Category: Hinduism

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Caste Dharma Ethics Hinduism History Indology Interview Morality Politics Social Media Society Spirituality Video

Hinduism and Society: Conversation with Indu Viswanathan and Parth Parihar

Estimated read time 2 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Indu Viswanathan and Parth Parihar. Both Parth and Indu are Phd. candidates, Indu in Education at Teachers College and Parth in Economics at Princeton. Indu and Parth are involved deeply in engaging with Hindu traditions/ideas with the modern world. In this episode, we discuss far-reaching and diverse topics including what it means to be a Hindu in the West, the colonialism of the mind vs indigenous knowledge, Racism versus Caste, Abrahamic world view vs. Dharma worldview, Karma and Agency, Hindu representation in the Media and Education, Hinduism on College Campuses, Caste System, The Idea of Decoloniality, Dharma for the 21st Century and a wealth of other topics. It is a dynamic and great conversation with two fantastic thinkers and human beings.

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Bheda Abheda Dharma Hinduism History Interview Krishna Philosophy Spirituality Vedanta Video

Conversation with Brahmachari Vrajavihari Sharan, Director for Hindu Life at Georgetown University

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Brahmachari Vrajavihari Sharan, Director for Hindu Life at Georgetown University and Adjunct Professor of Theology and Linguistics. In this episode, we talk about the West Indian Hindu experience, Nimbarkacharya (a philosopher, Vedantin and Guru of the Kumara Sampradaya) and his philosophy, the nature of Radha and Krishna, Varna, Jati and Caste in the ascetic life, Dharma, the experience of Hinduism in the diaspora and other topics. Join us for another dive into the ocean that is Hindu Thought.

You can find Brahmachari Vrajavihari Sharan at:
https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/people/vrajvihari-sharan
Twitter: @brvsharan

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Cosmology Ethics Hinduism History Interview Monotheism Morality Philosophy Politics Polytheism Spirituality Theology Video

Polytheism: A discussion with Dr. Edward Butler

Estimated read time 1 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Dr. Edward Butler, Phd. Dr. Butler specializes in ancient Greco-Roman philosophy particularly Platonism and Neo-Platonism along with expertise in Polytheistic thought and philosophy. We speak at length about polytheism and monotheism, the theory of Henadology, Proclus, Hindu Thought, and other forms of polytheism and a host of other topics.

You can find Dr. Edward Butler at:
https://henadology.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @epbutler
Purchase his books at:
https://www.lulu.com/search/?adult_audience_rating=00&contributor=Edward+Butler

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Catholicism Christianity Hinduism Interfaith Interview Meru Manthan Philosophy Spirituality Theology Vedanta Video Vishisthadvaita

Meru Manthan Episode 2: Conversation and Discussion with Father Francis X. Clooney

Estimated read time 1 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Father Francis X. Clooney, Professor of Comparative Theology at the Harvard Divinity School. Father Clooney is a scholar of Hinduism specifically Visisthadvaita Vedanta and SriVaishnavism, he is equally a practicing Catholic in the Jesuit Order. In this dialogue, Father Clooney and I discuss Catholicism, Ramanujacharya, Visistadvaita Vedanta, the nature of comparative theology, Bhakti tradition, and other topics.

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Ethics Hinduism Interview Nyaya Philosophy Spirituality Video Yoga

Conversation with Stephen Phillips

Estimated read time 1 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Professor Stephen Phillips of the University of Texas at Austin. Professor Phillips is an academic in Philosophy with a wide area of expertise in the Indian/Hindu Philosophical systems particularly Nyaya, Vedanta, and Yoga. In this dialogue, we discuss Prof. Phillips journey into Hindu thought, his experiences living in India, learning Sanskrit, studying Indian Philosophy directly from indigenous experts, the concept of Pramanas, the idea of soul-making, Yoga and other topics. It was an honor and pleasure to be able to have this conversation.

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Caste Dharma Hinduism Interview Morality Philosophy Politics Spirituality Video

Conversation and Interview with Gopi Shankar Madurai, Founder of Srishti Madurai and LGBTQIA Hindu Activist

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After a long break, Meru Media is back with some more interesting, fascinating and informative conversations. Join Mukunda as he talks to Gopi Shankar Madurai, […]

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Dharma Hinduism Interview Judaism Meru Manthan Philosophy Spirituality Video

Meru Manthan Series: Judaism and Hinduism A Discussion with Rabbi Alan Brill

Estimated read time 2 min read

We are launching a new series called Meru Manthan: The Churning of Ideas, where we engage with thinkers, ideas and viewpoints from all traditions and religions. This series focuses on similarities, differences, and points of contention between the Dharma traditions themselves and also in regards to other world traditions.

In this inaugural episode, I speak to Rabbi Alan Brill, Professor of Jewish Studies at Seton Hall University and the author of many books including Rabbi on the Ganges: A Jewish-Hindu Encounter. We delve into his background, a few of the Jewish traditions, how he found himself engaging with Hinduism and going to India, the points of similarity and difference between the Jewish traditions and Dharma traditions, Vedanta and Kabbalah, how the Jewish Bible and tradition differs from Christianity and Islam and a host of other topics. I learned a lot from reading Rabbi Brill’s book and even more speaking to him, which I hope you all do too. It was a fascinating and truly fun conversation.

You can reach out to Rabbi Brill at kavvanah@gmail.com and you can purchase his books at
https://www.amazon.com/Alan-Brill/e/B001KITI7M/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
and you can check out his website at: https://kavvanah.wordpress.com/

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Hinduism Interview Politics Social Media Video

Video Discussion with Sham Sharma, Host and Creator of the Sham Sharma Show

Estimated read time 1 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Shambhav Sharma, the host and creator of the Sham Sharma show. In this atypical Meru podcast, (we focus more on social and political issues), we discuss a myriad of topics including Sham’s life in India, my time in India, free speech, feminism and misogyny in cultures, ideas about the Truth, Muslimphobia, Tulsi Gabbard and Hinduphobia (starts around 58 min 45 second mark), discussion about Pieter Friedman (author of the hit piece on Tulsi), Kashmir, social and media issues in India, (sorry for the video/audio issue at 1 hour and 48 min mark) and a few more socio-political issues.

You can check out the Sham Sharma Show at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs0kMbzhUYV2lhIV7xoWhoA

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Hinduism Indology Interview Politics Social Media Video

Interview with Suhag Shukla Esq., Executive Director of Hindu American Foundation

Estimated read time 1 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Suhag Shukla, Esq., the Executive Director of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), a non-profit and non-partisan Hindu advocacy group in the United States. In this podcast, we discuss a myriad of topics including growing up as part of the Indian and Hindu diaspora in the US, the issues that Hindus in the US have to deal with, diversity in thought in Hinduism and its traditions, the role that HAF plays in the US, education controversies that arose regarding teaching Hinduism in the education system in the US, the problems and issues around the term Hindutva, brief conversation about “woke” culture, Kashmir and other interesting topics

You can check out HAF at www.hafsite.org

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Caste Hinduism Interview Politics Video

Western Foundations of the Caste System: Discussion with Dr. Prakash Shah

Join Mukunda and Racchit, as we speak to Prof. Prakash Shah, Department of Law at Queen Mary University of London, about the Caste System and its conceptual foundations in the Western world. We discuss the idea of Caste and how much of it was developed through the lens of the West’s engagement with India by imposing their ideas and concepts of what they thought was the social fabric of India was like into their own world views. Even today there is not an intelligible definition of what caste is or isn’t, rather we assume it is a reality.
Let us put a caveat here, there is no disagreement or contention that violence between groups or social status between groups is a reality rather the point here is that the idea of Caste, itself, is a western invention and conceptual framework which is alien and unknown to India until the Western world began to interact and try to understand India. This is a controversial topic and in this podcast, we deal with it using nuance and critical thought.

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Hinduism Interview Politics Social Media Video

Discussion with Prof. Vamsee Juluri

Estimated read time 1 min read

Join Racchit and I as we trialogue with Prof. Vamsee Juluri, Professor of Media Studies at the University of San Francisco. We discuss the media on the whole. depiction of Hindus in the media, Hinduphobia, Prof. Juluri’s books and many other topics.

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Atheism Dharma Ethics Hinduism Interview Morality Philosophy Politics Social Media Video

Discussion with Kushal Mehra, Host of The Carvaka Podcast

Estimated read time 1 min read

In this episode, Mukunda speaks to Kushal Mehra, the host of The Carvaka Podcast. We discuss Hindutva, Social Media, Hinduism, Secularism, Indian Politics, Philosophy, Morality, and other topics.

You can find Kushal and the Carvaka Podcast at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKPxuul6zSLAfKSsm123Vww
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-carvaka-podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-c%C4%81rv%C4%81ka-podcast/id1445348369

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Buddhism Dharma Hinduism Interview Japanese Culture Philosophy Spirituality Video

Interview and Discussion with Prof. Jeffery Long (Part 4 of 4)

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Join Mukunda, Racchit, and Professor Jeffery Long, Professor of Religious and Hindu Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. Professor Long is the author of many books and articles on Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Most recently Professor Long is the editor of “Perspectives on Reincarnation: Hindu, Christian, Scientific”. This is part 4 of 4 of our discussion and in Part 4 we discuss:
1. We discuss the intersection of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Japanese culture, history, and religion. (from beginning to 18 min 30 second mark)
2. We discuss DANAM (Dharma Association of North America) and final thoughts with Prof. Long about the future of Hinduism in academia and his future works.
You can download Perspectives on Reincarnation at https://www.mdpi.com/books/pdfview/book/1097

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Hinduism Interview Philosophy Spirituality Video

Interview and Discussion with Prof. Jeffery Long (Part 3 of 4)

Estimated read time 1 min read

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Join Mukunda, Racchit, and Professor Jeffery Long, Professor of Religious and Hindu Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. Professor Long is the author of many books and articles on Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Most recently Professor Long is the editor of “Perspectives on Reincarnation: Hindu, Christian, Scientific”. This is part 3 of 4 of our discussion and in Part 3 we discuss:
1. We discuss the different types and ideas of Karma. (from beginning to 5 min mark)
2. Defense of the Rationality of Reincarnation, we discuss the rationality of believing in Reincarnation through logic and even scientific studies. We throw into the mix Samkhya, Panpsychism, the hard problem of consciousness, Jainism, and Sri Aurobindo’s ideas. (from 5 min mark to the end)
You can download Perspectives on Reincarnation at https://www.mdpi.com/books/pdfview/book/1097

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Dharma Hinduism Indology Interview Philosophy Video Wisdom

Interview and Discussion with Professor Jeffery Long (Part 2 of 4)

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Join Mukunda, Racchit and Professor Jeffery Long, Professor of Religious and Hindu Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. Professor Long is the author of many books and articles on Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Most recently Professor Long is the editor of “Perspectives on Reincarnation: Hindu, Christian, Scientific”. This is part 2 of 4 of our discussion and in Part 2 we discuss:
1. We discuss the work of Prof. Jeffrey Kripal on Ramakrishna Paramahamsa both from the academic perspective and the traditional Ramakrishna perspective along with ideas of hermeneutics and how to be sensitive to both the traditions and the perspectives of academic freedom. (from start to 15 min 55 sec mark)
2. We discuss the idea of purva paksha, steelmanning and how to engage with diverse perspectives and experiences. (from 15 min 55 sec mark to 24 min 06 sec)
3. We discuss the Jain idea of Aneka Vada (Multiple perspectives of Truth), Syaadavada (conditional perspectives) and Nayavada (theory of viewpoints). (starts at 24 min 06 sec mark to 36 min and 15 sec mark)
4. Prof. Long provides an overview and how the book Perspectives on Reincarnation came into being. (start at 36 min and 15 sec mark to the end)

You can download Perspectives on Reincarnation at https://www.mdpi.com/books/pdfview/book/1097

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Dharma Hinduism Interview Philosophy Spirituality Video Wisdom

Interview and Discussion with Prof. Jeffery Long (Part 1 of 4)

Estimated read time 1 min read

Meru Media
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Join Mukunda, Racchit and Professor Jeffery Long, Professor of Religious and Hindu Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. Professor Long is the author of many books and articles on Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Most recently Professor Long is the editor of “Perspectives on Reincarnation: Hindu, Christian, Scientific”. This is part 1 of 5 of our discussion and in Part 1 we discuss:
1. Professor Long discusses his journey to Hinduism from Christianity starting with the tragic loss of his father at a young age to finding the Bhagavad Gita and his path to taking initiation in the Ramakrishna Mission. (from the beginning to about the 13:30 min mark)
2. We discuss Ramakrishna, Vivekananda and the tradition that they built world wide. We discuss the similarity and differences between this tradition versus the traditional Kevala Advaita Vedanta of Sankaracharya. (starts at 13:30 mark to end of part 1 at 40 min 21 sec mark )

You can download Perspectives on Reincarnation at https://www.mdpi.com/books/pdfview/book/1097

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Dharma Ethics Hinduism Indology Interview Morality Philosophy Video

Interview and Discussion with Nithin Sridhar

Estimated read time 2 min read

Meru Media Video Interview with Nithin Sridhar
Mukunda and Nithin discuss a wide host of topics relating to Vedanta, Indic Culture, Menstruation Ideas across Cultures, the Sabarimalai Controversy, Sati, including:
Advaita Vedanta (starting at 10 min mark)
Discussion on Nithin’s Books (starting at 32 min mark)
Indic Civilizational Ethos and the clash with Modernity (starting at 38 min mark)
Education system and imparting of Indic values (starting at 53 min mark)
Indic views on Menstruation and Feminism (starting at 1 hour and 5 min mark)
Sabarimalai Controversy (starting 1 hour and 40 min mark)
Discussion on the Practice of Sati and Suicide (starting 1 hour and 58 min mark)

About Nithin Sridhar: With a degree in civil engineering, and having worked in construction field, Nithin Sridhar passionately writes about various issues from development, politics, and social issues, to religion, spirituality and ecology. He is based in Mysore, India. His first book “Musings On Hinduism” provided an overview of various aspects of Hindu philosophy and society. His latest book “Menstruation Across Cultures: A Historical Perspective” examines menstruation notions and practices prevalent in different cultures & religions from across the world. Tweets at @nkgrock
You can purchase Nithin’s book Sabarimalai Confusion: Menstruation Across Cultures below
https://www.amazon.com/Menstruation-Across-Cultures-Sabarimala-Perspective/dp/9386473461