Here in Gaia. I can just roam about. Meet all the friends. Chat with them. With so many facilities, I just enjoy to be here.

A Resource For Tolerance and Compassion

Source: www.WisdomCommons.org

USA, June 27, 2009: A new interactive website, WisdomCommons.org, provides opportunities to build bridges and reach the wisdom of many traditions. To members of Abrahamic and Humanist communities, it might offer bits of Hindu wisdom that are relevant to their own concerns and values.

The Wisdom Commons is a non-profit effort that seeks to elevate our shared moral core, sometimes called universal ethics. It is a place to find and discuss information about approximately 100 virtues that human beings generally agree are important like generosity, compassion and courage. A user can search over 3500 quotes, poems, meditations, stories, and essays from many traditions or can add their own.

Registration creates a Wisdom Page through which an individual or community can share their mission, identify core values, and collect bits of wisdom that support the mission and values. The Commons gives parents and educators tools and–soon–multimedia resources. Recently, “Parent Map” magazine recently featured the site as a resource to help families nurture compassion in their children.
(HPI)

I wish to know my 'self' first, That is taught by Ramana maharishi.

A judge must base all his decisions on truth. How to find the truth? It is highly difficult. Let the God be the judge and  take all decisions.

One and only answer is the spiritualism (Athman) by Ramana Maharishi for all the questions.

Nothing.

I have nothing uncertain and unclear. Everything certain and clear.

Death and reincarnation.

Yes, I prefer to sleep during the night as it is a must to appear more refreshed in the morning. I am unable to remember any hard time for sleeping. Yes, I am a deep sleeper and waking up also easy. I do not understand relationship with sleeping. Any human being requires sleep for a limited time. If we try to dodge it , we will be affected physically. 

Too much pubicity brings trouble. Simplicity is the easiest and less trouble. Public figures usually complain that they lose freedom with much publicity. They are not allowed to roam about on their own. security guards will be following them every where. They cannot walk on the streets freely.

"Who am I?", as taught by Great Ramana Maharishi. I wish to mention, that I have just completed reading the book titled: "Vision of the Greatest Mystic Unveiled". A scientific perspective of the wisdom of  'Sri Ramana Maharishi'  by Dr.G.K.Pillai. I also wish to recommend it to everyone to read  it at least once. the author is a Bachelor of Chemistry, then Botany and PhD in Economics. You may visit his web site too: www.gkpillai.org

Source: happydays.blogs.nytimes.com
NEW YORK, USA, June 25, 2009: There is a strong link between chronic anger and heart disease, according to a recent meta-analysis of 44 prospective studies in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. It confirms a strong relationship between anger and both the onset and outcome from coronary heart disease.

Many people believe that unexpressed anger must necessarily “build up,” leading to resentment, high blood pressure, a heart attack or stroke. This mistaken idea, based on the concept that anger is a substance, leads to the belief that anger should be “released” so that we do not fall ill or explode in a fit of rage.

Challenging times increase the tendency for negative moods and aggressive behavior. Contemporary society subjects us to a constant barrage of annoyances. Moreover, many of us are angry at our former employers for loss of jobs or at the financial service industry’s inability to protect our life savings. However, giving way to anger makes nearly any situation worse. We may feel a temporary satisfaction when we lash out at another in anger, but this only fuels a vicious cycle as the other person seeks his own revenge.

The author, Robert Allan, is a clinical psychologist who works at the Weill Cornell Medical College, author of “Getting Control of Your Anger” and co-editor of “Heart and Mind: the Practice of Cardiac Psychology.”
(Hindu Press International)

It is the stage what Ramana maharishi got from the universe.

Festival at Kamakhya Temple, Home To Tantric Mystics

Source: www.sindhtoday.net
GUWAHATI, INDIA, June 23, 2009: At a revered Hindu temple in India’s northeastern state of Assam, hundreds of mystics and seers make claims of performing wonders with their miraculous supernatural powers.

Giri Baba, an elderly Hindu seer is among thousands of mystics gathered for the Ambubachi Mela, a four-day festival that began Monday.

“One cannot deny miracles and the existence of mystical powers in this world. My blessings help childless couples conceive, besides treating patients with chronic ailments,” Giri Baba said.

The Kamakhya temple has long been considered the highest seat of tantricism, an integral part of India’s lore and religion for centuries.
(Hindu Press International)

Ramakrishna Mission in Sri Lanka Seeks Aid for the Displaced

Source: www.expressbuzz.com
SRI LANKA, July 2, 2009: The Ramakrishna Mission’s Sri Lanka branch seeks help from the members of the public and donor agencies to bring succour to the war-injured and the internally displaced Tamils.

In a press release, Swami Sarvarupananda, who is in charge of the relief works, said the spiritual movement started relief work on May 22 among the refugees displaced from Vanni. The relief work is being done with the help of the local people and volunteers.

“We earnestly appeal to the generous public and donor agencies to come forward to help us in the relief work for these people who are in desperate situation,” the Swami said. There are more than 280,000 people in Jaffna, Vavunia, Mannar and Triconamallee areas needing help. The aim of the mission is to provide food, clothing, sanitation and medical facilities to the refugees.

Donations may be sent to Ramakrishna Mission, 40, Ramakrishna Road, Colombo 6. The cheques, bank drafts should be marked ‘A/c Payee only’ and must be drawn in favor of Ramakrishna Mission, Colombo.
(Hindu Press International dated 3rd July ,2009)

Source: news.bbc.co.uk
UK, July 1, 2009: Vegetarians are generally less likely than meat eaters to develop cancer, but this does not apply to all forms of the disease, according to a major study published in the British Journal of Cancer. Vegetarians developed notably fewer cancers of the blood, bladder and stomach cancer.

The study followed 61,566 British men and women, categorizing them as meat-eaters, those who ate fish but not meat, and those who ate neither meat nor fish. Vegetarians were approximately half as likely as meat-eaters to develop cancers of the lymph or the blood, about 1/3 as likely to develop stomach cancers, and 75% less likely to develop multiple myeloma, a relatively rare cancer of the bone marrow. Vegetarians also got notably fewer cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and cancers of the stomach or bladder. Fish eaters fell somewhere between those two groups. But cancer of the bowel, one of the commonest forms, did not show this reduction for vegetarians.

Professor Tim Key, the lead author, said it was impossible to draw strong conclusions from this one single study. Researchers stress that more studies are needed and that people should continue to eat a healthy, balanced diet high in fibre, fruit and vegetables and low in saturated fat, salt and red and processed meat.
(Hindu Press International)

While I tried to switch on our room light, swithch from the wall came off as th fixing nails were missing and they have been reolaced immediately.

Source: kstp.com
MAPLE GROVE, MINNESOTA, USA, JUNE 28, 2009: Over 1,000 people came to Maple Grove on Sunday to celebrate the completion and official opening of one of the largest Hindu temples in the world, fulfilling the 20-year dream of a few determined devotees. Worshipers paraded images of the Deities around the temple and said special prayers in a celebration of life, compassion, and tolerance. It was a celebration of unity and diversity.

Intended to serve Hindus of all sects, this unusual temple houses many Deities under one roof. And the temple isn’t just for Hindus; it’s open to people from all religions and backgrounds. “This is everybody’s temple. Please visit anytime any day of the week,” said Shashi Gupta of St. Paul.

The American Midwest is home to between 25,000 and 30,000 Hindus.
(Hindu Press International)

it was told already as the switch was fixed already.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
CHENNAI, INDIA, June 27, 2009: In the last year alone, more than half a dozen burglaries and thefts have been reported in temples and churches in and around Chennai.

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) has installed close-circuit video and burglar alarms in many temples and deployed temple protection forces; but this has had little impact on the thefts. Thefts continue in the state capital itself. The temple protection force comprises roughly 3,000 people statewide, but many of these are aged and cannot provide proper security.

The above measures cannot protect antique deities in remote villages, so the HR&CE is setting up murti-storing centers all over the state. “Temple authorities have been asked to use these centers to keep their Deities in safe custody. At the time of festival, the temple managements receive their Deity and once the festival is over, they return them to these centers. The HR&CE has made arrangements to perform daily pujas for all Deities in its custody,” said an official.
(Hindu Press International)

Source: www.thestatesman.net
PURI, INDIA, June 24, 2009: About a million devotees from across the country and abroad thronged the Bada Danda (Grand Road) to witness the annual Rath Yatra of the three deities: Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, here today.

Braving the intense heat, humidity and the security high alert, frenzied devotees chanting “Haribol”, “Jay Jagannath” surged ahead to get a glimpse of the deities swaying out of their temple for their annual sojourn to Gundicha temple on colorfully decorated chariots.

When the deities were brought one by one from the sanctum sanctorum through the Singha Dwar (Lions’ Gate) amidst deafening chants of hymns and the rhythmic beat of traditional instruments, one and all, present on the Bada Danda, irrespective of cast, creed, race, religion, age and nationality, surged forward to witness the proceedings.
(Hindu Press International)

Source: www.zwire.com
FLUSHING, NEW YORK, June 25, 2009: The Hindu Temple Society of North America is in the midst of a $5 million expansion on its Ganesh Temple at 45-57 Bowne St, and for a good reason. There’s just not enough space for the 3,000 devotees who pray there every week.

The society offers outreach programs for seniors, children and the general public, including classes in yoga, guitar and dance. Its temple has become a popular tourist attraction, drawing people from around the world, and its canteen, open seven days a week, is a favorite stop for vegetarians.

The society will host a five-day rededication program that will culminate on July 13. Fourteen artisans from India have completed their task of carving 16 pillars showing the 16 forms of Ganesh for the front walkway.

The society continues to raise funds for the expansion project, which is expected to be completed next year. The last item will involve constructing a 62-foot-high tower that will face east.
Source: HPI

Ramayana Sites, Tourist Attractions In Sri Lanka

Source: www.etravelblackboardasia.com
SRI LANKA, June 17, 2009: The Ramayana Trail of Sri Lanka revolves round the Ramayana, the great epic of Asia. Over 50 sites associated with the Ramayana, are located within Sri Lanka, with around 12 of them being sites with archeological evidence. The rest of the sites are largely based on unwavering faith and traditional beliefs.

A dedicated team from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Bureau (SLTPB), is handling the promotion and development of the Ramayana sites, and have created interest among local travel agents and hoteliers on the subject. Nearly 30 guides have been trained and a brochure, a DVD, and a travel planner have been published.
Source: HPI

Something to eat, strictly vegetarian, Thanks.

Source: epaper.hindustantimes.com
ALLAHABAD, INDIA, June 28, 2009: Kanpur, lost his uncle a year ago, he made just one telephone call. And with it, all the funeral arrangements were taken care of, for a payment of $700. “There was no confusion at all,” he says. “We could grieve in peace. We only had to attend the cremation like any other visitor.”

Traditional Hindu funerals have always been elaborate affairs: expensive and time-and energy-consuming. They remain expensive, but in the major towns of Uttar Pradesh, organizing them need no longer be full of hassle.

For those prepared to pay, there is a new breed of funeral operators who take care of everything, from transporting the corpse to the cremation ground to performing the shrarddha ceremony some days later.

As with holidays,there are a range of packages on offer, varying from a budget class $100 to a premium $2,000.
(HPI)

Source: www.njjewishnews.com
USA, July 2, 2009: Recent studies have found that, on average, Jews and Hindus are the most educated religious groups in the United States, with similar economic structures and the highest retention rate of believers. Both are ancient civilizations, both are diaspora religions and both emphasize the importance of scripture and ritual. On June 14, these two faith groups became better acquainted at a Hindu-Jewish interfaith meeting sponsored by the World Council of Religious Leaders and hosted by the American Jewish Committee, the Hindu American Foundation, and the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha.

The first Jewish-Hindu Summit was held in February, 2007, in Delhi, India, with both sides affirming that their “respective traditions teach that there is One Supreme Being… who has communicated Divine ways of action for humanity, for different peoples in different times and places.” The second took place in Jerusalem in February 2008, when the Jewish delegation accepted that Hindus accept One Supreme Being and do not regard the representations used in worship as idols.

At the 2009 meeting, the Hindu religious leaders–representing a variety of paths– shared their concerns about unethical Christian proselytizing, receiving support from the Jewish leaders.

The Hindu representatives spoke of the imminent arrival to the United States of 60,000 Hindu refugees from Bhutan and wanted to learn from the Jews how to build community as a diaspora minority and set up an immigrant aid society. They also expressed the need to fight anti-Hinduism and change the derogatory descriptions of Hinduism in textbooks.

Rabbi David Rosen mentioned the rapid growth of political, economic, and military connections between Israel and India and emphasized the need for religious encounters.

Unanimous applause greeted one speaker’s statement that in 2000 years there has been no indigenous anti-Semitism in India.
(HPI)

Once we surrender unto the Lord, we need not be cautitious or careful about anything. we can live without any worries.

Rare Indian Bronzes To Change Hands

Source: mailto:webmaster@jewelofthelotus.com
KAUAI, HI, USA, July 5, 2009: Rare indian bronzes, 19 pieces dating from the 10th century Pala period to the 17th century Vijayanagar, are being sold by the foundation that is their current owner, triggering interest from collectors, museums — and maybe temples.

The collection comprises Shivite, Vaishnavite and Jain pieces in bronze and copper, along with two metal vessels, “Ganga Jumna, ” examples of India’s finest bronze work. Some of pieces are murtis that were worshiped for centuries, and according to the Kauai Lotus Foundation’s press release, “have a power that can only be felt in person.”

You may reach them at the source e-mail above.
(HPI)

Source: www.outlookindia.com

INDIA, July 2, 2009: Especially in urban areas, India’s young are rediscovering the lure of the Sanskrit language. As many as 30,000 people have enrolled for country wide Sanskrit classes that are starting this July under the aegis of the Gita Shiksha Kendra; 60 per cent of these are in the 18-28 age group. At the Delhi Samvadshala, students from 37 countries come down in winters to learn spoken Sanskrit. And in 2008, 2,000 Delhiites, mostly in their 20s, enrolled for spoken Sanskrit crash courses that were held across the city

These students include young techies, MBAs, civil servants, students of history and philosophy, as well as those interested in ayurveda or yoga. They are attracted by Sanskrit’s highly logical grammatical structure; the access it gives them to classics and texts on ayurveda, yoga; and the guidance on ethics, leadership and strategy in texts like the Bhagavad Gita and the Arthashastra. The fact that Sanskrit is a scoring subject in CBSE, UPSC exams has also fueled interest. Recently, according to this report , an orthodox Muslim girl called Rahmath, 21, won the first rank in the Sanskrit Vedanta degree course conducted by the University of Kerala.

But for Hindus, it’s all about claiming one’s heritage. “We’re going back to our roots,” smiles Krishna Shastry, who helped to initiate the Sanskrita Sambhashanam (Speak Sanskrit) movement in 1981.
(HPI)

Thinking the Supreme during Pain and suffering like the mother Kunthi of Arjuna, who learned Bagavad Gita from Lord Krishna. She begged the Lord Krishna to provide more suffering and pain so that she could remember him all the time.