Source UNITED STATES, March 25, 2015 (Washington Post): Rice, the lifeblood of so many nations’ cuisines, is perhaps the most ubiquitous food in the world. In Asia, where an estimated 90 percent of all rice is consumed, the pillowy grains are part of almost every meal. Rice is popular because it’s malleable–it pairs well with a lot of different kinds…
Source INDIA, March 30, 2015 (by Rupa Subramanya, Firstpost): An unsettled and ongoing debate in the area of foreign development assistance concerns the extensive role played by faith-based organisations (FBO). In the US context, in particular, FBOs have been heavily involved in the delivery of both domestic social and foreign development assistance activities funded by the US government. One of…
Source MARCH 27, 2015 (DISOA):The booklet titled “The Global Vision and Mission of Swami Vivekananda, and how it inspired the Indian Spiritual Thrust World-wide” (downloadable online at http://tinyurl.com/nta7ocy) highlights the need for a DIRECTORY OF INDIAN SPIRITUAL ORGANISATIONS FUNCTIONING ABROAD, and presents the details of the Project. It also contains an appeal from the President of Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, the…
Source BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, March 3, 2015 (Press Release): The Graduate Theological Union has introduced new degree options in Hindu Studies and Interreligious Studies for its Master of Arts program, and has extended the application deadline through July 1, 2015, for students seeking to enroll in these programs for the Fall 2015 semester. The Master of Arts with an area of…
Source The moment I have realized God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him–that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free.— Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)
Source March, 27, 2015, USA (tfwm.com): There is an ongoing silent migration away from the church of an estimated 3,500 individuals each and every day. A 2014 study indicated that over 1.2 million people will leave the church in the next year. Several factors are contributing to this trend, but the majority of individuals who are leaving the church report…
Source Just as the Earth bears those who dig into her, it is best to bear with those who despise us.— Tirukkural
Source KAUAI, HAWAII, March 25, 2015 (Hinduism Today): Hinduism Today is offering at auction its collection of English translations of the Bhagavad Gita. These range from Edwin Arnold’s early translation to multiple editions issued since 2000. Condition of books is from new (many of them) to fair or poor condition, mostly depending on age. To see the Ebay auction with…
Source WASHINGTON D.C., March 24, 2015 (WTOP): A senior law professor at George Washington University is blasting the school for a decision to crack down on a student who posted an image of a Hindu swastika on a bulletin board. The student, a Jewish man, posted the religious symbol on a bulletin board belonging to his largely-Jewish fraternity on March…
Source YANGON, MYANMAR, March 26, 2015 (by Myint Thi, The Myanmar Times): An internal dispute has caused confusion among worshippers looking forward to the Sarimari Yaman Hindu Temple festival. The original dates fixed by the temple’s religious authority were March 20-29, but the All Myanmar Hindu Central Council wants it to run from March 27 to April 5, citing a…