Source: www.hinduonnet.com

[HPI note: A court in the Indian capital, Delhi, has ruled that homosexual sex between consenting adults is not a criminal act. The international media widely reported on the decision, as you can read on the NY Times here and on the BBC here. HPI brings you the religious perspective and opinions from religious leaders.]

DELHI, INDIA, July 2, 2009: The Delhi High Court ruling on homosexuals on Thursday brought cheers to the gay community and rights activists who described it as a “progressive” move which will change their “level of dignity”, but some religious leaders strongly disapproved of the judgement.

The activists said the judgement will give a “new life to persons who have “all along suffered humiliation” They said, “Today’s judgement changed the level of dignity for us.

Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, strongly opposed the change. “It is absolutely wrong to legalise homosexuality. If the government attempts to scrap the Sec 377, we will oppose it strongly.”

All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli also criticized it, saying, “It should continue as a criminal act,” he said.

Catholic Father Dominic Immanuel said that churches have no objection to decriminalizing homosexuality but it should not be legalized. A spokesperson for the Catholic Church of Kerala, Paul Thelekat, said “Legalizing gay sex will open up the society to some sort of sexual anarchy.”

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

LONDON, UK, July 2, 2009 (by Anil Bhanot, General Secretary, Hindu Council UK):

The British Hindu homosexual community will welcome the news that their brethren in India are now be able to enjoy the same freedoms as they do in the UK. The ancient Hindu scriptures describe the homosexual condition to be a biological one, and although the scripture gives guidance to parents on how to avoid procreating a homosexual child, it does not condemn the child as unnatural.

According to the scripture the sex of a child is determined by whether the fire element is dominant or the water element is dominant. Thus during certain nights (related to the moon cycle) the fire element dominates giving a male conception and during other nights the water element gives a female conception. However, if the fire element equals the water element then a homosexual conception takes place.

The point here is that the homosexual nature is part of the natural law of God; it should be accepted for what it is, no more and no less. Hindus are generally conservative but it would seem to me that in ancient India they even celebrated sex as an enjoyable part of procreation, where people would invite their priest even for a private ceremony in their home to mark the beginning of that process.

Homosexuals are full human beings. They marry for the right reasons of commitment, not just unadulterated sex, as a means of training their egos to relate and give to the other person, a technique deified through the sacrament of marriage so that both souls can evolve towards their final salvation.

[HPI note: The BBC opened a forum for people worldwide to comment on the decision, which you can read here. The opinions are mostly from people of Indian origin; a Seattle resident called it "A big step towards secularization for one sixth of humanity."]

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.

Source: www.hinduismtoday.com

“Fasting is possible. You can stay without food for a week or ten days. Feasting is also possible. You simply go and eat all you want. Many people are really fast when they end their fast. They are fast in getting to the refrigerator.”
    Swami Satchidananda on the need to follow the “middle path”