Resolution
A pilgrim, dusty from travel, passed an aged countryman resting by the roadside. He asked: ‘How long will it take me to walk to the next village?’ The countryman remained silent, and the pilgrim felt: ‘Oh, well, not everyone is friendly’, and trundled on his way. No sooner had he taken about ten brisk paces,…
Read MoreMeditation Practice: that Infinite Reality
A session led by the Warden at Shanti Sadan If we deepen and develop the practice of meditation, it will lead us to an awareness of something of supreme value in our own being. This may be called the higher consciousness, or the eternal wisdom, or the light and being of the true Self. This…
Read MoreThe Secret of Inspiration
Everyone has an infinite world of beauty and goodness in his mind. The few who have recognised it call it ilaham or inspiration. Shri Dada of Aligarh We tend to think of inspiration in the spiritual sense as something special and beyond the reach of the ordinary person. Followers of the different religions of the…
Read MoreThe True Ideal of Life
Life has a past which is immeasurable. Its origin is shrouded in inscrutable mystery, which has baffled the audacious investigation of science. All that science has to say about the origin of life is: ‘We do not know.’ Another fact is that life has an almost infinite future. It transforms itself, renews itself in nature…
Read MoreAttar—Sufi Teachings on Higher Love
On Attar of Nishapur, the 12th century Persian mystical poet, best known in the West for his ‘Conference of the Birds’ The one great theme of Attar’s poetry is how to purify the heart so that one can see God everywhere. Though he has much to tell us on this theme, both from his own…
Read MoreBuddhism and Vedanta – The Parallels
One of the principles that prepares us for enlightenment is our recognition that great wisdom is to be found in the teachings of all true religions, and each merits our respect. In every scripture you will find statements—they may be plentiful or few—that remind us of the enlightened understanding revealed in the teachings of the…
Read MoreVerses of Bullashah
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Read MoreSources of Inner Strength
How do we gain inner strength? The first answer is that in worldly life we gain inner strength through exercising our will. The will has been described as a sort of inner muscle, and it can be strengthened by regularly using it. It can also be strained by over-use, leading to what is sometimes called…
Read MoreThe Good
‘What is good?’ asks Aristotle. ‘That which is useful to us’ is the answer. There is physical good such as food, shelter, security, a holiday; then there is mental or moral good. This consists of mental discipline, education, order in the emotions, right discernment and the unprejud-iced exercise of reason. Is that all? Our soul…
Read MoreOur Highest Potentiality
Whatever our age or position in life, we are right to believe that there are still great potentialities in us awaiting development. But there is one supreme latent capacity, which, when awakened, will free us from the need for further search. Our highest aim is to discover the eternal life that is our true nature,…
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