Ravi S. Iyer: Spiritual

Last updated on May 26th 2014 I found it interesting to read Hindu, Muslim and Christian views on PM-designate Modi in the Deccan Chronicle today. Some of the views are somewhat sensitive - so please feel free to skip reading the linked articles. The Hindu view by Ram Madhav: From  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Ram_Madhav , "Ram Madhav Varanasi is a member of the national executive and also in charge of the media and public relations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh." Here's his article, Time has come: Modi’s tough balancing act, http://www.deccanchronicle. com/140525/commentary-op-ed/ article/time-has-come-modi%E2% 80%99s-tough-balancing-act . The Muslim view by Asaduddin Owaisi. From  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Asaduddin_Owaisi , "Asaduddin Owaisi (13 May 1969 Hyderabad) is an Indian politician, who is the President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. He is a three-time Member of Parliament (MP), representing the Hyderabad constituency ...

From http://www.ssso.net/pnews-2014/modi.htm : Below is Shri.Narendra Modi's Guestbook entry after his Interview with Swami on 7th November 2003... This holy place is a wonderful blend of wisdom, faith and science, covering within itself, all the beliefs and faiths of the world. [Ravi: I think the above sentence is a wonderful tribute to Prasanthi Nilayam (Puttaparthi ashram), and I tend to agree with it.] ... The article refers to a link in Shri Narendra Modi's website which covers Modi's visit to pay respects at Bhagawan's Mahasamadhi in April 2011 (when Swami gave up His body): http://www.narendramodi.in/honble-cm-joins-mourners-at-prasanthi-nilayam-to-pay-his-last-homage-to-sathya-sai-baba/ . I have reproduced the short text content there (Modi's website) (the link has a photo of Modi paying respects too): Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today (April 26th 2011) joined the bereaved family members of the late Sathya Sai Baba and offered flowers a...

Last updated on August 4th 2014 A recent article in The Hindu about the outcome of the Indian general elections, http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/how-modi-defeated-liberals-like-me/article6034057.ece , had the following lead paragraph, "What secularism did was it enforced oppositions in a way that the middle class felt apologetic and unconfident about its beliefs, its perspectives. Secularism was portrayed as an upwardly mobile, drawing room discourse they were inept at." At the time I read the article, I was (and had been for quite some time) confused about the exact meaning of secularism, as meant in the Indian context. I thought that perhaps it was/is a very elastic word meaning different things to different people. I then did some browsing on secularism. According to wikipedia, Indian secularism is different from secularism as understood by the Western world! I think wikipedia seems to have got it right here. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism : ...

Here's a great, I would say must-read, recent interview of BKS Iyengar, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._K._S._Iyengar , by NDTV (I must also say I do not agree with everything Iyengar says but there is a lot one can learn from him): http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/god-has-assigned-a-job-to-every-individual-yogis-jumping-in-to-become-popular-and-entering-the-political-sphere-it-pains-me/99/ Some comments of mine: Iyengar mentions that his Padma Vibhushan award from the govt. of India was for 80 years of practicing Yoga. [Ravi: Hats off to BKS Iyengar for his dedication, guts and love for Yoga translated to spreading Yoga in the world to improve fitness of body and mind. 80 years of practice of yoga! Awesome, man, awesome!] ... The interviewer states, "Anxiety is now the biggest lifestyle disease of our times — not diabetes, cholesterol or blood pressure." Iyengar answers, "Yes, it is because of the stress factor. There are three remedies — wo...

A correspondent had passed on two links related to a game programming patterns book, http://gameprogrammingpatterns.com/ ,   http://journal.stuffwithstuff.com/2014/04/22/zero-to-95688-how-i-wrote-game-programming-patterns/ . That led me to write the following to him (slightly modified) on a game of life which I thought some readers may also want to have a quick look at: While on the topic of games, I wanted to share with you an idea that I have had with me for a long time - more a sort-of idle thought idea rather than something that I myself will want to get down and program (I think those days are gone for me now). The idea is about having a game of life as viewed from a Hindu belief perspective with Maya, law of karma, reincarnation, desire, prayer, turning inward to untangle one's inner reality from Maya etc. One could also consider modern perspectives on core aspects of life. For example I read that the four basic instincts of man (and animals) are hunger, sleep, sex (pr...