The Indian Panorama

Tag: Virendra Qazi

  • Lotus webmag holds event on Kashmir Shaivism with Virendra Qazi

    Lotus webmag holds event on Kashmir Shaivism with Virendra Qazi

    By Team@Lotus

    While introducing Virendra Qazi, Dr Nirmal Mattoo also spoke eruditely about Kashmir Shaivism. (Photo : Courtesy The Indian Panorama)

    HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): ALotusInTheMud.com organized its first public event on September 10 where Shri Virendra Qazi expounded on Kashmir Shaivism. About 70 prominent people from Long Island were edified at the session held at the Arya Samaj of Long Island arranged by Parveen Chopra, founder editor of the Lotus webmag.

    Qazi ji is a top expert and practitioner of Kashmir Shaivism, which has been garnering attention even from global spiritual gurus. He said its central teaching is, ‘I am Shiva’. “So, know that God resides in all of you and you can realize the Divine in this very life.”

    He defined Kashmir Shaivism as a universal spiritual philosophy that accepts all elements of life in totality and teaches a path of realization through divine grace. The grace or shaktipat is in us all to a lesser or greater degree. He advised people to make humility, love, and compassion their second nature. “That will give you tremendous blessings.” He concluded with a brief meditation to give a taste of the follow-up experience sessions he conducts over two days. In his introduction, Dr Nirmal Mattoo said Qazi ji has been explaining Kashmir Shaivism to laypeople for three decades and had served in leadership roles in the Steel Authority of India. Dr Mattoo, the force behind the Center for India Studies at Stony Brook University, chairman of Indo-American Arts Council, and co-founder of Atlantic Dialysis Management Services, also gave an erudite introduction to Kashmir Shaivism.

    Mrs Hema Qazi’s devotional songs acted as a prelude to Virendra Qazi’s discourse. (Photo : Courtesy The Indian Panorama)

    Mohan Wanchoo, Chairman & CEO at EC Infosystems and philanthropist, thanked Qazi ji for “enlightening us about Kashmir Shaivism and I am sure all in the audience here benefitted as we were almost like drinking from a firehose of his pearls of wisdom.”

    Qazi’s discourse was preceded by Mrs Hema Qazi rendering devotional songs in Kashmiri and Hindi. She was greeted by Kavita Wanchoo.

    Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja, editor-publisher of The Indian Panorama, introduced Parveen Chopra as an editor whose passion for spiritual journalism inspired him to start Lotus magazine.

    Parveen Chopra reported that ALotusInTheMud.com, launched in January, has been growing its audience at a fast clip. He added that Lotus was at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in August to cover it.

    Prominent attendees at the event included Dr Buddhadev Manvar, Sunil Hali, Arvind Vora, Arish Sahani, Nilima Madan, and Atul Kumria. Refreshments were arranged by Renu Chopra. The event was supported by Dr Mattoo and Mohan Wanchoo and promoted by The South Asian Times as well as other media outlets. Based in New Delhi, Qazi ji has been holding similar events in many cities in the USA and Canada during his current tour.

    Ashok Vyas, program director for ITV Gold, produced the video recording of the event for his Heramba Studio. Here is the link to watch the video on the YouTube channel of Lotus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCqXZtrBtrM

    Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja introduced Parveen Chopra ( seated on the left) and extended a word of welcome. (Photo : Courtesy The Indian Panorama)
    (Clockwise from bottom left) Parveen Chopra, Renu Chopra, Hema Qazi, Virendra Qazi, Mohan Wanchoo, a guest, and Ashok Vyas.(Photo : Courtesy The Indian Panorama)
    The event drew a full hall at Arya Samaj temple in Hicksville.(Photo : Courtesy The Indian Panorama)

  • For faster development of India, discard the other-worldly humbug

    Indian philosophy professes 200% life – full exploration and full flowering of the inner and outer worlds.   

    By Parveen Chopra

    India is on the path to development with alacrity since independence. But at this juncture, it will be worthwhile to point out that what kept India backward for a thousand years was not just foreign rule, but also the distorted understanding of the core of Indian philosophy as it manifested in the four dharmic traditions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.

    Unfortunately, the misconception gained ground somehow that this world is illusory, and renunciation is the way to achieve spiritual enlightenment and attain liberation from the cycle of life, death and rebirth. This when Hinduism clearly listed sanyas as the fourth and last station in human life. This when Vedas are replete with richas and rituals to invoke prosperity. And when you come to Sikhism, even their priestly class are enjoined to remain householders.  Truth be told, Indian philosophy professes 200% life – full exploration and full flowering of the inner and outer worlds.

    This was reinforced for me when I recently reconnected with Shri Virendra Qazi, a scholar and practitioner of Kashmir Shaivism, whose program I am arranging on Long Island next month. He explained to me the one difference this lesser-known darshan has with Vedanta. “The world is not mithya or illusory, but is also Divine. Kashmir Shaivism teaches total harmony in the material world with the highest techniques of Divine realization,” he said, pointing out that their saints don’t wear saffron.

    Living the 200% life is also the underpinning of my web magazine, ALotusInTheMud.com/ Launched at the Indian Consulate in New York in January this year, Lotus’ content not only presents wisdom from various religious and spiritual traditions but also DIY techniques and the latest from science on how to be productive and successful while staying healthy and happy. We at Lotus have no compunction, for example, in running an article headlined ‘Yes, money can buy you happiness’, of course, suggesting in the how part: invest in experiences, engage in prosocial spending, etc.

    Happy Independence Day!

     (Parveen Chopra is the founder of ALotusInTheMud.com, a wellness and spirituality web magazine. You can get their biweekly newsletter free in your inbox by subscribing for free at alotusinthemud.com/newsletter/. He can be contacted at 516 710 0508 )