Posted in Z, tagged alchemy, Aquarius, aries, Asia, astrology, Cancer, Capricorn, gemini, horoscope, india, leo, libra, marriage, Pisces, Rochona Majumdar, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Taurus, Virgo, zodiac on May 16, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Zodiac (Greek: zoidion, an image of an animal)
The Zodiac is derived from the visible part of the night sky, divided into 12 equal portions.
It contains the 12 major constellations associated with the 12 major signs of astrology, as well as the 12 major stages of transubstantiation as outlined in medieval alchemical lore.
While the validity of [...]
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Posted in Z, tagged Asia, awareness, buddha, buddhism, china, enlightenment, india, koan, life, master, religion, satori, spirit, spirituality, zen on May 15, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Zen Garden
Originally uploaded by euart
Zen This is a Japanese form of Buddhism, introduced to Japan by the monk Eisai (1141-1215 CE).
Dissatisfied with formalistic Buddhism, Esai traveled to China and returned to Japan bringing this new form of the old religion.
The word Zen is derived from the Chinese Ch’an (Ch’an Buddhism).
Ch’an was apparently introduced to [...]
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Posted in A, tagged aggression, Alexandria, babylon, classical, conquest, egypt, Greece, history, india, madedonia, war on April 21, 2008 | No Comments »
Alexander the Great
Originally uploaded by macropoulos
Alexander The Great (356-323 BCE)
Third Macedonian king from 336-323 BCE, born in Pella as the son of Philip II and conqueror of most of the old world, including Egypt and Greece.
Tutored by Aristotle, in Egypt he founded the city of Alexandria.
After consulting an oracle of Ammon, he was convinced that [...]
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Posted in A, tagged aurobindo, auroville, india, Justine Shapiro, Lonely Planet, myticism, religion, soul, spirit on March 12, 2008 | No Comments »
Auroville The Sri Aurobindo community lying just outside of Pondicherry, India, which seems to be a curious hybrid of the old and the new.
Young Indian artists migrate there to pursue careers in film and video production, while international seekers use it as a retreat center for meditation and as an experimental community.
Lonely Planet’s TV host [...]
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Posted in B, tagged bauls, folk music, hippies, india, literature, music, oral tradition, poems, poetry, song, tagore, tantra, verse, visva-bharati, w. bengal, west bengal on March 4, 2008 | No Comments »
Bauls Wandering devotional minstrels of West Bengal, India.
The Bauls belong to a longstanding bardic tradition that poetically glorifies God while rebuking worldly hypocrisy.
Many practice left hand tantra. Living off alms, they are the peace, love and freedom “hippies” of West Bengal.
Today their timeless songs may be heard on trains and at public fairs called melas.
The [...]
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Posted in B, tagged Besant, india, psi, soul, spirit, theosophy on February 28, 2008 | No Comments »
Besant, Annie (1847-1933). Annie Besant, née Wood, was born in London and in her early adult life was a critic of Capitalism and a colleague of Charles Bradlaugh, advocating birth control.
Separating from Reverend Frank Besant in 1873, she became Vice-President for the National Secular Society in 1874.
After meeting Madame Blavatsky in 1889 she became steeped [...]
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Posted in B, tagged apprentice, Brahmacharya, disciple, hindu, hinduism, india, master, religion, soul, spirit, student, veda on February 13, 2008 | No Comments »
Brahmacharya The first Hindu asrama (Vedic stage of life) in which a young person receives practical instruction from family and begins to study the Veda with an experienced master or priest.
The word bramacharya once indicated the observance of correct sexuality, in this case the necessity of celibacy.
The tradition has lapsed in modern India. It was [...]
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Posted in B, tagged Asia, Brahman, christianity, God, hindu, hinduism, india, Jesus, kowalska, religion, soul, spirit on February 13, 2008 | No Comments »
Brahman For Hindus this is eternal and entirely impersonal Ultimate Reality.
In Sanksrit Brahman is the neuter form of Brahma and represents the Hindu term which many believe is the same as the Jewish, Islamic and Christian conception of an absolute, single God.
The many gods and goddesses of Hinduism are said to be different manifestations of [...]
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Posted in B, tagged Brahmanas, God, hinduism, india, publishing, religion, scripture, soul, spirit on February 12, 2008 | No Comments »
Brahmanas In today’s publishing world we have source books, dictionaries, and, if these do well in stores, their “companion” volumes.
A companion usually elaborates on an original source book, thinker or theme (e.g. The Cambridge Companion to Jung or The Oxford Companion to the Bible).
We can draw an analogy between the contemporary publishing of companions to [...]
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Brahmanism An early Indian form of religion prominent during the Vedic Period (c.1200-500 BCE).
Usually regarded by Hindus as the origin of their faith, the Vedas exalted the Brahmin caste, which controlled priestly and secular life.
The Brahmins’ authority was based on learning, and they alone were permitted to recite sacred scripture and perform sacrificial rituals.
The term [...]
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