Financial Times, by Edward LuceDELHI, INDIA, July 10, 2004: It is a sweltering summer’s day in New Delhi and Swami Agnivesh is talking about Hindu philosophy. The Swamiji – an honorific given to all respected Hindu religious figures – is explaining the importance of “detachment,” the goal of freeing oneself both from the consequences of one’s actions and from ties…
Mahant Ram PuriUJJAIN, INDIA, July 11, 2004: Paramanand Puriji Mahara assumed the ancient seat of the Pir of Dattatreya Akhara as head of one of the major monastic orders of India yesterday in Ujjain. Mahant Ram Puri, who witnessed the event, reports: “The abhishek (water blessing) yesterday was the stuff of legends. I sat with the eight brahmins and three…
Hills Shire TimesSYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, June 22, 2004: Cherrybrook Public School is leading the way when it comes to cultural and religious diversity. It’s now the first school in the Hills district to offer Hindu classes as part of its religious scripture program. Vice principal Dale Neilson said teachers and parents were thrilled that Hindu classes started at the school to…
Religion News ServiceBARCELONA, SPAIN, July 10, 2004: Anglican Bishop Benjamin Ojwang came to this city for the Parliament of the World’s Religions on a mission for his country. “Put international pressure on our government to accept peace talks,” he pleaded, telling the story of his capture and torture at the hands of Uganda’s rebel forces last May, an ugly chapter…
SourceKAUAI, HAWAII, July 13, 2004: We admit to taking this opportunity to boast about what a great place our island of Kauai is, even though we’re just 35 miles across and have 60,000 residents. 425,000 readers of Travel + Leisure magazine say Kauai is the second best island in the world to visit, bested only by the Indonesian island of…
SourceJAMMU, INDIA, July 12, 2004: Every year hundreds of sadhus gather in Jammu ahead of the Amarnath yatra in the state. Usually the administration makes arrangements, but this year, with most of them arriving in the city several days ahead of schedule, most facilities are lacking. Monsoon rains are in full flow and the stranded sadhus in Jammu are desperate…
The Daily PioneerPURI, ORISSA, July 12, 2004: The Orissa Government is likely to amend the Jagannath Temple Act to ensure better administration and management of resources at the State’s most famous shrine which has been going through tough times. The 12th century temple is not only facing a funds crunch but also problems of security. Sources said the amendment would…
Paras RamoutarTRINIDAD, July 12, 2004: Charging discrimination against the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) in its quest for a radio licence, Satnarayan Maharaj has promised to seek the intervention of the judicial system to seek redress. Earlier this year, a High Court judge agreed with the SDMS that there was gross discrimination by the Government’s delay in granting a radio…
SourceMINNETONKA, MINNESOTA, June 22, 2004: Imagine being a paraplegic that is paralyzed from the chest down and then imagine this individual teaching yoga. This is exactly what Matt Sanford, a 38-year old who has been paralysed since the age of 13, is doing. His journey into Iyengar yoga began about 13 years ago after graduating from the University of Minnesota…
SourceHARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, Spring 2004: “Religion in the News” produced by Trinity College and the Leonard E. Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life, has been publishing quarterly issues since the Summer of 1998. The spring 2004 edition features an article on “Hindus and Scholars – Don’t Mess with Ganesh” by Arvind Sharma, professor of Hinduism at McGill…