Hindustan Times articles
Holiness is a two-way street
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sun, 2003/01/12 - 2:00am(This article was posted in the "Meditations" column of the Hindustan Times on 8 June 2002.)
IN BHAGAVAD-GITA, Krishna promises Arjuna: (Ye Yatha Mam Prapadyante, Tams Tathaiva Bhajamy Aham, Mama Vartmanuvartante, Manushyah Partha Saravasha) that He will award him if, he surrenders.
Yet we tend to think that saintliness is a kind of blissful detachment, an advanced kind of mystical merging into oneness with the universe and everything in it. There is no personhood involved, only an ethereal unity with Brahman and renunciation of things of this world.
They also serve who only stand and wait
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sat, 2003/01/11 - 2:00am(This article was posted in the "Meditations" column of the Hindustan Times on 23 December 2002.)
IF IT doesn't work, dump it, blurts the trash culture mantra. Loyalty is pinched these days, especially when it comes to our four legged friends. Krishi go rakshya is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita (18.44). Apart from the Gita's non-violence messages, the cow, along with many species, requires human protection. But those who serve us may also save us.
Make meditation your lifework
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Mon, 2003/01/06 - 2:00am(This article was posted in the ?Meditations? column of the Hindustan Times on 23 November 2002.)
THERE IS no entirely ?free act.? Everything we do is conditioned by circumstances before and after birth: culture, education, genetic make-up and karmic laws. True or false?
The term baddha or ?bound-up? echoes throughout Vedic literature. It?s often seen in conjunction with nitya, and frequently refers to eternally illusioned or ?conditioned? souls.
Sentimental spirituality suffocates the soul
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sun, 2003/01/05 - 2:00am(This article was posted in the ?Meditations? column of the Hindustan Times on 16 October 2002.)
COMPLACENCY IS death. Naivete, one-sidedness, and innocence are other names for foolishness. In law breaking, ?ignnorance is no excuse?. The Bhagwat Purana instructs that ?Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone?, and that this holds true for all, except for those who utilise their time meditating and discussing topics of God.
There's a simple and correct way of meditating
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sun, 2002/08/11 - 1:00amPublished 27 November 2001
TEMPLES, MOSQUES, churches, and synagogues are sometimes playing fields for the herd of sheep. This is how it works. Someone starts a chain reaction by sitting down, standing up or calling out "Shanti Shanti Shanti hee," and everybody follows suit. The whole congregation rises, sits, or chants, following the first "sheep."
This tendency has been noted in books of truth as niyamagraha, or blind attachment to ritual. Niyamagraha is a kind of distracted obedience that impels us to act in correct ways.
Liberation leads to slippery summits
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sat, 2002/06/15 - 1:00amMeditations / Mukunda Goswami
This article was posted in the Hindustan Times 6 May 2002.
MADHVACARYA WROTE that liberation or moksha means attaining the lotus feet of Bhagvan Krishna, or entering an eternal relationship of service to the Supreme Lord. As lyrics to a popular song once intoned, "Everyone is looking for something." That something we all seek is shelter; and for some that is liberation.
Faith and reason meet in the Gita
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sun, 2002/06/02 - 1:00amHindustan Times
Friday, April 26, 2002
Meditations/ Mukunda Goswami
Faith and reason meet in the Gita
ONCE UPON a time (namely on September 21, 1995) deities in India, England and other parts of the world were videotaped (and broadcasted) drinking huge quantities of milk. Evidence like this is considered 'hard proof' in most law courts.
Culture is meant to be embodied by sages
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sat, 2002/06/01 - 1:00amHindustan Times
Saturday, April 20, 2002
Meditations/ Mukunda Goswami
Culture is meant to be embodied by sages
BADARAYANI OR Vyasadeva wrote these words, "The body that at first rides high on fierce elephants or chariots adorned with gold and is known by the name "king" is later, by Your invincible power of time, called 'faeces,' 'worms', or 'ashes'."
Statistics don't lie, money can't buy happiness
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sun, 2002/05/26 - 1:00amFor today's "Thought For the Day", I would like use one my articles published in the Hindustan Times, one of India's largest english language daily newspapers.
Meditations: (printed on 18 May 2002)
WHAT'S THE happiest place in the world? According to recent research led by the London School of Economics, the happiest place in the world is, would you believe?, Bangladesh. Interestingly the United States came in at 46th place in this World Happiness Survey, with Britain at the 32nd mark.
Forgiveness, non-violence are not enough
Submitted by Mukunda Goswami on Sat, 2002/05/25 - 1:00amFor today's "Thought For the Day", I would like use one my articles published in the Hindustan Times, one of India's largest english language daily newspapers.
Printed on 11 May, 2002