timesofindia.indiatimes.com

UNITED STATES, July 24, 2008: This summer young Gujarati teenagers across the US are getting a better understanding of ancient Hindu scriptures such as Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Regional kishore conventions organized by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha are a huge draw with youngsters who not only learn about the values contained in these scriptures but also how the morals of the scriptures apply directly to their lives. This is by participating in sessions conducted by humorous emcees, kishore/kishori personal true stories, video presentations, interactive activities with the audience and other activities.

The teenagers, kishore and kishori as they are called, attend a total of eight classroom sessions taught by swamis and elder youth presenters. The topics covered include the importance of observing one’s dharma - ethical code of conduct - with regards to one’s parents, elders, siblings and peers as taught in the Ramayana, the hurdles that come with ego and jealousy as taught in the Mahabharata, among others. Besides, everyone also attend a class on “Frequently Asked Questions’ on Hinduism.”

“We were able to relate to the scriptures because of the way the anecdotes were presented,” says Manish Parmar from Parsippany, who attended the Northeast convention in Catskill, NY. “Now I know what the different lessons are and can directly apply them to my life,” he added. Different teambuilding activities are held on the last day of the convention, helping all the attendees understand the importance of teamwork and unity. So far about 2,000 teenagers have attended these conventions in Atlanta, Chicago and New York and similar numbers are expected from Los Angeles, Houston and Toronto.

news.bbc.co.uk

ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND, July 27, 2008: Love really does hurt, just as poets and song lyric writers claim. New brain scanning technologies are revealing that the part of the brain that processes physical pain also deals with emotional pain. And in the same way that in some people injury can cause long-lasting chronic pain, science now reveals why some will never get over such heartbreak.

Professor Alexander is director of the Aberdeen Centre for Trauma Research. He led the psychiatric team that first responded to the Piper Alpha oil-rig disaster. Since then, he has been involved in helping survivors of many disasters including the Asian tsunami, the war in Iraq and, most recently, the earthquake in Pakistan. Professor Alexander is not surprised about the link between physical and emotional pain: “If you listen to people who are damaged emotionally, they will often translate their pain into physical similes: ‘My head is bursting, my guts are aching’ and so on. The parallel is very strong.”

But medical research has tended to concentrate on physical pain. Neuroscientist Mary Frances O’Connor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is one of the scientists who have propelled emotional pain up the research agenda. “We’re at a very new time when we can use technologies to look at the brain and the heart,” she says.

youtube.com

USA, July 27, 2008: HPI reports on a precious video with 50-year-old footage of an abhishekam being done at Tirupati. The Deity is clearly seen here, usually only shown decked out in clothes, jewels and garlands. A very devotional piece. Click on the link above to see it.

www.hinduismtoday.com

I am silence among all secrets. Bhagavad Gita 10.3
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