Recently I visited Kolkata after a hiatus of 6 years. Oh! Kolkata… How my heart pained seeing you. It seemed as if time has stopped in this city. Everything felt dull, stagnant, old and neglected. As if to validate my feelings, lining the streets like bored children seated in an equally uninspiring classroom, were yellow Ambassador car taxis. While the world has moved on from automatic vehicles to self-driven ones, Kolkata seemed to

In conversation with Meenaji… Seeker: What is the significance of the Eclipse in our lives? Meena ji: Solar Eclipse or any other eclipse is the accuracy of the rhythm of Nature. At an accurate time, the celestial bodies align perfectly and today the Earth Sun and Moon will align…will come under one gravity. The word Eclipse should not be taken as something crippling or negative. Instead we should look at this as a

A recent incident set me thinking about things that have no antidotes. Indulge in them if you have the courage to see them wreak havoc!! These are the infallible tools of the weak. The four main ones are – 1.Stupidity 2.Suspicion 3. Insecurity 4. Appeasement Stupidity – is a form of obtuse banality. Abysmal Intelligence is stupidity personified. The stupid just refuse to understand or see things from a higher perspective. Everything is

Eyes on blinking screens, ears with ear-pods feeding the mind with constant stimulation of images and sounds, attributing to the restlessness and increasing sensory phenomenon of the mind and body. Strange new syndromes and diseases are engulfing the new age humans and mental illnesses are breaking records! The recent lockdowns and lifestyle changes have forced all to reconsider their present state of being. It’s almost like nature is providing a second chance, but

While watching the amazing BBC documentary ‘The Life Story’ and reconnecting with nature was mesmerizing along with the photography and the anecdotal commentary! Watching evolution through a lens jolted me to ask a question, why the most evolved and intelligent animal–the human being has disassociated from the very simple principles of nature? Every creature of the animal kingdom emotes and relates to both positive and negative feelings. They go through the cycle of

Before proceeding with penning down my musings on “Svadhyay” I find here an opportunity to profusely thank Venerable Meena Om ji, the originator and the exalted driving force behind this innovative platform of pranam.org, to have encouraged me to lay bare my personal experiences, which I think, are never ending to uphold the infinite concept of swadhyay. It would be pertinent to refer to what Swami Vivekanand once told a seeker when asked

It was more than two and half years since I had been on Speaking Tree site of Times of India. I as a seeker was pulled to interact with spiritually inclined souls. Initially after seeing so many famous names in the Master’s category at Speaking Tree fourm, I felt I could interact with them and revive the spiritual knowledge which is dormant in me. I know many will agree with me that this

Having been in business for more than a decade and a half, the travails and tribulations of being a woman entrepreneur in India have been like climbing mount Everest most often than not. Until now. And how do I claim this? Through the two ‘AA ratings’ that are infallible hallmarks and the basis of our Culture – experience, anubhav and the subsequent realisation, anubhuti. Even though I have been banking with the second

Svadhyaya, as the name implies, has its origin in the hallowed Sanskrit language, literally interpreted as,” sva,” meaning “own, or one’s self or the human soul; and “adhyaya”, meaning a “lesson or a reading or to meditate or to contemplate..”  In other words, “svadhyaya” literally means “to read one’s self or to learn the lessons of your own soul or a close study of the self.” Svadhyaya is the key to deepening your

I was fastening my seat belt and getting ready to land after a long haul international flight when my attention was caught by the announcement of spare change. The airline was collecting spare change . . . coins in any currency for charity to feed under-privileged children. I quickly and mindlessly looked in my wallet and came up with a few dimes and nickels. I hurriedly threw them in the envelope and handed

Nelumbo nucifera , the sacred lotus , our national flower is unique. Often confused with the water lily , Nymphaea stellate , lotus flowers are mostly pink and white. They have delicate petals, a glossy smooth water – resistant surface and a musky woody fragrance. Growing in murky waters , their existence is just short of miraculous. Amongst the various flower species , the lotus is the only one that can survive and