Spiritual Reflections - Dr. Shashank Shah Shashank Shah Podcast

A billion Indians celebrate the festival of Navaratri and venerate the Divine Mother in a variety of ways, ritually and spiritually. But rarely do we reflect on the message of this very popular festival. During the Navaratri Festival, the Dandiya programme is conducted. It is immensely popular in the state of Gujarat, and several cities across the world. But what does this festival teach us about our personal, social, and spiritual lives? 

This podcast answers these questions with practical examples. It also underscores the use of our Skills for our Spiritual Progress.

Source: Excerpt from a talk delivered at Austin, Texas, USA

Devotional singing or singing of Bhajans is a core part of Indian culture and religious practices. What are the different ways in which these Keertanas/Bhajans are sung? How should we sing Bhajans? What are the examples we can learn from the lives of greate devotees like Bhadrachala Ramadas or Thyagaraja?

This podcast reflects on answers to these questions with examples from their lives.

The Upanishads are the distilled essence of the highest wisdom of the Vedas. They provide the most nuanced insights about the highest truths and the supreme pursuits of humanity through anecdotes and allegories, stories and parables. This is one such story of two birds from the Mundaka Upanishad that conveys the secret to permanent happiness, that we all aspire for.

We are often told that Devotion or Bhakti is the surest path of gaining favours from God by winning His grace. Is it true? How can we do that? What kind of devotional practises do we need to imbibe in order to progress spiritually? What are the two types of devotion?

This podcast explores these aspects based on insights from Vedas and Vedanta.

Bharatiya Culture divides a complete life of 100 years into four stages. What are these stages? What is their significance? How can we benefit in our personal, professional, and spiritual lives by practising the principles identified for each of those phases? Is there a parallel to these four stages in contemporary times?

This podcast explores these themes with examples from Vedanta.

Each of us prays to God for something. We ask from Divinity anything and everything that we consider valuable for ourselves, and our near and dear ones. But what is it that we should actually ask from God?

This podcast provides the answer through a very insightful story that will help pray to Divinity in the correct manner.