Spirituality and the human
If you’re on social media, by now you might have seen the breathless announcements of a planetary alignment on January 25, 2025. A flurry of videos and memes is claiming that all eight planets will be in a line on one side of the sun and visible in our nighttime sky. Is it true? Nope. Why January 25? We have no idea. But there will be six planets in our evening sky throughout January. And yes, they’re in a line … like always.
Many audiences will be eager to see Conclave because they have read Robert Harris’ exciting novel, the story of the death of the Pope, the gathering the Cardinals, the details required by Vatican regulations, the need for security, the holding of the conclave and the election of a new Pope.
Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, perhaps modern India’s greatest sage, recommended Atma-Vichara or Self-inquiry as the best and most direct approach for Self-realization. However, a careful examination of his teachings reveals that he recommended yogic approaches of devotion, mantra or raja yoga – he encouraged whatever might aid a person in their sadhana.
Author of The Interior Castle, reformer of the Carmelite order, and pioneer of Christian mysticism, St. Teresa of Ávila is one of the most influential and inspiring saints in the realm of Christian spirituality.
Much of France is focused on the trial of eight people stemming from the 2020 beheading of French schoolteacher Samuel Paty by Abdoullah Anzorov, an 18-year-old Muslim immigrant from Chechnya.
Anzorov himself is not on trial since he was shot dead by police minutes after his butchery. The focus now is on those who encouraged and enabled him. Seven men and one woman are appearing in Paris’ special criminal court. They include friends accused of helping buy weapons for the attack and spreading false information about Paty, which prosecutors argue contributed to a climate of hatred that led to the killing. This raises difficult questions about legal limits on speech, especially where religion is concerned.
Young scientists, sisters, and theologians of the “green generation” reflect on “saints”, canonised and not, who offer hope and inspire us towards ecological action. “In the community of saints, all together are companions in memory and hope. Together, all together, they are becoming something strange and growing and great, instruments of change. Green Saints for a Green Generation taps beautifully into this dynamic for the sake of our suffering Earth, which cries out for no less”.
Nandanar was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He is considered as one among the 63 Nayanars (Shaivite Saints). Nandanar belonged to a small village known as Adhanur in Tamilnadu. He belonged to the community that made percussion instruments and in those days they were looked down by the upper community. After his daily work, he would spent most of his time singing the glories of the Lord.
25 November every year is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, almost one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.
For at least 51,100 women in 2023, the cycle of gender-based violence ended with one final and brutal act—their murder by partners and family members. That means a woman was killed every 10 minutes.
We are of a spiritual inclination, and spiritual discipline serves well. We acknowledge that Sri Sathya Sai told John Hislop that marriage would decline and separation would rise in the times to come. He also acknowledged that cross-cultural marriage is very hard and advised against it for his devotees. Everything in life is a choice, so for those who have chosen or feel that their path of dharma is to leave an unsatisfactory or abusive relationship, we share the following guide on navigating divorce.
There are many people in our lives – some we are friends with and some we do not treat as friends. The Master is all Love, pure love. How, then, do we love those who have hurt us, who have put us down, who have harmed us in any way? Love is everything. Our mission has begun, our Mission is Love. How, then, do we love everyone? We are told, Love All – Serve All. Read what the Master gives in meditation.
Fleeting it wasn’t. What started as her own seeking turned into her latest book, The Mystics Would Like a Word. The book unpacks teachings from six mystics: Teresa of Ávila, Margery Kempe, Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena and Thérèse of Lisieux. “I thought, ‘More people should know about this. I’m going to make it into a book!’” she said.
The Cosmic Sai Baba speaks at Bundanoon. He tells, “You are Creators, and you can ring these changes upon this Earth … with love and compassion. This is all that is really needed upon this Earth for the changes to take place and to move into the New World of the Golden Age.”
Humans seeking progress towards the goal of life, need to engage in self-monitoring (or self audit) in order to engage in progressive steps to reach the goal. Some say “God graces me” and infer that this is all that is needed. Not true, spiritual progress requires spiritual effort: time, talents and resources have to be directed towards the goal.
Today’s world does not suit you. In your way of thinking it is logical then that you blame Divinity or you deny its existence altogether. This is based on falsehood. You do not take into account the fact that it is you who create the world. It assumes shape according to your desires. If they are destructive desires, far removed from goodness and love, in time you face the consequences. Then you look for the guilty ones outside — always outside. The truth is that you alone determine shape of the world.
Once again, the Cosmic Sai Baba gives a message at Bundanoon, NSW. In these days of conflict and ghastly scenes splashed over all forms of media, the Cosmic Sai Baba reminds us of our origins and the grand plan. The is only one race, the human race, and that race has come here from the stars, and our own solar system. All is coming into alignment for world peace, as the planets, the Sun, the galaxy, all come into alignment with the Grand Central Sun of all Universes, the Source of the All.
