Hindus and Jews Unite on Capitol Hill in Rare Meeting of Spiritual Leaders

Source: www.hafsite.org WASHINGTON, DC, USA, June 17, 2009: Several of Hinduism’s most senior spiritual and religious leaders traveled from India to come together with Jewish leaders at Capitol Hill here yesterday in a rare summit jointly organized by the American Jewish Committee (AJC), Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and World Council of Religious Leaders (WCORL). Two days of intense dialogue hosted…

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India Denies Visa to US Religious Freedom Watchdog Group

Source: wwrn.org WASHINGTON, DC, USA, June 17, 2009: The Manmohan Singh government has derailed a proposed visit to India this week by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a US Congress-related organization that monitors religious rights worldwide and gives independent policy recommendations to the US President and his administration. A USCIRF team that was to leave for…

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Minister Plans Yagnas To Bring Rain

Source: www.asianage.com BHOPAL, INDIA, June 13, 2009: With the spectre of drought and water wars looming large in the state, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is planning another round of som yagyas to placate the rain gods — much like the ancient Hindu kings of the Vedic era. The yagyas were recommended by Somaji Nana Kale, owner of…

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Daily Inspiration

Source: www.hinduismtoday.com There are voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world.    American poet, lecturer and Transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) who taught that God could best be found by looking inward to one’s own soul.

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How Many Vegetarians Are There in the US?

Source: www.vrg.org USA, JUNE 14, 2009: The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) has conducted a poll to find out how many people in the US are vegetarian. US adults were asked which of the following foods they NEVER eat: meat, poultry, fish/seafood, dairy products, eggs, or honey. In the survey, 3.4% of US adults indicated they never eat meat, poultry and…

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A Golden VIP Status for Those Who Help Renovate Temples

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, JUNE 14, 2009: In an effort to renovate old temples with help from benefactors, the Tamil Nadu government is offering an honorific title and “gold cards” to devotees who donate US$11,000 for the fund. The government will confer the title Thirukkovil Puravalar (temple patron). The patrons will be presented a gold card carrying their…

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A Push to Stop Crimes Against the Future

Source: dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com MONTREAL, CANADA, June 1, 2009:The World Future Council has just completed a two-day symposium in Montreal in which over 100 experts in international law explored ways to use legal tools to prevent crimes against the future–such crimes as driving species to extinction and continuing to add long-lived greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, which could disrupt climate patterns and…

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Christian Dalits Face Bigotry

Source: news.bbc.co.uk ERAIYUR, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, June 12, 2009: Centuries ago, many low-caste Hindus embraced Christianity in hopes of overcoming caste barriers. But in the village of Eraiyur, in Tamil Nadu, not much has changed. The area is dominated by Vanniyar Christians, numbering about 15,000, who own most of the land and businesses and impose restrictions on the 3,000 Dalits,…

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Daily Inspiration

Source: www.hinduismtoday.com To call woman the weaker sex is a libel; it is man’s injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brute strength, then, indeed, is woman less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man’s superior. Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-sacrificing, has she not greater powers…

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U.S. Body Should Not Interfere In Indian Affairs, Says Shankaracharya

Source: www.dailypioneer.com MUMBAI, INDIA, June 12, 2009: Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati on Friday vehemently opposed the impending visit of United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to India, by saying that it is a way for “a foreign Government to interfere in the internal affairs of this country”. “Though the Indian Government has permitted USCIRF for sending its delegation…

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