I had not heard about national parks until we came to the United States. When we visited Yellowstone National Park and Grand Canyon National Park in 2013… I. Had. No. Idea! I was enthralled by how awe and delight enraptured me in the presence of the natural resplendence. I was born in the lap of the Himalayas, in the valley of Kashmir. I was two years old when we moved to New Delhi the overcrowded metroplex with high-rise buildings. But it was home. To get away from scorching summer heat in the capital city, my family would return to the valley for a month. We exhaled in the most pleasant weather in my birthplace about which the Mughal Emperor Jehangir soulfully exclaimed, “If there is paradise on Earth, it is here, it......

It is said, the common characteristics of individuals who live in mountains, near rivers or oceans, in the wilderness and love to spend time in nature overlap with the traits of those who call themselves spiritual. These traits are kindness, peacefulness, compassion, and contentment with what is. These folks do not criticize or judge. They have motivating and kind words for others, and operate with an intention of making the world a better place.  One may ask, why is this so? What has nature to do with spirituality? Spirituality relates to people’s emotions and beliefs rather than their thinking or physical self and surroundings. Upon closer analysis six spiritual themes emerge: feeling of connection with something more than oneself, inner vibrancy, presence, joy, gratitude, and compassion. The data shows that......

In one previous post the inspiration I shared was about the aesthetic experience—what happens to an onlooker when they confront a great work of art. In that case, it was Michelangelo’s David. Today, I would like to share with you one of my spiritual experiences. The structure of the experience is the same, but its content is very different. This time it took place at a Kali temple in the small town of Hatkoti in the lower Himalayan ranges. First, I must introduce you to the goddess Kali. As a student of art history, I used to avoid studying her images. They depicted a gruesome and terrifying naked female adorned only with skulls and bones who dwelt in cremation grounds. But when I decided to write a book on Hindu and Buddhist......