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Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs And Hinduism: A Correlation

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First let's understand what exactly is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. A simple google search will tell you that it is a motivational theory in psychology consisting of a five-tier model of human needs, often shown as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. Maslow’s pyramid is divided into five levels of needs, from the bottom of the hierarchy upwards, these are: Physiological needs: These are biological and physical requirements, like breathing, food, water, and sleep. When these needs are not fulfilled, they become the only thing we are preoccupied with. Safety needs: These are things such as physical safety, and needs for home, employment, income, and health. Without fulfillment of these needs, a person continually feels insecure and unprotected. Love and belonging needs: These deal with our desires for deep interpersonal connections, good family relationships, friendships, and sexual intimacy. Without them, we might become depressed or experience loneliness. Esteem needs: T

Karma & Free will

With more than 1000 years of Islamic & British  rule the Ibrahimic/Abrahamic beliefs have entered the Hindu psyche. To add, Bollywood (Hindi film industry) caused further damage to the Hindu mindset, with all successful dialogues & lyrics writers (Kadar Khan, Hasrat Jaipuri, Salim Khan, Javed Akhtar etc.) hailed from the muslim community as Urdu is actually the preferred language of Bollywood. But wait a minute, why Bollywood?  can Bollywood influence the masses in India to this extent? Does it deserve even a mention? Yes, the influence Bollywood has in India is mind-boggling and one can't be oblivious to it. The two things that capture the imagination of kids as well as adults in India are Bollywood and Cricket. In Hindi movies we keep hearing that how someone died or how an unfavourable outcome  was the result of "Bhagwan/Khudah ki marzee" (God's wish) or how even a leaf cannot move without God’s will. Such nonsense was never entertained in the earlier V

It Is Manifestation & Not Creation

Science debunks creation, so does Vedanta, but is there any conflict between Vedanta & Science? First lets understand why Science debunks Creator & creation. Now since I'm no Science nerd I'm just basing this on what I read on the subject matter so don't blame me if I'm wrong. First, the believers in "Creator" will have first to make up their mind whether this so called Creator (God/Allah) lives within or outside the purview of this Universe. If the Creator lives outside of the universe, then he cannot influence the universe or ourselves, he cannot influence the energy and the matter of our closed system universe. Fields of energy, flowing from this Creator, would disrupt gravity, the movement of the earth and all things essential to life. That leaves us with the only logical possibility that the Creator lives in the Universe. Nothing escapes the universe because in essence we are the universe. Our bodies are made from the same subatomic part

Buddha's Middle Way vs. Krishna's Nishkam Karma

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Now first let me make something clear before you read this blog, it is not about Buddhism vs Hinduism or who is greater & holier, Buddha or Krishna? This blog entry is more about pacifism vs activism, escapism vs realism, withdrawal vs participation & duty vs desires, interested? And if you have decided to read on, read if you have some rudimentary understanding of Vedanta & Buddhist teachings. So let's ask ourselves is it wise to take an absolute standpoint at a very critical juncture in our lives? By absolute I mean Brahm point of view (or Shunyata point of view in Buddhism). For records, Brahm of Vedanta ≠ Buddhist Shunyata. However, Upanishads have had a very profound influence on Buddha's teachings & it is clearly apparent. Also Brahm is usually misspelt as Brahman & it is NOT a Hindu God or something!! God is an assumption of Abrahamic religions. The world is not a Shangri-la or the city of San Angeles from the movie Demolition Man , the world