India: does Hinduism exist? Interview with Martin Fárek

India: does Hinduism exist? Interview with Martin Fárek

Religioscope
1 Jun 2008

A very engrossing interview. Read here

A Venezuelan with a Hindu Soul

A Venezuelan with a Hindu Soul

Pekky Marquez while studying in University of South California (USC) , narrates her experiences of how she fell in love with Hinduism and that followed when she decided to adopt it.

Quote" My friends did not preach Hinduism to me, which I liked. Instead, I discovered Hinduism by observing and speaking with my Hindu friends. Because Hindu Dharma is a way of life, it was logical that it was exposed to me as such. The most important moment in my exploration of Hinduism came when I met the first president of the Hindu Students Council chapter in my university, with whom I would come to form a close bond. After some intense conversations, not only did our friendship grow, but I saw my spiritual path more clearly. I already practiced meditation, and the idea of karma makes more sense to me than the Heaven-and-Hell theory I was raised to believe. Also, seeing Divinity everywhere, even in myself and in my fellow human beings, sounded very logical. I knew my soul was looking for the rich spirituality of Sanatana Dharma, and that my friendships with people from India were no accident; I was naturally draw to them." Unquote

Full Article http://www.hscsamskar.com/articles/8/1/A-Venezuelan-with-a-Hindu-Soul

In Search Of New Idioms For Indic Religions : Rethinking Religion in India Conference

In this report Prof S. N. Balagandhara speaks of the need to de-Westernize Indian thinking and study on their various religions which has led to negative perceptions as well incomplete and distorted undertanding of the Indic religion. A conference is being held to address this major issue on January 2008

Quote "There is a long-standing complaint that the academic study of religion and culture has never really taken off in India. Rather than lamenting this, we would like to change this state of affairs. The current theoretical framework is firmly embedded within Western cultural history and proves inadequate when it comes to studying non-Western traditions. The framework therefore needs rethinking."

In search of new idioms
SUDHA ANANTHARAMAN

We need to develop indigenous frameworks to study the various religions of India, says Prof. S.N. Balagangadhara, who will be heading the first international conference on the religions of India in January 2008.

We need to understand and develop these extraordinary insights into the nature and structure of human psychology that no sociology, psychology or political science has ever come even remotely close to doing.
Making knowledge accessible: Prof. S.N. Balagangadhara.

Why this conference on Rethinking Religion in India?
There is a long-standing complaint that the academic study of religion and culture has never really taken off in India. Rather than lamenting this, we would like to change this state of affairs.

The current theoretical framework is firmly embedded within Western cultural history and proves inadequate when it comes to studying non-Western traditions. The framework therefore needs rethinking.

When you talk about “rethinking” religion in India will the emphasis be on Hinduism?
No, there will be an emphasis on what the term “religion” actually means, as there is no satisfactory understanding of the concept, as well as an examination of the nature of Indian traditions and not just Hindu traditions.

We will also look into the nature of the caste system because it has always been associated with Hinduism and then question the premise of whether Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism are religions at all.

The plurality of Indian traditions has led to them being described as “deficient” religions. An attempt of this conference is to start developing new ways of thinking about these traditions, finding out what their strengths are and how it might be possible for us to recover their essence and explain them in 21st century language. It makes no sense to speak of chittasuddhi, manasuddhi, atman, etc. because many of us don’t even know to what these terms refer. We would have to explain the concepts in a simple language — English in this case, because it is the language of the present time.

Full Article
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/12/09/stories/2007120950090400.htm

Ramakrishna Mission gets new president

Kolkata, December 3

Swami Atmasthananda, the senior-most vice-president of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, was elected 15th president of the two organisations today. He succeeded Swami Gahanananda, who had passed away at the age of 91 on November 4.

Full report
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Ramakrishna-Mission-gets-new-president/246557/

Tribal Ramayana to be recorded

Tribal Ramayana to be recorded
3 Dec 2007, 1319 hrs IST,PTI

Starting this week, tribals from states of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam and West Bengal would be coming to Delhi and performing their version of the story of Ram, as they have learnt it from their ancestors and passed on from one generation to another in the family, and of one which there is no written record.

The performance and for these tribals their very own Ramayana , which is different from the one we know, is a part of a massive documentation work being undertaken by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Tribal_Ramayana_to_be_recorded/articleshow/2591416.cms

Can we criticise those who criticise God?

Saturday December 1 2007 20:00 IST T J S George

The freedom of thought provided by Hinduism has been its greatest strength. Buddha, Mahavira and Nanak were critics of Hinduism to begin with. But they were recognised as reformers, not condemned as heretics the way early Judaism and Christianity and Islam condemned their critics. Hinduism grew in strength as a consequence.
http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayitems.asp?id=SEC20071201103404&eTitle=Columns&rLink=0

Sanskrit to be made mass language: CM (Madhya Pradesh)

Madhya Pradesh CM mades these comments at the inaugural function of All India Kalidas Samaroh Golden Jubilee Year (2007-08)

1. Sanskrit to be made mass language and to be taught from class I in the schools
2.Guda Padwa has been declared as the New Year in the state

Full article here

Bangalore: Philips aids ISKCON’s mid-day meal programme

ON completion of the five year partnership between Philips India and The Akshaya Patra Foundation, Philips India donated two food distribution vehicles to The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a pioneer in providing mid-day meals to school children.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE120071125191756&Title=Bangalore&rLink=0

23rd Ramayana conference to be held in Gujarat

The 23rd International Ramayana Conference would be organised at Gujarat Vidyapeeth, Ahmedabad under the joint auspices of the Vidyapeeth and the Vishwa Sahitya Sanskriti Sansthan of New Delhi......

The theme of the Conference is 'Everlasting human values in Ramanyana and their relevance in the modern times'. Ramayana scholars from various countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the UK, Mauritius, the Czech Republic, the US, France and Hungary will also participate in the conference, he added.

Full article
http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20071126/833097.html

Hinduism - Why Is It The Greatest Religion Of All

Hinduism can be described as the 'museum' of religions.

No other religious tradition is so eclectic, so diversified in its theoretical premises as well as its practical expression. Hinduism can be called as Sanatana Dharma or the religion Perenis. As the name implies ananta (without a beginning), it is eternal and ever-lasting (Shashvata). It is the only major religion which has not been traced to a specific founder and the only one which does not have a holy book as the one and only scriptural authority. Sacred texts of Hindu religion consists of Vedas, Upanishads Bhagavad Gita etc. Hinduism always absorbs anything that is good and valuable and at the same time, it shares its wisdom with whomever earnestly seeks it.

Its doors are open to all.

Hinduism does not attempt at conversion. It is against any forceful conversion or inflictions on the non-believers. Its faith is that all men are born, children of Sanatana Dharma. Once people become aware of this inheritance and follow its universal principles, there is no need for any further conversion. Even the most uncompromising atheist finds a place in Sanatana Dharma and his philosophy and way of life are duly noticed and his arguments heard with all patience. This arises from the belief that even such a person may one day realise his fundamental values of life and become a follower of Dharma.

Go full article here
http://www.webindia123.com/religion/hinduism/index.htm