To “nourish the inner aspect”, Oscar winner Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love) suggests buying self-designed pair of Converse shoes for a friend in the latest newsletter of her blog “GOOP—nourish the inner aspect”.
For gift-giving, her blog advises buying dozen themed cookies per month for the entire coming year, handicrafts from “mompreneurs” (busy moms with home-grown businesses) with dolls starting at $69 and fireplace Stockings – $139, personalized baby blankets made by the mother of two boys, personalized melamine plates starting at $24, monogrammed coasters, name prints starting at $98, engraved iPod, “custom bracelet or necklace with charms” with prices going up to $1500.
Paltrow has designed a series of cards which she wants us to buy to “keep family and friends posted”.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed has criticized Paltrow’s blog for mostly being too materialistic and indulging in very mundane things and shallow substances dealing with temporal and external pleasures, and catering to “outer” while claiming to “nourish the inner aspect.”
Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that the idea of foraying into “inner aspect” was wonderful, but he did not comprehend why Paltrow wanted to market a product with an entirely different label. Although the tagline of GOOP is “nourish the inner aspect”, there were not many deep spiritual and philosophical thoughts in it, which were essential part of “nourishing” the inner self. It was very “external”, Zed added. He offered to help Paltrow, if asked.
Ancient Hindu scriptures Upanishads indicated that finite things could not calm an infinite thirst because the delight lied in the infinite. We could not fill the hollowness with outer materials. We should aim at uniting with Self, described as sat-chit-anand (absolute existence, pure consciousness, outright bliss), Rajan Zed pointed out interpreting the scriptures.
GOOP is said to be a name carved from 37-year old Gwyneth Kate Paltrow’s initials, who is also sometimes known as “part yogini”.
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