Spirituality and the human
In 2023, nearly half a million people walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain. About 40 percent of those walked for purely religious reasons, according to statistics released by the pilgrims’ office. While it’s traditionally a Catholic pilgrimage, ending at the shrine of the apostle James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, secular pilgrims today embark on the Camino for all kinds of motivations beyond religion: health, grief, transition, cultural exploration, history and adventure.
The Bhagavad Gita never advised that you should renounce everything, go to the forest and do penance. You may think, “Why preach Gita to these youngster?” You are afraid that if these people read Gita, they may give up family life and become renunciates. A small question. There are many elderly people who read and teach Bhagavad Gita regularly. Do they take to renunciation? No. You must get to the inner meaning of the Bhagavad Gita in order to understand human nature.
There are many forms of media in this day and age which present abuse to us. Vitriol, invective, revilement, these things are witnessed on radio, television, social media and even the smartphone. Face to face abuse is not uncommon when people have hatred and jealousy. Here is an episode from the life of the Buddha, as told by Sai Baba, about jealousy, hatred and abuse.
What is for people the most important dimension of all is their concrete relationship with the spiriual dimension in their lives. “Spiritual dimension” includes God, the Divine, Avatars, Ascended Masters, Spirit Guides, whatever name people use to identify that which they seek to have this relationship with.
Throughout history, solar eclipses have had profound impact on adherents of various religions around the world. They were viewed as messages from God or spiritual forces, inducing emotions ranging from dread to wonder.
Ahead of the total solar eclipse that will follow a long path over North America on Monday, here’s a look at how several of the world’s major religions have responded to such eclipses over the centuries and in modern times.
Debjani Ganguly, Australian Catholic University
In our Guide to the Classics series, experts explain key works of literature.
The life and words of Shirdi Sai Baba could prove to be an inspiration to those seeking to rebuild the bridges between followers of both faiths.
The New Testament records the Transfiguration of Jesus, and he is attended by the Prophets Moses and Elijah. This event is celebrated in the Post-Reformation Churches with prayer and thanksgiving. Was this a vision of the Paramjyothi, that light which is the light of the Formless Absolute? Or was this a vision of that light referred to in the Nicene Creed, Light from Light? In this article, we explore the meaning of the Transfiguration of Jesus.
World Breastfeeding Week is an annual celebration which is held every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries. This event is supported by the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners.
In this post, we take a look at an event where the divine self-disclosure occurred in Uravakonda. We look at this story from the point of view of his Mother (Easwaramma) and his brother (Seshama Raju). This story concerns the events in Uravakonda immediately after the young Sathyanarayana Raju threw his books down, sat in the home and did not eat nor drink for three days.
During our many lives, we have lived principally under the control of the ego. Our thoughts, words and deeds have been motivated by our ego to satisfy its desires and its need to control our lives. The ego dominated our consciousness and thus prevented our Higher Consciousness from guiding us on our path through life.
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo (formerly Vicky MacKenzie of Cave in the Snow) has written a new book with Teachings on Practical Buddhism.
Even if you’ve never been to a Jewish wedding, you may have heard of (or seen in movies) the well-known rituals of breaking the glass and dancing the hora.Here, we bring you more about these and other rituals that may be incorporated into the ceremony and celebration that unites two individuals in marriage in the Jewish religion.
Ramakrishna Paramahansa was a great 19th century Hindu mystic. Born 1836 in Kamarpukar, Bengal, he passed over in Dakshineshwara in 1886. Ramakrishna’s personal experience revealed to him the unity of all spiritual paths.
