Reaching There

Introduction A few days ago I wrote on how a contemporary Dharmic mind is enslaved with various narratives meant to degrade the tradition of Dharmic spiritualism (or Hinduism) and relegate the spiritual path as non-sensical, patriarchal, and regressive (i.e. against modernity). I've three examples below that show the eagerness in contemporary conversations to push this narrative. Since free speech and vaad (Sanskrit: वाद, discussion) are two-way streets so it's well within my right to share my opinion based on sound reasoning and well-established examples. And my opinion doesn't rely on the play of words (Sanskrit: सामान्य छल, quibble)) or a mere attack on the opposition (Sanskrit: वितंडा, cavil/sophistry). Just a side note, these categorizations are based on the ancient  Nyaya philosophy composed by Akṣapāda Gautama between the 6th century BCE and the 2nd century CE. Example 1 -  वितंडा / Sophistry Buddhism and Sanatana Dharma have a long history of coexistence and assim...

Mind alone is the cause of both bondage and liberation. - Amritabindu Upanishad, Verse 2 Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) in his "journey to the west" between 629 CE and 645 CE referred to India as ' Yin-tu ' which  means moon (in Sanskrit). Dharampal in his book 'A Beautiful Tree' describes various British territories like Bengal, Bihar, Madras, Punjab, and others that "there is hardly a village, great or small, throughout our territories, in which there is not at least one school, and in larger villages more." And the 1830s, the British began the survey of India to implement policies that "established some affinity of outlook and belief between the rules and the rule" whether it was introducing a new "Christian" education policy or opening up India to evangelical missionaries for extending Christian 'light' and 'knowledge' (Page 16, The Beautiful Tree, Dharampal)   Since ancient times travelers, monks, seers, and seekers ...

A painting depicting Tarkavidya (the science of reasoning and logic) in action. Picture:  The famous debate between Adi Shankaracharya and Mandana Mishra, in which Shankaracharya emerged victorious. https://twitter.com/mimansaka/status/1411535285444247556?lang=b g) Can Science & Religion be reconciled? I've often wondered if there is a reconciliation of science and religion. In past, I've written about misinterpreting faith , the  importance of spiritual philosophies , and spiritualism in the Hindu (or Indian) context . I've also read the likes of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, who are the pioneers of the atheistic movement opposing the Abrahamic philosophy, to not limit my view to just my Indic background. In the western world,  more people are identifying as atheists, agnostics, or otherwise nonreligious . Pew Research shows the same trend in the western world when it comes to religion. The same Pew Research also shows the importance of religion in...

Vaisheshik Darshan  was written over two and a half thousand years ago (it is likely older than that). It is one of the earliest texts that delve into the nature of the physical world - thereby one of the oldest texts that can share the shelf space with other books on Physics.  It likely predates Greek and other Eastern philosophies that developed between the 4th and 2nd century BCE. What is all around us? Let's classify each and every existing entity!   One of the astounding aspects of Vaisheshika is that it's a combination of Ontology, Psychology, Ethics, Spiritualism, and Physics. Rishi Kanada embarked on a journey that sought an answer to the 'question of being' and he observed everything around him with the keenest eye.  The roots of the question 'of being' requires understanding everything around us through means of knowledge available to us normally; pratyaksha pramana (i.e. through our material senses) or when that's not possible then via anumana pr...

All of us desire to be remembered after our time is done in this lifetime. It is a foremost desire to pass on a legacy to the next generation. Whether it's a family heirloom, knowledge, letters or for a selected few an institution or a trust. We've a desire to be remembered, whether through our photographs or through our deeds. At a civilizational level the traditions pass on the legacy of previous generation to the generations to come. Traditions live among us in form of books of knowledge, prayers, general wisdom, and everything we do in our day to day live. At times new traditions are added which may or may not survive the test of time.  David Frawley states in his foreword to Sandeep Balakrishna's book '70 Years of Secularism' that "Indian intellectual today dislikes his own country, does not study or honor its cultural traditions". But, what should I be proud of?  It's a question we need to think sincerely and with utmost dignity. A question that...

Hindu Philosophy is unique in its way that it includes Samkhya (rationalism and atheism), Yoga (focusing on mental as well as physical study) and Nyāya (logic/rules) as part of its six philosophies. While world debates on monotheism, atheism, iconoclasm, superiority, equality, proselytization and other such subject which are bound to create controversy and divisiveness, Hinduism is comfortable in the diversity of thoughts from ancient time and is still evolving. As author, Prafull Goradia in his book Hindu Masjids , says 'it is well known that the conceptual purpose of every Hindu is self actualisation". Some call it moksha , mukti , nirvana or bhagwat prapti . Although the goal sounds a simple enough endeavour yet for a logical mind there needs to be a rationale that helps you to identify this as a goal one needs to focus & strive for. I think Hinduism is the only religion (or way of life ) which believes in self-critique, debates, logical analysis and takes considerable...

#Kashmir  A region known to the world as a "disputed" territory if you follow the so called populist media. As recently as this week, Al Jazeera shamefully printed an article stating " Kashmir Muslims fear demographic shift as thousands get residency " Yet, ignored by these so-called journalists is the historical fact that 'Kashmir valley is dotted with pre-historic pilgrimage centers and ancient ruins of Hindu temples and Buddhist Stupas and Viharas.' ( source: Col Tej K Tikoo. Kashmir: Its Aborigines and their Exodus (Kindle Locations 316-317). Lancer Publishers LLC. Kindle Edition. )  Ancient Kashmir  Two great Indic religions, namely, Hinduism and Buddhism, thrived here and interacted with each other in a manner that affected their outlook on spiritual and temporal matters. ( source: Col Tej K Tikoo. Kashmir: Its Aborigines and their Exodus (Kindle Locations 318-319). Lancer Publishers LLC. Kindle Edition. ) Here are just a few examples of ancient temple...