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Part I: Distinguishing Dīkṣā from Baptism Author’s Note This reflection is not written to challenge Christians, question Christian belief or practice, or argue against Christian baptism. Christians are free to understand and practise their faith according to their convictions and their reading of Scripture. My concern is with fellow Hindu bhaktas who follow Bhagavān Muktināth…

Only for my personal use and not an article Bilingual Discourse and Cross-Cultural Fertilisation: Bilingual Discourse and Cross-Cultural Fertilisation: Sanskrti and Tamil in Medieval India, ed. Whitney Cox and Vincenzo Vergiani,  Pondichery, Institut Francais De Pondichery Ecole Francaise D’extreme-Orient, 2013 Preface. Whtney Cox and Vincenzo Vergiani. Pp.vii-x …It is equally the case, however, that modern…

When I read Kenneth E. Bailey’s remarks on “glory theology,” I was delighted—not surprised—to discover that even Prosperity Theology has a respectable theological ancestry. And, as one might expect, America is somewhere in the family tree! There is a famous, slightly irreverent way of describing the historical journey of Christianity: the Gospel began as a…

I finally discovered that one of the greatest myths of our digital age is the claim that Artificial Intelligence is a true multi-tasking genius. My discovery did not come from a laboratory or a computer science conference. It came while editing my own manuscript. Like millions of others, I had been told that AI could…

Background This reflection was prompted by a social media discussion on what may be called “visible charity.” The discussion later took a communal turn, prompting me to reflect on the ethical meaning of charity itself. This article is not a response to any individual, community, religion, or organization. It is simply a reflection on the…

Philosophy for our modern scripture—social media. Today every message drifts into a kind of digital mahasamadhi—a black hole of unread existence. Naturally, we have evolved an emoji-theology to interpret this mysterious afterlife. A 🙏🏽 is the most versatile deity in the digital pantheon. It may mean: “Thank you.” “I acknowledge your existence.” “Please forgive me…

Amma was an ardent reader. As I look back on my childhood, one of my earliest memories of her is that she always had a book in her hand. When our family moved to Vriddhachalam during my high-school years, she was the one who encouraged me to become a member of the local government library.…

The Queen on the Throne This is the story behind the photograph attached here. At first glance, it appears to be a simple family photograph. My mother sits majestically on a chair, looking every bit the queen she believed herself to be. Standing behind her is her son—myself—looking less like the head of an ashram…

Born on 19 June 1926 in a Vedic purohit family, she was named Mangalam, as the fourteenth child, though only four survived infancy. The name was given in the hope that she would be the final child, sparing her father the fate of becoming another Kuchela (Sudama) with a large family [as he had 27…

There are two important verses in Mukti Vani: Let each one carry her own burden. Carry one another’s burden. The real art of living lies in knowing when each verse applies. Most people have little difficulty understanding either principle in isolation. The challenge begins when the two appear to contradict one another. How much of…