do not choose to accompany me on my spiritual path, why should I chase after them trying to get them to change? They will not listen to me anyway, no matter what I say. A better approach is to focus on my own change process.

Focus on the self for spiritual growth

19 Sep 2020 10:39 AM IST

What is the way to progress on the spiritual path and become worthy of serving the world? Merely listening to or studying spiritual knowledge is not enough. It has been observed that unless one reflects deeply on each point of spiritual knowledge, it cannot be understood clearly. That understanding has

Learning to be happy in a worrisome world

14 Sep 2020 09:05 AM IST

In the larger scheme of things, worrying is useless. But in a stressful world, it seems unavoidable. Fortunately, making just a few adjustments in life can keep the blues at bay.

We should be alone and not lonely

14 Sep 2020 08:57 AM IST

Man is lonely and he is carrying the burden of loneliness. And man is said to be an individual. The one who cannot be divided. Organically, it may be true. But as far as the mind is concerned, man is not an individual; he is deeply divided. Man is a

Meditation helps one see beauty within and outside

14 Sep 2020 08:42 AM IST

Often, we mistake pride for arrogance and those who have arrogance mistake it for pride. But there is a clear distinction. Arrogance is being insensitive. When there is no humility in pride, that pride turns into arrogance. When there is no awareness in pride, that pride turns into arrogance. When

This is an opportunity for transformation

12 Sep 2020 10:14 AM IST

Looking at the world right now, we wonder if this is a time of crisis or opportunity. We all understand that we are living in precarious times, and we all recognise the need to rise, support and help others. Spiritual traditions share insights into principles and practices that will be

The importance of having good wishes

12 Sep 2020 10:10 AM IST

Good wishes, it is said, have the power to cool down burning situations. They keep the mind calm in challenging situations and touch the hearts of others, inducing positive feelings and a like response. Often we do not have good wishes for others because we are ignorant of their value.