The Four Noble Truths were first taught by the Buddha in the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Pali: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, meaning “The Discourse on Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion”). This sutta is found in the Saṃyutta Nikāya (SN 56.11) of the Sutta Pitaka in the Pali Canon. This is considered the first sermon of the Buddha, given to the five ascetics at the Deer Park in Sarnath after his enlightenment.
Habits shape our lives, often without us realizing their influence. While some habits are beneficial, others can trap us in cycles of impulsive actions, making change seem impossible. From a psychological and physiological perspective, breaking free from these patterns requires awareness, strategy, and discipline. This is where Vipassana meditation offers a powerful approach, addressing not just the surface-level habit but the deep-seated conditioning that fuels it.
Imagine spirituality as the study of medicine. Hinduism, with its vast scriptures, philosophies, and yogic sciences, is like pursuing an MBBS degree—a holistic education in the entire human system. It provides a broad and comprehensive understanding of life, the self, karma, dharma, devotion, meditation, and the ultimate goal: liberation (Moksha).
The Hindu Doctor heals the whole system, while the Buddhist Surgeon removes the disease of self. Together, they offer the complete cure. 🙏
In our pursuit of happiness, we often immerse ourselves in sensory pleasures, relentless action, or even intense spiritual practices. Yet, ancient wisdom reminds us that true contentment doesn’t lie in external efforts but in freeing the mind from desires and attachments. Striving excessively only deepens our misery, as we chase fulfillment in all the wrong places. By recognizing this truth and embracing a life of balance and detachment, we unlock the key to lasting peace—a state where the mind rests effortlessly, unshaken by the world’s chaos. This timeless insight invites us to pause, reflect, and realign with what truly matters.
In this article, Ram Dass, Presents a different perspective of life, a unique way to look at ourselves and everyone around us.
Life and death become functional aspects of awakening. The whole process becomes one of growth, opening, deepening, and clearing. There is no problem of transition. There’s no holding on out of fear —just opening.
When someone asks us who we are. We usually respond with what we are doing currently or something we have been doing for a long time. Either a profession or a hobby or a pursuit. Like I’m an Engineer, a doctor, a lawyer, a student, a housewife or a businessmen etc. or An artist, a musician, a traveler etc. But, that’s just an activity or a role that we play to either earn money or gain a skill or keep ourselves busy or just feel happy. That’s the top most layer, a highly social layer, it’s what society expects us to do in order to be a part of this society that we are born into. We have no choice but to play our part, play the role.
A short poem about the beginning. Is it the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning, I’m not sure.
“I was born naked, in body and soul.
With my stomach and mind empty.
Whatever was, before I ever was.
Clear like water and pure like a crystal.”
“You are what your deepest desire is. As is your desire, so is your will. As is your will, so is your intent. As is your intent, so is your action. As is your action, so is your destiny”
While I did not completely agree with what the text said, it caught my attention and I did want to find the source of this text. It definitely seemed like it belonged to the vast library of Indian scriptures. But, I wanted to find the source and also the context in which it was said. So, I did a further search and found the source.
The Ashtavakra Gita (Sanskrit: अष्टावक्रगीता; IAST: aṣṭāvakragītā) or Song of Ashtavakra is a classical Advaita text in the form of a dialogue between the sage Ashtavakra and Janaka, king of Mithila / Videha. It’s a very interesting conversation. While Ashtavakra, the sage is supposed to be the one giving a discourse on Advaita and Liberation to the King, we see in the conversation, at places, where Janaka talks as if he’s already a liberated man. And, we notice nudges from Ashtavakra in response.