Articles

Advaita and Global Fraternity
Dr. Haramohan Mishra

Because of faster means of communication the world is shrinking day by day. In days of yore, the earth was thought to be the centre of the universe. It was the belief of the time that the sun along with the stars was revolving round the earth.

Philosophical Foundation of Patanjali’s Yoga
Dr. Haramohan Mishra

The science of yoga is very ancient. However, the first systematic exposition of yoga was made by Patanjali in his famous Yogasutra. He expounds, in very clear and systematic manners, the techniques of yoga, which, for him, are primarily psychological though mixed with some physical practices like asana and pranayam in the beginning.

Upasana, Karma and Jnana
Dr. Minati Mishra

The Veda has two kandas or parts namely, karma or action and jnana or knowledge. The first comprises the major portions of the Brahmanas, generally containing the previous chapters, and the second consists of the Upanisads, coming in the later half of the works though they may sometimes occur in the Samhita part of the Veda. Here, karma signifies the rituals such as the sacrifices as prescribed in the Brahmanas.

Upasana in the Upanisads
Dr. Minati Mishra

The sages know that there is no greater attainment than the attainment of the self, says Sureswara, the chief disciple of Sankara, in the Manasollasa, his commentary on the Daksinamurti Stotra- atmalabhat paro labho nastiti munayo viduh. The greatest discovery of man is indeed the discovery of the self. The ancient seers discovered that the mystery of the whole world remains hidden in one’s own self.

The essence of the Gayatri Mantra
Dr. Minati Mishra

The Gayatri Mantra, tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yonah prachodayat, originates from the verses of a hymn of the Rig Veda, 3.62.10.

Looking into the mystery of life
Kira

Anything that happens in the living world is mysterious and strange. Outside the living world, whatever happens is mostly deterministic. The time period of a pendulum is always directly proportional to the square root of its length.

Spirituality vs Religiosity
Prakashatma

Spirituality and religiosity are never the same things. A spiritual person is a person who has love for the spirit, i.e, who loves nature, loves animals and those who are around him, including himself.

A criticism of Hindu dharma and Vedanta teachers
Kira

The Advaita Vedanta philosophy states that there is only one spirit which is present in all living beings, and everyone has to undergo a series of steps to perfection, where one will realize that the same spirit is within everyone by seeing everyone and everything in oneself and as oneself. This looks like one of the greatest things ever thought in the history of Philosophy. But the question is, were Adi Shankaracharya, and the other teachers of Vedanta, truly self-realized persons? And does the word "dharma" used in Indian contexts deserve any sort of respect.

Questioning: An Upanisadic Perspective
Dr. Haramohan Mishra

A philosophical inquiry begins with a question. An intense question finds a profound answer. That is why the preceptors of the Upanisads seek for the disciples who can put right questions in the right context.

Yoga: Concept and Dimensions
Dr. Haramohan Mishra

Yoga is deeply conceptual and highly sadhana-intensive. Sadhana means an effort in the direction of achieving the spiritual goal. It is context-specific and as such needs to be understood with reference to its world-view.

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