Category: Spirituality
Sign From Above
Sometime during the late 90s or early 2000s, I was at the Bridgewater mall in New Jersey. A vendor, let us call him Joe, had set up a booth. His product was God. His God. I had some time, so I responded to his plea. I am a little more knowledgeable about other religions than most people presume when they first meet me. And I love to learn. He told me what I have heard many times before, that his God was the only way to heaven and salvation. “You are Hindi, right?” he asked. Hindi is a language, and it is not my native tongue. So the answer would be a resounding “No!”, but I knew what he meant. So I said “You mean Hindu, as in the religion?”. He went on to tell me that nothing of what I knew from Hinduism mattered if I accepted his religion…. Continue Reading →
Meditate upon this
“Lucy” is a blatantly commercial film. The protagonist accidentally ingests vast amounts of a chemical named CPH4, causing her brain capacity to increase dramatically. As a result, she reaches an ultimate state of awareness. All at once she is in the future, in deep space, in the past with neanderthals, in China and Orlando and everywhere else. This was pure fiction of course, but it got me thinking.
Not about CPH4, but meditation.
Could deep meditation take one to a level of awareness that transcends space and time? Ancient Hindu sages understood planetary movements and many other patterns in deep space. They had insights way beyond what could otherwise be perceived. They were aware of the internal mechanisms of our body. All of this without any tools or formal instruction.
Every major religion has prayer and meditation at the core of it. Prophets and Messiahs were in a constant state of prayer and meditation ,… Continue Reading →
Finishing Strong- Iron Man, Silken Heart
Bill Britt was one of the greatest business leaders of the 20th & 21st centuries. I had the privilege of spending time with him, learning and observing. This included watching him on stage for hours on end, listening to his CDs and streaming talks, and most importantly, sitting at his feet, spending face time with him, singing with him and building a unique bond.
He would often tell us that a dreamer will always have unfulfilled dreams when he breathes his last, and if they were worthwhile dreams, others would carry the torch and help fulfill them. Bill Britt was an influence leader, and was able to create a strong vision that other leaders bought into, of helping the everyday person with much needed guidance and mentorship on how to create economic and personal freedom. He was able to realize many unusually strong dreams before he passed away on Jan 23,2013…. Continue Reading →
Just Stitious
“Son, based on your history and background, you should never wear any jewelry with black onyx”, said Anjali’s uncle to me, soon after we were married.
I have been a rebel all my life, questioning beliefs that made no sense to me. But I have unwittingly paid heed to uncle’s suggestion, mostly because I didn’t know what black onyx was, and I had no particular desire to find out.
In India, religious, cultural, traditional and superstitious beliefs are intertwined, and it is often hard to tell them apart. Many people believe that Tuesday is the best day to fast, whereas others choose Friday, or any other day. From movie stars to street hawkers, people carry talismans, amulets and other objects to protect them from evil or to attract certain energies. In one blockbuster movie, the hero, a dock worker, learns from his friend that the number on his metal badge had special protective powers…. Continue Reading →
The Motivation Multiplier
One of my mentors, Bill Britt, explained motivation using a simple formula-
NEEDS X FAITH = MOTIVATION
Joe has needs – to pay the bills, to put food on the table. He also has faith (belief in something that is yet to happen) that he will reach his workplace safely each day, and that he will get a paycheck every two weeks. Without faith, he wouldn’t leave his house. With faith, he is motivated to act.
Faith can be further explained as a cross product of different kinds of faith. Joe’s needs are normal. His faith formula could be as follows-
FAITH = FAITH IN THE JOB X FAITH IN THE PROCESS X FAITH IN SELF
Mary has just founded a tech startup. Her passion has created an intense need to succeed. She has to fight against all odds, put a team together,… Continue Reading →
Prayer and Priorities
I am not a religious person, but I do believe that there is a power that responds to our thoughts and actions. Some people call it “God”, others call it “Universal Energy” or “Infinite Intelligence”.
I have been exposed to many religions and rituals, but I strongly believe that God will not fail the common sense test. As such I don’t believe that some select people receive preferential access to eternal bliss, just because they belong to a certain group.
I remember growing up challenging what I perceived to be meaningless rituals and superstitions. I fought and argued with my parents, uncles and aunts. I memorized some prayers in Sanskrit, I didn’t always understand the words. My mother would translate them, and while I still remember many of them, the one that had the most impact on me was the following Shloka:
आकाशात् पतितं तोयं यथा गच्छति सागरम् ।
सर्वदेवनमस्कारं केशवं प्रतिगच्छति ॥
This translates to:
As the rain water falling from the sky go to the same ocean,… Continue Reading →