The poems of Lal Ded: Confluence of Sufi and Yogic tradition

When you think of mystic or Sufi poets, how many women Sufis can you recall? There are few female names in the realm of mystic poetry, and fewer still that are well known. There are, however, certain names that form an integral part of the culture and oral literary tradition — not to mention folklore

The Architect’s Apprentice: A gift for doubters

“Doubt is the greatest gift given to mankind.” The Raja of Mahmudabad said this to me during one of our conversations. “Otherwise our minds would all be in stasis.” The Architect’s Apprentice is a book for doubters. People who wonder if there is any order or sense to this world. People who are consumed by

Reading through the Layers of the Self

‘Rabbana Atmim Lana Noorana…’Oh Lord, perfect for us our light. This is a verse from the Quran, one of the prayer-verses that begin by addressing the Creator as ‘Rab’, which literally means The Nurturer. The one who loves you and nurtures you and cares for you. I learnt this verse from a friend, who used