Offbeat Spirituality

In a few days, week, month, year and a decade will change.  And I’m sure you want to change too. But if you are anything like me, you’ll find that there are so many ways one can think of improving self that it gets difficult to decide. Worry not, for here are some easy, doable New Year resolution ideas for the coming year. Start cooking more at home Over the years, researches have pointed out the surprising benefits of home-cooked meals. It has been scientifically proven that those who eat home- made food regularly are happier and healthier. Their food-eating time has fewer distractions and lesser chances of shifting to sugar-loaded and processed foods, which involuntarily increases body mass and unhealthy weight. Travel Travelling opens our eyes to new ideas, cultures and places. In a year, plan to take at least three vacations – two thrifty ones and one to explore little luxuries of life. For the first one, delve into the neighbourhood on foot. Visit than new place th...

A close family member of mine gets so mad that he starts smashing things. His rage blinds him by insecurity and anger. At some point, it doesn’t matter who is right or wrong. His trembling voice poisons his mind beyond his own control and things get ugly. What follows is bad mood for days, turning of frustrations inward, leading to more abuse or deliberate self-harm.  A lot of people don’t realize their anger is destructive. It intensifies with time due to the trigger points that make it more uncontrollable.  Anger is unnatural Human body is made to feel the experiences around us. The beauty of nature, little moments of joy, vast horizons of talents, incredible gifts of the Almighty, sweetness of relationships, warmness of compassion – the list is endless. Anger blinds us from these and takes us to the dark world inside where the mind starts to justify offensive behaviour.  Seeds of this poison work their way out in the form of jealousy, hatred, unhealthy co...

Once Buddha came to speak at his sermon carrying a satin cloth in his hands. He asked people what they saw, to which everyone replied in unison that it was a beautiful satin cloth. Then Buddha started  tying knots to it. After putting about five of them, he asked people whether it was the same cloth. People confirmed it was, though it was little different now because it had knots. To this, Buddha replied that it was what he wanted them to understand.  “You miss seeing the fine satin fiber lines because you are in knots.”  Mindfulness meditation teaches you to be the same cloth but without knots. He then asked the best way to open them, and if pulling the cloth from both sides would help the purpose. People replied that it wasn’t the correct way as it would in fact tighten the knots.  Acknowledging that, Buddha told them that even though most know it wouldn’t help, they still try to open their knots by pulling! He added that while the intention of an ind...