Accepting and wearing brand name designer clothes from Italy, isn’t any kind of attempt to pose as an Italian. Rather, we accept and import the brand because it is a nice quality product. Similarly, higher knowledge which is of superior quality, should be accepted from any religious tradition without unnecessary fear of religious or cultural indoctrination.

Orwell & Huxley – comparison

Orwell feared those who would ban books.
Huxley feared that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. 


Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us.
Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance.


Orwell feared we would become a captive culture.
Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. 


In 1984, Orwell said that people are controlled by inflicting pain.
In Brave New World, people are controlled by inflicting pleasure. 


In short, Orwell feared that what we fear will ruin us.
Huxley feared that pleasure will ruin us.

When hunted, polar bear runs away from the hunter gradually and eventually forming a circle. Because the bear moves faster than the hunter, the bear eventually comes behind the hunter. Thus the hunter becomes hunted. There is a lesson to learn from this.

Talk by Mahat:

Are we to love or despise conformity? Considering that no person is an island and that people naturally gravitate towards group membership, what are we to think of conformity which is difficult to resist as a member of a group? To find insightful answers to these questions, check out this discussion by Devamrita Swami.

Remote causes are the real causes of our suffering. Immediate causes are mere agents, the delivery boys – they deliver what was coming to us.

In the materialistic concept of life one tends to be attracted to collecting things. This over-collecting leads to over-endeavoring which is the cause of one’s spiritual death and many other problems.

Talk by Mahat:

When water becomes ice, it is in an artificial state. The natural state of water, it’s dharma, is liquid. Similarly in our natural condition of life, we are blissful and happy, but when our mind is uncontrolled we experience dissatisfaction. The powerful mind can make a heaven out of hell, and hell out of heaven.

Talk by Giriraj:

To use discrimination is natural. Those persons who say, “Don’t judge!” are they themselves guilty of using discrimination. So, the real question is, what is the basis of our discriminations? Materially, we will not be able to find true equality, because factually we are completely different in every way. Therefore, unless we develop a spiritual vision it will be impossible to achieve a solid foundation for unity and peace within ourselves and the world at large.

Goals give us inspiration and direction, and help endure suffering. They also turn suffering into pleasure. The nature of spiritual goals is analysed in this discussion.

Talk by Mahat:

Society and media would have us believe that our life will be best when our we can light a cigar with a hundred dollar bill with a diamond studded cross hanging from our neck to show our social status. But those of us on the spiritual path know that these kinds of desire are just like trash cluttering up the heart. Material desires cloud our real need and interest in life, which is love; that valuable thing which no money can buy.

Giriraj: