Quotes and Quips

The secret of the true life is to remain still in the midst of activity and vibrantly awake while in meditation. Dada Vaswani, Sindhi spiritual leader, head of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission and a nonagenarian

In my silence, I experience one vast garden, spread out through the universe. All plants, all human beings, all higher devas are about it in various ways and each has his own uniqueness and beauty. Their presence and variety give me great delight. Every one of you adds in a special way to the glory of this garden." Sri Anandamayi Ma, (1896-1982), Bengali mystic

Man needs a guru. But a man must have faith in the guru's words. He succeeds in spiritual life by looking on his guru as God Himself. Therefore the Vaishnavas speak of guru, Krishna and Vishnu equally. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886)

Because you think I am capable of loving or despising you, you cannot know who I am. Satguru Yogaswami (1872-1964), Sri Lanka's most revered contemporary mystic

Humility is a strange thing. The minute you think you have got it, you have lost it. Swami Chinmayananda (1916-1993), founder of the Chinmaya Mission

Discipline your speech. Speak the truth at all costs. Speak little. Speak sweetly. Always utter encouraging words. Never condemn, criticize or discourage. Do not raise your voice and shout at little children or subordinates. Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh (1887-1963)

We want to claim that which we already are. You are already the Self. You are just not aware of it. Do not put it off based upon some concept that we are not ready, we are not worthy, we need more of this or that. None of those principles apply when it comes to Self-realization. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, publisher of hinduism today

Arise, awake! Stop not till the goal is reached. Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), disciple of Sri Ramakrisha

How do you describe the constantly cheerful person? Grinning from year to year! Anonymous

If today is a typical day on planet Earth, we will lose 116 square miles of rainforest--an acre per second. Forty to a hundred species will disappear. Today, human population will increase by 250,000 and we will add 15 million tons of carbon to the atmosphere. By tonight, Earth will be a little hotter, its waters more acidic, and the fabric of life more threadbare. David Orr, American environmentalist, in a book published in 1991. If he said it today, the numbers would be 312 square miles, 130 species, 220,000 people and 60 million tons of carbon

Attach yourself to Him who is free from all attachments. Bind yourself to that bond so all other bonds may be broken. Tirukkural 350

When you are going about any action, remind yourself of its nature. Picture to yourself the things which usually happen in that action. Be prepared. Then, keep your own mind in an adequate state. For thus, if any hindrance arises, you will say, "It was not only to do this action that I desired, but to keep my mind in a state I decided; and I shall keep it only if I allow no thing to bother me." Epictetus, (55-135 ce) Greek philosopher of the stoic school

What is the most exclusive club in the world ? The Advaita Club. It has only one member. Anonymous

It is impossible for me to reconcile with the idea of conversion as it happens today. It is an error and perhaps the greatest impediment to the world's progress toward peace. Why should a Christian want to convert a Hindu? Why should he not be satisfied if the Hindu is a good or godly man? Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

As the bee takes the essence of a flower and flies away without destroying its beauty and perfume, so let the sage wander in this life. Dhammapada, 50

A woman's guess is much more accurate than a man's certainty. Rudyard Kipling, (1865-1936), English writer and poet

How can one realize that which alone is real? All we need to do is to give up our habit of regarding as real that which is unreal. Reality alone will remain, and we will be That. Sri Ramana Maharishi (1879-1950), South Indian mystic

In the philosophies of the Orient, the inner mind is often depicted as the lotus flower. That is what the mind would look like if you could see the mind. We can look at things on the material plane. The ugly things tell us how ugly the mind can become. But when we look at the beautiful creations of nature, we see how lovely the mind can be. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001), founder of Hinduism Today

Did You Know?

Seven Steps for Marriage

A Hindu wedding is an ornate festivity, a ritual that encompasses the essence of a married life. In the ceremony, one finds the values which should be followed to lead a happy life. A sacred fire serves as a channel for the Gods to witness and bless the marriage. Around that fire, the couple takes seven steps together that represent victory over the challenges they will face in life.

The first step is taken to earn and provide a living for their household. The second step is taken to build physical, mental and spiritual powers and to lead a healthy lifestyle. The third step is taken to earn and increase their wealth by righteous and proper means. The fourth step is taken to acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love, respect, understanding and faith. The fifth step is taken to have children for whom they will be responsible, all of them healthy, righteous and brave. The sixth step is taken for self-control and longevity. The seventh step is taken to be true to each other, loyal and remain life-long companions by this wedlock.

Basics of Hinduism

Hinduism's Three Pillars: Temples

The three pillars of hinduism are the temples, the scriptures and the satgurus. All these we revere, for they sustain and preserve the ancient wisdom. If any two were to disappear, Hinduism would come back from the third, as perfect as it ever was.

Here we describe the first pillar. Hindu temples are esteemed as God's home and consecrated abode. In the temple we draw close to God and find a refuge from the world. His grace, permeating everywhere, is most easily known within the precincts of the temple. It is in the purified milieu of the temple that the three worlds commune most perfectly, that devotees can establish harmony with inner-plane spiritual beings.

When the spiritual energy, shakti, invoked by the puja permeates the inner shrine and floods out to the world, Hindus know they are in a most holy place where God and the Gods commune with them. Within most Hindu temples are rooms, sanctums and shrines for the many Gods and saints of a particular Hindu tradition.

When properly consecrated, the temple becomes a place from where God sends out His divine rays to bless the world.