Let me introduce this post with the one phrase that has become a cliché to most Hindus. Hinduism is not a religion; it is a way of life. Before you let out an exasperated sigh and roll your eyes, let me explain. Over 60,000 years ago, a wealth of knowledge was revealed to the world in […]
Guru Bhakti
There is this beautiful story that Swamiji tells in the Book of Surrender about Krishna and Arjuna. I think it perfectly describes Arjuna’s relationship with Krishna. “After the Gita, Krishna and Arjuna are going somewhere. Maybe for a picnic, an outing. Suddenly Krishna says, ‘Arjuna, see that, white coloured crows’. Arjuna says, ‘yes, yes, beautiful, […]
What is a Guru?
I still remember the moment I saw Swamiji. I was standing outside the temple in the Bengaluru Adheenam and he strolled by so gracefully as if he was floating on a cloud. I had never seen such a sentient being before. When he walked, his whole being seemed to be smiling. He exuded an unadulterated […]
“Adho mukha svanasana? Oh, you mean downward dog!”
Even though I never practiced yoga growing up, I had always known that it was deeply rooted in spirituality and Hinduism. I heard of stories of great yogis with incredible strength and complete control over their bodies and minds. As I grew up, yoga became a popular trend among young twenty-somethings, and it was redefined […]
Why so many Gods?
This is a contribution from one of our guest writers. “Why are there so many Gods?” I remember the first time I had this question. I couldn’t have been more than a meager 9 years of age. I was sitting cross-legged next to my mother at some pooja at our local Hindu temple. I looked […]
What is Hinduism?
I want to preface this post with a confession: I won’t really be able to answer this question. Hinduism is too vast to be bound by words. They’re just too small to describe something so infinite. However, I get this question too often from my friends and I am always at a loss for […]
Reviving the Vibrancy of Hinduism
“It’s more than a religion; it’s a way of life.” This answer is an automated response any time anyone poses the question, “What is Hinduism?” It has been so used and overused that it has almost become cliché. So what does it mean, really? It means that every aspect of our life, from brushing our […]
Vegetarianism
“What about protein?” “Is it because you worship cows?” Voices immediately chime up to ask these questions as soon as people realize that I am vegetarian. Especially being surrounded by future doctors, I get a variation of these questions from someone, weekly. So in this post I will tell you my reasons for being vegetarian […]
My first look
Recently, I have been hearing a lot of people talk about the book, Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahamsa Yogananda. I always want to chime in with my two cents but then I realize I only half-heartedly read the first few chapters upon my mother’s request back in 2011. At the age of 18, I […]
“So, what are you?”
“So, what are you?” So much is hidden in this one simple question. Most of us are on a quest to answer this for ourselves and for others. What defines your identity? Okay, relax, this is not going to be about an existential crisis. We’re just talking about our cultural identity here. Many of us […]