You are the Truth?

Does our ability to identify the falsehood more than understanding the truth tell us that we are the truth we are seeking? I have observed carefully and it is always very difficult to identify the truth rather than falsehood. Of course they are mutually exclusive and anything is one or the other. But when you define truth to be something that is eternally unchanging, then many things we perceive can be crossed off the list. Most things we observe seem to be falsehood because they are changing in one way or the other. But what gives us the platform to perceive this change. If you are yourself false, can you see perceive other things to be false? 

Another related question arises. What makes us see the truth in a few things for some time before we classify them as falsehood. Why do we see this world as real? Is it because we haven't fully understood what "truth" really means? Or is it due to the fact that we haven't understood that we are the "truth" that we speak of?

The cosmic dance of Shiva!

Why is creation depicted as a dance? Why not an art/painting? If you think about it both forms: dance and art are creative. I think it is because of the fact that in a dance, the dancer and dance merge. You cannot see the dance without the dancer and vice versa. The cosmic dance not just signifies the creation of the world but also that the phenomenonal world that we perceive and the noumenon (Brahm, some call it) that creates it are the same. The same way other traditions in Hinduism perceive all This as 'lila'.. a play or a drama.. signifying that the actors and the act are inseparable! How insightful!



Science and Hindu Dharma - FB page

"In his manifestation as Lord of the Dance, the Hindu god Shiva dances the dance of creation. In this tenth-century Chola bronze Shiva's aureole of fire (the prabhamandala) represents the rhythm of the universe and emanates from a lotus pedestal, the Hindu symbol of enlightenment. Shiva dances on the prostrate form of the Apasmarapurusha, a symbol of human ignorance. The back right hand carries the damaru, a small drum symbolizing creation. The back left hand holds Agni, the fire of destruction. The front left hand is in the gajahasta ("elephant truck") position. The front right hand is held in the abhaya-mudra pose (literally, "do not be afraid")."

- Carl Sagan (1934-1996), astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist

Sagan was the 20th century's most prominent science popularizer. His work was pivotal in creating NASA's SETI programme. He received the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal (1977) and the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction (1978).

Each year, the Council of Scientific Society Presidents (CSSP) presents the Carl Sagan Award for Public Understanding of Science. The award was first presented in 1993 to Carl Sagan himself.

October, the month of festivals

October is a month of festivals for Hindus. First comes Navrathri, then Dushera and finally Diwali. Many mythological stories are invoked during this time: Slaying of Asura Mahishasura, Victory of Ram, and Krishna defeats Narakasura. But there is a common theme in all of them, that is the victory of good over evil, dharma over adharma. Ever wondered why Hindu festivals keep conveying this message so very often. Because we believe this duality of good and evil exists at all times. Because good and evil are relative to each other. If one exists, the other will too. And this war is never ending. These myths are presented repeatedly so as to convey the message of HOPE for everyone who fight this battle everyday so that they are not tired and lost in this everlasting war. And why mythology, because stories are powerful tools that convey messages very effectively. However, one must remember that in real life, to discriminate between good and evil is more difficult than it is presented in the myths where they are black and white. And finally, to be relieved of this war is Moksha (liberation). These myths are relevant today as they were ages ago as we constantly battle in our lives for good and these myths serve us with hope every time we need a boost.

Happy Navarathri, Dushera and Diwali to all!

Aum tat sat.

(Image: www.indianmythology.com)

Discovery of Dwaraka

Dwaraka is an ancient city in India and is believed to have been ruled by Lord Krishna himself. It was a port city on the gulf of Cambay in Gujarat. It is believed to have been submerged and the modern city of Dvaraka is only said to be built later. Archaeologist Graham Hancock goes in search of the submerged city and hypothesizes that the city could have been flooded at the end of the last ice age (around 10000 years ago) and that the people could have moved up and settled along river Saraswathi giving rise to the Indus-Saraswat civilization. These people had the knowledge of urban planning that can be observed from the ruins of the cities belonging to the civilisation. This discovery questions the date of orgin of the Vedas. Did they exist even before 1500 BC (which is widely accepted now) with the civilisation in Dwaraka?? Watch the documentary on YouTube.



Also see.. BBC news article

Srimad Bhagavad Gita chants by Swami Brahmananda

Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the summary of all Vedic teachings and is a part of the epic Mahabharata. It clearly teaches us the teachings of all the Upanishads in a neatly laid out situated context of the Kurushetra war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, where the mighty warrior Arjuna hates the idea of killing his gurus and elders for earthy possessions. His chariot, Lord Krishna, advises him to go ahead and do his duty as a warrior and not worry about other things.


The following is a playlist of all the chapters chanted by Swami Brahmananda of Chinmaya Mission.






Thanks to Shri. Rupesh Bhayani for pointing to this source.

Angkor Wat - documentary

Lectures on Hinduism

Here is a link to lectures on Hinduism and Gospels of Sri Ramakrishna from Vedanta UK.

http://www.vedantauk.com/Audio%20Files.htm