God initiated the universe, He created it. But we change the world too. Therefore, we have a responsibility; we have to ensure that we change it for the better. Take cloning, for instance. We humans are co-creators. How we go about cloning depends on whether we're doing it for the common good. It raises many complex and difficult questions. We are changing all the time. So instead of imposing a total ban on creative research, it is better to regulate it carefully.

(See also: Science and Religion , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Science and Religion: A Physicist's Faith In Science And God  

What Banaras is to a believing Hindu, Karbala was to my Shia mother. She wanted to be buried there. My mother shed more tears on the tenth of Muharram, the day of Imam Husain's martyrdom than she did on November 19, the day my father died.

"To mourn for a husband is to mourn for oneself. To mourn for Husain is to mourn for mankind," she would say. "You lose a son, a fortune or a kingdom. Its memory fades as does the pain of its loss. But not the pain of Husain's martyrdom. It is a larger pain that goes beyond in dividual pain."

(See also: Karbala , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Karbala: Karbala, a Symbol Of Intense Faith  

St Thomas Aquinas approach was both scientific and theological. He combined rigorous philosophical thinking with a quest for God. Aquinas directed all his philosophical effort to things as existing or being, and that is why he felt the whole of philosophy was directed towards the knowledge of God.

He felt the philosopher had to consider things in their widest and most general aspect and that the philosopher's activity was concerned with interpreting and understanding the data of experience, gathered through sense perception.

(See also: St Thomas Aquinas , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » St Thomas Aquinas: Seeking Truth with Faith and Reason  

Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak was a freedom fighter whose convictions stemmed from a deep and intricate understanding of Indian culture. He wrote a scholarly commentary on the Bhagavad Gita in his magnum opus, Gita-Rahasya and he lived its message in every sphere of his life.

As a child, Tilak was often told by some of his elders that the religious and philosophic life was incompatible with humdrum everyday existence. The only path to moksha or liberation, the highest attainable goal, was the renunciation of desires and material attachments, they said: "One could not serve two masters, the world and God."

(See also: Tilak , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Tilak: Gita Was Tilak's Spiritual Anchor  

At the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992, environmental issues were hotly debated and an attempt was made to arrive at a blueprint for future conservation efforts. A document, known as Agenda 21, was issued, which provided 27 guiding principles for sustainable development.

Interestingly, several of the 'Rio principles' for environmental conservation were taught and practised in ancient India. The modern holistic approach for ecological balance is reflected in the most ancient of Indian scriptures, the Vedas.

(See also: Hinduism and Ecology , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Hinduism and Ecology: Meeting Ground: Vedas And Rio  

A little girl was to undergo an operation. The surgeon said to her: "Before we can make you well, we must put you to sleep for a little while." The little girl looked up and smiled: "Oh, if you are going to put me to sleep, I must say my prayers first".

She knelt down beside the table and prayed: "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep, If I should die before I wake, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take. " The surgeon said afterwards that he prayed that night for the first time in 30 years. Prayer doesn't change things. It changes people, and they change things. So, don't pray for lighter burdens; pray for stronger backs.

(See also: Science and Religion , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Science and Religion: No Conflict Between Faith & Reason  

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's advice to house-holders is: "A little spiritual discipline is necessary in order to know what lies within. The painter first draws the outlines and then fills in the details and colours at leisure. The moulder first makes the image out of clay, then plasters it, gives it a coat of whitewash, and last of all, paints it with a brush. All these steps must be undertaken successively." This is Ramakrishna's first 'commandment'.

(See also: Self Knowledge , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Self Knowledge: Ramakrishna's Steps To Self Knowledge  

"If there be a heaven on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this!"

These words are inscribed over the entrance to the Hall of Special Audience, in the royal gardens of the Red Fort of Delhi, built by Emperor Shah Jehan in the 17th century.

(See also: Inspiration , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Inspiration: Beyond The Placid, Winding River  

We face many challenges on the path to liberation. We also have an ego to deal with. I am often asked: "Are these challengers different for men and for women? Or is the path fundamentally the same for both sexes? Shouldn't there be different paths?"

Assuming that the goal is enlightenment, there is only one path. Of course, there are fundamental differences between men and women and, if we want to be free, these traits need to be acknowledged and deeply understood.

(See also: Spiritual Growth , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Spiritual Growth: Total Liberation - No Place for Gender  

Weak people say: "I resign myself to God because I am helpless to proceed further". But such words are not convincing for they reveal that there is, still, a trace of the crude ego left.

The exhibition of humility is only a pretence, a cover. And this is misinterpreted by others as piety. Hanuman says in the Ramayana: "I have surrendered everything to Rama and I have installed Him firmly in my heart. I am His faithful servant". Such a statement is convincing because it comes from a strong, fearless and intelligent person.

(See also: Self-surrender , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Self-surrender: From Self-reliance To Self-surrender  

Sharada's mother, Shyamsundari Devi, had a divine vision of a little girl in a red sari descending from a tree, embracing her by the neck and telling her that she was coming into her family. Shyamsundari fainted. Her husband, Ramachandra, had a dream in which Goddess Lakshmi informed him that she was coming to him soon. To this couple Sharada was born on December 22, 1853.

(See also: Sharada , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Sharada: A Mystical Union Of Two Evolved Souls  

Today, there is a worldwide movement to protect the environment. But this concern has been part of the Indian ethos since ages.

The five basic elements - kshit i (soil), jal (water), panak (fire), gagan (sky or ether) and sameer (air) from which life has emerged - have all been objects of worship, forming an integral part of Indian tradition. The elements are deified, as they are believed to be protectors of jeevan tatva (life). But they can protect and bless us only if we give them due respect.

(See also: Hinduism and Ecology , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Hinduism and Ecology: Kindle the Spirit: Venerate Nature  

Fear is the most common negative emotion. It is universal. It drains away our physical and mental energy. Fear is a great stumbling block to progress. The origin, type and intensity of fear varies from person to person. Nevertheless, fear haunts us all. It is a great shame that despite our inherent divinity, we continue to be held hostage by the psychosis of fear.

(See also: Fear , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Fear: You Can Overcome Fear With Faith  

Fear seems to have taken possession of almost everyone in today's world and has become the biggest stress-producer. Fear lies in the sub-conscious and surfaces as and when a situation arises; of possible or imminent loss of life, property, loved ones or prestige, for example. The greatest fear of all is, of course, that of death, because all physical relationships and material possessions are lost with death. The fear of death, it is said, is worse than death itself.

(See also: Fear , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Fear: Right Karma Brings Freedom From Fear  

The institution of Haj in Islam is quite extraordinary. Haj is the fifth among the five pillars of Islam. The other four are Kalimah, Namaz, Zakat and Roza. The word Haj means 'resolve' and in religious terms it refers to the resolve to visit a holy place. Believers from all over congregate at the holy city of Mecca and perform the rituals prescribed by Islam.

(See also: Haj , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Haj: Haj As Submission To The Almighty  

Life today is becoming increasingly more competitive. This is also reflected in the educational system, where admission to select courses has become almost impossible.

At this time of the year, university campuses are normally buzzing with activity. There is excitement and tension in the air. The human quest for power, prestige and wealth is visible in the student-aspirants. The courses that offer the best career opportunities are most sought after. For, a good career means a comfortable life.

(See also: Happiness , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Happiness: Young and Dejected? Here's Some Cheer  

Annual sports functions are quite similar in the choice of events and the manner in which they are conducted. But the one I attended recently was different, for purely personal reasons.

While viewing the events, my mind began exploring and searching for hidden messages behind each performance. I wondered whether the children and their parents, for whom all this was being enacted, were aware of the spirit behind the sporting events.

Could it be that the teachers, who conceptualised and organised the events, deliberately structured them in such a way as to make the participants more aware persons? I had no prepared speech; so I decided to take the children on an internal journey.

(See also: Self-defence , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Self-defence: Drawing Inspiration From Playing Fields  

All religions enjoin humans to live unselfishly. Witnessing someone help others selflessly is as spiritual an experience as seeing a devotee praying to God. Such a one cannot be confined within the selfish centre of 'me' and 'mine'. When you work unselfishly, you lose your 'I'. Every unselfish action takes us a little closer to the Supreme Consciousness.

On the other hand, every selfish action acts as an obstruction to our finding the Divine Truth.

(See also: God in all things , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » God in all things: Loving Detachment, Lasting Benefits  

The art of being in a state of solitude is called Prekshadhyana . Those who have learnt to be in solitude can establish friendliness with the present moment. Now the question arises, "Why is friendliness required?" The answer is, 'search within'. We seek the truth with the help of spirituality and science.

Science helps to develop physical and material comforts. But searching for truth through spirituality strengthens friendliness.

(See also: Friendliness , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Friendliness: Friendliness Brings Happiness & Health  

A tree is a beautiful expression of mother earth's creativity. It has shakti . It restores balance in the environment by its positive force. A tree doesn't have a mind of its own, only the cosmic heart of the universe. It responds to human sentiments.

The pipal tree is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists - the Buddha attained nirvana under this tree. In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna said: "I am as strong as the pipal is among trees." Pipal and tulsi play significant roles in Hindu rituals. The neem tree is the favourite of Durga, and it is grown to ward off evil spirits. The Avdhumra tree is believed to be the abode of Lord Dattatreya, so it is never cut down

(See also: Sacred Nature , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Sacred Nature: In Praise of Trees - Nature's Gift  

The puranas are among the most widely read religious scriptures in India. The word purana literally means "narrative of ancient times". The puranas are said to be contemporaneous with the Vedas . The Chandogya Upanishad calls them the fifth veda . Eighteen major ( maha ) and eighteen subsidiary ( upa ) puranas are recognised.

The authorship of all the puranas is attributed to rishi Vedvyasa, who also compiled the four Vedas, the Mahabharata and the Vedanta Sutras . The puranas deal with a variety of Gods, mainly Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti, catering to the diverse human temperaments and their varied approaches to spirituality.|

(See also: Puranas , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Puranas: Vedantic Flavour In Puranic Literature  

Moving out of my apartment to reach anywhere in Mumbai, I pass through slices of time. 'Yesterday' shows up, among other things, in the buffalo sheds I pass along-side my drive through the new, slick highway, which is 'today'.

'Tomorrow' is seen in the amazing imported car showrooms, right next to the buffalo sheds. Rows of shining cars that can go at dazzling speeds - for which we do not have the right roads.

(See also: Personal faith , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Personal faith: Close Encounter On A Metro Street