PAKISTAN ASKS UN TO CRIMINALISE HATE SPEECH

DECLARE HATE ACTS AGAINST RELIGION
A CRIME, PAKISTAN PRESIDENT TELLS UN

www.indiatvnews.com - Last September, Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari appealed to the international community to not become “silent observers”, and immediately take notice of the anti-islam movie, insisting such acts be declared a crime. In his speech at the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the president said: “Before I take up my speech, I want to express the strongest condemnation for the acts of incitement of hate against the faith of billions of Muslims of the world and our beloved prophet, Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him).” 
Condemning the controversial movie that has sparked angry protests across the Muslim world, President Zardari said: “The International community must not become silent observers and should criminalise such acts that destroy the peace of the world and endanger world security by misusing freedom of expression. I am not here to answer questions about Pakistan. I am here to ask some questions on behalf of my people,” Zardari said. 

“On behalf the two year old baby who was killed in the bombing at Lahore’s Moon Market on December 7, 2009… On behalf of the traders and entrepreneurs in Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore and Karachi, of the dozens of marketplaces that have been ravaged by multiple bombings. Over and over and over again. And perhaps most of all, on behalf of my three children, whose mother [Benazir Bhutto] was also martyred by terrorists … “[I ask] How much more suffering can Pakistan endure?” Zardari said that terrorism and extremism had not only destroyed human lives, torn social fabric, and devastated the economy of Pakistan but the rest of the world. 
Rebutting critics and constant demands to do more, he said: “To those who say we have not done enough, I say in all humility: Please do not insult the memory of our dead, and the pain of our living. Do not ask of my people, what no one has ever asked of any other peoples. Do not demonise the innocent women and children of Pakistan.”

Beseeching the international community to not become “silent observers”, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has moved the United Nations last September to take notice of the anti-Islam movie - insisting such acts be criminalised. “I want to express the strongest condemnation for the acts of incitement of hate against the faith of billions of Muslims of the world and our beloved prophet, Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him).” Saying that no country and no people had suffered more in the epic struggle against terrorism than Pakistan, the president said that drone strikes and civilian casualties have continued to add to the complexity of this war. There is a growing “phobia” against Islam and so worrying phenomenon threatens the peaceful coexistence between cultures and civilizations.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Tolerance: This is the slogan for all interfaith movements. Even though known to common sense, clear instructions regarding the qualified targets, intensity and response methodology of tolerance are not available. (1) The problem with the tolerance advocates is that they assiduously preach tolerance to the reactors without emphasising the actors to feel free within the tolerable limits. Tolerance is a decent bilateral communication, which cannot be extended in situations of intentional non reciprocation and adversity. (2) Tolerance has its merit only in suitable grounds, where it is designated as magnanimity. In a case of excessive tolerance, shown when the dignity and pride of the culture and nation is butchered, it is named as “shamelessness”. (3) Tolerance because of inability is cowardice and tolerance towards heinous elements is betrayal to one's own conscience and the society. Interfaith organisations should promote this regal tolerance among its subjects.

Śrīla S.A.R. Prasanna Venkatachariar Chaturvedi Swamy :
Acarya of Ramanuja Sampradaya
“International Conference on Interfaith” - “Culture, Philosophy, Literature and Religion”
7th and 8th Sep 2009 at Somaiya Auditorium, Mumbai, India.
http://saranagathi.org/blogs/members/chaturvedi - http://www.sriramanujamissiontrust.org

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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HINDU KANYA PUJA

NEPAL GIRLS IN MASS HINDU
KANYA PUJA PRAYER CEREMONY

www.bbc.co.uk - More than 11,000 girls have taken part in a mass Hindu prayer ceremony in western Nepal, which organisers say is one of the biggest of its kind ever to be held in the country. The traditional Kanya Puja ceremony honours girls as incarnations of the Goddess Bhagawati. It included girls from different ethnic communities and castes. Organisers say the aim is to dismantle the caste system and spread a message of equality and social harmony. Many girls taking part in the ceremony at Ramnagar in Nawalparasi district wore school uniforms and performed Hindu devotions and chants.
“It is our Vedic tradition to offer Puja (Hindu devotions) to girls who are regarded as incarnations of Goddess Bhagawati,” festival organising chief Bharat Raj Poudel said. He added that the Puja was being done in a manner to bring about “social revolution” by ensuring a more inclusive society and discarding discriminatory caste traditions such as “untouchability”.

“We want to do away with ethnic discord,” Mr Poudel said. Nepal has recently witnessed ethnic unrest amid heated debate over the composition of a new constitution. Members of parliament remain divided over the issue. Some ethnic communities, mostly from indigenous groups called Janajati, have called for the country's provinces to be demarcated along on ethnic lines. They have also opposed what they have described as the domination of high-caste Hindus - such as Brahmins and Chhetris - within “the body politic”. The Kanya Puja is to be followed by the two-week-long Mahayagya - another Hindu ritual which is typically performed by priests using fires to carry out symbolic sacrifices.
The main objective of the Mahayagya, according to organisers, is to preserve Hindu traditions, philosophy and values of life. Priests from neighbouring India have been invited to this programme. Formerly a Hindu kingdom, Nepal was transformed into a secular republic six years ago.

More than 11,000 girls have taken part in what’s believed to be the biggest mass Hindu prayer ceremony ever held in Nepal. Hindu Girls from different Janjatis and Jatis unite to perform mass Kanya Puja prayer ceremony to dismantle the caste system and spread a message of equality and social harmony. Ethnic minorities want their rights respected, so girls from various castes took part in this traditional Kanya Puja ceremony which honors girls as incarnations of the Goddess Bhagawati. Organisers say that the aim of the ceremony was to bring about social revolution by ensuring a more inclusive society in Nepal. Durga is the Goddess of the universe and being the personification of the material energy, Durga is also the maidservant of Lord Krishna, and conducts herself in accordance to the will of the Supreme.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Worship of the Goddess goes back at least 4,000 years in India, and further back to the Vedic times. Durga is the Goddess of the universe, and Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, is a form of Durga. She has up to 64 different forms, with different names for each form. Each form represents a different pastime, power, or aspect of the Goddess. Some of the names of these forms of Durga are Ambika, Bhadra, Bhadrakali, Aryadurga, Vedagarbha, Kshemakshemakari, Naikabahu, Bhagavati, Katyayani, and others, such as Sati, which means chastity.  In her gentle aspects she is worshiped as Kanya, Kamakshi, or Mukamba. Uma (Parvati) is the maiden name for the consort of Lord Shiva. She represents matter (prakriti). ... Durga is the personification of the material energy, in which all materially conditioned living beings are absorbed in thoughts, actions and identity. ... She is also the personification of wisdom and knowledge. Her energy permeates the universe.

Stephen Knapp (Śrīpad Nandanandana dasa) :
“Shiva and Durga: Their Real Identity”
http://www.stephen-knapp.com  -  http://www.stephenknapp.info/
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/shiva_and_durga.htm

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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SMOKING WORSENS HANGOVERS

SMOKING REALLY DOES MAKE
YOUR HANGOVER WORSE, STUDY

www.webmd.com - New research suggests that your hangover will be worse if you smoke when you drink. People who smoke on a day when they have been drinking alcohol heavily are twice as likely to report hangover symptoms as those who only drank. In the study of college students, heavy drinking was defined as about 5 or 6 cans of beer in one hour. But substance abuse experts not affiliated with study are quick to point out that binge drinking and smoking - alone and together - can have far worse consequences than hangover symptoms. Smoking increases the risk for cancer, heart disease, and stroke, and binge drinking can lead to addiction, alcohol poisoning, car accidents, and unprotected sex.
“In general, people smoke more when they drink because it counteracts some of the sedative effects of alcohol,” says researcher Damaris J. Rohsenow, PhD., professor of behavioral and social sciences at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University in Providence, R.I. 

“People also tend to feel better when they smoke while drinking because both increase the release of [the brain chemical] dopamine.” Dopamine is known as the brain’s pleasure chemical. The findings appear in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Exactly how smoking makes a hangover worse is not fully understood. Both alcohol and smoking can disrupt sleep, which may make hangovers feel a lot worse, Rohsenow says. What’s more, the dopamine rush may also be followed by a shortfall of this brain chemical. The study included 113 college students from a Midwestern university. 
They answered an online survey daily for eight weeks. Questions concerned how much they drank or smoked on the day before as well as their current-day hangover symptoms. According to the findings, students smoked about seven cigarettes a day, and this number jumped to more than 10 on heavy or binge-drinking days. Students reported drinking an average of more than two drinks a day, and more than 10 on average on heavy drinking days.

Researchers investigated the effects of smoking on hangovers from drinking. Authors of the study define, “Hangover refers to the cluster of unpleasant symptoms of physical distress that occur as blood alcohol falls after an acute incident of drinking to intoxication.” Hangover symptoms include, but are not limited to: headache, nausea, fatigue, feeling dehydrated or thirsty, slowed mental function. Dr. Rohsenow suggested people who choose to engage in heavy drinking should smoke fewer cigarettes to reduce hangover symptoms the following day. “The best way to avoid a hangover is not to drink that much, but if you smoke, it will aggravate it, so this provides another reason to not smoke,” she says. The human body is designed to help us to achieve the transcendence and needs to be cared by adopting healthy practices that harmonize and connect it with our inner self.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The physical body is considered an instrument or vehicle of the soul on its path towards perfection, and it has its own needs that must be met in order to run well.  Right exercise: The asanas, improve blood circulation and muscle flexibility, and help the joints, muscles and other body parts to work correctly. Correct breathing: Yogic breathing techniques called pranayama, producing a burst of energy that leads to mental and physical rejuvenation of the body.  Correct relaxation:  Relaxation is a natural method of revitalizing the body and mind.  Rigth diet: The yogic diet is a vegetarian one and is composed of pure foods that promote health and vitality.  Positive thinking and Meditation: They purify the intellect and allow to achieve wisdom and inner peace.

Yoga Inbound :
“Yogic Diet”
http://www.yogainbound.org/ws/
http://www.yogainbound.org/ws/hatha-yoga/30-articulos-interes/195-dieta-yoguica

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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HANUKKAH: A CELEBRATION OF LIGHT

HANUKKAH: THE JEWISH
FESTIVAL OF THE LIGHTS

www.speakingtree.in - By just about any measure, Hanukkah is not an important Jewish holiday. But there are good reasons why we still celebrate it. Unlike Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, there's no need to atone for a year's worth of sins on Hanukkah. It doesn't commemorate an important biblical event, such as the handing down of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Shavuot. And there are no strictly-mandated ritual dinners like the Passover seder. The story behind it isn't even in the Torah, since it's based around events that happened much later.
One of the things we do best around this time of year is eat. And you don't need to be religious, let alone Jewish, to enjoy a wholesome Hanukkah meal. Even the religious aspects of Hanukkah come across as a bit forced. Sure, we light candles to mark each of the eight nights of the holiday. But the reasoning behind it, the “miracle of the oil”, is the only thing in the story of Hanukkah that's given any religious significance. 

And even this so-called “miracle” - they thought they only had a single day's worth of oil to light the Menorah in the Temple, but somehow it lasted for eight days - is, to be honest, a little bit lame. It's not even all that original a holiday by our own standards. 
The basic story of Hanukkah - in which Jewish rebels fought back against a tyrannical king who tried to wipe them out - is played out so many times in the Jewish narrative that there's an oft-repeated joke suggesting every Jewish holiday could be summed up as, “They tried to kill us. We survived. Let's eat.”
Religious and secular Jews don't always see eye-to-eye, but most will agree that Jewish holidays are the perfect opportunity for families to meet and celebrate. We all know how difficult it can be to co-ordinate everyone's busy schedules. But like Rosh Hashanah or Passover, Hanukkah is a great catalyst for bringing people together, enjoying a lunch or dinner and playing games.

Hanukkah falls 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar, and ends the evening of Dec. 16. The eight-day celebration commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It is also a celebration of the first miracle that occurred after reclaiming the temple. The story tells how the Maccabees had a jar of enough oil to light the temple for one night, but it lasted eight nights - the amount of time it took to make more oil. The celebration is observed through the lighting of candles on a Menorah, the nine-branched candelabrum. Eight candles are lighted each night of Hanukkah and the ninth branch (shamash), often given a place of prominence in the center, is used to light the other candles. Ancient Jewish traditions and the mystical aspect of Judaism have correlations in Hinduism.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

There are also several similarities and correlations between the rituals found in Hinduism and Judaism: food is offered to God and consecrated by God which is accomplished by praying over the food and then sharing it. The lighting of candles and the Hindu arti, or waving of the lights, is also analogous. Shabbat is also similar to the Hindu idea of taking time out for reflection and meditation. Additionally, they are both non-proselytizing traditions; more than a set of religious tenets, a way of life, with historically situated cultural associations beyond the mandir and the synagogue. ... An important thing that happens is that Jews who get involved in Asian religions do not reject their Jewishness. Judaism is a culture as well as a religion. Even Jews who actively and sincerely follow a Hindu guru, or the Dalai Lama, still have barmitzvahs, still often send their children to synagogue schools, they celebrate Passover, Hanukah, yet they feel comfortable in their embrace of Hinduism as well.

VEDA - Vedic Knowledge Online :
“Vedic Connections - Ancient Vedic World”
“Hin-Jews” by Yvette C. Rosser
From a lecture about Judaism and Bhakti
http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/connections/Judaism.php

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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GOLDEN AGE COULD BEGIN IN 2012

MAYAN CALENDAR MATCHES
ANCIENT HINDU PROPHECY

http://hinduism.about.com - In the “Brahma-Vaivarta Purana” (a Hindu religious text which is divided into four parts. It is one of the major eighteen Puranas), Lord Krishna tells Ganga Devi that a Golden Age will come in the Kali Yuga - one of the four stages of development that the world goes through as part of the cycle of eras, as described in Hindu scriptures. Lord Krishna predicted that this Golden Age will start 5,000 years after the beginning of the Kali Yuga, and will last for 10,000 years. It is interesting that this prediction of the emergence of a new world is prophesied to appear about the same time that the Mayans predicted it to come!
The Mayan calendar began with the Fifth Great Cycle in 3114 BC and will end on 21 December 2012 AD. The Hindu Kali Yuga calendar began on 18 February 3102 B.C. There is only a difference of 12 years between the Hindu's beginning of the Kali Yuga and the Mayan's beginning of the Fifth Great Cycle.

The ancient Hindus mainly used lunar calendars but also used solar calendars. If an average lunar year equals 354.36 days, then this would be about 5270 lunar years from the time when the Kali Yuga started until 21 Dec 2012. This is the same year that the Mayans predict rebirth of our planet. It is also about 5113 solar years of 365.24 days per year, and is day number 1,867,817 into the Kali Yuga. By either solar or lunar years, we are over 5,000 years into the Kali Yuga and it is time for Lord Krishna's prophecy to happen according to the ancient Hindu scriptures. Lord Krishna's Golden Age could easily begin in 2012!
It is amazing that both calendars began at about the same time over 5,000 years ago and both calendars predict a totally new world and/or golden age after about 5,000 years into their calendars! We are definitely on to something with these Mayan and Hindu 2012 predictions. Historically, this is an amazing fact since these two ancient cultures did not have any contact.

According to Hindu scriptures, there are four great epochs in every cycle of creation and destruction. According to Mexican archaeologists and historians, the Mayas also had a cyclical idea of time, and the end of 2012 marks the beginning of great changes and transformation which lead the human race to evolve into a new spiritual age. Interestingly, there is also a Hindu prophecy that indicates that 2012 will be a time of great change and upheaval. The author of the article, Mr  Subhamoy Das, says that in the Fourth and last part of the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, which details the life and deeds of Sri Krishna, He tells Ganga Devi that a Golden Age will come in the Kali Yuga. More than a few Hindu saints of recent times, including Sri Yukteswar (the guru of Paramahamsa Yogananda - author of Autobiography of a Yogi), Sri Aurobindo and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (founder of Transcendental Meditation), spoke of a transition from the Kali Yuga to the Satya Yuga - from a period of lower consciousness to one of higher consciousness - in our current time period.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The following are (ten) verses from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana that were spoken by Lord Krishna to Mother Ganga just before the beginning of Kali yuga (the age of quarrel and strife). Kali yuga began approximately five thousand years ago, and it has a duration of 432,000 years, leaving us with 427,000 till the end of the present age. Within this 432,000 year period, there is a period of 10,000 years that will be a golden age. That golden age is being described below by Lord Sri Krishna. This text is taken from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana. Text 49: “Ganges said: O protector, Supreme enjoyer, on your departure for the perfect abode, Goloka, thereafter what will be my situation in the age of Kali?” Text 50: “The blessed Lord said: On the earth 5,000 years of kali will be sinful and sinners will deposit their sins in you by bathing.” ... Text 59: “For 10,000 years of kali such devotees of mine will fill the whole planet. After the departure of My devotees there will only be one varna [outcaste].” Text 60: “Devoid of My devotees, the earth will be shackled by kali. Saying this Krishna departed.”

Bhaktivedanta Ashram :
“Prophecy of the Golden Age from Brahma Vaivarta Purana”
Spiritual Articles - Written by Jahnava Nitai Das
http://www.bvashram.org/articles/prophecy-of-the-golden-age-from-brahma-vaivarta-purana.html

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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THE MOST- AND LEAST-CORRUPT COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

THE 10 MOST AND LEAST CORRUPT
COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD: REPORT

www.washingtonpost.com - Corruption can often be hard to track, so each year, one watchdog group puts all of the bribery, back-room deals and other nefarious practices going on in the world on one technicolor map. Transparency International just released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index on the perceived level of public sector corruption in 176 countries around the world, and once again, Somalia, North Korea and Afghanistan rank as most corrupt, with scores of 8. (Burma, also known as Myanmar, joined them last year but has since moved up two spots, to just ahead of Sudan). 
The ranking is based on a number of surveys that seek to gauge hard-to-find metrics like bribes paid to government officials or transparency in corporate reporting. Denmark, New Zealand and Finland are tied for least corrupt this year, and they were also the top three last year. The United States is 19th. 

- Egypt dropped to 118 from 112, perhaps because President Mohammed Morsi’s new government still shows signs of the previous regime’s authoritarianism. - Although Finland ranks near the top, Transparency International Finland chair Erkki Laukkanen points out that even it’s not free of shady dealings among government and corporate officials.
- Two-thirds of Latin American countries fell below the middle of the rankings. The dramatic income inequality, drug violence and weak democratic governance there all add up to extreme cases of corruption. Guatemala has a record 98 per cent impunity rate, showing a dramatic lack of justice in the country. In Mexico, seven journalists have beenmurdered up to mid-November in this year alone for doing their job. - Afghanistan ranks as one of the most corrupt countries, and it seems bribes and fraud permeate nearly every level of life there. One Afghan in seven paid a bribe in 2010, and the average bribe is equal to one third of the average Afghan salary.

We know corruption is a problem around the world and it can happen anywhere. Corruption is not just an envelope filled with money, though - some people make decisions that affect our lives. For example, when politicians put their own interests above those of the public or when officials demand money and favours from citizens for services that should be free. The Corruption Perceptions Index measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in countries worldwide. Scandinavian nations like Denmark and Finland were ranked as the least corrupt, while countries like Somalia, North Korea, Afghanistan, Haiti and Venezuela, among others, were labeled as the most corrupt. When rulers begin to behave unjustly, corruption spreads unabated, people become unhappy and social unrest increases.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

In the Vedic system, a king is called a Raja. This means one who shines. But it also means one who rids his subjects of obstacles. This indicates that only one who ideally considers the welfare of his subjects should be a king or ruler. If the ideal king follows the laws of Dharma, then the people will also follow. (Mahabharata 12.75.4) This also means that if the king is unrighteous, he will have little ability to lead people and keep them from crime and dishonesty. They will follow his own character. Thus, as rulers become more and more crooked, the same character will naturally trickle down to the general populace. This illustrates why corruption is so rampant today. The only way to escape from this situation is to have moralistic and righteous leaders, if there are any who can be found.

Stephen Knapp (Śrīpad Nandanandana dasa) :
“Purpose and Function of Government
According to Mahabharata”
“Who Can Rule the Country?”
http://www.stephen-knapp.com  -  http://www.stephenknapp.info/
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/purpose_of_government_according_to_mahabharata.htm

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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TANTRA AND MANTRA ARE SCIENCES

ARE TANTRA AND MANTRA
SCIENTIFIC PROCESSES ?

www.speakingtree.in - India is an ancient civilisation and the birthplace of ancient wellness arts like yoga, meditation, mantra and tantra, which have been developed for the good of humanity. Tantra and mantra are based entirely on the principles of physical sciences and the knowledge of energy or spirit. Contrary to popular perception, these sciences cause no harm. Neither are they some kind of black magic.
In fact, tantra and mantra are already present in our daily life. For instance, the symbol of swastika is a talisman, Aum bhur bhuva swaha is a mantra for every day and Aum ain hi kri chamundaye vichche is a common mantra just as a yagna or havan are popular rituals. Did you know, the word tantra in English means ‘technique’ or system? That is the origin of terms like the nervous system and the respiratory system in the human body. In plain words, yagna and yoga are methods of regulating the entire energy system in a human body to enhance the power of the mind or mann. 

And Tantra actually means to protect one’s intellect, wisdom and strength from any kind of problem. Tantra is described in Sanskrit as tamasstnayate yastu sa tantra, which means the knowledge that leads from darkness to light; and mantra means the power to make the mann or mind elevated. An accomplished tantra or religious act based on scientifically attained faith allows trust and goodness to flourish in one’s mind. 
This external energy enhances the existing ability and energy in the body to unite the elements present in the body. Energy is the finest form of the universe. This energy can be matter, or mantra, or faith, or pertaining to some god or goddess, but whatever the means of energy, it is always associated with the existence of man. 
In Tantra, energy means to strengthen that aspect of the mind, body and environment from where sorrows can enter. ... The results that you would achieve in years through scriptural methods can be achieved in a matter of days through tantric methods.

According to Chamunda Swami - the author of the article - tantra and mantra are not magic but scientific processes which regulate the union of various elements in the human body. Chamunda Swami, who is a spiritual healer and astrologer gives this example, “in the rainy season, only the leaks in the roof are mended so that the house remains dry. Exactly in the same manner, tantra and mantra mend those holes through which sorrows and calamities enter our life due to adverse position of stars or one’s karma.”  Suffering, which is the ‘gift’ of the physical world, increases the weakness in the mind, and tantra and mantra destroy these weaknesses with the strength of virtues. The Mantras are mystic sound syllables endowed with spiritual energy. The Tantras consists of Cosmology, Yogic exercises, Astronomy, Astrology, Palmistry, as well as the knowledge of the Chakras and Kundalini power.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The Vedas are regarded as literature immortal. The word Veda originates from the root vid, which means “to know.” ... Mantra - The word mantra, which has been adapted by Western society, is derived from man (mind) and tra (purity). Mantras are energy-based sounds. Saying any word with a deep sense of commitment produces an actual physical vibration. All mantras have meaning. Each syllable and word has a reason for being there. When produced correctly and with honest intent, the mantra comes alive. Tantra - the Tantra scriptures are mostly dedicated to the Shakta philosophy of Hinduism, although there are also separate Saiva and Vaishnav scriptures of this tradition also. The Tantra techniques deal with the arousing of the dormant spiritual energy of the body by the divine spark of meditations and other methods. Some of these Tantra techniques, like Kriya yoga and Kundalini yoga, have gained popularity in many different parts of the world, apart from India.

Dr. Hiro Badlani :
“Hinduism - Path of the Ancient Wisdom”
“Vedas: The Foundation of Hinduism”
“Roots of Hinduism in the Ancient Cultures of India”
http://hinduismpath.com/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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PESTICIDES IN TAP WATER CAUSE FOOD ALLERGY

PESTICIDES IN TAP WATER
LINKED TO FOOD ALLERGIES

http://abcnews.go.com - As food allergies become increasingly common, a new study offers the first proof that they may be linked to pesticides found in tap water.
Researchers at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology used existing government data to see whether people with more dichlorophenols in their urine were more likely to have food allergies. 
Dichlorophenols are a kind of chlorine in certain pesticides that are known to kill bacteria, and in theory, they could be killing the naturally occurring bacteria in humans’ digestive systems, causing food allergies. 
“We wanted to see if there was an association between certain pesticides and food allergies, and we were specifically interested in dichlorophenols because those were the ones that had this antibacterial effect,” said lead researcher Dr. Elina Jerschow.

The number of children and teens with food or digestive allergies in the United States has increased 18 percent between 1997 and 2007, according to a 2008 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s about 3 million people under 18 years old. Eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat make up 90 percent of food allergies, according to the CDC report. Symptoms can range from mouth tingling to anaphylaxis, which is the swelling of the throat and tongue and can lead to death. Researchers were surprised to find that dichlorophenol levels in urine didn’t vary between urban and rural areas, Jerschow said. They concluded that even those who opted for bottled water instead of tap water could ingest the pesticide chemical from eating fruit, fruit juices and foods with cocoa powder, like chocolate. “The study findings fit in with a growing evidence that pesticide exposure can damage the immune system, which could increase allergies as well,” said Dr. Kenneth Spaeth, who directs the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Center at North Shore University Hospital.

Chlorine in tap water has been linked to the rising number of people developing food allergies, a study has revealed. The chemical, which is used to treat drinking water and is also present in commonly-available pesticides and household items, may weaken food tolerance in some individuals. A rising number of children are diagnosed with gut allergies linked to common foods such as cow’s milk, wheat, soya, eggs, celery, kiwi fruit and other fruit and vegetables. The research, published in journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, concluded: "Excessive use of dichlorophenols may contribute to the increasing incidence of food allergies in Westernised societies." This is a consequence of the artificial style of Western life. The water is purified but the process brings unintended consequences. Society should adopt the principle of "simple living and high thinking" in everyday life.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

From the very beginning, of ISKCON one of the objectives was to create agricultural communities. Not only so that devotees could make tremendous spiritual progress by developing this type of consciousness of compassion and service to our mother and to all of her children, but also as an example, an alternative to display to the world. In the west, in the colleges among thoughtful students the number one concern is not how to make money. Its how to deal with the problem of the ecology and the environment, because they are thoughtful enough to understand that no matter how much money we make, we are going to be diseased, miserable and going to die unless mother earth provides for us. We have created a society that is unsustainable, unnatural and offensive to human spiritual values. Srila Prabhupada explained the principle of “simple living, high thinking” for these communities. Actually, this is the principle of Vrindavan.

Śrīla Radhanath Swami Mahārāja :
“The Real Significance of Bhumi Puja”
“The Principle behind a Spiritual Farm Community”
At Govardhan Farm, Wada - 2nd October 2009
http://www.radhanathmaharaj.net/node/80
http://www.radhanath-swami.net/  -  http://radhanathswami.info

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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NEWSPAPER FALLS FOR 'SEXY' KIM JONG UN PRANK

KIM JONG-UN MISTAKENLY
NAMED 'SEXIEST MAN ALIVE'

www.nzherald.co.nz - The online version of China's Communist Party newspaper has hailed a report by The Onion naming North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un as the “Sexiest Man Alive” - not realizing it is satire. The People's Daily ran a 55-page photo spread on its website in a tribute to the round-faced leader, under the headline “North Korea's top leader named The Onion's Sexiest Man Alive for 2012.” 
Quoting The Onion's spoof report, the Chinese newspaper wrote, “With his devastatingly handsome, round face, his boyish charm, and his strong, sturdy frame, this Pyongyang-bred heartthrob is every woman's dream come true.” “Blessed with an air of power that masks an unmistakable cute, cuddly side, Kim made this newspaper's editorial board swoon with his impeccable fashion sense, chic short hairstyle, and, of course, that famous smile,” the People's Daily cited The Onion as saying. The photos include Kim on horseback squinting into the light and Kim waving toward a military parade. 

In other photos, all selected by the People's Daily, he is wearing sunglasses and smiling, or touring a facility with his wife. People's Daily could not immediately be reached for comment. A man who answered the phone at the newspaper's duty office said he did not know anything about the report and requested queries be directed to their newsroom on Wednesday morning. It is not the first time a state-run Chinese newspaper has fallen for a fictional report by the just-for-laughs The Onion. 
In 2002, the Beijing Evening News, one of the capital city's biggest tabloids at the time, published as news the fictional account that the U.S. Congress wanted a new building and that it might leave Washington. The Onion article was a spoof of the way sports teams threaten to leave cities in order to get new stadiums. Jokes are always being lost in translation: in September, another Onion article headlined “Gallup Poll: Rural Whites Prefer Ahmadinejad to Obama” was reprinted as fact by an Iranian news agency.

Last week a Chinese newspaper, the People’s Daily, noted that the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un had been named “the Sexiest Man Alive For 2012” by The Onion, a US website. Celebrating his victory, the Communist Party-affiliated paper’s website published a collection of photos, showing him squinting sexily in the sun, sitting sexily astride a horse, and in various other sexy poses. What it failed to notice is that The Onion is a spoof website. Many people in China have no idea The Onion is purely satirical news. Despite cultural differences, humour is everywhere, many times, other people's misfortune or embarrassment are used for laughing or satirical comments. In this material world, the Lord's external energy is used to deceive those living beings who want to be deceived.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

A conditioned living being is endowed with four principles of malpractice, namely errors, insanity, inability and cheating. These are signs of imperfection, and out of the four the propensity to cheat others is most prominent. And this cheating practice is there in the conditioned souls because the conditioned souls are primarily in the material world imbued with an unnatural desire to lord it over the material world. A living being in his pure state is not conditioned by the laws because in his pure state he is conscious that a living being is eternally subservient to the Supreme Being ... In the conditioned state the living being is not satisfied even if he actually becomes the lord of all that he surveys, which he never becomes, and therefore he becomes the victim of all kinds of cheating, even with his nearest and most intimate relations.

Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda :
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.14.4 - Canto 1: “Creation”
Chapter 14: “The Disappearance of Lord Krishna”
Verse 4 - Bhaktivedanta VedaBase Network

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

VAISHNAVA CONGRESSWOMAN TULSI GABBARD

FIRST HINDU ELECTED TO US CONGRESS
WILL SWEAR IN ON BHAGAVAD GITA

www.huffingtonpost.com - When Tulsi Gabbard, 31, a Hawaii resident who made history last month as the first Hindu elected to the US Congress, attends her swearing in ceremony in January, she's poised to mark another first in American politics: Gabbard will take her oath over the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text. 
While no religious ceremony is legally required for those elected to Congress and the Senate, many choose to take oaths of office over Christian and Jewish texts, and Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, a Muslim, took his oath over a Quran. But Gabbard's use of a non-Abrahamic text will be unique and is symbolic of the growing religious diversity of Congress. 
“For the Hindu Americans it is a historic moment ... It is a matter of pride that finally someone not only from our own faith, but someone who is a practicing Hindu, will be sworn in the Congress on one of our most sacred books,” said Anju Bhargava, founder of Hindu American Seva Charities and a former member of the White House's Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. 

“It is my hope is that this swearing in will be another learning opportunity for our country about Hindus and Gita. Another step towards bringing the knowledge and values of Gita even more prominently to the American political landscape so that it becomes part of the everyday vocabulary in applying the moral principles in our political arena,” said Bhargava, whose organization works to promote Hindu participation in civic life. 
In interviews, Gabbard has pointed to two verses of the Gita as being particularly important to her. Both are from chapter two, which is called “Sankhya yoga,” and which discusses the soul. The chapter is often seen as a summary of the Gita's spiritual instruction. 
Gabbard's first favourite part, from verse 17, defines the soul as “that which pervades the entire body you should know to be indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul.” The other, from verse 23, expands on the idea: “The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can he be burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.”

Tulsi Gabbard has been a practicing Hindu since her teens. “She is a Vaishnava, who follows the path of Bhakti yoga, or loving devotion to God. She is a student of Sidhasvarupananda, who was himself initiated into the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya by ISKCON Founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,” explains Madhava Smullen for ISKCON News. “It is also important for the USA that it will eventually have the representation from all the religions, and Tulsi taking the oath on the Gita is another step in that direction,” said Siva Subramanian, member of the Council on Hindu Temples of the USA.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The Lord left behind Him the instructions of the Bhagavad-gītā not for the benefit of Arjuna alone, but also for all time and in all lands. The Bhagavad-gītā, being spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the essence of all Vedic wisdom. It is nicely presented by the Lord Himself for all who have very little time to go through the vast Vedic literatures like the Upaniṣads, Purāṇas and Vedānta-sūtras. ... The faithful human being who is desirous of being liberated from the clutches of material existence can very easily take advantage of the Bhagavad-gītā, and with this in view, the Lord instructed Arjuna as if Arjuna were in need of it. In the Bhagavad-gītā, five important factors of knowledge have been delineated pertaining to (1) the Supreme Lord, (2) the living being, (3) nature, (4) time and space and (5) the process of activity.

Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda :
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) SB 1.15.27
Canto 1: “Creation” - Chapter 15: “The Pāṇḍavas Retire Timely”
Verse 27 - Bhaktivedanta VedaBase
http://vedabase.com/en/sb/1/15/27

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/