Ravi S. Iyer: Spiritual

The recent statements by Pope Francis at some Pontifical Academy of sciences function, on creation, big bang and evolution, has been highlighted by the media. A correspondent had forwarded a link titled, Pope Francis declares evolution and Big Bang theory are real and God is not 'a magician with a magic wand', http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-declares-evolution-and-big-bang-theory-are-right-and-god-isnt-a-magician-with-a-magic-wand-9822514.html . Here is a slightly edited extract of what I wrote back in response: Here's a (the) relevant article from the Vatican, http://www.news.va/en/news/francis-in-the-pontifical-academy-of-sciences-emph . The exact and full quote related to Creation in Genesis is: "When we read in Genesis the account of Creation, we risk imagining God as a magus, with a magic wand able to make everything. But it is not so. He created beings and allowed them to develop according to the internal laws that He gave to ...

I recently had a mail conversation with a correspondent, part of which touched upon human nature and different paths/ways for motivation/happiness in life. A slightly edited version of the exchange is shared below (with approval from the correspondent): As the concluding part of his response a correspondent wrote: However, human nature does not change easily. I responded: I entirely agree on your human nature point (does not change easily). I have elaborated on it a little below. One of the aspects of ashram life (Sathya Sai Baba, Puttaparthi ashram) that I experienced as a free service spiritual aspirant is that one's human weaknesses (as well as strengths) comes to the fore in the small village type of environment of the ashram. And the royal battle then is with conquering, or at least subduing, one's weaknesses. [Note that now there are well paid (sixth pay commission salary scales)/reasonably well paid employees of the ashram system, some of whom may be serious s...

Here is an article dated today (14th Oct. 2014) in Deccan Herald, Sai Baba on wrath of God, http://www.deccanherald.com/content/435817/sai-baba-wrath-god.html , by a Terry Reis Kennedy, who seems to based in Puttaparthi . Some short extracts and comments: Many people who know I am a devotee of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba ridicule me.  They insist that he was nothing more than a magician.  They consider those who still take comfort at his Abode of Peace, Prasanthi Nilayam long after he left his body in 2011 must be deluded. Because Swami taught me not to re-act to such statements in an unkind manner, I just keep quiet.  This, of course, is difficult for me because it is as if someone is insulting my own mother. [Ravi: She is echoing how many Sathya Sai devotees feel when they encounter uninformed and malicious criticism of Swami and his devotees/followers. Informed and constructive criticism is a different matter - I can take that and engage in a discussion givin...

Last updated on October 10th 2014 I recently read "The Theory of Aryan Race and India: History and Politics", a paper based on a lecture given by leading Indian historian Romila Thapar, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romila_Thapar , in a conference on eastern studies in Tokyo in 1995, https://archive.org/details/TheTheoryOfAryanRaceAndIndiaHistoryAndPolitics . It does provide an interesting overview of the Aryan race theory as related to India, from what I presume is a mainstream academic history perspective. However, please be warned that Romila Thapar's talk/paper goes by evidence (archaeological, linguistic & textual) without treating scripture or any spiritual seer/master/mystic's words as holy truth. As an example she goes by 1500 BC as the date for the Rigveda and treats the 4500 BC date for Rigveda as an extreme and unwarranted by evidence date. Whereas people like me who believe in spiritual seers' words consider Rama to have been a real figure aro...

Here is a recent article (dated yesterday, 8th Oct. 2014) in the New York Times (NYT) by its editorial board, False Teachings for India's Students, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/09/opinion/false-teachings-for-indias-students.html . Some comments of mine on it: * Mr. Dinanath Batra's role in influencing Indian education policy under PM Modi seems to be the main concern of the NYT editorial board. * On the Wendy Doniger book withdrawal issue: I spent a lot of time understanding this Doniger book pulping affair and have blogged (& mailed) and publicly commented on forums like The Hindu website on it. [Interested readers can view this blog post of mine on Doniger's book, Book having Baseless Criticism of Hindu Divine Figures Blocked from being Distributed in India, https://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2014/02/book-having-baseless-criticism-of-hindu.html .] I think the NYT has not been fair by not mentioning that the issue was fought in an Indian court. In my view, Doniger...

The Lingams (Lingas) that Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba would create/manifest were ellipsoid in shape (photograph links given below), different from the traditional pillar shape of shiva lingams in Shiva temples. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Lingodbhavam http://sathyasaibaba.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/sathya-sai-lingodbhava-mystery-of-the-shiva-lingam/ quotes Shri Kasturi, first editor of Sanathana Sarathi, on the phenomenon of Lingodbhavam in/by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba as follows: “Until 1956, the Shivaratri all-night vigil and Bhajan could be held in the Prayer Hall itself. Sai Baba sat on the silver chair placed on over a tiger skin on a low platform. When the slower hand of the clock hovered near eight, the Linga or Lingas indicated the desire to emerge and Baba showed signs of physical struggle to smoothen their way out. Year after year, I have stood on His left, holding silver jug of water. Seshagiri Rao stood on the right with a silver plate to receive the Linga as it ...

Last updated on 5th October 2014 Note: This post has small excerpts related to Shiva Linga worship from Eck's book, India: A sacred geography. In my considered opinion, her treatment of Shiva Linga worship (in these excerpts) is sensitive, spiritually wise and balanced. However, she does mention some insensitive and inappropriate interpretations after which she provides the spiritually wiser and sensitive interpretation. Some readers, especially devotees of Lord Shiva, may find the insensitive and inappropriate interpretations to be offensive, and so, I request such readers to consider skipping reading the rest of this post. Excerpts from India: A sacred geography by Prof. Diana L. Eck, pages 203 & 207-209 - paperback, are given below. I have also provided some comments of mine. [Ravi: The excerpt below is part of a summary made by the author (Eck) of a beginning section of Shiva Purana] Suddenly, between them, the ground of the cosmos opened and there appeared a fiery...