common themes across all religions This blog post is part of a series on common themes across all religions. “Some would deny any legitimate use of the word God because it has been misused so much. Certainly it is the most burdened of all human words. Precisely for that reason…

The COVID-19 crisis has forced us to hit the pause button on our regular lives. In the process, we have been given the rare and unexpected gift of time free from the compulsive activities that drive so many of us. There is no roadmap to navigate this new normal. We…

A moral compass refers to an individual’s internalized set of moral values, beliefs, and principles that guide their decisions and actions in ethical or moral situations. …

Mythology, literature, and folklores often share a common motif about the protagonist of the story embarking on a quest, facing challenges and ultimately achieving a transformative victory. Joseph Campbell in his book ‘The Hero with A Thousand Faces’ refers to ‘the hero’s journey’ as a cyclical journey that involves setting…

In a world surrounded by the noise of who we should be and what we should want, it is sometimes difficult to stay true to our own authentic self, or even being aware of what our authentic self looks like in the first place. Most religions encourage us to focus…

How do we translate our faith into practice to make a meaningful difference in the world? This is a question that is relevant across all religions, even if the actual application differs from faith to faith. Praxis has been defined as ‘the use of a theory or a belief in…

When last did you truly feel all-encompassing, invigorating awe? Awe is a large, boundless sentiment, but is something that is deeply ingrained in our human nature as a way of experiencing the world. In the eyes of a child, everything is worthy of awe, since everything is so new. But…

Words are our most valuable meaning making tool — we think in words, we manifest our thoughts into reality through words, and we share our realities with others through words. How much more powerful, then, are the words of those gods and divine beings who created our world? Is it…

World Cancer Day, which is observed worldwide on February 4th, gives us an opportunity to reflect upon the suffering that many individuals face when they or their loved ones are afflicted with serious illnesses like cancer. …