Dussehra marks the day when goddess Durga killed the buffalo-demon Mahishasura, who had a boon from Brahma that he would not be slain by gods, men, spirits or any aspect of nature. So he vanquished the gods and tyrannised the world.

Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combined the energies of their consorts, Saraswati, Lakshmi and Shakti and created a beautiful woman - the ten-armed Durga - to kill the demon, as Mahishasura had forgotten to mention women while asking for his boon. Durga fought Mahishasura for nine days, finally beheading him on the tenth day.

(See also: Dussehra , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Dussehra: Slaying the Demon That's Within Us  

Id-ul-Azha is the second most important festival of Muslims across the world. Today's celebration comes almost two months after Eid-ul-Fitr, the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan. The spirit of Eid- ul-Azha is incorporated in Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah. The underlying flavour is the spirit of sacrifice or qurbani, commemorating Abraham's great act of faith many centuries ago.

Eid-ul-Azha, also known as Eid-e-Qurban, is a time for Muslims to learn the value of self-denial by making a sacrifice of something living to God.

(See also: Id-ul-Azha , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Id-ul-Azha: Faith And Qurbani - Spirit of Eid  

It came a mail from Carol who did the enlightenment process in Golden City just recently. Her mail is not only inspiring but it will also give you an in-depth understanding of how the process it self, and, the state of enlightenment can be perceived.

Read more here: » Personal experience of enlightenment: A letter from Carol

Intuition and Psychic Energy: Where Do They Come From?

It is easier to train your senses to notice your intuitive impulses if you have an understanding of where those intuitive flashes originate. In every psychic development class I teach, I ask the students where they think psychic or intuitive feelings and impulses begin. Some answer, "from my subconscious mind." Others say, "from my Higher Self." Some believe, "it's dead people talking to you," or "your guides."

Read more here: » Intuition: Intuition and Psychic Energy - Where Do They Come From?

"Sacrifice" is a word that has many unpleasant connotations for people, especially in the workplace. When a manager says, "We have to make some sacrifices around here," it usually means giving something up, or doing without something, either of which would make things more difficult.

But there's an entirely different way to look at sacrifice, from a spiritual point of view. From its Latin roots, the word sacrifice actually means "to make sacred." Following the chain of original meanings, sacred means "holy," holy means "whole," and whole means "healthy." Thus, sacrifice is anything that takes a situation and makes it sacred, holy, whole and healthy.

See also: Spirituality At Work, Work As A Spiritual Practice, Spiritual Based Leadership

Read more here: » Work As A Spiritual Practice: Practising Sacrifice at Work  

Jainism continues to be a living faith in India, with adherents living in nearly every state, but concentrated mainly in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Jainism has practically no following outside the country of its birth. The core of Jaina ethics is the doctrine of ahimsa or non-injury to any living creature. Jainism does not espouse belief in a creator but divides the universe into two independent, eternal categories: Jiva (life) and ajiva (non-life).

Read more here: » Jainism: Renewing Oneself Through Confession

Buddhist Festivals and Special Days

There are many special or holy days held throughout the year by the Buddhist community. Many of these days celebrate the birthdays of Bodhisattvas in the Mahayana tradition or other significant dates in the Buddhist calendar. The most significant celebration happens every May on the night of the full moon, when Buddhist all over the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. It has become to be known as Buddha Day.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Buddhist Festivals and Special Days

A devotee asked Ramakrishna Parmahansa : "Sir, is God real and can I see Him?" Ramakrishna replied: "Yes, God is real. I see Him just as I see you or any other object around me." The devotee continued: "Can I also see Him as you do?" Said the sage: "Yes, you can, if the intensity of your longing for God is equal to the intensity of a drowning man longing for fresh air; or the intensity of a mother longing for the life of her only child in the grip of serious illness; or of the miser longing for more wealth. If your longing for God is at least a fraction of the longing which Radha had for Krishna, then you will see God."

The miracle of healing, is simply the body offering the subconscious mind's 'knowledge of perfect health' when the questioning nature of the conscious mind is silenced. Real faith is about things happening in the present. If it is hundred per cent faith, it must happen.

(See also: Power of Emotions , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Power of Emotions: Intensity of Faith Yields the Truth  

In our chaotic world hurtling towards an uncertain future, three kinds of responses have emerged. The fundamentalists are clinging to or going back to values of a distant past. The neo-fundamentalists, represented by global corporatism, are trying to substitute the reality of chaos and change by an artificial form of reality. Then there are Cultural Creatives, whose saner and evolutionary response is to forge a new, higher and integral synthesis.

Read more here: » Cultural Creatives: The Cultural Creatives

Our love and concern for animals emerge out of two basic postulates of Indian philosophy. One, that like us, every plant and living being is the ansha or part of the one Param Brahma, the Omnipotent One, and two, that born of the one earth mother all of them have equal right on all resources. So they are like our own siblings. All life forms have a symbiotic relationship - we are all linked together and our actions are bound to have an effect on our environment and other living beings.

(See also: Sacred Nature , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Sacred Nature: Back to Basics: Nature Talk  

Mayan Calendar: In the series, Evolving Towards Enlightenment I-V, Carl Johan Calleman explains the links between the Mayan Calendar Enlightenment and the significance of the year 2012.

Read more here: » Mayan Calendar: Evolving Towards Enlightenment - V

 To me design, beauty and art can be defined thus: The truly beautiful design or art form is that which is capable of emptying itself of past meanings and memories again and again and live on through changing contexts adapting itself to new interpretations. This emptiness and this adaptability, I call design.

Read more here: » Vaastu Shastra: SPONTANEOUS ART IN ITS MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS

There are many reasons among various cultures for wearing dreadlocks. Dreads can be an expression of deep religious or spiritual convictions, a manifestation of ethnic pride, make a political statement, or be simply a fashion preference. In response to the derogatory history of the term 'dreadlocks', alternative names for the style include 'Locks' and 'African Locks'. It is also argued that the accurate term for the process of creating the style is 'locking' rather than 'dreading'. Dr ...

See also:

Dreadlocks, Dreadlocks - History, Dreadlocks - Meaning and popularity, Dreadlocks - Religious or spiritual convictions, Dreadlocks - Ethnic pride or political statements, Dreadlocks - In popular culture

Read more here: » Dreadlocks: Encyclopedia II - Dreadlocks - Meaning and popularity

The Kavadi Festival

Perhaps the most potent propitiatory rite that a devotee of Shanmukha undertakes to perform is what is known as the Kavadi. The benefits that the devotee gains from offering a Kavadi to the Lord are a millionfold greater than the little pain that he inflicts upon himself.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Kavadi Festival: Festivals in Hinduism - The Kavadi Festival

Syntel's rapid growth during the early years prompted its leadership to begin exploring additional service offerings to augment its core staffing business. In 1988, Syntel began providing application development and maintenance outsourcing services to its clients. With the opening in 1992 of its first wholly-owned development centers in India, Syntel began offering software outsourcing services based on an onsite/offshore model, which connected software developers in India to project managers at the client's location via a dedicated ...

See also:

Syntel, Syntel - Global Delivery, Syntel - Worldwide Offices, Syntel - Company History, Syntel - Fact Sheet

Read more here: » Syntel: Encyclopedia II - Syntel - Global Delivery

Purva Mimamsa or Karma-Mimamsa is an enquiry into the earlier portion of the Vedas, an enquiry into the ritual of the Vedas or that portion of the Vedas which is concerned with the Mantras and the Brahmanas only. The Purva Mimamsa is so called, because it is earlier (Purva) than the Uttara Mimamsa, not so much in the chronological as in the logical sense.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Purva Mimamsa: Hindu Philosophy - The Purva Mimamsa

While prostitutes and their clients represent all sexes and all sexual orientations, the majority of clients are male. Prostitution is rejected by most modern religions as being improper or sinful, and prostitutes are considered to be shameful or individuals of low standing in most societies; in some cultures, their customers are typically also looked down upon but are usually tolerated to a greater degree than the prostitute. The English word whore, referring to (female) prostitutes, is taken from the Old English word hōra ...

See also:

Prostitution, Prostitution - Overview and definitions, Prostitution - Types of prostitution, Prostitution - Street prostitution, Prostitution - Escort/Out-call Prostitution, Prostitution - Socio-economic and legal status of prostitution, Prostitution - Legality of selling sex, Prostitution - Advertising prostitution, Prostitution - Regulated prostitution, Prostitution - Prostitution of children, Prostitution - Prostitution and illegal immigration, Prostitution - Sex tourism, Prostitution - Violence against prostitutes, Prostitution - Human or sex trafficking, Prostitution - Medical situation, Prostitution - How common is prostitution?, Prostitution - Politics, Prostitution - Legal issues, Prostitution - Feminism, Prostitution - History

Read more here: » Prostitution: Encyclopedia II - Prostitution - Overview and definitions

You may know people who are "devoted to their work" - meaning that they are dedicated to their careers and their jobs. If this comes from the ego, it means that they experience self-gratification from what they do. The reasons could be many: perhaps the power they enjoy, perhaps the use of their talents, perhaps the difference they make through their work. There's nothing wrong with this type of devotion and certainly it has contributed to the betterment of our world in many ways.

However, if our devotion to our work only remains at this self-gratifying level, we are missing a huge opportunity for spiritual growth. So come with us as we explore this path of devotion as a spiritual practice at work.

See also: Spirituality At Work, Work As A Spiritual Practice, Spiritual Based Leadership

Read more here: » Work As A Spiritual Practice: Working With Devotion

Kama

Kama in a wider sense means desire and in a narrow sense, sexual desire. Hinduism prescribes fulfillment of sexual passions for the householders and abstinence from it for the students and ascetics who are engaged in the study of the scriptures and in the pursuit of Brahman. 

Read more here: » Kama: Hinduism Kama

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was one of the most remarkable Indian saints of recent history (1836 -1886). He is chiefly known for his high attainments in approaching God along many different paths. Most saints have one path, one line of attainment in reaching the goal. Ramakrishna, however, explored each in its turn. He was a lively and likeable human, and made a deep impression on all that came into his sphere. He left behind innumerable devotees and helped many to follow the ultimate goal in his footsteps.

Read more here: » Ramakrishna Paramahamsa: An introduction to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Jennings’ success has resulted in him being a popular individual amongst corporations looking for public endorsers. H&R Block, the firm named in the answer he 'missed', announced in a press release that they were offering him a deal for free tax preparation and financial services for the rest of his life. According to H&RB statements, Jennings could pay over $1.045 million alone in taxes, more than any quiz show contestant. Jennings accepted the offer, and in another news story, H&RB officials reported that they had offered simil ...

See also:

Ken Jennings, Ken Jennings - Biography, Ken Jennings - Streak on Jeopardy!, Ken Jennings - Other media appearances, Ken Jennings - After Jeopardy!, Ken Jennings - Ultimate Tournament of Champions, Ken Jennings - Trivia and trademarks, Ken Jennings - Records, Ken Jennings - Game summaries, Ken Jennings - Jennings and previous Jeopardy! champions, Ken Jennings - Loss on Jeopardy! and final statistics, Ken Jennings - Endorsements

Read more here: » Ken Jennings: Encyclopedia II - Ken Jennings - Endorsements

Your meditation seat should be comfortable. A cushion of cotton or some other natural fibre facilitates the natural flow of circulation. Some serious practitioners place a deer skin, tiger skin, or even a woollen blanket over the cushion. This protects the body from the downward pull of certain earth currents and helps raise the life current (prana) to the point between the eyebrows.

Sit facing north or east. The magnetic currents flowing in from these directions assist in concentration.

(See also: Meditation Techniques , Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Aids To Your Meditation