Poem – Light a Candle
Light a candle in your dark room. It is dangerous to move about in darkness, Which hides the beautiful vases, The Japanese scrolls, the Moghul miniatures. Darkness conceals the odes of Hafiz, The sublime poetry of Valmiki. Is it still dark? Is not the light of one candle adequate? Then light another candle, and yet…
Read MoreAn Emotive Issue
What is the strongest drive that moves the human heart? It is our need for emotional comfort. This need or craving is at the basis of all human partnerships. It would seem that life’s difficulties would easily overwhelm us without some comforting element, and this is most obviously provided by discovering or forming a deep…
Read MoreA Parable
The fox knew the orchard was rich in luscious fruits, but it was strongly walled and there was no way in—apart from a small hole that was too tight for his body to squeeze through. However, after some careful deliberation, he reckoned that it might be possible to pass through if he slimmed sufficiently, so…
Read MoreTruth-Speaking and Meditation Practice
A presentation given by the Warden of Shanti Sadan There is a practice and a quality of mind that will help us on our path to discovery of our own true innermost Self, whose nature is bliss and fearlessness. The practice is to make it a principle and habit to always do our best to…
Read MoreGerard Manley Hopkins
GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS (1844-1889) is generally considered to be a difficult poet, owing to the strangeness of his style and condensation of thought which obscures his meaning. But close study reveals the thought of a profound religious poet with the power to kindle the heart and uplift the mind of the reader. Hopkins was born…
Read MoreThe Inner Path to Fulfilment
A man once consulted a fortune-teller seeking to know the time and place of his death. He explained that such information would help him plan the rest of his life more effectively. The fortune-teller replied that none was granted that knowledge, for it was withheld by the Creator. The man pleaded: ‘Can’t you give me…
Read MoreAn Outline of Patanjali’s Yoga
YOGA in its wider meaning stands for the age-old methods whereby we, who suffer while we believe ourselves to be confined within a body and narrow individuality, can come to recognise our innate freedom and infinitude. The traditional view is that the highest Yoga is a divine gift revealed by the Lord and through His…
Read MoreWeaving the World: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14
Chapter 14 of the Bhagavad Gita begins with these five verses: I shall explain again the sublime knowledge through which the sages have reached perfection. Those who turn to this knowledge and attain identity with Me are not born at the time of creation nor disturbed at the end. The great Brahman is my womb.…
Read MoreThe Light of Lights
From a Lecture by Hari Prasad Shastri I have known the great self-effulgent essence beyond darkness, knowing which one overcomes death. There is no other way to proceed. Shvetashvatara Upanishad 1:11 A lamp shines under the light of electricity; electricity shines under the light of the sun; the sun shines under the light of the…
Read MoreThe Ultimate Reality Check
The term ‘reality check’ denotes a critical stepping back from a situation, a plan, a conclusion, or even a state of mind, to ensure that our understanding or judgement is grounded in reality and practicality, and has not strayed into fantasy or deception. We are more apt to prescribe a reality check for other people…
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