Karma and its effect on character: Chapter excerpts from Karma Yoga – from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Vol 1. Excerpts are reproduced below: *** Work for work’s sake. If a man works without any selfish motive in view, does he not gain anything? Yes, he gains the highest. Unselfishness is more paying, only … Read more
A few months back I read a book titled “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. It was a very well-written book and I found a lot of snippets useful that spoke to me. I compiled them into a bunch of notes. The first, second and third sets are here, here and here. Here is the fourth … Read more
Excerpts from ‘7 Divine Laws To Awaken Your Best Self’ by Swami Mukundananda The Law of Mentorship – Having a good mentor in any field helps us set goals, shorten the learning curve, receive encouragement, stay focused, avoid pitfalls, and much more. The first point to check is that the guru should be an expert … Read more
I read a lot of books by Seth Godin over the past couple of years. I like his style of writing – a mix of simple yet profound sentences that often leaves you with food for thought. It is not fiction, it is mostly business advice, but he started and made his name as a … Read more
My notes from ‘Vedanta: Voice of Freedom” – a selected compilation from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. “Karma Yoga” – Chapter Highlights reproduced below: *** One of the greatest lessons I have learned in my life is to pay as much attention to the means of work as to its end. Our great defect … Read more
My notes from ‘Vedanta: Voice of Freedom” – a selected compilation from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. “The Religion of Vedanta” – Chapter Highlights reproduced below: *** Even if a book were given by God that contained all the truth about religion, it would not serve the purpose, because nobody could understand the book. … Read more
My notes from ‘Vedanta: Voice of Freedom” – a selected compilation from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. “God and Man in Vedanta” – Chapter Highlights reproduced below: *** So, from the very first, Advaita had no antagonism with the various sects existing in India. There are dualists existing today, and their number is by … Read more
I am a big fan and reader of Ruskin Bond (who isn’t?) and have read a lot of his fiction set in the Himalayas. Recently chanced upon a small book titled “Stories Short and Sweet” which contains some of his not so well-known stories (no Room in the Roof, or Blue Umbrella, et al). This … Read more
My notes from ‘Vedanta: Voice of Freedom” – a selected compilation from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. “Raja Yoga” – Chapter Highlights reproduced below: *** The teachers of the science of raja yoga declare not only that religion is based upon the experience of ancient times, but that no man can be religious until … Read more