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Showing posts from October, 2019

To die like a dog.

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In his recent announcement of the killing of the leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi , President Trump used the phrase that al-Baghdadi "died like a dog." I have never had any sympathy for ISIS, which committed numerous, often well publicized, acts of atrocities. This seems to be the tendency of the regimes based on dualistic religions - dualistic means attached to its form and being intolerant of other forms of devotion. Since the time immemorial, it seems easier for people to kill if the killing is done in the name of the God. Eliminating a leader of such a regime was probably a good thing. However, I am somewhat concerned about Mr. Trump's choice of words. Alleging that al-Baghdadi "died like a dog," in a cowardly manner, was meant perhaps to break the will to fight of ISIS followers. It also somewhat dehumanizes the whole act - implies, by association, that a-Baghdadi was a dog, and killing a dog is not as serious as killing a human being. But was this

The people have spoken ...

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Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada ... and selected (a solid) minority Liberal government for the wonderful country of Canada. Personally, I am glad. To quote from the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, it seems "Canadians rejected the politics of fear and division" and stayed focused on the future challenges. It seems Justin Trudeau will have a chance to continue his father's efforts towards "progressive" Canada and "the just society." Andrew Scheer, leader of the Conservative Party  Andrew Scheer, his conservative rival, undoubtedly a man of many talents, appeared to focus his campaign on Trudeau and his record. It is, naturally, always easier to criticise others than to show some positive path forward. Scheer, often, appeared to be quite perfidious in attacking his rival, and this is what eventually turned me against him. As a result of Mr. Scheer's strategy, in one of the meetings, the crowd was chanting "lock him (Tru

We are not our bodies ...

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... was tirelessly repeated by Shri Nisargadatta. The way he reached this conclusion was by focusing his attention on the very fact of his existence - I am! With time, he realized that our true nature is ... consciousness! Nisargadatta was not unique in reaching this conclusion. In fact, it has been well established in thousands years long traditional of Indian philosophy and the practices of yoga. This is how Swami Rama explained this issue: Swami Rama (Wikipedia) "The main teaching of yoga is that man’s innermost nature is divine but he is unaware of this and mistakes himself for his body and intellect – both of which exist within the realm of matter and therefore are subject to decay and death. All of man’s misery is a consequence of this false identification. Yoga leads one to the direct experience of inner Self, his true identity. With such realization comes liberation from all human imperfections." (Swami Rama (1998). The Royal Path. Practical Lessons on Yoga.