The phrase integral spirituality seems problematic. The term ‘integral’ evokes a holistic perspective. But the term ‘spiritual’ already restricts this holism by excluding matter and the body. It may also imply a system of thought or a dimension of reality. The Eastern religious traditions would refer to this area of experience or reflection as a...Read More

Most of us go through life without worrying about ‘who we are’ or our identity. We are born and grow up in a family. We go to school and find a job later. We get married and live happily. Life goes on. We know, of course, who we are. But it is not always a...Read More

Ramana Maharishi, a Hindu mystic-guru of the 20th century, used to lead his disciples to self-realization by asking them to concentrate on a simple question: Who am I? Meditation would lead them from a focus on their physical self (body) to various layers of self-awareness like the breath (energy), the emotions, reason, intuition and the...Read More

The question that Asians are often asked to answer is ‘How is Jesus the Universal Saviour, even of people who do not accept him in faith?’ The underlying concern is the need to proclaim the good news of Jesus to everyone so that all may be saved. The sub-theme, of course, is that they will...Read More

Michael Amaladoss, S.J The Second Vatican Council 50 Years After Occasionally we hear calls for a Third Vatican Council. The calls may be too early. We have not fully absorbed and implemented the Second Vatican Council yet. Fifty years after the beginnings of the Council is a time to assess the progress we have made...Read More

Michael Amaladoss, S.J. According to Pope Francis The focus of the recent encyclical of Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, is to save our sister Earth, our common home, from total destruction by the irresponsible use that we humans make of it. We have reached a stage that, if we do not take appropriate steps to save...Read More

Swami Abhishiktananda was not a professional systematic theologian according to the current common understanding. He was a sage narrating his spiritual search, his encounters and pilgrimages and reflecting over his experiences partly to clarify (to himself) his own understanding of them and partly to explain to his friends, mostly in France, what he was living...Read More

Michael Amaladoss, S.J In unravelling the complex topic, “Art and biblical imagery – theological perspectives (India)” , I wish to take the following orientations: First of all, I am talking as a theologian, though I am also an artist, being a trained musician and also interested in the other arts. So I will be speaking...Read More

The beginnings of ashram life certainly mark a new stage in the encounter between the Gospel and the cultures and religions of India. The first Indian Christian ashram was probably the dwelling of Roberto de Nobili, who lived like a Hindu sannyasi. Many of the missionaries who followed him must have lived the same kind...Read More

Religions Challenging Status Inequality Human society is made up of many sub-systems: economic, political, social, cultural and religious. Among these it is customary to oppose the sacred or religious to the secular which includes all the other systems. Which of these is primary? The Marxists consider the economic as primary and look on religion as...Read More