Spiritual Reflections

From the world of medicine and science we learn that we have unconditioned reflexes and conditioned reflexes. The unconditioned reflexes make us react in a certain way. When a light beam hits our eyes, our pupils shrink in response to the light stimulus. And when the doctor taps you below the knee cap, your leg…

On my way back from North Carolina I happened to meet a woman in the plane visiting her two week old, never ever met online boyfriend in Portland, Oregon. In the conversation that followed I learned that she teaches an Indian spiritual practice called Tantra, which is the worship of the god Shiva, a mythical…

John 20:19-31 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and…

Mark was three years old when his pet lizard died. it was her grandson’s first experience of death. Grandma suggested that Mark and an older boy in the family hold a “funeral” for the lizard. Grandma explained what a funeral was: a ceremony where you say a prayer, sing a song, and bury your loved…

Chānakya was a professor at Thakshashila University in 4th century BC, and later (c. 350–283 BCE) an adviser and prime minister of Maurya Emperor Chandragupta (C 340-293 BCE). His political treatises are called Arthashastra, The Science that gives meaning.  In one of his writings he talks about the qualities of a true king, which is: “the king…