Ravi S. Iyer: Spiritual

Last updated on 24th April 2015 From Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's discourse on 11-10-1986, http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume19/sss19-23.pdf : Here is an example from the Mahabharata: Considering that war should be a great universal calamity, Dharmaja (the eldest of the Pandavas) appealed to Krishna to go as an ambassador of peace to the Kauravas. Entering the audience hall of Duryodhana, Krishna described at length the disastrous consequences of war. The great Acharyas--Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and Aswathama--- who were present in the court, were intently listening to Krishna's words. But Krishna's appeal was of no use to them. Because of their long association with the wicked Kauravas, they became abettors in the crimes of Duryodhana and others. Vidura, who was a witness to the evil that was being committed, resolved to oppose it. He pleaded with the Kauravas in many ways to listen to the wise words of Krishna. His appeal fell on deaf ears. Rather than stay a...

I am bowled over by the sincerity as well as the scholarship of this article on Jesus from a Hindu viewpoint,  http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/beliefs/jesus_1.shtml , by a former Irish Catholic who now has the name, Shaunaka Rishi Das, and has been Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies since its inception in 1997. A couple of paragraphs from his article: "Jesus shows this struggle of surrender during his evening in the garden of Gethsemane. His sincere appeal to the Lord to let the cup pass from him, although He was willing to go through with His Father's command. I have always found myself in this kind of dilemma, although without the same willingness to do the needful that Christ had. All of us who struggle with spirituality wonder if we are capable of making the effort, or if we are doomed to failure and hypocrisy. Can we meet the challenge? Christ's example is so relevant for all of us who want to practise a spiritual life, and even for th...

Last updated on 15th April 2015 The data in this blog post is from the report (to be cited as) 'Pew Research Center, April 2, 2015, “The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050”', which is available at http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/ . The full report pdf file is 245 pages long and 15 MB in size. [Above figure source:  http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/pf_15-04-02_projectionstables8/ ] Important note about Religiously Unaffiliated From Appendix C: Defining the Religious Groups,  http://www.pewforum.org/files/2015/04/PF_15.04.02_ProjectionsAppendixC.pdf , "The religiously unaffiliated population includes atheists, agnostics and people who do not identify with any particular religion. However, many of the religiously unaffiliated do hold some religious or spiritual beliefs. For example, surveys have found that belief in God or a higher power is shared by 7% of unaff...

Fascinating 2010 documentary from Govt. of India, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9w-xJfSOyc . However, it has an important disclaimer at the beginning, "This documentary explores one of the theories which connect Jesus to India and places several strong evidences based on research work by individuals mentioned in this film. This film does not conclude that this theory is final." Whatever be the truth, the blend of Jewish, Vedic (Hindu) religion, Buddhism and Islam that is highlighted by this documentary on Kashmir's history is fascinating. Another point for me is that whether Jesus did get resurrected after crucifixion on the cross at Calvary or got resuscitated and then travelled to India, does not really alter the great and divine saga of the life and teachings of Jesus as mentioned in the gospels. It is his teaching that has to be followed and his divinity that has to be looked up to as a source of inspiration. But then I realize that that's just my humble t...

Last updated on 12th April 2015 Two short extracts from Swami's (Sathya Sai Baba's) discourses about examining the Guru before accepting him (or her) are quite appropriate for this blog post, and so are given below. So, examine the Guru and his credentials, his ideals and practice before accepting him. Even in My case, do not be attracted simply by stories of what I "create" by a wave of the hand. Do not jump to conclusions with closed eyes; watch, study and weigh. Never yield to any one unless you feel the inner satisfaction that you are on the right path. [From: http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume01/sss01-09.pdf , 25-3-1958 discourse] ... do not run after Gurus who are themselves suffering from faulty vision and householder's troubles: do not beg from people who are themselves beggars. [From http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume01/sss01-30.pdf , 29-9-1960 discourse] [Ravi: I think the 'inner satisfaction' part mentioned above is crucial. S...

Today's (8th April 2015) The Hindu carried this article,  "The Christian Ethic...", http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-christian-ethic/article7078257.ece , by a skeptical Hindu professor who benefited a lot from Christian missionary service activities. My comment on it is as follows: From a professor, I expected a more balanced article. While I certainly do appreciate the benefits of the Christian mission for many middle-class educated Hindu Indians, without any direct attempts to convert these middle-class educated Hindus to Christianity, this article gives the impression that no Christian mission tried to convert Hindus. I think in rural India, in the past, it seems to be an accepted fact that fair bit of conversion of Hindus to Christianity was done via the Christian mission's service activities. In fact, a Christian writer wrote in The Hindu some days ago about 'rice Christians'. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_Christian , "Rice Chris...

The entire year of 2010 and the first three months of 2011 were a period of heightened spiritual awareness and sadhana (spiritual effort), and also some facial gesture type interaction, for me with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba at physical form level. [Note that the last public darshan of Swami, alive in physical form, in Kulwant Hall was towards end-March 2011, after which He was moved to the hospital.] As I was a teacher then in the Sai university, PrashantiNilayam (Puttaparthi) campus, I would have regular darshans of Swami in Kulwant Hall from quite close quarters (10 to 20 feet typically) where eye contact between Swami and me was easily and unmistakably possible. Due to my IBS health problem I would sit in the garage side (old students block) as that allowed me to leave whenever required (except while Swami was doing his darshan round) without causing significant distraction to others. The Upanishads as well as Swami in some discourses (in the past) were driving in the messag...