Category: Hindu

Beautiful summary of Perennial Philosophy

All spiritual teachings are about one thing - what it is to be fully and positively human - the rest is a matter of cultural clothing. RP

Students of Perennial Philosophy, the core mystical teachings that are the same in all religions and forgotten by many or most adherents, might agree that two verses from the Hindu Bhagavad Gita constitute a simple, beautiful and perfect summary of the Perennial Philosophy teachings;

“Like two birds of golden plumage, inseparable companions, the

individual self and the immortal Self are perched on the branches of the

selfsame tree. The former tastes of the sweet and bitter fruits of the

tree; the latter, tasting of neither, calmly observes.

“The individual self, deluded by forgetfulness of his identity with the

divine Self, bewildered by his ego, grieves and is sad. But when he

recognizes the worshipful Lord as his own true Self, and beholds his

glory, he grieves no more.”2

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Compare these verses with the contemporary re-presentation of the Perennial Philosophy in The New Earth or Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle – different language and cultural clothing but the same message!

Inevitably the ethical implication of Perennial Philosophy is ‘ The Golden Rule –

EXAMPLES:-

BAHA’I:
“Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not.” Baha’u’llah.

BUDDHISM:
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion – Dalai Lama

CHRISTIAN:
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Luke 10:25-28

ISLAM:
In his Last Sermon, the Prophet Muhammad cautioned believers: “Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you.”

TAOISM:
“Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss.” T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien.

see HERE for more examples.

Enjoy these – and dive deep!


Bhagavad Gita Chanted in English HERE
Text of the Bhagavad Gita in English HERE
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NB Try listening to the chanting whilst reading the text – wonderful! – transporting!
Commentary ‘The Battlefield of the Mind‘ on the Bhagavad Gita, by  Swami Nirmalananda Giri, HERE
NB Please use the SEARCH on this site to find more about Perennial Philosophy and all of the other subjects mentioned.

Hindu-inspired Yantra designs

Someone called Vamakhepa has produced a range of stunning yantra designs such as this

Kali yantra

Vamakhepa says;

Kālī (Mahavidya) yantra

This form of the Kālī yantra is used for her representation as one of the ten Mahavidyas or main forms of Devi. The geometry of the central portion is similar to the one used above. Note however, how an additional Shakti triangle is “hidden” by the circle and ring of lotus petals circumscribing the central portion of the yantra. This probably signifies the “hidden” true nature of Devi as Maya (illusion). Note also how the the colours used here are much lighter and harmonious than in the fiercer representation above. This may reflect a preference for more pleasing forms in the Dakshina marga tantric tradition.

Wikipedia says:

Yantra is a Sanskrit word that is derived from the root meaning “to restrain, curb, check”.[1][2] Meanings for the noun derived from this root include “that which restrains or fastens, any prop or support”, “a fetter”, “any instrument or machine”, “an amulet, a mystical or astronomical diagram used as an amulet.”[3][4]

Some Hindu esoteric practitioners employ yantra, mantra and other items in their sadhana, puja and yajna.[5]

Yantra, or other permutations and cognate phenomena such as Mandala, Rangoli, Kolam, Rangavalli and other sacred geometrical traditions, are endemic throughout Indian religions.

To see the other designs click HERE

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All postings to this site relate to the central model in the

PhD. Summaries are HERE

SEE also Learning Motivation for Success

Buddhist Chanting – online (reposted)

I was delighted to find that a Buddhist monastery in California – Abhayagiri – is reaching out globally by making some chanting and talks available on the web HERE.

You can also listen to the Bhagavad Gita chanted in English HERE.

 

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All postings to this site relate to the central SunWALK model in the PhD.

Summaries are HERE

World Music: try Radio Darvish for Persian Traditional Music

If you like Persian and Sufi-type music Radio Darvish is a station to tune in.

RADIO DARVISH

PERSIAN TRADITIONAL MUSIC

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This site and webcast is dedicated to the Persian traditional music fans.
Music crosses language boundaries and brings people closer to one another.

Go HERE to listen to Radio Darvish

I was happy to add Radio Darvish to two other very different spiritual sound sources Radio Salaam Shalom, HERE

and chanting of the Bhagavad Gita HERE

For Sufi poetry try the teahouse HERE

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All postings to this site relate to the central model in the PhD.

Summaries are HERE

Free Schools India – work worthy of your support?

You might feel that this work is worthy of some support, we do;

Free Schools India is a small organisation made up of people dedicated to sustainable development, and to the ideal that all children should receive a free, quality, education. We are a collection of people from several fields who have come together to start a school for the children of the rural poor in several villages. From this idea our vision for this project has grown into something bigger, and we have already moved into the provision of health care also. Our plans do not stop here though. We would one day like to be able to provide full medical insurance for the families of our children and the wider community, and maybe one day start some micro industry.

The Inspiration

While working for an anti-child labour non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Delhi , Joanna Härmä and Gaurav Siddhu had the opportunity to speak with children in the city and in villages about their experiences with school. They found in one village that several girls could have attended school, if only it had been completely free of cost. Their families were not at all reliant on the income these children received from stitching footballs all day, but the costs associated with schooling were prohibitive for them, and yet they amounted to only US$15 per annum.

Go HERE to read more about Free Schools India

Go HERE to read BBC report on Free Schools India

free-schools-india.jpg

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All postings to this site relate to the central model in the PhD. Summaries are HERE

40 Meditation Practices – the Chris Corrigan collection

buddha.jpgSource Wiki on Meditation

A certain Chris Corrigan has assembled 40 meditation practices (a few links need re-newing)

 

 

Forty meditation practices

 

40 meditation practices in 4 positions

Walking Meditation

Standing Meditation

Sitting meditation

Lying meditation

Be sure to visit Chris Corrigan’s amazing collection of stuff HERE

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All postings to this site relate to the central model in the PhD. Summaries are HERE

Hindu – The Glorious Bhagavad Gita: Sung in English

bhagavad-gita-scriptures.jpg

On the basis that I wanted to taste water from all great wells I was made very happy to find a way to connect with Hindu scriptures. I refer to the online English translation sung by Sharon Janis that you can listen to HERE.

Her book Spirituality for Dummies is also excellent – as a view of the spirituality that unites. It provides an excellent framework for Perennial Philosophy or Universalism.

Chapter 1 is here.

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All postings to this site relate to the central model in the PhD. Summaries are HERE