Shabda Blog is for general and informal reading. It is complementary to the Shabda Journal which is for serious and formal reading. Articles in the blog are written in a relaxed style for the basic reader while those in the journal are written in a rigorous style for the reader interested in advanced topics. Newcomers to Vedic philosophy benefit more from the blog while seasoned readers benefit more from the journal.
Shabda Blog is a complementary medium to the books published by Shabda Press. It was started to provide long-form answers to questions that could not fit into the simple question-and-answer format that we use on Shabda Forums. It is also a resource about Vedic philosophy for those who may not know enough to read books but might be searching for specific topics of interest online. The blog has proven valuable to many readers who like to explore short and focused topics on Vedic philosophy before they dive into books.
Note on Blog-Journal Content Division
The division of articles into a blog and a journal became essential because we were sometimes making things too complicated for newcomers and at other times too simple for seasoned readers. While writing every new article, there was a desire to not overcomplicate things for basic readers along with the desire to not deprive the advanced readers of additional details. The attempt to use a “one size fits all” approach was too cumbersome and confusing. The division of content into separate segments seemed like the solution.
Of course, the basic and advanced reader is not a binary or mutually exclusive division. Different people are at different levels in their understanding. However, while advanced readers can digest the basic content without feeling confused, basic readers cannot digest the advanced content without feeling confused. It is better to let them know that this is due to content laddering.
Note on Article Collections
Paradoxically, separating things allows us to see more cohesiveness in what remains after the separation. Collections are the result of this. If computers were truly intelligent, then they would glean such cohesiveness automatically, and suggest “related articles”. Since computers aren’t truly intelligent, therefore, we have collected related articles together.
Every issue is very complex. We have to look at each issue from multiple angles to understand it fully. Each article delves into multiple aspects of an issue, and still, we need multiple articles. There is naturally some repetition in these articles. But going through these collections will help a reader gain a better understanding of each topic. We highly recommend reading these collections to understand each issue deeply.
Note on Myth vs. Truth Division
The blog is further subdivided into the categories of Debunking Myths and Knowing Truths. Generally, for most people most of the time, debunking myths is a good starting point. Again, these are not binary opposites or mutually exclusive categories. There is always a discussion of reality while debunking a myth and always a discussion of myth while debunking reality. But each article has a primary motivation to either debunk the myth or know reality.
Note on Comments and Discussions
While blogs are often open to comments and discussions, we request comments, questions, and discussions on Shabda Forums. This is due to many reasons.
- Discussions on Forums remain searchable for everyone; others who might have the same questions can therefore find them. The discussions on the blog are not searchable because they are locked into third-party closed comment systems.
- There is a single consolidated place to look for all the discussions by anyone; the comments under each blog post tended to remain obscure. Unless you happen to read the specific blog post, you would also not read the questions and answers.
- The use of plugins to avoid spam through comment systems inserts trackers into your browser, which follow you wherever you go and are a bane to your privacy. We don’t want to be a party facilitating your tracking for commercial uses.