Category Archives: poetry

The “I” and the “Me”

Posted on February 24, 2014 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda Every so often just a sliver of a memory pops into my head and if I think about it long enough it brings something back that is of value. Yesterday I remembered that when I was early in … Continue reading →

Posted in American Hindus, auto-biography, autobiography, bhakti, Brahman, creativity, current events, devotional music, dharma, Dharma religions, Dharmic Faiths, Divine Consciousness, dualism, duality, Eastern Philosophy, ego, existentialism, George Harrison, Hinduism, inspiration, jnana yoga, life, lyrics, mantras, Maya, meaning of life, meditation, music, non-dualism, panentheism, pantheism, philosophy, pluralism, poetry, Psychology, religion, science, self help, self-realization, spirituality, Western Hinduism, White Hindus, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sorry, Mormons

Posted on October 20, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda Now that I have said in my last post that Abrahamic religions are “authoritarian” and that Dharma is not, but instead is “authoritative”, except for the Manu-samhita and the Gita depending on how you read it, let me … Continue reading →

Posted in Abrahamic faiths, American Hindus, avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, biography, Brahma, Christianity, Comparitive Religion, crime, current events, dharma, Dharma religions, Dharmic Faiths, Eastern Philosophy, editorial, faith, famous quotes, Gita, gunas, guru, Hindu Festivals, Hinduism, History, inspiration, life, Lord Rama, meaning of life, moksha, myth, opinion, philosophy, pluralism, poetry, quotes, Rama, Ramayana, religion, religious conversion, Sanatana Dharma, self-realization, social commentary, spirituality, Uncategorized, Western Hinduism, White Hindus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Art of Hinduism

Posted on October 11, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda I passed on Saraswati Puja last night. I just wasn’t feeling up to being in temple last night. I just felt like having a very quiet night. During the afternoon I had re-connected with a friend who is … Continue reading →

Posted in addiction, American Hindus, avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, Bhagavad-Gita, bhakti, blogging, Brahma, Comparitive Religion, creativity, current events, Deepavali, dharma, Dharma religions, Dharmic Faiths, Divine Mother, Diwali, Durga, Eastern Philosophy, faith, Festival of Colors, Festival of Lights, Ganesh, Ganesha, Gita, God, Hanuman, Hindu Festivals, Hindu Scriptures, Hinduism, Holi, idolatry, India, Indian culture, inspiration, Kali, Kalki Avatar, Krishna, Kurukshetra, Lord Hanuman, Lord Rama, Maha Navaratri, Mahabharata, myth, Narayana, painting, philosophy, poetry, poojas, pujas, Radha, Rama, religion, Sanatana Dharma, Saraswati, Shiva, Sita, spirituality, Trimurti, Uncategorized, Vedic culture, Vishnu, Western Hinduism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mamaste!

Posted on May 12, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda There is one Mother She comes in many forms We call her by many names. She has fed us, bathed us Carried us over troubled waters Quite likely saved our life. She brought us here, She protected us … Continue reading →

Posted in American Hindus, avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, Creation, creativity, current events, Dharmic Faiths, Divine Mother, duality, Durga, Eastern Philosophy, family, God, gratitude, guru, Hindu Festivals, Hinduism, holidays, inspiration, Kali, Lakshmi, life, love, Mother's Day, poetry, Radha, Shakti, Shaktism, Sita, Trimurti, Vaishnavism, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

One Is Not The Loneliest Number

Posted on March 25, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda I was recently in a discussion with friends in which I brought up the Vedic aphorism “Truth is one; the wise call it by many names.” Knowing the people involved in this conversation were not fammiliar with Vedic … Continue reading →

Posted in Brahman, Comparitive Religion, Creation, creativity, current events, dharma, Dharmic Faiths, dualism, duality, Eastern Philosophy, editorial, ego, God, Hinduism, humor, India, Indian culture, inspiration, lyrics, Maya, meaning of life, meditation, music, music review, myth, non-dualism, opinion, panentheism, pantheism, philosophy, poetry, quotes, religion, Samkhya philosophy, Sanatana Dharma, Sankhya, social commentary, spirituality, Uncategorized, Vaishnavism, Vedanta, Vedas, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

King Kulasekhara & The Alwars and Nayanmars

Posted on March 24, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda mabhir manda-mano vicintya bahudha yamis ciram yatana naivami prabhavanti papa-ripavah svami nanu sridharah alasyam vyapaniya bhakti-sulabham dhyayasva narayanam lokasya vyasanapanodana-karo dasasya kim na kshamah O foolish mind, stop your fearful fretting about the extensive torments dealt out by … Continue reading →

Posted in American Hindus, avatars, Avatars of Shiva, Avatars of Vishnu, bhakti, Bhaktivedanta, biography, Buddha, devotional music, dharma, Dharmic Faiths, Divine Consciousness, Eastern Philosophy, faith, Gita, God, Hare Krishna, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, hippies, History, India, Indian classical music, Indian culture, inspiration, ISKCON, japa, jnana yoga, karma, karma yoga, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, Lakshmi, Lord Rama, lyrics, mala, meditation, music, myth, Narayana, poetry, Prabhupada, quotes, Radha, Rama, Ramayana, religion, religious conversion, Sanatana Dharma, Shaivism, Shiva, Sita, social commentary, spirituality, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Trimurti, Vaishnavism, Vedanta, Vedas, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Valentine’s Day and Vasant Panchami

Posted on February 6, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda Amongst the many of my “favorite things” about Hinduism is that many of the festivals, though various themselves, have various interpretations as to their root and significance, region to region in India. Being a Western Hindu born into … Continue reading →

Posted in American Hindus, auto-biography, autobiography, avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, Christianity, Comparitive Religion, creativity, cupid, current events, dharma, Dharmic Faiths, Eastern Philosophy, God, Hindu Festivals, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, History, holidays, India, inspiration, life, love, marriage, miracles, myth, News, opinion, philosophy, pluralism, poetry, polytheism, reincarnation, religion, religious conversion, Sanatana Dharma, Saraswati, social commentary, spirituality, Uncategorized, Vaishnavism, valentine's day, Vedanta, Vedas, Vedic culture, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“My India” by Swami Yogananda-ji

Posted on January 5, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda Recently I changed my Facebook profile pic. On the new image, over my left shoulder is almost complete and utter darkness except for a few reflections off of shiny things hidden in said darkness. Over my right is … Continue reading →

Posted in American Hindus, Babaji, biography, current events, dharma, Dharmic Faiths, Divine Consciousness, duality, famous quotes, God, guru, Hinduism, History, India, inspiration, Lahiri Mahasaya, life, lyrics, Mahavatar Babaji, philosophy, poetry, religion, religious conversion, Sanatana Dharma, Self-Realization Fellowship, spirituality, Sri Yukteswar Giri, Swami Kriyananda, Vaishnavism, Vedanta, Vedas, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus, Yogananda | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Higher Ground

Posted on November 17, 2012 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda Something a friend recently said got me thinking about songs that aid me in maintaining a bhakti state of mind. Often these are songs which lead us to a state of emotional awareness. I suppose for me it … Continue reading →

Posted in Abrahamic faiths, Aum, avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, Brahman, Christian, Christianity, Comparitive Religion, dharma, Dharmic Faiths, Divine Consciousness, faith, famous quotes, forgiveness, George Harrison, God, gratitude, Hinduism, hippies, History, inspiration, Jesus, karma, Krishna Consciousness, life, lyrics, mantras, meaning of life, opinion, philosophy, poetry, Popular Music, reincarnation, Sanatana Dharma, spirituality, Vaishnavism, Vishnu, Western Hinduism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yogananda’s “Boatman” Among Us

Posted on October 20, 2012 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda Paramahansa Yogananda wrote a poem called “God’s Boatman” which is of infinite importance (literally). In the poem, the Guru-ji expressed his desire – a purely benevolent, altruistic, sattwic desire, mind you – to be freed from the shackles … Continue reading →

Posted in avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, Babaji, Bhagavad-Gita, Bhaktivedanta, books, Brahman, dharma, Divine Consciousness, famous quotes, Gita, God, guru, Hinduism, inspiration, karma yoga, Krishna, life, love, Mahavatar Babaji, Maya, meaning of life, meditation, opinion, philosophy, poetry, reincarnation, religion, Sanatana Dharma, self-realization, Self-Realization Fellowship, social commentary, spirituality, Sri Yukteswar Giri, Swami Kriyananda, Swami V, Swami Vidyadhishananda, transmigration, Vaishnavism, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, yoga, Yogananda | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment