Counsel of Akka

My steps are heavy, oh sister My burdened heart has fallen into my shoes,If only I could close my eyes and sleep away from this world… Oh, brother! Why do you weep?Why has Maya rattled you so? Do you not see that she rages in vain?Be not saddened by this great illusion. Sister, I beg

Book recommendation: ‘Darśan. Seeing the Divine Image in India’ by Diana L. Eck

One of the most difficult things for many westerners to understand about Hinduism is its relation to and worship of images. Because we grow up under monotheist and Abrahamic hegemony, we are often influenced – whether or not we are actually religious – by its views. And in the Abrahamic traditions, the worship of images

Contemplative living in the world

I recently started reading The New Monasticism: An Interspiritual Manifesto for Contemplative Living and in the preface I highlighted this passage because I find it captures the essence of what spiritual living can and should be: I haven’t come very far into the book yet but I love what I’ve been reading so far and

Large scale mob violence happening against Hindus in Bangladesh

Tw: violence, murder, sexual assault, Hinduphobia If you’ve been following the news about what’s been happening in Bangladesh you’ve probably heard of the mob violence, gang rapes, murders and temple desecration that has been carried out against the Hindu minority in the country. If not, then I encourage you to read more about it in

Happy Gita Jayanti!

“Through selfless service, you will always be fruitful and find the fulfillment of your desires” – Bhagavad Gita I find it fitting to start off this blog on this day of Gita Jayanti, otherwise known as the birthday of the Bhagavad-Gita. About two years ago I stumbled upon an English audiobook translation of this sacred