Meru's blog

Give Obama a chance

2009-01-19T15:47:00.011Z

Today was the inauguration of Barack Obama as the forty-fourth president of the United States. Obama has, somehow, elicited a lot of enthusiasm and support around the world - something quite unusual for a politician.The thing I find most interesting about the Obama phenomenon is not so much Obama himself (no disrespect intended) but the sense of hope and interest that he elicits in people. I

TEST!

2008-02-03T20:33:00.000Z

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The swinging generation!

2007-08-17T11:12:00.000Z

The Sound of One Car Bombing

2007-07-21T14:53:00.000Z

Vive la France!

2007-05-05T18:04:00.000Z

As the French go out to vote a new President, I send them all my well-wishes...I'm in two minds about which leader would be best. I quite like Ségolène Royal, but some people tells me she's mean and lack ideas. Nicholas Sarkozy has ideas and likes order and respect. Order in the sense of ORDER! or just good organisation, is a question. Royal was brought up in a military family and rebelled

I'm a Triolet...

2007-03-28T17:16:00.001Z

If they told you I'm mad, then they lied.I'm odd, but it isn't compulsive.I'm the triolet, bursting with pride;If they told you I'm mad, then they lied.No, it isn't obsessive. Now hideAll the spoons or I might get convulsive.If they told you I'm mad then they lied.I'm odd, but it isn't compulsive. What Poetry Form Are You?

The Pope and the European Union

2007-03-26T18:17:00.000Z

The Pope has criticised the European Union for not including at least a mention about Europe's Christian roots in the Declaration for the Future of the European Union, signed on Sunday.In one sense he is right, for if we study the history of Europe, and even the Enlightenment, Christianity has played an enormous part in its development and character. It would be foolish to deny, or dismiss, its

The Radcliffe Camera

2007-03-12T23:06:00.000Z

Here are a couple of photos that I took today of the Radcliffe Camera as I was leaving the library. It's my favourite space in Oxford to read and study, especially the ground floor area. The colours are warm, the space is round, the 'slices' we sit in are cosy (in their own way). It's a great space. I'm not there that often, for the books I need right now are in the Indian Institute Library. But

Give constant thanks

2007-03-05T17:30:00.000Z

I came across this beautiful piece as I 'randomly' opened a page in Eileen Caddy's Opening Doors Within:"Give constant thanks for everything. There is much to be grateful for; open your eyes, look around, and see how blessed you are. As you do, you will find yourself filled with an overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude, and the whole of life and living will take on a new meaning. The people

All Hearts

2007-02-14T22:31:00.000Z

I couldn't resist putting up this picture of my marmelade hearts that I made for my granny last year. She had her 100th birthday in May!Well, yes I know, it's Valentine's Day, and it's not about grannies - but why not?! Aren't they lovely though?Anyway, I found an explanation about the origins of Valentine's day on Wikipedia and it seems that it originated from the Romans.They celebrated a

Ad from God

2007-02-03T17:29:00.000Z

Global warming

2007-02-02T18:52:00.000Z

Today we finally got an official statement by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that the planet is heating up due to 'human activity'. It took its time to figure that one out...I guess that anything that makes us more conscious of our relationship with the planet and nature is good, but God did it take time to get there! I wonder though if it will change people's thinking, or if we

Kula Shaker and Govinda

2007-01-08T21:46:00.000Z

It's such a long time since I heard Kula Shaker and now I've found them on the Tube...

Dark Clouds and modern life

2006-12-31T18:49:00.000Z

Yesterday, as I walked my bike up from B&Q (having spent more time and money than advisable) I noticed the most beautiful and dramatic sky. It was full of rushing large dark blue clouds behind the last light of the day. It was dramatic and energising. In any other scenery, by woodland, the sea or a mountain, it would have been a fantastic picture. But in the middle of suburban Oxford, it didn’

It's finished

2006-12-11T15:37:00.001Z

I'm back in Sweden, and the other night I heard on the news that 'it's finished - after 20 years'.A police station had ordered toilet paper in 1986, as part of its routines, except that this time it took them 4 hours to unload. But the paper is now finally finished. After 20 years. And it made it to the news. And here. So now you know.

Bhagavad-gita

2006-12-03T16:12:00.000Z

“…when doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and when I see not one ray of light on the horizon I turn to the Bhagavad Gita, and find a verse to comfort me; and immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. My life has been full of external tragedies and if they have not left any visible and indelible effect on me, I owe it to the teachings of the Bhagavad

Karma Capitalism

2006-10-31T15:36:00.000Z

Found this article on management and the Bhagavad-gita. Karma capitalism.I think it's great that they're finding their ways to holistic ways of dealing with their lives and the planet. The Bhagavad-gita has so much in it for us all. But when using it we should consider it in a holistic way too. It is possible to use it to increase our ego, or as a tool for domination, if we just pick out a verse

Midnight stream

2006-10-31T15:28:00.000Z

Brambles and bumbles, and beer - naaaaNo alcohol hereWe're as straight as Euclid's line, but realReal blood, sweat, and tearsWith love and tenderness,with affectionate regardEmbarrassed at our feable need,and here we are -little ones, but oh so precious.Precious to God,- what else do we need?

Another quote

2006-10-24T18:08:00.000Z

Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.Nelson Mandela

Henry Miller

2006-10-21T16:26:00.000Z

I've just come across some beautiful quotations by Henry Miller that I want to share:"Imagination is the voice of daring. If there is anything Godlike about God it is that. He dared to imagine everything.""Life has no other discipline to impose, if we would but realize it, than to accept life unquestioningly. Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny,

Misfits

2006-10-21T09:33:00.000Z

Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round heads in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them.But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while

Invitation

2006-10-12T16:25:00.000Z

I got this invitation the other day:"We invite you to submit a paper/abstract to The 3rd International Symposium on Management, Engineering and Informatics (MEI 2007) in the Context of The 11th World Multi-conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics (WMSCI 2007) (http://www.iiis-cyber.org/mei2007). IT will take place in Orlando, Florida, USA, from July 8-11, 2007. "I thought it cute.

Flooded devotion

2006-09-29T16:36:00.000Z

This is a photo from a kirtan in Mayapur, West Bengal (India), the other day. The Ganga is flooding vast areas every year which makes worship in the temples a real wet adventure. And the water levels will most probably increase. I really admire their devotion.

The Pope's speech

2006-09-27T17:00:00.000Z

I found a link to the Pope's speech that upset so many. At this point I haven't read it myself, so I can't really comment on it. What I found interesting about the whole issue though is the Pope's response, in comparison to some newspaper editors and politicians during the Danish cartoon controversy.Since the Pope's motivation was not to cause offense, he apologised for apparently upsetting

Liberté, egalité...

2006-09-25T18:57:00.000Z

I went to the Foreign Office (FCO) last week for a meeting of the Human Rights Panel. This panel has been revived now after a pause of maybe two years. The topic of our meeting was 'Apostasy' - of renouncing one's faith to embrace another. This can be a great challenge for communities, and of course the individual that takes the step into another religious tradition. What can I say about the

Revival

2006-09-17T20:39:00.000Z

I'm reviving this blogg now. I've been neglecting it for quite some time while writing on the Swedish one. But I do live in England, and so my context is here. And most of my friends are here too, which makes it quite a natural thing to do.I got this beautiful picture today:Ah, what a lovely expression!:)Goes to show that even tigers love a little tenderness...

Waffles

2006-03-25T21:07:00.000Z

Today is the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Sweden this day became known as 'Vårfrudagen', and by time it was pronounced 'Vaffeldagen'; and from there the leap was short to 'Våffeldagen'. This means the Day of Waffles. Soooo, if you're a good Swede, you've been eating Waffles today.Magical!:)

Swedish proverb

2006-03-19T20:24:00.000Z

This is according to Hindu Press International a Swedish proverb. I should know, shouldn't I?Fear less, hope more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours.Swedish proverbI have never heard it before, but I quite like it. I just remember proverbs like, 'talking is silver, silence is gold'. I think I internalised that one.

Apple brain

2006-03-18T12:20:00.000Z

I think it would be more fruitful for me to have an apple between my ears.Yes, my brain is sloooooow today.

Sign of life

2006-03-17T15:16:00.000Z

I miss writing in English. It's so much easier than Swedish, somehow. I think it has to do with the amount of words one can use when writing. It also has a different flow. I might start to write here again, but just might.

Rumi

2005-08-27T20:05:00.000Z

The clear bead at the centre changes everything.There are no edges to my loving now.I've heard it said there's a window that opensfrom one mind to another,but if there's no wall, there's no needfor fitting the window, or the latch.Furunzanfar #511(translated by John Moyne and Coleman Barks)

Shri Krishna Janmasthami!

2005-08-26T21:59:00.000Z

Devout Sceptics

2005-08-20T09:08:00.000Z

The BBC Radio 4 programme Devout Sceptics featured Professor Kathy Sykes, a scientist and government advisor. She's an energetic woman with interesting ideas, attitudes and experiences. She has some humility too, which helps. Listen to the programme again.

Cows and elephants

2005-08-18T12:04:00.000Z

There have been some discussions lately in regards to Darwinism and other theories. Bush would not mind that 'intelligent design' is taught alongside darwinian theory in schools. Holy cow! Scientists now say it's a white elephant. “It is large, almost completely useless, and the object of superstitious awe.” They even say the debate about religion vs science is a Red Herring. O dear, I see a

Is there a soul in Europe?

2005-08-13T15:03:00.000Z

A couple of weeks ago I met very nice scholar of International Relations at Berlin airport. She had been in a conference and I came from Poland that morning. While we paced slowly towards the counter (it was a massive queue), we had very nice discussions about her work, religion, Europe etc; and then we came to the topic of integration. France insists on assimilation, that minorities fully take

Be truly human

2005-08-10T20:00:00.000Z

There were a lot of items that caught my attention today in PM. The multiculturalism debate is a fascinating one which I would like to write about, but it will have to be another time.Some British museums hold items considered sacred in some cultures, and the program gave the example of objects used in special sacred ceremonies among Australian aborigines. The curator held those objects in a box,

From heart to heart

2005-08-05T19:00:00.000Z

This Calendula is from my garden...

Identity

2005-08-05T14:06:00.000Z

"How does one seek union with God?""The harder you seek, the more distance you createbetween Him and you.""So what does one do about the distance?""Understand that it isn't there.""Does that mean that God and I are one?""Not one.Not two.""How is that possible?""The sun and its light,the ocean and the wave,the singer and his song-- not one.Not two."Anthony De Mello, S.J.

Why one thing or the other?

2005-07-30T22:20:00.000Z

Yes, I was listening to BBC Radio 4 again. I do listen to it quite a lot when I’m pottering around, washing or cleaning etc. It does have quite good programs. This week, instead of Any Questions and Any Answers, Nick Clarke led the program Straw Poll. They debated the motion that: "Political parties are dead, long live single issues".Again. I wrote already a boring piece on this yesterday… I

Wise words

2005-07-30T11:16:00.000Z

"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years

Political apathy

2005-07-28T23:20:00.000Z

I heard Analysis today on BBC Radio 4, which dealt with the subject of community. They talked about how the UK government wants to involve more people in politics by devolving power to local communities; but their powers are minute and lack funding. In that regard it’s not serious.I personally don’t think that an artificial involvement of people in local issues will increase people’s interest in

A bit busy...

2005-06-26T21:55:00.000Z

I will start to write soon... I’m just a bit busy right now, trying to finish my essay on secularization in eighteenth century Europe. It’s a subject matter that I love (religion and politics) but I find it a bit hard right now to organise my thoughts into a structured essay. The name of the blog is abhyasena, which is ‘by practise’ in Sanskrit. It’s a word that appears in the sixth chapter of