Spirituality In Practice

“Yearning for God does not come until and unless a person has satisfied his cravings for mundane objects, renounced all attachment to lust and gold, and shunned worldly comforts and enjoyments like filth. How many people are restless for God-realization? People shed jug full of tears for their wives, children, or money, but who weeps for God? He who longs for Him certainly will find Him. Cry to Him. Call on Him with a longing heart. You will see Him.” They Lived with God: Life Stories of Some Devotees of Sri Ramakrishna Ch 7 Manomohan Mitra, p 115

Above quote is an excellent description of the longing for God. We weep and cry for our wife and children and live a life of fear for losing the gold and wealth we have! Attachments with all these are seen as sources of stress, anxiety and unhappiness. Longing for God begins with non-attachment from all that is worldly like the wife, children, money, etc. As a counter balance to this non-attachment from all worldly objects, we need something else to hang on to. Religion and theology tells us that God, the all pervasive, Omnipresent, Eternal and Objective source is the one to hang to. “Any one who longs for Him certainly will find Him”.

Excerpts like the above fail to provide the context adequately.  Solely based on the quote and not being aware of the totality of his teachings  one may assume that Sri Ramakrishna was very rigid in his approach to teach his devotees.  This is not the case in reality.  His teachings were tailored to the spiritual maturity of each devotee coupled with their worldly responsibilities. He used to tell his devotees in family life to pursue their duties while keeping their mind in God. 

Developing spiritual maturity is an individual responsibility. It is part of Spirituality in Practice. We can look at the above quote with an intent to further our spiritual maturity.

Let us reflect for a moment a person in family life, living in any community. His wife, children or money – are they his sources of stress, anxiety and unhappiness? It is an opinion based on our superficial observation that requires further analysis. It is like blaming a stone by stating “this stone tripped me causing my injury, pain and suffering!” Did the stone really trip you? Stone is an inertial object, incapable of moving or impacting anyone or anything. It requires my foot and its impact against the stone to trip me! Where did this motion of my foot in that direction at that moment come from? Because I did not see the stone before! My ignorant mind gave my foot a command to move in a certain direction resulting in my getting tripped resulting in pain and injury. Any objective observer will know this simple truth. 

In fact, every aspect of our pain and suffering can be traced back to our mind and its attachment to something it knows and something else it does not know or believes to be true based on partial knowledge. When my mind is still – at peace, non-attached – things around me continue to happen, but “I” am non-attached. One can experience this non-attachment when your brain and its functions are sedated (under Anesthesia). In that state the body feels no pain even when it is cut by a surgeon’s knife! But, can my mind remain unattached to anything and hence feel no pain or pleasure without my brain being anesthetized? Vedanta offers a simple approach for this.

Returning to our example of tripping on the stone, let us ask the question, “who really tripped me?” Not the stone alone, or my foot, my eyes looking elsewhere, my brain nor my mind. It is the way it happened where everything had a part. But collectively it is part of nature. When I accept this view – “na ithi bhavam”: Not this attitude – we also see all that is involved. Of course my pleasure and pain comes from many sources and reasons that include wife, children, money, etc. . But, through sustained analysis – “na ithi bhavam”: Not this attitude –  blame or responsibility shifts from anything or anyone specific to a collective view that it is all part of nature: Sarvam Brahma Mayam. 

The more my mind is trained and focused to look at all that happens as part of nature, we are more objective and non-judgmental. We are able to see the full picture and proceed accordingly. We are at peace, calm and tranquil. We want to get united with the all pervasive, Omnipresent, Eternal and Objective source. Is there anyone like that? Can we get attached and emulate that Person? Our longing and its intensity increases. Religion and theology tells us this void can be filled by God. 

Philosophy tells us that as this void and longing – to be relentlessly objective and eternally focused to remain as part of nature – increases, we see increasing Divinity in our action and way of living. We live the life of God with increasing non-attachment and less perturbations, anguish and tumult in our daily life, while living with all aspects of nature. That includes wife, children and money!

Yearning for God through the religious path requires us to accept God as “someone else”. We accept and worship that God! We surrender to that God, His mercy and blessings! Yearning for God through a reflective approach transforms us into a better person (more Divine in our thoughts and way of life). We see God in us. We live the life of God through Divinity in daily life. We accept and worship wife, children and money as the extensions of God within, part of God’s family (Vasudeva Kudumbham). Perhaps they are not two separate pathways? Instead they are two sides of a coin, integral and inseparable!

Recently I was fortunate to spend a few days in a place located on the edge of the ocean, with a balcony literally on the beach! Sitting at this balcony on the 20 feet cliff facing the ocean in front me one could not help notice the relentless waves and their constant ebb and flow. It is these ocean waves that one is suggested to concentrate upon during meditation sessions. At this moment, the waves are not imaginary, but real. In fact every aspect of life is both real and imagined in some fashion. Is that the illusion (Maya) that the scriptures talk about?

Waves are composed of action, relentless, non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, almost eternal. These waves and their churning noise have been here ever since we arrived and will continue for ever after. So are our actions through our body, mind and intellect! We have to acknowledge that most of the body and its functions, along with our mind (and the emotions) and the intellect (and the thoughts) begin with our birth and end with death, unlike the eternal ocean waves! Body as a material object and its change or decay into other forms will continue forever like the stones in the ocean front which are gradually eroded, crushed and pulverized into sand over time! The residual effect of our emotions and thoughts may also endure but their effects are less traceable except for a few among us!

This very notion that “These waves and their churning noise have been here ever since I  arrived” is a constraint imposed on my mind by myself! Of course the waves have been here forever, well before I arrived and will be here well after I leave, indeed long after, almost eternally and forever! Vedanta tells us that the life-giving forces, represented as the soul or the spirit is eternal which existed well before we were born and will exist well after we are gone! Is the soul or Atman that we are suggested to meditate upon and the waves are merely a simile for the eternal force of nature? 

Waves continue their relentless motion. Their sway and intensity change with wind conditions and directions. Some waves reach the shores calm and subdued and return their water back to the deep ocean. Other waves are violent, hit the shores with great vigor and thunderous noise. 

Severe and moderate waves only moments apart!

See above two contrasting images of the same oceanfront moments apart. Calm waves or their splashing counterparts can be seen at the same place based on the energy and intensity of the waves. They are also governed by the resistance they face, based on the topology of the beach. Large sandy beaches foster slow and gradual waves that also recede the same way. Rocky beach and the turbulent waves are in contrast to that. Please see the images below!

Calm, Intense  and  Severe Waves 

Our emotions and reactions to events are described as Tranquility, Turbulence or Inertia (Sathvikam, Rajasam and Thamasam – Gunathvam). They are subjective, each unique dependent on the impelling forces (like the wind currents) and the reactive influences (like the beach and its topography). Do we have the capacity to manage each wave or even focus on all of them? Of course not. But, each wave is unique and to a large extent independent of others. But we don’t remain fixated on each wave, while sitting at the oceanfront! So are also our emotions. Are we able to set aside each emotion as an independent event and not carry the burden of pleasure or pain of accumulated experiences? Is this part of our meditation?

At a larger level we can recognize each wave as a response of the body of water influenced by impelling forces and beach conditions. We see calm and manageable waves at the sandy beach and the turbulent and unmanageable waves at the rocky beach. We also see changes if the beach is shallow and gradual or a deep cliff! We are able to see a larger pattern in the waves, across all of the oceans, beach topography or wind conditions.  Our “experiences” are also like that. There are observable common patterns in all our experiences. Many experiences in the beginning appear as independent, different and divergent. Through sustained observations and reasoning we can see commonality or emerging themes across many experiences. Is this the Objectivity that we develop (Sagunathvam) as an outcome of our meditation?

There is no ocean on earth without waves. These waves are everywhere – at the shallow beach as well as in the middle across the wide span of the ocean. It is an unmistakable evidence of the constant impinging of the wind on the ocean water everywhere. It is a natural phenomenon. We can see waves even in places where there might appear to be no waves at first sight! A closer look at the sandy surface below and its patterns suggest that such striations could contribute to the waves in the water that flows over it! The waves in turn could also contribute to the surface level perturbations on the sand below. In due course each influences the other. Are our experiences (waves) the undercurrent of influence from our body, mind and intellect? How do these experiences in turn shape the function and influence our B. M and I.  Can we step back and look at this symbiosis instead of getting immersed in the experiences? Is this stepping away for reflection, a deep dive into the cause and effect of our experiences part of meditation?

     Waves in the mid-ocean     Subtle waves on a shallow shore

We can relate to only a limited extent of the expanse of waves and their occurrence everywhere. Even this simple phenomena of nature is way beyond our total comprehension. Then what can be said of the infinite laws of nature and the limitless phenomena (Nirgunathvam)? They create and facilitate all that, which we have come to learn as our life, the universe and existence. Is this what we are to infer from the dictum “Sarvam Brahma Mayam” – everything is Brahman?

We are now entering the fourth week of the cold blooded attack by Russia on its neighboring country Ukraine. We are all confronted with many questions:

How can one nation be allowed to march into another without any provocation? Can historical arguments of decades ago be ever used today to destabilize the international borders? Where does such uncalled for provocation end? Is the fear of nuclear war a deterrent for all other nations to sit in silence when such aggression goes unchecked? Also at what cost? unarmed civilians, children and women are being massacred in the name of a war? All this happening in the 21st century? We see cold and calculated alignments in the name of energy security, raw material resources, political ideology – when do all these end, to reflect the values and interests of larger humanity? ………… The questions go on in the minds of everyone.

The answer is simple: Morality is paper thin. This essay https://sipractce.com/2013/09/09/morality-is-paper-thin/ was posted in Sep. 2013, nearly ten years ago, when the Syrian population was subjected to attack using Chemical weapons. Few passages from this essay are copied below. Additional thoughts follow after that.

It is often easy to fall behind the wisdom of three monkeys: “See no evil; Speak no evil; Hear no evil”. In fact much of the rupture and degeneration of the moral fiber starts with this seemingly moral position. Yet inaction, when action is required is also a moral failing as we know well from the scriptures. What should be done as a consequence and as a response to such heinous crimes? The answers may not be simple or easy. But if there is a time to remember that morality is paper thin, this might be one such moment.

Precisely how we uphold morality always starts as an individual decision. In due course it evolves into a mosaic that holds the social unit – the family, community, nation or the humanity at large – together.  Morality represents the social conscience and hence a compass that serves well for the society at large. Yet, morality has no force on its own, since its enforcement power comes from something invisible and intangible (i.e.) the soul or conscience of all of us as individuals  as part of the society or community. It is like a sheet of paper. When it is whole it serves many purposes. But, when it is ripped or torn, it is merely cast aside into a pile of waste.

It is heartening to see the united effort of most of the nations of the world isolating Russia and particularly its leadership. It is clear that unbridled ignorance and attachments to the false sense of “super power” of one man or few in Russia is driving the massacre of thousands in Ukraine. It also accompanies the death and dismemberment of hundreds of Russian soldiers. Let us hope that the combined effort of almost all of humanity will bring an end to this cold and calculated war.

There are three possibilities for the end of this tragedy: (A) Russia wins unilaterally and Ukraine – a sovereign democratic nation – becomes oppressed under the autocratic rule in the guise of communism. This seems less likely as the war is now protracted with mounting Russian casualties; (B) Russia is defeated unilaterally in the battlefield and driven out of Ukraine. This option is also far-fetched as far as we can see now; (C) There will be a protracted war of attrition, much like what happened in Syria or Afghanistan. This scenario seems most likely. As a result, a serene and moderately well off nation of 40 million people living at the edge of poverty and war torn destruction seems to be the most likely outcome for next decade.

In Syria, the oppressor who used chemical weapons seems to have won at least for now, with help and support from Russia. We are told that Russia might have been emboldened because of this apparent success in a foreign war. In Afghanistan – whatever their religious fundamentalism may be – the locals won the war of attrition with untold loss of life and property for all sides. It is the silence of the world community in both these wars, which might have emboldened the Russian autocrat leading to the Ukraine crisis.

An eye for an eye leaves the world full of blind people. This sad reality is not understood by nations and world citizens despite the repeated destruction from war. It would be a mistake to characterize the war against Ukraine as a war between Democracy and Autocracy. In such arguments it is assumed that people of both nations are fully engaged and have contributed to the decision  of their respective nations. Autocrats do not make decisions based on popular opinions. Fear of authority and need for self-preservation (Subjectivity) are the fodder for authoritarian rulers. Democracies can not sustain their decisions unless the citizens are fully engaged all the time and do not take their freedom for granted. Hence the war in Ukraine – or for that matter wars anywhere in the world – is a challenge for the moral conscience requiring vigilant engagement of every citizen of every nation in the free world. Such morality and vigilance can not be compromised for a few dollars of lower price of imported goods, energy or raw materials or lower cost of labor from nations that abuse their newly gained economic strength or those who abuse the freedom and respect of their own citizens. 

Globalization appeared to be a pathway for shared wealth and prosperity for all. Yet, society forgot that Globalization also means shared responsibility for the care of all citizens of all nations. This has resulted in unequal distribution of wealth with few “haves” and a lot more “have nots”. This economic imbalance combined with the spread of fake news – abundance of false information – have slowly eroded our unique human skills for self reflection, a fundamental need for any moral fiber. Shift towards extreme liberal or extreme right wing positions seem to dominate nations and their politics rather the middle ground.  When the Covid-19 Pandemic affected the globe, every nation withdrew into its own cocoon. Collective global action to curb the pandemic (as was the case in previous pandemics) was abandoned. Globalization must also imply care and welfare of the planet as a whole. Instead the climate crisis has now become isolated as a social movement of a few progressives and opposed by a limited few on the other side with their power to block any meaningful solutions.  Developing a common cause approach appears far fetched. Self preservation has become the norm for the past decade or more.  Increasing Subjectivity and erosion of Objectivity (focused on larger common good) is the slippery slope we have been sliding down. Will the war on Ukraine be the trigger to reverse this trend and wake up the moral conscience of every citizen of the world? Will such awakening lead to a renewed faith and respect for each other as human beings and fellow citizens of the world?

Philosophic reflections at a time of war and crisis of untold proportions in Ukraine might appear aloof and insensitive. Far from it. It is the time for each of us to search deeply our long held personal or self-centered opinions and judgements (Subjectivity) and separate them from thoughts and ideas that foster good for others and the larger community (Objectivity). From this point of view we can see all forms of Government – Democracy, Communism, Socialism, Autocracy –  can co-exist as long as they survive and succeed with respect and regard for other nations and their choices. This will be an objective outlook that can be preserved under the umbrella of world organizations such as the UN.

Russia may not want a growing NATO or Ukraine to join NATO. But, the solution for this desire is not a cruel war on its neighbor. Instead Russia could work to become an economic Superpower, which is attractive for other nations to join Russia in their alliance. Instead it is the economic failure of Russia that has catalyzed the current Putin War on Ukraine. Ignorance and attachment fostered by subjectivity always leads to unbridled anger, grief and destruction. Nations of the world must exercise wisdom and sound judgment to overcome this ignorance and attachment of autocratic leaders for a long term peace and tranquility for Ukraine.

Such global events are also sources for each of us to exercise self reflection. Each of us should transform our moral outrage into actionable questions such as: What can I do to help those innocent people who are caught up in this unjust war and violence? How can I as a citizen promote better understanding of the reality that “an eye for an eye leaves the world with more blind people”? Am I unintentionally and unwillingly contributing to such moral failings in my own life within my family, community or nation? Am I being subjected to such immoral acts – big and small – by others and am I able to stand up to that?

Comment from Joe P:

It does appear that the people of the Ukraine are exemplifying moral outrage, and staying to fight the evil, even when the odds are not highly in their favor. For isn’t that a key to true moral outrage- Fight for Right? And we see the peoples of the world, even Russian citizens giving their voices to the support of Ukraine. President Zelenskyy has said that anyone can support the efforts using their own particular skills and knowledge, be it soldiering, making meals, driving people to safety, putting out fires, spiritually assisting, donating time, money, effort. He has found a way to continue leading the world to assist. As was stated, being like the three monkeys is not always the correct response. Action is sometimes required by us. Let us hope that the typical short attention span of the worlds moral outrage will extend, hold fast and reverse the attack by evil.

Proverbs convey moral code or guidelines for better living. “You can take a horse to the water but can not make it drink!” is an often quoted proverb, familiar to many. It suggests that one can not force or coerce others to do anything without their own intent or willingness. Such proverbs are useful at the elementary level (i.e.) day to day life. Perhaps an in-depth analysis may be needed as one’s role and responsibility changes in life. Also in-depth reflection on such ordinary and common statements lifts one above the cloud of confusion and challenges faced at times despite one’s best intentions and efforts?

Vedic Philosophy provides three distinct and yet interconnected steps to reflect upon. They are the guides to understand anything. These three steps are:

1. All that is cognitive (every aspect of anything Physical, Emotional or Intellectual) is the result of our Knowledge, Bias (Partial Knowledge) and Ignorance (Absence of relevant knowledge).
   • Our Knowledge, Bias and Ignorance always coexist.
   • The dominance of one over the other two determines our equilibrium state (Gunathvam) identified as Tranquility, Turbulence and Inertia. These determine our nature of connection to the subject matter.
2. What is the true nature of our equilibrium state in understanding anything? in relation to anything? That depends on our Objectivity (Sagunathvam) or equal disposition to all equilibrium states. It reflects a non-judgemental frame of mind.
   • Our Objectivity helps to identify the specific and true nature of our Subjectivity (personal connection) and how it affects us in relation to anything: our reaction, response or plan of action going forward in any matter or situation.
3. All our equilibrium states, subjectivity, objectivity, our understanding of all these and our action / reaction as a result in any matter and at any time are all governed by the invisible laws of nature or enablers (Inaction: Akarma). 
   • Inaction (Akarma) represents the infinite number of invisible forces of nature that merely exist. Collectively they are identified by a singular term: Brahman.
   • We along with every aspect of nature including the equilibrium states (Gunathvam : pertaining to connection) exist merely as products, outcome or effects of the Brahman, the forces of nature (that are invisible, eternal, omnipresent, objective, invariant, enabler of everything). 

Sarvam Brahma Mayam.

The above three steps are not independent. They are interconnected. 

Behind any proverb are lots of assumptions. In this case, for example: the horse is thirsty; it has been taken to a source of clean water in sufficient quantity; it has the freedom of movement and it is not restrained, etc. and yet it refuses to drink! Our Knowledge, Bias and Ignorance in all these and many other matters will have an impact on the intended goal. Let us make a short list:

Is the horse thirsty?

Knowledge: Yes, this horse is fed water at this time daily by me and it generally drinks water. Bias: The horse is expected to drink water at this time and it knows that very well! Ignorance: Someone else had earlier fed water to this horse; nobody told me.

Is the water clean to drink?

Knowledge: Yes, the horse is fed this water daily by me and it generally drinks. Bias: After all it is a horse; should I feed it bottled water? Ignorance: What is the difference? Aren’t all waters the same?

Is the horse free and not restrained from drinking?

Knowledge: Yes, this horse is free and not restrained; It can drink easily; I check for this daily. Bias: A horse can not be left unrestrained; I am responsible and I will be blamed! Ignorance: Horses have a sense of anticipating danger, better than humans. I didn’t know that!

If our knowledge is dominant in all cases, we will check for the remaining bias and ignorance at play. We check around and learn that the horse has been fed water a little while ago, by someone else. Or, there was a snake nearby that the horse perceived as danger. Ignoring the frightened look in the horse sensing danger, is ignorance. One could learn of these possibilities by observing the horse and its behavior. Blaming the horse as “unwilling to drink”, is a bias. Our thinking shifts from being judgemental – blaming the horse – to better understanding the cause or reason behind its behavior. The best course of action for the moment follows. That is Karma or duty. Such reflection and analysis preceding any action is Yoga?

It is easy to analyze and discuss a horse and its behavior towards its drinking water. Even that is not simple since it requires breaking our impulse to action and jumping into an opinion or judgment. Action, doing something –  blaming the horse as unwilling to drink – follows the judgment instinctively. It is a genuinely cultivated habit to be calm, contemplative and reflective through any action in our daily life. To guide us through such challenges the proverbs serve as a crutch, a walking stick – accepting the reality as it is without bias and moving on.

But we must discard such support occasionally and challenge ourselves. Consider for example a family matter. Or it could be a matter of discussion at the workplace. After great reflection you offer your views or opinion. You follow it up with an offer of some help that could be useful. If followed up or accepted, your inputs could have a great impact on the peace, harmony and overall welfare for all. But your input is summarily rejected. What can you do? Simply say “You can take a horse to the water but can not make it drink!” and walk away? The above situation is not hypothetical. We are faced with it all the time: in communication within immediate family members; across families; communication in a project team; religious and political groups; social circles, etc. Please see: https://sipractce.com/2021/10/19/on-overcoming-the-challenges-in-our-communications/

This is where step no. 2 listed above from Vedic Philosophy becomes useful.

Have you done your best to feed water to the horse as required and to your best of ability? Have you given sufficient reflection prior to offering your views or opinion? Have you relentlessly addressed your own bias and ignorance and minimized them, before, during and after sharing your opinion or suggestion? That reflects your objectivity. Are you rejecting the obvious clues or signals received? Are you unhappy with the outcome even if it is partial? That reflects your attachment (Turbulence). Are you feeling helpless? That reflects your ignorance and its dominance (Inertia). Are you pleased with the outcome and willing to let things evolve as the matter requires participation and engagement by others as well? Then you are Tranquil. Precisely which equilibrium state (Gunathvam) truly reflects my state of mind will be known only to myself. This requires me to be non-judgemental: distance from the situation, details, inference, communication, etc. This non-attachment with which I observe my state of mind in any instance is Objectivity (Sagunathvam)? This broader aspect of being unattached or non-judgmental and its distinction from the objective analysis of the data in step 1 is subtle. It is like a person sitting quiet in a place. But he may not be truly unattached if his mind and emotions are fertile and active. In step 2 every aspect of our body, mind and intellect are unattached and non-judgemental. This is a measure of renunciation (Sanyasam). 

Step 1 above is situation specific. We get into the details – the nuts and bolts – of our Knowledge, Bias and Ignorance. In step 2 we proceed to an aggregate view of the situation and the prevailing equilibrium state. I check my own bias and impulse to action arising out of attachment. One’s views being ignored is nothing new. I am not alone in this as it happens to many more I am aware of under various circumstances. What course of action in a similar situation helped or hurt in the past?  Do I see progress over time or do I continue to push for an outcome or communication, where my approach or method is flawed and has not worked before? All of these aggregated views and analysis is part of Step 2.

We are no longer assessing a horse and its drinking water. Instead we are thinking about the behavior of a herd of horses and their consumption behavior! In real life, we are exploring the means and methods of communication of our views and their effective use; communication with others, on matters in life with significant impact. Our reflection becomes non-attached (i.e.) independent of specific person, people or event or situation. Our thought gets more focussed on the process such as the science of communication. Creating the right climate for communication becomes the goal rather than the end result. This gradual shift ultimately and hopefully fosters better communication across team members on their own. My role and responsibility becomes secondary. I exist and participate, yet I am not involved as others are enabled to play their role on their own accord! At this stage we are already in Step 3 (i.e.) exploring the prevailing laws behind our subject matter. It may be the behavioral science of horse and its drinking water or the science of communicating useful guidelines and their acceptance or not, by others involved in our interactions! If the outcome of step 2 is true non-attachment (i.e.) renunciation, the end result of step 3 can be seen as “liberation”. In this state of liberation we are truly one with nature! Sarvam Brahma Mayam.

Such challenges to communication within families or project teams are very visible everywhere. https://sipractce.com/2021/10/19/on-overcoming-the-challenges-in-our-communications/ Traditions have a large role in such matters. Such wisdom is generally codified as proverbs, rituals and religious practices. Yet they are merely crutches. They can not replace individual reflection, reasoning and inference. In a large joint family the words of the elders had the final say. Good or bad they could “force the horse to drink”. Their effectiveness and failure is recorded well in the history and the epics. (e.g.): https://sipractce.com/2019/09/27/bishma-complex/  

Today nuclear families are spread across the globe. Traditions have become ad hoc. There are too many “family heads” and each wishing to assert their views and superiority. The same goes for Business Units and Project Teams spread across the globe. Decisions and communication may occur that optimize local needs. But, global optimization, meeting the larger good of everyone suffers due to bias and ignorance in decision making and communication. Even matters of advice and consent on routine aspects of life suffer from these pitfalls. People may flock to the social media and internet more readily for guidance than seek out interpersonal exchanges and communication. Leadership at any level and in any situation requires us to diligently pursue the three step process outlined above. It is a sure way to escape the despair faced (i.e.) You can take the horse to water but can not make it drink!

Even when you accept the reality – the horse when guided does not drink the water – such acceptance has to be with clarity and understanding. It has to be genuine based on the reasons and the laws pertaining to them. Otherwise the unfulfilled need over time could become a major source of anguish leading to depression. Such mental health challenges may not be limited only to one person (the horse that needs to drink). They may spread across to the person who feels the responsibility to guide others (one who takes the horse to the water)! This spread of unfulfilled needs and their mental anguish can be seen across generations. Education on Vedic Philosophy and their practice through strict adherence to the above three steps as a way of life may indeed be the required solution in all these matters. We do know that such a treasure house of wisdom exists in our tradition, literature and scriptures. How do we make it a prevalent way of life for many? We need to progress beyond the proverb: You can take a horse to the water but can not make it drink!

Recently I was browsing through an email chain, the kind exchanged across members of large Google groups. The following segment caught my attention:

Lord Buddha gives a short yet very clear description of grief (dukkha) in his first discourse The Dhammachakkapavatthana Suththa (the wheel turning discourse).  He lists the following types of grief:1.Jathi – Birth 2.Jara – Aging 3.Vyadhi – Sickness 4.Marana – Death 5.Appiyehi Sampayoga – Union with the undesirable 6.Piyehi Vippayoga – loss of desired things 7. Yampichhcan na labhathi – not receiving the desired things or wishes. 8. Panhca upadanaskandha – taking all panchaskandha (rupa, vedana, sanna, sankhara, vignana) as I or Mine. 

Such annotations acquire greater attention and authenticity through the sprinkling of Sanskrit words and any reference from the Internet: “Answer to What is dukkha? https://www.quora.com/What-is-dukkha “. In such exchanges and reference to internet sources, are we slowly but surely losing our power to think and reason? While my emotions suggest that we are, my hope challenges me to think otherwise. Maybe it is time to rethink and challenge all that we read like the above? In the least we should not accept them as stated. Do they truly reflect the intent and thoughts of teachers like Lord Buddha? Does he condemn birth, aging, sickness and death – all inevitable parts of any life – merely as sources of grief (Dukkha)? One would think not.

Vedic Philosophy provides three distinct and yet interconnected methodologies to reflect upon. They are the guides to understand anything. These methods must be readily applicable to any common aspect of life such as grief (Dukkha). 

Vedic Philosophy provides three distinct and yet interconnected steps to reflect upon. They are the guides to understand anything. These three steps are:

1. All that is cognitive (every aspect of anything Physical, Emotional or Intellectual) is the result of our Knowledge, Bias (Partial Knowledge) and Ignorance (Absence of relevant knowledge).
   • Our Knowledge, Bias and Ignorance always coexist.
   • The dominance of one over the other two determines our equilibrium state (Gunathvam) identified as Tranquility, Turbulence and Inertia.
2. What is the true nature of our equilibrium state in understanding anything? in relation to anything? That depends on our Objectivity (Sagunathvam) or equal disposition to all equilibrium states. It reflects a non-judgemental frame of mind.
   • Our Objectivity helps to identify the specific and true nature of our Subjectivity (personal connection) and how it affects us in relation to anything: our reaction, response or plan of action going forward in any matter or situation.
3. All our equilibrium states, subjectivity, objectivity, our understanding of all these and our action / reaction as a result in any matter and at any time are all governed by the invisible laws of nature or enablers (Inaction: Akarma). 
   • Inaction (Akarma) represents the infinite number of invisible forces of nature that merely exist. Collectively they are identified as a singular term: Brahman.
   • We along with every aspect of nature including the equilibrium states (Gunathvam : pertaining to connection) exist merely as products, outcome or effects of the Brahman or forces of nature (that are invisible, eternal, omnipresent, objective, invariant, enabler of everything). Sarvam Brahma Mayam.

The above three steps are not independent. They are interconnected. One can think of these three steps as three legs of a stool providing required strength and stability in any aspect in life.

Let us use the above framework to look at Grief (Dukkha). We can use this framework to study the material cited at the beginning: “Birth, Aging, Sickness, Death, Union with the undesirable, loss of desired things, not receiving the desired things or wishes, taking everything as I or Mine”. They are all part of any human life. 

• Everyone of these are aspects of anyone’s life. They are governed by our body (Physical), mind (Emotions) and intellect (Thoughts).
• There will be Knowledge, Ignorance and Bias with respect to each of these and how we relate to them.
  • When Knowledge is dominant we shall see “Birth, Aging, Sickness, Death” merely as aspects of any living object in the Universe. There will be no fear or grief (Dukkha). 
  • They induce fear in us or in any individual, family or society while we are under the cloud or dominance of Bias (attachments) and Ignorance. Buddha’s teaching constantly strives to lift up anyone, out of this cloud.

It is necessary to acknowledge the cloud of Bias and Ignorance as the sources of grief. It will be a mistake to assign Birth, Aging, Sickness, Death by themselves as the sources of grief (Dukkha).

With true knowledge of death, sickness merely as part of anyone’s life, one will be respectful of the fear or grief experienced by others. Then we will find ways to help them to cope with it. The approach and solution will vary. But they will be through addressing the Physical, Emotional and Intellectual needs in each case.

True knowledge and its effect can also lead to celebration of these life events: Birth, Aging, Sickness and Death. After all, we celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna as Janmashtami. Celebrating the birth and the birthday can become a joyous occasion for anyone. There are positive as well as negative aspects of Aging, Sickness and Death. All of that depends on our state of mind, knowledge, bias and ignorance. Kathopanishad addresses the fear of death in which young Nachiketha wonders “why should anyone grieve or be afraid of death? After all such fear and grief is created by our own mind. People are born, age and die just as the corn plant that germinates and perishes every season”.

Now let us look at the second half of items listed above as sources of grief: Union with the undesirable, loss of desired things, not receiving the desired things or wishes, taking everything as I or Mine

• Each of the above four are not physical in the sense you can not pick them up and throw them away!
• Instead each of them is the product of our mind, thinking and the emotions as a result.
• They are all equally amenable for analysis and categorization for the Knowledge, Bias and Ignorance behind these thoughts and emotions.
  • When Bias or Ignorance is dominant these thoughts and emotions lead to grief (Dukkha).

Teachings of Buddha constantly strive to lift up anyone, everyone out of this influence of Bias (attachment) and ignorance. It is necessary to acknowledge the cloud of Bias and Ignorance as the sources of grief. It will be a mistake to assign Union with the undesirable, loss of desired things, not receiving the desired things or wishes, taking everything as I or Mine by themselves as the sources of grief (Dukkha).

True knowledge leads us to discriminate between “what is desirable and undesirable?” in my (our) association with this person, people or situation. This analysis leads to an objective outlook and the proper path (duty – Karma). At this point one will be reminded of a Tamil proverb which states “ If you look at only the blemishes in others you will have no friends or relatives”. We should also remember the often quoted advice from Buddha “Let the one who has never erred throw the first stone at others as a punishment!”.

We can extend this discussion to other sources of grief listed above. But, it is clear in three out of these four conditions the governing verb is “desire” and in the fourth  it is the “attachment” to the self. Buddha constantly describes desire and attachments as the source of grief. 

In all of the above analysis we have resorted to the first pathway (i.e.) discriminative approach to identify the sources of grief based on our Knowledge, Bias and Ignorance. We should keep this pathway in mind and not be swayed by specific examples or listings. That would be like getting caught up in a thick growth in a forest and losing your way.

To avoid this pitfall, we need to become proficient in pathway no. 2 (i.e.) Emphasis on Objectivity. Am I truly assessing the situation with reference to my Knowledge, Bias and Ignorance? Or am I getting influenced by my own preferences (Subjectivity)? For example, do I have a fearless attitude and approach to death when it pertains to someone else, while I am mortified of the thought when it applies to me or someone close and dear to me? You can immediately relate to the intended and necessary Objectivity! Such objectivity is fostered by non-attachment (Sanyasam): Treating everything as “external” or not pertaining to the self! This is not a monastic way of life. It is merely framing of our mind. If practices in Yoga and meditation help you in this non-attachment, benefit from them. But, let them not become a crutch for physical isolation, while the mind, emotions, intellect and thoughts remain attached.

Viewed from this perspective (Pathway no. 2) Grief (Dukkha) can be seen in anything and at any time. This Dukkha may be merely a product of the human mind and its emotions. Depending on the situation and circumstances it may be driven by our connection (Gunathvam): Tranquility, Turbulence and/or Inertia. We need to recognize each of these equilibrium states behind our grief and address it appropriately. Hence grief need not be identified merely as belonging to a prescribed list of items – see above – or aspects of life. While such a checklist may serve some purpose, it should be followed by reflection and analysis.

With all of the above behind us, we come to pathway no. 3: Everything is Brahman (Sarvam Brahma Mayam). This pathway requires us to think that we are no different from any other object of nature. While this is indeed true, it is a concept difficult to digest. Let us perform a small thought experiment with the following questions:

We are like stone or any other inanimate object: True/false?

We are like plants and animals: True/False?

• Plants and animals are born, age, go through sickness and perish (die). So do we (every one of us).
  • Then why do we assign our Birth, aging, sickness, old age and death as sources of grief?
• Everyone of us has a body, emotions and feelings, thoughts and ideas. But the forces behind these – anatomy, physiology, psychology, neural function, etc. – are the same. 
  • Then where is the difference between 
    • desirable and undesirable?
    • desired things and undesired?
    • receiving the desired wishes and undesired?
    • I or Mine ?
      • It is this isolation into “self” and “others” that is illustrated in the following story from Swami Adi Sankara’s life: When a Chandala (considered untouchable by the society at that time) crossed Sankara’s path, his disciples tried to keep him away. On noticing this the Chandala asked Adi Sankara “Who are you trying to stay away from – my body or my soul?”

Above is a lengthy narrative to focus our attention on the basics of Vedic Philosophy (as well as teachings of Lord Buddha). It is imperative that in this age and capabilities for vast and rapid communications we return to the basics of human competence (i.e.) reflection, analysis, reasoning, comprehension and a life based on all these. This analysis and suggestion is presented with due modesty. We acknowledge everyone is the “Child of Immortality – Amrithasaya Puthra”. Everyone is a teacher as well as a student.

Hari Om.

Prabuddha Bharatha is a well known magazine focused on Vedic Philosophy. It was initiated by Swami Vivekananda over 125 years ago. For details please see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prabuddha_Bharata

This magazine publishes an annual issue in January every year focused on a specific topic. The 2022 annual issue focusses on “Living a Meaningful Life in the Digital World”. The cover of this issue contains a very thought provoking image.

The picture is also explained in words by the artist! Please see the Pdf file attached.

The Pdf file also contains a Table of Contents of many essays – all insightful and worthy of reading and deserving your time.

One among the essays is titled “Vedic Philosophy and the Knowledge Economy” Continue reading the Pdf file and you will find this essay!

Best wishes and a Happy New Year!

Following are a few slides that capture a few statements from the letters written by the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh. These are from the images displayed in an art exhibition at San Jose CA,, USA titled “Beyond Van Gogh”. The connection between these statements and the basics of Vedic Philosophy commonly known as Vedanta are striking! This complementarity between the two widely differing sources also reflects the true nature of free thought of the human mind and how it it is captured profoundly well in the Vedic Philosophy!

Enjoy the reading and the journey!

Best wishes for a Happy New Year (2022)!

Sath Sangh is part of any Hindu prayer service. It is usually in the form of group singing of prayer songs (Bhajan) , discourse or any social gathering with religious focus. But, we can also think of Sath Sangh as a time for self-reflection to search for the truth. This meaning and purpose of Sath Sangh is outlined in a famous treatise titled “Rambles in Vedanta” by an eminent scholar Rajam Iyer. We explore this theme of Sath Sangh in the following:

First question:  Why Sath Sangh at the end of the Puja Service?

All Pujas or Hindu Prayer services follow the Vedas and the procedures contained in them.  All Vedas have four parts:

Samhitha    — contains the Vedic chants and prayers used during the Puja.

Aranyaka – describes the details on how the Puja service should be organized and performed.

Bhahmana – describes the rules and regulations

Upanishad – goes into the Philosophy or analytical reasoning behind all prayer services and indeed guidelines for any aspect of life. 

Sath Sangh is the part of the Puja Service, where we reflect on the Vedic Philosophy.

Now our second question: What does the phrase “Sath Sangh” really mean?

To answer this question, and for further discussion let us use one more prayer song. 

This is the prayer for Goddess Annapurneshwari. As some of you may know, Goddess Parvathi is in the form of Annapurneshwari at the holy city of Benares, India.  Lord Shiva is in the form of Kashi Visveshwara at Benares.

अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शंकर प्राणवल्लभे । ज्ञान वैराग्य सिध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहिच पार्वति ॥

annapūrṇe sadāpūrṇe śaṃkara prāṇavallabhe . jñāna vairāgya sidhyarthaṃ bhikṣāṃ dehica pārvati 

O Goddess Parvati, One who provides all our nourishment, one who is complete and perfect at all times, one who is dear to the heart beat of Lord Shankara. We pray for your blessings for the  relentless search for knowledge and the resulting excellence and bliss.

Saint Sankara is not seeking the blessings for food, health or material comforts. All these will come to one who has the requisite knowledge and perfection in its use. In fact the word “Siddha” means excellence in the chosen endeavor; perfection in that field. Hence Jnana Vairagya Siddhi really means Perfection in the relentless search for knowledge and the excellence achieved through that.

This Jnana Vairagya Siddhi is explained by the famous poet Kalidasa (from the classic Sanskrit literature) as follows;

वागर्थाविव सम्प्रुक्तौ वागर्थप्रतिपत्तये जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ

vāgarthāviva sampruktau vāgarthapratipattaye  jagataḥ pitarau vande pārvatīparameśvarau

I worship and pray to Goddess Parvati and Lord Parameshwara, the parents of the world for better understanding of words and their meaning. They are inseparable, like the word and its meaning. 

When we say “I love you” to our son, wife/husband, our friend, to God the word “love” and its meaning should be clear in every case. Everyone of us should think about this connection between the word we use and its meaning. It is a reflection of our knowledge and the excellence through such knowledge  – Jnana Vairagya Siddhi.

To better understand this Jnana Vairagya Siddhi, let us now look at our Phrase: Sath-Sangh

What does Sath- Sangh really mean? Bhajan, prayers, association with good people, …That is the general meaning commonly known.But let us practice Jnana Vairagya for a few minutes. 

Following is a verse from Bhaja Govindam, a prayer song composed by Adi Sankaracharya

सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वं निस्सङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम् |  निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः ‖ 9 ‖

satsaṅgatve nissaṅgatvaṃ nissaṅgatve nirmohatvam | nirmohatve niśchalatattvaṃ niśchalatattve jīvanmuktiḥ ‖ 9 ‖

Company of good people (scholars and saints) gives rise to non-attachment (Nissangatvam); from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion, desire or passion (Nirmohatvam), which leads to a calm and contemplative mind (Nischala Tatvam) ; This tranquility of our mind leads to sustained inner peace and contentment, which is the liberation of the soul (jīvan-mukti), while we are still alive and active.

We also know that “Sath” means Truth. “Sangh” means association. “Sath- Sangh” could also have a meaning of “Association with truth”. In other words we should relentlessly search for the truth and the meaning behind every word we think of, feel or speak. Sath Sangh can also be a form of disciplining our mind to think and speak only what we truly mean. Then speaking the truth always becomes natural. Reflecting on what we are thinking, what we are feeling or what we are speaking and arriving at the truth is also Yoga. This focus and reflecting on what we are saying and what it means all the time is a Divine quality. It is God’s blessing for everyone of us.

During Sath Sangh, we sing songs in the praise of the Lord. We listen to lectures and discourse by learned scholars and swamijis. At the same time Sath Sangh should also be an opportunity to reflect and internalize the words we use and their meaning. Let us pray to Lord Shiva that we are all blessed for that Jnana Vairagya Siddhi:  Excellence achieved through relentless search for truth, knowledge and its use. When we do that we become truly liberated. This is a form of “Moksha” right in this life, while we are alive! This liberation gives tranquility, peace of mind, inner harmony and contentment, which is priceless. It should be experienced by everyone. It can not be described adequately by others! 

This liberation, a limitless freedom is also explained by adi Sankaracharya as follows:

माता च पार्वती देवी पिता देवो महेश्वरः / बान्धवाः शिवभक्ताश्च  स्वदेशो भुवनत्रयम् //

mātā ca pārvatī devī ‘ pitā devo maheśvaraḥ / bāndhavāḥ śiva-bhaktāś ca ‘ sva-deśo bhuvana-trayam //

My mother is goddess Parvathi, My father Lord Shiva, Devotees of Shiva are all my friends and I am at home everywhere (in all the three worlds).

At the end of any SathSang everyone should feel free in their heart and in their mind. That is liberation (Jeevan Mukthi). Along with this freedom comes a commitment to seek the truth in every thing, including every word we use. That is Jnana Vairagya Siddhi. When we are free in our mind and in our thinking, we can be truly committed to the search for truth. We are genuinely liberated. We are not attached to anything or beholden to anyone. This freedom also makes us happy to see everyone as our friend. We feel at home at every place. That is the meaning, purpose and outcome of Sath Sangh prescribed in our traditions and in our vedic Philosophy. Let us pray to the Lord for such blessings for all of us.

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते | पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ||
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः | हरि:  ॐ |

Om pūrņamadaḥ pūrņamidam pūrņāt pūrņamudacyate |
Pürṇasya pūrņamādāya pūrņamevāvašisyate ||
Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ | Hariḥ Om |

In the year 2000, I wrote my first book https://stimsinstitute.com/20151207books/ to summarize my experience as it pertains to the Global Economy. I stated “if you merely repeat what you have done before and there are others who can do the same, then the lowest cost person will remain employed. To Survive and succeed in this Global Economy, you need to be a System Thinker – figuring out what needs to be done and why and make that happen – and not merely a task oriented person (doing what you are asked to do without questioning)!”

• This is where I also saw the elements of Vedic Philosophy as the central theme, an essential need for anyone. It was also the beginning of my serious / in-depth study of scriptures like BG, Upanishad and other texts.
• While I was exposed to a few Geetha lectures by Swami Chinmayananda during my days at MIT (1972 – 77), my understanding was mostly abstract and conceptual. I needed a practice oriented understanding of the principles of Vedic Philosophy.

Since then I have tried to explore this need and the means for survival in my own professional life, with modest success. More than that, I have been able to mentor and train a large body of fellow professionals across the globe. This resulted in the next summary – Transformational Skills – which I published in my second book in 2013 https://stimsinstitute.com/20151207books/ with co-author Prof. Rangan. The Transformational skills (all are interconnected and not sequential or hierarchical) are:

1. Always develop a common language
   • Words and their meaning go together like Goddess Parvathi and Lord Parameshwara (Kalidasa)
   • Our biggest challenge today is that we are rich in words (information), poor in their meaning and common understanding. 
     • This is increasingly true in the Digital World.
2. 3D view of core capabilities:
   • Personal: Knowledge, Experience, Interpersonal skills
   • Professional: Science, Engineering and Management
     • Integrating the above is Technology 
     • Digital or IT is NOT “Technology”. It is just one form of Technology
       • A very vivid example of lack in common language.
       • This singular failure across the globe (of the word technology and its meaning) has made all education other than IT / Computer Science appear less relevant or valuable in public perception!
   • Enterprise: Digital World, Physical Technology and Finance / Market Drivers.
     • Digital World enables anyone to siphon off Knowledge and its use exclusively rendering all else (Skills to process information, Physical labor, Experience and interpersonal skills) as redundant or less valuable.
     • This trend will only increase with AI, Robotics (Digital enabled automation).
     • Digital World also bifurcates the economic space into four impermeable layers:
       • https://stimsinstitute.com/2021/07/22/5-significant-lessons-for-any-professional-in-the-21st-century/ 
3. Always frame the situation / problem / opportunity as an “Input/Transformation / Output” system. 
   • The whole is always larger than and different from the mere sum of its parts!
   • You are always part of the system, but only a part!
4. Emphasis on analysis, reasoning, data and inference
   • Jnana (Knowledge and its use)
5. End to End Innovation: 
   • Solution and its impact matters.
     • Karmanyeva Adikarasthe’ Phaleshu Cha!
     • Intrinsic motivation (deliver value to all concerned) is far more gratifying than Extrinsic motivation (based on near terms needs and benefits).
   • But you can not get there without diligence and commitment for a larger common goal.
   • Nor can you get there without a shared vision and emotional intelligence (6 and 7 below).
6. Develop and maintain a network for shared vision, goals and efforts.
   • Sarvam Brahma Mayam – Everything (all that is known and unknown) are governed by invisible, omnipresent, invariant, eternal laws of nature which are known only through their effects (Brahman).
   • Thath Thwam Asi – You (or anything you can relate to as belonging to “you” ) and the Universe are integral in each other.
   • Opportunities for collaboration and shared vision are limitless. All constraints in any form (nation, gender, family, self, rich/poor, have/have not, race, religion, intelligent/dumb, etc.) are all self imposed constraints.
7. Emotional Intelligence.
   • Sarve’ Jhana Sukino’ Bhavanthu – May everyone and indeed everything exist in peace and harmony!

In the year 2011, I “retired” from my full time work with large employers. Since then I have been “Self employed” largely focused on sharing my life lessons with others. I have also been amazed at the blended need for professional work with the lessons from Philosophy. Vedic Philosophy provides this bridge elegantly and makes life more fulfilling. It is this journey that resulted in this blog site – Spirituality in Practice www.Sipractce.wordpress.com It is also the same journey that fostered my collaboration with IIT – Madras where I am an advisor at www.AMTDC.org . I conducted a 20 week online course on Vedic Philosophy for Professionals, the summary of which might have reached the hands of the editor of PB, his invitation to me and my essay titled “Vedic Philosophy for Knowledge Economy” scheduled to appear in the 2022 annual issue: https://shop.advaitaashrama.org/prabuddha-bharata-january-2022-special-issue/ 

Beyond the direct impact on the life of professionals as described above, Digital World (enabled by DT) is impacting our way of life in many other ways. Recently I was watching a video of a wedding in rural Tamil Nadu, India. This video was sent to me through Whatsapp and I could see it within days after the wedding! The emphasis on reception, dance, etc. all make the wedding not much different from another wedding in SD, CA. or Boston, MA., USA! Students coming from India to the USA today are so well informed and connected that they see no need to change or blend with the people who have lived here for years and generations! These students are also well versed in Hindu prayer songs, dance, arts and culture in vogue in India today. They do not see a need or urge to blend with the local communities. In due course we could end up as a mixture or islands of cultures across the globe and not a melting pot of common humanity?

Temples are being built everywhere and Pujas carried out with many gallons of milk poured over the idol for Abishekam and expensive ornaments donated to decorate the idol while poor go hungry and homeless live not far away from these temples. Religious ceremonies (like worship services in the temple) and social ceremonies (like weddings) are being carried out merely as rituals while very few reflect even for a moment on the meaning of rituals and their connection to Philosophy. https://sipractce.wordpress.com/2021/11/24/story-of-king-ambarisha-lessons-for-daily-life/

https://sipractce.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/symbolism-of-aum/

While life is good when situations are favorable, few seem to learn to self-reflect and steer themselves at times of low tide or high tide! Frequent change in the tides and skills required seem to be the nature of the Digital World. An undercurrent of skills for survivability and a philosophic grounding (as noted above) may be the need of the hour for young people, their parents (previous generation) or the future younger generation. Being well off financially without a feeling of good social health and/or an emotional/spiritual health (Gunathvam) needs to be replaced by a life of peace and content no matter what the physical conditions are: Sagunathvam extending into Nirgunathvam.

Digital Technology (DT) enabled social media (Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, ….) may help every one to be connected instantly. But, they also create silos with more  impenetrable differences than the common humanity that connects us all. Medieval behavior of religious fanaticism and terrorism may never be vanquished. But can anyone deny that their spread and globalization would not have been possible without unlimited access to DT enabled tools (Wireless communication and internet propaganda)? Today nations threaten each other with Cyber war and autocrats use these tools to destabilize the Democratic forms of Governments. Can the world ever reach better climate control with only national goals and isolated efforts? Shared vision and emotional intelligence has to spread like wildfire to consume the self-centered nature thriving in the Digital World?

Observing the good of the Digital World (DW) should not be only to extol it as virtuous. Recognizing the ills of the DW should not lead to its rejection or demonizing. It is in this mixture of outcomes the forthcoming annual issue of PB and its central theme ‘Living a Meaningful Life in a Digital World’ may be very relevant for everyone. I hope it is well received and used wisely by many. Let us pray for that.

Above concludes my journey in life thus far vis a vis the Digital World and my introduction to PB.

#Futureofwork #PhilosophyforDigitalWorld

January 2022 issue of Prabuddha Bharata

The story of the human race has been about how humans have risen above challenges thrown at them by nature, both external and internal. Today, we are at a juncture, where the very things we have created such as the internet and Artificial Intelligence seem to be out-shining our abilities both physically and mentally. More than ever before, it is pushing us to ask the eternal philosophical question – “Who are we really?”

In this special edition of the Prabuddha Bharata, we delve deep into the overwhelming influence that digital and communication technologies are exerting on us. With help from experts in the fields of Science and Technology, Sociology, Work Ethics, Spirituality, Philosophy and Psychology amongst others, we try to determine the impact of present and future technologies on our lives, thinking, personality and the world in general.

Further, we also explore solutions to various kinds of problems and challenges, faced by individuals and humanity due to the advent of this new phenomenon in human history.

Among the authors, we have distinguished monks of the Ramakrishna order, scholars, academicians, technocrats, professionals and young people have shared their knowledge and experience in dealing with the present scenario to find ways to lead a fruitful and enriched life by adapting eternal values of spirituality, especially Vedanta.

To pre-order copies, please visit the following link:
https://shop.advaitaashrama.org/prabuddha-bharata-january-2022-special-issue/

Prabuddha Bharata January 2022 Special Issue

If you have not subscribed yet, please do subscribe for one/three/five years and you would automatically get the free copy of the 2022 special issue.

The articles presented here are not only of academic interest but also illuminate us with a practical understanding on how to adapt spiritual and ethical values in the digital way of life that we are living today.

Finally, as a kayak that floats on the water and not be drowned by it, this multi-disciplinary knowledge helps us not to shy away from technologies but instead provide a fine balance and navigate successfully this digital technological ocean without being consumed by it.