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Source Free will is not free–it is a phenomenon bound by cause and effect–but there is something behind the will which is free.— Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)

Source BANGLADESH, October 27, 2019 (Dhaka Tribune by Abak Hussain): Social media has many uses — some good, some mildly disturbing. But what we are seeing now in Bangladesh, most recently in Bhola and in many other places before that, is unmatched in its vileness, and reveals the existence of a mind-set in our country that most decent people would…

Source INDIA, October 26, 2019 (Star of Mysore): As Deepavali, the festival of lights approaches, mounds of earthen lamps piled up in baskets are growing outside shops in Mysuru. They are in direct competition with shops selling electric goods — the long line of multi-colored, China-made fairy lights dangle and wink at the traditional clay lamps. They seem to be…

Source The way to freedom is a way of silence–of silent resolve and silent service.— Sadhu Vaswani, (1879-1966) founder the Sadhu Vaswani Mission

Source HYDERABAD, INDIA, October 22, 2019 (Hindustan Times): The Andhra Pradesh government headed by chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has done away with the retirement rule for temple priests on attaining superannuation at the age of 65. “He [a priest] shall continue in the post till he is physically fit to perform his archakatvam [priesthood] duties,” a government…

Source TIRUPATI, INDIA, October 24, 2019 (The Hindu): The renovation of a temple “acquired” by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has reportedly not gone well with archaeologists and heritage lovers, who find it “blatant defacing” of the ancient structure. Nestling under the Chandragiri hillock, less than two-thirds of a mile from the famed fort of the Vijayanagara kings, the 16th…

Source One who is established in a comfortable posture while concentrating on the inner Self naturally becomes immersed in the heart’s ocean of bliss. — Siva Sutras 3.16

Source GEORGIA, U.S., October 18, 2019 (Forsyth News): Three Romanian nationals implicated in a multi-state conspiracy to steal gold and other valuables from Hindu and Buddhist places of worship have now been charged in Forsyth County for a related theft that allegedly occurred in May. Valer Iazmin Varga, 28, Robert-Auras Adam, 31, and Ana-Lordana Adam, 30, were indicted by a…

Source KATHMANDU, NEPAL, October 21, 2019 (The Himalayan Times by Manish Khadka): Among the many principles in Hinduism, the core tenet is this idea of pluralism — the ultimate reality is one, but it is manifested in different forms. As Rig Veda, the oldest text in Hinduism, describes it, “Truth is One, though the sages call it by different names.”…

Source A “Dial-a-Prayer” app has been released for atheists. You call it up, it rings and rings, but nobody answers.