The Thoroughness of the Hindu Culture
03/07/2011 11:53 PM
Leila sent me this astounding link to an article that relates Sattva, Rajas and Tamas to clothing:
http://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/knowledge/article/why-do-the-dresses-from-western-culture-cause-distress-at-spiritual-level.html
Truly incredible detail and shows the astounding intellectual prowess of the Hindu mind, but also shows how the principles of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas can be used to explain a great many things in explicit detail- everything from the nature of the mind to clothing!
Om,
Durgadas
http://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/knowledge/article/why-do-the-dresses-from-western-culture-cause-distress-at-spiritual-level.html
Truly incredible detail and shows the astounding intellectual prowess of the Hindu mind, but also shows how the principles of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas can be used to explain a great many things in explicit detail- everything from the nature of the mind to clothing!
Om,
Durgadas
Comments
Considering Diogenes
11/23/2010 02:54 AM
This is a great video about Diogenes, one of the most famous philosophers of yore. What is interesting about this video to me is that praises are being sung about a man who was essentially a sadhu like those wandering ‘madmen’ of India. These men have LONG been understood to be learned, even though they were/are considered mad.
The word for these men/women are called Avadhuts. Avatars are incarnations of specific gods, like Krishna and Rama being incarnations of Lord Vishnu, whereas Avadhuts are people who have realized themselves as one with the supernal consciousness called Brahman and therefore realize that the constrictions of societal norms don’t apply to them.
Diogenes is a good example of this kind of philosopher- not a preacher but a practitioner. This is what is taught by swamis and yogis from ancient times up to now. It is sad that we’ve dropped this kind of understanding from our discourse and instead seem to have a need to have one person who embodies cynicism and another who embodies some shade of faith or belief and then they are now tasked with squaring off against each other in the public discourse.
The goal is better served to embody BOTH traits within the same person and to measure one’s own understanding of the nature of things by balancing being open and thinking critically. Polarizing viewpoints between people only creates problems and masses of arguing groups, each further entrenched in one’s chosen viewpoint, seething about the lack of vision had by one or another group who believes just as stridently in some- usually trivial- different view.
Instead, understanding the NECESSITY of harboring apparently opposite viewpoints IS the essence of philosophical thinking. Someone who is philosophical in nature is a person who considers paradoxes. Eventually, one can see the whole picture more clearly and less stridently, and usually less violently through this kind of consideration.
The word for these men/women are called Avadhuts. Avatars are incarnations of specific gods, like Krishna and Rama being incarnations of Lord Vishnu, whereas Avadhuts are people who have realized themselves as one with the supernal consciousness called Brahman and therefore realize that the constrictions of societal norms don’t apply to them.
Diogenes is a good example of this kind of philosopher- not a preacher but a practitioner. This is what is taught by swamis and yogis from ancient times up to now. It is sad that we’ve dropped this kind of understanding from our discourse and instead seem to have a need to have one person who embodies cynicism and another who embodies some shade of faith or belief and then they are now tasked with squaring off against each other in the public discourse.
The goal is better served to embody BOTH traits within the same person and to measure one’s own understanding of the nature of things by balancing being open and thinking critically. Polarizing viewpoints between people only creates problems and masses of arguing groups, each further entrenched in one’s chosen viewpoint, seething about the lack of vision had by one or another group who believes just as stridently in some- usually trivial- different view.
Instead, understanding the NECESSITY of harboring apparently opposite viewpoints IS the essence of philosophical thinking. Someone who is philosophical in nature is a person who considers paradoxes. Eventually, one can see the whole picture more clearly and less stridently, and usually less violently through this kind of consideration.
The Benefits of Failure
02/01/2010 02:03 PM
J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, gives a wonderful speech and perspective. Like you will probably be, as I was, surprised at her speech and her presence. Wonderful.
J. K. Rowling speaks at Harvard, The Fringe Benefit of Failure from TheHun on Vimeo.
The Meaning of Namaste
11/07/2009 08:58 PM
Thanks to Leila for the great inspiration to this post.
Namaste means, in one Southern preacher's unique way of explaining:
This reminded me that: In Sanskrit and modern Indo-Aryan languages, mitra means "friend." And I recalled that during our yoga classes, we do Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation). Namaskara (as it's alternately spelled) is the Hindi translation of Namaste, which is Sanskrit.
In the more advanced classes, we will use the Sanskrit mantras associated with the 12 parts of the Sun Salutation. Wikipedia has a good description of these movements and their history, although the technique shown in the photos is not nearly as precise as I would teach it.
The first step is to place the hands together and say:
1) Om Mitraya Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, our friend)
2) Om Ravaya Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, the source of activity)
3) Om Suryaya Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, who shines)
4) Om Bhavane Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, who illuminates)- PLEASE ignore the hand-drawn pose on the link, the knee is too far in front of the foot.
5) Om Khagaya Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, who flies high like a bird)
6) Om Pooshne Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, who raises us all)
7) Om Hiranyagarbaya Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, the creator)- PLEASE ignore lack of toe pointing & hips too high in hand-drawn pose on link
8) Om Marichaye Namah (Salutations to the Sun, the beautiful or symbol of beauty)
9) Om Adityaya Namah (Salutations to the Sun, the son of Aditi- mythologically, the mother of all the 9 planets) PLEASE ignore the hand-drawn pose on the link, the knee is too far in front of the foot.
10) Om Savitre Namah (Salutations to the Sun, who is both mother and father)
11) Om Arkaya Namah (Salutations to the Sun, who is praiseworthy)
12) Om Bhaskaraya Namah (Salutations to the Sun, him who gives Enlightenment)
When we say "Namaste", we also place the palms together at the heart. As our friend the pastor above said- "the divinity in me salutes the divinity in you." Keeping this in mind- our inherent One-ness when we meet is important for our planet as a whole, and how we treat each other. There are too many other ways to get off track.
Symbolically, this means two becoming one- me and my friend, were two, and now we have met, and become one. I am certain that the word 'meet' itself has it's etymology in 'mitra'.
Namaste means, in one Southern preacher's unique way of explaining:
This reminded me that: In Sanskrit and modern Indo-Aryan languages, mitra means "friend." And I recalled that during our yoga classes, we do Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation). Namaskara (as it's alternately spelled) is the Hindi translation of Namaste, which is Sanskrit.
In the more advanced classes, we will use the Sanskrit mantras associated with the 12 parts of the Sun Salutation. Wikipedia has a good description of these movements and their history, although the technique shown in the photos is not nearly as precise as I would teach it.
The first step is to place the hands together and say:
1) Om Mitraya Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, our friend)
2) Om Ravaya Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, the source of activity)
3) Om Suryaya Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, who shines)
4) Om Bhavane Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, who illuminates)- PLEASE ignore the hand-drawn pose on the link, the knee is too far in front of the foot.
5) Om Khagaya Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, who flies high like a bird)
6) Om Pooshne Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, who raises us all)
7) Om Hiranyagarbaya Namah, (Salutations to the Sun, the creator)- PLEASE ignore lack of toe pointing & hips too high in hand-drawn pose on link
8) Om Marichaye Namah (Salutations to the Sun, the beautiful or symbol of beauty)
9) Om Adityaya Namah (Salutations to the Sun, the son of Aditi- mythologically, the mother of all the 9 planets) PLEASE ignore the hand-drawn pose on the link, the knee is too far in front of the foot.
10) Om Savitre Namah (Salutations to the Sun, who is both mother and father)
11) Om Arkaya Namah (Salutations to the Sun, who is praiseworthy)
12) Om Bhaskaraya Namah (Salutations to the Sun, him who gives Enlightenment)
When we say "Namaste", we also place the palms together at the heart. As our friend the pastor above said- "the divinity in me salutes the divinity in you." Keeping this in mind- our inherent One-ness when we meet is important for our planet as a whole, and how we treat each other. There are too many other ways to get off track.
Symbolically, this means two becoming one- me and my friend, were two, and now we have met, and become one. I am certain that the word 'meet' itself has it's etymology in 'mitra'.
The Love Police
11/06/2009 08:02 PM
I love this video on Youtube. Our friend Ranza Clark alerted this to us on Facebook. Thanks Ranza!
I love hugging the police parts! hahaha
REEG!
I love hugging the police parts! hahaha
REEG!
The Last Talk Of Jiddu Krishnamurti
10/30/2009 10:25 AM
Drawing by Nick O'Sullivan
Aged 90, in November 1985, he revisted the places he had grown up in India, holding a last set of talks between then and January 1986, in farewell. The final talks were on fundamental principles of belief and lessons. Krishnamurti commented that he did not wish to invite Death, but was not sure how long his body would last, he had already lost some 6 kg (13 lb) and once he could no longer talk or teach, he would have no further purpose. He said a formal farewell to all four points of the compass, the so-called 'elephant's turn', on the Adayar shore where he had long ago come to the attention of others. His final talk, on January 4, 1986, invited his co-participants to examine with him the nature of inquiry, the nature of life, and the nature of creation. It ended:
"So we are inquiring what makes a bird. What is creation behind all this? Are you waiting for me to describe it, to go into it? ... Why? Why do you ask [what creation is]? Because I asked? No description can ever describe the origin. The origin is nameless; the origin is absolutely quiet, it's not whirring about making noise. Creation is something that is most holy, that's the most sacred thing in life, and if you have made a mess of your life, change it. Change it today, not tomorrow. If you are uncertain, find out why and be certain. If your thinking is not straight, think straight, logically. Unless all that is prepared, all that is settled, you can't enter into this world, into the world of creation."
"It ends." (these two words are hardly audible, breathed rather than spoken)
"This is the last talk. Do you want to sit together quietly for a while? All right, sirs, let us sit quietly for a while."