Selected verses from Ayodhya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana

Source: http://valmikiramayan.net

2.1.12 Whenever he finds some time even while practising archery, Rama used to converse with elderly people, elder by way of conduct or wisdom or age or with good- natured people.

Comment: Our ancestors seem to have a much better definition of 'elder' than we do.

2.2.16 Dasaratha says to the group of kings, “This is my desire. Yet, let there be thinking on any other beneficial way. Thinking by impartial neutral people will be distinctive and well developed through grinding of opposing views.”

Comment : A great lesson for all wannabe leaders! But uncle of Bharata (King of Kaikeya) and father of Sita (King Janaka) were not invited for this meeting to decide whether Rama should be coronated as the next king. Also, although Dasaratha thought it fit to consult so many kings, he did not consider consulting his own sons in this matter.

Can there be two infinities?

Vivekananda once said to one of his disciples, "There can be no two infinities.... Still further advance will show you that all things are infinite, but these infinite things are one in essence and not two. They are but different expressions of a single entity, and they must be one." This is perhaps the most clear expression of Vivekananda's opinion about the age old Vedantic debate between Advaita and Dvaita. Vivekananda did not discard Dvaita, but he always held Advaita at a higher pedestal. In simple terms, Advaita (or monism) says that the individual soul (Atman) is essentially same as the cosmic soul (Brahman). And Dvaita (or dualism) says that Atman is distinct from Brahman. Indian scholars have been debating on this for many centuries with no clear resolution in sight.