Mystic Mantra
Mystic Mantra
Mystics & beards
On my recent trip to the US, a man working in a restaurant greeted me with Assalamu alaikum and I responded with Wa alaikum assalaam. In a shop in New York, the shop-owner, perhaps an Indian or Pakistani, told me that he would give me a big discount as I was a Muslim. In both the places I wondered why they thought of me as Muslim.
The mirage of desires
There once lived a rich man in a villa. Right in front of the villa lived a poor man in a hut.
Nafs and its impulse
Islam gives paramount importance to the proper functioning of nafs (soul). In Islamic terminology, the Arabic word nafs has been interpreted in two ways. First, it means one’s complete self or existence, as is illustrated in this Quranic verse: “And remember your Lord inside your nafs (self)” (7:205).
Don’t be afraid
While addressing the students of University of Pune a few weeks back, Wipro chief Aziz Premji shared some secrets of his success. He said that for him life is an eight-lane expressway — if you use these lanes intelligently, you are bound to zoom ahead.
Pay homage to ancestors
The soul incarnates into a physical body, birth after birth depending on the kind of karmas, which one does during his/her lifetime. There are certain souls who don’t reincarnate, either because they have finished their karmic cycle of bhulok (earth) or because they are stuck in a different dimension of existence and are unable to manifest in the human body, as their karmic imbalance does not entitle them a human birth.
Vision for happiness
Life is nothing but a series of perceptions and responses to the external world. Our response depends upon our vision and understanding of life and our value system.
The ‘I’ syndrome
Whenever I see posters, hoardings of present-day saints and self-proclaimed “spiritual gurus” publicising their spirituality, my mind wanders to the great works of art created by unknown artists who c
The privilege of trust
When Allah sent Adam and Eve to Earth, He promised that humanity would never be without guidance. Divine scriptures provide a network of channels. If we follow them, our lives will flow smoothly, guarded and guided.
The boat is empty
I have seen many people getting possessed by strong emotions and it takes a while to be free from its poisonous effect. And it is not just about our major conflicts with people, even insignificant things may trigger something in our unconscious mind that may lead to big emotional explosions.
The stories behind Onam
Millions of Malayalees the world over celebrate Thiruvonam, popularly known as Onam, with pomp and gaiety. The 10-day festival starts on Atham day and culminates on the Thiruvonam day. It falls during the month of Chingam (the first month in the Malayalam calendar).
