No we are not there, it is far away and too long to reach, otherwise, Yes, we are there already but we have not realised it yet. We are in imagination. We have to get awakened.

"Salutation to Lord Rama, an Incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who is measureless, who is of the nature of pure Consciousness and bliss, who is the consort of Sita, Master of Sri Hanuman, and the Lord of the three worlds, who took His birth at His own will in order to establish righteousness, destroy the wicked and protect His devotees."

"Let Sri Rama be your ideal. Ideals are remembered and adored for the purpose of adopting them in your own life. The Ramnavami celebration or the Vasanta Navaratri every year is an opportune period for us to saturate ourselves with the spirit of Lord Rama. We love and adore our ideals because we express thereby our yearning to unite with them. In our worship of God it is implied that we should be virtuous, good and perfect even as God is. Hence the wise instruction: "One should become divine in order to be able to worship God". One cannot be a real worshipper of Lord Rama unless one makes an honest attempt to grow in the virtues that the Lord represents. On the other hand, worship of Lord Rama is itself the surest means to develop such virtues."- Swami Sivananda

BIRTHDAY OF RAMA

Make every act an offering to me (God); regard me as your only protector. Relying on interior discipline, meditate on me always. Remembering me, you shall overcome all difficulties through my grace. But if you will not heed me in your self-will, nothing will avail you. - Bhagavad Gita 18:57-58

Hindu American Foundation Receives Hindu Renaissance Award

Source: www.HAFsite.org

FREEMONT, CA, USA, March 31, 2009 (Press Release): The Hindu American Foundation’s (HAF) national staff meeting took on a festive atmosphere in Northern California this week as the group became the first organization to receive the “Hindu Renaissance Award” on March 28. Annually presented by Hinduism Today magazine for nearly two decades, the award’s inscription recognizes the Foundation “for its outstanding service in the Hindu cause through educating policy makers, defending religious freedom, joining interfaith efforts and bringing a professional approach to all that it does in advancing the core beliefs and values of the Sanatana Dharma [Hinduism].”Easan Katir, who represents the Hawaii-based magazine in California, presented the award to the HAF staff, Board of Directors and Executive Council at an award reception held here.

“The publisher and editors of Hinduism Today congratulate HAF for its groundbreaking work for the benefit of the north American Hindu community,” said Katir soon after the ceremony. “HAF’s intelligent response to the Hindu issues of the day assures us that the Hindu faith will continue to thrive.”

Hinduism Today annually awards the Hindu Renaissance Award to the “Hindu of the Year,” an individual chosen among those who have “inspired, strengthened and reinvigorated Hinduism and its hundreds of millions of followers on a global basis.” This was the first time the Hindu Renaissance Award was ever presented to an organization. An international Hindu magazine created in the United States, Hinduism Today is published by the Himalayan Academy and was founded by the late Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.

“It is just an amazing feeling to receive this award from Hinduism Today, the pages of which inspired so much of our foundation’s commitment to Hindu advocacy,” exulted Mihir Meghani, M.D., co-founder and member of the HAF Board of Directors. “We’re just thrilled that a week of grinding meetings, brainstorming and strategizing for our Foundation’s leadership culminated in a wonderful night of recognition and celebration.”

Foundation leaders are hoping that the award will bring more attention to the group’s 2008 Hindu human rights report that was released just last week to wide acclaim in the U.S. House and Senate. Diminished revenue is also weighing heavily at the Foundation this year as a troubled economy takes it toll on most non-profits. “We believe that this award will generate a lot of attention and prove to be a shot-in-the-arm at this critical juncture,” Meghani added.

The article on Hinduism Today’s latest issue featuring the Hindu American Foundation may be read at http://www.hinduismtoday.com/digital

(HPI)

I will keep calm and quiet in any situations.
I love the universal love for everything.

What do you need most right now? Nothing.
What would you like help with? Nothing.
What would make your life more wonderful?Nothingness.
What do you need? Nothing at all.

Thirukkural is the best compass guide. Every thing in this world are analysed there. Good conduct, Speaking truth and so many other topice are dealt with in it. It advises to Kings, ministers, house holders etc.

Normally I do not take it so serious. My father got my horoscope at my birth. According to that I belong to "Dhanu" Rasi, which is Sagittarius. Mostly predicted to become interested in religion and related fields. In certain cases I have seen the predictions become true but in most cases It never happens. It depends on the authenticity of the relevant astrologer too. I feel it is better to listen to the inner voice. Then no trouble at all.

Nothing necessary. It will appear automatically. I am waiting for it. There is no hurry for it.

Butterfly with beautiful wings.

60,000 Devotees Visit Vaishno Devi Shrine During First Two Days Of Navratras

Source: www.topnews.in

JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA, March 30, 2009: According to official sources, around 60,000 devotees from all over India visited the holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi to seek the blessings of the Divine Mother in her three manifestations during the first two days of the Chaitra Navratras that started on March 27. The shrine board has provided better facilities to the devotees and made better arrangements especially for the Navratras. And devotees can easily buy traditional goods from temporary stalls set up near the temples.

Chaitra Navratri starts the 1st day of the month of Chaitra. It is most famous in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and in other parts of North India. Chaitra Navratra is known by different names like Ram Navratri, Vasant Navratri, Basant Navrathri and some people also refer it as Spring Navaratras.

(HPI)

Let Hari teach you,
Or Brahman, born of the lotus,
Or Shiva Himself!

Unless you forget everything,
You will never live in your heart.

-Ashtavakra Gita 16:11

From "The Heart of Awareness: A Translation of the Ashtavakra Gita," by Thomas Byrom, 1990. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc., Boston. www.shambhala.com.

Bless this little heart, this white soul that has
won the kiss of heaven for our earth.
He loves the light of the sun,
he loves the sight of his mother's face.
He has not learned to despise the dust,
and to hanker after gold.
Clasp him to your heart and bless him.
He has come into this land of an hundred crossroads.
I know not how he chose you from the crowd,
came to your door, and grasped your hand
to ask his way.
He will follow you, laughing and talking,
and not a doubt in his heart.
Keep his trust, lead him straight and bless him.
Lay your hand on his head, and pray
that though the waves underneath grow threatening,
yet the breath from above may come and
fill his sails and
waft him to the heaven of peace.

- by Rabindranath Tagore

There will be nothing to do at all. Inaction. I would like to remain as it is.

Slumdog: A Legacy Not To Be Envied

Source: online.wsj.com

NEW DELHI, INDIA, March 16, 2009: India’s Oscar victory has been celebrated with patriotic fervor. But what will be the final word on Slum dog and its legacy for India?

Mr. Rahul Chawdhry, a professor of international marketing, says that although nobody claims we should hide the poverty and corruption that exists in India, highlighting these problems is very damaging to the “Made in India” brand internationally.

He says, “India can provide world class services when its reputation allows it. It is a hub for health tourism and successfully attracts international patients mainly because of the positive perception of Indian doctors in the U.S. and Europe. But after seeing Slum dog, will an American consumer be as open to buying Indian products, opening an Indian bank account, or having surgery performed in India? Marketing is, after all, a battle of perceptions in the consumer’s mind. Slum dog Millionaire hasn’t helped us on that score.”

[HPI note: When highlighting the bizarre and the exotic, as the Western media often does about Hinduism, repulsion is created in people’s minds. One can argue that a negative portrayal of India has a negative effect on the subjective image of Hinduism worldwide.]

I do like Butterflies from my childhood.
I never catch them or harm them.
I just watch them flying here and there.

So colourful, they are actually heaven made.
I have seen them building up a wax house and
sleeping inside before becoming a matured
and full fledged Butterfly.(Larva stage)

I have seen the original caterpillars
before turning into Butterflies.
They will just sting you with their hairs
only if you come in contact with them. 

Other wise they are harmless.
While they fly from flowers to flowers,
always drinking the honey
They just become the helpers to the nature.

In our country there is a hill named: 'Adam's peak'
In Sinhala It is named ' Samanala Kandha'
The legend behind this as follows:
'When the time comes for them to die,
They just migrate to that hill.'

(Dedicated to all those who appreciated the Butterfly)

This vast Universe where we live in. We would look like ants from far above.

Source: www.tulsaworld.com

TULSA, OKLAHOMA, USA, April 3, 2009: On Saturday, April 4, the Oklahoma Telugu Sangam celebrate Ugadi 2009, a multicultural program of Indian foods, traditions, music and dance celebrating the Ugadi Hindu New Year at Thoreau Demonstration Academy in Tulsa.

 

Hari Musapeta, a Tulsa businessman and founder and president of OTS, a nonprofit organization promoting education and awareness of Indian culture, said the sharing of culture is very important for the entire community. “It makes a better life for the community if we understand each other’s language and culture.”

 

Meanwhile, as the new year approaches in India, Hindu astrologers prepare a calendar that forecasts significant changes in everything from the weather to politics. At the beginning of the Ugadi New Year, Hindu priests all over the world read the forecast of the days ahead.

(HPI)

 love to provide full support as mich as possible in Gaia and they also provide same to me here.

Eli's group One light more widows.

“India was the motherland of our race and Sanskrit the mother of Europe’s languages. India was the mother of our philosophy, of much of our mathematics, of the ideals embodied in Christianity (…) of self-government and democracy. In many ways, Mother India is the mother of us all.”

- Will Durant, American Historian (1885-1981)

"Butterflies, by Rudyard Kipling

"Eyes aloft, over dangerous places,
The children follow the butterflies,
And, in the sweat of their upturned faces,
Slash with a net at the empty skies.

So it goes they fall amid brambles,
And sting their toes on the nettle-tops,
Till, after a thousand scratches and scrambles,
They wipe their brows and the hunting stops.

Then to quiet them comes their father
And stills the riot of pain and grief,
Saying,  "Little ones,  go and gather
Out of my garden a cabbage-leaf.

"You will find on it whorls and clots of
Dull grey eggs that, properly fed,
Turn, by way of the worm, to lots of
Glorious butterflies raised from the dead."  .  .  .

"Heaven is beautiful, Earth is ugly,"
The three-dimensioned preacher saith;
So we must not look where the snail and the slug lie
For Psyche's birth.  .  .  .  And that is our death!""

Ram Navami Celebrations at the House of Commons Highlight Hindu Acceptance in UK

Source: www.hinducounciluk.org

LONDON, UK, April 4, 2009: The birthday of Lord Rama was celebrated at the House of Commons on Monday, as the Members’ Dining Room was turned into a Mandir for the afternoon. Over 200 invited guests sang bhajans and watched Aarti performed by two young children, as Hindus from many different traditions celebrated the festival beneath the flag of Lord Hanuman.

The fifth annual event of its kind, the festival was once again hosted by Tony McNulty MP and Abhay Lakhani, Parliamentary Advisor on Community Issues. “Today we are here to celebrate Ram Noumi in this majestic building, the Mother of all Parliaments, the Palace of Westminster,” said Abhay Lakhani. “It is absolutely right that we celebrate the birth of Lord Ram here. He was the Law-Maker himself.”

Reminding visitors that such an event would not be possible in the Indian Parliament, Mr Lakhani suggested the festival proved we live in a nation which truly values its Hindu brothers and sisters, a nation which demonstrates the principles of Ram Rajya in practice.

Anil Bhanot, General Secretary of the Hindu Council UK, was invited to speak at the event and he too highlighted how British representative democracy embodies the aspirations of Ram Rajya. He said, “We need to always apply ancient wisdom to run our fast moving modern living, and that we can learn a lot from the principles that Lord Rama governed with.” Sanjay Jagatia, General Secretary of the National Council of Hindu Temples reminded us of the loving devotion held for Lord Rama in the hearts of all Hindus.

Several other MPs attended the event. Baroness Verma also came from the House of Lords. All praised and welcomed the enormous role of Hindus within the UK, mentioning Hindu contributions to the economy, cultural diversity and moral values.

(HPI)

The words are correct and fit me well and the only  thing I will attend is Internetting.

OLD AGE.
No tension, No hurry, so no question of holding it. Physical body says it is now old due to aging. I do not care , I just go on my own way. Let it come behind me.

Said Uddalaka to Shvetaketu:
"In the beginning was only Being,
One without a second.
Out of himself he brought forth the cosmos
And entered into everything in it.
There is nothing that does not come from him.
Of everything he is the inmost Self.
He is the truth; he is the Self supreme.
You are that, Shvetaketu; you are that."

-Chandogya Upanishad

White House Faith-Based Council Gets New Members, Including a Hindu

Source: voices.washingtonpost.com

WASHINGTON, DC, USA, April 6, 2009 (with RNS): The White House today announced ten more members of the council that will advise the president on faith-based and other key issues, such as fatherhood and poverty. The additions bring the council’s ranks to 24 religious and secular leaders. The office is meant primarily to support faith-based groups, including by helping them get government funding or access to legal guidance about church-state boundaries. Under President Obama, it has laid out several priorities including interfaith relations, abortion reduction and improving the environment.

Several new members come from groups representing minorities, including Anju Bhargava, a Hindu, founder of Asian Indian Women of America. In picking a diverse council, Obama fulfilled a campaign pledge to listen to an array of religious voices, said the Rev. Jennifer Butler, executive director of Faith in Public Life, a progressive think tank in Washington. The council includes noted conservatives, like the Rev. Frank Page, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and high-profile liberals, like Fred Davie, the openly gay senior adviser for the non-profit Public/Private Ventures. “There’s always a temptation to just get people on board who agree with you on everything,” she said. “But Obama is sticking to his word that he wants to bring diverse Americans together to talk about even some of the most controversial issues of the day.”

 (HPI)

As it is , so take it as it is.

Spiritual guide of my own passed away on the 7th of March. His eldest daughter sought our help to attend the funeral. There were no flights to that place. All flights cancelled due to bad weather. There was no other way of reaching that place. She went back to her home. She attended the 31st day rituals on 7th of this month and brought me his pictures. We are unable to do anything. I put his photos here in the album and one in my profile.

Keeping Warm in the Snow in 1887, Chester Greenwood got a patent for earmuffs — fur sewn on metal bands — calling them "Greenwood's Champion Ear Protectors." He was fifteen years old. Greenwood never finished elementary school, but he had more than 100 patents, including one for a tea kettle, an advertising matchbox and a steel tooth rake, and is recognized by the Smithsonian Institution as one of America's 15 outstanding inventors. His hometown of Farmington, ME, is the Earmuff Capital of the World; they celebrate Greenwood's birthday on the first Saturday in December with a parade, with cars, cows and pets decorated with giant earmuffs.