Japanese Zen philosophy has inspired a culture that finds beauty in imperfection. This idea is found in the crack of a teacup in the art of kintsugi.

Where we Westerners might consider it broken and useless, the Japanese pieced together such broken ceramics using lacquer and then sprinkled the joints with powdered gold to decorateand indeed celebratethe flaw.

This emphasis on the so-called broken part embellishes the history of the objects life. It is the richness of this history that enhances and beautifies, thus allowing a broken object to be reborn.

This art form differs from Western ideas and it stems from the Japanese principle of wabi-sabi, which encourages us to discover charm and blessings in the unseemliest and most desolate of places.

The philosophy germinated with the introduction of Zen Buddhism in Japan from China in the late 12th century. It found expression in the Japanese tea ceremony where lavishness was soon replaced by the simple and rustic.

Kintsugi is believed to have originated when Shgun Ashikaga Yoshimasa sent a broken porcelain tea bowl to China to be repaired. It came back mended with metal staples whichAshikaga Yoshimasa found unsightly. He ordered artisans to devise a more aesthetic solution, and thus kintsugi was born.

The process itself is simple. Stemming from the time-honored artform of Japanese lacquerware, dating back to prehistory, the technique uses lacquer extracted from the indigenous urushi tree combined with bonding mediums, such as flour or rice, as a glue to join broken pottery pieces together. It is applied to the pottery using a fine brush. The artisans then placed them in humidified storage compartments, called furo, for anywhere from two days to two weeks. Bowls of hot water placedinside the furo increase the humidity which is absorbed by the lacquer, helping it to dry more quickly.

Once the piece has set, a layer of powdered gold is sprinkled over the crack, embellishing it with precious metal. From start to finish, the process can take as long as three months to complete.

Typically, kintsugi is used to mend cherished family items; on a group of islands fraught with earthquakes, broken pottery is something to be expected.

It is said that the art of kintsugi became so popular that some pottery collectors were accused of smashing pieces intentionally to have them rejoined using this method. It is also possible that defective or deformed pottery pieces were broken and re-mended in this way, salvaging them from being tossed away.

Such resourcefulness and frugality in saving these pieces embodies the whole philosophy behind kintsugi. It can be summed up using the Western idiom Waste not want not. This philosophy of making do has much to teach us Westerners: perfection is too easily lost and impossible to keep, but by embracing the imperfections in ourselves, and finding beauty and redemption in them, perfection and rebirth are always near at hand.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter

Michael Wing is a writer and editor based in Calgary, Canada, where he was born and educated in the arts. He writes mainly on culture, human interest, and trending news.

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Japanese Artists Use Gold to Revive Broken Ceramics in Zen ... - The Epoch Times

Pico Iyer is widely regarded as one of the most articulate observers of emerging global culture. In almost 50 years, he has had 15 books published translated into 23 languages on subjects ranging from travel to philosophy, and visited almost 90 countries.

His work is immersive for example, documenting his appreciation for Zen Buddhism after a period living in a Kyoto monastery for his bestseller The Lady and the Monk; and his decades-long friendship with the Dalai Lama, in The Open Road.

In his new book, The Half Known Life: Finding Paradise in a Divided World, the Oxford-born essayist son of an Indian philosopher and political theorist, and a religious scholar dives deep into notions of satisfying our needs and finding optimism amid difficult circumstances.

Like so many, Iyer was catalysed by the stasis of lockdown after a lifetime of flitting backwards and forwards across the globe. For The Half Known Life, he has thumbed through the catalogue of his travels, presenting his thoughts on paradise through a prism of political and social strife in countries such as Iran and Sri Lanka.

Having taught at Harvard in the 80s and travelled widely throughout his half-century-long career, he has been based between Japan where he moved in the 90s and California, where he moved from England with his family as a child. I speak to him via Zoom at his home in Nara, outside Osaka, before he set off for Santa Barbara.

It is striking that so many of the troubled places that I have described in my new book are in the news, whether it is Sri Lanka, Iran or North Korea. I think the pandemic opened doors that we might not have seen otherwise. Im hoping in the years to come, more of us will see that, despite economic and physical devastation, he says.

Lockdown proved to be the ideal time for him to ruminate on 48 years of travel, trying to figure out what all the movement and stillness has amounted to. History has reminded us of so much that can go wrong and has given us scars that we can never recover from. But to give up on hope is to give up on everything.

One of the challenges Iyer faced was stitching together multiple locations into a single narrative. It would be easy to write one chapter on Jerusalem, one on Kashmir and one on Belfast, but linking them all together and defining some of the similarities was hard. It was made easier by the fact that I could not travel. Spending all that time in one place really gave me the stillness and space to put these different places together.

He takes readers firstly to Iran, a country that in recent years has made headlines for almost entirely negative reasons. Iyer thinks about how different it is to what he has known religiously, culturally, linguistically until he visits in September 2013. As soon as he arrives in Iran and gets into a taxi, he strikes up a conversation with the driver. I soon recognise that he [the taxi driver] sounds like any other taxi driver from London or New York. He is worrying about his kids, hes talking about the economy. I am quickly reminded of the many things we all share, at a human level.

While the digital age has made it easy to access and be bewitched by places that are foreign to us places such as Japan and Iran, for example Iyer points out that it is harder to be reminded of what we have in common until we encounter those places in person.

Even in North Korea, which he describes at length in the book, he emphasises how unfamiliar many of us are with the country and consider it to be alien. He trusts that we will think differently and more compassionately once we are there, meeting its people and seeing the challenges they face.

Another impetus for the book was the age of endless information that we know less about the things around us than ever before and least of all, the countries we hear so much about, like Iran or North Korea.

Im really trying to take the reader to places theyve never been to, such as Iran, North Korea and Kashmir, to remind us that the world is richer, deeper, complicated and much more interesting than our ideas of it. If you have the time and resources, please go out and see the world because it will never stop surprising you. Youll quickly have to leave all your assumptions behind and remember that the world itself is a half-known life.

When Iyer began writing in the mid-1980s, he believed that the point of travel writing was to visit a remote place whether that was Cuba or Tibet and gather as many sights, sounds and smells as possible. It was mainly to bring back all these elements to readers and friends, who might not be able to experience those places.

Now, anybody who reads one of my books can access online such vibrant aspects of those places that I would never be able to go to. The travel writers job has changed. We cant compete with cameras. However, there are things we can do that no camera can.

Growing up, he noticed that most travel writing was written by men from privileged backgrounds. However, he notes that the genre has broadened, becoming more global and more democratic in sync with the world.

It is exciting that travel is open to many more people than it used to be. A lot of the best travel writing now is coming from women. If I read Zadie Smith, its not going to be a typical English perspective, its not going to be a typical Jamaican perspective, its going to be something fresh and different, not least because shes a woman.

Travel has also gained a conscience. People are travelling not just to gain something but to give something towards social justice in places that are in trouble.

It is transcending historic limitations, which is ultimately what he is seeking to illuminate in his new book beauty amid friction and optimism among discord.

The Half Known Life: Finding Paradise in a Divided World by Pico Iyer is published by Bloomsbury tomorrow at 16.99

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'We know less about the things around us than ever before': Pico ... - iNews

Maharana Pratap is primarily remembered for his military resistance against the Mughal Empire. (Photo credit: Wikimedia commons)

From the death of Maharana Pratap to the annual celebration of Kokborok Day, much has happened on this day over the years.

New Delhi: Human civilisation has evolved over several centuries, engraving key events throughout its journey. This day, that year will look into the important historical events, incidents and major happenings on that particular day of the year. As history keeps inventing itself, we are also keen to rekindle our past to keep our knowledge quotient high. Today in history, i.e. January 19, the following notable events took place.

Maharana Pratap was a 16th century Rajput king of Mewar, from the Sisodia dynasty. He is widely considered one of the greatest warriors of his time and a symbol of Rajput pride and self-respect. He fought against the Mughal emperor Akbar in the Battle of Haldighati in 1576 and although he was defeated, he continued to resist Mughal expansion for the remainder of his life. Pratap is also remembered for his chivalry, as he was said to be a just and fair ruler who was always willing to help his people. On January 19, 1597, at the age of 56, Pratap passed away at Chavand from wounds acquired after a hunting accident.

Indira Gandhi was first elected as the Prime Minister of India on January 19, 1966, following the death of the then-Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. She was the first female Prime Minister of India, and her election was historic as it broke the tradition of male leaders in the country. Upon her election, she served as the PM for three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977 and a fourth term from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. During her tenure as Prime Minister, Gandhi implemented policies focused on poverty reduction, land reform, and the nationalization of banks and major industries. She also played a central role in Indias victory in the 1971 Bangladesh War.

On this day in 1977, Miami and other parts of southern Florida were hit by a rare winter storm known as the Blizzard of 1977 or the White Hurricane. This storm brought unexpected and record-breaking snowfall to Miami, with up to 6 inches falling in some areas, causing widespread damage, power outages, and travel disruptions. It was a historic event as it was the first time in recorded history that the city of Miami had received measurable snowfall. The storm caused major damage to agriculture, particularly to the states citrus crops. This event is still remembered as one of the most extraordinary weather events to have occurred in Miami.

Osho Rajneesh, also known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, was a spiritual teacher and guru who was active in the second half of the 20th century. He is best known for his teachings on the science of the inner and his emphasis on the individuals potential for self-realisation. Rajneeshs teachings drew from a variety of spiritual traditions, including Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and the teachings of J Krishnamurti. Rajneesh was a controversial figure and his commune in Oregon was involved in legal battles and scandals. He passed away on January 19, 1990, but his teachings continue to be followed by a dedicated group of followers and his books continue to be popular around the world.

Kokborok Day is celebrated in Tripura, to honour the Kokborok language, culture and heritage. Kokborok is the indigenous language spoken by the majority of the tribal population of Tripura. The day is celebrated on January 19 every year to commemorate the official recognition of Kokborok as a language in 1979. It is marked by cultural programs, traditional dances, songs, and speeches. This day is also celebrated to promote the Kokborok language and culture among the younger generation. The state government of Tripura also organises various competitions such as debates, quizzes, and essay writing in the Kokborok language to encourage the use of the language and to promote the culture.

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Energy can never be stagnant. Energy means that which is not stagnant, that which is always flowing. Relaxation does not mean energy that is stagnant or asleep; scientifically, relaxation means that now energy is flowing through another channel, another dimension.

But even though the room may be different, if it is not the very opposite of the room you were in before, the mind will not relax. For example, if you work on a scientific problem, then you can relax by reading a novel. The work is different: to deal with a scientific problem is to be active - a very masculine mode - whereas to read a novel is to be passive, which is an absolutely feminine mode. Even though you are using the same mind, you will be relaxed. You are not solving anything, you are not active; you are just a receiver.

In the same way, when we love, the intellect does not come into play at all. Quite the opposite happens: the irrational part of your personality comes into action. Intelligence must be balanced by love and love must be balanced by intelligence.

Abridged from The Great Challenge, Talk #5, courtesy: Osho International Foundation, http://www.osho.com

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Maintain the balance - Economic Times

Here is a selection of Kyodo News photos taken this week in Japan and beyond.

Japanese "geiko" traditional professional entertainers and their apprentice, called "maiko," wearing formal attire, await the start of a ceremony to mark the first business day of the year on Jan. 7, 2023, in Kyoto. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

A high school student makes a bamboo lantern at a park in Kobe on Jan. 7, 2023, for a Jan. 17 memorial event marking the 28th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake that struck the western Japan city and its vicinity killing more than 6,000 people. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

A man performs a bungee jumping from a bridge about 100 meters above ground in the Ibaraki Prefecture city of Hitachiota, eastern Japan, on Jan. 7, 2023, while shouting his hopes for this year. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Firefighters perform traditional ladder acrobatics on Jan. 8, 2023, during the annual New Year event organized by the Kanazawa city fire department in Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States celebrates after winning the giant slalom at an Alpine skiing World Cup event in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on Jan. 8, 2023. With her 82nd win, she equaled compatriot Lindsey Vonn's women's World Cup victories record. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Photo taken on Jan. 9, 2023, on Amami-Oshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, shows Ceylon blue glassy tigers clustered on twigs to make it through the winter. The butterfly is found in Southeast Asia, including Taiwan and southwestern islands in Japan, and is known to cluster in groups when the temperature falls below 15 C. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Defending champion Sota Fujii (R) and challenger Yoshiharu Habu reflect on Game 1 of a historic best-of-seven series for shogi's Osho title after Fujii beat Habu at a teahouse at Kakegawa Castle in the Shizuoka Prefecture city of Kakegawa, central Japan, on Jan. 9, 2023. If Habu, 52, captures the Osho title from 20-year-old Fujii, holder of four other major titles, it would be his 100th title tournament victory, an unprecedented achievement. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

LED lights aligned on the Rokko mountain range to form "Kobe" and "1.17," the date of the deadly Great Hanshin Earthquake that struck the port city in Hyogo Prefecture and neighboring areas in 1995, are pictured from Kobe on Jan. 10, 2023. (Kyodo)

A Sukhoi-30 fighter plane of the Indian Air Force arrives at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Hyakuri Air Base in Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Jan. 10, 2023, ahead of Japan and India's first joint fighter jet exercise. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

People visit Azumayama Park in Ninomiya, Kanagawa Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Jan. 11, 2023, with rapeseed blossoms blooming earlier in the year than usual. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Dec. 31~Jan. 6

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Dec. 24~30

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Dec. 17~23

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Dec. 10~16

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Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Jan. 7~13 - Kyodo News Plus

Shares of online food aggregator Zomato settled higher on Monday, snapping their four-day losing run. The stock rose 1.26 per cent to settle at Rs 56 apiece on BSE. Technical analysts see strong support for the stock at Rs 45 level. They see Rs 75 as a good level, where traders can book profits.

On Monday, a total of 24.46 shares changed hands on BSE, which was lower than Zomato's two-week average volume of 34.20 shares. The turnover on the counter stood at Rs 13.73 crore. The food aggregator commanded a market capitalisation (m-cap) of Rs 47,889.77 crore at the close.

At today's closing price of Rs 56, the scrip was up 38 per cent from its 52-week low of 40.55 on July 27, 2022.

The stock traded below its 5-day, 20-, 50-, 100-and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs). Zomato has an average target price of Rs 67, as per data publicly available with Trendlyne, suggesting an upside potential of 19.64 per cent. The stock's one-year beta stood at 1.67 per cent, indicating high volatility on the counter.

Also Read |Ashish Kacholia upped stake in Yasho Industries, Xpro India; stayed put on Fineotex Chemicals

Technical analysts said the Zomato stock could see rangebound trading between Rs 45 and Rs 75 levels, with Rs 45 being good support. Investors, they said, can look to accumulate the stock at this level for a target of Rs 75.

Osho Krishan, Senior Analyst - Technical & Derivative Research - at Angel One, said, "Zomato is in a secular downtrend and is hovering well below all its major SMA on the daily chart, indicating inherent weakness. Any fall below the recent swing low of Rs 53.20 could further disrupt the chart structure, and the stock might plunge toward the Rs 48.50 odd zone. On the contrary, the stock has a stiff resistance of the bearish gap placed around the Rs 59.55-59.80 zone, followed by Rs 62-64 odd levels. In the meantime, the stock is expected to hover in between the mentioned range until a decisive breakthrough happens on either side."

Ravi Singhal, CEO of GCL Securities, said, "Zomato is consolidating for a long time. The stock is in the range of Rs 45 to Rs 75." Investors can buy near support of Rs 45 and book profit around Rs 75 levels, Singhal added.

Ravi Singh, Vice-President and Head of Research at Share India, "The recent turmoil in Zomato's management is affecting the stock in a negative manner. However, the company has shown slight improvement in its September quarter financial numbers but many concerns still remain for Zomato. The stock may remain under selling pressure and may touch the levels of Rs 50 in near term."

Investors should exit the stock, he suggested.

AR Ramachandran from Tips2trades, said, " The levels of Rs 57-58.70 will continue to act as a strong resistance for Zomato on the daily chart. A daily close below the Rs 53.40 level could lead to a target of Rs 48 in the near term."

Q3 Expectations

JM Financial expects only 1 per cent QoQ growth in food delivery GOV (Gross order value) in the December quarter, as it factors in the adverse impact of inflationary pressures on discretionary spending, increase in dine-in consumption and discontinuation of Zomato Pro Plus loyalty programme.

Also Read |JP Associates shares tank 5% as company defaults on loan payments

Meanwhile, Indian equity benchmarks rebounded today, halting their losing run of three straight sessions.

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Zomato shares at Rs 45 or Rs 75? What's next for the stock after recent fall - Business Today

Humanity, interfaith ministry, beliefs, integral theory, moments of peace, Christianity and Buddhism, faith definitions, trans-rational spirituality, and thoughts about God. Those were some of the topics broached in my ten most-read articles of 2022. Below you will find a quick summary of each and links to the original articles.

In this article from 2018, I explain the pre/trans fallacy and how people can transcend and include rationality when they approach the topic of spirituality. Instead of abandoning reason altogetheras some have suggestedit is possible to push to the limits of the intellect and transcend it. In that way, spirituality meets rational criteria before we enter into the unknown or unknowable.

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When people are unfamiliar with terms, they often use them interchangeably. I offered simple definitions of each term in this article and gave examples. In short, intrafaith means within a faith, interfaith means among or between faiths, multifaith means many faiths, and interspirituality means exploring the connection.

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Published just before Christmas 2022, this article made it into the top ten. Extracted from The Little Book of Oneness and Goodness, the quotes come from various sources, including Swami Prabhavananda, Martin Luther, Ibn-al-Arabi, Alcoholics Anonymous, Meister Eckhart, Guru Nanak, Kabir and more. The goal was to offer a variety of perspectives. Based on the response, it seems to have worked.

Read all the quotes

The idea for this article started with a simple observation. In the West, many people view Buddhism as a philosophy rather than a religion and use it to become more peaceful and compassionate. My question was: What if we viewed Christianity in the same way? Many readers seem to resonate with this idea since the article was the 7th most read of 2022.

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Written in 2018, this article seems to have become another perennial favorite. In it, I write about the difference between the personal and trans-personal concepts of God and use Huston Smiths concept about idolatryreducing God to something less than Godto explain the limitations of simple definitions while also underlining the importance of creating a personal relationship to that which we perceive as God.

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I was delighted to see this article climb so high on the top ten list. At the beginning of 2022, I planned to write a short book, Creating Moments of Peace, but I decided to share the central ideas for free on my publication instead. The seven metaphorsanchor, bandwidth, steering wheel, instinct, weather, current and toweroffer readers several ways to view moments of peace in their lives, encouraging both additions and ownership.

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This is the longest essay I have posted on my publication. Extracted from my 2019 memoir, Spiritual in My Own Way, the article details my seven-year obsession with integral theory and how it changed my life. As I warned at the beginning of the article, a stretched mind will return to its original form, so dont go down this rabbit hole unless you are ready to have your mind expanded.

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Studying the worlds religions prepared me well for the times we are living in. It helped me understand the uniquely human desire to hold beliefs and values close to the heart. Understanding why people would do that becomes doubly important in a post-truth world. Since this article was the third most read in 2022, it looks like many readers were looking for similar answers and used my piece to explore one aspect of a larger puzzle.

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This article must appear in search results when people look for the definition because it has remained one of the most read articles in this publication since it was published in 2018. In the article, I offer a definition and three examples of how interfaith ministers serve their communities.

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I used the Dalai Lama and Mr. Rogers as examples of people who are deeply informed by their faith yet lead with their humanity. It makes me tremendously happy to see that this article was catapulted to the top of the list. Despite all the talk of division and hate, there are a lot of people in the world who are working to make it better. Seeing that readers are interested in that work warms my heart.

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Thanks for reading in 2022. I look forward to providing you with interesting content in 2023.

Happy New Year!

Gudjon BergmannAuthor, Coach, and Mindfulness Teacher

Recommended books:

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The Ten Most Read Articles of 2022: Interspirituality for the Modern ... - Patheos

As an undergraduate student at the University of Southern California, the Reverend Dr. Joseph Cheah said that he would spend hours at the bookstore, reading about Asian American studies.Dr. Joseph Cheah

The whole notion of Asian American things like that, I've been interested in that for a long time, Cheah said. I would just stand there for hours, reading one book after another in Asian American studies. For the first time, I read somebody talking about me, and most of the books do not talk about me. ... This was the first time that people were actually talking about me and my background. I was fascinated by that."

Cheah proceeded to make Asian American studies part of his career, primarily focusing his scholarship on race and religion. He is currently chair and professor in the Department of Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Studies at University of Saint Joseph Connecticut.

And recently, he released his latest book Anti-Asian Racism: Myths, Stereotypes, and Catholic Social Teachings, which highlights pervasive and destructive stereotypes that the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community faces: perpetual foreigner, Yellow Peril, and the myth of the model minority.

Cheah who is Chinese-Burmese said that the perpetual foreigner stereotype manifests itself in how people not of Asian ethnicity often ask where someone was really from.

That means that people consider people from Asian ancestry as foreign, Cheah said. It doesn't matter how many years you're living here. It doesn't matter whether you're born here. It doesn't matter [that] your family came here generations ago. People are not satisfied with whatever answer we give them when they ask us, 'Where are you from?' They are expecting an Asian name, Asian country. They already pegged you down as a foreigner. You don't look like an American.

He said that racist fears of Yellow Peril currently relate to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which anti-Asian sentiment and incidents have seen increases.

Yellow peril is the racial construct that came from 19th-century Europe, fear of invasion of these uncivilized dangerous people from Asia. We are seen as enemies, Cheah said. It shows up in times of economic crisis. It shows up in times of tension between U.S. and Asian nations, especially tensions and war between U.S. and Asian nation states, like in WWII, where Japanese Americans were incarcerated. It also shows up in times of public health crisis, like COVID-19. In a way, we become scapegoats for all the problems."

Cheah holds a B.S. from the University of Southern California; a M.Div. from the Franciscan School of Theology; an M.A. in theology from the Graduate Theological Union (GTU); and a Ph.D. in cultural and historical studies of religions from GTU.

He has also authored other works, includingRace and Religion in American Buddhism: White Supremacy and Immigrant Adaptation.

Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim, a professor of theology at the Earlham School of Religion said that Cheah's book is much needed.

"Dr. Cheahs book onAnti-Asian Racismcould not have appeared at a more appropriate time than today. He has written an important book that highlights the persistency of anti-Asian racism rendered invisible in churchs documents and in much of the politics of U.S. racial discourses," said Kim. "It is an essential reading for those in academia and pastoral ministries."

Cheah said that harmful stereotypes about Asians often occur subtly and make it difficult to explain to others what it means or feels to be Asian American. And yet, reasons to share the experiences of Asian Americans persist.

"I think it's important to tell our story and experiences, even if not too many people are listening, because our stories are gifts and contributions deemed essential to what it means to be Americans in the U.S., what it means to be American Catholic, what it means to be Asian American Buddhist in American Buddhism, and so on and so forth," Cheah said. "At the larger level, our stories and experiences are some of the missing pieces necessary for the attainment of authentic racial justice, which cannot be achieved until all the various groups are included in the fabric of Americanness."

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Nazi SwastikaPhoto bywikimedia commons

Introduction

You're probably familiar with the Nazi swastika. But do you know the story behind its origins?

The swastika is a powerful symbol with a long and complex history. Sadly, it's most often associated with the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime during World War II. But the swastika didn't always have such a sinister connotation. Its roots are pretty Bizarre.

The History of the Swastika Before Nazi Germany

The swastika has a long and complicated history that predates Nazi Germany for thousands of years. Originally, the symbol was used in Hinduism and Buddhism to represent auspiciousness and good fortune.

But over time, the swastika evolved to represent hate and violence. It was used by the Nazis as their primary symbol and has since become synonymous with genocide and racism.

How the Swastika Became the Nazi Symbol

The swastika has a long and complicated history, but its association with the Nazi party is one of the most bizarre and disturbing chapters.

The swastika is an ancient symbol used for centuries by Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and other religions around the world. But it was the Nazi party that made it into their official symbol and gave it a whole new meaning.

Why did the Nazis choose the swastika as their symbol? There's no one answer to that question. Some say that it was because of its link to Aryan mythology or because of its resemblance to a sunburst. Others claim that it was simply because the swastika was easy to paint on flags and banners.

Whatever the reason, the swastika will always be associated with the atrocities of the Holocaust and the Nazi regime.

Nazi Germany's Use of the Swastika

The swastika is a potent symbol with a complicated history. Swirling with meanings and implications, it's no wonder that the swastika is still controversial today.

Originating in India thousands of years ago, the swastika was a sacred symbol with positive associations. It was used to represent good luck and well-being. But its meaning changed when it was adopted by Nazi Germany in the 20th century.

The Nazis turned the swastika into their emblem, using it to represent their twisted vision of Aryan supremacy. This dark association has continued to overshadow the swastika in the modern era. And while it's now widely considered to be a symbol of hate, there are still some who defend its original meaning.

The Legacy of the Nazi Swastika Today

The legacy of the Nazi swastika still looms large in the world today. The symbol has become so entrenched in our collective consciousness that it quickly brings to mind images of white nationalists, neo-Nazis, and violence. And that's not a fleeting association; despite its ancient religious roots, it's now difficult to separate the swastika from its modern usage by the oppressive regime of Nazi Germany.

It's something that's become so potent, so powerful, and so immediately associated with Nazi Germany that many countries have gone so far as to ban the flag outright. Even in places where it isn't explicitly illegal to display it, there are huge cultural taboos the swastika is something most people want to avoid at all costs.

In today's world, the swastika is a reminder of a dark period in history one we must continually strive to learn from and never let ourselves forget.

Austria's Ban on Nazi Symbols and Salutes

Did you know that Austria banned the Nazi swastika and Hitler salute in 1947? After the defeat of Nazi Germany, the Allies forced Austria to pass a law criminalizing Nazi symbols and salutes in all public places. This was done out of fear that Austria would be taken over by Nazi sympathizers.

This law is still in place today, and it forbids "propagation, exhibition or uses publicly or privately [of] illicit symbols, flags, insignia or salutes." Even so, this has not stopped some far-right political parties from attempting to use the symbols during election campaigns.

Austria's ban on Nazi symbols serves as an important reminder that we must never forget the horrors of World War II and the atrocities committed by Nazis. It is a reminder that we must always strive for unity and never allow hate to spread.

Dealing With Neo-Nazis and Their Use of the Swastika

You've probably seen neo-Nazis using the swastika in an attempt to revive the hateful ideology of the Third Reich. This is a difficult challenge for many to confront.

One strategy is to counter the use of the swastika by using it positively or claiming it as a symbol of peace and love instead. You could also raise awareness about its historical materials and origins, and share stories about how people are embracing its positive meanings.

Another strategy is to focus on countering the ideas behind neo-Nazism and white supremacy, rather than solely focusing on their symbols. To do this, you can actively speak out against hate online, through public protests, or public education campaigns.

Finally, it is important to remember that while symbols are powerful, they don't define us we define them. The swastika will forever be tainted by its association with racism and genocide, but by reclaiming it as a symbol of peace and love, we create an opportunity to reclaim our future.

Conclusion

So there you have it's a bizarre and little-known story of how the Nazi swastika came to be. Its legacy is still being felt today, even after its association with one of history's most heinous regimes. Hopefully, this article has given you a little more insight into this complex and troubling symbol.

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(RNS) Scientists and believers have had an uneasy relationship, often bordering on open hostility. Consider Richard Dawkins or Sam Harris.

But there is one scientist who manages to write about the intersection of science and spirituality in a nuanced, elegant and deeply respectful way. Thats Alan Lightman.

Those who havent read his 18-plus books (both fiction and nonfiction) now have a chance to watch his three-part series on public television, funded by the John Templeton Foundation and premiering Jan. 7.

Titled SEARCHING: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science, Lightman takes viewers on a journey to answer the question: Where do human beings fit in the universe?

Poster for SEARCHING: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science Courtesy image

Lightman, who was trained as a physicist and is now professor of the practice of the humanities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, interviews some of the brightest minds about the thorniest questions: How did life first emerge? Why are we here? What are the qualities that distinguish human beings? What is the nature of consciousness? Can science see or measure spiritual feelings?

He makes clear early on: He is a materialist. He does not believe in a supernatural God. As he says in the series: I believe in the miraculous; not in miracles.

But he is also open to spiritual experiences. And the series includes interviews with both the Dalai Lama and Lightmans own rabbi, Michael Greenstein.

Lightman opens the three-part series with a transcendent experience he had several years ago when he lay at the bottom of a boat on a clear, dark night gazing up at the stars.

He then wonders if brain imaging can identify the kind of spiritual experience he had. From there begins to explore issues such as the composition of the universe, the Big Bang theory, the discovery of distant galaxies, gravitational waves and the nature of consciousness. The last episode explores how Homo sapiens might be moving beyond biology, transitioning into what he calls Homo techno.

Lightman appears as a kind of avuncular guide throughout the series, exploring his wide-ranging intellectual trek in an accessible, engaging and personal way.

RNS talked to Lightman via Zoom about the series, which will be available for streaming Saturday and begin airing on select PBS stations on Jan. 14. The interview was edited for length and clarity.

Computer graphics overlaid on Alan Lightmans face visualize the long-standing debate as to whether life is only matter in motion, or has some non-material essence, in the series SEARCHING: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science. Photo courtesy of SEARCHING

For many years, Ive been writing about the intersection of science and the humanities. Ive been trying to make those connections in my books. I do agree theres a gap in knowledge about science. A lot of people are fearful of science. Maybe they were never good at math. Or they know science has great power and theres a limited number of people who control that power. Many people are suspicious or skeptical or anxious about science. So thats one of the motivations.

My wife and I live on a small island in Maine in the summertime. My wife is an artist. I think of it as our spiritual center. Everybody on the island has their own boat because there are no roads or bridges or ferry service. I was coming back to our house late at night, after midnight. It was a clear night. The night was blazing with stars. I felt this urge to look up. I turned off the running lights of the boat. It got even darker. I turned off the engine and it got even more quiet. I was out in the ocean, and I lay down on my back and looked up. After a few moments I felt like I was merging with the stars or with something much larger than myself. I felt like time was compressed. There was no time. The infinite past and the infinite future were all compressed to a dot. I lost track of my body and of time and was just in this space of being joined with the cosmos. I think many people have similar experiences, maybe not out on a boat in the ocean. But a transcendent experience that transcends space and time.

Alone, at night, on a boat, Alan Lightman feels himself merging with the stars. As a life-long spiritual materialist he sets off to look for answers in SEARCHING: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science. Photo courtesy of SEARCHING

One of the big ideas in the series is that were material. Were made out of atoms and molecules. Episode 1 starts out with the Big Bang and shows how stars were eventually made. The stars made atoms that were spewed out into space. And then solar systems condensed out of that material and eventually, life. Theres a lot of discussion of the fact that we are just material. If you start with the fact that were material, how can atoms and molecules produce these extraordinary experiences like the one I had in the boat, like falling in love, communing with wild animals? How do you explain that? Even though those experiences are rooted in the brain, science cant fill in all the missing steps. It hasnt been able to so far, and Im skeptical as to whether it will ever be able to.

Brain scientist Robert Desimone did a scan of my brain when I was looking at an image very similar to what I saw in the boat. And he begins describing what he sees in the brain scan. And I asked if he could see the feelings I had? He said, no. He would probably say sometime in the future we can explain such feelings. But Im not convinced. I think filling in all the missing steps is a challenge. Philosophers and neuroscientists and biologists would agree we dont yet know how consciousness arises from material neurons. I call myself a spiritual materialist. I believe we are made out of atoms and molecules. But I also acknowledge and honor these spiritual experiences we have.

Its a great question. There are levels of consciousness. Dolphins and crows who play and recognize themselves have some level of consciousness. So its a graded phenomenon. At the highest level, the manifestations of consciousness include a sense of self, a sense of things separate from the universe, a sense of ego, an ability to remember and plan for the future.

Having said that, consciousness is a sensation brought about by all of the chemical and electrical interactions of neurons. Its the fundamental sensation of being alive at an advanced level. There are computer experts in artificial intelligence who attempt to define certain attributes of consciousness and then explore what a computer needs to do to exhibit those attributes. There are computer scientists who believe we will someday be able to make a computer that has all the attributes of consciousness. But you can never know what another person feels. To understand consciousness youd have to know what another person feels, and thats impossible. I dont think well ever know what it feels like to be a computer, a crow or a dolphin.

Alan Lightman, left, meets Bina48, one of Earths most advanced humanoid robots and one of the few African-American AIs on SEARCHING: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science. Photo courtesy of SEARCHING

Homo techno is a creature that is part human and part machine. Were already evolving to that point. Its possible to put electrodes and computer chips into a human brain and have a person be able to control a robot arm by pure thought. I think at some point we will have computer chips in our brain that connect us directly to the internet, a frightening possibility.

When we have these devices that do things far faster and differently than the natural human brain, were going to be another species. Already, with our smartphones, the way people relate to each other is different than 25 years ago. Even though the smartphone is external and its not quite Homo techno, its the same kind of thing. Technology is changing who we are and how we relate to the world.

A question I raise in the series, which of course I cant answer, is, How is that going to change humanity, our sense of dignity and ethics, the way we think about ourselves?

I do. Im a Reform Jew on the liberal end. I think Buddhism has a lot to offer, like being present in the world, mindfulness, not attaching your ego excessively to things you do. Im also proud to be a Jew.

Im just one person, and I can only do a tiny bit. But in a number of my books, thats what Im trying to do to find a midway ground between nonbelievers and believers. I had a debate with Richard Dawkins five years ago. I think he has a very condescending attitude toward believers. I have opposed him in a couple of my books. I argue for the value of transcendent experiences and for the respect of believers. Hes a good debater, so it was pretty much a tie.

The Dalai Lama, left, suggests to Alan Lightman that consciousness is eternal and can never emerge from a computer or an advanced robot, in SEARCHING: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science. Photo courtesy of SEARCHING

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