“Would you like to come to some villages around Chamba?” a friend asked. I happily said yes. He wanted to visit the kin of former servants of his family and bring them gifts before Diwali. After buying boxes of sweets and drawing money from an ATM, three of us set off from Mussoorie. The air […]
Picture of the Week: Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or “Yellow Hat” branch of Tibetan Buddhism. Tenzin Gyatso, shortened from Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, born Lhamo Dondrub, 6 July, 1935 is the 14th and current Dalai Lama.
Beauty and the ‘Beast’ of Sufism
(CHAKRA) Sufism is contrasted with more intolerant strains of Islam, notably that advocating jihad, proscribing of dancing and music, intolerance towards the kuffar, and strict interpretation of sharia. Unlike the stern teachings found within Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia or the Shia strain in Iran , Sufi Islam holds a more mystical approach in which the […]
The Blue Throated Shiva
Oh Shiva, I call your name silently from my heart. Teach me the secrets of yoga and the Self. -Yogi Baba Prem (CHAKRA) Shiva is often considered the lord of the Yogi’s, as Shiva, like Krishna, is credited with teaching the science of yoga. Commonly known as the destroyer, Shiva is often not embraced by […]
Enlightenment for Sale! All credit cards accepted (except Hindu)
By Gia Kerensky The popular ‘New Age’ movement of this era is a vast network of individuals, groups, organizations, cults, foundations, etc. who expound and preach a watered-down patchwork of borrowed spiritual beliefs and rituals which present a dazzling array of luring theories and practices, yet somehow fail to capture the depth and intended essence […]
Am I a Hindu?
By Uday Pai Pretty good and thought provoking especially in this day and age…. Am I a Hindu? Four years ago, I was flying from JFK NY Airport to SFO to attend a meeting at Monterey, CA. An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It, indeed, was a long journey […]
Has Yoga been Hijacked?
By Aseem Shukla Swami Ramdev has helped spread traditional Hindu Yoga Washington, US – Nearly 20 million people in the United States gather together routinely, fold their hands and utter the Hindu greeting of Namaste — the Divine in me bows to the same Divine in you. Then they close their eyes and focus their […]
Why Many Followers of Hinduism Don't Eat Meat?
Vegetarianism is the key to good health and happiness. The Hindu view is multi-dimensional, including the ecological, medical and spiritual, as is evident in the following excerpts from Hinduism Today: Besides being an expression of compassion for animals, vegetarianism is followed for ecological and health rationales Reasons In the past fifty years, millions of meat-eaters […]
Tiger Woods Will Renew his Faith in Buddhism
By Tan Ong Tiger Woods renews his faith in Buddhism Florida, US (CHAKRA) – While addressing the media on Friday, Tiger Woods wholeheartedly expressed an apology to his fans and family for his irresponsible behaviour. He said “I am deeply sorry for the irresponsible, selfish behaviour I indulged in.” He spoke very seriously and sincerely. He […]