SAIEN

There is a considerable amount of talk about being “born again” in the modern-day Christian tradition. When we explore what is meant, it seems like it is a matter of accepting in one’s heart a certain belief set central to the denomination that espouses this idea. There does not seem to be any experiential activity required, other than an acceptance of faith in the belief system. There is, however, a different understanding and interpretation of an individual undergoing a new birth, and that is based on the individual making a definitive shift to the divine standpoint from the egoistic human standpoint. Once that shift occurs, it dominates the way one sees, thinks and acts. It is not a matter of mental belief or vital adherence, but a matter of a true alteration in the very way one lives and breathes. When various countries sent astronauts (or sometimes called ‘cosmonauts’) into outer space, the participants experienced a profound and life-altering change of standpoint, which may help

This is a very personal piece that has been germinating inside me and manifested today. I offer it with much hesitation and yet an impulsion as well. Perhaps it will resonate and help in some way… It is also my assimilation. Can the death of a loved one be a spiritual experience? Can it give you peace and joy? Yes, I have found so, experienced it. The first time was 21 years ago, when I lost my father, who was the rock, the pillar, the mainstay of not just my family but of many extensions of the family and many associates. A dynamic, charismatic figure, loved and respected by many for his generous, loving and helpful nature; respected for his pragmatic wisdom. It took only 8 days from the discovery of advanced cancer to his passing away – mercifully. For most of this time I was in Pondicherry as I had left Delhi before the cancer was detected. When I learnt of his hospitalization, the first impulse was to rush back. I spoke to Nirod da (Dr. Nirodbaran) and he simply asked me if there w

“Brahma Muhurta” has special significance as described in Indian mythology and also as practiced across each religion in India and Asian part of the world. As per scriptures in Indian tradition and in mythology, a  day is divided into 30 slots of 48 minutes each, making it 24 hours of a day. Two slots prior to sunrise time of day is attributed to best part of day with Nature spreading positive energy which are supporting all religious practices and also creativity amongst artists, poets and authors. This practice has been evident in all places of worship, ashrams and several homes alike for past many years making it the first ritual performed in early hours of the day prior to sunrise .. it is believed that Nature gets prepared to receive positive energy of the sun which is eternally present following a day cycle of continuous movement with no rest period. In our younger days, our elders used to inculcate these values to be practiced to develop habits for good mind body balance. Behavi

Long you allowed ‘this one’ the vanity of a separate self, The self-imposed prison of an individual existence. Then was glimpsed the veiled mystic downpour   Drenching existence in a constant rain of Grace. Seen the abysmal unreality of that prison,   The ‘I’ is humbled into emptiness,   And discovers its impersonal fullness.   Glimpsed the mechanism of this occult rain, doing all, moving all,   ‘This one’ can then do naught else than to sit still and bask in it. - Anahita Sanjana (India)