Mr. Ananda – Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment Sat, 28 May 2016 13:46:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 krishna Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:51:17 +0000 Krishna is one of the most popular contemporary Hindu gods, commonly depicted as a bluish youngster holding a flute and dressed with ornaments. He is found in the company of his consorts, the cowherd maids of Vrindavan, Radha in particular. Otherwise, he is portrayed as a child, engaged in mischief or posing with calves, or on the battlefield of Kurukshetra as Arjuna's charioteer.

Most traditions agree on his being the eighth incarnation of god Vishnu, while some consider him the very highest original form of god. While earliest cults dedicated to Krishna span from the 4th century BCE, he entered the arena of popular religion only about a millennium ago.

In the arena of philosophy, Krishna is best known as the speaker of Bhagavad Gita, a central Hindu scripture translated and reviewed the world over. His modern claim to fame in the West comes from the endeavors of missionaries like A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, and with celebrities like George Harrison.

While much internet buzz is generated by the preaching efforts of the Hare Krishna movement, ex-devotees, modern Hindus, Bollywood fans and satirists also write their fair share.

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psychology Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:28:24 +0000 Psychology (psykhe+logia) is a discipline dedicated to the study of mental functions and behavior. While psychology is inherently more relative than for example physics, it aims for the scientific study of the human mind and its various distinct aspects, such as behavior, cognition, emotion, personality and perception.

While its primary focus is on the more intangible human mind, psychology also studies the corresponding neurological and physiological processes, incorporating research from other fields of study, such as natural and social sciences. Psychology has also contributed to our understanding of diverse beliefs, aiding us in recognizing patterns and psychological archetypes in religious traditions.

As the human mind is an integral part of our daily life, psychology has gained much popular interest beyond the academic world. Psychology has been the subject of many popular books, and subsequently discussed all over the blogosphere.

People the world over have explored their mental resources, discussed possible ways to happiness, and reviewed diverse self-help publications. Psychology is also at the heart of helping children with bipolar disorder and dealing with anxiety disorder. It is also psychology by which we understand a criminal mind or the strange neighbor we have.

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theology Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:51:10 +0000 Theology (theos+logos: god-discourse), an integral aspect of any systematic religion, is the study of God or many gods. Theologians are typically engaged in scriptural exegesis, apologetics, and diverse forms of argument and analysis on the doctrine of the religion; Christianity in particular is well-known for this.

Theological disagreements often lead to the formation of schismatic branches holding their distinctive doctrines as a standard measure of orthodoxy. Blog and forum discussions are often a painful testimony to amateur theologians bickering with each other or confronting atheist tactics, even if proper theological debate is also a known online phenomena.

Fundamental interpretations of theology lead to radical clashes with society. A topic much discussed is Islamic fundamentalism and the deployment of terrorism. Medieval witch hunts and Hindu nationalists' sabotage of Valentine's Day share something in common – a foundation in theology.

Theology has also helped many to better understand matters of spirit, coming to terms with life and their chosen God or gods, as an abundance of online testimonies reveals. Theology has played a significant role in upholding culture and societies in the past, even if its continued relevance is debated in the Information Age bent on science and all things verifiable. We're obviously looking at a two-edged sword.

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karma Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:37:01 +0000 The word karma, in its most common and universal sense, means action. In a broader sense as the law of karma, it refers to a cosmic network of cause-effect relationships brought about by our activities, the so-called law of cause and effect.




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vedanta Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:35:54 +0000 Vedanta, one of the ancient schools of Hindu thought, has left its imprint on most of Hinduism's many traditions. Literally the end of knowledge, it distills the philosophical and metaphysical fundamentals from the Vedic sacrificial culture and expounds a series of universals culminating in the concept of atman, the primeval and transcendent spirit-being. The textual roots of Vedanta lie in the Brahma-sutra and the many Upanishads composed by India's sages of yore.

Mainstream Vedanta, following the commentaries of Shankara, fetures a doctrine of non-duality (Advaita), marginalizing the ultimacy of a personal god followed by Hindus in general. Its employment of logic and analysis has made contrasting Vedanta with science into a permanent internet favorite. A great deal of parallels with Buddhism has been a frequent subject of discussion for a fair millennium now, and diverging schools haven't toned down their mutual challenges in the internet age to say the least.

Most contemporary Hinduism features a blend of Vedanta, whether we're talking about Mother Amma the hugging saint who's probably been in a city near you, Swami Sivananda the grandfather of yoga, or any other among the Hindu teachers who have crossed the oceans in person or with their message. Chances are you know a bunch of Vedanta without even having thought about it twice — now go think and blog about it!

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nepal Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:34:50 +0000 Nepal, a land-locked nation bordering India in the south and China in the north, is home to a vast ethnic diversity in a population of 30 million. Coupled with a rich blend of Hindu and Buddhist influence, its colorful and accommodating culture is in many ways unique in the world.



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hinduism Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:33:44 +0000 Hinduism encompasses a broad range of Indic religious traditions that have evolved over the past several thousand years. While its roots are deep in the Vedic age, subsequent philosophical development and amalgamation with yogic and tantric traditions has brought it to be much more than an ancient sacrificial religion.

Some aspects of Hindu thought, such as karma and reincarnation, have practically become household concepts. Contemporary discussion on Hinduism features a wide range of topics both positive and negative, ranging from nationalistic fundamentalism to spiritual masters, friction with competing religions to sexual yoga, devotion to diverse gods and beyond.

The bulk of Hinduism's broader modern public appeal spans from ancient methods for self-improvement, such as the ever-popular hatha-yoga, Ayurvedic medicine, and various methods of meditation and introspection promoted by modern Hindu movements. Its accommodating nature has also given rise to a great deal of interfaith dialogue.

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buddhism Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:32:33 +0000 The term Buddhism defines traditions spanning from the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, revered as the enlightened Buddha among his followers. The three main traditions, namely Southern Buddhism (Hinayana or Theravada), Northern Buddhism (Mahayana) and Tantric or Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana) feature a broad array of interconnected philosophies and practices. The Tibetan tantric tradition, along with the Japanese Zen school of Mahayana fame, enjoy the broadest following in the West.

With an abundance of universal principles and an approach bent on introspection, experiment and experience, Buddhism has proven its relevance on the fields of psychology and comparative religion, meditational practices such as vipassana, and even in neurological studies on self-induced mental transformations.

The applicability and level-headedness of its basics in a modern environment has brought Buddhism to many a scenario, including New York subways. Even great scientific minds like Albert Einstein have regarded Buddhism as a befitting future religion, holistic and uncluttered by superfluous dogma and theology.

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