Write Spirit

Ancient wisdom and modern inspiration

Archive for September, 2006

The Great Pyramids of Egypt


"…We see the Pyramids from several miles away, as they rise up behind the palm trees, looking very sharply defined, altogether splendid, awe-inspiring and simultaneously very soft and veiled. They floated in a thick haze, which took from them every appearance of lifeless stone and made them seem merely like airy creatures from a dream – things which, even as we watched, would turn into rows of indistinct arches, or perhaps delicate columns and ever and again transformed themselves into all the lovely forms of architecture, only then to fade delightful away and melt into the trembling air. "

By:Mark Twain (1)

Photo by: Zbigniew Kosc

Zbigniew has many more fasinating photo collections. I particularly like the ones of the Greek Monastries.

Thanks to ursi and Eso Blog for pointing out these photo collections

Quotes on Silence

 

Our human mind says,
"Silence is emptiness; it is sheer emptiness and nothingness."
But our aspiring heart knows that silence
is the fulness and plenitude
of our Eternity’s Height and Infinity’s Light. (1)

By: Sri Chinmoy

Silence gives us joy.
This is totally true.

 

The inner world
 Is full of
Silence and beauty.

 

The outer world
  Is full of
Sad misunderstanding.

 

Silence itself is joy.
This truth comes down
From the loftiest Heights.

 

The silence – room is not fierce–
It is all – loving
And all – protecting.

 

The silence of meditation
Is power beyond measure.

 

References

(1) From a talk on Silence by Sri Chinmoy

(2) Other Quotes from Seventy Seven Thousand Service Trees vol. 36 by: Sri Chinmoy

Photo by Pavitrata Sri Chinmoy Centre Galleries

External Links

 

My Country Awake – poem by Tagore

My Country Awake

Where the mind is without fear and the head held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action;
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

by Rabindranath Tagore

System Message: ERROR/3 (<string>, line 20)

Error in "figure" directive:
invalid option value: (option: "width"; value: u’100px’)
invalid literal for int(): 100px.

.. figure:: /authors/tagore/tagore3
 :alt: Tagore
 :align: left
 :width: 100px

Anthology of Ramana Maharshi

An anthology of Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879 – 1950) with accounts by 160 persons who had an opportunity to meet, serve and live with him was recently released.

Karnataka Governor T.N. Chaturvedi was present at the release of the 400-page book compiled by a team led by Prof. Laxminarayana, a former Dean of Commerce of Osmania University. The book is titled "Face-to-Face with Sri Ramana Maharshi". The programme was organised by Sri Ramana Kendram.

Mr. Chaturvedi said the book, for which he had written the foreword, made the readers emotionally attached to Ramana Maharshi’s literature. He said there were a number of stories about the Maharshi although he was self-absorbed with spirituality. Mr. Chaturvedi was past president of Ramana Kendram, New Delhi.

Stories of the Moghul Emperors

Stories of the Moghul Emperors

 

At Write Spirit there are many stories of the great Moghul Emperors. Including Babar, Humayun and Akbar.

These traditional Indian stories both entertain and inform. These delightful stories of the Moghul Emperors have been retold here by Sri Chinmoy and .

You can also listen to online dramatisations at Inspiration Sounds; including an episode on stories about the Mogul Emperor Humayun

 

Picture by Unmesh, Sri Chinmoy Centre Galleries

From : Akbar’s Secret visit to Mirabai

"Although Akbar was a Muslim, he liked the Hindu spirituality and culture immensely. At his court, he retained all kinds of talented and extraordinary people from various religions. Akbar always appreciated others’ good qualities. In the course of time, he came to hear about Mirabai, the great devotee of Lord Krishna. The bhajans that she sang became known throughout the length and breadth of India. Akbar decided to go and see her for himself.

At first, it seemed impossible for the Emperor to fulfil his wish. Mirabai was married to Prince Bhoja Raj of Chittor. This family and the Moghul Emperors had always been the worst of enemies! If Akbar went to see Mirabai, he would be risking his life and he would also be placing Mirabai herself in great danger. But Akbar was determined to go. He said, "I will not go as the Emperor with my army. I will go in disguise."

  • Read full story