Notes from my reading of Sri Ramakrishna Life and Message by Swami Vijnananada: Infinite are the names of God and the modes of His worship. Whatever name of God and path to reach Him we may choose is enough for us to see God. The same water is called vāri, pānī, aqua, and so on. … Read more
My notes and excerpts from the book Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Set 3 reproduced in this blog post for your reading: Remember that as it is a shame to be surprised if the fig-tree produces figs, so it is to be surprised if the world produces such and such things of which it is productive. … Read more
My notes and excerpts from the book Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Set 2 reproduced on this blog post for your reading: How easy it is to repel and to wipe away every impression which is troublesome or unsuitable, and immediately to be in all tranquillity. And so accept everything which happens, even if it seem … Read more
My notes and extracts from the book Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Set 1 reproduced in this blog post for your reading: I can neither be injured by any of them, for no one can fix on me what is ugly, nor can I be angry with my kinsman, nor hate him. For we are made … Read more
Note Extracts from my reading of Vedanta-Sara by Adi Sankaracharya: Vedāntasāra is one of the best known epitomes (Prakaraṇa Granthas) of the philosophy of the Upaniṣads as taught by Śaṅkarācārya, whose followers are said to number the largest in India. Māyā and Avidyā are generally used synonymously, though Māyā is sometimes said to be the … Read more
Note Extracts from my reading of Aparokshanubhuti by Adi Sankaracharya: Such treatises as aim at serving as introductions to a more advanced study of a system of philosophy are generally known as ‘Prakarana Granthas’. Besides giving an outline of the system, each of them emphasizes some one or other of the main features. Aparokṣānubhūti is … Read more
Notes Extracts from my reading of Drig-Drishya-Viveka by Sankaracharya The importance of Dṛg-Dṛśya-Viveka as an aid to the study of Vedānta has been well pointed out by the learned Swāmī Nikhilānanda in his introduction to this translation. The central theme of the work is that Brahman is realized through mystic or Yogic samādhi (concentration). After … Read more
Swami Vivekananda on Rituals: (Extracts from Complete Works) In the world’s ritualistic symbols we have an expression of the religious thought of humanity. It is easy to say that there is no use of rituals and temples and all such paraphernalia; every baby says that in modern times. But it must be easy for all … Read more
Swami Vivekananda on Teachers and Teaching: (Extracts from Complete Works) It is an insult to a starving people to offer them religion; it is an insult to a starving man to teach him metaphysics. The whole gist of this teaching is that you should work like a master and not as a slave; work incessantly, … Read more