Category Archives: Shaivism

On Being Enlightened vs. Being Self-Realized

Posted on March 25, 2014 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda I was asked the other day if there is a difference between being “enlightened” and being “Self-realized”/”Self-actualized” whichever you prefer. And if so, is it wrong to say “I am enlightened.” Let me deal with the second question … Continue reading →

Posted in afterlife, American Hindus, Apocalypse, Aum, avatars, Avatars of Shiva, Avatars of Vishnu, Brahman, Creation, detachment, dharma, Dharma religions, Dharmic Faiths, Divine Consciousness, dualism, duality, Eastern Philosophy, ego, existentialism, faith, Forms of Shiva, God, Heaven, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, inspiration, Kali, kali yuga, Kalki Avatar, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, life, meaning of life, moksha, myth, Narayana, non-dualism, opinion, philosophy, reincarnation, religion, Sanatana Dharma, self-realization, Shaivism, Shiva, spirituality, transmigration, Trimurti, Vaishnavism, Vedanta, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, yugas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In Proximity of the Gods

Posted on March 13, 2014 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda I will never forget that the moment I began to see Hinduism as the path I wanted to pursue, I was reading a book by Neil Gaiman called “American Gods.” That being the case, it astounds me that … Continue reading →

Posted in Abrahamic faiths, American Hindus, avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, Bible, Christian, Christianity, Comparitive Religion, Dharma religions, Divine Mother, Eastern Philosophy, God, Hindu Scriptures, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, History, holidays, India, Indian culture, inspiration, Israel, Jesus, Krishna, Lord Rama, Muslim, philosophy, religion, Sanatana Dharma, Shaivism, Shakti, Shaktism, Shiva, spirituality, Western Hinduism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Vaisnavical Curiosity

Posted on December 24, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda My wife and I just opened some Christmas packages that we received from family who live far away. One of mine was a pendant of Lord Vishnu with Adishesha overhead. The curious part is that in the Lord’s … Continue reading →

Posted in avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, Christmas, Dharma religions, Dharmic Faiths, Eastern Philosophy, God, Hindu Scriptures, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, holidays, Narayana, religion, Saivism, Sanatana Dharma, Shaivism, Shiva, spirituality, Trimurti, Vaishnavism, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Jai Jai Shankara Hara Hara Shankara

Posted on August 4, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda It’s been a while since I really considered posting here. My wife and I’ve been moving, and Lord Ganesha, for a while, dammed the river of words that had until recently flowed forth on this blog. I blame … Continue reading →

Posted in Abrahamic faiths, American Hindus, astrology, avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, biography, blogging, book review, books, Catholicism, Christian, Christianity, Comparitive Religion, current events, dharma, Dharma religions, Dharmic Faiths, dualism, duality, Eastern Philosophy, Ganesh, Ganesha, God, Hindu Festivals, Hindu Scriptures, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, inspiration, Krishna, philosophy, pluralism, Radha, religion, religious conversion, Sanatana Dharma, Shaivism, Shiva, Smartism, spirituality, Vaishnavism, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritually Flighty

Posted on July 17, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda This post is titled thusly because given the subject-matter, one may label me as such. For you see, even though I have recently begun identifying as “Smarta with Vaisnav leanings” or some such madness, as opposed to strictly … Continue reading →

Posted in avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, Bhagavad-Gita, bhakti, Bharat War, blogging, Brahman, Comparitive Religion, current events, Dharma religions, Dharmic Faiths, Divine Mother, Durga, Eastern Philosophy, Ganesh, Ganesha, Gita, God, Hare Krishna, Hindu Festivals, Hindu Scriptures, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, ISKCON, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, minorities, monotheism, Narayana, panentheism, pantheism, philosophy, pluralism, polytheism, religion, religious conversion, Saivism, Sanatana Dharma, Saraswati, Shaivism, Shakti, Shaktism, Shiva, Smartism, spirituality, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Uncategorized, Vaishnavism, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

I’ve Never Been So Happy To See A Dead Bird In My Life

Posted on July 7, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda Whilst on a little saunter that I took this morning, I rolled down the sidewalk, on the street where I live. I happened to glance into the street and saw what appeared to be a crow (?) but … Continue reading →

Posted in afterlife, ahimsa, American Hindus, Aum, auto-biography, autobiography, Comparitive Religion, current events, dharma, Dharma religions, Dharmic Faiths, Eastern Philosophy, God, healing, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, inspiration, Ishvara, Kali, mantras, meditation, Narayana, philosophy, prayer, reincarnation, religion, religious conversion, Saivism, Sanatana Dharma, Shaivism, Shiva, Smartism, spirituality, transmigration, Vaishnavism, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, wheelchair, White Hindus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Multi-Tasking Media Murtis

Posted on June 4, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda You know what really grinds my gears? Has anyone noticed the sharp increase in advertisements in magazines and online wherein multi-tasking is illustrated by a human form with multiple arms each holding a different object? Does it look … Continue reading →

Posted in American Hindus, avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, Brahma, Comparitive Religion, creativity, current events, dharma, Dharmic Faiths, dualism, duality, Eastern Philosophy, editorial, faith, Ganesh, Ganesha, God, Hanuman, Hinduism, India, Indian culture, inspiration, Ishvara, Islam, Kali, Krishna, Lakshmi, Lord Hanuman, Lord Rama, Muslim, Narayana, opinion, Rama, religion, Sanatana Dharma, Saraswati, Shaivism, Shakti, Shaktism, Shiva, social commentary, spirituality, Trimurti, Vaishnavism, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sri Vaisnavism, etc.

Posted on April 21, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda There are four main sects of Vaisnavism. A good bit of what I covered in my recent “Vaisnavaganza” series related to the Gaudiya Vaisnavism of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, which is an off-shoot of the Brahma Sampradaya of Madhva. … Continue reading →

Posted in American Hindus, avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, bhakti, Bhaktivedanta, Brahman, Buddhism, Comparitive Religion, dharma, Dharmic Faiths, dualism, duality, Eastern Philosophy, editorial, God, Hare Krishna, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, History, inspiration, Ishvara, ISKCON, Krishna, Lakshmi, Maya, monotheism, myth, Narayana, non-dualism, opinion, philosophy, pluralism, Prabhupada, Puranas, religion, religious conversion, Saivism, Sanatana Dharma, Shaivism, spirituality, Uncategorized, Vaishnavism, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Vaisnavaganza: Ayyappa

Posted on April 18, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda This will be my final entry in this series entitled “Vaisnavaganza”. I had meant it to be a way to learn more about the depths of Vaisnavism and where its belief system came from and I think I … Continue reading →

Posted in American Hindus, Apocalypse, avatars, Avatars of Shiva, Avatars of Vishnu, biography, Brahma, Dharmic Faiths, Durga, Eastern Philosophy, editorial, God, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, homosexuality, inspiration, Kali, Krishna, Liberal, love, minorities, myth, Narayana, opinion, philosophy, polytheism, Puranas, religion, Sanatana Dharma, Shaivism, Shiva, social commentary, spirituality, Trimurti, Uncategorized, Vaishnavism, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus, yoga | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Vaisnavaganza: Adishesha

Posted on April 18, 2013 by treadmarkz

by Aranyakananda The next “face of Vishnu” is not necessarily a “face of Vishnu” at all, though He is considered to be an avatar of either Mahavishnu or Narayana, depending on who you ask. As such, He is said to … Continue reading →

Posted in Abrahamic faiths, American Hindus, avatars, Avatars of Vishnu, Ayurveda, Bible, chakras, Christian, Christianity, Creation, dharma, Dharmic Faiths, Divine Consciousness, Eastern Philosophy, faith, God, Hindu Sects, Hinduism, Indian culture, inspiration, Krishna, Maya, meditation, myth, Narayana, Old Testament, philosophy, Puranas, religion, Saivism, Sanatana Dharma, science, Shaivism, Shakti, Shaktism, Shiva, spirituality, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Uncategorized, Vaishnavism, Vishnu, Western Hinduism, White Hindus, yoga | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments