Volume 19, Issue 4

By Martha Bhaskar Rao - Jan 15, 2012

While modern medicine has identified certain causative factors that operate behind an illness or predispose us to it, this knowledge does not always and necessarily translate into finding a cure for it. The reasons for the gap between knowing and controlling are many. Systems of knowledge such as Āyurveda have a slightly different approach to the problem and so are sometimes quite effective against illnesses where modern medical knowledge fails even if it has identified the causative organism. One reason behind this anomaly lies in the fact that Āyurveda has developed through intuition and therefore touches some very fundamental and essential root-causes that bypass the immediate ones. Going beyond material aspects, it identifies subtle states and works through its prescriptions and proscriptions to correct them, to reset the inner balance, so to speak. It is thereby hoped that the body-consciousness will take care of the rest. This article explores the role of Āyurveda in a knotty problem area that is such a drain on the healthcare system.

By Soumitra Basu - Jan 15, 2012

In his treatise on the practical application of yoga (The Synthesis of Yoga), Sri Aurobindo describes three kinds of life available to humanity in consonance with three separate formulations in Nature: “the ordinary material existence, a life of mental activity and progress; and the unchanging spiritual beatitude (1).” These three kinds of life are the three choices available to the human being; they have their separate connotations, trajectories and culminations. They have unique ramifications in every sphere of human activity, including health, development and psychology.

By James Anderson - Jan 15, 2012

Depression is a destroyer which often goes unrecognised, especially in societies where it is considered a weakness to cry or admit low feelings in public. Nevertheless it is perhaps the single most common affliction of mankind and one that often starts corroding almost every other physiological system in the body. While there are many drugs in the market and many counselling methods have been used over the decades to fight depression, the spiritual way is one that brings a radical and deeper understanding of its inner causes and a lasting cure. In this context, the article examines some of the key processes from an integral point of view.

By Asit K. Panja - Jan 15, 2012

The world of sleep and dreams has always fascinated the human mind. Apart from the fact that we spend nearly a third of our life in a state which we hardly know or have control upon, our sleep and dreams are doorways to mysterious worlds buried in realms that lie behind our waking state. The Upanishads speak of the fourfold Reality of which dream and sleep state are like two passages between and our waking self and the last doorway to the Beyond. It requires a deep occult and yogic knowledge to understand the deeper and subtler issues that these symbol worlds try to express. Meanwhile, we have a second-hand substitute for this now lost knowledge in a scientific understanding based on our material view of life and existence. In this regard, it is interesting to note what the ancient system of Āyurveda speaks upon the subject.

By Author unknown - Jan 15, 2012

On the surface of the world right now there is War and violence and things seem dark. But calmly and quietly, at the same time, Something else is happening underground, An inner revolution is taking place And certain individuals are on a secret Mission. It is a silent revolution. From the inside out, from the ground up. This is a global operation, A spiritual conspiracy. There are sleeper cells in every nation on the planet. You won’t see us on the T.V. You won’t read about us in the newspapers, You won’t hear about us on the radio. We don’t seek any glory And we don’t wear any uniform. We come in all shapes and sizes, Colours and styles; Most of us work anonymously, We are quietly working behind the scene. In every country and culture of the world, Cities big and small, mountains and valleys, In farms and villages, among tribes and on Remote islands. You could pass by one of us on the street And not even notice: We go undercover, We remain in the background. It is of no concern to us Who takes the final credit, But simply that the work gets done. Occasionally we spot each other on the street; We give a quiet nod and continue on our way. During the day many of us pretend we have Normal jobs But the intention behind all work is different. Some call us the Conscious Army, We are slowly creating a new world With the power of our minds and hearts. We follow, with passion and joy, Our orders come from the Central Spiritual Intelligence. We are dropping soft, secret love bombs when No one is looking. Poems — Hugs — music — photography — Movies — kind words — Smiles — meditation and prayer — dance — Social activism — websites — Blogs — random acts of kindness… We each express ourselves in our unique ways With our own unique gifts and talents. Be the change you want to see in the world. That is the motto that fills our hearts. We know it is the only way Real transformation takes place. We know that quietly and humbly We have the Power of all the oceans combined. Our wor