Yantra , Tantra, Mantra

Russia's war on religious minorities While the Russian Orthodox church has a great old world charm because unlike Catholicism which has surrendered much of its mystique to modernity, it keeps alive ancient customs such as  its rich tradition of choirs which formed the basis of the Red Army choir These inspired many a Russian patriot to smash the Nazis and later stare down NATO for sake of mother Russia. It would seem odd that during the Cold War , Russian Orthodoxy wouldnt have much to say on atheistic mores of the Soviets. Indeed Lenin and Stalin systematically obliterated much of Russian Orthodox structures and culture. But in the post war years, it was regarded as neccesary evil as too many were attached to the old ways. It was indeed not the Russian Orthodox church but Protestants and the Catholics represented by NATO who fought the battle of ideas in defense of religion and liberty and ultimately brought down the Soviet Union. The Russian Orthodox church was notoriously c...

Firstly there is no evidence that President Trump ever mentioned that specific word with reference to citizens of less than desirable countries wishing to move to U.S. It was actually recounted by Senator Dick Durbin who has a rich history of attributing false quotes to his political adversaries. Even so, it is worth discussing why some countries are indeed shitholes. Let us start with the literal take on that word. Yes, India I am looking at you.  India leads the world in public defecation. We are #1 at #2 in the open. If only that was an Olympic sport, atleast here Indian would ahem clean up on the medal tally. Not far behind is Haiti which was also on the agenda. Haiti has been a hellhole since it had its own French Revolution where its idea of which was rid itself of the French in the most barbaric way possible. And it has headed downhill ever since. For those racist cranks who think it is because they are predominantly of African heritage, let me stop you right there. Hai...

Sagar M countered my arguments with perceptive insights. However I believe he is mistaken. Rather than respond in comments , I am making a seperate post YSV: Earlier I esquired as to the supremacy clause of Hindutvadis- is the nation state of India or Hinduism that defines them and which they will choose when push comes to shove?--------------------- Sagar: For Hindutva project, blood, soul and earth are inextricably linked mutually. Our objective is to unite all Hindu peoples into one great Hindu state. YSV: Yes but at what cost? And what instruments are being used to create this Hindu state. RSS wants us to subordinate Shiva to a 19th century construct Bharatmata inspired by European nationalism. As a Shaivite, to me this is the most obscene blasphemy! Sagar: Since Hindu religion fosters pan Indian nationalism (read Hindutvavaad) and pan Indian nationalism in turns gives protection to Hindu religion by uniting Hindus, what sense does it makes to ask - “Hindutva or ...

Peace is achieved not from negotiation during table talks but when there is a victor and a defeated party. All the spin in the media/NGO nexus in the worlds cosmopolitan capitals will not change this simple rule. It is another matter than the media ,academics and "non profits" prefer discussions over war due to their own vested interests. Media and academia have the ability to convince nay spin words into (half) truths , well to an extant as their humiliation last year over Trumps election has shown. It is in their interest to show that THEIR power and not that of guns, bullets , blood and steel has influence on world affairs and in turn they are rewarded with recognition, fame and its attendant riches in speaking fees and book contracts. While NGOs simply siphon off monies from government pretending to help the poor and dispossesed but in general using that money for a cushy life with high salaries, comfortable lodging and high end vehicles. President Trump's bold...

Earlier I enquired as to the supremacy clause of Hindutvadis- is the nation state of India or Hinduism that defines them and which they will choose when push comes to shove? Koenraad Elst lays out the case that Hindutvadis are worshipping a false idol of nationalism ,particularly the 19th century European variant based on ethno linguisitic homogeniety which is a bad fit for India. Savarkar in one of his less than bright moments said this -"one nation,  one culture,one language, one religion" which brings us to current day BJP's assault on other modes of Hinduism apart from the safe and sterile Brahmin Vaishya variety which is the composition of BJP.party leadership. What is lacking is the recognition of Kshatriya and Shudra virtues and all the meat eating , bull fighting and animal sacrifices that come with it. Without these aspects India will remain a hollow shell and slave state for years to come. That is the heavy price you pay when when the Hindutva brigade at...

Foreign Policy magazine stopped being interesting or incisive right around 2007-2008 when Obama's cult of personality took over and thoroughly contaminated its analysis. Since they have been spewing mostly unimaginative PC shibboleths. So its no surprise when they declare yet another untested attractive multiracial mediocrity Kamala Harris the worlds "top thinker" . Ill leave aside that fantastic declaration for now which isn't really based on anything of substance. Meanwhile Rediff.com has jumped on board hyping up the "Indian American" Senator cataloging her "bad ass" movements most of which entail not following the proper etiquette in a committee hearing in order to grandstand. Yeah, watch out Genghis Khan, Wellington ,Mahadji Shinde and Bose: you have competition! Firstly Kamala Harris is not "Indian American" . Sure her mother is Indian Tamil while her father is African American. Apart from her name, she has no connection to ...

In the latest mass shooting atrocity in Las Vegas of some random vile individual whose motives are still unclear, of course it was inevitable that people bring up the culture of guns to forward their own pet agendas. The anti gun crowd tries to reduce and discourage gun ownership while those who subscribe to the idea that  2nd Amendment encourages gun ownership wont hear any of it. I am sympathetic to the latter crowd. But when they make the correlation between higher gun ownership and less murders , they like the anti gun crowd are missing the forest for the trees. Fact of the matter is that the U.S is a very violent society and this violence is a feature not a bug of the tremendous thirst drive and pressure for individual over achievement. Japan of course has no gun laws and has a very low crime rate. But one suspects that even if it was awash in guns there would be relatively little gun violence except for Japanese men a far less painful way of commiting suicide than seppuk...