The pot is perhaps the most ancient of vessels. It is also the most universal. It is an intrinsic part of several rituals in many societies. It is difficult to imagine any Hindu religious ceremony without the holy kalash. Our gods partnered with demons to churn the ocean to obtain the pot of nectar. In ancient Europe, hydrio-taphia (urn-burial) was common. In Gond society, a married couple desirous of divorce carry together a mud-pot and drop it to 'break' their wedlock.

(See also: Kalash , 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: » Kalash: Profound Truths from The Potter's Wheel - the holy kalash  

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  

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  

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  

The mathematics of humour, or the humour of mathematics? You're kidding. They're as different as chalk and cheese. Or are they?

We're familiar with those witty mathematical puzzles which delight children of all ages. We speak of a comedian's sense of 'timing', a term suggestive of arithmetical calibration. We talk of jokes that 'click', like tumblers falling into place in a numerical combination lock.

(See also: Mathematics , 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: » Mathematics: Mathematics and the Calculus of Humour  

"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  

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  

There exists a misconception in the field of western psychology, that one who is self-centred, turns out to be selfish. Spirituality or the goal of self-realisation is perceived as creating self-engrossed and selfish people who vitiate the character of society.

Self-realisation may mean self-engrossment but a self-engrossed person cannot be selfish; these are two different things. A selfish person does not know his inner self. There is an inverse relation between selfishness and self-realisation. The higher the degree of self-realisation, the lesser the selfishness.

(See also: Self-realisation , 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-realisation: The Art Of Living In Solitariness  

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  

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  

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  

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  

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  

Are miracles just mumbo-jumbo, products of a willing suspension of disbelief? Or are they 'real', as the faithful would have us believe? A miracle, essentially, implies a hiatus in natural causality, brought about by divine or supernatural intervention.

(See also: Miracles , 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: » Miracles: The Biggest Miracle Is Faith Itself  

This power of devotion symbolises God's response to a devotee's deep love. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, Krishna says: "Many are the means described for the attainment of the highest goal... but of all, love is the highest; love and devotion that make one forget everything else; love that unites the devotee with me... as all earthly pleasures fade into nothingness."

(See also: Devotion , 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: » Devotion: Taste of Heaven - Devotional Love  

India has probably the most enduring pilgrimage tradition in the world. The greater the challenge of the path, the stronger its allure.

There is no typical profile of a pilgrim in India - they come from as diverse a background as the country itself, whether from the upper, middle or poorer classes.

There is an interesting passage in Frank Elias's The Gorgeous East published in 1913: "One of the strangest sights in India is that of the ascetics who make pilgrimages from one part of the country to another.

(See also: Pilgrimage in India , 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: » Pilgrimage in India: Pilgrims' Progress And Donkey's Tale  

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna explains the virtues of detached action. As a professional manager, I find that there's a lot in the Gita that makes me a better practitioner of the art and craft of management. It is, I have discovered, a work on the philosophy of work.

My favourite shloka from Chapter II contains the essence of the Gita: "You have the right only to action, never to the fruits thereof; let not the fruit of your action be your motive; nor let there be any attachment to inaction."

(See also: Spirituality at workplace , 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: » Spirituality at workplace: Karmayogi Managers, Maximum Benefits  

Gandhi steadfastly avoided violence towards his opponents. The non-violent activist, while willing to die, was never willing to kill. Gandhi pointed out three possible responses to oppression and injustice.

One he described as the coward's way: to accept the wrong or run away from it. The second option was to stand and fight by force of arms. Gandhi said this was better than acceptance or running away. But the third way, he said, was best of all and required the most courage: to stand and fight solely by non-violent means.

(See also: Non-Violence , 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: » Non-Violence: Gandhi's faith In Non-Violent Action  

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