SourceLOS ANGELES, USA, February 3, 2005: The student community at USC is widely respected as wonderfully diverse in cultural, ethnic and political senses. But one often-overlooked feature is its religious diversity. From the Hindu Student Organization to the Muslim Students Association, from pagans to wiccans, it’s all here at USC. To explore this religious diversity and learn more about the…
SourceHOLLAND, February 7, 2005: On December 8th last year HPI reported the graduation of the first Dutch Hindu clerics. In this article reference was made to the website of the Dutch Hindu Cleric Academy (“source”). On the English pages of this website the content of the program of the academy is given. In response to this article the academy received…
SourceFebruary 7, 2005: Masala Cruises is a company which offers Indian style cruising on the large cruise lines such as Carnival. They create a cruise within a cruise for their customers with Indian entertainment and food. Their latest endeavor caught the eye of HPI — a floating Bhagvat Katha, discourse on the life of Lord Krishna, with accompanying religious activities.…
SourceLONDON, UK, February 6, 2005: The UK Charity Commission issued a report today which effectively clears the UK Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh and Sewa International of misuse of funds collected in UK and spent in India for rehabilitation after the Gujarat 2001 earthquake. The investigation showed that all of the money, US$4.3 million, could be accounted for and that the charges…
SourceKAUAI, HAWAII, February 6, 2005: HPI Note: Our ashram offices are here on Kauai, and our Saivite lineage comes from Sri Lanka, so we were struck by this remarkable connection between our island disaster of 1992 and that of Sri Lanka in 2004. The story reads: A Hurricane ‘Iniki song cowritten by Kauaians Titus Kinimaka and Glenn Medeiros, is being…
SourceKERALA, INDIA, February 5, 2005: In the aftermath of the tsunami, victims who lost their homes as well as the means of their livelihood (fishing nets & boats), have been caught in the middle of a dispute between supporting factions. The Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India have both offered to provide funds to build the…
SourceVICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA, February 3, 2005: Hindus will get a second shot at presenting their plans for a temple on Apple Valley Road to the Town Planning Commission. By a unanimous vote, the Planning Commission decided to re-hear arguments for allowing the construction of a 7,950-square-foot Hindu temple and an adjoining community center on March 2. Several members of the community…
SourceLUCKNOW, INDIA, February 4, 2005: Did you know that development of newer rice varieties was to meet the needs of Orissa’s famous Jagannath temple that uses a different variety for its rituals every day? Or that a sandalwood-turmeric tika originates in the belief that it will soothe the mind? Giving various instances to stress that most rituals have a scientific…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, February 5, 2005: Many Muslim and independent Christian schools in England are getting failing grades for their narrow curricula and teaching civic concern and tolerance to their students, according to a recent British government report. The Economist (January 22) reports that independent religious schools are growing rapidly in England; there were 170 in September of 2003 and now…
SourceSUVA, FIJI, February 5, 2005: The Council of National Reconciliation has called for greater respect for other religions. Council chairwoman Doctor Akanisi Tabualevu said the continuous destruction of Hindu temples should be stopped and those responsible should carefully think about the kind of society they wanted to build in Fiji. “We need to respect one another and accept other religions,”…