The number of Hindus in the Diaspora today is estimated to be around eight million, at least 1.3 million of whom live in Europe. This makes Hindus one of the largest religious minorities on the European continent. In travelling through nine European nations, it is found that more Hindus had come from outside India than […]
Spirituality Issue 1, 25-Mar-20 EN
Spirituality Magazine Issue 1, Mar 25, 2020
Kaliyug
Some people have started asking themselves questions about Kaliyuga in these times of crisis. Therefore, we share some insights on Kaliyuga for your reflections. According to the Indian concept of time, authentically known as Bhāratīya concept of time, there are 4 Yug or periods: Sat, Treta, Dwapar and Kali. The characteristics of people, economy, society, […]
Finding peace through pūjā rituals
It is 2020 and we never thought that something like this would happen in our time. We have combated smallpox and to a large extent, polio. We have seen outbreaks before but the most recent pandemic before this was swine flu, and that did not seem to affect us to the same extent as the […]
Dealing with the indefinable
At moments of great uncertainty, many great leaders like Swami Vivekanand, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr Abdul Kalam always found comfort and wisdom in one of the great scriptures of Hinduism: the Bhagavad Gītā, the Song of the beloved. In Young India, Gandhi writes: ‘When misfortune hits me full in the face and I, lonely and […]
Navarātri, Spring 2020
Many Hindus celebrate the nine nights dedicated to the Goddess Durgā twice a year; in spring and autumn. In the east of India, it is mainly only the autumn celebration that is very important. Surinamese and Dutch Hindus also worship the Goddess during the nine nights (Navarātri) in spring. For some people, spring Navarātri is […]
Video Renditions – Durgā Saptaśatī
Locked down at home this Navarātri? No problem. Enjoy being in solitude (Ekānta Vāsa) and watch some beautiful videos and listen to recitations. Sanskrit version Hindi version
Kaṭha Upaniṣad
न जायते म्रियते वा विपश्चिन् , नायं कुतश्चिन्न बभूव कश्चित् । अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो, न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ॥ १८॥[1] हन्ता चेन्मन्यते हन्तु हतश्चेन्मन्यते हतम् । उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते ॥ १९॥[2] अणोरणीयान्महतो महीया – नात्माऽस्य जन्तोर्निहितो गुहायाम् । तमक्रतुः पश्यति वीतशोको, धातुप्रसादान्महिमानमात्मनः ॥ २०॥[3] Kaṭha Upaniśad Chapter 1 Valli […]
Existential Reflections
Imagine What is exactly a virus? Where does it come from? Does it have consciousness? Can we imagine ourselves to have coronavirus? Leadership Why are none of the governments who lead our countries and world unable to solve the corona pandemic to a satisfactory level? What is the role of science and who will be […]
Editorial Note: Spirituality & Society, Issue 1 – Navarātri
Download Issue 1, March 25, 2020: English Edition ; Dutch Edition The current Corona pandemic has brought almost the whole world into an extreme VUCA situation (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity). What is seen as fact, or the best solution now may not hold tomorrow. The extreme volatility of information makes people experience high levels of uncertainty. Since no […]
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