Vegetarianism: Ethics in Practice.
To the Divine and Respected, It was fourth grade and I’d just started my journey in the New World. Brought up in a traditional, orthodox Hindu family, it was not until I started attending elementary school I’ve started to question the importance of being a vegetarian. My fellow classmates used to ridicule me, “Hey Sai, [...]
Religious Conversion: A form of violence.
To the Divine and Respected, Disclaimer: This article does not blame any religion. It simply brings up the issue of Religious conversion and encourages one to look into the issue. Also, when I say conversion I am talking about forced and involuntary conversion as well as proselytizing. A humble request: the point of this article [...]
Meaning Making: The Religion that lets you live and let live.
What makes meaning for me within my tradition is that I come from a tradition that focuses on human engineering. Sanatana Dharma, the Universal Reality, or Hinduism as modern civilization calls it, teaches one that ones own experience, logical reasoning, and introspection are the key path to leading a spiritual and religious life.
Defining God: the World, the Knowledge, and the Light Part II
To the Divine and Respected, “Than whom there is naught else higher, than whom there is naught smaller, naught greater, the One stands like a tree established in heaven. By Him, the Person, is this whole universe filled.” -Krishna Yajur Veda, Shvetashvatara Upanishad 3.9, The Principal Upanishads, Radhakrishnan, p. 727 “One who is established in the contemplation [...]
Defining God: the World, the Knowledge, and the Light. Part I.
“Who am I? What is this body I am in? Where do my thoughts come from? What is the mind? Why do I feel something in my heart? What attracts me to things and creates emotions of like and dislike? What is the very essence of my existence?”
Shakti: The Divine Element of the Feminine
To the Divine and Respected, “The society that provides respect and dignity to women flourishes with nobility and prosperity. And a society that does not put women on such a high pedestal has to face miseries and failures regardless of how so much noble deeds they perform otherwise.” -Manusmrithi 3.56. The Manusmrithi is one of [...]
The Essence of Hinduism-Sanatana Dharma
To the Divine and Respected, Namaste. As a Hindu, whenever I greet someone, I usually start off with the word “Namaste” by bringing my palms together near my heart as I bow down. Whenever I address a group of people or individuals, I also start off with the saying “Shri Divine and Respected”. These simple [...]
Sai
Senior, majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. Founder of a Hindu organization on campus that works to practice and preserve Sanatana Dharmic principles and values with the final goal of Seva, Selfless Service, through interfaith collaboration.
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Contributing Scholars
Mark McCormackI am a graduate of the Vanderbilt University Divinity School and am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Vanderbilt's Community Research & Action program. My research and writing interests include interfaith relations, faith–based community development, congregational studies, and religion & politics.
Chris StedmanChris Stedman is the former Managing Director of State of Formation at the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue. He is also the Interfaith and Community Service Fellow for the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard, a columnist for the Huffington Post and Washington Post On Faith, and is currently writing a book on religious-nonreligious engagement.
Andrew BowenAndrew Bowen, once a fervent enemy of religion, is now a perpetual student and champion for inter-religious peace and reconciliation. In 2011, Andrew created Project Conversion, a year-long personal immersion into the culture, practices, beliefs, and rituals of 12 belief systems from around the world as a personal intervention after years of animosity toward faith.