Source BHUBANESWAR, ORISSA, INDIA, January 24, 2012 (Times of India): A 35-year-old Russian tourist here on Tuesday created quite a flutter after entering the 11th century Lingaraj temple that is off limits to non-Hindus. The tourist, who claimed to have converted to Hinduism in the past, identified himself as Sundar Gopal Das. Police are verifying the Russian’s passport to ascertain…
Source VIETNAM: A flood of Vietnamese are flooding a Hindu temple in Ho Chi Minh City during the 7-day Tet festival that began last Friday, according to Indian residents of the city and local Vietnamese. More than 50,000 people, almost all Buddhists, prayed at the Mariammam Temple through the day and the entire night during the Vietnamese New Year on…
Source Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh, and the greatness which does not bow before children.— Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), mystic, poet and artist
Source PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANI, USA, January 24, 2012: (Chakranews.com): The 1st Hindu Mandir priests’ Conference 2012 (HMPC 2012) will be hosted on April 27-28, 2012 and held in Pittsburgh, USA. The conference objective is sustainability and the advancement of Sanatana Dharma by making the modes of worship meaningful and relevant for the younger generation of Hindus within the United States and…
Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, January 16, 2012 (Hindustan Times): Hindu and Muslim priests are joining the campaign effort to sensitize people against pre-natal sex determination. A promise to never indulge in this illegal practice will soon be part of marriage vows — right at the wedding venue — and will be stated as an undertaking in marriage certificates as well.…
www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2012/1/19.shtml”>Source Everything changes, everything passes; things appearing, things disappearing. But when all is over–being and extinction both transcended–still, the basic emptiness and silence abide, and that is blissful peace. — Mystical song from a Hindu story
Source SOUTH AMERICA, January 16, 2012 (New York Times): This long article covers the combined history of Guyana and French Guiana. It does so without managing to mention anything about the Hindus of Guyana who are 28% of the population. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating account of the political machinations of the last few centuries leading to the present situation.
Source HYDERABAD, INDIA, January 11, 2012 (La Repubblica): A competition of one the most visual forms of traditional worship, the rangoli, colors the streets of Hyderabad. [HPI note: This news comes through the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. Though the text is in Italian, click on the “source” above to see a 6-photo slideshow. Click on “avanti,” meaning forward, to go…
Source All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything. All is God. But you cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.— Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), disciple of Sri Ramakrishna
Source LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, January 18, 2012 (LA Times): In a sign of the times, the Bodhi Tree Bookstore on Melrose Avenue, a mecca for spiritualists and philosophers since 1970, has been sold. For 40 years, the Bodhi Tree Bookstore on Melrose Avenue has served as the metaphysical mecca of Los Angeles. Actress Shirley MacLaine brought international fame to the…