Source GLEN ROCK, NEW JERSEY , February 24, 2015 (by Chris Harris, NorthJersey.com): Schools in the borough will be closed on Nov. 11, since the Board of Education voted to add Diwali, a Hindu holy day, to the district’s calendar. District officials claim Glen Rock, which has a burgeoning Indian community, is the first district in Bergen County to formally…
Source The syllable gu means shadows. The syllable ru, he who disperses them. Because of the power to disperse darkness, the guru is thus named.— Advayataraka Upanishad
Source NETHERLANDS, February 23, 2015 (Discovery): Researchers at the Drents Museum in the Netherlands made a shocking discovery when they imaged an ancient Chinese statue and found a nearly 1,000-year-old mummy inside. Sitting in the lotus position, the mummy fits within the statue perfectly. “On the outside, it looks like a large statue of Buddha,” the museum said in a…
Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 23, 2015 (NDTV): Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan today claimed that modern medicine originated in India and that Indians had practiced inoculation against smallpox even before the vaccine for the disease was invented by Edward Jenner. Dr Vardhan, who is himself an ENT surgeon, said that most of what is taken to be…
Source Silence is the first door to spiritual eminence.— Adi Sankara (788-820), in his Vivekachudamani, 368
Source WASHINGTON, USA, February 20, 2015 (Indian Express): Tulsi Gabbard, the first ever Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, will marry cinematographer Abraham Williams in April in a Vedic ceremony, a media report has said. The marriage will take place in Hawaii. The second term Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard, 33, announced her engagement about a month ago. She disclosed…
Source MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, February 17, 2015 (Herald Sun): An investigation has been launched into whether a Craigieburn house is being used as a Hindu temple. But the home’s owner denied the claims when approached by Hume Leader, despite running a Facebook page promoting prayer sessions and taking donations. Craigieburn Mata Mandir is listed on Facebook as a Hindu temple in…
Source Attach yourself to Him who is free from all attachments. Bind yourself to that bond so all other bonds may be broken.— Tirukkural 350
Source LOS ANGELES, USA, February 18, 2015 (The LA Times): One hundred fifty people sat in the big meeting room, hands on laps, eyes closed, feet flat on the floor.”Bring your attention to this moment,” Janice Marturano instructed. “Be open to sensations of warmth or coolness, sensations of fullness from breakfast, or perhaps hunger.” Minutes later, the meditation ended with…
Source CHAKWAL, PAKISTAN, February 18, 2015 (by Nabeel Anwar Dakku, Dawm.com): Preparations are being made at the Katas Raj Temple Complex to receive pilgrims from India, coming to celebrate the Maha Shivaratri, one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism. “About 60 pilgrims are arriving from India and will reach Katas Raj on Monday (February 16),” District Coordination Officer (DCO)…