Sages say that Krishna is the param purush or the supreme personality. Is this Krishna the same naughty bal-gopal who is the delight of his mother and the despair of the cowherdesses of Vrajbhoomi?

It does not matter what is the nature of your activity, essentially you are in pursuit of happiness. But this happiness has been so elusive.

Islam gives paramount importance to purity of intention in our daily life, be it worship or mundane affairs. The first Prophetic saying recorded in the most authentic classical book of hadith (Prophetic traditions) is about the significance and abundant rewards of pure intention.

People often say, “I am not good enough to worship the Lord. I do not know how to start. I am waiting for His blessings.” But wise people do not wait. They fill their heart with love for Him, and consider all their activities as worship to Him. However, even on the path of supreme love or devotion one may encounter certain obstacles.

There are friends and there are enemies — and there are brothers, sisters and other relations. We see them loving each other and there are moments when they are ready to die for each other; and then there are moments when they are full of hate for each other — so much so that they can kill each other.

Amongst my favourite early Sufis is Dhun Nun Misri of the 9th Century. Dhun Nun shaped the Sufi doctrine of Wahdat ul Wujood, the Oneness of Being, which became central to the later Sufi movement around the world.

Life is born out of “desire” and lifetime after lifetime we remain prisoners of this desire. During the cycles of these births the soul often remains oblivious to the purpose of life and gets more and more entangled in the various attractions of the physical world — relationships, profession/career, properties, occupations, hobbies — the web of maya which binds one to the senses and their objects.

Francis Gonsalves

Two lovebirds dwelt in a huge golden cage and were treated royally by a king. Once, when the cage was open, the female flew away. Fascinated by freedom and her frolicking in forests, she returned to take her mate with her. But he preferred captivity:

This week India celebrates its 67th year of Independence. Born two years after the first Independence Day, I used to hear a lot of stories of patriotism, courage and heroism around the country’s freedom.

Come August, and the Independence Day celebrations are on in India. What we celebrate is the day we earned the socio-political freedom but it is high time we rise above this and look for the higher realms of freedom.