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.

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.

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.

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.

Source: www.hinduismtoday.com

Consistency is the key to the conquest of karma.
   Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001)