Ajay0

Not so. Caste system in India is a feudal system similar to that in Europe, Japan and Korea. (Even now, European aristocrats tend to keep themselves distinct from the commoners and marry among themselves as a rule.) The caste system has no sanction in the Vedas, the original Hindu scriptures which preaches the equality and fraternity of all human beings. Majority of the Vedic sages came from the lower economic groups . The Vedic sage, Satyakama Jabala, who composed portions of the Vedas, was the illegitimate son of a prostitute. He was taken as a disciple by his Guru on account of his character and honesty which the Guru perceived as signs of merit even though he was of illegitimate lineage. The caste system came up later on as a social system in order to preserve, consolidate and develop knowledge systems of each profession. Universities were not wide-spread in ancient times, and it was easier for the father to teach his sons and nephews the technical details of his profession. This enabled a certain specialisation of disciplines. For example, mathematics as in the numeral system, zero and basic mathematics used around the world commonly were developed in India. I am not an advocate of the caste system as it is obviously obsolete in today's world, but it had its relevance in ancient times as a practical system. In todays world however, you can choose any profession, and the best universities in the world teaching that course by virtue of enhanced transportation and logistics.

Ukraine is neither a member of G7 or G20 , and Zhelensky has objected to being ignored in recent G20 summits. However, it can be a member of BRICS and use the opportunity to improve diplomatic relations with Russia to the point of peace and friendship, and also better relatons with the Global South and improve its economy in the process.

The Brazilian government announced that the next BRICS summit will take place in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, 2025. https://www.brasildefato.com.br/2025/01/03/brazil-takes-over-the-brics-presidency-and-will-host-the-bloc-s-summit-in-rio/ In 2024, the BRICS countries overtook the G7 countries in terms of GDP share and now accounts for over 46 % of the world population.

The scientists of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, India have discovered a new exoplanet, TOI-6038A b, a dense sub-Saturn size with a mass of 78.5 Earth masses and a radius of 6.41 Earth radii in a wide binary system. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/indian-researchers-discover-new-exoplanet-toi-6038a-b-heres-all-about-it/articleshow/118295180.cms?from=mdr

'An unclean environment, if not cleaned, leads to a situation where one starts accepting circumstances. On the contrary, if one cleans up dirt in the surroundings he gets energised and then does not resign himself to existing adverse circumstances.' ~ Mahatma Gandhi This saying by Mahatma Gandhi highlights how the simple act of cleaning or sweeping can be an exercise in increasing the positivity quotient in oneself and reducing negativity and indolent passivity. As per Hinduism and Buddhism, the mind tends towards negativity and unconsciousness, so it takes day to day austerities or exercises to make it positive,strong and anchored in present moment awareness. Krishna also highlights the observance of cleanliness as an austerity in the Bhagavad Gita (BG 17.14). These austerities helps to bring auspiciousness and attract positivity into our lives. We tend to attract what is there within us, so it is important to ensure we are in a state of positivity ourselves by austerities or spiritual exercises to attract positive events and circumstances.

How can we gauge whether we are unaware or unconscious at any moment ? A simple toolkit by Vernon Howard to gauge our state of consciousness at any given point of time, and apply course correction if needed . https://archive.mail-list.com/secretsoflife/message/20021118.064550.be4dbaf9.en.html

A summarized teaching of Dharma by Phakchok Rinpoche... https://tzal.org/quotes-by-phakchok-rinpoche/

Spiritual teacher Joan Tollifson had similarly spoken on the correlation between capitalim-consumerism and addictive behavior...

Insightful speech by Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje on the necessity of regulating our desires for environmental protection. https://kagyuoffice.org/buddhism-and-the-environment-living-in-harmony-with-the-planet/

An interesting excerpt on nihilism as per Buddhism, that I read recently... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihilism

Balakishore of Brahmakumaris expounds on the necessity for synergy between Principle, Context and Practice for optimal results. This also enables elimination of misunderstandings and conflicts between various groups leading to promotion of universal harmony. https://balakishore.in/articles/principle-context-practice/

Teachings of Sri Avinash... https://www.sriavinash.org/teachings-from-the-master/

Sri Avinash on his journey from a Vietnamese refugee child to being an enlightened sage.. https://www.sriavinash.org/sri-avinash/awakening-and-mission/#PAGE-3

To let go of desires you have to follow a certain code of conduct. This is the manure by which the rose of love will blossom. ~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Love is a state of mind where self interests are removed. The mind dwells in its natural state of sat-chit-ananda - existence, consciousness, bliss. Love is not created; it is a mental state which develops by living a disciplined life and developing positive qualities. Human ego is very attracted to negative qualities, so it needs much austerity to develop positive qualities. ~ Baba Hari Dass Love is connected to virtues. Virtues create love within the self and within others. When virtues reduce, the quality of love is also reduced. When all virtues are present, there is complete and pure love. ~ Dadi Janki, Brahmakumaris

A free pdf book by Sister Aruna Ladva of the Brahmakumaris (Certified Negotiator in Conflict Resolution) on Conflict Resolution and its management. https://www.itstimetomeditate.org/book/conflict-resolution-free-download/ https://arunaladvaitstime.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/aruna_conflictres_2014.pdf The Brahmakumaris have received seven UN Peace Messenger Awards for their services around the world in the interests of global peace and harmony.

Higher prana levels equate to high joy and bliss levels as per Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. https://wisdomfromsrisriravishankar.blogspot.com/2010/01/ I had created a thread on prana by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar earlier...

The Pope has also similarly asked for the restoration of dialogue between the two warring parties. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8en1jn3n5o

The Dalai Lama has sought the restoration of dialogue to establish peace in Ukraine. https://www.dalailama.com/news/2022/hope-for-dialogue-to-restore-pease-in-ukraine The two world wars of the previous century which started in europe on the basis of military alliances killed more than a hundred million people and injured much more. Proper global leadership could have preempted such wars and conflicts , but unfortunately they were allowed to grow in size and scale reaching critical mass levels due to lack of the same. The third world war based on nuclear weapons can eliminate total nations and continents. World civilization will be regressed back to a few centuries till normality prevails again. Even the present situation has resulted in economic recession and hardship for the masses while the rich and powerful are insulated from it. Massive destruction of life and property happened in europe in the last two world wars and it is important to ensure that a culture of peace and nonviolence is created in europe to check the momentum of the past periods of brutality and violence which is threatening to reveal itself again. So it is important to rein in aggressive instincts and allow rationality and non-emotivity to develop so as to prevent worse case scenarios and ensure that best case scenarios are allowed to emerge instead. As Abraham Lincoln stated, 'Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?' Hence communication channels should be kept open with space for dialogue to resolve all disagreements. Global leadership not partial to any military alliances are the need of the hour to exercise sound judgement with respect to solutions that may bring peace and global progress in its wake.

An article by Master Choa Kok Sui on prana... https://www.thepranichealers.com/what-is-pranic-energy

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone with the successful operation of its first space robotic arm aboard the POEM4 platform in space. https://spacewatch.global/2025/01/isro-successfully-tests-rrm-td-robotic-arm-in-space/ https://www.republicworld.com/science/isro-demonstrates-robotic-technology-successfully-captures-space-debris-with-robotic-arm

India is eyeing a 2028 launch for its Chandrayaan-4 moon sample-return mission. https://www.space.com/the-universe/moon/india-targets-2028-for-chandrayaan-4-sample-return-mission-to-moons-south-pole

An insightful saying of Carter lamenting American military expansion at the cost of its social and infrastructural development.. "I normalized diplomatic relations with China in 1979. Since 1979, do you know how many times China has been at war with anybody? None. And we have stayed at war. (Carter said the United States is) the most warlike nation in the history of the world... How many miles of high-speed railroad do we have in this country?... We have wasted, I think, $3 trillion (military spending) ... China has not wasted a single penny on war, and that's why they're ahead of us. In almost every way... And I think the difference is if you take $3 trillion and put it in American infrastructure, you'd probably have $2 trillion left over. We'd have high-speed railroad. We'd have bridges that aren't collapsing. We'd have roads that are maintained properly. Our education system would be as good as that of, say, South Korea or Hong Kong...."

He was one of those rare American and world leaders who made a positive impact in his country and the world in both the presidential and post-presidential phases of his life. He won the Nobel peace prize in 2002 for his humanitarian efforts around the world through his NGO Carter center and which played a major role in eliminating the dreaded guinea worm disease. Hence he is remembered with respect and affection around the world. https://www.cartercenter.org/ He was noted for his work on peace and wanted the US to be a leader of peace rather than the world's largest supplier of weapons. He had also expressed his concerns over American democracy and felt that it has become an oligarchy instead.

“The more you are identified with your thinking, your likes and dislikes, judgments and interpretations, which is to say the less present you are as the watching consciousness, the stronger the emotional energy charge will be, whether you are aware of it or not.~ Eckhart Tolle You can't control emotions by thought; you can invoke emotions by thought. Only by being more aware, emotions settle down. ~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Peace ends when you are emotionally involved in a situation. The practice of being a detached observer helps you stay stable and calm. It is the best way to approach a decision in any circumstance. ~ Prajapita Brahmakumaris

Emotions when properly employed can bring happiness and creativity in life, while improperly employed through lack of discrimination or discretion can result in reactions leading to regressive conflict and strife . Through Awareness, one goes beyond the realm of conditioned likes and dislikes, attain better self-mastery, and cultivate a progressive positive attitude in all situations and circumstances in life.