Kanakadasa (1509–1609) was a renowned poet-saint of Karnataka in South India. Though he was a high-ranking military officer, he renounced his wealth to follow the path of devotion to Lord Krishna. Once,…
-
-
Guru Nanak: The enlightened householder-farmer
Guru Nanak embodied the Sikh ideal of a householder-farmer, living a balanced life of spiritual enlightenment, family duties, and honest labour through kirat karni —earning a living ethically while serving others. His story…
-
How ‘shunya’ shaped the modern world: A history of the number zero
The “story” of zero is more than just a lesson in mathematics; it’s a centuries-long evolution that transformed a place-holder into a powerful mathematical tool (In mathematics, a placeholder is a symbol,…
-
Saptarishi: Eternal guardians of cosmic order
In the ancient Hindu tradition, rishis are revered as “mantra-drashtas” or “seers” who did not merely compose the sacred hymns of the Vedas (the oldest and most authoritative scriptures of Hinduism) but “saw” or…
-
Sikhism: Rich in philosophy, customs and traditions
Sikhism, a monotheistic religion originating in the Punjab region of India in the 15th century, is rich in philosophy, customs and traditions. Its founder was Guru Nanak (1469-1539). Sikhism believes in One…
-
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s path of wisdom
The Dhammapada is a revered Buddhist scripture that is part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism, containing 423 verses that encapsulate the Buddha’s teachings on ethics, mindfulness and liberation. It is…
-
Paying for aroma – Nasreddin Hodja’s verdict
From time to time, whenever the chief judge who governed the village and gave judgments in the court was absent, the role was given to the Mulla Nasreddin Hodja. It was under just such…
-
Nasreddin Hodja’s parable of walnuts and watermelons
One hot day, Nasreddin Hodja was taking it easy in the shade of a walnut tree. After a time, he started eyeing speculatively at the huge watermelons growing on vines, and the…
-
Where’s your temper?
A Zen student came to Bankei and said: “Master, I have an ungovernable temper — how can I cure it?” “Show me this temper,” said Bankei, “it sounds fascinating.” “I haven’t got it right now,” said…