SourceFLUSHING, NEW YORK, August 4, 2004: A prominent Hindu temple in Queens plans to file a motion in federal court today accusing a state judge of violating the separation of church and state by intervening in the temple’s affairs. The motion is the latest step in a growing legal struggle at the Hindu Temple Society of North America that is…
SourceKATHMANDU, NEPAL, August 3, 2004: HPI note: This is one of those oddly misleading reports, which was originally titled “Nepal no longer a Hindu Kingdom?” It discusses changes in Nepal’s religious demography, then concludes inaccurately, “The data would come as a blow for Hindu outfits worldwide, which regard Nepal’s king as their liege by virtue of his being the monarch…
SourcePUNE, INDIA, July 29, 2004: This year, on August 2, Dada Vaswani turns 86. The Sadhu Vaswani Mission, of course, started with celebrations for the momentous occasion from July 12 itself. In a reflective mood, here, Dada speaks of life’s best lessons and unforgettable instances. What is the one thing you have realized about living? The older I grow, the…
SourceKANCHIPURAM, INDIA, August 1, 2004: The 70th Jayanthi Day of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the 69th Peetathipathi of Kanchi Sankara Math (monastery) falls tomorrow. The swamigal combines the service of God and service to humanity. His mission is towards promoting the well-being of the holy land of Bharat and upholding of its rich tradition, value and cultural heritage, says this…
SourceBIKANER, INDIA, July 29, 2004: Drought is now a reality for the people of Rajasthan with rain estimated to be 60 percent less than normal. And people are now using all kinds of traditional prayers to try and appease the rain gods. In a unique effort, Muslim Goojars of Bikaner district donated 40,000 litres of milk free to feed the…
SourceMADISON, WISCONSIN, USA, November 13, 2003: (HPT note: This is an old article which just came to our addition.) Are mindful police officers, in the Buddhist practice sense, better officers? With the help of famed Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, Madison, Wisconsin police Captain Cheri Maples attempted to answer that question by organizing a nonsectarian retreat to introduce her unit…
SourceKERALA, INDIA, July 28, 2004: Mata Amritanadamayi Devi, popularly known as Amma, is all set to start her own television channel. The channel, to be called Amrita, is likely to be commissioned on September 27 this year on the occasion of Amma’s 51st birthday. A company — Amrita Enterprises Pvt Ltd — has been floated to run the channel. It…
SourceLEICESTER, UNITED KINGDOM, July 05, 2004: Two separate organizers hoped that their club nights in Leicester would attract Indian youth in droves. Instead, they attracted insults, threats and abuse. Trying to be creative, each organiser had named the club-night, Jagraan — which is also the name of a religious fast observed for Goddess Durga. They had not reckoned with the…
Houston ChronicleHOUSTON, TEXAS, July 30, 2004: Rahul Patel knows how to speak like a lawyer: He can make all the logical arguments. But this Georgetown Law School graduate did not rely just on reason when he decided to turn down a $125,000-a-year job offer from a New York City law firm to follow a spiritual path of poverty, chastity and…
SourceTIRUNELVELI, INDIA, July 25, 2004: Temples often have columns portraying dancers or musicians, but rarely do the pillars themselves make music. In the Nellaiyappar temple, gentle taps on the cluster of columns carved out of a single piece of rock can produce the keynotes of Indian classical music. “You can hear the saptha swarangal (the seven basic notes) come like…