This Old Campus

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Awhile back, one of my associates suggested that I write about what is going on in my life; focusing on what it is like for me growing old. In the main, I have resisted doing this because I have struggled with the aging process; particularly as this period has filled with sickness, going to doctors and watching those I love deal with illness and death.

Often the day is not pretty, yet, it is often filled with opportunity to use spiritual practice. Exercises like living in the moment- are essential aspects to my new life. For when the sun comes out from behind the cloud: one must stop what they are doing, celebrate and breathe deep the glorious moment. (more…)

Top Five Reasons Forgiveness Will Make You Happy

by Joseph Drumheller

You can never be happy if you cannot forgive.  The truth is if you can’t forgive, somewhere inside, you will always be a victim to your own anger, hurt or fear. (more…)

Cleaning Away the Dirt

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

With right attitude or inner view, ordinary events can be opportunities for spiritual learning. Consider this story from daily life.

After the long cold winter, cleaning up the grounds around our home has been a slow process. We have hired a part-time gardener to help and one of his tasks is replacing the missing colored, decorative gravel at the foot of our gravel driveway. Until the ground freezes, with each snow, the plow pushes both snow and gravel, further along down the driveway. (more…)

Which way India is a secular country?

By Lt Col R K Langar

The Oxford dictionary defines the word secular as something which is non religious as well as non spiritual. Calling India a secular Nation conveys that Indians have nothing to do with religion and spirituality. This is farthest from the truth. Religion is a part and parcel of Indian life where as spirituality is the basis of Indian culture. Labeling India as a secular state distances our people, especially the youth, from the uniqueness of Indian culture which emphasizes on oneness, equality, universality and unity of human kind. Indian culture also teaches us to have unconditional love for all. Religion is the highest power component of India which injects human values in our mind. Swami Vivekananda says that it is impossible to separate religion form Indian life. He says that each nation has its own peculiar method of working. With India religion is the only ground with which we can work. India can only be uplifted through its religious and spiritual traditions. Strengthen India in spirituality and all our problems shall get solved. (more…)

International Yoga Day - 21 June

By Lt Col R K Langar

The word yoga has assumed worldwide significance after UN declaration that Jun 21 shall be celebrated as International Yoga Day. Yoga, which has a spiritual connotation originated from India and has now travelled to the West and other parts of the world. The West is using yoga in many of its physical activities only whether it is weight reduction or other wellness activities. In India also many people consider yoga as a physical fitness industry and as alternative medicine. I often hear people saying ‘ I am doing yoga’ and by doing so I have been able to get rid of my physical pains. People generally equate yoga with wellness activities which include Asnas and Pranayam to some extent. Such understanding of yoga, which is limited to body fitness technique, is not what yoga is in the true sense. (more…)

Refusing the Military - Healing the Virus of Violence

Chapter 14 of the book RADICAL PEACE: People Refusing War

By William T. Hathaway

RADICAL PEACE is a collection of reports from antiwar activists, the true stories of their efforts to change our warrior culture. A young Buddhist novice contributed this account, which we then revised together. To protect the people who have protected him, he wishes to be nameless.

Back in high school I'd been good at languages but couldn't afford to go to college, so I joined the navy for the language training. They have a program where if you pass an aptitude test, they'll send you to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, for an intensive course that's worth almost a year of college credit. Plus they have an active-duty education program that offers college courses. I figured after my discharge I could finish my education on the GI Bill, and with my language skills, I could get a job in international business. (more…)

The Healing Power of Meditation

By William T. Hathaway

I suffered a brain injury at birth. An EEG test showed chaotic, abnormal brain waves, and in school I had attention deficit disorder. I couldn't concentrate and my thoughts were cloudy. My grades were mediocre, and I flunked out of my first university. I wanted to become a writer, but my writing was disorganized and unclear. In despair I took marijuana and other drugs, but they made my thoughts even foggier.

Then I started Transcendental Meditation. (more…)

Voice of Conscience

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Each of us has an internal gauge that helps us decide what to do in a complex situation. In the past, this capacity was called the 'voice of conscience;' and many of us make good use of our own internal measure of knowing right from wrong. Yet, our modern life is filled with many complexities and grey areas, when our inner voice tells us one thing and our friends, circumstance, or business necessity tells us to do another.

When these different thoughts become competing streams, we have a conflict. Let us not forget we are all products of social engineering and have customs, ideals, and social behaviors engrained/indoctrinated in us since a very early age. The task of the spiritual traveler is to free one's consciousness at certain times, from the engineering of others and make the correct decision, at the correct time. This is the higher call. (more…)

Edgar Cayce's Story of Anna, Mother of the Virgin Mary

by Doug Simpson

Edgar Cayce, the legendary American mystic, gave over 15,000 psychic readings in a self-induced, deep trance state. Over 2500 of those readings were life or reincarnation readings for approximately 2000 real people. I wish that I could tell you otherwise, believe me, but if the soul of Anna was reincarnated at the time of Edgar Cayce, it was not identified in any of Edgar’s reincarnation readings. But, let us not despair. Anna makes a few significant appearances in other requested readings, and I will now share that information with you. (more…)

Sufism for Western Seekers: 10 Learning Principles

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

For the spiritual traveler who wishes to follow the Sufi Path, the following 10 Learning Principles represent some of the dimensions to this ancient form of learning. (more…)