Ravi S. Iyer: Spiritual

Last updated on 3rd Sept. 2019 I request interested readers to do this search themselves by visiting the National Digital Library of India (NDLI) website, https://ndl.iitkgp.ac.in/ . Note that this is funded by Union government of India and seems to be the premier digital library of India. I had hoped to see entries on well known Sathya Sai literature like Sathya Sai Speaks Volumes, Sathyam Shivam Sundaram Volumes, various Vahinis etc. Yes, these digital books may get accessed only through Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust (SSSCT) and sister trust (e.g. Sadhana Trust) owned and operated websites for copyright purposes. But, ideally, NDLI should have entries that directs the user to these ebooks on SSSCT and sister trust owned websites. Instead we get very few books on Sathya Sai teachings and philosophy. The top result is a Ph.D. thesis submission titled, "PEACE PHILOSOPHY OF SATHYA SAI BABA "! Now it is good to see such Ph.D. thesis on Sathya Sai but I would have liked

Last updated on 5th Nov. 2019 https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2577467012469860 , dated 26th Aug. 2019 shares my Cardinal Gracias High School, Bandra East, Mumbai - SSC - 1977-1978 Batch class picture Facebook post of a classmate. [Original Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1303074752985&set=a.1303074712984 , dated 25th Feb. 2011]. Note that SSC stood (and perhaps continues to stand) for Secondary School Certificate (Exam). It corresponded to the tenth (X) class and was the last class in the school system (from 1st class to Xth class). We would be leaving the school after passing this exam with most of us moving on to (junior) college (different institution as our school then did not offer junior college education). The Xth class SSC exam was a state education board held exam and evaluation whereas all previous classes were school held exam and evaluation. I have given below a slightly cropped and rotated pic of it. Note that the resolution

There are three websites that seem to come into play for World eBook library (last one being in the Indian context): http://worldebooklibrary.org , http://community.ebooklibrary.org/ and http://community.worldlibrary.in . Note that National Digital Library of India, https://ndl.iitkgp.ac.in/ , list the source of my 2 books listed on it as "World eBook Library" which is hyperlinked to: http://community.ebooklibrary.org/ . At all these 3 sites: http://worldebooklibrary.org , http://community.ebooklibrary.org/ and http://community.worldlibrary.in , General search (not author search) for: Iyer, Ravi S. gives as the first result: Who am I? I am I - Ultimate Existential Reality Answer; Vedanta; God and Science Conversation: iami1.wordpress.com blog book Ravi S. Iyer Ravi S. Iyer (Self-publisher) Book Id: WPLBN0100002977 PDF (eBook) Subjects: Non Fiction, Religion, Self-help Collections: Philosophy, Authors Community, New Age ---- It does ***NOT*** list my part auto

Firstly, what is National Digital Library of India? From https://ndl.iitkgp.ac.in/faq , "National Digital Library of India (NDL India) is an all-digital library that stores information (metadata) about different types of digital contents including books, articles, videos, audios, thesis and other educational materials relevant for users from varying educational levels and capabilities. It provides a single-window search facility to access digital contents currently existing in India as well as other digital sources under a single umbrella." "NDL India has been designed to benefit all kinds of users like students (of all levels), teachers, researchers, librarians, library users, professionals, differently abled users and all other lifelong learners." The sponsor for NDL India: "Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), through its National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT), has sponsored and funded the Nat

Wonderful short message from Hon'ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind: https://www.facebook.com/PresidentOfIndia/videos/377025233194370/ dated 23rd Aug. 2019. He emphasizes gratitude in it. I think the message is really a powerful one. Transcript of these wonderful words of Hon'ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind: Ladies and gentlemen, As individuals, as families and as societies, we need to celebrate and share stories of kindness that we witness around us. By celebrating such act of kindness, howsoever big or small, we can promote goodness in our midst. Mahatma Gandhi also said and I quote, the simplest acts of kindness are, by far, more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer, unquote. Being grateful for what we have, can also be a gateway to access our inherent kindness and its free expression. A simple exercise such as writing down every morning, three things in your life for which you are grateful, will enthuse you with positivity. Feel

I was very happy that https://authorcentral.amazon.com recently accepted my request to create an author page for their site, which then has resulted in an author page for me on amazon.com and on amazon.in. You see, I have chosen to sell my books only on amazon.in but not on amazon.com as I want to limit my self-publisher legal indemnity risk to India. [Readers may want to see my post: Why I am not making my free ebooks available on Amazon Kindle (and Google Books), http://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2019/05/why-i-am-not-making-my-free-ebooks.html .] So on authorcentral.amazon.com, my books were not in the list (created from amazon.com books) I had to select from, declaring them as my books, which prevented me from going further in the author page creation process on that site. And amazon.in ***does not*** have a separate authorcentral! I sent a request message to authorcentral.amazon.com and they responded quickly, by checking that I do have two (paperback) books on amazon.in and

From today, 25th Aug. 2019, till 2nd Sept. 2019 (for 9 days), my books will be available at promotional discount on amazon.in and flipkart.com. Details are given below: 1) Who am I? I am I - Ultimate Existential Reality Answer; Vedanta; God and Science conversation Sold at Rs.112 (17% discount off regular price of Rs.135) at https://www.flipkart.com/am-i-ultimate-existential-reality-answer-vedanta-god-science-conversation/p/itmfazakubzrhhru?pid=9781646503490 and https://www.amazon.in/Who-Ultimate-Existential-conversation-iami1-wordpress-com/dp/164650349X . Pic below is of the flipkart sale page today: [To open pic in larger resolution, right-click on pic followed by open link (NOT image) in new tab/window. In new tab/window you may have to click on pic to zoom in.] 2) Autobiography of an Indian Software Techie and Spiritual Aspirant – Part 1 Sold at Rs.208 (27% discount off regular price of Rs.285) at https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/1645874087/ and also at one of two

Cool stuff! Hari Bol! https://www.facebook.com/TimesofIndia/videos/442668472994707/ , "Janmashtami is being celebrated at a shopping centre in the USA." ---- Hridaya vihara bada chitta chora - [Govinda] lives in our heart but is a big thief of our mind/chitta. Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba singing Govinda Gopala Prabhu Giridhari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inzUvWhdBfc Giridhara Gopala - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3_UjM54UC4 , 5 min. 50 secs. Govinda Krishna Jai, Gopala Krishna Jai - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-bUmiA3QHM , around 3 mins. --- Jagjit Singh Bhajan "Hey Gobind Hey Gopal" Lord Krishna Bhajan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty86h60vu2Y , 8 min. 14 secs. --- Shyam Teri Bansi Pukare Radha Naam by Nanuram Dogney & Gauri Kavi Live - Hemantkumar Musical Group, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dV0fhQCDIY , 8 min. 6 secs. --- Govind Bolo Hari Gopal Bolo Kumar Vishu Bhajan Hindi Chanda, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W5eH

I have offered a 33% (max) discount coupon on my paperback book: "Who am I? I am I - Ultimate Existential Reality Answer; Vedanta; God and Science conversation " on the Notion Press online store here: https://notionpress.com/read/who-am-i-i-am-i-ultimate-existential-reality-answer-vedanta-god-and-science-conversation-1325428-1325428 . What a buyer has to do is to visit the above webpage and type in the coupon text (without quotes) "NICEDEAL", in the field/box stating "Enter Coupon Code" right next to the Price label (₹ 135). That applies the discount of ₹ 44, making the discounted book price as ₹ 91. I have created 10 such coupons which I think means that the above coupon-text can be used 10 times before the coupon stops operating. I have also created a "Promo" campaign option for this book. This option applies to amazon.in and flipkart.com sales! I can discount the book at a maximum of 17%, bringing its price down to Rs.112 from Rs.135, a

Today I started exploring the book discount-promotion campaign options that are provided by Notion Press. I was surprised to note that I could offer a 38% (max) discount ***coupon*** on my paperback book: "Autobiography of an Indian Software Techie and Spiritual Aspirant – Part 1" on the Notion Press online store here: https://notionpress.com/read/autobiography-of-an-indian-software-techie-and-spiritual-aspirant-part-1-1325351 . What a buyer has to do is to visit the above webpage and type in the coupon text (without quotes) "GOODDEAL", in the field/box stating "Enter Coupon Code" right next to the Price label (₹ 285). That applies the discount of ₹ 108, making the discounted book price as ₹ 177. I have created 10 such coupons which I think means that the above coupon-text can be used 10 times before the coupon stops operating. I have also created a Free Shipping campaign from tomorrow (23rd Aug. 2019) till end of the year. But I think if a coupon i

In the late 70s and 80s in Bombay/Mumbai and Dombivli, I have heard some of the more popular devotional songs of this Jai Santoshi Maa Hindi film, umpteen times. At festival times like Ganesh Chaturthi and Navarathri there would be many community puja (worship) events along with some entertainment over a few days period. The bigger events would have a loudspeaker playing devotional songs for most of the daytime. I think I have heard the songs I have given below many times through these loudspeakers. They had acquired a cult-like status. The movie box office proceeds seems to have been in the range of the superhit Sholay and Deewar movies' box office proceeds - all three movies were released in 1975! That itself tells us how big Jai Santoshi Maa was at the box office. I mean, Sholay and Deewar were spectacular hits having superstars of that time, and these movies are considered as great Hindi films even today. These devotional songs of Jai Santoshi Maa highlight rural women and t

I just love this bhajan/devotional song and have enjoyed it over the decades listening to it on the radio mainly in the 80s, but also later on in the 90s. Now youtube provides me the great pleasure of watching the video-song. Here's the video of it from the 1980 movie Aasha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK7eTIyJoOE , 6 min, 46 secs, sung by Mohammed Rafi and Narendra Chanchal, music composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and song composed (lyricist) by Kaifi Azmi. One of the two singers (Mohd. Rafi) and the lyricist (Kaifi Azmi) are Muslim. This just shows how Hindi film industry of those days (perhaps even today), always promoted a multi-faith approach to God and promoted religious tolerance/pluralism. I simply adore (Late) Mohammed Rafi, who I believe was a devout Muslim! May God shower His choicest blessings on Mohammed Rafi sahab wherever his spirit is now (with God in all probability), and his loved ones! May India have many more Mohammed Rafis who are like him as devout Muslims

Last updated on 17th Aug. 2019 How Religious Fundamentalism Hijacks the Brain by Bobby Azarian Ph.D., https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-in-the-machine/201810/how-religious-fundamentalism-hijacks-the-brain , 10th Oct. 2018 An extract from the article (part of the extract is repeated in a previous post and readers may please excuse that): In moderation, religious and spiritual practices can be great for a person’s life and mental well-being. But religious fundamentalism—which refers to the belief in the absolute authority of a religious text or leaders—is almost never good for an individual. This is primarily because fundamentalism discourages any logical reasoning or scientific evidence that challenges its scripture, making it inherently maladaptive. It is not accurate to call religious fundamentalism a disease, because that term refers to a pathology that physically attacks the biology of a system. But fundamentalist ideologies can be thought of as mental parasites

Last updated on 18th Aug. 2019 My "Who am I? I am I - Ultimate Existential Reality Answer; Vedanta; God and Science conversation" paperback book is now available at amazon.in at reduced price of Rs.135 (+ shipping): https://www.amazon.in/Who-Ultimate-Existential-conversation-iami1-wordpress-com/dp/164650349X/ . Given below is the full cover page pic. [To open pic in larger resolution, right-click on pic followed by open link (NOT image) in new tab/window. In new tab/window you may have to click on pic to zoom in.] This reduction in price has been made possible as Notion Press minimum price for the book in 6 in. x 9 in. size paperback is Rs.135 (+ shipping), whereas earlier on the minimum price for the book in A5 size on amazon.in from another publisher was Rs.199 (+ shipping). I have withdrawn the earlier Rs.199 (+ shipping) priced book from amazon.in (and flipkart.com). I am happy that I am able to offer the paperback version of this book at a lower price

This post continues from the post: How 16 year old Lord Rama kills giant demoness Tataka (Tadaka) in his first major battle - Part 4 of 5 (Valmiki Ramayan), https://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2019/08/how-16-year-old-lord-rama-kills-giant_11.html , 11th Aug. 2019 Ref: https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga27/bala_27_frame.htm The next day morning Sage Viswamitra tells Rama that he is highly pleased with him (for killing Tataka) and that he will now endow Rama with a great variety of divine missiles which can be used to defeat all kinds of beings including divine beings (devas), demons (asuras), gandharvas, urugas and humans. Ref: 1-27-1 to 1-27-4a The next verses have Viswamitra detailing the variety of powerful divine missiles and weapons that he will be giving to Rama. Then Viswamitra chanted the sacred hymns associated with these divine missiles and other weapons, dedicating those sacred hymns to Rama. Ref: 1-27-22 and 23. All these divine missiles and other weapons a

This post continues from the post: How 16 year old Lord Rama kills giant demoness Tataka (Tadaka) in his first major battle - Part 3 of 5 (Valmiki Ramayan), https://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2019/08/how-16-year-old-lord-rama-kills-giant.html , 10th Aug. 2019 Ref: https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga26/bala_26_frame.htm On seeing that the horrendous in shape Tataka is killed, Indra, the king of divine beings (Devas), and other divine beings (Devas) praise Rama for his admirable act. Ref: 1-26-26, 1-26-27 Divine being (Dev) Indra tells Sage Viswamitra that he and other divine beings (devas) are pleased and that he should be loving towards Rama. Ref: 1-26-28b, 1-26-29a [a refers to first part of verse and b refers to second and last part of verse.] Indra (and other divine beings) tells Sage Viswamitra that powerful divine missiles (weapons) may be offered to Rama as Rama is faithfully following his instructions. Rama is worthy of receiving those missiles. This son of a ki

Last minor update on 11th Aug. 2019 This post continues from the post: How 16 year old Lord Rama kills giant demoness Tataka (Tadaka) in his first major battle - Part 2 of 5 (Valmiki Ramayan), https://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2019/03/how-16-year-old-lord-rama-kills-giant_28.html , 28th March 2019. On hearing the words of Sage Viswamitra about the need to kill demoness Tataka, Rama says that he will obey his father's words about following Sage Viswamitra's instructions. Ref: https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga26/bala_26_frame.htm Rama says that as Viswamitra is a learned (religious) scholar (Brahmavaadinah), he (Rama) will follow Viswamitra's instruction to kill Tataka (Tatakavadham). गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय देशस्यास्य हिताय च | तव चैवाप्रमेयस्य वचनं कर्तुमुद्यतः || १-२६-५, Verse 1-26-5 Above verse rough English translation: For the welfare of cows and Brahmins, for the good of the region/state, I am ready to implement the command of you, sir, who are a

I was informed this by a notification on LinkedIn as I have specified the start month-year of the blog as the beginning of my new "job". I gave my Company (place of work) as "Sathya Sai Baba and more - blog" and also provided this blog link. The job-title is "Author". I had started blogging, as a regular free service (Seva), in or around September 2011 but on two other blogs and under pseudonyms. At that time, it was very important for the spiritual path that I had taken to keep a very low profile, and so I did not want people at large to know that I was blogging. But I did share it with a few friends privately. I also started another blog in 2011 (perhaps in or around September) which was intended to be more of a website for interested contributors, to promote free service software development in areas like rural agriculture and learning Telugu. This I did in my own name. But that blog/website did not receive any software development contributions at

Last updated on 9th Aug. 2019 Firstly, I should say that I am NOT an academic. I am a ***non-academic*** social media writer (blogs & Facebook) on spirituality and religion. These writings include my humble views, experiences and thoughts about Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and his teachings. My association with Indian academia was with mainly pre-Mahasamadhi Sathya Sai university (SSSIHL) in the role of a free service (Seva) industry expert in software development with designations of Honorary Staff, Honorary Faculty and Visiting Faculty from Jan. 2003 to Mar. 2012. That stint does NOT make me an academic. I contributed as an industry expert and NOT as an academic. And the field was software development which is a part of the Computer Science field. Having said that, I have done some amount of reading about religion from some academics in the field of religion and also of related fields. As far as I can make out, in the academic field of religion and spiritual movements, th

When author of post or comment is not mentioned, it should be assumed that it is me (Ravi S. Iyer). To save time, I am usually not providing my FB post links but only contents. I am also not hyperlinking links. So readers will have to copy-paste links from this post onto a browser link box and then browse to that link. I just browsed through this article as I do not know much about the associated field. "There is, however, one elegant solution to the riddle of how to explain the relationship between consciousness and physical properties [Ravi: associated with brain, as per my understanding]. Many illustrious philosophers throughout history have held to this view, and if it is rarely considered today, this is likely because it requires such a radical shift in perspective. Nevertheless, if we are ever going to understand consciousness and its relationship to the physical world, I believe this is a shift we are going to have to make. The key to resolving the hard problem of